KINSLEY MERCURY, KlNSLBY, KANSAS, MAY 4, 1911 COUNTY NEWS By the Mercury's Staff of Able News Gatherers Offerle. I. H. Pollock went to Kinsley-Tuesday. Ed. Reese and Max Franc are out in the country working for Lou Witzell this week. Mrs. Bright of Pleasant Valley was visiting friends in Offerle Tuesday while Mr. Bright made a business trip to Kinsley. C. Dair of Dodge City was in town on business Tuesday. H. G. Speck and wife arrived here Tuesday from Hutchinson where Mrs. Speck has been in the hospital. R. Speck took them in his auto to their home in Burdett. C. W. McDonald and family and Mrs. E'. J. Piper of Hudson visited at R. Specks' one day last week. Burnice, Ethel and Carl Severt of Mujlinville visited at the Brenn- eisen home over Sunday. Mrs.'M. Renfro and son Otto returned last week from a visit to Stafford county. Mrs. Johnston came from Great Bend Tuesday to spend the summer at C. Moletor's. Everybody enjoyed the rain Sunday. A. P. Neelson, B. L. Sams and daughter Bernice were Kinsley callers Saturday. Rev. A.. Dubberstein went to Ellin wood Saturday to attend the missionary preaching at that place. Miss Belle Pollock arrived here Sunday from Harrison. Idaho, to keep house for her brother I. H. Polh)ck. A dance was given at the Frank Trinekamp home Saturday. They report a jolly time. Howard Davis was at Spearville and Dodge City Saturday. Albert Benish went to Kinsley Monday. Anna Brehme visited at Belfont several days last week. Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Davis and and' daughter Esther visited at Spearville over Sunday. Mrs. Barbara Jacobs of Peffler and daughters Anna and Bridget visited with A. H. Stageman and family several days this week. Bert .Pettijohn made a trip to Great Bend Monday. Rev. Freshwater preached at the school house Sunday afternoon. Mrs. Lou Pyers was sick several days last week. Mrs. Carr f Lamed came Wednesday to visit her daughter Mrs. E. S. White. Mrs. August Bieber spent the day at E. S. White's Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. John Kisner, Sr., went to Deerfield Thursday to visit relatives. The farmers put in some poles for the telephone line last week. Mrs. Stella McCloud left last Wednesday to visit friends ir L'irned. The W. C. T. U. will meet at the home of Mrs. A. Offerle Thursday afternoon. The Thimble club meet at Mrs. Will Way last Thursday afternoon and was made merry by by a large crowd of new visitors. R. Mairs or KinsleV was here transacting business Monday. Johu ITrich of Linden is here visiting her daughter Mrs. Brenneisen and family. Frank Slaughter of Kinsley was in town Friday. J. O. Sipes of Phoenix, Ariz., 1 came down from Garden City Friday ud stayed over night with R. Spreck and family. Mr. and Mrs. Gotlob of Joliet, 111., are here visiting their BOSS Kd and Will Kruth. Mrs. Noll went to Pueblo Sunday to visit her brother. Mrs. Chas. Riggs and family enjoyed a visit from Mrs. Riggs" father W. H. Qniney of Quincy, III., and her sisters Mrs. French and. Mrs. Kell of Pawnee Rock Thursday. Fred Swarf z, Alice Stegeman, Werner Jochern and D. W. Sturgeon were at Kinsley Monday. B. W. Rujrgles 4s doing some work for Fred Weiss this week. The W. M. S. will announce a lecture some time in the near future. Fred Moore of Great Bend is spending a week with Chas. Windmill and family. G. W. Moletor of Ford was transacting business here Saturday. Dr. Baxter came up from Kinsley Monday for a visit with his brother Jesse Baxter and family. P. E. Moon of Larned was here on business Monday. Chas. Mobtor went to Kinsley Saturday and returned Monday. Chas. Baemel who has been working for Ott c: Erieson returned to his home in Ellin wood Monday. D. W. Sturgeon will have a sale June loth. Thos. Darey was transacting business at Mullinville Wednesday. Chas. Windmill and family and Wilbnr Oliphant and family visited with George Riegel and Jesse Riegel and family over Sunday. Miss Mary Laughofer went to Hugh Giirs to work Monday. Miss Anna Baskell spent Sunday with home folks at Spearville. Mrs. W. O. Sand, Miss Jennie Stuart and Miss Eugenia Brenn-eiser made a trip to Kinsley Wednesday. Mr. and Mrs. John Offerle and Mrs. P. E. Summers who have been visiting A. Offerle and other relatives left Wednesday for a visit in Ness county and will return to their home in Geneseo, 111., after a week's visit at Abilene. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Quasebarth's are the proud parents of twin girls born Thursday, May 18th. Mrs. Hink of Dodge City came down Friday to visit her daughter Mrs. Henry Quasebarth. Miss Lina Orr is on the sick list this week. Chris Salisman improved the looks of his place by putting a fence around it. Bernice Sams and L. V. Miller returned Tuesday from their visit at Derby and Hal stead. Mrs. J. C. Willy returned Saturday from a short visit in Hutchinson. The Sunday school will give a Lincoln League at the close of Sunday school next Sunday morning. The Woodmen will give a picnic at the Sawlog Thursday. The members of the W. M. S. will give a supper at the Offerle hotel the evening of June 1st. The ladies will commence to serve at 0 o'clock. Suppers 25c. The proceeds of the evening will be used for local church needs. Walker Johns painted and papered their house last week. Frank Brown and family entertained company several days last week. The Alpha club will meet Tuesday with Mrs. Will Tomlinson. Miss Eula Edwards was up from Larned Saturday night and gave two very interesting readings at the entertainment. Geo. Couchman and family attended the entertainment here Saturday night. Lewis. o Self Condemned By MARGARET C. DEVEAUX Copyright by American Press Association. 