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$1.00 a Year, In Advance. " FOR Q0l FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH." Single Copy, 5 Cent.
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VOL. XV. PLYMOUTH, N. C. FRIDAY. JDNflK 1904. " 3. ijjf Wily.
JAKIE.
By W. R. ROSE.
a
"v7
' .QtZ T wasseveral Sundays after
J"" , the holiday, and the classes
;0 To m tne missiou (school,
H ill wljere there was "standing
"WQi" room only" a month be
fore, showed many vacan
cies. There was even a face missing
from the group clustered about the
earnest little teacher Avith the pretty
gray eye.?, whose class was the most
popular in the .school. The earnest
little teacher quickly singled out one
of the pigtailed Gorman maidens from
the admiring dozen before her.
"How is this, Lizzie? Elsie is not
hero to-day."
"My sister could not come, teacher.
She haf no penny," responded the
pudgy faced Lizzie with Teutonic can
dor. "Why, my dear, that is no reason.
"We want Elsie much more than the
, penny."
"But, teacher, she haf her arm
twisted an she did cry. My brother,
Yakio, he did twist her arm and take
her penny," and then encouraged by
, the shocked look on her teacher's face,
Lizzie became- loquacious. "That Yakie
.was so bad. He would take my penny
off me, too, but I did run. An' he takes
money from little Yonnie's bank an'
even ten cents what my sister did earn.
An' he loafs by saloons, an' efery night
my rnudder does cry 'cause he was so
sassv."
"When Sunday-school was dismissed
the earnest little teacher laid a detain
ing hand on the arm of the superin
tendent. "Something must be done," she be
.:. "about Jakie Boldter." '
"Jakie Boldter?" repeated the super
intendent. "Not one of our 'bolters.' is
he?"
But the teacher's expression was
more serious than ever. "No," she con
tinued, "he is just the brother of two
of my little girls a rough, bullying
boy of sixteen, who won't work and is
trying to earn the name of toughest
boy in the neighborhood. If he only
had a father! But the mother is a
widow and a weak, helpless sort of
.-person, though very industrious and
' deserving. And they are poor. I have
been to. see them and talked with the
boy. I don't think he is vicious, but he
goes in bad company, and his great
ambition is to be a fighter. But I
can't have him abusing those little
girls. Something must be done." And
after a pause for breath, she told him
about the twisted arm.
The superintendent was an energetic
young man with keen blue eyes and a
square,' determined face. The Boldter
case appealed 10 him. Ho gave a
glance of assurance into the anxious
gray eyes.
"Give mo the address," he said. "I'd
-like-to meet Jacob."
The superintendent was n man of
action and a few minutes later was as-f-ending
the stairs to the Boldter apart
ment' in a nearby tenement. But he
was disappointed in his expectation of
seeing the recreant youth, for Jakie
was "on tlie street," as the overworked
mother explained. There were four
otliers at. home, however, ready to con
firm the little teacher's report, and the
young man went straight to the point,
urging the woman to let outsiders take
a hand in the reformation of her boy.
If she would enter a complaint, ho
would see that the lad got nothing
worse than a taste of the juvenile
court and a term of probation that
might be of lasting benefit to him.
But the poor woman was ignorant
and suspicious. Her Jakie might be
sent away from her to some reforma
tory or perhaps locked up in the work
house. She needed his help. No, he
wasn't much help, but some day he
would "get a chob dot he likes. He
vas a good boy mit dose machines, but
de foreman vas pooty cross mit Jakie.
He did always haf words mit dose fore
mans und den he quits "work already.
But Jakie vas not so bad as some boys
oh, no." ,,
A towheaded urchin in the back
ground, taking courage from his moth
er's, defense of the black sheep, spoke
up with evident pride: "Our Jakie
ran fight. He's awful strong. He's
going to be a prize fighter!"
And one of the maidens, -anxious to
add her mite to the family honors,
piped in: "Yes, Jakie can do up peo
ples. He said if dose Sunday-school
people come here he uW t'row Ueiu
cut yc V - -
1
X7
The mother scowled, but quite un
daunted the little Lizzie put in her
tribute to the absent hero. "Yakie
was so strong my mother dassen't whip
him no more. He likes not that Sunday-school.
He says he will break up
the show."
The superintendent's face brightened.
"The show?" he exclaimed. "The en
tertainment at the mission next Thurs
day evening?"
"Nefer mind," interrupted the moth
er, "dot Jakie vill do uodiugs. He joost
talks. He iss afraidt from dose police
men already."
Apparently the superintendent's call
was without results, but he was a man
of resources and was far from feeling
discouraged.
