Heppner gazette., March 26, 1908, Image 6

I The Firm of
Girdlestone
r
I
BY
a rnNAN nnYLE
CHAPTER VI.
The revelation of the real state of the
Aim's finances was a terrible blow to Era
Girdlestone. To a niaa of his overbear
In? tempestuous disposition failure ami
poverty were bitter things to face. All
his life he had reckoned, as a matter of
course, that when bis father passed away
ho would be left almost a millionaire. A
ingle half-hour's conversation had shat
tered this delusion, and left him face to
face' with ruin.
He proceeded to qualify himself as a
dealer in diamonds. It happened that he
was acquainted with one of the part
ners of the firm of Fugger & Sto'.tz, who
did the largest import trade in precious
stones. Through his kindness he received
practical instructions in the variety and
value of diamonds, and learned to detect
ell those little flaws and peculiarities
which are only visible to the eye of an ex
pert, and yet are of the highest impor
tance in determining the price of a stone.
With such opportunities Ezra made rapid
progress, and within a few weeks there
were few dealers in the trade who had a
better grasp of the subject.
Early one April afternoon the major
was strutting down St. James street,
frock coated and kid gloved, with pro
tuberant chest and glittering shoes which ,
peeped out from beneath the daintiest of
falters. Young Girdlestone, who had been
on the lookout from a club window, ran
cross and intercepted him.
"How are you, my dear major?" he
cried, advancing upon him with out
stretched hand and as much show of
geniality as his nature permitted.
"How d'ye do? How d'ye do?" said the
ther somewhat pompously. He had made
op his mind that nothing was to be dom?
with the young man, and yet he was re
luctant to break entirely with one whose
purse was well lined.
"I've been wishing to speak with you
(or some days, major," said Ezra. "I
wish to speak to you quietly on a matter
of business. Can you meet me at Nelson's
Cafe at four o'clock? I know the man
eger, and he'll let us have a private
room."
"I'd ask you round to me own little
place," the major said, "but it's rather too
far. Nelson's at four. Right you arei"
It was clear to him that some service
or other was expected of him, and It
was obviously his game therefore to hang
back and not appear to be too eager to
enter into young Girdlestone's views.
When he presented himself at the en
trance of Nelson's Cafe the young mer
chant had been fuming and chafing in
the sitting room for five and twenty min
utes. "I'll tell you why I wanted to have a
chat with you, major," Ezra said, having
first opened the door suddenly and glanc
ed out as a precaution against eavesdrop
pers. "I have to be cautious because
what I have to say affects the interest of
the firm. I wouldn't for the world' have
anyone know about it except yourelf. We
have a difficult enterprise on which we
are about to embark," Ezra said. "It is
one which will need great skill and tact,
though it may be made to pay well if
properly managed. For this enterprise
we require an agent to perform one of
the principal parts. This agent must pos
sess great ability, and, at the same time,
be a man on whom we can thoroughly
rely. You are prepared to put yourself
at our orders on condition that you are
well paid for it?"
"Not so fast, me young friend, not so
fast !" Baid the major. "Let's hear what
It is that you want me to do, and then
I'm ready to say what I'll agree to."
Thus encouraged, Ezra proceeded to
unfold the plan upon which the House of
Girdlestone depended. Not a word did he
ay of ruin or danger, or the reasons
which had induced this speculation. On
the contrary he depicted the affairs of the
Ann as being In a most flourmhing condi
tion, and this venture as simply a small,
Insignificant offshoot from their business,
undertaken as much for amusement as for
any serious purpose. Still, he laid stress
upon the fact that though the sum in
question was a small one to the firm, yet
it was a very large one in other men's
eyes. As to the morality of the scheme,
that was a point which Ezra omitted en
tlrcly to touch upon. Any comment upon
that would, he felt, be superfluous when
dealing with such a man as his compan
ion.
