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1MB WORCjft IS ROUND. Vllite j That Indi m from nor lore. Still htsfi the hedge without ? pat, KtiU.i&H the shadows stay: Slv feet ?f>on the moonlit mm fume the ctueltst way. SteyrM ?? travelers tcl!, Am4 etr*?ht though reech the track. twi" ?" U TN *V will guide one back. Bat ere the circle homeward hies *1 Jf*r> *?*" must it remove; White ?n the noon the long road lice Tnat lends me from my lore. Shropshire Led/' by A. K. Housmon. ? From "A A Freak of Fate. BY PAULINE MONTAGUE A T 0" o'clock of n March night, l>lenl: am! b'.UKterlng onlstde, will) streets fitted Willi flying dust, Mrs. Syt vrster leaned bavli in her r nitii a 8lgli of selfish comfort as till'? held n Japanese serceu liptwecu iior delicate fnce and llie anient Are. She was a handsome woman, who diamonds and velvet as a queen ?wears royal robes; a wealthy woman rs'.il to command and control, haughty and dogmatic in her posit iveness. Ami this evening she was in her most positive. Imperious mood, as she eat there making lur decision about Tlieo. Vincent. Then she rang for lights, aud by the servant sent a message for Miss Vincent to wait upon her an soon as Master Gamier and Mhs Ulralda could dispense with her services. It was ten minutes later when Theo obeyed the summons and came into Mrs. MJjn-ester's presence? a slender, pule-facoA girl of sixteen or seventeen, with lovgly brown eyes, soft as velvet, and a great mnss of brown luiir? a deli cate, refilled*, thoughtful looking girl, .who bore indisputable traces of having worked almost beyond lie;* strength. She came quietly near to Mn. Sylves ter aud stood awaiting that lady's pleasure. "I sent to have a word with you on a subject very distasteful to me. indeed. Mis* Vincent,'' Mrs. Sylvester began, coldly. "I refer to a display of for wardness and boldness on your part to ward certain gentlemen I might name which has been called to my attention more than once. I desire to sny thnt I shall not tolerate any further attempts on your part. Miss Vincent, to flirt with gentlemen visiting at the house? aota tdy with Dr. Peunlngton? Ah. do not not Interrupt me, and I am indignsutly ?orry to sny. uiv son also!" . "Mrs. Sylvester, you " Iheo attempted to gasp her protest, l?nt the cold, relentless voice resolutely tin.- lied her. "Denials are more than Miss Vir.rcnt. It is n notorious fact that you. n mere servant, a common nursery governess and a seamstress, boldly at tempted to engross Dr. Pennington's attention Inst night, and one or two evenings Inst week, when you were or dered to attend the children in the drawing room. Again, upon more than one occasion you have ^Inveigled my son into conversation with you? you, whom his mother hirca ns a servant! Miss Vincent. I have "> 'i'heo wns standing there, white nrul aKvcrlnr, her eyes full of n horritlcd moi'lifieatlon and Insulted pride. ' Mr?. Sylvester," she Interrupted, ftoiiy, "I cannot permit you to launch nueh a torrent of abuse at me. It Is not true that I have tried to flirt with your guest or your son. Dr. Penning ton spoke to ine and I answered, ?s any one would have done. As lo your son " And her lips curled? a fen lure which ?!"! not escape Mrs. Slyvester's eyes. %'\Yc will not discuss the subject fur ther. You have acted In this matter disgracefully, and In justice to my Ut ile itunoccut children I have derided to ?remove you from their can* over them. You are discharged from to-night, ami In place of a month's notice you can have a fvjon ill's wages? ns Is my ens Jorn witu nil my servants. As to a character," and the cold ? ; im took a malicious look at the pair*, treriili.lug ?rirl, "of course that Is on', of .he mu?*s tiftn. You an? excused. Miss Vincent." fhe pushed along a roll of bills. l>tit Th *o did not touch It. Instead the giri'u face grew suddenly cold and haughty, and she walked out without a syllable of further protest. A ifd somehow Mrs. Sylvester ivaiiaci. that she had done something mor?? than simply discharge a servant. II. "It's a shame? a burning shame!" Ailnt ibby said, iiuliguantly. "I! seems ti.Nuo that nowadays the rl<*li do noth ing but grind the poor. You poor child, you? don't cry any more about I. ! That Sylvester woman l*n't any very great ?hakes herself, you take ny w'r.rd for II. or she'd not be thinking sul'Ii things about you. Don't cry, Tho. ? Chirk up, and we'll g.? out lor a wr.li; t i Cen tral l'ark this a ft. -moon, eh':'' Itut Theo eo:?h? not "ehlrl:" r;\ nor did she go with ii??ar old Ann; loby for a unlk to Central l'ark. lad-ad she bud cried and worried hert-elf into n hoi fever that ,1 all hnn:?? r ni:*.:i' o - i fovrr that ran higher rv.d l:olt(i*f i nlll even Aunt lbi.y thu.mht it was best to send for a doctor, and a doctor was sent for by IKtlo Thu Maguffiu. i.ext floor above. "And bo quick nltout It. ?too," ?ald Aunt Ibby, xllpplii? u prim; lu Ins icrimy hand. "You ran mn around to , Or. I'orry's officc in n few minutes, 1 know, and tell