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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1912)
K J r :- -ffil V A- v The Big Cele bration By David C. Gale :i i? &v. rJifr &a liV v5"sr S KvI (Copyright, 1912, by Associated Literary Press.) It wns a sweltering day when tho Jettcr came, ono of tho days that mnkes you wonder why cities aro built. Tho strcetB were parched and glaring, nnd the offices everyone knows how thoy aro In midsummer. Marshall Ronton leaned back In hla chair with his eyes half closed. A bit of paper had set him to dreaming of tho distant hillside whero he hnd first become acquainted with green fields and shade trees. "If you could arrange It bo as to bo at homo tho first week In August," the letter ran, "there's going to be a big celebration. Town Is a hundred years old. Most likely you would see some peoplo you know." So the sleepy old town had decided to mark tho advent of Its second cen tury with n birthday narty. What a record of uneventful years! Ho could remember when, as a boy, ho had climbed tho hill out beyond the mea dow and counted every houso In the .vlllago. And tho last time he was at 'homo ho had found It surprisingly easy to point out those same houses. "That was when Allco was married," he mused. "Five,, years no can It bo as long ago as that? I wouldn't havo believed It." All that aftornoon ho was living amid old-tlmo surroundings. Once more ho set out on the path that Beads up past tho trout-brook to the spring In tho edge of the woods. Ho threw himself down beside it as of old, and watched tho bubbles zigzag their way to tho surface Ho could almost hear the call of tho south wind in tho maples over his head. When he reached home at night, his eye was still vibrant with boyish en thusiasm. "You must have had a good day," was his wife's greeting. "I got a letter from home," came the smiling reply. ' "Then I'm sure there must bo something nlco In It you aro so light hearted. You ran up tho walk llko a boy." "I am a boy," he cried, as ho hand ed her tho letter. "I've been a boy all the aftornoon. Don't ask for a rea son; It's lmposslblo to explain it No ono can tell why this letter of all tho others should havo given mo such a backward turn unless It's . tho hun dred years Idea. Anyway, I've squan dered my time In dreaming." "And havo you decided to got" "We must. It would be a crime to put it off nny longer, business or no business. I hadn't realized until to day that it's been five years since wo paid tho old folks a visit. No wonder they keep asking when we are com ing homo." "I'll tell you what you ouglit to do," 'she exclaimed. "Get the whole family homo." "Ours?" "No theirs." "The old house wouldn't begin to hold us," protested Marshall. "I mean their sons and daughters. Of courso I would love to go myself and take tho children," she hastened to add, "but that can come later. Just for this once, I'd like to have you all go back alone. In no other way could you give your father and mother so much real pleasure; It would seem like old times to them. Think of what it would mean to you, too." "I don't believe It can bo arranged. Tho rest of the family might not bo able to get away." "Oh, yes It can," she persisted. "I'll write to them tonight" Thus it enmo about that, on tho flrBt Monday in August, the grown-up Ken ton children were on their way to tho big celebration. They met at a little town six miles from their destination. They met there because tho train could carry them no nearer beyond that point tho stage was their only choice. It wns the same stago which had carried them to and fro" when they were children In reality. Had Uncle Jerry, the driver, been in charge of things that afternoon, he would never have set out with any such collection of baggage and ex press he would have left a part of it until the following day. Hut the boy was Bangulno, and thought ho could take It all. Ho was about ready to start when tho Kentons came In Bight "Walt a minute!" wheezed Mar shall, who had rim on ahead to make arrangements. "Whore's Uncle Jer ry?" "He's sick. I'm driving today." - "Can you make room for us?" "Guess so If you don't mind being crowded. Get In anywhere you can." At any other time they would havo resented such accommodations, but on this particular day It seemed llko an other touch of realism. Often, In yearB gone by, had they started for home after spending the day in town, only to bo confronted by similar con ditions. 