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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1910)
BY FORCE OF CHEEK By LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY (Copyright. 1910, by Attoclatad Literary Prass ) Col. Alexander Blufflngton of the suburban Village of Grantvffie,"was a terror. He had been retired on halt pay, and be blamed the United States for not retaining him ,1 fen years longer. As the postmaster' was' the only representative of the United States at hand, the colonel made it a 1 practise to go to the office once a day and tell him what he thought of his old government. The colonel was a terror to such of his neighbors as kept a dog or chickens. He was a terror to the mayor and aldermen of the village. 1 He would stand at his gate and shake bis fist .fit speeding autolsts; he would timber at a tramp In a way to make the poor fellow wish he bad perished - in ' the California earth quake; he would insist on telling war stories to callers, and if they did not shiver be had no further use for them, People used to whisper that they felt pity for the colonel's wife, and more than pity for his daughter, Miss Mamie, and yet, queerly enough, those were the only two people for miles around who were not afraid of him. He blustered around home, and almost daily threatened to dis charge the cook, and to lead a riot against the United States and many other things, but neither wife nor daughter called on the neighbors to protect them. The daughter simply said nothing, while the wife stood it as long as possible and then mildly observed: "Alexander, If you keep on storm ing around and talking so loud you will end by drivingthe cat from the house, and she Is one of the best mousers we ever bad." ' : Therefore the only fault to be found with the colonel and his bluff was the fact that he made young men afraid of him, and In so doing he kept them away from the house. There were half a dozen who would have liked to call on Miss Mamie. Indeed, there were half a dozen who did call, but only once. When the colonel got through with them they were glad to find themselves out doors and still living. Many an,d many a time the daughter wondered to herself If there was not a young man somewhere in this world who had the nerve to stand up to her father, but the months passed away, and he came not. The aforesaid young man was on the trail, however. His name was Kenneth Aldrlch. He was a medical graduate. He opened an office in Orantville. He did It without con sulting the colonel. He did it without caring two cents whether the colonel was at the battle of Dull Run or Waterloo. One day at the postofflce a mutual acquaintance Introduced Miss Mamie Blufflngton and Dr. Kenneth Aldrlch. When they separated he said to him self that there was the girl he was going to make his wife, and she won dered if he were the one to quiet her father's roars. It was less than a month after the introduction, and the doctor had had opportunities to lift his hat and bow to the young lady several times, when Col. Alexander Blufflngton went down to the postofflce one day to tell the postmaster that this republlo could not possibly endure for another five years. The postmaster said he didn't care whether it could or couldn't, and the colonel said he would have him removed for a tory, and then started for home. On the way he encountered an automobile. He had never turned out for anything smaller than a house, and he held the road this time. The result was that he was knocked down and rolled about In the most undignified way. Dr. Aldrlch was at hand to pick the His leg and back and wrist were hurt. Even while the doctor was applying the bandages, the mighty man of war raised his wrathful voice and ordered him out He wanted old Dr. Corwtn; he didnt propose to be practised on by a young student I It was a case of cheek on the part of the young stu dent to enterfere. Dr. Aldrlch fin ished his work and then said: "Stop that roaring! Dr. Corwta wont come here. It's my case, and no ether medical man will interfere. Ton are not, badly hurt, but if you go on roaring you will bring on fever. You ought to be arrested for not get ting out of the way. There, there no use to explode. I shall call again this evening." '' . "And you'll : find the door ' locked against you!" exclaimed the purple- faced patient Then I'll have you arrested for wllfull neglect of your injuries ineres a state law to cover your case." ' Mother and daughter were not in the room, but were within hearing distance. . When the doctor had de parted the mother said: "Wonderful young ' doctor, isn't he?" - ' . i "Yes, really wonderful." "He seems , to understand the case." "Oh, yes, he seem3 to understand." That evening, when the doctor called again Colonel Blufflngton was ready for him. He had brought up reinforcements