University of South Carolina Libraries
- 1JLy * rrriiiii.-— Sftmjtkltt ¥oUr». There led* cernr temples ror commercial drommen in the Western cities. A reporter Luterriewed one recently which disclosed the (act that he Is a shrewd chief, with well-defined business ideas and a thorough knowledge of all the ramifications of his ‘trade.’' “Well, youngster,” said the reporter, “bow’s traffic this season!’’ “'Bout up to the av'rage,” was the serene reply. “Hare many regular customers?” “Yes; thirty or forty.” “How many regulars and transients do you do business for in the course of a year!” “Two or three hundred.” ‘ Ts the work bard?” “Sometimes pretty tough.” “Tell me exactly what you da” “Well. I come down to the Kussell at 8 o’clock in the morning. If any of my cus tomers show up I'm all right for the day; but if they don’t, why I ketch on to some other feller.” “Haw do you grade your charges!” “Oh, we’ve got a reg'lar price list—scale of prices, you know.” “And that is!” “Carryin’ notes ten to twenty-five cents, ‘cordin’ to distance; luggin' samples thirty cents an hour or fl SO a day. If wo carry two hours straight in the mormn’ it's $1. If we go out both forenoon and afternoon It’s only $1.60.” “Have very long days!” “Not more’n four or five hours with any one customer?” “How do you fill in the remainder of the time?” “Runnin’ errands. (Excuse me; there’s a feller tippin’ me the wink now.*') And the leader of the guild darted away, to receive instructions about the delivery . of a letter. He disappeared, but in about ten minutes he returned and silently inti mated his willingness to renew the inter view. “Got thirty cents for takin’ that note down to Guy Einchman’s,” he remarked in a confidential tone, “day, young feller,” he exclaimed, as if suddenly struck with an idea, “are you a interviewin’ me!” “Perhaps.” “Well, I've been acquainted with you so long I guess I won’t go back on you now. Ask me somethin’more.” “Have you ever been to school?” “Sb’d tiiink so—seven years at the Bishop and Irving, and ’m goin’ to the night school this fall." “Good idea” “Think so? Well, I guess so, too. A feller can't git too much learnln’, not by no means.” “What drummers—that is to say, what lines of business—do you like best?'’ “Joolry men.” “Why!” “They stay in the stores the longest; they’re lib’ral, and we’re more liable to git extry from ’em. If they do a good trade they don’t mind an extry half dollar. Why Frolick, my friend from New York, who’s in the jewelry line, sends me a new suit of clothes every Christmas, reg’lar. He’s a dandy, he is. There’s other good fellers, too, but he's my partic’lar pard.” “Don t you tackle some heavy loads!” “You’re shoutin’. The lust Job a-carry- in’ I ever took was flatirons—patent flat irons. They broke me all up,” he added, in a mournful tone, as if recollection of the incident had something of the pathetic m it. “Linen's heavy, toc-v-next to joolry— but we git used to it, and don’t mind a pretty big lug.” “Does the custom of showing samples in the agents’ rooms at the hotel interfere with your profits?'’ “ T used to, but that’s played out now. Merchants won’t go to the rooms any more, ao we’ve got to go to them. We find our trade a good deal better for it—sell more goods and git through with a town quick- er’n we used to when we had sample-rooms so much.” “How much money do you make?” “1 av’rage about $9 a week. Pretty fair, ain’t it!” “Don’t you have any dull seasons in your line!” “Of course, from about Christmas to, say the 20th of January, we don’t do nothin’ to speak of; and then agin we have a dull summer season. We're jest gittin’ over it now. Business is very good, though. 1 don't complain. (There’s another feller wants me. Good day, mister. J’il see you future.”) And the boss of the sample toters again whisked away on an errand for a dude, whose hair was parted in the middle and the ends of whose mustache tickled his ears. Ballooning. The balloon in which the Count de Dion and M. Rtmbielusky recently made an ascension trim Paris presented several novel feature^ of great interest and value to the study of aerial navigation. The principal of these is the invention of the Comte de Dion trmse f. U is a double balloon, so to speak. Over the ordinary oiled silk, ol which the balloon proper is made, is a covering of white calico which extends over its upper half. From thia outer covering a long funnel of oiled silk extends downward, and connects with a ventilating machine attached to the outside of the car, which, by turning a cran , sends a blast of cold air out of the futnel and underneath the outer layer. The object of this is to piace a layer cf cold air between the two coverings, which shall preserve the gas in the balloon from being unduly influenced by the rays of the sun. Another novelty was the method of attaching the car to the balloon, the cords being arranged in a scientific system of triangulation, enabling the weigflt of the oar to be equally distributed around its circumference ami keeping it in a perfectly horizontal position in spite of any shifting of weight within it. In , nautical parlance, the balloon would always be tnmmed. The anchor itself was another novelty, emulating of a number of formi dable-looking flukes so arranged that they could not fail to bold, or at least catch in any obstacle which they might meet. It waa attached to a powerful hawser which itself weighed 120 kilogrammes. The anchor looks as if, with the vast balloon exerting its power above it, it could uproot a forest or unroof a house with ease. The car is of extremely neat