Newspapers / The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.) / May 31, 1912, edition 1 / Page 8
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A Woman of Her Word By Clara Inez Deacon (Copyrlfht, 11J, by Associated Literary Press.) Ellsha RIdgeway wai a simple man of forty and lived on a farm alone and made his own bed and did bis own cooking, lime after time be was asked why be didn't marry, and time after time bla reply was: "Mebbe I orter and mebbe not I dunno 'bout It" But there came a time when He did know. It was about a year after the death of farmer Baker. Ellsha bad known him and bis wife for ten years. For twelve months he went over and helped the widow out as a duty, but one day be stopped bis horses at the plow and rubbed his chin In a reflect ive way and said to himself: "Gosh all fish-books, but I guess I ought to marry Nancy! That hired man of hers needs a man to boss him, and some of her cows are always allln' or the bogs bavin' the cholera. Ellsha Rldgeway, It's your duty." That evening he went over to see the widow. He was more quiet than usual, and by and by she took notice and asked: " 'Llsha, anything on your mind?" "Jest a leetle," was the reply. ' " 'Tater-bugs ain't come, have they?" "Haven't got a squint of a single one." "Didn't lose any turkeys by the last cold rain?" "Noap. What's on my mind, Nancy, Is gettin' married." "For the land's sake!" "Yes, I thought you'n me would get married." "Hear the man talk!" "Yes, I'm a-talkln'. Thought It all over this afternoon. Better set the weddin' day." Ellsha Ridgeway was a good-natured man and meant well, but he made a mistake. He made it because he was an old bachelor. It did not occur to him that a woman must be won. Even a cross-eyed, lop-shouldered woman isn't going to be picked up and lugged off to the altar without enough bang ing back to save appearances. Had Ellsha been courting for even a month things might have been different, but he hadn't courted at all. He had sim ply sat on the porch with the widow and talked crops and country gossip. There bad been glorious sunsets and silvery moons and songs by the whlp poorwllls, but not so much as a sigh from him. And there was something "Yes, Llsha, Them Are the Very Words." else to obstruct the way. The widow looked at him for a moment and then said: " 'Llsha, there ain't goin' to be no weddin' day!" "But why?" "In the first place I'm all eat up with astonishment, and in the next you must have heard what Sarah Jones said the day my husband was buried?" "Don't remember." "But I do, and so does a heap of other folks. ' She keeps quiet for a minute and then nods her head and says: " 'You Jest put it down in black and white that Nancy Baker will marry agin as soon as the year is up.' " "Yes, Xlsha, them are her very words, and more'n a dozen women have got 'em writ down. D'ye think I'm goin' to let the words of that old grasswldow come true? No slree! "But It's over a year," he protested. "Yes, It's thirteen months, one day and two hours, to be exact, but Sarah Jones would giggle Just the same." Hard to Get Charles Rann Kennedy, the play wright, holds the American and Eng lish record for talking, according to the New York correspondent of the Cincinnati Times-Star. Mr. Kennedy glories in talk. He revels in it He can talk more en any given subject than any other playwright on earth. He can talk without a subject He will furnish his own topic or talk on yours. It makes no difference) to him. All he asks Is a listener. He has all the rest of the works. Once Mr. Ken nedy's manager dropped bis watch whlie visiting the playwright "Let me have that watch." said Hennery. "I know a fine watchmaker, and Hi .take it to him for repairs." A week later the manager dropped tn. Mr. Kennedy began to talk. By and by the manager made a few futile movements of his hands, waved his hat tn adieu and went away. The next day the manager called on J'r. renuf '.'y ei!n. Mr. Kennedy be t -a t t ."i. Its rr,a.rf.;?r said at In "I thought from what Jim said when he found he'd got to go that be ex pected us to get married." "Mebbe he did, but we ain't goin' to not yet, anyway. Tish, I'm a worn an of my word. When I heard of what Sarah Jones said I said to myself that I wouldn't marry agin under five years at least, and I'll keep my word.' There was a groan from poor Ellsha that touched her heart and her voice was sympathetic as she said "I ain't sayln" that I don't like you, but I'm sayln' you'll have to wait four years more." Another long-drawn groan. "But you come over and court. Courtin' Is next to marryln'." Ellsha groaned some more, but the widow Baker was Implacable. Four years more If It killed