II
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAJf. POItTLAyD, AUGUST 23, 1903.
.i :
TlT'hy wilt thou defer thy good pur-
c i i o a A
begin in this very instant and say:
"Now is the time for doing, now is the
time for striving, now is the fit time to
amend myself.' thomas a kempis
mj -v
fM-Jf jsektox 00 . tit
The Mystery of the Yellow Room, by Gas
ton Leroux. Brentano's. New York city.
After reading Anna Katharine Oreen's
studies In criminology and making the
acquaintance of Sherlock Holmes, de
tective. It would almost seem that noth
ing new In this line should be expected
to appear In print for some time at
least, reaching the high grade of liter
ary excellence achieved by these two
novelists. But a new name dawna on
this particular horlson. that of Joseph
Rouletabille. Trench newspaper reporter
and amateur detective.
This extraordinary story recently
created a genuine sensation in Paris and
France generally; and Leroux, in creat
ing the character of Rouletabille. was
hailed as having brought into existence
a. hero worth knowing, one who Is a
boon to jaded appetites. When "The
Mystery of the Tellow Room" waa run,
under It French name. "Le Mystore de
la Chambre Jaune." as a serial attrac
tion in the Paris Illustration. It seemed
as if nearly all Paris bought the journal
and could hardly wait for the next issue,
so eager were they to know how
Rouletabille would succeed In solving the.
new mystery unfolded In the sheets Just
damp from the press. The American
publishers are to be congratulated for
their enterprise in bringing such a clever
story to this country. Sherlock Holmes Is
masterful, never-ln-a-hurry, English, and
his moves are like those of a trained
chessplayer. Everything comes out Just
so. Rouletabille is also logical, he ap
plies the rules of pure reason In working
out his problems, but he Is French, dash
ing and theatrical. That's the difference.
It looks as if we w?re going to be
treated to a aeries of Joseph Rouletabille
stories. Those told in "The Mystery of
the Yellow Room." relate to traglc
occurrences at the Glandler. on the bor
der of the forest of Sainte-Genevleve.
whn someone tried to assassinate
Mademoiselle Mathllde Stangerson, daugh
ter of a professor of that name, an cx
Prt in the department of radiography.
Because of the scientific prominence of
Stangerson and his daughter, news of the
crime created national interest. Made
moiselle Stanrerson slept in the yellow
room of the French Chateau, and on one
fateful night in October. 1S92. locked her
self in this room to pursue scientific study
of which she was very fond. The distant
miawing of a cat waa heard, and then
follows:
Suddenly, while the cuckoo was sound
ing the half after midnight, a desperate
clamour broke out in the yellow-room. It
was the voice of Mademoiselle crying:
"Murder, murder, help!" Immediately after
ward, revolver shots rang out and there
was a great nolee of tables and furniture
being thrown to the ground, as If in the
course of a struggle, and arain the voice
of Mademoiselle calling: "Murder, help,
and Mr. Stangerson, rushed to
the door but found It locked on the in
side, and the window of the room waa not
only protected by bars but the blinds
drawn. The door was broken open and
Madamolaelle. In her nightdress, was
found on the floor. She s drenched
with blood, there were marks of finger
nails on her throat, and blood streamed
from a wound on her right temple. The
assasaln had escaped, although window
and door had been found securely fast
ened. The aervanta found blood-stained
marks of a man's large hand on the
walls and on the door: a big handker
chief red with blood, without any initials,
an old cap and fresh footprints of a.
man on tha floor.
Among: the newspaper reporters sent to
unravel the mystery connected with the
Identity of the woman's assailant, is
Joseph Rouletabille, then a youth of II
but already noted as a criminological
expert. The Chief of the fiurete had tele
graphed to th famous detective Frederic
Larsan. who had been sent to London
for an affair of stolen securities, to re
turn immediately to Pari. Larsan was
hailed as one of the greatest detectives
in Europe, and it was considered that
ho mat eminently qualified to handls
the Stangerson mystery. The room where
Mademoiselle was attacked was found to
be destitute of trap-door or secret stair
way, and when the Injured woman re
covered sufficiently to be Introduced, she
said that a shadow etiddenly sppeared In
her room; that a man threw himself upon
her and that she fired at him. and be
came unconscious.
Rouletabille and Larsan recognise each
other as rivals In the detection of this
particular assassin, and they theorise by
the hour. In speaking of his mental pro
cesses. Rouletabille says:
The method which traeee the criminal by
means of the tracks of his footsteps la al
together primitive. 80 many footsteps are
Identical. Novelist build mountains of
stupidity out of a footprint on the sand, or
from an impression of a hand on the wall.
That's tha way Innocent men are brought
to prison. It might convince an examining
magistrate or the head of a detective de
partment, but Its not proof. Tou writers
forget that what th senses furnish la not
proof I am taking cognisance of what I
offered me by my sense. I do so but to
bring the results within th circle of my
reason.
