Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Mynheer OE. ! BY ST. QEORQE JUTHBORNE. CHAPTER V. __ % _ _ *? TOO MOB VISIT, TIKI A m? of von nnl" *W fair Molly to taken aback by ?kto Ihtelllgence? her face ahowa It; to* ibe to not tbe one to remain Ions ? cb a condition of mind* and ber Maar laugh aenvw to brusb away tbo that acema to be gatberini over thaUttle company. *Thto to Indeed a pleasure? a pecu mr coincidence ? you aaved me, and MM In our employ rescues you from tbs water.** abe says. ??Ktamet! It la fate," groans Sandy, tort they pretend not to -understand klm, though bis meaning la us plain is daylight -*ou will forgive me for spesktng ?C you as tbe poor German castaway ?~tbe peculiar name led me astray 7" ?ha goea on, Juat as If ahe and Joe Mere alone In tbe bijou parlor. "It to natural? I am used to It. Re told tbe effect of having a nickname , ?addled on to one In boyhood. It has fallowed me everywhere. A waggish companion corrupted the name of ' Vlner1 Into 'Mynheer* and tacked ?Joe* to It. Long ago I gave up in de spair the attempt to live the name *?wn. 'Mynheer Joe* It will be to the . M?d of tbe chapter.** There la an oadity about It that utrtkes her aa singularly pleasant. All ' tor gentleman friends are "Mr.** or ''Colonel** or the "Hon." This or That, .ltynheer Joe stands out alone. It has M Individuality that marks it above all others. "And you are the messenger from Kbartoom. You come wltL Jiews of General Gordon?" she continues. "*ea," he replies simply. ??When did you last see him?" "On the 20th day of January." **Aa long ago as that? But I forget what a tremendous distance Khar toom is away. How glad the whole dv&sed world will be to hear from hlmr* Mynheer Joe bites his Hps, but ??ye nothing yet. "The people love Mm so! I have always hoped to meet ?dm, of all men. If ever I visited Mgypt, and Just to think he has talked With you. eaten with you, even fought ?t your side!" And died as close to me as yen are Standing at this moment. Miss Tan ker." "Dead! Gordon dead?" she whis pers. aghast. "It Is even so," he replies sadly. "Can It be possible? Oh, how terri ble it is to believe that grand man is no more! What a shoeV It will cause wherever the telegraph can carry It!" abe murmurs. ?That reminds me," exclaims Sandy, with a hasty glance at his watch, "that I have business before me. You will excuse my haste." And. with & parting salute, he vanishes. *r* Grimes i8 tlie only one who no tices his departure, for the others are too Interested Id what Jr pining. "And you saw him fall? You won't mind telling me the sad story?" Miss Tanner pleads. "If you will be seated, I will relate It Just as I have to Sandy. In tbe morning all the world will know the tacts. Surely, there have been rumors concerning this thing?" "Yes, but people refused to bellevo them. They came from untrustwor thy sources, and were hardly in before contradictions came after. We have all been waiting for positive truth. It comes at last with you. Now tell me, you who were with Gordon, how he welL" Mr. Grimes finds himself a nonen OtF, and, with a smile, betakes him self from the bijou parlor back of the portiere True, he has no cablegram to send Just yet, but he fancies he may make use of the wires later on In sonnecvlon with private business. At ? present he can amuse himself watch ' "J* ;he bright scene In and before Shepherd's, and speculating upon the iU?oge vicissitudes of fortune thnt roe day have a man in rags and the ?sort elevate him to a princely income. Mr. Grimes is nothing If not a phllo ?opherv Tlie two left In the cozy little parlor Wo not miss the silver king at all so wrapped up Is Mynheer Joe in his companion, and so deeply Interested noes Molly become In bis narrative. He tella It modestly, for this man can never boast of his own exploits. At the same time he is by force of clr enmstances compeUed to give facts. ?Ml Molly Is at liberty to draw her own conclusions. As she already has ? high opinion of Mynheer Joe, she Is apt to make a liberal Judge. ' uHtO? k,nd,e a" "he ~7 * sPeHbound, listening to the 5iordon'8 deathI It Is a talc ?rlu the pul?