Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 79, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1914 — Page 6

A GREAT FEUD

It Was Between Workers In Wax

By F. A. MITCHEL

Mote than half a century ago there was a craze for modeling in wax. Among these waxworkers one became so much more skillful than the others that she at last found herself an object of jealousy to the other workers and their friends. This lady was the young Countess Hildegarde. a person of .great modesty, who was not pleased in finding herself in such a position. When it was reported to her that she was an object of envy, that she was exciting antagonism among those at court, she was quite at a loss what to do in the matter. Her nearest rival was the daughter of Prince Lichtenstein, who ruled over a territory some ten miles square. This princess, Sofia, being heiress to

THE CAPTAIN THREW HIS GLOVE AT THE PRINCE.

a large fortune, was a person df influence and much sought after by the marriageable young aristocrats attached to the court. The king heard of the quarrels of the adherents of the two ladies and, naturally taking the part of a princess of the blood, treated Hildegarde with marked coolness. The poor girl was at her wits’ end. To be brought into a contest with one so far above her in rank was sure to result disastrously to the weaker vessel. She was not permitted to leave the field, and if she remained in it she would surely come to grief. To make matters worse, a young officer of the garde du corps, Captain von He Ims midi er, must needs fall in love with the countess and advocated her claims to superiority in wax working so loudly that he Called forth the antagonism of 1 Tim e Herbert, the king's youngest son. who was devoted to the Princess tSofia. What had before- been a gale now became a hurricane. The king, who deprecated quarrels among his courtiers, strove to quiet the contending partisans, but failed.** It seemed to Hildegarde that she must retire from court. But when she meutionedThis plan to her partisans they one and all intimated that they would consider such action an acknowledgment of defeat, a desertion of her supporters. The countess, unwilling to leave them in the lurch, after long deliberation finally hit upon an expedient which would show the folly of the war that was being waged and, she hoped, would end it. She induced ojie of her friends to offer a suggestion that the two rivals each make a wax peach; that the models be exhibited for a time,'’at the end of which a vote be taken as to Which was the better work, the artist receiving the higher vote to be considered in possession of the field, the one receiving the lower vote to 1 refrain from further waxwork. The suggestion, being talked about, reached the ears of the king, who, seeing in it a possible way to end the war, seized upon it eagerly, issued a command embodying it and adding to it an important feature. He decreed that the artist whose work was voted to excel ,the other was to be appointed Waxworker to his majesty for life. There was now nothing for it but that the contestants should give their whole attention to the work in hand! The princess took two weeks to do hers, while Hildegarde took but one. When the models were ready for exhibition each contestant put her peach in a glass receptacle provided for it and sent it by her own maid to be placed on a stand in the room of the palace provided for the exhibition. A silken cord stretched across the room, ten feet from the works to be voted on, kept those inspecting from going too near them. Alas for hopes of peace! The very first day of the exhibition Prince Herbert and Captain von Helmsmuller met in the room where the peaches

I had been deposited and got Info a I quarrel over which peach was the bet!ter production. “No one ever saw a peach,” said the prince, referring to the countess’ work, , “of a hue like that —a yellowish brown. I And look at the specks on it—they are j unnatural.” “I grant, your royal highness,” retorted the captain, “that the Qthe.r peach is a representation of fruit, but as to naturalness, why, any one can see easily that it is made of i wax.” "Do you mean to tell me,” retorted the prince, “that shrunken thing is a more perfect work of art than the luscious fruit beside it? You are a fool!” “Were I of ike ie rank as your royal highness,” the captain retorted angrily, "I would teach you that you cannot call an officer of the garde du corps a fool.” “I waive my rank.” “Very well; I will send one of my comrades to your royal highness immediately.” There were but two other persons in the room at the time, and the , prince gave them the choice between keeping the matter secret and incurring his royal displeasure. Both persons promised not to tell, but the affair leaked out and was soon the talk of the court. TllO'prince and the captain were regarded respectively as the I champion of the princess and the countess.

