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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (July 14, 1911)
I IIF' JSBH WhenthiE GALLERY BrTmtm B.CLARK (IB return to America of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Longworth after tholr honeymoon trip abroad gnvo to Representative Henry S. Boutell, Ilcpubllcan, of Chicago, an oppor tunity to have considerable fun at tho expense of tho Democrats. It Is known of courso that ono great political party looks to Thomas Jef ferson as tho apostle nnd prophet of tho slmplo democratlo life, and U-iPSKa knowing this, Mr. Doutell, who np- a parcntly had been reading soma ancient records, tried his bost to undormlno tho "simple llfo" pedestal upon which Thomas Jefferson stands. There were some people apparently who thought that Mrs. Longworth, who Is cx-Prcsldcnt Rooso velt's daughter, might return from her honeymoon trip abroad, whero she was treated in n measure like a royal personage, in a framo of mind in which prido waB dominant and that sho might havo lost Bomo of her American simplicity. Representative Boutell mado a speech which of courso did not havo Mrs. Longworth for its central oubject, but ho In troduced matters by saying that she would return to America, "not Princess Allco, but the samo modest, unassuming daughter of tho president that It was her wont to bo." Mrs. Longworth camo in to Mr. Boutell's speech only as an lncldout of discourse, the Republican representa tive's main intention being apparently to attempt to re fute tho statement mado by Representative Wheeler of Kentucky that the Republi can party under present ad ministration was introduc ing "truculent sycophancy and flunkeylom" Into our Intercourse with representa tives of foreign powers. Tho Chicago Republican looked at the Democ racy's Mississippi chieftain (now a United States senator), then, turned his eyes to tho then sub chief tain, Champ Clark of -Missouri, and said: "I wish to read a few words of Thomas JefferBon." Tho chieftain looked moro than a bit startled. "I read from tho 'Complete Writings of Jeffer son,' by Ford," went on Mr. Doutell slowly. "It appears from this letter that Adams was Just about to go as a business agent of Jefferson to London, and aftor giving him several commis sions, ho writes: "'One further favor and I am dono; to search tho Herald offlco for the arms of my family. I havo what I have been told wero tho family arms, but on what authority I know not. It is posslblo there may be none. If so, I will with your assistance becomo a purchaser, having Stearno's word for it that a coat of arms may bo purchased as cheap as any other coat.' "So hero wo have tho founder of tho Democratic party Just dabbling, as it were, In Byncophaucy not vory truculent as yet." There was no quick recovery on the part of the Democratic members from this blow, which, while directed fair at thoir idol, hit them hard In glancing. Finally, Mr. Sulzer, tho East side itatcsman, recovered sufficiently to ask in what fear It wbb that Jofforson had commissioned a man to buy the coat of arms. On learning that It was In the year 1771, Mr. Sulzer said, with nn Intonation that showed he had found a grain of comfort in tho thought, "That was five years beforo the revolution." The New York ' representative's consolation morsel apparently was not big enough to go round among his neighbors with an appreciable oharo of each. It was a bit hard to learn after many years that tho man who wrote the Immortal document beginning with ringing words about equality; had been trying to buy something which would go to show that ho was a trifle "moro equal" than his neighbors; and the blow was like unto that of a bludgeon, bocauso It was Rhown that the supposedly Impeccable ono had mora than Inti mated that a counterfeit, coat was as good as a genuine one if only it were nobly emblazoned. The Republicans had a rare time of It over tho Democratic discomfiture. When !t comes to fun tho galleries aro gloriously nonpartisan. Tho humor of the thing was to tho people aloft woll worth tho knocking of n prop from tho third presi dent's pinnacle. Things might not have been so altogether bad for the cause of Mr. Jofforson and bio house disciples, if Mr, Doutell had been content to Btop, for everybody recognizes tho weakness that all human nature even that sternly simple typj has for crests and other family gewgaws, "Yes," Bald tho Chicago man, "it was flvo years before tho revolution. Now, Just beforo tho rovolu tlon, on August 25, 1776, tho groat foundor of tho Democratic j)arty, tho introducer of 'truculent sycophancy into our national administration, wroto to John Randolph from