The people. (Camden, S.C.) 1904-1911, July 07, 1904, Image 2
Mynheer Toe,
BY ST. QEORQC JUTHBORNE.
.. 1CHAPTBB XL
(Ooottauedj
^omthlnf hu evidently befallen
lbs ' ructllj Brthala sine* night
dosed la. What did joo conclude waa
the matter?" ha asks.
?"Well, I thought the fellow had ert
Bentiy haaa buklof up the wrong
tm," aaya Sandy, solemnly.
, Thla time Grimes laughs aloud.
"Good guess. my hoy. Ho owea the
goose egg on hla forehead, the halt In
Ma gait and the bandaged arm to
tome one we know.**
?Ten to one It waa that Mynheer
9oef' exclaimed the correspondent
talokly.
"Go up head, young man. Ton are
fcn ornament to the guessing class.
Bore enough. It was our Joaeph who
handled the Thug without gloves. The
beast waa on a mission for his master,
and waa thrown through the window
by the messenger from Khartoom."
Of course Sandy prlcka his ears m>
It this chance for a sensation, and
pUes the other with question*, which
ftfr. Grimes anawera to the best of
fela ability. The story Is soon told, and
followed by what he has. this morn
ing, aeen the baron do?exercise hla
?kill with sword and revolver, aa
though there la work ahead.
"Aa sure aa you lire. It's going to be
Sip and tuck between these two yet/
rm ready to bet on Joe. but I admit
?be caae la awfully doubtful, with that
tinman devil against him still. Joe'a
?tar of lock has never yet deserted
him. He's the only foreigner to come
out of Khartoom alive. Let us hope
and pray be will finally outwit that
baron and carry off the prise."
Sandy has never been more earnest
In all hla life, and If something would
only come op whereby he could ahow
his friendship he standa ready to chip
In, no matter what the cost.
Thus Joe's friends talk over matters
fend endeavor to discover some way
whereby the explorer can be benefited.
They feel sure the baron haa made up
bis mind to push matters to the wall,
and that he will not hesitate about the
means he employs.
If Joe Is challenged, of course he
may have the choice of weapons, time
and place. He can, therefore, make
the best of the bargain. The one
thing they fear la that the baron may
arrange it so that the lneult cornea
from him. Well, If so, Joe will proba
bly avenge It on the spot, aad not
dream of sending In a challenge.
Thua they draw consolation from
the situation and hope for the best.
Where can Joe have taken himself
to? They fall to find anything of him.
nor do they aee Tanner and hla daugh
ter. T. s delay la not to Sandy'a lik
ing, aa he la anxious to send a tele
gram to the city on the Mediterranean,
engaging his paaaage for India, and
frets under the lapae of time.
The morning haa gone and the after
noon with It.
It la evening when the two frlenda
run across Tanner In the hotel?Tan
ner. who greets them In his usual bois
terous manner, as he does all hia
friends.
Sandy sees his opportunity and
makes the best possible use of It. He
asks the orator his Intentions about
travel, and blnta at how nice It would
be If all of'them could go on the same
steamer to India* which propoaltlon
quite takea the other by storm.
Making Inquiries as to data of sail
ing and a few other things, Tanner
figures on hla own plans,'and then an
nounces that Sandy may Include him
self and daughter In the party.
"How about Mynheer Joe?"
"You'll have to aee him personally,"
returns the orator, with a aly twinkle
In hia eyes, as though he can make a
pretty good gueas that the party men
tioned will not be far away when they
leave Alexandria.
"Where may be be found?" aaks
Bandy.
"Think I- know. You see a party of
Bnglish officers and leading men were
bound to fete the brave boy who
came from Khartoom with the last
news of poor Gordon. They took him
over to the barracks, where a spread
had been ordered. I waa pressed to
go, but Molly would be waiting tor
me at the hotel here, and as I am a
dutiful parent and never dlaappoint
her, I gavs up the Idea."
Sandy has a cloud on bis brow.
"How long ago since the party went
In7!' \
"More than half an hour, I reckon,"
repllea Tanner, consulting hla time
piece.
"They mast have reached the wine
snd cigars." ,
"Very probably*"
"Mr, Tanner, was the baron pres
?nt?"
"Certainly. That man la every
where!" it Is evident that he does not
bear malice against the baron, or at
least falls to show It.
Sandy and Mr. Grimes exchange
fiances.
"It will be done there?" saya the
latter.
"No doubt of It, sir." replies the cor
respondent.
