Newspaper Page Text
THE DEVIL CHAIR.
A Chronicle of the Strange Adventures of
and His Gyroscope Vehicle
ROLES REVERSED
WHO THE DEUCE ARE YOU.SIR ?" EXCLAIMED ROBERTSON ANGRILY
No swindlo on tho, grand scale was
-ever bo successfully contrived as that
of Ujo Nokomls Land Company. Tho
jnoinbers of this organization hail
jfilched his western property from
John Haynes, an Englishman; had
torn him from his wife and daughter,
crippled him with a treacherously
(flred bullet, and, while he lay helpless
in. the hospital, railroaded him into
ISfco penitentiary for fourteen years,
ondex the name of Peto TImmons, a
notorious gang leader. Then, giving
put that Haynes had accepted a mll
Sion dollars in settlement of his claims,
and had gone back to England, they
'idivlded their plunder and went their
al ways, while the new city of
Emls, built on the stolen land,
g into being and brought them
temple and continuous Incomes in tho
..shape- of house rents and sales on the
installment basis.
i .The company was dissolved. There
Iwas nothing corporate for Haynes to
seek to be avenged upon when he
camo out. He could not sue tho thou
sands of innocent property holders
iho had obtained their titles In good
."faith. Nor did he plan to do so. He
ihad no confidence In justice: ho him-
.pelt would bring the conspirators to
ttwok. Whllo working In the prison
Jnachlno shop, he invented a powerful
feyroscope, which, when attached to
pay vehicle, or to the feet, even, would
carry the wearer at an' lncrediblo rate
of Bpeed along roads or railway lines.
JWith tho aid of this, ho escaped, lo--cated
his daughter, sent her to Chi
fcago to await his summons, and then
'turned all his attention to finding his
twlfo and wreaking vengeance upon his
-enemies.
Haynes knew that, like his daughter.
pla wlfa must have been told that ho l
was dead. That was tho reason why
sho had not sought him out. One
nan alone knew where she could bo
round: Chauncey E. Robertson, of
Bendervllle, the corrupt lawyer who
- Sad betrayed him into the power of
Sio more corrupt Judge that had sen
tenced him while he lay helpless In
jrlson. awaiting what ho believed to
to the continuation of his trial.
Baynes did not know that ho had
&en sentenced until tho warders
Suatled him away from court, without
sormitting him to make a reply.
! la the penitentiary, Haynes had
worked out the Intricacies of bis re-
- range, and, with that fixed Idea of the
' paranolao who has been driven lb-
lano by wrongs, he determined that
to each of his enemies should fall a
.. recompense of the same naturo as
east Injury which ho had received from
' them: Torn between the desire of
fvtrcaklng vengeance and the need of
LD PHILANDER'S GOOD JOKE
tSa-w No Real Reason Why Three Talk
' '.",3 .Mach,"e 6hould Be Going
V ' at Once.
Olt Philander was playing1 some
ejecTOds on his talking machine tho
ttfiwr evening for a small party of
friends. Among them were two or
threw women who were crazy to hear
at pertain record. Philander very oblig
ingly potion, the record and started
6lb;vraichinp,&,Tbe women. Instantly
driving a bargain with Robertson, In
return for tho Information ho needed,
Haynes hurried to Bendervllle.
Nobody there had heard of Robert
son. Certainly there was no man of
such a name in Bendervllle a small,
straggling city of a few thousand
souls, among whom no one could con
ceal himself successfully. On this
point, John Haynes satisfied himself
after a few days' Inquiry. He thought
at first that Robertson might be living
there under an alias. But an old city
directory knew Robertson and furnish
ed his address 24 Main Avenue.
There Haynes discovered a boarded,
weather-worn houso with shuttered
windows. It had been closed Ave years
and none of tho neighbors had any
knowledge as to its owner. Since
Bendervllle was little more than five
years old, it seemed reasonable to be
lieve that no one now inhabiting that
city knew or had ever known thi3
man whom John Haynes sought.
Haynes was discouraged. Evidently
his enemy had resolved to place him
self beyond reach of retribution, and,
taking his own share in the proceeds
of tho conspiracy, had fled to another
part of tho country. That night
Haynes forced an entrance into the
basement of the house, ascended the
uncarpcted stairs, and emerged in tho
hallway whero, striking a match, ho
lit tho candle which he had brought
with him and proceeded to make a
systematic investigation.
