Harrison press-journal. (Harrison, Nebraska) 1899-1905, May 08, 1902, Image 3

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

    . I
W-X-
TOMMY STRINGER, A BOY INVENTOR;
DEAF, DUMB AND BLIND, BUT A WONDER.
Parts letter: With the few bright
lays we in northern cllmet hare had,
one turn longingly to the enticing
changes of the summer wardrobe.
Amid all the eccentricities with which
the fickle goddess has endowed this
season In the form of Oriental sleeves
and antique flounces there is a redeem
ing quality of sense observable in the
choice of material for popular morn
ing gowns.
Wash fabrics, even to the more cost
ly qualities, are to be worn for gener
al use more prodigally than ever before
and the laundry bills may be looked
forward to as a conspicuous Item of
expense.
Linen and pique suits are appearing
In a bewildering multiplicity of styles,
the more pronounced of which have re
ceived the stamp of approval by the
smart set during the Revlera season.
Among these the moat popular have
the skirts laid in full length plaits, the
waists being made In Eton or blouse
styles. Much of the charming effect of
these units Is due to the elaborate silk
braid with which they are trimmed.
The prevailing styles In the pique salts
are similar. One of the entirely unique
Ideas seen has wide stripes of real cluny
or Irish point lace running around the
skirt, there being as many as five rows
In all. The regular pique or crating
skirt is cut rather short, precisely in
the style of the old rainy-day garment,
with a stitched flounce on the bottom.
In the stitching on these skirts some
novel Ideas are carried out The skirts
Which opened In front, and were barred
last year, are again the vogue, as are
also those with the habit backs or sin
gle plaits, nothing, for a pretty figure,
being so smart as the habit back.
In trimming effects for summer cot
ton frocks embroidery Is everywhere In
evidence and this embroidery Is made
of the material of the frock. The style
In some cases resembles Hamburg em
broidery, although the patterns are of a
more open character. This new trim
ming has been named embroidery Ang
lalse. The decoration of these gowns
Is often a more expensive Item than
the gown Itself, but this expense can
be obviated when madame or madame's
maid Is Industriously Inclined, and
many economical French women, when
announced as Indisposed, are busily em
ployed preparing this trimming for
their own gowns, which Is said to be
by no means a difficult thing to make.
This embroidery Is used especally in
black and white taffeta, effects as a
garniture for taffeta dresses, the trim
ming also being more adaptable Tor silk
petticoats than Is lace. On the latest
models of cloth gown one also sees
linen trimmings, the linen, either de
coupe or embroidered, In self or con
trasting colors. In coarse flax thread,
being the correct thing.
Two tailor frocks of light ladles'
cloth In the new, shade of pale gray
"jiict off th! white," are shown In one
of the illustration. They exhibit the
latest phase of this most attractive gar
ment In No. 1 the bolero jacket Is
trimmed with appliques of green leaves.
The edge of the Jacket Is laid In pleats
stitched overlapping each other. The
vest Is of plaited silk, laced together
with hlnck velvet ribbon. The silk
belt reaches to below the bust and from made strictly plain, opening in tne
let roses. A morning gown of figured
muslin, shown in another Illustration,
Is prettily tucked. The bodice la trim
med with a fichu of embroidery, fasten
ed in loose knots, with long ends sus
pending. The companion garment
shown Is a morning gown of figured
liberty fonlard, trimmed with solid
colored foulard. The Vandyke pointed
collar on the waist Is of the solid col
ored foulard. Ught sleeces, extending
to the elbow, end with a flouncing ruf
fle, lined with thtLSoILd cq1ol
The prelty shirtwaist of figured duck
here illustrated, Is trimmed with bands
of braid, which brings me to the per
ennial questions of blouses. All my
readers, who are slender or svelte fig
ure, must, sometime, have bad trouble
with the shirtwaist front It Is so
prone to subside and fall distastefully
flat, for the canons of good form do not
permit of It being laundried stiffly.
The advent of the ruffled lining will
consequently be hailed with unmitigat
ed delight, as when placed in the
blouse front of such a garment it lends
the natural fullnesss and may be laun
dered with the shirtwaist Itself.