hlui to conic right u round." Hut Or. Perry wasn't home? out of town for several days? nncl Tim's wltr were puzzled to know whether, *o lonp a* Mix* Tlico was so awfully sick one doctor wasn't Just an pood as another and, Iti that full belief, he rushed of! for Ills mother' a family physician, ?o ? Ond Dr. Callendcr al*?o not nvwllnble. And llion, to stand dlscousolualy *?tt , a *troet corner, wondering what on f?rth would becomj of Miss Tlieo, Just as a doctor's carriage passed him- evl denlly a doctor's, and a well-to-do one. too, us witness the footman with fold ed arms, the proud stepping horse, t!it li(ind<iomc robe. \nd ragged lUlle Tim, all i:unw-? ho was an Instrument of urnlteranU late, sneceeded In attiactlny Dr. IVj? nlngton's attention. "Say, you! you're wanted dowu U? ? ? J Miss Thco Vincent's? No. 8G Pollard street? sharp, too! (Join'?" The? Vincent! Clyde JPennington was surprised, aiul Von scions or a pleasureahle sensatioi. Song w ith it. "All right, my boy! I'll be there be fore you are." And sure enough, wlion Tim reached home, there stood the doctor** carriage at the door, uu object of envious ad- 1 miratiou for a score of urchins, while Dr. Pennington was Hitting in Aunt Ibby'8 snug parlor explaining the cause of his appearance and listening to her accouut of Tlico's illness. ? "And now*, if you'll allow me to see my patient." he aald. And then he went in to fliul Thco de lirious and talkative and entirely un couscioue. "Of course It is not true," she said, as he sat down beside the pure white cot. "I never flirted with Mr. Harry Sylvester or Dr. Pennington either. It wasn't fair of her to turn me off -with out a character, was it? Aud Aunt Ibby and I are so poor!" And. although he knew there was no recognition In her bright eyes, stUl his face flushed. "She is very sick." he said, gravely. "I will see her again this afternoon. Mrs. Bley." That was the beginning of their friendship, and when, three months later. Theo was sufficiently recovered to accept a situation as traveling com panion to a society lady she knew that her most valued friend In all the world was Dr. Pennington. III. A perfect afternoon, even for la belle Paris, and Mrs. Sylvester, leaning back In her chair beside the window of graude union, thought that life in tlfit* gay elty was the one thing desirable, mid would be tbe one thing most glor ious were it not for her son Harry. For her son. her darling, her chief pride, for whom nothing in all the world was too good, for wham mar riageable maidens and alnvwd mothers imd angf.'d visibly and Invisibly, who never yet Lad been disappointed or thwartinl in all his life, was in a state of desperatiou and distress that made j Mrs. Sylvester wonder, in agitation and dismay, what would be ihi> result of it all. And "It all" meant that Ilaruy Syl vester was in love with Mi's. Van Iten seller's charming young friend and companion ? Theo Vincent, whom, two years before, Mrs. Sylvester had turned out of doors. "She will not listen lo rae." Harry had said to Ids mother before he went out that afternoon. "I tell you I must have her answer? her favorable an swer. too- before another twenty-four hours go over my head, mother. Un less I get her for my wife I'll shoot myself just ns sure as fate. 1 love her ?by Oeorge! I never cared so much for anything or anybody before, and It's only the memory of your cruel treat ment of her? the feeling that she thinks you would not sanction an engagement ?that keeps us apart." "You think that?" said Mr-*. Sylves ter. tremblingly? a little dismayed. "I know It," he answered, hotly. *'Sho is gracious and kind, but beyond that, I tell you, her just pride restrains her. See here, mother, if you want to do mo n favor? if you don't want to have me brought In d?ad soi ??* time? you will go and *e!l her you want her for your | daughter." And Mrs. Sylvester Luew a* s!:e looked upon her son's handsome, luin gard face, that even If it killed her to humble herself she must do It 'for his fa I.e. "It is awfully cruel of you!" rlie said, piteously, and he Interrupted her tlruily : "You can take your choice ? Then Vincent for your daughter, or ? get alone without ;nc!" "Harry!" "I mean It. She won't refuse me. if ycu a si: her. lly Jove! slie is the only won: a n In the world I shall ever ask. Slie shall accept me!" "I think there Is no dang?r of her re- i fusing such an offer," *aid his motlier. n little of the old seornful:rc?s in her t voice. ? '*Uf you will go." he answered, j dccidct.ly. "When I come l:ael; at 7 i o'clock to dinner I will hear what you i have to say from her." Then lie had gone, ami Mrs. Sylves , ha 1 t I \ trouble an.! dismay, thinking 11 all out. wondering how si:.