Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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Mynheer" BY ST. QEORqC RATHBOtfNt. ' GHAPTKB VIL ; iowtin^i ' *It WM ki who wnt me. I hay* ex nearly four months in tlL Mail ?%ht boi? for yon to op in Philadelphia and prove Identity. That done within n from the date of the old man's i yon fan heir to hln rant estate*" ' -Won.- with a Steady "puff-puff," *taVpoee X fall to ehow up? what *Why, man, thera's a cool minion at ahke in thle matter? think of It, enough to Ac out expeditions to the Merth Pole ? to the eentre of the earth naonay to equender in the moot elab ?into efforts to discover what even ? Livingstons or n Doctor Kane has Med In." * Bow artfully Mr. Grlmee puts this, UHillng to wnst be knows Is the Weak spot In* the mske-up of his atrnnge companion. Wae erer such n MM as this known before, wben n Sana pleads with a fellow human to appal and daim a fortune that awaits his coming? llynheer Joe aeems to be weighing the whole affair In the Invisible acalce at his mind. When be speaks again It la reflectively. "Sight months, you ssy. When did he dler i "On the 10th of October lsst." "Bight months? let me see? from Oalro I go direct to India? it la Impos sible to giro that Journey up, for even now I may be too late to accomplish .What I seek to do. Then, if all goes well there, I have made up my mind to see something of China in a region foreigners have never yet been able to penetrate, making my way through to Peraia and the Mediterranean. 'Bight months are a short time, but then If everything goes well there is a chance that 1 may turn up In Phila delphia before or on next October 10th. It all depends on how fortune handles me, you know." It would be Impossible to portray the feelings that possess Mr. Grimes While he listens to these remarkable Words, lie has seen many types of men In his life, and looks u|?on tho Whole human race as gold-worshipers, yet here is a man who seems to have nn honest scorn for the dross. It is the most astonishing event Mr. Grimes has ever come across in all his life. Be holds his cigar between linger and thumb and surveys Mynheer Joe with amazement. "You are the first man I ever met hi my range, sir, who would snap his fingers at a fortune which he could have by putting out his haud and grasping It," he mutters. "Perhaps bo, Mr. Grimes. I know my own mind best, tad as you per haps are aware possess enough means for all the purposes of my business. A little money goes a long way when In the bush, and I don't travel like 8tanley with from one to five hundred porters and fighting men. By the way, supposing I fall to turn up by the time specified, does the property go to char ity r Mr. Grimes has been expecting this, fend jet be twists uneasily in bis chair, *s though hardly willing to answer. "No. It goes to the other side of the Stouse." -Ah! The Banners?" "A descendant of theirs, daughter bf the last Miss Bunner. Blie married and was lost sight of for a long time, S>at her family turned up out West ?omewhere." "Do you know the name of this heir ?M, Mr. Grimes?" "Well, yes, sir, I have heard it," he leplies. "Let me have It, please," remarks Mynheer Joe. taking out bis note took. "A man is bound to feel some Interest in the party who will come Into a million or not, according to his Whim. If you bave seen this party? By the way, is she a spinster or mar Vied woman?" I "The former, by all means," with a grin that Mynheer Joe takes note of (ftnd presrmes is caused by tbe fact that the party referred to is an anti quated old maid, with queer little irarls, blue glasses and a pet cat?ob, tie can see her In Imagination, just as tie pictured the Hon. Demosthenes ffanner? and as truly. ? "I trust she'll make good use of ths taoney If through my failure to appear tt falls to her," pursues Joe, thought *?Uy. t "No doubt of that, sir, no doubt of Vhat," says the otber, with something ?f a chuckle. "According to my Idea of thinking that money is bound to go ths same way whether you get It or the other." "That's an enlgms. Mr. * Grimes, explain." "Well, you tee, she's uncommonly Vend of travel? has been up Mount jBlanc, partly scaled the Matterhorn, fcruisea aronfr tne whole coast or Al giers, and has any number of trips In contemplation which will consume money and add to the knowledge of geographers. Bless you, sir, she's got ? medal already from the Royal Geo graphical Society of Great Britain In connection with certain features