Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 56, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1916 — Short Furrows [ARTICLE]

Short Furrows

"Abe Martin" in Indianapolis News.

Mrs. Pearl Tanger went downtown t’day after somethin’ t’ boil fer Sunday an’ came home undecided. “I jest tell you,” she said, “I couldn’ decide jest what t’ do. Eyer’thing wuz so different on market from what I’d pictured it that I decided not t’ go ahead without mature reflection. Ther wuz too much involved. We all like meat at our house, but ther’s so many other things we’d like t’ have. We did think some o’ buyin’ a car an' tryin’ beans fer awhile, but, my goodness, beans are as high as meat. O’ course ther’s no bones in beans — well, ther’ no bones in liver either. I tell you when a body begins t’ hedge on eatin’ material ther jest haint no place t’ begin. I’ve been workin’ on five or six combinations fer a Sunday dinner an’ ther haint no possible way t’ beat th’ game. If we had a car we might visit friends, but as it is we’ve got t’ stay at home no matter how much it costs us.” “We all eat too much,’’ said Dr. Mopps, “an’ I hope that th’ price o’ foodstuffs ’ll soar till this nation is put on a sound, healthy footin’. That’s th’ kind o’ preparedness I’m fer. Ther’s too many corn fed people in this country. We’rt growin’ flabby an’ inactive. Hunger stimulates us t’ hustle, while a full stomach seeks rest from responsibility. Sunday is a day o’ rest, yet how many stomachs work overtime on th’ Sabbath? What if some grave crisis should suddenly come upon us some Sunday afternoon an’ find th’ nation torpid an’ drowsy thro’ gourmandizin’?’’ “It keeps me busy countin’ noses at our house,” said Mrs. Tilford Moots, “as one baked p’tater too many soon runs int’ money.” “Oh, things are not so bad,” said Tell Binkley, “you kin still git a pretty fair three-carrot dinner fer a quarter at th’ Little Gem.”