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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 1913)
THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMLWEEKLY TRIBUNE. 1 I CoFnerfofy & Zfutmuaf TRICK WITH WALKING STICK How to Make Cane or Umbrella Stand Up Without Any Apparent Sup port Practice Needed. "Tho feat of compelling a wnlklng stick or umbrella to stand upright In tho middle of a parlor without bolng aupported by anything or anybody al ways boohis wondorful," says Mmo. Horrmann. "It 1b boat, when about to perform this feat, to havo a black screen for a background, and to order tho stick or umbrolla to stand alono about a foot In front of this screen. To Bhow tho audience that thcro Is no porson or apparatus behind this scrcon to secretly help tho stick to stand when commanded tho performer can tnko tho screen away for a few minutes until all nro satisfied that thero Is no hidden apparatus there. Pa&s tho cano around among tho au dlonco to 'let the in soe thero Is no pin In tho cane's ferrule, nnd that It ' Is an ordinary cane, absolutely with out Hfe When tho screen Is again In place tho stick can be hypnotized iby a few mysterious mumblings, which 'will bo certain to keep tho audlenco guessing In tho wrong direction. Then tho stick will stand alono for as long as tho performor may desire. Tho I secret of tho hypnotizing Is bo slmplo that tho audlenco will never suspect it; it is to previously tlo a yard of black thread from tho top of ono of the front legs of an ordinary chair to tho top of tho other front leg, letting tho 'bag' of the thrend fall to tho ground until ready for tho 'hypnotiz ing ' Carelessly placo the stick within 'tho 'bag of tho thread, planting tho stick upright six Inches from tho chair, making It appear that it is only by tho merest accident that tho per former selects this particular spot. Now take your hands away, and, of courso, tho stick will stand where you place it. Tho supporting thread will not bo soon on account of the dark background. This and many oth er feats any amateur can perform aft .cr a little practice." UNIQUE SWIMMING SAIL RAFT Construction of Device So Illustrated That Any Boy May Easily Put One Together. The clever and unlquo device pic tured herewith may bo made by any iboy who cares to possess one, says the American Boy. Study tho pictures for they will teach you more about tho construction than a whole pago of text. The making of the body part Is shown In Fig. 2. It Is llko a shallow i .lr. T Swimming Sail Raft. boat and must bo covered with water tight canvas. A soap box, torn apart, will provldo material for tho rudder as Illustrated by Fig. 4. The sail Is three feet wido and five feet long. Tack a stick along the top and bot tom edges, and by means of these .cross-arms lash It to tho mast. Tho mast fits into a squaro hole and does not turn. Tho sail turns around it tand is operated by tho handlebar "b." A keel added to tho bottom will glvo .greater buoyancy and at the same 'time add steadiness to tho craft. CONTROL OF THE BASEBALL Flrst Requisite of Pitcher Cannot Be Too Strongly Emphasized, Says Christy Mathewson. Tho first necessity for a pitcher Is to havo control of tho ball, Bays Christy MathewBon In St. Nicholas. That can't bo emphasized too Btrong ly. A boy may bo able to throw all ,tho curves Imaginable, but If ho can't put tho ball where ho wants It, the batter keeps walking around tho bases, and ho will never win any ball games. Therefore, I would, first of all. advise my young readors to prac tice accuracy, until they can placo tho ball just where they want to send It. Lot them pitch to nnother boy, with a barn or a fenco as a backstop, and try to put ono high, over tho In side, and then high over tho outside, and ngaln low over tho outside, and keep up this practice patiently until mastery of tho control of tho ball 1& obtained. A boy will find that even If ho can't pitch a curve, but has good control, ho will be able to win many more ball gnmes than If he has a lot of benders, but no ability to put the ball whero ho wants It. Honest Child. "Slnco you worked your examples so nicely," Bald tho pretty teacher, "I shall glvo you a kiss." "Teacher, I didn't know thero was to bo a reward," responded tho honest urchin. "It's only fair to tell you that my big brother did them euma." BOYS CATCH MANY ANIMALS Two Missouri Lade Capture Rabbits and Minks by the Use of a Sim ple Figure Four Trap. These two Missouri boys catch a great many rabbits and minks. They build their own traps. Tho trap In tho ptcturo is set with n slmplo fig uro four trigger. Tho box is above two and one-half feet long and ono foot