Larsan often excites Rouletabille's de
rision, and In discussing: the elder man's
failings, this estimate is given:
There I something. Monsieur Larsan.
much graver than the misuse of logic the
disposition of mind In some detectives which
makes them In perfect good faith twist
logio to the necessities of their preconceived
Ideas. Tou already have your ldas about
the murderer. Monsieur Fred. Don't deny
It; and rour theory demands that th mur
derer should not have been wounded in the
hand, otherwise It comes to nothing. And
you have searched and hava found some
thing else. It s dangerous to go from a
preconceived idea to find the proofs to nt It.
Excitement grows, and there are strange
adventures galore. Daddy Jacques, a
servant, and Robert Darsac. a professor
of physic, are alternately suspected of
being Mademoiselle's assassin. Mademoi
selle la aeain attacked and stabbed by
the unknown, and a servant killed, and
ultimately Darzac is arrested, charged
with being the murderer.
All this time. Rouletabille Is persuaded
of Darzac's Innocence, and slowly dis
covers the real murderer. Rouletabille la
French and sensational to the last, and
announces his dramatic discovery In a
court of Justice. But what a surprise 1
You must Invariably guess the wrong
man. so cleverly Is the mystery kept up
until the 373d page. Then you pinch your
self and say: "Why didn't I think of
that before! Tea; It's a great novel."
Views and Reviews. By Henry James. Price,
S1.50. Th Ball Publishing Company. Bos
ion. Mas.
On the recent occaelon of Henry James'
visit to this, his native country, he was
tagged by one literary authority: "An
American who prefers to live In England.
An author whose compoaltlon is so arti
ficial that his sentences must have been
written over, altered, erased and re
created until originality fled, weeping."
Mr. James la so sensitive to the opinion
of the reading world that he recently
rewrote certain of his earlier novels, and
the old favorites appeared In such garbled
shape that the critics dabbed their pens
In the sourest vinegar In giving their
opinion of Mr. James' latest.
The present volume Is a series of views
and reviews of books written by Mr.
James, and now first collected by I Roy
Phillips, of Boston. Mass. Mr. Phillips
remarks In his preface that In the critical
papers now presented, the characteristics
of the author's later style are wholly ab
sent. Such subjects are discussed as
"The Novels of ' Oeorge Eliot." "Swin
burne's Essays." "Matthew Arnold's Est
says," "Poetry of George Eilot," "Lim
itations of Dickens," "A Note on John
Burroughs," "Tennyson's Drama," and
"Mr. Kipling's Early Stories."
So far as Mr. James' critical style is
concerned, I find that It generally lives
In kindly words. Just appreciation, but
is vaguely -colorless. In writing In 1851
of Kipling, our author says: "Mulvaney
Is a creation to be proud of. and his
comrades stand as firm on their legs. In
spite of Mulvaney's social possibilities
they are all three finished brutes, but
It la precisely In the finish that we de
light." In his earlier writings Mr. James Is
shown to have been very fond of criti
cising other authors. In speaking of
Swinburne, he says: "His style is without
measure, without discretion, a dozen
times too verbose. It is always listening
to itself always turning Its head over
Its shoulders to see Its train flowing be
hind It. The train shimmers and tumbles
In a very gorgeous fashion, but the
rustle of its embroidery Is fatally Impor
tunate." "I know few things more
irritating in a literary way than each of
her final chapters," he says of George
Eliot. "It has been a melancholy task
to" read this book," runs the Judgment 43
years ago, delivered concerning Walt
Whitman's "Drum Taps." John Bur
roughs la approved as "a sort of reduced,
but also more humorous, more availably
and more sociable Thoreau."
A generation of readers Is growing up
that doesn't know Mr. James. It is time
he wrote something to awaken new in
terest In him.
Change la the Theory aad Tactic of Oer
aaaa Social Democracy, by Paul Kampflf
meyer. C. H. Kerr v.. Chicago.
Translated by Wlnfteld R. Gaylord from
the German of Kampffmeyer, the book
was Issued, primarily, because the Wis
consin organisation led sympathisers tn
wish for a grouping of the whole Social
istic International movement, and particu
larly the fundamental Ideas ruling the
leading minds of the Social-Democracy.
The book: gives a dispassionate, critical
review of these teachings, the most
thoughtful chapters being those on
"Militarism," "Municipal Social Reform"
and "Trades .Unions."
Short ft ad lee of th Heroee ef the Early
K'hurrh. By Emma A. Hoblnsoo. Price.
' SO cents. Jennings Si Graham. Cincin
nati. O.
Belongs to the series of Bible study
books for the Intermediate section of the
Junior Lesgue, and the various subjects
are treated In concise yet reverent style.
Some of the topics treating of the early
Christian Church of the Apostles, are:
"Peter, the Leader," "Some Jerusalem
Christiana." "Conversion of Saul." "Paul's
Missionary Journeys." and "The Church
In Antioch."
