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About Corvallis gazette. (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 30, 1902)
d I: ' ' GORVA 'i .i SEMIAVEEKLY. COKVAIililS, BENTON GQtJ2 TT ; OREGON", TXJESD AY, SEPTEMBER ' 30, 1902. VOL. -III. NO. 23. UNION Eitab. July, 1807. GAZETTE K.tb. Dec. 1868. (Consolidated Feb., 1899. : 1 f 1 A STUDY IN SCARLET j Jl BY A. CONAN DOYLE. 4 1 : : r PART II Chapter I Continued. "Cocks and hens," cried the little girl, gleefully, pointing at their ill omened forma, and clapping her hands to make them rise. "Say, did God make this country?" "In course he did," said her com panion, ratner startled by this unex pected Question. "He made the country down in Illi nois, and He made the Missouri," the little girl continued. "I guess some body else made the country in these parts. It's net nearly so well done. They forgot the water and the trees." "What would ye think of offering up prayer?" the man asked diffidently. "It ain't night yet," she answered. "It don't matter. It ain't quite regu lar, but He won't mind that, yoir bet! You say over them ones that you used to say every night in the wagon when we was on the plains." "Why don't you say some yourself?" the child asked, with wondering eyes. "I disremember them," he answered, "I hain't said none since I was half the height o' that gun. I guess it's never too late. You say them out, and I'll stand by and come in on the choruses." "Then you'll need to kneel down, and me, too," she said, laing the shawl out for that purpose. "You've got to put your hands up like this. It makes you feel kind of good." It was a strange sight, had there been anything but the buzzards to see it. Side by side on the narrow shawl knelt the two wanderers the little, prattling child and the reckless, hard ened adventurer. Her chubby face and his haggard, angular visage were both turned up to the cloudless heaven in heartfelt en treaty to that dread being with whom they were face to face, while the two voices the one thin and clear, the other deep and harsh united in the entreaty for mercy and forgiveness. The prayer finished, they resumed their seat in the shadow of the bowl der until the child fell asleep, nestling upon the broad breast of her protect or. He watched over her slumber for some time, but Nature proved to be too strong for him. For three days and three night he had allowed himself neither rest nor repose. Slowly the eyelids drooped over the tired eyes, and the head sunk lower and lower upon the breast, until - the man's grizzled beard was mixed with the golden tresses of his companian. and both slept the same deep ' and dreamless "slumber." -r- ;- ... Had the wanderer remained awake for another half hour a strange sight would have met hia eyes. Far away on the extreme verge of the alkali plain, there rose up a little spray of dust, very slight at first, and hardly to be distinguished from the mists of the distance, but gradually growing higher and broader until it formed a solid, well-defined cloud. This cloud continued to increase in size until it became evident that it could only be raised by a great multi tude of moving creatures. In more fertile spots the observer would have came to the conclusion that one of those great herds of bisons which graze upon the prairie land was approaching him. This was obviously impossible in these arid wilds. As the whirl of dust drew nearer to the solitary bluff upon which the two castaways were repos ing the canvas-covered tilts of wagons and the figures of armed horsemen be gan to show up through the haze, and the apparition revealed itself as being a great caravan upon its journey for the West. But what a caravan! When the head of it had reached the base of the moun tains the rear was not yet visible on the horizon. Right across the enormous plain stretched the straggling array, wagons and carts, men on horseback, and men rn foot. Innumerable women who staeeered along under burdens, and children who toddled beside the wag ons or peeped out from under the white coverings. This was evidently no ordinary party rf immierants. but rather some nomad people who had been compelled thrnnirh stress of circumstances to Reek a new country. There rose through the clear air a confused clattering and rumbling from this great mass of humanity, with the creaking of wheels and the neighing horses. Loud as It was. it was not sufficient to rouse the two tired wayfarers above thorn At the head of the column there rode score or more of grave, iron-faced men clad in sombre homespun gar ments and armed with rifles. On reaching the base of the bluff thev halted and held a short council among themselves. "The wells are to the right, my brothers," said one a hard-lipped clean-shaven man with grizzly hair. "To the right of the Sierra Blanco so we shall reach the Kio urande, said another. "Fear not