Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, October 25, 1919, Page 6

SAVING OUR BACON: Origin of an Ancient Colloqui alism in Connecticut. Expression Used When Debtor Gets Best of Creditors by Question. able Methods in Busi- ness Deals. Distribution and sale of the govern- ment supply of bacon brought to the minds of many who are acquainted with old sayings the anclent colloqui- alism, “Saving one's bacon.” The thrifty housewife, laying in a store of the smoked meat, assures her near meighbors that she is “saving her ba- eon.” The housewife, of course, is tell- feg the truth, but as she repeats the anclent colloquialism she falls to use 1t in its proper sense. The housewife who is so gay over “gaving her bacon” would be horri- fied and justly provoked. If her neigh- bor would reply: “What! You cheating your creditors?” And that is just what she means If she employs the term properly. The story of the origin of the colloquialism s credited to Con- mecticut, according to the Hartford Times. In the days when the Charter Oak was green and Sir Edmund Androns was more green. New London boasted of a citizen of the name of Fitz John Winthrop. He was a sallor, and more- over of literary tastes. These tastes were more clistinctly commercial. That s, while he was quite a bibliophile on bis own account. and had a goodly store of books. he was in the business of collecting books for others. Prab- ably because he was something of a connoisseur, the colonist who coveted foreign published books engaged him to obtain them when he was in port on the other side; or. knowinx their fads, he would, of his own account. make the purchases, and brinz them over, disposing of them at a fair profit. Among the customers was a lawyer who was also interested In shipping, politics and several other things which tn our later day might go by the name of speculations. At the time when he was flush with money he would invest tn books, and’ depute Capt. Fitz John to obtain them abroad. Among other works for which he had something of a penchant were those of Lord Bacon. He managed to have quite a sizable importation at different times. On one occasion, when the captain came into port and brought him a Bale of books, he found the lawyer in financial difficulties of a shady char- acter. On the following day the prop- erty was to be “distrained.” Under the colonial law among other things clempt from the claws of the creditor was meat of various descriptions, and @uantities, Bewailing the fact that ®ooks must go under the hammer, he was disconsolate when the captain eame with the additlonal volumes. He had a decent supply of ‘wits and he &pd the lawyer, working: lndunfln\uly ®y night, managed to stow away & eal of the llbrary, ln eat bezr- 1816 the cellar. On top-of-each was a layer of bacon in coarse salt. The following day, when the sherifi's clerk ith his red chalk, he scrawled * on each of the narrels. and the countents were exsmpied. It must fave heen some time later when Capt. Fitz John related the siory, and man aged to add, “Leave it to any one ir them bar'ls didn’t kold Bacon!™ And ®#0 when a debtor ot the best of his creditors Ly questionable methods, the proceedings ot to be known as “gav- fag gne’s bacon.” UNBURIED CHINESE BABIES. 1t is not an uncommen sight to see the unburied bodies of dead Chi- nese infants. They are cast away to save the expense of burying. it is @aid. Another reason, and probably the more potent one, is that there is a deep-rooted superstition among the Chinese that the death of a baby ariges out of punishment to its soul for sins committed in a previous gtate of existence. It is, therefore, an accursed creature whose coffin no one will follow. Therefore, babies are often laid down by the roadside to breathe their last. By thus not allowing them to die in the house, the parents will not allow the wicked spirits into which the babies turn to live under the same roof with them. Sabscribe for Tre Dally Ploneer ! WHOS WHO| 1 1 t LM IR DA I . THE BEMIDJI1 DAILY PIONEER nthe ORI D Federal legislation prohibiting Jim Crow cars or other legislation dis- criminating against negroes on rail- roads or steamships within the United States was urged by Representative Madden of Chicago (portrait herewith) before the house committee on inter- state and foreign commerce the other day. Mr. Madden advocated the In- clusion of the provisions of a bill in- introduced by him In general railroad legislation. A delegation from the Colored American council, which spon- sors the bill, was present. Representative Sanders of Loulsi- ana