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f ISSUED SEMI-WEEKLY. l. k. gbist's sons, pubiiihen. j % dfamitg JRetrspaper: J[tr the promotion o)f Ike |olift(ial( Social. Agricultural and (ffommeijtiat Interests of the fieople. {TK^ao?mA,TmcEmiKtrestablished 1855. YORKVILLE, 3. C? FRIDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1HQ7~ N~Q.~84.J *NOKTHEE] > FROM THE RONANTI V THE NOVELIZATK CHAPTER XII?Continued. Equally 'to her surprise and disappointment. the young man made no I movement to follow her. Even at that moment the old temptation to tease her was too strong for him. Smiling quietly to himself he resumed his knife and fork. "That's settled." he said In a tone of placid satisfaction. "Now hurry up with the knapsack." Dorothy turned upon him, her face more scarlet than ever, but It was for a far different reason. "Charlie Sherwood," she cried. In furious indignation, "la that the way you propose to a lady?" "It's my way, and It goes." was the calm response. He did not even look at her. but went on deliberately finishing his breakfast. "Do you think It nice to drag a girl In your lap like that?" she demanded. Then he did look up at her and smiled, a smile which did much to disarm her. "Very nice; don't you?" Dorothy pouted a little and then answered dubiously. "Ye-es. but you- didn't give me a ^ chance." "Chance for what?" "To say no." "Did you want to say no?*'. "Well, no-o," laughing In spite of herself. "Then what's the use in wasting time?" asked Charlie, philosophically. "I think you're the sweetest girl that ever breathed, and you think I'm the ^ only man cm earth. So there you are." Dorothy did not know whether to be pleased at this or not. "Humph!" she said. "You've a very good opinion of yourself." "I've a better one of you." This was not so bad. but still somehow she was not satisfied. "Is that all of it?" sbe asked, tentatively. "All of what?" "The proposal." "We understand each other. Isn't that enough?" At this cold-blooded way of putting things, the little major's lips began to tremble and the tears started to her eyes. "I've read Just bushels of proposals," she said, half crying, "and not one of them ended like this." At this Charlie's conscience smote him and he made- up his mind that he had gone far enough. It was rather hard on the dear little girl. He rose and went toward her. Taking her in his arms, he kissed her full op the lips. Entirely placated, her arms went up at once about his neck. "Oh. Charlie," she murmured with a little sigh of satisfaction, "I think you're so nice!" "Bless your little heart!" And there n'oo nnthlnar to oomnlaln of now. There was no lack of tenderness In either his voice or his manner. "Now listen. Dorothy dear. We are going to try and force our way north, and Join Crook on the Rosebud; It Is going to be desperate work, and some of us may never come back, but when the bugle sounds the charge and the bullets whistle through the air, I will think of the sweet eyes and the pretty face of my little major waiting for me here at the post. Death won't come to shut out such a picture, and I'll come back to you, sweetheart. I'll promise you." "I know you will, Charlie." The dear little major, affected almost to tears, drew his head down and gave him, unsolicited, the first kiss she had ever given to one of the opposite sex. In that one instant there were probnbly no two people on earth happier than they, but their rapture was rudely broken In upon. The door of the kitchen stood Just a little ajar and through the opening came the sound of a voice, exclaiming stridently: "Come on! What are you hanging back for?" The lovers started apart, rather shamefaced both of them, although no eye as yet was upon them. "That's Higgs' voice," cried Dorothy. Charlie squared his shoulders In an aggressive manner. Rven now the name of Higgs acted upon him much as a red rag does upon a bull. "Oh, Just leave Higgs to me!" "You won't quarrel," pleaded Dorothy, and yet with a little smile which showed her confidence in her lover's prowess. Charlie hesitated a moment, and then janswered slowly: "Well. no. I can afford to forgive him now. You'll be at the parade gmund when we start?" Would she? Well, there was nothing that she coukl imagine which would keep her away. And this she said, without affectation and without any fear of being misunderstood, concluding: "Oh, Charlie, this is more like what I read about." "Is it, sweetheart?" he said gently and lovingly. "Well, there's no new way to tell the old story." And again his budding moustache swept her fair cheek just before their lips met. "Come on! What are you hanging back for?" again came Higgs* voice upon their ears with an unpleasant sensation. Dorothy, with a last injunction not to do anything rash, tore herself away from her betrothed and left him alone. Somehow, after the great happiness that had come to her, she longed to be alone to think it all over by herself. Charlie, after one look which showed all that he felt for her, stole toward the open door. He had not even the faintest qualm of conscience at listening to the two who were outside, and his mercurial temperament was already urging him on to mischief. The first words that saluted his ear were spoken in the hoarse, liquordrenched tones of Judge Dare. x * Lights* IC AMERICAN DRAMA. ON BY A. D. HALL. "Kindly remember that there's some difference In the length of our legs." "And tongues, too," retorted Higgs, and then he laughed unroarlously at his own witticism. "Tongues?" repeated Dare, In a voice which showed that