Image provided by: Santiam Historical Society; Stayton, OR
About The Stayton mail. (Stayton, Marion County, Or.) 1895-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 4, 1915)
DOINGS OF OREGON’S LEGISLATURE A Brief Resume of Proceedings of the People’s Representatives at the State Capital. Bills Introduced, Passed, Rejected, Etc. Prominent Women Plead Portland Electric Light Co. tor School tor Girls Sag» W e Worth $60,000,000 State Capitol, Salem— A valuation o f approximately $60,000,000 is made for the property of the Portland Rail way, Light A Power company, accord ing to figures produced before the State Railroad commission in the gen eral investigation hearing into the rates and service o f the company. The valuation figures were brought out through the testimony of W. J. Hagenah, utility expert, testifying in behalf of the company. It was under his direction that the company made an inventory o f its property to be sub mitted to the commission in the pres ent investigation. What valuation has been placed by the commission's engineering experts has not been developed in the testi mony, but the line o f questions shot at Hagenah indicated that the commis sion has figures that will range consid erably under those o f the company. Franklin T. Griffith, president of the company, was present at the hear ing, but the examination for the com pany was conducted by R. A. Leiter. Mr. Hagenah was the only witness. He narrated the manner in which the appraisal had been made, the commis sion inquiring at length into the methods he had used in arriving at the value of various items. Among the largest items are $8,- 694.000 for roadway and tracks; $9,- 076,326 for land; $4,987,000 for equip ment, $44,357,000 for buildings, fix tures and grounds, $4,567,000 for rol ling stock and floating equipment, $6046 for hydraulic power works, $4,- 767.000 for water powers, and $9,962,- 000 for cost of development. N ew Workmen’8 Compensa tion A ct Is file d in Senate State Capitol, Salem— A hill provid ing for workmen’s compensation sim ilar to the Michigan law was intro duced in the senate by Bingham. It is different in many phases from the present compensation law, and its au thor says it w ill solve the perplexing question of aiding injured workmen in this state. An important feature of the new act is that employes will make no contri butions. Those sustaining minor in juries w ill receive no benefits until the 15th day after the injuries were sus tained. Persons incapacitated from work for four weeks or longer w ill re ceive compensation from the time of the*accident. The law provides for the appoint ment by the governor o f one industrial accident commissioner, who shall re ceive $3000 a year. In case o f dis pute as to the amount o f compensation he and two other persons, selected by those interested, shall fix the amount. Employers may provide compensation through casualty companies, mutual insurance, pay it themselves or come under a provision for state compensa tion. Under the present law the payment o f compensation is according to the size of the families o f the injured per sons, but the new act makes the earn ing capacity the basis of compensa tion. Senator Bingham said one of the important features o f his bill is that it would induce employers to pro vide all safety appliances, that acci dents should be reduced to a minimum. “ Under practically this same law operating in Michigan 90 to 95 per cent of the employers have come under its provisions,” said Senator Bingham, “ and out of 500,000 employes less than 15 have rejected it since the law went into effect about two and one-half years ago.” State Capitol, Salem — Declaring that there was real need for the insti tution and that it was the duty of the state, which it should not attempt to shirk, to take care o f and educate its wayward girls, 12 women, represent ing various clubs, appeared before the joint ways ami means committee this week and protested against the pro posed recommendation to the legisla ture that the Industrial School for Girls be abolished. Representatives o f the women's clubs spoke frankly, as did members of the committee, ami it is believed a plan will be agreed upon that will be satisfactory to all concerned. Mrs. S. M. Blumauer, representing the Coun cil of Jewish Women, said it would be