* could ac complish her errand and ye. t;oi snorN lice her prhle? how she could conciliate | Tlico Vincent, and yet give the girl to i understand it was an honor she hnd I'omc to offer. She ordered her carriage and drc?scd in a most elaborate toilet, was driven t<? Mr?. Van Uanseller's. where, sur rounded by nil the luxuries of wealth and roilncnient, Theo Vincent had boon made not only a confidential friend, lint a beloved daughter and tliolcc compan ion. As Mr*. Van Rcnseller's friord so. ciety liad opened it* moat excht<ive doors, and Thro had found herself a favorite In plea xant social circles, where her personal attractiveness, lier sweel wlnsomonos*. her retlned intclli , go nee, held the position given her. And Harold Sylvester had renewed his acquaintance with his mother's discharged governess, and This was the result? Mrs. Sylvester walling in Mrs. Van Ronscller's parlor for Then Vincent to conic, with wlioiu slio was to plead in her son's hclialf. It teemed like some Impossible bur lesque as she waited, and there was a sharp struggle within her between pride and love for her son -that idol ami dar ling who ucvor had been denied, aad who rated hsr with a rod of Iron. BM tumbled tuiiH for his Mke; only. soMj for his sake And then Theo Vlmnt com* to. a vision of elegance and loveliness and sweetness, la her soft, white dress. ? She greeted Mrs. ?iy ve?i?r la a cotsr teons wsy. and then waited Inquiringly and perhaps Just a trifle haughtily. And Mrs. Sty renter rushed at onco Into her errand. "No doobt yon will V quite surprised to receive a message of which I am bearer, because usually such messages are delivered personally. Miss Vincent. But as I am willing to remorc any ob stacles from the way to my son's hap piness I determined that In no better | way eonld the accomplishment of his wishes be decided than by my coming In a perfectly friendly wsy to yon." She certainly had not sacrificed her dignity, and certainly had spoken rcry well.- - And Theo, her face expressive of sur prise, listened, then replied : "I think I do not ut nil understand yon, Mrs. 8ylrestcr. You hare erldent ly undertaken some commission for your sou, but what, might I inquire?" This from the girl she had disgraced! But she pnt the curb on herself and went blandly on for her son's sake. "Your delicacy certainly does yon credit. I cannot express how delight full)- charming I find it. my dear Miss Vincent. Yes, I am commissioned by my sou to make you an offer of his hand, his name, his position, his afr?j? t ions. And. Miss Vincent, If you will charitably permit roe. I cordially in dorse whatever will conduce to Har old's happiness." And for the first time in her life Mrs. Sylrester realized that she had eaten humble pie. A curious look swept over Tlieo's face. "Will you tell Mr. Sylvester, for me. please, that In the society In which I move it is not customary for gentlo men to do their proposals of marriage by proxy. Will you also be kind , enough to tell him that under any eir 1 cumstances I could not possibly con sider his offer? And will you inform him that I have been engaged to Dr. Clyde Pennington for the past three months? Aiid. as Mrs. Van Renscller's carriage is waiting, and I have an en gagement at half-past o'clock, be so good as to excuse me. Mrs. Sylvester." And so Theo's turn came, and like a young duchess, she Itowed to the wom an who ftad. all unconsciously, been her fate. While Mrs. Sylvester went back to her son. Hut as. a year afterward. Mrs. Dr. I'entiiugton. sitting in her luxurious parlor on Fifth avenue, read aloud t<? Aunt Ibbj- the notice of Harold Sylves ter's marriage. It was self-evident L?? did not commit the suicide he threat ened ? unless, rushing into marriage with a pretty girl ?f;er a month's :u ?p:alntnnc;* be considered as such.? Sat* uri*.:;y Nlglit. TI tr average annual rainfall of the British Isle* 1m :U>.r? inches. lint fifty three inches fell in 1N72. tifty-one iu 1S77 and fifty -two in 1903L SoTar activity i? rapidly Increasing; six independent sunspMs having been counted by Profcso.- S*entzcl, of Ber lin. in liXH. seven in liKHI. thirty-six in ami seventy-two in 1001 up to Align*: -S. On ilit* nay mentioned, one enormous group liad a total length of tlU.J.St) miles. That egprs decrease tn weight during incubation has been proven by eu refill weighings by Air. It. S. Gladstone. The average loss of a pheasant's egg from the first to the twenty-first day was found to be two drains, twelve grains, jmd one eg.ir which weighed, seventeen drams nineteen grains when laid had become reduced to. thirteen drams ten grains on tin? twenty-third day. Much interest has been awakened l?y tin- experiments a;t Lyons "n feeding sill: worms, with loaves stained with various dyes i.i oiler to ousc thoni to spin sill; of corresponding hues. When fed on red food the worms spin red cocoons, and the silk weoius to retain ih? color. The experiments with leaves stained blue have been less suc cessful. Although the expectation has been raised that this process may ;irove of commercial importance, the experimenters say that they ilo not expect to make any discoveries wlileh will affect the Industry oC dyeing. There are bacteria and bacteria. Dr. Cliarrln. a French physiologist, has been experimenting