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About Bohemia nugget. (Cottage Grove, Or.) 1899-1907 | View Entire Issue (May 17, 1905)
i i i Tbe Special i ; Cn.VPTER I. . Claudius Romhirnae, Spoi:l Corre spondent Twentieth Century. Tillis, Transcaucasia." Such is the address of the telegram 1 found on the 13th of May when I arrived at Titlis. This la wh.it thp telegram said: "As the mutters iu hand will terminate on the loth instint. Claudius Bombarnac will repair to I'snn Ada. port on the eaat coast of the Caspian. There he will take the train by the direct t:ran.l Trinsasiatic, between the Eur-pean fron tier and the capital of the Celestial Em pire. He will transmit his impressions ia the way of news, interviewing remark able people on the road, and reiort the nit trivial incidents by letter or tele gram as necessity dictates. The Twenti eth Centnrv trusts to the leal. Intelli gence, activity and tart of Its correspond ent, who can draw on its bankers to any extent he may deem necessary." It was the rery morning 1 had arrived at Tillis. with the intention of spending three weeks there in a visit to the Georgian provinces for the benefit of my newspaper, and also I hoped tor that of Its readers. Ilere was the unexpected, indeed: the uncertainty of a social correspondent's life. 1 had hardly arrived before I was obliged to be off again without unstrap ping my portmanteau! It was hard, but there was no way out of if. "And to begin with, nt what o'clock did the train for Titlis start from the Caspian? I went to the railway station at a run. and rushed into the departure "When is there a train for Baku? I asked. "Six o'clock to-night." "Ami when does it get there ?" "Seven o'clock in the morning." "Is that in time to catch the boat for I7r.no Ada?" The man nt the trap door replied to my -salute by a salute of mechanical pre cision. The question of passport did not trouble' me. The French consul would know how to give me all the references required by the Russian administration. At 5 o'clock, having secured my pass port. I hurry to the railway station. Tli ere there is a crowd of Armenians. Georgians, Miugrelians. Tartars, Kurds. Israelites, Russians, from the shores of the Caspian. some taking their tickets direct for Baku, some for intermediate stations. I take a ticket for Baku," first class. I go down on the platform to tbe carriages. According to my custom, I install myself in a comfortable corner. A few travel er! follow we. while the cosmopolitan populace invade the second and third class carriages. The doors are shut af ter the visit of the ticket inspector. A last t ream of the whistle announces that the train is about to start. Suddenly there is a shout a shout in which anger is mingled with despair and I catch these words iu German: "Stop! Stop: I put down the window and look out. A fat man, bag in hand, traveling cap on liead. his legs embarrassed in the skirts of a huge overcoat, short and breathless. He is bite. The porters try to stop him. Try to stop a bomb in the middle of its trajectory! - Once again has riifht to give place to might. The Teuton bomb describes a well-calculated curve, and has just fallen into the .compartment next to ours, through the door a traveler had obligingly left open. The train begins to move at the same in stant, the engine wheels begin to slip on , the rails, then the speed increases. We are off. ' It is still daylight nt 0 o'clock in the evening in this latitude. I have bought a time table and I consult it. Then I began to examine my traveling compan ions. Tliere were four of us, and I need scarcely say that we occupied the four corners of the compartment. 1 had taken the furthest corner, facing the engine. At the two opposite angles two travelers were seated facing each other. As soon as they got in they pulled their caps down on their eyes and wrapped them selves up .in their cloaks evidently they were Georgians, as far as I could see. In front of me was quite a different type, with nothing of the oriental about it; thirty-two to thirty-five years old, face with u reddish beard, very much alive iu look iiiiKo like tli.it of a iIipl' standi!!'' nr point, mouth only too glad to tulk, hands free and easy, ready for a shake with anybody: a tall, vigorous, broad-shouldered, powerful man. By the way in which lie settled himself and put down Ms bag. and unrolled his traveling rug of bright-lined tartan, I hail recognized the Anglo-Saxon traveler, more accus tomed to long journeys by lam and sea than to the comforts of his home, if he bad a home. He looked like a commer cial traveler. I noticed that his jewelry was iu profusion; rings on his lingers, pin iu his H"arf, stud on his cuffs with pho tographic views in them, showy trinkets banging from the watch chain