basket-work, light and yet strong. It u comfortably lined with padded gray American doth, with cane seats. Over the lockers at each end it u oblong, and there was ample room m it for the four aeronauts, their sdenufle instruments, laid oat on a wicker table, and for the hampers of provisions with which the travellers were to good cheer betwixt earth and heaven. The scientific instrumenu are of the finest quality, and comprise a hygrometer for the measurement of the moisture or dryness of the atmosphere, a peychrometer for meas uring the ter sion of aqueous vapor, an aneroid barometer and an extremely sensi tive metallic thermometer. The scientific equipment of the balloon was completed by some beautiful liule elect: ic lights, with their complement of charged batteries, among them being a tiny electric bull’s- eye lantern, the rays of which could be directed up on the balloon and search out any weak spot which mignt require atten- 3oo. gwrnrffiiiwi 11 iiiirm-Tiriirr'f- ni - - Courting Withbut Speech. Courting, from all accounts, is a pret ty tough job in Mexico. The young man is first supposed to moot the yonng lady on the plaza. They never apeak, but they always gaze at each otner as they pass. When the lady does not make her appearance on Hie plaza the young man will repair to the street fronting the house, and walk np and down in front of it for several hours. He will always gaze earnestly at the window as he passes. The yonng lady and her female friends are inside, and she will return his glance. After 10 o’clock the young man will go home. This performance is continued for a couple of months, and at last the yonng man will knock boldly at the door and ask for the lady of the house. He will tell her he is in despair. That her daughter is an angel from the Paradise valley of Heav en; that she is beautiful beyond compare; that she is better than she is beautiful; that he is wildly in love with her, and that life has no possible inter est for him unless he can win her. He will then tell of his prospects In life, what he is possessed of and hopes to be possessed of. If this latter part is satisfactory to the mamma, she will oommisserate with him, tell him that she has noticed his attentions to her daughter, and finally conclude by invit ing him to the inner circle aud introdu-. cing him to the yonng lady in the pres ence of the assembled family. The grandma (if there is a grandma in the family) will sit between the yonng people and witness their cooing. Ail the rest of the family remain in the room also, unless they are otherwise engaged, bnt under no circumstances must the young people be left alone a second. This, you will admit, is pretty tough, but that is not half what the yonng man must suffer before the padre closes the bargain and gives bim a proprietary in terest in his lady love. If, percharce, the young lady has a pair of big broth ers—and such is generally the case— the unfortunate swain is expected to treat them to mescal and cigarettes every time they meet. It a circus or a theatre company visit the town it is the prerogative of the young lady to ask all her female relatives to accompany her to the show, and the young man of course is expected and required to foot the bill. But the worst part of the business for the love-sick young man re mains to be told. He cannot walk by the side of his affianced on the way to or from the theater. She will start off ahead in company with some female friend, whi>e the voung man will bring up the rear on the arm of his grand mamma, or some equally venerable dame. This is the recognized and in violable custom of the country, and while it exists the American young man will not be a social success in Mexico. He cannot stand the racket. If the young oonple are very spoony they can be married in six months, though well regulated society demands a twelve months' courtship. The wedding is a simple affair enough, but usually consists of two ceremonies. There must be a civil marriage under the law, and the ladies invariably insist on a religions ceremony afterward. The marriage ceremony is conducted cheap ly, though I have been informed of a few instances where the grooms were Americans, and were, consequently, bled to the tune of $200. When the youug couple are married they can en joy the first real privacy of this acquain tanceship. Not even au hour oefore they are married will they be allowed a few moments of uninterrupted converse. All the tender nothings and sweet bill ing and cooing habitual to lovers in the United States are denied them, unless they choose to indulge in such luxuries before witnesses. Tuis rule of etiquette is carried to such an extent that a young lady’s reputation sutlers if she is seen for a moment alone in the company of a youug man. As an illustration of this I will give a little personal experience. There is a young girl in the fami'y, about 20 jears old. Bhe was educated in Ban Francisco, as were her mother aud lather, and as a consequence they are somewhat more progressive in cer tain matters than their neighbors. 