*s Of all Who admire *enerous heart, devoted to - ???d of his fellowioen. Molly nardly seems to breathe as she drinks to him words. This man. In her eyea, la also a hero ten times oyer. Even ?ad It not been his arm that plucked ber out of tbe cruel Mediterranean at Malta, atlll would she accord him this exalted position. For has he not been With Gordon, and doea not the re jected light of the great chieftain fall upon him? The man whose sword ?venged the death of Chinese Gordon can never be aught else but a hero In tor eyea. II Hike* Mine time to tell nil. for pfynbeer Joe ratner enjoys tins tete-n *ete with the girl who has becoroo tho twlle of European Cairo. Even when be rapidly nkcrtchon his late trip upo^ the Nile, and brings the story to n ronclualon she has many quest lonn to aak that are right to the point, and which, upon being answered, bring the situation out In a clearer light. Then Mr. Grimes ? considerate Mr. Qrfmee? who believes he has left them atone long enough, makes his appear ance. There does not seem to be any < particular necessity for his coming, bat be evinces an Interest In the ex* olacer that no person hag ?v? atop mm show for any on? else. Sandy Cnds then still together when ha r? tarns after sending hla wonderful die patch? the great dispatch that will te the sensation of the day In London and America. Flushed with success he appears before them and mechani cally glances at his watch? a Ylllaln- 1 ons habit he has Upon every occasion. The set ion catches Molly's eye. and with a little feminine acream she snatches out ? her own tlmeplecc, studded with diamonds, and looks at the tell-tale face In consternstlon. "Eleven o'clock! An hour and a half iwar from the ballroom! What xlU. Lord Quinsy and the baron think? And I hsd engaged a dance each with | hem! They will never forgive me!" ; "I am sorry to lie the cause of your trouble." begins the explorer, humbly. j "Please don't mention It! I wouldn't have missed this hour and what I have heard of brave Gordon for ten *.ords or fifty barons. It was only the governor I was thinking of. They must have asked for me, and the dear good man will be fairly wild looking for me." % Mynheer Joe Imagines an lnsignlft< *nnt. bald-headed, good-natured little man tearing around the hotel pleading with every one to help him find his daughter. If he comes across such an individual be will recognize him at buce. "You will excuse me. Mynheer," she says, holding out her hand again? the hand upon which flash diamonds that, with those in her ears, at her throaQ and in her bonny brown hair, are sure ly worth a king's ransom. He murmurs that he will he glad to meet her agaiu, perhaps in the morn ing. if circumstances are favorable, with a sideline,- glance toward Mr. Grimes, that lias no apparent mean ing, and yet which causes a grim smile to appear upon the face of tlu> silver king. Then she glides from the bijou par lor, Sandy holding the portiere aside, though he has to stand on his tiptoes in order to make It Clear her head, i The three gentlemen are left alone. Sandy takes out a cigar and looks at the others. The mute Invitation is Immediately accepted, for A couple of bands are extended, and the weeds exchange owners. "Let's go outside. The house is no place for smoking, in my opinion," re marks Joe. So the trio adjourn to the piazza. More tban one curious glance Is cast toward them; for, in spite of the se crecy that has been exercised, rumors have gotten around concerning the truth. It Is strange how these tbfhgs leak oat? s word Is sometimes enough to start the ball rolling, and people, once interested, add a little here and a trifle there until a story has been man ufactured out of whole cloth. Hardly have they reached the piazza and Joe stops to light his weed when a dapper little fellow, Suudy's counter part in nervous ways, steps up and taps him on the arm. "Beg pardon ? do I understand you have arrived from up the river, sir? from Khartoum ?" asks this sprightly chop, apparently not noticing Sandy in the background. Mynheer Joe puffs away, and be tween each puff lie nods his head up and down iu an affirmative way that sets the little man fairly wild with suspense. He will speak soon? when lie gets ready? but not until that time comes. It is plainly evident Mynheer Joe knows how to manage the crea ture known as u press agent. Sandy Is chuckling near by, dread fully tickled at the thought of having for once obtained an advantage over bis rival. "You are quite right, sir. I have ar rived this very night from Khar' tooin," Anally admits the object of oil this attention, having reduced his weed to a point of subjection, where It would burn without much care. Out come the pencil and note-book. "Would you mind giving me a little information regarding the state of af fairs at Kliartoom when you left? 1 represent the New York Herald, the London Times and the Paris Figaro. I shall be pleased to take your views, sir, and give you every courtesy in my power." rattles on the little corre spondent; then catchfng sight of Sandy his face blazes up, he waves his hand as though in warning, and cries: "Too late, Barlow? you're left! Fall .to tho rear! I may