wide. This length gives room to placo tho bait well Inside tho door. Tho bait and stick to which It Is at tached should bo very light, bo that The Result. they slightest touch will set It oft. Traps for mink should bo smoked after overy catch, as theso animals are very wary, and will not go into a trap that has tho smell of man upon it. A better way to catch mink is to use a steel trap, covering It lightly with leaves or grass and fastening It to a post with a light chain. MODESTY AND MODERN GIRLS Few Years Ago Public Speaking by Young Women and Athletics Would Have Been Tabooed. Addressing an audience of girls at the charities conference, Miss Deulah Kennard mado this declaration: "Twentioth century girls are less modest than any slnco tho days of Louis XVI." Not many years ago the modesty of tho shrinking violet, which wns asso ciated with timidity and expressed by demurely downcast eyes, was a model followed by young women of that pe riod. Thoy were expected to faint at moments of stress, and it is to bo pre sumed that they did. Fainting has gone out of fashion Tho telephone girl in the Austin flood who stuck to her switchboard, sending out warnings to tho peoplo of tho town while she herself faced death, was no exception to tho rule of these times. Tho level gaze of tho unafraid has displaced downward glances of timid modesty. A few years ago public speaking by girls at public gatherings and tho sort of athletics now common in colleges for women would havo been thought immodest. It may be, as Miss Kennard says, that girls show less modesty than their sisters of other tlmeB, but who is thero who says that "twentieth century girls" nnd their standards are less admired and less worthy of ad miration? Cleveland Plain Dealer. INCREASED VALUE OF CANDY Gain of 55 Per Cent. In United States During Period Population In creased 8 Per Cent. In five years, according to the cen sus of 1910, there was an lncreaso of $47,709,000 In tho valuo of tho candy produced In the United States. This was a gain of 55 per cent during n porlod In which tho population of this country had grown probably not moro than 8 per cent. These figures show tho enormous lncreaso In tho consumption of candy by Amoricans. Children will bo pleased to learn that eminent med ical authorities are now satisfied that pure candles are not Injurious to tho health If eaten In moderation. It ap pears that the drawback In permitting the child to eat unlimited candy lies in tho absenco of fat. "If," Bays Prof. Robert Hutchinson, "the parent Is warned to lntroduco sufficient quantities of tho carbohydrates by Insisting upon the use of butter and oils In tho diet, tho child may gener ally eat pure candy without detriment and even with distinct advantage. This Is UBoful Information, but par ents should still bowaro of tho cheap, adulterated article. Unequal Punishment. Two boys who managed to bo rather unruly In school so exasperated their teacher that she requested them to re main after hours and writo their names 1,000 times. Thoy plunged Into the task. Sorao fifteen minutes later ono of them grow uneasy and began watching his companion In disgrace. Suddenly tho flrat ono burst out with despair between his sobs and said to tho teacher: " 'Taln't fair, mum! His namo'a Hush and mlno's Schluttermeycr." Verna's Modesty. Mother entered tho room Just In time to see four-year-old Vorna knock her oldor brother down. "Vcrnn, how could you do such a thing!" "Tho Lord gnvo mo strength," Ver na proudly replied. Harper's Mnga-zlno. WAS TWO OF A KIND By BRYANT C. ROGERS. Miss Grade Hollands was twenty two yenrs old. Miss Grnclo was stenographer and typist for tho firm of K. & K., and was so smart that pho oarnod $14 per wook. Sho was receiving $10 when It waB discovered that somo employo was carrying goods out of tho Btoro. Tho detective from headquarters spent a wook and did not got a clow1. "Hero is whero I got n rnlso to $12," said Miss Oracle to herself; and sho shoved back from her machlno and wandered about for an hour and then said to IC. & K.: "Your assistant bookkeeper has Just gono out to lunch." "Ho goes overy day at this hour," was tho calm reply. "And tho missing goods go with him." "What! You can't mean It!" "Como with mo! I know whoro ho feeds at this hour." Sho led K. & K. to a quick-lunch room threo mlleB away, and thoy walked In upon tho nssltant Just as ho had ordored his usual spring chick en. "HaB tho firm failed?" ho asked as ho looked from ono to tho othor. "No, but you havo!" replied tho smnrt girl with a llttlo gigglo of tri umph. "Hand over quietly nnd you may not got over 25 years In tho Jug!" Tho young man, who