The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-05-21
I ON THE DEATH OF NOS. IL AND Is.
Novel Obituary for Two Departed
Keokuk and Western Trains.


Born, September %, 1918, and
died May 2, 1914, aged Z months and
days. Such is the brief statement
that marks the limits of the finite eX-
istence of the loved and lamented T..
n. Fourteen and T. n. Fifteen, foster
children Of Mr.. and Mrs Burlington
System. All their life was spent in
this part of Iowa, and a brief state
ment, In MemOrium,' seems but
right and pertinent at this time.
These railway babes came in the
world as unwelcome children, dis
credited and neglected from birth by
their parents, who freely predicted
from the time of their birth, and
even before, that they would never
be other than weaklings, unable to
carry the burdens of life and make
their own way in the world. While
the hired servants in immediate
charge of the twins seems to have
been faithful, the twins were in the
main left to find their only real APP
probation from the neighbOrs. Dur
ing their entire life they were under
the inspection of DR.. Eustis, the ia
nous railway specialist, who kept a
most minute record of their function
al progress and growth. DR.. Eustis
has one theory that many do not
subscribe to. He declares that any
railway babe, to be worth nurturing
and sustaining, should prove it's vi
tally during the first six months OF
it's life by earning and turning over
to it's parents sum in excess of all
it's cost to them, food, drink, care,
etc. If babe cannot do this with
out auy particular fostering and en-
enlargement on the part OF Daddy
and Nanny System, then the learn
ed doctor would quietly but firmly
use the Spartan Treatment, and when
life is extinct, would render the offic-
ial statement, Died of Public Ne
elect and Non-Support on the Part
of the People,
There is strong suspicion in the
minds of the friends of the deceased
twins that their death was not nat
ural one. Dark hints of Trainicide
are heard, and the people who saw
most of these youngsters believe that
coroner's inquest should be held.
1t would surprise no one it such in
vestigation should bring more than
suspicion of criminal guilt on the
part of those charged with the over
sight of these children.
In their brief lifetime they made a
warm place for themselves in the
hearts of thousands in the region OF
their birth. They had become impor-
tant factors in the business and So
cial life of six counties The place
they filled will not be taken by others,
but we will ever hold in fond remem-
brance all that they have been to us.
But we mourn not as they that
have no hope. While the death has
the public attest of DR.. Eustis and OF
the System Family, rumors that will
not be suppressed are rife to the eff
feet that the twins have in fact been
but kidnapped and immured in some
dungeon, and that we may reason
ably hope to see them restored from
a condition of suspended animation.
After the injection of Railway
Mail Contract Serum" in March, all
the friends noted the new life, vigor
and usefulness of the twins, and we
quote Mr. United Public Sentiment to
the effect that, "a crime has been
committed against the peace, dig
nifty and prosperity Of southwestern
Iowa, and the occasion demands the
deepest investigation
The foster parents have no sympa
thisers here; they are not especially
popular in the region that mourns
the loss of the late lost and lament
ed additional passenger service
Clearfeld Enterprise.