let you pick up iwrne crumbs presently, but don't Ibotber now. As you were saying, my dear sir, at the time you quitted Khar too in matters were assuming a serious aspect?' ' "Very," replies Mynheer Joe, grave ly. "And uoraoD ? you iert ? mm well, hoping for the coming of the British line even now on Its way there. His views and yours would be very ac ceptable reading for the world. A vast audience. Indeed, sir. Would you kindly relate your story In detail, or at least that portion of It concerning Gordon." Ills manner In persuasive, his rolce honeyed, and V utter would fall to melt In his mouth. Unfortunately he lias laid hold of the wrong man. Myn heer Joe lays a hnnd on bis shoulder i and almost crushes him. "For particulars I must refer you to i my press agent Just uow 1 am en- ! gaged. Your arm, Mr. Grimes, If you please." ? "But where ean 1 find him? I beg that you will Inform me. This Is a matter that concern* the whole civil ,|j?od world. Think of It. sir! Tell me the name of this gentleman." and the excited correspondent even lnys hold of tbe explorer's coat In his eagerness to gain his attention. "You will And him yonder. Bandy, i will yon attend to this gentleman?" "Great Scott! Barlow knows It all! I see It now! A grand conspiracy to beat me off! Well. I'xa nlokc4 mm si I sumora, aai m eoaaolMttt tbem late ? iwntki that win eqaal the troth. Catch a vtawl apleep, sir Be is ]Mt abott to iwh off when Beady liogha. "Left again. oM (eL Tbe wlrw ara entirely at my aerrlce from aow imtU nvaa o'clock la the morning. You conldn't get a Una oat now on jour Individual responsibility If the Khe? dire committed hara-kiri." M Bartow, let me Into It a little. 1*11 be entirely disgraced If I'm left entire* Jy on thts deaL la Gordon dead?" "Yea." ?And Khartoom truly fallen T* "Without a doubt-" "What will yon take to let me send Ore lines merely announcing the fact V "What will you give In promlaea for the future for a few crumbs. my boy?" So the rival correspondents walk down the plasaa haggling. Bandy has long waited for thla hour; his cup la full and running or sr. pressed down with good measure. Meanwhile, the other couple more along the piaxsa In an opposite direc tion. enjoying the delicious atmos phere, their clgara and tbe bright scene. _ By. this time the great crowds_J>avs In a measure ceased to jostle elbows In the square called Esbehlyeh. for tbe hour grows late. ' Still there are enough present to keep up a lively ap pearance ? to please the eye of tbe ob server with the change of colors as they pass to and fro. Something Is on the mind of Sir. Grimes, but be perhaps thinks the present moment is hardly a propitious one In which to speak. Several times he opens his mouth, as though the spirit moves him, but on each occasion be shakes his bead and remains silent. As they cross the light thrown from the windows more than one curious glance is cast upo& tbem. for already has word been whispered around that Mynheer Joe has come from the scene of action, and there is an air of mys tery thrown about him, which bis per sonality increases rather than dimin ishes; for. as has been said before, his face and figure are such as would at tract attention even on Pall Mall or the Champs Elysee6. Looking Into the dance-room they 'see Molly Tanner gliding about in a dreamy waltz with *a foreign-looking man wearing an immense mustache that curls up to his ears? no doubt the baron. She nods her head to them aud smiles as she glances toward her partner in the dance; there is some thing so spicy and roguish about It that Mynheer Joe feels drawn toward the girl more than ever. "She's a dandy ,** the effervescent correspondent had said to him. while on the way to the hotel, and the more he sees of her the better this peculiar comparison applies, though, upon try ing to analyze it he is bound to con fess the meaning ambiguous and a trifle dim. From the window they walk down to the end of the piazza. Here an ac quaintance seizes hold of Mr. Grimes and bogs a few minutes' private con yersation with uim. which. o? entirgp he gives, asking Joe's pardon for leav ing him. The latter steps down to the square to walk a little upon the cool flags. The events of the night have been more than singular, when his fortunes nre concci-neJ, and he has plenty to reflect upon as he strolls there in front of the hotel. Around him are scenes also that must make sonic Impression on his mind, although they arc far from new to him. While thus strolling aimlessly about, with the Intention of killing a little time, so that he may rejoin Mr. Grimes when the latter is disengaged, Myn heer Joe chances to pass that portion