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$l.oo a Year, In Advance. FOR GOD, FOR COUNTRY, AND FOR TRUTH." Single Copy, 5 CenU.
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VOL. XIV. PLYMOUTH. N. C., FRIDAY. AUGUST 11, 1903. NO. 21.
A CHANGE
By BAXTER
T HE anno
I Jane Pi
Jj going to
announcement that Miss
'rior, of. London, was
to lecture on first aid
(L for the wounded and sick
musing in general threw the
village of Foxdale into an unusual
slat? of excitement. That these lec
tures Avere to be for ladies only added
a mystery that merely increased the
interest manifested, in the minds of
these favored individuals. Notices
calling attention to these facts wero
posted in favorable spots about the
village, and the congregation was ap
prised of the same from the pulpit
of the parish church.
If Miss Trior excluded the male
community from her attentions, she
herself was not disregarded, but
formed the subject of much criticism
Among the neglected members of the
Foxdale population. The nightly dis
cussions at the Pig and Whistle centred
round these proceedings, the knowl
edge respecting the subject being va
ried and obscure. " Foxdale had never
had its peace disturbed by anything
more intellectual than an occasional
traveling circus, so that the prospect
of Miss Prior's advent awoke the quiet
village from its usual apathy.
The lectures proving a great success
so far as the attendance was con
cerned, Miss Prior announced that,
providing a sufficient number camo
forward, the institution she represent
ed in London would be pleased to con
duct classes in the same subject during
the ensuing months. This finding fa
vor, Foxdale teemed with embryo
nurses, thirsting for opportunities to
test their newly-acquired knowledge
and to put it to practical use. Broken
H bones not being an every-day occur
rence, they turned their attentions to
sound ones; many hours that might
have been spent much more congen
ially at the Pig and Whistle being
passed by long-suffering husbands in
submitting various parts of their anat
omy to be bandaged and put in splints,
to give their better halves the neces
sary practice.
Old Sam Willet was the first to be
come a genuine patient, and he limped
home early one afternoon with a
sprained ankle. Mrs. Willet was the
most earnest devotee in the new cause,
.and received her husband figuratively
with open arms and welcomed him
with fervor, stimulated by the advent
of the first case of necessity Cor the
trial of her skill.
With the wounded ankle carefully
bandaged Mr. VIllet was assisted into
the front garden, where, reclining in
a comfortable chair, his injured foot
resting on a hassock, he served the
double purpose of advertising his
wii'c's skill and creating jealousy
among the other amateur nurses in the
village.
He was inclined to grumble at his
enforced confinement at first; but the
kind and increasing attentions of his
wife caused him to feel more contented
with his lot, and to look upon his acci
dent as a-fortunate occurrence. It
being the period of the year during
which the evenings were long and
balmy, Mr. Willet sat in the garden
and held receptions of numerous
friends coming to inquire after his
hurt and to cheer his loneliness.
"It must be try in' for you to 'ave to
sit so quiet all day, Sam," said Joe
Rogers, who, living next door to Mr.
Willet, had had his feelings somewhat
severely tried at the sight of that per
sonage enjoying an early morning pipe
and a daily paper.
"You get used to it," answered Sam.
"I did feel it 'aid at first, but the rest's
nice, after the 'ard work I've done;
but it pulls you down a bit."
You're lookin' well," remarked an
other, in a cheery voice, "Oettin' quite
fat. you arc."
Look at tlie nursing I've 'ad," re
sponded Sam. "Why, I couldn't 'ave
had been better looked after if I'd
been in a 'ospital."
Mrs. Willet smiled proudly, and
glancedwith an expression of triumph
at the faces of several of her rivals
who were present.
"I'll get you your tonic," she said,
solicitiously. "You mustn't talk too
much, or we shall 'ave you goin back
again, and you're gettin' on nicely
now."
"I 'as this three times a day," said
Willctt, beamingly, as his wife re
turned. "It's to keep strength up; it's
wonderful 'ow it sustains one. Tuts
you all in a glow," he added, as he
took a draught and put the tumbler
down empty.