across his waist coat. I should not have leeu sur prised if he turned out to.be an Ameri can. If I ana not mistaken, he will be just a glad to speak to me as I am to speak to hini mid reciprocally. I will see. But a fear restrains me. Suppose th'is Amer ican should also be a special correspond ent, and suppose he has also been or dered to do this Grand Asiatic. That would be most annoying! He would be a rival! CHAPTER II. At last I was about to open my mouth when uiy companion prevented me. "You are a Frenchman V" he said in tnr native tongue. "Yes, sir," I replied In his. Evidently we could understand each other. The ice was broken, and then question followed on question rather rap idly between us. "Wait a bit." said my American. "I'll lay ten to one that you are a reporter!" "And you would win! Yes. I am a reporter sent by the Twentieth Century to do this journey." "Going all the way to Fekin? So am I." Same trade?" aald I, indifferently. "No. . You need not excite yourself, We don't sell the same stuff, sir." "Claudius Bombarnac, of Bordeaux, U delighted to be ou the same road as Correspondent "Fulk Fphrincll. of the firm of Strong. Bulbil! & Co.. of New York City. New York. l S. A." We were mutually Introduced. I a traveler In news, and he a traveler In in what? That I had to find out. "Have yon ever been In the I'nlted States, Mr. Bombarnac?" he asked. "No. Monsieur Ephrlnell." "Yon will come to our country some day. Then vou will not forget to explore the establishment of Strong, Bulbul & Co.?" "Kxplore It?" "You will see one of the most remark able industrial establishments of the New Contiuent. Imagine a colossal work shop, immense building for the mount ing and adjusting of the pieces, a steam engine of fifteen hundred horse power, ventilators making six hundred revolu tions a minute, boilers consuming a hun dred tons of eo.il a day. a chimney stack four hundred and fifty feet high. va outhouses for the storage of our goods, which we send to the live parts of the world, a general manager, two sub-managers, four secretaries, eight under sec retaries, a staff of five hundred clerks and nine hundred workmen, a whole regiment of travelers like your servant, working iu Kurope. Asia. Africa. America, Aim traliasia, in short, a turnover exceeding annually one hundred million dollars! And all that. Mr. Bombarnac. for making millions of yes, I said millions " At this moment the train commenced to slow umler the action of its automatic brakes, and he stopped. Our conversa tion is interrupted. 1 lower the window on my side, and open the door, being de sirous of stretching my legs. As soon as the bell liegins to ring I return to our carriage, and when I have shut the door I notice that my place is taken. Yes! Facing the American, a lady has installed herself with that Anglo-Saxou coolness which is as unlim ited as the infinite. My French gal lantry prevents me from claiming my corner, and 1 sit down beside this person, who makes no attempt at apology. Fphrincll seems to be asleep, and that stops my knowing what it is that Strong, Bulbul i Co. of New York manufacture by the million. It was nearly midnight. Weariness in vited me to sleep, and yet. like a good re porter, I must sleep with one eye and one ear open. In this way. I heard the shouts of Gerau, Varvara, Oudjarry, Kiourdamid, Klourdane, then Karasoul, Navagi. I sat up, but as I no longer occupied the cor ner from which I had been so cavalierly evicted, it was impossible for me to look through the window. And then 1 began to ask what Is hid den beneath this mass of veils and wrap and petticoat which has usurped my place. Is this lady going to be my com panion all the way to the terminus of the Grand Transasiatic? Shall I ex change a sympathetic salute with her in the streets of I'ekin? I must gradually have fallen sound asleep. Withdrawn from exterior influ ences, I did not even hear the stentorian respiration of the Yankee. "Bflku! Baku!" The word, repeated as the train stop ped, awoke me. It was seven o'clock in the morning. CHAPTER III. The boat did not start until three o'clock in the afternoon. Those of my companions who intended to cross the Caspian hurried off to the harbor, it being necessary to engage a cabin, or to mark one's place in the steamer's saloon. Ephriuell precipitately left me with these words: "I have not an instant to lose. I must see about the transport of my baggage." "Have you much?" "Forty-two cases." "Forty-two cases!" I exclaimed. If he had had a voyage of eight days, instead of one of twenty-four hours, and had to cross the Atlantic instead of the Caspian, he could not have been in a greater hurry. He did not think of of fering his hand to assist our companion in descending from the carriage. I took his place. The lady leaned