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CARE QF_2 CHRISTMAS PLANTS WHAT 1* to become of all the Christmas ?>titut? that uro de llvereU from the florlni ai Ohriatinmi time? Perhaps It would bo ?h wcl I for thone wbo like to see thing* growing and dislike the thought of anything dying not to seek the answer, for I have no doubt that many which lift vt* been for the time greatly aduilr ed will In rapid succession follow the (tamo course to a common fnto the trash can. To moms, of course, such n fate 1* more or less Inevitable under the beat of care. For Instance. a poliisottlu could not bo o*pected to In ?t nil win tor, and It might not be enjoyed If It <]|d, being distinctly a plant of. the Christinas sennon. lloweve.V. It may be kept tu a fairly healthy rendition for several weeks If It I* kept in a somewhat warm room mid watered sparingly. And whon It doe# beyln to fade It should he remembered that It Is capable of nerving other yearn of usefulness after thin one. Mo If yon have no way In which to care for It give it to some friend who ha* hoi own place for keeping plauts. To care for the plauts that have come io you lu comparatively good condl tlon la not a difficult task, for the.\ probably havo boon given ?utttHem fertiliser to laat for Home time, and therefore that particular want need not ho completed for the preseut. But tbey will need attention In three thing* -water, heat and light. In watering remember that tlower tog plants require, an a rule, plenty of water, particularly asaleas. cyclamen and bulbs. The lovely little ardlslas with tbolr red berries, can l?c given less water; also geraniums. Heather lias strong roots, and the mistake If* often inado of watering It too much for Its small roots aro In a very tine jftesh, ?nd they hold the water and are liable to rot If given more than they will absorb right away. Orange and lemon tree# will take more. Ily this P la not meant that one Bliouhl keep the plants soaked perpetually. Lot the soil begin to get dry again after leach watering before more Is applied. Thlv Is a safe rulo for all potted plants Ferns require liberal watering and frequent shower baths, though the hit fer Hhould never be given to the dell rate maidenhair ndlonhim, although P requires Ihueh water nt 1 1 m roots and likes a mol^t Atmosphere. ? - -The ordinary rnorn letnperntuie In satisfactory, or nt least bearable, to most plants that - oixie from the florist's although azaleas will do n.uch better If allowed to stand ?l '"?ivt nnT of the ? line In a eoOl placi'. Sunlight may be given ??' the <lm '?enas, emt<?ns thoth follatre p'anisi I geraniums. also na'vlMvws and other bulbs until tliev bhmrn paribtl sun i fight tu tlrr- tirg'iTnTJs a ml nrdishiN hut the ferns will <ht well with mi direct light. Adlnutum >? 1k??i ul nevor l?e put In ? draft y plsee. A Short CbristfTtus. "Christ mns day Is only three hours long in the Finnish town of Tornea." said a trnveler. "I spent last Christ mas there. \t sunrise I got. up to see niy present* and to read my Christ mas mall, and nl'jht had fallen before J f trot through br?vil<f!^t I Morry Chnslmaa to All! Merry Clni: Ini'> 't- friends' Morry ("hrlnteuiH t" foes'. The v orUr.^ bright with Joy. so fur^ot nil v. OOP- ' | The < ir:!.'s"ftiH of hoaur> <>r love and ?? , <| ? 'io? r - Mr, .'b'' ?? ?< a II a i?l ? ?i Now ' A Ford ear found near Cohunhi was fomnl to have l>een stolen in Hi! /Itnoro. SYLVAN BROS. DISPLAY ? OF - > CI iristmas Gifts Attracts At tent 'on I ? >i\lisii, beautiful and of everlast ing anil of economic value. TIh* l>est If the ehcniKJst, anil al ways tli*' most appreciated I >ia in?'iuls. single stones or" clus ters Sterling Silver, from tbe smallest single pie<-c t<? the largest clients, lea sets with or without rays Clocks, from the smallest desk clock. t.? the large Grandfather ohlme clocks < %ut glass anil art goods Ojiue In, or send your orders hy mall In these lines Itiish orders. when engraving Is wanted. can he returned after the Holiday - for ? i!L'ra vlng Our prices art marked in plain figures we have only one price, and only handle genuine goods, so yon 1 are i>erfeotly