Around the
Hearthstone.
THE STRANGE GUEST.
He brought a branch of olive
This stranger guest of mine;
Could I deny him entrance.
Who bore the peaceful sign? '
Ah, no! I bade him welcome,
I set him meat and wine;
But while he drank and feasted,
How laughed his eyes divine!
I took the branch of olive
(The soothest plant that grows).
And from the carven ceiling
I hung it with the rose.
"But why to me this token,
Who never lacked repose?
Why this to me," I questioned.
"Who know no feud nor foes?"
He smiled beneath the olive
This strangest stranger guest.
A branch from off the thorn-tree
Uad told his errand best;
For since my house he entered
There's ne'er a heart at rest.
To mock me with the olive!
But Love doth love his jest.
UNEXPECTED 10,000.
S i
Willie Smith was 19 pretty, viva
clous, ambitious, but just now the very
much discouraged owner of the Smith
plantation and Its encumbrances, l wo
weeks before she had been summoned
from her school at Staunton by the
death of her grandfather, and, as there
was no other relative, had entered at
once into possession of the property.
A few days after the funeral the own
er of the mortgage had made kn osten
sible visit of condolence, but had so
Interpolated his expressions of sym
pathy with matters of practical signifi
cance that when he left Willie was for
the first time aware that she was only
the nominal owner of her plantation.
At first she was stunned, for she had
, already begun to make plans for the
improvement and extension of the an
cestral acres. The poor cabins of the
negro tenants were to be replaced by
new ones, neglected fields -were to be
again fenced and brought into cultiva
tion, and better methods and better
machinery were to be used. Her grand
father had been easy-going and im
practicable, but she had supposed that
her schooling and the house expenses
"had been met by the rents paid him by
negro tenants. Now she. knew that the
mortgage had been gradually increased
to meet the deficits.
This morning she was in the kitchen
helping Aunt Chloe with the ironing,
Knf K - thniirrVifa nraia Ttiieir TXTltll tilt
formidable problems of the future.
There were the expenses and the in
terest to be met, and, worst of all, there
was $100 still due her school at Staun
ton. She could not see any possible
way to pay it, for the season had been
. bad, and" the renters, instead of paying
what they owed, were beginning to
clamor for advances on the next year's
crops; and the creditor had delicately
hinted that her grandfather had al
ready raised the mortgage out of all
proportion to its security. In anxious
succession her mind went over her own
accomplishments in search of some-
' thing that would be money-producing.
She was fond of scribbling, and was
fairly good at drawing and music, and
Lad won a school reputation as a lin
guist. " But she was too honest and
practical to overrate these accomplish
ments. They were good things to
know,, but would not help her at this
crisis. No, she must struggle as best
she could until the creditor foreclosed;
then she would go put and seek a place
among the wage earners.
"Jdeyer s yo man, mis' wiuie, canea
window, and a black hand was thrust
In with a package of letters. She took
'them and glanced over the postmarks
carelessly. ' Most of them were from
school friends at Staunton. Several
were circulars, and one was one from
Leadville, Col She selected this and
examined it curiously. She had no
correspondents in any part of the West.
.Inside was a check and a short letter,
with the printed address of a Leadville
banking house. The letter read:
"Willie Smith, Talbottom, Ga.: We
are requested to forward you the in
closed check for ten thousand dollars
($10,000). Please acknowledge receipt,
'and oblige, yours truly,
"WALDRON & CO."
' . She stared at it for a moment, then
hurriedly examined the check. Yes, it
was for $10,000, made in favor of Willie
Smith. Bat, of course, It was a mis
take. If she had any relatives in the
world, they were so far removed as to
have been overlooked, and certain! v
none of them was rich enough to send
her $10,000.
Talbottom was a small, unprogres-
fiiirji tntkrn nrtivea 'at ro frtrTrr ni-Tvia
reached out drowsily to the line fence
. O ... T .V. nl.nt.Unn . TX7I11 ! ' - -
ed two fields and went down a short
lane, and". 'was then In the print pal
street," "There was but one bank, and
its cashier was an old friend of her
" grandfather's. She went directly to
him and explained her errand.
"I reckon it's all right, Willie," said
" the old man, after he had carefully 'ex
amined the envelope and its contents,
"It's directed to Willie Smith, Talbot
tom, and you're the only Willie Smith
I know. And Waldron & Co. are all
right. Our house has dealt with them.
And I'm bound. to say, my dear," put
ting down the papers and looking at her
beamingly, "I'm plumb glad for this
windfall. I can almost hear yo' grand
father chuckle in his -grave."
"But it can't be mine," insisted Wil
lie. "I don't even know that I have a
relative in all the world."
"Somebody yo family has lost sight
of," said the cashier genially. "Now,
there's a man over in Jasper County
. got a fortune from a cousin he hasn't
heard from in thirty years. I reckon
this is something that way. It's likely
yo' mother's cousin or somebody else.
Anyhow, it's all right, and I'm willing
to take the check. Will you have the
money, or leave It on deposit?"
"I wish I felt more sure," hesitated
.Willie.
"Well, suppose I telegraph to Wal
dron & Co. Can you come in again this
afternoon ?"
"Yes."
When she returned in the afternoon
the cashier handed her a slip of paper.
It read: " . ' "
"Merchants' Bank, Talbottom, Ga.
Gentlemen: Nothing to explain. We
forwarded check to Willie Smith, Tal
bottom, as requested. If the party pre
senting it can be identified you may
cash same with perfect safety. Yours,
"WALDRON & CO."
