Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 September 1920 — NEWS from the COUNTY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

NEWS from the COUNTY

JACKSON TP., NEWTON COUNTY

Cox, peace, progress and prosperity. Clarence Blankenbaker and Ins three sons returned home last Sunday from a week’s visit in Ohio and at Niagara Falls. The Newton county people In Wabash county will hold their annual reunion this fall at Silver Lake. The writer was not able to learn the date. Hail and high winds have damaged the corn crop in this locality somewhat. However, barring untimely frosts, old Newton will be right there with a fair crop of corn, asvusual. of our local, sports, who VAit the raging Kankakee, speak of a drink found in that region, called “White Mule.” And, judging from Its affect on its victim, “White Mule” is right. Indications point to a short wheat- acreage in the central and northern parts of Newton county this fall, due mainly to the fact that wheat in this locality, taking it one year with another, can hardly be said to be a paying crop. When the Indianapolis Star, Republican state organ, proceeds to flay its own party —something of frequent occurrence lately —it goes at the job in such a rough, noisy manner as, seemingly, to almost warrant police interference. Referring to the Republican presi-

dential candidate, a gushing and somewhat hysterical writer in a current magazine says: “His record stands like the deep-rooted oak.” Uh-hu, or frinstance, like hair on the brow of a professional patriot. Henry Deardurff, our bee man, predicts a light honey crop this season. With summer droughts in the last three or four years, with a resultant scarcity of honey-making material, bees, as a rule, have had to work overtime in order to provide food even for themselves.

“Hazelden, the country home of George Ade, was thrown open Tuesday to an organization meeting of Republicans”—Clipping. It is perhaps fair to assume that George, not wishing to prove a source of embarrassment, withdrew to the underbrush during the deliberations. Says a newpaper, “The allies’ reply was then read, as follows: On condition that Germany proceeds immediately to disarm the Einwohnerwehren and Sicherheitspolizer.” Wonder if this contemplated blow at our God-given perogatives has escaped the telescopic eye of our Jim Watson? We note with a feeling of sorrow that our much esteemed old friend, Charley Davis, of the Kentland Enterprise, has done gone and went to publishing poetry ? in his paper, in order to promulgate more fully the virtues of Mr. Harding. Don’t do it, Charley; your presidental candidate is perhaps not all that he should be, but he is entitled to a square deal at least. , , The public schools in this county opened last Monday with every indication of a successful school year. For Jackson township the teachers are. Mt. Ayr, J. C. Tranbarger, principal; Blanche Bridewell, high school; Eulala Harmwell, high school; Lida Renwick, grammar; Lucy Harris, Intermediate; Dorothy Burnard, primary. Teachers In the country are: No. 1, Gay

Makeever; No. 2, Susie Wood; No. 6, Bethel Murphy. This is a good time for the farmer to sort of saunter around over his fields and along his fenco tows iu search of noxious weeds. Canada thistle land bull nettle have made then appearance in '.h.s locality and it will require the utmpst care to prevent these weedy from spreading until they become a real menace to crops. This is u case where an ounce of prevention is better than several pounds of cure. That man who prayed, “Oh, God —if there Is a God —save my soul —if I have a soul,” had nothing particularly on the Englishman who is credited with hiving offered up the following: “Oh, Lord, Thou knowest that I have nine houses In the city of London, and lately that I have purchased an estate in fee simple in the county of Essex. Lord, I beseech Thee to preserve the two counties of Essex and Middlesex from fires and earthquakes; and as I have a mortgage in Hertfordshire, I beg Thee likewise to have an eye of compassion on that county. And, Lord, for the rest of the counties Thou mayest deal with them as Thou art pleased. Amen.” The U. S. cane - mill is again in operation throughout the land, and the odor of various and sundry b ilin’s permeates the autumnal air lile sweet incense on a Jewish alter. When the writer was a boy it was the custom for each household to have at ’.east a full barrel of cane moiasses for use during the winter. Along towards spring the molasses *ould begin “sugaring,” then give a boy a hot biscuit spread w.th butter and the aforementioned dope -and, say. bo, right then ani there that lad was transfigured by the effulgence of a mighty glory and heaven seemed feelingly near. tn t ; ese degenerate days it is just as .well not 'o offer cane molasses to the average boy —that is 11 you wish to ntain his friendship. Speaking of English as “she was originally spojre,” we beg leave to submit the following from Wycllff s Bible: “And Jhesus seyne the peple, went up into an hil; and whanne he was sett, his disclplls camen to him. And he openyde his mouth and taughte hem, and seide; Blessed be pore men in spirit for the kyngdom of hevens is herun; Blessed ben mylde men for the! schulenweelde the erthe. Blessed be thel that hungren and thirsten rlghtwisness for their schal be fulfilled. Blessed ben the! that ben of clene herte for their schulen se God. Blessed ben pesible men for thei schulen be clepid goddis children.” And so on throughout the fifth chapter of Matthew. It would give us considerable pleasure to Be able to say here that the above style of writing has become totally extinct, but were we to do so the editor probably woulu call us a liar and prove it by the daily budget of communciatidns arriving at his office.

