Heppner gazette., January 16, 1908, Image 6

IIKENSIBE
BY
MRS. MARY J. HOLMES
Aathar "Dsn Deas." "Th Eirllih Orptuit " "Romntcatf u the Hllli'de." "In Ktren,"
"Mesdowtrook," "Icapett aid Sn.ihme," "Coutli Mtude," etc.
CHAPTEU XVI. (Continued.)
Maddy could not explain why it was
that she felt glad the doctor would toll
Guy. She did not analyze any of her feel
ings, or stop to ask why she should care
to have Guy Remington know the answer
he had given Dr. Holbrook. lie was
going to hira now, she was sure, for he
arose to leave her, saying he might not
see her again before she returned to New
York. She did not mention his bill. That
was among the bygones, a thing never
again to be talked about, and offering
liim her hand, she looked for an instant
earnestly into his face, then without a
word, hurried from the room, while the
doctor, with a sad, heavy heart, went in
quest of Guy.
"Refused you, did you say?" and Guy's
face certainly looked brighter than it had
before since he left the doetor with
Maddy Clyde.
"Yes, refused me, as I might have
. known she would," was the doctor's re
ply, spoken so naturally that Guy looked
up quickly to see if he really did not cam
Hut the expression of the face belied
the calmness of the voice; and. touched
with genuine pity, Guy asked the cause of
the refusal "preference for anyone else,
or what?"
"No, there was no one whom she pre
ferred. She merely did not like me well
enough to be my wife, that was all," the
doctor said, and then he tried to talk of
something else; but It would not do. The
wound was yet too fresh and sore to be
covered up, and in spite of himself the
bearded chin quivered and the manly
voice shook as he bade good-by to Guy,
and then went galloping down the avenue.
Great was the consternation among the
doctor's patients when it was known that
their pet physician the one in whose
skill they had so much confidence was
going to Europe, where in Paris he could
perfect himself in his profession. Some
cried, and among them Agnes ; some said
he knew enough already ; some tried to
dissuade him from his purpose ; some won
dered at the sudden start, while only
two knew exactly why he was going
Guy and Maddy ; the former approving
his decision and lending nls influence to
make his tour abroad as pleasant as pos
sible ; and the latter weeping bitterly as
she thought how she had sent him away,
and that if aught befell him on the sea or
in that distant land, she would be held
amenable. Once there came over her the
wild impulse to bid him stay, to say that
she would be his wife; but, ere the rash
act was done, Guy came down to the cot
tage, and Maddy's resolution gave way at
once.
Two weeks afterward, Aikenside pre
sented again a desolate, shut-up appear
ance, for Agnes, Maddy and Jessie bad
returned to New York ; Agnes to continue
the siege which, in despair of winning the
doctor, she had commenced against a rich
old bachelor, who had a house on Madison
Square; and Maddy to her books, which
ere long obliterated, in a. measure, the
bitter memory of all that had transpired
luring her winter vacation.
CHAPTER XVII.
Two years pass quickly, particularly at
school, and to Maddy Clyde, talking with
her companions of the coming holidays, it
seemed hardly possible that two whole
years were gone since the eventful vaca
tion when Dr. Holbrook had no startled
her by offering her his hand. He was in
Europe still, and another name than his
was on the little office in Mrs. Conner's
yard. To Maddy he now wrote frequent
ly ; friendly, familiar letters, such as a
brother might write, never referring to
the past, but telling her whatever he
thought would interest and please her.
Occasionally at first, and more frequently
afterward, he spoke of Margaret Ather
stone, Lucy's younger sister, a brilliant,
beautiful girl who reminded hira, he said,
of Maddy, only she was saucier, and more
of a tease ; not at all like Lucy, whom he
described as something perfectly angelic.
Her twenty-fifth birthday found her' on
a sick bed, with Dr. Holbrook in attend
ance, and this was the reason given why
the marriage between herself and Guy
was again deferred. There had been
many weeks of pain, succeeded by long,
weary months of languor, and during all
thiH time the doctor had been with her
as the family physician, while Margaret
also had been constantly in attendance.
