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About The Medford mail. (Medford, Or.) 1893-1909 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1896)
MDOUG ALL'S CON VERSJLOiN BY BEI-I.fi FIELD. "What!" The astonishment in the word was simply indescribable, as Harry Mc Dougall dropped his pnper and regard ed his cousin in dignified amazement. A prettier cousin than usual she was just then, her blue eyes and pink cheeks a little bluer and pinker, as she viewed her surprised relative, who soon found voice to remonstrate: "Do you mean to say that you, whose sole ambitiou should be the enhancing of woman's chief virtue, retiring mod esty, are really proposing to enter my mill as bookkeeper? If so, you are either very ignorant of what would be ex pected of you in that capacity or you are forgetting what is due your own womanhood. Henrietta McDougall, I am ashamed of you!" The subject of this tirade merely gave her decided chin a little lift, and made answer: ' "You need not flatter yourself that you are going to extinguish me with your heroics, Harry, for I most cer tainly do intend to go into an office even if the shock should prove serious to your conservative organization. As you refuse my offer, I shall take a posi tion with the Big Salt Lumber com pany; but I thought it would be pleas ant to work with you. The young man cleared his throat two or three times be for he found voice for expostulation. "But. Henrietta, it is not a woman's place. Contact with men in business life disarms woman of her best weapon, and withal her greatest charm. She wrecks her own matrimonial chances; for, you see, when men marry, they do not choose the girls who have thrust themselves forward, but tie for life to the home girL Then, too," continued he, with a touch of pomposity, "woman's brain is of' such different caliber that she is never a success in the business world. While I esteem you very highly as a friend and cousin, I could not give you a place in my office. I must have the broader out look of a man, and do not few that I could trust any woman with such a responsible position as that held by my bookkeeper." This time there was no mistaking the real indignation in the girl's face and voice. - "Harry, I should be very angry with your insinuations, but I really only pity one who hold such warped views. I want you to understand that girls nowadays are not compelled to go about on tiptoe and with bated breath for fear of spoiling their matrimonial chances. Talk about trustworthiness! Who absconds with the employer's money? Kot the woman. - Talk about the 'broader outlook r Wait until your cross-eyed bookkeeper goes to South America with the contents of yur safe, and you will wish yon had one of the untrustworthy women in his place." "Don't let ns quarrel, .my dear." patronized Harry, "for I did not wish to offend you. I was shocked that yon, bo young, so pretty, wished to do man's work." . ; ' -v - ' v "It is not man's work, Harry," said the girL quickly. "Work is classified according to its excellence, and not the sex of the worker. ' But there is no use in arguing with you," turning to leave the room. "On second thought," and she paused on the threshold, "let me predict that you will fall hopelessly in love with one of this very diss of women, marry her, and become a thorough convert to the idea of women in business." "Marry a creature of that stamp? Not until I become an imbecile. I shall marry for a companion: a woman who will know her sphere and keep it." Harry JicDougall was not at heart an intolerant man, but his whole life environment had been conservative in the highest degree. His residence in the west had been but short, and he was daily surprised at the freedom accorded women about him. He marveled at the nnconf ious ness with which business men accepted into their precincts the entrance of business women. and abhorred, through ignorance of the thought of the times, their "intrusion," as he called it. But a few months before young Mc Dougall had come to Kansas from Connecticut to take charge of a flour ing mill lately purchased by his father, a property situated in a small town some thirty miles west of Elliston, Henrietta's home. The business was prospering, and prosperity does not make an intolerant man tolerant; so upon his visits to El liston his altercations with Henrietta had become more spirited, culminating iu tne application by the girl for posi tion as bookkeeper in his mill, and his pompous refusal of it. The next morning, before breakfast, a teleram informed Harry that his father had been the victim of an acci dent in the" old mill at home, and de sired the immediate presence of bis son. He had barely time to write in structions to his bookkeeper, placing necessary funds at his disposal, before the next train for the east. "What a pity yon di d not accept my offer of yesterday," said Henrietta, jokingly, as they stood beside the waiting train. "Just think how well I could have taken care of your inter ests during your absence." "Pouf !" ejaculated Harry, with ex aggerated contempt. "When I want a shortage in my accounts, I will em ploy women to manage my affairs." And he swung himself aboard in time to escape his cousin's just wrath. But no sooner bad he taken up the familiar duties at home than the dis tracting news came