1 formed the acquaintance of the tamily, and was invited to make a visit. I call ed at the house a 2 o’clock in the after- uoon. The mother was busy, and left the young lady to entertain me in the parlor. Boon a neighboring woman arrived unannounced. A look of terror seized my fair vis-a-vis, and with a flut ter she pointed to an adjacent door, and begged me to retire hastily. I did so, the door was closed immediately, and I found myself in a bed-room. There was no window, the only ventila tion being the door opening to the sit ting-room. Tuis being closed, you may imagine my condition, with the ther mometer 106 degrees in the shade. There, however, 1 had to remain ior full forty minutes, when the visiting lady took her departore. When the door was opened I was in a very amiable ana a very warm condition. Apologies, how ever, weie profuse. Both the mother and daughter spoke at the same time. Tney said that they formerly lived in the United States, and consequently were not so rigid in enforcing parlor rules when Americans were the visitors. Bat the sudden appearance cf the neighbor ing woman struck terror in the young lady, and in pitying tones she Informed me that if she was seen alone with me in the parlor her reputation would be torn to pieces m twenty-four hours. Such is the rigidity of etiquette in that country. A Thrilling Scene, At Perianportu, near Truio, England, the driver of a wagonette party, wander ing on the beach found his retreat out off by the tide. He essayed to climb the uiiffs, bat when half way up he found progress impossible. The ledge on which he was supported would only give space for one foot, and the ground to which he dung above was loose and crumbling. For some hours he endured this suspense, when the visitors descried him from above. The news spread and a crowd congregated, but none dared venture along the slight edge by which alone the man ooold be approached. To have thrown a rope would have been useless, for the effort to catch it would have certainly caused the poor fellow to fall. A coast guardsman named Began volunteered to be 1st down 100 feet over the face of the cliff, and whi]p he de scended the excitement was quickened tenfold. By a sudden effort the ooast- guardsman clasped the man with a strong grip, and they swung off the ledge together. Even then the danger was not at an end, bat • descent waa safely effected to a ledge below, whence access to the summit was gradually gamed. The spectators collected a good round ram for the gallant ojast-gnarda- man. An Indian Soars. 'j 1 1' The Lake Street House, Chicago, one of the earliest hotels of Cnioage, of which tne bibulous Mark Beaubien was mine host, stood near the river, on Lake street, and was, perhaps, the most popu lar hostelry of its time in the city. It is not generally known that thia house is still in existence, but such is in reality the case. It was removed one block northwest of its original site, where, in a much-improved and remodeled state, it now stands, bearing no suggestion of antiquity in its outward appearance. Many incidents are related of this hotel, aud of the scenes and incidents which occurred there. Some of these are well worth repeating, bnt limited space for bids the mention of more than one. Guests who stopped at the house and were given the beet chamber sometimes bad a strange and startling experience. A man wonld go to bed and sleep sound ly until just before dawn, when he would be awakened by a cry of “Indi ans, Indians. ’ At the same time some one would rush into the room, sratch the bed-clothing from the bed, and dart out again before the astonished guest could get his eyes 'airly opened. With visions of inforia'-ed savages, glancing tomahawks and flowing blood, the terri fied man wonld jump ont of bed, harry himself into his garments and bolt oat of the room, confident that a terrible Indian massacre was in progress. But imagine his overwhelming amazement and confusion when, on rushing into the cuisine of the hotel, where breakfast was in coarse of preparation, he wonld be corlly informed that be was alarming himself without cause—that there were no signs of an Indian outbreak or any distorbanoe of the peace whatever. To make the mystery more dense, nobody could tell him who the person was that had wakened him in such an outrageous manner. He would questioa everybody about the hotel, but each and all of them would wear a look of hopeless be wilderment, and either pronounce the whole affair a perplexing puzzle, or in sinuate that he had been dreaming. This same thing occurred at different times, and with different guests, always with the same result. The victims gen erally arrived at the conclusion that it was a practical joke, perpetrated by somebody in the hotel for his own indi vidual amusement. One night a man stopped at the house who had heard about this trick, and was prepared to bkffie the joker if any attempt should be made to deprive him of his morning nap. Sure enough, shortly before day light, he was aroused by a terrible com motion. His door was thrown open and somebody plnnged into the room, shout ing in thrilling tones: “Indians, Indi ans; quick, for your lives! The Indians are upon ns!” The bedclothes were whisked off the bed, and the mysterious intruder vanished. The man coolly rose, picked up the bedclothes from the floor, put them back in their place, crawled into bed again, and was soon enjoying a comfortable nap. Some tune later a hand shook him gently. He looked up into the anxions lace of the landlord. “Say, mister, it’s 6 o’clock; you’ll have to get up.” “Why, what’s the matter?” ‘ Well, breakfast ought to have been ready an hour ago, and we can’t finish it till you get up.” “Do you take me for the cook?’’ “No, but I want that sheet you’re ly ing on. It’s the only one in the house that can be nsed fora tablecloth, and we want to set the table,” That was the explanation. The Indi an scare was a ruse to get the sheet for the breaktast table. tsurnlnc Clothing. It is well to know that fire makes headway more rapidly in burning clothes when tbe endangered person Is standing up. The difference in progress between a burning lamplighter of twisted paper, held in tne hand perpendicularly, Jlaine down, and in tbe same paper laid flat on a marble heartn can be seen in a moment. The first thing to do when clothing catches fire is to he flat aud cover up the flames, if there is nothing within reach to smother it. if, as it is probable, there was a bed in tbe room where Miss Manship was standing, getting into the bed, between tbe blankkts, and rolling up in them, would have been a sure way of putting out the fire In a burning skirt or sleeve. The worst, the vety worst, thing to do was to run down stairs. Opening the door made one draught, the flight down stairs another, and rushing out into the sireet, in the last frenzied moment, the worst of alL The impulse to get out of doors is very strange in all such cases, because within the house there are always means for putting out a fire, and outside there are cone. Rugs, rag carpet torn off the kitchen floor, a heavy overcoat, blankets from the beds, even pieces of bedside carpet, put round the person in the twinkling of an eye, while water pails and pitchers are there to hand, ready to be emptied. In every case let the person whose clothes or hair has caught fire throw herself flat on the floor and roll upon the flame. It there is any thing in the room of thick woolen or carpets to smother it, even a gossamer waterproof cloak, snatch these and smother the fire while calling for help. If the fire has caught the hair, bury the head in bed-clothes. Fire cannot burn without air, and by shutting out all air from the flames, they must go out. But an open door fans the flames and a stand ing position gives them headway. Girls •re much more liabta, from their long, flowing hair, their cotton aprone. and, altogether, thinner aud more loosely bouf fant dress, to be set on fire than boya, whose stout cloth jackets are not easily ignited. The rules tor putting out Are in burning clothing may not be taught in the normal school, but every teacher ought to know them, and so thoroughly that even the fright of mounting flames will not drive them out of mind. Tre London Engineer, in referring to the power of the albatross,ita weight of twenty eight ponnds, its wings thir teen feet from tip to tip, and its ability to keep in motion for a whole day says: “We have in this bird a machine burn ing concentrated fuel in a large grate at a tremendous rate, and developing a very large power in a very small space. There is no engine in existence which, weight for weight, gives out anything like the mechanical power exhibited by the albatross. We were taught tnat the ability of flies to walk on the ceiling was owing to a power in their feet which enabled them to hold on by snotion. Bnt Mr. H. De Witz, of the Berlin Society of Natural History, has discovered an ex udation ot a sticky matter from the foot of a fly by fastening the insect on the under side of a plate and viewing it through a microscope. The edheaive matter seems to pass down through the' hollow of the hair. Probably the same method of holding un applies to ell in sects. OySteft throws on Trees. A peculiar case, tlat came up from the lower Court m a finding of facts by Judffo Culver, hw been on trial re cently, before the Supreme Court of Errors, Connecticut. It concerns a novel industry, unheard of outside this county—the artificial propagation of oysters on trees. Poquonoc River is a broad arm of Long Island Sourd, penetrating the Connecticut coast a few miles east of New London, dividing the great level sea meadows for three or four miles in land. The tide rises the whole length of the river. For years the waters of the Poquonoc River have been noted as producing the most delicious oysters known in the world. They outranked the famous “Blue[Points,” selling read ily at $10 a barrel When the latter might be bought for $5. On account of the thick black mud that plastered the bed of the river, and which is fatal to oys ter culture, only a small margin of the bottom, a rooky strip far in shore, could be utilized l)y the oyster-growers. Annually the oysters that had attached themselves to the rocks and other ob structions over this district were knocked off and sold at tempting pri ces, but there were not enough of them. It was not until three or four years ago that a speculative and inventive Yan kee devised a plan for extending the oyRbr cultivation upon the mud bot toms. He went into his woods and cut down a forest of tough, wiry white birches, dragged them to the bana, bore them in bis bo&t upon the river and dumped them overboard, taking care that they should be left at proper intervals on the bottom. He had an idea that the oyster spawn would come sailing along in the season, catch hold of the birch boughs, and grow into a fa bulous fortune for him. The idea was a good one, but not perfected. He al lowed the birch to lie a suitable time and then pulled them up. Every bough and twig was thick with half-grown bivalves, but the weight of the growing shells had dragged the brusii down into the fatal mud, and the oysters had perished by the million. Enlightened by his failure he made another trial. He planted the birches upright on the botcom, setting them at an angle with the current. The sub merged trees, as described in the judi cial hnding, were from fifteen to twenty feet in length, and the butts, which were three or four inches in diameter, were thrust three or four feet in the mud. Their tops just pricked through the waves at low tide. It is stated in the report of the Oyster Commission of the