upon rabbits with various vegetables sterilized by the n p:>rove!l processes, and ho has shown Ibat it is erroneous to dec! arc that the less bacteria there arc in our ('.ally food tlu better. What is required is to wreil out the harmfu! organisms fr/nn the benetleent kinds, j Tho rabbits fed on sterilized food soon died from .maladies net up by non nsslnillallon of the vegetables, but other rabbits I'.ourUlr.'d on similar sterilized vegetables that had been afterward treated villi suitable bacteria. Tl\r Sennit of Smell in lite Home. Evidently the s-.m;so of smell, t It e scent. Ill thi? horse Is not ay well known or appreciated r.s It should be by their owner** mid drivers. This sense Is claimed to be as neen? rat* In Rome horses as it Is In the dot?: and for llioso who have to drive at nljfiiJ, such a* physicians, a knowledge of Ibis fact is likely to prove valuable Ono who has ridden hundreds ol mile* on dark nights says lie has never known this power to fall, lie conso qucutly advises that the horse "hi not checked In traveling at night (Jive the horse a free head then, mut ! one may rest assured that ho will never go wrong." i This Is not praising the horse tot highly, though It Is quite probable thai what thus appears Is due quite ai i mudi tr. the splendid eyes of the noble animal as It is to the quality iiamed. Itome and Farm. j Fourteen large houses In Bloom* bury, London, have been deiuoiisned { for the British Museum extension, THE ECONOMY* OF COOP ROADS By tr. ir. CU03DV. 0<hmIi E?|lmir<f Daldaior* County, Mil. T HE subject of soda roads Is one in which every luhah* ltant of the conntty Is per* ?onally interested. Unlrsi he produces on his farm every article he nits, unless be re* ceives no mall, ppys no taxes and never ventures b?yond the bounds of bis ewu property, be la affected in tbe spot tenderest to us ftU? bis pocketbook? by tbe condition of tbe country roads, lie pays more taxes to keep up bad roads tlian bo would to maintain good roads. If be receives mail it costs the Government? and tbls means the peo ple ? more to carry It over bad roads tl:nn good roads. If be travels beyond his own property it takes more of his time, w hich is money, and more out of his team over bad roads than good ones, it costs him niose on account of bad roads to market produce. This extra cost must be added to the cost of production, and the man who buys the article must pay the difference. It costs just as much to grow a bushel of wheat or corn near a good road as beside a bad one, but if on the bad road the producer can only haul two thirds of the load with the same team that he can on the good one his cost of marketing his wheat or oorn'ls fifty per cent, more than it otherwise would be and the man who buys the wheat or corn must pay that much more. And wheat or corn, oats or cotton, beef or wool, the same thing applies. If all the roads are bad, all tbe producers labor under tbe same disadvantage, and the manufacturer paya the farm er the extra price and then chargcs tbe farmer a higher price in bis turn for tbe manufactured articles to make up for it. The problem seems capable of bnt a single solution. To the average farm er tbe word "bond" is terrifying, but it need not be. We all ask credit of our neighbors daily in sonur form or other, either as to our statement*, rep utations or financial affairs. Judge Thayer snys: "The business of a civil ized world i3 done on the credit sys tem." The business of barbarism Is transacted on the "cash" plan. The 500,00t>,00?> people who get fu debt have food to eat. clothes to wear and places in which to sleep. The 300,000,000 who do not possess sutiieient confi dence In themselves to trust one an other never tasted flour or beef, go naked and sleep out of doors. Activity, prosperity and thrift are" the natural fruits of mutual dependence on one another, coupled with tbe legend "I promise to pay." As an illustration: a man owns a city lot worth say $1000; his income, above bis family expenses, is ?500 an nually. lie wishes to improve the lot so that instead of its being an expense to him be can get something out of ft. He is prejudiced against going in debt, so he bnilds just as rapidly a? his $500 per year will permit, and at the end of ten years has a S000Q property, which has cost him $7000,. and which he can rent for ST 50. Now, bad he not been so prejudiced against going In debt, be might have borrowed tbe ?5, 000 at six per cent., erected the build ing in three months, and by the end of ten years not only psid off the loan but had from $1500 to $2000 in band. AddiDg to this his loss rental. Interest, etc.. makes his contribution to prej udice against going in debt $2000 to 52500. The illustration applied to building roads shows the difference in results between going in debt for money to build roads find building them from the nnnual road taxes. Only the man [who put up the building had some* thing to show at the end of ten years for the money invested, while the