For the next few evenings he was
busy with preparations for the enter
tainment, but he had, by no means for
gotten the Boldter case. It was to be
a free performance, one of a series
planned to bring a little pleasure into
the dull and sordid life of the sur
rounding neighborhood. The thriving
mission was situated in a district in
habited by the respectable poor, mostly
foreigners, the class whose morals
suffer more than any other from a lack
of proper amusements. There was not
a theatre, a concert or lecture hall
within miles of . this district. Little
wonder the natives turned from their
squalid homes to the attractions of
the saloon or dance hall. So thought
the superintendent, who believed there
was as much missionary work in ele
vating amusements as in prayer meet
ings. The little chapel was all too
small in which to, carry out his far
reaching plans, and he longed for a
people's palace where the young folks
of the district might benefit by club
rooms, gymnasium yes, and a dance
hall.
He heard from Jakie again before the
entertainment took place. The older
boys who, assisted him in his prepara
tions frankly informed him that there
was a plot on foot to "break up the
show." Jakie Boldter was coming.
Jakie was a fighter. He classed the
superintendent as a counter jumper
and the other officers as dudes "wot
he could t'row down wit one hand de
whole gang to onct." Still the young
man went on with his work, only tak
ing the precaution to engage a police
man to intimidate marauders who
might seek to disturb the peace of the
occasion from the outside.
On the.ventful night the chapel was
crowded to the doors with pupils, par
ents and friends. The program was a
'well arranged one, consisting of music
and reciting, a phonograph and a short
lecture with views from a stereopticon.
There was not too much effort at in
struction, neither was there anything
childish, nor calculated to especially
appeal to undeveloped tastes.
All went well the program wa car
ried out without a break, until finally
the room was darkened for the, stere
opticon exhibition.
The extinguishing of the lights war.
evidently the signal for the entrance of
three or four husky young fellows who
persistently elbowed their way into
the crowd standing near the door. They
came in quietly enough, the guard out
side not suspecting their intention of
creating a disturbance. But no sooner
had the lecturer begun talking than
there was an outbreak of hisses, shrill
whistling and stamping of feet. Then
came boisterous guffaws and audible
remarks intended to be facetious, but
by no means to be mistaken as compli
mentary either to the audience or the
entertainers.
Indignant bystanders tried to shame
the offenders into silence. Naturally
tliis made matters worse. It was im
possible to lay hands on the rowdies
In the darkness and amid the dense
throng. Then came scuffling and
shuffling sounds evidently a rough
and tumble wrestling match was on
the marauders' sideshow program. The
audience surged toward the door,
chairs were overturned, children cried
and there was a call for "lights."
Someone touched the button and the
room was aglow with electricity. An
odd scene presented itself. The crowd,
seeing no cause for alarm, scattered
from the doorway, disclosing the young
superintendent in the act of bringing
two low browed craniums together
with a crack which shook the stereop
ticon apparatus; then with a sharp
pusli the owners of cxauiums were
thrust from the door into the
arms of the policeman w'jsi had been
summoned to the rescue. And right
behind the superintendent was another
of the "rustlers" tryingto slink tfirough
the open door. But the young man
with the steel blue eye and square
jaw was too quick for him. Grasping
the youth by the collar he gave him
a hasty sideward turn and walked him
rapidly to a side door that led to an
inner room. The spectators saw the
door open and close. - Those near by
heard the key turn in the lock. They
wandered that the superintendent
wasn't afraid of such a fierce rascal
as Jake Boldter. Would he try to hold
him until the patrol came, or would he
give him a little Sunday-school talk
and let him go?
Then the lights were turned out and
the show proceeded peacefully to a
close.
On the other side of the locked door
stood Jakie Boldter, sullen and red
faced. The superintendent looked at
him for a moment with a quizzical and
even amused expression. Then he
spoke and very pleasantly, too.
"I wanted you to see our gymnasium,
Jacob. This Is the boys' club room.
You know we sent you an inviattion to
become a member of the club. I know
you are interested in athletics. Here
is the punching bag, there are the
Indian clubs and here are some gloves.
I suppose you could give us all a few
pointers about boxing. Want to put
on the gloves?"
Jakie looked at the gloves, then
rather critically at the figure of the su
perintendent. He was a burly fellow,
himself, bulky of neck and brawny of
chest, Avith a stocky figure and huge
hands. A poor showing, thought Jakie,
did the slender figure make beside his
own, though even he could appreciate
the young man's good proportions and
quick movements.
Here was a chance to show off his
prowess. Surely the superintendent
was "easy" to offer him this opportun
ity of working off his prejudice against
"de Sunday-school dudes." He slowly
drew on the "loves.
, Then with a glare calculated to
strike terror to the heart of any right
minded mission worker, he drawled:
"Yer can't do a ting ter me, mister.
Say, yer ain't goin' to squeal nor call de
copper if I do ye up, are yer?"
His opponent, who had shaken off
coat and vest, pulled on the other pair
of gloves and was looking recklessly
happy for a man that expected to be
"done up." He laughingly shook his
head.
