The people. (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911, April 28, 1904, Image 2
?Mynheer Toe.
BY ST. QEORQE PATH BORNE.
CHAPTER III.
LCootiBWd.1 -
*Vmi I hmd a shot Just beside me.
Wltk ? borrar I cant explain, I
VfehM arooi to see the black devil
of ? trsltor ilalni a revolver, from
tbs ainle of wblcb smoke still coded,
fkacnl Gordon bad bis bsnd pressed
la Ma heart, and I could see tbe blood
lihtlbf over bis fingers. Tlaat eight
win bannt me all my life! I who
law seen many strange snd terrible
dhlags In mj time csn never forget
akat happened on that awful 2Gtb
day of January.
"I knew tbe brave Gordon had re
ceived bis death-wound at the hand*
of one wao had even fought at bla
tod*, and the consciousness that the
?ell bear bad come seemed to turn mj
wet j blood Into molten lava.
"Fearful sounds arose all over
a nartoom. for the aighal hod been
given that was to Indicate Gordon's
downfall. The enemy assaulted the
walls, a portion of the late defenders
JsAned them, and Khartoom became
tbe scene of a massacre too terrible
Car words.
*1 assure yon. my friends, I did not
aland Idle while sll this was going on.
Ha sooner did 1 see tbe falling hero at
say side, when, quick as the lightning
ttosvas the clouds, my sword leaped
ban Its acsbbard. Giving a true
Yankee yell I sprang at the assassin,
lbs descending blade cleft his miser
able skull to the chin, snd through all
daw I aball never cease to rejoice that
It was the arm of an American that
avenged Gordon's death.
"What happened after that is more
Uke m dream than a reality to me. but
? X aball give it for what it is worth. I
remember plunging Into the thick of
tbe fight. All around me arose the
naost fearful sounds of a desperate
battle. while throcgb Khartoom rang
tbe shrieks of poor women and the
ahoats of exulting demons; for the
black horde had swarmed over the
walla, and. In their great fury, seemed
to ape re none.
"More than one went down before
aay sword and revolvers, for, expect
ing only death, 1 fought as a madman
aalght.
. "In the midst of the melee, covered
with grime and blood. I could hardly
be distinguished from or.- of the trait
or-soldlers who had at last turned
apon their general. Suddenly my
body was clasped by a pair of
hands from behind, and I found my
aelf hurled to the ground.
N "Naturally I expected .nstant death.
When, to *ny surprise, a voice called
to my ear: -
" 'Feign death! I would save the
sahib!*
"It was my falthl'ul servant Kas
oee, whom I had brought from Bom
bay. I hardly know why I obeyed
' him; It must have been because I had
ao little power to resist, for life did
not seem worth any trouble Just then.
?"He dragged me into the house that
overlooked the river and there se
creted me. All through tho day I
beard the shouts of the victorious
hordes as they thronged through
Khartoom. Something bad come into
my mind, and I found that I had -ti
object to live for, n mission to per
form. The news nf Gordon's death
most be carried to his people, and I
bad come to the conclusion tlint of
all the faithful within the walls of
Khartoom, Joe Miner was the only
living soul that remained.
"Night came, and faithful Ivnssce
made his appearance. He had dis
guised himself as one of the enemy,
and thus escaped the common fato
that befell tbe defenders of the city.
"From him I learned that a clever
scheme Lad been arranged whereby
we could make our escape down the
riser. The water was very low, but
Gordon had several small, liglit
draught steamers for use upon the
apper waters of the Nile. One of
these lay not more thnn a stone's
throw down the river, tied to the
bank.
"Kassee's bright plan was for us to
drop Into the river from the back of
tbe bouse, wade down to the boat,
climb aboard and, aided by tbe dark
ness, cast her adrift. When some dis
tance down the river, we could light a
Are, stsrt op steam and, as soon as
daylight came, make good progress
north.
?There waa something fascinating
about the adventure, particularly as
It promised to be our ouly chance.
"Acting under the Instructions of
my faithful Kassee I clambered
through the slit of a window in the
aaad wall ?if the house, lowered iuy
aelf by pieans of the convenient rope,
aad finally stood knee-deep In the wa
ters of the Nile below, waiting.
"When the ex-sepoy joined me,"
continued Mynheer Joe, "we began to
creep along down in tho direction o:
^ little ateamcr. It was guarded,
hat Kaesee knew where the sentry
was posted, and ho attended to his
case while I got ready to unfasten the
ropes.