peo ple who pay ro:;d tares have little or nothing at the end of ten years, or at the end of nn.v oilier period, to show for their money. There aro many times when the de moralized condition of the business of this couutry can bo traced dlrecily to bad roads. Hard times, dull times, la bor unemployed, fluctuating prices, re duced railroad earnings, spasmodic speculation In stocks, corners In food stuffs, are oftv-n the Immediate results of bad roads. U. <}. Dun & Co., of New York, not Ions ago. In a review of the condition of trade, said that "the strin gency in the money markets here and at som& other points Is more largely duo to slow collections, which appear to result from severe weather and Im practicable roads," than to anything else. 80 It is that mud rules the land. Bo great a foe requires the united ef forts of the people t& dethrone it. In this struggle every line of business In the land should be united, and therfe is certainly no interest which has more at stake In the success of this move ment and which should be more deter mined In urging the work forward than the farmvr#.? 'Jood Ilo::ds >Ja?'u | zinc. MIcMgnn Woman'* Wnr!(. A few miles from His Hapids resides n woman who !s doing -what flip can to "pay the rent on her privilege of l?o Ing In the world. She cultivates a truck farm ami hauls her produce to the city. The roads on her route are not the best, nor even second best at this season, aud no she takes an axe, and when ever her wagon hits a root, or any ob struction that can he removed by cuts of blows, she stops her team, and, got ilng out, whacks away at It until It Is removed. And she only weighs half .is much as a lazy male lubber of 100 pounds.? Detroit Tribune. Itiff Mowrr For (lower pots the erstwhile popu f.ir Jardiniere of fancy pottery Is dedd lly old style, as compared with the jormous bowl-shaped vases of terra < ?tta now In use. The porous quality i. takes them admirable for the health of the plant. They may be had quit* plain for comparatively reasonnbl' prices. Those which are garlanded and becherubed? after the Italian manner? are moro expensive.? Phlln telphia Record. | A BLUE AND mm KITCHEN. tlM KNtMM ANtMto PUUMtMM ?r Rt?k ? Kooin. I The majority of AnicHean women teep their own home*. Many <lo ull Jheir own work, and tuosa that do not isvc sr. interest In the man. tgeincnt of their homes; they oversee the* work of p. Movant, aud are In and ?ut of the kitchen many times a day. This being the case. It naturally fol lows that the average American kit ?hen Is growing to be cheerful aud pleasant, not a dingy, ugly spot, the scrap basket of the house. The prim New England housekeep er may b^ve a smile for the thought )f a blue aud white kitchen, for It loes sound a little elaborate to' get up t color scheme for this busy workroom, out she would really be the first to ap preciate the exquisite neatness and aesthctlc pleasantness of a delicately rlean, pretty delft kitchen. . It would be absurd, of course, if one* has a nice kitchcu with stout Iron and fresh tinware, to suggest doing it all over in a blue and whito effect. Just for art's sake. But If you're doing a new kitchen, or making over an old one, don't fall to strive for this ntfW, ('harming and hygienic effect. And If your kitchen- is old rnd ! fhabby, then do It over little by III-.! tie, rfs you freshen it caeii season, uu tll, in a year or two. you will find with only the necessary outlay that tlie room you dreaded to work in and that your family avoided, if possible, lias grown an inviting spot, cheerful ami wholesome. Of course, your delft effects are not real, and you <fon't get imported wiud mlll china and placques, and blue and white tiled stoves and cupboards; but yon get floor and table oilcloths in blue and white designs for not a cent more Jhan ugly colors cost And you cover your walls with blue and white imitation tlie paper, which Is very cheap, and yon put white dotted Swiss curtains at the window, very plain ones without a ruffle or pleat and hung on cheap brass rods so that without any trouble they can be washed at least once a month. And the woodwork is painted a (lean, dnll gfeen, -wliieli fits porfj?et ly with your colors and is easier to keep clean than white, and the ccJling is pure white. All this costs not one cent more than the dull, uninteresting colors thnt are put In the average klichen. In fact, your paper costs less than painting the walls, and If varnished, wilt last years and can be washed. Now for the utensils and drshes. There Is no heavy crockery not of the coarsest and cheapest any cheaper than heavy modern* willow ware, and It comes in the prettiest blue and white. Tut It on your cupboard shelves so thnt it will show and have n real old-thne open cupboard on which you hang the cups with the saucers in row* on shelves above. It isn't any trouble; it saves time to have them so convenient. And with the crnr-? for blue and white kitchens the shops art- showing stove dishes of ename!.ed