Evening Star Newspaper, January 22, 1922, Page 64

B E WERE in the lounge room of the club, at Tientsin, at the moment. “Businegs has nothing to do with romance” observed Toptit sageiy, “but the romance’ of business has a good deal to do with the busi- “ ness of romance, if you get my mean- ing.” g “That,” said Crayton, coarsely, “is because you're a poet and a fool, Tomtit!” 3 A stiff silence followed. The boys aiscreetly vanished. We all thought that Toptit had heen goaded far enough by Crayton, and we secretly hoped there would be a kpockdown and a scandal, so that we could kick Crayton out of the club. Toptit only smiled, and patted his dress tie with an air of approval. He quite ignored the “Tomtit” which Crayton invariably fung at him. “My good Craytcm,” he said pleas- antly, “you don't like me. Why?" Crayton glared savagely at him. “I'll tell you why! Because you've come to. China & green cub and are running wild up and down the coast, that's why! You and your poetry and your dashed nonsense—it'll ruin busi- ness for the rest of us! “Hope so.” sald Toptit sweetly. “It won't ruin my business, though! You car't make friends among Chinese gentlemen by eulogizing their treas- ures in verse; I can. You go around buying jewels ara paintings and things with money! I buy ‘em with money plus poetry, which means a lot scholar.” “All bull!” growled Crayton, get- ting red. 'You amd your classical rot!” Toptit regarded him with a mad- dening suavity. “Ah!” he said, putting a singular meaning into the word. “Ah! Let me tell you something. I'm off for Fu- chow in the morning, to get that screen from the old mandarin Wing.” .« e AT this, Crayton came bouncing out of his chair. His hand slipped to- ward his armygt, and for an instant I thought he ¥neant to shoot Toptit. Rank murdeg was in his eyes. Then he mastered himself, and stood there trembling with fury. “Look here!" His voice was thick and hoarse. “I've been after that screen for a year. 1 mean to get it. 1 Bave an order for it. It's mine! If you butt into my affairs, I'll run you out of China! Understand that?” Toptit, who was rather lanky, but singularly graceful and alert, bowed mockingly from his hips. That bow should have warned Crayton, for few men can manage i’ sright, and those few are dangerous. “Thank you, my dear Crayton,” he answered, his wide and homely mouth transfigured by a smile of genuine pleasure. “I acept the challenge gladly! I return your verbal gaunt- let with one small warning: Don’t forget that your wife lives in Chi- ko Crayton rocked on his feet as though beneath a blow. His heavy, brutally dominant face became mot- tled, then was overspread by a mortal pallor. What the words means, he did not know; but he knew. With a sin- gle virulent oath, “e turned on his heel and left the clab. T buttonholed Toptit in one corner, and I was careful not to call him Tomtit by mistake. “Half a mo’, old man! You don’t realize Crayton's ability, I'm afraid. He's a brute to have for an enemy. What's that about his wife in Chi- cago?” Toptit regarded me, and there was . & peculiar shadow in his wide gray eyes. “Nothing—for publication.” he said curtly. “What'd you do in my place?” *“Leave China tomorrow,” I an- swered with sober emphasis. “I mean it! Crayton is wealthy. He is agent for several big dralers back home, also for a number of millionaire Jap clients. He sends out more antiques and museum pieces than the rest of you chaps combined. He has influ- ence.” “Ah said Toptit with an. inane grin. “But don't forget that I'm a poet! Thanks, old man. Thanks and al! that. Now I must be off.” I watched him go from the club and regretfully shook my head. He was rather new in China: # felt that if he interfersd with Cr n's af- fairs he would be murdered. Yon may think that is stretching it a bit; but if you know anything about the scarcity of antiqu#s in China, ths jealousy and enmity and crime behind the securing of these pretty objects sold on Fifth averue for small for- tunes—if you know about this, you'll know that I am not exaggerating. * K % ¥ THE mandarin Wing, who lived in a charming old temple-suburb o! Fukien, was a survival of the impe- rial regime. He clung to its tradi- tions of art and concubines and ruth- less ways; he was not old, but he was quite poor. AIll h¢ had left was his family collection of art, and eonce every two years or 8o he sold a piece of this. It was like pulling a tooth. ‘Wing had once been a diplomat in London, and was an educated gentle- man, with ‘cultivated appreciation of occidental things, combined with pas- sionate love for the artistry of his own people. Every agent and dealer in China was on the qui vive to get something from Wing's treasures. You must unders*and that there are various classes of dealers. Some ship imitation junk to interior decorators, who value only color; others supply ‘wholesale bazaar