for water." cried a third. "He who could draw it from the rocks will not now abandon His own chosen riAnnle " "Amen! Amen!" responded the whole party. They were about to resume their Journey when one of the youngest and keenest-eyed uttered an exclamation and pointed up at the rugged crag above the.m. From its summit there fluttered a lit tle wisp of pink, showing up hard and brieht against the gray rocks behind At the sight there was a general reining up of horses and unslinging of euns. while fresh horsemen came galloping up to reinforce the vanguard The word "Redskins" was on every 11d. "There can't be any number of In dians here." said the elderly man, who anpeared to be in command. "We have passed the Pawnees, and there are no other tribes until we cross the great mountains." "Shall I go forward and see. Brother Stangerson?" asked one of the band. I." "and I." cried a dozen voices. "Leave your horses below' and we will wait you here," the elder an swered. In a moment the young fellows had dismounted, fastened their horses, and were ascending the precipitous slope which led up to the object which had excited their curiosity. They advanced rapidly and noiseless ly, with the confidence and dexterit7 of practiced scouts. The watchers from the plain below could see them flit from rock to rock until their figures stood out against the sky-line. The young man who had first given the alarm was leading them. Suddenlv his followers saw him throw up his hands, as though over come with astonishment, and on join ine him thev were affected in the same wav bv the sight which met their eves. On the little plateau which crowned the barren hill there stood a single eiant bowlder, and against this bowl der there lay a tall man, long bearded and hard featured, but of an excessive thinness. His placid face and regular breath- ins showed that he was fast asleep. Beside him lay a little child, with her white arms encircling his brown Kinewv neck, and her golden-haired hpart rpsti-ne- uiion the breast of his velveteen tunic. Her rosy lips were parted, showing the regular line of snow white teeth within and a playful smile piayea over her Infantile features.- Her nlumo little white legs, ter.mi nating in white socks and neat shoes with shining buckles, offered a strange contrast to the long, shriveled mem hers nf her companion. On the ledee of rock above tnis strange couple there stood three sol emn buzzards, who, at the sight of the newcomers, uttered raucous screams of disappointment and flapped sullenly awav The cries ol tne.ioui oiras hwu&b tho twn sleepers, who stared about thAm In bewilderment. Tha man staggered to his leet ana looked down upon the plain which had been so desolate when sleep had over taken him. and which was now trav ersed by this enormous body or. men on A haast.M. Hia face assumed an expression or. incridulity a he gazed, and he passed his bony hand over his eyes. n "This is what they caUfaeiinum, ffiiess " h mutterea. : r The child stood beside- him holding on tn the skirt of his coftt, ana saia nnrhinsr. hut looked all around ner witn tha wnnderine. Questioning gaze of fhi 11 hood. The rescuing party were speeany able to convince the two castaways that their appearance was no delusion rn of them seized the little gin and hoisted her upon his shoulder while two others supported her gaunt onmnanion and assisted him towara thA wagons. My name Is John Ferrier, ine wan derer explained; "ine and that luue 'nn are all that's left o' twenty-tnree npnnle. The rest is all dead o' thirst and hunger away down in the south.' is she vour child " asKea some one she is now!" the other pried defiantly, "she s mine cause saved her. No man will take her a wav from me. She's Lucy Ferrier from this dav on. Who are you though?" he continued, glancing with nnrinsitv at his stalwart, sunburned rescuers: "there seems to be a power ful lot of ye. Nigh unon ten thousana, saia one of the young men; "we are tne perse cuted children of uod tne cnosen 01 the angel Merona I never heard tell on him,' said tne wanderer. "He appears to nave chosen a fair crowd of ye." 'Do not iest at that which is cred," said the other, sternly. "We are of those who believe in those sacred writings, drawn in Egyptian letters on plates of beaten gold, which were handed unto the holy Joseph Smith, at Pnlmvra. We have come from Nau- voo, in the State of Illinois, where we have founded our temple. We have come to seek refuge from the violent man and from the godless, even though it be in the heart of the des ert." The name Nauvoo evidently re called recollections to John Ferrier. I see," he said, "you are the Mor mons. We are the Mormons, answered his companions, with one voice. "And where are you going: "We do not know. The hand of God is leading us under the person of our nrophet. You must come before him He shall say what is to be done