. 4 i
THE PLOWluG SEASOh
Ancient Superstitions cf tha Til!
? ers of lh9',Soii:'iM;,:"'"i
SACRIFICES TO THE
GODS.
Cuttomt Tht Wsrs In Vgu Among
'the Remans of Old Csrsmonlss
That Are Obttrvid In India - and
Chlh Rlt ef ths Siamese Farmers.
Tlio fortnatluiiugultttloo of the ptoV
inf season la very ancient and itlll la
observed la anm partt of the world.
' Among tba Itoiutioa by tb Institution
of Tarloua religious festivals connect
ad with agriculture tba seasons cam
to ba regarded with aort of sacred
rereronre. Before tha old Roman put
tbo plow I11 to tha ground be went to
the temple of the goddess of earth,
T ellua, one of whose priests performed
certain propitiatory rites. Virgil In hla
"Georglca" advises the Roronn bus
landman to observe the signs on bear
en according to the crop he dealree to
produce. The time to plow for lax,
iarley and the aacrod poppy wea wben
"balance tine equalised tbe boura of
day and Bleep and halves tbe world
exactly between light and abade. Wben
Taunts nshers In the year with Ala
glided horns and Blriiia site facing tbe
threatening bull la time for beta. For
wheat and spelt tbe rioladea ahould
hide themselves from your eyea with
tho dawn. Many have begun before
Maria acta, but the deal red crop baa
baffled them with empty ears." But
"Unit of all the poet admonlabea the
farmer to "honor the goda and offer
sacrifices to Cores."
In India there ore certain days when
it Is unlawful to plow. Mother Earth
Is supposed to Bleep six days In every,
month, and on aucb daya ah refuaea
to be disturbed In her slumber.
Id north went India the cultivator
employs n pundit to select an auspi
cious time for the commencement of 1
plowing. Great secrecy la observed. In
some places tbe time selected Is In tbe
night;. lo others dnybrenk 1b tbe cus
tomary time.
The pundit goes to a field, taking a
brans drinking vessel and a branch pf
' the aacred mango tree, which la efflca
- clous In frightening away evil spirits
that may bnuntthe field, rrithlvt, tbe
broad world, and Scabs Nairn, tbe
great anakea which eupport the world. I l
are supposed to be propitiated and
, reconciled 4y this ceremony The pun
dit satisfies himself as to the direction
" In which the great snakd Js lying, for
it occasionally moves about a little to
ease Itself of the great burden of tbe
broad - world which it carries. Tbe
.' pundit then marks off an Imaginary
Mine. Five (a lucky number clod of
earth are thrown op, and water Is
' sprinkled In. the trench Ave times with
Xb. sacr4usjago, IiUha to Insure pro
ductiveness. Caution must be exercised
lest the charm be broken and prospec
tive fortune imperiled. Th farmer
must remain secluded during the fol
lowing day; no salt must be eaten, no
money, grain or fire given away.
Among tbe Kama before plowing
tbe farmer makes a burnt offering of
butter and molasses In his own field
and again at the village shrine.
Tbe Chinese begin plowing on the
first day of their solar year. Anciently
tbe rttes which were celebrated by the
Chinese at plowlug time were elabo
rate, but rationalistic aoverclgns elim
inated one expensive religious rite aft
er another until nothing was left ex
cept the Imperial act of homage to
heaven and earth and agriculture In
the ceremonial plowing.
Tbe Siamese observe a rite called
Raakua about tbe middle of May,
which la preliminary to the plowing
season, and It Is not proper for any
one to plow until the ceremony is
over. Tbe court astrologers determine
the time for It On the day fixed by
them the minister of agriculture, who
Is always a prince or noblemnn of
liliih rank, goes with a procession to a
piece of ground some distance from
tbe capital. Where tbe festivities ore
to take place a new plow, to which a
pnlr of buffaloes are yoked, Is in readl
ne. decorated with flowers and leaves,
The minister guides the plow over
the field, closely watched by the spec
tators, who are especially Interested
in the length and folds of the silk of
bis lower garments, because the pros
! perlty of the season and Its character
istics, wet or dry, are to be predicted
from these as he follows the plor. If
tbe robe rlseR from his knee there will
be rtlsiiKlMiiK ruin If It UU hi'linv
bis ankles ,tl;ure will lnn drongbt. If
the folds rciieli mlilwny lM-twccn knee
end .'skl the sisou will b ..prosper
out, utM'f i '"' if 4 U ,
i After iv proper number of furrows
hiivt.ben. turned; old women strew
grain of different klnd In them and
bull are fuluwd froiu.lhe yoke,, and,
Mlmyed to.fitust ui'pn 1b mjH The
grain which the aiilniuls eat moat free
ly. wW bp srsw nwt barycut, ami that
wl,k ohi7 refuse to tike will I abuu ,
dant ' .
