Newspapers / The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, … / April 5, 1921, edition 1 / Page 2
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Give I'd Banquet For China The senior class at the N. C. Col lege for Women at Greensboro will do away with its annual senior bancfuet and donate the $250 in hand to pay for k, to the China Famine Fund. The Prodigal Village By Irving Bacheller A Story of Rare Interest for Heart and Mind OUR NEW SERIAL! CHAPTER FOUR. In Which Mr. Israel Sneed and Other Working Men Receive a Lesson In True Democracy. Next morning, Mr. Blenklnsop went to cut wood for the Widow Moran. The good woman was amazed by his highly respectable appearance. “God help us! Ye look like a law yer,” she said. “I’m a new man! Cut out the black smith shop an' the booze an' the bum mers.” "May the good God love an’ help ye I I heard uhout It.” “Ye did?” “Sure 1 did. It’s all over the town. Good news has u lively foot, man. The Shepherd clapped his hands when I told him. Ye got to go straight, my laddie buck. All eyes are on ye now. Come up an' see the boy. It's IiIh birthday 1” Mr. itlenklnsop was deeply moved by the greeting of the little Shepherd, Who kissed his cheek and said that he had often prayed for him. "If you ever get lonely, come and sit with me and we'll have a talk and a game of dominoes,” said the boy. Mr. Itlenklnsop got strength out of tile wonderful spirit of Hob Moran and as he swung his ax that day, he was happier than he had been In many years. Men and women who passed In the street said, “How do you do. Mr. -j Blenklnsop? I’m glad to see you.” Even the dog Christmas watched his master with a look of pride and ap proval. Now and then, he barked gleefully and scampered up and down the sidewalk. The Shepherd was fourteen years old. On his birthday, from morning until night, people came to bis room bringing little gifts to remind him of their affection. No one In the village of Blngvtlle was so much beloved. Judge Crooker came In the evening with Ice-cream and a frosted cake. While he was there, a committee of citizens sought him out to confer with him regarding conditions In Htngvllle. “There’s more money than ever In the place, but there never was so much misery,” said the chairman of the com mittee. We have learned that money Is not the thing that makes happiness," Judge Orooker began. "With every one busy at high wages, and the buuks overflowing with deposits, we felt sufe. We ceased to produce the necessaries of life in a sufficient quantity. We forgot that all-important things are food, fuel, clothes and comfortable housing—not money. Some of us went money mad. With a feeling of op ulence we refused to work at all, save when we felt like It. We bought dla mond rings and sat by the tire looking at them. The roofs began to leak and our plumbing went wrong. People go lng to buy meat found the shops closed. Roofs that might have been saved by timely repairs will have to be largely replaced. Plumbing sys terns have been ruined by neglect. With all Its money, the town was never so wretched.” Mr. Sneed, who was u member of the committee, slyly turned the ring on his finger so that the diamond was con cealed. He cleared his throat and re marked, “We mechanics had more than we could do on work already contracted.” “Yes, you worked eight hours a day and refused to work any longer. You were legally within your rights, but your position was ungrateful and even heartless and Immoral. Suppose there was a baby coming to your house and you should call for the doctor and he should say, 'I’m sorry, but I have done my eight hours' work today and I can’t help you.' Then suppose you should offer him double fee and he should say, ‘No, thanks, Pm tired. I’ve got forty thousand dollars In the bank and I don’t have to work when I don’t want to.’ “Or suppose I were trying a case for you and, when my eight hours’ work had expired, I should want to walk oat of the court and leave your case to take care of itself. What do you ■oppose would become of It? Yet that Is exactly what you did to my pipes. You left them to take care of them selves. You men, who use your hands, make a great mistake In thinking that you are che workers of the country and that the rest of us are your natu ral enemies. In America, we are all workers’ The Idle man ta a mere par asite and not at heart an American. Generally, I work fifteen hour* a day. “This little lad has been knitting night and day for the soldiers without hope of reward and