Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 47, DeMotte, Jasper County, 12 October 1939 — Page 3

Floyd Gibbons'

ADVENTURERS’ CLUB HEADLINES FROM THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELFI

“Ten Terrible Seconds" Hello, everybody: , This is a yarn about a couple of ropes. The yarn—well—it’s told by Herman R. Wallin of Brooklyn, N. Y. Herman is supposed to be the adventurer and principal character in it, but somehow or other the ropes managed to take over the story. One of those ropes chisels into this story solely on the strength of the fact that it —well—that it just w r asn’t. If we mentioned it here, it’s only to post it as A. W. O. L. at a time when it w’as needed for guard duty. The other rope comes in at the crucial point in our story. Like the hero of the old ten-twenty-thirty melodrama it shows up in the nick of time to right'the wrong the other rope has done and prove to the world that though some ropes may be low down and onery, there are good ropes as well as bad. And now that I’ve told you the plot of today’s little drama, let’s bring in Herman Wallin—and on with the show. Today, Herman is a radio operator on the S. S. Birkenhead, but this adventure happened in July, 1926, when Herman was occupying the radio shack of the S. S. Cornelia plying between New York and the West Indies. The Cornelia was almost at the end of her “out” trip—just two or three hours run from the first of the tropical island ports at which she was due to call. Herman's Radio Shack Located on After Part of Boat Deck. It was a dark night, and Herman was on the lower deck, making his way up to the boat deck where his room was located. And—well—before we go any farther with this yarn we'll have to tell you something about the way the S. S. Cornelia was constructed. Suppose we let Herman do that himself. “My radio shack,’’ Herman says, “was, on the after part of the boat deck—the only quarters located on this part of the ship. A few’ feet away from my room, on either side of the shack were davits for two lifebodts which had been removed. Since the members of the t rew

He went through an open space between the two boat davits—and walked overboard.

seldorri came up on this deck, and then in the daytime only, no ropes had been stretched across the openings between the davits.’’ And there you have not only the layout of Herman’s sea-going penthouse but also the lowdown on that rope that just wasn’t there. That missing rope was quite a problem. You know they don’t have any open lights on the top deck of a ship because they interfere with the vision of the officer on watch up on the bridge. On nights when there wasn’t any moon, Herman used to have to watch his step pretty carefully. Usually he would start walking from the ladder in a straight line, counting out the number of steps it required to get to his door. But on this particular night he paused half way in his course and looked back. Lot’s wife was turned into a pillar of salt for stopping and looking back. Herman just sort of lost his bearings, but that was almost as bad. When he started out again he was going the wrong way in the dark. He was still counting steps when, all of a sudden he went through an open space between two boat davits—and walked overboard And Then Came the Ten Terrible Seconds. And then came those ten terrible seconds—the worst moments in Herman’s life. It felt as if time had been slowed down like one of those slow-motion movies—seemed as though that dive „ from the top deck was taking a year. Herman can still count over every one of those seconds—can still remember how’ the lights of the lower deck went crawling past him as he fell. One of his arms grazed the rail of the lower deck as he went by, and through his mind flashed the thought that that rail was the last thing he could possibly have caught hold of. Below him now were only the smooth steel plates of the ship’s side, straight down to the water line Herman thought of the propeller, threshing the water at the ship’s stern and remembered hearing that anyone falling overboard close to the side inevitably gets sucked into the voriex of the churning water and chopped to mincemeat. The coming up at him now. He could see it gleaming dully beneath him and he braced himself for the shock of hitting it. Then, suddenly, his left arm hit something—hit it with a sharp, stinging blow that bent it double and almost took Herman’s breath away. Herman didn’t know what it was, but instinctively he made a grab for it. He caught it—and his hand skidded several yards along a wet, slimy surface before he realized what it w’as. A rope! A missing rope had gotten him into this spot in the first place. Another one—a rope that was very much present—seemed to be helping him out of it. His Feet Were Dragging in the Water When He Stopped. Herman clutched at that rope until he thought his arm would come off “My feet were dragging in the water as I came to a stop,’’ he says, “and ,the tug of the water added to the strain on my hands. I heard faint shouts above me. The engineroom telegraph rang and I could feel the side of the ship shuddering as though it had hit some obstruction m the water. Then I could see heads thrust out over the deck rail and several voices were calling to me to hang on. A couple of men sitting on the lower deck had seen me flash by and had shouted to the officer oin watch to stop the ship.’’ A rope ladder came over the side and a deckhand came down to help Herman back aboard. “When I reached the deck,” he says, “I was so weak with fright that I couldn’t stand up. They took me to a stateroom and put me in a bunk. Outside of a few bruises and a pair of skinned hands, I was as good as ever in a few hours, but I saw to it next day that a couple of lines were stretched between those empty boat davits.” And in case you're wondering what that other rope was doing hanging over the side of the ship, here’s Herman with, the answer. “It was what is known as the guest line,” he says. “It’s a heavy rope put over the side near the water s edge and used to tie small boats and launches near the gang-way. The ship was approaching the first of our tropical ports and this line had been put out only a few hours before.” -Released by Western Newspaper Union.)

