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THE NEBRASKA ADVERTISER
W. W. HANDKItH, fuIitUlmr.
NEMAHA, NHHRASKA.
in. i -
DAYBREAK IN THE COUNTRY.
Day bronkn: a plow burata through tho
cold, Bnil duwn
A purple linzo lianun over dulo nnd hill.
Tho Rind Bun HinlleH, and wakes tho gray,
old world,
That Ilea all silent still.
Day brertkn: tho misty shadows of tho
nluht
Floo from tho songs from Nature's silvery
throat
Tho brook's soft laughter, nnd tho whisper
ing trees,
Tho lark's clear note.
Day breaks: I feel tho throbbing pulso of
life
Dut night's dull, haunting questions do
not ocnHO.
When will you learn, O heart, to live, rc-
Jolco
When bo at penco?
Mnldu Castolhun, In Overland Monthly.
WS&mUf&'M?M
BEHIND THE BAT 1
By WILLIS DOYD ALLEN.
5
fiLmaWi.Wtf,t;
,&
IT WAS n bright, cool nftcrnoon In
early September, when a dozen or
more high school boys woro gathered on
Rcudvllle common, eagerly discussing
n Biibject which was Interesting enough
to make their eyes iipurklo nnd their
voiciis nil chime in together us they
tujkcd.
"Now, hold on, fellows," tmid ono of
tha tallest, raising his hand for si
lence. "Wo may ns well do this busi
ness up squarely on tho spot. I'll read
tho challenge, if you'll nil keep still."
Tho boys threw themselves on tho
ground, and in varioiiB attitudes pre
pared to listen.
Hnrry Hunter, the tall speaker, re
mained standing, nnd drawing a pnper
from his pocket, read ns follows:
"Jamestown, Sept. 1, 3E07.
"Tho Jamcatown High School Nine here
by challenge tho llcndvlllo High School
Nino to a gamo of bnaobnll, to be played on
Itendvlllo Common, on tho afternoon of
September 4, nt thrco o'clock.
"League rules to be followed.
"IimAM BLACK,
"Cnptnln Jamestown IJ. B. Nine."
A chorus of cheers and cat calls broke
out immediately on tho conclusion of
the challenge; but Harry raised his
hand once more.
"Tho question is, Shall wo accept?
Those in favor say 'Aye!' "
A tremendous shout rent tho air.
"Those opposed, 'No!"
Dead silcneo.
"It Is n vote. Now for positions and
players."
It should be explained thnt Hnrry
wns tho captain of the Rcndvillo club;
so there was no dispute ns to his au
thority thus far.
When they enmo to choice of posi
tions, however, thero was a little more
feeling. As to first, second and third
base, tho matter was easy enough.
Thero were two follows who played
Khort-stop well, but they were warm
friends, and each was ready to yield to
the other.
Dick Manning was acknowledged to
bo tho best pitcher in town, having a
"drop twist" which ho had gained by
days of practice, at odd moments, bo
hind his father's barn, and upon which
ho greatly prided himself in n modest
way.
Up to this point all went smoothly.
"Now, as to catcher," said Harry. "1
know it's a show place, and I don't
want to put myself forward. But it's
nn important game, and I think I un
derstand Dick's delivery better than
the vest of you. Hod Farnum Is a tip
top hand behind tho bat, I know;
hut"
Harry hesitated ns ho saw Rodney
look down and dig his heel into tho
ground, half sullenly.
Rodney was a graceful plnyer, a
utrong hitter and swift thrower. His
chief trouble was uncertainty. You
couldn't depend either on his temper
or his nervo in n closely-contested
game. Harry knew this, and now en
deavored to Bmooth over matters by
suggesting that Rod should play cen
ter field at first, nnd come in for change
during tho closo of tho game, if nec
essary. Right nnd left fielders wcro easily
appointed, and tho boys Bcizcd their
bats and balls for a couple of hours'
practice.
Rod excused himself gruffly, and won
dered down by tho river nlono. Ho
wanted cntcher'a position for that
gnme, and felt defrauded by his captnln.
All tho girls from the institute would
bo sure to come and cluster around tho
in-field, while tho center Holder would
be stationed away oft by himself, with,
perhaps, not n single chance to win np
plnusn. Rod's father wns one of tho wealthiest
men in town, and tho boy was used to
lmving his own wny.
