Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-01
Looker-On In Iowa

Eldora, Jan. lice cutting COM
menced in Iowa the middle of Decem-
Der, 1914, the earliest date known in
many places. Also put down in your
diaries that we had colder weather this
year before Christmas than during the
winter of 1854. Ii one pays close
attention to weather reports he will
notice that the clerk of the weather IS
erratic. Just why central Iowa should
show on the same day DAY, several de-
srees more of cold, that st. Paul, no
teller can find out" And why Mar
shalltown had colder Christmas than
Sioux City is hard to understand. Some
years ago in State Center and Colo we
had such a big ali-day rain weather
prophets said it was the equinoctial
storm, but on the same day at Grin
nell, twenty miles south, it did not
rain drop. The writer remembers it
distinctly for he had a new big els
tern all ready for filing with soft water
and arriving home. was disguised to
ind the cistern as dry as the town, and
that's saying something.
Sioux City has unemployed men on
her hands. More than a hundred able
bodied Men have placed themselves on
the charity roll. The Associated Char
tiles have big wood pile and offer
Sl..5 DAY TO have 1t sawed and split.
Twelve men took the job and worked a
longer or shorter time. The problem
is hard one to decide what is best.
Talking OF this one man told of a
vt.n ;t,. ST ,,,IN
asked for coal to prevent herself and
children from freezing, and on the
same day her husband received keg
OF beer by express. and himself and a
few friends spent the evening and sat
down at home by cheerful fire fur
nished by charity. and had cheerful
time with the keg of beer. Another
man told Of his knowing in the town
where he lives of an able bodied man
with wife and six children, the wife
takes in washing, the children go after
the washing. the man takes 1t back
after dark and collects the money, the
man refusing 10 work at anything so
song as the wash money holds out-and
every winter they have to be "heIpe6
by the town" This man knows the
toxin authorities will not let his wife
and children freeze or starve, and he
also knows he can sit by the kitchen
IRE and keep warm. as well as 81. at
the table with 81 wife and help ca:
the provisions furnished by the coun-
" Problem number two
And here's a suggestion to our Iowa
charity Organizations. 1t looks as
tnGuyn II
one. bill is before congress fo- the
government to have four months en-
iistment service into the regular army.
In other words 10 increase our STANDING
army by a short service OF regular
driA work and good food and shelter
for the unemployed The writer has
NOT read the bill. but If it fats TO have
clause that any able bodied man.
applying for charity, shall be at once
drafted into our regular army for
four months service at regular nav.
whv the bill lacks one good feature.
And If this suggestion seems good 10
our practical charity workers they can
do much to make i; law. by getting be-
mind our congressman. and telling them
few things
mentioned the fac; that the sale OF in
decent Photographs and books was 60
ing on, on our passenger trains. The
result was that some investigation and
convictions followed. AS before this
scribe is AN innocent spectator bu.
when -ewsy. has the nerve to hold up
transparent picture and selects for
his customer :he eighteen year old boy,
II is safe TO assert tina. something Is
doing. And if these news agents with
full knowledge Of the law continue to
carry on this business they will be en-
titled to no consideration IL caught
a; it.
A closed season for rabbits would
create much amusement II suggested
ten years ago in Iowa. But it's COM
ing Present prices make rabbit shoot
ing a profitable business. Fifteen
cents for a dressed. should be called
an undressed rabbit. rurs into money
for even The boys who shoot several
times before getting one And the
aversion to rabbit meat is disappearing.
Only few now mention dressed cat.
And the man who formerly carried
home the rabbit in paper bag. now
does not hesitate to carry 1t by it's
hind legs. OF course if farmers and
others want the rabbits of Iowa ex-
terminated, never mind about the
closed season.