The Rice belt journal., May 21, 1909, Image 6

About The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??

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THE RICE BELT JURNAL
WELSH PTG. CO., LTD........Pubs.
WELSH : : : :: LOUISIANA
"BLACKMAIL" AND "PIRACY,"
When waiters neglect early comers
to pay assiduous attention to late ar
rivals who have given them tips, they
perpetrate a disgraceful injustice well
worthy of punishment as a misde
meanor, says the Milwaukee Wiscon
sin. The United States is a republic.
In a republic distinctions between the
rich and poor are especially invidious.
Distinctions between persons who tip
and persons who refrain from tipping
are not only invidious, but constitute a
species of blackmail, and blackmail is
certainly a misdemeanor, if indeed it
is not a crime. The object of all good
laws is to enforce justice. Is there any
Justice in a conspiracy among waiters
to neglect those of their employers'
patrons who are unwilling or unable
to pay more than the established and
current price for what they order? Is
the conspiracy any less a conspiracy
if the employer of the waiters, is a
party to it, as is sometimes the case?
A corporation or an individual en
gaged in catering to the public in any
capacity who sets a price on meals or
on anything else in which he deals,
and then permits his employes to e'
act tips, and to discriminate against
those of his customers who do not give
tips, is not only disloyal to his patrons,
but an enemy of the public and de
serving of punishment. His employes
who exact tips, and give grudging
service if the tips are not paid, are
also enemies of the public.
The United States life-saving serv
ice is little heard of, especially in in
land states, yet its work, for the
amount of expense, produces wonder
ful results. The report for 1908, just
to hand, contains some interesting
facts; Of 1,094 vessels wrecked in
American waters 56 were a total loss.
The entire property value at stake
was $13,630,225. The life-saving serv
ice sihatche-d back from the waves
$11,666,435. On board the imperiled
vessels were 5,712 human beings. At
the usual valuation of an average of
$4,000, the life savers, who rescued afl
btit 22 of these people, preserved to
the natibn human energy worth $22,
760,000. A total of $34,426,435 return
from an expense of $1,962,524.90, the
entire outlay of the department. This
seems to be one instance at least in
which government insurance is a con
spicuous success.
"A . woman's sphere is to keep
- house," the masculine conservative
-growls, whereat the suffragette pouts
and protests. Yet both may be right.
Much 'depends on the breadth of the
term. The trouble is the suffragette
and the anti-suffragette seem to imply
Sthat housekeeping is not much of a
:: job. As a matter of fact, It is the big
gest in creation, when measured by
S any true standard of values. It is
really the one and only universal, in
dispensable trade, as necQssary in
China as in America, 'among the Es
Squlmos as among the Europeans, in
: thecave as well as in the palace, be
 p-. eath the thatch no less than beneath
the tile. And it is the oldest, beginning
, as it did when Eve gave Adam his
first breakfast and the morning stars
j: warbled the first song.
The equal-suffragists may consider
New England as practically lost to
,thile cause, since a prominent one of
Stheir number sarcastically told the Pil
Sgrim Mothers that from the tens of
Sthousands she hasqmet in the United
States' whbse ancestors came over
on the Mayflower, she was led to be
.holieve that Vessel the size of the Lu
i altanla, or a whole fleet of modern
,steamers. Now there is a coldness in
the Cauge.
F- q the second time within a couple
weeks, the American bluejacket has
guished himself. A fire broke out
a P hilladelphta tenement on Friday;
 man climbed the rainspout to the
end story and helped five persons
Mt :aty, On his cap was the name
-%the battleship Kearsarge, but he re
to give his own name. His mod
prve the finishing touch to a
4 .._ _ -_
there Isalways a day of settlement
neU.where fanatical mobs or
eroa soldiers are Permitted to
kooge. Chiat learned that lesson
- it fiet the bill for damages to
 :b the es. Turkey and
f3ft o the collector's route
asht by bloody
elems and ferce Turoinans
Psaid for.