he was attempting to assert his dignity. "Mine's as dry and woolly as an old stocking." "And about as long," said Higgs, and again he laughed. Intensely pleased with himself. Dare apparently had not appreciated his companion's wit, or preferred to Ignore it, for he simply said, in an agarleved tone: "And you went and gave away the last drop to those cursed soldiers." "Gave It away. Confound them, they took It." "If I have to go to breakfast without a drink this morning It will be the first time In thirty years." The regret and horror In his tone are simply Impossible to reproduce. One would have thought that the | speaker had met with the greatest misfortune of his life. From his point of view, perhaps he had. Charlie, as he listened, chuckled to himself. His fun-loving nature saw a great opportunity. But he would wait a little for the development of events. "Well," said Hlggs in a despondent tone, "what are you going to do about | it?" "There's only one way," replied Dare after a pause, during which he had evidently been racking such brains as whisky had left him. "You pretend to be sick, and I'll do the begging." Hlggs snorted In disgust. "Yes, and then you get the stuff, and I have to beg from you." He undoubtedly spoke from bitter experience. "That's it precisely." retorted Dare, with a hoarse laugh. "Nice look-out for me," disgustedly. "I'll tell you what I'll do." said Dare, after a pause, In a conciliatory sort of way. "I'll have the cramps, and you make the brace." "That's more like it." "Remember, you're not to drink a drop till we get back to quarters." "All right," agreed Hlggs, cheerfully. "If the little major's about, I'll tackle her. I'm pretty solid there." Charlie gnashed his teeth in rage at this conceited speech, and determined that he would have his revenge for it, and at no distant date,'either. He drew back'a little as Hlggs came up the steps to the kitchen door and struck his knuckles against It with a resounding rap. Then Charlie called out In as ferocious a tone as he could assume: "Come in!" The effect upon the anglomanlac dude was electric. He staggered back and almost fell headlong down the steps. "What's the matter, man?" exclaimed Dare, half disgusted and half alarmed. Hlggs* teeth were chattering so that he could scarcely answer, but finally he managed to spit out: "It's that bloodthirsty lieutenant. On second thought, I'd better have the cramps and you do the begging." Dare scarcely liked this, but hl9 thirst overpowered him, and after a moment or two of hesitation, he consented. Hlggs. however, with a proper cpnsideratton of his own person, absolutely refused to accompany him. He declared that he could have the cramps, as well If not better, outside than Inside. Dare made no demur. There were probably reasons of his own why he thought it would be more to his advantage not to do so, but. assuming his most dignified manner, he strutted up the steps and knocked. Charlie met him on his entrance in Ian exaggeratedly cordial manner. "Good morning, good morning, judge. Sit down. You're out early." "Yea." aald Dare, making a desperate attempt to appear quite at ease. "I came to see the doctor." "I'm afraid he's out." said Charlie. And then he asked In the most sympathetic manner In the world: "What's wrong?" Dare's face at once put on a moat woe-begone expression. "Ah, poor Hlggs!" he sighed. "He's got a bad attack of cramps." "So!" replied Charlie, pityingly, but consumed with laughter within. "Where Is he?" The judge shook his head dolefully, Implying that his unfortunate friend was very low Indeed. "In his bunk, doubled up like a halrr.ln. Now, there's something I've heard the doctor say was good for cramps." "Peppermint?" suggested Charlie, maliciously Dare shook his head, twirling his hat between his hands and looking Into It as if trying to get inspiration from thtre. "Ginger?" 'No, no." reflectively. "Begins with a B, I think." Charlie bent his brows as If using nil his faculties to discover what It might be, and then exclaimed suddenly: "Brandy." Dare's face fairly beamed, and then, trying to conceal his satisfaction, he coughed behind his hand. "Ah. that's It." he said. "Strange I couldn't think of it." If his life had been at stake, Charlie could scarcely have kept from laughing. The situation was too absurd. "There's plenty of it In the other room." he said. He was not unwilling to oblige Dare, but he was determined that Higgs should not have a smell of it. "I'll fetch it for you." The judge was profuse in his thanks, but Charlie, without waiting to listen to him, disappeared into the next room only to reappear with the nearly full decanter. "Here, help yourself." Dare looked about a little helplessly. He did not quite like to take the decanter and all away. Charlie took pity on him. i "You haven't got the cramps your- \ self, have you, Judge?" he suggested, t Dare was not the man not to take c advantage of the hint, and his eyes I sparkled as his gaze fell upon the u brown liquid which his heart craved. "Well, I don't feel extra well," he v acknowledged. s "Better take a nip yourself." I "Thanks," was the Immediate res- I ponse, and the decanter was at once s tipped to release a generous supply t down the judge's throat. t "Judge." said Charlie, raising his t voice a little as he heard a slight scuffling sound on the porch outside a and knew that Higgs was listening: v "Judge, I'm going to be married." "So?" smiling at the chance thus o afforded him and again raising the de- o canter, "here's to your future happl- li ness." h "Thank