State that each female oyster will produce in the breeding season from 9,000,000 to 40,000,000 eggs, which float with the current and attach them selves as spat or spawn to any obstacle they encounter, in the breeding sea son that followed the planting of the birch trees, millions, billions of spat came floating down the current of IV quouoo River to the submarine forest. It was just what they wanted—a ready made home. They drifted as thick as snowflakes to the bending boughs and pliant twigs. Singly they were so small as to be almost invisible, but their legion speckled the trees with brownish patches. Finally every branch and twig was covered, but apparently there was no diminution in the army of floating immigrants. The new-com ers multiplied on the speckles already attached until there were dozens in a bunch. It requires two years for an oyster spawn or spat to reacn maturity. From a mere speck It' will grow in a month or six weeks to the size of a quarter of a dollar. In two years an acre of brush wdl produce 1000 bushels of full-grown oysters. The trees bowed under their load of growing shells, but the elastic wood kept the fruit clear of mud. At the end of a few months it was seen that the oyster orchards pro mised an astonishing harvest. All the oystermen along the river were anxious to try their hand at the new style of oyster farming. Under the law of the State tbe mud bottom on each side of the 100-foot channel was staked and set off in plats to a dozen or more appli cants to be planted with oyster trees. Boon both sides of Poquonoc River, from its head for a long way toward the sea, was bristling with sunken birches waving an ebbing and flowing welcome to the drifting spat. Among the marine horticulturists was Gideon F. Raymond, the plaintiff, who in the years 1879-80-81 placed upon his plats, in all, about 6700 white birches. One encouraging crop of oys ters had been gathered from tne trees, the forests replanted, and the cultiva tors were looking forward to a second and larger harvest, when an event oc curred which provoked the present suit in Court, and has nearly ruined the business of raising oysters on trees. In May, 1881, scarlet fever and diphtheria broke out in the village 'and neighbor hood of Poquonoc and soon assumed the most virulent character. The dis eases raged through the spring ami summer. Out of fifty cases twenty terminated fatally. The distress was terrible. The village was barred off from the rest of the world. Few per sons dared to cross the plague-stricken district. Out-door work was in part or wholly abandoned. The streets were seldom disturbed except by the passing of a funeral train. Often in the same house two aud three persons lay dead at the same time. Tne well had all they could do to wait on the ill md bury tne dflM. In the general ter ror and fever of excitement some imagi native person rushed to the conclusion that the pestilence was caused by oys ter brush decaying on the mud plats. He whispered nis suspicion abroad. In a moment tbe villagers were aflame with resentment against the owners of the oyster-beds. “Pull up the trees at once and burn them on the river banks,” was the wild demand. Few men were calm enough to investigate or brave enough to resist the popular clamor, in the town of Groton, in which is Poquonoc villt,ge, the selectmen and Peace Justices constitute tne Hoard of Health. Nearly all the members were either large oyster bed owners or sym pathizers. They were impelled to make an investigation. They pulled up some trees. The odor from them was not unwholesome. They examined a filthy pig-sty and said in their report: “Here lies the cause of the epidemic. ” “Down with the oyster-brush Board of Health!' 1 was the last leply of the stricken vil lagers. An appeal was sent to Dr. Charles W. Chamberlain, Chairman of the State Board of Health. He visited and examined the oyster plats. He re turned to Hartford and wrote back an order that the Local Hoard remove the trees at once, .saying that the rotting brush had poisoned the air. The Lo cal Hoard proceeded to act, but were met by an injunction served by the fishermen who owned the beds. There upon the citizens held a special town meeting, electing anti-brush men as officers, Who formed A hew Board of Health. The new Board called a hear ing, at which the anti-brush men were represented by the Hon. Thomas M» Waller, the present Governor of the State. Gideon F. Raymond appealed with the other oystermen in opposition. The excitement at the bearing was so fierce that Mr. Raymond was glad to escape from the audience-room and from the town. The Board decided that the brush must be taken up. W. S. Fisn and Thomas W. Noyes were appointed a committee to execute the task. A dozen men were hired to pull up the trees. They worked industriously from late in the autumn of 1881 till the spring of 1882 before their work was accom plished. The trees were found to be covered with oysters in all stages of growth. Every bough and twig was bent with the load. They were thrown in a rattling heap on the shore, where they were frozen and died by the cart loads. It was found that most of tho crop of the year 1879 were flt for mar ket, and many of the year 1880 were in like condition. The oysters on trees planted latest, though only a few weeks old, were as large as silver quarter dol lars. Many were found no larger than a shad scale. Raymond promptly brought suit against the Board of Health, claiming $25,000 damages. His legal statement was. first, that the Board was not a legally constituted body; second, that they were