con cerning some daring work she did in the Alps." I "Phew I A regular female dlscovor mrl An adventurer In petticoats. I've ?oet a number of such. They're all ?like. And while admiring their grit iin oaring perils in unknown land* I lain free to confess. Mr. Grimes, t lint 3 was never struek with their personal charms. It Is a business that only the must determined characters take to? women who partake more of the man In their nature. You've set n 'em often." Mr. Grimes Is shaking all over with ?omc emotion. He comrIis n* though It is a little tobacco smoke that has gotten into his windpipe and choked him. ? "Of course, my dear fellow. But you do wrong to condemn the whole class. _ I've always found there were exceptions to every rale." "Com, don't think Far , throwing ?nt lnneniloM female travel era. I've met several w?ad<rtal wom en who acconpanM their husbands' Into danger and threatening death. Fm only stating a: (act that all with whom 1 am acquainted are strong characters, with irialn, resolute feat area. I presume 'the life they lead makes them look so mannish." "Yet, they, too, maj hare been love ly once," murmurs the paeudo silver king. "The name. Nr. Grimes? the name? rerhaps I hare met the lady some* where.** ~ "And I am sure of it. It Is now less thsn half an hour since yon knocked her dear old governor oat In one round." Mynheer Joe drops book and pencil and springs to his feet as If made the recipient of a galvanic shock from one of the electric eels he la so fond of telling about. "Why, man. you don't mean to tell me that It Is Molly Tanner?" he bursts out with, whereupon his companion begs him to remember that others sre not far away, and one scene of an even ing Is quite enough. By this time Mynheer Joe, the erst while cool messenger from Khartoom, has picked up his book and seats him self close beside Mr. Grimes, upon whose arm he fastens a clutch, while with a voice full of eagerness he asks: "Tell me the exact truth, my friend. There is no reason for concealment be tween us. You Ray Molly Tanner will come In for that million If 1 fall to turn up?" "That is tl>e whole of it, my dear Joe." "Of course she knows the nature of the will?" "Word for word." "I am puzzled." "How so?" ? ' "She met me, beard my name, and yet did not recognize me as the party who coulu step between her and this fortune." "Bah! You forget something. You assumed your uncle's name, which, it seems, for reasons best known to yourself, you have thrown off again." "True, sir." "The document speaks of Joseph M. Carringford as the coming man. How was she to know Mynheer Joe as that pariy ?" "Ah! You are right, Mr. Grimes, you are right !" "This young woman, as 1 told you, is an enthusiast in the work of seeing unkuowu countries, climbing mount ains that have never yet been scaled, and, in fact, accomplishing deeds that you men love so dearly." "I remember she spoke of be!ng fond of travel," he mutters thought fully. This surprise has taken his breath away, nud for the time being Mynheer Joe is not himself. "Just at present she has an object In her travel beyond mere adventure or sight-seeing. She is searching for a man." "Ah"' "By name Joseph M. Carrlngford." "On deck. What will she do when she finds this same personage?" "Endeavor to send him borne to Philadelphia Id time to secure his in heritance. She believes tlie old man's will -Is unjust, and desires to set mat ters right. No one looks for the miss tng Carringford more earnestly than this girl who would most profit by his absence." , "Then Molly Tanner is one In al thousand. 1 knew I could not be mis taken in her face. Here is another peculiar tie that draws us together. Make up your mind, Mr. Grimes," as *!? tosses his cigar away and jumps to his feet, "I go to inaia rrom here, and the chance is now one In a thousand that I turn up In Quakerdom In time to secure tbo conditions of the will." Mr. Grimes does not rise, but puffs away at his Havana, brought across the water, while, he looks after Myn heer Joe's retreating form. "Well," he says, with a chnekle, "two and two make four. The mag net draws? be goes to meet her. I may be beaten in one sense, but there are more ways of accomplishing a thing than enter Into your philosophy, Horatio. Kismet! It is. Indeed, fate!" CHAPTER VIII SANDY. Mynheer Joe enters the nearest room and finds a few of the guests scattered about. His eye seeks one- form alone ?and finds It not It Is uneertaln how Molly will receive htm, as he cannot