**I heard a single splash, but not a
cry. Then Kassee came to me and de
clared everything was working all
right. Wo pushed out Into the stream
and began to leave the doomed city
behind. As yet discovery had not
co see.
_ "K will not dwell on this part of iny
trip, In the morning we got up stonin
aad began to make good headway.
''Until half way to tho Second Cat a
tact we were not molested. Then a
troop of scouting followers of tho
Mabdl sighted us, and riding Into tho
river attempted to take the steamer.
"We had prepared for tble. There
waa a small cannon on board, which
wo kept :n readiness for Just such an
emergency as this, and when we aent
Ha content a Into the mldet of the black
rascals they scattered to tbe wlnde.
"Below, we bad another fight, and
?Ms time they very nearly took tbs
wmI, bat *ar flea waa a trifle too
warm, and they finally allowed us to
to on.
"As w drew scar the cataract we
knew we would have to abandon the
little steamer, but we bad determined
to continue the voysge In ber light
yswl. wblch could be carried around
tbe cataract tj two stout men.
"This was finally done, and we kept
on down tbe river. Fortune bad been
kind until now. We ran upon some
hippopotami, and In a rage one of tbe
monsters crushed our boat. It was In
tbe night. 1 believe my poor Kassee
must have fallen a victim to the sav
age beasts, for I saw blm no more.
"My own escape waa very miracu
lous. I landed a mile down the stream.
At break of day I pushed on. Pato
threw me In with a native, who car
ried me aa far as the First Cstaract
In his boat. Here I met an English
hunter, a bold fellow who. with some
guides, had been up the river shooting
river horses, as he called the hippo
potami.
"He was horrified at my news, and
gladly gave me a place In his comfort
able boat, after which we set out for
Cairo, hundreds of miles away.
"All went well until we were about
two dsys' run above the city, when a
audden squall took us unawares; tbe
boat capsized, and I found myself
wrecked sgaln In tbe darkness.
"I spent weary hours clinging to the
hatch which had somehow come un
der my hands. Several times boats
came near me in tbe morning, but no
one would take me off. They pre
tended not to hear me; In fact, I
might as well have been a thousand
miles away for all they noticed me.
You see, they have a dread of being
held as witnesses, and If part of u
boat's crew Is lost there must be a
legal Inquiry, which will compel them
to be in town and lose time from their
work.
"As the day was passing I felt that 1
must leave my raft and try to gain tho
distant shore, where the railroad runs
unless soon rescued. Just then this
boat came down the river, running
close by. 1 called to the captain, tell
ing blm I was from Khartooin, with
news of Cordon; he at once put about
and came to my rescue. The rest you
already know, my friends."
Thus Mynheer Joe finishes his story.
It has not taken a great while to tell
the facts, but volumes could be filled
with the details. He endeavors to
control himself when speaking of Gor
don's death, but It Id evident that
event has made a powerful impression
on the sturdy explorer, who ho often
has fought side by side with tbe Chris
tian hero.
Sandy has ceased making his hiero
glyphics upon tbe pages of his note
book. His face beams with enthusiasm
at the thought of being fi?-st with this
authentic account of Gordon's death.
At the sa me time, out of respect for
tbe feelings of Mynheer Joe, be en
deavors to subdue ibis mark of Jour
nalistic pride and appear sober, but it
is really beyond him.
As for Mr. Grimes, lie has observed
the narrator wilh deep interest all the
while he tells of tbe strange things
which happened to him. Whatever is
passing in the mind of the silver king
he does not allow it to be shown upon
his face, which is as expressionless us
that of the Sphinx.
The messenger from Khartooin sits
there tor a brief Interval, with that
look of sadness on ills face. as though
the thoughts surging through his mind
have been too much for him.
"Come, rouse yourself, my boy! You
are among friends at last, thank
heaven, nnd will be the lion of Cairo
when it is publicly known that you
were with gallant Gordon when he
fell." eays Snndy. but the other holds
up his hand, and says quietly:
"That is a distinction I do not cntve.
Somehow I feel guilty in not leaving
my nody beside Gordon. At best, I
see nothing to boust of in having es
caped his fate."
"The brave are ever modest." says
Sandy. "At least, j*ou will make a re
port to the proper officials to-morrow
and verify my dispatches V"
"Yes, a very brief one. That is only
Just. I would, for certain reasons of
my own which you cannot understand,
keep it as quiet as possible."
