Lincoln County leader., August 24, 1900, Image 2

LINCOLN COUNTY LEADER
CHAB. F. ADA K. SOULE, Pnbi.
TOLEDO OREGON
Those Chinese Boxers differ from our
own sluggers In one Important respect:
They do not wear short hair.
The crater of Vesuvius is said to have
fallen in. This sad occurrence puts
that lively volcano in something of a
bole.
A Pennsylvania barber was rendered
dumb the other day by a bolt of light
ning. Now let him prepare to work
overtime.
Paderewskl Is praising the exquisite
musical fervor of the Americans. He
has nearly $200,000 of recently acquired
American money to back him up in this
praise.
A Sunday golf player has saved the
lives of two men whose boat capsized.
The exact bearing of this Incident upon
the Sunday golf question has not yet
been determined.
A man who had been planning and
promising the formation of a company
with fifteen million dollars' capital was
arrested the other day on the charge of
having stolen one hundred and seventy
dollars. Not often does the comedy oi
speculation present a liner example of
reductio ad absurduin.
A fine example of man's triumphs
over adverse natural conditions is to be
Keen In the Sahara. That region has
long been Identified with utter sterility
and barrenness. Yet through the sim
ple expedient of Irrigation by artesian
wells, more than twelve million acres
of It has already been made ubundant
ly fertile.
' The right of petition Is not a "glitter
ing generality" when It expresses itself
on paper a mile long. Residents of
Australian gold-Welds to the number of
twenty-eight thousand have signed n
petition to the queen, praying to b de
livered from certain grievances. Merit
In such a case cannot be measured with
a yardstick, but the dimensions of tne
document will be sure to count.
The Paris exposition is remarkable in
many ways, but most of all as an ex
hibition of the greatness of Chicago.
The world never realized the full ex
tent of the triumph achieved by the
Columbian World's Fair until it had a
new Parisian effort to compare It with.
The nineteenth century will close with
Chicago still holding the prize for the
greatest, the most Imposing, the most
Interesting and the most artistic world's
fair that mankind has ever known.
Bishop Potter pays, a high tribute to
the character and qualities of the raiiK
aud file of our army In Manila, lie
nays, in effect, that no one who bus
Been our soldiers In the Philippines,
and luu noted their splendid physique,
their attention to duty, and the high
average of Intelligence existing among
them, cnu fall to have an increased
pride In our army, and a profound faith
In their capability to do whatever Is re
quired of thein. He saw our soldiers
In many places, under all varleticM of
circumstances, during his stay In Ma
nila, but not one among them who re
flected discredit upon himself or his
rou n try.
The I nd I mi name Sioux, as it appears
In such town names as Sioux Kails.
Sioux City and Sioux Uapids, Is usually
pronounced "Soo"; but sometimes, In
the Hast, erletly, that simple pronuncia
tion Is not known. A committeeman
not long ago visited a school In New
England, where he heard the pupils say
"Sl-ox," with complete assurance. At
a favorable opportunity he quietly
irpoke to the teacher of tho error, say
ing: "You know It Is 'Soo,' " whereupon
"he asked the attention of the school.
and solemnly announced: "You have
all boon pronouncing the word wrong.
It Is not Kl-ox, but Soo-ox." The com
mitteeman lacked the courage to pur
lie the subject further.
Mrs. Burton Harrison says that
"home life In our busy day and genera
tion Is passing out of vogue." Every
woman has her fad or mission, which
takes her away from home. She looks
upon home life as a trivial round, which
Is expected to maintain Itself unaided.
How Is this tendency to ls overcome,
for that It Is an unwholesome tenden
cy there can be no doubt? Kven wives
and mothers who have been faithful
to the home ami have made It a center
of loving usefulness are apt to lowall
their lot as loss blessed than that of
women who have practically cut them
selves loose from home ties. They tiro
to be found comparing their work with
that of their husbands, liellttllng them
selves and what they have done. The
years seem ti them wasted, because,
Instead of learning new accomplish
ments, attending clubs, or earning
money, they have "done nothing" but
maintain the home and bring up In
health, strength and beauty a number
of men and women. The work of the
man Is necessary to the family wel
fare. Hut the work of the woman,
when well done, Is of equal Importance.