Ho was surprised to find the house
well furnished, even to the grand piano
in the living room, there were pictures
upon the walls and costly furniture
and rich carpets. But the . whole
place was falling into decay. Dust
covered everything with a thick layer
of white, tho paper was hanging in
mildewed strips from the walls, the
plaster cracking, and spider webs
festooned each room. Evidently Rob
ertson had bought the house with the
intention of making it his permanent
home; evidently, too, an atter-decl-slon,
or some sudden access of panic,
or the conviction that Bendervllle was
not sufficiently remote from thosceno
of his exploits, had driven him to seek
other refuge, and In such haste that
he had not waited to dispose of his
furnishings. Perhaps he had not
dared to take the risk of returning.
Haynes looked round him and then
perceived that there were footsteps in
the dust that covered the carpet
steps other than his, and fingermarks
upon tho mahogany writing table.
Evidently this house had visitors-
not burglars either, for they would
have removed at least that Ivory statu
ette upon the mantel, and the gilt
clock that had run down the books,
got busy talking and made enough
noise to drown out the music. Philan
der Instantly stopped the machine and
sat down. In about twenty minutes
one of the women looked ' ovor at
Philander and said, "Isn't that Blmply
grand. You have no idea how much
I enjoyed that, Mr. Philander," "Dear,
yes," echoed the other women. "I am
glad you liked It," replied Philander
very calmly, while the frost began to
gather on the electrio light fixtures, "I
will now play it for you." Bert Walk
er In Kansas City Star.
If
John Haynes
By H. M. EGBERT
O.IRWIM
too, that, stood in dusty rows beside
tho window. Was It Robertson him
self, perhaps, or somo agent of his?
If so, what did ho come for?
Hayes found tho half empty box of
cigars In a drawer of the table, lit one.
and kindling the charred logs with
some scraps of newspaper not with
out difficulty, for they were damp with
mildew stretched out his legs to tho
blaze and fell asleep1, pondering.
When he awoke it was daylight. Ho
started up In some confusion at first,
not knowing whero he, was. Then,
stretching himself and yawning, he
rose to his feet and began to ponder
upon the best mean3 of effecting his
estape unnoticed. As ho stood be
fore the shuttered window, gazing out
through a chink at the deserted street,
ho heard a sharp click at the gate. A
postman had dropped a letter into tho
box. Haynes hesitated; then, very
deliberately, he unbolted tho front
door, walked down tho patch of weed
grown garden, and took tho letter.
It was addressed to Chauncey E.
Robertson.
Then the man came thero secretly,
he thought, as he tore It open without
compunction. He sat down In the li
brary and read it It began without
address and briefly informed the re
cipient that ho had opened a real
estate office at a certain number in a
downtown street in Omaha. Thero was
no signature. But this was a clue.
Omaha lies somo three hundred and
fifty miles east of Bendervllle. That
evening, John Haynes, strapped on his
gyroscope skates, and running swiftly
along the railroad lines through tho
darkness, baiting only to make a do
tour round the larger stations, he
reached Omaha about two in the,
morning and made his way to the ad
dress given. It wa3 a small, old build
ing in an old part of the city: it was
not guarded and it was easy to pick'
the lock of the entrance door with a
skeleton key and to enter. Haynes
found a llttlo directory printed in
black letters upon tho wall. He looked
for Robertson's name, and to his as
tonishment, he found:
HAYNES, JOHN, real estate, 44.
This was amazing. Haynes hasten
ed up to the fourth Btory of tho build
ing where. In front of him, he saw his
name again, painted upon the ground
glass., panels of a door which again
Informed him that he was In the real
estatp business. Two minutes later
he was inside a tiny office, furnished
with a single desk, on which was not
a scrap of paper, and with a largo
safe of that lata pattern which calls
itself "the burglar's foe,"
The chase was growing Interesting.
This office, like tho house, was evi-
' Hint to Girls.
Girls, listen to this: It Is nice to
go riding in a motor car with a good
looking young man whom your par
ents believe to be a perfect gentle
man, but don't you forget that elec
tric headlights are riot a sufficient sub
stitute for a chaperon. Galveston
News.
