Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-04-06
Looker-On In Iona

| Harris, April Eff one listens he
viii hear good many interesting sto-
r1es. Yes, he's gone into the millinery
business. Had any experience? No, but
WIN have before he gets thru. Traded
In a farm and a thousand dollars in
cash for $4,000 stock that will not
sell for $500 cash. Think the real es-
tate men got the farm for their COM
mission. Know something about the
millinery business? Well, yes, I know
eighteen hundred dollars worth. Had
$1,100 in the bank and my wife took
thousand and paid spot cash for a
stock of millinery goods. Big thing,
sell hat for SIS that doesn't cost
over So, get $3.50 yard for ribbons
that you buy for so cents. Ostrich
plumes sell for any old price, accord
ing to your customers pocketbook.
Big profits? I should say so. But at
the end Of the year I had endorsed
my wife's notes for $4,000, and when
she finally sold out we We're $1,000 to
the bad. Profitable business? Sure,
beats the plumbing deal a mile, but
there's only six weeks trade in a year.
Three weeks trade for Easter, and
three weeks for the winter trade"
"All the way up from Des Moines
he tried to butt in. We We're having
social game of penny-ante, on our
way to Okoboji for a fishing trip. We
tried to freeze him and he didn't notice
the cold. Kept up his yawp till we
We're tired to death. Ever been in Mil
ford? Wen, when the conductor says
all aboard we run an eighth of a mile
or so on the main line, and then back
in on the switch to let the other
train pass. Just as we pulled out,
this Butinski yelled out, watch me
and TIL show you some fun" He jump
ed off on the platform and hit one Of
those chaps that come down to see
the train come in. a rousing blow that
almost knocked him over. Then But
inski jumped on the rear platform Of
the last car and made all manner of
/ remarks. He was especially funny
when the platform loafer started out
running after the moving train. you'll
have to hurry" he repeated again and
again. But as the train slowed down
and then began to back towards the
town man, Butinski got an idea he
was wanted in the baggage car. So
did the other fellow. And the crowd of
us that followed in to see fair play,
saw it. only when the train started
again the baggage car was a rough
house. sure enough. The town man
| jumped off with hardly scratch to
show for the fracas. Butinski was ly-
ing on the crate where they ice the fish
boxes The baggage man was handing
him basin of water. One eye was
closed, he had a severe attack of nose
bleed and all the pantatorium men in
the world could never press those
clothes into shape. After that we
played our game of penny-ante in
peace.
The courthouse at Garner is an OBJ
ject lesson for every county in Iowa.
The building and grounds are an orna-
ment TO the town, but the inside Of the
building is what one notices this time
of the year. 1t is as meat as wax" The
tiled floor would suit the neatest Dutch
woman in Holland. All of the offices
are in the same condition. Maybe they
have an extra good janitor. Maybe it's
the chairman of the board of super
visors. But somewhere. somehow, there
/ is houselSeeper that knows how.
Contrast this with the inside Of some
| of the new court houses in Iowa. In
one a stepladder the year around stays
| in the corner of the corridor. A water
pail and mop is in evidence in the cor
ner of the office. There's where the
janitor keeps it. It's handy. Another
building, not five years old: tobacco
stains on the tiled floor are always 10
be seen. And in $4,000 court house
in Iowa the toilet room should be in
spected by the local board Of health.
There are ninety and nine court houses
( in Iowa, so this is safe criticism. The
writer always refers to the next county.