"Just so!" remarks the r liver king.
In such a peculiar way that Mynheer
Joe glances at blm, and then finds his
attention caught by a photograph on
the wall, which he sees for the first
time.
"That face again! Whose picture
have we here'/" ho demands, with
an alarming interest
CHAPTER IV.
1 KNOW HIM A8 MYNHEER JOE."
Sandy turns his head and sees what
has attracted the explorer's attention.
He smiles, too. for the words of Myn
heer Joe would Indicate that this' is
not the first time his eyes have rested
on the picture or Its original.
"That is the dnugliter of the gen
tleman who hires the daliabeah upon
which we are Just now," returns the
war correspondent.
"Name?" asks Joe.
"Demosthenes Tnnner."
"Can It be possible!"
"That is her father, of course. The
glil "
"Stupid! It was her name I asked
for."
"Ah. I see. She is called Molly," re
plies Sandy, with a wink Iti tbe di
rection oi* T?n\ Crimes, who fu, liow-*
ever, too deeply interested In watching
Mynheer Joe's face to notice aught
else. He seems to be not a little fasci
nated by something in connection with
tbe other.
"Molly? A pretty name. 8omehow
It Just seems to fit those features.
Molly Tanner Is It? Good! I will
remember. What a strange freak
6f fate that I should be picked up by
her father's b~at of all on the river I
Mynheer Joe Is muttering to himself,
*? Indulging in some reml*
juaccnct oC tae |om; at ?ufcut muiw jmm
?fiT>a vpoo Mi meter van Mi
bMPnl tfc?ih always itrlklag Cmc.
Ertdentlj the tlMfbta that (Up lata
kla mind aia pleasaat ones.
It Is not la the nature of Sandy Bar
loir to let a comrade cajoy a went
alone. Not that be has any desire to
be meddlesome, bat be wishes to ebare
the Joy ae well aa the Borrows of tboes
la wbose company be travels life's
highway. Hence be nods his wise lit*
tie bead safely, sad. cocking It oa
one side la a manner peculiar to him
self. be remarks:
"I say. Joe. this Isn't the first time
tu?t face ha a !??Nd before your en
ehsnted Vision? Owa op, now. like
a man. We're all In lore with the
divine Molly; every single man In
Cairo at this hour yesrns for her
smiles, and you will be only one of
?cores. Speak up, man: Where did
you ever meet her? I've never heard
her mention your name, to my knowl
edge, and. by Jove, she thought yon
were n Dutchman, when she sent me
down here! Leave It to Grimes If It
ain't so.**
? Mynheer Joe smiles.
"For once, friend Sandy, yon have
hit the bull's eye. I have met this
lady l>efore."
"And still she does not recognise
your name ? that by which the whole
world of scientific geographers has
learned to call you? When she spoke
of Mynheer Joe she showed no emo
tion. and, as I said before, told us
to do all for the poor unfortunate
German we could. She even wanted
to come herself to bear of Gordon.
He's her hero, you know, as he is of
many thousands. Yes, and we bad
even to promise to bring . you back
with us. So, what do you say to
that?"
"I suppose I shall have to go. A
woman's will Is law, generally, espe
cially one whose face is as charming
as that photo betrays."
"But. your former meeting?" ham
mers the man of pencil and note-book,
who does not deviate from a course
he may linva marked out, and, as a
consequence, generally gets there with
both feet.
"Ah. you will have it, Sandy,"
laughs the other.
"Why not? There Is something ec
centric about It, I'll be bound. You
didn't meet Molly in the ordinary or
thodox way. or you'd know her name,
while she could never forget yours."
"Well, you see It's a poor place to
ask for n name when suit water. Is
running into mouth and eyes," returns
Mynheer Joe.
The correspondent appears to havo
received a tremendous shock, for. sud
denly springing to his feet, he clutches
the explorer by the arm to whirl him
around so that he may look In his
face.
"Confusion! Were you the hero of
that little episode at Malta n year
ago?" he demands.
"I don't know about being a hero,
but I did have the extreme pleasure
of jumping from my sailboat and sav
ing,* from a watery grave, a young
girl who had fnllen overboard from a
boat that nearly upset in a squall,'*
returns the man from Khartoom, mod*
estly.
Mr. Grimes puckers up his lips as
if to whistle, and his whole manner
says: "So, that's the way the wind
blows, is It, coming events cast a
shadow before."