Nassau. Famous Vacation Spot. Vi as Pirate Stronghold

Armed invasion, pirate plunder and the West Indies setting in the struggle for domination in the New World, in which England, France and Spain were the principal actors, are found in the history of Nassau, capital of the Bahamas. Today Nassau is typical of the self-governing British colony. Here are found the clean streets, smart colonial police garbed in their summer khaki shorts, and the tennis courts where : the English love to mingle social tea with their sports. The Twentieth century has

brought a different kind of invasion to Nassau. Summer and winter vacationists, refreshed by the breezes blowing inland from the West Indies sea, have brought changes to this British colony. Golf clubs which have taken the places of useless forts, swimming pools which have been substituted for pirate hideouts, racing yachts which now rule Bahamian waters and Nassau’s coral beaches are the loot sought by Twentieth century invaders who desire leisure sports and escape from offices and headlines.

THE KANKAKEE VALLEY POST

FARM TOPICS

U. S. FARMERS JOIN FEW ORGANIZATIONS Church Ranks First Among Rural Groups.

By PROF. W. A. ANDERSON

The belief that most farmers belong to a large number of organizations is discounted by studies of the department of rural social organization at Cornell university. In a study of nearly 3,000 farmers in a typical United States rural neighborhood, it was found that they belong to only one or two organizations, on the average, but are loyal to them. Twenty per cent of the farmers belong to no organizations, and 30 per cent belong to only one. Membership in three organizations appears to be the upper limit for most farm operators. Organizations in which memberships are held in order of their numerical importance, he says, are: the church, grange, dairymen’s league, farm bureau, lodge, other co-operatives, and a social-civic group. Membership in the church leads among farmers who belong to only one or two organizations. The “joiners,” those who belong to “several organizations, appear to have these characteristics: they own rather than rent their farm; they operate a large farm rather than a small one: their farms have a higher assessment value than others; they are more stable as to residence and do not shift frequently; and they have had, in general, better schooling. Another point is that “orgamza-tion-mindedness” is more noted in men past 3b years of age than in those younger. Fewer of the younger group belonged to organizations. Two causes explain this. First, the younger men are just getting established and need time to enter organizations; and second, they are somewhat overlooked by the older men in organizations. More might join if they were invited.