tell whether her father will relate the circumstances of the afTalr to her or not ' Conscious that a pair of eyes have fastened u(K>n him, he looks across the room to see the small Ann whom Grimes designated as the wily baron, the secret emissary of the Russian Government, smiling and nodding in a condescending way that Is Irritating, to say the leant Just then Mynheer Joe has a pecul iar sensation sweep over him; be is conscious of it deep dislike toward thin man. He does not attempt to ex plain the feeling. Perhaps it if rival ry that briiiRH these two together? a striving after the smiles of a beauti ful girl. Molly Tanr.cr brushes past the baron i at this moment, having been able to leave her parent, who Is not badly In jured in any way. The Russian puts out a hand to stay her passage, but hIio heeds him not. advancing straight as the home tiight of n bee for t lie ' spot where the explorer stands. In another moment she is at his side. "Mow is your father'/" be iiw.nages to ash, feeling like a hypocrite; and, but for the fact of his face being al * ready tanned, Ue bV>od uiouuting up ward would f>otray him. "He feels no effect from his fall, but la full of deep anger," Molly re plica. the deffatud gladiator's f? to excuse his downfall. ~aing*. Utf how Incidents wl*hspp?L I>e ^ M otmnge 1,1 togs occur to DM St ttoies. But. Miss Molly, how Is It with tout If your father doss not bnr amlh* toward the unlucky oieoSS 3!^W^V0*f*hMt0 ??oasurs strength ^1* ^J11* ^ y?* ?**> forgive hlmr -Not I? the wretch. It wss my dear old governor he struck. If I had been 'JftofTj*, l m afrnl<1 I might hare dons Something desperate." ? iAn<l. b*r flt,Wn? ?J?e give Joe an to no mer# tbwat He shrugs his shoulders and contia :nes: w I believe It was a fair, stand-up We wIU 004 discuss It further. Miss Molly.** -ww ? meV but-" ,b? ??nniers. .k. . ..can I do for your seeing ChTi*!." J 10 ilk *om? favor at ?which she hesitates. r"^??n t knoW whjr 1 ?DMLk to you r*7, ?lnce 1 b,T? known you J?r *? *^ort ? time. I hare numerous ac*lu*totances, I should call them? but you saved my life, end somehow I feel thst I can say to you others.** ******** to to Yes, "be utters encouragingly, feel tog deeply flattered by her words, snd tUl of an onesey sensation, for the baron Is glsring at him from JST?"V?e rooni* *nd ?? some fUl ,D that diplomat's frown. Will you help me r* she asks blunt V* ?>!n.,PI?I^,"e yon* to the *?t of my "bUlty* he repHes without a second mou got. "A thousand thanks. I knew I could depend upon you." she murmurs. Mynheer Joe does not dream the na ture of the request she Is about to make. "lVha* CaD 1 do fOT you." he finally asks. Do not hesitate. Speak out.** haps"1 *"ay tLink me vlnd,cUve. pcr "Xever!" "But when I tLink of the dear old governor bring so badly used, my blood fairly boils " "Ah!" "Do you think you could find the retch who beat my governor. Myn heer Joe?" J "I ana sure of It." stoutly. "Will you do this ? for inc?" "Assuredly." "And briug him before me?" _ Zin ?raf hlm tbere the np<* the heels, though be has the strength of a Samson." This wonderful speech receives its reward, of course, in the shape of a sweet smile; but it is still too early to tell what the designs of the explor er may he. "You ,nre Tfry k,nd- Mynheer Joe. When (hi* fellow is before me. I am In doubt what to do?whether to give h?m a piece of my mind or use a whip him, as I have read of energetic jvoinen doing. In some way I must &??%!&& c^tt P" Joe almost smiles as he thinks of ti?i? ?".eC? ?f 8ueh a dander as this. But the situation is so extremely " U,U<1 do8,>erute ,Lat be has no side amused at Its ridiculous "J?! y?u l<inve the decision with *w?.?e n8ks hnv,u? ? bold idea. With pleasure." Bhe replies. And abide by the result?" "Yes. indeed. It will take a load IDy..IUIUd 10 bave you decide my course." *Zhen< Jf 1 wore yoo. I would not bink of doing anything with a whin In the first place it will get your name In the papers-news gatherers are so mJkf t!? eC,Zt' "P?D a 8<'n8a"on and make the most of It. Thus you would find people turning to look at you In the street, not because you had done anything noble, but because you had ,!?.rrt W >d a mnn wll? for some icason was powerless to resirjt " of It" n? ,DOre; 1 rta,,y d,d not dream Besides," he goes on, quietly, "I ave an idea the poor devil will suffer iTniTTi at T?rdS of rePronch from your 4Vi m" i!di.?ou u,,<1,'p ,be ,orl,,re8 [To be Continued.] The custom of throwing rice at wed iliugs