unjust and unwise at this time to dis continue the school. It was not a mer cenary question, she urged, but an economical one, and a duty that should be performed. The fact that only a comparatively few girls had been taken care o f was no reason for doing sway with the school, she said. Permanent Registration tor Voters Approved by House State Capitol, Salem — Permanent registration of voters and compulsory voting are provided for in a bill passed in the house. The measure was intro duced by the joint committee on judi ciary and revision of laws and com bined the essential features of bills previously submitted by Represent ative Kuefcn. o f Portland, and the Marion county delegation. Under its provisions the clerks are required to keep a card index system for the reg istered voters. When a person regis ters the record becomes permanent and can be used indefinitely at future elec tions. I f a voter moves from one precinct to another within the same county or desires to change his or her political affiliation it will be necessary only to advise the county clerk. To accommodate voters who move from one county to another, the county clerks are authorized to send the cards from one to another upon request. Naturalized citizens w ill not be re quired to show their naturalization pa pers at the time they register. They will be required only to swear that they are naturalized and give the dates in connection therewith. Labor Loses Three Bills. State Capitol, Salem—Three more of the bills introduced by Represent ative Oscar W. Home, o f Portland, and indorsed' by the State Federation of Labor failed to get past the house. One was postponed indefinitely, mean ing that it was put to sleep beyond possible reawakening, another was amended and another was referred. Mr. Horne made a determined effort to save one o f his measures—the one compelling contractors on public works to enforce the eight-hour law more scrupulously. The bill is aimed par ticularly at “ station work” or contract labor through which groups of work ingmen are enabled to work more than eight hours a day on the ground that they are working for themselves. Old Lady Num ber NORTHWEST MARKET REPORTS. Portland —"A ll wool man agree that the coming season will be the most interesting, and perhaps exciting, that the Western markets have seen in many years. Beyond this they will make no prediction. Prices, o f course, will be good, but whether they will be high, or how high, no one cares to guess. A dealer needs a brave speculative disposition to undertake forward busi ness in the face of the conditions this year. Nevertheless it is said con tracting has been done to a consider able extent In Utah and it is also re ported that some contracts have been signed around Arlington. The terms were not mentioned, nor could the re ports be verified. Sheep growers are confident that prices will go to a high range and some of them are talking of a 25 or 30-cent market. With stocks in America as low as they are and spot prices here and abroad continually ad vancing, there is no doubt the 1915 market will open very strong, but buy ers are not willing to concede that farmers will get the prices they are expecting. The demand for eggs was better the latter part o f the week, and receipts cleaned up quickly. Oregons were held at 32 cents, case count, and 33 ecnts candled. Butter and cheese moved at last quotations. Wheat— Bid: Bluestem, $1.45; forty fold, $1.44; club, $1.42$; red Russian, $1.36; red Fife. $1.38. Oats— No. 1 white feed. $36.60. Barley — No. 1 feed, $32.60; brew ing, $42.50; bran, $30.26; shorts, $31. Millfeed— Spot prices: Bran, $30<;6 31; shorts, $32(^32.50; rolled barley, $34.60<j<i35.60. Corn— White, $36 ton; cracked, $37. Hay— Eastern Oregon timothy, $14 (i$16; valley timothy, $12.50; grain hay,*$10@12; alfalfa, $12(q;13. Vegetables — Cucumbers, hothouse, $2(«£2.26 dozen; peppers, $4 crate; ar tichokes, 86(<$90c dozen; cabbage. I f Oil4c pound; celery, $2.60 crate; cauliflower, $2.26; sprouts, 8c per pound; pumpkins, l i e ; squash, lie ; carrots, $1.26 sack; beets, $1.25; parsnips, $1.26. Green Fruits — Apples, 76c(jr$$l.60 box; casaba, $1.65 crate; pear, $l(g£ 1.60; cranberries, $96$11 barrel. Potatoes, 21c pound. Onions— Oregon, buying price, $1.25 f. o. b. shipping point. Egg* — Fresh Oregon ranch, case