was tho solo support of n widowed mother and six fntherlcss Bisters, and who firmly bo llcvod that the moving plcturo shows were filling tho Jails to overflowing, smiled a gladsome smllo and began to hand over bolts of silk, yards and dozens of real pearl buttons, until ho had doposlted enough on tho tablo to stock a department storo In tho Bronx. "George, what tempted you?" asked the senior member of K. & K. "I wanted to sell tho stuff and buy Bibles for tho heathen." When tho thief had been tucked away in a ntco llttlo cell In prison Miss Graclo was told by tho firm: "For your smartness you now got $12 por." "Thanks." "And during your spare tlmo you can watch others." Sho did, and sho brought tho por ter, tho Janitor and two elevator men to Justice. Thoy were in a conspiracy to rob tho storo of thirty shirtwaists por week. Then Miss Graclo was raised to $14 por week, and tho senior partner said to her: "Such smartness I never saw bo fore, and K. & K. aro suro proud of you, but you needn't do any moro watching for n tlmo. It is only a strain on your brain, but you might catch me trying to beat tho other K. or vice versa." Miss Grade Hollands stuck to her real duties, but she imbibed tho idea that sho was a born detective Sho began to look at all men and women as suspicious characters. Even when a young man tried to flirt with her on tho street her detectivo Intuition was so strong that sho almost laid a hand on his shouldor as sho hissed at him: "You aro a safe blower, and I know It, and you mako your hike or I'll run you In!" He was a minister's Bon and a salesman In a largo Jewelry house, und had Just organized a Bible class, but he mado his "lilko" just the same. When Miss Grade began her pro fessional career sho went to board with Mammy Jones. It was a hall bedroom and n starvation tablo, but as tho salary wont up things Improv ed. When it reached $10 per week Miss Graclo took the best front room, and becamo tho star boarder. Sho did not leavo when tho salary becamo $14. Strangers came and went. It sud denly occurred to tho stenographer that sho was most favorably situated to contlnuo her detectivo work and sho wont right at it. Sho suspected tho two actors out of engagements: sho suspected tho old maid who had her hall bedroom; sho suspected a grocory clerk who had a room In the liouso, and sho almost suspected the landlady herself. Ono evening, when nn old-clothes man called to seo If sho had any second-hand garments to sell, tho word "villain" stood out so plainly on his forehead that tho girl laid a hand on him and Raid: "Retribution has overtaken you at Inst!" "Vhat lsh dot?" was asked. "Your crime has found you out!" "I lick my wlfo ten yenrs ago. but sho don't go by dor police." Othor callers wero put through their paces, but nono of them was frightened Into confessing murder or bomb explosion. Tho day must come, however, and It did comb. It camo threo days after a llttlo Incident nn the Btreet. A hnre-hended young man with n pencil behind his ear, nnd who Boomed to bo a clerk In a store, ac costed MIks Graclo at a corner nnd asked If sho could glvo lilm a $10 bill for flvo twos. It was her salary day and she was carrying homo her $14 Why not oblige tho clerk? Tho $10 was passed over for tho twos, nnd It seemed to tho girl that Bho was be ginning to bo of somo Importance ns a capitalist. Tho cobbler took fifty cents for re pairing a pair of shoes; a lunch at a restaurant waB 35 cents; a bit of cheap Jewelry that happened to plenso was 75 cents. In each case ono of tho two-dollar bills was handed out. The other two went Into her board money, and Mammy Jones passed them along to tho grocer and butcher. And then thero waB tho arrival of tho strange man. Ha took n back room upstairs without board. Ho was well dressed, but ho had a sly look. In looks nnd talk ho was not tho aver ago roomer for that quarter ho was abovo them. Ho had plonty of money, and paid n week In advanco, besides assuring Mammy that ho didn't play on a flute or nn accordion, nnd ho was given tho room. It wns two days boforo tho dotoctress caught sight of him, and then sho snld to tho land lnd: "Your Mr. Bennott Is a crook!" "My Btnrsl" "Ho's u confldonco man or a wire tapper!" "Got tho pollco nt onco!" "And from tho way ho drags his right leg I should Bay that ho was acquainted with tho ball and chain 1" "Then ho'll rob and murder ust" "No, ho won't!" replied Miss Graclo, In a firm volco. "Am I not horo? Isn't' It a part of my profession to run down crooks?" "But the police" "Not a word to thorn not n hint! When I havo got this man In my tolls I'll communlcato with pollco head qunrtcrs. I'll shadow him