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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1922)
/ Belgium’* "Rover*" Work tor Tneir r\ - <Pr*par«*d by the National Geographic So ciety, Washington, D C.) No country injured l>v the World war set about more earnestly to achieve reconstruction than Belgium, the one which suffered most cruelly and dramatically from the conflict. Though the damage done to the coun try through property destroyed, pil lage and financial exactions by the Germans reached the tremendous sum of 30 billions of francs according to the estimate of the Belgium Comite Central lndustrlel, the people, with characteristic industry and thrift, took up tiie heavy task of resuscitating their country's industrial life as soon as the armistice hud been signed. By the beginning of 1920 they had made such great strides that, with the exception of the steel and glass industries, pro duction averaged three-quarters or more of pre-war production; the coal output bad even reached 94 per cent and the relined sugar output 100 per cent. But tiie post-war reaction which struck the United States and other countries in 1920 affected Belgium, too; and since the spring of that year Belgium bus hud its share of depres sion. closed and part time factories and unemployment. The drought which affected many parts of the northern hemisphere lias been felt In Belgium, with the result that harv ests are less and food prices higher. Where the price index of living costs was 100 In 1914 It was 477 in Ueto ber, 1920, and had reached only to 384 in August, 1921. But the adverse economic forces in operation since euriy in 1920 have caused suffering even in countries not Involved in tiie World war ; and to understand that Belgium, in spite of present trials, is in a fair way to outstrip the other war-torn countries In the return to normal, it is only necessary to consid er conditions in tiie little kingdom be fore the war broke in upon it. W its Population is Dense. The Belgium of today has an area less than one-fourth as great as Mis sissippi. and yet it has four times the population of that state. Twenty two and a half countries ilke Bel gium would he required to make a state like Texas, and if Texas were as densely populated as Belgium It would have as many people as the United States and Germany together now possess. If the entire United States had as many people to the square mile as Belgium—that Is. con tinental United States, exclusive of Alaska—we would have more people here than there are in the entire world today. Jfou could concentrate all the people of the seven seas and of all the continents here and still have room for enough more to repopulate tiie continent of Europe as it now stands. It must follow from this lhat such a vast population, living within such narrow confines—7,579,000 souls with in an area of 11,373 square miles— must he a frugal people, accustomed to self-denial, skilled in the art of economical living, and masters of the science of intensive Industry; yet with all this density of population, with all the exaetions of forced economy, they are a people who had so ordered • their relations with one another and with their government tiiat happiness and contentment seemed to dwell with them as with but few other peoples, and this in spite of diverse descent and diverse tongues. Two Distinct Peoples. Within Belgium's small territory— smaller In area than Massachusetts and Connecticut—there are nearly three million Flemings who cannot talk with tlielr compatriot Walloons, and about as many Walloons who ean . not hold converse with their country men Flemings. In their habits of mind ahd their methods of gaining a live lihood the two peoples differ as widely as the English und the French, and in their speech they are as different as the Germans and the Scandinavi ans ; and yet there Is a tie that has bound them together for generations, with never a fratricidal war in their modern history. That tie is the bond of religion, for they all subscribe to the doctrines of the Church of Home with a heartiness that makes them one of the best loved peoples of the Holy See. Their tongues are Finish and French, am! only 10 per cent of the people can speak both. The Flemish influence never crossed the Meuse riv er toward the east, and the Walloon influence reached hut n short distance toward the west from that beautiful valley. The line of demarcation be tween the two peoples is rather sharp ly marked. There is a physical difference he- I tween tlie Walloons of eastern Bel gium and the Flemings