"What's all this about?" asks Tan
oer, noticing their peculiar nods and
fiances.
"We're off to see if Joe goes with
ss or stays In Cairo."
, And with the words the two friends,
^leave Tanner, heading for tne r>nr
racks.
As they reached the door of tl:!s in
Itltutlon, lood voices are henrd, excite
ment seems to reign, and the colonel
tan l>e heard exclaiming:
"Gentlemen, remember you nre tin
fler a military roof! Hcservo nil dem
onstrations uutil we separate!"
tbe look cxcbMgcd between the twe
ienotee that they understand the tnp
Inwardneee of this affair It hardly
?cede the glance they take Into the
mess-room to corroborate their suspl
clone. .
It la a ecene they win nerer for
get aa Ions aa they lire. ? doaen
or more officers and gentlemen hare
been at the table; the doth Is removed
end dgare and wine served. At one
tide of the Colonel stands Mynheer
Joe, the hero of Kbertoom; be bolde
en empty wine-glass In his hand,whUe
upon his face can be eeen a contemp
tnona look. B3a eyes are beat acroee
the tfcble.
Nearly opposite to him Is the baron.
With a snowy handkerchief be wlpea
the wine from his face; It has also
discolored his shirt-front where biases
a wonderful diamond, worth a small
fortune.
Bandy observes bis face- and discer
ns hardly a trace of anger there; in
fleed, from the sardonic smile one
wonld Imagine that this Incident 1>
Just what tbe Russian duelist hat
played for.
Returning tbe soiled kerchief to his
pocket* he cooly tosses his cerd across
the table In the direction of Mynheer
Joe.
"You will speedily hear from me,
sir," he says, with cutting empbfcsls.
"The sooner the better, baron! Re
member, I leave on Saturday's steam
er," returns the American, while tbe
officers look astounded; for, brave men
though they are. there Is not one
among them who would care to be In
Joe's shoes.
The Russian bows and leaves tbe
room; be can no longer remain at the
table with the man who baa thus pub?
lldy Insulted him, and ae Mynheec
Joe Is the guest of the occasion. It be*
comes his duty to depart from tbe
mess-table.
Bandy la Joined by one of the offi
cers, a fine young fellow, who has
aken quite a fancy to the war corre
spondent. The latter declares It wlli
>e his pleasant duty to see Hanv
Fletcher become a general some day.
He has the greatest faith In hla dash
lag qualities.
"Tell us, bow did this ugly affalt
?ome about?" he asks, eagerly, foi
ihose at the mess-table sppear to have
forgotten It In listening to Joe's glow
tag story of Gordon's death.
"Willingly?what little 1 know," re
plies the British officer. "1 was at
the other end of the table and failed
b distinctly catch the full meaning
>f the baron's Insult."
"Then he brought It on purposely,
as 1 supposed."
"We suspect aa much, though his
reason Is not plain. Perhaps you gen
tlemen know It?"
"The same old story?rivals In love."
"Ah! That's the truth of It, eb?"
, "Was the baron's remark about Bliss
Tanner?"
CHAPTER XII.
"WITH SWORDS?AM HOtJll AfTCn 8TJN
RISCI"
The words nre deeply atjriilflrnnt nuri
Bandy eluteUes bis conipaoion's srin;
"I am glad to say It was not. From
the little I beard. I believe It con
cerned Mynheer Joe's country?some
Insulting allusion to the flag that cov
ers onr cousins across the water."
"Good! And Joe resented It, as any
true American would, no matter If bis
death was a foregone conclusion," says
Sandy, hotly.
"But, you see, lt*s a serious thing
to bring on a row at the Colonel's
mess-table.**
"And a still more serious thing to be
publicly Insulted there. The Colonel
should have seen to It that only gen
tlemen were Invited and not the mis
erable bound who thinks bis title of
baron can cover up all his Iniquities.?
The lieutenant glances rather ner
vously around, hoping no friend of
(he baron would overhear what Is be
ng said by the fiery little correspond
ent, or there may be a double duel
on the tapis.
"Honestly, now, lieutenant, if you
bad been at the mess-table of a Ger
man regiment, an Invited and honored
guest, and this man should say ex
actly the same against your flag what
be did against our stars and stripes,
what would have been your action V
pursues Sandy.
The offloer bites his military mous
tache.
"Really, my dear fellow, you have
ule. There would be but one course
for me to pursue, and that to cast his
?lur In his teeth, as a brave man like
Mynheer Joe has done."
