The Glenwood post., 1923-10-11

pointed out the great open spaces In
the Milky Way, wondering at their
emptiness and at the fact that no
telescope can find stars in them.
They stopped and looked. Jim laid
his hard hands on the shoulders Of her
white fur collarette.
"What's the use of political meet
ings," said Jim, when you and can
stand here and think our way out,
even beyond the limits Of our uni
verse?'
"a wonderful Journey" said she, not
quite understanding his mood, but
while we roam beyond the Milky Way,
we aren't getting any votes for me for
county superintendent"
Jim said nothing He was quite
re-established on the earth.
Don't you want me to be elected.
Jim?"
Jim seemed to ponder this for some
time-a period OF taking the matter
under advisement which caused Jennie
to drop his arm and busy herself with
her skirts.
Yes" said Jim, at last; "of course
l do"
Nothing more was said until they
reached the schoolhouse door.
"Well," said Jennie rather indig-
nantly, "I'm glad there are plenty of
voters who are more enthusiastic
about me than you seem to be"
More interesting to keen observer
than the speeches were the unusual
things in the room itself. On the
blackboards, with problems in arith-
metic, were calculations as to the feed
ing value of various rations for live
stock, records of laying hens and com
putation as to the excess of value In
eggs produced over the cost of feed.
Pinned to the wall were market re-
PORTS on all sorts of farm products,
and especially numerous were the sta
tlstics on the prices of cream and but
ter. There were files of farm papers
piled about, and racks Of agricultural
bulletins. In one corner Of the room
was typewriting machine, and in
another a sewing machine. Parts Of
an old telephone were scattered about
on the teachers desk A model of a
piggery stood on shelf, done in card
board.
Instead of the usual collection of
textbooks in the desk, there were hec-
tograph copies of exercises, reading
lessons, arithmetical tables and essays
on various matters relating to agricul-
ture all of which were accounted for
by two or three handmade hecto-
graphs-a very fair sort of printing
plant-lying on table.
The members of the school board
were there, looking on these evidences
of innovation with wonder and more
or less disfavor. Things were disor-
derly. The textbooks recently adopt
ed by the board against some popular
protest had evidently been pitched,
neck and crop, out of the school by
the man whom Bonner had termed a
dub 1t was sort of contempt for
the powers that be.
Colonel Woodruff was in the chair.
After the speechifying was over, and
the stereotyped, though rather illoS-
ical, appeal had been made for voters
of the one party to cast the straight
ticket, and for those of the other fac
ton to scratch. the colonel rose to
adjourn the meeting.
Newton Bronson. safely concealed
behind taller people called out, Jim
irwin speech ~
There was a giggle, II slight sensa-
ton, and many voices joined in the
call for the new schoolmaster
Colonel Woodruff felt the unwisdom
IF Ignoring the demand. Probably he
relied upon Jim's discretion and ex-
pected a declination.
Jim arose, seedy and lank, and the
voices ceased, save for another sup
pressed litter.
81 don't know" said Jim, whether
dis call upon me is a joke or not. II
it is, it isn't a practical one, for can'f
talk. l don't care much about parties
or politics. | don't know whether I'm
Democrat, Republican or a Pop
ulist."
This caused n real sensation. The
nerve of the fellow! Really, it must
in justice be said, jim was losing
feelings. He forgot all about Jennie
and her neutrality-suspicious. everything
except his real, true feelings. This
proves that he was no politician.
Il don't see much in this county
campaign that interests me-" he went
on-and Jennie Woodruff reddened
while her seasoned father covered his
mouth with his hand to conceal
smile. THE politicians come out into
the farming districts every campaign
and get us hayseeds for anything they
want. They always have got us.
They've got us again They give us
clodhoppers the glad hand a cheap
cigar, and cheaper smile after cleo
ton; and that's all. know If, you
all know it, they know it. don't
blame them so very much. The trouble
is we don't ask them to do anything
better.
81 want a new kind of rural school
but don't see any prospect, no matter
nl Go ,la