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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 27, 1915)
A CIRCUS BAND STORY THERE 18 MUCH CHARM TO THE ROVING LIFE. Vance Colvig, Free-Footed Wanderer, Loves to Follow the Big Red Wagons of the Circus. . The circus has gone. It look with it its outstanding feature, the band, an organization of first-class musi cians who. take up the free-footed life of the ''high top" armies for the pure love of travel, and for the little adventure they can get from the daily grind of two shows, parades and prac tice. It is a restless, discontented group of amiable young fellows who seem to have the instinct of hoboism covered with the smooth veneer given bv (rood family ties and education. A man must have some few of the nner sensibilities in his make-up to be a musician, and it is not so much to bis 'discredit if he chooses the carefree, Roving life of the modern troubador. ""The circa tesdjpen. are mostly in their twenties, most of them are f'lii cated either in high school or college, and many can trace their family eon- C actions creditably. There are a num 6r of college graduates In tile organ isation and as naturally accustomed to a dress suit as they are to the green uniform of the baud. The leader, E. A. Woeckener, has collect ed and capably trained the band. He is careful in his selection of materia, and when he finds a really good mu sician he can usually interest him in an Al. G. Barnes contract, no matter what his previous condition of servi tude may have been nor what his vo cation is. One of these is "Pinto, ""known to his family and good friends as Vance DeBar Colvig, a roving youth of many talents, and known to thou sands of people from end to end of the United States by his nickname, awarded in honor of his very freckled face. Studying himself the box-car idol, the break-beam tourist and the society tramp, he has followed circus band life' for many years and has been taken to practically every city in the United States and Canada. Occasionally "Pinto" foregoes the charms of the wandering musician's life and says he will settle down. When he settles he employs his tal ents as a cartoonist to bring him a living, and they bring a good one. He is an artist compared to most cartoonists, and can nlmost command a position in that work. His own story of his last settlement is inter esting. He was employed last year as cartoonist on the Carson City (Nev.) News, where his Utile horse, used as Reynolds uses his tiger, and called "Pinto's Nightmare," won him great popularity. Barnes circus was billed to show in Carson City in the early spring of this year. He sat at his easle, immune to the call of the big tents and the pleas of his former colleagues. Aloriir came Mr. Woeck ener, who said: "Pinto, think of the life; think of the world you see." "Ah, Shucks," says Pinto, "gimme a contract.',' That's the way it is with Pinto. His father is Judge Col vig, for eight years at Meuiord, and at present head of the tax anil right-of-way department of the Southern Pacific, with offices in Portland. The judge is well-known in Dallas where his legal work has brought him many times. He cannot influence his son to calm himself, but thinks, as does the young fellow himself, that he will fi nally end his roaming by the time he is thirty years old. Pinto allows him self that much time, he is twenty-five now, to adjust himself to normal con ditions of existence. Pinto tried for a education. As soon as the circus started out each spring, however, he would forsake his studies and climb on the band wagon. Some of those who knew him in collesre asked him on Tuesday what he thought he would do when he was too old to play the E-flat clarinet, and too old to wield the pen and ink in his present mas terful style. Colvig looked shocked at the question, and asked in retort: "What do you think they build poor houses fort" He attributes his loose footedness to a peculiar disease, over which he has no power, and calls the malady the "niggers itch." Which it must be to make a talented youth, capable of earning better money at music or at art, foresake a good home, pleasant surroundings and a chance in the world, for the charm of the big white canvassed arena, and the joy of waking up, as Pinto puts it, "in a new town every morning, with hundreds of strange faces in a sea about the cars seeking curiosity as I seek the life I love." rV, ' is admitted and entitled to all hon ors, benefits and privileges of an ex empt fireman. Witness our hands and the seal of the department, affix ed at the town of Dallas, Oregon, this the 7th day of October, 1890. J. W. Crider, president; I. N. Woods, secretary." - The possession of the above certifi cate has exempted Mr. Grant from juiry duty through all the intervening years. Once when called upon for jury duty by a jurist long since de parted, Mr., Grant declined to serve because of other matters occupying his time, but the good judge insisted, and it was