respons ible as a Board for any mistake they might have mado, and, third, that it was conferring extraordinary powers on any Boat'd to authorize them to des troy property merely at their own ca price. The case came before the Su perior Court in New London last fall. The Court-room was thronged. The most interesting evidence for the oyster brush men was furnished by Captain James M. Buddington, of Groton, a l>olar whaler and explore:- and owner of an oyster forest. He estimated that 500 bushels of oysters had been des troyed on the Raymond lot alone, though the greater part of the crop was not a quarter grown. He said that he had- seen from fourteen to twenty five bushels of oysters on a single tree. He presented in Court two or three twigs of birch that were loaded with oysters. During the trial the merits of the Pb- quonoc River oysters were thoroughly discussed. In the opinion of one ex pert cultivator their delicious flavor was due in part to tne strong solution of iron brought down in the streams from the rocky hillsides of inland,towns. All the witnesses asserted that the Po quonoc oyster was entirely free from the hard substance that injures the quality of other kinds. One Poquonoc enthusiast said that they were the finest oysters in the world on the half-shell. Tne scarlet fever aud dipiitheria ceased to be epidemic in Poquonoc on Septem ber 1,1881, though cases of malarial fever, an unusual disease in tne town, appeared later. Wolves and Dogs. flow ia it that thS wolf of Russia Is so amch more formidable an enemy to the human race than his French or German brothei? Writers and novelists of ail ages have accused this ubiquitous quad ruped of treachery, stealthiness and ferocity, until children, wno take their impressions from books and not from experience, have come to regard him as the inearnation of that is mean, blood thirsty, tricky, and dangerous, “Truth compels me, however,” says Lieutenant Colonel Richard Irving Dodge, of the U.ute 1 State: Army, “to affirm that of ail tne carnivorous animals of equal size and strength he is the most harmless to beast and the least dangerous to man. He will not even attack when wounded; and though he will snap at pursuing dogs in self-defense, he never follows up the advantage given him by his sharp teeth and powerfni jaws, bnt takes to flight as fast as he can.” These words, written about the buffalo woif of the American plains, tall, gaunt, lean and hungry looking, may with equal truth be applied to his congener in Brittany and Poitou, In the former province wolves are rarely seen, although they commit terrible nocturnal depredations among sheep, calves and dogs. Such, however, is their cowardice, that every Breton farmer is in the habit of sending his flock of sheep ont to pasturage dur ing the day with a little child, pfteu a girl not more than 6 or 7 years of age, in charge of them, and nothing is more uncommon than for the hungry marau der, who lies licking his chops on the edge of the adjoining thicket, to issue forth from his fastness and pounce upon a sheep so long as the infantile repre sentative of the lord of creation is close at hand. At night, however, the wolf is bolder, aud will scale walls and scratch his way through the thatched roof of the sheepfold to get at his prey. Strange as it may seem, the dog—es pecially if he- be *of the smooth-haired breed, like the pointer or fox terrier— has more attractions for the “canis lupus,” whose relative or descendant he is generally believed to be, than the woolly sheep. “When a wolf is hungry,” writes an English gentleman who has long resided in Brittany, “and smells an appetizing dog, he will spring upon huu and cany him off, even under the nose ;of his master. It is certain, in fact, that the wolf prefers a dog to any other prey. When I was at Hnelgoet three years since a wolf jumped over the wall of the hotel yard and carried off a dog whose piteous howls awoke the entire village. An empty collar, sospended at the end of the ohaio, and covered with blood, bore testimony to the untimely fate of its late wearer.” The hvely author of “Wolf-hnnting in Brittany relates that a Breton peasant named Antoine lived some years since with his wife in the Forest of Dualt or “Black Rock.” A heavy snow-storm had fallen to the monntains, and for several nights in succession Antoine found it necessary to protect Ms there’ sheep by admitting them to hi* hat. Six or seven wolves paced around his dwelling all night, uttering the most dismal howls; bat a large wood-fire and the presence of man kept off the fam ished besiegers. At last the peasant and his wife fell asleep, and the fire burnt low. A sudden dash was made at the roof, and five jaunt wolves leaped down into the hut Before Antoine ooold strike a light the three sheep were devoured and a favorite little dog was swallowed at a gulp, and then the in vaders sprang upon an old oaken cap- board and disappeared through the roof. Profeeeor Treadwell, of Massachu setts, found that a half-grown American robin in confinement ate in one day sixty eight worms, weighing together once and a half as much as the bird himself, and another had previously starved upon a daily allowance of eight to ten worms,or about 20 per cent of his own weight, AGRICULTURE. Thx drat few years of the life of an apple tree la the most important peried for exercising care and diligence in re gard to pruning. A well-known pomo- logist once said that he could grow a model apple orchard and • never prune with any other implement than a jack knife. He wonld begin with the tree as soon as it