ware in the prettiest Ariues. lined with white, no more costly than the nsriy old iron ket tles- and pans, and very, very durable. J And Infinitely ensier to keep elean. But, as I ? said, if you hud a well equipped kitchen to start wltr., the I only way is to add hits of blue and j white in ehir.a, or pottery, or oilcloth ! as you can, jmit as one forms any pretty collection of nice articles. The modern kitchen has not only an artistic standard of appearance, but Is more wholesome and hygienically fresh. The reason for Its superior daintiness is because it Is cleaned witli borax water; that is. a suds of warm water, pure borax and castile soan. From new bine and white oilcloth to old and worn ironware this solution is the wisest and chiefest and simplest method of cleansing. It doe* away with the scrubbing brush ami thus saves money by saving wear and bar and time. With borax suds, linlf a cake of bo rax and half a cake of soap to a p:*. il of hot water. 3*ou can house-clean an en tire kitchen, walls* and stovu utensils and floor. In a couple of hours. Anil do It In a fresh nlec frock and look pretly uli the time. And one more idea. He sure lo have one vigorous growing plant, a stout geranium or sturdy fern. In your win dow. It will be charming with, your color scheme, au inspinftiing sight to mistress or maid, no trouble, 110 ex pense ar.d much peace of mind. '?mils r?yattlo Ilonrly." Some of the I*>udon papers are pok ing fun at one of the new hotels i i New York? the establishment where only the very rich can afford to look in. One society journal, telling of the inagniCccnce of the new hotel, gives its readers these few tips: "All bills arc payable hourly, one patron liavlug a servant who does nothing rise bus pay b'.lls. One of the beds in the hotel was twice owned by ilie Czar of Rus sia. The wallers appear and disappear through trap door* near the tables. Patrons are shaved by electricity. One family pays ?230,00(7? not dollars? fo? live reo;ns for a year. The hotel is perfumed with violet in the u.i ruing, Reran I iiu i at noon r.ml ro.vj at tea Kmc."' A l'oe'tQt Umbrella. An umbrella small enough to go hi Rifle it povhv't is a rcceut invention. It is designed 0:1 tlic principle of the tol ? eseope, and consists of a series of tele scopic slide;*, n carrying ease and a piece of silk covering. On openhig the case in -\vhieli it Is contained the con tent* resemble a bundle of steel rod? in a wrapping of Bilk. These arc. with little manipulation, says tin* Chicago Post, eon vert (hI lut > an umbrella of tin orthodox tlinpe, the short handle of which draws out Into a sioek of the re uisite length. The cover Is described as being quite as R'.out, tight and rain resisting as a Urst-class umbrella of the old style. Vlrrplnrflii KTer.TTTl?or??? As to flreplaeos In genernl, it Is best to have them In all available rooms, Including chamber*, rrtyr- a writer In Country Life in America. They arc the best of ventilators, and. lu the late spring and early fall, serve admirably to remove the chill from the house; In this way they serve to curtail, for a tine at least, the generally excessive heat of the furnace and steam-beater. They are also cxccllcut in sickness. AkMt til* tew. When a sow has proved herself to be ? regular breeder, has large, healthy litters at regular intervals, and has lu variably such a good flow of milk as Insures the proper suckling of the young porker*, (hen keep such a sow as a breeder just as long as she proves profitable, for the older alio gets the b?t$er will be her pigs until she gets beyond the breeding age. Doa't Cat th? Cow'* Hut lam. The high price of gralu the most of tlfe time for several year* has caused 1 many dairy men to give scanty rations to^their stock with the mistaken Idea that milch cows would get -a rest and co as well or belter than when a full ration was given. The go?- . cows of the present* time are the result of the good car;* and feed of the cows of the j prst. The Rood cows of the future will he the offspring of t ?\vs that have good care continually n?. the present time.? J. II. Andre, In The I'ipKomivt. Working UriHKt Mares. Most horse breeders prefer that marcs in foal should have regular exercise in the forpi oi light work, but Jerking and straining should l>o avoid ed under all circumstances. For best results It is a good plan to use three lior.sos for work that . would be ro quircd of two under ordinary circum stances. Tills Is not done at a:i ad ditional expense of one-third, because three horses will do more work than two. If the speed alone ?