"And now, major," he concluded, "pro
vided you lend us your name and yonr
talents to help us in our speculation the
firm are prepared to meet you in a most
liberal spirit in the matter of remunera
tion. Of course, your voyage and your ex
penses will be handsomely paid. Yon will
have to travel by steamer to St. Peters
burg, provided that we choose the Ural
Mountains as the scene of our imaginary
find. I hear that there U high play going
on aboard those boats, and with your
well-known skill you will no doubt be
able to make the voyage a remunerative
one. We calculate that at the most you
will be in Russia about three months
Now, the firm thought that It would be
very fair If they were to guarantee you
two hundred and fifty pounds, which they
would increase to five hundred In case of
uccens : of course, by that we mean com
plete success such as would be likely to
attend your exertions.
When the young man had finished, the
maior stood up with his face to tie empty
fireplace, his legs far apart, his chest in
flated, and his body rocking ponderously
backwards and forwards.
"Let me be quite sure that I under
stand you." he said. "You wish me to
ko to Russia? You have the goodness to
suggest that on me way 1 snouia rwi
m fellow-passengers la us ooair
"That la to say, If you think It worth
your while."
"Quite so. If I think it worth me
while. I 'am then to nretend to discover
certain diamond mines, and am to gie
w-ight to me story by the fact that I am
known to be a man of good birth, and also
by exhibiting some rough stones which
you wish me to take out with me from
England."
Vuite right, major," Ezra said encour
agingly.
'I am then to telezranh or write this
lio to Englaud and get it inserted in the
pr.pers?"
'That's an uclv word." Ezra remon
strated. "This 'report' we will say. A re
port may be either true or false, you
know."
"And bv this renort then." the major
continued, "you, reckon that the market
will be so affected that your rather and
you will be able to buy and sell in a
manner that will be urofitable to you,
but by which you will do other people out
of their money.
"You have an unoleasant way of put
ting it," said Ezra with a .forced laugh ;
"but you have the-idea right.
"I have another idea as well," roared
the old soldier, flushing purple with pas
sion. "I've an idea that if 1 was twency
voara vounirer I'd see whether you'd fit
through that window, Master Girdlestone.
1M have tauirht vou to propose such a
scheme to a man with blue blood in his
veins, you scoundrel !"
Ezra fell back in his chair. He was
outwardly composed, but there was a
dnnuerous slitter In his eye, and his race
had turned from a healthy olive to a dull
yellow tint.
"You won't do it? he gasped.
"Do it! D'ye think a man who's worn
Tlpr MnieKtv'a scarlet jacket for twenty
Id dirtv his hands with such a
trick? I tell ye, I wouldn't do it for all
the money that ever was cornea. lkxk
here, Girdlestone, I know you, but you
don't know me !"
Thp vounc merchant sat silently In ats
chair, with the same livid color upon his
face and savage expression in his eyes.
Major Tobias Clutterbuck stood at tne
the tnhle. stooDine forward so as
to lean his hands upon it, with his eyes
... i
protuberant and his scanty grey innge in
a bristle with indignation.
"What right had you to come to me
with a nrooosal? I don't set up for
hinir nftint. but I've some morals, such
as they are, and I mean to stick to them.
One of my rules of life has Deen never
hlRckcuard. and so, me young
friend, from this day forth you and I go
on our own roads. I'm not particular,
but you must draw the line somewhere.
I draw it at you.
Tt .truck the waiters at Nelson's well-
known restaurant as a somewhat curious
thing that their two customers snouiu
walk out with such very grave races ana
iu so unsociable a manner.
CHAPTER VII. ,
There were rejoicings in Phillimore
Gardens over Tom's engagement, for the
two old people were both heartily fond
of Kate "Our Kate," as they were wont
proudly to call her. The physician chaieu
at first over the idea of keeping the mat-
ter a secret from Girdlestone. A little
reflection served to show him, however,
that there was nothing to be gained by
informing him, while Kate's life, during
the time that she was forced to remain
under his roof, would be more tolerable as
long as he was kept in ignorance of It.
After breakfast one morning, the doc
tor asked his son to step with him intd
the library. "You must do something to
keep you from mischief, my boy, ne saia
at last, brusquely.