only when the above cer tificate was produced that he was ex cused from service. EVERY PATRIOT'S DUTY NATIONAL GUARD A PREPARA TORY SCHOOL FOR SOLDIERS. Organization of Country's Young ' Men Provides a Way for Protec tion of Our Government. OTHERS' OPINIONS. Oregonian: "The people of Polk county of course will conduct their affairs to suit themselves; but is it a matter of no moment to them that twoscore or more newspapers have more than a passing interest in them and are unanimous in the opinion that the thing which some people in that County desire to do ought not, to be done? "It is the opinion of The Orego nian that no recall of a public officer, elected bv the suffrage of the people. is justified, except for grave reasons of public policy. Undoubtedly, pro ven dishonesty warrants the recall or notorious moral delinquencies; or demonstrated incompetency affecting vitally the public interests; or preju dicial favoritism for one or another interest. But it is foolish to recall, or attempt to recall, any public of ficial over any question of mere ad ministrative detail. That is what most attempted recalls are, except those other recalls which are inspired by motives of personal revenge or factional, sectional, or political re sentment. "Polk county ought not to be in sensible to the fact that the people of Oregon as a rule rejoice greatly when a recall, anywhere within a city or county, fails." Mr. Ellis Shows Old Letter. I. M. Kllis brought into The Ob server office this week an interesting letter that was exchanged between an uncle and father, Nathaniel Ellis, at Venus postoffice, Madison county, Il linois, more than sixty years ago. The letter is full of interest, and to add to that of the four pages of writing Mr. Ellis' uncle has drawn a diagram of a man named Nathaniel AV. Evans who was shot and seriously wounded by Jessey Furman on December 12, 184!). Kvans, so the letter says, was a store keeper, and Eurmnn a worth less drunkard. Crops in Illinois were in "a sorry state" that season, and the winter and spring had been very wet. "Bacon is worth a to 10 cents, cheese the same, coffee 5 pounds for $1,011, wheat $1.00 a hundred, eggs 10 and 12 cents a dozen, and butter 1.) to 20 cents a pound." The letter was written, as was that shown by Mr. Macomber a short time ago, before the day of the postage stamp and envelope. We are advised by the communication, which cost ten cents to transmit a distance of 100 miles, that Aunt Sally weighed more than 200 pounds at the time the letter was written. First Hops of Season Picked. Recording the first harvest of the season, J. K. cooper started picking hops on his vard near Independence on Tnesdav. The pickers on the Coop er place report a good crop and con tinue steadiest work. rJy next week picking will have commenced in most , , , ,i I ui lilt? iivn vniua. i hci o nic oumc number of years to get a college gnd 1eoessitnting the totlll abandonment ot some yards. But these are few and the only great sor row that has come to growers is through the low prices that prevail at present. Sale Is Well Attended. The public sale at the Arthur W. Fink farm in the Salt Creek neigh borhood on ednesdav, conducted by M. F. White, was well attended con sidering the fact that the farmers are unusually busy these days. A large part of the personal property offered was disposed of. Mr. and Mrs. Fink, accompanied by Dr. Fink, will leave next week for Pasadena. California, where thev will make their future home. CERTIFICATE OF EXEMPTION. V. 8. Grant Holds Document from Dallas Fir Department. 17. S. Grant is the first Dallas man who ever received an "exempt cer tificate" from the local fire depart ment, although a considerable num ber have .been issued since 1800, the date of the issuance of tbe document now highly prir-ed by him. Mr. Grant, after having read in Tuesday's Ob server an account of the Dallas fire department in an early day, brought tbe certificate in question to this of fice for inspection. It reads as fol lows : "Exempt certificate. Dallas Fire Department; organised June 15. 1883: This is to certify that l S. Grant has served seven years as an active member of the Dalla Fire Getting in Shape Again. After having suffered financial dif ficulties throtiirh alleged crooked work on the part of its attorney, Mr. Snel ling of Willamina, the Bentley Tele phone company is getting its affairs straightened out, and within the en suinsr fortnight will be in position to liquidate its obligations. Mr. Boyer of Bear Camp, who was in Dallas on Wednesday, says his company has made arrangements to extend its line in order to make connections with the Siletz eountrv. Will Exhibit at State Fair. Mr. Ralph Savery of the Salt Creek section, and a raiser of Clydesdale horses of the thoroughbred kind, will exhibit six horses at the state fair next month. Department, from June 16, 1883, and mouth. Teachers Attend Oakland Meet. Polk county educators, who this week attended a meeting of the Na tional