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About The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 9, 1908)
-j-r ? r , . . "" .. .. -I S ,t"f X jr- W r.fr i r'tiglit'H Freights W. W. JACOBS I Twin Spirits A k 1 - (Coprrtckt. Itadd. Hod Coaapuj.) The "TerraceJ" consisting of eight gaunt' houses, faded the sea, while the back rooms commanded a view of the ancient little' town' some half-mile dis tant. The beach, a waste of shingle, was desolate and bare except, for a ruined bathing machine and a few pieces of linen drying in the winter sunshine. In the oiling tiny steamers left--a trail of. smoke, while sailing craft, their canvas glistening in the sun. slowly melted from the sight. From the front windows of the third story of No. 1 Mrs. Cox, gazing out to sea, sighed softly. The season had been a bad one, and Mr. Cox had been even more troublesome than usual ow ing to tightness in the money market and 'the avowed preference of local publicans for 'cash transactions to as sets in chalk and slate. He had in his earlier days attempted to dp a little work. Mrs. Cox's meditations were dis turbed by a knock at the front door. "Glad to see you, my dear," said the visitor, kissing her loudly. "I've got my Uncle Joseph from Ixmdon staying with us," continued thot visitor, following her into the hall, Wl just got into the train and brought him down for a blow at the sea." A question on Mrs. Cos's lips died away as a very small man who had been hidden by his niece came into sight "My Uncle Joseph," said Mrs. Ber ry; "Mr. Joseph Piper." she added. Mr. Piper shook hands, and after a performance on the door-mat, protract ed by reason of a festoon of hemp, followed his hostess into the faded drawing-room. "And Mr. Cox?" inquired Mrs. Berry, in a cold voice. Mrs. Cox shook her head. "He's been away this last three days," she said, flushing slightly. "Looking for work?" suggested the visitor. Mrs. Cox nodded, and, placing the lips of her fingers together, fidgeted gently. "Why, where's your marble clock?" "I never pawned a clock." Piper said,' stroking his little gray head. "I'll go on like this, my dear, till you're ruined," said the sympathetic Mrs. Berry, turning to her friend :igain; "wbat'll you do then?" "Yes, I know," said Mrs. Cox. "I've liad a bad season, too, and I'm so anxious about him in spite of it all. 1 can't sleep at nights for feai ing that lie's in sonic trouble. I'm sure 1 laid awake half last.. night crying." "I might have known it was non sense," retorted Mrs. Berry, hotly. "Can't ou get him to take the pledge, Mary?" "I couldn't insult him like that," said Mrs. Cox, with a shiver. "What Cox wants is a shock," said Mrs. Berry; "you've dropped some crumbs on the carpet, uncle." Mr. Piper apologized and said he had got his eye on them, and would pick l'!f'!ji'jjjW "My Uncle Joseph," -Said Mrs. Berry; "Mr.- Joseph Piper," She Said. them up when he had finished and pick up his nieceVs at the same time to prevent her stooping. "If I were you," said Mrs. Berry, emphatically, "I'd get behind with the rent or something and have the brok-' ers in. He'd look rather astonished if he came home and saw a broker's man sitting in a chair " "He'd look more astonished if he saw him sitting in a flower-pot," sug gested the caustic Mr Piper. "I couldn't do that," said Mrs. Cox. "I couldn't stand the disgrace, even though I knew I could pay him out As it is. Cox is always setting his fam ily above mine." Anxiety on Mrs. Cos's face was ex aggerated on that of Mr. Piper. "Let uncle pretend to be a broker's man in for the rent." continued the excitable lady,, rapidly. "I look like a broker's" "man, ;dou't- Pecuiiar .Classifications. A Florida judge ruled that mullet were not fish, but birds, because they had gizzards. The customs officials in New York ruled that frogs were fish and must pay duty as such. A game warden in Maine gained popu larity by declaring oysters were game and so acquired jurisdiction. And now comes a decision from the custom-house that bagpipes are toys and can-riothe classed as musical instru ments for purposes of taxation. Flori da Times-Union. rr 1 All I ' IT' said Mr. Piper, in a voice more than tinged with sarcasm. "Yes." said his niece, "that's what put it into my head." "It's very kind of you, dear, and very kind of Mr. Piper." said Mrs. Cox, "but I couldn't think of it, I really couldn't" "Uncle would be delighted." said Mrs. Berry. Mr. Piper sniffed even as she spoke, but not at' the sea. "And I'll come for him-the day after to-morrow," said Mrs. Berry. It was the old story of the stronger will; Mrs. Cox after a feeble stand gave way altogether. Several days after the