In the cods, eb, away
4thIg of the mosquito,
t~epeats and the ob
.f the ant, the garter
~t But how about
S anid Putting the
1 ,* :
,,'
.-- . . h '. ;y ,
t.E . L ROYNOPJON
COves IN7FS~ Q wau-ocUIIrt00wav r ncr ainas
SYNOPSIS.
"Vanishing Fleets." a story of "what
might have happened." opens in Wash
ington with the I'nited States and Japan
on the verge of war. Guy Hillier, sec
retary of the British embassy, and Miss
Norma Roberts. chief aide of Inventor
]Roberts, are introduced as lovers. At the
most inopportune moment Japan declares
war. Japan takes the 'hilippines. The
entire country is in a state of tutiroil be
cause of the government's indifference;
Guy Hillier starts for England with se
cret message and is compelled to leave
Norma Roberts. who with military of
fleers also leaves 'aslhington on mys
terious expedition for an isolated point on
the Florida coast. Hawaii is captured by
the Japs. All ports are closed. .lap flet
Is fast approaching western coast of Amer
lea. Siego, Japanese spy. discvers stecret
preparations for war. Hef follows auto
carrying presidential cabinet. fhe nn
earths source of great mystery and nfles,
miurmuring: "The gods save Nippon."
Fleeing to Pacific coast, Siego is slot
down jusit as journey to get awful news
to Japan seems successful. Japan an
nounces intention to attac'J seaports.
Tokio learns of missing .lapanese fleet
and whole world becomes convinced t hat
'nited States has some powerful war
agency. England decides to send a fleet
to American waters as a ('anadian pro
tection against what the British s1opose
is a terrible submarine flotilla. Hilnier is
also sent to Canada to attempt to force
his way through American lines with a
message to the president in order that
protection for the fleet may be assured.
Japan appeals to Britain for aid. British
fleet departs, amid misgivings of English.
Fleet mysteriously disappears, a sailor
picked up on a raft being the only c-vi
dence of the loss. Powers begin to fear
for their safety.
CHAPTER IX.
Barred by Bayonets.
Rested 'by his sea voyage, and glow
ing with a determination to win his
way across the border, but with no
definite idea as to what method he
should pursue, Guy Hillier landed in
Montreal. His first effort was to gain
what details he could as to the nature
of the embargo which had been placed
on travelers between the two coun
tries, after which he lost no time in
personally studying the habits of the
border camps. Long residence in
America bad lessened the broadness
of his A's, and with a little practice his
R's were almost those of the aver
age New Yorker.
The meager information he suc
ceeded in gathering was not alto-,
gether trustworthy, as he was soon to
learn.' He had been told that certain
Americans, in Canada at the time the
line of blue was drawn, were per
mitted to pass, and thus regain their
homes, and on this he based his first
sally. There was no trouble whatever
in gaining the encampments nor in
interviewing the officers in command
of that section of the defense. A
smart-appearing sentry passed him
over to the guardianship of a soldier
off duty, who conducted hire to one of
the regulation tents which' dotted the
hillside back of the line.
On the orderly's presenting his card,
a voice from within hailed: "Come
in!" and he entered the little house of
canvas to find three officers engaged
in some game of cards which he did
not understand.
"What can I do for you?" the com
mander inquired, rising from his camp
stool and still holding the visitor's
card in his hand.
"I am anxious to cross the line," Hil
lier replied.
The officer laughed and shook his
head. "I'm sorry, sir, but we have
had as high as 100 applications of this
nature in, one day, and my orders for
bid my acceding to any such re
quest."
"But you pass Americans, do you
not?'
Again the officer smiled tolerantly,
replying with good nature: "Not un
der conditions like these. We have no
choice in the matter. If you are an
American, I thoroughly appreciate
your anxiety to go home; but I cannot
help you."
It began to look less easy. "Is there
no way at all?" asked Hillier.