ou my arm and jumped no, gently put her foot on the ground. My reward was a thank jou, sir, uttered in a hard, dry, unmis takable British voice. Twenty-five years is apparently about her age, she has an Albionesque complex ion, a jerky walk, a high dress like an einiinocti.il tide, no spectacles, although she has eyes of the Intense blue which are generally short-sighted. While I bend my buck as I bow, she honors me with nod. which only brings into play tho vertebrae of her long neck, and she walks off straight toward the way out. As eleven o clock" strikes, I make my way to the restaurant at the railway. As 1 am entering hiplirinell rushes out. "Breakfast?" say I.. "1 have had it," he replies. "And your cases?" "I have still twenty-nine to get down to the steamer. But, pardon, I have not a moment to lose. When a mart repre sents the firm of Strong, Bulbul & Co., who send out every week five thousand cases of their goods " "Go, go. Monsieur Ephrlnell.. we will meet on board. By the bye, you have not met our traveling companion?" "What truveling companion?" "The young lady who took my place In the carriage." "Was there a young lady with us?" "Of course." "Well, you are the first to tell me so, Mr. Bombarnac." . And thereupon -the American goes out of the door, and disappears. It is to be hoped I shall know before we get to I'ekin what it is that Strong, Bulbul & Co. send out in such quantities. Five thousand cases a week what an out put, and what a turnover! When it is two o'clock I think I had better get down to the boat. I must call at the railway station where I have left my light luggage at the cloak room. Boon I am off again, hastening down one of the roads leading to the harbor. At the break iu the wall, where access is obtained to the quay, my attention is attracted by two people walking along together. The man is from thirty to thirty-five years old, the woman from tweuty-five to thirty, the man already grayish brown, with mobile face, lively look. easy walk with a certain swinging of the hips. The woman still a pretty blonde, blue eyes, n rather fresh com plexion, her hair frixsod under a cape, a traveling costume which is iu good taste neither in Its unfashionable cut nor in Its glaring color. F.vldeutly a mar ried couple come In the train from TIM, and unless 1 am mistaken they are French. They are too much occupied to see me. In their ban. Is, on their shoulders, they have Iwigs and cushions and wraps and ticks and sunshades anil umbrellas. They are carrying every kind of little package you can think of which they do not care to put with the luggage on the steamer. 1 have a good mind to go and help them. Just as I am walking up to them, Kphrl nell appears, drags me away, aud 1 leave the couple behind. "Well." said I to the Yankee, "how are you getting on with your cargo?" "At this moment, sir. the thirty-seventh caie is on the road." "Ami what may be in those cases, If you please?" "In those cases? Ah! There Is the thirty-seventh!" he exclaimed, and he ran out to meet a truck which had Just cume on to the quay. The Astara is loaded up. The hold Is not big enough, and a good deal-of the cargo is overflowed on the deck. The stern is reserved for passengers, but from the bridge forward to the top gallant forecastle there is a heap of eases cov ered with tarpaulin to protect them front the sea. There EphriueU's cases have been put. He has lent a hand with Yankee energy, determined not to lose sight of his valua ble property, which is in cubical cases, aliout two feet ou the side, covered with patent (cither, carefully strapped, on which can be read the stenciled words. "Strong, Bulbul & Co.. New York." "Are all your goods on .board?" I asked the American. "There Is the forty second case Just coming." he replied. And there was the said case on the back of a porter already coming along the gangway. It seemed to me that the porter was rather tottery. "Wait a bit!" shouted Ephrlnell. Then in gotd Russian, so as to be better un derstood, he shouted: "Iok out! Liwik out!" It is good advice, but it is too late. The porter has just made a false step. The cae slips from his shoulders, breaks in two. and a quantity of little packets of paper scatter their contents on the deck. What a shout of indignation did Ephrl nell raise! What u whack with his list did he administer to the unfortunate porter as he repeated in a voice of de spair, "My teeth, my poor teethi" And he went down on Ins Knees to gather up his little bits of artificial ivory that were scattered all about, wnne i could hardly keep from laughing. It was for manufacturing five thou sand cases a week for the five parts of the world that this huge concern existed! It was for supplying the dentists of the old and new worlds; it was for sending teeth