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About The Athena press. (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942 | View Entire Issue (April 17, 1908)
l f'llh'PJv QarpeW money tai" fesOTM2 irooD ave hSrc Trampdom has a dialect of lta own which nobody be yond the pale con understand a spoken and written dla lect which In some curious way hns grown up In the kindred and baa supplanted many other mcana of com municating Ideas. The mysterious signs that one sometimes sees on fences In the small cities and towns may frequently be attrib uted to the tramp fraternity. In the big city these signs are rarities, for there the hobo doesn't have the leeway that urban and rural life gives him. Give ons tramp a dinner and you give a dozen. The grateful recipient Is fairly certain, if he gots the oppor tunity, to make a little chulk symbol on the philanthro pist's fence, perhaps merely a rude circle, Inclosing a cross thus Informing evory other member of his guild that the householder Is ready to feed a regiment. If the tramp on bis way up the back walk has en countered a lively member of the bulldog family he is de cent enough, alter he succeeds In escaping, to Indicate In some manner on the first owner's fence or gnte the presence of sharp tenth Inside. If the occupant of a house bears a strong dislike for tramps and doesn't hesitate, on the slightest provocation, to hand them over to the police, pcrhnps taking pains to deprive them of their liberty until the ollicer arrives, the first tramp lucky enough to escape gives warning to his comrades by writing "23" on the vigorous citizen's gate. If only women live In the house the tramp takes the liberty of describe their sex by the use of the letter "V," indicating the number of the Indies by the number of "Vs." Anybody good enough to give the first mendl iaut 'a few pennies usually gets recompensed by some symbol Illustrative of the "easy mark," as, for Instance, a hand, with a disk drawn between the lingers. And If the householder proffers sufficient money for a railroad trip td the tramp's "home," then the recipient shows his thankfulness by drawing on the giver's gate or back door a rude picture of an engine or of wheels meaning trans portation. A single scrawl on the clapboards of a cot tage Indicates that the occupants are too poor to look out for anybody but themselves. MINDING MOTHER. Boys, just listen for a moment To a word I have to say : Manhood's gates are Just before you, Drawing nearer ev'ry day. Bear in mind, while you are passing, O'er that intervening span, That tli boy who minds his mother Seldom makes a wicked man. There are many slips and failures In this world we're living in ; j Those who start with prospects fairest Oft are overcome by sin. But I'm certain that you'll notice, If the facts you'll closely scan, That the boy who minds his motl Seldom makes a wicked man. Then be guided by her counsel, It will never lead astray ; Rest assured she has your welfare In her thoughts both night and Don't forget that she has loved s Since the day your life began ; Ah, the boy who minds his mothe Seldom makes a wicked man. -Weekly Bouquet. Her Sacrifici Miss Wellington reversed the run about and they whirled away together. "I have au engagement nt the' dross maker's," sho explained. "If you don't mind, I'll stop now, and then we can take a spin out to the park. There are lots of things I want to talk to you about." Doris flushed with pleasure; It was not often she enjoyed an hour's reoren tlon since their reverses. And the pros pect of a talk with Eudora Wellington was most alluring to her. Aftor the visit to the fashionable modiste had been accomplished they drove straight to Fifth avenue, head ed for Central park. "PerhRps you are wondering why I took so long," Miss Wellington remark d with a musing little smile about her lips. "Shall I tell yon?" Doris smiled, too, with a responsive (learn In her gentle brown eyes. "You Deed not say a word," she said. "I've been In love, too." Wheu the words bad left her lips a swift shadow fell over her face and the tears rushed to her eyes despite the effort she was making toward cheerfulness. The other girl turned and looked Into her face keenly. "If I oould help you, I would, I would!" she said Impulsive ly, asd ber own eyes went dim. ANY CHALK MAKES ON YOUB PENCE. Doris shook her head and smiled again. "No one can now," sho pur sued absently, "you see, I gave him up myself. That makes it out of the ques tion for any one elHo to sny or do any thing. Once we were well off and prosperous my father's family, you know. But ho speculated and lost; wo're as poor ns Job's turkey now. I was betrothed to the kindest, best man In the world. But he, too, had been unfortunnte. Ills father, who was a verv hnivi peculiar old man, died and ie ef rwise n, he