60 they climbed In among tho strawberry crates and mail pouches without a word of protest even tho boy was surprised at tholr cheerfulness. "It's a shame the way we've been V neglecting tho old pcoplo," exclaimed Allco, ub tho stngo tolled along over tho country road. "I don't bollovo they've Been any of us slnco tho day I wns married. "Wo might tako turns In going home," advanced James. "Each ono of ub to mako tho trip every flvo years. In. that way thoy would hnvo nt least ono visit a year, and, as Allco says, we ought to get Into lino In somo way." "It looks as If wo wouldn't nny of us reach homo this year," predicted Daniel. "There's Harrington Hill, and It's all tho horses can do to pull their load on levol ground." "You'll havo to get out and push somo of you," shouted tho boy. " 'Twould mako Undo Jerry Bicker than ever if wo got hung up." Casting asldo whatever portion of dignity may havo remained, tho Ken ton boys Jumped out nnd sought to relieve tho overworked horses. With on easier load and additional power behind him, tho boy again took up tho reins. Ho glanced confidently up tho hill as ho started tho horses. For fully fifteen minutes he struggled to fill Undo Jerry's placo; then enmo tho surrender. "It's no use." ho groaned. "Wo'ro stuck." "This Is a pretty note!" exclatmed Marshall. "What aro wo going to do?" Tho Kentons wero slow to adjust themselves to the situation. They had almost forgotten that at best country roads aro very uncertain. "You wait here," volunteered Dan iel, "and I'll go to tho village for a team." "No," cried Allco, "lot's all walk. It Isn't far up over tho hill. Our bag gngo will come somotlme." And she led tbo wny out across tho freshly cut hayfield. There was a fenco to be scaled, and then they were In tho midst of In numerable woodland voices and tho richly-blended fragrance of tho forest Clambering up the steep, unoven road way, they came to tho sugarhouse in tho clearing. Yet another climb, and the end was In sight. "There she Is Just tho samo as ever, bless her!" shouted Marshall, nodding his head In silent approval. "Not much change, is thero?" breathed Ellen. "Father must bo sotting tho paco," observed James. "Cur houso Is tho only ono that's decorated." "I'll raco you down tho hill, Allco." challenged Daniel. With a shout of acceptance she darted away, and tho others followed as best they could. They wero all troubled with a shortness of breath; that was another thing which tho years had brought. On arriving nt tho orchard not ono of. them could speak Intelligibly. "Let mo go and find them," panted Ellen: She stole around tho corner of tho house, only to reappear again straight away. ' "They're on tho front porch waiting for tho Btago," sho whispered. "Como on. We'll go In through tho house all together." Quietly, they picked their way about tho familiar rooms but not qulotly enough. Mrs. Kenton heard the muf fled click of a latch, and turned to look. Flvo smiling faces were peer ing at her from tho doorway. "Why why " sho mumbled. Then the storm of their greeting burst forth. "Where did you come from?" ques tioned Mr. Konton, wondorlngly, as soon as ho could mako himself heard. "Up through the woods stage la stranded over nt Harrington Hill," , babbled Allco. "How's tho celebra tion?" I "Thero, father, you seo," moanod Mrs. Kenton. "I told you how it would bo. Hero they've all como, and we've got to tell tbem. Oh, why did we mako up that story about tho cele bration?" "You see, your mother has been try ing to get Bomo of you homo this good while," Interceded Mr. Kenton, "and wo finally took a rather question able way to bring it about. Yet thero was no lio In It Wo said in tho let ter that thoro was going to bo a big celebration if you decided to come home it wasn't necessary to add that there wouldn't bo any If you didn't como." "You poor, dear, old mother, you!" exclaimed Ellen. "I didn't caro a, rap about tho celebration." "Nor I!" shouted