Montlcello urging a reconciliation with Great Britain, nnd In that letter he uses this expression: " 'I am sincerely ono of thoso who would rathor be In dependonco on Great Britain, properly lim ited, than auy other nation on earth, or than on no nation.'" The last flvo words of this Joffersonlan pro nouncement it would seem, If languago moans anything, point to a deslro on tho part of tho Virginian Democrat that tho colonics should havo 1 CQyCttJJSfAJY AMD MAS. UWGWORrf fMBA MI sx am an ownorship cablo of kind connecting them with ono of tho over-tho-sea powers. As Mr. Doutell put it: "It sooms posslblo that, having purchased his coat of arms, Jofforson feared that on tho declaration of independence and tho establishment of a republican form of government it would not bo an available asset, and so ho hoped that dependonco would contlnuo." Tho memory of this speech dwells In congress. It was intentionally light, but it drove homo tho lesson that frailties of a certain kind aro not confined to members of any political party. When in tho future an American citizen dies as the result of eating adulterated food that has boon an article entering into Interstate commorco, a coroner's jury will bo Justlflod In bringing In n verdict of oulcldo. In ordor not to bo too hard on tho deceased, tho jury may give tho causo as caroleBsness, but whichever of tho twain tho ver dict be, the "recently died" will bo hold responsi ble. The pure-food bill which passed Congress is n strong measure. Prolr to Ha passage it was tho causo of moro misunderstandings, moro sus picions and of more abuse of men and moasuros than was any other which congress thought it worth whilo to consider. Representative James R. Mann of Chicago piloted the bill through tho houso. Ho was ox pounder and exhorter, and during the greater part of four days bo held the interest of tho seasoned mombers as a school teacher holds tho interest of wide-open-eyed children to whom tales of a hither to unknown nre told and It was tales of the hitherto unknown that Mr. Mann told to the Washington-gathered children of a largor growth. For amazement and curiosity, for Interest and indignation thoro was no sceno of the winter in tho big hall of congress liko unto that enacted whllo tho Hyde Park representative set forth his wares in bottle and in box and gavo his colleagues full knowledge of tho indigestible and poisonous stuff that the stomach of the American had boon taking to Its own all the years under the sacred names of food and mcdlclno. Tho houso has upon most occasions tho saving graco of taking things in part humorously. A Joko saves many a situation, assauges anger and disarms tho man whoso tongue under stress of temper becomes n sharp weapon. Thcro wore few Jokes during the discussion of tho pure-food bill. The subjoct was as deadly serious as wero some of tho "food" products dis played on tho Chicago representative's desk. Once , in a whilo the gravity wob relieved by a quip, but as n matter of fact tho joko of tho thing was of the past a hugo Joko, If a grim ono, cracked by food preparers and medicine manufacturers at tho expense of tho stomachs and tho llvors of tho Amorlcan peopto. Mr. Mann told of an , American firm that bad been Importing rotten yes, rotten eggs, which, after treatment with boric acid, wero sold to candy-makers and cako-bakers, Mr. Gaines of Tennesseo expressed grntltudo that tho imports did not get into eggnoggs. Tho laugh was faint. Every member was thinking of tho candy an, tho cako and stomachs of tho child multitude. The half Iisb never beon told in tho publia prints of the food frauds which Roprosentatlvo Mann disclosed in the time ofton extended alio tod to him to press this bill to a passage, Bomo of his exhibits wero ground "coffee" mado of roasted beans, oats, pilot bread, charcoal, red Blate, bark and date stones; cinnamon made of sawdust; whole popper made of tapioca and lamp black; cocoa mado of walnut shells nnd oxldo, and n thousand nnd ono other foods ndultorntod in a thousnnd and ono ways. Tho drinks wero worse. From tho exposition mado in tho houso and in Ihls oubject an Interest doopcr than any draught that ho had ever taken was shown by ovory member it would soem that the man who leads a frlond to tho bar nnd asks what ho will havo glvos his frlond no choice, for the bartender will sot out what tho spirit moves, and it soldom will move a pure spirit. The members of congress learned by formulas presented, boarlng tho nnmo and address of deal ers, that skim milk masquerading as crenm Is a dccoptlon of babo-llko Innocence compared with tho "puro domestic" and "flno Importod" whiskies and cordials which