originated In China. HOW THE CHINESE CELEBRATE Weird Ceremonies at Opening of Tern pie in Australia. - A glimpse of the new religion whicl is to be introduced into South Africt Is afforded in a report of the opening recently of a new Chinese temple a* Sydney, Australia. The Chinese popu latlon reveled in the picturesque com bats of dragons and masked monsters, and feasted on roast pig. The Chinese mixed their prayers and their propitla tions with endless rejoicings. A re spected Chinese resident in Sydney performed the opening ceremony, and then a number of Chinese went into the temple and placed there rice cakei and meats, praying to the particular Joss before whom they knelt. Ia defer ence to the residents only a few crack ers were exploded in the early hours but at dawn there was abundant proof that the Josses were being propitiated The tom-tom, the Chinese bugles, and the rattles caused a greRt din. The dragon danofs in the temple grounds were wild and weird. Grotesque head? swayed, masked men advanced men acingly towards each other, musio clanged, banners gleamrd, incenso floated to the nostrils of each Joss, yellow-skinned and half caste devotees crept in to make obeisance, and for once the stolid countenance of the Chinaman showed signs of exultation. I Mice Dislike Peppermint. I Thrrr are many objections to the Mf f of poisonous r.r!lcie.< to keep mire oitf of a house, oml a hint rnav be useful to those who are troubled with those little pests. Mice have a great antipathy to the smnll of peppermint, I and a little oil of peppermint placed around their haunts and holes will ' successfully keep them away. The time has now again rolled around when Ui?4in will be buying TP for batching. Wo are glad to know that ao many of oar readers last roar purchaaed egg* and thereby 1m proved their Socks, or at least made an attempt to do so. We only wish that ?ore breeders would see the wisdom >f . thus Improving their stock, and that this year would be the bapner one !n the history of the poultry business to this regard. ? The cheapest method of getting good itocfc is by purchasing eggs, and in this pray one cay for a small amount se cure* a good foundation for future roars and hare a reasonable size flock it birds for the coming winter. We wsnt to urge our friends not to >ut off the mstter of buying eggs until St Is too late. Now Is the time to buy four eggs for hatching. Get jour thicks out before the fierce sun of nldsummer is here to check their nat lrsl growth and retsrd their future lsefulness. It wifl be Just ss easy to >uy the eggs now, or at l?ast In a !ew weeks as it will later. The uni versal opinion of successful breeders a that It pays to hatch chicks early n the season. Water Far Chick*. drinking fountains require close at tention. Small chickens drink fre luently, and oftentimes their besks are loaded with food which is left to a greater or less extent in the water lupply. As It is necessary to keep IBffinlOR&L these fountnins in a tolerably warm atmosphere, they soon become tainted ind emit a disagreeable odor. Tliis condition must not be allowed to exist, for all food and drink eonsuuied by fowls should be wholesome. Nothing less than frequent scalding with steam >r hot water will answer the purpose. k cheap, efficient drinking fountain may be made by taking an empty to mato can, bend in the ragged edges trliere it has been opened, make a hole In the side one-quarter of an inch from the edge, fill it with water, put a Hau ler on It and quickly Invert both. The (rater will then stand in the saucer constantly at the height of the hole. Chickens can drink but cannot get in th* water, which remains clear Farm Boy*. The farm is a good place on which to raise a boy? good place to develop him physically, to teach him morality tnd* decency of conduct, to ediuyte him on broad lines, writes .1. S. Trigg. In the Springfield Journal. "Rut it could not be expected that these boyp would all, or even a respectable min ority of them, remain on the farm; neither would it be bc3t that they should. There is an urgent demand for them elsewhere. In a physical sense, where are the nervy, pushing, tggressive citizens of the future to come from If not from the farm? Where are the bank, the great corpora tion and big commercial concern to obtain men or ihe requisite energy and ability to plan and conduct our great modern business enterprises if not from the farm? Where does the State most look for rugged and loyal defend ers of