And, as a matter of fact, the life work
engaged In by many men is frivolity
lteelf when compared with the tremen
dous task of earing day and night for
human beings, which is the work that
women often decry as "a trivial round."
A statement prepared by the United
States Department of Agriculture,
showing the wheat crop of the world
for the last five years, contains much
that Is of peculiar Interest to Ameri
cans. First of all, it is worth noting
that wheat Is something the demand
for which keeps always abreast of the
supply. Year after year the world's
crop increases, yet gains In population,
improvements In transportation and the
growth of commerce enable consump
tion to keep pace. Last year's crop of
almost two and three-quarters billion
bushels will be no more than sufficient
for use and necessary reserves during
this year. The continent of Europe
produces more than one-half the world's
crop of wheat, and North America only
about one-quarter; yet Europe Is a con
stant buyer and North America a con
stant seller. The one consumes almost
the entire world's surplus, the other is
the world's great surplus exporter.
The contribution of the United States
to last year's crop was twenty and
eight-tenths per cent., a larger share
than that of any other country, Russia,
with nearly 18 per cent., being its near
est rival. The report brings out most
interestingly the commercial signifi
cance of variations In the crop. In 181)7
for instance, Europe produced an un
usually small proportion of the world's
supply, while the United States pro
duced an uncommonly large propor
tion. This was greatly to our advan
tage, for the European demand ad
vanced world price, and we were able
to sell our great surplus at profitable
figures. In 1808 and 18'J'J, however,
these conditions were reversed.
Europe's percentage of the world's crop
Increased, while ours decreased. The
result has been persistently low prices
for wheat, In spite of a decided advance
In the price of other agricultural prod
ucts. An Increase in the crop In South
America and Australasia, most of
which goes to Europe, and the abund
ance of the EuroiM'an rye crop, have
also helped to keep the price down. Or
dinarily more than 75 per cent, of the
wheat crop of the world Is produced in
seven countries of the Northern Hemi
sphere: The United States, Russia,
France, India, Austria-Hungary, Ger
many and Italy; but of these countries
two only, the United States and Russia,
produce a quantity greatly in excess of
their own demands.
In the North American Review Jus
tin McCarthy Indulges in some inter
esting speculation as to the fate of the
"disappearing authors" aud the rea
sons for their decline Into oblivion. The
fame of some authors comes and goes
with something of the effect of a re
volving light, but the writers whom
Mr. McCarthy has in mlud are those
who, having once enjoyed a wide and
apparently deserved popularity, are
slowly aud steadily passing out of hu
man memory. Charles Kingsley, for
Instance, seems every year to get less
and less of the attention of the average
reader. With lilni Mr. McCarthy
classes Anthony Trollopo and even
Charles Reade, whose "Cloister and the
Hearth," It Is said, no publisher would
attempt to circulate In cheap form.
Charles Lever also appears to be among
the disappearing, while who nowadays
ever thinks about the "Hajjl Balm"
novels of Morler or the stories of Mrs.
Marsh, an author exceedingly popular
when Mr. McCarthy was a young man?
It Is true that a somewhat similar pro
cess has gone on In the case of Fielding
and Jane Austen, but if these authors
are less widely read they still hold a
classical eminence and are mentioned
with reverence aud avowed apprecia
tion by those who never read a line of
their works. But the others seem
neither to be read nor to be able to keep
their places In their respective niches
of fame. Mr. McCarthy finds no satis
factory reason for these facts, for In
many eases the disappearing authors
were men who jiossessod literary art
and whose work appealed to cultured
minds. Mr. McCarthy cites Mrs.
Marsh's "The Admiral's Daughter" as
an Instance, yet even those who have
lively memories of "The Children of the
Abbey" have forgotten Mrs. Marsh's
story. The reason for this curious
weedlng-out process Is apparently not
to be discovered by any process of an
alysis. All that we can say Is that In
literature there Is ah element which In
volves enduring Interest and that some
books have this clement while others
do not. It does not matter what Is the
time of tlie story or what Its theme, or
even, whether It Is' unfolded artfully.