the others In uni son. Somehow, thoy got tho old peopla together and formed a ring about thorn. Nor did they soparate until everyone In tho ring bad thrown out a reassuring word. "You won't have to go to all that trouble next time," asserted James. "You'll have a visit from one of ui every year after this," stated Ellen. "It's all arranged," declarod Daniel. "Wo talked It over on tho way." "That Is what should have been done before," interposed Alice. "And now," cried Marshall, "wo aro all going to havo Just tho biggest kind of a celebration." Her Favorite. Young Sportlelgh took Belle Ging ham to see a boxing contest. "Keep your eye on Billy tho Bean Bumper,' ho cautioned, "because be Is sure to put It all over that lanky bo from Showhegan." Bello demurred. "But why?" sho Inquired; "I'm sure tho other gentleman has tho best ges tures." Feminine Triumph In England. A cable Just received from England says: "Tho greatest success ever achieved at nn English election by women was at Birmingham, March 18, whero of twelve women nominated for members of tbo Board of Poor Law Guardians, eleven wero elected." THE CHlblMS TRACE ORIGIN OF ALPHABET According to Prof. Flinders Petrle It Existed 7,000 Years B. C Attacks an Old Theory. In n lecturo at tho Royal Institute Prof, FllndorB Pctrlo has nttacked tho iong accepted theory that tho origin of tho alphnbet Is to bo found In Phoenicia, whence It camo from Egyptian hieroglyphics, Bays a Now York Sun London dispatch. According to Prof. Petrle, tho re searches of tho Inst twenty yenrs havo shown that signs wero curlier than pictures and that It was tho sign that survived to beconio tho nlplm nnd beta of ono civilization and tho A B C of another. Just as tho philologist had discov ered ono entlro system of languages, so tho alphabctarlnn has discovered in the diversity of alphabets nn orig inal prototype of all. In Prof. Petrlo's words, 'The Phoenicians are pcoplo of yesterday compared with those who wrote the Blgns that aro tho origin of all nlphabotB." It was to pottery, said tho profes sor, that Egyptologists and othors wero indebted for these signs, nnd their development wns worked out on these lines. Flatnoso mndo n pot and put a mark on It to show that it was his. In time, because It wns his mark, tho sign stood for Flatnoso himself, nnd then the sign became at tached to a sound Irrespective of tho thing itself. Gradually tho wcnrlng down went on until tho sign stood, not for a sound, but a syllable, and then for a letter. Tho signs, of courso, wero not an alphabet; that did not arrlvo until perhaps 1000 B. C, whereaB signs wero found In early prehistoric Egypt, probably 7000 B. C. Proqfs of this common origin wore plentiful, for the signs spread by trade far north and south nnd appeared similarly In Runic, Iberian and Knrlnn, and yet wero unknown In Phoenician. GOOD POINTS ABOUT TOOLS Many Little Things That Boys Do Not Always Understand Use for Notch on a Saw. Boys that use tools do not always know what all tho smaller parts of tho tools are for. For instance, on tho back edge of every good saw thero Carpenter's Saw. Is a littlo notch and then a dip In the blade. It often happens when sawing a piece of board that tbo saw cut will got choked. When it Joes tho car penter Just takes tho saw out, turns it over and uses this little notch as a sort of thlu hook, which will pass free ly through the saw cut, and yanks tho obstruction out On tho better class of wooden planes, near the front of tho top, thero Is placed a small button of hard wood or leather. This Is for tho carpenter to tap on with his hammer when ho Is adjusting tho blado. On the modern planes that adjust the blade with a screw at the back this tapping Is not necessary. TOYS TEACH BOYS AND GIRLS Methods of Modem Life Are Em ployed In Making Electrical Playthings for Children. Somo of tho electrical toj'B now on tho market aro actual wonders work ing models In reality of tho big elec trical equipments seen all about us. For instance, thero is a little steam ship complete in all its outward de tails, which Is driven by a battery and motor concealed In Its hull. It may be started, stopped or reversed from n small switchboard through