"My dear sir," the officer answered,
"the prophet Moses leading his band
across the Red sea had an easier trip
than you could make through ou'
lines." '
For a moment the courier lost pa
tience, and then as a last resort he de
cided to make a clean breast of his
errand. "Colonel," he said, "I am not
an American; I am the secretary .of
the British embassy in Washington
or was up to the time of this war.
I come as a special messenger from
my country, bearing important dis
patches, which I am to deliver only
into the hands of his excellency, the
president of the United States. The
accomplishment of my mel|bn may
have a grave bearing on this conflict,
and it possibly may prevent blood
shed."
The colonel turned to one side and
threw down the playing cards which t
he had been holding before making
any reply. His companions looked t
highly interested; but their faces gave
no hope...
'"Mr. Hillier, there have been at ,
least 20 men before me' with similar
important messages, many of whom j
have come direct from other foreign 1
powers. The first of these I took from i
them and sent forward by special ,
couriei's of my own. In each ease 1 ;
was given a reprimand.! Come here"
-he said, and preceded :Hillier out itnto .i
the~ open, wbere a bnlletln board was r
naidaginst a tree. In the- very *
jflN
officers, bulletined and read to all
men,.permits of no modification what
ever. It read: 'No man shall pass
through the lines, either in or out,
and under no circumstances shall any
communication be passed, either in or
out, save on thoe ritten permit duly
sealed and signed by the president of
the United States.'"
"Is that eumphatic enough?" he
asked, turning to Hillier, who re
luctantly admitted that it allowed of
no misinterpretation.
"But," said the latter half jokingly,
"suppose I make a run for it ?"
"In that case, Mr. Hillier." the offi
cer answered gravely, "my men would
unhesitatingly drill you full of holes,
and I should be sorry to see a man
whom I take to be a gentleman make
such an attempt. This may look like
play; but underneath gloved hands
along this border are the claws of war.
Don't, please, make me unsheath
them!"
The secretary, baffled, declined the
proffer of a drink, and was promptly
escorted back across the Canadian
lines; but on the way he made new
plans. He was only rebuffed by his
first failure, and with doggedness he
set his jaws and swore that by some
means or other he would go to Wash
ington. Time was becoming more and
more valuable, so much of it had been
-- C
,p //r
( ZI
4':~ J
·L-~/
/~
He Swam to the Point Where the Soldier Stood.
expended in his first inquiries and
overtures. He would now be driven to
stealth and disguise.
He returned to the city, bought a
shabby suit of clothes from a second
hand dealer, checked his luggage in
the hotel, put the precious dispatches
in a pocket within his shirt, and called
for an a~utomobile. The machine car
ried him rapidly down a well-rolled
road till night fell, when he paid the
chauffeur, and as an additional pre
caution for the sake of secrecy walked
ahead till satisfied that he had put
many miles between himself and any
one who might have observed his com
ing.
He had seen enough during the day
to be convinced that under ordinary
circumstances it would be impossible
to pass the sentries, whose heats were
exceptionally short, and who formed
almost a continuous line as far as he
had been able to observe. , His in.
quiries had elicited, the informnation
that somewhere in the vicinity a small
river -flowed between the two coun
tries, and he purposed using this tribu
tary of the St. Lawrence as a means
to gain 'the other country. His plan
was.: rendered more tdnable , because'
the moon, being in tlie full, ; favored
him. The night -itself seemed most
propitious, as from the west a dark
bank of clouds was' slowly coming, for-'
ward, promising to lend obacurity at a
time when it should be most needed.