Fate" A Fiddler, by Edwla Oeorge Pink
ham. Illustrated. 110. Small, May
nard as Co.. Boetoa. Mass.
Imagine a dusty shop tn Boston, con
taining mildewed books, whicji nobody
seemingly wanted to buy. and you have
the first scene of this Dickens-like novel.
Its hero is one Sumner BIbbue. son of
Mr. and Mrs. Bormondsey Bibbua, a
couple after the Micawber order of things.
Sumner was named after his mother's
uncle, who, dying, apparently left all his
money to his stepson, and his library to
Bermondsey Bibbue. Then another will
in discovered, by which Sumner Is de
clared to be the true heir. In the telling
of it all, crisp humor is met with, just
the sort to make you recall Dickens, with
a chuckle to a page.
Mr. Pinkham seems to be a newcomer.
He writes with more than ordinary in
terest. J. M. QUENTIN.
IN LIBRARY AND WORKSHOP.
One of the most brilliant pieces of con
structive writing Elizabeth Robins has yet
done a novel entitled "The Mills of the
Gods." will be published, probably, toward
the end of September.
Moffat. Yard Co.'s fiction list for th
Fall Includes new novels by Frederick
Palmer. Eden Phlllpotts. Elizabeth Robins.
Edward Peple. Cyrus Townsend Brady. John
Luther Long and Tyler de Salx.
e
Upton Sinclair's new novel. "The Money
Changers," Is announced for near publica
tion It appears that this book Is to be
the second In a trilogy, of which "The Me
tropolis" was the first. A real history of
the money stringency ' of 1907 will bring
the climax of this trilogy.
H. Addington Bruce, author of "Th Rid
dle of Personality," has joined the New
Hampshire colony of literary workers. He
has taken a farm near Brookllne. where he
Is putting the finishing touches t6 his new
book, "Historic Ghosts and Ghost Hunters,"
which will be Issued early in the Fall.
.
When Harold MacGrath and his wife
were on horseback through the Garden of
th Gods, Colo.. Mrs. MacGrath, who is an
amateur geologist, exclaimed that nearly
all the ages were represented here. Point
ing to an empty bev bottle at the side of
th bridle path. MacGrath remarked. "Yes;
ever the brewerage."
One of Frances Hodgson Burnett's most
charming stories for children entitled "The
Good Wolf," will be published soon..
Through Its serial publication the four
legged hero Is already one of the most pop
ular of her character. The book -will be
delightfully Illustrated in colors by Harold
Slchel.
e
Margaret Potter, the author or "The Gold
en ladder." is In Italy, making Rome her
heado,uartera and taking occasional Jaunt .
from the Eternal City into the nearby coun
try. Wrh the tireless energy of the young
writer. " Mrs. Potter is planning to follow
up with a similar book the impression mad
by her latest novel, which, by the way. I
described as "an unvarnished atory."
Frederick S. Isham. who wrot "Th Lady
of the Mouht." reports from Russia and Is
on his way to China by way of Siberia.
Mr. Ieham writes humorously of the exorbi
tant prices charged for American beverage
in St. Petersburg. Being a teetotaler, like
Mr. Shaw, he says: "Keep away from St.
P., unices, like myself, you are a convert
to the belief that tea la a sufficiently stimu
lating beverage for the biped family."
A book that will Interest hunting men and
which will prove unlqu on this e'do of the
water will be entitled "The Hunt of the
I'nlted States and Csnada: Their Masters,
Hounds and Historic." The joint authors
are A. Henry Htggenson, M. F. H-. and Jull
en Ingersoll Chamberlain. It 1 almost need
lfss to say that Mr. Hlggenson Is one of the
best-known hunting men -in America. His
English pack Is said to be without a peer.
The author whose letters brought the high
est prices at Sotheby's sale in London is Sir
Walter Scott; his letter to the Marchioness
Abercom went for S.105O. Sir Walter had a
near competitor In one Captain John Smith,
whose "General History of Virginia" sold
for $2023 the highest price paid for a book.
It contain the maps and plates onoa In the
royal library of James I. having that King's
arms stamped on the binding.
For sosne time past XV. S. Gilbert ha
been at work on a narrative version of
"Pinafore.". In like manner, a companion
volume of "The Mikado" will be prepared,
and the world Is promised two amusing
books. But. after all, the world Is full
of amusing books, and where, O where, are
to be found two auch genuine models of
the real comic opera a "Pinafore" and
"Th Mikado" In their original form?
