Rock Island Argus., May 01, 1913, HOME EDITION, Page 4, Image 4

About Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920

Image provided by: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Library, Urbana, IL

                
4
THE ROCK ISLAND ARGUS, THURSDAY. 5IAT 1, T0T3.
TIIF, ARGUS.
'" PuMUhetl dally at HI 4 Second -e.
Rock Ir,lnl. Hi (Entered at tbe
Ktofflo aa second-clsss Baatter.)
ek Islam KnWr rf tfce A
Pi
BY THE J. W. POTTER CO.
f TETtMS Ten cents per wee, by ear
ner, la lock Island.
Complaint nt delivery service should
te made to tho circulation department,
which rhould also be notified In every
fontanel where t I deelred te have
rape diar-ontlnu
n... .. h. n
authority In the premises.
Al! eonnnunleatt-sns of a r-a m en t tt
f'taracter. political or religiona, mast
hrve real na-ni attacked for publics
Hon. nurh articles will be printed
trir fictitious signatures.
Telenhones In all departments: Cet
Iral I'nlon. West 14S. 1145 and 214S.
Thursday, May 1, 1913.
The nation wide stir over rice may
have its hysterical aspects, though it
U nevertheless timely and needed.
Western Kansas has had a drench
ing rain. Rather far away, 'tis true,
though it will come home to you in
the price of your flour.
The increased demand for low
priced amusements indicates a pos
sible overcharge for high priced ones
In the past, and for more frequent
attendance at the shows at a lesser
eost
READY FOR THE BATTLE
An stria-Hungary, aa empire with
48,161,766 people, raises her band to
heaven and vows that, alone and un
aided, she is willing to brave the ter
rors of war with Montenegro, whose
population is about 250,000. Such re
markable herotsm has not been aeon
aince the world-encircling British em
pire nerved itself to attack the Boer
republics.
In spite of Austria's belligerent dis
position, the chances are slightly in
favor of police in the Balkans. It U
ad but true that European diplomats i
care little for human rights; and, re
duced to material terms, the points
at issue betwet-a Austria and Monte
begro are not worth a fight.
But even if she succeeds in bully
ing the little slate which has half as
many in habitants as Austria has reg
ular soldiers, the empire of Francis
Joseph has won nothing but the hat
red of the I'.ulkan peoples. The day
may come when that hatred will de
ride a general Kuropean war.
MiorKHTV INCKKASI-Jg.
Two lots in tlie heart of Chicago
lniHineSM district now valued at over
rH.000.Ouu crn bought 60 years ago
lor about $3,000, according to a re
rtort of a special committee which
inearthed a lot of similar deals that
have rcxuiled in fortunes tJ the pur
I hnnem
lu IS43 liutkner S. Morns purchased
from the Hlate for $1.1:66.6" a corner
.'t at Slate and Madison street, and
II yciirs later he bought the next lot
: r J1.S0O. That land now Is valued
$.".) a square ford.
In July. DOG. Hiram Pearson, after
turds governor of luwa, evldenred
l:ls faith in the future of Chiflugo by
purchailiig from the government, for
the until of J410. a piece of land In
.hat then may have been regarded
the extreme outh end of town. This
lartirnlar piece of land lies south of
lurkson boulevard and west of State
treet. extending to Van Buren street
imd to Plymouth Place one city
li'.ock. Evidently he bought this land
with a view to profit, and he quickly
eall::d his ambition, for he sold It
i days later for fl9 more than he
paid.
Who would then have dared to
Jreaui that this name piece of land
would bo valued at $12,000,000 and
more? ft that Is the value which it
i-. luudt, ii iei:T-ui uuuHaciiocs in
!lie Mock are taken as a criterion.
George W. Snow, w ho bought of
governor Pi-arsou, fared better still, 1
(or that deal made a fortune for him- 1
r'f and his heirs, and a pretty penny !
ould have been added to the millions
Til Investment produced. If he had !
rv t traded ;"i0 fort of the frontage at'
t'.ic southwest corner of State street
itud Juekson boulevard for five acres
a Lake View.
nXAMI.Mi THE FARMER.