But Lucy was much better now. She
could sit up all day, and even walk a lit
tle distance, assisted by the doctor and
Margaret, whose name had come to be
almost as familiar to Maddy as was that
of Lucy. Maddy did not say much to
Guy of Lucy, but she wondered why he
did not go for her, and wanted to talk
with him about it, but he was so changed
that she dared not. lie was not sociable,
as of old, and Agnes did not hesitate to
call hira cross, while Jessie complained
that he never romped or played wtih her
now, but sat all day long in a deep rev
erie of some kind.
On this account Maddy did not look
forward to the coming vacation as joy
fully as she would otherwise have done.
Still, it was always pleasant going home,
and she sat talking with her young friends
of all they expected to do, when a servant
entered the room, and glancing over the
jjroup of girls, singled Maddy out, say
ing, as he placed an unsealed envelope
In her hand, "A telegram for Miss Clyde."
There was a blur before Maddy's eyes.
tit) that at first she could not see clearly,
and Jessie, climbing on the bench beside
ber. read aloud :
"Your grandmother Is dying. Come at
once. Agnes and Jessie will stay till
next week. GUY REMINGTON."
It was Impossible to go that afternoon,
but with the earliest dawn she was up,
and unmindful of the snow falling so rap
idly, started on that sad journey home.
It was the first genuine storm of the sea
son, and it seemed resolved on making
emends for jtfist neglect, sweeping in fu
rious gusts against the windows, sifting
down in thick masses from the leaden
sky, and so Impeding the progress of the
train that the chill wintry night bad clon
ed gloomily in are tha gocnmarrUla sta
tion was reached, and Maddy, weary and
dispirited, stepped out upon the platform,
glancing anxiously around for the usual
omnibus, which she had little hope would
be there on such a night. If not, what
should she do? This had been the burden
of her thoughts for the last few hours,
for she could not expect Guy to send out
his horses in this fearful storm, much less
to be there himself. But Guy was there,
and it was his voice which first greeted
her as she stood half blinded by the snow,
uncertain what she must do next.
"Ah, Mr. Remington, 1 didn't erpect
this. I am o glad, and how kind it was
of you to wait for me !" she exclaimed,
her voice expressing her delight, and amp
ly repaying the young man, who had not
been very patient or happy through the
six long hours waiting he bad endured.
But he was both happy and patient
now with Maddy's hand in his, and press
ing it very gently he led her into the la
dies' room ; then making her sit down be
fore the fire, he brushed her snowy gar
ments himself, and dashing a few flakes
from her disordered hair, told her what
she so eagerly asked to know. Her grand
mother had had a paralytic stroke, and
the only word she had uttered since was
"Maddy." . Guy had not been down him
self, but had sent Mrs. Noah as soon as
Farmer Green had brought the news. She
was there yet, he said, the storm having
detained her.
"And grandma?" Maddy gasped, fixing
her eyes wistfully on him. "She Is not
dead?"
No, Guy answered, and asked if he
should not remove from the dainty little
feet resting on the stove hearth the over
shoes, so full of melting snow. Maddy
cared little for her shoes, or herself, just
then. She hardly knew that Guy was
taking them off, much less that, as he
bent beside her, her hand lay lightly
upon his shoulder as she continued her
questionings.
"She is not dead, you say ; but do you
think does anybody think she'll die?
Your telegram said 'dying.' "
Maddy was not to be deceived, and
thinking it best to be frank with her,
Guy told her that the physician, whom
he had taken pains to see on his way to
the depot, had said there was no hope.
Old age and an impaired constitution pre
cluded the possibility of recovery, but he
trusted she might live till the young lady
came.
"She must she will ! Oh, grandma,
why did I ever leave her?" and burying
her face in her hands, Maddy cried pas
sionately, while the last three years of
her life passed in rapid review before her
mind years which she had spent in lux
urious ease, leaving her grandmother to
toil in the humble cottage, and die at the
last, it might be, without one parting
word for her.
The feeling that perhaps she had been
guilty of neglect was the bitterest of all,
and Maddy wept on, unmindful of Guy's
attempts to soothe and quiet her. At
last, as she heard a clock in the adjoin-
ng room strike eight, she started up, ex
claiming, "I have stayed too long. I must
go now. Is there any conveyance here?"
"But, Maddy, Guy rejoined you can
not go to-night. The roads between here
and Honedale are one unbroken snow
bank. It would take hours to break
through ; besides, you are too tired. You
need rest, and must come with me to Aik
enside, where you are expected, for when
I found how late the train would be, I
sent back word to have your room and
parlors warmed, and a nice hot supper
to be ready for us. You'll surely go
with me, if I think best."