quiet of the house was broken by the return of its master, whose annoyance, when he found the drawing-room clock stolen and a man in possesion, was alarming in its vehemence. He 'lectured his wife severely on her mismanagement, and after some hesitation announced his intention of going through her books. Mrs. Cox gave them to him, and, armed with pen and Ink and four square inches of pink blotting-paper, he performed feats of balancing which made him a very Blondin of finance. "I can't help it" said Mrs. Cox, wip ing her eyes. "I'm sureI've done all I could to keep a home together. I can't even raise money on anything." Mr. Cox, who had been glancing round the room again, looked up sharply. "Why not?" he inquired. "The broker's man," said Mrs. Cox, nervously; "he's made an inventory of everything, and he holds us respon sible." Mr. Piper, who was already very tired of his imprisonment, looked up curiously as he heard the door pushed Sat Down to Wait as Patiently as He Could. open, and discovered an elderly gen tleman with an appearance of great stateliness staring at him. In the ordinary way he was one of the meek est of men, but the insolence of this stare was outrageous. Mr. Piper, open ing his mild blue eyes wide, stared back. Whereupon Mr. Cox, fumbling in his vest pocket, found a pair of folders, and putting them astride his ncse, gazed at the pseudo-broker's man with crushing, effect. "Where is your warrant or order, or whatever you call it?" demanded Cox. "I've complied with the law by showing it once," said Mr. Piper, bluffing, "and I'm not going to show it again." "Vulture!" Cox cried, in a terrible voice. "Yes, sir," said the trembling Mr. Piper. Mr. Cox waved his hand towards the window. "Fly," he said, briefly. Mr. Piper tried to form his white lips into a smile, and his knees trem bled beneath him. "Did you hear what I said?" de manded Mr. Cox. "What are you waiting for? If you don't fly out of the window I'll throw you 'out" "Don't touch me," screamed Mr. Piper, retreating behind a table, "it's all a mistake. All a joke. I'm not a broker's man. Ha! ha!" "Eh?" said the other: "not a broker's man? What are you, then?" In eager, trembling tones Mr. Piper told him, and. gathering confidence as he proceeded, related the conversation which had led up to his imposture, Mr. Cox listened in a dazed fashion, I and as he concluded threw himself into a chair, and gave way to a terrible out burst of grief. "The way I've worked for that wom an." he said, brokenly, "to think it should come to, this! The deceit of the thing; the wickedness of it. My heart is broken; I shall never be the same man again. never! "Iimight; frighten my wife," mused the amiable Mr. Cox; "it would be a lesson to her not to be deceitful again. And, by Jove, I'll get some money , from her to escape with; I know she's got some, and if she hasn't sEe will have in a day or two. There's a little pub at Newstead, eight miles from here, where we could be as happy as fight ing cocks with a fiver or two. 'And while we're there enjoying ourselves my wife'll be half out.'of her mind try ing to account for your disappearance to. Mrs. Berry." He patted the hesitating Mr. Piper on the back, and letting him 'out through the garden, indicated the road. Then he returned to the drawing room, andcarefully rumpling his hair; lore ms collar rroni the stud, over-j turned a couple of chairs and a small ! table., and' sat down to wait as pa-! Church Prayer-Meeting A large church in Chattanooga. Tenn., has a thermometer fixed upon its wall, whose highest point numbers its entire church membership, and whose hiercury Is set at the number in attendance on the .church prayer meeting. There must be something startling about this to look at.in black and white if .the chnrch prayer-meeting is attended In proportion to its membership as it is in many of our tieatly as. he coald for the returm of his wife. He waited about ISO minutes, and then he heard a key torn' in the door below and his ""wife's footsteps slowly ' mounting the stairs. By the time she reached the drawing-room bis tableau was complete, and. the fell back with a faint shriek at the frenzied figure which met her eyes. "Hash," said the tragedian, patting his finger to his lips. "Henry, what Is it?" cried Mrs. Cox. "What is the matter?" "The broker's man," said her hus band, in a thrilling whisper. "We had words he-struck me. In a fit of fury I I choked him." "Much?" Inquired the bewildered woman. "Much?" repeated Mr. Cox, frantical ly. "I've killed him and hidden the body. Now I must escape and fly the country." The bewilderment on Mrs. Cox's face increased; she was trying to reconcile