of the hotel known as the bar. In common with all other hotels. Shepherd's has a retreat where the thirsty traveler can wash the dust out of his throat, and Judging from the manner in which it 1b being patron ized on this night the dust must be on the move in Egypt. A sandstorm could not cause the guests to call more frequently. Mynheer Joe arrives upon the scene just in time to witness a rather comi cal spectacle. Of rows In the grand square there Is always plenty, but as a general thing tlie&c are not among the guests of the hotel, but rather dis putes between the travelers and tbslr gaily-dressed dragomans, or, as Is more frequently tbe case, with these individuals aud the owners of doa* keys, while the donkey-drivers them selves are about as quarrelsome as our boys upon th? canals. ? LTo be Coutinued.l ' WHERE THE PAIN WAS. Youngster'o Ingenious but Rather Transparent Exouse. Joe WIIfoj lives out In the suburbs. He had put In a liberal supply of red flrt\ gunpowder, etc., In order to eel* brate a certain anticipated victory during the recent election. Unfortun ately, the election went the wrong way and his ammunition was stored carefully away in the garret closet. The other day Joe's little boy Rob ert, decided to have a celebration of his own. He stuffed a lead pipe witb a few spoonfuls of the black powder, and while dropping a lighted matcb Into the end leaned over the appratoe to see that there would be no hltob in the operation. There was no hltcb. The thing wenttoff beautifully, and so did little Robert, yelling madly as be ran toward the bed, his hair badly singed snd his face and bands smeared with burnt powder. The lit tle fellow suPered intensely, and bis moans managed to carry as far as his father's ears down In tho library. Joe rushed upstairs to his son's room. One glance at the bed sheets, which were badly besmeared with the black blotches, told him that some thing was wrong. "Robert, my son, what have yon been doing?" asked the stern parent Robert had covered his head with the sheet. Nothing but a low moan came at an answer. "Robert, my son, what alls you?'* Jomanded the other, pulling down the sheet and revealing a horrible spec tacle. ? "Nothing, father," called the young* ster, more frightened than burt, "but I have a terrible stomach ache.** ? mmnuL < > ,1 1?M M My UMW. Hoc* than a little of the trouble beep raisers have la due to tbe wroug ort of care given to lambs. Properly, erbapa, lambs ave considered rather ellcate and nrxltaf considerable care. Jn the other hand some men leave the lambs with the ewe too Ions, and ex feet her to provide all of the nourish ment they need. This Is not right, for the lambs soon get beyond the capa dty of the mother's milk, and need !ood In the shape of ground oats and i little line hay. They will learn to Mt quickly and early, and If a place s provided for them to feed in which the sheep can not reach they will thrive wonderfully. A* soon as the trass 1a In shape to pasture the lambs ibould be given a chance at it, but inly for a little time each day at first anless one Is prepared to doctor scour*. CM Yra tall* Horse* T It is surprising bow general tbe be lef Is that tbere is not money in wising horses. Tbe feeling is tbat tbe lumber of bicycles and automobiles in the market and tbe increasing in erest In these machines together with he gradual abandonment of horses for ise on street railways, means thut the tupply of hortes greatly exceeds the lemand. Apparently it has not been tonsldered that vast numbers of horses lie yearly and many more are used ip In the wars that have taken place ilnce the introduction nnd the general ise of the bicycle. It Is stated by a ;ood authority tbat upward of 3U.OOO lorBes die annually In the State of ?few York, and certainly New York ioes not make this loss good from dorses born and raised in the State. It is fair to assume tbat the same state it affairs obtains In other sections. If l farmer is so situated tlint lie can ?else horses and understands the work Jiere certainly will be good prolit in It for years to come. Look into the matter If you are able to raise good tJors?s. Inrrruc (lie Value of Crop*. Farmers should grow crops not only for sale, but also for manufacture. Xo people have succceded who relied aiainly upon the sale cf straw pro Sucts -alone. A farm is a factory, and tbe agents are the cow, the sow, tlio ?wo and the fowl. These living as sistants, if they may be termed such, aot only increase and repair theni ?elves, but are cupable of converting '.he products of the farm into valu able salable products. The cow pro luces the steer as an assistant in the manufacture of