"I'm ready for anything," repliea lorn,
but I don't quite see what I am fitted
for."
'First of all. what do yon think of
this?" the doctor asked abruptly, hand-
ing a letter over to his son, who opened
it, and read as follows :
"Dear Sir It has come to my knowl
edge through my son that your boy has
abandoned the study of medicine, and
that you are still uncertain as to his fu
ture career. I have long had the inten
tion of seeking a young man who might
join in our business, and relieve my old
shoulders of some of the burden. Ezra
urges me to write and propose that your
son should become one of us. If he has
any taste for business we shall be happy
to advance his interest In every way. He
would, of course, have to purchase a
share in the concern, which would amount
to seven thousand pounds, on which he
would be paid interest at the rate of five
per cent. By allowing this interest to
accumulate, and investing also his share
of the profits, he might in time absorb a
large portion of the business. In case ho
joined us upon this footing we should
have no objection to his name appearing
as one of the firm.
"With kind regards to your family, and
hoping that they enjoy the great blessing
of health, I remain, sincerely yours,
"JOHN GIRDLESTONE."
"What d'ye think of that?" the doctor
asked when his son had finished readiug
it
"I hardly know," said Tom. "I should
like a little time to think it over."
"Seven thousand pounds is a good
round sum. It is more than half the total
capital which I have invested for you.
On the other hand, I have heard tho-vj
who ought to know say there is not a
sounder or better managed concern in
London. There's no time like the present,
Tom. Get your hat, and we'll go down to
Fenchurch street together and look into
it."
It was a proud day for the ex-medical
student when he first entered the count
ing house of the African firm and realized
that he was one of the governing powers
in that busy establishment. Tom Dim--dale's
mind was an Intensely practical
one, and although he had found the study
of science an irksome matter, he was able
ta throw himself Into business with un
common energy and devotion. The clerks
soon found that the sunburned, athletic
looking young man Intended to be any
thing but a sleeping partner, and both
they and old Gil ray respected him accord
ingly. Girdlestone called him into the office
one day, and congratulated hbn upon the
progress which he was making. "My
dear young man," he said to him In his
patriarchal way. "I am delighted to hear
of the way In which you Identify yourself
with the interests of the firm. If at firat
you find work allotted to you which may
appear to you to be rather menial, you
moat understand that that U simply dua
to our desire that you should imurter tha
whole business from Its very founda
tions." "There is nothing I desire better," said
Tom.
"In addition to the routine of ofTiee
work, and the superintendence of the
clerks, I should wish you to have a thor
ough grasp of nil the details of the ship
ping, and of the loading and unloading
of our vessels, as well as of tht storage of
goods when landed. When any of our
ships are iu, I should wish you to go down
to the docks and to overlook everything
which is done."
In one respect Tom Dimsdale was Im
measurably the gainer by his connection
with the firm, for without that it Is diffi
cult to say how he could have found op
portunities for breaking through the bar
rier which separated him from Kate. The
surveillance of the merchant had become
stricter of late, and all invitations from
Mrs. Dimsdale or other friends who pitied
the loneliness of the girl were repulsed by
Girdlestone with the curt intimation that
his ward's health was not such as to jus
tify him in allowing her to incur any
risk of catching a chill. She was practi
cally a prisoner In the great stone cage In
Eccleston square, and even on her walks
a warder in the shape of a footman was,
as we have seen, told off to guard her.
Whatever John Girdlestone's reasons may
have been, he had evidently come to the
conclusion that it was of the highest im
portance that she should be kept seclud
ed. As it was, Tom,thanks to his position
as one of the firm, was able occasionally,
in spite of every precaution, to penetrate
through the old man's defensive works. If
a question of importance arose at Fen
church street during the absence of the
senior partner, what more natural than
that Mr. Dimsdale should volunteer to
walk round to Eccleston square in order
to acquaint him with the fact. And if it
happened that the gentleman was not to
be found there, how very natural that the
young man should wait half an hour for
him, and that Miss Harston should take
the opportunity of a chat with an old
friend? Precious, precious interviews
those, the more so for their rarity. They
brightened the dull routine of Kate's
weary, life, and sent Tom back to the office
full of spirit and hope. The days were
ac hand when the memory of them was to
shine out like little rifts of light in the
dark cloud of existence.