After spending two years In Spain with
her artist husband. Mre. Maud Howe Elliott
la sojourning in Rome, completing her new
book on Spain. During many month In that
country Mrs. Elliott stored up a treasure
house of impressions and memories of things
Spanish, and with a facile pen eh 1 lfkely
to make of them a book which for charm
and value will tak Its place beeltle her pre
vious volume "Roma Beata" and "Two tn
Italy."
see
During his recent tour In Canada Rudyard
Kipling had a little disagreement with the
landlord of the ho(e! at which he was stay
ing. Just before leaving the hotel the
famous author asked to see the proprietor,
and, upon that worthy appearing, he was
greeted thus: "I want to tell you that of
all th hotel tinder the shining sun, I have
never seen one that for unmitigated, all
around, unendurable discomfort could equal
yours." when Kipling got his bill one
item In It read, "To Impudence, S3." ,
Tho current number of Smart Set has the
tone of a midsummer breeze, seasonable
and crisp. G. Vere Tyler's opening novelette
deals with a daring plot, and Elizabeth
Jordan writes a characteristically good
short story in "Her Letters." Lillian Bell
I entertaining as ever In "Dinner for Six."
Anne Warner, describing "The Night of the
Eighteenth-Nineteenth." handles a tense
situation; Mary Fenollosa's Japanese play,
"The Lady of the Hair Pins." I a vivid,
colorful drama. Elliott Flower. Beatrix
Demarest Lloyd and Thomas L. Masson tell
other good 'stories.
-
Max Pemberton, whose "SIt Richard Es
combe" was recently reviewed la these col
umns. Is at his home, Troeton Hall, Sussext
England. Mr. Pemberton Is a thorough
sportsman and a lover of all outdoor pas
time, an enthuslastlo .golfer, a famous
walker, and, more than anything- elee, he la
devoted to motoring. On all matters con
cerning the motor Mr. Pemberton Is a na
tional authority, and hi "Motorist' Note
book." which appeara in the London Sphere.
Is the most popular of hie magazine con
tributions. Mr. Pemberton Is a Cambridge
man. and published his first novel, "The
Diary of a Scoundrel." In 1801.
e
S G. Bavn. whose "Quicksteps In Scan
dinavia" the Harper recently published,
waa announced as the author of a previous
book of travel through Donegal and Con
nemara. entitled "On an Irish Jaunting
car." Inquiries as to Just what an "Irish
Jaunting-car" I have since been plentiful
from New Yorkers, and may be settled by
observing on which run about In Central
Park almost every pleasant afternoon. It
I the old Irih "low-backed car," with two
mall wheels and an overhanging seat, the
passengers sitting back to back, with their
feet on a broad step. It wins much atten
tion and a sigh or two from th homslck
children ?f Erin.
A Hartford (Conn.) clergyman tells this
on about Mark Twain: "No wonder he
nnds happiness In old age. All the aged
would be happy If they were as sympathetic
and a kind as he. He Is constantly going
out of his way to please others, and the
result Is that h Is continually pleasing
himself. Listen, for Instance, to the quaint
compliment Mr. Clemens paid me the last
tlm h cam to hear me preach. He
waited for m at the church door at the
end of the service and, shaking me'bv the
hand. a1d gravely: 'I mean no offense,
but I feel obliged to tell you that the
preaching this morning has been of a kind
that I can spare.. I go to church, sir. to
pursue my own train of thought. But to
day 1 couldn't do It. You interfered with
me You forced me to attend to you, and
lost me a full half hour. I beg that this
may not occur again.' "
Before O. Henry, now well known a a
writer of short stories, became famous, he
went to Pittsburg. Pa., thinking he could
sell some of his action to a certain editor,
writes a Pittsburg correspondent. O. Henry
had an Inside coat pocket bulging with
manuscript, and a vacuum In the compart
ment consecrated to small change." H
looked as If he had seen much of the world,
and a good deal of It had stuck to him.
For all that he looked as happy as a phil
osopher and all he wanted was a dollar or
two for some of those manuscripts, to pro
vide, himself with pate de fole gra and
peanuts before marching onward to New
York. Two or three months later the tory
refused by thl Pittsburg editor appeared
In a prominent Eastern magazine. It mad
people sit up and ask who this new writer
waa. And today there Isn't aay name bet
ter known that "JO. Henry." the pseudonym
of Sidney Porter.
Mrs. Gertrude Atherton. the California
novelist, now visiting In London. England,
announce that she has copleted "Th
Gorgeous Isle," her new book, which de
scribe the Island of Nevis in tn west
Indies. It was here that Alexander Ham
ilton was born in 17.17 and In her story.
The Conqueror." Mrs. Atherton pictures
the conditions on Nevis at the time of
the great statesman's birth. Once at
tracted to her subject Mrs. Atherton felt
that It would require a second book to do
Justice to the beauilee of the island of
paradise, which gave Hamilton to the world,
and "The Gorgeous Isle" Is the result. The
new work Is said to picture all the trop
ical loveliness of Hamilton's birthplace and
to embody much historical data which
would be Intensely Interesting even if it
were not for th charm of the author's
style. Another task at which Mrs. Ather
ton is engaged is a romantic biography of
Lord Bacon. The background of Tudor and
Stuart splendor will supply plenty of color.