count, 32c; candled, 33c. Poultry— Hens, 12c pound; mixed, l l @ l l t c ; broilers, 18<j$20c; turkeys, dressed, 21c; live, 18c; ducks, 146$ 16c; geese, 12@14c. Butter — Creamery, prints, extras, 32c pound in case lots; !c more in less than case lots; cubes, 26@27c. Pork— Block, 8I$$9c pound. Veal— Fancy, 12$<^13c pound. Hops — 1914 crop, 10@12Ic; 1913 crop, nominal. Hides — Salted, 14c; salted bulls, 10c; salted kip, 16c; salted calf, 19c; green hides, 13c; green bulls, ‘ 9c; green kip; 16c; green calf, 19c; dry hides, 26c; dry calf, 28c. Wool — Valley, 17(g) 18c; Eastern Oregon, 15<g20c, nominal; mohair, 1914 clip, 27!c. Cascara bark— Old and new, 4@4Ic pound. Cattle — Prime steers $7.60<g)8.00; choice, $7.25(g7.50; medium, $6.750$ 7.25; choice cows, $6(g6.80; medium, $5<g,6; heifers. $50$7; bulls, $3.60C<$6; stags, $4.5001,6. Hogs — Light, $6.26(^6.80; heavy, $5.250t6. Sheep— Wethers, $5.766$6.66; ewes, $6(gi5.75; lambs, $6.26(c$7.80. 60-Day Session Plan Lost. State Capitol, Salem— Representa tive Lew is’ plan to change the limit on legislative sessions from 40 to 60 days was defeated in the house. His resolution made the pay of the legis lators $5 a day instead of $3 and pro vided a recess of 14 days after the for tieth day, to reconsider bills, but with out pay. A fter the house turned down the resolution Lewis offered another providing that sessions in the house begin at 9 o ’clock in the morning. Tacoma — Apples — Green cooking, The speaker ruled him out of order. Spitzenbergs, Winesape, House Passes Bill to Re Mr. Lewis himself is at his desk every 50c box; Rome Beauties, Arkansas Blacks, morning at 7:30 o ’clock and brings peat M a ny Appropriations Staymen Winesaps and Black Twigs, his lunch to the house chamber. 76(r$85c box; Delicious, $1.660(1)1.76. State Capitol, Salem— Friends of the Cider— 30c gallon; Oregon, $3 keg, Oregon National guard made an effort Anaesthetic Law Whacked. 25c gallon. in the house to save the $70,000 con State Capitol, Salem— Senator Dim- Comb honey— Yakima, $3.25 crate; tinuing appropriation provided for that ick’s bill repealing a law providing strained honey, $5.60; Idaho, $3.60; organization before the Schuebel bill, providing for a general repeal o f all that only graduate nurses with licenses Nevada, $3.50. Pears— Yakima, $1.60 box. continuing appropriations, was passed be allowed to administer anaesthetics Cranberries, $8.25<g)ll. was passed by the senate. The Clack and sent over to the senate. Vegetables— Cabbage, home-grown, Although it was plain from the start amas legislator contended that the that the National guard fund, as a present law was class legislation; “ a l i e pound; carrots, local, 76c@$l; continuing appropriation, would be nice little game put over by the nurses beets, home-grown, 75c0q,$l; turnips, wiped out if the Schuebel bill carried, two years ago so they would have all $1.35; potatoes, Yakima, $22(g)28 ton; members o f the guard made no protest this work.” In the interest of human White River, $17@18; Burbanks, $22; against the measure until just before ity, he said, country physicians were onions, green, 20c dozen; Oregon it was placed on its final reading. forced to violate the law daily. Sen brown onions, $1.76 6$ 2; Yakima, Then Representative Allen, o f Marion ators J. C. Smith and Wood, physi $1.50; garlic, 15c pound; radishes, local, 20c dozen bunches; parsley, county, who is a member o f the guard, cians, opposed the present law. 40c dozen bunches; lettuce, head, 60c appealed to the house to save the item Governor Signs Six Bills. dozen bunches, $2 crate; spinach, local, out of the bill. His pleas fell on deaf State Capitol, Salem — Governor 6c pound; cucumbers, $1.60@2 dozen; ears. He pointed out that the National Withycombe has signed the following celery, 60®76c dozen, $3 crate; green peppers, 25c pound; eggplant, 10c; guard fund had been placed on a con house bills: Creating district courts, defining Hubbard squash, 21c; rutabagas, $1.76 tinuing basis for the purpose o f taking the guard out of politics and urged their jurisdiction and providing system sack; cauliflower, $2.50 crate; arti chokes, 90c dozen; Brussels sprouts, that by passing the measure in its of procedure. Exempting chickens and other do 8c pound; rhubarb, 5c pound. present form it would be necessary for Fresh