Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-11-15
:LOOKER-ON in IOWA


".
time in the history of the world when
poets and poetry had standing In the
college and school life. But with a long
residence in Iowa the writer has only
heard in this state, here and there, a
recognition of some effort above sor-
did, plain, every day prose. We have
the word of Kiser, of the Record
Herald that the class poet of the FAIR
field, Iowa, high school has celebrated
in verse the achievements and virtues
of his fellow students. His poem is
about 120 lines long and gem in many
ways. Unfortunately, however, we can
publish only these few choice stanzas:
First, take the class as a whole,
And enumerate our blessings
That we of those have many,
We can not help confessing.
In history we're very bright,
Thanks to the good instructor,
Who throws on facts such shining light,
That we learn with ease and luster.
Why should we walk in paths of blood,
When we may tread on roses!
Why should we swim the whirling hooo,
When near by are sweet reposes?
One victory our class possessed,
Obtained in peaceful way.
Was that of high school girls contest,
When we fully carried the day.
We took both first and second place,
On that memorable occasion;
Neither did we feel disgraced,
When the boys spoke their orations.
First in order is Ethel Beal
One wonderfully wise student;
She always has her lessons well,
And she is very prudent.
The other Bells name is Florence,
And by her sits Maude Becker;
10Th have the best of common sense,
And play a little checker.
1t is pleasing to know that the grand
old Hawkeye state has at least one
sweet girl who is prudent, but we had
hoped that the daughters of Iowa were
too busy with the greater affairs of life
TO have time to play even "a niue
checker However, IL they must play,
perhaps q little checker now and then
will prove as harmless as anything
that they could turn to. Our faith IN
wa, richest of the states In farm prod
nets, continues to be strengthened day
by day.
Many of the big round dollars made
here in Iowa, by judicious in
yestments in Iowa soil or successful
business ventures, are furnishing the
capital for working many get-ricn-
quick schemes all over the country
Iowa capital has been the basis of
large percentage of the oil business at
Beaumont, Tex. AT the big fire down
IN that oily town there were burned up
many Iowa dollars. Many silver, cop
ner and zinc mines have during the past
FIVE years received working capital. and
in more cases received for worthless
stock thousands of dollars made by
hard work here in Iowa. The rice
sorbed much money made by raising
rorn in Iowa And when the salt water
backs UP into the rice plantation, caus-
ing a big loss to the owner, 1t Is the
rowa-made dollar that disappears. An6
10 forecast the investments in present
prices of Dakota and Canadian land, IN
many cases these spectators will have
to come back to Iowa to dig out of Iowa
soil more dollars for another invest
ment. Meanwhile our Iowa towns have
10 give big bonus to induce manufac-
turing concerns to establish plants here
in their midst. Committees of business
men have to go out and plead and ar
que and almost threaten other business
men to get them to invest in home
manufacturing establishment. The OPP
portunities are here if the right kind of
men manage them. In Grinnell today
one concern is rated at 100000, said
concern employing $50 men the year
around Another corporation there that
probably 100000 would not buy the
good will and business thereof, employs
as many more persons. Thirty years
ego both of these manufacturing plants
together did not represent to exceed
$4,000.
Maybe it has been told before in
this column, S>..4!twill do to tell again,
for it's true story, and shows at least
how the business men of one little town
had an object lesson in building up the
business of the town. John Smith was
q hustler He was landlord of the little
hotel in the town, that sometimes had
"a transient" once a day and then
didn't And John was also the livery
man, who sometimes had three teams
out all day and then didn't have any
out for three days. So John to keep
himself and wife busy started a butcher
ship. Before this the meat wagon from
Nextown came over twice week. John
''did the killing" his wife cut the meat
and between them they managed to kill
a beef a week" 1t was mysterN how
John and his wife managed to run the
hotel, the livery stable and the meat
market here only ION occasional help"
and yet do all this to the satisfaction
of their many and varied patrons. And
John was making money and everybody
knew It, So the other merchants be-
gan to handle hams and side meats.
They shipped in packing house prod
ucts, bologna sausage, Weinies, dried
beef, picked pork and sold them And
one day John didn't OPEN his butcher
shop. Merchant A came after beef
steak. Merchant B wanted a chicken