As for Sandy, he shrugs his shoul
ders nud pretends to look dreadfully
disappointed, though there is a twinkle
in his eye that tells of a sly humor.
You cannot always take Sandy as he
appears, lie lias often turned out to
be a 6ly rogue. _
"And then you sailed away, without
even leaving your nntue, nor has the
young lady ever been able to learn
who it was so gallantly jumped over
board after her. One thing is settled
-you've got a clear road there, Joe.
Not another inau will have a chance
when once Molly recognizes you as her
preserver."
Instead of looking flattered the par
ty addressed has something of a bored
appearance. A man who hns devoted
his life to science nnd exploration has
no business to fall in love. Ills heart
is supposed to bt? wrapped up In his
work.
"Don't mention it, Sandy. I beg. I
was bound upon a very curious errand
at the time nnd didn't mean to be rude,
but time was money. I could spend
the minutes saving a girl's life but
deliver me from an hour of thanks
from her relatives. When I got buck
to Malta they had gone."
? [To be Continued.]
otr*nfl? bounds at 8ea.
It is a well-established fact that the
JnieH8Pread 88,18 ?f a 8h|P- when ren
dered concave by a gentle breeze, are
excellent conductors of sound. The
celebrated Doctor Arnott relates the
following circumstance a3 a practical
proof of this assertion:
*rt,b|,Pn ?nCe 8a,,,n& a,?ng thf
coast of Brazil, far out of sight of land
Suddenly, several of the crew, wh!l?
walking along tho deck noticed that
when passing and repassing a part leu
1st spot they always heard with greal
distinctness the sound of bells chlm
ng sweet music, as though being rung
but a short distanco away. Dura
founded by this phenomenon, thej
quickly communicated the discover)
to their mates, but none of them was
able to solve the enigma as to the
origin of these seemingly mysterious
sounds.
8everal months afterward, upon re
turning to Hrazll, some of the llstpn
ers determined to satisfy their curl
oslty. Accordingly they mentioned the
circumstance to their friends, and
were Informed that at the tlmo when
the soi.nds wero heard the bells In the
fathet'fal at Han Salvador, on the
ooas'., had been ringing lo celebrate o
feart held in honor of one of tho
salr.fs.
Their sound, wonderful to relate,
favored by a gentle, steady breeze,
had. traveled a distanco of upward ol
on* hundred miles over the water, and
had been brought to a focus by the
sails at the particular locality In
which the sweet sounds were first
toard.
This Is but one of several instance*
of a similar kind, trustworthy authori
ties claiming that It has often happen
ed under somewhat similar circum
stances. To this class of phenomena
Is doubtless due a great many stories
?bout mysterious voices and other
sounds heard on the ocean.
KURIL.
To raise squubs successfully a house
that will be free from dampness and
rats i? needed, for If rata once get a
squab It Is nlmost Isapoaslble to keep
them out of your basas It la best to
bare tiro or more nssts for each pair,
for some pilrs breed rery fast, sod if
tbcre are not euoufb nests they will
flgbt instead of breeding. It pays to
keep your Luu?? cittu sui free from
lice.
iMdlU Uttk Chick*.
There Is greater danger of over-feed
ing than under-feeding llttio chicks.
A cblck. like a baby, comes into the
world with its digestive organs both
empty and weak, hence it is necessary
that It be fed with the greatest tare,
and not too much. By following this
plan It will be seen that the digestive
organs will be able to dissolve and ab
sorb the food that goes into them in
a satisfactory manner. A newly
hatched chick Is a very Insignificant
creature. If its size and present con
dition alone be considered. The true
fancier, however, will look beyond the
lays of the downy coat and will strive
to assist the chick in its efforts to at
tain full maturity as a healthful speci
men of its kind, and the critical time
it the chick's life, after it leaves the
ihell. is the first ten days. If It starts
>ff all right and passes the ten-day
nark It Is all right, provided sudden
;hanges are uot made In its food. On
Ills subject we hope to publish the
rlews of some of the most practical
and successful poultry raisers in the
future, for these are they who know
ichereof they speak.? Green's Fruit
^wer.
I.ow-11 citCefl Apple Trees.
Green's Frnit Grower proposes to
continue talking about low headed
fruit trees of all kinds, and particularly
about low beaded apple trees. ? The
lay is passed when intelligent fruit
growers can be found training their
apple trees so high that it requires a
balloon to get high enough to gather
Ihe fruit. Think for a moment of the
inference between gathering the fruit
>f the tree whose branches nlmost rest
apon the earth, md the gathering of
fruit where the llrst branches are from
ten to twenty feet high and the top
branches thirty to forty feet high.