And now the time was coming when Iv
was to be decided whether, by a last bold
stroke, the credit of the house of Girdle
stone was to be saved, or whether the
attempt was to plunge them into deeper
and more hopeless ruin. An unscrupulous
agent named Langworthy had been dis
patched to Russia well primed with in
structions as to what to do and how to
do it. He had been in the employ of
an Finish corn merchant at Odessa,
and had some knowledge of the Russian
language which would be Invaluable to
him in his undertaking. In the character
of an English gentleman of scientific
tastes he was to establish himself in some
convenient village among the Ural Moun
tains. There he was to remain some little
time, so as to arouse confidence in the
people before making his pretended dis
covery. He was then to carry his rough
diamonds to Tobolsk, as the nearest large
town, and to exhibit them there, backing
up his assertion by the evidence of villag
ers who had seen him dig them up. The
Girdlestones knew that that alone would
be sufficient when telegraphed to England
to produce a panic in the sensitive dia
mond market. Before any systematic in
quiry could be made, Langworthy would
have disappeared, and their little specula
tion would have come off. After that the
sooner people realized that it was a hoax
the better for the conspirators. In any
case, there seemed to be no possibility
that the origin of the rumor could be
traced. Meanwhile Ezra Girdlestone had
secured his passage in the Cape mail
steamer Cyprian. On the night that he
left he sat up some time In the library
at Eccleston square talking over the mat
ter for the last time -with his father.
(To be continued.)
He Grasped the Idea.
"Harmony In costumes is the thtn&
now," remarked Mrs. De Style, "the
idea being that a woman of fashion
should clearly express her personality
in her attire."
"Well, my dear," rejoined her hus
band, "that being the case, you couldn't
possibly Improve on your present cos
tumes." "They are certainly elaborate," said
her ladyship, "but do they fully express
my character?"
"Sure thing," answered the mere
man. "Any one can readily see that
you haven't a single thought beyond
them."
Stirred Him I'p.
"Obeer up, old man," said the In
valid's friend, "you're not going to die
yet."
"You bet I ain't!" declared the In
valid with a new determination.
"That's the way to talk."
"Yes, I heard the doctors quarreling
about whMi one of them should per
from the autopsy, so I'm Just going to
fool 'em." Philadelphia Press.
To He Encouraiced.
"Bligglns is always repeating th
things his children say."
"Well," answered Miss Cayenne, "he
ought to be encouraged. I have no
doubt they are much less wearisome
than his original remarks would be."
Washington Star.
Fhlloaophlcal.
"Beg pardon, ma'am," said the but
ler, "but your son has Just eloped with
the parlor ma hi."
"Oh, that Isn't so bad," rejoined Mrs.
Uppson. "He might have eloped with
the cook and I never could have re
placed her."
A Picture to Admire.
Artist What kind of picture do you
admire most?
Friend Rare engravings. I particu
larly admire the landscapes on the back
of a 100 bill.
Give It I'p.
Mother Raymond, that hole waan'y
In your stock 1 ng this morning.
Raymond Where was It, then I
1J
Improved DHchlnff Flotv.
A recent Invention provides an Im
proved ditching plow, especially adapt
ed for digging tiling sewer ditches or
draining ditches. The device is or very
simple construction, and capable of ef
fective service In any character of soil.
It Is especially adapted to be drawn
by a traction engine or capstan, says
Scientific American. As shown in the
engraving, It comprises a beam A,
which extends forward and with an
upward inclination from the cleaner B.