Only yesterday, a fluo new cntchor'H
mask had como up from tho city. Of
course, ho had meant to lend it freely
to the nine in all their games; but now
lie resolved ho would say nothing about
it. Tho old nnsk was nearly worn out.
nnd, if struck at certain points, wns
euro to hurt tho wenrer.
11 Harry Hunter wns so particular
about catching, ho could wcur tho old
tiling, for nil Rod enred.
Having gone so far ns this, tho un
happy boy suddenly hit upon another
scheme to obtain his revenge. He
stopped short nnd scowled darkly.
"I'll do It," he said, to himself; then
turned and walked homeward, meditat
ing all the way on tho surest menus to
accomplish his purpose.
It wns no less than to bring nbout tho
defeat of his own companions. How
he succeeded will he seen.
At two o'clock on Saturday nf ternoon,
parties of young people, in twos nnd
threes, began to stroll toward the com
mon. Already a number of players were on
hand engaged In vigorous practice,
their jaunty uniforms showing prettily
ngnlnst the green, closely-cropped ball
held. The Jamestown nine wore blue stock
ings and gray suits; the "Rcadvilles,"
white, with red Htoekings.
Tho crowd increased. At nbout n
quarter before three, two of the play
ers, ono from each nine, separated nt a
distance from the common, and camo
to it from different directions.
One of them wns the captain of tho
"JnmcHtowns," a rough, blnclc-eyed fel
low, whom nobody liked, but who was
a fino player. Tho other wns Rodney
Farnum.
Three o'clock arrived, nnd in presence
of tho umpire the two captains tossed
up n cent. The "Rcadvilles" won the
toss, nnd sent their opponents to the
bat.
As tho red stockings walked pnst
them into the field, the Jamestown cap
tain winked at Rod, who nodded slight
ly in return, blushing at the same time
and glancing oier his shoulder to Bee
if he was observed.
"l'layl" called the umpire.
Dick Mnnning drew himself up,
looked carelessly nbout the field; then
suddenly, with a swift movement, sent
the white ball whizzing directly over the
plnte, about two feet from the ground
"One strike!" shouted the umpire.
Tho Jnmcstowner looked surprised,
and before liu had gathered himself for
the next ball It wns past him again and
in the hands of Hurry, who waited till
tho umpire called "Strike two!" and
then ran up behind tho but, adjusting
the old mask over ills face.
The next two bulls delivered were
wide. The third wns just right, and
the Jnuiestowner hit with nil his force.
RODNEY HAN AND STRETCHED OUT
HIS HANDS.
It soared fur up in the air, townrd the
center field.
"Rod ! Rod Fnrnum I " cried Harry, ns
two or three of the fielders started for
the ball.
Rodney ran, nnd stretched out his
hands a little nwkwnrdly, his friends
thought. The next moment the bull
struck the ground six feet nway, and
the striker wns sufe on second base.
A prolonged "Oh-li-h!" came Involun
tarily from the crowd, and Rod re
turned with a sullen air to his station,
after fielding the bull.
The game proceeded, and was con
tested hotly at every point. The visitors
seemed possessed with but one ambi
tion, nnd that was to knock the bull
down to center. Time nnd ngain it
started In thnt direction, but dropped
short, or Into tho hands of one of the
other fielders.
At last the ninth inning wns reached.
The score wns a tie eight to eight.
"Jumebtown" camo to the bat, and two
men went out in quick succession, one
on u foul fly, tho other at first base. The
third striker got the bnll just where he
wanted it, and sent it high up in Rod's
direction,
Now, Rodney hud already begun to
repent of tho treacherous part he was
playing. Here was a chance to redeem
himself. He ninde a despernto run
backward for the bnll, but tripped and
fell just as It wns coming to his hnnds.
Again he heard that long noto of dis
may from his friends. The sound
nerved him. Leaping to his feet ho
darted ufter the bull like a deer, and
picking it up lightly, as it rolled, faeed
nbout. The runner was milking tho
round of the bases, amid the shouts
and jeers of tho Jamestown people who
had come over to see the gntne.
Rodney gathered himself fora mighty
effort, and drawing back liisnrm, throw
the bnll with all his strength. Hnrry
was waiting for it cugerly, with his foot
on the homeplate. It seemed Impossi
ble that the bull could get there in tiino,
and the Jamestowners cheered more
lustily than ecr, as tho blue stockings
went Hying along the base lino townrd
ironic; but still more swiftly came the
ball, sent with unerring nln; from Rod'o
fnr-nwny arm.