Cautiously hbe .proeeded along the
river bank, gainint A position in as
close proximity- to they movlng sntri
ae he dared, theu UliJpp.4 ot his cd b.j
moon he lowered himself quietly intn
the water and began swimming to
ward the boundary line. In his days
at Oxfcrd he had been an athlete ol
note, and in all his later years ha(
maintained excellent physical condi
tion, and was thoroug hly at home it
the water. lie swam with a lon
stroke, catching breath fromu the cpr
ner of his mouth as he tlurned his fac(
sidewise, and exposing as little o
himself to view as possible. The Iun
dle of clothing lashed to his shoulder.,
proved something of an impediment
but not sufficient to stay his progress
The current caught him now and then
throwing him out of his course, anm
when he discovered this to be the cast
he was almost against a bank. There
after he lifted his head at intervals
in order that he might remain in th(
center of the stream. liHe surmise(
that he was nearing t',e line of sen
tries, and elevated his chin for an
other glance, when a sudden blinding
flash of light smote him in the eyes
causing hint instinctively to duck hi,
head. When he came up for air after
swimming for some distance undle
water, the light was still on him, an(
a drawling voice hailed himll from th(
shore.
"Stranger, when you get tired ol
swimming you might come in. I guess
you'd better, because there's four oi
five men up beyond me might tak(
you for a duck, and they're all pot
hunters."
His chance was lost. He wonderer'
why he had not thought of search
lights, and realized that nothing but
The brilliance of the night had pre
vented their employment at an earlier
hour. Fairly gritting his teeth in
anger, he swam to the point where the
soldier stood, and crawled out upon
the beach, seating himself until he
could fully recover from his effort
and regain his breath. A tall, lean
man, whose color emblems showed
him to be from Missouri, stood above
him, while farther back and at a
higher point the buzzing of the cal
ciums and the long restless ray of
light showed the location of this
searcher of the night. Beneath it he
could dimly discern the tower-like
structure on which it was mounted.
"You'd better get your clothes on,"
suggested the sentry; "or, if you want
to, I'll call one of the other boys and
get him to lend you a few dry duds.
Sorry we couldn't have used the lights
a little sooner and saved you the
trouble of swimming up this far and
gettin' all wet; but the boss is a little
shy on carbons now, so he thought
he'd make the moon work for an hour
or two this evening." ..
Hillier, discomfited, started to don
his wet clothing; but the guard in
sisted in homely phrase that he'd be a
heap sight better of and run no rink
of catching his death of cold if he
would just let one of the boys loan
him some clothes for a little while,
ap to this he finally assented. This
idfinite politeness and good humor,
coating inflexibility., was a little try.
ing.
"You seem to keep k pretty good
watch along this border," he growled.
"Yes, fair to middlin'," the sentry
said, with a chuckle, "We've' been
expecting you all day long. In fact, I
supposea Yu're beinag expected from
here clcar through tA Vancouver.
You're the Englishmna that's banker
Iisg to go;t Washingtn," ..
Hillier taotad to ra4 him in iamaze
meat,;.Wh.at perfectio~t of espinasge
was thl? 6tt "' HqaWver' sake, ,bmnt0
vt0~l V~t*t
as it leveled its ray along bhe line he
saw here and there field bh oths .i!th
double lines of (wiro ejntoring arnd
emenrging from themr. "(h, t, le.
graph and telephone, and th, rth,..
this freak thing that sl)how li' n pL:r
piettI re Iak'lri in li\' !iifderen' I ,isi
tions has beetn in ithl'ere :inc ll y n, fi
Ft anvV .av i i d'011( i t last i(s ,'in.S
you'd halve bot'n picked up hIt'(ore Oi
got very .tar into the interior."
Hillier sat stupefied. "Has anyb(I.dv
ever really got acro s this line '
"Yes, three or four of Ithem, her'
Sand there, mtostly out Nest where lhth
hills is rougher; but they all got gatºh
ered in sooner or lateor. One of "etr
who tried it was a Jlap, and the boys
accidentally shot him. Another fel
low was an Englishmain, who made it
over from Canada into Detroit, so I've
heard."
"\What happened to him?''" lilli'r
asked, suspecting that this was the
first bearer of the message who had
preceded him.
