Norton County Plaindealer from Almena, Kansas • 1

I I Stat Miah Horton County Plaindealer. ALMENA, NORTON COUNTY, KANSAS, THURSDAY, 25, 1904. NO. 2 Rabbits in Politics. We are inclined to agree with Gaston" of the Capital that getting Into politics, that is as an officeseeker, will make the average man act like a rabbitt We have been of the notion for some time that a newspaper man really is handicapped when he becomes an officeholder.

Unless he is a very remarkable man hie will become a rabbit and his paper will become as inane and tasteless as an orange that has no juice in it. We have some examples out here in Kansas. Now, there is Del Valentine. When Del was just a plain, plug citizen he was reasonably free and outspoken in his opinions of men and measures, but Del would hesitate about expressing an opinion now as to whether the weather was hot or cold or just moderate. Pin a pair of rabbit ears on him and you would see him squat in the bunch grass and go loping off across the prairie at the first sound of danger.

Congressman Charley Scott is a good newspaper man, and used to have some distinct opinions, but since he became a congressman at large you couldn't pull an opinion out of him with a cork screw. When there is a political controversey on hand you may look around for Charley Scott, but you won't see him. If you look close enough among the bunch grass you may discover a pair of rabbit ears sticking up, but that is all. One of the oldest newspaper men in the state, and a good man, who was induced rather against his will to run for office, and who was elected, acknowledged to us the other day that holding office had made him a rabbit. He has tried to keep out of the factional controversies and wrote editorials about the situation in Europe, the Isthmian canal and persecution of the Jews in Russia, letting state and 10021 alone, it wouldn't work.

Both sides are suspicious him and the chances are that when he comes up for renomination both sides will swat him and knock him out. He used to be quite independent in expressing his opinions, but an office has made a rabbit of him. And yet, hav. ing once tasted office, he can't bring himself to let go. -Mail and Breeze.

A Mother's Mistake. "He saves others; Himself He cannot save." This is the sorrowful story of an intelligent mother who, in trying to save other boys, lost her own son. Young Van Dyne is one of the youthful bandits now on trial for his life by a Chicago He was a member of the "car-barn -a band of boys who, among many other crimes, killed one man for $1.35. Heredity, you say? No. Van Dyne belongs to one of the most highly respected families of Chicago and his mother is a noted club woman.

Mrs. Van Dyne is a famous organizer of clubs. She was also engaged in philanthropic labor of lifting up the lives of the Arabs of the streets--the bootblacks and the newsboys. Irony of fate! While she was caring for the wails of the street and organizing clubs, her own boy, whom she thought safe, was left to his own devices. Through evil influences he went to the bad rapidly and became a murderous fiend.

And herein is a mystery. Why so many instances of the children of. extellent parents, who go wrong? It is not in every case the resuit of neglect or lack of training. Rut-In this case the reason is plain--neglect. And this reflection must hurt the once proud Mrs.

Van Dyne the most of all- the outcome was largely her own fault. Devoting herself to the uplifting of society at large, she forgot the full duties of a mother. She left undefended the very citadel of her family life- the inner lines of a mother's strength. Like a general who would go out to fight, leaving wide open his city gates, so this woman left open the gates of her home. The enemy entered in and ruined the flower of her hopes.

Poor mother! And the teaching? Thongs docen'tend begins at Kansas City, World. Vertical Handwriting. rura, free delivery carriers from $600 to.8720 per year. The put A Boston bank official has made the discovery that the new "vertical" handwriting taught in the schools is breeding a race of forgers. He has protested against the method to an executive officer of the local school board, declaring that when it is firmly established it will be is easy for John Smith to write the correct signature of Richard Ralston as for himself.