was the most outspoken in oppo- sition to the bill among members of the committee. “We contend that the negro prefers separate accommoda- tions,” said Mr. Sanders. “Our negroes down South, knowing they aren't wel- come in the white man’s coach, don't go in.” Mr. Sanders asked Mr. Madden if BASKET MAKERS OF NAPLES For Centuries He Has Been a Pictur esque Sight in Strects of City. For centuries the basket maker has been a picturesque sight in old Naples where the trade runs in the same fam- ily for generations. The basket maker is omnipresent, either plaiting or sell- ing his wares in every direction, for in no other city under the sun are they used for so many purposes, from cradles for babies to fish receptacles, and a covering for wine bottles. The artist splits his wicker deftly with a long-bladed knife and proceeds to weave watertight baskets by hand, as only his strong fingers can fashion them. Not one, but many a day are his “stint” and when they are mound- ed about him at nightfall, he gives a sigh of satisfaction and loads his cart for the morrow. Or possibly it is his own back which must be bent to the burden. If so, he appears like an animated basket-rack as he sallies forth to the tune of “Santa Lucia.” Later, one can easily imagine that there 15 a ventriloquist hidden away in fl\e depths of the bnskets, calling his ware. By day and by night he lives in close proximity with his goat, cow and horse if he iS rich enough tp possess, ‘these domestic aniials, sleeping in the same room with them utterly oblivious to discomfort’or anything'‘out of the ordinary. More than one tourist has told us of a common sight, that -of seeing a horse ascend a flight of stairs, ahead of his master, at the end of a hard day of peddling. And if not a shorse., a mule, the sonorous braying of which does not disturb the slum- ber he has won for he knows no eight-hour day. 'Crook Forest Enlarged. The president has signed a proc- lamation adding 29.440 acres to the Crook national forest, Arizona. The lands added are located in the Win- chester mountafns and southwest of the Galiuro division of the Crook forest. They are rough and broken in char- acter and are not sultable for agricul- tural purposes. Practically the entire tract is covered with a stand of oak, Juniper, and cedar timber of fair qual- ity. Considerable of the area along Pine canyon is covered with a good stand of western yellow pine. Frost Discussed in Bulletin, Discussions of the formation and seasons of frost and how growing plants may be protected from it, are contained in the department of agri- culture’s Farmers' Bulletin No. 104, “Notes on Frost.” which may be ob- toined by applieation to the depart- ment. The weather bureau is prepar- ing a more up-to-date publication on the subject of frosts, and expects to have it ready for distribution soon, but in the meantime farmers and others may benefit by reading the old bulletin, which treats the technical theme Iin a popular manner. AGAINST “JIM CROW” RAILROAD CARS _— was not true that a great majority of the negroes now live in the South. “Yos,” replied Mr. Madden, “but I don’t see what that has to do with this bill. We think they should be treated in the South the same as in the North.” STORK GETS ON JOB France’s Birth Rate Shows Some Improvement. 8arlous Decline in 1918 from Year Be- fore the War Was Cause of Alarm. Paris.—France’s declining blrth rate bas lately been a source of much con- cern, but a distinct improvement has been noticed during the present month. Evidence of a great decline in births in 1918 was shown in official figures for the district of the Seilne, which includes the city of Paris, which showed that there are only 43,480 births registered in that district in 1918, as compared to the 73,599 in 1911, The infantile death rate given by statisticians is 40 per cent, as com- |, pared to 10 per cent before the war. This has been attributed to the scar- city . of wet nurses and poor, quality and shortage of milk for bottle-fed bables. The shortage is said to be due to the tremendous increase in cheese making, especially in Nor 5» However. all ‘the 'maternity hospi- tals in Paris reported increased births Sthu far the present month. -~ In-one: hospital the aumber doubled those of ‘last year, and it is declared that ba- bies are remarkable for size, weight and general health. A new periodical entitled Marriage has just appeared. It announces that it will devote itself to the guestion of the repopulation of France, which is genem'lly recognized to be one of tke most urgent problems of the day. It asks