For summer wear, blouses of white
or cream net, will retain their popular
ity. Some charming designs are made
over orange silk, knots of velvet ribbon
of the same shade forming the decora
tion. The sleeves of these blouses fit
snugly to the elbow, the net drooping
gracefully far below the arm. In the
newest tea gowns of the Empire style
the same kind of net Is employed. This
Is, however, only a suggestion of the
Empire style In such garments, the net
being so nearly transparent while the
Hnlng, naturally, It made to fit the
figure. One of the most charming of
the new models Is made with a short
bolero of cream lace, brought together
with a shower chou of black velvet rib
bon, the net being finished off about the
bottom In a very wide hem.
A wrapper of figured Indian muslin
trimmed with ruffles of white muslin
and blue taffeta ribbons, shown in the
Illustration, Is a very good example of
tbe Empire effect In the latest of these
garments.
The two latest conceits In silk petti
coats are the skeleton petticoat and the
divided skirt, which Is uilt upon a sim
ilar Dlan. the same voluminous silk
ruffle appearing on the bottom of the
skeleton skirt, while the upper part Is
cut Into stripe in order to entirely pre
clude the possibility of any fulness over
the hips. The difference between this
and the divided skirt Is that, In the lat
ter, the whole thing Is cut on the plan
of the pantelett. There Is also the
gartef skirt, which is no other than a
deep ruffle attached to a round garter,
which one slips above the knee, each
raffle being complete In Itself and two
being required to complete tbe skirt.
The smart woman takes particular
delight In a well-fitting stock, this be
Ing about the most conventional thing
In neckwear, that she can select. The
nloua and duck stocks of last year are
supplanted this Beaaon by those of
linen, which are now appearing as the
most swagger accessory or tne toilet.
The material used Is the same as that
employed for shirt bosoms. They are
all made In tbe regulation style. In one
piece, and In all coors of linens. Those
In colors have a piping of white, while
the white ones are piped In colors. The
prettiest and smartest are of pure
white, edged In bright red, while the
cheviot linens are also popular. The
stocks are worn either In the ascot style
or are simply folded across In front and
pinned or sometimes tied in a neat how
at the throat. Those intended for as
cots ars somewhat longer than were
worn last year. The golf girl affects
the more severe and conventional style.
For silk waists and general dress lace
stocks, daintily jewelled, and those of
dotted Swiss with silk edges hemstitch
ed on are to be used. A very stylish
effect Is of open-work lace, with folds
of satin dotted with tiny crystal Deads
under the edges Is a fall of black lace.
A green girdle completes the costume.
The other frock, No. 2, is made with
a yoke collar, with stole front and
back, the ends fastening with a girdle
of stone gray satin. The sleeves and
collar are split and laced together with
black velvet ribbon. A chipped straw
hat worn with It l trimmed with scar-
back, andiaving two long, quaintly cut
tabs of fhe same material extending
down In front.
Judge John I. McAtce, associate
Judge of the Eighth circuit court In Ok
lahoma, has tendered nis resignation
to the president and It has been ac
cepted.
TWO TAILORED FROCKS IN THE NEW GRAY.
tig 1. Frock of light ladUs' cloth In the new shads of pale gray "Just
off ths whit." Bolero jacket trimmed with appllqnss of green leave. Ths
edrs of the jacket U laid in plaits stitched overlapping each other Vest
ef Bleated silk laeod together with black vslvst ribbon. Ths silk rest
rsMhM to below ths bust and from under Its edg Is a fall of black laos.
Oreen ittdl. Flain gored skirt.
JTtt of thssasM pal. gray cloth. Yok. collar on waUt
Hk "stole" front and back. Slorrss and ocUar split and Uosd together
with MMk vttat rtkM. "Chip" straw hat trimmed with niM mm
New York Herald: ' Tommy Stringer,
aged 15, whose Invective genius 13 at
tracting widespread attention to the
kindergarten for the blind In Jamaica
Plain, Mass., where be Is being educat
ed, Is the happiest and brightest boy I
have 'ever met
Tommy has never seen the sun since
Infancy, but he knows what It feels
like, because be has an Interior sun
making machine of bis own. He has
never heard the songs of birds or the
music of a human voice, but he knows
what music Is. because his life Is a song
of gladness for such blessings as he has.