safe In dealing wit') lift. <. SYLVAN BROS. Cnrnrr Main and Hampton 8 Phone 1045 Columbia, S. C. ' DEFY ARID WASTES WONDIRPUL WORK OF RUSSIANS IN OINTRAI. ASIA All the Military Pow er of the Our Would Have Been of No Avail but for tho Patient Labor of the Colonitt*. How KummIiui colonial* ha to at rug | uled ami conquered In Ituaaluu Con trul A?la la revealed by Stephen Gru baiu, who haa recently made a trump ing tour through that comparatively unknown aoctlob of tho earth. After crossing the Caspian wea from Baku to Krusnovodsk Mr, (iinhuin took tho desert railway, on which the truiuH average a speed of only 17 (idles an hour over the indifferent *leepors. Tho weateru iniud might hud thlN railway Inexplicable, why a dea art ituo whllo many of tho ratlwaya at home aro undeveloped, uud strategic ruliwaya ure unbuilt? The anawer la tho reaulta In colonization and trude. Aa Mr. CSruhain lool{s out of the window during hla Jouruey u delight ful phraae occura to him about a dls tant atrlng of camela moving across the aaud parallel to the line, lie de scribes them as looking like "a scrap of eiistern handwriting botween earth and heaven." Anyone who haa soeu a atrlng of camela on a1 vague hori zon will recognize tho aptness of the simile. ~ Only Irrigation la needed to muke thia and other Central Asia deaerts blossom like tho rose, and the Rus sians have already done splendid work in this respect Mr. Graham, la bis book, "Through Russian Central Asia,*' describes bow the typical Russian family become col onists. A messenger Is sent In advance to choose a site, and then the family proceeds to the appointed place. "First of all, trees are planted," says Mr. Graham, "How pathetic to see vhe long rows of tlw*ee-foot-high poplar shoots and willow twigs 1 A month on .his sun-beaten road leaves no doubt u the emigrant's mind as to what la he flrat necessity ? shude, shade. Trees ire planted all along the main gov ernment dike. "Tho colonist chooses the place for tiia house; he digs a trench all around it and lets In wuter from tho dike, and lie plants trees along the trench. Then ?io buys stout poplar truuks and wil* low trunks, mid makes the framework ot his cottage. He Interlaces little wll ow twigs and makes the sort of wilted -men, slightly shady, slightly sunny house that children might put up In u wood in England. , "Ills roof he makes of prairie grass. <reat reeds 10 to 15 feet In length and hick and strong, or of willow twigs igaln and turf. In Viis second year he lias a little hay harvest on his roof. He fdows his little bit of desert. He ex hanges some of his oxen for cows. He ?strives with all his power ? as does a transplanted llower ? to take root. "He looks forlorn. You look at his poor estate and say: 4lt Is a poor ex periment. Tho sun Is too strong for ?dm. he will Just wither off, and the lesert will be as before.' "But you come another day and you ?<oc a change, and exclaim: 'lie has taken root after all ; there is a shoot of young life there, tender and green.'" All Russian Central Asia, says Mr. t?niham. has been won almost without lighting. Military processions were generally all that was necessary. Bok mra and Khiva camo under Russian >rotection, the railway was built, and Uussla became the most important Moslem power in Central Asia. But lad it not been for the patient colon who put together their wattle and :iud houses In the wake of the army, he seuh'inent could never have been i reality. Why the Cord of Wood Shrinks. Kalpli l'aulUnor and Henry Storn ?erg. --I udeitis in t ho College of For ?