U. S. Farm Women Use Healthful Family Diets

Better living for the family through better health continued to be a principal aim of thousands of homemakers on American farms last year, according to reports from extension workers in home economics in all parts of the country’. Better health through more adequate diets was an important part of the home demonstration program in more than 37,000 communities. Demonstrations conducted by extension agents representing the United States department of agriculture and the state agricultural college helped homemakers learn what constitutes a generously adequate diet. How to provide that diet the year around with available homeproduced and purchased foods was the subject of other meetings. As a part of this program farm women and 4-H club girls reported that they canned 70,000,000 quarts of fruits, vegetables, and meats. A total of 407.000 families served bet-ter-balanced meals as a result of recommendations of home demonstration agents, while 169,000 families followed food-buying recommendations discussed in extension meetings. Boys and girls in 16,138 schools had better lunches because home demonstration groups and similar organizations provided hot dishes to supplement the noon lunch brought from home. Home demonstration agents in some states, assisted by public health agencies and local physicians, held child-health clinics in hundreds of communities.

Telephone Service

There is only one service given to farmers by the smaller telephone companies in the United States which farmers in other countries probably do not receive. This is the handling of fire alarms reported over the telephone. Most telephone companies in this country spread fire alarms to fire departments and to neighboring farmers free of charge without, of course, assuming any liability. This service has contributed much to rural fire protection and reduction in losses. Telephone companies include in their directories instructions to both employees and subscribers for the handling of fire alarms. Telephone operators have an enviable reputation for the service they render in such emergencies, and all of it is done without any added income to the telephone companies. Such service makes the telephone a real aid in the protection of life and property on the farm.

Animal Hair Valuable

Everything that comes from the farm, it seems, has a definite use in adding to the well being of humanity—even the hair from farm animals. Although the value of the hair from one animal may amount to only a fraction of a cent, the total worth of the hair processed and sold in the United States last year was more than $2,000,000, according to the men w’ho curl it and make it ready for use. Main use is for cushioning furniture seats.

AROUND THE HOUSE

Metallic Scarfs.— Silver and gold embroidered scarfs will not tarnish when packed away if wrapped in black paper. Tight Curtain Springs.—To tighten springs in curtain rollers, hold the rollers firmly and with pincers tighten the end springs. Rest Your Ferns. — After maiden hair fern has grown all during the year it begins to turn brown. This is a sign it needs rest as ferns, like all other plants, want and take their season for rest. Repot it and set in a shady placewater sparingly until a good growth of fronds appear, then give more water. Cleaning Felt Hat.— To clean a light felt hat brush well to remove all dust, then cover with french chalk. Let stand for several hours before brushing off. ♦* * ■ i Shiny Windows. A lump of starch dissolved in the water with which windows are to be washed will make the glass shine. * ♦ . ♦ |.[ Distributing Bluing. When making blue-water, try adding a little common salt. This helps to distribute the color evenly and prevents the clothes from looking streaked and patchy. Spicing Your Cookies.— Add one teaspoon of cinnamon and one-half a teaspoon of cloves to your favorite cooky recipe. The two spices will convert an ordinary cooky dough into something delightfully different.

ASK ME ANOTHER?

The Questions 1 What are the following: ’ (a) Adam’s needle; (b) Adam's peak; (c) Adam’s profession? 2. Why is an artesian well socalled? •j 3. What do the racing clothes including boots of a jockey weigh? 4. Which are the two smallest states in Europe? 5. A gnomon is a person of no importance, a dwarf, Scottish chieftain or. a geometrical figure? 6. To what does the song, “Cornin’ Through the Rye” refer? 7. The unit of current or flow ot electricity is called —an ampere, a volt or a watt? 8. Which is the correct idiomatic expression—“lf worst comes to worst” or “if worse comes to worst”? 9. What American city was first known as New Amsterdam? 10. What kind of foundations are udder the buildings in Venice, Italy? The Answers 11. (a) Various species of yucca plants; (b) Mountain peak in Ceylofi; (c) Gardening. 2. Because such wells were first sunk in Artois (anc. Arte-sium), France. 13. A jockey’s outfit seldom weighs more than 30 ounces. 4. Monaco, the smallest state, is 8 isquare miles, and San Marino, the next smallest state, is 38 square miles.. <5. A geometrical figure. 6. A small river. 7. An ampere, named after An-

One Rightness

Rightness expresses of actions, what straightness does of lines; and there can no more be two kinds of right action than there can be two kinds of straight lines. —Herbert Spencer.