Infinite trouble will follow for bankers and all those who rely upon the individuality in handwriting for purposes of identification. The school official retorted that, while vertical writing made the way easier for the forger, its compensating advantages to those who had to handle such correspondence is so great that it is justified. Furthermore, according to the Boston school board official, forgers are bound to exercise their skill and brains anyway, and a bank's paying teller must simply look a little sharper when a check comes in signed in the new and legible way. Signatures have ever been a puzzle to the unskilled, degenerating by the time a man has succeeded in putting money in a bank into some fantastic combination of marks that seem as grotesque as the frightened wrigglings of a garter snake. But to the paying teller these strange symbols have definite meaning--no two men are attacked by exactly the same symptoms of St.

Vitus dance when they begin to attack their names to checks. Two get grations of vertical teaching, however may bring about, the uniformity that delights the forger and worries the bank. -Stockyards Journal. Rural Carriers Get a Raise. The new postoffice appropriation bill which was completed in committee Just week increases the salary of Ho feed and will appreciated by our carriers.

Che bill where it refers to rural carriers also provides that "on and after July 1, 1904, carriers shall not let bus less or recive orders of any loud for person, tirm or corporatiou and not during their hours of employment carry any merchandise for Fire a localities this provision will make a material difference as some carriers have been making nearly as much out of their package and express business as their salaries. The western Kansas carrier however will gladly accept the extra $120 and cut out the private package business. Kansas History. The following bit of Kansas history is taken from the Logan Republican: An interesting fact concerning Kansas history, was recently gathered from an old settler, the truth of which cannot be doubted. Our history doubts whether Coronado reached Kansas on his march in 1541.

Coronado camped about twenty miles south of Logan, and his soldiers carved his name with the names and rank of his officers, and date, on a large boulder. This was perfectly plain until three years ago, when the owner rented the farm to a foreigner, who destroyed and defaced the rock in order to get a few stones to put under a granary. This would have been the oldest and most valuable of Kansas relics, had it been preserved. This story cannot be doubted, as the present owner was the first white settler and the rock was becoming obscure when he took the land from the government. The Rev irl Rilicks 1 1904.

Almanac The Rev. Irl R. Hicks Almanac for 1904 is now ready. It will be mailed to any address for 30 cents. It is surprising how such an elegant, costly book can be sent prepaid so cheaply.

No family or person is prepared to study the heavens, or the storms and weather in 1904, without this wonderful Hicks Almanac and Prof. Hicks splendid paper Word and Works. Both are sent for only one dollar a year. Word and Works is among the best American Magazines. Like the Hicks Almanac, it is too well known to need further commendation.

Few men have labored more faithfully for the public good or found a warmer place in the hearts of the people. Sand order to Worl and Works 2201 Locust St. Louis Ma. AUCTION SALE. As I have decided to quit the restaurant business I will sell at public auction in Almena to the highest bidder on SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27 all furniture and fixtures in the restaurant consisting of Counters, Show Cases, 2 sofas, 4 beds.

2 extension tables. 1 kitchen table, I refrigerator, Chairs, Everything goes. examine the goods W. T. HAYES, Birkville News.

Everybody is in the toils of the grip. R. L. Dibble and wife made a trip to Phillipsburg Saturday. Mrs.

H. G. Craven is quite sick with the grippe. While putting up ice one day last week P. N.

Kline had a finger badly bruised by getting caught between, two large cakes of ice. Marinas Booggart, the Baker Medical man, is home this week, being laid up with the grippe. Mrs. N. J.

White and John Hennan and wife, who have been visiting with the family of Pete Kline the past week, returned to their home at Gaylord last Saturday. C. P. Taylor died last Sunday morning and was buried Monday in the Mount Olive cemetery. Mr.

Taylor was an old resident of Grant township, well known and respected by all. He was 76 years old at the time of his death. There will be a meeting at Birkville on Friday evening, March 4, for all those interested in building a telephone line from Birkville to Prairie View. The line to be owned and operated by those connected with the line. This means you.

UNCLE JAKE. Fair Haven Items. We have some nice winter days now. A nice time was reported at Pleasant Valley. Mrs.

McFarl and Mrs. Veda Morris have been down east visiting with Mrs. McF'arland's daughter who has been very ill. They returned home Sunday. Mrs.