Meats — Steers, 121c; cows, the officers of the guard to come be mestic animals from execution o f at 12c; heifers, 126$12Ic; wethers, 12$c; fore the legislature every two years tachment. trimmed sides, Abolishing justice courts and creat dressed hogs, 12c; and ask for money to carry on their ing districts. Further defining juris 16tc; combinations, 16ic; lambs, 13(g) work. 14c; Diamond T. C., 14c; yearlings, diction o f district courts. Giving laborors in logging camps 13c, ewes, 11c. Voting Machine Lau> Stands. Poultry— Ducks, live, 106312c; hens, lien upon their products. State Capitol, Salem — Multnomah Lim iting catch o f crabs in waters of dressed, 16 (g) 18c; live, 10 (g) 14c; county will continue to have the option Coos bay. springs, dressed, 22c; live, 146$16c; _________ squabs, live, $2.50 dozen; dressed, $6; o f purchasing and operating voting House Passes First Relief Bill. turkeys, live, 18c; dressed, 28<gl80c; machines if it so elects. The house State Capitol, Salem— The house has geese, 20c. committee on revision of laws reported Butter— Washington creamery, 80@ adversely on the Michelbrook bill, pro passed its first relief bill. It provides viding for the repeal o f the law au $2000 for Ada E. Lundborg, of Bend, 31c; Oregon, 26(g27c. Eggs— Fresh ranch, 30c; local cold thorizing any county in the state that whose husband, a laborer, was killed on the Tumalo irrigation canal, in storage, 23(g*26; Eastern 23(g)26c. chooses to use voting machines. The Desert Land The 1913 act never has been taken Central Oregon. Seattle— Wheat — Bluestem, $1.46; advantage of. However, the commit board already has set aside $2000 from tee took the attitude that some county the Tumalo fund to pay Mrs. Lund Turkey red, $1.41; fortyfold, $1.44; may at some future time desire to use borg. The action of the legislature is club, $1.43; Fife, $1.39; red Russian, $1.36; barley, $32.76 ton. ; a mere formality. them. 31 = = 8 * LOUISE FORSSLUND A u th o r o f "T h e Story of ■The- '“ t i Court Isht by Ite C ta M rC a * S Y N O P S IS . C aptain A b raham H u m amt Angelina, Ms wtfs, h avs lust their little hum« through a i m ' s unlucky purohass o f Tana- fly Ould m ining stock. T h slr household goods sold, ths lloo auction monsy. *11 f h « y h av* lsft. w ill p la c « Aha In tha Old N a n 's hoin*. o r A n g y In tha Old la d ls e ’ noma. Both ar* aalf sacrificing but Aba llacldaa: "M y daar this Is ths fust tlma I'v e had a chance to taka tha wust o f it . " T h s old roupia bid good-by to tha Uttls houaa T e rro r o f "w h a t folk s w ill say“ sands thsui alon g by-paths to tha g a la o f tha Old le d lc a ' home. Mias Abigail, m a tron o f tha Old la d le s ' horns, naars o f the IU fortun e o f ths old roupl*. Hha tails tha oth er old ladlas. and Blossy. who has paid a double fsa for ths only double bed chamber, voices tha unanimous vsrd lot that Aba must be taken In with hla wlfa. Aba aw akens next m orning to And that ha Is “ Old L a d y No I I . " T h s old ladlas gtva him euoh a warm walrotna th at ha ■a mads to fast at hums at onoa. CH APTER IV— Continued. Hut what was this? llloasy, loading all tha others in a resounding call of "W elcom e!” and then Dlosay drawing her two hands from behind her back. One held a huge blue cup, the other the saucer to match. She placed the cup In the saucer and held It out to Abraham. He trudged down the few steps to receive It, unashamed now of the tears that coursed down his cheeks. With a burst of delight he perceived that It was a mustache cup. such as the one he had always used at home until It had been set for safe keeping on the top pantry shelf to await the auction, where It had brought the price of eleven oents with half a paper of tacks thrown In. And now as the tears cleared away he saw, also, what Angy's eyes had al ready noted, the Inscription In warm crimson letters on the shining blue side of the cup. "T o Our Beloved Brother." "Bisters," he mumbled, for he could do no more than mumble as he took his gift, "e f yew'd been glttin’ ready far me six months, yew couldn't have done no better.” C H A P T E R V. The Head of the Corner. Everybody wore their company man ners to the breakfast table— the first time In the whole history of the home when company manners bad graced the Initial meal of the day. Being pleasant at