Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 29, Number 33, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 14 October 1908 — Page 7

PENDARVIS, THE CRACKER ... . By ALLEN CHAMBERLAIN

Joe Pendarvis was a Florida Crack-1 •er, born and reared, and himself in ] turn rearing others of his kind, in j ■one of the most thrifty orange dis- J tricts of his state. Outwardly and in his manrjer of living he did not differ materially from any of his kin, but he figures here on account of his childlike submission to the workings of a law which he was unable to understand, and therefore was unable to ■wilfully sin against. Now the Cracker is a singular creature, as singular in his character or the lack of it as in his tribal name. If you ask a southerner what a ■ -Cracker is, he looks aghast at your Ignorance, then Bmiles and begins confidently to explain, but presently brings up all helpless in a fit of stammering and stuttering, finally announcing in despair: “Why, he’s a Cracker!” While no one knows where these ’po’ whites” acquired their name, it is conjectured that their long-legged gauntness may have supgested the heron known as a “Cojn •crake,” and that this may by corruption have evolved itself into Cracker. In some localities in the south this ■pecies of humanity bears tho name of Sand-hlller, which again may be derived from his similarity to the sandbill crane. At all the Crack•er is a curious creature Utterly incapable of applying himself to any steady labor, and wholly proof against improvement through contact with others. He is a Cracker first and last, nnd as long as his race endures. His Ideas of right and wrong are traditionally erratic, and when found guilty fey other men’s standards he regards 'himself as greatly abused, and in no rsense bound to respect any code not applied with force. Pendarvis, or Pen, as he was familiarly known throughout that section, was beginning to tilt his see-saw of life the other way at the time of ■which I shall speak. After many .years of far too much work (according to Cracker standards), made necessary by the hearty appetites of his ever-increasing family, he was beginning to sigh for some windfall of fortune which should allow him to hire a nigger and buy a mule, when, one ■day, a northern man came along and began to set out a grove on land adjoining his own patch. Through this stranger Pen came into part of his long-dreamed-of windfall, for while he was not able to hire a hand to do his own work, he at least found ample excuse for letting the weeds grow at borne, while for dollars he helped the northerner work on the new plantation. Time thus wore on in a happy and southern manner, until the young trees arrived at a stage where they ■could be safely left to stand alone for a time. Then one day tfie newcomer went north to bring his family back. This was bad news for the Cracker. "With rueful looks he regarded the Tankness of his own kitchen patch, and bethought himself of the daily naggings he would have to undergo from h:s “old woman” until he should begin work there. Some weeks later, while Pen was engaged in his regular Interval of hoe-handle napping, he chanced to think that it was almost time for “that Yankee” to return. From where he stood he could see that the young trees in his neighbor’s orchard looked thrifty and handsome, but began to show the need of a little attention. Pen knew exactly what ought to be done for their relief, and calculated how many days could be spent over there, and just .how many 4ays of luxurious idleness would follow on the proceeds. Although it was still two hours before sundown and be had plenty of work to do. on his little patch, Pen shoulddVed his hoe and strolled leisurely up to his front sp6rch.„ There-in- thep cbol shadq, -timed* back in his rickety chair, he thought once more of his coming bliss."-.'. . "That Yankee's tarnal slow,” mused Pen aloud, about a week later. Since that afternoon of contemplation he had passed most of his time in similar speculations as to his approaching wealth. It was but a few days later that JLen heard of a man who was inquiring for healthy trees at two dollars apiece, and after that the Cracker's mind knew no peace until be remarked to his wife next day that be reckoned their neighbor “warn't cornin’ back np mo’. A pity, tew, ter leave them hunsum trees ter ther bugs and lice,” he continued. Poor Pen had lain awake all night thinking about -those, trees at two dollars apiece, and his crude calculations of the proceeds of 200 or 300 trees at that price had furnished him with visions of a sum of money sufficiently large to keep his family and bimself in luxurious idleness for an incalculable period. A year, at least, in which to bask in the sun and feast on -hog fat and hominy! Who could resist so tempting a vision? Pen hadn't the power: • and, besides, it seemed to him such a pltynhat those trees should.be wasted. His wife had never seen Pen so eager to get to work as he was that morning. He could not even wait to •fIH his sifter-bre&kfast pipe before setting out, but shredded his leaf as he trudged almost briskly away. Whatever conscience he may 'have had he bad succeeded in stilling during his night of counsel with himself. What