Nearly double the amouut of apples
?an be picked by oue man in a dny
from the low headed trees than can ha
picked from the high headed trees.
Then consider the danger in picking
from those very high trees, and the
dme spent in going up and down the
ladders and in moving tall, heavy lad
fiers around. The ordinary planter
ased to head his apple trees at about
five feet from the ground at planting,
[n future years he kept cutting away
the lower branches, constantly raising
the head of the tree. My advice is to
Itart the heads of api#'o tr-? not high
er than four feet from the ground, and
keeping the head low.
Horse* la Demand.
The outlook for the horse industry
iras never before more promising.
With the progress of national develop
nent has materialized Increased de
mand for horses. So pronounced has
been the enlarged use of horses for
the past five years that domestic con
sumption has nearly exhausted the
inpply. The surplus is so light thot
>rlces have remained nominally sta
tionary, while other classes of live
'took have declined in value matcrl
illy. All the modern Industrial de
velopments of civilized nations were
xiade possible by the use of horses,
ind the future demand promises to be
?f Increased proportions. Horses for
general utility use ore Indispensable.
?nd as nations advance In wealth and
(flluence the demand for horses Is in
tensified. There are no substitutes
? eliminate the noble equine In his
iphere of usefulness in the progress of
nanklnd. The equine fashion of the
twentieth century will be repeated In
the succeeding cycle and the future of
the Industry is brilliant with encourag
ing promise. The breeder who raises
food horses of any commerciol class
's assured of a stable and remunera
tive market for bis surplus and has
'very encouragement lo intelligently
ixploit the Industry. ? Drover's Journal.
Shoreline Board.
A good servlcoble shoveling board
)o be attached to the form wagon for
Icooplng corn, potatoes, etc., Is mode
is follows: For o wagon box twenty
four or twenty-six Inches deep make
four board thirty inches high and
lust as wide as the outside measure of
!he box. On each side noil a piece of
food tough plank six inches wide at
(he bottom and tapering to a point ot
the top; make these pieces two Inches
onger than the shoveling boards, al- !
owing the projection at the bottom.
Two inches from the bottom of th?se
toords and even with the bottom of
Jie shoveling boards saw a notch three
Miches deep from back .side of the
toard and split out to the bottom;
lext nail a 2x4 under the back end of
?Jio wogon box allowing half of It to
>roJeet behind the box for shoveling
>oord to rest on; also make It long
?nough to project three Inches beyond
:he sides of tho box for notches In the
ilde pieces of shoveling board to book
>ver. Now get two old top props off
>f an old buggy top (If you have none
?on can get them of nlmost any black
5iot ooAao
WAQON DOX
imlth v'or almost nothing) nnd put on
?s In IlivMrntlon. When end gate is tip
:he long purt of the prop should he
bent dott.li so It will not come open;
lending t\ls rod thrown the elbow in
llreot line with the other hinges which
will hold end gntcs np. Holt brace on
to the outside of the wagon box and
mortise n hole through the flovr of
(hoveling board on ench side against
the side pieces', make hole nhont half
tn Inch wide and two Inches up nnd
down. Now bore n small hole thronxh
the edge board through centre of mor
tise and Into the edge of the bottom
board and drlre belt In. Is dumping
com. lower board, poll oat at bottom,
?ad pat oa top of wagon box. The
blngtd joints allow It to so up easily.
? C. E. ltichardton. In The Epltauilst.
Far* UTMd Cow*.
The cow thn: ocvcpiM a ttall two
years and gives o?ly onebalf cs uucU
milk or gutter as would a first-class
animal. Is more costly than a cow
raised from a calf, for she will not only
have occupied the stall for a year
without profit, but also entailed nu ex
pense of perhaps fifty dollars in her
purchase. If the dairymeu would con
sider that by breeding their own stock
they could miyo expenses and tteeurc
larger profits they would no longct
fill their stalls with unprofitable cows.