has spent his sav ings for yarn. There Isn't a doctor In Blugvllle who Isn't working eighteen hours a day. I met a minister this afternoon who hasn’t had ten hours of sleep In a week—he’s been so busy with the sick, and the dying and the dead. He Is a nurse, a friend, a comforter to any one who needs him. No charge for overtone. My God ! Are we nil going money mad? Are you any better than he Is, or I am, or than the doctors are who have been killing themselves with overwork? Do you dare ft> tell me that prosperity Is nny excuse for Idleness In this land of ours, If one’s help Is needed?" Judge Crooker’s voice had been calm, his manner dignified. But the last sentences had been spoken with a quiet sternness and with his long, bony forefinger pointing straight at Mr. Sneed. The other members of the committee clapped their hands In hearty approval. Mr. Sneed smiled and brushed his trousers. “We’re all off our balance a little, but what Is to be done now?” “We must quit our plumbing and carpentering and lawyering and bank ing and some of us must quit mer chandising and sitting in the chimney corner and grab our saws and axes and go out into tin* woods and make some fuel and get It hauled Into town,” said Judge Crooker. "I’ll be one of u party to go to-morrow with my axe. I haven’t forgotten how to chop." The committee thought thin a good suggestion. They all rose and started on a search for volunteers, except Mr. Sneed. He tarried, saying to the Judge that he wished to consult him on u pri vate matter. It was, Indeed, just then, a matter which could not have been more public although, so far, the news of It had traveled In whispers. The Judge had learned the facts since his return. “1 hope your plumbing hasn't gone wrong," he remarked with a smile. “No, it’s worse than that," said Mr. Sneed ruefully. They bade the little Shepherd good night and went down stairs where the widow was still at work with her washing, although It was nine o’clock. “Faithful woman!" the Judge ex claimed as they went out on the street. “What would the world do without people like that? No extra charge for overtime, either.” Then, as they walked along, he cun nlngly paved the way for what ho knew was coming. “Did you notice the face of that hoy?” he asked. "Yes, It's a God’s blessing to see a face like that,” the Judge went on. “Only the pure In heart can have It. The old spirit of youth looks out of his eyes the spirit of my own youth. When 1 was fourteen, I think that my heart was as pure as his. So were the hearts of most of the hoys I know.” "It Isn’t so now," said Mr. Sneed. "I fear It isn’t,” the Judge answered. "There’s a new look In the faces of the young. Every variety of evil Is spread before them on the stage of our little theater. They see It while their characters are in the making, while their minds nre like white wax. Every thing that touches them leaves a mark or a smirch. It addresses them In the one language they all understand, and for which no dictionary Is needed— pictures. The flower of youth fades fast enough, God knows, without the withering knowledge of evil. They say It’s good for the boys and girls to know all about life. We shall see!" Mr. Sneed sat down with Judge Orooker In the handsome library of the Mr. Sneed Sat Down With Judge Crooker In the Handsome Library of the Latter and Opened His Heart. latter and opened his heart. His son Richard, a boy of fifteen, and three other lads of the village, had been committing small burglaries and stor ing their booty In u cave In a piece of woods on the river bank near the vil lage. A constable had secured a con fession and recovered a part of the booty. Enough had been found to war rant a charge of grand larceny and Elisha Potts, whose store had been entered, was clamoring for the arrest of the boys. | “It reminds me of that picture of the robbers’ cave that was on the bill board of our school of crime a few weeks ago,” said the Judge. “I'm tired enough to He down, but I’ll go and see Elisha Potts. If he’s abed, he’ll have to get up, that’s all. There’s no tell ing what Potts has done or may do. Tour plumbing Is In bad shape, Mr. Sneed. The public sewer Is leaking Into your cellar and In a case of that kind the less delay the better.” He went Into the hall and put on his coat and gloves und took his cane out of the rack. He was slxty-flve years of age that winter. It w'as a bitter night, when even younger men found It a trial to leave the comfort of the fireside. Sneed followed In