Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-30
LITTLE TOWN PRESENTS PRETTY
APPEARANCE IN CONTRAST
,tkt W -
TO MOST VILLAGES.
NEW AND MODERN HOMES
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
Farmers Getting Into Habit Of Doing
Shopping After Working Hours
Autos and Movies Responsible For
Changing conditions-c. E. Wilson's
ohserv ations.

Special to Times Republican.
Melbourne, Sept. S0.-The present
high cost Of materials and labor does
not appear to interfere seriously with
building operations in this town,
where FIVE or six residences and a
business structure are In process Of
erection at this time. It is said that
the houses will cost an average Of be-
tween $1,000 and $1,000 apiece. In a
comparison Of Iowa towns showing
the proportion Of modern residences
to the total number, Melbourne would
stand very close to the head of the
HIST and few IL any towns in this part
OF the country present heater ap-
pearance in the way of well kept
yards, streets and outbuildings.
For first class show of the trained
animal variety one need go no farther
than Melbourne, where blacksmith
Walter Boyle has a pacing mare and
a couple Of dogs that seem to possess
ofi lAC tAdt CouiO DC iii
agined for animals of their species.
For instance the horse which ordered
by its owner to do so, lies down, pre-
tends to be -ill strikes out spasmodi-
cally with its feet, rolls it's eyes and
groans as If in extreme pain. This
remarkable animal appears to have
musical talent also. for when a
mandolin was held near, the strings of
the instrument were swept with the
greatest regularity by the horse with
Its upper lip, while the finger work
was being looked after by the trainer
and the result was a chord that
anybody, not acquainted with the cir
cumstances would never dream of be-
ing produced in such unusual man
ner.
It is doubtful il any public question
Of recent years has been made the
Universal subject of comment by the
average man that the proposed league
Of nations covenant has produced.
OF course 1t may be a case where the
opposition is furnishing the noise and
the adherents the sentiment, but 1udg-
ing from comment heard in the street
and In homes and business places
about 90 per cent Of the people Of this
part Of the country are for letting
European people settle their disputes
themselves in their own way"
A veteran business man in q small
town tells how the coming Of the
automobile has changed the business
hours in his store. This man is a
dealer in cream, -four and feed, pro-
duce. etc. In other days most OF his
country trade occurred between
o'clock in the forenoon and in the
evening but not so under modern con-
ditions. There are two nights in the
week when the business houses in
this town keep open," and these are
the old mans busiest times. Every
body in the trade territory Of the town
no difference how far out. appears to
be in on those nights when the reads
are fit for auto travel. The parking
facilities Of the town are taxed to &C
oommodate the machines. The farmer
brings in his can Of cream and in
forms the merchant that he will be in
later for his ticket and whatever he
wants to take out, and when he comes
again tits later, ,too-a good deal later.
There are picture. shows and lodge
meetings and various other forms of
IN these towns on
open nights" Travelling men tell
each other at breakfast how lat least
800 farmers started up their cars right
under my window last night between
IL o'clock and midnight. Didn't sleep
- M III ~
1T is q little inconvenient for me"
said the old business man, but then its
the best trade have and must take
care Of It"
It is not to be wondered at that
men have practically ceased
the old custom Of stopping over night
In the smaller towns. Disappoint-
ment Is in store for the man who tries
It In these times. Nearly all small
towns are short Of dwellings as are
the larger ones and hotels and room
Ing houses are kept filled by the semi
transient population such as is found
IN every town. A number of road
oelated evening train. When all ex-
,ept two had registered the hotel pro-
3rietor announced that he was FULL"
Next morning these two men met and
Exchanged experiences One had
ina1lY found q room in the town doc
;or's hospital" They had only one
patient that night and could accom-
nodate him. It was Q plain little bed
n q little plain room but when the
yuest called for his bill in the morn
ng there was no delay IN getting It.
lie paid S1.60 for tho bed and will
make 4 different routing next time no
makes that territory.
c.rE. Wilson.