Guy's manner was more like .a lover
than a friend, but Maddy was in no state
to remark it. She only felt an intense
desire to go home, and turning a deaf
ear to all he could urge, replied:
"You don't know how dear grandma
is to me, or you would not ask me to stay.
She's all the mother I ever knew, and I
must go. Would you stay if the one you
loved best was dying?"
"But the one I love best is not dying,
so I can reason clearly, Maddy."
Here (Juy cheeked himself, and listened
while Maddy asked again if there was no
conveyance there as usual.
"None but mine," said Guy, while Mad
dy continued faintly:
"And you are afraid it will kill your
horses?"
"No, It would only fatigue them great
ly ; it's for you 1 fear. You've borne
enough to-lay."
"Then, Mr. Remington, oh, please send
me. I sliall die at Aikenside. John will
drive me, I know. He used to like me.
I'll ask him," and Maddy was going in
quest of the Aikenside coachman, when
Guy held her back, and said :
"John will go if I bid him. But you,
Maddy, if I thought it was safe."
"It is. Oh, let me go," and Maddy
grasped both his hands beseechingly.
If there was a man who could resist
the eloquent appeal of Maddy's eyes at
that moment, the man was not Guy Rem
ington, and leaving ber alone, he sought
out John, asking if It would be possible
to get through to Ilonedal that night.
John shook his head decidedly, but
when Guy explained Maddy's distress and
anxiety, the negro began to relent, par
ticularly as he saw bis young master, too,
was interested.
"It'll kill them horses," he said, "but
mabby that's nothin' to please the girl."
"If we only had runners now, instead
of wheels, John," Guy said, after a mo
ment's reflection. "Drive back to Aiken
side as fast as possible, and change the
carriage for a covered sleigh. Leave the
grays at home and drive a pair of farm
horses. They can endure more. Tell
Flora to send my traveling shawl. Miss
Clyde may need it, and an extra buffalo,
and my buckskin gloves, and take Tom
oa with you, and a snow shovel ; we may
have to dig."
"Tea, yes, I know," and tying his muf
fler about his throat, John started off
through the storm, his mind a confused
medley of Ideas, the main points of which
were, snow shovels, and tbt fact that his
master was cither eras or la lor.
Meanwhile, with the prospect of goltu
home, Maddy had frown quiet, and die
not refuse the temporary supper of but
tered toast, nmllins, steak, and hot coffee
which Guy ordered from the small hotei
just in the rear of the depot. It wai
after nine re John appeared, his crlsi
wool powdered with snow which clun
to his outer garments, and literally cov
ered his cap.
"'Twas mighty deep," he said, bowinj
to Maddy. "and the wind was gettini
colder. 'Twas a hard time Miss Clydt
would have, aud hadn't she better wait?'-
No, Maddy could not wait, and stand,
ing up she suffered Guy to wrap her
cloak about her, and fasten more secure
ly the long, warm scarf she wore around
her neck.
"Drive close to the platform," he said
to John, and the covered sleigh was soon
brought to the point designated. "Now,
then, Maddy, I won't let you run tht
risk of covering your feet with snow. I
ahpll oarrv von m vself " Guv said, and
ere Maddy was fully aware of his inten
tions, he was bearing her to tne sieign.
Vprv rnrefullv he drew the soft, warm
robe about her, shielding her as well aa
he could from the cold; then pulling his
own fur collar about his ears, he sprang
in bt.side her, and, closing the door be
hind him, bade John drive on.
"Rut. Mr. Remington." Maddy exclaim
ed In much surprise, "surely you are not
going too? You must not. it s asmug
too much. It Is more than I expected.
Please don't go."
"Would you rather 1 shouia not wax
u nsid from anv inconvenience It may
be to me would you rather go alone?"
Guy asked, and Maddy replied :
"Oh. no. I was dreading the long ride,
but did not dream of your going. You
will shorten it so much.