you." "Who Is the bride to be?" s "The little major." g A muffled groan from the porch gave delight to Charlie's heart. "Here's to the little major!" ex- s claimed Dare, suiting the action to the f [word. If he went on In this way there o would soon not be much left In the a decanter. " "Just mention the matter to Higgs," w said Charlie, cheerily. "It might help s his cramps." v Dare grinned. He was having a very y good time, and with sarcasm he drank 8' to Higgs' cramps. c "Have some coffee?" asked Charlie, P pouring out a cup. f< "No," promptly. "Too strong for my f< stomach!" n "Does Hlggs like coffee?" fl "Pash?pash?passionately fond of y It." declared the judge, beginning to tl show the effect of his numerous pota- r tlons. ci "Then he shall have some." w And Charlie strode across the kltch- P en, flung open the door and dashed tl out the contents of the cup full In the b face of the unfortunate Hlggs, who was bending forward in a listening attitude. ' v With a howl, the New Yorker stag- ti gered backward down the steps. h Just then the bugle sounded the call of "boots and saddles," and with a f? hasty farewell to the Judge, Charlie dashed away, without a glance at w Hlggs, who was sputtering and wiping h the hot fluid from his eyes. It Is safe, however, to say that the wily judge passed a rather uncomfor- h table quarter of an hour because of his duplicity. d si CHAPTER Xni. " An Astonishing Theory. When Swlftwlnd reached the colo- ft nel's quarters, he found the command- c< er dressed ready for the march before sg him, looking over a packet of papers a which lay on the table at which he was t? sitting. n At the entrance of the Indian. Colonel Onty looked up. surprised to see di him there. d! "You received your orders, John?" bi he asked. w Swlftwlnd hesitated a moment. He g( had an exceedingly unpleasant and ai difficult task before him, and he cl scarcely knew how to begin it. ei "The fact is, colonel," he said at last, s< "In my anxiety to see you, I neglected s< to report." ni At this the colonel was more and ti more astonished. It was so entirely ol unlike Swlftwlnd, who had been a s? model in the performance of his duties, m from beginning to end. el "Neglecting your duties as a soldier b( at this late day, John!" he exclaimed, m sternly. si Not a muscle moved In Swlftwlnd's al stolid face. There was no more change st of expression than there would have lo been in a mask. But his answer was Immediate and to the point. st "Colonel, your words remind me that si at the present time I am not a soldier." rc "Then your new papers are still unsigned," remarked the colonel, half "J questloningly, wondering at the same Is time what this might be a prelude to. ai Then he put a direct question:' "Is it ti your intention to take advantage of n your liberty In this present emergen- d! cy?" There was an innuendo in the words ei which pierced Swlftwlnd's armor and stung him to the quick. The very 01 Suspicion OI illl> UIIIIK line tunaiuitc was unbearable to him. He drew him- h self up to his full height, and answered Ir proudly: "By no means, sir! The blue coat si Is still on my back, and, while I wear it, I am at your command." w "Very good, sir," said Colonel Gray, p shortly. "The chief surgeon will re- y main behind with his wife. You will si take his place." n As he spoke, he rose, as If to signify n that the Interview was at an end. si But Swlftwlnd advanced toward him n a step or two with a slight gesture a that had In it a suggestion of appeal, o: "Pardon me, colonel. There Is something I wish to say to you." n "Well, sir?" h "You will listen to me?" e< "If you will be quick about It." h "I will, and to the point. Colonel tl Gray, I knew your son at Harvard, und ei we were close friends for over two a years." tl The colonel started, and his hand- d some old face grew hard as Iron. He tl had determined to put the child who o had disgraced him out of his heart, out of his mind forever, and this re- w currence to the scandalous affair was abhorrent to him In the extreme. "This subject again!" he exclaimed, angrily, making a movement to- si ward the door. "You promised to listen, sir," ejacu* " "- "- -J k luieu awiiiwinu quiviu^. The colonel paused and half turned, tl He had never been known to break his n word. o The Indian, seeing his advantage, b went on rapidly: "I feel that In this I am doing a duty p to a friend, and that in refusing to lis- y ten to me, you are doing yourself an n Injustice and your son Wallace a great wrong." o The colonel's face was almost as d white as his moustache as he said e hoarsely and peremptorily: a "John Swlftwlnd, I warn you not to pursue this subject any further, or I shall order you under arrest." But Swlftwlnd was determined to do a what he considered to be a duty he owed both to friendship and the right, d and threats were powerless to stop r him. "That you may do, colonel, but I t nust apeak first, he said firmly, but vith the utmost respect. "It may be he white man's way, but long years >f civilization have failed to silence an ndlan's conscience, when accused by t. sense of injustice." In spite of himself Colonel Gray vas Impressed. He had known the ipeaker long and Intimately, and he lad freqiently said to himself that he lad rarely met a man with a higher ense of honor than that possessed by his redskin. Still, he firmly believed hat he was now Impelled by a misaken idea. "Injustice?" he repeated, scornfully nd sternly. "That Is out of place, rhen dealing with such a crime." "Your son Wallace has been guilty f no crime," said