"And no squealing on yotir side,
either, my lad. If the folks out there
hear you give a yell they'll know I'm
whipping you. , Understand? And the
door's locked."
For answer, the stocky youth pirouet
ted forward with a zigzag, tiptoe move
ment that he had picked up in some
saloon prize ring as "de real thing."
The older man remained 011 guard,
easily parrying the boy's clumsy
thrusts, just giving him time to follow
him up, when he would nimbly dodge
the angry jabs within an inch of his
smiling countenance.
Then when the boy, furious at the
thought that the other was playing
with him, rushed on, head downward,
battering ram fashion, it was the man's
turn. Once more he dodged, but this
time his list cane in contact with the
lowered head.
It was a hard hit, but the boy was
not too stunned to hear the superin
tendent's Avords as he talked on,
calmly, steadily, while blows rained
upon hiui from every side.
"There, Jacob, there's one for dis
turbing the show, and here's another
for your general opposition to mission
work. Here's an easy one for calling
me a dude and counter jumper. Look
out, now, for a good one for the poor
mother that has to support you."
It was a. hard blow, but the lad was
quickly straightened up by a hit from
the other side. Then the rapid, even
tones went on. "There's one for the
sisters you've bullied and teased, and
this for the little brothers you've set so
fine an example. And take this for
the good jobs you've thrown up, and
this why, what's the matter, Jacob?
Are you tired?"
Notwithstanding the unpleasantness
of the affair, the boy was a comical
spectacle. Too weak to defend him
self longer, his short arms were thrust
out helplessly, one eye was closed, his
tow hair bristled in all directions and
he wheezed and sputtered for breath.
The man pushed him into a chair and
soothingly patted his shoulder.
"I see you've got grit, Jacob. You
took it like a man. But you're not built
for a prize fighter, my lad. This Isn't
muscle It's fat. 'And you haven't ,any
training. Cigarettes and beer don't
make muscle. And you have no sci
ence. Why, my boys here In the club
can "
"'T wasn't fair your not tellin' me
you belonged to de perfesh," blubbered
the boy.
"Nonsense!" laughed the man. "I
never saw a xing. But boxing is a
healthy pastime and one might as well
do it according to the rules."
"De fellers by Huncker's place said
my arm was like Jeffries'," moaned the
lad.
"They were laughing at 5'0". Jacob.
Now, my boy, we've had a hand to
hand conflict, let's have a heart to
heart talk. I hear that you have a
knack at machinery with 'a special tal
ent for engines. What do you say to a
job at the Waterside foundry, right
in the line of promotion, with one of
the stationary engines for you to at
tend when, you are fit?
"The foundry's the best gymnasium,
Jacob," he concluded; "the work will
give you the right kind of strength,
and it's easy to apply the science if
you've only got the muscle."
"l'ouse never got yer biceps in no
foundry," began the aggressive Jake.
"Come and see," said the other. "By
the way, Jacob, they say you're apt to
have words with the foreman before
quitting. You won't get rid of your
place at Waterside that way. You
may bluster all you like, but you know
I'm a man of action, and "
"l'ouse? Be youse de foreman?" The
youngster sprang to his feet, aglow
with excitement. "I'll come."
On the second Sunday after Jake's
punishment the earnest, little, gray
eyed teacher was interrupted in the
lesson by the thrust of a small, mit
tened hand in the direction of her
face. Then a nickel was dropped into
her lap, a most unusual offering in the
little teacher's collection.
"Please, teacher," said the small El
sie she could not contain the good
news till the lesson was over" our
Yakie give me this for the mission, to
pay for the penny ho took off from me.
Yakie belongs to the boys' club now.
and he works every day by the sup
erintendent man. My mutter is so
glad already, and Yakie says the sup
erintendent is a good feller. I thing
so. too, don't you, teacher?"
And the patient teacher nodded
brightly while her heart set up a lit
tle prayer of thanksgiving and a plea
for the reclaiming of all neglected
Jakies. W. II. Hose, in Cleveland
IMain Dealer.
FROM ORCHIDS TO SNOW.
Two Places in tlio World Where Three
Zones Are Represented.
There are two places in the world
where a person can pass through the
tropical, sub-tropical and temperate
zones inside of an hour. Hawaii is one
and Darjeeling, in northeastern India,
is another.
In both these places the trick is done
by climbing up the high mountains.
In Hawaii the traveler starts with
the warm breath of the Pacific fanning
him amid the smell of palm trees. He
passes by great clusters of tropical
fruit, and as he mounts the trees
change until he is in the kind of scen
ery that may bo found in the southern
United States.
Still he climbs, and soon ho notices
that it is much cooler and that the
character of the scene has changed to
one that reminds him of the temperate
zone, with fields in which potatoes and
other northern vegetables are growing.