The need for financing the farmers
vf America better, which has become
necessary to put agriculture in the
corn belt on a better footing, has
caused an Inquiry into the Credit
Fonder of Australia, through which
l lie savings may be loaned to farmers
under a government guarantee. "Un
der that system," a report states, "the
commissioners of savings banks will
fcrant loans in amounts of from $250
to $10,000, with interest at the rate
of 4 la per cent per annum. In addi
ton to paying the Interest, the bor
rower must ray half-yearly install
ments on account of the principal,
which, with the interest, make the
total payment equal to 6 per cent per
annum, and these pay off the loan in
XI and ooe-half years.
The success of the movement is
hown by the fact that considerably
over $10,000,000 has already been ad
vanced. The economic charges, and
the system of a sinking fund which
automatically liquidates the liability
over a long term of years, with the
t pUon of paying off the whole or any
I' rt at the end of any half year, arc
very attractive features. The pur
ine in the adoption of this plan by
V!C'.-!;i. iu Australia. i that the rap
i! ..".lenient of hundreds of thou-.-.
tv- of aTe of new land, and the
i.;iuiy iucriusiug resuitast products,
c .j.
i making the want of agricultural la
borers of both sexes keenly felt
If such a system were adopted In
the United States, It would not only
keep our own people at home, but it
would Induce- new settlers to come
here.
IN IHK SPIRIT OF FA I UN ESS.
The Illinois rice committee which
is so busy unearthing and exposing
things, is tackling a very serious
problem. While much good may and
doubtless will result and some shock
ing practices may be disclosed and
-dispelled, there Is need tor extreme
caution that there be no unfair
treatment of employers or employes.
The commission cannot afford to lis
ten to the harrowing stories of some
young girl, and, without giving the
other side a bearing, jump to the con
clusion that a great wrong has been
done and drastic measures for relief
must be taken.
No girl should be underpaid, and
we all know there are hundreds who
are receiving but a pittance for long
hours and elope, confining work. On
the other hand, it Is not fair to create
a feeling of dissension and dissatis
faction on the part of unskilled ap
prentices by making them think they
are entitled to as large pay as work
ers of experience and skill gained
by years of practice. The commission
should diligently study to avoid treaty
ing any prejudices between employers
and employes and between either of
these parties and the public. Above all,
both sides should have a full and
Impartial hearing. It Is so very easy,
after listening to disclosures that
seem roost shameful on the face of
them, to pass speedy judgment and
fall to wait for an explanation from
the condemned. It an employer of
woman's labor is shown to pay an
average wage approximating what is
a fair minimum wage, the isolated
statement of some apprentice or new
employe should not be allowed by
the commission to be given suci cred
ence as to sow the seeds of discon
tent and incite the incompetents to
stir up strife, or the public to hasty
condemnation.
As an evidence of bow easy it is
to misjudge when but one side is
heard, a case brought out at Spring
field last week might be cited. A
young girl came before the commis
sion and aroused their strong indig
nation by telling how she worked long
hours for the meager pay of $2 a week.
Tbe employer, when called, placed
very different light on the matter.
He said:
"This girl's sister was employed
by me, receiving $4.30 per week. She
came to me and said she was anxious
to get something for her sister to do.
The sister was the girl who testified
today. I told her I had no place for
her sister at that time, but she in
sisted there were reasons why, her
folks were anxious to give her some
thing to occupy her time and give
her opportunity to loam sorxtethlng. 1
did not need her, but made a place
temporarily in the pattern depart nent.
w here she had an opportunity to I
learn from ar excellent girl who is
getting $10 a week. After she had
been in this place some time I found :
reasons why I should not retain her !
and I a.-tked for and accepted her res
ignation." Now there Is a cae where serious
Injustice would have been done to
the eciploser had the investigation
stopped with the girl's story. All of
which should impress the commission
with the knowledge ttat they have
a hard problem and that they should
by no means allow prejudice to take
the place of fairness to all concerned.
CHILD WEDDINGS IN INDIA.
Candy Kept the Baby Partnera Quiet
During the Ceremony.
Four hundred niu mages were per
formed siinultaueons'.v at tbe last wed
ding celebration nt Surat among mem
bers of the Lewa Kunbl caste.