a water proof connecting cable. Then there is a small electric fan which Is not a mere toy, but which will give a good stiff breeze. It Is run by a substantial motor suitable for other purposes. Streot lamps with real lights oper ate from a battery. Complete electrically operated street cars with electric headlight nnd nny amount of track may be pro tected by electric block signals. The girls also havo been remem bered, and somo of tho things which interests them most Is a complete electric range with cooking utensils, which operates from tho lighting cir cuit and which t capable of doing real cooking. How January Gets Name. January derives its name from the Roman god Janus, who wns repre sented with two faces; ono was the face of an old man, typIfylnK tho past year; the other that of a youth, in reference to tho new year. How Hens Eat. Grandpa invited Dorothy to go with him to feed tho chickens, the morning after her arrival nt the farm. On her return to the houso she inquired shy ly: "Grandpa, do all hens eat with tbeit noses V BUSY LITTLE MARY. f" iii J r A 1 1 i 1' Little Mary sits n-sewlnc After school each day; Boon tho holidays are coming Bho has no tltno for play. There arc Hot and Mny and Nellie (Mary's dolls, you know); And It makes her very busy On their frocks to sow. Christmas presents Bho Is making For each doll, so dear; Hut bo cnrefulj don't speak loudly, Or tho dolls will hear! PLEASURE FOR A MAHARAJAH Among Other Things Maintained for Ruler's Fancy Aro Twenty Well- Trained Parrots. Tho elophnnt fights, whllo being tho most spectacular performances, aro not tho only featuro of tho arena sports exhibited to plcaso tho ruler whenever ho may fancy to order them, says an article in Pearson's on tho mahornjnh of Baroda. Twenty train ed parrots rldo trlcyclos, flro win laturo cannons, shoot tiny arrows and turn somersaults feats which Trained Parrots. would elicit applauso anywhoro In tho world. Eleven acrobats, who can tumble nnd vnult ns If thoy wero con structed of springs, rirranglng them selves one above tho other In living gcometrlcul figures, and who would de light tho most hypercritical music hall audience In any European or American metropolis, aro regularly maintained at stnto cxpcnBo. Thlrty-clght first class wrestlers are employed to amuse his highness with matches similar to thoso which, for the last two years, havo boon tho rage in London. Sixteen buffaloes and bulls, which, when lot looso In the arena, rush toward each other, smash ing their foreheads together and try ing to prod their sharp horns In each other's necks, ton pairs of rams which, immediately after running Into the inclosuro, begin butting their heads to gether, not stopping until tho van quished onos aro lying prostrate on their backs, quivering with pain. Nu mcrosu lighting cocks, partridges and quails, and performing nightingales nlso are kept In chnrgo of expert train ers to add variety to tho program. LITTLE TOY QUITE AMUSING Rabbit Arranged With Spring to Jump Forward When Anyono Pulls Small Tall of Animal. An amusing littlo toy has boon do signed by n Pennsylvania man, and la shown In the Uustratlon. It Is a rab bit that leaps forward when anyono pulls Us littlo stump of a tall. Tho rnbblt Is hollow nnd has an opening under tho hindquarters. The hind An Amusing Toy. legs aro movably mounted in this opening and aro normally held drawn up Into tho body. They aro actuated by a spring,- however, and this spring Is hold in leash by a catch, which runs down to tho rabbit'B tall. When tho tall Is pulled tho catch 13 moved and tho spring released. Bunny's hind legs shoot out and propel him forward with all tho suddenness with which a frightened rabbit might bo expected to Jump away from a tormentor or a pur suer. Something Just as Good. Train Boy (going through car) PocanB? Filberts? English walnuts? Gruff Pasengor Don't want 'em. Haven't any tooth. Train Boy All right, sir. Here's some nlco gum drops. -" - hih hmb. mm . 