as far as China, that their factory required fifteen hundred horse power, and burned a hundred tons of coal a day! That is quite American! The bell is ringing for the last time. All the passengers are aboard. The As tara is casting off her warps. Suddenly there are shouts from the quay. I rec ognize them as being in German, the same as I had heard at Titlis when the train was starting for Baku. It is the same man. He is panting, he runs, he cannot run much faster. The gangway has been drawn ashore, and the steamer is already moving off. Luck ily there is a pipe out astern which still keeps the Astara near the quay. The German appears just as two sailors are maneuvering with the fender. I hey each give him a hand and help him ou board. About a quarter or a mile out tliere is a sort of boiling, agitating the sur face of the sea, and showing some deep trouble in the waters. I was near the rail on the starboard quarter, and, smok ing my cigar, was looking at the harlsir disappearing behind the point round ('ape Apcheron, while the range of the Cau casus ran up into the western horizon. Of my cigar there remained only the end between my lips. and. taking a last whiff, I threw it overboard. Iu an instant a sheet of flame burst out all around the steamer. The boiling came from a submarine spring of naph tha, and the cigar end had set it alight. Screams arise, i he Astara rolls amid sheaves of tlame, but a movement of the helm steers us away from the (taming Miring, and we are out of danger. The captain cornea aft and says to me iu u frigid tone: "That was a foolish thing to do." "Really, captain, I did not know " "You ou-,'lit always to know, sir!" These words are uttered in a dry, can tankerous tone, a few feet away from me. I turn to see who it is. It is the Eng lish woman who bus read me this little lesson. (To be continued.) Had Feathered His Nest. The gage by which worldly prosper ity In measured Is not always the same. But It docs not so much mut ter what Htandanl Ih used ho long as it shows accurately the amount of gain or loss. "I remember Bill Gassett fls a shift less young ne'er-do-well," said a form er neighbor of Mr. Sands, revisiting his old home after many years' absence, "but I hear he left his widow quite a substantial property. How did he man ege It?" "He made choice of an excellent wife, and she took hi in as the smartest women often take the poorest speci mens of. the men-folks," said Mr. Sandg thoughtfully, "and what's more, she made something of lilm, put some gimp into him, and what all, Why, sir, when he married her, all he had for a mattress was an old makeshift stuffed with dried leaves; and when he died he had no less'n three mattresses stuffed with live-goose feutbers. I guess that tells tbe story." Jealous. Bookkeeper Tbe boss came In and caught me taking a kiss from the Dret ty stenographer. Actually said I was dishonest Mall Clerk In what way? Bookkeeper Said I was taking something that belonged to aim. A lluudv liitrtU'ti Curt. No one- rctill.cs bow bandy small cart Is on the farm until one bus used it; the wheelbarrow Is nil right Iu U place, but there are limes when the band curt answers tbe purpose much better. The illustration shows how one of these carls may bo mndo with a little lumber and any Sld wheels from a mower one may have. If there are no such wheels and shaft on the farm, the local blacksmith can prob ably supply the want from articles of the kind that come to htm. The Il lustration shows plainly the mode of construction. Have n tiox of convenient slr.e, being careful not to make it too large, else It cannot be pulled except with con sl.lornbl.' effort when tilled. The width will, of course, depend upon the length of the axle. Thills may be made of any suitable material. If one cannot obtain a made pair, and If they nre home constructed It will bo easy to .1IANIIY O.UtlH N tAUT. bring the outer ends nearer together by placing; a two Inch block between the ends next to the box and the box. At the front cud of the box n strip of board Is placed, to which the single tree is attached. No I'alitxitiC Hnnke. Recently uu absurd fear lias devel oped In the uiluds of some euters of cabbuges relative to the so-called "cab bage snake." The superstition U that the snake poisons the cabbages and so renders them unfit to cat. The exist ence of such a creature 1 denied by our scientists, but so prevalent is the belief that at least one experiment sta tion lius Issued a circular denying the existence of the so-called snake. In some parts or the country a stnnll whitish "eel-worm" has been found to Infest cabbages. The larvae of tins worm prey upou the common green cabbage worm, and hence are doubt less a benefit rather than a detriment to the cabbage-growing Industry. Some of the more