1911. AUNT SALLY'S CIRCUS By M. QUAD Copyright. 1910. by Associated Literary Press. Garfield. o D, R. Roddy came' up from Larned Saturday to visit relatives. Late Graves was in Larned on business Friday. A. L. Motfet was in Garfield on business Wednesday. Born to Mr. and Mrs. Ludolph on May loth a sou. Mrs. George Tew went to Rozel Friday to visit relatives. Will Wilson went to Ness City Wednesday on business. Mrs. Truitt returned to her home in Agricola Thursday after a two months stay with her daughter, Mrs. Bert Supernaw. Miss Nina Footwaugler returned to her home in Ray Monday after a ten days visit with Ella Myrtle Tew. Miss Ida B. Curtis came up from Larned Saturday to visit over Sunday with friends. Miss Anna Xystrom returned to Kinsley Monday after a two weeks stay with her parents. She was accompanied b y her nephew, Carl Xy strom. The Alpha club assisted by the school gave a very frond program at the Poison opera house Saturday night. Mrs. Xy strom was shopping in Kinsley Monday. The Methodist Ladies Aid met Wednesday with Mrs. Banta. . J. Graves and family came over from Green sburg Friday to visit Lafe Graves and wife. John Russell DeMun went to Rozel Monday to visit L. If. Osgood's. School being out Friday most of tine teachers have returned home, Miss Shell to her home at St. John, Miss Ripple to Dodge City and Miss Fawcet to Emporia. Miss Flora Richards was shopping in Larned Monday. j Mrs. August Morrow was in Lar- I a x t nea Aionuay. I Juanita Bootz w e n t to Rozel Monday to visit Florence Bartlett. Rev. H. M. Byers went to Wichita Monday. Some of the high school pupils attended the senior play at Kinsley Tuesday night. The common school grades gave a program at the Christian church Wednesday evening. The eighth grade graduates received their diplomas. Joe Irwin of Kinsley visited in Lewis the first part of the week. Prof. Minkley and wife left for Iola Friday. Miss Magill, a teacher in the high school, returned to her home in Colony Friday. The juniors of the high school gave a banquet Thursday evening in honor of the seniors at the home of John Newlin. The high school graduating exercises were hold at the Christian church Friday evening. The graduates were Fred Bieeer and James Wolfe. The Ladies' Reading Circle entertained Tuesday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Alvin Nelson in honor of Miss Cora G. Lewis of Kinsley. The high school pupils gave their play "The Freshmen" at Garfield Tuesday evening. Warren Dugger returned Saturday evening from Excelsior Springs. Janie Downer is visiting Mrs. Hawley enroute from New Mexico to Colorado Mrs. Hawley attended the graduating exercises at Belpre the latter part of last week. Clyde Hawley returned Monday from Meade county where he has purchased a farm. Geo. Cochran and wife of Dodge City spent Sunday with Will Johnson. Willard McConnell and wife left Thursday for their home in Minne-ola. Georgia Randel returned Friday from a visit with the Weltner girls in Kinsley. . Frank Meyers and wife returned Friday from Colorado and went on to their home in Bronson Monday. Mr. Weltner was over from Kinsley Friday. Mr. Groves was over from Stafford Wednesday. R. J. Jenkins was in Kansas City Thursday. Verna Walker and Esther Hil-bish we it to Great Bend Saturday. I. Spriggs was down from Garden City Monday. Mrs. Hilbish went to McCracker Tuesday to visit her parents. Lewis and St. John played ball here Friday. Score 19 to 12 in favor of Lewis. HEALTH SOCIETY BARS KISSES Consumption. Smallpox and Other Contagious Diseases Sure to Spread in This Manner. "Kiss not," is the motto of the World's Health organization, of which M"s. Imogene Rechtin of Cincinnati is president. Mrs. Rechtin explains that the object of the movement is to lessen the spread of consumption and insists that the "Kiss not" pledges should be taken and kept by every school teacher in the country. 