Education association at Oak land. California, are: Ora and Nellie Collins of D.illa. M. G, Carter, F.. S. Evendon. H. P. Parrott, Mabel G. West and Mvra H. Butler of Mon- The National Guard is a prepara tory school Air citizen soldiers, writes Col. James Jackson, U. S. A., retired, in the Spectator. The colonel's ar ticle will be read with more than or dinary interest in Polk county, where he is well known. He says the Na tional Guard affords the opportunity for citizens to become , proficient in the ways and means of national de fense. The people of this nation, its citizens and voters, have decided that they do not want and will not main tain a standing army of sufficient nu merical strength to repel a serious at tack by any of the strong military powers of the world. Clearly then, since they will not do it, the duty devolves upon the citizenry of the country. To perform the duty intel ligently and successfully, the citizen must have a military training, for raw soldiers would be as heirless as children when confronted With the modern, trained soldiers. A careful study of the history of the United States will prove this beyond a ques tion. Tf it is desired to repeat the experiences of this country with green troops, as at the battles of New York, Guilford Court House, Eu taw Springs, Cowpens, Camden, and later at Buffalo, Niagara, Bladens burg and Washington, we can con tinue to depend upon raw levies with which to meet trained troops, and the day of our great humiliation as a na tion is not far off. You cannot make an efficient soldier in a day, any more than you can make a doctor, a lawyer, or a mechanic in that time. War has become a business, and it requires thorough previous training to make an army proficient in that business. The people of this county have no right to expect that military green horns can protect their property, their territory, their wealth, their commercial interests, their homes and firesides should we become involved in a conflict with any of the predatory powers of the world, and such a con flict is more than likely to occur with in the next few years. It would seem to be tl duly of every patriot, who cares for the wel fare ami perpetuity of his country, to gain a military training that he may be prepared to meet with effective ac tion any emergency that may arise or any serious threat that may be made against the nation's life or interests. To make the nation safe, and immune from attack, every citizen "liable to military duty'! should receive some military training; should, if possible, serve an enlistment in the national guiyd some time between the ages of 17 and 2.") years. This would not in terfere with his business, and the training he would receive would be of great benefit to the man personal ly and add much to the value of his citizenship. Where service in the na tional guard is not practicable, mili tary training in the schools should he substituted. The point is, tnat it is the duty, a duty involved in the citi zenship of every able-bodied man, to become a trained soldier; then and only then has he put on the full pan oply of American citizenship ready to do his whole duty to his country in peace or war. A citizenry thus train ed would be the greatest insurance for long continued peace that a na tion could have. The national guard was organized by officers of volunteers who had held high commands during the civil war, and who noted the utter helplessness of the national government at the commencement of this war. They thought to provide a way and an or ganization, through which the young men of the country could become trained soldiers, without taking them away from productive industries, and so give some stability to the govern ment and the country in similar emer gencies. It has not done as much for the nation as it was capable of, prin cipally 'because the people, trom pres idents down, were obsessed with the idea that this nation did not need and j never would need trained soldiers, j notwithstanding the fact that no man can put his finsrer npon any battle in the history of this country won by j raw levies against trained soldiers. I Is it desirable to risk the life and perpetuity of this republic, its value i to the world and to humanity, upon such untrained material, when we can 1 just as well have the best soldiers in ! the world at comparatively little cost to this great and prosperous country! Undoubtedly the American people have banked largely on the security ! afforded by the nation's position on the globe, between great oceans, and concluded thev couJd neglect the duty of preparing for defense without dan ger to the republic; out the time is past when this physical location can be considered proof against attack, and if this nation is to continue to live on through the ages both nation al and state governments should see to it. that the citizenry be made ef ficient for defense. It is neither right nor just that a few patriotic citizens should bear all the