Never before was such a hubbub raised in a court of Germany. The king was furious. He at once issued an order confining both his son and the captain in a fortress till he could be assured that they would not light. He visited the room where the peaches were on exhibition and, seeing that the one that had been made by the princess was a far more beautiful fruit than that made by the countess, felt sure it would be pronounced so by an overwhelming vote and the controversy would be ended permanently. So lie gave orders that the next day at noon the election should take place and that Prince Herbert and Captain von Helmsmuller should be present. From 0 till 12 the next morning the room where the peaches were depdsiti d was thronged with members of the court. The princess stood near her work and the countess near hers. Just beyond the cord before the princess stood Prince Herbert, and in the same relative position on the other side stood Captain von Helmsmuller, each champion glaring at the other. At 12 o’clock the voting commenced. There was not the slightest doubt as to which would win, for the admiration for the Princess Sofia's work was unbounded, while Hildegarde’s was pronounced a miserable, shriveled little thing of no merit whatever. At 12 o'clock the king ordered the two champions to act its tellers, and, taking their hats in their hands, they collected the votes. The chamberlain counted them and when he had finish ed announced the result: “Her royal highness’ work has received eighty-Seven votes and the Countess Hildegarde’s one.” The prince turned and greeted the captain with an insulting laugh. The captain threw his glove at the prince and struck him squarely in the face. The king, seeing his son thus attacked, indignant at such an affront to one of royal blood, gave his royal sanction to the meeting and was about, to leave, the room when the Countess Hihle garde advanced and, kneeling before I him, said: yc “It Ims been decided, your majesty, that 1 retire from the field of wax making. It only remains to assure these hotheaded champions that they have no cause for quarrel. Will your majesty deign to inspect the fruit that 1 have produced'.'” Receiving the royal assent, she rose and, going to her work, raised the glass cover and took out the peach. Then, advancing to the king, she broke it in two halves, juice dropping on the floor, and, putting one half in her mouth, she gave the other to his majesty.

“Why, it's not wax at all!" he cried. "It's a real peach.” Then, putting the fruit in his mouth, he smacked his lips. "It's good, too; better than it looks,” he exclaimed. For a few moments the assembly stood gazing at one another shamefacedly. Then those nearest the door began to slip out. followed by the others, till none were left but the king, the prince, the princess and the countess. “My son,” said the king, “give the captain your hand." The prince hesitatingly did as he was bidden, and the captain, delighted that lds beloved Hildegarde had shown a higher skill than in working wax. grasped the prince’s hand warmly. Then the king said to Hildegarde: “I am convinced that by your wisdom and adroitness you have ended a feud tohich if it had continued would have spread over my whole kingdom. M hat can I do for you to show my appreciation of the service you have rendered ?” “A boon, your majesty!” cried Von Heln'ismulhw’ "Let me receive the reward.” He looked at the who. blushing and laughing at the,same time, by a nod assented to his request. “I ask your majesty,” said the captain, “that L be rewarded with the lady’s hand.” Hildegarde bowed her head and said nothing. “Be it so,” said the king. The Princess Sofia swept haughtily out of the room. Within a few days the court circular announced her betrothal with Prince Herbert. And that was the last of the feud of the workers in wax.

A Liar or A Lunatic

By F. A. MITCHEL

A party of young men were sitting around a table in the case of a New York club. The subject turned on the marvelous feats that are said to be performed by the fakirs of India. A number of these feats were described, each one more wonderful than the last, when Ned Garland told the following: “You’ve hit on a subject that comes very near home to me,” he said, “for one of my family was operated on by one of these Indians many years ago with a result that has recently made my hair curl. “During the last war with England—in 1814 or thereabouts—my ancestors lived on the family estate or farm, for that's all it was, not half a mile from where we are now sitting. One day my great-grandfather, Timothy Garland, a young bridegroom r had a quarrel with his wife and told her he wished he might not see her again in a hundred yearsi. Then he left the bouse with a bang of the door and, mounting a horse, rode down to Fraunces' tavern, where he proceeded to get gloriously drunk. ‘ “The next day, when he was sober, lie was beside himself with remorse and rode back home to beg his wife’s pardon. He found her lying in a comatose condition, from which it was impossible to arouse her. She had left with the servants a paper for him on which was written: “You have wished you might not see me again in a hundred years. You won’t see me as 1 was till that time has passed. “The upshot of it was that when he had gone down to the tavern one of these Indian heathens came along, offering to tell my great-grandmother’s fortune and do many wonderful things. She was full of anger at the time and told him she would give him all the gold she had in a stocking if he would put her to sleep for a hundred years; The rascal took her at her word and. performed the trick.