dealers; the aristo- crats of the profession seek really ar- tistic things, museum pleces. Under this last head fell Crayton, who was a business man, and Toptit, who was & poet. Toptit naturally suggested Tomtit, and “Little Tomtit” had been fastened one the poet from the first. Calmly oblivious, he went his way and creat- ed chaos among his competitors. He had his own methrds of doing busi- _mess, and they were apt to be surpris- fng at times. He cama to Fuklen with letters of introduction to Wing from an obscure Tientsin poet-paint- er, and the mandarin welcomed him with grave courtesy. There was no mention of business, though each man knew that the other man understood perfectly. Immediately he came into the house Toptit perceived that something was terribly amiss. The servants were frightened. Wing himself, & stately man with wispy beard and mustaches, ‘wore an air of prececupation. The tea was_ inferior in = qaality. Host and guest, however, iguored all this and exchanged many cumpliments. At dinner Toptit saw the screen for which he had tome. It was the only ‘object {n the foom, a screen of three panels. The center panel held s painting on brown silk, showing groom or syce with his horse be- eAth & gnarled tree, The two side more to an impoverished clumall ) tit reflectively. LITTLE TOMTIT panels were of blank brown silk, bearing only the ~vermillon seals of mandarins who had owned the screen. Toptit expressed his admiration, and the mandarin discussed the screen with loving tenderness. “You will observe that there are six ideographs,” said Wing compla- cently. “The first four read ‘Ku Mo San Mow'—Old Syce and Traveling Horse. The others give the name of the artist, Chang Mow or Jung Moh— a Manchu name, I think. The artist is not remembered. The entire value of the picture, Mr. Toptit, lies in— “In the red robe of the old syce, sald Toptit. The mandarin . beamed approval. “Good, ‘good! is painted with some precipitate of gold, and the secret of this dusky, Yes, that red robe gold-red paint has been lost for two t's the most beautiful red I ever saw in my life” said Toptit sincerely. “That dusky gold running through it is magnificent! 1 suppose it is very valuable?’ “A Japanese millionaire has offered me ten thousand yen for it” said Wing. “Ah! It is worth double that. Tn- fortunately, I don’t suppose any ordi- nary dealer could offer more than a thousand dollars.” Wing understood this bid perfectly, and smiled his blafd smile. “I would not sell that screen to any Nippon man for a million yen,” he said. For a brief instant his lips clenched into a thin, cruel smile. One gathered that he did not like the Japanese. “I have been informed that this screen was going to Japan in spite of me.” This sounced like Crayton, who acted for a number of millionaire clients in Japan, where almiost any price will be paid for Chinese works | of art that are rarr and authentic. “The Nagasak! Herald refused to publish some of my verses,” said Top- “Ever since I have been prejudiced aztinst Japan. Well, | this screen is wonderful! I can imag- {ine old Chang Mow sitting on a bridge and sketching this scene—the old syce propping one foot on a'gnarled root and delivering his Samuel Weller philosophy, and the horse dozing mnearby.” L * %k Kk THE mandarin smiled, and presently the subject was changed to the bolshevism running rife in the mnorth- ern provinces. Art was not again mentioned that evening. Upon the following morning, Toptit went into the city. He had attended one of the great American universi- ties to which had ome also certain |alert young Chinese under the Boxer | indemnity provision, and one of these | yellow men lived in Fuchow. He was ja fraternity brother of Toptit. You will observe that Toptit exercised some sagacity in business affairs. Directing his ’rikisha to the South Gate road, in the native city, Toptit alighted and entered a wholesale es- tablishment where cottons and silks were sold. He inquired for the pro- prietor and was ushered to an up- stairs office, where he was presently shaking hands with a spectacled and delighted young Chinaman. “I got your letter,” saild Toptit, hauling out his pipe as he sat down, “and 1 came right along. I must thank you for the tip—that screen is a wonder!” “Good! Old Wing will sell it to you?" “Not yet” Toptit smiled wryly. “Crayton is after it. And there seems to be trouble in the home. Now, old man, I'm here for help.” “I'm darned glad!” exclaimed the yellow man beamingly. “The more help I can give, the gladder I'll be. Looks to me as though the Jeps had old Wing in & bad mess—perhaps your friend Crayton is behind it Regular bully, isn't he?” £ “Rather,” and Toptit smiled. “You mehtioned the mandarin’s daughter in your letter—" The other nodded soberly. disappeared yesterday.” “What!" Toptit &at up. ‘Wing never hinted at thing—" “Politeness, my dear