its national honor? To the farm boys. From where else snail the coun try secure that sterling worth, ability and Integrity of character needed in our legislative and executive offices? It is as true as gospel that If It were not that a perennial crop of well born, sound and healthy country children, reared In an atmosphere of morality and patriotism, is continually avail able as material for future American citizens this country, great ;.nd grand as it is, would go straight to the devil *>side of two general Ioub." The Ilfiu on the Farm. The lion seems to be it necessary ad junct to the farm, and is therefore fa mlllnr to nil who huve had nny tiling to do with farming. A farm without n hen would almost be n curoslty. It certainly denotes that hens are con sidered a source of revenue to a cer tain extent, if for no other purpose than to supply the family with eggs. It is true also that while no farm can easily be found that does not contain poultry, yet the poultry on the farm receive less recognition thnn any other class of live stock. Farmers seem to set them apart as suitable work for the female members of the family, and consider the profit from them to be too insignificant for their notice, yet they seldom venture to learn, by keep ing an account, how much the hens pay in a year. Hundreds of farmers grow crops of wheat on a margin of or $3 profit per acre, and also en gape in very laborious work to make that profit, yet the same labor, care and amount of capital stock given to hens on an acre of land that Is often bestowed upon a crop of ten acres of wheat would show largely In favor of the liens. The farmer seldom engages In the keeping of poultry as a busl nofs, and many farmers do not really know what can be done In that re sp<vt. There Is no more reason for turning the hens over to the female members of the family than for the farmer to abandon any other depart ment. for In so doing he makes a mis take, as he should seek the best ehau iielK for securing the most profit.lLnnd I that is unprofitable for cultivation can j be used for poultry, and thg markets I are ready to receive nil that can be produced. Considering the small pro portion of labor required from spring to fall, and the self stiitalnlng powers of the fowls t In seeking their food, it Is no mistake to assert that nothing on the farm is produced at so low a cost at eggs, and nothing brings so high ? price iu comparison with value of labor fcwtewtd aai cost of to oCr-Mfe ror-Farmer. " * h?? won iw rnit T|t first thing to be considered If the breed wblcb aaswers best tbese i* qulretuenta, for ore most ha to a ply wltt s gold length and fair depth; with an even distribution of firm flesh along the back, from the bead to the tail; a pig with medium light Jowl and gobd thickness of belly meat. The selection of a brood sow Is very Important. Sows which have been penned up and forced from birth do not give as good results as sows which have had plenty of exercise and given a chance to develop as they grow up. Dp not have your sows f arrow too young; better let them grow until one year before they give blrtb. Brood sows should always be treated kindly, ill order tbat they may be quiet tc handle, this being a great advantage at fari-owing time. If the farmer has plenty of milk there Is not much difficulty in raising young pigs, but many farmers have not sufficient milk. A few roots, cooked and mixed with oil cake, io connection with shorts. make a splen did food for young pigs. Pigs cannot be grown profitably on grain alone. They thrive much better in winter or a liberal amount of roots of some kind. The Danish sugar beet Is relished bj pigs and makes a splendid root ra tion. In feeding roots and chop many add water to mix up. By doing this you force your pigs to take too much water, especially in cold weather. Roots are said to contain ninety pec cent, of water themselves, so that if water is added It has a tendency to wash all grains through the pigs be fore it is properly digested. In the summer nothing is equal to a piece of lucerne clover near the barn, as it grows very rapidly and the pigs enjoy the fresh green feed, and gain very rapidly if a little grain Is added to balance up the ration. When pigf get to weigh 140 pounds, more grain should be fed in order to harden up the flesh and make a better quality of pork for the packer. The greatest profit is obtained by getting the pigs off before they reach 1!00 pounds live weight. Pigs, to make flrst-class