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harm could there be in saving those young trees from certain destruction? Were they not abandoned, and to him as much as ttf anybody else? Ts he did not gather the harvest, another surely would. What could a man who had never been nearer than 50 miles to the county seat, with its court and jail, know, about the finer points of proprietary rights? It took Pen but a few days, to remove the trees, which were quickly purchased and no a questions asked. But when the long-dreamed-of prize was almost within his grasp, when his spade was in fact under the roots of the last tree, fate wheeled upon him, and he heard the voice of the northerner behind him, saying, in amazement, rather than anger: “Pendarvis, what are you doing?” Pen’s rights in those trees were at once relinquished in favor of their owner, and without a word. Having convinced himself, with one long, open-mouthed stare, that this was a man of flesh and blood, Pen, without deigning so much as a single word of reply, slouched off toward his cabin, leaving his spade behind. Next morning, when the sheriff drew rein at the door ahd said, simply: “Pen, they want you to go over to the county seat with me,” the crestfallen man made no attempt at resistance. His case was soon disposed-of by the court, and at the suggestion of the sheriff that he had always been a law-abiding citizen, and that his family was large, he was let off with only five years in the penitentiary. Pendarvis needed no manacles, but took his fate as calmly as he did his tobacco or his sleep; and as the penitentiary was almost 200 miles from this county seat, the sheriff, knowing his man, decided to take him home for the night. Tho next day, as the sheriff had other and pressing business to attend to, he informed his prisoner that he had better go hunting for a day or two until there should be more leisure for the journey. But instead of two days, it w;as fully two months ere the sheriff found an opportunity to move his man. During all this time Pan had lived with the sheriff, split his wood, run his erjrands, and kept his table supplied with fish and game. Indeed, Pen began to think that his luck had not gone so much against him after all, when one morning the sheriff announced that he must be off

Pen Shouldered His Hoe and Strolled Leisurely Up to Hit Front Porch. at once to the next county to attend a trial, and that as it was on the road to the penitentiary, he would fake Pendarvis along. Several days were passed 'at the; trial, and Pen. unknown 'in a strange county, attended the sittings of. the court as a spectator. When at length the tfjal closed, the sheriff found that it would be inconvenient for him to escort his prisoner farther toward the prison, so, giving Pen his own commitment papers and ten dollars for expenses, he started him off alone. In due bourse of time —'for it takes time for a Cracker to walk, and there being no railroad most of the way, Pen was* obliged ...to go afoot —he turned up at the penitentiary. The warden was dumfounded, but took him in and undertook to put him to work. Unfortunately, this officer did not know the Cracker nature as well as had the sheriff. Pen “allowed” that, he was a prisoner, but not a nigger, and simply refused to work. Neither* threats nor promises had any effect. At last it occurred to the warden that a man who could be trusted to walk 200 miles- and surrender himself with his commitment papers at a prison, simply because he was told to do so. must be a trustworthy person, and he thereupon appointed Pen warden's messenger. During.his term Pen served his state on many important errands, bearing messages to neighboring county seats, and often making journeys which kept him away for several days at a stretch. But, like a faithful hound, he never failed to return, and When at length his term was up, ~ the warden, forsooth, was forced to kick him- out. Why should a Cracker wish to leave this delightfully lazy,, irresponsible, life for •M of*toil and hardship!