The larger kind of West 'Indian fire-!
fly gives a light so brilliant that by,-It
printed matter may be read at a dis
tance of two or three inches. '" ,
llliii
uonuy n onna; Robertson was an
adept at covering his tracks. But why
had ho selected Haynes' name ns an
alias? Evidently tho safe would fur
nish valuable Information, possibly
embracing this tact But Haynes ex
amlned It with increasing dismay,
Nothing short of an electric drill and
metal-molting apparatus would forco
It It was controlled by a combination
word-lock, but what word Robertson
alono know. ,"lf, Haynes choso to re
main until hlsenotny arrived In the
morning ho '-would undoubtedly hold
him at his mercy. But Haynes did
not Intend to murder Robortson; his
scheme was far moro subtle and bo-
sides, ho must forco htm to confess
whero his wife was to bo found.
Thero was nothing but to acknowl
edgo defeat and go. Yet tho man
could not tear himself away, but
kneeled before tho safe and pulled
now this way and now that, watching
tho letters pass across the lock. His
fingers moved automatically, for his
mind was elsewhere, and ho did not
know that ho was making words in
answer to tho stimulus of tho mental
images. Suddenly he became aware,
with awo and something almost ap
proachlng terror, that tho safe door
was open.
iio iooKea at tne word, "it was
Mary." His wife's name for his
thoughts had been of her; and that
was tho name Robertson had selected!
A sudden flush of anger made his Hps
quiver and his faco grew hot; then,
swinging back, tho door, he reached in
and drew out a bundle of tapers,
They were letters, mostly, and as ho
read them ho learned for tho first tlmo
tho full extent and ramifications of tho
plot which had been formed and put
into execution against him; ho un-
dcrstood, too, why Robertson, guilty
as ho was, dared not destroy this evl
dence which kept him secure against
betrayal by the power that It gave
him over his confederates.
When tho conspirators, having se
cured John Haynes within the penl
tentlary at Nokomls Falls, spread tho
report that he had accepted one mil
lion dollars in. settlement of his claim
to an estate orth more than ten
times that amount, this sum was de
tached from the total capital and be
came tho spoil of Robertson, the lying
lawyer who had betrayed Haynes to
his enemies. Resolved to obvlato all
possibility of retribution, Robertson
had removed to Bendervllle, whero he
took up his "residence. But his un
easy fears would not leave him. At
length, finding that lifo under his own
name was intolerable, ho hit upon the
schemo of taking tho namo of his vic
tim. He settled in Omaha as John
Haynes, and lived upon the proceeds
of tho plunder, which brought him a
substantial income. The houso at
Bendervlllo he had not sold, partly
because ho feared to show himself
there, partly because his avarice im
pelled him to hold on to a property
wmcn yearly appreciated In value. Ho
also left a thousand dollars In the
bank there, undisturbed. Of lato,
howover, he had come to the resolu
tion to cut the last connection with
his past, and had employed an agent,
who had been a minor member in the
conspiracy, to visit the houso by
stealth and receive communications
trom him there addressed under his
own name. Ho had rented the real
estate office to cover his tracks in
Omaha; when tho sale was effected It
was his plan to withdraw to Europe,
there to dwell In security.
But tho letters to which he had
clung In order to hold ovldence against
the rest of tho gang In caso ho need
ed It these afforded the reader for
tho first tlmo a complete understand
ing of the schemo. Haynes learned to
his amazement that no less a person
than tho governor of the state was
implicated. Ho had then been a no
toriously corrupt Senator; now ho was
Governor, and Robertson had not al
lowed tho wretched man to forget his
past One letter, written in despair
by Governor Harding himself, al
though not signed, implored Robert
son's leniency In not Insisting upon tho
vetoing of a certain bill. Another hint
ed at tho place whero Mary Haynes
was concealed. And, as ho read this,
Haynes" heart leaped; now he knew
that he could discover her abode at
any tlmo without tho necessity of
bargaining with Robertson. On him
ho could wreak vengeance to tho full.
And sho still lived, thank God!
John Hayne3 placed the Governor's
letters in his breast pocket, replacing
tho remaining papers in the cafe,
closed it, stole out, and locked tho door
again. There was now no sign that
any midnight visitor had entered the
real estate office. At four o'clock ho
stood upon tho streets of Omaha. At
six ho was onco more in Bendervllle;
and ten minutes later ho was back
in Robertson's house.
That morning he took up his resi
dence at the most fashionable hotel,
signing his name as Chauncey E. Rob
ertson upon tho register. By nightfall
all tho town knew that Mr. Robertson
had returned to live in tho community.