'Teachers and pupils both will benefit by it," declares Mrs. Rechtin "A sweet-faced kindergarten teacher kissed her pupils good-by, saying, 'I will take a good rest this summer. In the fall I will give you more games; they tire me now.' She died of consumption in the middle of August Were the children exposed to consumption? Had the disease been diph theria or smallpox would they have been exposed to it? "Since you cannot quarantine against consumption, nor vaccinate against consumption, how will we control it? "It takes whole families to the grave. We get it into our system through our noses and mouths. As far as possible we safeguard our noses by avoiding dust. We have no way of protecting our mouths. Quarantine them, if I may be allowed to use the word in this way. Teach the little ones to quarantine their mouths. With a land teeming with consumption we should always love our relatives and friends. Teachers and others will al ways love the little folks, but should love them too well to kiss them. "Our health officer says 'Kiss only your enemies.' "We have a very pretty club button bearing our motto, 'Kiss Not,' in red letters on a white background. A prominent physician said: 'If one of those buttons could be put upon the bib of every new-bom baby and worn till the child is eighty years old there would be more old people than there are today.' " M. le Judge Curler was dispensing Justice on the bench daring the French , revolution. The justice he was dispensing was between classes, not individuals. The nobles had tyrannized ever the common people for centuries. Now the common people were endeavoring to extirpate the nobles from the face of the earth. Judge Curier was sending a batch of them to the guillotine. "Who is this?' be asked, seeing a girl, a mere child, brought before him. "Citizeness Elise Bellair." replied the officer of the guard. "Wio ordered her brought here? She is not old enough to to understand the difference between patriotism and tyr-rany." "She was included in a list furnished by M. Marat." "Indeed," said the judge, frowning. "M. Marat is accustomed to make inquiries if nil those on bis lists have been taken care of." "But this one did he know that she is a child?" The officer shook his bead. M. Marat's brain was not open to him to look into. The judge pondered a few moments. There was something wrong in this case. Possibly a list had been made out and presented to some one in authority who had signed the warrants accompanying it while thinking of something else. Nevertheless the judge did not dare disobey the order he had received to sentence every one sent before him. "Take her away with the others." he said reluctantly. He was looking down into the child's face pityingly. She saw the expression on the judge's face. Children are quick to recognize their friends, and the marquise, not understanding that the judge had sent her to the guillotine, smiled at him. Then a soldier took her little hand in his and led her away with the others. The judge asked one standing by something about her and was told that she was the Marquise de Bellair, and since she alone represented the Bel-lairs and since the revolutionary committee was anxious that no member of the family should be left alive the child had been marked for execution. When the deed had been done it would be put down to an error. The judge went home that evening, and his owu little daughter, about the age of the child he had condemned, sat upon his lap, put her arms about his neck aud kissed him. "How hot your face is. papa!" she said. He unwound her arms, gently put her away, and called for a glass of wine. He had stood up under the glim duties required of him till the matter of the little marquise had required his attention. He did not eat his dinner and went to bed feverish. The smile he had received from the little marquise had unnerved him. All night he lay in bed. two sights coming up alternately before his mental vision the one the marquise's smile, the other her little figure lying on the guillotine, the drop of the knife and her little curly head dropping into the basket. In the morning Judge Curier looked as if he had passed through a fit of sickness. He ate nothing, spoke not a word. When he went out after breakfast his little daughter put up her arms, as was her custom, for her morning hug and kiss. Her father put her away auoV left her standing with tears in her eyes in the hallway. The judge turned into a boulevard and after following it for awhile entered a street that led him to the Place de la Revolution, now the Place de la Concorde. It is one of the most spacious plazas in the world, lying as it does between the Champs d'Elysees and the gardens of the Tuileries. Carriages drive through it. but few who ride or walk past its fountains and its obelisk think of the work that was going on there more than a hundred years ago A crowd was collecting about the guillotine, and a tumbrel was driven up loaded with condemued persons. As is passed the judge he caught sight of a little figure about half the height of the others aud saw a little band waving' to bina. He walked on and joined the party at the guillotine. At the moment an officer began to call names from a list he had in his hand. "Citizeness Elise Bellair'." The judge approached, took the child by the hand and said: 1 condemned this child by mistake." He was recognized by the officials and permitted to ad the little mar quise away. She was never seen again in Paris till long, after the revolution. She returned a middle aged woman. When the judge went home that evening be seemed to have the seal of death upon his brow. He took his little daughter in his arms, while tears rolled down his cheeks. In the middle of the night there was a kn. k at his door. The judge went downstairs and met an officer, who