Just a wee fraction of n second beforo
the runner touched the plate the ball
Btttled into Hurry's hands, which
swung round like lightning, and Jnmea
town was out score, eight to eight.
On coming in with his side for their
last turn at the but, Rod found himself
nil nt once a hero
"Never was such a throw seen on tho
grounds!" they said; nnd poor Rcl
hung his head, und answered not a
word.
Harry made n good hit thnt carried
him to second, where he seemed likely
to bo left, .as the next two nt the but
struck easy flies, and went out. It wns
Rod's turn. Heretofore he hud purpose
ly struck out every time he eumc to tho
bat. Now his hands clenched the stick
firmly, und he braced his feet ns if ho
meant business. The crowd saw tho
slight movement, and cheered to en
courage him.
"Strike one!" called the umpire, ns
the ball fiew over the plato n little
higher than Rod wunled it. "Strike
two!"
Still not just right. Rod waited
calmly. The crowd were silent, und
looked downcast. Suddenly they gave
a wild cheer. Huts were filing into the
nir, and handkerchiefs wuved. Rodney
hnd made a terrific lilt, sending the bnll
fur beyond the right fielder. In nn
other moment Hurry hnd reached home,
nnd scored the winning run score,
Rcadvilles, nine; Jumcstowns, eight.
Thnt night Rodney drew Hurry to onn
side, und hud a long talk with him.
Whatever its nature was, it is certain
thnt the boys wrung ench other's hands
at parting, and have been like brothers
ever since. As for Rodney, he will not
soon forget the match, and the two
jmrts he took In it, nnd u manlier, hum
bler, nobler fellow doesn't live to-day hi
Rendvillo. Golden Days.
Tlic Parliament Shoemaker.
A plain wreath of onk leaves wns bent
to London from u Herlin shoemaker,
In the hope Unit it might find ti ptaoe
on Gladstone's coffin. The sender was
a man who came to London 20 years ago
and opened a small bhop, but in spite
of industry and frugnlity he continued
so poor that he had not even enough
money to buy leather for work which
hud been ordered. One dny he wns in
the whispering gallery In St. Paul's
cathedral with his betrothed, to whom
he confided his sad condition. She guvo
him nil her small savings, with which
he went next day to purehnse the re
quired leather. To his surprise the
leather merchnnt told him that he
could open n small account. In this wny
fortune began to smile upon him, und
soon, to his grent astonishment, he re
ceived orders from society men, nnd his
business soon became well established.
He wns known for years ns the "Parlia
ment Shoemaker," and not until, to
please his German wife, he left London
for Herlin, did the leather merchant
tell him that he owed his start to Glad
stone. The cabinet minister had been
in the whispering gallery when the poor
shoemaker told his betrothed of his
poverty, and owing to the peculiar
ncousties of the gallery hnd heard
every word. He sent n gentlcumn to
investigate, and requested the lenther
merchant to give the shoemaker credit.
Golden Days.
DiiiuiiM Goaded to Work liy I'liln.
When Alexander Dumas, the young
er, was just out of college his father
took hi in on n hunting trip. They put
up ut u farmhouse und occupied two lit
tle bedrooms which opened into ench
other. In the middle of the night the
son wns awakened and saw his fnther
walking back and forth.
"What nre you doing?" asked the
boy.
"You see I am walking."
"You arc sick?"
"Yes; I nm in great pain, but I nm
used to It. I have it every night."
'Is there nothing to cure it?"
"It Is incurable."
"But can't it be relieved?"
"No; when it tukes me 1 get up und
walk. If it Is very bud I go to rcud-
tng."
"And when it is insupportnble?"
"I go to work."
It wns true, nnd in later years hla
son often snw him sitting nt his desk
writing. "How enn you work always?"
some one asked him upon nn occasion.
"I huve nothing else to do," ho an
swered. Sun Francisco Argonaut.
South American IMukpockctH.
The Gauehos, or dwellers on the ex
tensive plains of Huenos Ayres, are mnr-
elously dexterous with both hands and
feet. Many of them huve ncquired,
through long prnctice, such skill in us
ing their toes instead of fingers that
they can fiing the lasso and even pick
pockets with them.
Some time ago n Frenchinnn, who
wns fishlnglnoneof the rivers of Huenos
Ayres, wns warned to be on his guard
against tho light-fingered natives. I hi
forthwithkeptuvigilain watch upon his
companions, but, nevertheless, one dny
when his attention wns closely riveted
on his iloat, a wily Guucho drew near,
und delicately inserting ills foot, ex
tracted the Frenchman's hooks nnd
other valuables from his pocket. Bos
ton Transcript.