with vou. Thev hart reacnect me Dase 01 m hill by this time, and were surrounded hv crowds of the ni'snms paie-tacea meek-looking women, strong, laugh ing children, and anxious, earnest- eyed men. Many were the cries or asionisn- ment and or commiseration wnicn arose from them when they perceived the youth of one of the strangers and the destitution of the other. Their escort did not halt, however, but pushed on. followed by a great crowd of Mormons, until they reached a wagon which was conspicuous for its great size and for the gaudiness ana smartness of its appearance. Six horses were yoked to it. where as the others were furnished with two or. at most, four apiece. Beside the -driver there sat a man who could not have been more than thirty years of age, but whose massive head and resolute expression marked him as a leader. He was reading a brown backed vol ume, but as the crowd approached he laid it aside, and listened attentively to an account of the episode. Then he turned to the two casta ways. "If we take you wun us." he said in solemn words, "it can only be as be lievers in our solemn creed. We shall have no wolves in our fold. Better far that your bones should bleach In this "And wilderness than that you should prove, to be that little speck of decay which ia time corrupts the whole Iruit "Will you come with us on these terms? Guess I'll come with you on any . terms," said Ferrier, with sucn em phasis that the grave elders could not restrain a smile.. The leader alone re tained his stern, impressive expres-- sion. Take him. Brother Stangerson, he said; give him food and drink, and the child likewise. Let it be your task also to teach him our holy creed. We have delayed long enough, for ward! On ontoZion." 'On on to Zion!" cried the crowd of Mormons, and the words rippled down the long caravan,, passing irom mouth to mouth until they died away in a dull murmur in the far distance. With a cracking of whips and a creaking of wheels the great wagon got Into motion, and soon tne wnoie caravan was winding along once more. The elder to whose care the two waifs had been committed led them to his wagon, where a meal was already awaiting them. "Yon shall remain here," he saia. In a few days you will have recover ed from your fatigue. In the mean time remember that now and forever you are of our religion. Brigham Young has said it and he has spoken with the voice of Joseph Smith, which ia the voice of God." CHAPTER IL This is not the place to commemor ate the trials and privations endured by the Immigrant Mormons before they came to their final haven. From the shores of the Mississippi to the western slopes of the Rocky mountains they had struggled on with a constancy almost unparalleled in his tory. The savage man and the savage beast, hunger, thirst, fatigue and dis ease every impediment which Nature could place in the way had all been overcame with Anglo-Saxon tenacity. Yet the long journey and the accum-- ulated terrors had shaken the hearts of the stoutest among them. There was not one who did not sink upon his knees in nearueii prayer when they saw the broaa vaiiey or Utah bathed in the sunlight beneath them, and learned from the lips of their leader, that this was the promised land, and that these virgin acres were to be theirs for evermore. Young speedily proved himself to be a skillful administrator as well as a resolute chief. Maps were drawn and charts pre pared, in which the future city was sketched out. All around farms were apportioned and allotted in proportion to the stand ing of each individual. ; , The tradesman was put to his trade and the artisan to his calling. In the town streetgand squares sprang up as if by magic. - In the country there .was arammg and ; hedging; 'platMgndeIaruig until the next Summer saw the whole country golden with the wheat crop. Everything prospered in the strange settlement. Above all. the great temple which they had erected in the center of the city grew ever taller and larger. From the first blush of dawn until the closing of the twilight, the clatter of the hammer and the rasp of the saw was never absent from the monu ment which the immigrants erected to Him who had led them safe through many dangers. The two castaways, John Ferrier and the little girl who had shared his fortunes and had been adopted as his daughter, accompanied the Mormons to the end of their great pilgrimage. Little Lucy Ferrier was borne along pleasantly enough in Elder Stanger son's wagon, a retreat which she shared with the Mormon's three wives and with his son, a headstrong, for ward boy of twelve. Having rallied, with the elasticity of childhood, from the shock caused by her mother's death,- she soon became a pet with the women, and reconciled herself to this new life in her moving canvas-covered home. (To be Continued.) CONTENDING FOR A PRINCIPLE. Qood Example of the