"Exactly! I knew It! Tbon blnmo
bin) no more, but rather honor bis
daring. TVhen this cur had given the
Insult?what then?"
"Every eye was turned on Mynlieer
Joe, for we all understood wbst was
meant. - I saw him shut his teeth hard,
but only a slight frown passed over
his bronzed facc. Leaning over the
table, he looked tbe baron full In tliu
fcye and said calmly: 'I return tlio
sompllment, bnron. Tlmt lit;? cotild
oever wave over the land that harbors
l Siberia!" And quick as s flush he
emptied h!s wine-glass full Into the
?ther's face."
Satfdy's fare glotvs with enthusiasm
fie Is proud of his countryman,
few more such men a* Mynheer Joe
scattered about the world would cnuso
* greater respect for the stars and
?trlpes among the nations of Europe.
He l(4oks at the explorer, and does
not see that Joe ts Impressed with
the danger Into which he has been
thus drawn by circumstances.
"I have great confidence In h!s abil
ity, and his lucky star seem* In the
nsceiidant," he remark.*, at which
I ho officer sayit In a low tone:
"Privately, between us. Sandy, 1
earnestly hope lie will do the baron.
Hesldes the regard we feel for him
a cousin from across the water and
die man who avenged tJordon, you
understand that we have no love fot
the Iiusslan, whose mission to India
we ean suspect."
"Yes. and It's my private opinion
that when he runs up against Joe he'll
wish he had taken soim- other course."
It In a eood thine to have a son
B* knows what tbt
4? the* as well M Mr.
the
t twoft Ud shot with htetta
?rt.
Je?j
They
ud do
at it. Aay man who may ho called
<PM at sunrise to face the Russian
iuellet would ho a fool to stupefy hla
hum by Uifcrhi at a banquet ta
Ple.
Ho la Immediately Joined by Sandy
tad the paaada silver king, and the
three walk oat under the atari to
talk. Joe te'aooo Informed with re?
fard to all that Mr. Qrlmea has
The three peaoeatly bring op at the
prmnaslum. for It Is the wish of the
tatter gentleman that the explorer
?hall show what be can do. ao a com*
parlaon may be drawn snd a decision
tendered as to what Joe's course must
te when be receives the challenge ex
pected.
A very few persons sre present Mr.
Q rimes speaks to the man in chaVge,
ind they are made welcome aa friends
>f the officers. The same professor
rlth whom the baron clayed Is nres*
mt. snd with pleasure he agrees xo
fence with the American, no doubt
delievlng be will have a chance to
recover his prestige, lost in the bout
irltb the baron thst dsy.
When Mynheer Joe takes off his
;oat and vest and puts a belt around
its waist he U ready for the affair.
(Jpon hia feet he baa drawn a pair of
rubber foot-holds thst will keep him
trom slipping.
He bares his right arm. and Sandy
?ees the profeesor glance at hla su
perb bleep* u though pleased. Then
the man of foils takes his wrist and
feels it.
MA wonderful arm. monsieur.** he
lays, with kindling eyes. "With prac
tice you should be a magnificent
twordsman."
M8o old Duval used to tell me." re
plies Joe.
"Ah. sacre! Ton take lessons from
dim. so greatest master in Paris. Per
tisps I shsll not be able to have se
revenge after alL"
Meanwhile Joe rolls up his left shirt
ileeve in the aame way, an action the
professor regards with concern, but
which Mr. Grlmea takee to mean
hat he has fondly hoped.
"Ready, professor?"
The foils click and begin to writhe
tike snakes, passing In and out with
the rapidity of thought. Sandy and
llr. Grimes stand near by. They have
i deeper interest In this engagement
than appears on the surface.
Alter looking on for a minute, Mr.
3rimes heaves a sigh of relief.
"He'll do. Sandy. I'll stake my life
?n him, even against the Russian.
iVatch that magnificent play of the
xrrlst. Heavens! I've seen a man
sield a sword before, but never like
?hat. Hark! What does he say?that
ko fluxla himself rusty and sluggish.
Deuce take It, what can he do when
n trim, theu? Note the poor protes
tor. He actually looks scared. His
?evenge doesn't pan out very well,
loes It? I think I'll have to give
lim a turn myself to make him feel
tood."
Thus the usually taciturn Mr.
3rimes rattles on, while Sandy can
'jurdly keep quiet.