One book formerly popular is absolute
ly forgotten, another of moderate fame
assumes a permanent and respectable
place lu literature. Yet It seems more
thai) probable that this selective proc
ess carried on by time follows a law
which rests fundamentally on a recog
nition of great nnd lasting merit. Some
how a book becomes more or less nec
essary to the enlightenment or happi
ness of mankind, and mankind treas
ures It It takes no seer to perceive
that twenty-ttvo years from to-day
dozens of books which are now hailed
as "books of the year" will be absolute
ly forgotten.
BRIGHT LIG--T SHED ON EGGS.
How the Kx peril determine and Then
Classify Their Quality.
"Egg candling Is a difficult trade. In
It the closest attention is required with
sharp eyes, for several grades are
made, and the difference between one
grade and another in looks at least is
not observable except to the expert
who is intent on his work."
This is the statement of Lincoln Mar
tin, foreman of egg caudlers In a big
Chicago commission house. He is cred
ited with having a thorough knowledge
of this trade, as Indeed he should have,
as he has worked at it steadily for
twenty-five years, and has been with
his present employers for ten years.
Under him are twelve other candlers
hired by the day, at $2.50 a day, and be
sides a number of flyers, men who work
when and where they can get a job.
They get less money than do the regu
lars. A swift regular will Inspect 600
or 700 eggs daily, or from fifty to sixty
cases, and receive his $2.50, whereas
the flyer is paid but from $1.20 to $1.50
for the same amount of work. All the
EGO
CANDI.KKS AT WOKK.
regulars are undoubted experts, or all
should be so. There are in Chicago over
lUM) caudlers of both descriptions, but
the greatest number are regulars.
The candler sits on a high stool in
frout of either an electric or a gas light,
which Is two-thirds Inclosed In dark
metal, for the best effect. The light is
thrown out as from a policeman's
lantern. On one side of the candler,
within easy reach, Is a case full of eggs,
and on the other side of him are empty
cases. He deftly picks up two eggs at
a time, and, presto! chauge! between
the thumb and forefinger of each hand
is now an egg held near the light It is
not still the twentieth part of a second,
but constantly turning round aud
round, sideways aud end over end, for
a few seconds. Every bit of the oval
surface has been seen nnd the exact
state of the contents of the shell Is as
certained. It is softly laid In a case
marked high grade, or in one marked
second, third or fourth grade, according
to Its quality.
A perfect, fresh egg answers for it
self in a yellow glow, the shell Is full
the yolk in the middle place aud the
w hite nearly transparent. Each of the
lower grades Is marked by one of sev
oral variously Induced defects. One
egg that otherwise looks all right is
shrunken at the small end. There Is an
air chamber where, before the egg was
too old, was clear "meat." Let this go
Into the second grade. In another Is a
slight streak of red, as of blood, and
though it Is sound and sweet It has had
too much warmth, and in a short time
will begin to decay. Let this go Into
the third grade. In still another the
yolk Is seen to be breaking up and min
gling with the white substance, but no
black spot has yet appeared In It It Is
not bad, but soon will be bad, if It be
not quickly used and so let It go Into
the third grade. An incompetent or
careless inspector may mistake as to
the quality of one or another of these
eggs, but an expert never will. The
'black spot" egg detects Itself, so to
speak, but the "white rot" egg some
times goes undetected In Inattentive
hands. This Is an egg the white of
which Is all rotteu. It Is not shrunken,
and to the Inexperienced looks perfect
ly sound, but the candler gets no light
through Its density. It Is very bad.
When all of the meat of an egg is rot
ten it is all black.
Cracked eggs and eggs that are very
small are discarded entirely for the
present, but wheu the Inspection Is
over for the day these are put In a re
ceptacle marked "bakers'" and are
sold at a low price.