"'They didn't want to turn him lo,-se.
because he knew too llmuch; so they
decided he was a vag, and run him in
till the war is over."
Hillier knew now what had been his
predecessor's ;lte, but made no reply.
His informant after a paulse con
tinu tied: "There's been only one ac
cident besides that which halppened to
the .lap, and that was a poor devil that
undertook to go over in one of these
newfangled airships. lie certainly
got his tire punctured all right, and
came down mighty sudden." The sol
dier stopped for a moment and heaved
a long sigh, and then concluded in a
softer voice: "I was awfully sorry
for that fellow. lie wa'n't no spy not
nothing like that, but just a young
newspal)er chap doing the best he
knew how to get the goods. He was
(lone for when the boys picked him up.
The colonel felt about as sorry as any
body else, and got special permission
from the Canadian government to send
a squad back b.ith him as a guard of
honor."
By this time Hillier had donned the
dry garments that had been provided,
and stood awaiting the further instruc
tions of his captor. "Well, what am I
to do?" he inquired, seeing that the
man stood motionless.
"Oh, you can go back across the
line, or if you want to one of the boys
will find a place for you to bunk till
morning. You see, you're kind of a
distinguished guest. We all had or
ders to treat you nicely, and the colo
nel will have a machine here to take
you back wherever you want to go to
morrow."
Baffled by vigilance and overcome
by courtesy the secretary, after bid
ding his captor good-by, retired for the
night to a camp cot in the quarters of
a lieutenant of infantry. It was long be
fore be succumbed to a sleep of utter
exhaustion. He was awakened by a
bugle call In the morning, and found
his host shaving himself before a
small mirror suspended from the tent
pole.
"Good morning, Mr. Hillier," the
officer said. "Not quite as pleasant
quarters as the secretary of the Brit
ish embassy is entitled to, and not
many conveniences; but you're wel
come to my razor if you'll wait a min
ute."'
Hillier sat up, rubbing hIs eyes.
Nealty stretched out on a camp stool
before him were his shabby clothes,
improved by washing, not only dry but
pressed. He stared at them hia sur
prise, while the officer laughingly con
tinued:
"Yes, we did the best we could for
them; but I don't think you made a
friend of my orderly, as he swears he
has worked on them all night long,
and has requested a day's leave on
the strength of it."
Thanking the officer for his hospi
tality, Hillier slowly garbed himself
and stepped through the tent fly. Be
low him and stretching away as far as
the eye could discern were gray
brown embankments, one line within
the other, and excavated with military
precision.
'Intrenchments," came a voice be
hind him, Observing his curious in
spection. "We have to keep the boys
busy, and besides the government
didn't want to take any chances. Those
pits stretch across this continent
now, and there won't be any trouble
for a good many years to come for
people to tell just where the bcrder is
located. Like 'em?" he concluded,
whimsically,
"No, I can't say that I do," Hlller
responded with equal good nature;
"but they look business like."
"Oh, they're the goods sure enough,"
his informant continued; "but that
isn't all. See that little mound over
there?" and he pointed a bare brown
arm over his guest's shoulder. Hii
lier nodded assent and lookes1 inquir
ingly at his companion. '"Behiad that
there's a brace of Gatling guns. Got
them too every little ways. Never
had to fire 'em yet, and hope we never
will. But you never can tell. Same
work's been dbne along the Mexican
border 'line; but it's easier to guard.
This war certalnly 'has educated sa
lot of fellows; so that when it's over
there'll be plenty of men can show
callouses that were never decorated
with 'em before. This country's bot
tied up now as tight as if the Lord
Almighty had set a can over it," and
he laughed at his own joke. 1
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
Polite. Chinese Childmn.