HI6H COURT RULES AGAINST mm .; / l APPELLATE TRIBUNAL DECIDES ACTION CAN BE HAD. % CHARGE IS GAMBLING French Lick and West Baden Hotel Companies’ Cases Will Be * Brought to Trial—News of Indiana. Indianapolis.—The appellate court Tuesday denied the petitions of the French Lick Springs and West Baden hotel companies for a rehearing on that court’s rule, reversing a decision of Judge Buskirk of the Orange county circuit court. The court holds that an action can be maintained against the hotel companies to forfeit their charter in connection with the charge that gambling exists on tho hotel properties. * The supreme court overruled Judge Buskirk who quashed ten indictments .against persons charged with visiting gambling houses at French Lick, holding that the places where gambling was claimed had not been sufficiently described. The cases pending will be brought to trial. Os the two decisions, that of the appellate court probably id the more important. The effort of the state to have the charters of tho hotel companics declared null because of an alleged violation of their charters held up pending the court’s decision, the action was began more than a year ago, but illnesses on the part of- the attorneys engaged in it, and later on the part of Judge Roby, contributed to the delay, judge Buskirk, sitting in the circuit court at Paoli, had held that no action could be maintained against the companies to forfeit their charters, as the. state sought. His decision was reversed by the appellate court some months ago, but a rehearing was petitioned. The rehearing was denied, making possible immediate trial of the cases. Joel Jessup Is Dead. > Friendswood. —This town mourns Joel Jessup, who died at his home here. For the last 50 years he was one of the, most successful business men in Hendricks county. Although past 76 years of age, he pursued his active career until the day of his death. The cause of death was heart trouble. For many years Mr. Jessup had owned and operated one of the largest farms in the county; was also the owner of a store and the flouring mill here and conducted one of the largest dairies in central Indiana. He was a leader among the Friends. Slippery Youth Sentenced. Rushville. Ray Zearinger was found guilty of grand larceny by a jury in the Rush circuit court and sentenced to from one to 14 years in the reformatory, fined S3OO and disfranchised for ten years. Zearinger was accused of robbing Frank Wilson’s clothing store last spring. He was captured in Terre Haute and brought back here. He escaped from jail and was recaptured in Muscatine, la., and placed in a cell here for the second time. Transfer Case to Putnam. Danville. The *'*' suit of Martha Hadley vs. Felix T. McWhirter, executor of the last will and testament of .Addison Hadley, deceased, the Indiana Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, the Hadley Industrial School for Girls and the nine trustees of the W. C. T. U. of Indiana, filed in the Hendricks circuit court a few months ago; has been taken to Putnam county on a change of Venae asked for by the defendants. Husband Pays for Divorce. Jeffersonville. When Mrs. Cynthia Robison, 48 years old, went to the county clerk’s office here to get a license to wed her fifth jiusbanit, IVllchael Croft, she was confronted by a fee bill for the costs in a divorce decree recently granted her from husband No. 4. Croft raised five dollars which Tie asked to have applied on the costs. . * Says Husband Was Cruel. Shelby ville. Thirteen years of married life has proved sufficient for Mrs. Daisy L. Townsend and she has brought suit for \ divorce from Warren Townsend, both being residents of St. Paul. Mrs. Townsend charges cruel treatment and profanity, and she also alleges the defendant has abused her. . Massena Trial Begun. Warsaw,—Roy Massena, late of Indianapolis, who was arrested There recently on a charge of embezzlement of $1,500 while serving as deputy treasurer of Kosciusko county under James Babcock, was placed on trial. Peru Celebrates. Peru. —Peru is fostering memories of the greatest demonstration im its history when 25,000 people attended the courthouse, cerner-sfone cere: monies. The Peru Miami Lodge of Masons, Commercial, club members and county officers participated. Relief Corps Meets. Martinsville. The Woman's Relief Corps met here. There were 65 delegates.. There was ho social session, owing to the death of Mrs. Arthur Asher, a member,'