"So you see it is all right," said the
cashier. ."Now, you will please indorse
the check." . , - . "
Willie did so with a sudden feeling of
exultation. - '
. "How will yon have it?" briskly, ,
"Suppose yon give nie $0,000. That
Fill pay off the mortgage and make
some necessary repairs. The rest I will
deposit with you. And and suppose
you let me have a check book; it will
bfe more convenient." ' 1 .
The next few hours were momentous j
ones in the young girl's life. ,The mort
gage was paid, and visits were made
to grocery and harwware and seed
stores, and to painters and carpenters
and stone masons; and before she went
home a check was on its way to the
principal of her school at Staunton.
In the morning men came out and
made estimates, and they were follow
ed by painters and carpenters and la
borers, who began to repair the old
family mansion, and to surround the
neglected fields with substantial fences,
and to build new cabins under the mag
nificent live oaks that grew along one
side of the plantation. ,
Willie spent most of her time out
doors watching the work and making
occasional suggestions. The new "cabins
were surrounded by generous truck
patches, and when they were finished
she was careful to rent them .only to
industrious, reliable negroes. In this
she was greatly assisted by the cashier,
who came out frequently to watch the
progress of the work and whose advice
was always valuable.
One day a brisk, prepossessing young
man stepped into the Talbottom post
office. "Any letters here for Willie Smith?"
he asked.
"No. she called after them not an
hour ago."
"She?" curiously. f
"Yes. Generally her man Tobe gets
them, but she happened to be in town
this morning. You're one of the men
wording out there, I suppose?" ..
"No, not exactly."
He left the postoffice and walked
across the street to the bank.
"Has Willie Smith presented a check
here for $10,000 recently?" he asked.
"Miss Willie Smith has," replied the
cashier.
"I beg your pardon,. meant Miss
Willie Smith. You see, out West, we
get in the habit of dropping ceremony."
The old cashier looked . at . him
thoughtfully. '
"So you are a Westerner, are you?"
he asked.
"I was, but expect to be a Southerner
now," said the young man frankly.
"My mother left this country nearly
thirty years ago, but I have often heard
her; describe her old home. When I
made my pile I concluded to come
down here and look around; and If I
liked the place to stay permanently."
The cashier's face cleared instantly.
"Good!" he exclaimed. "You can't
help liking such a grand country. All
it lacks is money and energy. But what
part of the West are you from?"
"Leadville, Col."
"Ah, I began to suspect it You have
been connected with the house of Wal
dron & Co., and called In to see if the
check reached its destination all
right." He came from behind the coun
ter and took the young man's "hand
warmly. "I am right glad to see you,
suh. Yo' house never sent out a better
check than that in all its life. Miss
Willie has paid off a mortgage on her
plantation, and is making wonderful
improvements, suh wonderful! And
do you know," lowering his voice-, "If
It hadn't been for. that check I achally
believe she'd been forced to go off and
look for work achally forced, suh."
"Indeed! That would have been too
bad." said the young man, "but "
"There's no .but now," Interrupted
the cashier cheerfully." 'Tier future's
as clear as a June sky. If I'd received
the check myself I wouldn't have been
half as much pleased. Miss .WilHe's a
fine girl a gem in a land that is full
of jewels. You must excuse my enthu
siasm, suh," apologetically, "but in a
sort of way yo' house seems to have
had a hand in the good fortune. But
come into my private room and we'll
talk over the country. You're to be one
of us now, and maybe I can give you
some points on buying a place. And
I'll tell you about Miss Willie and her
plans." Here a new thought seemed to
strikehiin. "How'd you like to go out
and see her yo'self ?" he-asked abruptly.
"We close early, and I generally go
that way for a walk. She'll be glad to
see anyone from Waldron & Co."
"Nothing would please me better.''
"Very welL You'll take dinner with
me, and if I can be of any assistance
in you' plans do not hesitate to use me.
Now, there's the Calhqun plantation.
Joins Miss Willie and just now can be
had for a song. And, really, it's the
best thing you can do in the whole
country. But you haven't told me yo'
name yet, suh!"
"Smith er. Call me Hamilton Smith."
"A good name, suh a good name.
We have Smiths in every county In the
South, but I tell them a good thing can
not be too common." My mother was a
Smith."
He led the. way into his private room
and motioned the young man to an
easy chair by an open window. Then
he settled himself in an easy chair and
gave a glowing picture of the Calhoun
plantation.
The young man said little, but on his
face was an expression' of mingled
amusement and indecision. And this
amused indecision remained with him
and even appeared in bis voice until
they went out to the Calhoun planta
tion. But when they returned, late in
the evening. It had wholly disappeared.
"Miss Willie is an' exceptionally fine
girl," he said, with suppressed enthusi
asm, "and if I am not mistaken the
community will yet be proud of her
plantation. - She seems to have the fac
ulty of knowing just what she wants
and just how to go about doing it. I
could not have planned the Improve
ments better myself. Miss Willie told
me she wanted to plant trees along her
bank of the river, which runs between
the two plantations, and that it would
be nice if the owner on the other side
could be induced to do the same. Are
you sure the place can be bought?"
abruptly.
"The Calhoun place? Certainly, and
for a song."
"Well, I want It. .. I suppose it's: too
late to get it to-night," regretfully; "but
if you'll arrange for its purchase early
in the morning, so that the papers can
be made out before noon, I'll be infin
itely obliged. And I'll make it worth
your while." '
"But you haven't seen the place yet?"
expostulated the cashier in amazement.
"Yes, I have across the river, you
know. Besides, I'm willing to take
your word for it. If you can have ev
erything settled before noon I will go
over after dinner, and talk with Miss
Willie about the shade trees. And, do
you know," with animation, "I've been
thinking that those bluffs above" the
live oak grove will be' a fine place to
throw a bridge across the river. I won
der if Miss Willie will like the idea."
