Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 February 1919 — Jackson Township, Newton County [ARTICLE]

Jackson Township, Newton County

By SIDNEY SCHANLAUB

Now for a strong spring offensive against Hungertowm Don’t give skimmed milk to the poor and expect the good Lord to credit it as cream. Mrs. Mollie Clark, living just northwest of Pilot Grove, will have a public sale of livestock and farm implements, February 25. Time was when we could wither an enemy through the medium of the comic valentine, but even that privilege is now denied us. David Miller of north Jackson is getting out logs for lumber for a large barn which he contemplates building some .time next summer. Hold on, now; don’t charge us with this, we stole it. Teacher to little girl: “Mary, what is the stomach ifor?” “If you please, it helps hold up the petticoat.’’ There are still a few prairie chickens in this locality Not long, ago w<e saw a flock of about thirty of these birds on Clarence Blapkenbaker’s farm and they were quite tame. With the approach of spring Honest Abe, the carrier, breaks forth in song occasionally. That’s the only thing we have against Abe, he win persist in breaking forth in song occasionally at the approach of spring.

“Jesus Paid It AH’’ is one of the current hymns, which some people are inclined to accept in an all too literal sense, to the great embarrassment, not infrequently, of the man who deals in U. S- groceries, fresh and salt meats, etc., especially etc. Since our last communication toThe Democrat Newton county has lost two more prominent citizens by death. We refer to A. Bebout of Morocco and John Zoborosky of east of that city. The former was 90 years old and the latter about 70. ■, Ex-president Taft, who is mentioned as a presidential possibility in 1920, is said to be a good dancer. Probably mastered the terpsichorean trick in the performance of those li’l old stunts at side-stepping during two strenuous campaigns. Charles Hendry, a member of the Hereford Calf club, is feeding two calves and has named one Wilson and the other Pershing. During the month of January “Wilson” made a gain of 100 pounds and “Pershing” 93 pounds. Total feed cost for the month, per calf, $6.09. Seed corn appears to be good this year. A farmer tells us that he tested a hundred grains, taken from 1 ears which were selected during the husking season, with the result that a hundred and one sprouted. Just imagine what this corn might have done if gathered earlier. W.e hate to appear in the role of a joy killer, but after a careful scrutiny of the contents of the ash barrel, the moss on the trees, together with the non-arrival otf the Israelite peddler, we can’t promise real spring weather before Jhe middle of March —we just can’t do it and be honest.

The farmers’ grain elevator at 'Morocco, we are told, has been soldto a company composed of prominent farmers of that community. The company contemplated the building of a new elevator this spring, but the present deal will result in an abandonment of the project, no doubt. “We want eggs and want them bad,” says a local advertiser. If the gentleman will exercise a little patience untlL the coming of the spring time, gentle Annie—when the little old hen stealeth out her nest under a hot, lilfe-giving sun—he will no doubt find his want abundantly supplied. For two or three days last week Jay Makeever was what one might correctly term a desperate character. You see, the old iron pump got ou t of commission and Jay had to haul water frdm a distance of a mile* or so in the family buggy. It is a sad sight to see a strong man agitate a pump handle when his soul is on fire with a mighty anger.

After a several years delay it would appear that there Is now reason to hope that the proposed stone road, known as the Barker road, in Jackson township will actually be built. Notice of the letting of the contract for the construction of this highway has appeared in the papers and March 3 named as the day for receiving proposals. In our time we have performed about every duty that could reasonably be asked of a citizen or this country, from taking in washing to acting in the capacity off headlight on a Missouri freight train, but when we are requested to turn down substantial grub in order to help strengthen the arm of the redeyed, murderous Bolshevik! of Russia, we balk. . Y’understan’? Civilization and thq development of our natural resources work in a mysterious way oikimes. For instance, our forests are dying out quite rapidly, so much so that, according to saw-mill operatives, it is quite difficult at the present time to find an oak tree perfectly sound throughout. This might be explained from a scientific standpoint, but, as we are a Democrat and not a scientist, the other fellow will have to do the explaining. If reports are true there is a species oif thievery going on in this locality which will bear looking into. Not only have chickens and grain been stolen, but in the last two Or three months hogs have disappeared during the silent watches of the night, leaving be-

hind indtvputable evidence that they had been butchered and hauled away. It la said that “Jockey" Lyons, near Mt. Ayr, bad three sets of harness taken one night early this week, and not satisfied with this the thieves —they must be great little old pork eaters, it would seem—killed and got away with one of his fat porkers. How long are the decent citizens of this community going to stand for this nocturnal activity? There are several things about our road laws that are excrutlatingly funny—nit. As an example, if a farmer is compelled to haul a load of corn to town in order to get -a supply of groceries, he must needs do so with fear and trembling lest he be dragged before the Sanhedrim and roundly fined for heavy hauling. But, behold, a man with an automobile weighing twice as much as the farmer’s load and doing ten times the damage, splits the ambient air over the same road and not a word, not a cheep from anybody. To add to the farmer’s righteous wrath, while he is taxed to keep the road in re' pairs, the fellow in the automobile lives in an adjoining state probably ard has never paid a solitary red for the upkeep of said road. A northern McClellan township citizen, who is an enthusiastic disciple of Ike Walton, dreamed the other night that he was seated on the banks of the Kankakee fishing. Presently a large pickerel leaped from the water, turned a double flip-flop and then seized > the bait and swallowed it clear down. In spite of high leaping and deep diving on the part of the fish it was being landed in good shape, and then the line broke with an explosion that fairly shook the earth. When the, dreamer awoke he had the wife of his bosom by the nose and was doing his dirty best, seemingly, to yank that organ from its moorings, while his left eye burned and scintillated in a way and manner indicating that the good woman had not been wholly passive during the mix-up. Yes, sir, Thomas Moore is right—“ This world Is all a fleeting show for man’s illusion given.” Not long ago there appeared in the newspapers an article about a rural carrier’s horse breaking out of the barn one night and traveling the entire mail route, a distance of'some twenty-five miles. We can easily believe this. Now, there is old George, the horse owned by Honest Abe, carrier on> route No. 1 out of Fair Oaks. George shows a degree of intelligence that is absolutely uncanny, and manifests an interest in the mail service that could be imitated by the average postal clerk with the most beneficial results No matter how tired George may be, when Abe stops at noon to feed, he is compelled to watch the critter every minute, for George waits for no one. No, sir. After George has eaten his eight ears of yellow dent he picks his teeth with an oat straw for a short spell and then looks around at Abe, as much as to say: “Well, what are we malingering for?” If there is not an immediate response to that look George backs out of the driveway, hits the trail and all hades couldn’t stop him. George can read writing as well, if not better, than is true of many of our politically uncompromising postmasters whom we have met in our wanderings. The reader, no doubt, will contend that this isn’t saying so overly much (for George—but, hold on! This isn’t all. George can spit with the accuracy of a county official at the dose of his second term. In short, George is perhaps the most remarkable equine in Uncle Sam’s service at the present writing. Frequently and oft has Abe been tendered vast Sulm's of “kale” for the critter, but always he has but the one answer—- “ Nothing doing.”