WARDEN AND HUNTER FIGHT. R. D. Fleming and Charles Jones the Participants. * Connersville. —R. D. Fleming of Fort Wayne, deputy state game warden, and Charles Jones, living east of the city, fought a duel when Fleming undertook tb.arrest Jones for violating the game laws o/ the state. Both men we're shot, but their injuries are not of a serious, nature. Fleming came to Connersville and was joined here by .M. C. Dunlavy of Indianapolis, another, deputy warden. Late in the afternoon the men took a walk along the C., H. & 1). railroad-, east of here, and had,, not gone far when they heard the report of a gun. On investigation the officers found Owen Morris and arrested him for hunting during the closed season. On their way into Connersville with their prisoner the officers heard shots in the woods south of the track. Fleming left Dunlavy in charge of Morris and went after Charles Jones, whom he found in the woods with two squirrels he had shot. b Attorney Sues for Fees. Columbus. —Merrill Moores of Indianapolis has sued Israel Lehman, Theodore J! Schmitt and P. H. McCormack of this city for $2,000, alleged to be due on attorney’s fees. Lehman and Schmitt were the architects for the Peru courthouse and ex-. Mayor McCormack -was the contractor. Moores • alleges he worked for the defendants before the appellate court for which he was never paid. - ■ f Committee Urges Fairness. Rloomington.—Rev. Father M. H. Bogeman, Prof. James A. Woodburn and Samuel W. Collins, a special non-partisan , citizens’ committee appointed 40-aid the two political parties in their anti-boodle election agreement, addressed a letter to a few candidates who have not the agreement. Practically all the candidates on both sides have entered into it, but two or three are holding back. Anti-Saloon Leaders at Newcastle. Newcastle. —Representatives of the Anti-Saloon Llflgue were in this city and services at the various churches were alohg temperance lines with these representatives taking a prominent part. R. C. Minton, attorney for the league and who"’drafted the county local option law, and Rev. E. M. Barney were the representatives of the Anti-Saloon League who were here. Boys Go to Reform School. South Bend. Two 14-year-old burglars, Louis Kwierwin and Edward Zell, have been sentenced to the reform school by Judge W. A. Funk of the circuit court. The youngsters in company with four others were arrested for robbing the Webber candy factory. The boys admitted they planned the theft. Nicholas Weintrout Dies. Shelby ville. Nicholas Weintrout, 75 years old, prominent Democrat, residing near Waldron, died after an illness of several weeks. He once was a representative of Marion and Shelby counties in the legislature. When he was 12 years old he, came to Indiana from Germany. Fire of Incendiary Origin. Arlington.—Fire, thought to have been incendiary, destroyed five buildings worth SB,OOO at Arlington. Three stores and two dwellings were burned. The fire was discovered by Mrs. Labe Long, and in five minutes the whole town was at work. Mill Burned; Loss $20,000. Lafayette. Fire destroyed the sawmill, planing mill and lumber sheds of Frey Bros. & Cos. The losS is $20,000. The company had just installed new machinery. Forty men are thrown out of employment. The plant will be rebuilt at once. Marshes Again on Fire. South Bend—The marshes west of South Bend -caught on fire and the great volume of smoke arising from the plat hung over th£ city. The •fires w;ere unusually, bad- . Just,.w£st_ of the city the blaze could be seen throughout the town^ Raid Chicken Thief Camp. Kokomo. Pick Ruse, Walter Smith, Ike O’Donnell, Mont Little, John Pierce, Jr., and Walter East were arrested charged with felonious conspiracy in systematic chicken stealing. A 1 camp which was maintained .west of the city wps raided. >_. ■: Thousands See Festival. Richmond. Richmond's fall festival was held here. Thousands flocked to the city and a continuance of good weather made the event a great success. All the exhibits were opened, the judges making awards. • > Plays with Matches; Dies. Rushville. While playing., with matches, I.avone Butts, the ■ three-year-old daughter of. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Butts, set fire to her clothing and suffered burns which resulted in her death several hours later. 1 Child Dies in Barn, Fire. Marion. —■ The four-year-old son of- Krasins Wright of’ Nebraska street set fire to a barn and was burned to death. Two playmates escaped. The firemen found the charred body of the child aftbr-ejtinguishing, the flames. Flying Stump Kills Woman. Lafayette. Mrs. Ephraim Coleman, 52 years old, of West Lafayette, was instantly killed by the fragments of a stump that had b*-on dynamited a block from her home.