Next day tho shutters upon the win
dows of tho houso were folded back
and 'an army of workmen was placed
at work upon its renovation. As the
dayB passed, Haynes grew secure in
the conviction that Robertson was
personally unknown to anyone in
Bendervllle. Ho made secret inquiries
and discovered that none of the offi
cials In the local bank had been there
more than three years. Everything
pointed to tho success of his under
taking. Haynos knew that, sooner or later,
Robertson's agent would learn and
bring him news concerning thla bold
usurpation of his principal's name and
interests. But for more than two
months nothing occurred. This suited
tho Englishman's plans, for, the long
er the period that should elapse beore
tho crisis arrived, the better ho would
be ablo to establish his identity in tho
Deer Fight for Two Hours.
After fighting for two hours, two
male deer belonging to tho Essex
county park commission locked horns
on the hillside, paddock at the South
Mountain reservation, ane had to bo
shot to end their sufferings.
It is just a year ago slnco a dozen
malned bucks and does wero found on
the'reservation.'' Alonio Church, sec
retary to tho park commission, sum
moned Doctor Hornaday, of tho Bronx
Zoological garden, to solve the
mystery. Ho found tiit It was the
town. He did not scruplo to Btato that
ho had comd from Nokomls, or that
no nad owned shares in tho land com
pany. To tho full ho adopted his
onomy's personality, and when two
months had passed and tho houso at
last stood ready for' his occupancy, ho
had bocomo universally known as Rob
ertson, and was considered a person
of much Importance at tho local bank,
whero he had deposited tho balanco of
tho flvo thousand dollars that remain
ed 'to him from tho proceeds of an
earlier exploit against ono ot the)
conspirators.
All this whllo Robertson mado no
movo. In fact, it was not until eight
weoks had elapsed that his agent.
making his 'periodical visit to Bondcr-
vlllo, loarned to his amazoment that
Robortson had returned.
Ho hurried to tho house, walked into
tho hall through the wide open door
and Into tho dining room where
Haynes was finishing a hearty meal,
Tho Englishman roso and camo for
ward with outstretched hand. Ho
guessed instinctively who his visitor
was.
"Good ovenlng, sir," ho said. "What
can I have tho pleasure of doing for
you?"
Thoiother looked at him and looked
again. The faco seemod familiar, and
though ho cmfld not name tho man his
heart sank under a premonition of dis
aster.
I want Mr. Robertson," he stam
mered.
"Yes," said Haynes. "I am 3Ir.
Robertson. You, may "go, Paul." ho
added to tho man-servant. "Now, sir,
what can I do for you? '
"You are not Chauncey E. Robert
son," muttered tho other. "Who aro
you?"
Haynes pulled out his card-caso and
handed his visitor a card on which
was engraved tho namo of Chauncey
ta. ttopenson. "Evidently this Is a
caso of mistaken Identity," ho said.
smiling.
The otjier had been staring hard at
him all the while. He knew him at
last, though it was flvo years sinco
they had met, when ho was a poorly
paid clerk in Robertson's law office at
Nokomls.
"You're John Haynes," ho whisper
ed in terror, and his knees knocked to
gether. He had read of he man's ex
ploits, of his 'machine, his terrible
vengeance. Ho sank into a chair.
"You haven't any grudge against
me, Blr?" ho whined. "I know noth
ing about it at all. Can't wo mako
Bomo arrangements?"
"I really fear you must be under
some strange misapprehension, Mr.
Jenkins, isn't it?" said Haynes, tho
name of tho cheap llttlo clerk sudden
ly returning to him. "Why, Jenkins,
although I haven't seen you slnco you
were my law clerk In tho Nokomls
days, I hardly think thl3 explains the
purpose of this unexpected visit. You
should have given mo warning, Jen
kins. Do you not remember that I
used to havo fainting fits when I ar
gued cases before Judgo Charteris?"
The wretched agent sank in his
chair Hko a collapsed bladder, star
ing at Haynes with flshy eyes, listened
in terror to this sarcastic outburst.
"By tho way, Jenkins," Haynes con
tinued, "I am glad that you have come
hero after all, for I havo been anxious
to discover the whereabout of a cer
tain John Haynes. . You remember
him, doubtless? You will recall that
case of mine, a very Important one.
in which this man Haynes laid claim
to certain lands, tho property of tho
Nokomls Land Company? Wo' went
all over the papers together, you will
remember, and finally, as his lawyer, I
advised Mr. Haynes that ho had a case
and that ho should refuse to settle for
less than a million dollars."