the Indian, In tones f the most positive conviction. "He s simply the victim of a frightful Inlerltance." The colonel looked at him for an lntant curiously, and then made a esture of impatient Incredulity. "Frightful inheritance! Rubbish!" "It is true," persisted Swiftwind, peaking in low, but emphatic tones, eeling that he was now to have the pportunity to say what he wished, nd at once taking advantage of it. Had Mary of Scotland been asked hy her son James trembled at the Ight of a sword her inward voice rould have exclaimed'Darnley!' I tell ou. Colonel Gray, there's many a poor out fighting the evil suggestions of rime upon whom the fatal mark was laced before he saw the light. De>rmities in body and mind have been ireseen, criminals predicted and wolan's fall foreshadowed. Parental inuence is nature's most awful law, and our son is fulfilling his frightful desiriy. No!" raising his hand, as the olon< 1 essayed to interrupt, "let me nntinue. Years ago you received a' ound from a musket ball. This took lace in the presence of your wife, iree months before your son was C.TO." The colonel had been listening In?ntly and now sank down in a chair, alnly essaying to subdue the nervous -embling which the Indian's words ad caused him. "How do you know this?" he asked, lintly. "From an old Journal kept by your ife, the sole remembrance your son ad of his mother." "Go on, sir," with an efTort. "Need I say more. To the child orn came a nervous terror at the i?und of firearms. But place him toil y on the field of battle, and he'll how a courage equal 'to your own." "And this sudden transformation? Ixplaln yourself." "The wound from which he Is suf :rlng 1b a counterpart of the one reBlved by you. It has touched the pine, relieved the nervous tension, nd released him from Its bondage of trror. That wound was a wound of lercy from the hand of God!" Had any of those who had been his ally, companions ior years seen the Inlan at that moment they would have pen filled with amazement, so fiery ere his tones, so Impassioned his pstures. His usually stolid countennce was absolutely ablaze with exitement. Indeed rarely, perhaps nevr before in his life had he felt him?lf so moved. There were two reams for this. In the first place, pres.tal Influences had .been the subject lat had interested him more than any iher in his medical studies, and in the ?cond place, Wallace Gray was the lan he cared more for than any one se on earth. Add to this, his firm plief that an outrage was being comiltted, and it is little wonder that tilled as he was in the suppression of II emotions, for once his nature was irred to the very depths and he aliwed what he felt to be seen. For a moment Colonel Gray sat aring Into blank space, and then iddenly he threw up his head, and >se to his feet. "No. John!" he said In broken tones. I cannot believe It. Your reasoning: i wild, it lacks common sense. At ay rate." he added, more firmly, ghtening his belt as the bugle call ing out. "we have no more time to Iscuss It. Report to your captain." Swlftwind stretched out his hand utreatlngly. "I have a last request to make, colael." The colone^ was rapidly recovering Is self-possession, and was evidently i no mood for further parley. "Out with It and be quick!" he antvered abruptly and sharply. "Send me at once to General Crook," as the quick response, "and let me lead with him as I have with you. As nu are a soldier and a father," and urely no more thrilling tones ever ing out, for when a self-contained ian lets himself go, it Is much more lining than the appeal from one of a ature more easily affected. "As you re a soldier and a father, give me ne chance to save your son!" But the colonel had reasoned the latter out for himself, on false premies perhaps, and was not to be mov1 Swlftwlnd's theory had Impressed Im at first, but now he was convinced tat It was absurd. His son had provd himself a coward more than once, nd the facts must stand. This idea mt he had been Influenced by Indents before his birth was something lat the colonel's matter-of-fact bent * mind could not entertain. "Report for duty!" he commanded, ith an unrelenting frown. "I beg of you " "Report!" "You refuse!" exclaimed Swlftwind, Iralghtenlng himself up. "Yes." The Indian was revolted. He felt, e knew that he was right. Was this he boasted civilization of the white ian, the gospel of mercy he so strenuusly preached? If so, it was well to o not of his blood. "Then let me tell vou. sir." he cried, asslonately, "that In this case what ou call enforcement of discipline Is othlng more than a fear of censure." The blood rushed hotly Into the colnel's cheeks. How dared this suborInate speak such words to him? Nevr before had he been thus branded, nd the culprit should suffer for It. "Corporal!" he cried, angrily. But Swlftwlnd, not In the least Inimldated, went on unflinchingly and ccuslngly. "And what you call duty In conlemnlng your son Is only another lame for cowardice worse than his." Scarlet with rage, the colonel turned o the orderly, who at that moment ^^Ef :?;*&}' xtofc'v?: l^Bk ^ge^gjjjtoju i*,>/j|M^^Kt fy>-. HON. WILLIAM H. TAFT. Manila, October 16.?Secretary Taft formally opened the Philippine assembly In the National thea*re at 11.16 this morning: In the presence of a large crowd of people. In his opening address Mr. Taft reiterated his former statements regarding the Philippine Islands, declaring that his views announced two years ago regarding the Independence of the Philippine people were unchanged. He did not believe that they would be