superstitious people In the South Imagined that these worms poi soned the cabbages, aud tests were made bv scientific people to clear up the matter. Extracts were made from the worms and tnjected Into the hu man system. These Injections fulled to produce the least effect. It Is there fore considered that the diameter of the lltfle worm has been cleared of the accusation. New Jted llrnpe. Although not yet tested In all grapc- growlug regions, the Regal shows promise wherever It has been grown. The vine U a most vigorous grower, strong and healthy nnd exceedingly productive. The quality of the berry Is verr good, though not of the best. The skin Is a rich red, thin but very tough, and one of the cliliT character istics of the variety Is Its long keep ing finalities. As will be seen from the Illustration, the bunch is coinp ii t. the berries of good size and uniform. A number of the State experiment sta- THE BKQAL GItAPB. tions have tested the variety and speak highly of it. If It does as well unaer general culture us It uaa on trial, It will be of distinct advantage as a market sort because of Its color and Its long keeping qualities. Indianapolis News. Finding Ak of Fowls. A pullet will show rose-colored veins on the surface of the skin under the wings; there will also be long silky hairs growing there. After a year old these disappear, so, too, do the veins, and the skin shows white and vein less. The difference can be seen at a t,l,ince, Again, n pullet that laid, or has only just commenced lay, will have the bones of the pelvis or basin nlmost touching. The bones gradually widen us the fowl continues laying, and at two years old are much further apart than they were at one year old. The third point of difference lies In the claws nnd shanks; In a young bird the skin of the claw Is supple, and the scales thin and bril liant. The skin gets coarser and stronger and the scales harder as the bird grows, and the nail of the last toe, which docs most of the work, when the bird scratches, gets much worn. Tliere Is also a difference In the eye lids. These acquire wrinkles as the bird gets older, and there Is also a slightly shrivelled look on the face. This, with age. gets more and more pronounced. In the case of cocks, above and beyond these points of dif ference (except the bones of the pelvis widening), there are the spurs to Judge by. A nierlcnn Cultivator. Klrctric flowing. With the development of electrbfil works proceeding so rapidly In Italy, It Is not sunnislng to llml that special attention Is being given there to tin design of electrical agricultural ma chinery. The Socletil Elcttroteculcn 1 1 it I la mi of Turin lias Invented and con structed a number of devices for the application of electric power to farm machinery, Its latest product being an electric plow, which Is said to have come out of public tesrs with gratify ing success. The device consists of two twenty-five horsepower cars, which are stationed at each end of tbe field, and between which nre stretched cables attached to the plow. The electric current Is taken from a trolley line. Tbe plow Is pulled by the cables from one side of the field to the other, and when It reaches the end of the furrow It stops ailtotun tlcally. (lie current being cut off. It can be run backward or forward with ease. One man manages the plow, and each car Is operated by one man. Tlnto power cars are said to be as e:tslly managed ns traction engines, and their power can be applied to thrashing ma chines, pumps, grain drills, etc. New Kami (Sate, Serious defects to be overcome In gates are strain and leverage weight, which result In sagging. W. J. Slack, of Fort Wayne, I ml., has Invented n gate which It Is claimed will large ly remedy these defects. A triangular If K W rAHV OATK. Inline Is hinged to the poM, with two rollers attached, whereon gate panel Is supported and freely opera les. The cut shows gate In usual low position, closed, nnd so supported at front end that no leverage weight or sjrnln can Iticir to either gate or post. This Im provement may be used as a small sin gle or large double sliding or swing gate. Gy the red from the Garden. The best thing for the garden bruins. Cut the black knot out of the plum and cherry trees. A particular titbit of the San Jose scale is the currant. Radishes are usually ready for use In nix weeks from sowing. Rune ii i-i 1 and wood ashes Iu the soli arc great for sweet peas. Probably no other small fruit will give more weight of crop for the space It occupies than the currant. Won't trim the cherry trees now. Walt till June, and tiieu be llght hiiiided. 