A (IiICCII'H I'll tl'llltlNlll.
Queen Christina of Spain bus given
up her country house for the accom
modation of Spnuish sick soldiers re
turning from Cuba. Philadelphia
Press.
INVENTED BY TESLA,
A Device That May Render Fleets
and Guns Useless.
It In Alli'trctl to He n Powerful De
stroyer, and Dlntnnue Im Halt!
to Have .o UfTcot ou Its
Muiflo llCNIlltS.
Special Now York Letter.
Nicola Tesln, grentest of living elec
tricians, is still a young mnn. He was
born in the undent kingdom of Servir.,
35 yenrs ngo, nnd combines withvtho en
thusiasm of the Sluv the dogged per
sistence of the bame nice. Reurcd
nuiidst congenial surroundings, and un
der the direct supervision of his moth
er, whose fume as an inventor of looms
und other household devices is more
than local; and assisted in his studies
by his futher, an eminent preacher of
the Greek church, his natural love for
mathematics und mechanics was given
full play. While at school he mustered
half a dozen lunguugcs, besides being
recognized us the leader in technical
studies; and consequently had no dilll
culty in securing a position in the Hun
garian government telegraph engin
eering department nt Budapest. Tht
bureaucratic methods prevailing in the
office where he was employed did not
plcnse him, however, nnd he drifted to
Pnris, nnd then to the United Stntcs,
where he found employment in Ed
ison's famous laboratory.
It is said whether truthfully or not,
I cannot tell, that the wizard soon grew
jealous of the young man's genius nnd
suggested that his room would be more
ngrcenble than his company. Tesln
took the hint, nnd established n labora
tory of his own nt New York, where
he has conducted n number of experi
ments which will forever give lilm a
high pluce in the history of electrical
NICOLA TESLA.
(New York's Wonderful Electrical En
gineer and Magician.)
science. A few years ngo his work
shop was destroyed by lire, und with
it the results of ycurs of research. This
calamity, which would have discour
aged most men, only served to lire the
young Inventor's nmbltlon. In pa
tience he labored and toiled on lessor
devices, which brought him the means
of carrying ou his greater operations.
And now he bus broken his silence by
announcing to the world the perfection
of nn engine which, if it does but half
lie claims for it, V.1J1 rutoUuionizc mod
ern warfare tiud completely change the
position of nations, in fact, the dis
nrmnment of the powers would be n
necessity, und war Aould be ho terriblo
that no country could sualaiu it even
for a few weeks.
Mr. Tesln'' invention, to describe It
in n few words, consists In nn applica
tion of electricity whereby, without in
terposition of any artificial medium of
communication, ono ninn enn control
nnd direct with absolute exactness the
movements of any typo of vessel, bal
loon or lnnd chicle ut nny distance
that may be desired. From a stution
on shore or from the deck of a moving
vessel u torpedo boat equipped with
this device may be propelled either on
or below the surface, mnneuver at will
in any direction and finally brought
into contact nnd exploded nt the side
of n hostile ship at tiny point within
the range of the operator. More mar
velous yet, assuming that It were pos
sible to locate the position of the wnr
ship to be destroyed, the torpedo bout
could be directed to it, even if tho ves
sel lny In u European harbor nnd the
operator were stationed ut Sandy Hook
or Fort Monroe.
The result of this invention? Let Mr.
Tcsla speak for himself:
"War will cense to bo possible when
nil the world knows that the most
feeble of nations can supply itself with
n weapon which renders its coast se
cure nnd Its ports impregnable to tho
assaults of even the united nrmudas of
the world. Battleships will cease to bo
built nnd the mightiest ironclnds and
the most tremendous nrtillery niloat
will be of no more use than so much
scrap Iron. And this Irresistible power
can be exerted nt any distance by nn
agency of bo delicate, so impalpable n
quality that I nm justified in predict
ing the time will come, incredible us
it may seem, when It can be culled into
nctlon by tho mere exercise of the hu
man will."
How docs the new device work?