A calculation will demonstrate that It
Is not profitable to buy cows. Instead
of raising good stock. It must be *
good common cow that wll! give thirij
pounds (about fifteen quarts* of milk
dally, but the grad?? or pure breed*
have been to yield more tliau double
such quantities. If. In the period of
seven years, a pure-bred cow is pro
duced on the farm, she may require
but three years for growth before coin
lag In, while a purchased cow, beiup
ready In the beginning, given milk
durlug a much longer time, but froir
the time the pure-bred cow coiues in.
though occupying the stall much lee?
time than the native, she \$ll yield n
larger quantity of milk on the aver
age, or, to put it plainer, she will give
more milk in four years than the r.a
five will in six, while her value will he
much more. If the period is extended
to ten years the difference will be still
greater, nnd it may be added that the
pure-bred cow will also give a larger
quantity of milk in proportion to fooJ
consumed.? Philadelphia Record.
Chit of Farm Tool*.
The following Illustration shows a
box which may be readily made at
home and In which may bo kept man;
things now without a proper aud regu
lar place. While the Illustration shows
a box of considerable size one of small
er dimensions may be used if desired,
and it can be made on the same plan.
No instructions foi- making are ne
cessary for the cut shows plainly bow
It Is put together. Several dry goods
boxes would answer well for the pur
pose. The drawers may be used for
holding blankets, curtains and robes,
and the shelves or compartments for
brushes or small tools. If desired a lid
may be placed over the opening at the
top of the large box. to keep out the
dust, and this commodious space be
utilized for anything desired. If care
is taken in putting this contrivance to
gether it would bo practically rat
proof and could be used for seeds if
one wished. There are a dozen uses
' IIANDY DARK BOX.
to which the box could be put ami as
the expense of It Is largely In labor
thera Is no reason why such a box
could not be in every farm barn.
If every farm contained a tool
house, in which every tool was kept
in its place when not in use, there
would be a great saving of time dur
ing the busy season. It often happens
that the value of the time lost in seek
ing some tool not In Its place is greater
than the cost of the tool. Much of (lie
loss of time and exposure of tools is
due to lack of some suitable place for
storage. It costs but little to build
a toolhouse. as it need not be proof
against heat or cold, the main point
being a good roof, so as to protect the
tools and Implements from dampiu's*
rout try Note*.
To treat fowls for health !s better
than to dose them for disease.
Season soft food with salt. It sharp
ens appetite and aids digestion.
A handful of sunflower seed now and.
then adds luster to the plumage.
Ileus will pay well for table scraps.
It Is wasteful to feed them to mong
rel dogs and cats.
Litter in which there is tough, wiry
hay is not safe to put on the scratching
floor. If raten It causes crop-bound
conditions.
An active breed Is less liable to be
come overfat than the larger sized,
sluggish fowls, hence should be treated
accordingly.
It Is a mistake to wait until hens
are lousy before using Insect powder*.
Constant prevention is the only safe
method to pursue.
To renew the vitality of a flock It Is
not necessary to cross-breed and make
them mongrels. Better get males of
a different strain or family of the same
variety.
Save the droppings; they are valu
able for fertilizing purposes and will
come In handy In the spring. Store
them In a dry place In boxes or barrels.
There Is no better fertilizer when prop,
erly used.
Dirty windows In the poultry horse
prevent the fowls from getting the full
benefit of the sun's rays and make the
house cheerless and uncomfortable, it
Is a good plan to place the dust-bath
where the sun can shine directly Into
It during some part of the day. Clean
the windows and let a little sunshine
in.
N*w Snrdmrln* Plnnt.
The new saccharine plnnt discovered
In South America contains a consider
able quanalty of saccharine matter, is
not fermentable, and is unusually
sweet. The plant Is herbaceous, grow
ing to a height of eight to twelve
Inches, and Its scientific nine Is Kupa
torlum rebandlum. It is expected to
prove of much Industrial value. It was
discovered by the director of the agri
cultural Institute at Asuncion, and his
experiments indicate that the sugar
yielded is from twenty to thirty times
as sweet at ordinary cane or beet ?u
car. -
T
A C**d Rokdi LMuler.
(IE Massachusetts Ilighwnj
| Commission is entering lut?
i sympathetic and hearty co
I operation with the friend*
of theBrownlow bill, whirl
propones tbe organization of a natlona":
?oad bureau and an appropriation o!
(24,000,000 to be used in conjunction
with the different States for road
juildlng. It is entirely in harmonj
with tbe purjioaea of that measure ot
:be niaiu question, but proposes quit?
t number of minor amendments, it
>rder to harmonize tbe bill witt
state laws, and the law* of our owi
Stnte in particular. The original con
lieta with our own statute, tnasiuuct
is it provides for advertising and con
:ractlug by tbe director of the goot'
roads bureau instead of the Massa
chusetts Highway Commission, am*
rliat would prevent the State from bo
coming a beneliciary under its ti-rmf
is at present formula ted.