ba con. should be fed slowly and not forced too much.? J. W. Clark, in Tri* I bu??e Farmer. lioi For Carrying Kggw. ?Most poultry men are familiar with the egg carriers used on the market, und those who have a considerable quantity of eggs to handle use these carriers. The farmer, however, is in the habit of carrying eggs to market in a basket, and often many of them become broken, resulting in consider* able loss. The Illustration shows one of the boxes which may be made from cheap material and which will answer as well as the boxes sold for the pur* pose. Any grocor who handles quantities of shipped eggs will give a' customer some of the cardboard fillers such as are used in the crates; then buy soino cracker boxes and fashion a neat bos like the one shown, cutting the paste board fillers with n sharp knife so that they will tit the wooden box. Boxes made to hold one dozen eggs and oth ers to hold two dozen will be large enough. These boxes ought to liavo covers with a hasp coming down over a staple so that the box may be locked if need he. These boxes will cost but little if made at home, as suggested, and if one lias strictly fresh eggs of a good size as well as uniform in size, they can be marketed In these boxes at a higher price than if marketed In a basket. Try it and see if it is r.ot so. As an extra inducement to the consumer, wrap each egg In white tissue paper and twist the ends of the paper as they are twisted around oranges and lemons. Have the eggs strictly fresh, of good size and clean and you'll find that the tissue paper conceit will sell them readily at good prices. She?p Notr*. Sheep require a variety of food to form flesh and fat. A small fat sheep will always bring better prices than n large, poor one. Overstocking Is usually injurious to the sheep uud ruinous to the farmer. Dryness is one of the requirements In the production of the finest grades of wool. Sheep are almost essential in main* tniniiifr the fertility and cleanliness of t lie land. With sheep rather than with any oth er class of Mock, care must be taken not to overfeed. Slierp are naturally gregarious. When one is seen by itself something is evidently wrong. Keep the quarters clean. Sheep do not need the accumulation of manure to keep them warm. In commencing to fatten sheep, the feeding should not be crowded at first, hut gradually increase the amount of the ration. Old sheep, or sheep that from any cause have bad teeth should be fed ground feed. Such sheep are rarely prolituble. It makes considerable difference in the quality and strength of the wcol whether or not the sheep have even regular conditions. No sheep should he allowed to die of old age. but all should he fattened and sent to market before their vi tality has been Impaired. When sheep losp patches cf wool from their heads or bellies, it indi cates a feverish condition, and is usu ally the result of improper feeding. When early lambs are expected, es pecial care must be taken to | rovide warn* dry quarters, lu order to j*old lopses. Keep the ewes in a good, thrifty ~ A BOX FOR EGOS New Kind of Reciprocity. A WASHINGTON corres pomleut of our of tbe jcrrut dailies, filing "all ruu down" tns a result of vain attempts to manufac ture news about Professor Uugley's "buzzard," receutly conclud Kl to go Into tbe rural districts of Maryland to recuperate. After a few days of rest, bis journalistic lustlnct reasserted Itself, and be decided it would be au amusing experience tu go nut and interview some of tbe farmers. Securing a pad. be started up tlie road sharpening bis pencil and whistling one of Sousa's latest marches. Before long be saw a farmer cutting corn in a field alongside tbe road. Climbing the rail feuce. he hailed tbe farmer pleasantly, and aftei a few remarks about tbe weather and the crops, explained bis errand. "Wont to interview me. eh?" said the Tanner. "I never had any experience giviu' interviews, but if your heart is set on it. go ahead. What do you want me to talk about?" "Well." said tbe reporter, scratching bis nose reflectively. "supi?ose you give me your views ou reciprocity." "Couldn't have suited me better foi a subject. Mister. The fact is, I've been thinkin' a good deal about reci procity, lately. I believe in it. 1 don't mean reciprocity with Cuha or Canada, although that may all be very well in its place. Wbui 1 want to see is reciprocity right here in the United States. 