beef, and cbunges the stalks, straw, hay, grain and vege tables, which bring but a small sum. Into high-priced butter and cheese. She is always ready for work, and is never idle, not even on Sundays. The ewe produces lambs, aud with the wethers can make mutton of the scrub bage of the waste places in addition to that which may be allowed her '.n the shape of better provender. The ww, with her produce, fills the pork barrel and affords a supply of meat it a season of the year when It gives the best returns. And even the hen, imall as she may appear, not only idds her carcass, but daily deposits her egg during nearly all seasons, thus contributing a daily supply of rash that may l>e required for iinine liate necessities. A Simply Mario Steady Sawtinrar. When sawing wood, is n matter of mnsiderable work to get out the pieces, mortise and fit them together to make in ordinary sowhorse. The one shown In the cut from New England Home stead can be built in twenty minutes A QUICKLY MAPS SAWHORSB. If one has some strips of hardwood board at hand of the proper width. The crossplecea are firmly nailed to gether, and six strips of the name board put on to strengthen and hold the ends In plnce. Such a horse will prove very rigid nnd servicable. L?bor on th? Farm. The difference between the original eost of the unmanufactured products and the manufactured Is much greater than the cost of labor that may be demanded during the process. If the farmer determines to succeed, then he should take advantage of his prlv lieges by selling only articles from the farm in their manufactured condition, If such course can be followed. This may not be possible with wool, per* bops, but as the wool in this case may be considered as manufactured from food it, too, may be a valuable article to produce. A stack of straw, which Is often trampled in the mud, may be made, in connection with better food, a valuable adjunct of the material which can be used in the living fac tories in the barnyard. The farm should be a busy place. Nothing should be wasted, and the farmer may rid himself of the annoyance of glutted wb??t markets and fluctuating prices by feeding his crops to Rtock. By so doing Ills farm will become more fer tile and more stock can then be kept. The greater the crops the more stock can be kept, and the more stock the larger the crop, but a farm upon which only grain Is grown and sold In its original condition cannot improve, ex cept at a largo cost for plant footls.? Philadelphia Mccord. Selection of Refd Corn. It Is only within recent years that even expert corn growers have fully realized that there exists a vast differ ence in the productiveness of differ* ent ears of the same variety, even when their outward appearance Is almost identical. It was formerly con sidered tfcat the selection for seed ?baaftd fc* based on the best a ad most perfectly 1? ?? mm from the crop oi the previous jeer. This wee good es far As It V?t, but It <Dd not |? far enough. Kxperlmsnts here proved that frequently there was - difference In the crop of more than one-half be tween the kernels selected from two esrs that were apparently Identical. This being the esse, no one will fell to see the importsnce of Disking the selection snd closely wstchlng the re sults. In other words. If one has several cars of corn that seem to the eye to be 411 that Is desirable, plant the seed from each ear !n a row by It' self, msrk these rows for Identification and harvest the crop from each row by Itself snd then compare the results. In many cases the results will be so surprising ss to be slmost stsrtllng. The pisu Is worth trying, not only this yesr, but every year, then, by the careful reselectlon each year one may have, at the end of a few years, a type which will yield enormously and rid one of the idea that the size of the corn depends wholly upon th? condition of the soil.? Indiunapollc News. A Wk?on Jack. This wagon jaek. according to a cor respondent of the Ohio Farmer, wa? patented over thirty years ppo by a Canadian, but ban been in public use since the patent expired. It is widely used i i Caia 'If., It is strong, simple and easily handled. A is three by three inches and three and a half feet lung and has wooden or iron pins in tippet side the proper distance apart for tli* axle to rest on. The lever B is of inch stuff, six inches wide where the boll through the standard is inserted and na.i. three feet four inchts long. The standard C is three by three inches and two and a half feet long. The aria A is placed under the axre, the latter resting on one of the pins; then the lever is pressed down to position, as shown in Fig. 2, and a