and meant fight. The door had not. been locked, but the colonel was ready to say: "Sir, I- forbid you to touch me! If you do it will be assault and bat- tery and you shall suffer." The doctor continued to remove the bandages. "I will prosecute you to the dead line!" The doctor, gently massaged the bruises and applied arnica. I have witnesses that I ordered you out of the house. You are as saulting a helpless man, sir!" The bandages were deftly replaced, and the doctor said he was now quite sure that no bones had been broken. "And the United States government shall be informed, sir the United States government! If necessary, troops, will be sent here!" "This powder," said the doctor, as he called in the ladies, "should be given every three hours. It is to guard against fever. I hope you will not have to sit up with him more than this one night." "Wife daughter, my army revol ver! demanded the colonel. "His mind is wandering a little, but the powders will have a good effect I will look in in the morning." The colonel swore he wouldn't take the powders, but he did. He swore that he would be prepared to shoot next morning, but dropped to sleep like a lamb. He was looking puzzled and doubtful next morning when the doctor called, but ho felt it his duty to record to bristle up and say: "As soon as I get out of this you will get into Jail!" The doctor felt his pulse, made him run out his tongue, renewed the band ages and whistled softly to 'himself, Then he said: "See here, colonel, I want to talk to you." Til have a Judge talking to you In a week or so!" All bluff! Drop It! I'm a young doctor, but I mean to be an old one some day. , I'm not a beggar. I've got the money to see me through. I've met your daughter and am inter ested. I shall call here medically about three times more, and then I shall call socially. If. it's a case of love, and I believe it will be, I shall oecouie your son-in-iaw. on. you neednt get ready to roar. You can't beat destiny, and this is destiny. You've got to have a medical man in the family to guard you against apo plexy, and I want a father-in-law who can tell me war stories. That's all. Keep qulot today and no one need sit up with you ,ton!ght Morning, colo nel." Three days later the colonel sat up in bod and told the doctor a war story. At the end of the week he told him two. At the end of three months, when Miss Mamie sought her mother one day and blushlngly whispered a secret in her ear, the mother held up her hands and exclaimed: "Didn't I tell you he was a wonder ful doctor the very first day he came!" "And and father?" asked the glrL "Oh, he won't roar. He's got all over that. It'll be bo nice to have you live right along here with us!" REPARTEE ON THE STAGE Preserving Ginger In China. The United States buys practically all its preserved ginger from China, 600,000 pounds imported annually having an invoiced unit value of six and one-half cents, on which a duty of one cent a pound and 35 per cent. ad valorem 1b levied. As one-half of the supply of preserved glngor comes from Hong Kong, the following re port by Vice Consul General Stuart 3. Fuller will be of interest: "The preserving of ginger is en tirely in the hands of the Chinese, and the ginger manufactured in Hong Kong is famous over the world. Tal Loong, Man Loong and Sun Sing ope rate the largest plants. The raw gin ger is brought into the colony from the southern provinces of China, clean ed and soaked, and then mixed with sugar and boiled. After this it is kept in casks for a number of days until ready for packing. It Is ship ped In bulk in casks and also packed in Jars, the latter being packed so many to the case or to the barrel. A similar mode of procedure is followed in preparing Chinese chow-chow, or preserved fruit with a ginger base; but in the case of the latter the fruit must be stoned as well as cleaned," How He Knew. Sanford How did you find that yout wife had returned home? Parsons By wire; I went into the house after dark and ran Into one of her hatpins. Long Ago. It la generally suspected that every rich old bachelor has learned to say no- Some of the Amusing Remarks Which Actors In Paris Make to One . Another. Paris actors are fond of saying things to one another on the stage which will confuse them and make the answer very awkward. A few days ago, during the progress of a costume play, one of the actors who' was wearing a sword knocked the thunder plates down in the wings. Thunder plates are sheets of tin which are shaken to produce thunder! and the noise of the fall of a couple of them can he imagined. The king, who was upon the stage, turned to one of the pages and haughtily asked; "Whatever's that?" To his surprise the page, who, as stage pages often are, was a charming young lady In real life, answered "Thirty deafmutes are down below, sire, asking for