her stone dead! It was a lonely man that went borne to a lonely house. The very next day, while he was at the plow again, he beard the widow calling for help and started on the run to the rescue. A couple of tramps bad Invaded' the farmhouse and were making threats. Ellsha went for them like. a locomotive running away. He banged them and slammed them, and slammed them, and booted them, and when they had crawled away to the road the grateful widow said to him: TIsha. I hate to break my word. but we'll take a year off them four and make the time three." The old bachelor sighed over it, but went bis way. Three years was not as long as four, no matter what al manac one had in the bouse. Luck Is erratic. She will slam-bang a man one day, and let him And a fat wallet in the road on the next. In this case, she didn't slam-bang at all. She Just cuddled up to Ellsha and told him to go ahead and she would back htm. Two days after the tramp episode the widow Baker raised a ladder be side the house to tie up a growing vine, and by a bit of carelessness she lost her hold and hung head down wards. It was Ellsha ' that came to her rescue again, and It was the wom an who, after drinking a pint of hard elder to steady her nerves, looked up at him with grateful eyes and said: Llsha RldKewav. I'm a woman of my word, but I'll be snummed If I don't take a year off them three, leav- lng only two for you to wait! But for ' you I'd be a dead woman now." Ellsha thought of the two long years and sighed and went his way with a feeling that Luck might keep things going. She did. Only three days later, when he went to carry back a bor rowed hoe. he found the widow Baker in the well, where she had been for three long hours, and was cMlled through and through. In drawing a bucket of water she had leaned too far over the curb. "I was praying for you to come," she said with chattering teeth as he looked down at her. "You tie the end of the rope around you when I let It down. Stop! Does this take off another year?" " 'Llsha, you know I'm a woman of my word," was the reply. "You are, Nancy." "I said four years and then three years, and now, though I know how Sarah Jones will giggle, I'm goln to knock off still another year." "Good for you! Come up!" One year now only one! Ellsha wondered If Luck was going to turn on him or continue being good. If he could only smash that other year! He had his opportunity. There came a thunderstorm one midnight, and the bolt that struck the widow Baker's bouse and set it afire raised him out of bed and sent blm running.. The rain, aided by a few palls of water, doused the flames, and some more bard cider brought the widow clear of the shock. She had given herself up for dead. After she could talk Ellsha seemed to expect her to say some thing. Sbe realized that he did, and therefore led off: "'Llsha, I'm a woman of my word! I said five years, and then four three two." "And now, Nancy?" "Sarah Jones is goin to giggle." Sun Power Wasted. Measurements have shown that on a clear, sunny day the sun transmitted to the earth energy which correspond ed to about 7,000 horsepower per acre. At present all that is practical ly wasted, or rather generally in lo calities where any addition to the temperature could well be dispensed with. Attempts have from time to time been made to utilize this enor mous supply of energy, but not with aay great measure of success. Woman an Active Politician. Rough and Ready, Cat., is lucky enough to have for registrars of vot ers Miss Mamie Morrison, an expert horsewoman who is highly popular, and she has made a new record by hunting up every voter In her baili wick, spending ten hours a day In the saddle. She takes her book to county dances, too, and not a man or woman escapes without registering. Indian apolis News. . Speculation. Most people speculate because they believe there are bigger fools than themselves who will draw the blanks. in a Word tervals: "But I say " Being an Englishman, he had difficulty In get ting ucllmbered. Mr. Kennedy Is also an Englishman, but he has no trouble with the limber. The manager did not complete his sentence. The third day the manager called again. They spent four hours in pleasant converse by Mr. Kennedy. At the expiration of that period the manager rose, put on bis hat and withdrew a typewritten paper from his pocket .' "What's thisr asked Kennedy. "A summons? 