The next day the good people of Tal
bottom were stirred to unwonted excite
ment by the- news that an energetic
stranger had bought the bid Judge Cal
houn plantation, and that unlimited
improvements -'. Ttere contemplated.
And, even while- this report was being
frin1ntpfl from mnnth to month. It wna
followed by rumors of lavish contracts
ana engagements made with the towns
people of the town. Decidedly .v- thf
stranger was no ordinary man.
. And evidently Willie thought so.'too.
for she would flash covert, inquiring
glances at him from under her long,
dark eyelashes, and sometimes would
listen with almost bated breath, won
dering what daring scheme would b
proposed next. He was so different
from any man she had ever met sc
energetic and impulsive and chivalrous.
She could not help liking him, and she
could not withstand liis impetuosity
any more than the reeds of the rivei
could withstand the current in spring
time. She, offered objections to the
building of the' bridge and he overruled
them in a single impetuous speech. She
did not like the idea of assuming all
the expenses of improving the river,
but did not dare expostulate for fear oi
the quizzical look which she knew
would come into his merry eyes. In
side of a month she began to feel that
he was as much at home on her planta
tion as be was on his own. but she
could see no way to prevent it.
And, indeed, she did not want to. In
the fall their engagement was definite
ly announced, and all Talbottom said
It was the most suitable match of the
year. -
A' few weeks before the marriage he
carefully overhauled his papers. There
were many letters addressed simply to
Willie Smith; some were to Willie H.
Smith, and a few to William Hamilton
Smith. All of them were destroyed.
"It isn't well to keep papers," he
soliloquized, as the last one was re
duced to ashes. "Some folks see them.'
New York Ledger.
CHECKING AN EPIDEMIC.
A Stade Manaser Puts an End to trie
. Playei-Out Call for a Doctor.
"Your story about calling for a doctor
in the circus," said a retired showman,
"reminds me of the way we broke up a.
nuisance in a good-sized Pennsylvania
town. 1 was on the road with a farce
comedy company, and we put in two
weeks at the town in question, there
being a big military encampment? there
and a county fair to boot. We drew
good houses all through the engage
ment, and were booked for an early
return. I don't think we had been
there more than one night before the
doctor nuisance began. There would
come a hurried messenger from the box
office to the stage manager with a re
quest that he ask if Dr. Bolus, or what
ever his name happened to be, was in
the house, and if he was, to send him
to the office at once. Of course, the
stage manager couldn't very well re
fuse, and general attention was direct
ed to the medical man, much to his
satisfaction. We soon found out that
the doctors who were so much in de
mand were very small medical fry, and
there wasn't a doubt that -they had had
themselves called for in order-to secure
the consequent notoriety. Well, we
stood it for a few nights, and then an
idea occurred to me. I took a walk up
the main street until I came to a cer
tain sign hanging over the stairway." I
went up to the office indicated and had
a brief conversation with its inmate,
ending It by handing him reserved seat
tickets. .
"That evening, immediately after the
first act and before any messenger from
the box office had a chance to arrive. I
stepped out In front of the curtain and
held up my hand. Then in my gravest
tones I asked:
" 'Is Dr. Chizziold in the house?
"Immediately a very tall colored man,
with a.busby white head and huge silver-mounted
spectacles, arose in the
audience and said: " -
" 'Heah I is, sah.'
"The audience tittered, but I kept my
gravity, . .
" 'You are wanted at the box office at
once, doctor, in a case which requires
your immediate professional attention.'
"As the aged darkey ducked to me
and hobbled from the room, the audi
ence broke into a wild roar.
"Perhaps you will understand. ' the
cause of 'their merriment when I add
that the old man was a corn doctor, and
probably the best-known eccentric cuar
acter In town.
"Well, there were no more doctors
called from that stage during our en
gagement." Cleveland Pla n Dealer.
Tbe Man and the Snake.
The reputed fascination of the ser
pent's eye is the motive of a story in
Mr. Ambrose Bieree's volume of tales
entitled "In the Midst of Life." - Mr.
Brayton was the guest-of a friend, an
eminent zoologist, whose specialty, of
which he had a fine collection, was
snakes. Stretched upon a sofa in his
own room, Mr. Brayton glanced from
the book he was carelessly scanning
while awaiting the summons tt dinner,
and sawi in the shadow under his bed,
two small points of light about an inch
apart. He gave them no. special
thought and resumed his reading.
In a few minutes he gave an involun
tary start, and stared into the obscurity
under the bed. His gaze disclosed the
coils of a large serpent; the., points of
light were its eyes, but were no longer
merely luminous points; they looked in
to his own with a malign significance.
Brayton was a brave man, but this
seemed. an occasion when discretion
was the better part of valor. . He would
beat a retreat and backward, so as not
to disturb the reptile; but instead of the
movement his will had shaped, his
right foot was placed la advance of his
left.
The snake did not move, but Its eyes
seemed to become larger and more lum
inous. There were strange noises in
Brayton's ears as,, with reluctant steps,
he could not refrain from drawing
nearer the bed. Suddenly something
struck him a hard blow upon the face.
He had fallen to the floor.
The zoologist, startled by a terrific
scream from above, rushed to his
friend's room. There lay "Brayton,
senseless. As he bent .over him he
glanced under the bed.
"How did this thing get here?" he
exclaimed, and pulling out the snake,
flung It to the center of the room, where
it lay without motion. ;
It was a stuffed snake; Its -eyes were
two shoebuttons.
Tbe Season.