and havo a lino on him within threo dnys. You must not say or do anything to fright en tho bird away." Tho stranger Boomed to slink out and In. Ho naked no questions of anybody, and If ho gnvo nny of tho peoplo In tho houso moro than a pass ing glnnco it was tho stenographer. Each ovenlng for threo succosslvo ovonlngs sho found him In hor hall when sho camo up from hor dinner. Sho hnd taken tho precaution to lock her door, nnd had no doubt that ho had tried It. "Ah, ha, but I'll set a snaro for the bird!" sho exclaimed to herself. It didn't tako two minutes to Invent the snaro. When sho wont down to dinner the next evonlng Bho left hor door un locked. When tho meal wns half over sho roso from tho tablo and tip-toed upstairs. Mr. Bennett wnsn't visible, but sho passed along nnd oponod hor door with a bang. Mr. Bennott was on his knees boforo her open trunk! Threo yolls Into tho hall of "Help!" "Murder!" "Pollco!" and then bIio grnbbcd tho crook. Tho room filled with boarders In a momont, but Mr. Bonnett didn't seem very much em barrassed about It. "I caught him going through my trunk!'' explained MIsb Graclo. "Yes," ho calmly replied. "Then you aro n Bnenkthlof, and we'll hold you until tho pollco como!" said ono of tho valiant actors. "Not qulto a sneakthlof," smiled Mr. Bennett. "This bndgo will show you that I belong to tho govornment se cret sorvlco." "Ho's a crook, I tell you!" Bhol back Miss Graclo. "I was In my lino of duty looking aftor counterfeit money or plates!" "Counterfeit money!" gasped all In tho room. "JuBt so. It's up to you, MIbs Hol lands, to do somo explaining." "Why doesn't somebody tolephono?" sho demanded. "Becauso no ono wants to seo you locked up!" replied Mr. Bennett. "Will you kindly toll mo whero you got those flvo two-dollar bills you handed out tho othor day?" "Why why " "Every ono of them was a counter folt! I camo hero looking for n plant! I did not want to ask for a warrant for you, Miss Hollands, until suro ol my case." Tho next half hour was as full oi explanations as a chestnut la full of llfo. Tho pollco wero not called In on tho ono hand, and on tho other it was tearfully admitted that Mr. Ben nett was not a crook. Tho next day ho had tho good luck to capturo tho man ho wanted, nnd It was only natural that ho should como around to tho houso to mako his report. Then ho called again to ask Miss Grade's forgiveness, and again with somo other excuso, nnd finally the cheeky man got Into tho habit ol calling without making any excuso at nil. It was during ono of theso calls that ho suggostetd that Miss Grade glvo up tho detectivo business. She promised to, and then ho suggested that sho glvo up K. & K. Sho also promlBed that, tnd when Mammy Jones heard of It sho exclaimed: "Whoover heard of tho likes! Isn'l It funny how somo girls get hus bands?" (Copyright. 1913. bv the McCluru News paper Syndicate.) Northern Lights Mako Noise. German scientists aro greatly inter ested in a discussion rogardlng now phenomena revealed by tho aurora borealls, according to recent Norwe gian nnd German observers. People living in tho northern part of Norway maintained that they often heat sounds accompanying tho northern lights. These sounds aro described by somo as sin liar to tho cracking ol flames. Acordlugly German nnd Nor weglan scientists started out to Invcs tlgato tho phenomena, and ono ol them, Olav Anbakkon, has spent a long tlmo at tho Halldo observatory in FInmnrkcn Anbakkon thinks that It Is very unlikely that any sound it to bo heard from tho northern UghtH Ho maintains that tho human Houses nro not to bo relle on, especially ro gnrdlng the phenomena of sight. He says that tho Idea of sound connected with tho northern lights may rosull from tho fact that theso llglitri look like flames, and ns peoplo are nccus tomod to assoclato the crackling Bound with llnmos tho rather uncrit ical observor of tho blazing movements of tho aurora borenlls Is apt to think tlr.tt ho rooily huota tho buii3 of thow flames J. P. MORGAN'S VACATION taken a month, nnd sometimes longer. But now conditions nro different. As tho weeks passed Into months tho work of tho hend of tho Morgan (Inn beenmu moro exacting, nnd instead of decreasing In volume it kept in creasing. Ho despaired of taking nny vacation at all. Tho othor mombora of tho firm enmo to him nt tho boglnnlng of tho summer to arrnngo for n Hchedulo of vacations so that an adequate number of those In authority could bo on hand at ono tlmo. As senior partner, his wishes of courso wero to bo consulted first, Mr. Morgan disposed of this question by explaining that ho would not havo tlmo to take any vacation at all. But for