*try at the I'mverslty of Washington, wive proved hy experiment that a cord ?1' fuU-lenath wood- when sawed and ??eplled In thf < rdififlry stack shrinks m an a vera ce LM.Td per cent. As deal ers buy wood in full lengths and usu illy measure it for delivery before saw ng it, they ure often aroused of giving ?hort measure. A "cord" is the standard . measure* nent of wood, and it is defined as 12S ?ublc feet of wood. measured by a pile /onr feet high and eight feet wide of iogs four feet long The discrepancy between the cord is bought hy the dealer and as deliv ered to the customer, according to i'rof. Hugo Wlnkenwerder, dean of the -*oltcge, 1s nor entirely explained l>y the sawdust. When wopd is piled up (n four-foot lengths there are many spaces between sticks, caused hy knots and curvatures. These spaces are eliminated when the wood is cut up small. vV ^ ^ Improvement on X-Ray. The X-ray has become li. dispensa ble to the modern surgeon and Im provements are being made upon It. A recent one Is a device which, after revealing the location of an Injury or disease s|M>t, enables the surgeon to keep It in sight as he operates. A framework going around the surgeon'# head Is fitted with a Jluoroscope ? an Instrument by means of which ob* Jects revealed by the X-rays are made j visible to the human eye. pa- ; tlent Ih plaeed on a special operating ' table wUh the X-ray tttrfted on, and the iMfgeon can WArk easily, since he sees What la, before him continually Instead of having to work gropingly from the remembrance of what was revealed In the X-ray photograph. I N the little to?| of "New Franc*,1* ? few mile* froih Que bec, there Uve<t mi old men by* the name of JPerry Fan chton. Be w a ; about sixty year a of age. a wealthy old bachelor, who, with the excep tion of ? housekeeper, Uved alone In a great weather-beaten old man ulon on the river road. lie lived a very Hecluded kind of life, was addon) seen upon the street! of the town, and attracted sery lltthg-atten tlon when he was seen* There were hardly ten people in the place that knew the man or anything concerning his lifew Yet there had been ft time in the life of Terry Fanchlon when he bad attracted a great deal ef attention, and won the sympathy and pity of the whole town. That had been over forty years ago, and in the meantime the town had changed from ft village Into ft city. The old famlllMl had died out and the younger gentittttlon had forgotten the history of Perry Fftn< chion. It was Christmas eve night aijd bit terly cold. Sleet and snow drove with incessant fury against the great French windows. The heavy old oftk doors rattled and shook, while the wind shrilled, mournfully among the many old-fafthloned gables and chlmneyft. Perrf sat gasing into the fire. Bin hair wuh snow-white, his eyes were dark, fthd tonight they had a tragic, gloomy look. VST On the old colonial furniture the sinister faces carved there grinned hor ribly and the Iron claws Seemed to "Well, Well? -I Hope the Children Are All In Bed." grip the floor hard, as though they were repressing some dark emotion or evil thought. Forty years ago this night Perry was a happy man, for tomorrow he was to marry the beautiful Miss Nel ly Leroy, daughter of the rector of St. Agnes. Itut that great factor in the events of n man's career, fate willed other wise, for only a few days before the wedding was to take place the bride to-be was stricken with a fatal illness and less thjin a week later was laid away in the village graveyard. After the funeral Perry lOanchlon shut himself* up, almost alont!^ in the great house. Time moved on and peo ple forgot! One by one his friends left him, until at last he stood alone, a j stranger In a strahger world ! About this time the poorer people, ! the destltuto of the city, became aware ; of the fact that they had a friend,] a very good, mysterious friend, mys- ] torlous because, try as they might (and | did) they never could discover his j Identity One time when a severe landlord I was about to turn a poor family out Of the Home they lived in, because they wer^'ijot abl? to pny tlx* rent that family, found the required amount and a shoit note asking them to ac cept the mcftfej ii? a gift, by the ttre plnce. Several times Incidents like rhis occurred amonjt the unfortunate, hut as to Where thedc mysterious pres ents cf.me from, orJfcy whom present ed, none could eveMtll. But the chil dren suspected SaWa^Claus of having a hand In the matt^?* Tonight as Perry safejby the fire he was very tad and ?ery? T?T lonesome. Hie town clock struct ten: Perry arose, donned a huge war coat to i'? l v his little act bravAjkA worn, i wrd smile played arouf^Jfftfc'IBsualb mouth as he thought of trajiMBcene* >J joy and poverty he would witness ? 