from the. west that his trusted bookkeeper (Henrietta's detestation), had left suddenly, with the contents of the safe. The young man's state of mind can be imagined. His father was not yet oat of danger, and, even had he been, the business required him to stay in the east. His money a considerable sum was gone, the mill was not run ning, and orders already iu could not be tilled. It meant ruin for him. After several days of distracted writ ing and telegraphing, he received a letter from Elliston, which ran: "Ma Henry McDocoALiDoar Sir: I have visited your mill, looked over the premises, examined the books, and, it satis factory to you, am willing to tako chargo of the business during your absonce, advancing the necessary money. This, providing you will sell me a one-half interost in the property, at the price asked by the former owner, and will accept the money I shall advance as part pur chase money. "Awaiting your decision. I am "Vory truly yours, D. P. Boards! an." His first sense was one of relief, fol lowed by wanderment. David Hoard man was senior member of the firm owning one of the largest mills in Elliston, and his check could be drawn for a larger amount than that of any other man in the city. What could he want, Harry asked himself, with an interest in a mill in a little country town, where such a financial disaster had occurred as had happened to his own business? But the letter was evidently in good faith, and Harry telegraphed his ac ceptance immediately, knowing that a partnership with Mr. Board man would insure his future. Three months later Harry alighted from the train at his western home. In the intervening time his partner had not only made up the loss the busi ness had sustained, but had brought profits higher than ever before. Mr. Boardinan had remained constantly on the ground, however, but had signified his intention cf returning to Elliston as soon as Harry returned. A farmer drove past Harry, as he walked to the mill. He could not stop his loaded wagon on the river bank, but he called out cheerily: "Glad ter see yer back, Mr. McDou gaL Mighty fine partner o' yours in thar!" With a light heart, Harry pushed open the office door, then stopped, aghast! He saw, busily writing at the desk, not the bent form of Davjd Boardinan, but a young lady. Tor a moment he stood staring at the trimly attired figure and sleek, dark hea d Then a low, yet decisive voice said: "Were there any letters for us to night, John?" Before Harry could frame a reply, the young woman, turning, met his gaze. She rose and advanced, a trifle of color coming to her cheek, yet her demeanor cool and unruffled.and asked: "I beg your pardon, sir. I thought it was the janitor. Is there anything I can do for you?" Harry pulled himself together and replied: "I should like to see Mr. Boardman." The girl looked puzzled for a mo ment, then answered: "I fear you have made a mistake. Mr. Boardman lives in Elliston, the next town east." "I certainlv can have made no mis take," returned Harry, decidedly. "1 have letters in my pocket dated at this place, and settling the details of a transaction by which he becomes part owner of this property." "Mr. Boardman certainly has no In terest here," stated his informant. "I am Miss Boardman. and have bought half this mill, which I am managing until Mr. McDougall arrives from the, east" For an instant Harry felt as though he were on a toboggan slope several miles long, not knowing where the end might be; but he pulled himself to gether and handed the lady one of his cards. At sight of the piece of pasteboard the young lady looked wonderstruck. and again flushed a trifle. Then she looked up, and ventured: "And you thought" "Yes. I thought so," he answered, comprehensively. "But I am so be wildered now that I am past all think ing. Will you please explain some things that I cannot understand?" Within a few moments Harry dis covered that instead of selling an in terest in his mill to Mr. David P. Board man, he had delivered it over to a Philistine in the person of. Dor othy P. Boardinan, the aforesaid gentleman's niece and junior partner, that she, having extra funds on her hands, and hearing of McDougall's trouble, had felt sorry for him, inves tigated, found that the investment wonld be a good one, and made him an offer. She had not intended to deceive him, bnt had merely signed her name as she was in the habit of doing in her business relations, without dreaming of being confused with her uncle, not taking into account Harry's short resi dence in the state. It was astonishing to see how readi ly the young man reconciled himself to having for a partner this young, businesslike woman, with the bright eyes and qniet voice. Miss Boardman went back to Ellis ton at once, and Harry took up his work alone. His bookkeeper was never found, perhaps because the amount of his embezzlement was not large enough to make much stir, but Henrietta said it was because of bis "broader outlook." That young lady also made frequent remarks about the number of time, that Harry found it necessary to seek his partner's advice, and her triumph was complete when, a few months after the first partnership was con summated, Dorothy Boardman, upon much persuasion, consented to enter into another . partnership with the house of McDougall, the papers to be