this onco tho head of tho firm was not tho boss of tho establishment. His partners told him vory curtly that ho wns going to tako a vacation whether ho had time or not. Thero wus moro blckorlng botweon Morgan and his partnors over this question than over would occur over a deal Involving many millions of dollars. Finally Mr. Morgan gavo In nnd conaentod to go away. NAMED AS MINISTER TO BALKANS DeBtlny hns played n pretty prank for Charles J. Voplcka of Chicago. Tho scnato tho other day confirmed his appointment as minister to tho Balkan states Servla, Roumanla and Bulgaria. Mr. Voplcka was born In Bohemia In 1857. To him, ns to many young moil of that tlmo, tho United States soemed tho land of promise. Stories of "streets lined with gold" wore hoard abroad, so young Voplcka, with a small storo of cxperlonco to en able hi in to battlo with tho world, and unhampered by funds, sailed away from tho land of his birth. Now ho will return, honored by his adopted country as its diplomatic envoy. His appointment camo at tho ond of a bitter fight waged upon him by antl-llquor Interests. Mr. Voplcka, after a brlof business career in Chicago, has gained a smllo from Fortune Tho dream of his youth had como truo ho had found that this was Indeed the land of promise Ho hnd becomo Intorostod In several browcrlos and because of this his appointment was contested. But Mr. Voplcka was In tho fight to stay, and won out. CHIEF OF ENGINEERS OF THE ARMY H N rfy&frrKp j,V V now chief of onglncors reached the grade of colonol of engineers In February, 1908, and was tho senior officer of that grade when promoted to his present office. MOTHER'S AID IN To closo observers It seems ap parent thnt Miss Margaret Wilson Is destined to bo moro closely Identified with Washington and its Interests, to becomo, ns It wore, moro of a na tional flguro than hor Bisters. Miss Jcsslo has already planned hor flitting from tho nctunl sotting of national fnmo which will contlnuo to environ tho others. If rumor prove truo, her example In choosing a llfo partner Is commendable Her future husband Is nt the very outset of his caroor, Just as her father was when hor mother mado thn plungo Into tho unknown twenty-olght years ngo. Miss Eleanor, or, as sho Is known to hor friends, Mlas Noll, Is tho Idenl young Bocloty woman, fond of dan cing nnd a most graceful ono, a fear less equestrlonno, o.tport at golf nnd tennis In n word, full of life and vigor, and It Is a safe wngor Umt Bho will not tarry long behind her Bister Jessie But In Miss Margaret aro qualities entirely upurt from tho soclnl side of oxlstonce. Naturally, Bho haa beon hor mothor's unfnlllng companion nnd during enforced nbsencos of her paronts from tho roof-troo she has beon the general supervisor and director. Slnco going to Washington, Miss Margnrot Wilson has endeared herself to all by tho gonial way In which oho has responded to various demands upon her tlmo and strength. John Plerpont Morgan, bend of tho most poworful flnanclnl interests In tho world, has returned from his va cation. Ho got ono week this year. Tho junior ofTlco boy in tho Mor gan offices got threo. But If Mr. Morgan did happen to bo limited to only a week's holiday ho spent that In n true multi-million aire fashion. With his family and Bonio friends he mndo tho cruise with tho Now York Yacht club's flotilla on his steam yacht, tho Mermaid. For years in fact, slnco ho Joined tho yacht club In 1882 ho has not mlssod n crulso. This annual affair has always been ono of particular pleasuro for him, becauso of his fond-1 nosa for tho aen Aftor tho oldor Morgan died, his son, shackled by tho cares of business, did not seo how ho could aparo tho tlmo for any vacation th 1b summer. In other years slnco ho entered tho Morgan ofllcos ho hnd Brig. Gon. William A. RosboII a fow days ago relieved Brig. Gon. Will iam II. Bixby at tho war department of tho duties of chief of engineers of tho army. Thero wero no special ceremonies connected wth tho trans fer of tho offlco. Gonornl Rossull subscribed to tho regulation oath of ofTlco nnd received tho ofllclalu of tho bureau, Including all tho engineer ofllcerfl on duty thcro. Theso ofllcors nt tho samo tlmo took official leavo of General Blxby, who mado tho In troductions to tho new chief. No other changes nro oxpectod to follow tho .Induction of General RosboII for tho reason that his Incumboncy will contlnuo only until October 11 noxt, when ho will bo transferred to the rotlrod list on account of ngo. General Roasoll Is from Alabama, nnd was graduated number two In tho class of 1873, In which General Blxby waa tho star member. Tho SOCIAL FUNCTIONS fsssiPvt v " -,