*onsldered. Then it often happens that plows and cultivators may be set an inch or two deeper and the extra work thus accom plished Is worth a go.Ml deal, although It may not show on the surface. A man can drive three horses faster thau two and rest less at th-_* end of the row. Xfcne Tndnatry Prontnbl*. Horse breeding. wheii judiciously car ried on. lias always been and is likely to be a profitable bushing for the American farmer. Tin? great danger in the hnslness is that at the present time, owing to the fact that horses are scarce, the horse of no particular lireed or class is commanding a fair price, and many farmer* are led to re gard a horse of tJjfs kind as a profit able animal to produce. Much horses should not be bred, l>eeause. even when the Kreatest care and precaution possi ble are tuken in breeding for definite typos, there will always be a large number of the so-called misllts, whit-it are the first <-lass of horses to be af fected by overproduction or any other thin.c that Is likt>Iy to cause a depres sion i;i the market.? Indiana Farmer. Wnnliln-; Irlali Pntntoff. A Michigan farmer who handles over 5\mh> bushels of potatoes ouch .war. washes cvt'iy bushel. 1 1 <? says: "For five* years I 1?:* vo washed nil potatoes and have never lost bushel l>y rot after I put them away In the collar. I pick r.p tin* potatoes ns fast 2S they are dug. They aiv then lmulcd to a suitable rack for washing, whom a mill hose is turned on them with -it) lbs. pressure. In this way lOO bushels are washed elcan enough in 10 minutes to hake or boll. I let them He fof a few minntes only, then pick them np and put in one bushel crates, after ?which they stand In the sun or wind for from two to three hours. Ion*: enough to dry nicely. The potatoes are then packed away In a cool, dry cellar, where they remain until wanted for use or to sell. *'I have found this to be the most practical v<*y v? care for potatoes or other roots. ' The potatoes being1 in bushel crates are ready to sell by the load or bushel and can be handled very quickly and cheaply. No measuring is necessary, no weighing is required nil ready to sell, use or plant.**? Na tional Fruit Grower. rot n *1? In Aicili'iillnrr. Official statistics show tlml the fler nian in in cm produced in 1.rir?7.24? tons of kalnite. worth fit current prices tS.'JOH.IS-l. ami 2,07<5,771 tons of other potusli salts, valued at ?4,!>7l>,i)li!. Of the kalnite and sylvinite CiOl ,XSf? ions were exported to various countries, and of this amount tons, or more than r? 4 per cent, was taken l?y the United States, where it was used mainly in the manufacture of chemical fertilizers. The remainder, something over a million tons of crude min eral*, was used for fertilizing the farms and gardens of (Jermnny, with results so startling and incontestable that they may well serve as an object lesson for ngrlcultrral scientists in other countries. Kxa<t official records. In which only the percentage of potash contained in the raw minerals used Is taken into account, show that the con sumption of potash salts lu (icrman agriculture increased from !"? 1 tons 1n 1WVJ to l.VMXM) in that is trebled iu ten years. I Miring this i period there lias been a steady advance j in the yield of the staple f.inn crops I which corresponds closely from year to | year to the amount of potash used. Ttrl?<r Kartn Comment. I The following notes are culled from j the Massachusetts IMougfuunn. The cow will make most inllk from corn put Into n hIIo, husk* and all. Lot It bo nearly ripe.- -J. L. Hills, Bur lington, Vt. We have used cement floors with boards under the cows, and they are all right.? W. L. Carlyle, Madison, Wis. The men quit exactly at six o'clock, throw the horses a little hay and off to the corner grocery. Farm labor Is ko scarce In this neighborhood that in many famili< s the women of the house hofd are ont In the Holds plowing and harrowing. Of course, that necessi tates letting the housework take care of Itself, as no one dreams of looking for a servant any more. They are as extinct as the Dodo.? C. C. L., Middle llcld, Conn, Many people believe that Jf a corn field is caught by the frost that the silngc will be worthless, but my ex perience has been that there was not enough difference to be noticeable. As far as I can see, the cattle eat It and do as well with It, providing always that the corn is matured.? C. P. Good rich, Ft. Atkinson, Wis. A sample not unusual In tfce results following tile drainage in Wisconsin marshes Is that of a forty -acre tract which was previously listed on the lax toll as "swamp land." It was consid er?l waste space, with the exception that an inferior quality and scant quantity of marsh grass and weeds were produced, and peg shoes were re quired to enable teams to work upon it. The place was tile dralucd at a ? cost of $10 per acre, and the latter pro duced us large crops of corn and hay as regular farm lauds costiug hlgii prices. ? E. llclchcnbach, Jefferson, \VI? Protfft the Bamlilebff*. The bumblebee Is one of the most valuable farm assistants known to the agriculturist. He is necessary lu the policnlzlug of blo.-sonis in the orchards and meadows, lie destroys but little fruit, aftd seldom attacks the cherry or apple until it is too ripe for market or family use. Ills mission on earth is that of peace and prosperity. In Ceriuany his life is protected by lejiis latlvo enactments. Here he Is chased about by the farmer boys and killed on si.ubt. Ills services as a farm and orchard assistant are not appreciated. Ited clover blossoms do not form seed until the pollen is thoroughly mixed. For this reason. It Is argued in many | sc.