fitted to govern themselves for at least a generation, but he added that the matter was entirely In the hands of congress. The secretary denied emphatically that the United States had any Intention of disposing of the Islands; he had absolute faith in the Filipinos; denied that he was disappointed at their ability to legislate conservatively, and asserted his belief that they felt their responsibilities and acknowledged the necessity c? supporting the American government. Mr. Taft refrained from making any suggestion regarding specific legislation on the part of the Philippine assembly, but he recommended that attention be paid to civil service. entered the room In response to his call. "Place that man under arrest!" The corporal advanced, but paused as Swtftwlnd extended his arm, waving iiliA bock. "One moment please." And then he unbuttoned his army blouse, the sign of his allegiance to the United States government, tore It off and flung It from him. This done he faced the man who had so long been his commanding officer. , "Colonel Gray," he cried, "I am a private citizen of the United States. I acknowledge no superior! Now, sir, upon what authority do you arrest me?' Colonel Gray was silent for a moment. He realized that he had no sway over the man who had thus defied him, and his sense of justice was too great to permit him to overstep the bounds of his authority. With a short command, he dismissed the astonished orderly. Then there was silence between the two men, as they stood quietly eyeing each other. Colonel Gray was the first to speak. "John Swiftwlnd," he said, slowly, and, strange to say. there was but little anger in his tone, chiefly regret that had something even of tenderness In It. "John Swiftwlnd, you have spoken to me as no other man has dared for years past. I understand your kindly motives, sir, but don't say any more about It just now If you please." Swiftwlnd was touched at this partiaJ surrender of the man who usually brooked no opposition, and yet he could not refrain from one more plea. "Let me go to General Crook, before it la too late." But the colonel, his soldiery Instincts overcoming all else, was Inexorable. "No," he said, firmly, the lines In his fine old face hardening, "no! If the boy lives, let him redeem himself. Then, and not until then, will I acknowledge him as my son!" (To be Continued. Microbes and Sunlight. It was announced some years ago that sunlight was a perfect germicide, says Chicago Tribune. That harmful and disease-breeding microbes could be killed by exposure to the rays of the sun was proved conclusively, and the sunlight cure for certain ailments was exploited In many scientific quarters. But recent experiments of Doctor Weisener have shown peculiar results. Sunlight, he declares, kills all the parasitical germs, those that habi* 11 "* ^ "rtn Kruliaa nf mPIl. bllt LUUUJ UWCII III tuv: uvuivo w? it has little or no effect upon the free roving microbes thut spend much of their lives In the open air. The reason for this is apparent, now that Doctor Welsener has announced his discovery. The germs that live In darkness cannot endure the light, and it Is probable that their destruction by the sun's rays is not because of any peculiar chemical effect, but because of the foreign conditions. The microbe Inured to darkness dies in the light, just as a fish dies when taken from the water. The ultra red rays and the ultra violet rays also are germicides. In reference to the disinfection of houses by sunlight. Doctor Welsener says much of the good effect Is lost on account of the window shades and curtains, and the darkness caused by the furniture. The little nooks and crannies of rooms, beneath sofas and behind closet doors, for instance, where darkness always reigns, must be Insanitary, and some means of lighting up all parts of a room should be devised. It is just as easy to break a promise as to make one. iUiscrUaurous ^radiup. HOLD FOR 15 CENT8. President Barrett Issues Address to Farmers' Union. To the Members of the Farmers' Union Throughout the Cotton Belt: Just after the annual convention at Little Rock had named 15 cents a pound as the minimum price which the southern farmer should receive for his cotton during the ensuing year, the speculators In the cotton ranks have managed to depress the market and to beat down prices. I address to you this line as a fraternal appeal to hold steadfast to the counsel of your annual convention, and with heroic fidelity abide Its ultimatum to the markets of the world. Hold your cotton for 15 cents and hold It until It brings the price. The committee which fixed the minimum at Little Rock represents all the cotton states and many of the best farmers of the south. The National Union, when It fixed that minimum, knew more about the situation than any cotton gambler or combination of cotton gamblers. It was not fixed upon an Impulse or an uncertainty, but after deliberate study and Investigation. With all my heart and with all my mind, I urge you to the last limit of your ability to hold steadfast to this policy adopted by your National Union. The present status makes a definite and decisive crisis In the history of our great organization. Up to this date the f^mer has worked against opposition and the possibility of defeat. Wo have won vlctorv after victory by this splendid policy. We stand now face to face with a combination which affords us an opportunity to show the world that the southern farmer is resolutely determined to maintain his rights. The eyes of the world are upon him as