The Ch
REWARD OF
MERIT
88
By WILLIAM H. LEACH
?. McClore N'pwspappr Ss'ndlcate
WVI' Service
ALL Crawfordsvllle had crowded
into the little town hall for the
. homecoming celebration. The
dignitaries of the occasion
were organizing at the entrance for the
march to the platform. There village
officials and the local preachers crowd
ed around the speaker of the day.
eager to be recognized as part of the
essentials.
The platform was empt.v save for
the chairs carefully arranged and one
man who sat at one end. He was a
huge hulk of a fellow, dressed In a
well worn doinrhhoy nnfform with a
decoration on his breast. A pair of
large dark glasses covered his eyes
The speaker noticed him and turned
to the chairman In Inquiry.
"Soldier of the World war." he ex
plained. "The only one we have who
won a crolx de guerre."
Blind?
"Blind as a bat, and stone deaf."
"How did he get his decoration?"
The chairman brought up his hands
In Indication of Ignorance.
"In fact. I don't know much about
hint. No one does. One of the papers
got hold of him some way and we
brought him in for the celebration.
er to come, too, wtien we finally
got the message across to him."
"I'mp! Too bad." the speaker, evi
dently relieved that he would have little
competition for attention, turned
hack to his group and they marched
to tlioir positions. It was a great day
for Crawfnrdsville.
F.tit it was a creator day for Peter
Kelly.
lie might be blind as n bat and deat
ns a post but his Imagination was see
ing wonderful sights on this day. His
mind surveyed twenty years In a see
ond. He saw plenty and famine, wars
and pence, pain and joy. love and hate
But above all these rather petty things
?petty to him Just now?he saw one
great ideal of human service: he saw
the Justification of n life-long ambition
which had been handled roughly
but now came to claim its own.
It was just twenty years before that
he had stood on the platform of the
village school of Crawfordsvllle and received
his diploma.
Senator Harrington had addressed
the class which was graduating. His
subject had been "The Compensation
of Public Service." He recounted the
story of his own life, telling of the
rise of the barefoot hoy to a position
of great responsibility.
Young Kelly had eagerly listened to
each word. He could still recall, word
for word, parts of that great address.
"My young gentlemen." the senator
had said, "there Is but one rule to a
successful and happy life. That Is the
standard of unselfish service. All other
tilings fail. All that glistens Is not
gold, lint It Is written In the very life
blood of the universe that the man
who serves his fellow men will be
smiled upon by the gods. The law of
service never falls. The reward of
sacrificial living may be long delayed?
the mills of gods grind slowly?but the
reward Is Inevitable. Sooner or later
bis follow citizens will call him from
his humble abode of labor and place
the crown of public esteem upon his
brow. Some day he may stand, as I
stand here, before those whom he has
served, beloved and respected by all.
His words then will be the golden apples
of advice which they consume
with eagerness and affection."
From that day Peter Kelly began to
five.
Of course he had to start In a rather 1
lowly capacity.
He got a Job as timekeeper In the I
focal woolen mills, but the opportunl- '
ties for service are present In a place '
as common as that. He found himself I
lending aid to the families of those 1
who toiled. More than once he paid
the doctor bills for some hard-pressed
toiler. The men took the money and
smiled at what they considered his
naive philosophy. They thought that I
it was the bunk. But the mills of gods (
P"ind slowly. He could afford to wait.
Then h?11 broke out on earth and
the World war was on. Pete kissed '
his old father and mother goodbye and I
Joined the first contingent of volun- l
teerB in the county. For a time he
really tasted the sweets of public esteem.
There were parties, dinners and pret- !
ty girls.
In the fever of the moment he niar- '
led one who swore that she would be 1
faithful to him till death and he
marched away with a proud and bap- I
Py heart.
War was not all that he expected it
to he.
VVkere he looked for Idealism he
fought lice and muddy trenches, profanity,
dirty stories, fights and sex.
?ut he kept the flame of Idealism high.
His heart had been touched In a way
that the others could not understand.
He was fighting for democracy?
lerokee Scout, Murphy, N
Ignring that wars should be no more
?fighting to go back to Fanny and
lear her words of approval.
Then one day he woke up In the
lospltal.
His eyes were bandaged. He felt
he smooth hands of the nurses as
hey moved and washed him. He did
tot hear their voices, so he learned
hat he was deaf. When the bandages
vere being changed he found that he
:ou!d not see.
He was blind.
What a penalty to pay in the fight
or democracy.
One day they stood him un in a line
ind some one pinned a medal to his
ireast and kissed him on the cheek.
Afterwards it dawned upon him tha? j
le had been honored.