MORE PLEASURE PER PUFF-MORE PUFFS PER PACK! By burning 25% slower than the average of the 15 other of the largestselling brands tested—slower than any of them—CAMELS give a smoking plus equal to PAMtI C LONG-BURNING BEST CIGARETTE ™ vAIYIILv COSTLIER TOBACCOS

HOW TO SEW

by Ruth Wyeth Spears

Gay aprons from unbleached muslin.

Every one who has ever lived in the country knows the possibilities of unbleached muslin. The source of supply there is flour and food sacks but even purchased by the yard it is an inexpensive, sturdy material for aprons and many other things. If you have friends who share your enthusiasm for interesting aprons, plan and cut them in a group; then trimmings' may be

A Quiz With Answers Offering fnformation on Various Subjects

dre Ampere, French scientist who established the relationship between electricity and magnetism. 8. Dr. Rossiter Johnson, in “Alphabet of Rhetoric,’’ says—“ ‘lf worse comes to worst’ is often rendered meaningless by being changed to ‘lf worst comes to worst.’ The original and correct form is evident on a moment’s thought. It is essentially a continuation of from ‘bad to worse—from worse to worst.’ ’’ 9. New York. 10. Mostly piles.

IT IS A JOLIY WORLD

Hard to Beat The haughty aristocrat was indignant: “You ask me if my family is old? Old! It goes bapk farther than time. Legend has it that one of my ancestors viewed the Creation from the balcony of his castle!’’ Not Fussy Shyly she presented the bank cashier with a check for payment. “I’m sorry, miss!’’ he said, politely, “but I cannot cash this across the counter.’’ “Oh, never mind,” she said, with an engaging smile. --“I’ll come round your side.” To preserve the complexion, apply the oil on retiring.—Beauty hint. Oily to bed, oily to rise. Well Fixed “When this vacuum flask is filled it will keep things hot for you indefinitely,” remarked the salesman to the tired-looking little man at the counter. “No thanks,” he replied. “I married something like that.”

exchanged and every piece-bag will produce something. The diagram shown here gives you cutting dimensions for the skirt part of a plain little apron and shows how to shape the waistline. Belts for the bibless type are rather wide now—two or two and a half inches finished. Ties are generally 4-inches wide and as long as you like. Now, do be daring when you come to’ pockets or adding a bib. Try an idea of your own. These gay unbleached muslin aprons are just suggestions to get you started. EDITOR’S NOTE: The new Sewing Booklet which Mrs. Spears has prepared for our readers, contains thirty-two new and original ideas for homemakers. To get one of these useful booklets, simply address Mrs. Spears, 210 S. Desplaines St., Chicago, 111., with name and address, and 10 cents in coin; booklet will be postpaid by return mail. '■

Sure Prescription

To face cheerfully and eagerly the accustomed and ordinary tasks is the simple but sure prescription for enjoyment of life.— John Timothy Stone.

Kight Word The hour was late—so late that there was nothing left to do except go home. .As the two men wandered slowly along, one said: “I say, ol’ man, what does your wife j do when you get home so late?” “Oh, she gets historical!” was ; the reply. ' “Hysterical, you- mean.” “No, historical- -she digs up the past.” What’s wrong with “Annie Laurie” as a hymn tune, is asked. Nothing. Annie got “him.” Down in the Mouth “My husband was looking for the bicarbonate of soda last night, i and took a spoonful of plaster of ■ paris by mistake.” “Well, that ought to settle his hash.” Boring Rain Joan—On a wet night don’t you get tired of hearing the everlasting pitter {latter? “Yes; it never rains but it 1 bores.”