conversation with your majesty." The king, without moving a muscle, although the audience laughed, re plied: "Are you quite certain they are dumb?" ' "They say so, sire," replied the page, with great solemnity. "Well," said the king, "they make an awful noise about it" " It was in the same theater" that the stage manager, who was playing the part of a noble lord in the play, found when he got on the stage, that only two lords-In-waltlng, Instead of five, were on the stage in one scene. He could not leave the stage and fetch them, and as five lords were indis pensable, he gagged: "What do I see." he said, "only two lords-in-waltlng on the . king. What ho, without there i bena me three more lords and let them be clean ones!" The entrance of the three "clean lords" brought down the house. PLANT THRIVES ON FLIES Mttle Weed, Grown' In England, Helps in Work of Ridding Homes , of Pest In England there grows a little re6 dish-leaved, odd-looking plant known as sundew. It is but an Inconspicu ous weed, and yet literary and scien- tlflc honors have been heaped upon it The leaf is round and flat, and Is covered by a number of small red glands, which act as the attractive advertisement to the misguided in sects. Their knobby ends are covered with a glutinous secretion, which glistens like honey in the sunlight and so gains for the plant its common English name. But the moment a hapless fly, attracted by hopes of meat or nectar, settles quietly in its midst on hospitable thoughts intent, the viscid liquid holds him tight immedi ately, and clogs his legs and wings, so that he is snared exactly as a sparrow is snared in birdlime.,. . Then the leaf closes over him slow. ly but surely, and crushes him by folding Its edges Inward gradually to ward the center. The fly often lingers long with Ineffectual struggles, while the cruel, crawling leaf pours forth a digestive fluid a , vegetable gastric Juloe, as it were and dissolves him alive piecemeal , Sport and Morality. There Is much more than a grain 01 truth in the contention of a Masso chusetts woman that athletics will con- duce to healthier and more normal lives for women. The same may be said for men. The men and women who take plenty of exercise In golf, tennis, swimming, baseball or rowing will not be as often heard of in di vorce courts as those whose leisure is spent in idleness. Healthy bodies and clean minds go oftenest together. That is one reason why sports for youns: or old are encouraged. It is the reason colleges urge their students to do gym. naslum work and Join the athletlo teams. The recreation centers of large cities, the playgrounds, football and baseball parks, the full swimming beaches and public golf links will all have their beneficent effects on the bodies and minds of the coming generation. Did His Beat The young politician was obliging possible, but there was a limit to his possibilities. When the reporter asked him what his wife would wear at the mayor's reception, he assumed a confidential air. "I'll tell you Just as much as I know myself," be said. "Last night she told me she should wear white; this morning at breakfast she said she'd decided on her rose-colored gown, and when I said good by to her she had spread a gray one beside the rose-colored on one chair, and her black lace beside the white on na- other, and was taking something else out of the closet If her hair hadn't caught on a hook as she turned round I might have been able to tell you more." Youths Companion. A New Kind ef Cud. The family lived In a small town and pastured their cow In an adja cent lot from which she sometimes escaped. , 'Sammy," said mother one day, " wish you would see what Daisy la doing." Sammy hurried to the window. "O. she's Just lying out here chewing hef kidney." said he in a satisfied tone.- Delineator. REV. THOMAS I. GASSON, HEADS BOSTON COLLEGE With the recent development of plans for a new Boston college, on U n I v e r s 1 1 Heights, Newton, the name of its president,- Rev Thomas I. Gasson, S. J., has been brought promi nently before the public, says Hu man Life. He is a recog nized authority in all that makes for true progress, genial and easy of ap proach in his personality, and stern in his principles of right and wrong His sense of humor is very keen, and he has many an opportunity of exer cising it. He tells a story of some little boys in a sodality, several years ago, who, when they found be was to be their director, laid down the law in no mistaken terms regard- lng the sermons they wanted. "Don'' preach more than ten minutes," they said; "we don't like long sermons This to a man accustomed to told his Jlsteners Interested for long dis courses. . Even when the Joke is against him he enjoys it and his friends have many a laugh over incidents droll enough in themselves, but droller still from his way