"Jove! He tosses hie weapon Into
lis left hand. Again he is at the pro
fessor like a tiger. The poor devil
las bad the button against his heart
I dozen times. What d'ye think of
that left-handed play, old fellow?"
laughs Sandy.
His companion squeezes his hand,
(or once, showing excitement.
"I feel as jolly as If sn old ancle
had died and left me bis fortune. The
baron will meet his match. It will be
a royal battle. No danger of our
Joe getting hurt Yes. no matter bow
well he uses the firearms. I shsll rec
ommend swords. The other way both
may l>e killed; here, wounds are more
possible. Swords are gentlemen's
weapons, truly. Look! He bunts the
professor?he has bim utterly demor
alized?be throws down his foil and
bolds up his hand! Enough, gentle
men!"
It Is as Mr. Grimes has said. The
frenchman has been rattled until he
can no longer use bis weapon. He
laughs good-naturedly.
"Monsieur must have his little Joke.
He Is rusty this night. What of me?"
Ue exclaims, shaking Joe's hand.
[To bo Continued.]
Ilie gross postal receipts at fifty
of tlio largest postofflces for the month
of July aggregated *3.838,683, a net
Inertnac of $253,802 over July. 1889.
FURTHER U8E FOR X-RAYS.
Enable Observers to Detect Presence
of Pearls in Oysters.
At a time when considerable atten
tion In being paid to the pearl indu?
try of Ceylon, and the government ia
taking extensive measures to protect
the oyster fisheries there, ft is of In
terest to record a discovery recently
communicated to the Paris Academy
of 8clences by M. Dubois relative to
using the Roentgen rays to examine
the oysters. It has been found that
these rays enable an observer to de
ternrine at once whether a living oys
ter contains a pearl or not without In*
jury to the animal, and in case the
pearl Is small the oyster may be re
placed In the bed until further growth
takes placc and the desired size it
reached. In the scientific examination
of the pearl oysters in Ceylon It haf
been ascertained that the popular be
lief that the nuclei of pearls are
formed by minute grains of sand 01
other particles holds good in but few
Instances, and that In most cases the
pearls or pearly exerescences are pro
duced' by the Itrltation of boring
sponges and burrowing worms. The
best germs result from the stlmula
tlon of a parasitic worm which be
comes Incused and dies.?Harpers
Weekly
Woman's Vail Stops Power.
In investigating the cause of th?
sudden cutting off of the power on a
street car at New Ixmdon, Conn., It
was found that a woman's veil had
become so entangled about the trolley
wheel as to completely insulate it
from the wlr*.
Agricultural.
In?eta u? quite atattar la
habits and Ufa history. The larvae
dtTdop ta beans a?dbmi The ma
ture beetle* of the tea weevil maj
come forth the auM mion. hot the
greater number rriti tSB the follow
lag spring.
If tha aeM is galheasd as oooa aa
ripe and subjected to a heat of 145 de
grees the weeril wtn he killed. Peas
that are planted lata are free from the
insect.
Orchsids should be cultivated. When
the soil la an orchard becomes hard
and packed, soil will loae at least 0000
more pounds of water per day per
acre, under the law of capillary attrac
tions, than where the surface is stirred
at least every four weeks. 8ow s peck
of peas to each acre of the orchard,
and they will shade the land, loosen
the soil and fct the same time fertilise
the subsoil. The bogs will eat the pea
vines and wormy fruit and the land
Will be getting In better condition.
Just when the crowns are bursting
Into leaf Is a good time to divide and
replant rhubarb. It is the younger
clumps that usually produce the fin
est and most succulent stalks, and
some replanting should be done every
aeeaon. Divisions with one to three
crowns attached may be detached
from old clumps with the aid of a
spade. Replant theee in deeply dug.
heavily manured ground three feet
apart each way, and do not pull from
them this season. Bare the surface
roots of old clumps, manure heavily,
aad return the soil to the top.
?watt Cora aad Bay*.
In many sections sweet corn is
grown in large quantities for csnnlng
purposes, as well as for marketing in
the usual way.
As a rule, rape la field corn Is so
shaded that it does not get a good
start, but the more open plan of rais
ing sweet corn gives the rape a chance.
When properly sown, at the rate of
seven to ten pounds per acre broadcast
at the last plowing of the corn it will
give one a fine crop for pasturing later
in the season and not in the least in
jure the corn crop. It is worth trying
on this plan, especially as the seed Is
not expensive, from twelve to fifteen
cents per pound in ten-pound lots of
the Dwarf Essex, the only variety wor
thy raising.