The agent rose up tremulously and
drew near, fawning and rubblnc his
hands together.
"I can do anything for you.. sir." ho
whispered. "I know whero Mr. Rob
ertson's to bo found. You want him,
don't you, sir?"
I havo heard," continued Havnes
impassively, "that Mr. Haynes has
opened a real estate office in Omaha.
Probably you' have not heard of it yet
wait!" He roso, went to his desk,
and, extracting tho letter which ho had
taken from tho lotter box two months
before, handed it to Jenkins. "Read
that!" ho said sternly.
The agent was edging toward tho
door. He meant to run, as hard as ho
could, and never stop until ho reached
the depot, to take train there for Oma
ha. Ho would havo been Just as willing
to conspire with Haynes, but this was
unendurable, this mockery which
wrung his soul with horror. If It
should change to rage! Ho edged
closer and then Haynes leaped in
front of him, shouting with laughter.
Please wait a moment longer. Mr.
Jenkins," ho said. "Come into tho
library. Sit there!" Ho indicated tho
chair at tho desk, and Jenkins sank
into it "Now take that pen and write
to Mr. Haynes as I shall dictate. Aro
you ready? 'Dear Mr. Haynos: I
havo received your letter. It is neces
sary to comq' to Bendervllle by the'
first train. I havo an immedlato offer
for tho houso at a flguro which will
surprise you, but it must be taken
within forty-eight hours or tho deal
falls through. All is well. J, "
When tho other had finished. Haynos
folded and stamped the enveloDO.
'Now, Jenkins," he said, "you spok'o
of an 'arrangement' What did you
mean by an 'arrangement?' "
Jenkins, as if hypnotized, only
stared, open-mouthed, at thU terrible
I toll you what arrangement I will
mako with you, Jenkins," continued
Haynes. ' "You are omployed in No
komls still?"
"In Omaha," muttered the other.
"Correct, and I am glad you did cot
Ho to me. Now, Jenkins, after our
pardonable deception of your friend
Mr, Haynea you will doubtless And
season whon the larger bucks become
vicious, and a number of them wero
shot Recently two other bucks which
had shown murderous dispositions
wero also shot to Insure the safety pt
thopo that remained South Orange
(N,' J.) Dispatch to Now York Sun.
' . Klcklnfl Back. '
Hon. Xlex Appleby, editor of tbe
Leesville (Colo.) Light Is tired of
Ijelng criticized. "Many people kick
because the papers never tell tho
MTith," he says. "W the man or
mo East moro comfortable for
you. Am I correct in that supposi
tion r uood. Then " Ho opened a
spring .drawer In the tablo "here aro
two hundred and fifty dollars. Mako
your way to Now York by tho first
train and stay thoro till tho month is
ended. If yotf' go to' Omaha," ho
added, "I'll kill you. Wait! Tako this
lottor and post It on your way to tho
depot"
He watched tho "man slink down tho
stroot toward tho letter-box, but did
not oven wait to seo him drop tho let
ter. Ho knew well enough tho dead
ly fear which ho had inspired; ho
know, also, that Jenkins, terrified by
tho trap into which ho had fallen, had
been temporarily reduced to ho con
dition of nn automaton; that ho would
obey his command unquostlonlngly.
But Robertson did come. lie ar
rived two evenings later, saw tho
houso brilliantly lighted, and entored
In some perplexity. Haynes was wait
ing for Robertson In the library, and
hailed him as he passed by on his way
to tho reception room, whom hn im-
O - " .... ,L . 11 o iu U U 1TU11114 1 U I UIUJ,
Robertson turned n,t tho sound and
camo in quickly, looking In astoqtnsh
ment at tho other. The volco seemed
somehow not wholly unfamiliar, but
tho flguro was that of an old, bent
man and the faco was nearly con
cealed under a profuse growth of
hair and board. Even Jenkins would
not havo recognized Haynes again in
that disguise.
"Who the deuce are you. sir?" ox-
claimed Robertson angrily, as ho en
tered. "I havo been under tho Impres
sion that this Is my houso, sir. What
aro you doing here?"
Graybeard roso chuckling and held
out his hand.
"Mr. Robertson, I think," ho said.
"Well, sir?"