The latter Is triangular In shape, being
provided with two diverging wings. The
purpose of the cleaner Is to travel over
the surface of the ground and remove
the excavated material from the edges
of the ditch. The twain A Is hinged to
the cleaner, so as to provide for a cer
tain amount of vertical motion. Below
the beam and forming an angle there
with Is a blade C, provided with a cut
ting edge at Its lower end, which serves
to enter the earth more or les deeply
as the plow is drawn forward, and
carry the excavated material to the
surface. At Its forward end this blade
is braced by means of a support D,
which Is fastened to the beam A. At
the forward end of the beam A Is a
clevis bar E. which Is secured at Its
upper end to draft bar F, extending to
the rear of the beam A. In this clevis
bar are a series of apertures adapted
to receive a link to which a pulley block
is connected. This block serves to re
ceive tie cable that Is passed to the
windlass or drum of the traction en
gine, for the purpose of drawing the
car forward. Owing to the lightness of
this plow, it may readily be loaded
upon a truck and transported from
3lace to place.
Buff Orpington Fowls,
No varieties of fowls are better suit
id to the requirements of farmers and
others than Barred and White Plym
outh Rocks, White
Wyandottes and
Buff Orpingtons.
Both Barred Plym
outh Rocks and
White Wyandottes
are to be found In
every locality, and
eggs from them
may be had at rea
sonable cos,t. No
variety seems to
have a greater
BUFF OBI'IXGTON.
hold on the farming community than
the Barred Plymouth Rock. The Or
pingtons are comparatively newcomers,
but have rapidly made their way to a
first place In the utility class. Particu
larly may this be said of the buff vari
ety. Buff Orpingtons are one of many
varieties and probably the most popular
3f the Orpington family. They are rap
Idly replacing many wornout strains
and mongrels on our farms and have
taken a front place In the utility poul
try ranks as winter layers and market
fowls. There Is
great demand for
eggs and fowls of
this breed. They
have light-colored
legs and white
flesh. Chickens are
hardy and grow
rapidly. Eggs are
of medium or larg
er size, according
OBPINGTON HES.
to strain
White Orpingtons are a most promis
ing variety and are likely to become
popular on account of their merits as
ayers and table fowls. Exchange.
Study ot Blackhead Disease.
The blackhead disease which has be
come so destructive to turkeys In the
past few years has been under Investi
gation by the experiment station at
Kingston, Rhode Island. A small para
site, microscopic In size, Is the cause
of the trouble. It lives In the tissues
of the turkey and causes Irritations
that result In the death of the affected
bird. The Rhode Island experiments
showed that more than four-fifths of
the young poults exposed In Infected
yards die before they are six weeks
old. The disease has been popularly
supposed to be confined to birds over
six weeks. It Is notably a disease af
fecting young turkeys, but one from
which the older turkeys do not escape.
Of the one-fifth that do escape or sur
vive Its ravages at least ten to twenty
five per cent may die throughout the
year at almost any age.
The eradication and prevention of
the disease Is somewhat difficult but no
reliance can be placed on any drug to
cure a bird that is already Infected.
Since the blackhead disease is less pre
valent In dry situations It Is apparent
that sandy, well-drained lands are bet
ter for raising turkeys than the heav
ier moist clay sol
THE PLOW IS t'SE.
Tne Cat I'ndcr the Dan.
According to the report of the Stata
Game Commission of Pennsylvania for
1907. 8onir and Insectivorous birds In
that state are Increasing and gamu
birds becoming Bcarcer. Bear and deer
nre rapidly increasing.
Bears are now protected in Pennsyl
vania by a legal close season during
the spring and summer months. Dur
ing the seuson of 1007 there were killed
In the state 230 deer.
Dr. Josenh Kalbfus. chief game pro
tector of the state, recommends the
placing of a bouuty on the scalps of the
domestic cat as well as on those or tno
wildcat
There Is no greater destroyer of
bird life," he declares, "than the house
cat"
The legislative appropriation for
bounties on noxious animals and birds
was Insufficient to meet the demands
upon it last year. A much larger ap
uronrlatlon is called for, and the addi
tion of the great horned owl and the
goshawk to the outlawed class Is re
quested.
Starting Seeds Indoors.