aro set forth for tho damnation of n drinker's stomach .If hot for tho damnation of his soill. Tho hopo may bo expressed, possibly without Incurlng tho charge of vindlctlvoness, that In this cabo tho curse roturns to roost behind tho bar. To Representative Henry T. Ralnoy Is duo large ly tho -fact that tho bonos of John Paul Jones rest in tho land for which ho fought. It .was tho Illi nois Democrat who first took up tho matter of tho search for tho commodoro's remains and who started tho Investigation which later mado Gonotal Portors work posslblo. Mr. Ralnoy never has beon given credit In full tor his Bhnro of the labor, for modesty has hold him silent. Congress at tho outset did enough to dlscourngo ton mon of ordinary en orgy from carrying on tho quest for anybody's bonos. Mr. Ralnoy refused to bo gibed out of his purposo, and although ho could not tnduco his colleagues to tako him altogether seri ously, ho followed tho bent of his bellof In other direc tions nnd now John Paul Jones rests at Annapolis. Tho IlllnolB member In troduced n resolution pro viding for tho finding and for tho removal to Amer ica of the Scotch sailor's rotualnB. Tho resolution callod for an appropriation of $10,000 to pay tho expenses. Then tho fun began. Tho mockers In tho houBo declarod that tho commodoro wob burlod deep in a cemetery undor nillllon-dollar butilnesB structures on tho Ruo Grande Aux Dolles or on the Rue des Eclusos Saint Martin or on several other rues which tlioy could not pronounce. Congress In Its humor had tho aid and Jocose correspondents, who saw tho raro Jest In tho bones search and mado tho most of It. And hero recol lection brings a blush of contrition to tho chooks of ono who followed In tho train, Members Bald and correspondents wroto that the French doubtless gradly would allow tholr business palaces to bo un dermined and toppled to ruin on tho payment of $10,000 of Yankoo cash. If Yankco chock, the representatives said, aided by French politeness, could nccompllsh tho purposo of building demolition, thoro would bo small chanco of separating Jones' banes with any certainty of Identity from thoso of tho Frorich sleopern In the old uembtory. One scoffer suggested with flno Irony that thoro might bo a bit of tho original Scotch skull left, nnd that Sidney Smith's rule might bo applied to mako positive, tho identification. Mr. Ralnoy was undisturbed. Ho was not oven moved to surrender when suggestion was mado that if tho $10,000 wore sont over to eomo French gravo digger he would find the old sea dog's bones and provo their genulnonesH If ho hnd to tattoo tho sailor's autograph In tho tibia of tho loft leg to do it It was two yearB on tho way, but tho laBt laugh camo, and It was Mr. Rnlnoy who had It, His colleagues mado amend for tholr scofllng and their scorning, and now another Jostor of tho past writes belated word of contrition. THOMAS xSfSZKSa THE COLDEST PLACE ON EARTH What Is said to be tho coldest placo on tho globo is tho region of Verkholensk, Siberia. . Hero la a convict station, but during most of tho year no guards nre needed to keep tho prisoners from run ning away, for In tho moro sovcro portions of tho winter no living creaturo can remain In tho open, nnd during tho threo most sovero months, when tho tcmpuraturo sometimes falls to 85 degrees be low zero, no ono dares to vonturo out for moro than a fow moments at n tlmo. Ordinary steel . tools will snap liko glass, and unseasoned wood, becomes almost no hard as steel. When ono breathes u powder liko tho vory finest snow fnllB nt one'B feet. It Is said that there aro less forms of Insect life hero than elsowhoro in tho world, and sotno of thoso found are not found olBowhcro, seemingly having been created especially to Inhabit such a frigid region. Some of the Blgnal-sorvlco officials doclaro that most of the severe cold waves that sweep across tho North Amorlcan continent havo their origin In Verkholensk. The wind blows a perfect galo almost all the time, and that discomfort, added to tho low temporature, would certainly mnke this a very un pleasant placo In which to Bpend tho winter. No Help. A St. Louis trnyollng man, making his first trip through North Dakota, woke up ono May morning to find tho ground whlto with snow. "For Heaven's sake," ho asked the hotel clork, disgustedly, "when do you have summor out In thlB country?" "I don't know," replied tho clerk, "I have only been hero 11 months." Success. Carstair's Friend By LOUISE MERRIFIELD "It's such a bully llttlo retreat," Carstalrs explained on tho way tip tho valloy from tho Btatlon. "I haven't been horo for sovcral years, but I can tasto tho flsh now from that