"My name Is Patterson. I havo pur
chased this house or rather have ar
ranged to purchase it, through Mr.
Jenkins, your agent. I have four thou
sand dollars In tho Bendervllle bank
to meot tho first Installment, and you
shall havo tho balanco of twenty-four
thousand dollars in twenty-four month
ly payments.'"
"But but " stammered Robertson.
"I understood from Mr. Jenkins that
if you had not returned from Europo
by the time the house was decorated I
was to have free residence hero pend
ing your arrival. I moved in threo
days ago."
Robertson had never thought 'so
hard before.
'To-morrow morning, Mr. Robert
son," resumed tho other, "wo can
transfer the title-deed, if you aro
agreed. I understand that it is at tho
bank now. And then wo can sign tho
agreement."
Robertson's brow cleared: ie smiled
and, sitting down, bit off .the end of
a cigar. Of course! What an ass ho
had been so nearly to betray himself.
He had not hoped to get' moro than
?25,000 at moat, and here Jenkins had
obtained threo thousand dollars more.
"By all means, Mr. Patterson," ho
said pleasantly. "I hope you will for
give my abruptness. At what hour
will it suit you to bo at tho bank?"
"How would eleven do?" asked Gray-
beard. "I can Btep into my lawyer's
office and have him meet us in tho
directors' room. That will enable us
to wind up tho affair in a single ses
sion." "That will suit me admirably," said
Robertson. His caution had been
completely overcomo by avarice. It
would be tho work of a few minutes
only to complete the formalities and
then he would arrange to have tho
monthly Installments sent to London
and leavo America forever. After a
few trivial remarks he roso and took
his leave cordially.
When he had gone Haynes went to
tho telephono and called up police
headquarters. Afterward ho tele
phoned his banker at his residence.
"Well, gentlemen, hero wo are,"
smiled tho old man as ho welcomed
Robertson in tho directors' room on
tho following morning. "Mr. Robert
son," ho continued, "you aro, I be
lieve, almost a stranger here. Allow
mo to Introduce you to Mr. Carpenter,
a director of the bank. Mr. Carpen
ter's assistants," ho continued, waving
his hand comprehensively toward two
gentlemen with large, unpolished
boots, who sat behind the table rather
glumly. "Mr. Robertson my lawyer,
Mr. Franks. Mr. Franks, have you tho
title-deed ready?"
Franks placed it upon tho table and
Robertson read it over carefully. Then
taking a pen from Carpenter, ho held
it over tho document
"Whero shall I sign?" ho asked.
"You may sign here," said Franks.
"But not unless you want to," he add
ed impressively.
"Why, of course I want to," said
RobertBqn genially. "It isn't often a
man refuses to sign for eight and
twenty thousand dollars. Is it?" Ho
wrote his namo la a large, legible
hand.
Then Haynes took off hlB beard and
tho two men roso from where they
wero seated and stood ono on each
side of Robertson.
"Como. along," said ono of them
trlskly.
"I btg your pardon!" said Robertson
briskly. Then, as he turned, ho found
himself looking Into the face ol
Haynos. Ho knew him at onco. Ho
gasped, staggered, fell backward; and
tho handcuffs wero snapped on his
wrists.
"What Is tho charge?" ho muttered
as they helped him to the door.
"Forgery," replied the lawyer'curtly.
Robortson felt the net cloeo round
him. How could ho deny himself, he
who was' known to all his friends In
Omaha as Haynes? He could not call
on anyone in Nokomls to Identity him.
He had forged his own namo for $2&
000. woman in Leesyllla who wants us to
tell the' truth about him or her stand
up and we'll try to be accommod&b
Ing."
Air Purifier.
Charcoal is a certain purifier tor
musty places, says the Now" Haven
journal-Courier.' .Suspend the char
coal In net bags where bad odors and
mustlness collect and the atmosphere
will be kept puro and sweet. Once a
week take the bags down, empty them
la a fire pot and heat very hot.
Home,
,Tow
HELM
EVERY TOWN NEEDS CLEANING
Thero Is Always Good Work for
Village Improvement Society
to Do.
Even If you llvo In a well-kept town
thoro is much that 'can be done to
mako it still moro attractive, says tho
Kansas Industrialist Work that you
do with troes, shrubs, grass and ttio
tin ,cans back in your alloy will ln-'
croaso tho yaluo of your property and
glvo you a good appetlto.