Quibbles That Pre. vail in Legal Practice. An English writer gives a good ex ample of those quibbles in legal prac tice that have a sort of fascination ior certain minds. Some years ago, while traveling on the continent, he met the principal lawyer for the government of one of the principalities, who told him of a curious legal question. It had ref erence to a railway station at the boun dary between two principalities. Someone standing outside the window of the ticket office had put his hand through and robbed the till inside. The boundary line lay between where fie thief stood and the till, so that he was actually in one territory while the crime was committed in another. Here was a nice nut for the ntlemen learned in the law to crack. Which of the principalities should undertake the prosecution of the criminal? A t it they went in good earnest, and the arguments on either side were long and vehement, till the whole case was embalmed in many volumes. At last one side yielded so far as to say : "We will permit you, as an act of ourtesy, to prosecute, while at the same time reserving all our sovereign rights." At this point of the recital I asked: "And how did the prosecution end?" 11.1 Ti,,t ; nnitn mnihr mattor said my friend. "There was no prose- wrt lv orranainor what w should do when we caught the rob- ber; but .we never caught him." Youths' Companion. The Trapplsts. Many letters come to the monastery announcing the death of relatives of the monks; these are seen by the abbot only, and at chapter he may simply an nounce: "The mother of one of our number is dead; let us pray for her soul." Never to his dying day does the be reaved Trappist learn that he was pray ing for his -own mother. New Trick with Scissors. Can you fasten a pair of scissors to a wall with a piece of cord and then remove them without breaking or cut ting the cord? It seems impossible, yet it can easily be done. First, the cord is to be fastened in a loop to the left handle of the scis sors and then the double cord to to be HOW IT IS PONE. drawn through -the;: right : handle and secured to a nail at some distance. Next the noose at the left handle must be drawn through the other handle and so onward until it Is between the two blades. ' As soon as this is done the cord can easily be loosened and removed from the scissors. ; Big Chief and the Chicken. "How! Swap?" "How" was the Big Chiefs way of saying "How do you do?" ana "swap" was his way of in viting a trade. -r-i Jennie was 7 years old, and uvea with her parents In a tiny rough-built stone house one mile north of the line which separates- Kansas from the In dian Territory... The Kaw Indians, wno ocupied ; the reservation nearest J en- nie's home, often came to the state to trade with the settlers, to whom they would off er pieces of gaudy calico, moc casins and necklaces made of rows ;or bright-colored beaos .strung ami mBi ened together "in a"?kiuf ar way known only to the Indians. - Ever since she could remember, Jen nie had longed for one of these neck laces. Every, one, of her little girl friends had one; but Jennie's parents had been "seeing hard times", for sev eral years, and Jennie's mother was far too careful to trade her chickens (for the Indians would insist on having chickens) for anything so useless as a necklace. Once in a great while she would exchange a chicken for a few yards of calico out of which to make Jennie a dress. This afternoon Jennie's parents had gone to the near-by village and had left Jennie alone, as they often did; for she was a sturdy child and not at all afraid. Indeed, there was nothing to fear. All dangerous wild animals had been hunt ed out, and the Kaws were a peaceable. well behaved tribe. .Tonnie was drawing on her slate when she heard the Big Chiefs call, As she opened the door and peeped out, he leaned over In his saddle and dan gled a gorgeous necklace almost in her fa pp. Jennie easned for breath. The neeklace was so beautiful, flaming red. blue, pink, yellow,, green far prettier than any the other girls had. "Oh!" said Jennie at last. "Swap?" said the Big Chief, sugges tively. "I can't," said Jennie. "My mother ft Just then her mother's favorite roos ter ran across the yard. He was a big fellow, and had a lovely long green feather in his tail. "Chicken!" demanded the Big Chief. Jennie was half afraid and very un certain. But suddenly the Big Chief, after a quick glance at her face, sprang from his saddle, swooped down upon the rooster, gathered him in his arms. and was back in the saddle quicker than it takes to tell it "Now." he said, "swap?" And he held out the necklace. "Y-e-s," said Jennie, slowly. The very next morning her mother asked "Have yon seen the big rooster this morning, Jennie?" "No." answered Jennie. A few days later her mother remark ed: "I suppose a coyote must have caught the big rooster." To this Jennie