None of tbe brides was more tbau
twelve year of age. the mnjority be
ing from one to seven years old. while
the bridesrKms varied from three to
nine. Most of the coutracting parties
sat or lay on the laps of their parents
inHng ,oe.4Wmonw allo
j ,w,et, to kp4,p t,ln ))jie,
were given
et
j The caste only celebrates every ten or
i tw-elve years.
These baby brides, of course, do not
join their husbands when they are
married. They wait until they reach
tbe ape of ten or eleven, when there
is n second marriage. Should a baby
bride's husband die before she reaches
the age for tbe second marriage she
becomes a widow and tins to remain
so all her life. In such case tbe
widow at once iones caste Her orna
ments are taken off ber. and she be
come a sort of outcast, hardly treat
ed, looked down upon and generally
made a household drudge.
Tbe husband, on tbe other hand,
should bis baby bride die before tbe
second marriage, may marry again. In
fact, be l expected to do so within a
few months of the death of tbe bride.
Bombay Cor. Philadelphia Ledger.
Ears of Animals.
The ears of the tigers, foxes, wolvea.
eats and other beasts of prey bend for
ward, while the ears of animals of
flight sucb aa bares, rabbits, deer, etc
bend backward. This is becanse tbe
ears of beasts of prey are designed for
the purpose of collecting sounds in tbe
direction taken by tbe animal In pur
suit of its prey. The ears of an ani
mal of flight, by mining backyard, en
able it to bear tbe. sounds made by a
pursuer.
Washington An earthquake shock,
apparently outside tbe 5. 000-mile tone
from Washington, was recorded on the
seismograph at Georgetown university
yesterday. The main displacement
was east and west The shock felt
Monday night throughout northern
New York and lower Canada was the
most severe since the Champaign
earthquake of 16fi3. reports Professor
George Halpert Chadwick of St Law-
rence university.
The Genial Cynic
BY CHA&LXS OKAITT MTT.T.TiB
THRIFT.
T
HRIFT is a composite quality.
of the great virtues.
It involves industry, prudence, forethought, self-denial.
It certainly has no relation to "niggardliness or meanness.
Some men would let their grandmothers starve for the sake of a few
I dollars. Such actions cannot be called
becomes a vice and is no longer a virtue.
Thrift that does not take into partnership honesty of character de
velops into covetousness and avarice.
Thrift Is the opposite of thriftlessness, prodigality, improvidence and
waste.
Thrift means better homes and better food, more comfort and enjoy
ment, less waste and less anxiety.
It is possible that a large proportion of people have earnings so small
that saving seems impossible. But this is no reason for their being un
thrifty. On the contrary, it Is reason for making the best and the most
of the little they have for their health, comfort, and true happtness.
A few dollars In a home, or a savings bank, or any safe investment,
is as good seed as ever was sown.
Out of it grow confidence, quickened energies, firmer courage, more
stalwart thought and hope, more orderly citizenship, education for the chil
dren and the independence and self-respect that lift aimless, hoplesa
drudges up to the true manhood that aspires and achieves.
WOOD ALCOHOLPOISON
In spite of numerous warnings
much ignorance is still displayed re
garding the danger of methyl or wood
alcohol. This lack of knowledge is
shown in some quarters In which it
ought to be least expected. For exam
ple, the New York board of health a
few months ago passed tbe following
ordinance: "No preparation or mix
ture containing methyl alcohol intend
ed for external use by man, or so
used, shall, when offered for sale, sold
or used, be especially labeled, as fol
lows: 'This preparation contains me
thyl (wood) alcohol.'" If the forego
ing means anything it permits a viru
lent poison to be sold to the ignorant
public without a specific notice of its
toxic quality. The sanitary code of
New York, adopted in January, 1912,
Includes the following section: "No
person or corporation shall offer for
sale any food or drink which contains
methyl alcohol (commonly known as
wood alcohol), or any preparation or
mixture of any kind whatever con
taining the same intended either for
internal or external use by man; nor
shall methyl or wood alcohol or any
preparation or mixture containing the
same be used on or applied to the
person or body of another." This or
dinance was certainly based on what
we definitely know of the poisonous
characters of wood alcohol, Columbi
WIFE OF BRITAIN'S RICHEST PEER WANTS
DIVORCE; SPICY REVELATIONS EXPECTED
j, y -?rA- -. , - A V
V 4 -' -v si A j f
ifh v (tW' 'l ' ' I & if
V rs-Jp; ' .'rfL
fAv-1' . - -"h &s
' ..A...vfcw..? ..... iiiai,iiiiir'!-,
" t
.Tho Duchess o
London. Revelations of life in
London high society of rather a spicy
character are expected when the di
vorce case of the Duke and Duchess
of "Westminster is heard this summer.