made out for life. All this was five years ago. Now the little country station threatens t be quite a town, and Harry's prospen ty has grown along with it. He gives his wife credit for his prosperity, as for his happiness, and has come to glory in having married one of the class once so obnoxious to him. David Boardman McDougall, aged three, is, in spite of his long name, quite the most intelligent child in ex istence, so his parents aver, and Hen rietta McDougall is head bookkeeper in her cousin's mill, having come to see the working out not only of her hopes but of her prophecy. N. Y. NO NEED OF THE SUN. Agricultural Department Grows Plants by Electriolty. Startling Effect of Artificial Light at the Experiment Station Hcaults of l'rof. Uttlley's Arc Light and Prof. ' Kane's Incandescent Lamf. Probably the most interesting of the many miracles which scientific men are learning to perform by aid of electricity is the artificial growth ot plants, tech nically known as clectroculture. Tlii's is as yet a new science and little has been told the public concerning it. In teresting experiments in these lines are now being carried on at several of the experimental stations of the de partment of agriculture. The agricultural experiment stations are testing several different systems of clectroculture. Oue of these is the di rect application of electricity, fur nished by a dynamo, to the plant it self and to the soil iu which it grows. Another is the distribution of atmos pheric electricity among plants by a similar method. Still other tests are being made with both arc and incan descent electric lights for supplying sunlight, so to speak, at night. The first mentioned experiments arc being carried on by Prof. C. D. Warner, of the experiment station at Amherst, Mass. Prof. Warner has prepared two plots of ground, side ly side, each six by twenty feet long. To compare plants grown by electric aid with those raised according to the natural method one of the experiment gardens is furnished with electricity and the other is without it. The soil is of a rich loam, and that of the electric garden is surrounded with a timber frame, on which are arranged nu merous porcelain insulators, a few inches apart, holding a continuous un covered copper wire. This copper wire crosses the garden as many times as there are insulators ou either side. The whole framework this fitted looks like the string frame of a large piano. The wires are covered with earth to the depth of two inches, and in both gardens various vegetables have been planted from timo to time. These plants arc so arranged that the rows in the electric gardens are continua tions of those of the non-electric, in order that the contrast of development might be more easily noted. The wires are fed from a small building containing the necessary machinery. After applying currents of various strengths it was found that a certain flow of electricity through the eicc tric garden produced strange result. Many varieties of seeds sprouted much more rapidly and many plants blos somed much earlier than in the other. Roots of certain vegetables and the tops of others were found to be greatly enlarged under the process. In fact, all plants were found to be stimulated by a current of certain strengtn. 'lne pnrsioiogical effect of electricity upon plants, although not yet definitely understood, is probably similar to that experienced by the human anatomy or by the animal tis sues. Electricity is applied to par alytics because it stimulates the nerves and muscles, just as exercise does. A strong current is used to re move superfluous hair, while, accord ing to later reports, a milder current will produce hair on bald heads. In the same way an electric current too strong will destroy plant life, while a milder one enhances its growth. There is also the theory that the electricity produces a chemical effect upon the soil or surrounding atmosphere, rather than a direct effect upon the plants. At the Ithaca (X. Y.) experiment sta tion Prof. Bailey, by aid of electric lights burned all night in greenhouses, makes plant life work "overtime" that is, he forces plants to do both day work and night work without a mo ment of "sleep." Sunlight, as well as atttiosphere and water, is necessary for a plant's development. The electric light resembles sunlight in its compo sition more than does any other artifi cial light. It is the common theory that plants grow mostly at night, making use of the air, water, sunlight and other materials which they have received during the day, when the sun is shining. It is generally believed, therefore, that they need rest, just as animals need rest for the build ing up of the tissues worn out during the day. Prof. Bailey, however, does not believe that plants need rest in the same sense thn iHmals do. After learning of these wonderful re sults from experiments as yet in em bryo it would seem that we may yet see the day when there, will be many harvestings on a farm each summer. The modern farmer will erect lines of high poles throughout his fields, sup porting not only mechanisms for gath ering the atmospheric electricity, but also immense electric lights for sup plying sunshine by night.. Who can say but that forests will some day be made to grow up from seeds in but a few months, or that the builders