SENTRY HAD SHREWD BCHEME. Feared Outpost Duty and Escaped It in a Novel Manner. “There’s one-thing that’s more fun than reading a good detective story,” said the retired army officer, “and that is to have a hand in solving a mystery yourself. I remember a chance we had at a western post in the seventies. It was in the Indian fighting days'and even when not actually on thfe warpath the braves were always ready to pick off a stray white man. especially a soldier, if there wa9 ■ no fear, of getting caught. “Except for ah occasional expedition to punish marauding redkins life was rather dull, and we officers were all greatly interested in a case which puzzled the surgeon. One of the privates was subject to periodical attacks of an illness for which there was no accounting. He would have nausea, get pale, have a headache and a fever, | and in short would be dog-sick. The I next day he would be all right. His food had nothing to do with the trouble. “So we set to work to find out the one circumstance which invariably i preceded these spells. First we discovered that they happened only at night; then that it was only when he was on sentry duty. He did not, however, always have them when he was on a night post. One morning the surgeon came in to mess with a look of triumph. “ ‘l’ve figured this thing out at last,’ he said. ‘The fellow always gets sick when he has one particular tour of sentry duty at night, and never at any other time. It is the most lonely and exposed post here, and lie thinks the Indians might pop him off some I fine night. He’s a coward, and to esI cape the danger he makes himself j sick. But what medicine he uses j beats me. I haven't been able to find that out but I mean to do it.’ “We did find it out. The major, who was in command of the post, the surgeon and two or three more of us i got hold of the man and worked the third degree on him. We coaxed, threatened, browbeat and abused him until he weakened and told the truth. He was a coward and had made himself sick by putting chunks of moistened tobacco under his armpits. His system had absorbed enough of the nicotine to give hfm the exact symptoms that a boy has when he smokes I his first cigar.” An Old Grandmother’s Story. How to cook a husband. You must first catch*him. Having done so, proceed as follows: Get a large jar, called the jar of carefulness (which all good wives have on hand), place your husband in it, and set him near the fire of conjugal love; cover him ! with affection, kindness and subjection; garnish with modest, becoming familiarity, and if you have -kisses and other confectioneries, let them be accompanied with a sufficient portion of secrecy, mixed with prudence and moderation. We would advise all good wives to try this recipe and realize how admirable a husband is when properly cooked. —Englishwoman’s Domestic Magazine. Gratifying Confirmation. The ostensible head of the family laid down his knife and fork in despair. “Maria,” he said, “this is an old hen.” “Good!” triumphantly exclaimed the real head of the family. “That’s just what I told the grocer when I bought it. He said it wasn’t!” Free Luncheons for Poor People. During the vacation days in New York city the poor children of the lower east side of Manhattan island received 26,043 luncheons through the home delivery system of the Children’s Relief society. To Grow Bamboo in United States, The department -of agriculture has demonstrated that Chinese and Japanese bam boo, can be profitably grown In the United States, and will experiment with drought-resistant forms from India. THE MARKETS. __— "New York, Oct. 12. LIVE STOCK-Steers $4 00 @ 7 30 i Hogs 665 @ 7‘25 I Sheep 300 @5 50 FLOUR—Winter Straights.. 4 15 (a 430 WHEAT-May ....' 1 10%$ 1 11 December 1 10 @ 1 10(4 CORN—September S7%@ 88 RYE—No. 2 Western 83%® 8444 RUTTER—Creamery ..... 18 @ 28 EGKIS - 2L.iL 37 CHEESE .. JULy . 14% CHICAGO. CATTLE—Prime Steers $6 40 @ 7 50 Fair to Good Steers 5 50 ® 6 40 Cows, Plain to Fancy.. 350 @5 00 Plain to Fancy Heifets.. 400 @6 50 Calves 1 450 @ 8 50 HOGS—Heavy Packers 5.85 @ 6 10 Heavy Butchers ...,. 6 25 ® 6 50 . Pigs 3 75 @5 50 BUTTER Creamery ........ . ’ 2Q%@ ,29% Dairy , 18 @ 24 LIVE POULTRY 11%@ 18 EGGS 13%@ 25 POTATOES (per bu.) "65 @ 70 FLOUR- ,Spring Wheat, Sp'l 6 Iff (a) 8 15-® GRAlN—Wheat, May 1 03%@ 1 04% December 1 00%@ 1 0144 GOrn, December ....'. 64%@ 65 Oats, May .... 51%@ 5144 Rye, May 80 0 81 MILWAUKEE. * GRAIN-Wheat, No. 1 Nor’n $1 07%@ 1 08% December , 1 00?i@ 1 01% . Corn, December 64%@. 65 Oats, Standard 51 @ 51% Rye, No. 1 75%@. 76 KANSAS CITY. ~ GRAIN -Wheat, December.. $ 94 @ 95% May 97 @ 97% Corn, December 58 @ 58% Oats, No. 2 White ........ 48 0 50 . ST. LOUIS. CATTLE-Beef Steers J 2 75 @7 Texas Steers .......... 2 50 @4 95 HOGS—Packers 7. 5 9(1 @ 640 Butchers C 10 @ 6 60 SHEEP*—Natives .-. 3 00 @ 4 50 . , . OMAHA. , . CATTLE-Native Steers ... $4 00 @'7 00 Stockets and Feeders 2 50 @-4 50 ■ Cows artd Heifers ..... 275 @5 25 SHEEP—Wethsrs ......Vu..-;.- 4 oil @ 4 16