The duchess started the proceedings
and makes sensational charges.
The duke is the richest peer in Eng
land. At the age of 20 he came into
pessbssion of his title and his im
mense estates, which are valued at
many millions. Since then (he Is
now 34) be has spent his whole life
In the pursuit of pleasure.
In 1900 be became engaged to the
beautiful Miss Ehelagh West daugh
ter of the Colonel and Mrs. Cornwal-lis-West
Then he went to the Boer
war, and once there lost no time in
becoming entangled with a notorious
charmer. Miss West hearing of this,
the engagement seemed in a fair way
to be broken. However, differences
were patched up and the wedding oc
curred in 1S01.
Getting married didn't Interfere In
the least with the duke's "pleasures'
and he was soon forming attachments
with women of the stage. He was
i particularly enthusiastic
over Miss
I Gertie Miller, one of the lively stars
lot the Gaiety theatre.
It embraces within itself nearly all
thrifty. A virtue carried to excess
an spirits, etc. As to the danger of
this product, attention has already
been called to the death of 71 muni
cipal lodgers in a Berlin aeylum from
drinking cheap schnapps made with
what corresponds in Atnerica to Co
lumbian spirits, the so-called "deodor
ised" wood alcohol. Later, in another
German town, seven deaths and the
usual accompaniment of blindness
followed the ingestion of a cheap
drink compounded from a "deodor
ized" wood alcohol sold by a local
druggist under the trade name of
"Spirltogen" a sort of Teutonic Co
lumbian spirits. The crime having
been committed in Gelsenklrchen in
stead of New York (1) the culplit was
baled into court at once, (2) the trial
lasted seven days, at the end of
which (3) the poisoner was sentenc
ed to two years' imprisonment, and
(4) the sentence was carried into ef
feet.
For the safety of our citizens, says
the Journal of the American Medical
Association, the sale of every form of
"deodorized" methyl alcohol should
be prohibited. Although many states
and municipalities have made legal
provisions for the former contingen
cy, these laws are frequently dead
letters. Denatured alcohol answers
every legitimate purpose of Col urn
blan spirits, and is eVen cheaper than
that toxic agent.
Westminster,
During the last three years the duke
has made no pretense of caring about
his wife. He has wandered over Eu
rope in pursuit of a good time. So
she is going to get a divorce, and in
getting It will let the court know
something about the dissolute life of
tbe man whose name she bears.
The Problem Was Clearly Untenable.
Dorothy, a little first grader In tbe
city schools, baa a small brother wbo
Is considered aa angel child by no one
bot mamma, so when teacher gave
Dorothy this problem. "If your mother
should give you 5 cents for keeping
Jack while she goes to market on
Saturday bow much would you ears
in six weeks?" she readily replied,
"Why. Miss Hudson. I wouldn't keen
that naughty boy If aaaauma cava aie
a quarter." Kansas City Star.
A New Experience.
"Dropped a little at roulette while) I
was abroad." remarked tbe k ma a.
"Can't beat that game." said th coal
man.
"Tasn't trying to. I Just wanted to
see how it feels to loe money."
Louisville. Courier-Journal.
rSeE.KI3Er5
Real Trouble
He sighed because It was his fate
To earn the blessings he received;
Because he was compelled to wait
For opportunttiea he grieved.
Ke mourned because he could not claim
A certain lady for his own;
He sadly sighed because his name
In many quarters was unknown.
He thought his fate was hard to bear
Because he seldom got a rest:
When he began to lose hla hair
A bitter sadness filled his breast.