silence. Indeed, his tongue was shame bound. For a moment, he knew not what to say. "I—I’m much o-bllged to you," he stammered as they went out Into the cold wind. “I—I don’t care what It costs, either.” The Judge stopped and turned to ward him. “Look here," he said. “Money does not enter into this proceeding or any motive but the will to help u neigh bor. In such a matter overtime doesn’t count.” They walked In silence to the corner. There Sneed pressed the judge’s hand and tried to say something, but his voice failed him. “Have the boys at my office at ten o’clock to-morrow morning. I want to talk to them," said the kindly old Judge as he strode away In the dark ness. CHAPTER FIVE, In Which J. Patterson Bing Buys A Necklace of Pearls. Meanwhile, the Rings had been hav ing u busy winter in New York. J. Pat terson Ring had been elected to the board of u large bunk In Wall street. His fortune hud more than doubled in the last two years and be was now a considerable factor in finance. Mrs. Ring had been studying current events and French and the Kngllsh accent and other social graces every morning, with the best tutors, as she reclined comfortably In her bed chamber while Phyllis went to sundry shops. Mrs. Crooker had once said, “Mamie Ring has a passion for self improvement.” It was mainly If not quite true. Phyllis had been “beating the bush” with her mother at teas and dinners and dances and theaters and country house parties in and about the city. The speedometer on the limousine had doubled Its mileage since they came to town. They were. It would seem, a tireless pair of hunters. Phyllis’ portrait hud appeared In the Sunday papers. It showed a face and form of unusual beauty. The supple grace and classic outlines of the latter were touchingly displayed at the dances in rauny a handsome ballroom. At last, they had found a promising and most eligible candidate in Roger Delane— a handsome, stalwart youth, u year out of college. Ills father was a well known ami highly successful mer chant of an old family which, for gen erations, had “belonged”—that Is to say, it had been a part of the aristoc racy of Fifth avenue. There could be no doubt of this 1 great good luck of theirs—better, in deed, than Mrs. Ring had dared to hope for- the young man having seri ously confided his intentions to J. Patterson. Rut there was one shadow on the glowing prospect; Phyllis had suddenly taken u bad turn. She moped, as her mother put It. She was listless and unhappy. She hud lost her interest in the chuse, so to speak. She had little heart for the teas and dances and dinner parties, i One day her mother returned from a luncheon and found her weeping. Mrs. Ring went ut once to the telephone and called for the stomach specialist. He came and made a brief examina tion and said that it was all due to rich food and late hours. He left some medicine, advised a day or two of rest In bed, dliarged a hundred dollurs and went away. They tried the remedies, but Phyllis showed no Improvement. The young man sent American Beauty roses and a graceful note of regret to her room. "You ought to be very happy,” said her mother. "He is a dear.” “I know it," Phyllis answered, "lie's just the most adorable creature 1 ever saw In my life." "For goodness' sake! What Is the matter with you? Why don’t you brace up?" Mrs. Ring asked with a note of Impatience in her tone. "You act like a dead fish." Phyllis, who had been lying on the couch, rose to a sitting posture and dung one of the cushions at her mother. "How can I brace up?” sin1 asked with indignation In her eyes. "Don't you dare to scold me.” There was a breath of silence in which the two looked Into each others' eyes. Many thoughts came flashing Into the mind of Mrs. Ring. Why had the girl spoken the word "you" so bit terly? Little echoes of old history be gan to till the silence. She arose and picked up the cushion and threw it on the sofa. “What a temper!” she exclaimed. "Young lady, you don’t seem to know that these days are very precious for you. They will not come again.” Then, in the old fashion of women who have suddenly come out of a mo ment of affectionate anger, they fell to weeping In each other's arms. The storm was over when they heard the feet of J. Patterson Bing in the hall. Phyllis fled into the bathroom. “Hello!” said Mr. Ring as lie entered the doar. "I've found out what’s the matter with Phyllis. It’s nerves 1 met the great specialist. John Hamil ton Gibbs, at luncheon today. I de scribed the symptoms. He