Eleanor Gates, author of "Cupid the Cow
Punch," "The Plowman" and other pop
ular novels. Is preparing material for an
other romance of tha West, at her pic
turesque country place near Alma, In the
Santa Crus Mountains. Cal. Eleanor Gates
In private life Is Mrs. Richard Walton
Tully. wife of the man who wrote "The
Rose of the Rancho," the play which he
and David Belasco made famoua In the
East not long ago. A short distance up the
road from Alma a long, narrow, tree
covered bridge spans the Los Gatos Creek.
Across this and up a thickly-wooded gulch
the trail leads to the home of Mr. and
Mrs. Tully. It Is not a pretentious affair,
but a rough mountain cabin. However. II
serves Its purpose as both home and studio
and Is an Ideal spot for the writing of a
novel of Western life. A forest fire swept
over a portion of "the ranch of the roses"
not long ago and left the j-'ace covered
with scorched trees and blackened rocks,
but the flamee did not reach the home of
th Tullys.
The author of "The Servant in the House."
Charles Rann Kennedy, Is an Englishman.
37 vears old. He was born In Derby, but
spent most of his youth In .Warwickshire,
and wss a resident of London at the time
of his departure for this country one year
ago. He is a descendant of "the famous
Cambridge Kennedys," who were Greek
scholars of great renown, notably Rann
Kennedy, his great-grandfather, who was
the famous Greek master of King EdwarO a
Grammar School, Birmingham, and a mem
orable figure in the England of his time.
Mr. Kennedy's father. Charles Rann Ken
nedy wa one of the most eloquent men
at the bar In hie day. and enjoyed the rare
honor of being a Fellow of Trinity College.
Cambridge. Mr. Kennedy has a sister. Mrs.
Harold E Gorst. the novelist, who recently
wrote "The Thief on the Cross," and Is the
wife of Harold Gorst. brother to Sir John
Eldon Gorst. who succeeded Lord Cromer
In Egvpt. . His wife Is Edith Wynne Matthi
son. who Interpreted "Everyman" in Amer
ica with such sstonlshlng force and who
afterward won success In playing The
Servant In the House."
Rev H. Hugh Benson, one of tne three
famous Benson brothers, of England, has
written an unusual novel, "Lord of the
World," in which these questions are asked:
What are the tendencies of the world?
What will be the final social and religious
condition of the races of humanity? For
answer. Father Benson lays the scene of
his novel a few centuries ahead. To quote
his own words from a letter to his pub
lishers: "The object of the book was Just
to show the two camps Into which I be
lieve modern religious tendencies are mov
ing. I did not mean it as a 'prophecy,
but as a parable of what is really happening
now. Fortunately, we are neither logical
nor consistent. I do not believe that broad
mindedness' 1 any mors tolerant than any
thing else. I believe that the 'broad-
minded have every Dit as mucii ui mo
secutlng temper as the 'narrowmlnded' peo
ple have. Finally. I believe that there are
only two ultimately logical positions for
men to occupy either Rome or humanity
worship. Many professed unbelievers cor
dially agree with me In that, and so do
most of my own fellow-Catholics, I believe.
Lastly, the book I rather a careful study
of 'antl-Chrlsf according to ecclesiastical
tradition. He Is to possess. It Is said, ex
treme attractiveness. Immense powers, and
all the natural virtue. Th thing it lacks
Is faith."
A story Is told of Sir Gilbert Parker, M.
P.. which may strike a chord of sympathy
In many a writer's heart. It seems that when
Sir Gilbert was recently on a visit to this
country, he met In Chicago a typical man
of the Middle West, one of the breezy, good
natured, friendly sort. Sir Gilbert was im
pressed with the type, and particularly In
terested In the colloquial slang which his
acquaintance managed with more than
usual deftness. The phrase that pleased
him most, called out with amiability and
no discoverable meaning, was, "Well, give
my love to the girls!" Those who have
read Sir Gilbert Parker's newest novel. "The
Weavers." will recall this phrase upon th
lips of one Thomas Tilman Lacey, who takes
hearty leave of an Oriental potentate with,
"Well, goodbye, King; give my love to th
girls!"
Lacey, In fact, was the prototype of the
Chicago man. The latter, waa engaged In
some provision business along the railroad
line when Sir Gilbert met him, always ex
pecting to make a lot of money some time,
snd talking about it rather frequently.
Afterward, in a New York hotel. Sir Gil
bert waa caught by th cheerful word
wafted along the corridor, "Well, goodbye:
give my love to the girls!" He recognised
his man and went over to him.
"Wait a minute," said the Chlcagoan.
"Know you perfectly welL Can't placa you.
Let me see."
Sir Gilbert smiled, quoted th old phrase,
and the other recalled his identity.
"Well, well! And what are you doing
now?" asked hi old friend.
"Writing books," confessed Sir Gilbert.
"Is that so!" said the other, compas
sionately. "And -I've struck It rich! Can
I do anything for you?"