supper was easy enough, Aunt Nancy used to say, for every one save the unreasonably cantankerous, fend being agreeable at dinner was not especially difficult; but no one short of a saint could be expected to smile of mornings until sufficient time had been given to discover whether one had stepped out on the wrong or the light side of the bed. This morning, however, no time was needed to demonstrate that everybody In the place bad gotten out on the happy side of his couch. Even the deaf-and-dumb gardener had untwisted his surly temper, and as Abraham entered the dining-room, looked In at the east window with a conciliatory grin and nod which said plainly as words: ” 'Tls a welcome sight Indeed to see one of my own kind around this estab lishment!” "W hy don't he come In?” questioned Abe, waving back a greeting as well as he could with the treasured cup In one of his hands and the saucer In the other; whereupon Sarah Jane, that ugly duckling, explained that the fellow, being a confirmed woman ^hater, cooked all his own meals In the smoke house, and Insisted upon all his orders being left on a slate outside the tool-house door. Abe sniffed disdain fully, contemplating her homely coun tenance, over which this morning’s mood had cast a not unlovely trans forming glow. "Why, the scalawag!" He frowned go at the face In the window that It Immediately disappeared. "Tew don’t mean tar tell me he's sot agin yew gals? He must be crazy 1 Sech a handsome, clever set o’ women I never Bid seel” Sarah Jane blushed to the roots of her thin, straight hair and sat down, suddenly disarmed of every porcupine quill that she had hidden under her rwtngs; while there was an agreeable ¡little stir among the sisters. "Set deown, all hands! Set deown I” enjoined Miss Abigail, fluttering about with the heaviness of a fat goose. "Brother Abe— that’s what we've all agreed to call yew, by unanimous vote— yew set right here at the foot o f the table. Aunt Nancy always had the head an' me the foot; but I only ¡kept the foot, partly becuz thar wa’n’t man fer the place, and partly bee us was tew sizable ter squeeze In any- whar else. Seeln’ as Sister Angy Is sech a leetle mite, though, I guess she kin easy make room fer me t’other side o’ her." Abe could only bow hie thanks as he put his gift down on the table and took the prominent place assigned to The others seated, thsre wag g solemn momsut of waiting with bowed heads Aunt Nancy's trembling voice arose the voice which had Jealously guarded the right of saying grace at table in the Old Ladles' home for twenty years not, however, lu the cus tomary words of thanksgiving, but In a peremptory "Brother A be!" Abraham looked up. Could she poe- elbly mean that he was to establish himself as the hesd of tha household by repeating grace? "Brother A bel” she called upon him again. "Yew 've aakt a blesain' fer one woman fer many a year; supposin’ yew ask It far th irty!" Amid the amassment of the other sisters, Abe mumbled, and muttered, and murmured no one knew what words; but all understood ths over whelming gratitude behind his Inoo- herency, and all Joined huarttly In the Amen. Theu, while Mrs. Homan, the cook of the week, want bustling out Into the kitchen. Aunt Nancy felt that It devulved upon her to explain her action. It would never do, she thought, for her to gain a reputation for self- effacement and sweetness of disposi tion at her time of life. "Bon, I want yew to understand one thing naow at the start. Yew treat us right, an’ w ell treat you right. That’s all we ask o’ yew. Miss Ellle. pass tha radishes." “ I’ll do my best,” Abe hastened to assure her. "Hy-guy, that coffee smells some kind o' good, don't It? Between the smell o' the stuff an' the looks o' my cup, It'll be so temptin' that HI wish 1 had the neck of a gl raff«, an’ could taste It all the way deown. Angy, I be afraid w eil git the gout a-llvln' so high. Look at this here cream!" Hmtllng. Joking, hla lips Insisting upon Joking to cover the natural feel lng of embarrassment Incident to this first meal among the sisters, but with his voice breaking now and again with emotion, while from time to time he had to steal his handkerchief to hla old eyes. Abe passed successfully through the—to him—elaborate break fast. And Angy sat In rapt silence, but with her face shining so that her