never before, and the history of the organization in the future will depend in no small degree upon the oourasre and fidelity with which he meets the present situation, ^or three years you have won out in every proposition that you have presented to the business world. win once more in this important Issue and it will be henceforth easier sailing for us all. Loyalty at this time will be more to attract the thousands who are outside the ranks than any argument we can present or anv snneal that we can make. Let us win *hls victory and we will achieve the fear of our enemies and the respect, "onfldence and admiration of the world. The act of the last national convention pulsed the whole union with fresh and virile hope. Perfect harmony and nerfect unity prevailed In all *our councils, and the Farmers' union stands today as a solid phalanx before the forces of greed. Cotton Is Key to Situation. You hold the key to the situation. You have the cottdn, you have the warehouses, and If to these you only add the courage, the business stamina and the common sense to hold your own, you need not fear the future. Do not be scared by the conspiracy which has been begun to make you part with your cotton for less than the minimum price. You have behind you the greatest power of the age In which we live, the power of numbers and the power of organization. Only realize your strength, only be faithful to your principle, only stand with the shoulder to shoulder touch with your comrades, and the victory will more than atone for the Inconvenience and the waiting. I do not ask you to hold your cotton to the Injury of your creditors. Every farmer's duty Is to pay his debts, but this Is a period when the individual farmer, and the Farmers' union can use their Influence with their merchant friends to Induce them to bear for a little while with any farming aeotor wnom nit! nivai umvn nm/ recommend to their confidence and regard. Be Loyal to the Union. In this emergency every farmer is an evangel. Let him go out among his fellows to cheer them up?to stiffen their backbone?to show them the way to the union warehouses and to the friendly merchant and to the loyal way of waiting. The year that is before us simply waits to crown the the farm who in this period is loyal to his union, faithful to its messages and resolute in maintaining the standard which It has fixed for the price of his noblest product. I feel that rarely before has the Integrity and strength of the Farmers' union faced a greater crisis than in the courage and character with which he meets this assault of the conspirators to force surrender upon the minimum price which it has declared. Let every farmer face the situation without fear, and as God has prospered him In other years and as his union has prepared for him in the storehouses for his crop, let him put his shoulder to the shoulder of his brother, and, breathing courage, confidence and determination, let him repeat to the world the statement that the man who buys his cotton must pay him 15 cents a pound. C. S. Barrett. Now Route To Orient. Not many people realize, because of the quiet manner In carrying the construction forward, that before many months elapse the only International transcontinental line will be open for business Its entire length. The new route to the Pacific coast is the Kan-, sas City. Mexico and Orient railway, forming a line from Kansas City, Mo., to the port of Topolobampo, near the mouth of the Gulf of California. The course Is directly southwest from Kansas City, passing through Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, and Old Mexico the total distance being 1,659 miles. There L' a branch from San Angelo, Texas, intersecting the National railway of Mexico at Del Rio, of 175 miles in length. The latter branch provides what is now said to be the "best all the year round" line between the Missouri river and City of Mexico. Between Kansas City and the Pacific coast the distance Is reduced 500 miles, a acompared to the route by way of San Francisco. The port of Popolobampo Is 1,350 miles south of San Francisco, and has a particular advantage for this reason In reference to the Interchange of trade with the west coast of Mexico, South America, and Australia, and occupying an excellent position for Oriental trade. A straight line drawn across the map due west from Topolobampo will strike directly af Hong Kong- It will further show that the Hawaiian Islands are 200 m miles south of this line, and Manila 800 miles south, while Japan lies away to the north. ft Taking into consideration a well- yi known economic proposition In trans- f portatlon, that of a short rail and 5, long water haul within reasonable g, propositions It is easy to see the Im- ? portant part the Orient railway plays g, In such combination. tli -?? til 8PINNER AND PRODUCER. tr to Organ of 8peciflation Thinks Thsy g\ Would Do Each Other. ro The cotton spinners of all countries are coming to hold council with one g another. They will receive a cordial |P and hearty welcome In whichever part w of the south they may visit That they or will be made to have an enjoyable time goes without saying:. er But the spinners are not gathering: w themselves together merely to have tr "a good time." That Is only one of 8t the pleasing amenities of llfe^-a mere cj side Issue. They are assembling to cl discuss and consider matters concern- n( Ing the betterment of their material well-being. w There is of course a considerable variety of matters to be considered, jn but after all the spinners are