The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1900-03-17

interesting. He was bored with aim
self. He wondered If time would v
pass in America-and drew little black
devils while he was waiting to find out.
Among his many pleasing and heter-
odox friends who visited the Hertzers
wal a newspaper man of a whimsical
turn of mind. He had been the recipi-
ent on a certain occasion Of a pack OF
playing cards in which each club,
spade, heart or diamond was represent
ed by scarlet or black devils, and the
design upon the backs Of the cards
was a writhing, twisting inferno of the
same grotesque little creatures.
He looked at these long and appre.
ciatively, did the newspaper man, and
he was seized with an idea. This idea
was the outcome of his observations.
He had noticed that there was a look
of extreme WEAKNESS in the eyes OF the
amiable Madam Hertzer. and that she
walked more slowly than she used, and
her selections at the piano. which had
once been noted for their length, were
now brief and lacking in spirit. In
short, the brave spirit of Madam Hert-
ger dropped under many burdens. So
the newspaper man entered upon the
making of a collection, assisted by the
energetic and talented children of the
baron. Little black devils were gath
cred from every part of the house,
heads were torn from letters, that the
fascinating imps might be preserved,
leaves were rent from books, and even
a pocket handkerchief done in a pro.
cession Of dancing imps, in indelible
ink, was taken in charge.
The practical friend sent these to a
certain much-illustrated comic weekly
and anxiously awaited results. The
family was of the opinion that there
would be no results. The baron was In
a state of peaceful ignorance.
But the results were almost dramat.
ic. The comic weekly was amused. II
wanted a series, indefinitely continued,
of little black devils illustrating cur
rent events.
The oficious friend carried the good
news to Baron von Hertzer.
"Sir!" stormed the baron. "You
have exceeded your privileges. You
have made me ridiculous. I am no
clown to FLIP and kick while the peo-
pie laugh! Will you have the great
goodness to recall these personal pos.
sessions of mine from the stranger te
whom you have conflded them?"
But the newspaper man was OBJ
durate.
"You will be distinguished in a few
minutes" he said. "Tm going to sci
my alarm clock SO I can wake up at the
proper moment and see the fun. No
I'll not write for the imps. I've al.
ready sold part of them, The check
will reach you in a few days. And you
must be about those current illustra.
tions Of current happenings. When
they want a thing on a paper they want
it. They don't care to wait"
these men whom l have SEEM"
at is not necessary to see them in
order to be at their beck and CALL"
The baron considered all Americans
stupid, but he regarded this one as
particularly SO. Especially when he
found that his family was leagued with
the perverse man to insist upon the
making Of the little devils. Under pro.
test, and with frequent lamentings thai
he would be made ridiculous, the baron
worked on. The first few days were
drudgery, but the second week saw him
tolerant, the third week found him in
terested, and at the end Of a month he
al enthusiastic. The Joy of work
individual, creative work-was an emo.
ton he had only just discovered. And
when the monetary results became ap.
preciable he grew almost p%urse-proud.
He began to gather ideas about the
propriety Of women working, and final.
ly he commanded his wife to cease her
incorporating. With a great show Of
wifely submission Madam Hertzer
obeyed. She rested at last, after the
days heat and burden, and a smiling
German gentleman, lord Of his house
and dictator over his dominions. made
adorable little black devils in the soil.
tude Of his study.-Chicago Tribune.