In Yorkshire It was considered no
wise to disturb the earth with flow or
spade on Good FrWuj.-Kxtiiiniige , ,
' . .-' J" t A SMpwrsok. - ". :' "-'
Mogglus. gnsjlfig Intently at a dead
dog, In a resigned tone at last said!
i'Here Is another shipwreck", . ;
"Shipwreck, Win-ret" blurted out
Juggins. .
"Where, my dear friend T Quoted M.
"There Is bark lost forever."
Juggins growled and passed on.
London Fwnv'.a:;.!, 1,..; . a ".. . ,-, .
It is Impossible for a man attempt
Ing ninny things to do all ihbigs well.
Xenophon. ,
Subscribe to the Morning Aitorian
60c per manth by mail or carrier.
A Doubli H.trjtd Bull.
Ou tin? !'-,mlu:i of u public reception
nt Napier, Australia, tbe school chll
dren of .the town, after being duly coin
jilJijientwt !;; lii esceileney front Coun
ty Tvrotie on ,(, lintrfy manner In
which they bad Tendered the national
anthem; were solemnly assured that If
IlK'y put their shoulders to the wheel
they would be sure to reach the top
of the tree, upon which u compatriot
turned Pi pie and said, "Sure, It was
an BXlettee be meant, bedadr-London
Spectator.
' , Equally Cutting,
"Your vol ." suld the commanding
offlcer, "Is decidedly rasping.", ,
"Yes, ' sir." said the subordinate,
touching pis baf, have been out
roughing U with a file of soldiers all
morning," -Chicago Tribune. , t
NEW TO-DAY
' COAL AND WOOD
If you want a good load of fir or
boxwood, or of coal, ring up Kelly tho
COAL AMD WOOD DEALER
Good houshold and steam coal deliv
ered at $7.50,
Phone Main 2191, Barn, 12th ft Duant
! gets them at their best.
The it ty best board to be obtained
In the city at "The Occident
Hotel." Tates very reasonable.
Why Hs Levsd f pain.
Gloacchluo Rossini, who was a great
jester, was once seen embracing a
Spaniard with great effusion. , Asked
tbe reason, be replied, "Because with
out Spain We would be the last na
tion; . '
, The Motive. - f 2
Lawyer- What took yon to tbe scent
of the murder? Witness -The cars,
sir . jjiwer-No, no! What motlre
was " It? Wltness-Tbe locomotive.
Lawyer-You nm.v go -Pa fcDnder
The Palace Restaurant
n phrie of hunger can be daintily
gratified at any, hour of the day or
light, at the Palace Restaurant, .The
kitchen and dining room service ar
vf the positive best. Private dining
io'rtrtt for . ladies. , , One ,call Inspire
,.,iilar i'usiuin. Try it. Comnu'rci-'
ttrcrt, op cats P, gt building.
Tht Clean Man,
The man who delights in personal
cleanliness, and enjoys his shave,
shampoo, , haircut, snd bath, in A
tui3. alwayf goes to the Occident
hnrl.pr hop for these thingrs and
Try our own mixture of coffee the
P. B, Frenh fruit and vegetables
Bsdollet & Co., grocers. Phone Mai
NAME MEANS SOMETHING. '
When A. E. Petersen built and
named the "Modern" barber shop, he
meant that it should stand for what
it was called. No patron has missed
a single feature of the modern ton'
orial parlor at that house; and every
new device m the way of perfect
comfort and service is constantly add
ed as it develops. The latest is aft
expert bootblack, the best in the
business, a qualification that , make
his employment really modern. ; '
mal announcement of his candidacy
for the nomination for 'the "office of
street superintendent' of tie: Cli.y
of Astoria, before the Reoi.Mii an
primaries of said city, to bo held on
the 9th day of November, r;:;:i.
Apron And Rng Sal.