other ie de-step-i de l not -did rrnve Vhat back take u al- 1 1 li quid back 1 not then lie would marry the other, and that rltW Sw 1 I ' tefcW TUB POSTMAN IXFT A I ETTKB FOU YOU. that everything would be all right and that I hud done my duty with a breaking heart. I've never heard from hlin or seen him from that day to this. I suppose he Is already married now and that I will go out of his life as completely ns though 1 had never in vaded It" Her voles trailed to a whis TO' IP"'! HWI si 'I AYtOWM To The tramp has little use for the man of the house. It Is the roamers' delight to find homes in which the husband is away at business. The wife la ordinarily charitable, or, If she be disinclined, Is timorous. Rather than suffer a possible intrusion, she will hasten to give the beggar a comfortable meal. Whereupon the knight of the road rewards her goodness by drawing a curious sort of weight on the nearest fence or wall. Precisely what It means, few looSe-mouthed tramps can tell. It Is the symbol which hns been adopted and passed among the craft, and it suffices to notify every fellow mem ber that the "lady of the house" is usually at home, and that the husband during mornings and afternoons Is likely to be away. The tramp's sign of bad luck Is a broken circle. Whero ho got such an odd expression of disappointment Is an other unexplained feature of his system of hieroglyphics. But that, too, tells every fresh subsequent hobo that dis cretion in the neighborhood Is the better part of valor. Nothing Is more distasteful to the ordinary tramp than a pleasant lecture on things religious. Of the ultimate fate of mankind, Including himself, he dosen't care a rap. lie Isn't particularly thoughtful over the future, anyway. Food and tobacco, with a few drinks for company, In terest him far more than an elucidation of the Scrip tures. So the devout householder, who believes It Is' her solemn duty to talk Christianity to mendicants of the highways, generally, after one or two opportunities, gets a wide berth. They draw a cross on her front gate, and that cross Is n red signal of warning to all later comers. And the good man who wishes the wayfarer to Join his family circle at evening prayer Instead of letting a free man go his way in peace with enough pennies In hla pocket to buy a nightcap, this householder, too, must suffer for his zeal by future Immunity from the tramp fraternity. They mar his fence by a heavy cross. The hieroglyphics of the hobo fraternity, if they;could be compiled, would puzzle an Egyptologist. But with out doubt the student of things ethnological might be able to find In these symbols, which the wanderers are so fond of using, some resemblance to the symbols of prim itive people. per on the last words, and she stran gled a sob In her throat. It was some time before Miss Well ington spoke. When she did there was a different note In her voice, and all the pretty pink bad died out of her cheeks. "It was hard on you," she said, "ter ribly hard. But you were always a heroine, Doris j I knew that years ago. I know It now, more than ever." The young girl flushed warmly un der the genuine words of praise, and her dark eyes gleamed black for an in stant. "There are compensations In everything," she said, "even In our most bitter disappointments." For several minutes they drove In leisurely silence. At last Doris said she must be getting home, and ten minutes later Miss Wellington was tell Infl her goodby In front of her gnte. When she entered her room she flung herself down on the bed and gave up to the tears that had been hovering so close to her eyes for a long time. The encounter with the other girl, who had everything, her happi ness chief of all, made her own heart's tragedy and miserable lot the more unendurable. Somehow she could not get hrr loer out of her mind; he had cared for her, she knew that, as he would never care for any oue else; but with her image forcibly erased from his life, and that by her own hand, It was more than probable that he would find as much contentment as most people have In his new relations and surroundings. That night Doris Balfour was deliri ous. For several days she was unable to leave her bed. She had grown very white and thin after the fever left, and her vitality seemed dwindling away. One morning her sister came Into the room and sat down on the bed beside her. "Doris," she began, "I want you to tell me the truth; you are unhappy, are you uot? It doesu't look ns though a mere physical hurt could produce this coudition." The hot blood flamed over the girl's small face and her lips trembled. She was too weak to control her emotions at all. Then, for answer, she covered her face with her hands and shook convulsively. Letty Balfour went on: "They are making a plan to send you to the Adiroudncks the doctor seems to