Rut there had been no thrill. It was
ill a part of military regime. Then
he.v brought him back across the
>cean and placed him in a school. He ,
earned to listen by the pressure of j
he hand and they taught bin) a use ;
til trade?that of making brooms. 1
'inally as full fledged broom-maker he j
vent hack to Crawfordsvllle.
His mother was still alive and ho
started the broom industry In the
voodshed of his homo.
Ills old mother would lead him
iround as he sought to make his sales
Fanny, the war bride, had secured j
i divorce on the grounds of desertion j
\t least, that was the reason the Judge
rave the public.
In reality the magistrate felt that no
iright girl should he tied for life to
dind Pete Kelly to pay for a moment's I
nndness.
I Sc. in 'tuc iuick room Peter tvetiy
vorked on Ids brooms all day lonu. j
le worked with his fingers but his
? ??-> luuKPti i?i\v;iru rne neav i
'ns. The eyes both saw and pleaded. |
le was making brooms which would !
nake housework lighter. It was honor
?ble employment. There was the plead
ng that some day his own townspeo j
>le would call him forth and express
heir loyalty to him.
Rvery time a compensation check
Mine his mother used the opportunity
:o protest.
"It's a fool you were. I'eter," she
vould say. "What's the use of the
noney when you can't see nor hear
four fine friends have forgotten you
They gave you dinners when you wen:
lway. But they won't buy your brooms
low."
I'eter would shake his head.
"It takes time." be would say. "but
he rewards of service are sure."
Then one day two men called at the
muse to see him.
They asked the mother if he had
eally received the French decoration |
'or bravery. She proudly displayed
lie cross.
Then they gave the Invitation for
lira to participate in the homecoming
celebration. I'eter was to have a seat
>f prominence on the platform.
Thus, at last, conies the hour of trlimph.
Now the great hour has arrived.
[Jnable to hear a word said his mind
Iraws Its own pictures. He hears the
speaker giving a word picture of the
lattle In which he fell. I-eaning forward
in his chair he nods to the audience.
lie thinks he hears cheers. He
snows that they soon will be calling
in him to say something. He knows?
ins known for years?just what he
n*!]! say when the time comes.
In the meantime the program goes
smoothly on. A local preacher gives
the Invocation. A quartette sings. The
chairman Introduces the speaker in a
en-minute speech. The great man
tteps up and orntes. The entire assembly.
tired with sitting on folded
chairs, rises and sings America.
It Is not until the room has been
practically vacated by the noisy,
sweaty throng that the chairman notices
that Peter has been left on the
platform. He motions to the custodian
to go to the platform and bring him
to the door.
The custodian touches his arm. The
blind soldier Interprets It as his cue
to speak. He takes one step forward
and smiles. Then In the heavy unregu
lated voice, so common to those who
?annot hear, he begins:
"Fellow citizens. This tribute which
you have today paid me touches my
very heart. More than that It justifies
my philosophy of life. I have always
believed and still do believe that when
one sacrifices for his country and his
fellowmen, sooner or later, the reward
will come. Sometimes It is long delayed
but it comes. The mills of gods
grind slowly. Let the little boys and
girls here treasure these words In their
hearts."
Again the custodian touched his arm.
He yielded to the touch and accompanied
him from the platform. Proudly
he marched through the central
aisle to the door, nodding to one side
and another as he went.
People generally were not much Impressed
with the quality of the meeting.
Most of them agreed that the
speaker was awful. "Full of baloney,"
one expressed It "Wasn't the blind
broom-maker funny sitting on the plat
form," said another.
But the day ended In a flame of
beauty for Peter Kelly and a strange
spirit of peace took possession of his
soul. For the spirit of service had received
Its reward
I. C., Thursday, Novemty
Contrasts
Vila ! ii ,mA,mWli{ i rt(~*i ni
A Quain1
Prepared by National Ocoernphle Society
Waahlnmon. D. C.-WN'J Service.
SIAM still is oriental in spirit, but
I possesses modern occidental ai>|
| pointments of great variety. In
assimilating things western. Slam
has maintained its distinctive Individuality.
Few countries offer more startling
contrasts.
It Is not unusunl in Siamese cities
to see policemen halting motor and
street car traffic to make way for some
kaleidoscopic medieval pageant. With
modern hospitals and dispensaries
available, many people still prefer
mcdicir.rd wucoctions made trom rhinoceros
horns, snake galls, arn^ strange
herbs. Slow-moving oxcarts and shuffling
elephants vie with motorcars for
the right of way on many country
roads. Siamese Rebeccas In Bangkok
till their jars (or oil tins) with water
at sanitary street hydrants. In some
parts of north Sinm tiger whiskers are
considered much more effective In punishing
an enemy than is a police court.
