Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1917 — Short Furrows [ARTICLE]

Short Furrows

"Abe Martin** in Indianapolis News.

‘‘Ever turnip in Germany is registered an’ tagged an’ made t’ do its bit,” declared Wash Timberlake, V. S., an’ his voice filled ever’ nook an,’ cranny o’ Melodeon hall, last night. Th’ occasion wuz a patriot-

ic entertainment t* raise a yarn fund, an’ Mr. Timberlake, who has traveled in Germany, addressed th’ crowd. "I don’t reckon you folks appreciate what it would mean t’ th’ United States if th’ Hohenzollerns won this war—what it would mean t’ our institutions an’ our ideals! I’ve been in Prussianized Germany in peaceful times an’ I know somethin’ about German ‘kultur’ an’ efficiency, an’ militarism. Nothin’ goes t’ waste but th’ air in Germany an’ there faaint enough garbage in th’ entire empire t’ keep a self respectin’ coyote on a payin’ basis. Th’ military class has all th’ recognition an’ privileges while th’ poor an’ middle ere ruled with a hob nailed heel. Th’ rich have plenty t’ eat an’ wear, but they don’t cut any more ice than a Bible teacher at a Commanche outin’. Domineerin’, , arrogant an' chesty, th’ military wing o’ th’ populace has th’ preference ever’where, in th’ railway cars, in th' the’aters, in th’ parlors even, in th’ .streets an’ stores an’ cases an’ parks. You kin have anything in Germany th’ soldiers don’t want. They strut about th’ streets four abreast, jest th’ width o’ th’ sidewalks an’ park seats. Believe me, I didn’ do nothin’ but sidestep th' whole four days I wuz in Germany. Jest suppose, four peasants went in a resturint an’ set down an’ ordered some knackwurst. Then four soldiers came in, an’ then what? Why, they'd have t’ git up an’ give ’em ther seats an’ eat ther knackth’ best they could. Ever’ inch o' ground in Germany is under cultivation. Th’ ground haint idle long enough fer a fish worm to git settled. . It’s a common sight t’ see a German woman hitched up alongside a hoss plowin’. A. young German farmer alius selects a wife that’s harness broke. IL you, cut a tree down, you have t’ plant two more. I want t’ give Germany credit fer bein’ a wonderful country—a wonderful military ridden country. Th’ common people love ther country because they’ve never lived in a regular country. They have t’ like it. Germany is a wonderful musical country an’ a wonderful turnip country. Germany is a toy center an’ a sausage producin’ country. Ther we find Intense farmin* an’ intense manufacturin’. An’ why shouldn* we? Th’ people

are driven like Eskimo dogs. They know where t’ head in an’ where t’ head out. Ever’thing’s censored, ever’buddy’s watched an’ ever'buddy’s utilized. Our country is filled with Germans who left th’ fatherland in th’ 40’s an’ 70’s t’ escape th’ tyranny o’ th’ pompous, sneerin’, bristlin’ mustached HohenzoK lorn military clique. Here they have been allowed th’ use o’ th’ sidewalks an’ have th’ benefit of our tree institutions They know when they climb uip on a resturint stool that they'll be allowed t’ remain ther till they’ve swallowed ther last bite. They have thrived here an’ become good, thrifty citizens, an’ I believe that fer th’ most part they are true an’ loyal. If th’ Hohenzollerns win this war, an’ o’ course they won’t, th’ grindin’ Prussian military heel will be felt throughout th’ world. My friends, Germany is a carrot lovin’ country an’ that fact alone is enough.’’

February 12, Farm Wiseman, 3 miles southwest of Roselawn. General sale. February 14, Ernest Asher, 4 miles southeast of Wheatfield. General sale. Feb. 18, A. B. Lowman, near Hebron. General sale. February 20, John R. Lewis, Barkley township. Sale of Hampshire hogs. February 21, Roorda and Otis, 1 1/. miles north of Fair Oaks. February 27, B. T. Lanham, southeast of Rensseflaer. General sale.