Thon T shall be Daid for going," was
Guy's response, as he drew still more
closely around her the fancy buttajo roDe.
ttio rBU. thonirh badlv drifted in some
places, were not as bad as Guy had fear
ed, and the strong horses kept steauiiy
or. . whiiA Mnddv. irwwinz more and more
fatigued, at last fell away to sleep, and
ceased to answer Guy. tor a time ne
watched her drooping head, and then care
fully drawing it to him, made it rest upon
his shoulder, while he wound his arm
around her slight figure, and so support
ed her.
Oorasionallv there fitted across Guys
mind a vague, uneasy consciousness that.
though the act was, under the circum
Btunnpa well enough, the feelings which
prompted it were not such as either the
doctor or Lucy would approve. But they
were far away; they would never Know
nnlpftii he told them, as he probably
should, of this ride on that wintry night;
this ride, which seemed to him so snort
that he scarcely believed his senses when,
without once ha vine been overturned or
pulled unon to use the shovels so thought
fully provided, the carriage suddenly came
to a halt, and he knew by the dim light
shining through the low window that the
red cottage was reached.
ftrnnrima Atfirkhnm was dvlnr. but She
new Maddv. and the Daisied Hds worked
painfully as they attempted to utter the j
loved name ; while her wastea race ngnt
ed nn with ea?er iov as Maddy's arms
were twined about her neck, and she
felt Maddy s kisses on her cheek ana
Could she not sneak? Would
she never speak again? Maddy asked de
spairingly, and her grandfather replied :
liVelv. The onlv thin
she's said since the shock was to call
your name. Shes missed you despatly
this winter back, more than ever before,
I think. So have we all, but we would
not send for you Mr. Guy said you was
learning so fast.
"Oh, grandpa, why didn't you? I would
have come so willingly," and for aa in
stant Maddy's eyes flashed reproachfully
upon the recreant Guy, standing aloof
from the little group gathered about the
bed, his arms folded together, and a
moody look upon his face.
He was thinking of what had not yet
entered Maddy's mind, thinking of the
future Maddy's future, when the aged
form upon the bed should be gone, and
the two comparatively helpless men be
left alone.
"But it shall not be. The sacrifice is
far too great. I can prevent it, and I
will," he muttered to himself, as he turn
ed to watch the gray dawn breaking in
the east.
(To be continued.)
No Stain on Ills Record.
A New York clergyman, who often
spends his vacation In fishing the
streams of the Adlrondacks, was on
one trip adopted by a handsome setter
dog, which insisted on following L.m
from camp to camp, as he moved along
the stream.
One day he met a party of men
working upstream with a native guide.
The guide Immediately recognized the
dog as his own property.
"Trying to steal my setter, are
you?" he shouted at the clergyman.
"I'll have you to jail for this! There's
a law In the woods Just as big as you
have In the city."
The clergyman endeavored to ex
plain that he was an unwilling com
panion of the dog, which had refused
to be driven away, but to little ef
fect until he added a two-dollar bill
to his arguments.
"It's queer what strange things hap
pen to a man up here," he said to the
stage-driver who later carried him
away from the woods. "That Is the
first time I was ever accused of steal
ing a dog."
"Yes, sir," replied the driver, sympa
thetically, and added, after a moment's
pause, "For myself, sir, I have never
been accused of stealing anything."
Strong Indication.
"Do you think the intentions of
young Gotrox are serious?" asked the
anxious mother.
"I'm sure they are, mamma," replied
the pretty daughter. "Why, only last
night he laughed heartily at one of
papa's alleged Jokes." Chicago News.
Appropriate Emblem.
The emblem of this hotel Is an ea
gle," remarked the observing guest, as
he looked up over the door.
"Eagle?" snorted the man who had
been charged $8 a day. "It should be
GRAIN CROPS SHORT, '
BUT WORTH FAR MORE
)
lovernment Final Estimate Shows
Great Decline in Cereal
Production.
PRICES MAKE FARMERS HAPPY.
they Will Get Half a Billion of
Dollars More This Year
than Last.
The government report shows a
shortage of 785,987,000 bushels in total
crops as compared with the crops of
1900, which were the largest ever raised
In this country, and a shortage of 377,
287,000 bushels as compared with the
yields of 1905, which were also very
large.
The chief shortage la In the corn
enop, with o55,000,000 bushels, oats
with 211,000,000 bushels aud wheat
with 101,000,000 bushels.
There is something of an offset to the
big losses In the fettling grains in the
increase of (1,431,000 tons of hay as
compared to that of 1900, and of
3,045,388 tons as compared to the crop
of 1905.