GROW CROPS
WITHOUT RAIN
IN Syria and Palestine from the begin
ning of April until October there Is
practically no rain, yet in July the fields
teem with a vigorous growth of water
melons, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., an
flourishing without artificial watering,
although at that time no rain has fallen
for many weeks.
In fact, says the Chicago Tribune, the
Syrian peasant, from the moment his
seed has been sown, prays that no rain
may fall. During the period of growth
of a crop the surface of the soil to
a depth of six or eight inches Is per
fectly dry and loose. Below this sur
face layer will be found moist soil, in
which the roots extend and grow vigor
ously. In this moist subsoil plants con
tinue to grow until late Autumn. When
the crop Is removed In the Autumn the
rains commence and the land Is ploughed
after each heavy rain as soon aa the soil
begins to dry.
Two primary objects are kept In view
In ploughing to furnish a favorable sur
face for taking up all the water and to
prevent its upward exaporatlon from the
subsoil. The great point la- to keep the
upper six Inches of soli perfectly loose
and friable, so that the moisture from
below Is not drawn upward and lost In
evaporation, but does not ascend higher
than the compact Subsoil that Is not
broken up by the plow. For this rea
son the ploughing la shallow, averaging
from four to six Inches In depth.
When the time for sowing the seed
arrives the land is ploughed to a depth
of about six Inches, and the seed is
sown from an arrangement attached to
the plow, falls on the damp subsoil and
Is covered by the soli closing over behind
the ploughshare. From this time the
upper stratum of loose soil prevents the
escape of moisture upward beyond the
wet subsoil on which the seeds rest and
into which their roots after the process
of germination spread.
Cleverness of the Average Rat.
Indtanopolls News.
The average rat possesses extraordi
nary sagacity. On a sailing ship bound
for Calcutta from Cape Town. It was de
cided to try to reduce the number of rats
which had boarded the vessel at the lat
ter port. The end of an ordinary cask
was planed perfectly smooth, coated with
grease and a meat bait tacked In the
center. The end was fixed on with two
nails, balanced so that should anything
touch It off the center It would go down.
The cask was partly filled with water and
buried in the ballast to within a few
Inches of the top. The first night over
200 rats were caught, the second night
few. the third night none was caught.
It was found by the marks of rats' feet
in the grease and the missing bait that
they had discovered the exact center and
took the bait as they liked. Half an
Inch on either side of the center meant
death.
BY
LILY SMITH entered the Postofflce
one morning In August all spark
ling with pleasure, her bright, un
tidy hair and blue morning wrapper
making a pleasing bit of color against
a dull background.
"Some friends of ours are coming
through One Store City and are going
to spend several days at our house."
she announced to Mies. Bryson, the
Postmistress, "and I'm going to give
a plonlo party while they're here."
"I want 75 1-cent stamps," she added.
"I sat up until 11 last night to write
all these," Indicating a small pile of
invitations, "and they must all be dis
tributed today. Of course, I could
have told the girls myself, as you say,
but ma says that that isn't really the
w"ay to give out Invites, and I did want
to be proper for once. I don't want
Dotty Jarvls to think I don't know
about such things. She's perfectly ele
gant herself, or at least she ought to
be I haven't seen her since she was
8. But pa says her father Is worth a
half million."
Lily heaved an envious sigh as she
affixed the last stamp to Us proper
place, and then brightening, said:
"Well, there's one comfort. Pa says
he's going to do his level best to sell
her fath?r the ' quarter-section he's
coming to see, and then he'll not have
quite so much money." And Lily hur
ried away, laughing gaily, so as to
avoid the rather trying ordeal of
watching the invitations all given out
and read before Jier very eyes.
Miss Bryson smiled and took up the
bundle of "drop letters," canceled the
stamtja and distributed them then and
there, that they might be "off her mind"
before the mail came In.
"I guess everybody in town Is Invited,"
she mused, as she placed the hlshly
scented notes In their respective boxes;
but as the last one disappeared she
added sadly: "Everybody but Beulah
Baxter."
Her own sympathetic heart always
suffered a fresh ache at each hurt to
sensitive little Beulah, and well she
understood the feeling that had prompted
this latest slight. Lily had doubtless
hesitated In asking her to meet her "ele
gant" friend from the city, for fear of
being embarrassed by Beulah's shabby
clothes; and this was more than any
thing else the reason the little orphan
was fast becoming a social pariah in
One Store City. Lily Smith once de
clared, as her p'ert little nose was held
high In disdain, that Beulah always
looked to her as if she had "Just hung
up her dish apron, rolled down her
sleeves and come along."
It seemed to Beulah that everybody In
the postofflce that morning had tact
lessly adressed her with. "Hello. Beulah,
are you going to the picnic?"
"Oh," she gasped, when once upon the
street, "if. pa would only hire a lock
box, then I could Jest grab his oP
papers and git out as quick as they was
put in, but now I can't seem to even
get up to the window. It's that crowded.