-tions of the country, tlie tlrst crop of clover is a failure as a seed producer The bumblebee does not come from bis winter resting place in time to work on the clover blossoms, and hence the pollen is not handled its it should be to form seeds. In the early days of agriculture this was merely a theory. Now it is published as a fact, and not denied by any one at all familiar with the nature of plant life. Koine interesting experiments have been conducted at agricultural colleges to demonstrate the value of the bum blebee mi growing red clover seed. Last year at the Iowa station patches of clover heads were covered with mosquito nettiug. nnd similar sized areas left uncovered. The experimen tal plats were six feet square. t!ov ered patches for the tlrst crop gav.? no seed, while those uncovered returned 1<> per cent of an ordinary crop. For the second crop the covered plants seeding were only two. while those un covered numbered ftl*2 that produced s??ed. Plants near the nests of the humble bees always produce the best crops of seed. In a space of six square feet over two thousand heads of red clover formed excellent seed. The bumble bees had built nests in the clusters of clover roots. Those who are Inclined to kill every bee that comes about should study the nature of bees and plant life. The bees are perfectly harmless. They never try to wage a warfare on any person except in de fense of their homes or lives. Let them alone, and they will make the fanner and orehardist rich and thereby help in building up th:? country.? Seattle I,ost-Iiitelli?eiiei.r. Tti'?nlt? of Inlrimr <'utt Ivntlnii. T now have the second crop in tho barn from my cloven :nul our-cighth am- field, which Ik nil 1 have down to trra>N this year. Tho first crop yield was lJO.m pounds. tho second crop r>r?,U.M? pounds; total for tho year on tho eleven ami one-eighth acres. ITo.N'j:: pounds -ovor sovon ami tliree-ipiastor ton* to tho aero In Iho two crops. Tin' seven-eighths acre ttolil, now seeded fifteen years, out this year: First crop, 14,72-S pounds; hccoiiiI crop, T ? ?.~?i ? pounds; total. pounds. IMoaso notico this year in tho two crops over eleven Ions, f think tho yield , romarkahlo for the fifteenth yoar after seeding over eleven tons of well dried hay. One word in tho- matter of dry ing my hay. Tho first crop this year hail an average of three full days* trood sunshine. The second crop had eight days without rain, live of them bright sunshine. It was well teddcred and spread ami heaped up every night. This is my method of drying hay. If readers will send mo a two-cent stamp, I will tell them how to produce similar crops*. ! have promised {?? rite results of my It Japanese plum trees, and hero they are: The orchard covers live and a half acres; tin* trees sr.'o set twelve foot on centre apart in true rows at right uiigles? I'.Mt Hod Junes, 7'J.~ Abun dance, ."00 Bnrbaufcs and 1 <h> Wick sons. The first year after sotting tho blossoms wore fid!, but frost killed tlieui. Tho second year the blossoms were full and produced r?l h i large baskets. Tho third year the blossoms wore full and produced ir>ou large baskets. Tho fourth year tho blossoms were full, but frost cut all the fruit off. Tho lift li yoar tho blos soms were full, and produced .'tooo large baskets, final results of this year's crop. Tho plums, when allowed to ripen fully on tho trees and sold in the home market, brought an average of about 4o cents a basket, but when picked greener, which la itce.'ssnry for out side market, the price was less, so that so fur as I can kco I came nut square, 1 lio receipts and eo?t :? ? ?. .n t balancing. Tin* second mul thirl y< nr gave about tin* .".nine "esMlts. Now. ( tliink if I hud only from *joo to f?n<? trees, Just what I could handle myself, with tho aid of some li.uht help, and the plums could have been allowed to ripen more fully, nml with a homo market I would have done very well. Tho dlfheulty with my plums Is they mature too quick. The Wleksons am the best In that respect. Willi them you have trn days to tw? weel:s, hut they are shy bearers. One lias hardly a week with the lied .1 tines. Burbanks and Abundanee. and. wllh a storm or two mixed at that, as I had this year, tho time Is limited. The only relief there was in the time of these plums was one week's difference la time of ripening, but for that I could not !mvn handled half the crop ? (jeorge M, Clark, In Tribune Farmer. TVhnt It font. In opening a nov pier at Men at Bridge, n Welsh watering-place, .Mr. I/loyd-Gcorge said that of the ?70.?x>0 the pier had cost, $1-. "'(><> had gone In legal expenses. Before a local author ity could go to rarllament. lawyer* had to be engaged, "and." he added, "then heaven help tho local autbori tie*"