her husband's statement with a vision of a trim little figure which she had seen ten minutes before with its head tilted backwards study ing the sign-post, and which she was now quite certain was. Mr. Piper. "I haven't got anything," assever ated Mrs. Cox. "It's no good looking like that Henry, I can't make money." Mr. Cox's reply was interrupted by a loud knock at the hall door, which he was pleased to 'associate with the police. It gave him a fine opportunity for melodrama, in the midst of which bis wife, rightly guessing that Mrs. Berry had returned according to ar rangement, went to the door to admit her. She followed her friend into the drawing-room, and having shaken hands with Mr. Cox, drew her band kerchief from her pocket and applied it to her eyes. "She's told me all about it," she said, nodding at Mrs. Cox, "and it's worse than you think, much worse. It isn't a broker's man it's my poor uncle. Joseph Piper." "Your uncle!" repeated Mr. Cox. reeling back; "the broker's man your uncle?" "See what your joking has led to," Cox said, at last. "I have got to be a wanderer over the face of the earth, all on account of your jokes." "You get away," said Mrs. Berry, with a warning glance at her friend, and nodding to emphasize her words; "leave us some address to write to, and we must try and scrape 20 or 30 to send you." "Thirty?" said Mr. Cox, hardly able to believe his ears. "Where are we to send the money?" Mr. Cox affected to consider. "The White Horse, Xewstead," he said at length, in a whisper; "better write it down." For the first two days Messrs. Cox and Piper waited with exemplary pa tience for the remittance, the demands of the landlord, a man of coarse fiber, being met in the meantime by the lat ter gentleman from his own slender resources. They were both reasonable men, and knew from experience the difficulty of raising money at short notice; but on the fourth day, their funds being nearly exhausted an uigent telegram was dispatched to Mrs. Cox. "Eh?" said Mr. Piper, in amaze, as he read the reply slow: "'No need send money Uncle Joseph has come back. Berry.' What does it mean? Is she mad?" Finally Mr. Cox, seized with a bright idea that the telegram had got altered iu transmission, went off to the post office and dispatched another, which went straight to the heart of things: "Don't understand Is Uncle Joseph alive?" The reply was: "Yes smoking In drawing-room." "I'll go home andask to see you," Cox said, fiercely; "that'll bring things to a head. I should think." "And she'll say I've gone back to London, perhaps," said Mr. Piper, gifted with sudden clearness of vision. "You can't show her up unless you take me with you, and that'll show us up. That's her artfulness; that's Susan all over." A reply came the following evening from Mrs. Berry herself. It was a long letter, and not only long, but bad ly written and crossed. It began with the weather, asked after Mr. Cox's health, and referred to the writer's; described with much minuteness a strange headache which had attacked Mk. Cox, together with a long list of the remedies prescribed and the effects of each, and wound up in an out-of-the-way corner, in a vein of cherry optimism which reduced both readers to the verge of madness. "Dear Uncle Joseph has quite recov- ered, and, in spite of a little nervous ness he was always rather timid at meeting you again, has consented to go to the White Horse to satisfy you that he is alive. I dare say he will be with you as soon as this letter per haps help you to read it" Mr. Piper held up his hand with a startled gesture for silence. The words died away on bis friend's lips as a familiar voice was heard in the pas sage, and the next moment Mrs. Berry entered the room and stood regarding them. "I ran down by the same train to make sure you came, uncle," she re marked. "How long have you been here?" Mr. Piper moistened his lips and gazed wildly at Mr. Cox for guidance. "'Bout 'bout five minutes," he stammered. Mrs. Berry smiled again. "Ah, I've got another little surprise for you," she said, briskly. ."Mrs. Cox was so upset at the idea of' being alone while you were a wanderer over the face of the earth, that she and I have gone into partnership. We have had a proper-deed drawn up,-so that now there are two of us 'toMook after thing-;. Eh? What did you say?" "I was just thinking,".said Mr. Cox. Christianchurches. It is said that the church prayer-meeting is a sure. Indi cation, of 'thesplritual condition of the church. Preserving the Peace. At the muzzle of a gun a Milwaukee man tried to force his wife to make up a quarrel. Well, 'that's the way international peace is made and pre served. Cleveland