1 remnber " Mr. Kennedy spent a few minutes tn profitable and pleasing remini scence. In the midst of It the man ager fled, howling like a wolf. When he had gone Mr. Kennedy looked at the paper. It contained these words: "Whore did yon take my watch to be fixed T rve been trying to ask you this for three days." Man la the only animal which cher ishes a perverted appetite. FRUIT PROSPECTS EVERYTHING IS FAVORABLE FOR A HEAVY CROP OF FRUIT IN NORTH CAROLINA. HAD HESITATED IN REPORT Past Winter Was Unusually 8evere In the South and Fruit Trees Were Kept In Dormant Condition Month Later In Blooming. Raleigh. Mr. W. N. Hutt, state hor ticulturist, has given out the following concerning fruit prospects in North Carolina: "I have hesitated In giving a re port of fruit prospects In North Carolina until I was sure that the mantle of Jack Frost had safely passed beyond the borders of the state. At every report of a drop in temperature tin the Northwest and Mississippi regions, the Southern fruit growers would wait with bated breath to see if the cold wave would be fierce enough to extend over his pro tecting barrier of mountains. 'The past winter was unusually se vere in the South and fruit trees were kept in a perfectly dormant condition until much later in spring than is usual for this part of the country. They were not in bloom this season until nearly a month later than they were last year. This very much shortened the danger period of possible Injury from cold. 'In a comparison or reports for the last thirty years, the United States Weather Bureau has set April 20th as an average date for the last killing frost in spring for the general fruit region of North Carolina, but occa- slonally eold spells have occurred as late as May 10th. This extreme date ! has now safely been passed at which the fruit can be injured by cold. There has not been a single setback. but everything has .been most favor able to a heavy set of fruit. Trees all over the state have bloomed pro fusely and the ' set" of all kinds of fruit has been exceptionally heavy. There has been no untoward weather since to cause much dropping and the fruit has developed so rapidly that in spite of the late spring It is now about as big as In the average sea son. "There will be urgent need this year for thinning of peaches and apples all over the state." Wife Murderer Gets Reprieve. Raleigh. The Nash county wife murderer, G. G. Wllklns, who was to die in the electric chair here gets a reprieve from Governor KItchIn to June 7th. There will be presented to the governor in the meantime a petl tfon for commutation to life imprison ment. The solicitor of the district has added his request for commuta tion, intimating that he may decide to recommend commutation. The evi dence was that Wilkin's wife had been forced to leave him and that he went to her mother's house where she was stopping and shot her, then burled her body under the corn crib. Mistrial Ordered in Brewer Case. Asheville. After deliberating on the case of Wes Brewer, alias John Huff, charged with the murder of Patrolman McConnel last July, the Jury came in to the court room and informed Judge Long that they were unable to agree, consequently a Juror was withdrawn and a mistrial ordered. Llllington Harnett county Is ihree fourth for Wilson. The reports to the contrary are mlsUMdiag. ' '.' yn " Patrltolo 8onVef America. Concord. At the meeting of the Pa tritotlc Sons of America state officers were elected as follows: M. G. Ray, Raleigh, president; S. R.Swlnk, High Point, vice president; Z. P. Smith, Fayettevllle, recording secretary; H. H. Koonce, Lexington, . master of forms; T. Ivey, Cary, treasurer; J; D. Jimlson, Marlon, conductor; P. A. Peeler, Faith, Inspector; P. Q. Cook, Concord, guard; M. C. Reeves, Winston-Salem, trustee. James D. Patten secretary of the national camp, madi an able address. Two Youtha Killed In Wreck. Hendersonvllle. Otto Edney and Ernest Hill, aged 15 and 13 years, re spectively, Hendersonvllle boys were killed in a Southern freight wreck al Naples, 4 miles north of here, while hoboing from Asheville. Medical at tention was given them, but both died about the same time while being brought to this city in an auto truck. Their bodies were badly bruised. The cause of the wreck la unknown.' The track, was torn up for some distance and traffic was delayed for a number of hours. Commissions Have Been Issued. Raleigh. The following commis sions have been issued from the Ad jutant General's office: Mr. George L. Lyerly, of Hickory, as Captain of Company "A," First Infantry. 