“Her husband kept watching for her to come to herself. He said nothing about her condition, not caring to have It known that it was through his harshness that she had come into it. But she remained as she was, ami after awhile he locked her up in a room, and since he made no mention of her she was at last forgotten. “When, the farm was sold the family vault was retained and the ground underneath which it was excavated descended to me. When I came of age a few weeks ago and took possession of it with other property I concluded to inspect it. I found a grewsome place full of coffins, some of which had partly rotted away. One that had been made of marble interested me. From a crack in the lid protruded a paper. I pulled It out and found that it had been written in a language I knew nothing about. “I took the thing to a professor of unknown tongues in Columbia college, and he told me it was written in one of the languages of India and 1 had to get an Indian of that province to interpret it. I hunted all over the east side among the slums for such a person and at last found one. It read in English: “Th.s lady is to be brought to life at the expiration of' a hundred years, or in November, 1913. "1 was told by the translator that only an Indian fakir could do the job. but luckily one had just arrived from Bombay, and I was informed where he was to be found. He read the paper and said he would try to bring my great-grandmother to life if I would pay him SIOO in case he succeeded. I agreed to the terms, had the sarcophagus removed to the top floor of a building I owned, paid in advance, and the Indian went to work. “He wouldn’t permit me to be present during his manipulations, but called me in after six hours. On a lounge was a woman about twenty-three years of age. She seemed only half alive, but was sufficiently resuscitated to speak feebly.

“ ‘Jim,’ she said, ‘how could you?’ “‘l’m not Jim,’ 1 said. ‘l'm Ned.’ “ ‘Oh, dear! What’s the matter with you. or is anything the matter with me? I feel so weak.’ “She had evidently taken me for her husband, my great-grandfather, who was just my age in 1813. “I looked about for the Indian, and he had gone. It struck me that I'd better have some one about, and I said to my great-grandmother: “ ‘Please excuse me a moment. You are not well' and need attention. lam going to summon assistance.’ “Do you know that while 1 was looking at her. even during this short time, she seemed to have grown older. Without waiting for her consent I ran downstairs, but as I went it occurred to me that I had better not be in « hurry about the matter; there were many dangers connected with it. I paused, pondered and went back to the room. I suppose I had been gone twenty ininutes. And yet while 1 had been absent the resuscitated bride of twenty-three had grown to be an old woman of 123. And as I looked she gave a gasp and within a minute had become a shriveled mummy.’ There was a brief silence, which was broken by one of the party, who said: “Ned Garland, you are the biggest liar that ever entered this club or ever will enter it.” “That s why I didn’t summon assistance. I knew I'd be put down either for a liar or a lunatic. Walter, take the orders!”

Resolution Sale C. Earl Duvall Beginning January I st and lasting 30 days we will sell all our Men’s and Boy’s Suits and Overcoats at the wholesale prices. Overcoats and Suits all the latest styles.

jiii •/V 1 IYC4======° FcT ■ r . ; M i : All JI 111 If • Si--M®tO •*

CAPS $5.00 Seal Skin Caps - - $4.00 4.00 Fur Caps • - 3.00 3.50 Fur Caps . - 2.50 3.0'0 Fur Caps - - - -f 2.00 2.50 Fur Caps - - - 1.75 2.00 Fur Caps .... 1.50 1.50 Fur Caps -• | - 1.00 r COATS Men’s $6.00 Sheep Coats - $4.50 Men’s 5.00 Sheep Coats - - 3.50 Men’s 4.00 Sheep Coats - 3.00 Men’s 6.50 Leather Coats - 5.00

It will pay every person in the county and surrounding counties to attend this sale, as we must sell these Suits and Overcoats to get ready for our spring lines. C. Earl Duvall Rensselaer, Indiana . . • ■ • / • • . ■ I • • . ■•' . • . . ■ ..... •.. . •• ■ . .

