Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-04-06

bent the backs Of their parents. That.
briefly. accounts for the fewness and
the stiffness above referred TO.
Early In 1917. the village was
shaken by alarming and astonishing
news. True. the sinking OF the Lust
tania and our own enlistment In the
World war and the German successes
on the Russian frontier had. I'm way.
prepared the heart and intellect Of
Bingvllle for shocking events. Still.
these disasters had been remote. The
fact that the Gllllgan sisters had left
the Crookers and accepted an offer OF
one hundred and fifty dollars a month
from the wealthy Nixons OF Hazel
mead was an event close TO the foot
lights. so 20 speak. II caused the news
OF battles 10 take It's rightful place in
the distant background. Men talked
OF this event In stores and on the
street corners; II was the subject Of
conversation In sewing circles and the
Philomathian Literary club. That
day, the Bings whispered about IL at
the dinner table between courses until
Susan CrOwder sent in n summons by
Martha Featherstraw with the apple
pie. She would be glad To see Mrs. ].
Patterson Bling in the kitchen imme-
dlately after dinner. There was a mo-
ment Of silence In the midst OF which
Mr.. Bling winked knowingly az his
wife. who turned pale as she put down
her pie fork with n look OF determine
ton and rose and went into the kitch-
en-. Mrs Crowder regretted that she
and Martha would have 20 look for
another family unless their wages
were raised from one hundred 10 one
hundred and fifty dollars a month.
"But. Susan, we all made an agree.
ment for a year." said Mrs. Bing.
Mrs. Crowder was sorry. but she
and Martha could not make out on the
wages they were gettlng-everything
cost so much. If Mary Gilllgan. who
couldn't cook. was worth a hundred
dollars a month Mrs. Crowder cOnsid-
cred herself cheap at twice that figure.
Mrs. Blng. in her anger. was in
clined 10 revolt. but Mr.. Bing settled
the matter by submitting TO the tyr
amy of Susan. With Phyllis and
three OF her young friends coming
from school and a party In prospect,
there was nothing else 10 do.
Maggie Collins. who was too old
and too firmly rooted in the village 10
leave II. was satisfied with n raise
OF ten dollars a month. Even then she
received a third of the minister's sal
airy. Ellis wife being a swell Teddy
who had no time for wurruk, sure the
boy was no sooner married than he
yelled for help" as Maggie was wont
10 say.
All this had a decided effect on the
economic life of the village. Indeed.
Hiram Blenkinsop. the village drunk
ard. who attended 10 the lawns and
gardens for a number of people. de-
manded an increase of dollar a day
I'm his wages on account Of the high
cost of living, although one would say
that its effect upon him could not have
been serious. For years the historic
figure Of Blenkinsop had been the des-
tinatIon and repository OF the cast-of
clothing and the worn and shapeless
shoes Of the leading citizens. For a
decade. the venerable derby hat. which
once belonged 10 Judge Croker. had
survived all the incidents OF his adj
venturous career. He was. indeed, as
replete with suggestive memories as
the graveyard 20 which he was wont 10
M n
summer weather There. in the shade
of a locust tree hard by the wall, he
was often discovered with his faithful
dog Christmas yellow, mongrel.
good-natured cur-lying beside him.
and the historic derby hat in his hand.
He had a persevering pride in that
hat. Mr.. BlenkinsOp showed sur
prising aud commendable industry un-
der the stimulation OF increased pay.
He worked hard for n month, then
celebrated his prosperity with n night
OF such noisy. riotous Joy that he
landed In the lookup with black eve
and a broken nose and an empty peck
et. As usual. the dog Christmas went
with him.
When there was a loud yell In the
streets at night Judge Croker used
TO say. "It's Hiram again. The poor
fellow Is out a-Hiramlng."
william Snodgrass, the carpenter.
gave much thought and reflection 10
the good fortune of the Gilligan girls.
II a hired girl could earn twenty-five
dollars a week and her board. skilled
mechanic. who had 10 board him
self. ought 10 earn az least fifty. SO
he put up his prices. Israel Sneed.
the plumber. raised his scale TO CORE
spond with that Of the carpenter. The
prices of the butcher and grocer kept
pace with the rise of wages. A period
OF unexampled prosperity set In.
Some time before. the Old Spirit or
Bingville had received notice that its
services would no longer be required.
II had been an industrious and faith
full Old Spirit. The new generation did
not intend TO be hard on II. They
were willing TO give IL comfortable