of telling them. Intel lectual though he is, he loves little ones dearly, no matter what their creed or color. At the close of a visit to Oldtown, Me., recently, he brought a little Indian lad back to Boston .with him to see the sights. The lad'i wonder grew with everything new he saw, and the elevated railway ex cited his intense admiration. He wanted samples of everything to bring back with him, but when the earn pies Included such trivial things as railways and typewriters, kind and generous though Father Gasson was, he had to refuse. People from every walk of life come to him for advice, from the day labor er in his overalls to the polished pro fessor with his "Ologies" and "Isms.1 As a lecturer Father Gasson Is also well known, and of late years espe cially, he has attracted large audi ences at various literary organiza tions. He is always to the fore when there is a question of the uplifting of the people, or raising the standard of education. Questions, whether of men tal or moral development, are each and all of great importance to him and each and all are treated ' in a masterly way. England's by nationality, but Amer ica's by adoption, he has made him self the friend and adviser of thou sands of men and women, both learned and unlearned. . A Criticism. First Angel What is that spirt fussing about? Second Angel She says her bat pins stick out beyond her. halo, Har per's Basar. BARONESS VON SUTTNER AN APOSTLE OF PEACE All through her life an ' advocate and laborer for the cause oi peace, It Is not surprising that Baroness Bertha von Suttner, known throughout Europe yes, throughout the civilized world because of her books and her ef forts for universal freedom from warfare, should again, this year, be one of the winners of the Nobel peace prize. This feminine apostle of the splendid cause is a most gracious woman and a clever conver sationalist The friend of everyone in terested in arbitration, she has met celebrated people of many countries and is therefore a most Interesting speaker. She talks fluently in man; languages and is a broad-minded, deep- thinking woman, free from prejudice. This devoted Austrian lady was born 67 years ago at Prague, daughter ol the late Field Marshal Count Frane von Kinsky, a member of one of the most ancient and famous houses oi Austria. One would hardly expect an apostle of peace to arise from the war like house of Kinsky, or that a mem ber of that aristocratic family would devote her entire life to working for the people, persuading them that the only thing that can save the nations is a universal peace. The early life ol the countess was passed at Vienna, and, owing to her father's high posi tion. It was very brilliant furnishing her with much information that has been useful In her work. The numer ous books she has written show a great knowledge of life in all Its aspects. When quite a young girl the Count ess Kinsky was engaged to Prince Wittgenstein, and it was his early death in battle that brought to her forcibly all the horrors of war. For many years she mourned her lover and she was no longer young when she met and married Baron Gundacar von Suttner. The baron sympathized in all her views and with his help she has accomplished much that she might otherwise have been unable to fulfill. He also was a writer, and he did much for the cause of peace. The baroness has a thorough knowl edge of English literature and her books are the result of her reasoning and her wide reading. The baroness Is president of the Austrian Peace so ciety and is vice-president of the In ternational Peace bureau at Berne. One or T'other. "I wish I were dead!" "Heavens! Cant you marry he, or did you?" Cleveland Leader. Theater Waists THE blouse at the left is of black monsseline de sole made up over black silk and trimmed with bands of Jet embroidery. The waistcoat IS of light blue silk velvet trimmed with the black mous sellne de sole and trimmed with a motif of gold embroidery, as is also the girdle, the latter of black liberty. The yoke or guimpe is of white lace, '"he sleeves are trimmed with the FUR TRIMMING THE VOGUE According to Fashion's Present Edict It Is Almost Impossible to ; Overdo It Surely there never was a time when the economical woman could more gladly bring out from the moth balls all the fur she has Inherited ana boueht She can have it dipped and combed and put it on every gown that she will wear this winter. The nighteown is almost -the only robe that is not fur trimmed, and one would not be surprised to see one ap pear with an edge of sable at sleeves and hem. Sable la In first style for everything. It is used in 15-inch borders on eve ning wraps, in ten-inch borders on afternoon gowns, and in three-inch borders on ball gowns. On the latter it is combined, or rather held down at intervals, with huge dull red silk