BIG PUBLIC SALE. As we have decided to move away, we will offer at public sale al our residence, known as the John Powell farm, i/ 2 mile east and 1 3-4 miles north of Lee; 10 miles east and 1% miles soutli of Rensselaer, Bi< miles southwest of Francesville and 8 miles northwest of Monon, commencing at 1 0 a. m., on Thursday, Jan. 15, 1914. 16 Head of Horses and Mules— Consisting of 1 team of gray mules 5 and 6 years old, wt. 2 400, well broke; 1 bay mare 6 years old, wt. 1 200, broke to all harness, in foal;

Overcoats Men’s Fur Overcoats $32.50, Russian calf for $28.00 “ “ M 30-00. “ “ “ 25.00 30.00. horsehide for 25.00 “ 30.00, Galloway for 25.00 “ “ “ 28.00, “ “ 22.50 25.00, horsehide for 20.00 “ 22.50, horsehide for 17.50 Men’s Overcoats 25.00, chinchilla for 18.00 20.00, “ “ 14,00 22.50, gray cloth for 17.00 25.00, black kersey for 18.00 “ “ 20.60, “ “ “ 14.00 20.00, gray and brown 14.00 “ “ 18 00, “ “ 13.00 “ 16.50, “ “ 12.00 “ 1500 ‘ “ 11.00 1200, “ “ 8.00 Youth’s Overcoats 12.00 grade for 8.00 “ “ J 0.00 “ 7.Q0 7-oo “ 5.00 Children’s Oyercoats 5.00 “ 3.50 u “ 3-5 Q ,“ ■ • ' 2.50 Same Prices on all Men’s, Youth’s and Boy’s Suits. Any style—Suits or Overcoats.

1 black horse G years old, wt. 1300, well broke and a good one; 1 sorrel horse 4 years old, wt. 115 Q, lady broke; 1 sorrel mule -G years old, wt. 1250, well broke and an extra 1 good work animal: 1 roari driving horse 6 years old, wt. 1100, lady broke and ah extra good driver; 1 gray mare 6 years old, wt. 1200 in foal. (These horses are all good workers) 1 team of brown mules 12 veais old, wt. 2000, sound, a .good farm team, 1 team coming two-year-old black mules, sound, wt. 1350-2 coming 2-year-old horse colts- ’ 2 yearling mules, extra good ones ’ 3 Head of Cattle— Consisting of 1 Guernsey cow coming 3 vears old now giving milk, will be fresh in March;, 1 full blood Jersey cow 3 years old, giving milk, will be fresh in spring; 1 spotted cow 3 years old g ilk a et - A HI be fl ? esh spring’ **? V ea<l .° f Hogs —Consisting of 3 good brood sows, due to farrow in March; 1 extra good Poland China,

Big Sale of Boy’s Norfolk Knickerbocker Suits SIO.OO grade for $7.00 8.50 grade for - - . 6.00 7.50 grade for . . 5,90 6.50 grade for - - . .4 59 5.00 grade for - - . 3.50 3.50 grade for - - . . 2.50 WATCH OUR WINDOWS

1 Belted sow, 1 Duroc sow; 12 head of shoats, average weight 50 to I'oo pounds. Farm Implements, Harness, Etc., —2 Studebaker wagons with triple box and spring seats; 3 riding cultivators; 1 John Deere disc; 1 3-sec-tion harrow; 1 Janesville gang plow, good as new; 1 McCormick hay rake’ used one season; 1 McCormick mower, used one season; 1 good Deering binder, G-ft. cut; 1 end gate seeder; 1 bob sled; 1 Harper buggy; 2 scoop boards; 2 sets of double work harttess; 4 tons of good timothy hav; 1 barrel of cider vinegar and other articles too numerous to mention. « n e^ mS ~ A credit of 11 months will be given on all sums over $lO With the usual conditions. 6 per -ent off for cash when entitled to Crd T dlt ir JOHN & RAY 'AKERS. J. H. Hepp, auctioneer. J. H Chapman, clerk. Hot lunch on ground by Lee Ladies’ Aid. *