"Of course I don't care for the party
If people only wouldn't keep lookin' at
me an' askln' like that If I was goln'."
And that was the most pathetic part
of It all that Beulah had grown Into the
habit of viewing her own exclusion from
the Jolly playtimes of the young people of
her age as almost a matter of course.
The much-talked-of heiress arrived tha
following morning and all who got a
good eep at her from decorously drawn
blinds, a she and ber father followed
Mr. Smith up Main street, felt but 111
rewarded for their pains. The utter
simplicity and childishness of the little
stranger called forth many exclamations
of astonishment.
Lily and her mother, who had heen up
for two hours, preparing a most won
rlerful breakfast, were In their turn
amazed at seeing their wealthy friends
breakfast simply upon fruit, bread and
butter and eggs. "All that pie and fried
chicken and gravy jest as good as
wasted," Mrs. Smith declared indignant
ly. -
Dorothy Jarvls viewed Lily's over
trimmed gowns and grown-up airs with
open-eyed curiosity; and seeing them to
gether, it was hard to Imagine that Lily
was not at least five years her senior.
But the two met on one common ground
of delight the prospect of the picnic
ahead and preparations went gaily for
ward. On the auspicious morning of that event
Lily found that it took her friend exactly
ten minutes to arrange her shining
braids and don a simple little frock. She
looked girlish and sweet and dainty, and
beside her. Lily appeared over-dressed and
vulgar, but Lily's sudden sense of dis
appointment was not In herself.
"It's a shame that she looks so plain
and everyday, when she lives in such a
E.OUESE LEXINGTON
big house In the city, and might have
any thing she wants even to diamond
necklaces," Lily complained to her
mother.
"Well, I must say that the people
with the most money ain't always the
most fashionable," returned. Mrs. Smith
oracularly. "I knew the minute I
clapped my eyes on Dotty Jarvls that
she hadn't the remotest idea o" ele
gance." "She doesn't want anybody to call her
Dotty, either. She says Dorothy Is her
name," Lily ventured, somewhat hesi
tatingly. "Well, her mother was always called
Dotty, and so was she. when I last knew
her. It beats all how particular and
finicky she is about a. little thing like
that, and actually don't seem to care
an earthly thing for dress."
The picnic party set out bright and
early. In a splendid big green and red
frame wagon, the merry young people
soon losing all awe of the little stranger
In their midst and thoroughly enjoying
their ride.
Arriving at their destination, near the
"Branch," the older girls and boys, un
der Mrs. Smith's direction, busied them
selves In preparing luncheon making
the fire to boll the coffee, and unpacking
the great baskets. Lily quite forgot her
duties as hostess In her interest In a
game which Included kisses for forfeits.
Dorothy, not caring for the game,
seemed to have nothing to do at all, and
so quietly disappeared behind a clump
of trees and, as she laughingly termed
It. "lost herself." She kept close to the
pretty stream, which curved its cool
length beside the beautiful woodland
stretches and dusty road. Soon an ir
resistible desire came over her to wade
In the clear water, and. pulling off shoes
and stockings, she stepped ir.to the
shallow stream and wandered on In
breathless delight, as her feet cautiously
found their way among the round, slip
pery pebbles.
Coming out suddenly on the further
side of the bend she espied Beulah Bax
ter sitting In pensive solitude upon the
edge of the stream, pink sunbonnet and
shoes and stockings at her side and dang
ling her brown feet In the water.
Since almost every other girl and boy In
town was to go to Prettyman's Grove
upon a picnic Beulah told herself that
morning that there was no good reason
why she should not go to a picnic as
well, and acting upon the impulse she
hastily made preparations and set bravely
forth afoot.
"I'll be there before the others, even If
thev do ride." she soliloquized. "I've got
such an early start. And I'll just do
what I want to. all day long for once. I'm
glad pa don't care about a warm dinner
these hot days. " But presently she ex
claimed, in a discouraged small voice,
"Oh. dear me. how terrible hot it's get-
tln'," and then added, with forced cheer
fulness, "Well, never mind, Beulah, dear.
It'll be cool and nice after you're there.
Don't be a baby!"
Beulah had a little habit of scolding
herself gently when particularly tired or
lonesome and thug admonished, she would
gulp back any insistent tears and emile
bravely.
When Dorothy Jarvls came suddenly
Into view Beulah wss Just wondering
audibly If she had not better eat her
luncheon, as her long walk had made her
hungry. She waved a friendly hand at
Dorothy, who exclaimed: "OH, good morn
ing, little girl, isn't It beautiful to wade?"
and she came to the bank where Beulah
sat.
"It's perfectly heavenly." acquiesced
Beulah, and she wondered who the little
maid could be. That she was the guest
of honor from Prettyman's Grove never
enterpd her mind.
"Do you mind If I elt by you and rest?"
Dorothy next asked, and Beulah's answer
was eager and friendly. "No, I should
Just love It I" and she added hospitably,
"are you, hungry?"