roses. . One sees It comblnea witn flowers on a great majority of gowns, not for street wear, of course, but for all manner of house occasions. Chinchilla Is shown again, but not In dyed marten, sealskin, and dyed otter, as well as its natural ' condi tion, is very fashionable and Is used on chiffon and satin or tunics and coats, ' ' ' ': Narrow edees of all the brown, furs are run on sleeves and the drapery on the bodice, and one sees it also on tabs that hang from the waist In severe elongated dlrectolre fashion. It is supreme in . millinery. Hats for all hours are trimmed with it Every turban is to have a border of It Fisher, badger, skunk and grebe are used with lynx, dyed marten, Pftlskln. and dyed otter. Sealskin Is especially smart on hats and the woman who has any of It In good condition can turn It Into a high plait ed turban and border it with three inches of brown fur; if sable, all the better. " If she wants this hat for afternoon wenr ahm can have one rose at the side or front preferably a huge, dull roA onfi. This black-red tone, which Is the color of blood, Is very much the fashion in gowns, In wraps ana especially in roses. The Paisley Blouse. The craze for Paisley trimmings and borderlngs which was so marked this past season is by no means over. A rather new form which it will take in the early autumn is a blouse to complete dark blue costumes. Such a blouse will look well with the tailored suit, but can be more ef fectively treated with a one-piece frock to wear for afternoon or un der a long coat .. The owner of an old Paisley shawl. partially moth eaten, can get one of these blouses cut on simple semi tailored lines from the shawl and have enough of the bordering left to Introduce a touch of the coloring on the skirt Jet and finished at the elbows with turnover cuffs of black liberty. The other blouse is of black silk voile trimmed with bands of Jet un derneath and silk cord. ,It is trim med underneath with a corslet of gold embroidery headed by gold lace, these showing through the voile in charm ing effect The little guimpe is of white lace. The sleeves - are made and. trimmed to correspond. TO FRESHEN UP RIBBONS Many Methods May Bs Employed, and With Care They. Will Appear Like New Messallne ribbons and those of ta. feta can be washed In gasoline and cornraeal mixed, if - but slightly soil ed. Velvet can be cleaned In the same way. 1 ' Certain ribbons can stand washing in soap and water. Experiment first with a small end. Take a thick suds of white soap and rinse through sev eral soapy waters and a final clear, cool water. Press out most of the moisture between cloths and dry on a crock or press between linen cloths while still damp. . , ., ( , Where it 13 proved that ribbon will not wash without stiffening rinse through gasoline or benzine several times, then wipe dry with a piece of flannel and stretchy , until dry. -Ribbon belting can be stretched tight on a boarder the edge of a stationary washstand and scrubbed with a clean nail brush and thick white suds. Keep stretched until dry. :. Ribbons with nlcot edees must ' ba carefully pinned into place through each loop if it is to look fresh when finished. Gauze ribbons rarely stand washing, but with, care can be fresh ened by using a little gum arablo water. Roman Scarfs of Woot -If you would make a sensation with your knitting start one of the new Roman scarfs In fine Shetland wool. They are the most fetching things In light warm wraps that have ap peared for many a day. These scarfs are about a yard wide and as long as one likes; from a yard and a half to two yards is the average. They are knit loosely with, huge wooden needles, and any one who can knit need not fear to attempt one. The chief beauty lies In the coloring which copies closely the Roman silk scarfs of an earlier generation. The stripes are knit across and - are formed of four colors, each outlined on both edges. Alternate stripes of white of varying widtt A ROBE GOWN The sketch today allows for little detailed description. It is a robe pat tern In embroidered batiste combined with lace. The'suggestlon is merely to remind readers of the beautiful things to be had at reasonable prices. The wise woman will buy them now, even though she does not make then; up until next summer. Novel Hemming Party. , A girl who was going to be marrlwi varied the usual sewing party by In viting her girl friends to loin a hemming bee. Towels, napkins, dish towels and tablecloths, were hemmed during the afternoon, mad pleasant by fruit lemonade and bis cuit on the wide porch, and eacn guest put her own Initials in the each article hemmed by her a charm ing reminder in days to aimn Th silver thimble given to each girl on her arrival' was kept as a souvenir. Meanwhile the hostess found her linen chest much fuller than at the Mn. nlng of her uemm!ag Dart