of western ’ Belgium, just as There is a difference of tongue and stock. The Walloons are of stouter build and greuter stat- ! ure. and are dark where (lie Flemings are fair, thus bespeaking tlie com mingling of Spanish blood. On tlie other hand tlie Flemings are the more industrious of tlie two peoples, and their women are said to lie able to pre pare flic liest meals out of tlie fewest things of almost any race in tlie world. Living was cheap in pre-war Bel gium. The i»eople had thoroughly mastered the art of intensive farming, and tin* land, before tlie great war descended upon tlie country with its bee! of iron, blossomed with the milk and honey of plenty. Being contig uous to tlie North sea fishing grounds, it lias always possessed a liberal sup ply of fish, which is a staple article of diet with tlie people. If living was cheap in Belgium it was no cheaper than conditions called for. because wages certainly were low. Many lace-workers,' making tlie ex quisite laces that bear tlie Belgium mark, wnrkfd from the rising to tlie setting of tlie sun for five dollars a week. It is said that the average wage of all the breadwinners of tlie country approximated only $165 a year. Tlie children work after they are twelve, and all hands in a working man’s family must keep jinny in order that no mouth shall go hungry. Even at this it requires, even in normal times, tiie utmost frugality to make the buckle of Income meet the tongue of outgo. So must the Belgian house wife be an excellent manager. The Belgian wage-earning classes eat but little animal food, and most of that is fish. All Are Early at Work. The day begins early for everybody In Belgium, and particularly with the wage-earners. More than half of Bel gium's population lives outside the towns, and they are up at their work before the gray dawn is dispersed by the rising sun. and on clear mornings the lights of hundreds of cottage* may he seen vying with the stars as they twinkle forth their message of households bestirring. In the towns and cities the people are downtown almost as early as their neighbors across the English Chan nel are at breakfast. They get their midday meal around noon, and they go home for it, since remarkably low tramway fares make this possible. So it i* thut, instead of a mug of milk and a sandwich at some quick lnnch. many a Belgian burgher shuts up shop at 12. goes home to Ills largest meal of the day, eats It leisurely, and re turns downtown by 2 o’clock. The Belgian government has always felt a keen interest In the welfare of the wage-earner and the man of small affairs, and has made It possible for them to buy homes on easy terms. The national savings hank Is empow ered to make loans to householders for buying or building homes, and to Insure their lives, so that in the event of death, the family will not lose Its equity In the place, ami cun use the Insurance to wipe off the debt. Taxes were made exceedingly low on small property owned by those who tenant it. The entire western portion of Che country resembles one vast market garden. There are no fences marking the boundaries of the many small tracts, hut rather little trenches that separate one farmer’s place from the others. Tens of thousands of acres of the roughest kind of land have beer converted into splendid trucking gardens by western Belgians. In 1830 there was a wild stretch of land west of the Scheldt river called the Pays de Waes, uncultivated and uninhabi ted. Today It is one of the most fertile sections of this remarkable country, supporting 500 people to the square mile, with truck farming as lta prin cipal Industry. BRAILLE TYPE MOST POPULAR Work of Schools for the Blind Is Simplified by Adoption of Uniform System. DOTS TAKE PLAGE OF LINES Enables Blind to Receive Training Through Which They May Become Self-Supporting—Many Books Published. New York.—The Braille system of embossed type has now been adopted by ail schools fur the blind in this country, und since 1919, no new book has been embossed In any other type. Dozens of embossed types for reading by the finger have been designed from time to time; the first practical one was devised in France 196 years ago by Valentin llauy. Three sys tems retained popularity for many years, but as this made it necessary for the blind to learn three different types, the leading educators of the country decided to make one system universal, and unanimously decided on the Braille. Much ingenuity, effort and money have been expended in devising these systems to enable the blind to read and receive training through