Any one who Intends to start seodo
indoors needs a knowledge of various
facts concerning each variety the
length of time needed for germination,
the time required for the plant to reach
the blooming or fruitage stage, and
whether It can be transplanted to the
open ground with safety In early
spring, or not until considerably later.
For Instance, says Suburban Life,
chrysanthemum seeds will germinate In
from five to ten days, but the plants re
quire a very long season of growth be
fore flowering, and the person who gets
ahead of Jack Frost must sow the
seeds not later than March 1 and
earlier, if possible. With varieties
which germinate quickly, grow rapid
ly and bloom early, the sowing should
be delayed at least a month, to avoid
the trouble of repeated transplantlngs,
to prevent the seedling plants from
getting "leggy" and weak.
America Una the Healthiest Cattle
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson says
the United States has the healthiest
cattle of any nation on the face of the
earth. This Is owing to our rigid sys
tem of Inspection and our prompt meas
ures to eradicate diseases. In Europe
40 per cent of the cattle are Infected
with tuberculosis, and In the United
States only 10 per cent, and we will
soon have It entirely eradicated. We
have Inspectors In Europe, and not one
animal Infected In any way Is permit
ted to be shipped to this country.
Holatelna Preferred.
The Iowa State board of control will
soon have 1,000 Ilolsteln cows at Its
different Institutions. Different breeds
have lieen used heretofore, but It has
been decided to have only one breed
and Ilolsteln was selected because of
Its milk-giving qualities. Last year
the cows at the Iowa institution gave
nearly a quarter of a million gallons
of milk and this amount will be In
creased. Meaaarinsr Hay In Stacks.
To find the number of tons In long,
square stacks, multiply the length In
yards by the width in yards, and that
by half the altitude in yards. Then
divide that by fifteen. For circular
stacks multiply the square of the cir
cumference of the stack In yards by
four times the altitude In yards and
divide by two. The quotient will be
the number of cubic yards. Divide by
fifteen for the number of tons.
Fence Post.
Wyoming experiments in preserving
fence posts show that when the posts
were dipped In crude petroleum and
burned off so that the char comes above
the ground when posts are set they
will keep Indefinitely.
Proceaa Datter.
The government Inspection of reno
vated butter last year showed a total
production of 03,000,000 pounds of such
butter, an Increase of 15 per cent over
the preceding year.
Farm Facta and Fanelea.
Hogs need clean, pure water as much
as the rest of the stock. See that they
get it.
Perhaps you do not realize It. but
the dearest animal on your farm is the
cheap scrub.
Which do you keep? The cow that
makes more than she eats or the cow
that eats more than she makes?
It is Impossible to plant an orchard
or a windbreak In the winter time, but
It Is possible and profitable to plan one
or both.
Fungous diseases and insect pests
can be kept from taking the profits of
the orchard this next season by faith
ful. Judicious spraying.
The five to eight quarts of milk a
day cow will never return the farmer
an adequate profit unless the percent
age of butter fat Is high.
An argument In favor of the open
head In fruit trees Is that the fruit on
such trees does not rot so badly as that
on trees with dense heads
First the framework, then the trim
mings. So with Btock-ralslng. Feed
to get the biggest kind of growth, then
lay on the fat as fast as possible.
A dairy cow must be given more feed
than Just enough for her own support
If she Is to be relied upon to give any
thing for the supoort of her owner.
BPEixrara names.
ThereWua No Doubt About lltiaaa
When the Kiiitllsh Lady Flniahed.
A bygone generation witnessed utt
acrimonious controversy In tlio Irish
family of O'Conor iu County Roscom
mon as to the right of any brunch of
the uncleuu race to spell the name
thus with one "n." That right, It
wus maintained, was held only by the
O'Oonor Don us heud of thu house.
So prolonged was the contest between
tho partisans of the O'Conor and
O'Connor titles that It wus called the
"N-less" (stundlng for "endless") cor
respondence. Finally tho question was
referred to Sir J. Bernard Burke, the
Ulster king of arms. Ilia decision
coincided with a decision In a certain
other matter namely, thut much might
be said on either side. The two dis
puting families had a common origin,
n king of Connaught, and could with
propriety and In accordance with tra
dition spell the name one way or the
other. Fortified by this "award," the
two families have continued to spell
their name with one "n" up to the
presen: hour.