'Mr. J. H. Kivltt of Asheboro, as Captain of Company "A," Third Infantry. Mr. Leo. E. Byrum, of Oxford, as Second Lieutenant of Company "E," Third Infantry. Mr. George L. Plttman, of Goldsboro, Second Lieutenant Battal ion Commissary and Quartermaster 9f Third Infantry. , Big Fire Does Much Damage. Wilmington. Fire Just across the river at Acme Tea Chest Company did iamage to the amount of about $10, 300, the fire being mostly In a lot of finished gum veneering that was to be shipped to New York. The loss is nearly covered by Insurance. The causa of the fire was a spark falling on top of the house. The machinery was not materially damaged. A reve nue cutter nearby did fine service get ting a schooner and barge oat of the way of the flame. NEWS OF ' NORTH CAROLINA Short Paragraphs of 8tate News That , Have Been Gotten Together With Care by the Editor. ' " Washington. Representatives Page, Pou, Godwin, Stedman and Doughton jf the North Carolina delegation voted against the Doremus substitute provid ing for free tolls in the Panama canal to ships flying the American flag. The measure passed. Mr. Small was' the snly North Carolinian that voted for it. Webb, Oudger and KItchIn were out jf the city. Durham. Dr. W. W. Gardner of Washington, of the Agricultural De partment R- W. Scott of Alamance, member of the North Carolina agricul tural board, and J. L. Burgess of A. and M. College, were in the city lock ing into the matter of locating a teet farm for tobacco. From here they went to Oxford, where they will look over the farming land in that section. After making a thorough Inspection they will decide on and buy the land offering the best advantages. Louisburg. The regular Democratic convention for Franklin county, held for the purpose of nominating candi date for the various offices, was very harmonious, and there Were no spirit ed contests, the primaries having set tled the matter in the majority of in stances. The ticket as nominated is: W. H. Allen, sheriff; J. A. Turner, representative to legislature; J. B. Yarborough, register of deeds; P. B. Griffin, treasurer. Durham. At a meeting of the board of education, held In the office sf Gen. Julian S. Carr, chairman of the board, Mr. E.'J. Green was effected superintendent of the city graded schools for the coming year to suc ceed himself. Other officers of the school board that were elected were Chairman, Gen. J. S. Carr; auditor, W. H. Rogers; secretary, M. H. Jones, The teachers are to be elected at the June meeting. Washington. Of th 25 North Caro lina claims in the omnibus bill as it passed the House only 9 remain In the blU as It was reported by the Senate committee on claims. The House pro posed to pay off an enormous number of claims approved by the court which grew out of damages to private prop erty through its use or destruction by Union soldiers duirng the Civil War. Wilson. W. J. Strickland, an alleg ed blind tiger, who on March 4th ap proached Rev. R. L. Davis, superin tendent of the Anti-Saloon League, said: "D you, you are the man who reported be," and who was tried by Mayor Dickinson and lined $25 and costs and who appealed from his de cision, was up before Judge Frank Carter. After hearing the statements of Mr. Strickland and Rev. Mr. Davis, Judge Carter affirmed the decision by Mayor Dickinson and added to tha fine and costs imposed by the Mayor the costs in the superior court. Newton. The preferential primary idea failed to work smoothly in Ca tawba county and three days after the primary was held the candidates themselves, together with the primary election officials and the party head quarters men, know no more about who has been nominated for county treasurer than they did three days before the primary. There are no re turns to date about this contest and no Information about the whole vote cast. Raleigh. A Wake superior court Jury returned a verdict for $10,000 damages for the plaintiff in the case of George B. Fleming against the Nor folk and Southern Railroad Company. Fleming sued for $50,000 for personal Injuries sustained In a wreck in Aug ust, 1910, in the Raleigh yard. He was engineer on an incoming passenger train that collided with yard engine, the engine which was attempting to get out to a siding without orders The latter was killed. Asheville. James L. Wagner, who has been assistant, postmaster at Asheville for the past 14 years, re signed, his resignation to take effect at once, for the purpose of removing to Muskogee, Okla., where he will en gage in business with O. D. Revell, for merly of this city. Raleigh. Locomotive Engineer R. R. Seward secured from the supreme court an order for a new trial in (his damage suit against the Seaboard Air Line, in which a non-suit was entered in the trial below, the court holding that there was evidence presented that the Jury should pass upon, Rocky Mount. Claiming that John Davis, colored, had taken five dollars and some cents and a quart of liquor from him, J. W. Lylea, a white man, shot and killed the negro. The shoot ing occurred at South Rocky Mount, near the railroad