answered nothing. Jennie hid her necklace In her own private box with her other treasures. No one but Jennie ever touched that box. Monday morning she tucked her necklace under her apron front but ; was half way to school before she dared fasten it about her neck. She ' was duly envied by all the girls, but ' on her way home she hid the necklaoe under a rock. This with a strange kind of fear she did every evening. She srrew to dread having visitors. She was afraid some of them might men tion the' necklace before her-mother. In truth, the little girl was very mis erable, for her tender heart was touch ' ed by her mother's evident regret over the loss of the rooster. I On a Saturday afternoon, almost two months after the. trade, the Big Chief again rode up to the door of Jennie's I home. Jennie's eyes opened wide with wonder and fear for there, was. the big rooster's long green feathers stuck jp. the Big Chiefs hat The Big Chief had supposed that no one would recog nize that feather. f-":.vi--: "W-h-y-y, you bad man!", said lea-: Die's mother, pointing to the feather. . "Ugh!" said the Big Chiefs pointing to Jennie as he gathered up his reins and' spurred his pony into a gallop, "Ugh! Bad girl!" - Of course Jennie was punished for her fault, but I believe she felt glad that what she dreaded had at last oc curred, and her; suspense wasended She no longer hides her necklace, for having paid the penalty of her sin, she can wear it with a clear consclehce. Waverly Magazine. Three Little Kittens. Three little- kittens, so downy and soft, Were cuddled up by the fire, : - " And : two little children were sleeping aloft , .. As coxy as heart could desire; . Dreaming of something ever so nice, -Dons'1 and sugar-plums, rats and mice. The night wore on, and the mistress said,- I m sleepy, I must confess, Vnd as kitties and babies are safe in bed, I'll go to bed, too, I guess." She went upstairs, just a story higher. While the kittens slept by the' kitchen ' fire. - , . What noise can that be?" the mistress said. - . . . "!Wnw! mMirr' "T'm Afraid A poor little kitty-cat's fallen out of ed! The nice little nest I made" - - Meow! meow!" "Dear me! dear-nte! ' I wonder what can the matter be?". The mistress paused, on an upper stair. Dor what did she see-below? i But three little kittens with frightened air, Standing up in a row! With six little paws on the step above, And no mother cat to caress or love! Through the kitchen door came a cloud of - smoke! ' ; ; The mistress, in great alarm. To a sense of danger straightway awoke: Her babies might come to harm. - On the -kitchen hearth, to her great amaze, Was a basket of shavings beginning to. blaze. The three little kittens were hugged arid. kissed, And promised many a monse; While their names were put upon honor's list For hadn't they saved a house? ' And two little children were gathered tight To n mother's heart ere she slept that night " Good Little Girl. The story is told of a little girl In England who, when rain- water was crecsajgd .opa..moch aa,.lt ash4 could and then sold' it for a cent a bucket says the Detroit Free. Press. In this way she earned nearly $5, which she brought to the missionary society. She was a modest little girl, an(J when the secretary of the mis sionary society asked for her name she hesitated and failed to answer. "But I must put down where the mon ey came from," said the secretary, Call it rain from heaven," replied the little girl. Litfe Jack Hornet. No more I'll prod' a hornet's nest I really do not think it best The creatures don't know how to play, Though sharp in ev'ry other way. I merely took a little goad And merely tickled their abode, When out they came like anything. And made me feel like one large sting. And though I truly am not sloy, They showed me points I did not know. I really do not think it best To meddle with a hornet's nest. Strange Meat Dishes; A globe trotter says that in Antwerp and Rome, with lordly meat markets at their disposal, the natives and not f:he poverty stricken natives, at that dine off broiled cat and pick poor pussy s Dones wirn a reiisn. in va rious South Americacn cities, stewed mule is a familiar dish on a : table d'hote menu. An Electric Rat-Trap. Electric rat traps are in use in Am sterdam. They are connected by: a wire with a supply of electricity. .The place where the bait rests, is the only.. part of the trap which is a conductor, and the moment. Mr., Rat touches this a shock" closes his career. Too Much Attention. A little sermon which will be appre ciated by nurses and doctors was inno cently preached by a small girl who little knew the bearing of her tale. Her aunt had been ill for a long time, and some one asked Dorothy how the in valid was progressing. The Washing ton Post thus reports the answer: "She's sick,!' answered Dorothy, "She has the worst headaches, and she has to stay