fellow—cour- tesy to a guest would not allow him to be troubled with the worries of his host. She's been attending the ‘Women’s Medical 8chool here in the city; it's a Christian affair, you know. She disappeared yesterday; that's all” Toptit stared at his informant and frowned. “What do you mean—disappeared? Kidnapped?” *“Call it that, for lack of proof. Do you know what will happen? Today or tomorrow ol@ Wing will receive a. “She “Why, such a polite note suggesting that he sell the Chang Mow screen to Crayton. What can he do? No Chinaman darés to infringe the sovereignty of the Japanese quarter. The msndarin | might know exactly whers Miss Tsing is held prisoner; he might know exactly where to find her, he might know exact- i1y who carried her away—and what can | he do? "Just nothing. That's straight goods, Toptit! Japanese magistrates would simply augh at him. A Jap can walk into our city and shoot me, for in- stance,)then go back to his own quar- ter—and remain untouched!” ‘Toptit sucked at his pipe for a mo- ment, regarding his informant nar- rowly. “Look here!” he exclaimed suddenly. “How d'you know so much, anyhow?” The young Chinaman made a weary | gesture. “Because I was hoping to { marry Miss Tsing in two months.” * K oK % OPTIT stared. As though a scroll were unfolded before him, he saw | why this astute young man had told | pim of the wonderful screen, why he {'had been brought here to Fuchow, and why- “Your friend Crayton is in town.,” said the yellow man abruptly. “The devil! See here, do you know where the girl—Miss Tsing—is held prisoner?” The other nodded slowly. “Then,” exploded Toptit angrily, “why don’t you go get her? What kind of a lover are you?" His friend smiled sadly . “Don't you see, old man? If T that the Japanese would say that we were rioting in their quarter, would assess tremendous damages against the province, would malke our country I give them new concessions! Oh, you ought to know how the game is played, Toptit! You're no fool. Iam a Chinaman, and if I raise my hand against a Jap to defend my life or my honor—there's hell to pay for my country. I am a son of Han— that's alL” There was a frightful despondency in his words. “Damn it!” said Toptit, and rose to his feet. His pipe was shoved into his pocket. “Where is that girl held prisoner?” The other smiled bitterly. “Don’t try it. If you were an Englishman, you might get away with anything, but you're an Americas. Everybody knows that Americans can be killed with impunity. Everybody knows that nothing would be done except per- haps a presidential note or two—-—" “You be darned!” said Toptit calmly. “Where's that girl, T say ” The other told him. i The river Min Kiang divides old Fuchow from the foreign settlement. Toptit sent his 'rikisha down the long fishmongers' street that leads to the bridge, then alighted and dismissed it. His long-legged figure strode leisurely across the great stone bridge, and be- fore him was the foreign settlement. Toptit did not go oh the club on the hill, nor did he turn to the right to- ward the consulates. Instead, he turned to ‘the left and entered the crowded business quarter. Though there are no distinct groupings of for- eigners in Fuchow, the Japanese largely predéminate south of the cus- tom house. With them, too, congre- gate many natives who are Japanese ! subjects—and hence immune to Chi- nese law. In China it is very handy to be a Japanese subject. Toptit walked along with a note- book in one hand and a pencil in the other. He was quite oblivious to the sneering laughter that greeted tne sight of a white man actually walk- ing. He appeared to be in no hurry. He would scribble a word or two, glance at the street around, and con- tinue his coufse. He appeared dreamy, absorbed. As a matter of fact, he was much pleased with what he was writing. “It's not a bad conceit,” he mur- mured. “Old Chang Mow #itting with'| his paint pots and scroll of silk, and i IN THE CHAIR WAS TIED A CHINESE GIRL, WHOSE EYES ROUNDED LARGELY UPON HIM. centuries.” ! ! the syce standing chewing a straw,! with one foot propped up on s tree root, and the artist listening to a lecture on how he ought fo paint. “Hell! This must be the place, eh? Confound that Crayton!” He abruptly closed his notebook and shoved it into his pocket. ‘He had left the Yamato Kwan be- hind. Just ahead of him was a fairlv respectable house—respectable on the outside, at least—with its door sign tn Japanese characters announcing it to be a mere rooming house. Topt't gave it one sharp glance, then lovked at something els He was quite aware that an instant of hesitation would prove fatal. He knew that eyes wers unobtrusively upon' him. ~ A look, a gesiurs, woull spoil everything. : So Toptit strode along as though to pass the rooming house. Opposite the entrance he suddenly turned, and in 'two strides had his hand on’ the door- knob. He