was taken from the nurse ry, and would at onoe begin to form rite future top. Then is the time to avoid crotches, whioh will be almost sure to split in after years, and to begin at the top at the right height and in the proper shape. One is apt* to begin at the top too low; it looks higher on a small tree than on a large one. It may not be desirable for the general grower to undertake to do all his pruning by means of a knife, but he can always use it to good advantage. Excessive prun ing of large trees should always be avoided. Thb striped bag, wnich destroys youug plants, is a great obstacle to su- cumber culture. Yarious expedients are resorted to in attempts at protection against this pest. An efficient remedy is sprinkling the plants and surface of the hills, while wet with ashes, soot and superphosphate. There is probably no better remedy than soot when this can be obtained in snffloient quantity. Box es with mosquito-netting or glass for the top are cheaply and readily made, and when placed over the hills prevent the bugs irom their work of destruo- tiod. Early Hoeing,—By this we do not mean hoeing early in the season, but early in the morning. In the early morning the dew is on and this is charg ed with an anailable amount of ammo nia, whioh, of course, feeds the roots below. If the surface is neglected a crust forms and the air does not circu late in the soil Get the farm hands to begin work a oonple of hoars earlier in the morning and give them the same time at noon to rest. Stir the Soil.—This cannot bo too strongly urged upon farmers. Thor ough pulverization of the soil is some times worth an extra dressing of ma nure. Two fields, lying side by side, were sown in wheat. One was plowed and harrowed the usual way while the other was harrowed five tunes. The result was that the latter gave seven bushels more to the acre than the for mer. Chickens, when first hatched, should not be harried ont of the setting nest For twenty-four hours at least from the time the earliest commence to show themselves, it is better to leave them under or with the hen mother. They need no food for from a day to a day and a half usually. When they get strong enough to venture from beneath their mother’s wings it is time to move the brood. A Du Page, III., farmer claims that for three consecutive years he has ob tained sound apples free from worms on trees in his orchard by lowing three or four quarts of salt under each tree,while the fruit on trees not so salted was all injured or ruined by the codling moth. The ground in this case was under cul tivation. and he had never tried the salt remedy on trees growing in ground that was seeded down. It will cost but little to try the salt remedy, add now is tbe time to do it. Very careful experiments made in New York last season show that the flat culture of potatoes produces the finest tubers and the largest yields. The beet results followed the Dutch method of planting, which consists of keeping the surface of the ground level, planting a single eye in a place, covering it six itches deep and allowing bnt a single stalk to grow in a hill, which are a foot apart each way. A correspondent of the Farmer» Review has preticed daring several winters the plan of keeping apples in dry sand, poured into the filled barrels after storing in the cellar, and finds it a “decided improvement” on any other ever tried, the fruit remaiaing till late spriug“as crisp and apparently as fresh as when first gathered.” He does like wise with potatoes, and uses the same sand year after year. Thistles in Oats.—When thistles ap pear in oats their tops may be mown off a week or two before the oats shoot np into heauing. At this time the thistles are several inches higher than the oat leaves. If cut then, blossomidg and seeding are not only prevented, but the short stubs of thistles fall out of the bundles in binding and leave the straw clean. Moles Protect Strawberries.—An Indianapolis, Indiana,fruit grower says: “Last year I put twelve moles in my strawberry patch of five acres to oaten the grubs, and they did the work. I never had a dozen plants injured during the summer, either by the grubs or moles. I know some people do not care for moles on their farms, bnt I want them in my strawberry patch.” Imi practice ot some of the best far mers now is to keep pigs through the snmmer on green food, out and carried to the pens, with a little grain,and what milk can be spared after untter-making. Spring pigs are thns made to weigh 200 pounds at raven months old, and,exoapt in the last month, they get little grain. The beet time to qell such pigs is at the beginning of cold weather, usually in October. Melon Vines.—A writer states that he has positively driven bugs away from his vines by putting a gallon of clean sand around every vine. Where sand can be obtained this is a very con venient protection against a very bad enemy, and a single trial may satisfy any one whether it is i fifcctuaL The fat on a cow known to be a large and rich milker will mostly go into the cream pot during the season. It is never safe to bny a milk cow in poor condition, as she will require heavy feed ing, or make poor thin milk. Cut griss when in bloom, and it will make more nutritive hay than if oqi later. The amount of water has di minished, and therefore shrinkage will be less. In late-cut hay the increased fiber make, it more indigestible. As soon as onions show sign* 0 f mag got work, pull the affected ones by the roots, and carry them from tbe rtaiq. Children can do this work, and many onions can thus be saved, aa no worm