quiet was the stillness of eloquence. Once Abe startled them ail by rising stealthily from the table and seising the morning's newspaper, which lay upon the buffet. "1 knowed It !" caviled Isixy Daisy sotto voce to no one In particular. “ He couldn't wait for the news til! he was through eatln'l" But Abe had folded the paper Into a stout weapon, and, oreeplng toward the window, de spatched by a quick, adroit movement a fly which had alighted upon the screen. "I hate the very sight o' them air pesky critters," he explained half apologetically. "Thar, thar's another one," and slaughtered that. "My, but yew kin get 'em, can’t yew?" spoke Miss Abigail admiringly. "Them tew be the very ones I tried ter ketch all day ylste’day; 1 kin see as a fly-ketcher yew be a-goln' ter be wuth a farm ter me. Bet deown an' try some o' this here strawberry pre serve." But Abe protested that he could not eat another bite unless he should get up and run around the house to "Joggle deown" what be had already swallowed. He leaned back In bis chair and surveyed the family: on his right, generoue-heArted Blossy, who had been smiling approval and en couragement at him all through the re past; at hie left, and Just beyond Angy. Miss Abigail Indulging In what remained on the dishes now that she discovered the others to have finished; Aunt Nancy keenly watching him from the bead of the board; and all the other sisters "betwixt an’ between." He caught Mrs. Homan's eye where she stood In the doorway leading Into the kitchen, and remarked pleasantly: "Ma'am, yew oughter set up a pan cake shop In ‘York. Yew could make a fortune at It. I haln't had sech a meal o’ vlttlee Bunco I turned fifty year o’ age." A flattered smile overspread Mrs Homan's visage, and the other sisters, noting It, wondered how long It would be before she showed her claws in Abraham's presence. "Hy-guy, Angy." Abe went on, "yew can't believe nothin’ yew hear, hln yer? Why, folks have told me that yew ladles— What yew hlttln’ my foot fer, mother? Folks have told me," a twinkle of amusement in his eye at the absurdity, "that ysw fight among yerselvee like cats an’ dogs, when, law! I never see sech a clever lot o’ women gathered tergether in all my life. An’ I believe— mother, I haln’t a-sayln' nothin'! I Jest want ter let ’em know what I think on 'em. I believe that thar must be three hun- derd hearts in this here place 'slid o' thirty. But dew yew know, gals, folks outside even go so fur ‘s ter say that yew throw plates at one another 1" There was a moment’s silence; then a little gasp first from one and then from another of the group. .Every one looked at Mrs. Homan, and from Mrs. Homan to Barah Jane. Mrs. Homan tightened her grip on the pancake turner; Barah Jane uneasily moved her long fingers within reach of a sturdy little red-and white pepper pot Another moment passed, in which the air seemed filled with the promise of an electric storm. Then Blossy spoke hurriedly— Blossy, the tactician— clasping her hands together and bring ing Abe’s attention to herself. "Really! You surprise me! You don't mean to say folks talk about us like thatl" "Blander is a dretful long legged critter,” amended Miss Abigail, smil ing and sighing in the same breath. "Sary Jane," Inquired Mrs. Homan sweetly, "what's the matter with that pepper pot? Does it need fillin’ ?” And so began the reign of peaoo In the Old Ladles' home. CHAPTER VI. Indian Summer. Miss Abigail bad not banked In vain on the "foreelghtsdness of the Lord.” At the end of elx months. Instead of (here being a shortage In her aooounls because of Abe's preseuoe, she was able to show the directors such a balance sheet as excelled all her pre vious commendable records. “ How do you explain ItT” they asked her. “ We cast our bread on the watere,” she answered, "an' Frovldeuoe Jest kept aeendlu' out the loaves." Again she said. " Twae grlunln' that done It. Brother Abe he kept the gardener good uatured, an' the gardener he Jest grtnnsd at the garden sass until It was ashamed not ter flourish; an’ Brother Abe kept the gals good natured an' thny wa n t so ulasy about what they uat; an' he kept the visitors a laughin’ Jest ter see him here, an' wheu yew make folks laugh they want ter turn around an' dew somethin' ter yew. I tell yew, ef yew kin only keep grit ernough ter grin, yew kin