onlyaf- ai ter one thing. At least this one-thing a] overshadows all the others. That one q thing Is the question as to how they 0j are grolng to be able to get their supplies of cotton cheaper. aj While It Is a fact that spinners as ? well as every other class engaged In p producing, handling or using cotton, ei make better profit when cotton is n bringing a good price than when the hi price Is low, nevertheless when spin- M ners come to actually buying and pay- la Ing for cotton, they are anxious to get It as cheap as possible. So we see bl them coming together to devise ways p< and means of bringing about lower tt prices of cotton. They have one staple Idea to work 8{ on: they earnestly advocate the abol- ti Itlon of everything that savors of spec- i( ulation In cotton. They think they can ^ see, and they have reason for so think- ni Ing, that the general effect of specula- if tlon Is to cause prices to rule rather higher than they would otherwise be; sometimes materially higher. They are quite persuaded that If there were no such thing as speculation In cotton, p( they would nearly always be able to buy at lower figures. Hence, they strenuously advocate the abolition of w exchanges where futures are dealt In. M ?hle nhwt in vlour thev Come .. ...... ..... .? Ul over and call upon producers to join ^ and make common cause. They know that the leading spirits among the dl farmers have been striving to put a stop to dealings in futures. To be gu sure the motive actuating the produc- Tl era Is diametrically opposite to the 4,, motive actuating the spinners. The m spinners want to stop speculation be- of cause It makes prices higher; the pro- M ducers want to stop speculation be- eJ cause It makes prices lower. tlj Seeing then that the means sought are the same in both cases, although afl the deBired ends are exactly opposite, ^ the spinners are very willing to take or the chances, and unite with the farm- nj era to stop speculation. Is not this an alone quite enough to set the farmers de thinking, and to at least partially open cI( their eyes to the truth of the matter? no Since, as we have seen, the dc ire of 4a the spinner, at any given time, is to ci| buy cotton as cheaply as possible, we pr have no doubt that he would welcome pj, with enthusiasm any movement cal- w, culated to eliminate speculation. But pr why the cotton grower should eagerjy th Join In the attempt we are at a loss to Imagine.? If speculation tends to put 0f prices lower the spinner Is the last ^ person in the world who would seek Us abolition. ^ All this talk about "closer relations" tf> between formers ana spinners sounds y well, and as a matter of fact such clos- ^ er relations and a feeling: of good fel- jg lowshlp are much to be commended. Ii Is highly proper and desirable that WJ the most cordial relations possible jn should be encouraged; the one buys what the others grows?both are at once mutually dependent upon and in- c|j dispensable to the other. But to refer ga In high-sounding rhetoric to their 1m- pr aginary community of interest is pure nonsense, beyond the bare fact that both are vitally Interested In cotton. ^ One wants cotton high and the other' wants it low, and that is the whole truth of the matter. ^ They say they desire to do without the so-called "middleman." This "sounds good" to the farmer, but the al) spinner knows the idea is totally Im- w' practicable. How is the cotton going no to get from the faxm in Texas to the ne mill In Europe without the Intervention th' if the middleman? The farmer would co cut a pretty figure taking his cotton Ellrect to. the spinner, and the spinner ot buying direct from the farmer. Both would have to employ the services of on various intermediary agencies, which is exactly what is now done, and ly doubtless done more economically than ne could be done by any other plan that an could be devised.?Savannah Cotton , Record. da ou AUSTRALIA'S LEAN YEAR8. 8U ' an Lavish Spending During the Country's ' Prosperous and Booming Times. ,n Of conditions In Melbourne and wa Australia generally a recent traveler If writes, says the Chicago News: "A run g(( by steamer down the Yarra Yarra river showed with what a lavish hand m< money had been spent during the mi great building boom of the early nine- jre ties. There were miles of wharves and quays, without a ship or any sign r of trade, but all waiting for the good ^ time coming. Australia, Indeed, has H< passed through some lean years. In an the early nineties the land and building boom burst and nearly all the er banks broke, thousands being reduced so* to poverty, while trade and commerce ] greatly diminished. . "Then, Just as recovery was coming, a fearful drouth began and lasted for se< a long time, sheep and cattle dying by thi millions. One man we met told us an how he had watched his sheep dwindle from 60,000 to 8,000 before the N< rain came. Now the rains are abund- 1m ant again and Australia has entered tei on another period of prosperity; but It Is likely that another drouth will Be come In less than twenty years, when ml the same ruin may be repeated. frt "Nothing but a series of storage ^ reservoirs on a large scale will meet ^ the drouths, which appear to come In ?ni cycles of about thirteen years. So bad are the effects of these drouths . that in ten years the population of Melbourne Increased by only 3,000; gr the females increased 15,000, but the < males diminished by 12,000, showing w, what a vast number of men must have I left in search of work. y* WOODEN FORTUNE8. lost Valuable la tha Famous