burden; it should rest equallv on all citizens and will have to in the future if the nation is to continue on in its present sucees f ill career. Progressivism Is Historical Qualifying his use of the word 'progressive" in a talk before the. joint meeting of the Oregon and Washington bar associations last week, former President W. H.. Taft said: "Gentlemen, I employ that word not in its historical sense, but in its proper, normal garb." Thereby the former president greatly amused Judge Hi H. Belt and Oscar Hayter, who attended the meeting. Judge Belt and Mr. Hayter returned from Portland on Tuesday. . Funeral of Frank Woods. The funeral of the late Frank C. Woods was held from the Chapman chapel Wednesday forenoon at 10 o'clock, and was quite largely attend ed by old-time friends and acquain tances. Ihe body was brought here from Portland, the home of the de ceased. Interment was in Oddfellows cemetery. HOP CHECKS The Observer wants to print your hop checks, and will, serve you promptly and well at the lowest living price. See us before placing your order elsewhere. Observer want ads. do the biz, REMEDY FOR POISON OAK AND HOP POISON A remedy for Poison Oak and Hop Poison that is absolutely guaranteed to give relief or MONEY REFUNDED A preparation that is absolutely harmless. PRICE, 50c PREPARED AND SOLD BY THE FULLER PHARMACY Main street, corner Mill. ' ERNEST HANSON Carpenter and Contractor, Wall-pa pering and Painting, Cement and Brick Work. 512 Orchard Ave. Phone West Red S3 J THE WORLD'S GREATEST EXPOSITION Is now at Its Height In San Francisco Never before In the history of the world has there been conducted such a magnificent and wonderful Exposition. Here Is artistically presented the pro ductions of the mind and labors of mankind through out the ages. Low Round Trip Tickets are on sale dally to San Francisco. Four commodious trains leave every day for San Francisco. Scenery enroute Is fascinating, varied and unur passed. Electric automatic Block Signals guard the Way. Our folders ''Wayside Notes Shasta Route" and "California and Its Two Expositions" will interest you. Our nearest agent will give your Inquiries courteous attention. SOUTHERN PACIFIC John M. Scott, General Passenger Agent, Portland, Ore. SEE THE COLONEL FOR CHOICE Wines, Liquors and Cigars THE BEST OF EVERYTHING YOU KNOW THE PLACE: YOU'VE BEEN THERE BEFORE; YOU'IJj GO THERE AGAIN LETTER HEADS, ENVELOPES.AND ALL KINDS OF GOOD PRINTING DONE AT THE OBSERVER OFFICE. - John sow Hall . li. Nrw Administration Buiirinc Ur O THE "GREATER OREGON" With new bllllflllisrft hot tor annlnmont i. tarred v round a. and many ariflitlmiB tn faculty, the Univemitrof Oregon will begin lt ummn rear, xuetuiay. nemeniDer 14. mm. S Dedal train In v In Onmiiinnxt. .Innrnnllam. Architecture, Law, Medicine, Teaching, Libra ry nora, music, rnymcal Training and Fine Ara. Large and Htronir departments of Liber al Kducatfon. Library of more than AS'.OOO volume, thlr. teen building fully equipped, two splendid gyinnatdunift. Tuition Free. Dormitories for men and for women. B.spennen low eat. Writ for free catnlog,addresstng Registrar l NIVERSITY OF OREGON Kl (IKNi:. OKKGON 1 pWW 2 World-Famous Brands Each the but of if dam. 2 mptendid grades at 2 diffmrmt price Old Master and San Marto Coffee "Thm Kmd With Ihm fW SOLD Br M DALLAS MEAT COMPANY. I PROVE IT SOME GROCER rES FLUCTU ATE IN PRICE WITH THE MAR KET; BUT. NO MATTER WHAT THE MARKET, OUR PRICE IS THE LOWEST. SHREWD BUYING AND A BIG TRADE THE ANSWER, YOUR PATRONAGE ON TRIAL IS SOLICITED. PUT US TO THE PROOF. SIMONTON & SCOn Phone II. 625 Court street. ' Star Transfer Co.! WE MOVE ANYTHING THAT IS MOVEABLE PROMPT SERVICE G. A. & L. C. MUSCOTT & A. P. STARR, Props, f Phone Stands: Webster's Confectionery 511 Ellis' Confectionery 1062 Barn 1074 .UMBEK JE?li- Js .M II. OFF-ICE. THE MADENA HOTEL (Under Xew Management.) BEST DINING SERVICE IX FALLS CITY. COMMERCIAL PATRONAGE SOLICIT ED. SAMPLE ROOMS. HUTCHINSON ABBOTT, Props. When We Hand You Our Esti mates of the cost of the lumber yon requirt yon can depend npon it that the fig ures will be as low ai first-class, well seasoned lumber can be told for hon estly. If yon pay more yon pay too much. If yon pay less yon jet ten either in quality or quantity. THEO. BERGMANS SHOE MPG. CO Incorporated. Manufacturers of the Celebrated Bergmans Shoe. PORTLAND : OREGON The strongest and nearest water proof shoes made for loggers, miners, prospectors and mill-men. West Side Marble WorRs O. L. HAWKINS, Proprietor. MONUMENTS, HEADSTONES AND- CURBING. J. A. BARHAM E. V. BARHAM Willamette Valley Lumber Co. Send It By Parcel Post Send us your laundry by parcel post. I The rural carrier Is now authorised to transact this business. It costs but a I few cents. Well return It promptly. DALLAS STEAM LAUNDRY. i BARHAM BROTHERS General Contractors and Builders REPAIRING AND REMODELING,. CEMENT WORK A SPECIALTY. LET US FIGURE ON YOUR. FOUNDATIONS AND SIDE WALKS. Phones 661 and 1012 -O Dallas, Oregon