which they may become self-supporting. All may be divided into two groups— those composed of lines and those composed of points. In general the line types, which came first, were Imi tations of characters that had sur^ vived as best adapted to reading by the eye. The point types, the characters of which are merely different arrange ments and numbers of similar points or dots, represent arbitrary systems Justified both as being generally more tangible than the lines, und as being writable as well as readable by the blind themselves. The point systems have gradually driven out the line types, with the exception of the Moon type, whlctt if ho large and coarse that anybody having the least pa tience can learn to read with the finger. Agreed on a Midway Type. The type adopted is called the Re vised Braille. 1V4. as the British have been using this type in two forms, one in full spelling and other highly contracted with many arbi trary abbreviations. As textbooks and literature should he models of good usage, the leading educators of the blind in this country agreed on a type between the two. This Ameri can grade Is r simplified type and can be read by anyone who knows either type. The music notations for the Wind are now the same everywhere, as are the mathematical and the chemical notations wherever English is used. In this way duplication of scores and tallies may be avoided through inter national exchange. Already 208 dif ferent books have been published In this uniform type. The printing of embossed books for the blind began with the founding of the first school in this country in 1890. Books were made as funds were avail able until 1879, when congress granted the American Printing House for the Blind at Louisville an annual subsidy of $10,000. This house at once Be came- the greatest producer of its kind in the world, and continued to he such into the present century, when the number of blind pupils in the schools drawing upon this source for books had more thafl doubled. The cost of production und the In crease In demand eventually made the output of this house Insufficient, and In the emergency several of the schools put up emergency printing presses and assisted one another, (me endowed enterprise set about manu facturing writing appliances und table games for the blind and selling them at less than cost. In 1919, how ever. congress increased Its grant to the American Brliitlng House from $10,000 to $50,000, which made pos sible the enlargement and improve ment of the plant and the Increase In the number of books to each school. Spreading Knowledge. In a report on tne work to educate the blind and distribute books among them, Edgar E. Allen, director of the Perkins institute and Massachusetts School for the Blind, writes: “Most schools are glad to circulate their embossed books beyond their own pupils ami do so as far as they can. But the reading hunger of the blind outside of Institutions is chiefly satyrfed by circulating libraries lo cateil here and there throughout the country. Libraries and schools inter ested have collected much literature, and some authors have been Induced to meet the cost of publishing u hook or two in Braille. “By far the largest number of blind and partly blind pupils in the United States, ns elsewhere, attend the resi dential schools commonly called Insti tutions. There are now 45 such dhhools. with a total attendance of about 5,000. The day-school move ment started in Chicago considered all Its pupils blind, and taught them as such for years until In a few cities certain of the semi-blind were segre gated and taught as semi-sighted pu pils, chiefly through the eye Instead of the fingers. “The movement for such segrega tion Is scientifically correct, and rep resents a great educational advance In the proper methods of reaching children not suffering from blindness but from seriously defective eyesight." PARTING WITH HIS PENNIES Youngster's Quotation Had Mucl Truth, but Was Hardly Appropri ate to the Occasion. William's grandfather wag a wlsi but eccentric old man who was alwayt expressing his disapproval of the pres ent generation by quoting some prov erb or well-known phrase. In couse quenee of this William had a great many of the old man’s sayings at hit tongue's end. On Children’s day In Sunday school Wllllum was chosen as the representa tlve of his class to carry up to th< pulpit the birthday box containing tb< contributions made by the children oc their respective birthdays. Each clast representative had to recite a Bible verse as he delivered the box to tht superintendent. But poor William, as he passed up the aisle, became fright ened ut the crowd and forgot Ills verse. However, as he approached the su perintendent he knew he must say something, so he bravely sang out one of his grandfather's pet phrases, "A fool and his money are soon parted."