Rom TrM of Hildoahoim. When Thwalte's oak, said to be the nest tree In Norfolk, was sold some ?ara ago, the trunk alone fetched ?44. he branches sold for ?28, while the irk and chips realized another ?20 ? the whole tree fetched more than 90, a sum which would have been eatly exceeded had the cost of getng such a mass of timber to Its desnation not been so great The unk alone weighed more than twenty >ns, and It took a 14-horse power enne a day and a half to get it to the iad. save Tendon Answers. Oak is the most valuable of any ritish timber, but its value Is small, deed, compared with that of foreign oods used for veneering and other, namental work of the kind. About re years ago there were sold in L4vpool two logs of African mahogany, hlch between them composed the link of one tree, for the Immense im of ?1,636. The grain of this Speal tree was extraordinarily fine, and it into veneers these two mighty logs >w grace the dining room of a Park ane mansion, being used in place of allpaper. The famous rose tree of Hlldesheim, Germany, which has been growing id blooming since the year 1022 fainst the side of the famous old hurch of St. Michael, has the honor being the tree for which the record im has been offered. Some years <o an American millionaire offered 4,000 down for the tree as it stood, hlegmatic as the Germans are, the iterprlslng westerner was really ither fortunate in getting off with Is life. As a great favor, shoots are >metimes sold, and these realise very rge prices. The average man who sees camella lossoms in florists' windows at slxence apiece would not mind owning le camella tree which grows at Plletz, near Dresden, and is ono of the ghts of the district It was Imported om Japan about the middle of the 1th century, and at present stands ist over 60 feet high. It has an anial average of 40,000 blossoms, which sold at 6d. apiece, would realise cactly ?1,000! TROU8ER8 ONCE IMMORAL. ople Believed That Wearers of Them Would Be Barred From Heaven. There was a time when trousers ere immoral. Strange as it may em, it Is a fact nevertheless. The istom of wearing trousers is one of 'iiipu.miivciy nswoi ungin, ana was ken from the military dress introlced Into the British army by the uke of Wellington during the Penin- , liar war. We are indebted to the Ulor and Cutter an authority on -ess, for this bit of interesting lnforatlon. The history of the discovery the article of dress which Is now Indispensable in the wearing appar- r of man Is vouchsafed by this auority as follows: In the early days these were known Wellington trousers, after the duke, hen trousera were coming into genal use at the commencement of the neteenth century, the religious world id the fashionable world were pretty termlned in their opposition, and a Luse in an original tru*t deed of a nconformist chapel at Sheffield, ted 1820, provided that "under no -cumstances whatever shall any eacher be allowed to occupy thepult who wears trousers." But this is not all. Some doubts were ex* eased in many quarters concerning e question whether a man could be liglous and appear in trousers. One the founders of the Primitive Methtst body remarked to a colleague in e ministry: "That trouser-wearing, er-drlnlrinr. HO-nnd-Ro will never ret heaven." Father Reece, a famous ethodist minister, twice president of e conference (born In 1765, died In 60) could not be Induced to adopt jusers and, among' the Methodist is the last to follow popular fashion this respect. It is not improbable at the modern fashion of the Lords shop of the Church of England, who ng steadily to knickerbockers and Iters, comes from this old religious ejudlce against trousers.?Greenville jws. E'8 PHENOMENAL AUDACITY. ould Take More Desperate Chances Than Any Other General. When Lee had been in command out two weeks I had a long ride th Ives about our lines one afteron, during which he referred to the w 8 pa per attacks and asked If I ought they in any way Impaired the nfldence of the army In Lee, writes P. Alexander, in "Mlllitary Memoirs a Confederate." I had seen no such ect and told him so, and then went to say: "Ives, tell me this. We are re fortifying our lines, but apparentleaving the enemy all the time he eds to accumulate his superior forces, d then to move on us in the way he Inks best. Has General Lee the aucity that is going to be required of r inferior force to meet the enemy's perior force?to take the aggressive, d to run risks and stand chances?" [ves's reply was so impressive, both manner and matter, that it has altys been remembered as vividly as today. He reined up his hc-ae, >pped in the road, and, turning to s, said: "Alexander, if there is one in in either army, Confederate or deral, head and shoulders above ev/ other In audacity, it is General e. His name might be Audacity. i will take more desperate chances, d take them quicker, than any othgeneral in this country, north or nth. and you will live to see it, too." It Is needless to say that I did live see It many times over. But it ?ms, even yet, a mystery how, at ? Tlfrtf. AM DMAoMon f T^ovlfl HP til IIII1C, X * CO VI A * VU1UVMV * ?t wy other living man, had divined It. > one could meet Lee and fall to be ipressed with his dignity of characr, his intellectual power and his calm If-reliance; but all those qualities Ight be recognized without deducting >m them, also, the existence of such enomenal audacity, except by an splration of genius. t S"The average weight of a fullown elephant is 6,000 pounds. There are 26,000 letters posted Ithout addresses in England every ar.