Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-09

mentary.
+ +
TLOOKER-ON in IOWAx
/ ]:
Garwin, Dec. S.--One learns a good
deal in travelling IL he listens to hotel.
depot and passenger car conversation.
For instance, the writer did not know
before that the position of advance
agent and bill poster 10 a travelling
hypnotist's aggregation was so valua-
bic. The hypnotist, clad in silk hat,
wide, open, low-cut vest, no collar in
sight and other ordinary attire, full of
business. was talking to young max
evidently just from the farm. yes.
sir; you're Just the man we want. I'll
give you SO week and expenses. You
will keep two days ahead and return
when you can to act as ticket seller.
After leaving here, we shall only york
the larger towns, such as Marshall
town, Fort Dodge. Boone and such
towns. Do you want the job?" Eyes.
sir" said the farmer boy. Well re-
piled the sleep maker, Il have had
such bad luck with advance agents in
getting drunk and wasting my paper,
engaging opera houses at big prices,
etc, that shall expect you to deposit
$40 with me as a guarantee that you
will work faithfully. OF course after
the first week I will return 1t, always
l.ea 's fn
cure me- And the wou1d-be advance
agent went out after the money, but
returned soon, saying he couldn't make
the raise, but would go to work tomor-
row If he wanted him to. Evidently this
Ilypnotist had had hard luck with adj
vance agents, for he sternly refused the
farmer boys services unless the $40
was put up
And boys, town boys, are getting very
independent these days. Newspaper
publishers who establish carrier service
in the smaller Iowa towns now only
can get 10 and 12-year-old boys at the
former wages for men. Many ditch
has been dug in Iowa at 15 cents an
hour. Section men are working now at
that figure, but the boy of today ex-
poets % cents an hour or at more than
that rate for short jobs of light work.
In Tama this week the writer offered a
well-dressed boy 10 cents to walk five
blocks and deliver q message. "No,
sir!" And the obliging youth in half
an hour afterwards came into the hotel
with another boy who had that horse
and buggy, and lived over that way.
and would deliver the message on his
way home" Offer accepted. cash paid
and service rendered. And the LOCKER
On, during the evening, saw the money
despising boy work his father for
nickel. There's text right here for a
long article on bringing up boys.
One of our enterprising papers in
Iowa is engaged in the write up" busl-
ness. Toledo encouraged and literally
patronized the scheme. The water
works and college had a big send off.
What difference did 1t make If in this
reliable write-up one of "our prominent
citizens" was made out sixteen years
younger than the family Bible record
shows? He wouldn't have cared if it
had been twenty-six years, three years
younger than his mother and father.
And supposing this accurate account
did elect him mayor of Toledo year
before he came west? Who cares? And
only carping critics object to adding the
names of all of the school teachers of
Tama to the list of Toledo school teach
ma'ams. 1t looks well to have a big,
long list of teachers, even il they do be-
long at the other end of the electric.
Sc
Out of car window. riding along
over an Iowa railroad, one can see out
on the prairie. only surrounded by
horse sheds and outbuildings, two good
sized churches facing each other on OPP
posite sides of the road. No farm houses
are nearer than half mile away, but
within circle of ten miles are five
towns each having not less than three
churches. and some four or five places
of worship. These two churches on the
prairie cost at least, with furnishings,
at least $4,000 each. Heat, light, jani-
tor and ministerial services must cost
$3.50 to $1,000 year. The neighborhood
is good one. The farmers are social
and friendly. Their lyceums and school
are in common. Surprise
parties are frequent and all listen to
one another's affairs over an independ-
ent telephone line. Nearly all vote the
ticket. They intermarry and
live together without many neighbour
hood rows. All go to the same town to
trade and the same rural delivery man
brings this daily and their other mail.
1t can be seen at a glance how harmo-
NOUS their life here is in this world; but
one thing is sure, those two churches
Indicate. IL the different creeds taught
and believed therein are literally and
true, there will be great divis-
ion of these neighbors in the world to
come.
ar H.e.14A/