loko." "On your placo!" "Yep, all of It, Deer too, In season, otter, 'coon, fox nil uorta of game. And Iho houso lo a regular lodgo. Six rooms, hugo rock fire places, woods growing clear up to tho doorstep. All i nave to uo is shut tho uoor, nnu put on a padlock, and It's thcro when 1 caro to como back to It, Just as I left it" "Hlro a caretnkor?" Strcot naked, casually, "I suppose you havo to," "Ten a year to tho first neighbor down tho road. French Canadian chap, very decent and awfully oblig ing, too." Carstalrs beamed out nt tho landscapo with tho air of a home coming baron. Ho was still young enough to tako himself very seriously, oven htB vacations. Street did not nnswer. Ho was on tho back scat of tho rickety carry-all, they had picked up at tho station bclqw, nnd a good, solid sense of contentment flooded his whole being as tho bill ranges un folded In overlapping vistas, and tho sunlight suffused tho greon forest about In golden i;lory. It was Mm ply great, ho decided, great of good old Carstalrs to think of him, and bring him' up for tho season, Ho was meditating lazily how ho could mako It up to Carstalrs when tho wagon turned a bond In tho road, and a beautiful sweep of lake lay beforo tbcm, with wooded shores rising stoop ly on every sldo. "Hero Is whero wo will rest and loaf and invito our souls, Roily boy." CarBtairs stood up to got a hotter view, and took off his hat in salute to tho beauty of It all. In tho distanco, smoko curled up from a whlto rock chimney among tho trees. But words died on tho owner's Hps. Not 1G paces away from them, standing perilously out on a log In tho water was a girl, and sho was fishing. Strcot never forgot tho plcturo sho made, In a linen skirt, anklo laugth, a faded, old roBO silk kimono to her waist, open at tho throat, and short Bloovcd, and on her head a peaked Mexican hat, somowhat atllt That was all they saw, except the long braid of heavy black hair that hung down her back. "I thought you said tho place '.' Street stopped, for Carstalrs was climbing out of the wagon, and delib erately making for tho trespasser on hlB fish preserves. "Can you direct us to tho Carstalrs placo?" ho asked, quito diplomatically, Street thought, considering. Sho merely raised ono tannod, rounded arm, and pointed towards tho chimney. "They call that houso somothlng of tho sort, .1 bollove." "FiBhing good?" Then sho did look up at him, grudg ingly, nppraislngly, looked also at tho waiting carry-all, and its ancient driver, and at Street longest, at Strcot "Sometimes," sho said, gravely. "Mostly pickerel and perch. I got all I need, though." "Do you Indeed?" remnrkod Car stairs, and ho eyed her speculatively through his oyo glasses. "Er who owns tho placo yonder?" "I don't know. I havo rented It from tho caretaker for tho season, threo months." "You you have rented It for tho season from tho caretaker?" Car stairs dropped IiIb eyo glasses, nnd re covered thorn helplessly. Sho bowed her head, and looked over at Street. "Rent paid In advanco," nho added firmly. "Thoro aro sovoral of us summering there," "Aro thoro? How dollghtfull I'm so ginu ypu into it, you Know, so awfully glad." Carstalrs was floundor ing desperately. "Because, you boo, I'm Carstalrs myself, I I bought tho placo n couplo of years back." "Did you?" Sho turned with a quick smllo. "Why, then you'ro our land lord, nron't you? I'm happy to moot you." "Don't mention It," murmured Car stalrs. "Because, you know, wo'vo beon so Inconvenienced. Tho roof leaks." "It shall bo repaired. My-er yes, by Jove, my frlond repairs roofs." "Does ho? Sho smiled over nt Street "Does he repair wells also, and locks, and fireplaces that won't burn? Wo need help badly, I think It was to kind of you to como all tho way up hero to sco Jf wo wore comfortable." That was tho final shot. Carstalrs capitulated. After promising all tho Improvements desired, ho climbed back Into tho carry-all, and ordered tho driver to go to tho house of tho caretaker, "You'ro not going to visit his sins on tho girl In question, aro you, Sta cay?" Street asked. "She's n bully girl. I'll look after tho roof and tho woll." "Now, we'll divide up fairly nt tho start," Carstalrs answered. "You tako tho roof, and I'll tako tho well. I'm not going to row with anybody over this godsend. Well put up at tho French Canadian house, and say noth Ing. Did you seo her eyes, Roily, great Bcott, did you seo her eyes. boy?" That was the start For two mouths through the long, hazy, lazy days of July and August they remained at the French Canadian shack half a mlla from tho lodgo. They repaired every posslblo thing on tho place that could bo repaired. And abovo all, they