1> : ?? nljjh . He crossed the town^-wlth rnpid, nervous strides W?d ente little family burying ground. I gone for thirty minutes and wl _ returned his face showed ftraces of deep emotion. "Good-night, sweetheart, I have wait ed forty years; surely thejp>d cannot I't*? far distant!" he mnrqppred as he softly closed the gate. There came a jingilni# sleigh bells ? a sleigh drove entered and was whirled away OTMTthe snow. In a tiny little hovel on the edge of the city Ave little curly-headed chil dren, dressed In old and ragged but dean clothes were grouped around a small Are trying to keep warm. Their tte jj a i mother wee sewing tot a lhrluf, W huaband having died several Uou, she ?u trying to rear her chtl Urea a* beet she inlght. She was hav log ? deeperate struggle and day by fey she ww with despair the fitcht growing harder and harder. "Mother, when Is Sauta Claus corn lug?" inquired little Billy. For a while mother dldu't seem to want to say anything. A largo tear fell silently on her work. With a hasty movement, almost angrily, she brushed it aside. ( "Perhaps he won't come at all I who replied wPh a little catch in her voice. "N-o-o-o-o 1" <jame a chorus of un believing voices from the lire. "He 1h coming!" Suddenly there came a Jingling of bells and a sleigh drew up in front of the home. "Whoop 1" yelled Johnny. "Conm ou kids? Santa Claus I My eye 1" In an Instant the tire was deserted and five little heads wore peering eag erly out of the door. "Gee wllllklus ! Look at the toys !M "Well, well," said Santy In n loud voice, pretending not to see the little ones. "1 hope the children are all In bed tonight, for If they are not, I will not come again." Five curly heads vanished In a sec ond, and when the old gentleman en tered the room all were tucked snug ly In bed? that Is all but Billy, who In his excitement and hurry pulled all the cover up over his head and left bUr feet and body uncovered. 8anta Claus laughed and dumped the contents of his pack near the hearth. There were drums, dolls, tin soldiers, books, candy, nuts and fireworks, g Just at this moment Billy's toe rubbed up a splinter, and there carao a subdued grunt from the bed which changed to a fitful, sleepy kind of cough as the "old fellow" turned around. The snores redoubled In vol ume. Old Sunty handed mother a sealed envelope and departed before she could sufficiently recover from her confusion and surprise to thank him. It was addressed to her, so she broke the seal. The sum and substance of It was. that the house and property of Fanchlon and something like five hun dred dollars were to be Jiers upon the death of Perry Fanchlon. So at last the identity of the mys terious Santa Claus and the friend of the poor and unfortunate was dis closed. Iler home was only one of the many to which ho had been that night. To morrow they would honor him. They would eouie one uud all to thank him, to praise him, to bless him ? perhaps to beg for more as the case might be. The sleigh stopped at the Fanchlon homestead and old Santa Claus paid the driver and entered the house. Perry was weary and as he walked down the dark, gloomy hall he almost dropped with fatigue. Fatigue of the body, weariness of the soul, the sore ness of a broken heart, all conspired against him ! Wearily he slid out of the disguise. His eyes wandered with a pitiful expression over the empty, dark room. None came to we'eorae him. No one to love or care for him. She had gone on before. Perhaps she was waiting for him up there now. He didn't know. The blood-chilling faces grinned und the cruel claws gripped. He drew one of the heavy old chairs up before the dying embers and cast down, bowing his head far over Into the grate. Closer he huddled. What was this dreadful chill that seemed to be taking possession of his body? His groat sorrow preyed upon him. "Oh, God I" he murmured ; "I can stand it no longer." Something gentle and soft stroked his hair ! his hair that was white as snow. Two arms encircled him lov lsfeiy. He looked up, at first unbelievingly, and then a wonderful smile lit up his face. "Nelly!" lie exclaimed, joyously. "At last you have come for me. I knew you would ! I thank Thee O ? " His voice trailed away In the dis tance. The fire died 'out and the faces nc longer grined. but seemed to smtlo In the darkness. Far off, Just as the dawn was breaking, the chimes rung out their me.