"To be sure," assented the wolf, "cor
dially, "I am glad of the cool weather.
I never could do much In a crash' suit.
There Is nothing like the conventional
sheep's clothing, after all." Petrol!
Tribune. ,
Didn't Need It.
"Help! Help!" cried the man whe
was being robbed.
"Calm yourself," said the' highway
man. "I don't need any assistance."-'
Tid-Bits. - -
The Particular Thing.
She Was there any particular thing
about the town which struck you?
He-rYes; a bicycle. Yonkcra States
man. -" -:. .- "
- The Lord " probably forgives every
thing else sooner than the discontent
of a woman whose husband Is good tc
her.. -...-.'
MUSIC OF ST. PETER'S.
The Choir Sinsa It at 8iht Without
Hehearaal.
Opposite the Chapel of the Sacrament
is the Chapel of the Choir. St. Peter1
a a cathedral,-and Is managed by a
ebapter of canons, each of whom hat
his seat in the choir, and his vote in the
disposal of the cathedral's income,
which is considerable. The chapter
maintains the choir of St. Peter's, a
body of musicians quite independent of
the so-called "Pope's choir," which ia
properly termed the "choir of the Sis
tine Chapel," and which is paid by th
Pope. , ,. . -.
No musical Instruments are ever used
In the Sistlne. In the choir, on the con
trary, there are two large organs. The
one on the west side is employed on all
ordinary occasions: it is over two hun
dred years old. and Is tuned about two
whole tones below the modern pitch. It
Is so worn out that an organ-builder is
In attendance during every service to
make repairs at a moment's notice.
The bellows leak, the stops stick,, some
notes have a chronic tendency to "cy
pher," and the pedal "trackers" un
hook themselves unexpectedly. But the
canons would certainly not think of
building a new organ.
Should they ever do so, and tune the
Instrument to the modern pitch, the
consternation of the singers would be
great; for the music Is all written for
the existing organ, and could not be
performed two notes higher, not to men
tiou the confusion that would arise
where all the music is sung at sight
This is a fact not generally known, but
worthy of notice. The music sung in
St. Peter's, and. Indeed, In most Roman
churches. Is' never rehearsed or. prac
ticed. The music itself is entirely In
manuscript, and is the property of the
choirmaster, or, as is the case in St. Pe
ter's, of the chapter, and there is no
copyright in it beyond this fact of ac
tual possession, protected by the simple
plan of never allowing any musician to
have his part In his hands except while
he is actually performing it.
In the course of a year the same piece
may be sung several times, and the
old choristers may become acquainted
with a good deal of the music in this
way, but never otherwise. Mozart is
reported to have learned Allegri's Mis
erere by ear,' and fb'have written it
down from memory. The other fanioua
Misereres, which are now published,
were pirated in a similar way. The
choirmaster'of that day was very un
popular. Some of the leading singers
who had sung the Misereres during
many years in succession, and bad thus
learned their several parts, met and
put together what they kuew Into a
whole, which was at once published, to
the no small annoy.-, ee and discomfi
ture of their enemy. But much good
music Is quite beyond the reach of tbe
public; Palestrlna's best motets, airs by
Alessandro Stradella, tbe famous hymn
of Raimondi, in short, a great musical
library an archivlo, as the Romans call
such a collection, all of which is practi
cally lost to the world.
It Is wonderful that under such cir
cumstances the chlr of St. Peter's
should obtain even such creditable re
sults. At a motnent's notice an organ
ist and about a hundred singers are
called upon to execute a florid piece of
mnsic which many of them have never
seen or heard; the accompaniment Is
played at sight from a mere figured
bass, on a tumble-down Instrument two
hundred years old, and the singers, both
the soloists and the chorus, sing from
thumbed bits of manuscript parts writ
ten In old-fashioned characters on pa
per often green with age. No one has
ever denied the extraordinary musical
facility of Italians; but if the general
musical world knew how Italian church
music Is performed It would be very
much astonished.
It is no wonder that such music is
sometimes bad. But sometimes it is
very good; for there are splendid voices
among the singers and the Maestro
Renzi, the chief organist, is a man oi
real talent as well as of amazing facil
ity. His modernizing influence is coun
terbalanced by that of the old choir
master. Maestro Meluzzi, a first-rate
musician, who "would not for his life
change a hair of the old-fashioned tra
ditions. Yet there are moments, on
certain days, when the effect of ,the
great old organ, with the ' rick voices
blending in some good harmony, is very
solemn and stirring. The outward per
suasive force of religion lies largely In
its music, and the religions that havt
no songs make few proselytes. Cen
tury t - ; . :
Former Slave Market.
On benches so placed as to command
a good view were the buyers, coarse
looking Turks,-whose calm, searching
gaze seemed to take - In every detail
The .merchant -conducting the sale
stood before them,-talking and gesticu
lating with great vehemence. He turn
ed to one of the pens, which was filled
with young Circassian women, most of
whom were very handsome. They
Vere seated 'close together on " the
ground, in an attitude, of listless de
spondency, their white garments flow
ing around them, and as they gazed up
at me with their sad, dark eyes, I felt
painfully how they must envythe free
and happy stranger whoxcame to look
on them in their infamy and misery.
The slave trader came forward, fol
lowed by a phlegmatic-looking Turk,
and, seizing one of the women by the
arm forced her to stand up before this
man, who, it appeared, wished to buy
her. He proceeded to. Inspect her, very
much in the same manner as he might
have examined a horse or a dog, and
his decision was unfavorable; he turn
ed with a contemptuous movement of
the head, and the slave merchant, in a
rage, thrust back the ifhfortunate girl,
who sank down trembling among her
companions in activity. This scene was
as much as we could stand, and we left
the pltfce hurriedly at once; It Is well,
Indeed, that such sights can be wit
nessed no more, at least in Europe. -
Lion-Hunting an Ancient Sport.