Tommy Stringer was born in a dilap
idated cottage near Washington, Fa.
Whenij-was a year and a halold his
mother died. Through neglect ana
want the child contracted spinal men
ingitis, which left him without the
senses of sight and hearing.
Since the father put the baby in a
hospital and went away, the boy has
grown, nntll the puny creature with
vacant mind had become a sturdy, rol
licking fellow, with a high order of
mental It v. a keen sense or numor, a
ereat canacltv for .human love and
sympathy and a genius for mechanical
invention which holds promise or lame
and fortune.
Years ago Tommy evinced a fine
scorn for the toys that amuse ordinary
bovs. He found no pleasure in things
that couldn't "go." He was not satis-
fled with steam cars whose propelling
power was a boy and a string. They
must go like big engines. And when
such tovs came his way Tommy lm
mediately proceeded to take them to
pieces, to discover the secrets of their
working, and replace every part where
It belonged. .
Some time ago a clock whicn naa
served Its time and was no longer con
sidered mendable was given to Tommy
as an ornament for his room. Tommy
promptly dismembered the timepiece,
strengthened the weak parts, substi
tuted a new spring, and In two weeks
the clock was merrily ticking on his
bureau.
It Is at night that Tom does nis
thinking and planning and solves the
nrnniemH oi now iu luana uiiuko ks.
Construction Is strong in him, and to
"create" represents the goal toward
which everything worth while grav
itates. Constructs a Bicyle.
Before he dreamed of owning a real
blcvcle. which was a present from an
Interested friend. Tom had made for
himself, during one of his summer va
cations, which are spent on the farm
of a kindly old minister at wrentnam,
Mass.. a crude substitute for a wheel,
which gave hlra plenty of scope for
problem solving.
Two good sized wheels were secured
from a toy wagon, and It was easy
enough for Tom, who excels In sloyd
work, to construct a brace and seat
But the solving of a practical pedal
arrangement which would make th
wheels go round took nearly the whole
summer. It was finally effected, how
ever, and If the machine looked crude
it could "go," and to the blind boy's
mind that was Its whole purpose.
He knows nothing of beauty. He has
rever seen color, and the only Impres-
slon symmetry conveys to his mind Is
that of weight and balance. orm, size
xreieht. nower and relative values
these all mean much to Tom, for he In
ternrets them through his sense of
touch, which Is developed to a degree
incomprehensible to people whose pow
er Is divided abong all tne senses.
It is during the long summer vaca
tions at the farm that Tommy has been
r.hie to relax from school duties and
uive his Inventive genius full play.
In the Rev. Mr. Brown's barn he con
structed an elevator by which he finds
easy access to the hayloft. Tommy Bits
In a chair at one ena oi we rope, uai
anced by a pall of stones at the other
end, making the ascent by dropping ad
ditional stones into the pail.
When the blind boy wearied of this
amusement he announced his Intention
to "plan something." For two weokB
thereafter he did very little sleeping
and very little eating, but a great deal
of mysterious labor at the barn.
Then the Brown family were invited
out to his entertainment, and found
Tommy enjoying the benefits of a full-
fledged merry-go-round, consisting or
an arrangement of ropes, chains and
whlffletree, with a swing-board for a
seat. Sitting in this, with a strap
around his neck for security, and using
his feet for motive 'power, be went
round and round, In a circle as wide as
the barn floor would permit
Tommy's Conversation.
After the first few minutes, conversa
tion with the blind boy proceeds with
out a break. His teacher and constant
companion sits beside Mm and spells
the word on his hand. He repeats those
he spells as fast as they are uttered.
"Tell me everything you know about
New York," ho demanded when he
hoard where I came from. Then he
added impulsively: "It is a great city,
and It Is getting greater all the time.
They must have men there who think
t,icrh( T hone everything won't be
done before I get through school. I
should like to plan something toward
Hs greatness."
"What would you like to do?'! asked
him.
"I don't know," he replied slowly.