Bedding Material.
As It is an object to make all of the
manure possible, the bedding of all an
imals will be found to aid very mater
ially in the matter. If there is no
straw that can be used for bedding,
any waste material available can be
substituted. 8ome farmers use large
quantities of sawdust, and shavings
from the mills are found available.
Anything that will absorb the liquid
and keep the animals comfortable and
clean will answer a good purpose. The
hogs will use up and turn into a good
fertilizer a large amount of coarse ma
terial. and here may be used what
would hardly be suitable for cattle or
horses, unless run through a cutting
machine. Keep tbese animals well
supplied with material and note if
they do not give full value for every
thing furnished in this Hoe.
Balk) HoriM.
A writer gives tbe following cure
for balky horses: Take a small rope
and firmly attach It to the horse*s tall.
Take a turn on the doubletree or cross
bar, giving alack enough to tighten the
traces. If the horses refuse to pull
tighten this rope until tbe draft comes
on tho tall. No horse ever refuses to
pull by his tail. When the horse starts
the tail-hold may be relaxed until the
draft comes on the traces again. Many
balking horses will refuss to start, and
others will start ofT all right, but if
stopped will refuse to pull. The way
to treat this form of vice Is to pull on
the tall rope until the draft comes par
tially on the tall. Then he will go.
The tail draft mny then be gradually
relaxed until all the draft rests on the
traces. Persist In this treatment and
a permanent reformation Is a sure re
sult
I.atft Plowing*
With proper management plowing
can be followed until the ground
freeses. There are some kinds of
soils, particularly of a heavy or cloggy
texture, that It is considered better to
plow late, thus exposing td the action
of the winter frosts. Some farmers
like to plant corn on grass land man
ured in the fall and then plowed as
late as possible before planting, in this
way turning under a considerable
amount of vegetable material along
with the manure, thus getting excel
lent results in the crops grown. Tbls
plan makes more spring work, but to
a certain extent It may be, and doubt
less Is, a profitable course to pursue.
Farmers should be fully persuaded in
their own minds as to these things,
and follow the methods that exper
ience proves to be the most satisfac
tory and profitable for them.
Supplying Wnter to Plants.
It is not easily understood l>y some
that plants can be overwatered. But
the fact Is, they may be literally
drowned, and this often happens.
The position of water in the life
workings oj a plant Is chiefly that of
carrier; it is taken up by the root*,
carries food to all parts of the plant,
and mostly , passes off lu the atmos
phere through the leaves. This rou
tine is necessary; without it growth
cannot be made, while a surfeit of
water brings decay of the parts in
touch with the excess.
The times when overwatering Is most
possibls ars when a plant is without
leaves, dormant or nearly so. and
water cannot be used speedily; when
the soil is heavy and does nTt clve up
the moisture quickly; when a plant has
been recently transplanted and new
feeding fibers have not been formed to
take ug tbe moisture, and when ever
ta question, the Ieaves H
do not pus the water n readily.
Hnn plants may ?after far lack at
tagalar watering If tba atmosphere M
want; thorough Booking. bat that
oatt to an that la needed, aad that thS
plant can wall stand.
Altbongh the principal object of
growing cloTer la to Increaeo the nltro
gen of the soil, land should be eeedec'
to clover for this purpose long before
It approaches a condition of actual pov
erty. Although the pooreet Held maj
be the one moat In need of additional
nitrogen. It la not tho one that will re
celve moat benefit from the cloves
crop, as It doea not contain hnmni
enough so that a good catch of ctorei
can bo expected. The pooreet field*
ahould hare a good large share of the
barnyard manure plowed under, so
that they may be ready for clover seed,
Ing another year. The clover eeedlnf
should bo confined to lands with a suf.
flcient supply of humus so that a good
catch may be obtained. There are sev.
eral definite reasons why soils rich In
humus give the best clover catch.
These soils retain more moisture and
in a capillary wsy. They are In a bet
ter physical condition, and plant food
la not only plentiful but available.
Suitable preparation of the seed bed
ia of almo** equal importance with hu
mus. The most common practice is to
seed clover after grain in ordinary cui.
tivated fields, but the plan only suc
ceeds well on comparatively new land,
rich, mellow and crumbly. Ordinary
grain fields are rather unfit for the tiny
clover seeds. Unless these are scat
tered on a smooth, well pulverised sur
face, many will fail to lodge at a depth
permitting germination, and many will
be covered too deeply. Also a poorly
pulverized soli does not permit the rise
of the needed capillary moisture. The
field should be planked and dragged to
a good seed-bed and uniform covering.