opened it, stepped inside, and closed the door behind him. * % x % AN instant later he would not have obtained entrance. Two slant- eyed men were already in.the hall- way, hands under their robes. His entry had halted their advance. Top- tit regarded them with a keen scru- tiny and shoved his right hand into his pocket. The menace of this gas- ture was significant. “What you want?” demanded one of them roughly. “Crayton,” saild Toptit. “Where is he?” The two Japanese uttered exclama- tions of relief. One vanished. The other beckoned. “You come,” he said. Toptit followed his guide to a stair- way, and upstairs to a long corridor. The yellow man knocked at a door, and the voice of Crayton came in a bellow from the room. “Well, come on in! kima Hase?” ‘That you, To- standing in tha‘ doorway. ‘The door softly closed behind him. Crayton was caught abruptly and off his guard. He had been reclining in a long chair, sucking a cheroot and reading a French magazine. Beside him on a bamboo stand was a whisky bottle and a syphon. His fleshy figure was clad in dirty white sllk pajamas. His jaw dropped as he stared in- credulously at Topt Then: “The devi You “I'm not,” said Toptit gently. “At least, I hope I'm not any devil. No, don't get up, I beg of you!” His hand clutched the pipe in his pocket and pointed it. To Crayton it looked terribly like a revolver pro- lt‘ruding from the white jacket. Cray- ton relaxed In his chair. “You cursed fool! I s'pose you came asking for me and the boys thought- you were a friend of mine.” l “I suppose so,” assented Toptit. “I couldn't very well ask for Miss Tsing, {80 I asked for you.” 3 The heavy face of Crayton mottled with rage. _ “Why—why—0o" - “If 1 were you, Crayton, I'd be fraid of apaplexy. Take it quietly, ow. T really ought to shoot you— I've considered doing it for a long while.” Crayton turned a shade whiter at this. The deliberate voice of Toptit must have frightened him. The next words of his visitor sent his eyes wide in alarm. “You. know, Crayton,” went on Top- tit in his horribly gentle way. “Top- tit isn't my real name at all—any more than yours is Craytos His gray eyes rested speculatively upon the large man. Their absence of all enmity lent a fearful emphasis to his next words. “You marrled-a girl in Chicago two years ago—and deserted her. She was my cousin. My real name ls—" Crayton came out-of his chair in a blind spasm of fear and rage, a bel- low on his lips. Toptit moved slightly under the attack. ‘Crayton was abso- lutely beside himself, frantic with the comprehension that Toptit's words had brought him. He launched him- self at Toptit and his big fist shot out. But Toptit calmly kicRed him on the shin. Crayton uttered a hewl and lost his balance. At that instant Top- tit drew back and delivered another a n kick with the utmost deliberation. His leather toe caught Crayton be- hind the ear, man shivered on the floor. “I've just written a very decent verse,” observed Toptit, “and I really hate to use my hands on you just now. Besides, you never understand my methods. T ought to kill you, but that wouldn’t do my poor cousin any particular good, nor me either.” Crayton, who was half-conscious, uttered a moan. 3 “Oh, you criticize the grammar there?” said Toptit reflectively. “Well, perhaps_that is true. I should have said ‘or, but I did not stop to think. I always stumble over that, negative proposition. But the point is that killing you would give me mno satis- faction. You are a rotten coward at heatt, anyway. Where's Miss Tsing " Crayton jerked one hand. ‘Next room,” he mumbled. He made an ef- 1 fort to rise.’ Toptit came forward and kicked him again, this tifme fn the side. “Stay put un¥il I'm done with you! Hello! Your friends heard the row.” A * % X % A .PATTER of feet in the hall, a knocking at the door, a chatter- ing of sibilant voices outside broke in upon Toptit. He glanced around quickly. A ‘cheap dresser stood in the corner, beside it a chair bearing Crayton's clothes. - Taptit went to the clothes, caught! at them, and uttered an- exclamation of sa tisfaction. pistol fell into his hand. . He glan - A large automatic A Story of the Orient at it, removed the lock, lifted it, and fired at the door. The deafening explosion was echoed by a shrill scream from the corridor outside. Toptit looked at Crayton's shaking figyre, and his wide lips parted in a .smile. “They’'ll blame you for that, Cray- ton!” he said calmly. “They'll prob- ably murder you for it, too. If I were you, I'd get away in a hurry—but not by the door: If you come out that door, I'll shoot you. Understand Don't forget. I'll be outside with Miss Tsing.” Toptit opened the door and stepped out into the corridor. It was empty, except for a dead man who lay hud- dled outside. He closed the door again and ignored the dead man. He also ignored the hubbub from below and the shouts from the