shops. Henderson. Several days ago Eli jah Ball shot R. T. Williams twice. It is said that Ball went to spend the night with Williams at whose house the shooting occurred. Ball Is at large and Williams Is in the hospital In a precarious condition. Whiskey, It Is said, waa at the bottom of the trou ble. ;: ' : Wilmington. G. C. Campbell, aged 27,, of Mecklenburg county, a steward on a camp car, of a force of Western Union Telegraph 'Company linemen, committed suicide by shooting him self in the head, while alone in the car at Lake Waccamaw, Columbus county. ' No cause Is assigned. . .' , Henderson. While taking up the collection at the Second colored Bap tist church, superintendent of the Sunday school, Coluirbus Foster,' be gan to stagger, but waa caught before falling to the floor, and survived only a minute after an attack of paralysis of the heart v Newborn. Chief of Police Rouse, of Dover, left for Omaha, Neb., to take charge of Harold T. Pratt the former Newburn Insurance agent who, it Is alleged, committed various , offenses here several months ago and left for parts unknown and who was captur ed at Omaha several days ago. Dunn. People are about done plant ing in this section now and cotton chopping will be the rage for two weeks. The stands are fine and every thing looks good for another big crop la this section. Wheat and oata are good and our folks can eat biscuit and feed their teams soon. . BAND OF NEGROES PILLAGING TOWIIS CONDITIONS IN THE PROVINCE OF ORIENTE CONTINUE TO BE ALARMING. THE CALL F03 PROTECTION The Rebels Have 8urrounded Pairs Serlana and Inhabitants Are Vainly Appealing to the Government For Help The Situation Is Serious. Santiago, Cuba. Conditions In the province of Orient continue extreme ly alarming. From all quarters peti tions are pouring In for protection which the government is unable to furnish because of all available troops are being concentrated for the purpose of surrounding the main bodies of the rebels under Generals Estones and Ivonet. Troops under Colonel Machada had an engagement at Parral with the rebels In which a number of the reb els are reported to have been killed or wounded, the remainder being dis persed. At Tlyuabos, near Guan tana mo, government forces under Captain Percy-routed a band of Insurgents, killing several. Great alarm Is felt at Baracca. The town Is without protection and Is cut off from communication with the In terior. An urgent appeal has been made to the government to send a gunboat. General Ivonet with a band of 150 negroes, mounted and armed with new rifles, is pillaging the stores at La Car olina and vicinity. The rebels have been again sur rounded Palma Soriano, north of San tiago, the, Inhabitants of which are vainly appealing for protection. The Atlantic Fruit Steamship Company has also asked protection for Its prop erty at Sagua de Tanoma on the north coast of Oriente, but no troops are available. Reports from Manzantlllo, on the west coast, state that a number of ne groes who were leaving town to Join the insurgents in the field, exchanged sho's with a police patrol, some of them being wounled. - Are After Long Distance Record. San Antonio, Tex. The balloon "St. Louis" ascended here in an effort to lift the Lahm cup for long distance flights. Traveling rapidly and at high altitude, the balloon disappeared in the North. In the basket are Albert Von Hoffman and Capt. John Berry, both widely known aeronauts. The St. Louis is better equipped than any of the balloons that have flown from here in the past two years in an en deavor to break the long distance record. Features of the equipment are oxygen tanks, which the aeronauts be lieve will enable them to fly high over Arkansas, where the storm areas are usually encountered. Atlsntie Fleet Ordered To Cuba. Washington. Insurrection and dis orders In Cuba, threatening the life and property of Americans and be lieved by the United States to be spreading beyond control pf the Cu ban government, caused the American government to take active steps in preparation to cope with any situa tion which may arise in the island republic. The third and fourth divi sions of the Atlantic battleship fleet were ordered to take on their full quota of marines. ' The Aftermath of the Flood. New Orleans. Railroads In the sub merged territory north and east of Mel ville are organizing repair gangs to be sent out to rush the work of repairing roadbeds arid bridges damaged by th waters from the Dogtail, Torfras, Panther Forest and Beaulah breaks. There will be a large demand for labor, but the supply made available by idle farm hands Is expected to more than equal the demand. The Texas A Pacific, Southern Pacific and