of new houses may not grow shade trees about their homes in that time? DRUGS BEHIND THE BAR. : Mixed with Other Stimulants and Served to Customers Oat ot Sorts. Nowadays the bar in cities has be come, with regard to its stock and the character of its concoctions, almost as complicated as a drug store. As a mat ter of fact, most of the bars about New York have, in a way, gone into the drug and prescription business. Be hind their mahogany counters and lined up in .front of the French plate and ranged upon their shelves, says the Pittsburgh Dispatch, are to be seen a hundred different liquors and cordials and drugs. Jars and bottles of bro mides and bitters and powerful drugs of various descriptions decorate the sideboard. All of these enter into the daily consumption of those who moro and more often seek the saloon rather than the drug store for their medicinal remedies. The 'prescription business , of the fashionable bar is a very big and growing business. Men with head aches, stomachaches, colds, coughs, consumption, that tired feeling, loss of appetite, lassitude, etc., rely upon the bartender rather than upon the dootor or drug clerk. This implicit confidence is often amusing to the bartender him self, as well as to those who are drink ing for the fun of it. Anybody who has ever patronized a bar for beverages must have seen and heard the men who approach it for their medicine. "I feel miserable right here," placing his hand on his stomach, perhaps. "What ought I to drink?" "Oh, I'll fix you up," says the bar tender, grubbing a small bottle in the rear. He pours a little into a glass, then he grabs another bottle and pours something else on top of it und squirts in a jet of bitters and a jet of absinthe, and stirs them up in a glass of tee and strains the concoction off into a coek tuil glass. Meanwhile the customer pa ys little or no attention to this, but promptly swal lows it when it is ready. He doesn't know whut-it is or whether it is injurious or beneficial to liim. But the powerful stimulating quality of the mixture probably "sets him up" in a few min utes. In the middle of his conversa tion he is conscious of this, and when the next round is ordered he promptly says he will take another of the same sort. "That stuff seems to make me come around all r'ght," he remarks. "What do you call it?" "Oh, I don't know," responds the bar tender, with a smile. "It's a 'pick me up' we're on to." And he straightway prepares another. He knows it is not a beverage, bnt his customer asks for it, and the responsibility is at once shifted. He will mix half a dozen of them and see them absorbed with that calm indifference which is the habit of his profession. It is the other fellow's stomach and brain and nervous organi zation. I'ufortuonte. How often our most innocent speeches "gang aglcy," leaving us with no resource but that of making the best of a bad matter! A certain Scotch minister is wont to relate how, having been out nil day visitiny, he called on an old dame well known far her kind ness and hospitality. After some con versation she began getting out her best china and whatever delicacies were at hand to honor her unexpected guest. As he sat watching the prep arations his eye suddenly fell on four or five cats devouring some cold por-, ridge under the table. "Dear me, ! Miss Ulaclc." he observed, "what a . number of cats! Do thev all belong to you?" "No. na, sir," was the iunoccnt ' reply; "but mony a time I say that a' the hungry brutes in the parish coino tac me, seeking a meal o' meat." Then the good woman bethought her, and in ; her embarrassment nearly dropped a ' teacup. YouUi's Companion. A Peculiarity or Mao. He was leaving the crowd where the theater tickets for a big engagement were being sold. There was a happy look on his face, which suddenly van ished, lie put his hand to his temples, and then he said: "I guess I'll hunt up some quiet place and kick myself. That's what 1 11 da" "What's the matter?" asked the friend who had overtaken him. "I have been letting the calcium light of mathematics into the opales cent mist of my enthusiasm," he re plied. "What do you mean?" "I've just figured it out that I've stood out in the snow in line for five hours to pay extra money for a theater seat, rather than stand up for three hours at the performance, where it's warm and comfortable." Washington Star. . "What have you pot?" inquired the traveler in the linen duster, sitting: clown on one of the stools. "Cold roast loef," replied the man behind the rnil- . way lunch counter, "cold chicken, ; cold" I don't eat meat," broke in) the traveler; "Tin a vcjrctnrinn." "Try j one of his ham sandwiches," suppested j the commercial traveler sitting' on the I next stool. Chicnso Tribune. ! The skeleton in many a household is the peculiar weak ness of the wife and mother, or of the wife who ought to be a mother and is not. I IMPIMwirT stroyed by the pres-ll-l fl f ence of the secret Li I In Ly I I sickness that may death atuotifr the most luxurious homes. The most terrible thing about this condition of nf fairs is that it is entirelv needless. Thcte is no reason in the world why every woman in the world should not be strong and health ful and capable of fulfilling her whole duty as a wife and mother. Many women go on month after month, and vear after