Leader. GoW or Silver Sparkle ar!? Tbis Year?s - Fashionable Fao A triangle of glitter and sparkle is what my lady beautiful will carry for a fan this year. For on this, the daintiest accessory for her evening toilet "the spangle" is as sovereign as elsewhere. This participation in the fad for glittering ornamentation which, dom inates the style of the fine lady's cos tume, from the silver winged butter fly that poises in her coiffure to the Bparkle of her slipper, is almost the only distinctively new thing about fans this year. Of course, a white gauze fan orna mented with a few spangles has been in the possession of ev.ry debu tante aid sweet girl graduate for the hist 20 years, but the newness is in the omnipresence and the abundant use of this ornament This year the fan, instead of being strewn with spangle!, is encrusted, frosted, over laid with a thousand bits of gold or silver sparkle to match the sparkle on the aigrette and gown. Nor is it only the white gauze fan that is thus treated, but the black fan, the blue fan, the hand-painted fan, the little ivory cabinet toy fan for the collector, and the fan made of ail lace. ' Feather fans are being marked close onto half price, as they v are hardly to be used at all. In one showcase t among the fragile bits of ivory and spangle, aloof like a sulky peacock among little darting humming birds, reposes a huge plume fan with sticks of carven amber, marked from $50 to $25. Although the plume fans are rather out of date, Japanese feather fans are qidte modish. One model which is shown at a Japanese shop has a pretty tea cup scene painted on a background of white feathers and the top fringed with peacock feathers. In size, the fan has not changed much: It should be, if anything, a lit tle larger than those shown last year. As to expense, you may have what you will from the fan of steel spangled gauze within the reach of any purse, to the creation of lace and mother-of-pearl, or the product of the artist's daintiest brush. Or the salesman may bring from a special case a model which is rapidly gaining in popularity the sandal wood fan. And if you like mignonette better than tulips, you will find it as attractive as the more elaborate pro ductions of mother pearl, lace and spangles. From the exquisite odor that rises to you, perhaps you will be able to call up a faint recollection of1 some old sea captain's cabinet with its treasure trove of teak and ivory, ebony and sandlewocd, gathered from a nun died far-off shores. And as the incense-like fragrance grows even more potent in its spell, perhaps it will in voke for you a vision of grandmother attired for the ball, hcopskirted. hair drawn demurely low, a tea rose thrust in her bodice and fluttering in her hand a sandalewcod fan. WasslrStoinid Bravery I II a ill 111 ! v III J! i! II I- iPifil I in llstfll vi Vm fr l OUR sketch illustrates a pretty and effective wash-stand draper', and one that is inexpensively and easily made. To suggest dimensions would be useless, as the size and shape will, of course, depend upon the wash-stand it is intended for, but a few words desciibing the way In which it is con structed should be of service. Thin bamboo can be bought very cheaply and in almost any length that may be required, and, in this instance the bamboo should be a little longer than the width of the wash-stand, and should be plugged at both ends with wood and then finished off by having two small brass balls screwed in, in the same manner that an ordinary bambco curtain pole is treated. Two little brass hooks (illustrated by A) are nailed on to the wall to support either end of the cane. The drapery can then be arranged in the simple way shown in the sketch, with the cane passed through the upper part of it, or it can be ar ranged more elaborately if desired, in festoons, and decorated at intervals with small bows of ribbon. The color of the drapery should be carefully chosen to harmonize or contrast with the wall paper, and when this is well done it will help a great deal to make the decoration a success. iNpqDc The lapel is seen on everything. Ottoman silk is a favorite in mil linery. Skirts are narrow and trains posi tively skimpy. There will be an unusual demand for satin this year. The rage for things Oriental is quite as Virulent as ever. The modern muff consists of star ing eyes and wagging tails. School girls will wear immense flat hats of plush or beaver. Paris will make use of skunk as a trimming and in small furs. Plum and prune color is a faorite in elaborate street suits. The one-eyelet pump will be worn in the house all this winter. Peacock tints, beautifully blended, are the success