the Vicksburg. Shreveport A Pacific sus tained considerable damage by wash outs. Section damage gangs will prob ably be the first -to begin repairs. Oldest Hotel In Baltimore Burned. Baltimore. The Butaw House at Baltimore and Eutaw streets, the old est hotel In Baltimore, was badly dam aged by fire which started in the basement from an explosion origin. Much of the damage was caused by the deluge of water poured into the structure, a five-story brick building, from practically the full strength of the fire department All the guests in the house at the time escaped in safety, but several were obliged to use the fire escape because of the amoke which filled the corridors. May Take Over C. C. A O. Railroad. Richmond, Va, To further perfect Its scheme to get a direct western outlet as well as a through route from the Great Lakes to South Atlan tic Seaboard, preliminary to th com pletion of the Panama canal, it is de clared In railway circles here to be the principal motive behind the deal for the sale of 210,000 shares of Seaboard Air Line Stock by the . Cumberland Corporation, which owns the Carolina, Cllnchfield A Ohio, running from Spartanburg, S. C to St Paul, In southewest Virginia. ,; - I i Fifteen Officers Retired. . Washington Fifteen retired officers, mostly of high rank, who have been performing actlv service were reliev ed. Heading list are three rear ad mirals, Lleutze commanding the New York navy yard; Wainwright who has been on the general board and Mahori on duty at the naval war college. The others are Captain Little Halsey and Koester; commanders Huime, Wells. Poyter and MoriU; Lieut Command er Whittlesey, Lleuts, Mcintosh and Davenport and Chief Engineers Craw ford and Williamson, . WISE DEPEW, 78, STILL SPRIGHTLY Cbauncey M. Depew, seventy-eight years old, stepped into the recep tion room of his wide, hlgh-celllnged house at No. 17 West Fifty-fourth street with th same springy, erect carriage which has distinguished him always. With his same old genial smile and hand clasp be demanded to know of a reporter If he were not as young looking as ever. He appeared to be. . "Well," said Mr. Depew, "I suppose you want to know th secret of youth? . what? Most wealthy Americans don't know it? So, so. W1I, they us their acquisitive faculties so much that they forget how to play. I always mixed work with play l physician like quantities. Ifa th secret of health, wealth and pleaiure. But I fear it has won me th reputation of being a frivolous person." Mr. Depew shook his head. , fr,T0,,0u Psraon," he repeated !i'U"T?17' Tnea h, twinkled. ID anSWer U nnullnii U. tiontlon that this is an age of defamation and crimination. But h (Mr. De pew) did not agree with It TMS ace Isn't a rlrxum.t.n. me oays when th renuhlle flrt at nrfjuf If vaii wam tn hiVA A that, nnrwi. sltlon papers you must have concluded that George Washington was every tmng from a hypocritical liar to an unmentionable bigot, not to mention th other unmentionable mentions made of him. Hamilton was secretary of th treasury, and saying he was a defaulter-waa a mild form of praise. If he had lived then Mr. Choate would probably have been speechless. "However, I was reading over some letters written by a Federalist ances tor of mine to bis son Just after Jefferson's election. He wrote that Jefferson was 'an infidel and a Jacobin.' Further, he said that he waa glad he was leaving a republic that was going to the dogs under Jefferson's administra tion. Whenever I'm blue I read those letters and grow optimistic." WEYLER MAKES work he confidently maintains that if ish forces in Cuba when the Americans n I -W V a s hr ' - -jft land, he would have driven the Invaders Into the sea and caused the war to go down in history as a Spanish, and not an American, triumph. He crltl- -cizes In unsparing terms the conciliatory tactics of his successor. Gen. Blanco, and the latter's faulty military Judgment, insisting that, had he been . In Blanco's place, his severity would long before the advent of Shafter, thus depriving the Americans of the aid of Callxto Garcia and other Cuban allies, and that bis military Judgment would have told him that Santiago was the objective of the Americans, in stead of Havana, as Blanco erroneously thought Moreover, Weyler has no regrets icy, which earned for him such bitter criticism. - Not only was the scheme ' of driving the Inhabitants of the countryside within an army'a lines in order to deprive the enemy of succor, no invention of his own, according to him, but he points out that It was later adopted as a legitimate military expedient by the British against the Boers and by the Americans against the Filipinos by those very