While very young the little Chinese
is taught "manners," how to come
iato a room, to bow very low to par.
entr or those "older than himself-
oven! till. his head nearly touches the
d to "ehlsa 'bi,"' This Is
~·es the
All Who
Would Enjoy
o n t n'.. b u t un r or
rimll' ,.. 1 . i,. l i' es,. . I,'_-, m ins , -l
ab~le if taike n nt thle p' r tin and tiny
,ii,' :k t ant o <r,, ,nt . l ir t subjnthe
t r u t h "  'I ! ' a  Ito : u ly th e p eda .gh
Sla ti , i t t ,, i d.irc :t under r.i
dchtarv oseitiinl, nit many lsancs Slup ..
Bi fciin. 't, , ! ,i * ' t ; n":h- fir 3il inef ict i
baie if nak , at I::;l,, prnn ,ur Inr aidy tino:
Calif:rnr~ia IHig S"rup a . r:oid, that i -
by alkl l rarin:tt dru.i.. t ,. e sube
trunhf iii V a rid ti eiipfpl i vne arpeigf
Patiengst and iir ong Suffering. But Ner
buy had br::icn at naork far turee dly
('aifinr :a Fi Srllp ando ol, and afor
wanted it finiuhn d wýithin thle w aeek
alhad promisif d Pat another man the
y allp him. It a s gettino o or 11u
Patiento and Long Suffering, But Nlo
budog,in a llooking over the edge
help him. it was getting on for 11iu
o'clock, and Towser, the foreman'.
bulldog, was looking over the edge g
the pit, when Pat said to hlmseu
"Smoke-o." ,i
le had just filled his pipe. and waa
about to light it when he glanced t
and beheld Towser's handsome fe*
tures.
Slowly removing the pipe from
mouth, he said: "Be-e-egorra, Oi
wor-rked wid Germans and Hengar
rians, and Oi've wor-rked wid 01
tans and naygers, but if a man wil
face like that comes down here
work besoide me, I gets up."
ANOTHER TERROR.
- 1
Frightened Pup-Gee! I
heard that women were gonla
everything; but I never knew
were lady dog catchers;
Standing Fad.
The wandering agent %ho w$
ing cigar-bands found Remus
on the porch mending his
lines.
"Do ydu have any fads down,
in Dixie?" asked the agent.
"What am them, mister?"
Remus, curiously.
"Why, take the collecting fid.'
you make any collections of
down hereY'
Remus laughed. .
"Oh, yeas, sah," he chum
same collections we've always
De collection of pickaninnies
sah." __ ,
Little Tuberculosis Among
Dr. Maurice Pishberg is
for the statement that the n
deaths from tuberculosis
Jews is one-third that observed
the non-Jewish population
them and living in the same
vironment. Dr. Fishberg a
this remarkable vitality of ti
and their immunity to sickness
eral, to the fact that they ha
for over 2,000 years dwelling
city and are thus able to
more 'than their neighbors, ",
LIGHT BOOZE
Do You Drink It?
A minister's wife had quite.a
with coffee and her experieane"
teresting. She says:
"During the two years of my
Ing as a nurse, while on night
became addicted to coffee drifk
tween midnight and four In th
ing, when the patients were
there was little to do except
rounds, and it was quite nat
I should want a good, hot cup
fee about that time. It stimul
and I could keep awake better.j
"After three or four years o
drinking I became a nervous
and thought that I simply
live without my coffee. All
I was subject to frequent billo
tacks, sometimes so severe as
me in bed for several days.
"After being married, I
begged me to leave off coffee
teared that it had already
almost beyond repair, so Ir
make an effort to release m
the hurtful, habit,
"I began taking Postum, and:
few days felt the languid, tired i
from the lack of the stimulant,'
liked the taste of Postum a
answered for the breaklast
all right.
"Finally I began to feel ci
ed and had steadier nerves.
year's use of Postum I now feel
new woman-have not had any
attacks since I left off coffee."
"There's a Reason." Read"
to Wellvlle," in pkgs. .
U er read tSe above letterti
4in aears ifrr time to
S einu-.tre a d, fa.l .