oau destroy more than a single plant. THE VERDICT -or— THE PEOPLE BUY THE BEST! Ms. J. O. Boao—Dear Sir: I bought the lint Davis Machine gold by you over live yean ago for my wife, who has given it a long and fair trial. I am well pleased with It. It never gives any rouble, and la aa good as when hint bought. J. W. UOMCE. Winns boro, S. C., April 1883. Mr. Boao: You wish to Know what T have to aay in regard to the Davis Machine bought of von three f ears ago. I feel 1 can’t say too much In Ita favor. mode about $80,00 within live months, at times ruhnlng It so fast that the needle would get per fectly hot from friction. I feel confident I could not have done the same work with as much ease and so well with any other machine. No time lost In adjusting attachments. The lightest running machine 1 have ever treadled. Brother James and Williams’ families are as much pleased with their Davis Machines bought ot you. I want no better machine. As I said before, I don’t think too much can be said for the Davis Machine. Respectfully, ELLIN STIVINSON, Falrfl“ld County, April, 1883. Mr. Boao : My machine gives me perfect satis faction. I find no fault with it. The attachments are so simple, i wish for no better than the Davis Vertical Feed. Respectfully. Mrs. R. Mili.iho. Fairfield county, April, 1883. Mr. Boao: I bought a Davis vertical Feed ewmg Machine from you four years ago. I am slighted with it. It never has given me any rouble, and has never been the least out of order. It is as good aa when I first bought it. I can cheerfully recommend It. Respectfully, Mrs. ji. J. Kirkland. Montlcelio, April 30,1888. A This Is t<> certify that I have been using a Dans Vertical Feed Sewing Machine for over two years, purchased of Mr. J. O. Hoag. I haven’t found 11 possessed of any fault—all the attachments are ao simple. It never refuses to work, and Is certainly the lightest running In the market. I consider it a first-class machine. Very respectfully, Minnii M. Willingham. Oakland, Fairfield county, 8. C. Mr Boao : i am weu pieaseu in every particui with the Davis Machine bought of you. I think a first-class machine in every respect. You knew you sold several machines of the same make to different members of our families, all of whom, as far as 1 know, are well pleased with them. Respectfully, Mas. M. H. Mobley. Fairfield county, April, 1883. This isto certify we nave naa m constant use the Davis Machine bonght of you about three years ago. As we take In work, and have made the price of it several times over, we don’t want any better machine. It Is always ready to do any kind of work we have to do. No puckering or skipping stitches. We can only say we are well pleased ana wish no better machine, Catherine Wylie and Sister. April 25,1883. I haye no fault to find with my machine, and don’t want any better. I have made the price of It severe, times by taking In sewing. It Is always ready to do Its work. I think It a first-class ma chine. I feel I can t say too much for the Davis Vertical Feed Machine. Mrs. Thomas Smith. Fairfield county, April, 1883. Mr. J. O. Boao—Dear Sir: It gives me much pleasure to testify to the merits of tbe Davis Ver tical Feed Sewing Machine. The machine I got of you about five years ago. has been almost In con stant use ever since that time. I cannot see that it Is worn any, aud has not cost me one cent for repairs since we have had it. Am well pleased and don’t wish tor any better. Yours tru'y, Robt. Crawford, Granite Quarry, near Winnsboro S. C. We have used the Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine for the last five years. We would not have any other make at any pnee. The machine has given us unbounded satisfaction. Very respectfully, Mrs. W. K. Turner and Daughters Fairfield county, S. C„ Jan. 2T, 1888. Having bonght a Davis Vertical Feed Sewing Machine from Mr. J. O. Bong some three yean ago, and It having given me perfect satisfaction In everv respect as a tamily machine, both for heavy and light sewing, and never needed the least re pair In any way, I can cheerfnliy recommend It to any one as a first-class machine In every particu lar, and think it second to none. It is one of the simplest machines made; my children use It with all ease. The attachments are more easily ad justed and it does a greater range of work by means of its Vertical Feed than any other ma chine I have ever seen or used. M *s. Thomas owings. Winnsboro, I-airfield county, 8. C. , We have had one of the Davis Machines about four years and have always found it ready to do all kinds of work we have had occaaton to da Can’t see tnat the machine Is worn any, and works as well aa wnen new. — o^ w .4 AAG AAA4MV/UAAAw 11ref been ont of order since she had It. and she c any kind of work on Ik Very Respectfully, Montlcelio,' Fairfield county, 8. O** *' ,UI Ridgeway, N. C., Jan. 10. 1883.' any repairs and works just as well as whei bought She says it will do a gres" r ru practical work and do it easier and bettei any maculae she has ever used. We chw recommend It as a Na 1 family machine. Your tnty, Winnsboro, 8. C., Jan. 3, isss^* 8, ^ DAV M*. Boao : I have always found my Dai chine ready do all kinds of to work Ihave I •anion to do. I cannot see that the wom a particle and it works ss weilas wh« Respectfully, Winnsboro, S. C., April,*1 Sit,^ C ' GoODI ¥7 wlfe h *s been constantly the Davis Machine bonght of you about five Sjto. I have never regretted baying it a always ready for any kind of family sewing n *paire r l ^ ht ’ 1111 neTer 001 of otd Very respectfully. A. w. I re Fairfield, 8. C., March, 1881. \ f.