Prominent features of the final revis
ion of its crop estimates for the year
by the Department of Agriculture were
the increases made In the reports of
area seeded to spring wheat, corn and
oats. In each of these particulars as
well as In the estimated weight of
spring wheat and oats the ofllclal re-
CROPS OF UNITED STATES FOR THREE YEARS.
1907, bu. 1900, bu. 1905, bu.
IVinter wheat 409,442,000 492.&S8.004 428,402,H-J4
Spring wheat 224,G45,000 242,372,906 204,510,0.3:
Total wheat 034,087,000 735,200,970 692,979,48$
Corn 2.592,320,000 2,927,416,091 2,707,993,r4(
Dats 1 754,443,000 0t54.904.522 953,216.17;
Rye 31, 500,000 33.374.S33 27,1,04!
Bcrley ' 153,317,000 178,910,484 136,651,02
Buckwheat 14.290.000 14,041,937 14,535,05
Flaxseed 25,851, 000 25,570,140 28,477,751
Potatoes 297,942,000 308,038,382 200,741,29-:
Total V 5,137,903,000 5,923,890,235 5,515,189,8SJ
nay, tons 03,577,000 57,145,959 00,531,01:
ports ran more or less counter to the
general Impressions of speculators. In
a few Instances, such as the wolght of
oats, the figures given were at variance
with all the experiences of the trade
for the year to date.
Figures of the- Report.
The report gave final estimates of
acreage, production and value of farm
crops, showing winter wheat acreage
to be 28,132,000, production 409,442,000
bushels and value per bushel 88.2 cents.
Spring wheat acreage was 17,079,000,
production 224,045,000 bushels and val
ue 86 cents.
Corn acreage was 99.931,000, produc
tion 2,592,320,000 bushels and value
51.7 cents.
Oats acreage was 31,837,000, produc
tion 754,443,000 bushels and value 44.3
cents.
It was announced that th total val
ue of the farm crops for 1907 was $3,
404,000,000, an Increase of $428,000,000
for 1906.
The farm value on Dec. 1 of the four
crops already mentioned follows: Corn,
$1,340,446,000; winter Wheat, $301,217,
000; spring wheat, $193,220,000; oats,
$334,508,000.
The comparative prices for the grain
crops for the past three years follow :
1907. 1900. 1905. 1904.
Wheat ....81.7 00.7 74.8" 92.4
Corn 51.7 39.9 41.2 44.1
Oats 44.3 . 31.7 29.1 31.3
Rye 73.1 58.9 00.7 68.8
Barley ....44.3 41.5 40.8 42.0
Buckwheat 09.8 59.0 58.7 62.2
Flax 05.0 101.8 95.0 KW.3
Potatoes ...G1.7 51.1 01.7 43.3
Hay ....$11.03 $10.37 $8.52 $8.72
Aeroplane's Circular Flight.
Henry Far-man has continued his mar
velous flights at Paris with nia famous
aeroplane, built by the Voisin brothers on
the general plan of the Chanuto Boarer.
Before a great and wildly enthusiastic
throng of people he repeatedly maneu
vered his machine one kilometer in a com
plete circle, returning to the point of de
parture. This was regarded as a demon
stration of practical aerial flight by ma
chines heavier than air or without the
aid of gas bags. The machine first rolled
slowly along the ground on its two pneu
matic tired wheels ; then, as the speed in
creased from the action of the propellers,
the big winged thing shot off into the air
at a gentle angle, all the time Mr. Far
man steering with apparent ease and con
fidence and keeping an even keel and a
steady course to the turning point and
back. The machine resembles a huge
dragon fly, with upper and lower sets of
wings attached to a light fraaie carrying
motor, machinery and operator.
INTERESTING NEWS ITEMS.
President B. F. Winchell of the Rock
Island at Guthrie, Okla., said his road
would accept the 2-cent fare provision of
the Oklahoma constitution.
Gov. Vardaman of Mississippi was pre
vailed upon to take a ride In Baldwin's
airship at Jackson, Miss, Ten teet above
the ground was the limit and the trip
was very short.
William E. Shlebler, the telegraph op
erator who received the first message over
the Atlantic cable sent to President Bu
chanan by Queen Victoria died in Brook
lyn, N. Y. He also received the message
from the front announcing the fall of
Richmond at the close of the Civil War.