bolt In B and C (not shown in cut) holds it In place. The distance between the bolts at the upper end of A and B is five inches. I*ut the bolt hole through A one and one-half inches from the upper edge nnd through B one and one-half inches from the lower edge. Use tougL), hard wood.? Connecticut Farmer. TV AGON JACK. Poultry Note*. Sour, tainted or wet land will slangh. ter more fowls and chicks thun will the dreaded croup. In feeding linseed meal use one tentli of the linseed to nine-tenths of corn-meal. All feed dealers sell It. A great deal of sickness among poultry can be traced to polluted soil. This is especially so in cases of cholera anil kindred ailments. It is not essential to have a male bird with a flock of layers. Eggs from ununited hens will keep longer thai eggs laid by mated hens. Long legs do not indicate Impurity of blood in any breed. An occasional bird of any variety may grow Lull, but such freak specimens should noj be used as breeders. No, we do not recommend crushed glass for grit, it Is dangerous. If yoc can not get natural grit in the form of gravel, better buy the commercial tlcle; it is not expensive. The floor of the duck house should be raised above the surrounding ground and kept well littered with dry chnff or straw. Ducks and chicken* should not occupy the same house au<] yards; they do not mix well. Fancy nppllnnres do not always pro duee good results. Some have spent large sums of money in appliance* which have not produced as good re sults as the old, dilapidated henhouse, made of old boards, owned by some who studies heuology. The old roosters may be good weath. er prophets, line looking and well bred, and It is easier and less expwr; to keep these old folks than it Is t replace them with others not relate* to the flock. However, this is not a very good way to secure healthy fowls and good hatches later on. In every lot of young broilers thers are always some big, lusty fellows that grow faster, than the others. They run ever the weaker ones, get moro than their share of the food, in fact, the best of everything. The weak one are afraid of these pugnacious chicks, and will not thrive with them. The proper thing to do Is to separate them, give the quiet ones a chance for their lives In a separate pen, and the str-vng ones can tight It out among themselvo* Frolt-Katlni. Hyglenlsts all agree In telling us that we do not eat nearly enough fruit, which Is Infinitely more productive of health and beauty than sweetm*its and pastry. Ripe apples are especially healthy, and children may eat them without danger. Home doctors say that un apple at bedtime produces sleep. Pears are more tasty than ap ples, but not so healthy unless cooked. Prunes have medicinal qualities which cannot be denied. They arc better cooked, however. Apricots are also more healthy cooked than raw. Peaches are very good, but the most health-giving of all fruits are grapes. Th? Production of Coffee# An average coffee plantation con tains seventy-three and a half acres, with 30.735 trees, which produce ons and three-fifths pounds of coffee each, or 800 pounds per acre. One person at an annual salary of $03 attends 818 trees, from which he gathers and pre pare# 1300 pounds of coffee. ud r?m V I r tra# ?with much Interest that I read in the Tribune Farmer of the Brownlow bill for the improvement of hiRhways and the editorial comments upon It. It la manifestly true that the public high ways, like public education, should be maintained bj the State, for the wel fare of the State la largely dependent upon the Intelligence of its people, and the ease of communication created by good roads. Coming as an agreeable announcement, too. Is the fact that the National Grange, at its recent annual session, adopted resolutions favoriug the bill. I certainly hope the various State granges will follow the Tribune Farmer's suggestions, and adopt strong resolutions favoring the bill. This will ? have a two-fold effect. It will call the attention of the members of the order | to the bill ami its many advantages, drawing out their support, and it will cause its favorable consideration l?y the members of Congress. There Is also a great need of educa- I tion among the people as to the advan tages to be secured by good roads. This lack of true appreciation of th/> value of good roads to the people of the farms, and of the rural communi ties. lias hindered favorable legislation in tiie Fast. A law recently passed l>y the Maine Legislature affording State aid to towns in building perma nent roads has not been taken advan tage of by many of the towns that would be much benefited by such roads. Dr. Jordan once said