Hitherto the only means of control
ling the movement of u vessel Irom a
r in
distanco has been supplied through tho
medium of a flexible conductor, such ns
an electric cnble, but this system, ac
cording to Tesln, is subject to mnny
limitations, such ns nre Imposed by the
length, weight nnd strength of the con
ductor, by the difficulty of mnlntnlning
with Bnfety the high speed of a vessel
ov changing the direction of its move
ments with rapidity, by the necessity
of effecting the control from a point
which is practically fixed, nnd from
mnny other drawbacks which nre in
Beparably connected with such n sys
tem. Tcsln's plan seems to involve none of
these objections. He is ennbled by tho
use of his invention to employ nny
means of propulsion, to impart to tho
moving body or vessel the highest pos
sible speed, to control the operation of
its machinery, nnd to direct its move- "
ments from cither a fixed point or from
a. body moving and changing its direc
tion, however rapidly, nnd to maintain
this control over grent dlstnnces" with
out artificial connections between the
vessel und the apparatus governing its
movement and without such restric
tions ns these must necessarily Im
pose. He requires no intermediate
wires, cables or other form of nieehnn
ienl or electrlcnl connection with tho
object snvc the natural media In space.
Be accomplishes similar results, how
ever, by producing waves, impulses or
radiations which nre received through,
the earth, water or atmosphere by stiit
cble apparatus on the moving body and
causes the desired notions solong ns
the body remains within the effective
range of such currents, waves, impulses
und radiations.
Huvlng made these experiments, Tcs
la proceeded to demonstrate his the
ories by means of n model which ho
exhibited to n representative of tho
New York Herald.
Elevated on stools in the center of
the inventor's laboratory was a model of
a screw-propelled crnft about four fcec
long, no attempt having been ninde to
follow the usual sharp lines of n tor
pedo boat. The deck was slightly;
arched nnd surmounted by three slen
der standards, the center one being
considerably higher than the other two,
which carried small incandescent
bulbs, a third bulb being fixed at tho
bow. The keel consisted of a massive
copper plnte, the propeller and rudder
being in the usual positions. The boat
contained the propelling machinery,
consisting of nn electric motor actu
ated by n storage battery in the hold,
another motor to actuate the rudder
nnd the delicate machinery which per
forms thefunctionsof receivingthrough.
the central standard the electric im
pulses sent through the ntmosphero
from the distant operating stution,
which set in motion the propelling nnd
steering motors, und through them
light or extinguish the electric lamps
nnd fire the exploding charge in u
chamber in the bow in response to sig
nals sent by the operator.
"Now watch," said the inventor, and,
going to a table on the other bide of tho
loom, ou which lny a little switch box,
no gave the lever a sharp turn. Instant
ly the little propeller began to revolvu.
"Now I wiii bend the boat to stnrbonrd,"
he ndded, nnd another movement of tne
lever sent the helm sharp over, and
another motion turned it back oguin.
"During the day," explained Testa, "wo
should steer our course by keeping the
two standards in line, but nt night we
should depend on electric lights, und
nt a signal both the tiny bulbs weco
illuminated.
"Now we will assume," continued tho
Inventor, "that the bout has arrived
within striking distance of the essel
to be destroyed, nnd the bulb in the bow
will servo to show thnt the explosion
has taken ptacc." As he spoke ho
touched the lever again and the light
flnshed and was extinguished. "Im
agine, if you enn," concluded Testa,
"whnt nn irresistible instrument of de
struction we have in a torpedo bont
tnus controlled, which we can operate
day nnd night, on the surface or be
low it, and from any distnnce that may
be desired. A ship thus assailed would
have no possibility of escape."
Mr. Tcsla further claims thnt It is not
even necessnry to innke n close ap
proach to the vessel to be destroyed.
At n distnnce of 100 feet the explosion
of 200 pounds of dynamite will exert n.
ihnttering effect on n battleship, and
200 or 300 tons of the explosive, when
exploded even n mile nway, would ralso
n wave that would overwhelm tho
largest nnd strongest ship ever built.
Mr. Testa contemplates giving u pub
lic demonstration of his invention ut
tho Pnris exposition, where he Intends,
to exhibit n model of u torpedo bout
whose movements nre to bo directed
from his office nt New York.
Good .Men .Not Needed.
Stranger I phould think such an en
terprising, public-spirited citizen n.- Mr.
Goodman would be nominated for some
important oillce in this community.
Politician He'd run well, but we
don't need him.
"Don't need him?"
"No. We're always sure of n ble; ma
jority, anyhow."-. N. Y. Weekly.
A. 11. HUM.
"The Todhnins, I understand, are
very distinguished people."
"Distinguished?"
"Well, perhaps thnt Isn't the proper
word, exactly. Extraordinary would
probably be better. They haven't hud
u divorce on cither side of the family
for two generations back." Chicago
Dully News.
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