of the hour. Most buttons now have a protecting rim of metal, bone or horn- v-v v Touches Thai Make I t PrcvailiogStylts Suit able to tire Ptout Now that the most modish of tjhe young women in the fashion plates have come to resemble the youthful and dejected 'Arrlets that Phil May used to draw, the girlf built on the short, square plan of the couatry 'farm house, feels that there is little chance fox her to. look her beat in the gowns of the day. The sweeping, long lines of the empire dresses, the short-waist-ed jackets, the drooping plumes on the broad hats all these are not of a na ture to show off the best points of the girl who weighs 162 and stands only 5 feet 1 in her silk stockings. "I've taken on a man tailor," said a dressmaker in a side street who has risen to the possession of her present fine establishment through her ability to prescribe for her customers as well as to make smart gowns for them, "be cause there are so many women who have been driven by the styles of the, winter to take up the tailor-made: .dresses. Lhave already advised manyi of my customers to do that." Then she went on to explain how she had accomplished wonders with) women who would have been little else' than ridiculous in the modes of the year. "You know," she began, "I would not attempt to try to persuade any fat wom an into the belief that she looked well in a short-waisted empire gown with a broad-brimmed hat. As those afe indispensable features of the new syles of this year, how can a young girl be smart and yet ignore them? I'll tell you. She can become tailor made and have a distinction of appear ance and a chic which all the empire clothes in town would not give her." Among the dainty articles for the tailor-made woman are exquisite sheer linen shirtwaists, not much embroid ered, but plaited and tucked finely. To these there are attached attractive col lars and rich ties. "The utmost sacrifice to chiffon that I allow is a black satin belt. As these tailor-made compromises witli tne mode are intended only for stout girls, I allow no stiff, hard finish cloths to be used. Nor must anything with a very rough surface be employed, since it tends to give also the impression of size. "I insist on the tailor-made Idea even to the hats. Nothing is prettier to go with such a suit than one of the' silk beaver alpines that the men are now wearing in the country. They come from Vienna, have a long nap and are made in green, black and brown. They are not worn plain by women, but with a wing or another kind of feather ornament. "So the fat girl need not worry about being out of the style. If she will consent to become tailor-made rather than take to the present fash ions, she can have the satisfaction of locking more distinguished In her own way than half the women who slavish ly copy what makes them look their worst." Boston Herald. Buttons of all sizes are more em ployed than for years and years. Large-headed hairpins and barrettes will almost cover the head. The two-toned striped stockings are the most fashionable hosier'. French lingerie, brought over for brides, shows much less elaboration. Laces showing an intermingling of metal thread aie very fashionable. Blue Taking the Lead. Blue is proclaimed in many quarters as likely to take the lead in color schemes. We are to be provided with all manner of fresh aspects of Japan. Nattier, gentian, moonlight, etc., to gether with a host of moie ordinary, serviceable tones, not even excepting our old friend, navy, which is already scaring steadily ahead in a coarse ribbed serge. An evening combination that has by no means exhausted itself as yet is blue and black, a rather deep shade of moonlight blue for prefer ence, frequently thrown up over a foundation of silver tissue. With this it is possible to introduce the most de lightfully barbaric touches of embroideries. PROVED BY TIME. NeJW ff Any Further TreuM. David Price: Corydon. la., savs: "I was ii the Hat stage of kidney trouble lame, weak, ran down to s, 'mere skeleton. My back was so bad I could hardly walk and the kidney secre tions much' disor dered. A week after 1 begran using Doan's Kidney Pills I could walk with out a cane, and as I continued my health gradually returned. I was so grateful I made a public statement of my case, and now seven years have passed, I am still perfectly well." 'Sold by all dealers. 