In Darjeeling the change is still more
wonderfuL The entrance to the table
land on which the little mountain city
stands is through a dark, sombre trop
ical pass, full of mighty palms and
hung with orchids and other jungle
growth.
After a while the trees change from
palms to the wonderful tree ferns.
These alternate with banana trees, un
til, after some more climbing, forests
are reached of magnolias and similar
trees.
Through these magnolias the way
leads ever up, and all at once, over an
open pass, there come into view im
mense thickets of Himalayan rhodo
dendrons and the evergreen of firs and
cedars, and beyond stand the white,
grim, snowclad, frozen mountain peaks
like arctic icebergs on land.
In less than two hours a traveler can
ascend from orchids through jungles to
tea plantations, and thence to a climate
of northern roses and violets. New
York Sun.
More German Consuls.
Germany will increase its consular
corps, especially in the United States,
SHE DID NICELY.
But Remember That a Too Careful Wife Is
Apt to Need Assistance.
"Everything is ready. My trunk is
packed, sent to the station and la
checked through. Didn't I do nicely?"
"That's good management that is."
This was the conversation between a
certain West End man and his wife
yesterday afternoon. The wife was
about to go on a Western trip, and ex
pected to leave on the 11.40 train last
night for Buffalol .Her husband had
secured a pass for her and she was
happy. At dinner that night the ques-
tion of readiness for the trip again be
came the topic of discussion.
"Have you got your money and pass
all right?" inquired the husband.
"Oh, yes," answered the wife, fumb
ling in her pocketbook. "I placed it
in this compartment. Why, what has
become of it? My goodness, it isn't
here," and she turned pale with appre
hension. "Whatever did I do with it?"
"Look in your bureau drawers," sug
gested the husband.
This was done and every other possi
ble hiding place was searched, but
without success.
"I- believe I placed it in my trunk,"1
sa.id the excited wife, almost in tears.
"I'm almost sure I did. Whatever will
I do?"
"Have you your trunk check?"
"Yes. But the trunk has gone to
Buffalo."
"Maybe it hasn't gone yet. Give me
your check and trunk key and I'll see
if I can find it." Saying which, the
disgusted husband hurried to the bag-'
gage room at the Union Station, where
luck favored him. The trunk was still;
there. After some little difficulty he
opened the trunk and found the miss-,
ing pass stowed carefully away in one;
of the numerous boxes in the upper,
part of the trunk. From that time on.1
until the train left for Buffalo the hus-,
band kept watch of the pass. A too
careful wife is apt to need assistance.'
Albany Journal.
Pretty Old Uutter.
Mrs. M. A. Decatur, mother of J. W.
Thompson, manager of the Postal Tele
graph Company, in San Diego, Ca!.. is
in receipt of a sample jar of butter
made in 1S58. ;
Fifty years ago Mrs. Decatur's home
was on a Nebraska farm near Decatur.
Among other natural advantages of the
farm was a never failing spring, the
cool shallow of Which made an ideal
place for the storage of milk and but
ter. At various times small jars of
; butter that were placed in the spring
Nmysteriously disappeared, and the In
dians, who were numerous at that
time, were credited with having ap
propriated them. The mystery was
solved, however, when a large jar of
butter became imbedded in the sandy
bottom of the spring, and in spite of
all efforts to recover it sank from
sight and was given up for lost.
Time passed, the homestead was
given into other hands, and the spring
fell into disuse.
A few days ago a party of hunters
discovered on the old farm the rim off.,
a buried jar,, which they fondly hoped
might be a "pot of gold," but which'
proved when unearthed to be the long
lost jar of butter. When exposed to
the air the jar crumbled to dust, but
the butter remained intact. Although
covered with a green mold, the main'
body of the butter was of the original
color and consistency. 1
A small piece was sent to Mrs. De
catur, while the large part has been
placed in cold storage, and no doubt
will find its way to the St. Louis Ex
position as the oldest butter in the
wovid. Chicago Inter-Ocean.
The Difference.
"Show me two men With unlighted
cigarettes and, if I may watch them
j or a mimue, l i.iu u.'n jyu wutxuj,
whether the one who has the match is
from Philadelphia, Boston or New.
York."
The speaker was a person of some
observation and his friend naturally,
asked:
"How can you tell?"
"In this way," said the Observant
Man: "If the man is a Philadelphlanhe
will strike the match, hold it for his,
friend to get a light, then take a light;
himself and throw the match away.
If he is a Bostouian he will light his
own cigarette first, then hold the
match for his friend, and after that'
M:row it away.' If h6 is a New York
er, however, he will strike the match,
liiiht his own cigarette and throw the
match away." Philadelphia Press.
Seventeen persons in 100 in the State
of New York live to bs over seventy
years of aire. -