think you need a change. But I have a different theory. I believe I have something that will cure you a whole lot quicker. Shall I tell you?" Doris glanced up eagerly, her heart bounding with an excitement that was more than half pain. Something In her sister's tone thrilled her strangely. "ies," she said, "tell me." 8he reached up one trembling hand and lard It In Lettyq'sj. The latter went on; "Ever since the day after you wen taken 111," she said, "he has been com ing here. They never .would tell you, or let you see him. The doctor said any kind of excitement would be bad. But this morning the postman left a letter for you from Tom. I got It myself and I've held on to It every minute since. Here It Is." She drew the envelope from her bosom and placed It In Doris' little hot hands: "My Darling: Something tells me that you do love me in spite of all that you gave me up because of your own nobility and unselfishness. In my anger and pride I let you do It then, and In desperation engaged myself to the other girl. Afterward, I realized what a wretchedness my life would be what an utter failure. But It was too late then to draw out. The mar riage preparations were already under way, the ceremony to be performed next month. But on Sunday morning she wrote to me and said: 'I have made a mistake, Tom. We can never be happy together. I do not want the money, so It Is all yours unquestionably and without feeling on my part As you know, I have a plenty of my own. I return your ring and lotters. Don't feel hard toward me, for believe me, this is best for us all.' "May I come back, sweetheart? I shall be in Philadelphia on business for a couple of days, but I shall be frantic with Impatience. Write me at my hotel. I sail for Hamburg on Aug. 8. Shall I engage passage for two? As ever, Tom." The answer went back without de lay. Letty took It down and sent It herself. It was only one word, and It took but three letters to spell It New Orleans Times-Democrat LIQUOR IN NOBWAY. LfiTra by Which the Sale of Intoxi cant I Controlled. The Sanilag system In Norway gives power to municipalities to grant a'l the retail spirit licenses which It deems necessary to a company which would b.nd Itself to carry on the traffic In the Interests . of the community, with a fixed annual return of not more than 6 per cent on Its paid up capital. In establishing the system the question of compensation does not appear to have presented much difficulty. When the Samlag was Introduced tvo kinds of Lcenses were In existence first, those granted annually or for a term not exceeding five years, and, second, pilvlleged licenses, granted for the life of the licensee. In the case of the first no compensation whatever was paid to those dispossessed of their li censes. In regard to the latter com pensation was granted In the form of an annuity equal to the average yearly profits for the three years preceding the suppression of the license. With these provisions the alms and principles of the Samlag are summar ized as follows: The elimination of private profit and securing the monop oly value for the public, Insuring high est quality of liquors sold, the reduc tion of the number of licenses, the easy enfofcemeut of the law, the destruction of the power of the spirit trade and the furtherance of all progressive meas ures of reform. New York Herald. She Gave Herself Away. Robert Watchorn, the well-known commissioner of Immigration, has made a sympathetic and thorough study of the Immigrant types that reach New York. Discussing these types the other day he said: "The most naive are the Germans from the smaller and remoter states. They have the charmingly simple and quaint minds of children. "A beautiful German girl disem barked here the other day. She was tall and strong, blue-eyed and yellow haired. She wanted to know at once if there were any letters for her. "The postmaster at the pier, after getting her name, said, by way of a Joke: "'Is it a business or a love letter that you expect?' "The girl faltered: " 'A business letter.' " 'Well, there's nothing here,' said the man after looking over the assort ment "The girl hesitated. Then, blushing as red as a rose, she said : "'Would you- mind Just looking among the love letters now, sir?'" Boston Globe. One on the Cabman. One night Pagan! nl was going to the Paris opera house, where he was to astonish every one by playing on one string. Being late, he took a cab, and when he arrived at his destination the cabby wanted ten francs. "What!" he exclaimed, "you ore crazy; I have only had you five minutes!" "I know it Is much," said the other, "but for you who make a fortune by playing on one string It must be ten francs." "Well," said Paganlni, handing him the right fare, "when you can make your cnb go on one wheel come to me and I will give you nineteen