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