Vet, on the visit of the king and
queen of Slam to the United States in
1931. when King Prnjadhlpok revealed
his keen Interest In nthletics. radio,
and motion pictures, and discussed In
excellent Kngllsh with newspaper correspondents
and business lenders such
things as free press and democracy,
while the queen played golf, many people
were amazed to discover how modern
the royal family really was.
Again, through the forthcoming visit
of the king for further optical treat
ment, the "Land of the Free" In Asia
will meet our United States and mutual
appreciation will be Increased.
Slam a Land of the Free? Such is
the meaning of Munng Thai, the name
by which the Siamese hnve always
known their country. Superficially, It
might seem somewhat of an anomaly ;
for, until less thar two years ago. when
a constitution was born. Slam was the
sole remaining absolute monarchy In
the Family of Nations.
Yet the name Munng Thai has significance.
Of all the numerous races
and tribal group3 who In successive
migrations have . wept down across
southern Asia, only the Siamese hnve
emerged victorious. Against many vl
clssltudes they have maintained their
complete Independence and forged
! themselves a modern state.
Today we can step aboard the magic
.?>nn(a npiM-llloil hu I *11 HDtI OI ilriPOt'O
1 K. L. M., and Air-France at London,
Amsterdam, or Marseilles and be
whisked away to this Interesting ori;
ental land In a little over a week, for
Slam lies at the aerial crossroads of
the Far East Or we can go by boat
and drop off at Penang, Singapore, or
Hong Kong, as Bangkok Is linked to
Penang by train, to Hong Kong by local
steamer, and '.o Singapore by both.
In the long curving sweep of Bangkok's
river highway, the Me Nam Chao
P.hraya, Is revealed the pageant of
Slam's commercial activity. Many of
Bangkok's 80 rice mills line the water
front. Chinese Junks and lighters clutter
their wharves, with endless queues
of perspiring, bare-backed coolies
dumping baskets of rtce In their holds.
Other boats lift their rough matting
sails and slip 'ownstream to the ofTcoast
Island of Kob SI Chang, where
deep-draft steamers take on cargo.
Nearly 90 per cent of all Slam's for
elgn trade moves cp and down this waterway,
accompanied by all the strange
smells and cries peculiar to an oriental
port
As a capital city, Bangkok Is not old.
It Is but a few years senior to Washington,
on the Potomac. The New
Kama 1 bridge. Its enormous spans
etched sharply against a background
of colorful temples and water-front
shops, gives the city Its date line. This
475-foot structure, first to link the two
portions of the city, was dedicated In
April, 1932, In commemoration of the
one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the
founding of Bangkok and the reign of
the present Chakkrl dynasty.
Extensive festivities brilliant in or!
ental splendor attended Its dedication.
At six o'clock In the morning on that
April day, after having said prayers
and lighted incense before the statue
of the Kama I, which stands at the
j approach of the bridge. King Prajadhl
f pok, clad in ancestral garments, cut
the thread of silk that barred the en
j trance. Then, mounting the golden pa
i
ir 30, 1934 jjg
>^5iam
t Siamese Cart.
lanquln. surrounded ny parasols of
state, and accompanied by the princes
and high offlclnls. he made the first
crossing of the bridge.
America has touched Slam in many
ways. Through American missionaries
modern medicine was first practiced
and progressive schools develoi>ed In
the country. Americans brought the
first printing presses and also adapted
the 44 consonants and 20 vowel and
tonal marks of the Siamese written
language to the keyboard of a typewriter.
Aided by American of Jqeign
iffalrs, Slam, In 1025, secured the
abrogation of outgrown extraterritorial
treaties and won her complete sovereignty.
Originating In the mission schools.
the physical-training idea has spread
rapidly throughout the land. The late
king himself was Scout Chief for the
Wild Tiger corps. Although that organization
has since ceased to function, its
spirit is carried on In a Boy Scout organization
known as the Wild Tiger
Cubs.
Education has become compulsory.
More than 86 per cent of local schools
and CO per. cent of government schools
are situated In monasteries or are modern
outgrowths of the old temple
schools. In Bangkok, too, is a wellfunctioning
university and medical
school.
In the east of Slam, bordering on
French Indo-China, is a wide mountain-encircled
plateau, S00 feet to COO
feet above sea level and tilted slightly
to the east, so that It drains Into the
mighty Mekong.
During the six-months' dry season
this territory is very arid, and during
the rains It Is often heavily flooded;
consequently it is the poorest section
in Sinm. and the people often have difficulty
in securing a comfortable livelihood.
Until recently, when the railway was
extended beyond Nagor Uajnslma
(Korat) to Ubol Hajadhani, the people
were severely handicapped In getting
their produce out to market centers.