francs." La Carlcaturlsta. Microscopic. The best microscopes are warranted, to magnify about 10,000 times. Those are the kind most people would make use of in examining their neighbors' faults. Washington" Fost Women are most sensible vfcea among women, and men are most sen slble when among men. It's a iHKr cook that Isn't abl to make good. Alfalfa for Hogt. At the Kansas Experiment Station bogs were fed on a ration of alfalfa hay and Kaffir corn meal. The gains were 73 per cent more on this ration than upon a ration of Kaffir corn meal alone. For every bushel of KafHr corn meal and 7.83 pounds of alfalfa bay, the gain was 10.88 pounds, while upon Kaffir corn meal alone the gain was 7.48 pounds per bushel. It Is shown that the hay gave better results when cut early and that the chief nutriment was In the leaves, which should be carefully saved during the process of harvesting. An earlier experiment at the same station was tried to deter mine the value of alfalfa pasture for hogs. The hogs were allowed to run upon the alfalfa during the summer and were fed a light ration of grain. After deducting the probable gain for the corn it was found that during the summer each acre of alfalfa pasture iroduced 776 pounds of pork. Scoop Gate for Wagon Box. The end gate for a wagon box here Illustrated, answers the purpose best of anything known for hauling corn or anything which Is to be scooped from the wagon box. The left figure shows It closed; being fastened by a hook on each side. When ready to unload, loosen hooks, swing gnte down and, as it is supported by a chain on euch side, you can stand on it and com mence scooping. It Is fastened to bot tom of the box with strap hinges which should be sunk Into box and gate so that it leaves an even surface to scoop over. The gate should be about thirty inches high and wide enough so that side boards of same will fit over out side of box as shown in right hand Igure. Meat for Layer. One of the best foods for making hens lay Is lean meat When the sup- , ply of eggs fails, stop all other feeds ' and feed lean meat or liver, and cheap I meats will answer, and It will be found Buperlor to anything else that can be jused. Green bone, containing a large ' proportion of lean meat, Is even better, provided the fat portions are removed from the bone. It will be found cheaper than grain, : because it will make eggs. One reason why the hens fall to lay when they have plenty of grain Is that they re quire a change, and meat supplies the needful. If the hens are fat, give oue ounce of lean meat each day, allowing no other food for a week or two, and watch the results. Colman's Rural World. Pays to Raise White Beans. Common white beans are a good crop for the farmer to grow, If they are grown under the best methods. I Good-sized seed should be planted : rather than small seed, and the plant , lng should be after the danger of frost Is past, as the leaves of beans will not stand frost The farmer should at l least raise enough for his family, which can easily be done on a very i small strip of land that has been only moderately manured. This small de j mand for manure Is due to the fact , that bean plant roots have on them : nodules containing bacteria which I gather nitrogen from the air. White beans need food cultivation, so that the soil around the roots can be well treated, which favors the development of the nodules. Cleaning Drinking Veaaejs. Unclean drinking vessels are doubt less the Immediate means of spreading some of our contagious diseases, such as roup. Roup Is a disease In which slime accumulates in the mouths of the fowls and strings out of their mouths when they open them to drink. Noth ing is easier than for such a fowl to leave slime in the drinking water, which is then partaken of be the other fowls. This leads to the fowls all be coming quickly affected. As roup comes on In the fall very often when we get the changes In temperature at night, It Is necessary that the drinking ves sels be kept clean and every fowl that shows signs of a cold should be taken at once from the house so that It will not be possible for her to spread the llsease. " Retnrnetf to Uae of Oxea. A Missouri farmer has returned to the use of oxen on his farm. He says he finds them cheaper and better thau horses and mules. In addition to hav ing oxen for general farm work, he has trained a bull to run a treadmill that pumps water, churns butter and does all of that kind of work. This animal beats a windmill or gasoline engine "all to pieces," and the work keeps .his temper sweet and prevents him from doing damage with his horns. Other farmers are watching the experi ment, and "horseless farms' may soon b all the ragt er ZZI m WAGOW-BOX SCOOP GATE. Sood Care of the Sa41e. A manufacturer of saddles Is credited with the statement that one of the best