street. Turning to the right, he knocked at the adjoining door. There was no reply and he entered. He found a bare room 9nn!fllnlng only a cot and a chair. In'the chair was tied a Chi- nese girl, whose eyes rounded largely upon him. She was gagged. “Ah, Miss Tsing, I believe!” sald Toptit. He put away his automatic and opened a pocketknife as he ad- vanced to her side. “Don’t worry, Miss Tsing. I come from your father and your flance to bring you home. You won't get there, however, if you faint or indulge in other feminine hysterics. Just keep cool-and follow me” He began removing her bonds, talk- ing fluently as he did so. “I't all bosh about orientals being deep and crafty. They're just as firmly convinced that white men are deep and crafty, only we don't realize it. And the Japs aren’t all bad men, either—not by a long shot! It's all in knowing how to handle them. I sent a note to the Jap consul about half an hour ago. .If my coolie deliv- ered it, which I think he did, the con- sul will be along here at y mo- ment now. Able to stand up, are you? For heaven's sake, don't faint!” Miss Tsing stood up, a bit weakly. “I shan’t faint,” she said, and smiled at Toptit. “Now, if you'll take my arm, we'll go downstairs—" “But we can't do that!” she ex- claimed, with a sudden pallor. “Don’t you hear the shouts and—" “Nonsense! Just leave it to me,” said Toptit confidently. & ‘With a gesture of despair, she took his arm. They went into the corridor, passed the dead man, and came to the head of the stairs. From here they had a view of the entrance below. Two Japanese were standing there, shout- ing something to the outside air. They saw Toptit and Miss Tsing and hur- riedly decamped. An instant later the door was burst in, and two Japanese soldiers appeared, a frock-coated man behind them. “Good afternoon,” said Toptit, as he descended the stairs: “I am very glad you got here in time, Mr. Consul—" “What's this?" ejaculated the con- sul. “You—you accuse my country- man of kidnaping a young lady—-" Toptit waved his hand. “My dear consul, that was all a mistake. The note I sent you was written in error. Your countrymen are blameless, I'm glad to say. The culprit was one of my own countrymen—a fellow named Crayton. 1 suggest that you investi- gate fully, and you'll find this to be the case. I'd suggest also that you have this young lady and myself es- corted back to the native city. Your co-operation in this matter will re- flect great credit upon you and will remove all charges against your coun- trymen, who are, of course, entirely innocent.” As Toptit said, it was all in know- ing how to handle them. * kK OPTIT escorted Miss Tsing to the ‘Women’s Medical School and left Then he Went to a curio shop her. THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUARY 22, 1922—PART 4 By H. Bedford-Jones guest’s activitles, and Toptit did not mention them. Each man knew that the other man knew, however. At dinner that evening discussion again fell upon the screen in the din- ing room. 5 “I was thinking about that screen today,” observed Toptit, drawing forth i his notebook. “In fact, it suggested a poem to me—or perhaps I should say a verse.” - The mandarin chuckled. “I appre- elate the distinction, Mr. Toptit,” he answered. “I have heard that you are a poet, however."” “Well,” resumed Toptit, “J was thinking about that old syce over there, and it suggested something to me. If I might bore you with the fragment—" “My dear sir, the pleasure will be tremendous,” averred the mandarin with sincerity. “By all means.” “Very well,” said Toptit, opening the notebook. “We must imagine Chang Mow at work, you know. “By the roadside sat Chang Mow, And with cunning fingers la'd His ink and paint to the silk-strip quaint, ‘While 'the dapple-gray dosed in the shade. Then the old syce, mopping his brow, The critic's art essayed, As he propped his foot on & gnaried brown rcot And discoymed on the painter's trade: ‘I've always had an idea,’ quoth He, “That 1 had the soul of an artist in me; Now, if I were you, I'd change that tree. By the roadside sat Chang Mow, Craftsman of paint and ink; He limned a bough as be best knew how, And Bis left eye closed in & wiak.” Toptit cleared his throat. “You understand,” he sald apolo- getically, “the allusion is to the com- mon quality of human nature which The mandarin smiled and lifted his hand protestingly. “My dear sir, I understand perfectly, The verse is a gem of words, an ex- quisite fancy! If I might suggest a slight change in the final line—" “By all means,” hastened Toptit eagerly. “Instead of saying ‘his left eye,’ why not make it ‘his slant eye'? Don’t you think this would be a little more general, a trifle less exact and pro- salc?” “Certalnly. But you said that Chang Mow was a Manchu. There- fore, he would scarcely have almond eyes—" “Of course,” agreed the mandarin, stroking his wispy