— Exchange. Wanted There Badly. “Thomas Hardy," Raid an English lecturer, “is a serious enough Individ ual today, but there was a time In London when he was the gayest of the gay. “At a bohemian club one evening Hardy rang up one after another 30 or 40 of the most distinguished peo ple in town—-dukes, bishops, actor managers. society queens, sttfge beau ties and so on. He told all these i>e<> ple to call up *025 Chiswick’ at once. “'You're wanted there badly,’ he explained to them, and the celebrities all thanked him hurriedly and rang off. “Well, when Hardy got through his telephoning we looked up ‘025 Chis wick’ In the telephone directory. It wag Wormwood Scrubs prison !" Giant Spring. Not far from the town of Twin FaBs. In Idaho. Is a spring that runs a big electrical plant. It Is called the Thousand Spring, and there is noth ing like It to he found anywhere else In the world. What a tremendous spring It Is may be Judged from the fact that It delivers almost 1,(smi cubic feet of water a second—enough water to supply all the needs of the city of New York! It flows out of a lava cliff at a considerable height, like the waterfall of a stream, and furnishes power which, converted Into elec tricity, Is distributed for lighting and other purposes over an extensive area. —Philadelphia Ledger. His Wit Rewarded. An honest rn th went into the shop ef a Quaker to buy H hat. for which 15 shillings were demanded. He of fered 12. “As 1 live.” said the Quaker. “I can not afford to sell It to thee at that price." “As you liveexclaimed the conn tryman. “Then live more moderately and be hanged to you." “Friend,” said the Quaker, “I have sold hats for 2d years, and ray ‘As I live’ trick has never been found out till now; thou shalt have the hat for nothing.”—Boston Transcript. Out. “I ran truly say. madam," begnn the educated-looking prisoner, "that I shall actually regret the day* my sentence expires and I leave these walls.” “Ah." breathed the sympathetic vis itor, “I had heard this was a model prison, but I never dreamed that it Instilled such gratitude and depth of feeling In Its inmates. And how much longer does your sentence run. my poor man?” “Life, madam.”—American Legion Weekly. Literal Construction. Stranger Are the waiters here at tentive to you. miss. Pretty Cashier—Sir-r-r. Stranger—Oh, no offense, miss—no offense. 1 assure you. 1 was merely carrying out the Instructions printed on the hill of fare: “Please report any Inattention of the waiters to the cashier." I thought If they w*ere In attentive to you, I would report them, that’s all.—Boston Transcript. Sad Caae. Mrs. Jones (sobbing)—The ««* company collector was arouml today and got his money. Joins—Well Jhat's good. What’s the matter? Why weep over a paid bill? Mrs. Jones—Oh, tny dear, boo boo— oh, dear! You sec, he was held up Just outside and came hack and—oh, dear—collected It all over again.— New Y'ork Sun. Bobby's Idea of It. The clerical guest was invited to ask the blessing, and the little boy of the house listened nicely until "Amen” was pronounced. Then he said to the minister: "You say your prayers at dinner time so you won't have to say 'em when you go to bed, don't you?"— Boston Transcript. Important Omission. Toting lady (telephoning)—Oh, doc tor, I forgot to ask about that eye medicine you gave me. Doctor—Well? Young I,a(Iy—Do I drop It In my eyes before or after meals?—Cornell Widow. New Form. Ferry—How would you- aw—like tn own—aw—a little puppy. Miss Dovely? Miss I).—Tills Is so sudden, Mr. Chapfngha in.—Detroit News. — . —■" NOT ALL GLOOM IN RUSSIA Traveler Writes of Christmas in Moe cow That Reminded Her of American Celebrations. A* far ns the fairy stories and the simpler, sweeter things in child lift go, I found evidence, on u trip I made one snuwj- Christmas day to a school outside of Moscow, that they are by no means destroyed. 