Dorothy poked her toes into the tiny
muddy coves. , and said, hesitatingly,
"Why. I'm sure it can't be luncheon
time yet, but I'm tremendously hungry
I don't want to rob you. though: you
see I belong to a picnic crowd back there
and they are getting our luncheon ready
now. If I might only have one of those."
as her eyes rested wistfully on some
dainty sandwiches Beulah had spread
forth. "I think I'd have the strength to
wade back again."
Beulah laughed. "Tou Just help you
gelf to anything you want." she said,
generously. "I'm eating early because I
have to start home after a little while.
You see, there's father's supper to get
and I've got to walk clear back."
"Have you no mother, then?" Dorothy
asked, with sympathetic Interest, and
Beulah shook her head and said, simply,
"Just father."
"Why, you're Just like me!" exclaimed
Dorothy, adding confidentially. "Do you
even get Just tremendously lonesome?"
But as she saw Beulah's under Hp be
gin to quiver, she put her arm about her
In tender contrition. "Never mind." she
comforted, "we've our fathers anyway.
Aren't fathers Just dear?"
Beulah did not answer. Her own heart
changed the sentence to "Aren't fathers
Just queer?" but she never breathed this
thought aloud not even to her dearest
friend Miss Bryson. To change the sub
ject she asked somewhat abrupbly: "Do
you like to make mud pies?"
"Oh, yes." laughed Dorothy, "I adore
It. Why, I haven't made mud pies since
Lwas a baby. Let's begin right away."
So they hurriedly finished their luncheon
and then unheedful of the lapse of time,
set about their culinary operations in
great glee.
They talked Incessantly. Joyously, as
they moulded Imaginary tarts,- cinnamon
rolls and other choice lots of pastry. But
when they were putting them in a row to
dry. Dorothy suddenly started up In dis
may. .
"Why, I've been gone for ages, she ex
claimed, "My friends will be frightened to
death. I must wash my hands and run."
At that instant they heard anxious
shouts and excited talk and the entire
picnic crowd burst Into view, and then
stood in petrified silence at the sight that
met their astonished gase.
Beulah was mortified beyond measure
that she had been caught In such a
babyish occupation: nor did she see a
hint of humor in the fact of having en
joyed herself Immensely with the honor
guest of the day, while they had heen
rushing about in frantic search for her.
She felt distinctly humiliated and gulUjr
at Lily's, "Well, Beulah Baxter. I never
Dorothy alone was equal to the oc
casion and she exclaimed laughlngl.
"Oh Lily. It was such fun! I haven t
had 'such a good time for ages. And now.
please Introduce me to this little girl, and
Invite her back with us for some Ice
cream and a ride home for she and I are,
going to be good friends. If papa really
builds a Summer home near, we two are
going to make mud pies every day.
Lily did as she was told with the best
grace she could muster, but Beulah at
first refused to go back trlth the m
"Oh, please do come." Dorothy beped.
"or I shall not go either I've had my
luncheon anyway, and I'd rather play
In the mud here with you.
There was but one answer to this
shameless confession, and that is how
Beulah Baxter came to attend the very
exclusive picnic In Prettyman's Grove
th"WeU.TI must say. It beats all how
much some people do see In that plain
jlttle Beulah Baxter." exclaimed Mrs.
Smith In commenting upon the sffair.
"Now. there's Mehltable Bryson. who
thinks but what s tne use 01
SUN EFFECTS
BALLOONISTS
rr T the height of two muss. u. Ua
k shines with a fierce Intensity un
known below, where the dust and the
denser air scatter the rays, which, thus
diffused, lose their Intensity while illum
inating every nook and corner of our
houses. At heights exceeding five miles,
this diffused light, says a writer in the
Atlantic Monthly, is mostly gone, and tne
sun shines a glowing ball, sharply out
lined In a sky of which the blue is so
dark as to approach blackness. At the
outer limits of the atmosphere the sun
would appear a brilliant star of massive
size among other stars; and If one stepped
from is burning rays into shadow ha
would enter Egyptian darkness. At the
height of a mile and a half, we found
It necessary to shelter our faces to pre
vent sunburn, although the air around
us was but little warmer that that of the
previous night, being about 45 degrees.
As the afternoon wore on and the bal
loon began, to cool and sink, we were
obliged to throw out much sand, casting
it away a scoopful at a time, and Just
after sunset. It was even necessary to
empty two or three hags at once.
Two Senators Who Are Chums,
Kansas City Star.
United States Senators often become
very good friends, but somehow they are
not prone to becoming real chummy with
one another. Exceptions occur from time
to time to prove the rule. One of those
exceptions applies to Senator Philander
C. Knox, of Pennsylvania, and Senator
W. Murray Crane, of Massachusetts. If
the afternoon wanes without their meet
ing, one is very likely to start out to see
where the other Is and to learn what baa
JaanDened,