Rye makes the best nurse crop, as the
clover gets the sun the quickest, and
the stock should always be kept off
the first year.?Prairie Farmer.
ChlrkM Coop.
Here la a sketch and description of
a coop and run for setting hen and
chicks. They can roost in it till tho
hen leaves them. Ends one inch thick
or more; make ends first 2 ft., 2^4 in.
long, hack edges 2 ft., 3 in., front edge
1 ft., 11 In. Front and back should be
M In. thick. Nail box together and
nail two pieces on inside of back and
front of coop 3x1, on which put a loose
floor. Now take two pieces 2V&xl in?
7 ft. long. Nail one on each side of
coop at top edge of front, keep tho
back one same distance from bottom.
Let them overhang 0 In. at each end,
to form handles. Put two on bottom
0 ft long; nail cross pieces same size,
between the ends to form the run.
Now, cut plasterer's lath In half for
end of run and leave a space of & In.
to slide a thin board in, another space
2% in. to slide a piece in. Space the
remainder and nail on. Cover front,
back and top with lath or wire netting.
Make an openiug in end of coop for
hen, and cover with a sliding board,
from back to front to keep hen in and
skunks out. Now make your roof.
Let it project 3 in. l*>tb ends and
front; put leather hinges all the way
along the buck and shingle the joints
to keep rain out. To make the above
give the best results it needs two
pieccs in between the rails, thus, X.
Then nail the laths on lty In. apart.
When you want to confine the chicks
in the run put loose laths in between
tliem. When they are big enough to
run around take the loose laths out. so
they can go in and out at will. Now
I put a piece 2x1 on euch end 12 in.
from the floor to put perches on, and
put dirt, water, feed und grit in the
coop when you set the hen.?J. liagley,
I in The Kpitomlst.
Ventilating Stable*.
The trouble in ventilating most sta
bles is that the windows are situated
directly back of the animals and to
open them in the winter means
draughts whleli are likely to be dan
gerous. The illustration shows a plan
for providing ventilation without In
terfering with the window proper.
About two Inches over the top of the
window three holes are made, each
two or more Inches in diameter. A
frame Is built over these holes in
which to run a slide, or clips of sheet
Iron may be placed* in position as
shown at the lower part of the pic
ture, between which the sliding liourd
may be run. This slide should be wide
enough so as to cover the holes thor
oughly, and fit snugly, so that when in
place no air can come through the
holes.
A handle of Iron is placed on one end
for handling the slide easily. By this
method as little air can come in as one
?SNTII?ATIOtf FOR STAM.E8,
wishes, or one may obtain all that can |
come In through the throe hole* by
pulling the board out entirely. This
ventilating Idea Is very easy to ar
range and the expense Is merely nom
inal. Further, by its nse the window
may be fastened to remain closed all
winter, and any cracks around the ens
ing filled in with paper, for the three
holes will provide all the ventilation
needed in cool weather. This plan is
so simple and works so well that there
Is no excuse for not putting it in oyer
atlon in evorj barn.
X most I>artb of the West
where the public land*
were surveyed and laid
off into sections, halves
and quarters, the public I
rvaus nave l?wn established ou the
section line*. These roads consequent
ly run either north and south or east
and west. crossing at right angles. Tlii*
method of locstlug roads is sometime*
called "the checker board system." and
the term Is quite appropriate. In some
States the road laws contemplate th?
establishing of a road ou every sec
tion line, so they will be only oue tnil?
apart, but not nearly all those roads
have been actually opened.
In comparison with the system, 01
lack of sj'stem, which prevails iu the
older settled States of the Kast and
South, this cheeker board system ha*
some advantages. The roads are not
left to be located at liap-hazard. or 011
erooked farm boundaries, or accord
lug to the whims or seltlsh interests of
the locators. The order ami mathe
matical regularity of the system na
turally appeals to the minds of those
who read about those roads or stutlj
them on maps, but to those who actu
ally travel them, their location appear*
to be wry far short of ideal perfec
tion. In fact the system involves two
very grave defects. If a man wisher
to travel directly north, south, eaRt or
west, these roads take hlui by the
shortest route. But a large majority
of the people wish to travel In othei
directions. Let us suppose a man lives
exactly ten miles northwest from his
country seat. In order to reach it he
must travel seven miles east and seveD
miles south, or fourteen miles in all.