rode. fished, walked nnd loafed with the three Kcnyoti girls. Two were sis ters, Madollno and Lots, but It was their cousin both Carstalrs and Street loved, tho girl Under tho peaked hat Dolly Kcnyon. And comradely, each waited for tho other. "You tako first chanco, Roily," Car Btairs w.ould say, "You've, got the right of way nuyhow? Aren't you my. guest? If circumstances wero differ ent, 1 could choko you nnd throw you to tho fishes for bait, but, hang It all, I'm your hoBt Why don't you ask her, and "got tho agony over with?" "You don't do that to a friend. Stncoy," smiled bnck 8treot. "Go ahead, and let the best man win, say I. I'm willing to tnke tho chanco. It's JuBt fate's puro cusscdnoBB any how. Wo always did havo tho Bame tasto In llfo, old boy." "I'd dlo for her," groaned Carstalrs. dropping his oyo glass out of sheer helpless norvo tension. "I know. Street looked un at the clonr night sky, and grinned. "I'd live for her." It was tho next wcok It hanncned. From tho porch of tho lodge the girls could look ovor tho lake, and they saw tho whojo nffalr. Tho two had beoa out nil tho morning fishing In a light rowboat. Strcot was seated, CarHtnlra standing easily at the stern, when he scorned to lose his balance. At Lois' cry Dolly was ou hor feet Instantly. ana bbw Carstalrs fall backwards Into the lake, and well did she know tho depth, nnd treacherous under growth beneath the calm dark waters. Madeline started on a run down to wards the Frenchman's for help. Lois half slipped to tho floor In a dead faint, and still the other girl stood motionless and shocked watch ing tho boat, watching Street as he took tho dtvo aftor his friend. Then ho too ran, but not after Madeline. Down nt tho shore was her own boat a stocky, well built one, and sho sont It out towards tho other that floated ompty on the water, It seemed as though hor heart wero choking her, that length of tlmo when Bhe waited for them to rise again, wondering it they would over rise, If they might not be entangled at some awful depth in that still, dark lake that told no Bocrots. And sho leaned out over tho sldo ot tho boat and called, called tho name that was In her thoughts always these days. "Roland, Roland, I am here!" It was the tint thing Carstalrs hoard when he came up, clutching Street's shouldor, but ho had nerve, this slim, English chap, and he helped to put Roland Street Into the boat with her help, and got back himself. "Ho's only a bit kuocked out," he told her, when he could speak. "I wont down all right, but a snag caught him on tho head. Poor old boy, when ho was trying to savo me." "Will ho live, are you sure he'll llvo?" Carstalrs novor forgot her tone or tho look In hor oyes, as she took Street's head on hor lap and pushed back his wet curly hair. It was his answor. "Suro as that I am alive mysolf." he said, fervently, Sho smiled up nt-hlm, her eyes full ot tears. "I guess you know how how very much I care," she faltered. "I guess I do," answered Carstalrs. "It's his winning. And he's a splen did old boy, Roily Is." He paused, and attended to his oars, Street had opened his eyes, and they looked straight up into the girl's. "Dolly," ho began. ''I tried to save him for you" "And he saved you for mo," sho broke in, gently. "How big, and splen did your filendshlp is, Roland." The two men looked at each other. To Street thoro camo 'the knowledge ot what bad happened, how when death threatened both, each had wil lingly risked hlo life to save the oth er, and even with the wonder and sweetness of this other lovo breaking over htm, ho know tho bond that had held Carstalrs truo blue to him. "I think I'll run buck to town to morrow, old boy," Carstalre romarked later, after they had "hanged cloth ing, and rested back at tho shack. "When wo both wont undor or she called you. You don't mind, do you?" Street, put out his hand. "Pusslng.tho lovo 6f woman" he said, slowly. "No, I don't mind. I'll wait up here awhile, until I can bring hor bnck with mo. You understand?' "I understand," said Carstalrs. Kills Canal Project. Tho ameer of Afghanistan has been forced, apparently, to give up an ambi tious canal project which bo had In mind for tho irrigation of tho Jelala bad district It was to be made by local labor, says tho Pioneer, nnd. as tho Afghans aro exports in earthwork, tho project, it was thought, would ba easily completed. Irrigation by under ground channels Is mostly In vogue la tbo plains of eastern Afghanistan, so that a surface canal would be some what of a novelty. Tho headword wero badly damaged some time ago by heavy floods which came down the river, and tho repairs Men to hat been more than they could maaa.