Although the campaign hardly is well started, we note that the Republican newspapers are already warning their party against overconfidence. With the Democratic party thoroughly united, with New Ycrk, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois showing strong symptoms of goirg Democratic this year, and with tne West almost solidly against the g. o p., just why a Republican should experience a feeling of overconfidence is something beyond the of the average mind. 1 This “overconfidence” gag, as worked by Republican spellbinders, has become a stench in the nostrils of intelligent readers and deceives no one. The fact is still green in the memory of most people that four years ago Republican leaders warned their party against overconfidence, and the Republican candidate for president was handsomely defeated. In 1912 they yelped and howled “overconfidence,” and their candidate, Tafft, got about thirty-two votes, counting his own. Last Sunday we stepped on the gas and the old buzz-wagon took the bit and paused not in its wild flight until it had reached the home of Gene Kirk, north of Rensselaer. Gene and the writer were together in the war and both were mortally wounded at the battle of Pork and Beans, but neither was seriously hurt. Let’s see, now, this don't seem to read just right, but never mind. Gene and the scribe got to talking about Nubbin Ridge, and after we had related in our highly dramatic style some of the hand-to-hand conflicts and hair-breadth escapes we had in that region in the early days, Gene got so worked up that he got out the old “Dodge and took us over to this far-famed strip o’ land. Said he wanted us to point out the locations of our former exploits. But when we got there, 10, there was no Nubbin Ridge left—just big, white houses, nice farms, belted hogs and Norman steers. When we failed to locate the spot where our lost pronghorn bit the dust and where we killed our last outlaw, Gene waxed sarcastic and intimated that we had never seen .Nubbin Ridge previous .to that occasion—and he. was right. Search your memory and you will recall that you never lived in a neighborhood that didn’t have its distinctive mean man and its distinctive good woman. The man, you will remember, made his presence felt in various forms of cussedness. Usually he was a drunkard, a brawler, a disseminator of mischievous gossip and a, nuisance in the community generally. You doubtless will recall how glad the neighbors were when this man moved to Mis souri or to Texas and how heartily you and your friends expressed the hope that he would like the country down there and never come back. The distinctive good woman usually was called Aunt Mary, and if there ever was an angel in the flesh Aunt Mary was that.. When an epidemic of sickness prevailed Aunt Mary always was in demand, and never did she refuse to lend a helping hand. Every home in the neighborhood joyfully welcomed this good woman as a visitor, and John, the farmer’s big sofa, would hitch up the mules and drive four miles to get Aunt Mary

and have her with the family over Sunday. Yes, indeed, John would do all this even though it involved the turning down of a wild-west show In the village or a pronfising game of baseball. It was Aunt Mary, you see. Aunt Mary made no loud profession of religion; she didn’t have to. - She proved her religion by her daily walk. Often, during the winter revival, have you and I seen Aunt Mary roughly jostled into a corner by some highjumping, shouting old hypocrite who wasn’t worthy to lick up her tracks, but Aunt Mary never seemed to mind such things and kept right on being an angel. Finally, one morning, after a long life spent In good deeds —in soothing the sick and administering to the poor—Aunt Mary was found in bed with a smile on her face, sleeping the eternal sleep. That was Aunt - Mary’s way. She never wanted to make people any trouble.

EAST WALKER The Jasperson’s finished threshing In this locality this week. The Zick school opened Monday with Miss Pampel of Remington as teacher. Mr. and Mrs. John Schreiber and son George were visitors at the Zlck home Sunday. Felix Fritz, Dolly WarrenJs and Louie Zlck attended the Laporte fair on Thursday of last week. The Catholic church at Medaryville Is holding mission this week, and quite a number from here are attending.

POSSUM RUN Everett Parker was a Rensselaer goer Thursday. The Crownover children have the whooping cough. Ray Hahn spent Saturday night and Sunday with home folks. Miss Carrie Hahn Is at home this week while her folks are away. James Hill and family spent Sunday with Mr. Crownover and family. Ralph Ballard and Ed Timmons called on T. J. Parker Monday afternoon. The Oak Grove school opened Monday with Mrs. Huntington as teacher. Mr. and Mrs. Earl Parker apd daughter spent Monday with T. J. •Parker and family. Charley Parker and beet girl spent Sunday night and Monday with T. J. Parker and family. The party at William Markin’s Saturday evening in honor of their daughter May was well attended. Mr. and Mrs. David Hahn and son Eber autoed to Burnettsville Monday to spend a few days with relatives. Mrs. James Brit, Sr., and son Frank and Mr. ana Mrs. James Britt, Jr., called on T. J. Parker and family Saturday morning. Mr. and Mrs. Lora Cook and daughter, Otis Garner and Hazel Cook, all of Lebanon, spent from Thursday until Monday with the T. J. Parker family. Friends and relatives gathered at

the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Davis Sunday In honor of Mr. Davis's birthday anniversary. A big table was spread with good eats and everybody enjoyed a good time, wishing him many more happy returns of the day.

NORTHERN JASPER Mrs. Charles White is visiting in Chicago and Hammond this week. The Medaryville ball team will "play the Regulars at Wheatfield Sunday. Mrs. McDade Collins just returned from a visit with relatives at Valparaiso. Lon Neese and family and Ed Schrader and family spent several

days last week camping at Baaa Lake. Alfred Fairchild and family spent Sunday at Culver and attended a grain dealers’ meeting. William Cullen, Sr., William, Jr., and Mrs. Martha Swing of Hammond spent the week-end with relatives In Tefft. Mr. and Mrs. Mark Ralley and S' ughter are visiting Mrs. Reddin. irk ie nursing a very sore head, caused by a fall from his motorcycle. He Is some better now. The Labor day picnic at San Pierre drew a large crowd. Tho ball game between Boone Grove and Hamlet ended with a score of 5 to 3 in favor of Boone Grove.