A SUDOEIN GOLD. WSsBBBBS&itoz. Mate. Hsi * ■■

Mist Helen Sanerbter, of 81 S Main St., St, Josephs Mich., writes an interesting letter on the subject of catching cold, which cannot fail to be of value to all women who catch cold easily, HIM MUSED FDD SIDED COLDS. It Should be Taß&n According to Directions on the Bottle, at the First Appearance of the Cold. 18t. Joseph, Mich., Sept., 1901.—Last winter I caught a sudden cold which developed into an unpleasant catarrh of the head and throat, depriving me of my appetite and usual good spirits. A friend who had been cured by Peruna advised me to try it and I sent for a bottle at once, and I am glad to say that in three! days the phlegm had loosened, and I felt.better, my appetite returned and witjtiin nine days I was in my usual good health. ■ . ■—Miss Helen Sauerbier. Peruna is an old and wen tried remedy for colds. No woman should be without it.

NOT THE RIGHT MAN.

The Rejected—And will nothing make you change your mind? She —M’yes, another man might, ! Ten Year* Hence. I Three young men were discussing that awful thing called the future. “I’ll be content,” said one, "If, in ten years from now, I have $1,000,000.” | "Fiddlesticks!” exclaimed the second, "you want too much. If I have one hundred thousand ten years from now I’ll be happy.” The third was a solemn, slow-man-nered youth, seldom aroused to ex--citement. Now, however, he abandoned his recumbent posture on a bed j and sat'upright. *•• * j ’ “Fellows.” he drawled, “well all be 1 lucky, if, ten ye a ars from now, we have the price of a square meal.” i Which entirely broke up the serious nature o£ the discussion. "You alway* get full value in Lewi*’ Single Binder straight 5c cigar. You* dealer or Lewis’ Factory. Feoria,, 111. The wise man who has a good opinion of himself keeps it to himself. . ~ ! ~ ..... x Mrs. Winslow's Soothlif Syrup. For children teething, soften* the gurus, reduces inflammation. si lays pain, cures wind colic. 25c a bottle. —- The love of money is the easiest of all roots to cultivate.— FARMS FOR RENT or sale on crop payments. J. MOLILALL,. Siqu* City, la. An occasional failure doesn’t discourage a hustler.

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KNOWN 3IMCE 135f A5 RELIABLE c TRAPfi r-ARK P g" Cob BLACK V ' R CAPSULES SUPERIOR REMEDY'ok URINARY DISCHARGES Ere DRUGGISTS OR BV MAIL ON RFCEIPT OF'SO’fc h Plan ten a son 93 hunk y r. T Brooklyn n y