in a dark room. But she s got lots of friends, and they try to make her feel better. They come to see her every day, to see if there is anything they caii do. They Bend- her jelly and things to make her want to at: but she doesn't eat a bit Then they're always coming to cheer her up, It. doesn't seem to do much good, but she added, with an effort to speak the sneech of her elders, "she bears inflic tions nobly!" . . Too Soon. A story is told of a politician who in social life Is possessed by a fear of being thought older than he is. The story that at an afternoon tea, which for private reasons he had at tended, he was crcss-questioneu by a young woman who wished to know bis views on a certain point "I'm not sure," said she. laughingly, "whether I'm realiy finding out what von think or not. You ought to be frank, for your eyes are gray and" "Prematurely so. 1 assure you, my dear madam," he Interpol i, hastily. mm 2f : How to Roll Barbed Wire. The illustration shows a home-made. device for rolling barbed wire which will work well and enable one to han dle the wire -without- trouble. Use any sort of a small barrel and nail the ends in tight and see that all hoops are securely fastened on. , On the cen ter of each end or head nail a block of wood thick enough to be above the evel of the edges of chimes. Through this bore a hole Into the barrel. Maker handles of material an Inch thick, two Jnches wide and five feet long.:,. Take an iron rod,, pass It through the ends of the handles and through the bar rel, as shown in the cut fastening at the ends with a nut Nail a piece of board across the handles, or nse Iron bars, If possible, to stiffen the handles, and the machine is complete. Stretch the wire out onthe ground, fasten one end to the barrel and then simply roll the barrel over the wire until the lat ter is wound around the barrel, Hay in Round Bales. The cylindrical bale has become very popular for bay and cotton, and many shippers are discarding their old presses to get'one- that will press it In this form. The standard bale Is eight een inches in diameter and thirty-six inches long. The pressure used . In packing for home use puts about two hundred-Dounds in such a bale, but when Intended,, for export tkey use higher-pressure and get In abooV275 pounds. A bale put.up for army -use is but half "as long, or eighteen Inches, and "tfeiga about; 340 pounds. It is cal culated that aygoOd pack -horse or mule wUf "tfavel vIth one of these' on each side, and they.can go where the army wagons vcould not Thousands of tons of these round bales have been shipped to our army in the Philippines, and a large amount to the British army In South Africa. In this form a given weight of hay is compressed into about one-half the space that it occupied In the square bale, and the fact that it does not pack as closely In car or ves sel, there being spaces between the bales, which prevents moulding, pre-' serves the sweetness of the hay, and the close pressure In the bale reduces the combustibility. For cotton many of the same advantages are claimed for the round, bale, that Is, getting more In small space and reducing the danger from fire. American Cultivator. Cutting Potatoes for Seed. TToro urn some .outline drawings showing how to cut potatoes for seed. In the first case the potato is cut in two pieces; In the second and third. In three and four respectively. By cut ting potatoes as indicated about ten bushels of seed are required per acre, A FOB BOIXJNO BARBED WIRE. Much of the success with the crop de-' pounds of moisture from the soil dur pends on starting right . With a good ing the. period of ordinary drought, or strong growth at the start the battle "more or less according to its duration POTATOES COT FOB SEED. la half won. The other half of the battle may be won by proper spraying and tillage. Alfalfa on Sandy Soil. The claim, that alfalfa will not thrive on sandy soil Is not .borne out by. ex periment Col. B. Wl Richards, secre tary of the Laurel Hill Cemetery Com pany, who has a farm at Hammonton, Nj. J., has grown alfalfa for several years, and on a plot consisting of white sand. . ThepJiwa' seeded Jn August, 189$, and another later. As many:, as four' or five cuttings are secured every season,' and from two to three tons of hay per acre are cured. " Manure " is spread -over the land every fall and lime (mostly from burnt oyster shells) Is broadcasted. .The land has become very productive, and more animals were necessary In order to consume the hay produced. The experiment s a valuable one, as it demonstrates what can be done with alfalfa on the lightest kind of sand. Philadelphia Record. To Secure Broody Hens. We often hear people complain of the scarcity of sitting hens. When we are short of sitters we place four or five ' extra nest eggs In several nests, and In ' a very few days usually find them cov