1 ocm &?c jftfertcTWfflG Of? o From a Mere Man. Will you kindly ndvlso mo tho du ticB of tho "best man" nt a homo wed ding? 1 am to wear a drcsB suit. Will you state tho accessories that go with It? Harry. Tho best man is supposed to bo tho moral support nnd adviser of tlio brldgegroora; ho sees to the details, such as having tho necessary creden tials nt hand required by tho stnto nnd clergyman, pays tho latter, stands by the brldgegroom and enters with him; he takeB tho maid of honor (If there Is ono) under his eBpcctnl protection nftcr tho ceremony. In fact, ho Is supposed to bo tho olnclal think er for the brldgegroom. Pearl studs nnd cuff links, n white bow tie, white kid gloves nnd white waistcoat, with patent leather pumps, go with full evening dress. The Proper Thing to Do. Being In doubt I come to your help ful depnrtment for Information. Is It necessary to wrlto anything upon tho enrd that is sent with a wedding gift? If bo, what? Must an invitation to a wedding bo acknowledged? A. G. It is not necessary to say anything on tho card, on tho other hand, It Is perfectly proper to do so. Tho words "Sincere good wishes" or "Hearty con gratulations" seem to bring tho donor into closer touch with tho recipient, but ns with nil things, this Is a mat ter of personnl feeling. Dnmo Curt sey has snld time and ngnln that nn Invitation to a homo wedding demand ed an immediate "acceptance" or "re gret" tho samo as for any social func tion nt a home. A wedding at the church docs not require a reply. Flft for a Man. Will you nnmo n few articles that n young womnn mny with proprloty glvo to n mnn who is nbout to lenvo for a distant city to Btudy law? Sweet Sixteen. It Is supposed that tho mnn In ques tion will havo a "den" of somo de scription nnd thoro nre a number of things to provldo which aro useful aB well ob ornamental. For Instance, a bronzo incense burner to hold cigar ashes, a stunning metnl desk set, a brnss cnndlcstlck with a bayborry enn dlo, a metal letter holder, book ends of wood or metal, a framed sentiment, etc. In fact, thero is almost no limit to acceptable objects outside of tho ever-present pillow, of which, llko tca spooiiB for a girl, "thero can never bo too many." Where to Send the Present I havo received bo much help by reading your page that I como to you now. My brother will marry in tho fall, as he will go to our homo and I am not able to go to tho wedding shall I Bend tho present homo or glvo it to them when they como back tp tho city? Engfe. Seems to mo ns long as tho bridal couplo aro to mako tholr homo In tho samo town that I would wait and glvo them your gift when they arrive, as It will save them packing it nnd bring ing bnck with them. However, it will bo perfoctly proper to send it to tho brldo beforo tho wedding if you pre fer. Send 8elf-Addressed Stamped En velope. I find your depnrtment very help ful. I would llko to know of n book of nlco parlor games that could bo played at bouse parties for boys nnd girls. A Constnnt Reader. Thero arc several books of gnmcfl nnd amusements intended to help thoso who entertain TjuI who hnvo lit tle time or thought to glvo to the mat ter. Just bend me a self-addressed envelope In caro of the paper (stamp ed) and I will send you tbo names nnd prices 6f three or four. Card to Send With Flowers. Will jou plenso tell mo what to wrlto on a card to send with (lowers when a death occurs? Anxious to Know. Your card If sent from the florist with the flowers which you order by telephone or mnil need have nothing upon It besido your nnrae, but If you wish you mny send n enrd which hns penciled upon It "With deep sympn thy" or "Accept our sincere sympnthy In this your great sorrow." Reply E. L. O. A girl only twelve years old Ib en tirely too young to have n benu or go to dnnces. Perhnps young pcoplo think I am too strict, but remember I havo been over the rond nnd know and a girl loses nil her freshness and attractiveness by going out when sho should be In bed by eight o'clock. MME. MERRI. iMiit, ft )mmxfYF ,,cksv. jvt& w IPyi KtoieSitaF bans ffedMl fiP WjDedunM mnntm, Whllo not perfumes exnetly, tollotl waters aro always scented, nnd tholrj U80 Is very beneficial to tho skin, par ticularly in tho summer, when it needsj all tho refreshment it can get Tho scented waters aro diluted with plain water for use, for somo of tho vin egars aro so strongly perfumed as to seem dlsagrecablo whon usod full