1 think reciprocity, like charity, should begin at home. I want the fellows who have been enjoying the blessings for a good many years to reciprocate a little with the farm ers." "What do you propose?" asked the wiflder of the pencil, who began to see that he was getting more than he ex pec ted. "Well." raid the farmer. "I want some plan adopted 1>> which a part of the revenue collected will get back to the rural districts. I understand there's a fellow down there In Con gress who has introduced a bill that will do the business. 1 moan that bill providin' for the fiovernment to aid in improvin' the roads in the rural districts. That would bo a greai bless, ing. not only to the farmers, but to everybody. Talk about developing re sources! I'd like to know what would do more to develop this country than building good roads. If this plan was adopted, a few millions of the taxes the farmers pay would come back to them, and there couldu't he no charge of special privilege, either, for tl.e money would bo spent for public im provement. and would benefit all see | tions and all classes. Now I want tc see the city people who have been protected so long turn in and help the farmers get that law passed. That's the kind of reciprocity I believe in." How much more the farmer might have said the reporter will tftevqr know, for the interview was just then inter rupted by a blast from the dinner horn. Y'nmtltnouw For flood Knailf. ^Ir. finis. F. Say lor, special a Kent of 11u? Government for tlie investigation of t lie sugar industry, who lias traveled through nearly all the Northern and Western States in the p.osecutlon of his work, recently expressed the re sults of his observations as follows: "Probably no other subject of in terest to the rural population is re ceiving more attention throughout the Nation than that of road improvement One of the fundamental means of so eiety is a ready means of communica tion. The experiment stations of the country are now engaged in experl mental work and actual demonstra tion with a view to stimulating the public mind and promoting the best and cheapest systems of good road building with local materia). State I^*g> islntures are enacting tetter laws, and in some cases the principle of State aid has been adopted. The Federal Government has established an Office of Public Road Inquiries in the De partment of Agriculture. Literature has been prepared and distributed for the education of th(< people on this sub ject. "There is nothing that will work so effectually lor good roads as necessity, ?the mother of invention.' When a fac tory is established farmers at once dis cover the necessity of good roads. Agitation begins, public meetings are held, and every public highway be comes the object of solicitous atten tion. It is found that the farmer re quires at least four horses If he is tv accomplish the best results in the sav ing of time and expense. Neighbors talk over road improvement and the idea becomes infectious. A public meeting is called, public roads are dis cussed. and an organization is effected which goes 1o work for the improve ment of the roads." Reports from all sections indicate that the question of road improvement is one of the most popular subjects of discussion In farmers' meetings of all kinds, and State and National aid are being generally endorsed. The farm ers nre beginning to see that they have not received their share of at tention from the National Government and to demand substantial recognition in the way of Federal aid 'and co op oration in the improvement of the rural highways. Atarlllng Figure*. The vast amount of money wasted every year in the repairing of hud roads was dw?lt upon by many sneak < rs at a recent convention. It was stated that this sum so expend' <1 if Capitalized would show that the peo ple of the United Slates are paying tSe Interest annually by bad roads on two and one-half times what the Na tional debt was at the end of the Civil War. These figures, derived from an thoritativo sources, were startling to many of the delegates and they have determined to go to work and nn.*1 a public sentiment that will lent*. 