of nest eggs, he can nse a few eggs that are under size or off In shape and worthless for hatching purposes, mark ing them, so the fresh laid eggs may be readily distinguished from them . and gathered as usual. We find this is a very simple and effective method to in duce the hens to become broody early in the season. Milton A. Brown, In Poultry Keeper. - Our Farmer Aristocrats. Tales of sudden wealth are quite com mon in the faniolis Kansas and Okla homa wheat belt; fine houses, modern ini. every . appointment, are the rule; rubber-tired buggies and automobiles are nothing to attract attention. In cer tain communities even the farmer has grown metropolitan to the extent -of building an opera house on a school lot and securing some of the best attrac tions In the theatrical line. It was not until the present winter that Wichita could afford a guarantee for certain notable singers. Among those occupy ing front seats were well-known wheat groovers. Farmers" daughters and farmers! sons form a goodly part of the Kansas society element, while piano salesmen look to them for their quick deals. It is nothing uncommon for a farmer to come to town and buy two or three rubber-tired buggies, or even to place an order for an automobile. Mr. D. W. Blaine, a rich farmer of Pratt County, superintends all his har vesting in an automobile. Many oth ers are equally plutocratic. . One of the richest farmers in the Kan sas wheat belt is John T. Stewart, who came to the State five years ago. He borrowed $50 from a friend, rented a quarter section of land In Sumner County and began work. To-day he Is worth $2,000,000, and his income from wheat In 1901 was $04,000. He is known as the wheat king of Kansas. There are twenty-three millionaires in Kan sas, fifteen of wliom are farmers living on farms and running them as an in vestment Perhaps they ha ye. not all of their fortune1 invested in land, but a goodly portion of it Is. Solomon Bes ley, of Wellington, placed $31,000 In wheat land last year and realized SO per cent on his investment, or ten times as much as. he receives from money loaned in Illinois. Ainslee's Magazine. Snowshoes for Horses. Over the . light crust, that form on the -snow In . the .dense - forests, a ad. deep gulches of Northern Idaho the horses f the win ter mail carriers make their way on snow shoes, and wooden snow shoes at that. These shoes are made with a dou ble thickness of Inch boards, the whole about 20 Inches long and 14 wide. An in snowsuoes. dention to fit the horse's foot is brand ed In with a hot horse shoe, and an iron clamp, secured by a screw bolt, holds It over the hoof. Robbery of Moisture by Weeds. One who is inexperienced, and who has made no experiments in that direc- ' tion, can form no estimate of the quan tity of water taken from the soil by weeds, .which is really robbery of the crop occupying the land. A single weed may -seemingly do but little in jury,' but one pound' of weeds will fehiove 500 ana -tne growtn or tne weeas. as mucn soO.OOO pounds of moisture per acre Is an ordinary-'quantity for a heavy mass -of iwjeeds to take. In addition to the moisture the weeds draw. on the fer tility, and deprive the crop of plant food," which is so necessary In order to secure large yields. It is work to keep down weeds after they get a good start, but it Is not difficult to destroy them when they are very young. Many crops fail during dry seasons more because of robbery of the moisture by weeds tljan because of lack of rain; ' .. . The Daily Waste. ' There Is one item that is often over looked in the keeping of cows, and es pecially so Of dairy cows, and that is daily wastes ; " There is practically ' the same whether the animal Is a good milker or a poor one. . In all cases the food. necessary for the support of ani mal life and to make up the daily waste" must come first, and then the milk or beef comes next after this is taken out. If the animal gives a sni?ill amount of milk, the cost of food as waste in proportion to the amount of milk secured is greater than with a large amouht of milk. and . of course this profit is decreased accordingly. Feedjhg poor cow's in the dairy is prac tically a waste, of feeL Agricola. In Favor of Sheep. : . It " is sometimes asserted that cattle and sheep;;require the same amount of feed per 1,000 pounds of live weight according to Prof. Curtiss. This state ment seems not to be well founded, In some experiments at the Iowa sta tion the cattle consumed 19.0 pounds of dry matter per 1,000 poun -s of live weight against an average of 29.7 by the sheep. Both cattle and sheep were on full feed. The sheep made a daily gain of 3.73 pounds per 1,000 pounds of live weight and the cattle 2.14. In summing up this comparison we find that while the sheep ate 4S per cent more than the cattle they gained, near- - ; ly 75 per cent more. .1 ' I i Mi w '''Avs m