says it’s undoubtedly nerves. He has any num ber of cases' Just like this one—rest, fresh air and a careful diet are all that’s needed. He says that if he can have her for two weeks he’ll guaran tee a cure. I’ve agreed to have you take her to his sanitarium in the Catskills tomorrow. He has saddle horses, sleeping balconies, toboggan slides, snow-shoe and skating parties and all that." “I think it will be great," said Phyl lis, who suddenly emerged from her There Was a Breath of Silence In Which the Two Looked Into Each Others’ Eyes. hiding-place and embraced her father. “I’d love It! I’m sick of this old town. I’m sure It’s just what I need." "1 couldn’t go tomorrow,” said Mrs. King. “I simply must go to Mrs. De lane’s luncheon.’’ “Then I'll ask Harriet to go up with hef," said J. Patterson. Harriet, who lived In a flat on the upper west side, was Mrs. King's sis ter. Phyllis went to bed dinnerless with a headache. Mr. and Mrs. Bing sat for a long time over their coffee and cigarettes. “It's something too dreadful that Phyllis should be getting sick just at the wrong time," said the madame. “She has always been well. I can’t understand It.” “She's had a rather strenuous time here,” said J. Patterson. “But she seemed to enjoy It until— until the right man came along. The very man I hoped would like her! Then, suddenly, she throws' up her hands and keels over. It’s too devil ish for words. Mr. Bing laughed at his wife’s ex asperation. “To me It’s no laughing matter,” said she with a serious face. “Perhaps she doesn't like the boy,” .T. Patterson remarked. Mrs. Bing leaned toward him and whispered, "She adores him!” She held her attitude and looked search ingly into her husband’s face. “Well, you can't say I did It,” he an swered. “The modern girl Is a rather delicate piece of machinery. I think she’ll be all right in a week or two. Come, it’s time we went to the theater If we’re going." Nothing more was said of the mat ter. Next morning Immediately after breakfast, “Aunt Harriet" set out with Phyllis In the big limousine for Doc tor Gibbs' sanitarium. * Phyllis found the remedy she need ed In the ceaseless round of outdoor frolic. Her spirit washed In the glow ing air found refreshment In the sleep that follows weariness and good di gestion. Her health Improved so vis ibly that her stay was far prolonged. It was the first week of May when Mrs. Bing drove up to get her. The girl was In perfect condition, it would seem. No rustic maid, in all the moun tain valleys, had lighter feet or clearer eyes or a more honest, ruddy tan in her face, due to the touch of the clean wind. She had grown as lithe and strong as a young panther. They were going back to BIngville next day. Martha and Susan had been getting the house ready. Mrs. Bing had been preparing what she fondly hoped would be “a lovely surprise" for Phyllis. Roger Delane was coining up to spend a quiet week with the Bings—a week of opportunity for the young people, with saddle horses and a new steam launch and a Peterbor ough canoe and all pleasant accesso ries. Then, on the twentieth, which wras the birthday of Phyllis, there was to be a dinner and a house party and possibly an announcement and a pret ty wagging of tongues. Indeed, J. Patterson had already bought the wed ding gift, a necklace of pearls, and paid a hundred thousand dollars for It and put It away In his safe. The neck lace had pleased him. He had seen many Jewels,, but nothing so satisfying —nothing that so well expressed his affection for his daughter. He might never see its like again. So he bought It against the happy day which he hoped was near. He had shown It to his wife and charged her to make no mention of It until "the time was ripe,” in his way of speaking. Mrs. B'.ig had promised on her word and honor to respect the confidence of her husband, with all righteous in tan tlor. but on the very dey of their ar rival in Bingville, Sophronia (Mrs. Pendleton) Ames called. Sophronia wu.t the oldest and dearest friend that Mamie Bing had in the village. The latter enjoyed her life In New York, but she felt always a thrill at coming back to her big garden and the green trees and the ample spaces of Bing ville. and to the ready, sympathetic confidence of Sophronia Ames. She told Sophronia of brilliant scenes in the changing spectacle of metropolitan life, of the wonderful young man and (he untimely affliction of Phyllis, now happily past. Then, in a whisper, while Sophronia held up her right hand as a pledge of secrecy, she