For vlllago improvement to be
most successful the city government
and tho private citizens must co
operate" says M. F. Ahearn, assist
ant professor ot horticulture at tho
Kansas agricultural college "Lot the
civic Improvement clubs, tocether
with the. municipal government, offer
prizes for tho best appearing lawn
and the lawn showing the greatest '
Improvement In looks. Garden con
tests should bo started and, tho pro
ducer helped In selling his products.
Got everyone interested in tho work.
Try to develop a community spirit and
mako each citizen feel that his aid
Is essential In carrying out the plans
lor the betterment of his municipality.
Havo a 'cleanup' day to begin with.
Get tho people interested In keeping
the streets and especially the alleys
clean. Dirty alleys breed flies and
disease. Plant shrubs and trees and
sow grass seed In the parkings. Pruno
tho trees and fight tho tent caterpil
lars and other troublesome Insects
and treo diseases. Doctor those trees
that are Injured. Houses should bo
painted and the building of cement
walks and paving of streets started.
'A vlllago Improvement society can
be organized to look after the differ-
ent phases of the. work. Encouraging
the better cultivation of flowers, fruits
and vegetables will be ono ot Its du
ties. Tho society can give an. annual
flower show and demonstrate) the ar
tistic possibilities of each flower. Lec
tures given by the organization will
be useful, also. A great deal can be
done In cleaning up and beautifying
the school grounds and when Arbor
day comes let It be observed by plant
ing somo properly selected shade
j trees, the work to be under municipal
control instead of being dono wholly
by Individual landowners."
ACTS AS COMMUNITY'S AID
Somewhat Novel But Useful Position
Has Been Created by Uni
versity of Illinois.
Cities, towns, villages and country
neighborhoods in Illinois which want
to better themselves have a new ln-
strument to nldrtho services of-.th'ei,'
wuiuiumi uuviaur, u auvei position
just created by the University ot III
nols. Dr. Robert E. HIeronymus, for
merly president of Eureka college and
until recently secretary of the educa
tional commission of Illinois, has been
appointed to the position and has be
gun his duties.
While the v university formerly was
moro than anxious to aid all commun
ities in their betterment work, it was
necessary for them to como to the uni
versity. Now the uniyerslty goes to
the community, for practically all ot
the adviser's time will be occupied In
traveling over tho state. The position
is said to bo a new one In the United
States.
The whole Idea is based on. tho prin
ciple that every community contains
within itself the means of Its own bet
terment and that social welfare is to
be evolved from within, not laid on
from without The first 'Step in ob
taining those betterments which can
not come trom individual Enterprises
alone, will bo the attempt to develop
a community consciousness. There Is
to be nothing of the "highbrow" in tho
movement it is designed to be in
tensely practical, in terms that every
one can understand.
The adviser will co-operato by visits
and by correspondence with local or
ganizations agricultural, commercial,
social and civic In utilizing their lo
cal education resources for the promo
tion ot vocational education, especial
ly In the new fields. Local school
boards and teachers will be-enlisted
In this campaign.
"Beauty Need of America."
Comparing the growth of the Ameri
can people with the growth ot a blade
ot grass, Rabbi Abram Simon spoke
at Philadelphia. "The Story of a
Blade of Grass" was hla topic.
"So small a thing as a blade ot
Krass carries a message to the Ameri
can people," said Rabbi Simon. "From
the life ot a blade ot grass tho people
can tako a message ot lifo, Industry,
democracy, service, and beauty.
Speaking on the last ot these, ha
said; "Beauty Is the need of our
country. Americans have not realized
the lesson taught by the bla'do ot
grass. They have not learned to beau
tify everything, hate dirt and filth,
abolish things unlovoly and rude, It
they had !we would bave no tenement
districts, no crowded rookeries, no
smoky manufacturing cities, and no
'garbage drama.' A blade of grass
is a world all Its own it it inspires the
American peoplo to desire beauty,"
City of Apartment Houses.
Dwelling houses aro fast becoming
only a memory in New York city. Few
new ones ark built eyery year, but hun
dreds aro torn, down to make room for
business buildings or big apartments.
Today tho metropolis is a city ot
anartment houses.
Not Really Binding.
"Didn't you solemnly promise to
lovo, honor and' obey' me, my dear?" ,
"Yes, tut tho minister has known mo
all my lite, and he knew I didn't mean
if Puck.
1
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Ji