1 had received an Invitation to the Christmas festiv ities of the school a gay-colored card designed by the children themselves and signed by the twelve-year-old president of the school soviet. The head of an American manufacturing plant, in Moscow then on business, and a number of relief workers had also been Invited, and together we walked five miles out Into the country to this school- now the scene of hi larious activity. The manufacturer was Immediately pressed Into service to help decorate the large Christmas tree that some of the older hoys had cut down. The decorations, almost all of then, made by the children, were bright hits of things ttint had been carefully hoarded for the occasion. When I looked up at the American business mull, lie inning from the top of his sfepludder as the children handed up their tinsel, somehow the scene did not ap(»eur very different from scenes that were being enacted that day in many an American home. After dinner there was a play called “Tlie Kingdom of Frost," which told about what happens to a child when he runs away from his parents. It was a highly moral play. The music had been composed by u boy of eleven, the son of a brilliant violinist, and the paper costumes had been mode very beautifully indeed by the chil dren. The violinist himself was in the audience, and after the great dance of snowtlakes that ended the play he was urged to perform. He asked the children what they wanted to hear. The vote was for "something sad from Tchaikovsky.” The violinist objected. He made a little speech. In which he pointed out that this was not an occasion for sad music. They should choose something festive. The children applauded his s|x>ech (politely and repeated their request He pluyed Tchalkowsky.—"Children of Moscow,” by Anna .1. Haines in Asia Magazine. Wolves "Rushed” Train. Wolves at tucked a train in Mosnla It had just been learned. A train from Dubica for Agram was traveling slowly sis in after leaving thp slutloD on account of the snow when it was attacked by a large puck of wolves who were maddened by hunger. The animals jumped on the engine and in to the coaches, howling desperately. The frightened pass.-ngers barricaded and defended themselves with rifles and revolvers. Many wolves were run over and killed, and finally the train, putting on sliced, succeeded In getting away from the pack. It arrived at Agram covered with bloodstains and pieces of wolves’ flesh. Christmas Aftsr New Year’s. The soviet Russian government has Introduced the European calendar, but the church insists upon the old Russian calendar. The result Is that the great holidays at the end of the year are celebrated twice. New Year's Is observed with great pomp after the European calendar, and Christmas after the old calendar, so that now In Russia Christmas come* after New Year's. The slate partlcipales In this or der. so that atheistic Ilolshevlsm on our January 5 closed all Its offices for the ecclesiastical Christmas bused upon the czarlst calendar. Careless Nurse. A fashionable mother Insisted that the maids In her employ should af ford a- much consideration to her children as to any one else in the household. On one occasion a youngster ap proached his mother with this an nouncement : "My piece of bread and butter has dropped on the buttered side.” Whereupon the mother summoned her thus: "Clarice, you will please to remetn hei that you are to butter Clara's bread on the right side." Hail Men With "Pep." “Men with 'pep' rush in where an- j gels fear to tread.” Even “In the (life Ing times of peace” they cast “modest stillness and humility” to the fourth remove and “let their action Imitate the tigers." They advance upon our civilization like an army with ban ner*. "Brasbness” we used to call it, with affectionate contempt Hnd tender pity; “pep” we hail If now, and luud It with loud hosannas.—Henry Ford's Dearborn Independent. Postponed Repentance. There wav a man out in Wisconsin who went to a revival meeting and was pressed to repent. He wavered for a time and finally arose and said, “Friends, I want to repent and tell how bad l have been, hut I dasri’t do It when the grand Jury Is In session.” ••The laird will forgive,” the revival 1st shouted. “Probably lie will,” answered the •Inner, "but he ain't on that grand Jury.”—Boston Transcript. Unlucky Coincidence. And here's one about the Quaker whose patriotism got the better of his religious scruples and who went to war. Crawling through No Man’s land he spied a husky Herman. liaising hlv rifle to hlv shoulder, he shouted: “Friend, ’tis most unfortunate for thee, hut thee stHndeth Just where I am going to shoot.” , And blazed away.