But when he lest his appetite
And when good health was his no more
He sadly wondered day and night
Why he had ever grieved before.
As to Fiery Steeds.
"Yea." he said, as he went on hunt,
ing for tbe place where his automobile
was broken, "the day of the fiery steed
is past. It's a bad thing for the poets,
but we can't stay the march of prog
ress for the purpose of looking after
the needs of the bards. Poetry with
out the fiery steed will not be poetry,
especially where it refers to such mat
ters as the ride from Ghent to Aix,
Paul Revere's little trip and that hur-
ried movement in which Sheridan
played so important a part The fiery
steed has passed from the scene
forev "
Just then his fingers happened to
form a connection between the ends j
of a broken wire, and with a yell he
came back to a realization of the fact
that tbe fiery Bleed was still In evi
dence by a large and active majority,
Another Rule With Exceptions.
"Do you believe," asked the young
woman who had started upon a liter
ary career, "that success is In store
for everyone who keeps honestly try
ing?" "Well," replied the gray-haired au
thor, "I am sometimes disposed to
doubt it. I have been honestly trying
for thirty-three years to get my wife
to take an interest in what I write,
but success seems to be as far away
as ever."
NOT GUILTY.
Attorney Now,
Pat please tell us
what was the an
imus of your as
sault upon this
man.
Pat I didn't
have any animus.
All I hit him wld
was me flshts.
Not the One for Him.
He I was born on the 13th of the
month and it happened to be on Fri
day, too.
She Is that the reason you have
never thought it worth while trying
to be anybody?
He decided then and there that it
would be necessary to look elsewhere)
for his affinity. :
Social Progress.
"What a slashing fine woman that
Mrs. Sharpleigh is."
"Tea, she certainly is a clipper.- But
it's only natural that she should cut
quite a dash."
"Why?"
"Her husband got his start as a
barber."
What's In a Name
"Ton say you would not wed with
me because my first name is Pet el.
Ah, but what's in a name, after all?"
"Not much sometimes. A man named
Drinkwater was fined for getting
drunk in New York the other day."
Disillusion.
He thought she was the sweetest.
Daintiest thing in all the world
Till the morning that be saw her
Before her hair was curled.
Of Course.
Sne "flThich half of the world do
you suppose it is that doesn't know
how the other half Uvea?
He The masculine.
The Plot
"What is the plot of this play?" ak
ed the manager.
"It isn't complete," replied tho au
thor. "Tbe plot is to get a lot of peo
ple to pay S2 each to see it and I think
well do it if you will come in on the
conspiracy." Washinston Star.
The Daily Story
THE STRANGER BY DOROTHEA HALE.
Copyna-ntea 1913. Ty aasnriefed Literary Bureau.
1 -Tickets r
The conductor stood by a man with
his hat over his eyes, apparently
asleep. He made no res pen se to the
demand, and the conductor poked him.
Tbe passenger woke up. blinked his
eyes at tbe conductor, then began to
feel for his pocket book. It was not In
his hip pocket, where he first looked
if or it and ke begaa a series of sudden
Thrusts in all bis other pockets,
i "Conductor," he said, not having
found it. "some pickpocket has reliev
ed me of my tickets and $90 in cash."
"Ticket!" repeated tbe conductor, ap
parently oblivious ts this ingenuous ex
cuse. j "I tell you I've been robbed of my
ticket. Pass me to tbe end of tbe
road and I wilt see that you get one
as sooa as 1 can cash a draft"
; "Give me either a ticket or the mon
ey for your faro or you'll have to get
off the train."
j "What in all this rain?"
I "Yes. in all this rain. In the first
place, you were net asleep at all when
I came round, but pretended to be. In
tbe second place, you can't beat your
way on this road, and. In tbe third, fork
over or Til put you off."
: Other passengers were by this time
Interested in the debate. They saw the
man look at the conductor with a pe
culiar expression. In which surprise
and condemnation were mingled.
Though young, bis face had In it tbe
look of one who was accustomed to
command. Ills clothes were covered
with the dust of travel, but were not
'shabby. As be looked at the conduc
tor his countenance hardened; then he
said quietly:
; "Put me "off."