gray beard. “Stili, the art of poesy has a very catholic latitude, don't you think?” - Toptit regarded his host with some suspicion, but the mandarin remained gravely dignified. Suddenly Wing turned to him. “You must accept a small and un- worthy gift, my friend,” he said earnestly. “I have discovered a very fine bit of real Ming cloisonne in a nearby temple, and have sent for it. It is a hslang yi, an insence urn, and it is rather remarkable. It will give me great pleasure if you will accept it “I shall be indeed honored,” said Toptit in delight. “Why—"" “And if you know of any one who cares to buy this humble screen,” the mandarin waved his taper fingers to- ward the screen, “I shall gladly sell it for a thousand dollars—Mexican.” * ok ® P T OPTIT started. His bid had been a thousand gold, or had been so in- tended. However, if the mandarin vranter silver, all right! “I'll write a check immedlately,” he responded. That night in his own room Toptit trowned portentously to himself. He was distinctly worried, troubled, un- easy over some hidden matter. At length he drew out his notebook and once more read over the verse to him- self. Then he threw down the little book with an exclamation of annoy- ance. “Darn it!” he said. “I don’t believe near the south gate and bought sev-|he thought this poem was worth a eral small but worthy objects which |hang! attracted him. Later in the day he returned to the syburban home of the mandarin, Wing, and found a new atmosphere about the place. Wing made no reference to his He didn't even ask to have a copy of it. I wonder if he was mak- ing fun about it after I read it?” He sadly shook his head as he elimbed into bed. (Copyright, 1922.) CAPITAL SIDELIGHTS N Congress are a number of men l who, in addition to holding their seats by right of the suffrage of the people back home, also hold them by right of ancestry, because the roots of their family trées are buried deep in the colonial soll of this new nation. Forebears of some of them played around Plymouth Rock soom after the Pilgrims'landed and par- ticipated in the first Thanksgiving feast with which the Indlans were regaled. In the “Life and Letters of George Cabot” and in the “Short His- tory of the English Colonies in America” Senator Henry Cabot Lodge, today representing the United States in the international conference on limitation of armament, has written uriostentatiously of the part his an- cestors took in the early days of the nation. Senator Joseph Irwin France of Maryland is proud that his ancestors and the bulk of the big|Settled in Baltimore, Md., before the revolutionary war. His great-great grandfather was Capt. Thomas Boyle, who commanded the Chasseur and Comet in the war of 1812. Representative Edward C. Little of ‘Kansas is seventh in direct descent from John Little, who came from Dumfrieshire, . Scotland, to Tinter Falls, N. J., more than 200 years ago. Seven of his ancestors were commis- sioried officers in the revolution and two were killed. He has had ances- tors in the war of 1812, the Indian wars, fighting King Philip at Qua- boag, -and in every other conflict that disturbed the peace of this ni tion. His wife is also a descendant of the famous Steeles, who fought in 1812 and the battle of Bennington. She is ninth in descent from John Steele, founder of Cambridge, Mass., and of Hartford, Conn., first secretary of ‘ the ~ Connecticut Colony and twenty-three years in its legisla- ture. ‘Three of their ancedtors— Steele, Taylor and Weeks—were at Louisburg. Jonathan Taylor, con- gressman and brigadier general, was one of sixteen who- volunteered for “the forlorn hope assault on the island battery.” Senator Joseph 8. Frelinghuysen of New Jersey is descended from Rev. Theodorus J. Frelinghuysen,\ Who eame from Holland. and .settled in New Jersey in 1730. 2 Representative Dan R. Anthony of}through. college Kansis is & nephew of the' famons Susan B. Anthony, equal uffrage | pioneer. Representative Francis F. Patter- son, jr., of New Jersey comes of peo- ple who have lived in New Jersey for more than 250 years. Representative Albert W. Jefferis of Nebraska boasts that his fore- fathers settled along the old Brandy- wine long prior to the revolutionary war. . Senator Robert Owen and Rep- resentative Charles” D. Carter, both of Oklgloma, can trace back -their ancestry in this country to before -the white men landed, because both of them have the blood of the original abboriginal inhabitants in their veins. Senator Owen records that he is of “Scotch-Irish and Indian ancestry.” His mother was Narcisse ‘Chisholm of the Cherokee nation. Representative Carter was born in the Choctaw na- | O the Editor: suppose you have noticed how much cheaper it is to live ‘Well frieuds, I since the 1st. of the yr. on acct. of the govt. takeing off the tax on all the different luxurys and etc. and it is-now 3 wks. since