The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1941-01-09

| an era Just past in the giddy years. A time whei
| the street dotted with these dens for masculine
| retreat precedent Of the rise of the bowling
| alley, the daily moving picture theatre, ct al.
Johns Place is of the lone survivors. It ha.
an air about it. An atmosphere which, though
heavily smoky much of the time, is at the same time
| truly masculine and virile. The boys like 1t
In fact they like it much John has continuousl,
put aside any refined ideas he might have concoctee
for identifying the place. For to do that was t.
| break the veneer of atmosphere that has been Sc
attractive. to the boys on the street.
1t is place where the boys congregate to pla,
rummy, it's kindred games, its offshoots. Johns
maintains reputation, while not excluding anyone
Intentionally, of keeping well satisfied patronage
from all walks Of the town. 1t is truly reflec
| there wordy barrages over the card games thai
shake the plaster bit loose. 1t is definitely nc
spot for the timid soul. There is horse play
there is sports discussions. You can have horse
play served with your lunch from either the patron
age John himself of his henchmen, Ray
Prasch or Clarence Nathe. They will II
in stream steady the heady brown coffee
that swishes into the Gathering cups. But more
than anything else to make it notable Johns today
becomes of the last stands of the male.
The barbershop and the others that used to cater
exclusively to the man. his gregariousness his pipes
and foibles, past. 1t is hardly that woman
would not be treated civily and gentlemany in
Johns. 1t is simply that the clientele prefer that
it remain for them 1t is called by some the
Athletic Club, dubbed by others various names tc
fit the occupation of the place. it is-for only
So it will remain His doors swing like the old
rope swings the front lawn, gulp in a batch OF
players, wanderer to the postoffce who is expelled
through the other exit. It's race track from
alley to Third Street. For S. P. Hansen, Sr.
Dr. A. F. Moynihan, Roy Scott Gilbert Hansen Bill
Parker, and dozens of Others it is truly club. q.
This sort of thing goes there Precisely at noon
there lunch matches If you talking with
Dr. Moynihan, Roy Scott or Gilbert Hansen at the
stroke of twelve you might suddenly find yourself
standing there with your last sentence falling or
your own ears alone. They their way
to Johns. The other day this trio missing
one member Roy and the Doctor were there, await
ing the arrival of Hans. Hans didn't come. The
two conspired, sent police officer Frank Schlichte
for the Grant tailor then proceeded to hand Hans
two losses.
It's back bar high and old-fashoned, patched
with gingerbread. Its long counter with clinking
cases stacked in the rear. The gas stove. The
old cupboard that looks like grandmother's. 4. . A
certain charm about the lack of complete arrange
ment. The chips on the table The wellthumbed
cards. It's scene. scene Of busy men
being unbusy.
I think that another thing that is truly small
town-and believe me these indicators of small town
are completely agreeable-s the volunteer fire de-
partment. In all large centers professional fire
fighters struggle with the bazes But the volunteer
effort in many such this town stocked as neatly
and efficiently the professional units, dates back
to the earliest days of the commune, when there
were no taxes for the community but bee labor
neighbor helping neighbor gregariousy banded some
together for bucket brigades. =. &. In the event OF
village conflagrations these units did notable, if not
too efficient work. For the more adventuresome
the swing onto a racing truck the scream of the
siren in the ear, the sharp crackle of the flames
like monster licking his chops before devourins
the object of his intent, being a member of TIT
volunteer department Is sweet, savory outlet.
There is something in the business when for dol
lar throw a man will rack himself out of warn
bedroom, sleepy-eyed grab his trousers, hasten pei
nell in TO- even 20 degrees below zero weather, t.
help put out the fire his neghbor careessly allowed
to begin. And returned home find his suit o.
misunderstanding clothes a soaked, smoke
drenched of indescrbable shape. To thes'
boys orchids.
1t of the drilling nights in the mut
of France in World War I. Two boys were huddlet
close to the protection Of rainsoaked mother earth
q. Above them the Of a little hill ove
which water ran down into the shell hole that wa
their harbor rain of shells steady tn,
downpour crashed over that crown to land beyond
them. They lay there with clothes soaked through
wet, smeary faces searching around in the inky
blackness broken only by the flashes of the shell
fire. . Finally put his thoughts into words
"Joe how'd you like to be back in the barber shop.
The other countered: Paul, how'd you like to b.
back in the Model" They didn't laugh They
only thought, but can imagine certain satisfied
smile those thoughts obliterated the discomfort
the danger. Joe Jackson Is back here nov
twenty-five years later. Paul F. Donart didn,
come back the next day.
They building the postoffice building here
in winter. That's highly unfair To the selected
imperial and ancient order of hole digging, steam
shovel watchers and sidewalk superintendent, 1t is
extremely unorthodox The cold has cut the
activities of this group that draws its unorganized
membership from any nation creed, or race, to nil
think they should be consulted in the matter
Of building and protected in the contract against
severe drops in temperature that hamper their
activities -.
Fluffy" of the A. r. Hesse household, and
Ginger" of the Dewey OGara ditto are inseparable
companions They dogs. FLUFFY white
Spitz; Ginger a red Irish setter. 1t is easily
the perfect Mutt and JEFF combine of the local dog
world For Ginger is tall, rangy, and smooth haired
Fluffy is small and bushy the name implies
They range about together. The other night
they started following home. dog raced out
from the sidelines looked at Fluffy If ready for