—American Legion Weekly. Subscribe for The Monitor k > I HAD TO HAVE THE PASSWORD Without It, Nobody, Commanding Officer or Any One Else, Could Pas* That Sentry. After the preliminary challenge the sentry had ordered the commanding officer to advance with the counter sign. Hilt unfortunately the latter had forgotten It. "Come. come, sentry,” said the C. ()., somewhat testily, "yon know me. don't you?” * “Yes, sir, hut I've got to have the password." "You obey all orders of Hie com manding officer, do you not?" "Yes, sir.” “Then why not let me pass at once?" "Because, sir. the corporal gave me strict orders not to let any one. man, woman or child, pass this post unless they say 'Saratoga.' and If you can't do It you’ll have to go around some other way."—The Leatherneck. Success. The Sunday school teacher was do ing Ids best to inculcate lessons of altruism, and had taken as his exam ple the case of two little boys, one of whom was always ready to grab, while the second was willing to share everything. “Now, children." he finished impres slvel.v. “which of these two 1h»s will grow up Into the successful and re spected man?” Ami ns one voice the class an swered : “The guy that gits 1"—Ameriean le gion Weekly r . - ..... * *■» » » » «"< ImELCHOR-Druggist I The Old Reliable Tel. South 807 4826 So. 24th St. ... . . . . . < 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 n E Best Drugs, Sodas and Sundries 3 E in City | PEOPLES DRUG STORE 1 ~ Prompt Service E 111 So. 14th St. Jack. 1446 = M1111111111111111111111111111 ■ 111111111111111II1111 wywwwwwywwwwyi ’■ When in Need of ^ :• Cleaning and Pressing J" Call Market 3366 i* Prices ('heap Work Guaranteed ,■ ■: J. D. HINE<5 5 "• Tailor Cleaner Hatter % Ja 5132 So. 24 St. Markat 3366 ■. ^JVWWAVWAV/AV.'.V.1 Finkenstein’s Groceries # Meats Beit Goods at Lowest Prices 26th SrBicndoJSts. Web. 1902 w« Sen Skinhe:. ! the highest grade Macaroni, I Ep 'vetti, Egg Noodles and I Other Macaroni Product* I ^saaKBamMMMBMaama?fsiaw Kt—-— -- - * ■ | I Ml .IS '• S LAUNDRY ? 'I hr Laundry That Suits All ■ 1301 No. 24th St. Web. 0820 o^——.... ----- -o .‘.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.'.V.Y |j Eagle Cafe ij ;I Lake and 27th Street £ £ SPECIAL CHICKEN DIN- £ £ NEK SUNDAYS AND £ J THURSDAYS J I; * Phone Webster 3247 •; £ Chas. Hemphill Prop. ;! £ £ MMMWAVAW.W.V.V.V I . _ , ■ PATRONIZE THE STATE FORNITORrCOTl 14TH ST. CORNER DODGE ST. Dou^Im 13J7 Brunswick "h:r* • a|>d Record* It Pays to Advertise in the Monitor .. hhhimimhimih* <*'«* Allen lanes, Has. Phane W. W JONES & CO. FUNERAL PARLOR 2314 Nartt 24th -St. Web. 11H j l.adj Attendant nmiiu---**" C. J. Carlson SHOES 1614 N. ‘.Mill St “Same Location 31 Years (Cor. Allej) —----■===='=^ - | i I Liberty Drug Company d B. Robinson, Mgr. Webster 08S0. 1JHM N 24 th St. FREE DELIVER* ‘illlllllllltlltlllll'illHlltMlllfHIIIHIIIHMIlMtlHIIIIItHIIIHIIKIIMHIiHIIIIIIWMIllDMH f—.■■.. * ■ .-s f We Have a Complete Line af FLOWER,GRASS AND GARDEN Bulbs, Hardy Perennials, Paaltry Supplies Fr#ah cut flower* always on hand Stewart’s Seed Store 119 N. 16th St. Opp. Post Offlea Phone Douglas 977 . .... .. . . . . . .-^1 Lambert, Shotwell & Shotwell I ATTORNEYS Omaha National Bank Bldg. Phone AT lantic ft104 Notary Public In Office and Counsellor N. W. WARE Attorney at Law Practicing in Both State and Fed eral Court* 111 South 14th St. Omaha. Neb. " j — — —— -- i X i > (. Phones--Office Web. 5036—Res. ]’ X Web. 5406 V, From Early Mom Until Late at '! X Night X “Taxi at Your Service” !! ( I NORTH EDO EXPRESS CO. f l| A. F. ALLEN, Prop. X Trucks for Either Light or j! X Heavy Hauling y X We Haul Anything, Anywhere y y 2010 N. 21th St. Omaha, Neb. X A. F. PEOPLES PAINTING I* A PER HANGING AND DECORATING Estimates Furnished “ret All Work Guaranteed. Full Line of Wall Paper and Sherwin-W illiam* Paint* and Varnishes 2419 Lake St. Webster 6.366 Dressmaking, Hat* Cleaned A Blocked FRANK BARNES, Tailor CLEANING \X> PRESSING All Style* of Cup* Mode. Mel,. 3961. 1322 No. 21th sU Omaha. .■.VA'.V.V.V/.V.V.V.S'.VW £ I he Western l uneral Koine |£ /i Pleases •! f AnilwiH mvtyoiiMieliunJdi) 5 f 251* Lake St. I‘hoi we Web. uy* ^ > SILAS JOHNSON, Prop. £ ■I funeral DIRECTORS < .*. v.v j M. L. Hunter j ^ Distributor of De-Lite Coffee, Teas I mid other household necessities ♦ 1 Npeelnl Premiums Laundry I « Tablets I j 2201 Grant St. Web. ONsl I !?.C0Ld* ^xcb*',nfled. 15 cent* Eat. “hand?* h reco'ds ; SHLAES PHONOGRAPH CO. .... price! of family Laundry Service REDUCED! f*H DRY, 10c per lb. for first 15 pounds 7 c per lb. over the first 15 pounls Minimum charge, Si.00 I I.AT WORK or LINEN BUNDLES Sc per lb. Minimum churge, 60c DRY WASH, no STARCH flat pieces ironed Sc per lb. Minimum charge. $1 25 Quality and Service Same as Heretofore Standard Laundry 24th, Near take Street Phone Webster 0130 •'lilliHIIIMIIIMIMnillliimiMmillUHHMIHHMIlMttlttnMHMIlMIIDMNMd , |