told him he was under arrest for being in conspiracy with the emigres. The visit was uot unexpected, and the prisoner went with the soldiers without a word of protest. A week later a tumbrel drove up to the guillotine in the Place de la Revolution, and among those who stepped out was Judge Curier. He died on the engine of death frm which be bad saved ibe Marquise de Bellair. Aunt Bally Davidson had reached the age of sixty -five and was living with a married daughter. She was a little, brisk old lady, and the care of two squalling young uns and all the housework fell on her shoulders. She could walk a mile with any one. and the Monday washing was always out before noon. Aunt Sally was noted for her patience and good temper, but there came a day in this her old age to try her soul. A circus was coming to town, and to the utter amazement of her daughter, son-in-law o.d all others she expressed a determination to be a spectator. "Why. ma. you are a member of the church!" exclaimed the daughter. "So I am. but doq't members of the church want to see a rhinoceros and giraffe r "And your minister will preach against the whole thing." added the son-in-law. The circus was a week away yet, and during that time the matter was brought up again and again, but Aunt Sally stuck to her resolution. The day of the circus came at last, and after a hasty dinner Aunt Sally donned her sunbonnet and freshly ironed calico dress and hied her way to the circus grounds. One last appeal was made to her as she was ready to go. The daughter had a -V. flannel petticoat that had been worn only three winters. This was offered up as a sacrifice, but was rejected. Son-in-law and daughter were so angry that they stayed at home. It was believed that Aunt Sally had borrowed the necessary half dollar somewhere, but in this they were mistaken. She was going without money and depending on Providence to see her through. We who have depended On the same thing know in advance what answer Aunt Sally got when she walked softly up to the ticket takers and, putting on her most winning smile, said: "Will you please let a poor old woman in to see the anaconder forty feet long?" She was, of course, laughed at and told to go hence. "Hence" wasn't very far with her. In walking around the big tent she saw a boy crawl under the canvas, and she lost no time in following suit. She rose up among the benches and took a seat, and if any one ever enjoyed a circus it surely was she. She didn't miss a handspring, and when the performance was over she lingered and inspected the animals until turned out. On her arrival home she was met by sulky looks, but nothing dampened her happiness. She came near going over to the minister's to repeat some of the clown's jokes and ask where the wickedness came in. but had to be satisfied with saying to the daughter: "May. I want to go to heaven with the rest of you. but as sure as you. live if another circus comes along I'll attend it and have just as good a time as I did today!" Next morning the early risers of the village were treated to a rare spectacle. Aunt Sally was oat on the grass 10 front of the house in scant attire turning handsprings or trying to. She made pretty fair work of it until her son-in-law came out and carried her into the house, where she was given an awful lecture on the enormity of her offense, but she failed to realize the enormity part. "Look here, now," she said in reply. "I'm sixty-five years old. aud I've got to keep limbered up to be worth anything around the house. We've got a lot of goose grease down cellar, and I'm going to rub myself all over and keep at this handspring business. I'll soon be able to do more work." "I'll leave the house if you do!" threatened the son-in-law. "I'll send for the minister to talk to you!" added the daughter. "Children. I've got to limber up or my knees will soon be like sticks. I hain't doing nuthing to disgrace nobody, and 1 shan't stop for the minister. I wish 1 could borrow a bareback hoss of somebody. I think I'll go over and ask Deacon Peagram for bis old gray mare." After breakfast off she went, and as she couldn't get the burse she came back home to arm herself with a clothes pole and attempt to walk the top. rail of a six rail fence. She couldn't be carried in this time, and the son-in-law ran for the parson. The good man left his sermou unwritten and came on the trot. Aunt Sally wared her band to him and fell off the fenc and turned cart wheels around a large circle. Not until she was out of breath and had kicked her lee'.s high in the air was she grit into the house. Then the parson began to tell her bow awfni it was. but he had gone the wrong way about it. "If I can't go to heaven and the circus, too. then I'll keep up these tricks." said Aunt Sally as she set her jaw. "But think of the wickedness! Will I go to heaven or not?" "You know what it says about the wicked." "Yes. but will I get there or be kept out?" "If you repent" "But I don't I have done nothing to repent of. Parson, it's either heaven or more limberness!" "Well, being 'tis you. yes. And although Aunt Sally quit her "limberness she attended three more circuses before she died, and her tomb-atone bears the legend. "Gone to Her Reward." AN EASTER MORNING By F. A. MfTCHEL Copyright by American Press Association. 