Thus a majority of travelers suffer
a hardship In the matter of distance.
But the second defect in the system
Is far graver. The mathematical pre
cision with which these roads are
located carries them across hills and
hollows without any regard to econ
omy in the matter of grades. Where
the country is perfectly level there ie
no difficulty; where it is rolling the
roads can only be improved at a heavy
cost in making cuts and fills; where
there are steep hills and deep ravines
to cross the system is wholly imprac
ticable.
Doubtless one of the first beneflte
that will follow the adoption of the
national plan will be the modification
of this system so as to remedy these
defects in a large measure. Naturally
the first roads to be improved in a
county will be those leading directly
north, south, east and west from the
county seat. Then main roads or av*
enues leading northeast, northwest,
southeast and southwest from the
county seat should he opened and im
proved. Thus the first defect shall be
largely eliminated.
The second defect pointed out can
only De cured by departing from tlie
section lines where the lay of the
road makes It economical to do so
Under national ard State aid compe
tent engineers will be employed to
correct errors of location, so as to in
crease the usefulness of the roads, and
at the same time reduce their cost.
The sentiment for national aid k
making great headway 'in this part of
the country. In Nebraska the Legis
lature has declared in favor of It
Several members of Congress from
Missouri are outspoken advocates of
the plan. In Illinois a State Commis
sion has been appointed to investigate
and report on national aid. In a num
ber of other States definite action will
probubly be taken In the near future.
No "Ortfll"
I Congress bas no more widely useful
1 measure of domestic legislation in
liand that is contemplated in the bill
put forward by Representative Brown
low and Senator <Ja I linger to give na
tional aid to the good roads movement
The plan Is to make a liberal appro
priation which will be available for
the payment of half the cost of build
ing new roads, the other half to be
paid by the State, county or local po
litlcal division benefited by the Im
provement. The authors of this de
sign pointed out in nJdresscg to the
Automobile Club that the general gov
ernment, which Iuih spent $2,000,000 in
the Philippines and $1,500,000 In Porto
Rico on road building, could properly
do something in that line for the Amer
ican farmer. As $4~?0.000,000 lias been
spent on rivers and harbors since
the Civil War, they suggest it is time
to make facilities for land travel also
a matter of federal concern.
There is no doubt that the Ameri
can farmer directly, and the whole
people indirectly, would gain much by
the stimulus the good roads move
ment would receive from a federal
appropriation sharing with the State
half the cost of new roadways. There
is only one argument against putting
tn j plan quickly into effect, and that
is the danger of opening the way to
extravagance in appropriations and
"graft"' in their expenditure. If the
American people could have assurance
not to say Insurance, against turning
the plan to the advantage of reckless
legislators and corrupt contractors,
they would quickly order it carried
out. They want no more river and
harbor grabs or public buildings steals
or rural free delivery plunder. There
are plenty of arguments against open
ing the Treasury door to that kind of
"graft." Hut there is no argument
against good roads.
I'uttllc ItoiiiU ttif Yrlna.
"CJo ahead and nuild your roads," |
said Stuyvesant Fish, President of the
Illinois Central, at the good roads con
vention In New Orleans the other day,
"and we will stand our sh ire of the ex
penses. The railroads are the arter
ies of this country, but the public
roads are the veins." President Roose
velt and forty (Jovernors of States
have indorsed the good roads move
went.
Klilpwrffk
During the last forty nine years ns
many as 31.271 persons perished from
shipwreck on or near the coasts of the
Vnlteil Kingdom. During the same
period the number of lives saved by
the Royal National JUXuboat Institution
totaled 33,t>00.
(WEST PEA BEDS.
fh? bed for sweet peas should b*
prepared as soou as possible, and the
peas planted as soon as tbe ground ea?
)e worked in tbe spring.
FRUIT AND VEGETABLE.
8trawberrles, black raspberries an#
vegetables msjr be grown in tbe appU
orchard. Care should be tskeu not U.
plant such crops too close to the trees
The distance between the outside rowf
And the trees thould be increased at
the latter Increase In size. Tbe ground
should be well fertilised, thoroughly
cultivated and every foot utilized, but
tmple space should be left a ro an
:be trees for root pasturage.
TEMPERATURE OF HOTBEDS.