The country from which eggs come
to the Chicago market Includes a large
part of the South and the entire old
Northwest, Indeed the new Northwest
makes some contribution, for eggs
from Oregon and Washington have
beeu received here. In the winter the
curreut receipts of new eggs are from
Texas, Tennessee. Kentucky, Arkan
sas und Oklahoma. In the summer
those States ship their surplus eggs to
New Orleans. The Chicago supplies. In
the spring and summer, come from Ne
braska. Iowa. Kansas, Missouri, Indi
ana, Illinois, Michigan. Wisconsin, Min
nesota and the two Dakotas.
In minute parts of this great extent
of country the collection of eggs Is
made, In large measure, by local mer
chants. (Stads are exchanged for them.
miiimmtam
What the local merchants do not get
hucksters who make a business of
gathering in farm produce pay money
for.
ONE MAN AND THREE DOGS.
Aided by a Gun They Hold a Wealthy
Corporation at Bay.
There is an old recluse living on a
little Island on the flats of New Jersey,
at the mouth of Newton creek, who
would not give up the little shanty
which he delights to call his home for
perhaps any amount of mouey that
could be offered him. Nay, when an at
tempt Is made to take his little property
from him by force, as one is now be
ing made, this eccentric old man Is will
ing to defend his title to the estate, if
necessary, at the cost of his life. In his
determination to hold onto the little in
significant estate he is being ably aid
ed by three dogs and his trusty gun.
Against the old man in the miniature
war, which is in progress are arrayed
the minions of the law representing a
great ship-building corporation with a
capital of $50,000,000.
Adolph James Hutchinson, the her
mit, does not' really own the little plot
of ground, although it has been his
home for upward of twenty years. It
is in the center of the tract upon which
the corporation proposes to erect its
great ship-building plant. On the other
hand, it is the old hermit's home, tie
has no title other than a squatter's
claim, but he is prepared to defend his
lights with his life. He stands at the
door of his little hut when approached
by ftti'uaK'ei'S aud ueuuiiids limi they
shall stay at a distance of fifty yards
on the penalty of a shot from his gun.
Ilis three dogs stand ready to follow
up the attack If the shot fails, so that
he makes a rather formidable front.
Eventually the old man must surrender
to the corporation, but just how Ister
esting he will make It for his opponents
before he vacates the premises remains
to be seen.
During the seventy years that have
passed over old Hutchinson's grizzled
head he has seen stirriug scenes enough
to nerve him to meet the difficulties of
his present position with equanimity.
He shipped on a merchantman before
the mast wheu but a young man, and
became engaged in trading in the East
Indies. Encounters with Malay pirates,
adventures with the head-hunters of
Borneo and three experiences in ship
wrecks developed a contempt for dan
gers. Five years' honorable service on
an English man-of-war did not lessen
his daring, aud five yeurs' campaigning
during the civil war in this country
hardened him to suffering. His mode of
life since then has? strengthened the
effects of this early training, so that
when he says he will greet any hostile
visitor with a bullet it Is well to respect
his word. This is the way the marshals
feel. It is for this reason that no at
tempt has yet been made to force his
doorway. The course that will likely
commend itself to them will be to wait
until he starts to the main land for pro-
visions,, as he must do at stated Inter
vals, aud when he Is goue slip quietly
toward his hut, taking chances on kill
ing his dogs that he loaves behind on
guard.
When he first went to Camden twen
ty years ago he was. despondent and
disappointed. He wanted to get away
from human companionship. He went
down to the marshes, and finding the
little island secluded nnd little visited
he determined to make his place of
abode there. He built of the rough
driftwood that the waters of the Dela
ware swept Ir. to him Hie hut In which
he lives, nnd which he Is determine!
not to give up, be the cost what it may.
Equine losses tn War.
In all protracted wars the loss in
horses from disease Is terribly heavy.
In Napoleon's campaign across the
N lemon, out of 00,000 horses no fewer
than 45,000 succumbed lu six months.
At the siege of Plevna the Russians
lost over 30 per cent, of their draught
animals, and in the Egyptian war of
1SS2 half the English horses were dis
abled, of which (100 died from sickness
nnd only GO on the field of battle. Pear
sou's Magazine.