: The conductor sicxed the bell cord,
ipnlled it vigorously, and the train came
to a stop between two fields.
; The road was ditched oa both sides.
and tbe passenger bad difficulty In i
finding a footing. The train started
on. He stood staring at it foe. a few
moments, then looked about him for
shelter. There was but ose boose In
eight, and that was fully two miles
away. The rain beat down, wetting
tbe ejected passenger to the skin, and
a cold northeast wind intensified its
chill. Taking a glance at tbe probable
best ronte by which to reach the bouse
mentioned, he started toward it.
lie wss an hour reaching It facing
as he did the storm and several times
having to retrace his steps. On ar
riving be found It to be far better than
tbe averasre farmhouse and was re-
; oeived hr kind hearted, hospitable per-
; eons. Fie begged shelter and some dry
clothing, which was given him. but a
chill warned him that be bad better
go to bed at once.
nis hosts, the IJ vet-more family, con
! sisted of the father, mother and their
j daughter. Jennie. Tbe father hnd been
obliged on account of ill health to take
np his residence In the conn-try and
was trying to make a living by farm
ing. Though h had become well
again, he found city life bad not
! given him the experience a farmer
i needs, and be was rapidly running In
j debt. Nevertheless the family was a?l
kindness to the stranger. His chill
i was succeeded by a fever, and in less
"than a week be was at the point of
! death. Then he rallied and In a short
time was convalescent.
During bis illness Mrs. Livermore
was hi chief attendant, but when be
was gettirijr well she turned him over
to ber .daopbter. Tbe weather was
becoming warm, and Jennie placed a
big chair on the porch for bim and
covered him with blankets. There be
sat roost of tbe day in the sunshine.
From the porch he could look down
on the railroad and tbe place where
he was ejected In that pitiless storm.
"It's a 8bnrae." said his little nurse
Jennie, "that you should have been
forced to risk your life as yon were.
How much would it cost to soe tbe !
company?" j
"Why do you ask?" Tbe Invalid
looked at the girl's indignant features
with interest
"Because I had a legacy of $200 left
me not lonir ago. and if that would do
I think I would let you have It."
Tbe stranger regarded ber with an
amused expression. Such unthinking
generosity was refreshing.
"Will yon give it to me for the pur
pose of securing justice?" be asked,
i She sat turning the matter over In
her mind for n few minutes, and at
Jast frenerosiry won.
i "Yes," she said resolutely. "I will,
fraly you mustn't say anything to fa
ther or mother about the matter, for
they might not approve."
i "Probably not." replied the stranger
sententiously. "I may accept your
offer. Keep yonr money where you
can have It ready whenever I call
for It."
' The stranger sent for funds, which
he received during bis convalescence
and paid his physician. He begged to
be permitted to pay for at least his
keeping. But this was refused bim.
' ne bad written tbe auditor of the
railroad company by which be bad saf
fered. stating his cafe and asking what
Indemnity would be paid, if any. Tbe
reply was that the company admitted
no lecafllabillty whatever, but If ba
wouia state trie lowest sum ne worrm
take in settlement his claim would be
contfidefed.
When the stranger read this he was
sitting on the porch and Jennie was
attending bim. He smiled, and Jennie
asked him at wbat he was smiling.
"1 will name a very low sum the
amount you propose to lend me to trf
tbe case After that I shall bear noth
ing more from .the auditor."
"Why not?
"Because his object is to Induce me
to name a aum that I will accept for
my claim. He will file my reply, and
If tbe case ever comes to trial be will
show It as evidence that S-'OO was all
I had asked in settlement."
"How do you know so much about
the? matters?" .
"Kindly give me writing materials."
replied the stranger without answering
her question, "and I will prove to you
that I am right."
He wrote a letter offering to accept
$200 Tn settlement for his claims, ask
ing an Immediate reply since he was .
about to leave tbe place from which
his offer was made. Though he re
mained there two weeks longer, no an
swer came.
"I wonder how In the wide world
you knew all that?" remarked Jennie.