Considerable wealth, however, lies in
the redwood and other forests located
in the mountains. These and other resources
will be developed because railroads
and highways are being extended
Into the region.
Cbandnburl province, bordering the
Clulf of Sinm, finds prosperity in its
, forested all Is, in pepper, coffee, and In
ruby, sapphire. and zircon mines.
South Slam embodies about one-balf
of the elongated Malay penlsula, with
its population gradually shading into
almost pure Malay. Like lower Malaya,
it Is rich in minerals, especially tin,
and also produces considerable quantities
of rubber, in normal times an average
of nine million dollars' worth of
tin annually goes into foreign marts
from these mines.
Eastward, westward, and northward
from Bangkok stretches the vast alluvial
plain of central Slam, level as a
i table top?the rice granary of the country.
It is the heart of the kingdom and
the source of nine-tenths of fts wealth.
An area of roughly 50,000 square miles
Is enclosed between the high mountain
backbone that extends along the Burma
border and the battlements that face
the Korat plateau.
What the Nile is to Egypt the Me
Nam Chao Bhraya Is to this fertile
valley. Every year during the summer
rainy season the river overflows Its
bonks and stretches out through its
network of canals and distributaries,
depositing rich slit and providing the
i required water for the rice lands.
Nearly two-thirds of all Slam's export
trade consists of rice. Most of
the people devote their lives to Its cultivation.
Chlengmal, second city of Slam, was
rounded In the Eleventh centnry, and
subsequently gained ascendancy ??.
neighboring principalities. Because of
its Importance, It long sat on the fence
between Burma and Slam and was
pulled first one way and then the other,
according to which rival sought by
force of arms to claim Its allegiance.
Chlengmal Is attractively located on
the Me Ping, one of the chief tributaries
01 the Me Nam Chao Bhraya. Beyond
It stretches e rice plain backed
by the Imposing 5,500-foot mountain of
l>o! Sutep.
4
Page Three
Housewife's Idea Box
I
/ I
When Doing Fine Sewing
When doing fine sewing your bands
must he kept absolutely free from
perspiration, but some women find
this diiiR-Uii. In order to he sure
that they stay dry and clean, make
a solution of alum anil water. Dip
your hands Into this before starting
to sew. Dry them thoroughly and
you will have no trouble In keeping
them dry.
THE HOUSEWIFE.
Copyright hy Public I,*-<1ger. Inc.
W.N"I" s. rviue.
Millions of Cars Junked
Fifteen million automobiles have
been junked in the United States
since 1930?and about a fifth of that
number were inaniifnotnri'd nrlnr to
1927. I5ut In spite of this, there rebiles
which are more than seven
years old. The life of the average
automobile of 1931 Is estimated at
eight years, as compared to an average
of seven years in 1929. Since
1930 a total of about 10,200,000 new
cars have been sold.
MercoJizedWax
f(eef>s Skin Young
Absorb blemishes and disrolorations using
Mcrrolized Wax daily as directed. Invisible
particles of aged akin arc freed and all
defects such as blackheads, tan, freckles and
large pores disappear. Skin is then beautifully
clear, velvety and so soft?face looks
years younger. Mercolized Wax brings out
your hidden beauty. At all leading druggists.
I Powdered Saxolite?i
I Reduces wrinkles and other age-signs. Sim- I
I ply dissolve one ounce Saxolite in naif-pint I
| witch h&sel and uso daily as faco lotion* |
IIC B?HI
For Men and Women who will learn
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PLATES
By Mall
qHP sr.::::
You take your own impression
in plaster the same as a
dentist does.
Send S2.00 for "Impression Bite Box"
Money returned if you are not
satisfied when you examine it.
MIAMI DENTIST!
219 Shoreland Bldg.,Miami,Fla.
Reference: First National Bank, Miami
Root of Hr.ppinesi
Happiness does not come from
what we have, it comes from what
we enjoy.
Liberal Commission Paid
WANTED A MAN FAMILIAR WITH
, benefit paying lodges to organize. In hia
| home town or vicinity, a lodge of the Improved
Order of Red Men, the oldest
purely American beneficial order. AtUrm
H. F. STETSER. Nation* I Secretary
I 1821 W fltrard A??, PMIadalphia. Fa.
DITCH TriJF BILBS. Any color. $3.IS
per 100. BULB IMPORTER. W. MARSfHXER.
42 May St.. New Rorhelle. N. I.
: Pansy Plants. World's largest and most
i beautiful strain. Mixed colors, 100 plants
J prepaid SI. C.C. Breece. Florist, Delaware.O.
"Bee-Leas Farm Radio" fit OS. Requires
no B battery. Marvelous tone. Bolter's
| Radio. 103-5# N. 3th St..Minneapolis, Minn,
I
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