The temperature of the hotbeds
should be below eighty degrees when
:he seeds are plnnted. Wheu the seed*
ings are of n size to set out. which will
t>e in about six weeks, the ground
ihouhl l>e thoroughly cultivated, so
is to kill sll tbe weeds thut way be
starting. Tbe ground should then ba
?aid off iu rows eighteen to twenty
iiches apart. Onions will stand a great
lenl of crowding, and some growers
3Ut the rows as close as twelve inches
uid the plants three laches apart in
Jie rows.
A VALUABLE ORCHARD.
In Mnrlou County, Pa., is a 140-acre
>rcliard. It contains ti'JOO apple trees,
ind uiuny thousand plums ami peara.
The peaches are set with the apples,
mil have done their heat work by ths
time the apples need all the room. Mr.
I*edy fertilizes well, cultivates pet*
*istently, and prunes peaches closely,
tie says that profit routes from
quality, not quantity. An unpruued
tree will set from 12(H) to 'JOUO fruits.
He does not wish over 2U0. and fewer
ire better. Of large varieties. 130 to
ItiO make a bushel, and a bu>hel to a
tree 1s enough. This meaus a small
?harge for picking, packing and
freight, and a big price for fancy,
quality. Mr. Lcdy shipped two and
Dne-half bushels to Philadelphia and
received *4.95 gross. A neighbor
ihipped twenty bushels the same day
to same tirm and received grosa
Charges for picking, handling, etc.,
per bushel were the same. The twenty
bushel lot gave net returns of thirty
cents, or one and one-lialf cents a
bushel. The two and one half cent
bushel lot netted $1.5(9 a bushel. Mr,
Ledy fertilizes with acid phosphate
and muriate of potash, 4(M pounds
rock to ltM) pounds muriate. For
nitorgen he uses cow peas, crimson
clover, etc.?Country Gentleman.
RAKJ WILL NOT CLOG.
Anions the minor conveniences fox
the garden worker is the anti-clog
rake shown in the accompanying cut.
In implements of this character of
the ordinary type the grass and othefl
matter scraped up from the lawn in?
variably clog up the teeth of the rake*
so that the operator must stop at fre?
qucnt intervals for the purpose of
KEEP6T THE RAKE TEETH CLEAR.
cleaning the rake 60 that it may b?f
enabled to do the work required of it
This difficulty is overcome l>y the ur?
of the attachment shown in the ac
company in,; cut. This makes quit*
a valuable addition to the rake when 1t
is used for raking the grass and at
such times os it is wanted for other
purposes, >lke turning up the soil at
It Is frequently in sniail gardens,
bar may be easily removed.
MICE IX.TUUE FRUIT TREES.
The horticultural section of tlie Iowa
Experiment Station is in receipt of
numerous reports from various sec
tion* of the State conveying the lnfor?
inntion tiiat during tlie recent period
in which the ground was covered with
snow, many fruit trees were badly
girdled by field mice. Such trees. If
left unattended, are very likely to die.
The majority of them, however, may
be saved by covering the injured
tion with earth. The growing iHyer
which lies just beneath the bark will
form a new layer of bnrk If it Is kept
moist by banking up with earth for
two or three inches above tlie girdled
I portion. Tlie earth should be firmly
tamped about the stem and pains tak
en to see that It Is not separated by.
the tree swaying in the wind.
Another effective method of treat
ment which is more trouble, but surer,
perhaps, is to wrap the wound with
broad strips of cloth coated with graft
ing wax. The wax is made by boiling
together four parts rosin, two parts
beeswax, one part tallow. To make
this work effective the wound should
not be allowed to become dried out,
nml no time should be lost In covering
the girdled portion. In cases wl^ere
the injury has not been too severe this
treatment may also prove effective
iu saving trees Injured by rabbits.
In this connection attention is called
t* the fact that trees may be protected
from Injury by mice by mounding up
with earth for a distance of four or
five Inches on tlie stem each fail. A
large number of young fruit tree* :ir??
destroyed annually by mice which
might be protected from Injury iu this
way,
Womrn of Slum.
There are no old maids in Slam, for
there all the girls marry, and woman
Is not considered to have attain.m1 Ik r
highest estate till she has heroine a
mother. Then she has readied tlio
pinnacle of honor. The cliiel wife is
the first wife, and she may not ho
sold, Vut if her husband desire to be
rid of her he must dhoree her ac
cording to the Irw.
Japanese workmen are obliged tft
wear on tnelr caps and backs an in
scription statin# their business v.nd
their employer's name.