told of the necklace of which the lucky girl had no knowledge. Now, Mrs. | Ames was one of the best of women. People were wont to speak of her, and rightly, as “the salt of the earth.” She would do anything possible for a friend. But Mamie Bing had asked too much. Moreover, always it had been understood between them that these! half-playful oaths were not to be taken * too seriously. Of course, “the fish had to be fed,” as Judge Crooker had once put It. By “the fish,” be meant that curious under-life of the village—the voracious, silent, merciless, cold blooded thing which fed on the sins and follies of men and women and which rarely came to the surface to bother anyone. "The fish are very wise,” Judge Crooker used to say. “They know the truth about every one and it’s well that they do. After all, they perform an Important office. There’s many a man and woman who thinlc they’ve been fooling the fish, but they’ve only fooled themselves." And within a day or two, the se crets of the Bing famllly were swim ming up and down the stream of the under-life of Bingville. Mr. Bing had found a situation in the plant which was new to him. The men were discontented. Their wages were “sky high,” to quote a phrase of one of the foremen. Still, they were not satisfied. Reports of the fabu lous earnings of the mill had spread among them. They had begun to think that they were not getting a fair division of the proceeds of their labor. At a meeting of the help a rad ical speaker had declared that one of the Bing women wore a noose of pearls on her neck worth half a million dol lars. The men wanted more pay and less work. A committee of their lead ers had called at Mr. Bing’s office with a demand soon after his arrival. Mr. Bing had said “no" with a bang of his fist on the table. A workers’ meeting was to he held a week later to act upon the report of the committee. Meanwhile, another cause of worry had come or rather returned to him. Again, I’hyllis had begun to show symptoms of the old trouble. Mrs. Bing, arriving at dusk from a market trip to Hazelmead with Sophronia Abies, had found Phyllis lying asleep among the cushions on the great couch in the latter’s bedroom. She en tered the room softly and leaned over the girl and looked into her face, now turned toward the open window and lighted by the fading glow in the west ern sky and relaxed by sleep. It was a sad face! There were lines and shadows in It which the anxious moth er had not seen before and—had she been crying? Very softly, the woman sat down at the girl’s side. Darkness fell, black, menacing shadows filled the corners of the room. The spirit of the girl betrayed its trouble in a sor rowful groan as she slept. Roger De lane was coming next day. There was every reason why Phyllis should be happy. Silently, Mrs. Bing left the room. She met Martha in the hall. “I shall want no dinner and Mr. Bing is dining In Hazelmead,” she whis pered. "Miss Phyllis is asleep. Don’t disturb her.’’ Then she sat down in the darknese ®f her own bedroom alone. WEAK, NERVOUS, ALL RUN-DOWN Missouri Lady Suffered Until She Tried Cardoi.—Says “ Result Was Surprising.”—Got Along Fine, Became Normal and Healthy. Springfield Mo.—“My back was so weak I could hardly stand up, and I would have bearing-down pains and was not well at any time,” says Mrs. D. V. Williams, wife of a well-known farmer on Route 6, this place. "I kept getting headaches and having to go to bed,’’ continues Mrs. Williams describing the troubles from which she obtained relief through the use of Cardul. “My husband, having heard of Cardui, proposed getting it for me. “I saw after taking some Cardul .. . that I was improving. The result was surprising. I felt like & different person. “Later I suffered from weakness and weak back, and felt all run-down. I did not rest well at night, I was so nervous and cross. My husband said he would get me some Cardul, which he did. It strengthened me . . . My doctor said I got along fine. I was In good healthy condition. I cannot say too much for it” Thousands of women have suffered as Mrs. Williams describes, until they found relief from the use of Cardul. ■lnce It has helped so many, you should not hesitate to try Cardui U troubled with womanly ailments. For sale everywhere. KM SOME SPRING FASHIONS Until the Parisian couturiers open their doors, each season, and reveal the carefully guarded secrets, which for months past they have been plan ning for the spring fashions, the rest of the world just “carries