that we often heard people say they could not afford this thing or that thing, but that he had always noticed that what people really wanted they could afford to have. So, as soon as our country peo ple really want good roads, there will be no objections to the raising of lib eral sums of money to secure them. It is not often considered t lint every article produced for the markets of the world, either in its raw form or as a finished product, is transported over the public highways. We see reports of the enormous earnings of the rail ways of the country and wonder at them, but If we could see the earnings of the carriuges, of the materials they handle, over our. country roods care fully computed and placed alongside of them, they would dwindle into insig nificance in comparison. # The value of our farm lands is large ly dependent ui>on their nearness to markets or shipping points, and when ever any time is saved in the transpor tation of their products by the im provement of the highways, they are placed practically that much nearer the market. Indeed, there arc deeper, more potent, reasons for generalizing our system cf road building and placing it under one head. The country home, with its boys and girls, with its purifying and yetining influences, with its means of affording remunerative occupation for the young. Is the standard of excellence and the bulwark of safety for our country. As our highways ore im proved. as the means of Communica tion arc made better, the country homes will Increase, they will resound more than ever to the voices of liappy childhood and the hum of that creative industry which is at the foundation of all the industrial resources of the country. Yes. push along the Brown low bill, and at tlie same time set in motion 1lie ball that shall awaken and enthuse the people as it goes, so that wflen the bill becomes n law there shall be a readiness to take full advan tage of its provisions.? B. Walker Me Keen, of Freyburg, Me., in the New York Tribune. An Important Victory. The friends of the road office in tlio Department of Agriculture liavo scored nn important victory in securing in the Senate an increase of $4r?.0(H> in the appropriations for road investigations and experiments, including the build ing of object lesson roads. This is National aid 011 a small scale. I Jut it is of great Importance from an educational point of view. Here tofore the object lesson work has been conducted in the following manner: An application is sent in by some ex periment station or agricultural college, or by road officials or public spirited citizens of Fome progressive coinmun- [ I ty asking the Government to co oper ate in the building of a short stretch of road. The Government usually fur nishes nothing more than an engineer or an expert to make plans and super vise the work. Itoadinaking machinery Is usually furnished free of charge by the manufacturers for the sake of the advertisement it gives them. The rail roads also take a hand and transport the machinery free. The institution or community making the application has to foot the bills for labor and mate rials. Among the benefits flowing from such work are (1) that it gives an ex cellent opportunity to Investigate aiul test the various local materials; (2> that it gives the people of that locality n lesson In the methods of road building and In the use of road materials and machinery, and (3) that the building of a short piece of road usually leads to the building of a large mileage of Im proved road In the vicinity. To have Uncle Ham come Into a community and help build a good road, be It ever so short, seems to arouse great popular Interest and stimulate local effort. It Is claimed by those who know most In bout the results of the work already done that In no other direction does the Government accomplish so much with so little outlay. But the opponents of Notional aid are ! afraid that object lesson roads are 1 only a stepping stone to National aid ' of vastly greater dimensions, and in j this they are probably right. However ' that may be, it appears certain that , object lesson road building will be car ried on next year to a larger extent than ever before. Many applications : are now on tile in the Department of Agriculture, and many more arc ex pected. 