The commission of no State Is bettei
2ua lifted than that of our own to make
practical suggestions for the better ,
nent of the bill. It has achieved more
proportionally. If not absolutely, thai
my other, and In the process of edu
eating various communities in good
road building it has also educated It
self. It Is now building better roadi
and building them more economical^
than when these enterprises were first i
undertaken, and Its experience ought
lo be of great value in any practical
attempt to broaden and even national
?ze the movement. The commlssloi
has sent a draft of the Brownlow bill
with its own suggested amendments
to every Representative and United
States Senator, xvith some excellen'
arguments In its support.
As we have already said, there ar?
two questions to be settled before tin
bill should be favorably reported
which are: Is it. a proper service fo?
the government to engage in? And
if so. is It expedient? Both these ques
tlons are affirmatively, and, It seenu
to us. conclusively answered In tin
commission's analysis of the project
It contends that Government aid Is im
new thing in the United States. an4
had it not been extended at the propel
time "millions of acres of product I vi
land would now be in a state of natur<
instead of supporting a population oi
10.000.000 sonls." Of course, we an
nil familiar with the fact that th?
Government Is a regulnr and libera!
supporter of annual schemes for tin
Improvement of rivers and harbors
We likewise remember the princely
concessions find grants made fo tin
transcontinental railroad companies, it
order to develop the great West, and
we are sensible of the value and even
the vital importance of this policy, bu*
not so many of us are aware that Gov
ernment aid to the construction o4.
highways was one of the earliest acU
authorized by tbe Government for the
Internal development of tbe country.
In the commission's brief it is de
elared that "the building of a road
from tide water to the Ohio countrj
was a pet project of Washington." Hi
did not live to see it acted upon, but
In 1811 such a road was begun, and
seven yearn later It was completed at ?
cost to the United States of $7,000,000
For thirty-four years subsequent t?
that time it was the one great blghwaj
over which passed the malls and tin
bulk of the trade and travel betweet
the East and the West, and like the
5>7.00n,000 paid for Alaska, the ptir
chase price was repaid to tbe poopl#
of this country many fold.
That seents to at once establish tin
propriety aud the expediency of tin
proposition. The commission statei
very truly that the money appro
printed for roads is largely wasted
for the reason that the local roadmas
ter does not know how wisely to ex
pend It, whereas In those States where
aid has been given under scientific dl
rection for this purpose "it has worked
a revolution. ? ? ? The roads bull!
have convinced the most sceptical thaf
they not only cost less to maintain
but reduce the cost of battling from
twenty-five to fifty per cent," Thaf
the nation would be repaid for expen
diture of this kind in "Increased pros
perity, enhanced values and a general
raising of the moral, the religious and
the educational tone of its people," wi
do not doubt. There Is almost a di?
cernible difference to-day between the
citizen who lives on a good road and
the one who lives on a bad one. Tliej
have different aspirations and differ
ent standards of business. Good roadi
?re among civilization's best missis"
tries.? Boston Evening Transcript.
Laboring Under a Mistake.
Some frlendt of the good roade
movement hesitate to Join in the do
mand for national aid because thej
are appalled by the enormous expense
involved in macadamizing the entire
road milage of the country. These
persons are laboring under a mistake
The national aid bills now before Con
gress do not propose to construct anj
particular kind of road. They sltnplj
propose to "improve the public roads'
and provide for "Investigations and
experiments to determine the besf
kinds of road material and the bes'
methods of road building." In a re
cent article Representative Brownlow
says:
"My own Individual opinion is tha'
some of the principal thoroughfare!
ought to be macadamized. Well In
formed road experts have estimated
that if one-tenth of the road mileage
of the country were macadamized and
the other nine-tenths were improved
in other and cheaper ways, using the
best local materials available, the cost
of hauling the farm products of th#
United States to market would be re
dnced to one-half."
If this estimate is correct, the sav
ing to the farmers would bo enormous,
and would In a few years be sufllclenl
to cover the entire expense of making
the Improvements. Besides lessening
the cost of hauling, good roads will
bring to the people of tbe rural dis
tricta pleasures and benefits whlcb
cannot be measured in money.? Nm
York Tribune.
5/WKULTURE?
ROADSIDE FltUIT TUBES.