UNCIE SAM A CAPITALIST.
As a Shipbuilder Outranks All
Others in the United States. .
The United States government main
tains nine navy yards, representing a
capitalisation of more than $00,000,000
and employing nearly 15,000 men, in
cluding otlicers. The total wages paid
In the navy yards of the government is
approximately $10,000,000 annually,
the cost of materials used oeing about
$7,000,000 annually and the value of
the products, depending upon the num
ber of vessels built, runs well up into
the millions every year. In 1905 the
output of the government yards was
over $17,000,000.
As a shipbuilder the government out
ranks all other ship owners In tin
United States. In 1904 the government
launched 170,000 tons of battle ship
of more than 1,000 tons burden each.
While only 8.7 per cent of all vesseli
launched that year were the property
of the nation, these vessels constituted
27.7 per cent of the total tonnag
launched that year. These same ves
sels represented also more than half
the value of all vessels over five toni
launched, the contract value of th
government ships being $39,513,000.
Despite Its own facilities for building
and repairing warships, only one gov
ernment yard has been used In recent
years for turning out a modern up-to-date
battle ship.
All told, the government owns fif
teen dry docks where vessels of tht
navy undergo most of their repalra
All but two of these are located on tht
Atlantic coast. Another dock is being
completed on Puget sound, giving thret
on the Pacific coast In addition tc
the naval dry docks there are thirty
eight In the United States owned bj
private corporations or Individuals. Is
time of war the navy should find no
trouble In taktng care of Its smallei
vessels, but the big battle -ships would
have long distances to travel on eithei
coast, In event of Injury, before flndinj
adequate docking facilities.
HALF A MILLION A DAY.
That Is the Amount Which Chicago
Puts Into Stimulants.
Chicago's consumption of stimulants li
amazing, according to a correspondent
The money spent in saloons alone totah
up between $120,000,000 and $130,000,
000 annually. At least $10,000,000 mon
is spent for stimulating drugs in the 90(
drug stores in the city.
If tobacco can be classed as a stimu
iant It may be said that there are betwees
35,000 and 40,000 places in the citj
where cigars and tobacco are sold. Proba
bly $100,000 per day is not an exagger
ated estimate for Chicago's smoking bill
At the lowest estimate, taking alcoholic
beverages, tobaccos, and all manner ol
drugs into account, it is impossible to fig
ure that Chicago spends less than $500,
000 per day on stimulants of varioui
kinds, and the chances are the amount ii
considerably higher.
Of this enormous sum, how much doet
the worker spend? Fully 75 per cent, il
all business men, officers of corporations
and all men who work with hand or brain
are Included. But for the worker, tht
saloonkeepers themselves say, they wouM
have to close up shop in a few days. Tht
remaining 25 per cent of the $500,00C
must be set aside between women whe
lead domestic lives and non-workers of all
kinds. Women perhaps are the heaviest
of all users of drugs.
The Universalist general convention al
Philadelphia listened with approval tfl
the plea for closer fellowship between
their denomination and the Unitarian,
made by Rev. Lewis G. Wilson, secretary
of the American Unitarian Axsoclation.
The Evangelical general conference, al
its recent session at Milwaukee, took 1
decisive step toward the union of tht
Evangelical church and the United Evan
gelical church, adopting the report of tht
committee on revision, which recommend
ed the appointment of a commission from
each church to arrange details of tht
union. It was also decided to open ne
gotiations with other Protestant churches,
including the Methodists, Presbyterian.
Baptists and Congregationalists, with a
view to a federation on all lines of church
work into which denominational differ
ences do not enter.
Under the direction of Rev. Hugh Birk
head and his associates of St. George'i
Episcopal church, New York, a club hat
been started on lines similar to that main
tained by Emmanuel church, Boston, and
Christ Presbyterian church of New York,
namely, its membership made up entirely
of persons having incipient tuberculosis
Each member promises to care for hit
health, to give up all work, stop worry
ing, live an outdoor life and obey all tht
rules of the club. All are supplied witb
a tent attachment to be fastened to tht
window sills so that they may sleep witb
their heads In the open air. Weekly
meetings are held, when all tell of theii
progress.