drive away a drought." In truth, there had been no drought In the garden that summer, but almuet a double yield of corn and beans; no drought In the gifts sent to the borne, but showers of plsnty. Home of these came in the form of fresh fish and clams left at the back door; some In luscious fruits; some in barrels of clothing. And the barrels of clothing solved another problem; for no longer did their contents consist solely of articles of feminine attire, "tilled shirts" poured out of them; socks and breeches, derby hats, coats and negli gees; until Auut Nancy with a humor ous twist to her thin lips Inquired If there were thirty men in this estab lishment and one woman. "I never thought l‘d come to weartn' a quilted silk basque with toaeels on It,” Abe remarked one day on being urged to try on a handsome smoking Jacket. "Dew 1 look like one of them sissy boys, er Jest a dude?" "It's dretful becoming," Insisted Angy, "bewtlful! Ain't It, gals?" Every old lady nodded her head with an air of proud proprietorship, as If to say, “ Nothing could fall to become our brother." And Angy nod ded her head, too. In delighted ap proval of their appreciation of "our brother" and "my husband.” Beautiful, Joy steeped, pleasure-filled days these were fur the couple, who had been cramped for life’s smallest necessities so many meager years. Angy felt that she had been made mi raculously young by the birth of this new Abraham—almost as if at last she had been given the son for whom In her youtli she bad prayed with Im passioned appeal. Her old-wife love became rejuvenated Into a curious mixture of proud mother-lova and young-wife leaning, aa she saw Abe win every heart and become the cen ter of the community. "Why, the sisters all think the sun rises an’ sets In him,” Angy would whisper to herself sometimes, awed by the glorious wonder of It all. The sisters fairly vied with one an other to see how much each could do for the one mau among them. Their own preferences and prejudices were magnanimously thrust aside. In a body they besought their guest to smoke as freely In the house as out of doors. Miss ‘Abigail even traded snmo of her garden produce for to bacco, while Miss Ellle made the old gentleman a tobacco pouch of red flan nel so generous In Its proportions that on a pinch It could be used as a chest protector. Then Ruby Lee, not to be outdone by anybody, produced, from no one ever discovered where, a mother of- pearl manicure set for the delight and mystification of the hero; and even l.axy Daisy went so far ns to cut some red and yellow tlssuo paper Into squares under the duluslon that some time, somehow, she would find the energy to roll these Into spills for the lighting of Abe's pipe. And each and every sister from time to time contrib uted some gift or suggestion to her "brother's" comfort. (T O B E C O N T IN U E D .) How ths Rsln Bores Holsa. When rain falls it does not actually soak Into the earth, but bores Its way In. forming tiny tubes, says the Rebo- both Sunday Herald These tubes are so small that It would bo Impossible to insert a hair In one of them with out bursting Its walls Sometimes the tubes are bored down to a depth of four or five .'eet. When the surface dries the water evaporates from the tubes, just as It would from a pipe. If the tube is twisted It takes longer for the water to evaporate. If one takes a rake and stirs the ground after each rain he breaks the tops of the tubes and the water will stand In them for months. In this way the farmers of the West, on seml-arld lands, store the rainfalls one year and raise a crop of wheat every other year, there being sufficient water In two years, but not enough In one, to raise a crop. Church, State and Poor. A book on "The Church, the State and the Poor" hae been written by an English vicar. The book la compre hensive, tracing the subject of preref ormation days. The author regrets that during the growth of collectivism, under which he classifies what Is called “ Christian socialism," the church has trusted too muoh to the state to better the conditions among the poor. Now there Is a revival of Interest In the welfare of the poor on the part of the church. The writer's contention Is that a firm belief In the Christian creed Is the only Inspiration and guide to any effort to solve "the social nroblem."