Few things |?!case me more than tA
*?o rows of apple trees hearing fruit
along highways. Many apple trees
ire tli vis planted in western New York,
iml I know of 110 way of heauttCying
the roadsides more successfully. The
apple tree Is nu object of beauty aad
oromise at all seasons of the ye?r. No
>ne ean look upou an apple tree during
arbiter without thinking of the nhuu
lanee of healthful and beautiful fruit
it will bear. As the tree opens Its
eaves and expands Its millions of
?lowers, or as it 1s tilled with various
colored fruits as autumn approaches,
"t Is an object of iuterest and admir
itlon. There Is but little danger of
'he fruit of these roadside trees liein;;
seriously molested. If the varieties
ire summer fruits more of them would
le taken by passers by than if they
were winter fruits. I?ut in either ease
5o?d erops ea:? be gathered from these
*oadsidc trees; thus they are doing
louol.? service. one as ornamental
:rees and the other as mortgage lifters.
The soil along the fenee line by the
?oadside has not been cropped, and is
kcrefore more fertile than the soil of
he fields adjoining.? tiroen's Fruit
1 rower.
i.I I.IKS FOR FARM (S ROUNDS.
The writer isaconstantadvocateof the
iriia mentation of farm groumlR; not
lecessarlly expensive ornamentation.
>ut the setting of plants that are more
>r less hardy, nycordit.g to location, so
lint one may have increased beauty In
he blossoms as the years go by. Lilies
ire among tils best rnd hardy bulbs
'or the border cn a farm, and. after
he first expense, are so cheap that
here should, not be a farmhouse with
?ut its lily border. The illustration
diows two of the best hardy sorts, the
ipper blossoms being L. Auratuiu ami
'.he two lower ones L. Kuhrutu.
The tlrst named is well known fot
LILIES KOIl THE FABM.
Us pure white flowers, with crimson
spots, and it* line of golden yellow
running through the centre of each
octal. It Is a profuse bloomer, being
in almost constant tlower from June to
October. Ituhrum, also known as the
scarlet turban lily, blooms in early
June and its scarlet petals, thickly
jpotted with a darker shade of red,
ire in charming contrast to the Aura
turn. Bulbs may be set in October or
November in rich, well-drained soil,
and covered during the winter with a
mulch of straw manure, which should
be removed when the frost is out of
the ground in the spring. Set the
bulbs so that the tops will be live or
*ix Inches under the soil.? Indianapolis
News.
iioimrri/miAL notf.s.
flood drainage is usually recommend
Pd for all soils except those underlaid
with gypsum.
Make a wise decision as to what va
rieties and how many of each variety
you will plant.
Decide now what you are to do thin
spring in the way of setting out
plants, vines and trees.
Sandy soil ought not to be heavily
manured at any time, but should re
ceive frequent small applications.
If severe root pruning is practiced
the branches must be shortened and
even then unformed tops will result
Cut back your young trees about on?
third of the new growth, and do It
during the winter if it has not been
done in the fall.
Grape vines, raspberry, blackberry
nnd currant bushes, etc., can 1*
trimmed any time between now and
the first of May.
Yellow sweet clover Is considered
one of the best green mniiuring plant*
for Alabama, according to the State
Experiment Station tests.
Manure can be hauled at this season
nnd spread directly upon the field
from the wagon, or It cun be piled up
to rot. There is less loss where It Is
spread upon the field as drawn.
Plants which furnish little shade
leave the soil hard when removed. Tho
ground should be allowed to lie fal
low or grow some crop like clover un
til it fs in good inechanicnl condition.
If you have large orchards you must
begin pruning now In order to get
through that work before the leaves
open. If .von have only a few trees I
should prefer to prune them just be
fore the buds open in May.
Kndlve should be lifted and placed
In frames. I'ark it closely, covering
the roots with damp earth, but bo
careful not to wet the leaves, which
will cause them to rot. Dig up a good
bail of earth with each plant.
t.nngciit IViicr.
One of the longest fences In the
Northwest Is being constructed around
the I.ower llrule Reservation, on tho
Missouri Itlver, in the central portion
of South Dakota. This remarkable
fence will be sixty-three miles In
length. It is composed of four wires
placed on posts set a rod apart, cedar
nnd ash posts alternating. In Its con
struction 2JV0 in lies of wire will be
used, or 70.000 pounds. To erect the
fence required an aggregate of 10.000
posts. In this long fence there will be
only three gateways, which will t)?
guarded w*ea the fence Is coutoleted. ,