its readers, “What means should be adopted to combat the present mat rimonial crisis in France?” STUDENTS WIN FINE POSITIONS The best firms in the North- west continue to offer fine posi- tions to the well-trained stu- dents of Dakota Business College, Fargo, N. D. Miss Zelda Williams recent- ly got a $100.00 secretarial position with The Amenia Sharon Land Co. She is the sixth D. B. C. pupil placed there. . Mr. W. Hints went to the Indian Oil Refining Co., Miss Laura Schwallen to the W. J. Lane Real Estate Co., Miss Edith Coleman to the Western Union Telegraph Co. “Follow the successful.” Write F. L. Watkins, Pres., 806 Front St., Fargo, N. D. : Office Phone 131 M»Phone 457J INSURANCE THE GREAT UNREST it is aggrevated and increased when you feel that your life is at the mercy of circumstances. The surest means of settling it is by carrying plenty of When your life is covered by a liberal policy, you feel as secure as a man can feel in this world of chance. Don’t put it off a DAY longer. Come and let me show you some most attractive policies in one of the best companies. DWIGHT D. MILLER Northern National Bank Bldg. wun NATIVE HAWAIIANS EAT Compelled to Subsist on Such Plant and Animal Life Found Along Their Coasts. It was because of the limited food supply, no doubt, that the early Hawaiians learned to use for food almost every living thing, both plant and animal, found along their coasts. Almost every kind of seaweed that could possibly be eaten was used for food by some Hawaiians, while cer- tain of the more attractive algae were universally used wherever and whenever it was possible to secure them from the sea. The hungry Hawaiian gathered seaweeds, large and small, and also the fine green algae of the fresh water to satisfy his desire for vegetable food. The limu had to take the piace of all green vegetables, such as onions, let- tuce, beets, beans, peas, etc., as well as the fruits which now go to make up a well-balanced diet. There are over Y0 distinct species of algae or limu used for food by the Hawaiians. Of these about 40 are in general use. Most of the limu is gathered by native women and children, except that which grows in the deeper or rougher water, far out on the coral reefs or on exposed rocks, where expert swimmers are required, and where a boat is usual- ly needed. STOWAWAY 4 TIMES IS HELD Girl Who Finally Gets into America Passing as Coal Passer, Is Arrested. New York.—After her fourth at- tempt to reach the United States from ‘England as a stowaway had failed, E!- sle Wilson, twenty-two years old, cut her hair short, dressed herself in sail- or's clothes and succeeded in arriving in New York as a coal passer. The sequel was her arrest in Hobo- ken as a disorderly person and her sub- sequent arraignment in the recorder’s office. “My home is near Liverpool.” she said, “but things were so bad in Eng- land that I wanted to get away from it all and come to New York. Please don’t send me back. I will take any- thing you want to give me here but if I go back I'll get five years.” She was held for the federal author- ities on a charge of having landed without a passport. Ay 1 make Bemidji oflnengg’dzwn 07 conract waiTING PArSR) he can get it Wholesalers UBLIG SALE STARTS AT 11:00 A. M. CTION SAL Y bit o (o(;zrg/aga IN these days of industrialism it is gratifying to know that oné concern has clung to the more pleasing ways of the past. Far away from the smoke of large cities and nestling in the heart of the Berkshire Hills near pure, crystal brooks are the mills that The writing paper that has the quality of the old, combined with the smartness of the new. You will find the reflection of a bit of OLD NEW ENGLAND in every sheet you use, Ask your merchant. If he hasn’t it in stock, PONEER STATIONERY HOUSE Minnesota [ 0 11 miles north of Tenstrike, 73 miles east of Nebish, 13 miles west and north of Blackduck, at Old Scrieff Mill. Sec. 22, O’Brien Twp. WEDNESDAY, 0CT. 29 CHOICE Yearling Ewes RAMBOUILLET, HAMPSHIRE AND SHROPSHIRE Farmers of Beltrami County and vicinity, this is your last chance and a great opportunity to get started in the sheep business with the right kind of foundation stock. Remember we have no old stuff—every one is an ewe, everyone is a yearling, with their whole life ahead of them as a profit to you. sheep clear land. These sheep are acclimated to this climate and are in good shape to go into winter. Come out and see the way FREE LUNCH AT NOON TERMS—CASH OR BANKABLE PAPER = BROOKSIDE SHEEP RANCH MILLER & GIBSON, Props. AUGUST JARCHOW, Auctioneer GEO. RHEA, Clerk Dafactiva i ¥ ] i | {