the big reduction and they has been time enough under the new scale of prices So as a person can figure out what amoun® of money they are going to be able to save by same. Well friends I can’t speak for nobody only myself, but from what I can judge so far I would estimate that in a year's time the reduced schedule will enable me “THE REDUCED SCHEDULE WIL] “Taking Off the Luxury Tax” By Ring W. Lardner. freight elevators, calliopes, ridelng breeches, doilies, church bells, etc. * X % x 7THAT is the way it always goes with 8o called reductions in the high cost of liveing, namely you read about them in the paper and get all steamed up over them, but when the cards is all laid out on the table it don’t ;mean nothing. Like for inst. the rumor goes around that meats and grocerys is down to where they was at before the war, but take your gal down town and try and buy the dinner for § smackers. Fat chance L. ENABLE ME TO LAY ASIDE BETWEEN 18 AND 20 CENTS” to lay aside somewhere between 18| and 20 cts. | It was dureing the holidays that the | detalls about this generous action of | the govt. was printed in the papers| and I remember one thing it said was| that on acct. of they being about 100 million people in the U. S. and the reduction in taxes was going to amount to 700 million dollars, why therefore everybody in the country would be $7.00 to the good. T was not amongst those that thought maybe they would send a man around to ask us if we wanted the $7.00 in large or small bills, but I did expect to notice a slight change for the better in re- gards to the price of different articles which a man buys to enjoy Tife. That till a few days ago-when,I seen a printed list of some of the articles which the govt. pronounced tax free. * % * ¥ ITEM No. 1 was soda water which I am told they has been a 10 per cent tax on same for several yrs. but which they have now took the tax off same. Well friends they could plaster a tax of $100.00 a drink on this iucios beverage without hearing a squawk from me. The 2 easiest habits 1 ever swore off was soda water and cubebs and after a man gets past 30 yrs. old the bear men- tion of either one is libel to upset the stomach and bring spots in front of the eyes. The next item I come acrost was eye glasses and it said they had been taxed 5 per cent but now you could get them at the old time prices. Well I suppose when this become known they was a wild rush of eye glass fanciers to the goggle district but personly my visual orbs retain their boyish vim though the ear lobes and nasal appendage may be the worst for wear. ‘Well, amongst the other items that the taxes was loped off of was um- brellas costing over $4.00, fans cost- ing over $1.00 and house coats or smokeing jackets over $10.00. Well friends 1 am glad to say that I come from a family that knowed enough to stay in out of the rain and don’t need mo umbrellas but even if they was a law that everybody had to own one it would take a wonder- ful salesman to make me invest as high as $4.00 in same and as for fans they's always & breeze on Long Is- land, and if they wasn't we would try and manage to stir one up with a good old fashion palm leaf. As far as smokeing jackets or house coats 1s concerned, I would like to catch a member of my household spending any such sum as $10.00 on a garment tion, lived on the western frontier{ ypich they wouldn't nobody but a of the Indian territory, attended the | iale movie actress dast put on. Indian school at Tishomingo and later was, superintendent of the Chickasaw schools. Representative Charles F. Curry ot California because of his maternal grandfather was' one of the pioneers of that state. Representative Alanson B. Hough-. ton of New York, who is to be am- bassador to Germany, traces his an- cestry bagk to the Pilgrim and Purl tan days and had many of his kin- folk fighting with the Minute Men. 3 x X K % HE some-months-ago argument about “dirt farmers” has brought out the fact that Representative Carl W. Riddick of Montana is the only man in Congress whose primary .and only business or profession or source of livelihood outside of Congress is farming. There are a number of oth- ers in Congress with whom farming is a side issue, but whose main busi- ness is banking, manufacturing or some profession. Years ago in In- diana they wanted to run Riddick for Congress, but he sold out his paper there and settled with his young fam- ily on a government reservation in Montana, thirty miles from a rail- road, and mail by a stage coach once a week. -He went there to-get away from pelitics. and -enjoy home life undistracted. Now he's-in. Congress and chairman of -the publicity com- mittee of the republican mnna;hn. al. committes. Riddick put hi by setting ‘type at I L x % ¥ % WELL another item was theater V¥ tickets, and when I seen that one I says here is where a person may be able to save a