-sa?:c. Was it fancy oi did a soul far out in space echo: "Glorv to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men.' Perry w us a ( rest Palmt Uo Women to Seek Ballot. (Columbia. Dec l'J. ? Equal cuff rag- ! 1 Ists art* planning the introduction of a hill In the approaching session of the General Assembly for a referendum I on the matter of granting to women the ; right tn the bnllot. It In not known ' who will ?iK)ii sur this hill lti t h?* two 1 houses hilt every Indication i>oints to it helnK pushed with nil vigor. The Democratic State Convention at its session last May endorsed woman suffrage and this will l>e used as one ? of the arguments by the proj>onenLs : of the proposed referendum. They ; will call on the members of tin- (Jen j i*ral Assembly to redeem tlu* protnir.es ; made in the platform of the State De i moeraey to give the women the vote lor at least submit the question to the [qualified electors of the State. The I/eglHlature is unanimously Democratic i in h^th branches jind the Xtste conven tion represented the party in the 1 : Stale, as pointed nut by the advocates ! of equal suffrage, and the voice of De mocracy spoke for giving the ballot to ; the women. Little Elizabeth Nims, the elevcn j year-old daughter of Boyden Mm a, ohetnltt, was run over and accidentally ' killed by nn automobile driven by Ah ! slstant Adjt Gen. John B. Frost late i Sunday afternoon at th% corner of Oer* i val* and Hull streets, Columbia, and | Boyden Nims. Jr., wan also Injured. I. w r. KmUht resident#, *?untali?ed Hlbljr eerloue injur; when he wan or knocked ' __ Mr. Hmith ha* beeu unable lo five utp Recount of how It happened. i< ? 1 1 ,?y?H ii ? f ?? iff ? ? ?/? fe Niagara % Eleotrlo Light. Generally speaking, ft hi bard to tm prove on nature, biH^ thcae who have soon Niagara falls lljfhted nt nlphtvby electricity are agreed that! the effect Is far more ImjTosslve .jind beaut i ul then anything that davll-ht affords. The lights are of more tfcun a hundred million candle power.^Kouth's Com panion. T*4F> * "I put my ffcjtb In tho wisdom plain people," raid the sta'esman. "Yes," roplfed Senator Porgbui "Tho wisdom of the plain people In. rlsrht. Tho only thins I fear 1* tl some of them are rettlncj to that know too much."? Washington 8tar?> ? ' ? - Small Comfort. "Never despair. Somewhere beyond tho clouds tho Min is ghluluT." "Yes, and somewhere below the sen there's a solid bottom. But that doein't help a man when he falls overboard." ? Baltimore American. Smart Girl. Teacher? Now. Nellie, would it be pro|>er to say. "1 can't learn you noth ing?" Nellie?Yes, mum. Teacher? Why? Nellie? 'Cause you cah't.? Lon don Telegraph. Hie Job. ** "It takes two to make a bargain." "Yep; iu.v wife and the storekeeper. But I'm paying the bills single handed." ?Detroit Free Tress. IMiUi Wood., Wiwi. Wood*, Jhiii ,1m- ' th#?r <Juftk2L^| Thomas Williams and jSJLJ Come in, askaBSfir it You can come in and get a "Christmas Banking Club" book free and join by putting in 5 or 10 cents, of even 1 or 2 cents for the first week. Increase your de posit each week 5 or 10 or 1 or 2 cents. You can put in $1.00 or $2.00 or $5.00 each week and in 50 weeks, have $50 or $100 or $250. We add 4 per cent interest. You can start today ? Start! ;' You can start TODAY?START! ound your Mo now. 1 auM* >n&, Etc* re ry comply if you ahojjM ielivery. we ROBIN ZEMyP'S & Telephone 30. COLD WEATHER COMING Don't let the water in your Radiator. ojj tor freeze. Add a little Denatured Alc< 30c ; bottles extra. Electric Lamps, Electric Stoves, Elecl And most important of all we have; stock of things required in the sick room,, dl need them in a hurry just ask us for quid appreciate patronage and give satisfactory J. W. McCORMICK, Prop. McCORMICK & Funeral Directors and Embalmor*. Nisht Pho.u ... AMBULANCE SERVICE. Day Country Call* Answered Promptly Day <