If Opportunity knocks at every door,
In most cases It Is with as timid a
knock as if there were a corpse In tbr
bouse.
JKRSET'S WARL1KB SQUATTER.
-n
DIES IN A FOREIGN LAND.
Stephen Crane, Novelist and War Cor
respondent, No More.
Stephen Crane, the American novelist
and war correspondent, died at Badeu
Weller, Germany. Like many writers
of fiction his fame was made in a sin
gle work, and although a prolific writer
he will be generally remembered as the
author of "The Red Badge of Cour
age," a story of the experiences of a
STEPHEN CRANE.
recruit in the civil war. His pen pic
ture of a battle was so vivid in this
work that critics who did not know the
author declared that it must have been
drawn hy n wnr vefevnn. On th"
strength of the story Crane was sent
to the Graeco-Turkish war lu 185)7 as
correspondent for the Westminster Ga
zette of London. During the Spanish:
American M ar he was in Cuba as cor
respondent for the New York papers.
It is the generally expressed opinion
that Mr. Crane was not as strong in hi
descriptions of actual war scenes as he
was in the imaginary scenes of the
novel that brought him fame. While
acting as war correspondent he was
noted for his reckless bravery, often be
ing exposed on the firing lines. While
In Cuba he contracted the fever which
eveutually caused his death.
Stephen Crane was horn in Newark.
N. J., In 1871, and was the son of a
Methodist clergyman. At the age of 1
he began to write for the newspapers,
and after completing his education in
Lafayette College and Syracuse Uni
versity he became a reporter and sketch
writer. His remains will be taken to
England and thence, perhaps, to this
country for Interment, but it Is not yet
decided whether he will be buried in
England or the land of his birth. Be
fore going to London, nearly two years
ago, his home was In Hartwood, Sulli
van County. N. Y. His wife, whom he
married at the close of the (.reek war
and whom he met in the east, survives.
Kufus Choate'a Bad Writing.
George Tlcknor, the historian of Span
ish literature, was once called as a wit
ness in a case in which Mr. Choate was
engaged, and, liefog seated by the em
Ineut counselor, was attracted hy the '
notes which he had made of the evi
dence; after eying them with interest,
he remarked that the writing reminded
him of two autograph letters in his pos
session oue of Manuel the (Jreat of
Portugal (dated 1512) and the other of
Gonsalvo de Cordova, the great captain,
written a few years earlier. (Anyone
who has glanced over these remarkable
specimens of chirography will marvel
that it was possible to make out a sylla
ble of such Illegible scrawls.)
"Ttese letters," Mr. Tlcknor assured
Mr. Choate, "were written 350 years
ago, and they strongly resemble yonr
notes of the present trial." Choate In
stantly replied: "Remarkable men, no.
doubt; they seem to have beeu much in
advance of their tlme."-Caroline Tick
nor In Truth.
Quer Lawiuit.
An Adrian County (Missouri) court
has been wrestling with a peculiar law
suit. In which rats cut the principal
figure. A farmer named Sturgeon hir
ed one Walker to kill the rats on his
place, agreeing to pay I cent apiece
for the falls of 1.000 of the victims.
When 750 tails had been presented for
tally, Walker asked $7.50 as pay for
his services. Here the trouble began,
for the farmer refused to pay for any
number less than 1.000. He also claim
ed that Walker tried to palm off mouse
tails on him as tails of young rats. The
hired man secured a favorable verdict
lu the lower courts, but Sturgeon will
continue his legal fight to escape pay
ment. The Pope'a American HnuflT.
Pope Leo XIII. is still addicted to the
habit of taking snuff. It Is not general
ly known that snuff used by the head
of the Roman Catholic Church is made
especially for his use In America. This
particular kind is the highest-priced
made anywhere In the world, and be
fore being packed Is flavored with the
costly attar of roses.
Dangers of Generalization.
"The soil," said the political econ
omist, "Is what supports us."
"Well, I don't know," said the sea
captain, thoughtfully. "The ocean sup
ports me about eleven months in the
year." Somervllle Journal.
Unless a man Is sincere he can nevai
be a hero In his own estimation.
1
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