vear. be coming weaker and weaker, becnuse of a very natural hesitancy they feel in consult ing a physician. They know that if they go to a doctor for treatment, the first thing he will insist on will be "examination" and " local treatment." This must of course be distasteful to every modest woman. They are generally as unnecessary as they are ab horrent Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription cures positively, perfectly, permanently, all varieties of "female weakness" and dis ease. It is designed to do this one thing, and it does it. It is the only medicine now before the public for woman's peculiar ail ments, adapted to her delicate organization by a regularly graduated physician an ex perienced and skilled specialist in these maladies. It cannot do harm in any condi tion of the system. Its sales exceed the combined soles of all other medicines for women. Every woman will be healthier and happier for following me inenaiv, practical counsel contained iu Dr. Pierce's 1 great umvcrsui aoctor book: v. i ne reonic s uomnicm sense Medical Adviser." It is the most "Jk N Miw! ! comprehensive medical work in VB one volume iu the English lan- II nfw" I miner II (.(i.niti ii-wiM ,.ira Fully illustrated. txSo.ooo copies have been sold at $1.50 each bound in cloth. The profits are now used in printing half-a-inill-ion free copies bound in stronir tnanilla paper covers. To get one you haw only to send at one-cent stamps ( to pay cost of mail ing ony), to World's Dispensary Medical Associ ation, jjo. 65j Main Street. Buil'alo, N. Y. Send promptly before all are given away if in waut of one. ThtT are going off rapidly. What is Castoria is Dr. Samuel Pitcher's prescription for Infants and Children. It contains rieithcr Opium, Morphine nor other Narcotic substance It is a harmless substitute . for Paregoric, Drops, Soothing Syrups, and Castor OIL It is Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years' use by Bullions of Mothers. Castoria destroys Worms and allays feverishness. Castoria prevents vomiting Sour Curd, cures Diarrhoea and Wind Colic. Castoria relieves teething troubles, cures constipation and flatulency Castoria assimilates the food, regulates the stomach, and bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. Cas toria is the Children's Panacea the Mother's Friend. Castoria. "Castoria Is an excellent medicina for chfl 'dren. Mothers hare repeatedly told ma of its good effect upon their children." Ob. Q. C Osgood, Lowell, Mao. Castoria Is the best remedy for children of which I am acquainted. I hope the day is not far distant when mothers will consider the real Interest of their children, and use Castoria in stead of the variousquack nostrums which are destroying their loved ones, by forcing opium, morphine, soothing syrup and other hurtful agents down their throats, thereby striding them to premature grave." Da. J. F. KntcBBLOB, Coo way. Ark. The Csntaur Company, TT ...THE... SECOND ...TATw... Located on "West side of railroad track, I Am Now in New Quarters And am better prepared than ever to furnish my patrons with what they need in the line of Harness and Saddleiy My stock is up to date, my work guaranteed. Repairing neatly and promptly executed J W LAWTON Ajk'D!iPguei.P.1;.-ydford'0"n Now the Roads are Good . . . We want to call your attention to bur VOLUNTEER BICYCLE? a strictly first-class wheel at a moderate price. When you go angling we can fit you out with anything you' need in the line of fishing tackle. Our garden hose is all new and fully guaranteed. We have anything you need in garden tools x hoes, rakes, forks, spades, spading forks, etc., etc. Satisfaction, ns to price and quality Kame & Gilkey, Medford, Oregon QONTRACTOR and gXJILDER. JOBBING OF1 ALL KIISTDS. All work guaranteed first-class. Plans and estimates furnished or all kind of work either brick or wood. Bills ot LUMBER ot all kinds filled on short notice. Sash, Doors and Mill work ot J Kinds any tbiny in the shape of wood work can be had on short notice. SIedford, THE VERY BEST OF BRICK AND MASON S. CHILDERS, I manufacture a splendid article oi Brick Bee samples everywhere about the city Yard one block north of Brewery. Residence north C street, Medford, Oregon. MEDFORD BRICK Gr. W. PRIDDY, !Prop'r. MEDFORD, - - OREGON. First-class quality of Brick always on hand. Large and small r4axr promptly filled. BRICK WORK OF ALL KINDS PROMPTLY EXECUTED. Give me a call when in need of anything in my line Castoria. " Castoria is so well adapted tOchOdrasi I Tt I recommend it as superior to iaj yi esuly a known to me." II. A. Aacn. K. D.. Ill So. Oxford St., Brooklya, K. T. " Our physicians in th children's depart ment have spoken highly of their axpext enoe in their outside practice with Castoria, and although we only hare among our medical supplies what is known as regular products, yet we are free to confess that tfcs) merits of Castoria has woo us to look was favor upon it-" Urrn HosrtaS. axo DupcraaST, Boston, : Ajxo C Sbuth, Pra Murray Street, Hew York City. Jack flQopris... THE SECOND HAND2MAN Wants to see you at his new store, one door sonth of the old stand. A large stock of furnilure, stoves, dishes and lamps, also a new line of matting. Horses, harness and wag ons for sale. near Western Hotel, Medford, Ore. 3 Oregon WORK. A BUILDER. YARD,