few dollars, but reading on further you come to wheye it said that the tax was only off free admissions or admissions-of 10 cts. and less. I don’t know how conditions is around other parts of the country, but here in Great Neck the only shows that you can get into for 10 cts. and less is mystery shows. The mystery is where are“they. But how about the reduction in R. R. fares and Pullman jickets? Well triends T only expect to make one trip this yr. and the tickets for same was boughten in December before the tax was took off. According to the ex- perts the govt. Will pay me the differente if I write and ask them for same, but I have heard about other people wWho the govt. owed them money and when they got it they was 80 old that the shock killed them. All and all judgeing from the items that was printed in the. list I seen, why it looks like the treasury dept. has got it in for me personly they's nothing which they have took the tax oft which I have got any use Tor, though of course they wasnt room in the paper to print the wholé list, but I bet I could pretty near guess some ‘of the otherarticles, like for nst. ¢frous tents and stome: crusliers and éaf ‘maffs and maybe such every gy necessities like hand *cauffs; unlest one of the oysters makes her sick. So when I says a wile ago that T supposed you had noticed how much cheaper liveing has became since the 18t. of the yr. why I was just make- ing a joke which I guess they don’t nobody laugh themegelf to death over same. RING W. LARDNER. Great Neck, Jan. 20. . Bird Helplessness. MINENT naturalists have pointed out that certain of nature’s most active creatures show strange help- lessness under certain conditions. Place a vulture in a pen six or eight feet square entircly open at the top and the bird will be as absolutely a prisoner as if it were hermetically sealed in the inclosure. This is due to the fact that vultures never begin a flight from the ground without starting on a run of three or four yards. If they cannot have that preliminary run they either can- not or will not attempt to fly, and so a vulture will remain a prisoner for life in a jail with no top. So with the bumblebee. One of these lively insects dropped into a goblet or tumbler will remain there always unless taken out, because it never notices the means of escape at the top, But persists ‘in trying to find some way out through the sides of the glass near the bottom. A bat cannot rise from a perfeetly level surface. These winged mammals are remarkably nimble in their flight when once on the wing and can fly for many hours at a time without rest, but if placed on a floor or flat ground they are utterly unable to use their wings. The only thing a bat can do in such a situation is to shuffle helplessly and doubtless painfully along until it reaches some trifling elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then at once it i3 off lixe a flash. As a vulture will not escape from an open pen, so a wild turkey will continue indefinitely in duress with an easy avenue of escape available. One of these birds penned @p never looks anywhere but upward for means of escape. Capturing wild turkeys by pen tripping is made possible by their looking aloft habit. A pen built on logs and inclos€d on every side and roofed, the only en- trance being an opening beneath the bottom log on one side, is all that is necessary to entrap the otherwise wary and watchful wild turkey. The girds, eagerly following a luring train of corn, are led along to the pen and up through the opening under the log and into the pen. The instant a turkey finds itself in the pen it knows it has got itself into a scrape and seeks to escape, but it pays mno at- tention to the opening in the log by which it entered, and persistently dashes around the pen, its head in the air, looking upward for & place to get out. The old-time pen-trapping turkey hunter never had any anxiety about his game escaping from the trap, and he had only to wait a sufficient time to find it filled with the foolish birds, all with their necks stretched fuil length, looking for a place in the roof through which to take wing, and ignoring the big opening under the log that let them in. A Triple Whistle. OME time ago there was put jnto _use by a big electric rallway ¢bmpany 2 giant triple whistle. Four t a day this mammoth whistle is miles, porth, south, east and west. In being connected with an elec- tric clock, which is guaranteed not to vary five seconds fn a year, this whistle has proved a most valuable time dispenser. Residents in the im- ‘mediate neighborhood of the power house anticipated trouble when the big whistle was first talked of. They expected to hear only shrill and ob- . Jectionable sounds every time . the big affair Wwas blown. has had an’ opportunity to- ‘of dlscord st whilstle time. = .. “ ‘But' 3o one’ own and it can be heard for ten