Laura Kinzer has been very ill. Mrs. Sadie Moore is staying with her aunt and uncle, Joe Conarty and wife, since her mother's death. She will make her home there. Till Rozean has made two or three visits to Long Island, which, we think, means a wedding.

They say Mr. Crookham lost part of his coat tail as he went over Mr. Aldrich's fence. Mr. Charles Taylor was born in Holmes county, Ohio, April 22 1827 and died February 21, 1904, at the age of 77 years, 10 months and one day, its moved to Apanoise county, Iowa, J850, 1 here to Mercer county, Candy jars, Trays, 1 bureau, 1 dresser.

2 comodes, 2 safes. Lamps, Coal house, 8x12. good milch cow. Pans, Glasses. 2 heating stoves, 2 cook stoves, 1 gasoline stove, 1 flour chest, Dishes.

I Anybody is welcome to come in and between now and time of sale. A. W. DAVIS. Auctioneer.

Missouri in 1857. He moved to Norton county, Kansas in June 1879 and has resided here since. He was married to Harriet Marney in Missouri in June 1853. He is survived by his wife, six sons and one daughter. A Man to be Envied.

The man is to be envied who has a good farm well stocked and paid for. There is no life as independent and as free from care, unless one puts a lot of useless worry in it. The poor farmer deeply in debt certainly has an uphill pull, but even so, he is infinitely ter off than his brother in the city in similar circumstances, for with a little effort, the soil will give him a living, and the poor man in the city is gambling with fate to a large extent. A well equipped and well managed farm which is capable of turning out every year goed crops and good stock is a kingdom in itself. No capitalist in the city lives better and more comfortably nowadays than the farmer who has the telephone and the daily mail.

He generally has what the city capitalist cannot buy at any price--peace and -Stockyards Journal. Burlington Route. Beginning March 1, 1904, and lasting until April 30, the Burlington will sell one way tickets to Pacific coast points at rate of 825, $22 50 to Spokane and $20 to Salt Lake and Ogden. Comparative low rates to other western points. Also from April 23 to May 1, inclusive, they will have on sale to Los Angeles and San Francisco, round trip rate of $45, which may be extended to return on or before July 31.

For further information call on or write Agent N. B. Bush. Almena, Kansas. BETTER THAN GOLD.

"I was troubled for several years with chronic indigestion and nervous debility." writes F. J. Green of bancaster. N. H.

remedv helped me until I began using Electric Bittera, which aid we wore good tian all the medicines I ever d. They have also kept we wite in excellent bealth for vears. Al sage Hectric Bittera spies did toe feuche to ubles. grand 021 amt a a at dos a inter medicine can take family Dates of Conventions. February 26-Republican congressional convention at Beloit for the 6th congressional district.

March 9-Republican state convention at Wichita, to nominate a state ticket and to elect delegates to the national convention. April 7-Democratic state convention at Wichita. April 12-Populist state convention at Topeka to nominate a state ticket. June 21-Republican national convention at Chicago. July 7-Democratic national contion at St.

Louis. Resolutions. At the last meeting of the Rebekah Lodge No. 334 the following was adopted: WHEREAS: God in his infinite wisdom has seen fit to remove from earth W. T.

White, the father of our sister, Pearl Hayes, therefore be it RESOLVED: That we extend to her our heartfelt sympathy in this her sad bereavement, and commend her to Him who doeth all things well. FANNIE BLISS. MAE CASE. ETTA WHITAKER. Committee.

Coming March 7th. The New Orleans Colored Concert Company will give one of their matchless entertainments at the opera house Monday evening, March 7th. Almena is very fortunate in being able to secure this company, as it is unusual for it to stop at a place of this size. They are on their way east and having one vacant date decided to stop at Almena. They will make but one other stop between here and Manhattan.

This will probably be one of the besc concerts ever given in Aimena and you cannot afford to miss it. Nothing bas ever equalled it. Nothing can ever surpass it. Dr. King's New Discovery For 50c Price $1.00: A Perfect For All Throat and Cure: Lung Troubles..