'o ft re | form. | There is not a single qualified prac tising dentist In the English protector ates of Kast Africa and Uganda. HOME-MADE FRUIT LADDER. The average fruit ladder, as found la most orchards, la not particularly desirable, mainly because it is not designed for this particular work. Tb? broad top of the common ladder makes it almost impossible to get it among the branches in a firm position. Where one hits considerable fruit to gather, a special ladder constructed after th? plan of the one in the illustration tvill be found not only useful, but will save considerable time in the fruit* gathering season. A pole, preferably a green one from tlie woods, should be secured, having It of the. desired length. The largest end should be split up about thre? feet and a brace inserted to keep th? THE HOME-MADE LADDER, sides apart. The emls wliich stand on the ground should be sharpened or covered with sharpened pieces of iron, which any blacksmith can fash ion and attach. Bore holes one and one-half incites in diameter in both sides as far apart as the rungs are to be placed. The rungs should be formed of some tough wood so that they may not be made too bungling. At the top of the pole a strip of strap iron is fastened with a long hook so that it may be passed over the branches of the tree. The illustration on the right of the cut shows how the hook is fastened on. This ladder will cost hut a small sum, and If well made will last for years. It would bo 0 good plan to have several of them of different lengths.- ludiauapolis News. iioRTion/ruKAr. notes. Oot a good sprayer? If not. why not? When did you last manure that or chard? Any insect eggs on the apple trees? Scrape them off. Any blighted limbs on the pear trees? Cut them off away below. One poach tree having the "yellows'* Will infect the whole orchard. <Jet up a club for purchasing fruit ti;ees? get 'em cheaper that way. The time to prune trees is when you ore ready. You should be ready now. Just as like as not the orchard has not had a forkful of manure for two years. Have you removed the old rough hnrk from the trees yet? If not, why not? The earlier this is done the better, then wash the bodies and large limbs with lye, and see how the trees will renew their youth. The practice of tilling out the ol?l orchards with young trees is very Questionable. Ilcttcr select new ground for the young trees, renovate and enre for the old ones until their usefulners is past, then remove them. Many trees, otherwise vigorous, have large holes occasioned by the rotting of limbs too closely sawed off. lie move the decayed wood clean as pos sible, and fill the holes solidly with water-lime cement. This will often preserve the trees for years. Some of Us. no doubt, had many apples rot or otherwise go to waste under the trees last fall. Embrace the first opportunity now. to clean up nil remaining refuse and burn it. In sect pests and disease are lurking there, and will rise up to condemn us. If disease of the tree or fruit was present last year, it Is liable to be present in aggravated form this sea son. If such was the case, then by no means neglect spraying with the Bor deaux mixture while the trees are still dormant; then as many times after ward as circumstances may dictate. Some of the apple trees, no doubt, nre expensive boarders; taking up both the ground and soli fertility with out making any adequate returns. (Jraft such trees, if vigorous enough, to useful varieties. If too old for this and they still refuse to respond to good treatment, then they bi tter be re moved. The provision against spraying with poisonous mixtures is not only merciful but wise. The bees are not only our frie?r>;? as honey producers, but with out oubt, are nature's most active ngca in fertilizing the blooms. They nttra<4 our valued friends by the thouMuds; and to poison their sources of supply would be cruel in the ex treme. So this must be done beforo and after their harvest time. A Moiqnlto That Don Not Hit*. If we must have mosquitoes at all, people will regret that the new spe J ties of these insects which Dr. William | I'. Underwood has discovered is a na j tive of the Maine woods instead of 1 more populous parts of the country, | says the Youth's Companion. For this i mosquito does not bite, although it is , so large that if it were given to biting I It would be a terror, and. moreover, its larvae feeds eagerly upon the larvae of i other species of mosquitoes. For this I reason experiments are being made to determine if the new mosquito will thrive in the climate of Southern New England. It lias recHved the name of i em ore t lira underwood!. Its manner of : disposing of the larvae of other mos quitoes is calculated to make sufferers j from recent mosquito bites gleeful* : "The victim is caught," says I?r. Un I derwood. "sin ken violently a few tline? and ewftllowod."? rittsburg LMsuutcb.