To "hunt the lion was kingly sport
from the earliest times, and the Egyp
tian monuments show that all kinds
of hunting, as well as fowling, was
followed for pleasure.
Pawning Idols in China.
It Is quite a common thing in Shang
hai for needy natives to paws their
idols in order to buy food. .
Married Men and Rings. ,
The latest suggestion made In the col
umns of a London paper Is that mai
ried men should wear wedding rings.
Your grocer 'will sell you
Schillings Best tea, and re
turn your money in full if
you don't like it
. He is our agent to this
extent; and - we want ' no
better business.
A SrMlImg & Company . -r- I
. Francis. UBS
I AGRICULTURAL NEWS
THINGS PERTAINING TO THE
,-" , FARM AND HOME. "
Beat Method of Preserving: -Fodder
Corn How to Relieve Choked Cattle
Late Matnrinss Potatoea Are Most
Productive.
- Preserving Corn Fodder.
A report from the Vermont Agricul
tural Experiment Station says for two
years past experiments were conduct
ed to determine the best method of pre
serving the corn plant for winter use.
Four methods were tried. First, whole
ensilage was made by running the new
ly cut corn through a cutter, reducing
it to one-half inch lengths, then putting
into the silo. Second, the ears were
husked, cribbed, dried, ground, cob and
all, and fed In connection with the
stalks, which had been previously cut
and made into ensilage; this was called
stover ensilage and meal. Third, the
fodder was preserved in large shocks,
and before feeding was run through a
cutter, ears and all. and cut into one
half inch lengths. Fourththe corn
was husked from the fodder, ground
with the cob and fed with the stover,
after it had been run through the cut
ter as needed from time to time.
Samples from the material preserved
by the different methods were carefully
analyzed, and the fodder was fed to a
herd of fourteen milch cows. It was
found that each of the methods pre
served about four-fifths of tbe dry mat
ter harvested, the loss from each being
practically the same in quality and in
character. The fodders kept in the
shock lost more and more dry dry mat
ter as the winter progressed. The
ears iu the silo during the last test lost
more of their food value than those
preserved in any other way, this being
the reserve of a previous test. The
relative cost of placing the same
amount of dry matter in the manger
was greatly in favor of whole ensilage.
Time and money spent in husking and
grinding the ears were wasted, as bet
ter results were obtained when the
ears were left on the stalk. The en
silages were relished much better by
the cows and they do better upon them.
Farm News.
Relieving Choked Cattle.
'I have never known my method of
relieving choked cattle," says a writer
in an English farm paper, "to fail in
giving instant relief. 1 cut a stick about
four feet long and -one-half an Inch
through at the large end, with prongs
like fork tines about one inch long at
the small end. The stick wants to be
straight and smooth. I generally cut a
6mall gray birch. Then wind the prongs
with yarn until well covered and sew
over and through this a piec. of cotton
cloth, making a ball some inches In di
ameter securely fastened to the small
end of the stiek. Grease tbe ball well
with lard, insert in the animal's throat,
and push it down the length of the stick
If need be. or until the substance Is
forced into the stomach. Then with
draw the stick and the creature will be
relieved. I have been called in the
night to go four miles to relieve an ani
mal that had choked for hours. I re
lieved - her In two . minutes "after the
stick was ready, 60 that she commenced
eating immediately. Two or three men
had tried every , way they knew for
hours without success. The creature
was choked with a potato." ".
Late Moturinjr Potatoes.
Moat of the'very large growers of po
tatoes plant mainly of the late-maturing
varieties. There is a good deal of
loss in marketing early varieties, espe
cially those dug while their skin is stiil
tender, and is broken by being rubbed
against. In hot weather such potatoes
rot easily, and though the price is high
er there is not so great profit as for the
more productive later crop that can
usually "be marketed without Injury.
Early potatoes do not generally pro
duce heavily. Hot, dry weather short
ens the crop, while with late potatoes
planted late much of the growth of the
tubers Is made after the- heated term
has passed. .-
Keep Flour from Taint.
Flour should be kept with the great
est care, (as it takes on the odor of
things about it, and becomes tainted al
most as easily as do milk and butter.
As it also becomes heavy and moldy In
a damp place, it should be' kept where
weather changes will not affect it. The
i lightness and dryness of 'the flour, of
course, has a great deal to do with the
superior quality'of the bread and cake
made from it When flour is bought
by the barrel, a patented convenience
that consists of a swinging shelf that
raises the barrel a few inches from the
floor, so that the air may circulate free
ly about It, is liked by housekeepers
who" have space for It. . v
Fa't Ietroj8 Setiis.
Wherever salt is sown so tljat It comes
in contact with germinating seeds It
will rot and-destroy them; The first
germ of seeds is very tender, and as it
starts out the seed gives out some mois
ture which dissolves tbe salt. The ef
fect of very small quantities of salt
is to decompose vegetation of all kinds.
A large amount might pickle It and
prevent decomposition. But either
small or large, it Is destructive of the
germs of vegetable life. But if there
lsa great deal of. rainfall the salt Is dis
sipated, and .so mixed With surround
ing soil that little injury to the seed
is produced.
An Impromptu Filter.
An Impromptu filter will be found
convenient. Buy 5 cents' worth of
powdered charcoal;, put it in a piece of
flannel, together with some small
stones fine pebbles are best and tie It
to' the spigot.' The . water running
through this will be quite clear. Be
sure you have coarse flannel, as the
charcoal sifts through muslin. If it
runs too slowly put something under
the spigot and let it run while you are
doing something else and dip it out af
terward. The increased clearness of
the water will repay you.