strength. From 20 drops to n teaspoonful of tho toilet wntcr is put In a basin bath, tho water so treated being Intended for tho rinsing after a cleaning spongo or tub bath. Tho liquid is loft' to dry on tho skin, as ono of tho chlof purposes of tho toilet wntcr Is its ton ic offoct After a wonry day, a rub-' down with a good toilet water, proper ly diluted, makes ono feol llko a now, bolng, and whllo It is very convenient to get tho vinegars ready mado thoy can bo turned out at homo very easily, nnd Bomotlmos much moro chcnply. Of nil tho fragrant toilet waters nono Is so much used as roso wntcr, and when this Is puro it possesses tbo greatest cosmetic virtues. Ono for mula for this delicious tollot water callB for four pounds of roso petals and ten quarts of water. Tho water 1b first distilled nnd then poured cold upon tho petals, which aro shaken around In tho liquid. Then tho vessoli Is loosely covered nnd put In a cool, dnrk plnco for sovernl weeks, until' tho liquid becomes odorous. Thon It Is ngnln distilled, nnd tho drippings, aro gathered In small bottles and closely corked. Another formula calls for putting) tho roBO petals In nn enrthorn Jar nnd covering thorn- with n woak brlno' of common salt Tho rosos may bo, gathered every dny, nnd tho petals added ns thoy como handy. An Improved still can bo mado by fastening nn India rubber tuba to tho. spout of n tea kettlo and passing It through cold water to condense tho Btenm. Tho distillate,, or drippings should bo received in n glass or earth en receptacle; for If toilet waters como in contact with copper, zinc or lend, they will oxldtzo tho metals. Stills for homo use, however, can bo bought very cheaply In tho shops from a dollar and n half up. Many other garden blooms with ptingent odors, or even faintly dollcnto ones, can bo used for oxqulslto and, helpful toilet waters mignonette, lil ies of tho valley, clove-pinks, valer ian, heliotrope, honeyBuckle, violets, gardenias, jasmine, etc. In Now Or leans nnd Charleston Creolo ladles often drop tho moro richly scented blooms Into puro alcohol, allowing them to digest or soak in tho spirits, when tho odor thoroughly permeates tho alcohol. A toilet liquid much used by tho ladlcB of tho olden times, nnd often cnllod to this day "nngol water," Is much esteemed for Its beauty valuo. It can bo mado at homo In tho follow ing manner: Hnse-wntcr .5 ounces OrnnKe-llowcr water 6 ounces Myrtlo water .". 2& ounces T'Hsenco of ambergris 1 drachm I'usence of musk Vt drachm Mluglo tho various substances and agitato tho bottlo for several houra( continuing tho shaking during tho day 1 quite frequently for somo weeks. Keep th 3 bottlo closely stoppered and In n warm, dark place. Let It standi for two weeks or longer, thou decantl tho liquid, and If It Is not perfectly clear, filter It Proporly mado, nngoli wuter should bo almost colorless, ' Thoro nro many uses for bay rum,, ono being that It is admirablo for mas saging tho scalp after tho shampoo, when ono Is llkoly to catch cold or tho hair needs somo little dressing to keep It in order. But If it Is used too often or too lavishly on tho head It will dry out tho locks. Bay rum of a very good sort Is cheap enough at' tho drug store, but if ono is clover: at turning out beauty preparations' this formula would glvo about aB puro! n thing as could bo had: OH of bay 20 grain Oil of nrango 18 grains! Olt of pimento. 18 grains! Alcohol 1 quart! AVntir 25 fluid ouncosj Dissolve the oils in the alcohol and) ndd tho water. Then stir Into tho liquid nbout two ounces of preclpatodl phosphate of lime and flltor. This will Improve with ago. New Color Schemes. Navy blue nnd violet aro dominating colorB In millinery, nnd nro mixed very artistically with light threads of cerise, orange, green nnd gray straw. Even tho new llowers show the influ ence of theBo contrasting mixtures, nnd often Bomo novelties in tholr ar rangements. Popples of shot taffetas Buccoed tho white popples of velvet Each petal' rests on another largo potnl of green crepo de chine, forming a bordor all round, whllo the heart or center of tho flower Is In ostrich feathers, either black or yellow. This Is an amusing novelty for tho spring millinery.