"I've never planned about it, because I
don't know what It needs. You see,
there must always be a want first; then
think of some way to fill It"
"Do you know anything about elec
tricity?" I asked him.
"Do you?" Tom replied, brightening.
"Not much."
The boy's face fell.
"I thought you might be able to tell
me about It. I know a little, but It's
only the beginning. I put In some bells
with It That's the thing to make
things 'go,' Isn't It?"
Tommy talked fast enough when he
found his favorite theme.
"We took a trip," said Tommy, "and
that was when I found out about elec
tricity. We went on the Fall River
boat. Did you ever ride on It
"Did the man tell you all abont the
machinery and bow It works? It's won
derful. I think It must be a very pret
ty boat; and the beds are so high and
funny just like sleeping In a sink, Isnft
It?
"We didn't have time to stop In New
York, but went to Buffalo, and I saw all
thnae wonderful things that go by elec
tricity (Tommy always ipoaki of 'see
ing the things no naa reu ana unaer
stood), and we rode in an automobile.
Isn't it fine to be through with school
and have your days as well as nights
to plan new schemes to make things
"We took a trip to Philadelphia," saw
Tommy, "and I went through the loco
motive works. The man explained
everything, and now I know how they
all go. I wish they'd let me have an
old one some time, so I could take It
apart perhaps when rm througn
school. I wouldn't have time now. I
go to the Lowell grammar school, and
Miss Conley (Tommy's companion)
goes with me. I'm up with the other
boys, but it gives me no time to think.
I can only plan to make things la va
cation time."
'Last summer Mr. Brown gave me
the old smokehouse to use for my own
shop. I'm going to fix it all up. I be
gan last summer by putting in a water
tank, so I could use water for weights
and also to wash up for dinner. I
nailed a wooden packing box to the out
side wall and put a pipe through.
"I wanted a faucet, but I couldn t get
one, so I made one out or cone, i just
Joined the cork to a wire, wh.lch I led
through the pipe and twisted into a
spring Inside the packing box.
Then I put a reserve box on tne
(op of the roof to catch rain. But It
happened to be a dry season, so I fixed
pully arrangement and drew the
water up In palls when the tank went
dry.
"Then the door of the smokehouse
was no good. It only had a button on
It I got some pieces of my collection
and fixed up a lock, because I have the
only piece of Iron that fits In and makes
It work.
TJse for Everthlng. " .
"Now," continued Tommy earnestly.
spelling out tbe words so fast Miss Con-
ley, as interpreter, could hardly keep
up with him, "they wonder why I keep
a lot of old stuff that other people
throw out; but I always find a use for
It In time.
There was that smokehouse window
. little niece of glass nailed In tight
and no way to let In the air. So I took
an old shutter and fixed It up with
hinges and chains.
"Now, If It gets stuffy In my work
shop I have only to pull one chain to let
the shutter down, or pull the other, if
it gets cold, and the shutter fastens up"
As light Is not a factor In Tom's cal
culations, the shutter Is as effective as
a pane of glass.
"Next year," said Tom, "I'm going
to make chairs for my shop, so folks
can come and visit me."
"But you won't have room for them,"
remonstrated Miss Conley.
Tom looked crestfallen for a moment,
then he said: "Do you know,
shouldn't wonder If chairs could be
made so the legs could fold under them
Then they could be hung on a rack
when they were not In use. I'm going
to plan it out I haven't bad much time
to think of next summer yet. All I've
done Is to make a towel rack. I block
ed out two brackets and used the
springs and roller of an old curtain pole
"What I want to do most Is to plan
something for Mrs. Brown. She has
to walk so far from the kitchen and
pantry to the dining room. If I could
make a car to carry the food and dishes
on It would save her lots of steps.
"I wish I could do It with electricity.
That would be the real way to make
It go. I fixed up the bells for Mr. Brown
last year and he liked them first rate.
I'd like to study electricity, but I sup
pose I'm not up to that yet"
Tommy sighed and lapsed Into si
lence. Presently the sign language be
gan again, but this time It wasn't in
terpreted. Funloving and Happy.