The Strawberry Patch.
The family strawberry natch Is not
Usually large, and - can therefore be
given the best of attention. Rake the
beds and clear off all the refuse, or
burn, the beds over. " Then sprinkle fine
bonemeal and.muiiate of potash over
the rows, or use well-rotted manure
that is free from litter, covering the
beds with straw or salt ha, and plac
ing cornstalks or brush on tbe bay.
Early in spring remove the mulch and
sprinkle nitrate of soda over the rows
before the plants begin to grow. .
Trees in Tilled Fields.
A few years ago we wrote on the ex
pensiveness of keeping scattered trees
left for shade in pastures in fields that
every few years had to tei broken up
and" used for tilled crops. The grass
may or may not be Injured under the
tree, according to its variety and habit
of growth. But wherever the field was
planted -with either; corn, or potatoes
the blighting effects of the tree sapping
the soil of moisture were to be seen as
far either way as its roots extended.
At the time our views met much severe
criticism from those who regarded the
trees as objects of beauty, and to . "
spared, whatever they cost to the fai-m-er.
But the loss from plowing, wasting
seed, and labor in cultlvat'ng crops
under Jrees and getting nothing In re
turn has convinced most who a few
years ago were critical that they were
backing a luxury that not one farmer in
ten can afford." Keep the trees If you
wish in land that is to be always In
grass, but if it is to be plowed and cul
tivated, clear them out so that all the
labor applied may have Its fullest ef
fectAmerican Cultivator. .
Plowing and Beseedintc.
Within the past few years there have
been more than usual complaints of
grass arid clover seeds not "catching"
well, and of "running out" after an
apparently good seeding had been se
cured. Drought, or hard freezing in
winter, are commonly given as reasons
for these grass failures. But in many
cases we suspect that this does not ex
plain the whole difficulty. As vegetable
matter In the soil decreases It 1 much
more injured by drought than it Is while
the soil retained its virgin fertility. Our
climate is not a moist one, like that of
England, and our winter cold Is much
more severe. We cannot expect per
manent grass either for pasture or
meadow. To plow and reseed every
second or third year seems to be a ne
cessity of good farming in our Northern
States. Nor Is this necessity any real
hardship. The first year or two after
seeding the crop is always better than
after, and then, too, there Is the best
sward to plow under. English turf
may keep thickening as the years pass
by. but our grass lands are sure to grow
thin. The longer the replo wing is de
layed, the more difficult it is likely to
be to get a good catch with the new
seeding. Ex.
Keep Live Stock in Goo'I Condition.
It Is the best and.safest plan to put all
the live stock on winter rations in good
time and before they become really
hungry and lose flesh by the want of
nutriment In the food gathered from the
fields. As soon as a frost has taken
the starch out of the herbage and les
sened its ability to nourish an animal
the main supply of food should be given
from the winter stores. To fall off
now is to keep out of condition all the
winter. It is quite possible to stall
feed an animal with success in the win
ter, but th consumption of food will be
considerably increased over and above
what would be required at any other
season. It is an old saying that an
animal well summered Is half wintered.
It Is perfectly true; for once the system
is in a thrifty condition it Is more easily
kept so than it can be recovered from a
lowered state of health and vigor. Thus
just now it should be the effort to pre
vent any falling off in the condition and
put all the stock into winter quarters
in as fine a state of health as is possh
ble. Orange Judd Farmer.
Odda and Ends.
An easy way to remove spots of paint
from glass is to make a strong solution
of soda In , hot water and wash the
glass with a flannel dipped In this.
Tumblers that have been used for
milk should never be put into hot water
until they have first been rinsed in cold
water. The heat drives the milk in and
gives a cloudy appearance to the glass,
which cannot be removed.
Clothing that has become spotted and
whose co"or has been destroy; d by acids
may have the color restored by applying
ammonia and afterward chloroform.
Occasionally your pet canary bird
should be fed with a hard-boiled egg,
chopped fine and mixed with cracker
crumbs, giving it not more than a thim
bleful of the mixture at a' time.
Farm Notes.
There is no charm in slipshod farm
ing, none in weedy fields, fences, fence
corners or barns, or with buildings in
a general state of disorder.
Low-grade fertilizers cost'tess by tbe
ton, but cost a great deal more if meas
ured by the benefit derived. If com
pelled to buy fertilizers at all buy good
ones. If you are not- posted you can
find neighbors who are.
The fall Is the time to ditch and till
the land for drainage, as' the work- can
be then done at less cost than at any
other period of the year. Lands in the
West that have been tilled have gained
sufficiently in one year, by the In
creased yield per acre, to more than pay.
the cost of drainage. Every year that
wet land is left undrained is a loss or
just so much time that could be gained
by drainage.
An orchardist says: Peach trees will
not bear choice fruit when growing in
sod. in fact, there are few fruit trees
that will not produce better fruit and
more of it -if . the grass is prevented
from "growing near them. - Fruit trees
in poultry yards, where the ground is
kept constantly bare of all vegetation,
usually bear excellent fruit. Of course,
some allowance must be made for the
fertilizing benefits received from the
droppings of the fowls.
In harvesting, as well as in storage,
potatoes should be exposed to light as
little as possible, says Farmers' Bulle
tin No. 35 of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture. In storing pota
toes a low temperature is required. The
potato tuber is uninjured by a tempera
ture of 33 degrees F and one authority
gives'the freezing temperature of po
tatoes 30.2 degrees F. Warmth favors
sprouting, which injures potatoes, both
for planting and eating.