But tbe stranger did not seem in
clined to explain things. When he
was strong enough he went away, giv
ing heartfelt thanks to all his bene
factors and bidding Jennie a tender
goodby.
"Now. remember," he said at parting
with her, "if I send to you for that
$200 you won't go back on me. will
you?"
"But didn't that offer yon made spoil
it all?" she asked.
"Tea: It worked in that way, but
there are other ways."
Jennie's confidence in this young
man, who seemed to know so much
about railroad methods, was perfect
and she promised to send the money
when called for. Then tbe stranger
went away, and they beard no more of
him for months. Spring passed into
summer, and the early autumn came.
Then Jennie received a letter from
the stranger, saying that he was using
her legacy without really having It in
bis possession. He explained that ha
was deing it on the credit system,
which made it Just as valuable to him
as cash. This was all Greek to Jen
nie, but she remembered bow he had
foretold what tbe auditor of the rail
road would do, and she wrote back
that It was all right She was glad he
was getting tbe benefit of ber money
and hoped he would make the railroad
company pay at least his dorter's bill.
During tbe summer the stock of tbe
said company began- to go up and
down, sometimes jumping five points
at a time, then sinking ten points.
Sometimes it would remain at a fixed
price for weeks, then gradually settle.
Within a few months, passing through
these changes, it sank from par to halt
that value. Everybody wondered what
was going on "behind the scenes" to
cause such fluctuations and such a re
cession of price. But nobody seemed
to know. After awhile It began to
rise and went Uu-k to'par.
AVben the annual meeting of tbe di
rectors came around an unknown man
walked into tho room where it was
held and showed certificates to the
amount of 53 per cent of the capital
stock. He presented tbe names of a
new board and. holding a majority of
the stock, elected every one of them.
Most of his votes were by proxy.
"You are" asked the astonished
president of the man wbo beld theaa.
"I am vice president ef the R. T. and
G. lirje, on the Pacific coast Last
spring I came east on business for my
road. I was robbed of my pockerbook
on entering a train on your road and,
having neither money ner tickets, was
put off In a storm by your conductor.
I contracted pneumonia and came very
near dying. Subsequently I offered to
accept $200 for my chiim against your
company, but no reply was made to
my offer. On my recovery I made a
study of your road and formed a plan
to unite It with its feeder. I Interest
ed my backers on the Pacific coast and
obtained from them tbe necessary
financial equipment. As chairman of
the new board I call upon the officers
of the compnny for their resignations."
Not a person present had ever beard
of the $200 claim for damages. The
president said that If be bad known
of it he won Id gladly bave settled the
claim, paying a just amount The
chairman of the new board said be
wns glad the president did not know
of it, since tbe investment under the
new scheme promised to De a very
profitable one.
A few days after these developments
Jennie Livermore saw the stranger
coming up tbe walk. She ran out to
meet him.
"I've won my suit against the rail
road company," be said.
"You don't mean It!"
"Tes. and I must pay yon for the
use of your legacy, which helped me
to win It"
"now much did yon get?"
"Your share is in this check.'
ne handed her a check for $(1,040.
She failed utterly to grasp what it
meant. Then the others of the fainllj
cam out to welcome him. and be told
tbem how he had secured Indemnity
from tbe road for having been put off
a train and made ill in consequence.
There were additions to the story
which interested tbem far more than
the recital thus far. He bad also de
posited with bis broker a check for
wbat he deemed the payment for hla
stay with tbem while he was sick
$1,000 and had bought and sold with
it tbe stock of tbe railroad company
be was manipulating. That fund now
mounted to over $30,000.
The stranger made another visit to
his benefactors, and when be went
away he took with bim Jennie Liver
more. May 1 in American
History.
1813 The British nnder Colonel Proc
tor laid siege to Fort Meigs, on
Maumee river, which was held by
2,000 United States troops com
manded by General W. II. Harri
son. 1863-Battle at Port Gibson, Miss.; first
engagement in Grant's Vicksburg
campaign. General Hooker placed,
his army ou the defensive at Clian
cellorsville. Va.
1910 Bear Admiral Philip HJchborn.
TJ. 8. N.. retired, noted naval con
structor, died: bora 1S30.
All the news all the time Tne Argus.