'I'd bl 1 the grapevines by cutting dining March, April or May Is bad management. Cohl frames are useful for forward ing lettuce and cabbage Iu spring or early summer. If the rhubarb Is run outSir more plants ure wanted, It can be propa gated by dividing the old roots. Each eye or bud when broken apart, with a root attached forum u plant Poultry Pickings. Why don't you raise turkeys? '-'he. price Is high and they are easy to raise, though sumo think it is dllll cult. Special care must be taken In han dling the eggs tho first five days of Incubation, when life Is not firmly es tabllshed. The cause of fowls taking cold is al lowing them to sleep where they are exposed to drafts and feeding then soft and sloppy fowls. It requires capital to go Into the poultry business ou anything but a very small scale, and economizing on some things is the wrong thing to do. Wyandottes have for the last few years taken a commanding position among the fanciers of this country, be ing of American origin aud a great egg producer. A great number of beginners who are Just becoming Interested in rais ing poultry, etc., do not know wlint breed to select. Try Barred Plymouth Rocks or Wyandottes, THEVEEKLY rHKimniAc i jliiyiiirii i:..,..'. . li ,:i hi One Hundred Years Ago. Over 10O persons lost their lives by ' the great flood of the river Tiber. The I'nlted States frigate Essex, Commodore Barron, arrived at Trlest. German Journals announced the march of l.'iO.ooo Prussians to the fron tiers of Europe. Algerian pirates captured a Portu guese frigate with UH! men. carrying them nil Into slavery. In Asia n Spanish ship with valuable cargo and $JHO,(hmi In gold was cap-, lured by a British piiuilccr and sent to Falmouth. Seventy-five Years Ago. Several towns were destroyed by nil earthiiuake In South America. Navigation In the Bhuk Sea was opened to American vessels. The standing army of the Fulled States numbered but 1.ki men. The bill for a national road from Buffalo to New Orleans was rejected In the house by KS to lo.'i. In New England the right of sunVage was granted to every male Inhabitant of ','1 years, except paupers and per sons cxcusi-d from paying taxes at their own request. fifty Years Ago. A free state convention drew up the Titpeku constitution. A pro slavery legislature was organ ized in Kaunas. A cloud passed over New York City which cuuscd u darkness equal to night. A new running record for a mile was set by Henry 1'crrltt on the Metnlrlo course nt New Orleans iu 1:42. A mob In I'lattc County, Missouri, ordered that no person belonging to the Northern Methodist Church should preach In that county under penalty of tur nnd feathers or hemp rope. forty Years Ago. ('resident Lincoln was shot by Wilkes Booth In Ford's Theater, Washington, l. C. Secretary Seward was attacked at home and woiindisl. I'l'csUh-ht Lincoln the next day dbsl from the wound Inflicted by Booth. An drew .lolinson was sworn In as Presi dent. A convention was reached between General Sherman nnd General Johnson (Confederate) for the surrender of tin hitter's army, but was disavowed later by the government. Investigation In Washington by mili tary and civil authorities fixed the Identity of the murderer of President Lincoln as J. Wilkes Booth. thirty Years Ago. Two aeronauts were suffocated and a third nearly perished Iu hii ascent of M.(xs) feet In Paris by balloon. A plan of putting Iron gunboats In the Rhine to offset a similar proposed plan by France was announced by Ger many. Emperor William of Germany sign ed the bill withdrawing the rights en joyed by the Catholic church. A pro- papal newspaper in Berlin was sup pressed. The British House of Commons re jected a petition to dismiss from the bench the Judges who had presided In the 'lichborue case, on the grounds of partiality, ami to Impeach the speaker for similar reasons. twenty Years Ago. A mob at Pierre, Iak lynched a white murderer on a llagpole Iu front of the courthouse. The body of C. Arthur Preller, of Loudon, slain by Maxwell, was found In a trunk In a St. Louis hotel. The presence of the Princess of Wales alone prevented violence to the Prince from a mob In the streets of Cork, through which tho royal party passed. Ten Years Ago. Joseph B. Greeiihut was deponed from the presidency of tho whisky truft after he had refused to resign. Tho body of Blanche Lamont was found In the belfry of the Emanuel Baptist Church In Sun Francisco, In the library of which the body of Mln ulo Williams bud been found on Ihe previous duy. San Francisco pollco believed they had fixed tho murder of Blanche La mont and Minnie Williams on Theo dore Purant, and formally charged him with the crime, for which be later was hanged. John M. Palmer and friends in Chi cago organized the Honest Money League, to oppose the free silver move ment of Governor Altgeld. Nicaragua's attempt to evade the payment of debts to England nearly In volved the I'nlted States ia a contest with Britain. mm