"He wants to go and play," Miss Con
ley said. "He's an odd combination of
childish spirit and grown-up ambition.
When he's busy 'planning' he behaves
like a serious old man and his words
are full of wisdom beyond his years,
but more often he's a fun-loving, happy
boy, who wins from those about him a
substitute for the mother's love he has
never known."
"All 'of which may make him de
pendent," I suggested, "and handicap
him when he leaves here."
"I don't think so," said Miss Conley
firmly. "Tommy's character Is form
ing, and he's a very manly boy. Of
course, he will always need to have
some one to interpret for him, though
ho can speak some few words and may
improve.
"But Tommy Stringer's character
nnd accomplishments wllltrlse to meet
the exigencies In life, Just as his in
ventive genius now applies the practi
cal wants around him."
WAS EXILE OE DEATH
THE CHOICE 07 THESE WAS HIS
ONLY REWARD.
How German Soldier Saved a Whole
Regiment, But Was Exiled
for Disobeying Orders.
Choice between exile and death this
was the reward a man got for deliver
ing a regiment from destruction, for
saving the crown prince of Russia from
capture by the French. Years ago Adam
Blihler came to the town of Eddyville,
in Wapello county, Iowa, and opened a
small shop. He talked little. He worked
hard. H'.s business grew and prospered.
Then he went back to Germany. And
that was all people knew. Adam Blihler,
tha hiitchor thev met In a business
way every day. They did not suspect
that his life history was different rrom
that of any other German immigrant.
But In a moment of confidence he told
his story to a few friends who had
gathered In his shop. Later it began to
be noised abroad; at last it became pub
lic property. i
In an early period of the Franco-
Prussian war a regiment commanded
bv the Crown Prince Frederick or
Prussia was encamped on the west
bank of the Rhine In the valley of a
small tributary stream. The troops
were bound for Paris, but had halted
in their expedition to await reinforce
ments. There had been one or two
the other oa tha right TMtJJ, tts?
intended to surprise the OoroMHi
forces, fall upon them from both
at nnM and alalia-titer tham at
leisure In a trap. What noma no oar
Call? No one was within hearing dis
tance. Signal? Impossible. Allow hi
friendB to miserably perish? Never!
Disobedience of orders was the only al
ternative. He had but one life to git
for his country. When could he offor
It in nobler sacrifice than now 7
The day was saved. Warned Just tft
time, the army had withdrawn from
the ominous shadows of the hills an
had taken its position In the ope.
There hv force of greater numbers and
superior bravery, it had won a glori
ous victory. Adam Blihler had seen
all from his station on the heights. Ho
was at his post when the guard came tO
relieve him. The solitary crow was
kept him company, even If it had had
In a day or two the court martial
b is absence. -But he had disobeyed. Ha
was placed under arrest and thrust Into
the guard house. He had expected It,
and: was neither sorry -nor resentful.
In a day or two the court martttl
would try him, and would sentence him
to the death of a coward. Lying awako
in the dead of night he heard a nolo
outside his cell. The door opened. Th
faint light of the waning moon
vealed a groun of men. Their fi
were masked, their voices subdued,
"an noon?" he thought, as he was or
dered to step out He knew that among
them were the crown prince and others
But there was no wor
of his officers.
of recognition only
a hoars eom-
RENOUNCES HIGH PRIESTESS
IMPRESSING THE HOTEL.
Unique Method Employed by a New
Yorker During His Travels.
New York Press: There Is a dignified
man of more than average Intelligence
n this community whoRe unique method
of Impressing himself upon the atten
tion and commanding the respect of
hotel landlords and unbending clerks
In England. Europe and the interior
cities of the United States is not wholly
unworthy of Imitation. Before setting
out to tike a'course at the Grand Hotel
Punp, Carlsbad, ho has his secretary to
address him In typewriting scores of
envelopes gathered here and there
among his business acquaintances, all
bearing the firm Imprint, a hundred or
so to be mailed on each steamer. Be
ing a member of 17 clubs, soda! and
commercial, he levies upon them for
stationery also, having enough envel
opes addressed to himself to attract at
tention when they arrive In batches of
ten or a dozen at the Pupp. ine im
pertinent curiosity of the average hotel
clerk Is thus utilized. He soon whis
pers It around that Mr. 8o-and-So Is
some Diimnklns. as he Is In correspond
ence with so many great firms and is
so nromlnent In leading clubs. By re
malnlngcold and distant Mr. So-and-So
creates much Interest.