50c a box. Fos-ter-Milburn Co.. Buffalo, N. Y. WHAT WOULD HAVE SAID? "Get up, Jack. You mustn't cry like a baby! You're quite a man now. Yon know if I fell down I shouldn't 2ry, I should merely say " "Yes, I know, pa; but then I go to Sunday school and you don't" TORTURED SIX MONTHS ' By Terrible Itching Eczema Baby's Suffering Was Terrible Soon Entirely Cured by Cuticura. "Eczema appeared on my son's face. We went to a doctor who treated him for three months. Then he was so bad lhat his face and head were nothing mt one sore and his ears looked as if they were going to fall off, so we tried another, doctor for four months, the baby never getting any better. His band and legs had big sores on them jnd the poor little fellow suffered so terribly that he could not sleep. After he had suffered six months we tried a set of the Cuticura Remedies and the first treatment let him sleep and rest well; In one week the sores wcro gone and in two months he had a clear face. Now he is two years and has never had eczema again. Mrs. Louis Leek, R. F. D. 3, San Antonio, Tex, Apr. 15, 1907." THE TIE THAT BINDS (SOME). Affecting Reconciliation Between Two Realty Loving Heart. There is a certain couple who de cided to separate awhile ago. It seemed that they were not affinities, after all, and life together was unen durable, so the wife packed up her be longings and was preparing for a trip home. At the time of parting she picked up their little pet dog and tucked him under her arm, while her other managed the suit case. "Why, you're not going to take Trixy!" exclaimed the husband. "Of course I am," she announced. "I couldn't live without him." "Well, I can't let the little fellow go," he insisted. "And I simply won't leave him." she declared. So they argued for half an hour, at the end of which she decided to stay, and unpacked to cook dinner, at which Trixy was the guest of honor. Why rie Remembered. By some shuttling of the social cards the clergyman and the dog fan cier were at the same afternoon tea. The wandering talk unexpectedly re solved itself into the question. Who were the 12 sons of Jacob? Even the cleric with the reversed collar had forgotten, but the doggy man reeled oft the names without error, from Reuben down to Benjamin. "The clergyman looked surprised. "Oh, I'm not great shakes on Scrip ture," said the man with the fox ter riers, "but those are the names which some chap gave to a dozen puppies I'm willing to sell." Kicks. Harry Payne Whitney the day his own and other noted horsemen's racers were shipped from London on the Minnehaha, said of the death of racing in New York: "A good many jockeys have been hard hit. A jockey told me last week a very sad tale of misfortune. I lis tened sympathetically." "'Ah, Joe,' said I, 'when a man is down, few bands are extended to him.' "The jockey as he chewed a straw, smiled bitterly. "'Few hands yes that's right.' he said, 'but think of the feet. " CAUSE AND EFFECT Good Digestion Follows Right Food. Indigestion and the attendant dis comforts of mind and body are cer tain to follow continued use of improp er food. Those who are still young and robust are likely to overlook the fact that, as dropping water will wear a stone away at last so will the use of heavy, greasy, rich food, finally cause loss of appetite and indigestion. Fortunately many are thoughtful enough to study themselves and note the principle of Cause and Effect in their daily food. A N. Y. young wom an writes her experience thus: "Sometime ago I had a lot of trouble i from indigestion, caused by too rich . - ... . food. I got so I was unable to ui gest scarcely anything, and medicines seemed useless. "A friend advised me to try Grape Nuts focd, praising it highly, and as a last resort I tried it. I am thankful to say that Grape-Nuts not only re lieved me of my trouble, but built me up and strengthened my digestive or gans so that I can now eat anything I desire. But I stick to Grape-Nuts." "There's a Reason.' aaP An bb' fiftBBBBuEfitf iBB IBBBBBJQ ''U-BBBBBBZ .r Bv v HE g jr-3 Efj 7 Name given bv Postum Co., Battle "n s'fr nun auvice on bow to re Creek, Mich. Read "The Road to Well- j d"ce- Everyone imagines that the fat ville," in pkgs. Ewr rend the abore letter? A w one spirant from time to time. They 1 are ceBlae, true, and full ef boaiaa latereat. East Indian Woman Writes Book. " Miss Cornelia Ssrabjira Pnrsee. who was educated and took rrr deye at Oxford, has just published a bojk. She Is legal adviser te the govefsmaat of India in cases ia which the seaasuv and the rights of women are oen cerned. and most of the material for her book was collected ia this way. She calls the book "Between the Twi lights: Studies of Iadiaa wossea." The man who falls seldom gets any sympathy from the man who never tried. Tipping Barred. A well known New York hostelry has inaugurated an antl-grataity pol icy for at least the current season. The management makes oMcial state ment thus: "The servants of the