Equally firm on the question aa to
how his name should be spelled was the
witness in a case tried In tlio king's
bench a few years ngo. Asked his
name, his prompt reply was "John
Awklns." "Do you," queried counsel,
"spell your name with or without an
II?" The emphatic answer was,
"J-o-h-n." As a rule, however, as we
have said, variety In the spelling of
the names of people, as In that of the
names of places, owes Its origin to peo
ple not being so clear as was our friend
regarding how a name should be spell
ed. Two stories In Illustration of this
occur to us. In the first Mrs. Quiver
ful was having christened her latest
baby. The old minister was a little
deaf. "What name did you say?" he
queried. "I said," replied the mother,
with some asperity, "Hannah." "Do
you," said the other, "mean Anna or
Hannah?" 'Look 'ere," exclaimed the
now thoroughly exasperated lady, "I
won't be hexamlned In this way. I
mean 'Haltch-hay-hen-hen-hay-haltch'
Hannah!''
The second Incident to which we re
fer Is this. Here also there was "a
lady In the case." She was on an er
rand, and she had to deal with the
name of another party. In brief, she
hud bought a pair of sleeve links for
her fiance when the shopman asked,
"Any Initials, miss?" The rest may Ue
stated thus:
She Oh, yes; I forgot. Engrave a
"U" upon them for his first name.
Shopman Pardon me, is It Uriah or
Ulysses? Names with "U" aro rare,
you know.
She (proudly) His name Is Eugene.
London Globe.
Crop Well Worth Raining-.
A crop that will produce $15,400 to
the acre has been discovered In Brazil,
according to a report to the department
of commerce and labor from United
States Consul General George E. An
derson at Rio de Janeiro. It Is the Bra
zilian linen and several experimental
plantations are making an effort to put
It into practical use.
According to the consul general's re
port the plant grows twelve to eighteen
feet high and somewhat resembles
hemp. It matures so rapidly that a
field will produce three crops a year.
The fiber has strength, firmness, flexi
bility and adaptability for bleaching
and dyeing.
It may revolutionize the linen Indus
try of the world and become an impor
tant competitor of cotton. An acre will
produce seventy-seven tons und the
! product includes not only the various
1 grades of fiber for fine or coarse linen
but stems and roots can be used for
making paper.
The suggestion Is made that the agri
cultural department should Investigate
this wonderful plant and see if it can
be produced In the jortIons pf the Unit
! ed States that are free from frost. The
plant Is said to be 'absolutely hard, re
sisting alike the dry or rainy season,
bearing equally well on dry or wet soil
and not a prey to Insects or mildew."
Mr Choice.
I'd rather be happy than sad,
I'd rather be good than bad ;
I'd rather rejoice, yes, this is my choice.
Than brood over the troubles I've had.
I'd rather be modest than proud,
I'd rather be quiet than loud ;
I'd rather look up, to the sky's golden
cup,
Than walk with my head always bowed,
I'd rather be healthy than sick,
I'd rather be certain than quick;
I'd rather be broke than have It b
spoke
I grew rich by an underhand trick.
I'd rather be sober than tight,
I'd rather be kindly than fight.
Unless, It were true, only fightlnf
would do
The work to establish the right.
I'd rather be free than a slave,
I'd rather be noble than brave;
I'd rather be me, with my babe on my
-knee,
Than the richest old man near the grave.
I'd rather be lavish than mean,
I'd rather my wife than a queen,
And I'd rather my home than the splen
dors of Rome
Or the castles that Europe has seen.
Detroit Free Press.
Pride and Pried.
"Differs gets his new car out several
times a day. Matter of pride, I sup
pose?" "Yep. Tried It out of a mudhola
three times last Monday." Cleveland
Plain Dealer.
The more children a woman has, tb
fewer theories she has.