Touching.
Ohio State Journal: "Are you a mar
ried man?" Inquired the inquisitive
stranger.
"No. sir." replied the other sadly.
"Oh." said the first. "I trust you will
nardon me for referring to your be
reavement. I should not have opened
such a touching subject"
"Touching describes It beautifully,"
murmured the other. "It Is hard to
pay U a wsek alimony."
Mrs. Katharine Tingley, head of the American Theosophical soci
ety, recently numbered among her followers no one more devoted than Sr.
Jerome Anderson. Now he has revolted and threatens to expose her
methods. He says she holds court as a queen at Point Lorn a, California,
and has reduced her followers to the position of Oriental slaves.
slight skirmishes with the French a
short time before, and guards had been
posted on the sides and Bummits of
two hills that hemmed In the valley on j
either side. Stationed upon the very
highest point of one of these, whence
he had a view of the surrounding coun
try for many miles, was Adam Biihler.
He could hear, far down In the valley,
laughter and shouting, for the soldiers,
fancying security from attack, had
given themselves up to revelry. He
could discern the white tents of the of
ficers, and the little rivulet flashing in
the sun. But In the opposite direction
there was no sound, nothing was to be
seen only the monotonous hills, green
In the foreground, then hazy, then lost
In the distance. Back and forth, to and
fro he paced, stopping now and then to
rest upon a stone, now gazing towards
the camp and longing for the hour
when the relief should come, now scan
ning tbe hills for some sign of the en
emy. "Leave your post under no circum
stances whatever." These were his or
ders. Once he thought he saw some
thing black moving afar off, but con
cluded it only existed in his imagina
tion. With a yawn he turned to watch
his comrades In the valley. Tiring of
that too, he shouldered his gun arid
began the weary round once more. But
as his eyes rested on the nearby hills
ihe was startled at the Right of a body
'of men winding over the passes and
through the dofilcs. Slowly, cautiously
they advanced, sometimes pausing,
then resuming their march. Could they
be friends? No! Not coming from
that direction. As they approached
the mound on which he stood they dl
vlded, one party skirting It on the left,
mand, "You have horses. See how fast
you can go." He was hurried to tho
door of tbe prison and placed in tha
saddle . Two mounted attendants rode
beside him. On, on they sped through
the night. At each post fresh horses
awaited them. Not stopping for sleep,
hardly for food, they pursued their mad
race to the north. On the second day
they reached the "Bremer-Haven," and!
the three parted. Strangers met Adam
Biihler and placed in his hands pass
ports and money. "The ship Is ready.
now sail, they said.
In a few days he landed in New
York, an exile. After a short stay in
the east he came to Eddyville, where
lived an elder brother, the village
tailor. Time passed and messages be
gan to arrive fro the fatherland. His
king knew that he had saved the Uvea
of others. But he was still an exile.
Bismarck could not allow such a breach
of discipline to go unnoticed!
William died and Crown Prince Fred
crick succeeded to the throne. Bis
marck's influence was no longer great
enough to keep the hateful penalty In
force. Adam Biihler was notified of an
imperial decree permitting him to re
turn to his country a free man. In
1887, after disposing of his property In
Eddyville, he went back to Germany.
A purse cf more than 100,000 marks,
or $35,000, was presented to him by the
emperor. He married a little later, and
two years ago died, surrounded by the
friends of his youth.
A new railway Is being surveyed for
In Peru. It will go from the coast,
north of Callao, into the interior about
100 miles to Cerro de Pasco, In the cen
ter of the famous mines.
CAPITAL TO BE RACING CENTRE.
It Is intended that Washington shall be mads one of ths chief scat
of interest to horsemen throughout ths oountry. Several capitalists f
standing, with August Belmont at thslr head, bar reoelvtd ths traak at
Bonalags ana Intend to entirely twmodsl It