house receive full and satisfactory compensation for their services from the owners, and are neither permit ted to accept nor do they expect to receives fes of any kind from guests." The reason some people stay oat of debt is that no one will let them get in. A Nevel Bottle. In furnishing information concern ing Calcutta's supply of the various "soft" drinks, Consul General William H. Michael refers as follows to an im proved bottle in use: This bottle is so blown as to con tain in the neck a round glass stop per, which is forced upward by the gas in the bottle and holds the gas perfectly. An expert can remove half the contents of one of these bottle?, and by a shake force the ball up into the neck,. and thus preserve the re maining half for future use. It is an ingenious device, and every way su perior to the old-style corks. In open ing a bottle a wooden, cup-shaped de vice, which fits in the hollow of the hand and contains a short nipple, is placed over and against the glass ball stopper and pressed downward. This causes the ball to drop down into the neck of the bottle, prevents too rapid escape of gas' and foam, and, If only part of the contents is required, the ball may be forced back into the posi tion as stopper. Nebraska's Meeting Place. That's what people are now calling the city of Lincoln. Nearly all so cieties of every sort meet sometime during the year in Lincoln, and this gives The State Journal u peculiar interest to state readers, as it devotes more space to such meetings than any two of the other state papers. The recent teachers' association called to gether nearly 5,000 of the state teach ers and every home that has a school child was interested in the reports of their doings. Especially was every member of a school board interested. Soon will come the great agricultural meetings and columns of facts will be printed In The Lincoln Journal that affect the earning power of etary far mer. Then of course the legislature will be here for three months and surely you will be interested in what It will do in regard to regulating the liquor traffic and guaranteeing bank deposits. The Journal spends more meney for and devotes more space to its legislative reports than any other paper. It's a Journal specialty. The Journal Is not a city paper, it's a state paper, and its energies are pushed in the direction of dealing with state affairs. Whatever inter ests you as a taxpayer, interests The Journal and you will find the impar tial, disinterested facts in its columns. Putting It Up to the Querist. The. next letter the information ed itor opened contained this question: "What is the correct pronunciation of 'irrefragable?' " "Consult your unabridged," he wrote, and savagely impaled both the query and answer on the copy hook. For somebody has carried away the office dictionary. It was about midnight that the de tectives arried with their prisoner, and a Mr. Collins, the principal de positor iu the bank, and. therefore, the principal loser, was awakened at his home and informed by telephone of the capture. He expressed his gratification and went back to bed. Shortly afterward he was aroused to receive another telephone message to the same effect, from a different source. This sort of thing continued to such an extent that Collins grew very wrathy; so that, when he answered the 'phone bell for the last time, ho was in anything but an amiable frame of mind. "Hello, Collins." came over the wire. "Yes. "What do you want?" "Collins, this is Deputy Sheriff Myers. "We've caught that runaway receiver. Is there anything you'd like to have me do, personally, in the mat ter?" "Yes!" roared Collins, "hang up the receiver!" Illustrated Sunday Maga zine. The Jolly Fat Man. When you meet a bow-legged man in the street do you stop him and ask how it feels to walk that way? On being introduced to a man with a face like an inverted comic sup plement, do you condole with him on being so homely? Do you recommend to the sallow man sitting next you In a car a tonic for his liver? At uncheon do yuo hint to the puffy-eyed. Br-nosed stranger opposite vou that he ougt to get on the water wagon? Of course you don't! You would not be so impolite. You might luirt their feelings. But when you meet a fat man. it's lifferent. Everybody recognizes him as legitimate prey. He is a buttt for jokes, a subject for condolence, an ob- : jost for advice. Even the man sn thin that he does not know whether it is his back or hi sstomach that hurts him, takes it for granted that he is the fat man's ideal, and insists man must oe unnappy hecause he weighs moro than the average, person. 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