1 Dainty Dltt. Turkish women eat rose leaves with 1 butter to secure plumpueM. ^ 8AVING THE TREES. A great many trees have becu in jured by the severity of last winter, and there Is but one thing to do where such cases have occurred, which is t? cut back and remove all dead wood, at It will do more harm is left on ths trees than if removed. ^ TRANSPLANTING FERNS. Few succeed in transplanting fcrm from the woods, as tbey do not stand transplanting during the growiug sea son. Select nice clumps during th? summer, and drive in Makes to locatt them; then late in the fall. Just before the soil freeses, carefully dig them up, and plant thein In the centre ef a wtd< border In which you intend to plant annuals. A border on the north or the east side of a house or hedge is best Put plenty of leaf-mold In the border, and water freely. ? Woman's Home Companion. DEPTH OF PLANTING. The depth of planting the seed should be governed by ihe character of the soil. If light and dry, then the seed should bo planted deep and cov ered, so as to leave the plants when tliey come up at least two Inches be lt?w the surrounding le'-el. and the lirst time hoeing leveled up and kept level during the season; thus the hill* are made below ground. n d the plants are kept from drying up. If the land Is heavy and wet the seed should be planted near the surface and not cov ered very deep, and at hoeing time slightly hilled.? Indianapolis New*. FAILURES WITH PEACHES. It Is believed that failures with peaches in many sections are due par tially to the fact that the proper varie ties for each section 01 the country are not carefully selected. To learn more on the subject the work of testing ilie varieties has been submitted to the tx pcrimcnt stations, and it is l?cllc\cd that the result will be very lienetlciaT. One of the great difficulties in the way is that of procuring varieties true to name. It Is seldom that a peach grow er succeeds in procuring tin* exact va rieties ordered, unless lie knows from whom to buy, or has evidence that no mistake will be made. HOW PLANTS GROW. Mr. Boyd recently gave a technical description of vegetation and detailed the relation between water and the soil. Roots are mouths and leaves the lungs of plants, and all food except earboule acid gas entered through the roots and must lie solvent. So that water is essential to the growth of the plant. lie spoke of the element con stituting plants, oxygen, hydrogen, ni trogen and carbon, and told how the plant secures each. The orgunic ele ments should not be permitted to get out of the soil. Leguminous plants in creased the amount of organic matter In the soil, and so there should be rota* tion of crops so that the soil may be re? plenlshed. _ "WOOD ASHES FOR PLANTS. ' It Is not cenorully known that wood ashes. mixed witli compost, arc very beneficial for most pot plants. Talma are wonderfully benefited. and ko nro crotons, drachacnas, niarantas. in fact, all foliage plants. In many instance*, when the plant lias nearly exhausted the soil, if the top be scraped o!T to .1 little depth, and a sprinkling of wood ashes and fresh soli be adde.1, tho plant will be all right until time to re? pot. To many a lover of (lowers this hint, to add a little wood ashes to compost, will bring many a brightened tlower and much improved foliage. The mixture should be worked info the earth immediately or some ??f tho ammonia in the manure will esca p? into the air aud be wasted. DWARF STONE TOMATO. Any variety of tomato originated by Mr. Livingston, of Ohio, Ik welcomed by growers in all sections of the couu* try. The Dwarf Stone variety tliit week has been tested for several sea* sons and found very desirable. It re sembles the famous dwarf Champion ' in growth of vine, although it stand* more erect and is a stronger grover. The fruit is somewhat like its parent, the Stone, In color mid shape. iTnliko any otlior erect growing sort, the fruit Is practically uniform in size and of very Targe size. ? As will be seen from the illustration, the shape is all that can be <lesired, and with solid flesh, good flavor and evenness of ripening, the variety will bo popular if it doos as well under field culture generally a* It h?? on tho several experiment plots where it has been tested. Naturally the seeds are high In price, but It will pay any grow er of tomatoes to got a small <|uuutlty, if only for testing the promising va? rlet^*. A " Ke?l " Uno<l Cltrh. The next time you to a party tako with you a reel of white cotton and a needle. At the first opportunity; thread tho needle and drop the reel Inside your breast poekct; pass tho needle throuirh your coat from the In side. and detach it from t lie cotton, leaving shout two inches hanging upon the outside of your black coat. You will be Interested to see hoif) ^ your friends will try to do you th? kindness of removing the cotton, and the effect will be startling when they| pull out an appnrently endless length' of thread.? .J^ssn's Home Compia* \qk ~ DWAIIF STOKE TOMATO.