Astoria Hive No. 44, L. 0. T. M.,
will bold an apron and rug sale
Tuesday afternoon at Red Men's Hall
and serve a New England supper in
the evening from 5:30 to 8:00; sup
per, 25 cents.
Chinook and ISwtc-a. "
The launch Hulda I. will leave on
the tide, Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays, two . round trips, for
Chinook. Landing at Lurline dock
for freight and passengers. Tuesdays,
Thursdays and Saturdays, for Ilwaco,
with freight and passengers.
CAPT.! JOHN HAAGBLOM.
10-4-tf
Subscribe to the Morning Astorian.
60 cents per month, delivered by
carrier.
Out For Superintendent.
H. E. Steffcnsen hereby makes for-
- Oysters.
Bay Center Oyster House, 420
Eond street. Oysters wholesale and
retail. George Saunders, Prop. 9-27-tf
Subscribe to the Morning Astorian.
60 cents per month, delivered by car
rier Contains full Associated Press
reports.
3 I
are Smiting the rocks of industry and rivers of shining gold are
streaming forth. Here is the cornerstone of Portland's unparal
leled future prosperity.
Gay World Condemns Fat
The Empire and the Directoire
gown having come to stay, fatness is
de trop that is to say "not in it."
Fat ladies are threatened with being
wiped off the map. ,y
There is one loop-hole of . escape,
however, for the overfat lady. Let
her get one of the large cases of Mar
mola Prescription Tablets, and take
one after each meal and at bedtime,
and pretty soon she will notice she
will be wearing the new mode with
satisfaction to herself and the con
sternation of her dear enemies.
These cases of. Marmola Prescrip
tion Tablets, which, by the way, be
ing made strictly In accordance with
the famous Marmola Prescription, are
perfectly harmless, contain such 4
generous quantity of tablets that they
last a long time and are, found to be.
most economical, costing, as they do, i
only 75 cents, ,i hey are also a veryn
pleasant method to adopt, for.i they
render dieting and exercising entirely
unnecessary. AH druggists keep them
or they may be obtained from the
, Marmola 'Company, Detroit, Mich,
.'''.' ' '.
A ft M WMY TT
'rl2iWv1":r--'
r : I (II f 5
I'M
r x'A'. && kN'-.Av-.- fw. V
Watch SWINTON the business cen
ter of the great industrial district of
future Portland. The tremendous
scope of rsvbrk being done by Swift,
Harriman and Hill on the Peninsula
at Portland has never before been
equaled on the Pacific Coasl. It is
rortiana 8 lirst step toward a great
city. People who see it stare in amaze- u
ment "at it ! and Vonder how such im- ft
Pjects can.be -.so far under1 4
wa7 wltaout everv living man s
WTArMort it 4hA Tm4i,fAAi U ,, 1-it
" viuuu AAA Uiu a vA ILAJt ?v Ci I UClli' till!
114 II
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r
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business property. It will be densely
built up to provide for the great ms
of employees who will locate near .the
greatest packing plant in the world.' '
SWINTON will foUow.inVthe foot-?,
steps of business properties that were j
near the big packing houses in Chi-1
cago, Omaha and other Eastern cities.
Every lot in SWINTON will double
and treble in value many times over f
in a very short time. People who in- i
vest now in SWINTON will reap an fj
enormous profit within a few months. I
Thousands are seeing the work Swift
is doing the proximity of SWINTON
and realize that at present prices for
tunes are to bet made here on a small
outlay of capital. Buy a lot in SWIN
TON at once. Share in the fortunes
that Jriyestors there will make. You're
bound to make bit? mnnpv. ;VfM.
TON offers a ground floor opportun-'
ity NOW. . r
Business Property in SWINTON is selling for less than residence property in any
other portion, of the city. Business lots in SWINTON are selling for a third .less
than other property in the same locality not as well located. SWINTON is offered
on easy terms. SWINTON "is selling . faster than any property in the city.
There's a reason. See about it at1 once. One week from now will be too late.
COLUMBIA TRUST COMPANY,
A. R, JOHNSON, Agent, Astoria, Or.
Please send me your Booklet,
"THE COMING OF SWIFT."
Name .
Address.
3
ii
LI U O J.
A.VR.' Johnson, Local Agent.
r f-.'.T "- i Ml . - '
A
i. '4
, Over Scholfield
I.Iattson Co.
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