of polishes for riding saddles and bri dles Is new milk. This should not be rubbed In the leather, however, until the latter has been cleaned with slight ly warm water and soap. Hard-working stock saddles can be kept in good condition by thoroughly rubbing with three parts of palm oil and one of neatsfoot after first washing with soap and water. For the leather lining of saddles that comes next to the horse there is nothing so good as neatsfoot oil. The salt which exudes from the animal's body Is very hard on the leather. Vigorous and protracted rub bing of the leather Is essential, what ever dressing Is used. trains Commercial Fertilisers. The pure nitrate of soda, muriate ot potash, super-phosphate or ground bone, can be used In the garden, but unless a person has had experience oz handles these very carefully, results are apt to be disappointing or disas trous. Plants of which the leaf oi stalk are the edible portions must havs plenty of nitrogen, which is available In the guano and animal manure. When the roots or fruits are to be' eaten, phosphoric acid should be added In the shape of wood ashes or super phosphate. Ground bone Is too slow la becoming available. Early Layer. Frequently a pullet starts laying be fore the others and continues to lay well all the year ; such a one should be carefully watched and her eggs saved, providing sufllclent size was attained before she began laying. Other pul lets will lay a few eggs In the autum . and then cease until spring; thesa should, of course, be discarded. Thos that begin laying prematurely are nol desirable, as they should attain tha size characteristic of their breed be fore commencing, and then lay con tinuously during the rest of the' fall and winter. An Acre of Land. To measure an acre tie a ring a, each end of a rope, the distance being JUBt CO feet between them ; tie a pleci of colored cloth exactly In the mlddlt of this. One acre of ground will N four times the length and two and one-half times the width, or the equal of 10 rods one way and 10 rods th other, making the full acre 100 square rods. Keep the rope dry, so it will nol stretch. A rod Is 10 lineal feet An acre Is 4,840 square yards or 43,5017 square feet A Good Condition Powder. Dr. Smead advises the following con dition powder for live stock: Two pounds of ground flaxseed as a base, in which mix 5 ounces powdered gentian, 6 ounces of ginger, 4 ounces of powder ed sulphate of iron, 4 ounces of powder ed nitrate of potash. To this add 2 ounces of powdered charcoal and 1 pound of common salt Mix all well together. Give at first two tablespoon fuls In feed of grain twice a day. Af ter two weeks give half the quantity. Purple-Top Rnta-Baga. Prof. Rane of the New Hampshire station recommends the American pur ple top ruta-baga for the following rea sons : It is a fine market sort, often sell ing In the markets for double the prioe of the early white turnip. It is also a splendid keeper and Is usually free from all sponglness. While it cannot be planted as late as the early turnips, it can be used as a follow crop after early peas, provided the seed is sow" not later than July 10. Angle Iron for Poata. Angle Iron Is being used for making fence posts with great success. One of the valuable features Is that a post of, this description may be driven In place by a heavy mallet, and digging is, therefore, unnecessary. A non-cllmbable fence Is made by bending the post so that there Is an overhang of twelve or eighteen Inches, with the wires strung regularly In the very top. The difficulty of climbing such a fence will be apparent at a glance. Com Differ. In their milk producing power cows differ all the way from 3,000 pounds of milk per year to 12,000 pounds a year. That being true, why should farmers be satisfied to keep a cow that will produce but ten pounds of milk (about five quarts) per day for 800 days? Avoid This Kind of Poll. The use of the strainer In a pah where the dirt which falls into tha opening is likely to be driven through by the succeeding streams of milk Is not desirable. Its use tends to In crease the germ contents of, the milk and Injure its keeping quality. v Get Some Kew Roosters. The outlay attending the purchase ov new breeding males will be well re paid by results. Do not practice In breeding If you want your stock to do well. Notes of the Farm. The feed problem Is getting harder. There Is no excuse for the filthy ho pen. The more succulent the feed the bet ter it is for sheep. Be a good farmer if you are going to be a farmer at all. Clean and sort your seeds and thus Insure larger and better crops.; Water, pure and plenty of it, shonld be provided for the dairy cows. Young stock should be thrifty to re turn a profit Keep them growing. Teach the boys to be gentle with the cows. It is better for the cows, and th boys, to