Untold Lies.
The art of telling a lie by telling the
truth, but less than tbe whole of it, is
cultivated by some people; and when
their trick of concealment is by some
chance found out, they are never quite
believed afterward. .
A person of this type was once re
lating certain circumstances to an ac
quaintance, who appeared, perhaps, a
trifle Incredulous. -
"What!", exclaimed the narrator; "do
you suspect what I tell you?" -
"Oh, no," answered the other; "but I
suspect what you don't tell me!" !
The remark was an apt one, and
ought to have been a warning to the
speaker. - But inasmuch as this person
was grown to years of discretion, and
still kept back a part of the truth, it is
doubtful If any experience could teach
him to be really truthful. There is a
great deal of untruthfulness latent
somewhere in human nature, and un
less one is "brought up to tell the
truth," and taught in childhood to ab
hor a lie In any shape, there is very
little hope that such a person will be
come outspoken and" candid.
' The gas engine, which in Europe has
now supplanted the steam engine for
moderate power. Is being " used v In
Frail ee for ships." A new gasboat on
the Havre-Rouen-Paris linets 100 feet
long, with seven feet draught,' and at
tains a speed of seven knots. The gas
ia stored in steel tubes under a pressure
of ninety-five atmospheres. ; The en
gine is a two-cylinder one anri u of
forty-home power.
' Hot TJssd. to UiuIm,
The peculiar sorrows of a Pennsyl
vania colored man are thus set forth
by the Record of Philadelphia:
A tall and heavy-footed colored roan
limped painfully into a large shoe
store in Phoenixrille one 'day recently,
and began to complain to the proprie
tor that he had been swindled. "Dese
hyar shoes," he said, "suhtinly is de
wu'st I ebab see. Dey jes' natchelly
got me all tied up in knots." .
" "What seems to be the trouble?" in
quired the proprietor.
The colored man scratched his pate
for a minute, and said, "Fo de Lawd, I
doan' know.- Hit sho'ly seem. Iaik
somebody done cast a spell on dem.
Fust dey feels all right, an' den de nex'
day dey hu'ts mos' drefful."
The dealer took a look at one of tbe
shoes; then he began laughing. "You're
not used to wearing shoes, are you?"
he asked.
"Well, boss," was the reply. "I doan'
weah dem much, da's a fack."
"Well, the trouble is, you've got them
on the wrong feet."
"No, sah! No, Bah!" cried the negro,
"dey ain' nuffin wrong wlf mah feet."
The dealer explained the difference
between right and left, and the custo
mer went away happy.
,- ' Progressive Civilization.
A lady recently took into her gerrlct
a Chinaman, and began to Christiaanize
him. Shortly afterward some silver
spoons were missing. Then she taught
him the Apostles' Creed, and it was
discovered that a valuable piece of
plate had been stolen. His benefac
tress, loath to suspect her new convert,
started in to teach him the Ten Com
mandments. By the time he was able
to repeat the First Commandment, the
scamp stole her watch. Then the phi
lanthropic lady's son rebelled. "Moth
er," he exclaimed, "for heaven's sake,
don't teach that plg-talled scalawag
any more, or by the time you've got
him to the Tenth Commandment he
will have stolen the house and taken
tbe cellar along with It!"
The human race ia but a contest of
dollars.
The highest claim for other
tobaccos is "Just as
good as Durham."
Every old smoker
knows there
as good
lOallEI
r
You will find one
each two ounce
-pons insiae
. y n, .
bagoi xuacawcu buuiumu
Buy a bag of. this cele
brated tobacco and read the
mmn mhirh PlveS a list
of valuable presents and how
to get
"Contains Mdit Flesh Form
ing Matter Than Beef."
That is whatan eminent physician
says of good cocoa. The Cocoa
made by Walter Baker & Co., Ltd.,
Dorchester, Mass., is the best.
See that Imitations are ""not palmed off on you.
Cheapest Power.....
Rebuilt Gas and
IN GUARANTEED ORDER..
i-i H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
1-2 H. P. Hercules. Gas or Gasoline.
1-2 H. P. Regan, Gas or Gasoline.
1-3. H. P. Oriental, Gas or Gasoline.
1-4 H. P. Otto, Gas or Gasoline.
1-4 H. P. Pacific, Gas or Gasoline.
1-6 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
1-10 H. P. Hercules, Gas or Gasoline.
State Your Wants and Write for Prices.....,.
(05-7 Sansome Street
San Francisco, Cat...
Gas, Gasoline and Oil
LACE CURTAINS.
THE LOWERING Ob
PRICES.
Which we have effected in these hAS
been even greater than in other goods.
They are 110 longer expensive.
If you have not purchased recently
.we have a surprise in store for you.
It is a
Special Offering to
Mail Order Purchasers
at $1.00, $1.35
$1.55 and $1.85 a pair for
S yard length
white or cream
lace curtains .
thoroughly to-date styles.
Expreseage or postage
paid by us.
They are such goods and values
as we are certain will be
friend makers for us.
,- - As a holiday gift
to a housekeeper
they will be among
the most welcome selections.
We will send our new Fall Catalogue
Free for the asking.
Send your order at once. ;
OLDS KlftJC,
702 Washi-gtcn St
PCR LAM", PR
WHEAT.
Make money by suc
cessful speculation in
Chicago. We buy and
sell wheat there on
margins. Fortunes have been made on a small
beginning by trading in futures. Write for
full particulars. Best of reference given. Sev
eral years' experience on the Chicago Board of
Trade, and a thorough knowledge of the busi
ness. Downing, Hopkins & Co., Chicago Board
of Trade Brokers. Offices In Portland, Oregon,
and Spokane, Wash, .
FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE SICK er
"Just Don't Feel Well,"
PILLS
artbOnThtnftonM. ; . -
Only On. for a Dots, - '
Sold by Smaglsts at 860. box
" r "-1 rune. Adoraa
Dr. Bounkt IM. Co. Phil. Pa.
RUPTURE and PILKS cured ; no pay until
1 cured: send for book. Dns. Manspield Jk
PosTsaruoo, 838 Market St., San Francisco, .
CLIHATI AND : COXFOBT.
Either way, whether we are to have a
prolonged winter of extreme cold or a mild
one, through the dampness and chill neu
ralgia will find its victims, and a great
many imprudent people will find neuralgia.
In either case, when it does come, with its
racking torture, let's look about for the best
that can be done. We need not go far.
The reputation of St. Jacobs Oil as a cer
tain cure for neuralgia has gone before it,
and it is an established fact that it cures
surely, soothes and restores the troubled
nerves. To enjoy, therefore, a comfortable
winter, whether it is cold or mild, bear in
mind that for this complaint one should
have the great remedy for pain ready for
nse. It is by putting off that the ailment
grows worse, and the worst cases grow less
as soon as it is used. . -
Brioks of glass are now manufac
tured in Silesia, They are cheap and
mora durable than mud brioks.
FALSE WITNESSES.
There ate knnves now and then met with who
represent certain local bitters and poisonous
stimuli as identical with or possessing proper
ties akin to those of Hostetter's Stomach Bit
ters. TheReRCjLmnnniilvHiicrapd In fnistimrtholr
trashy compounds upon people unacquainted
with the genuine article, which is as much
their opposite ns day is to night. Ask and take
no substitute for the grand remedy for ma'aria,
dyspepsia, constipation, rheumatism and kid
ney trouble.
Chicago university has just received
a gift of property worth $500,000 to be
used for a new biological station.
State or Ohio, Orrr of Toledo, (
Lucas County, ) ss-
Frank J. Cheney makes oath that he is the
senior partner of the Arm of F.J. Cheney S Co.,
doing business in the city of Toledo, County
and State aforesaid, and that said Arm will pay
the sum of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS for
each and every case of Catarrh that cannot be
cured by the use of Hall's Catarrh Cure.
FRANK J. CHENEY.
Sworn to before me and subscribed in my
presence, this 6th day of December, A. D. 18M.
SEAL I
A. W. GLEASON,
Notary Public.
Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, and
acts directly on the blood and mucous surfaces
of the system. Send for testimonials, free.
F. J. CHENEY fc CO., Toledo, O.
Sold by druggists. 73c.
Hall's Family Pills are the best.
Piso's Cure for Consumption is the best
of all cough cures. Goorge W. Loti,
Fabucher, La., August 21, 1895.
A scheme iaon foot to have a geneial
census of the whole world taken to mark
the end of the century.
is none just
as
coupon inside
bag, and two con
eacn iour ounce
1, I T" 1.
Liieiu.
S
mm' J
A TT" a-
2. wmi
.....Gasoline Engines.
FOR SALE CHEAI
Hercules Gas
....Engine Works
Engines, 1 to 200 'H. F.
Webster
International;
IM-tionary
Invaluable in Office, School, end Home.
A thorough revision of the
Unabridged, tho pi rpose of
which has boeu not ilinplay nor
the provision cf
WEBSTER'S
boasUnl and showy f lyertle-)
Lim Dii)is;on c.t ii::.ii-rini tnr
I IOTERNOTONAL I
I meat, br.t tho dr.e. ir-tUdori,
echol'irly, thororch rerfeet
inff of a work -r. Mch in cU the
stages cf its fSTor.-ti Iips ob
tained in an ennpl detfrw the
fnver rnd conildencc of schnl-
. DICTIONARY .
Tlie Choicest of Gilts
for Christmas.
Is- Various Styles of Brsorso.
O. Si C. MBRRIAM CO., IUhllshexa,
.."III, J' .X--1.-,.,
Mill Til TDrC To ny address, our ....
lilAILtU rtltt .... Special Price List of
HOUSEHOLD COOPS. ETC.
This circular Is issued for the benefit of our
country customers who cannot avail themselves
of our Daily Special Sales. Send us your ad
dress.. You will find both goods and prices'
right. WILL & FI.VCK CO.,
818-820 Market Street, San Francisco, Cal.
DOLLS
Fancy dressed and Jointed,
25e; seven-inch drums, 25e;
hair nets, oc; package
XrriRS Tat ss. ."c: hohhv
$1.45; dozen embroidery silk, 1 c; tinpel tails,
ny color, 2c; photograph iill-um, ouc; men's
socks, 4c a pair; embroidered eiik handker-
chiefs, 7J.e; children's rings, lc; linen thread.
3c a spool; choice boys heavy shoes, 11.25. Mail
orders promptly attended to. CL4KV' THK
FA1B, 812 Washington street, Portland, Or.
SURE CURE for PILES
Uotlu ud Blind, BlMdtns r Pnwndlai Film TtoM mm
PR; BQ-8AN-ICO'8 PILB REMEDY. SMp-iufc.
ta(,tmV umora. A padtiTe ur. Cirnlan rr. Trim
Wo. Unauunatf. DR.B08ANKU. PhUaw Pa.
QPIUralDRUNKENNESS
WE WIlMre4tl.toCOT. NoPatlll
Caraa. DR. J.L.STEPHENS, UU&aNON,oUo,
ft, 880. 8. F. N. TJ. No. 767