WILL ADD TO MISERY
1 OF A HARD WINTER.
European Labor Leaders Alarmed
Over Increase In Homecoming
Contingent.
STEAMSHIPS ARE LOADED DOWN
ffundreds of Destitute Aliens Wan
derlng Streets of Paris oa
Verge of Destitution.
The Increasing contingents of home
coming Italians, Lithuanians and other
Mediterranean steerage passengers are
disconcerting not only to the steamship
companies, who nave Inadequate facili
ties for dealing with such a sudden and
unexpected traffic, but to the labor
leaders of EuroiHi, who deny that these
newcomers have sufficient money to
pass the winter without working, and
declare that they will thus add to the
misery of what Is sure to be a hard win
ter among the European working
classes.
The figures given by the French la
bor bureau as to the returning emi
grants are corroborated by Nicholas
Martin, agent of the American line,
who says that all the steerage capacity
of every vessel has been taken until
Feb. 1, while thousands more will be
unable to return to Europe before
spring. If this keeps up, a Paris corre
spotdent says, some special measures
must be taken to repatriate the hordes
of disappointed adventurers, for the
ordinary means are Insufficient.
"To my knowledge several hundred
of more or less destitute aliens are wan
dering In the 6treets of Paris on the
verge of starvation, and the prefecture
police books will probably multiply this
figure by three," said one of the officials
at the ministry of works to the corre
spondent. "The best we can do is to
expedite their return to their native
countries. Something like half of them
have no more money than Is barely
sufficient to pay their fare."
Never since the first ship sailed out
of New York harbor has there been any
thing like the present exodus of emi
grants from that port. Day by day the
crowds clamoring for transportation
abroad grow greater, with no-prospecf
of their reduction In numbers.
WORK OF IRRIGATION.
New Flans Adopted Contemplate
Many Improvements.
In the Irrigation division of the Ag
ricultural Department the three main
lines of work will be, as heretofore, dis
semination of practical Information,
scientific and technical Investigations,
and reporting on Irrigation conditions
In certain districts. In view of the fact
that probably about 5,000,000 acres of
land provided with water for Irriga
tion will bo available for settlement at
the close of 1908, It Is believed that In
no other way can more good be dona
than in supplying practical Information
through publications and expert ad
vice to the new settlers on this land,
and It Is therefore deemed advisable
to broaden the scope of this work so
as to make It valuable to every class
of farmers dependent upon Irrigation
and to every project, whether public or
private.
The scientific and technical Investiga
tions will b6 a continuation and exten
sion of what has already been done.
Prominent features of the work will bo
to determine what becomes of the large"
quantity of water which Is nnnunlly
spread over cropped soils, Involving a
study of evaporation, seepage and dis
tribution of losses, with a view to se
curing higher economy In the use of
water; the relation of Irrigation water
to quantity and quality of crop and the
adaptation of methods to different soils
and crops, and a study of the more
technical features of the measurement,
conveyance, storage and distribution of
water on farms, and the various de
vices used for pumping.
In the study of Irrigation conditions
In different localities emphasis Is to be
laid especially on possible Improve
ments of present methods which will
lead to a more economical use of water.
I Can Copper lie Made?
That the recent experiments of Sir
I William Ramsay, the English chemist, are
not likely to result in the artificial man
ufacture of copper is the conclusion of
President Ira Uemsen, who recently made
an address on the subject before the Sci
entific Association of the Johns Hopkins
university at Baltimore. Dr. Kemsen
said that the experiments in question
Indicated that the substance we call cop
per, and which we have hitherto regarded
as a stable elementary form of matter is
capable of undergoing a very slight de
composition, but while It is possible that
a minute quantity of the element lithium
can be obtained from' copper by the to
, tlon of radium emanation, the change is
' very slight, and It does not seem proba
ble that any method can be derised by
which It can be markedly increased.
I According to the report of the New
York State Commission on Lunacy, tha
total number of persons confined In in
stitutions for the insane in that State is
26,357. This is a proportion of about
one to every 300 of the population. The
Indications are that insanity has been
steadily on the increase since 1897. While
the percentage of foreign born to tha
population is 26, the percentage of foreign-born
Insane Is 40. Insane patient
of Irish and German nativity are oa the
decrease, while those of Russia, Austria
Hungary and Italy are Increasing.