on,” paying no serious attention to the various rumors which always seem to leak out in advance. For, although each country adopts fashions and designs to meet its own individual require ments, Paris is still regarded as the home and birthplace of all that is origi nal and chic in the matter of dress and until it is knowm to what particular styles of dress she gives her approval not much buying is done in other coun tries. awnouette is tne au-imporraru rac tor, and this spring there are four distinct types which will be seen. The slip-on frock of straight lines will continue as popular as ever though it is sometimes girdled with a wide sash worn low, and tied with a large bow at one side. Then there is the long-waisted bodice which is straight to about two inches below the normal waistline, where the skirt is joined to it, and then the silhouette widens. Last year this flare on the hips was obtained mostly by frills, but now it it most usual to see drapery arranged in various ways, or a sash with loops and ends at each side falling below the hem, or again the extra width is sometimes managed by simply bunch ing the gathers of the skirt together at each side, leaving a plain panel front and back. The bloused bodice is another fea ture of the mode which will be wel comed by the woman who is already naturally thin and long-waisted and who, for this reason, would not look well in the long straight bodice. This blouse can be puffed over a wide sash worn low to give the long waist effect, but the pouching can be arranged in just what right position which will give a well-balanced sense of pro portion to the whole figdre. We hear on all sides that skirts are to be longer, indeed, some French de signers are decreeing ankle length, but we cannot get away from the fact that a too-long skirt has a very dowdy appearand, especially out of doors. American and English women have never worn their skirts so short as the Parisienne, so it is likely that the demand for longer skirts will not make very much difference for them, about eight inches off the ground or midway between the knee and the ankle seems a good normal length for most people. Both long and short sleeves will be worn, the long sleeve more generally for morning wear and the short ones for the afternoon frock. There is also a very pretty sleeve of three-quarter length, rather wide at the bottom, which is seen on many of the new models. Crepe de Chine is quite the most favored material for indoor dresses, and it is certainly admirably suitable to express the grace and sim plicity of the modern frock. Woolen crepe, cashmeres, and soft satins are used as well. Although one sees dresses of every sort of color one can not help noticing the decided prefer ence for black, nigger brown, gray, biege, and pale maize yellow. Embroidery is used very extensively and some of the patterns are quaint, and amusing, comprising birds, ani mals, or little figures, but they also follow the vogue for quiet coloring. It is not unusual to see a dress elab orately embroidered with self-colored silks, as nigger brown shading to pale beige, or pale yelow to old gold. These quiet harmonies have an air of dis tinction all their own and it is cer tain that the hall-mark of good dress ing today is unobtrusiveness by day, although many wonderful color schemes age seen in the evening dresses and boudoir gowns.—Christian Science Monitor. President Harding's First Pay Cheek Washington, March 31.—President Harding today received his first monthly pay check. It was for $5, 520.84. Ordinarily the monthly check sent to the President by the Treasury <* Department is made out for $6,200, but Mr. Harding was “docked” for the three and a half days that Wood row Wilson served as President this month. THE MONTH’S RECIPE Old-Fashioned Heart Romance. Take on country chicken. (Insist on your dealer giving you one with curls —the straight-haired kind is cheaper, but less likely to be tender.) Soak in rural sauce. Stuff with villain’s lies, flavored with city lure. Plunge into elopement, and broil in misery. When broiling is over, it is time for the heart. Select one carefully, being sure that it is warm and tender; male of course. Dress heart simply to taste, add more rural flavor, garnish with mountain sunset and serve. Note.—Villain may be beaten if pre ferred.
The Smithfield Herald (Smithfield, N.C.)
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April 5, 1921, edition 1
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