Americans who so furiously denounced the Spaniards for herding the Cuban peasants behind their rows of sentries and block houses. SHE'S MRS. JOHN ASTOR NOW Although Ava, Willing Astor has proclaimed herself a resident of Eng land, and has announced her intention of rearing her daughter Muriel abroad, no Intimation has come as to when sbe will start back to London. Society is waiting impatiently for this announcement, as from It a fair ly definite answer may be gleaned to the one big question which Is agi tating the four hundred now: Will Mrs. Ava Willing Astor try to resume her place in society here snd become the recognised feminine head of the Astor family T - Public discussion of this .phase of th complicated Astor family situation Is considered out of the question dur ing the present period of mourning, but private speculation upon it is rife in all circles of society. The fact that Mrs. Astor, immedi ately upon her arrival here, took pains to identify herself to interviewers as Mrs. John Astor is taken by many to Indicate that ah aspires for, reception her as THE Mrs. Astor. That her experience in society would give her a considerable advantage over the youth ful Mrs. Madeline Force Astor is conceded. Doubts, however, exist at pres ent as to whether either of the Mrs. Astors will ever be able to grasp th scepter held by Mrs. William Astor, the colonel's mother. Had Colonel Astor lived, it is probable that his bride eventually would have been accepted In his set aa a leader. But as the colonel died before ah could be established in that position, and aa before her marriage she starred on tennla courts, rather than in ball rooms. It la considered doubt-, ful whether sbe can ever become the social celebrity that she aurely would have become had her husband lived. . r In addition.-it is asserted that there ia no real social leader In New York today that society is divided into cMques, each with Its own leader and that the Astor Iique would oppose Mrs. Ava Willing Astor trying to take the place formerly occupied by her mother-in-law. MAJ. RHOADES I - i? i ' h V 1 l( J ' has mor gravity of manner. Major Rhoads has been discharging "Archie" Butt's duties sine tit latter left for Europe several months ago. Major Rhoads had been assigned aa th presi dent's physician, and when Major Butt left the president selected him to fill the aid's post temporarily. Major Rhoads' appointment was decided aa soon as it became certain that Major Butt had perished In th wreck of th Titanic Th new appointee got a taat bf hla new duties d urine- th wBt-, UK -A rmA 1nnh U flinatVa n h. ..ia won.. In NO APOLOGIES "I glory in the Insults leveled at m by th Americans and the Cubans," declared Gen. Valerlano Weyler, he who waa the grim Spanish command er of the Spaniards In Cuba he who built the "trocha," drove within bis lines th hordes of starving Cuban "reconcentrados," and was largely re sponsible, in th minds of many, for the Spanish-American war. He makes the statement in the fifth volume of his book, "My Command in Cuba," which has Just been published t in Madrid. It is the last of the se ries of volumes, the four previous ones having followed each other at In tervals during the past two years. Weyler makes no apologies, for the acts that caused his name to be ex ecrated here and In Cuba, except In so far as to state that he believes In Justice tempered with severity and never treated his opponents with un merited cruelty. In the "epilogue." which sums up his he bad been In command of the Span under Gen. Shafter Invaded that Is have crushed the Cuban Insurrection on the score of his "reconcentrado" pol SUCCEEDS BUTT , ' Maj. Thomas L. Rhoads, who has suc ceeded th late Maj. Archibald W. Butt at th president's chief military J aid, was chosen from the1 medical branch of the army service. He is 41 years old and unmarried, like all bla predecessors. Serving as thepres- ident's aid is one of the most exacting (J" occupations known, and for that rea son a bachelor if invariably given th , post Until recently Major Rhoads served . on the medical staff of the Walter Reed General hospital, near Bright wood, a auburb of Washington city. His duties there naturally kepi him from mingling much in the social lit of the capital and restricted the range of bis acquaintances. But that restric tion haa now been removed, ' and Major Rhoads is making friends rap-, Idly. He has always been well liked in army circles. He is somewhat old- ' er In appearance than Major Butt 'and J J yi vj
The News-Record (Marshall, N.C.)
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May 31, 1912, edition 1
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