1911. Captain Ned Collins had made preparations to quit a seafaring life, settle-down on a little farm that had been the dream of his life and spend the rest of his days with his family. He had sold his cottage by the oceau and bought the farm. One more voyage remained to him. at the end of which he was to give up the one and enter upon the other. The voyage he had laid out would bring bim home in the month of April, and his boys were to prepare the grouud of his farm for planting against his return. Then when his last cruise had been completed the family would spend the summer on the farm the first summer they had ever spent together. Mrs. Collins was one of those women who are always looking ahead for something to happen. When she bade goodby to her husband she remembered cases wherein persons had made a last venture which proved a last one-in more ways than one. Several of her friends had sailed on a last voyage intending not to make another and had never returned. She did hot take account of the many who had returned and lived to a good old age at home- Her husband had no sooner sailed than she showed by her demeanor that this feeling was troubling her. Her eldest daughter, Helen, a girl of strong religious faith, strove to comfort her. She reminded her mother that the same God was supreme upon the ocean as on the land: that if he intended that their dear one should return to them no storm was fierce enough to prevent. For a time sut?h arguments as this would dispel the forebodings of the wife and mother, but not for long. Letters came from Captain Collins fvrw vopiouc nntntc o f Til"i o Vl til A nil In. the Helen Collins, named for its master's daughter, touched Pert o Rico and other tropical ports. Then came news of one of those West ludian hurricanes that are a tenor both on land and on sea. Day upon day, week upon week, passed after the storm had subsided and no word came from the Helen Collins. From the first the captain's wife gave up all hope. Her children, who were not overconfident, did what they could to instill hope within, their mother, but without much success. The winter passed, and the spring: began to peep from beneath the soiL The boys told their mother that they were going to prepare the farm for a crop. In case their father should return and find that nothing had been done he would be disappointed. In March, when it became necessary to do the first planting, the children: begged their mother to remove to the farm, and she only consented because' she must give up the cottage to the new owner and if she remained in the same locality would need to rent or buy another. So they moved their belongings to their new home. "It will never be a home to me." said the mother, "without your father. I had a feeling when he left us that he would never return to enjoy this place, and that foreboding has been realized." "Mother." said Helen impressively. "I have a feeling. It is mere than a feeling" it is a hope. Easter will be here within a fortnight. The day is typical of a renewed life. I believe that father will be with us on or before the anniversary of the rising of our Saviour." "Oh. my child, you have no foundation on which to rest such a belief." "Nor is there any foundation for the feeling you experienced when he sailed that he would uot return. Of the two mine is by far the better, since it is the more comforting. Aud wus not the great resurrection that occurred nearly twenty centuries ago intended to give hope to mankind?" But the days passed, the radishes, the peas, the beets and other early vegetables showed their tips abovo the soil, and Captain Collins did not return. Instead parts of the wreckage of his ship were picked up at sea and their finding reported by a returning ship. This news came the day before Easter, and if there had been a ray of hope in the breast of the mother of these children that their father would return it was abandoned. Only Helen clung to what she called her belief. Easter morning broke bright and beautiful. After breakfast all went out to have a look at the growing plants. The children kept calliug their mother's attention to this and that row of springing vegetables, remarking how rapidly it was growing. In order to divert her mind from tar bereavement. A balmy breeze was coming up from the south. "Mother." said Helen. "I have one of your feelings. Not the same kind of a one. for it is more like a hope. I'm. thinking this sweet smelling breeze has come all the way from the tropics to tell us that father is living, even if he can't yet be with us." "Ob, Helen, you have such absurd ideas." , "Father! The exclamation came from little Joe. All turned and saw the child running with open arms to a skeleton of a man who was coming toward them. The boy jumped into the man's arms, and all knew that the husband and father bad returned. Captain Ned Collins, with a part of hie vtw. bad been picked up in a life boat and carried far from home.