"When shall you be about again,
OF REMEDY.
THOMPSON.
Sam?" inquired Joe, whose face during
the above incident had been a study.
"I don't know," replied that worthy,
gingerly moving his injured foot on the
cushion. "It doesn't do to 'urry these
things: there's nothin' like gettin'
properly cured while you're about it.
Sprains is awkward things."
Mrs. Willet interposed at this point
and insisted on the invalid returning
Indoors, so the party broke up, Joe
Rogers and others adjourning to the
Pig and Whistle to discuss the advan
tages of a wife who understands and
takes a practical interest in the gentle
art of nursing. Two days later Joe
Rogers fell a victim, his right knee
giving away altogether, rendering
walking evidently a painful and dan
gerous undertaking. Mrs. Rogers, full
of the new responsibility now resting
upon her, sought an interview with
Mrs. Willet, and the two went off to
gether to hold a consultation over the
injured and apparently suffering Joe.
Similar treatment being meted out to
the now invalid, the two conversed
amiably over the hedge that divided
the gardens, comparing symptoms, and
r?ceiving in state numerous interested
friends during the evening.
Misfortunes never come singly, and
had the invalids suffered from scarlet
fever infection could not have spread
more quickly. William Jones was the
next to fall a victim; and he broke his
arm in an attempt to quiet a restive
horse that seemed to take a sudden
antipathy to harness and work in gen
eral. Then Jim Robinson sprained his
wrist, which rendered his attention to
work, which was of a manual nature,
absolutely impossible. From these it
spread yet farther, the pain attendant
on the several accidents rendering a
free use of stimulants a necessity for
the maintenance of the sufferers' bod
ily health.
In spite of such careful attention fte
patients progressed very slowly, and
after the first burst of enthusiasm was
over the several nurses grew somewhat
dissatisfied with the result of their
treatment. A visit from their in
structor, who condescended to per
sonally examine their patients, only
added to this dissatisfaction, and they
met together to consult as to the ad
visability of a change of remedy. Mr.
Willet was not feeling so well when
his wife returned after this discussion;
there was a look in her eye that
warned him to be careful if he desired
to keep things pleasant.
"When are you going to use your
foot again?" she asked, as she removed
her bonnet.
"I'd like to use it now, if it wasn'
so painful. I don't understand 'ow it
is it doesn't get on quicker. I s'pose
I'm weak, that's what it is," he an
swered resignedly, looking anxiously
out of the corners of his eyes at his
wife, who was doing a rough and ready
toilet in front of the parlor mirror.
'"You can't be very weak," answered
his wife, looking at him. "Look at the
nourishment you've 'ad; besides, every
body says you're lookin' so well. 'Ow
do j-ou feel now?"
Mr. Willet inwardly wished every
body would pay less attention to his
personal appearance. He had been
quietly enjoying the last few days, and
would like to continue in the same con
dition a little longer.
"I've felt a bit faint while you've
been out," ho said, feebly. "I'd 'ave
'ad a little tonic only I couldn't
move out of my chair; p'r'aps it's not
too late now."
Mrs. Willet murmured something
her husband did not catch, and looked
anxious.
"And 'ow's the foot?" she inquired.
Mr. Willet looked down upon it, and
as it was swathed with many thick
nesses of bandages, and there being
nothing else to say about it, he re
marked that it felt hot.
"I've been treatln you wrong, I'm
afraid," replied his wife. "You've been
fed up too well in your low state. , I'll
take your temperature."
Bringing out a small glass tube, Mr.
Willet was commanded to place it un
der his tongue and not to speak until
it was removed. It being an impossi
bility to do otherwise than obey, Mr.
Willet remained silent for the longest
four minutes he could remember. Mrs.
Willet then removed the instrument
of torture, took it to the light, and
examined it long and closely; finally
she shut it up in its case and returned
it to her pocket.
"I'll go and get your bed ready," she
remarked seriously. "You want to be
kept quiet; you'll be better up there."
"I don't want to go to bed," said
Mr. Willet, anxiously. "I'm very com
fortable down here."
"You'll go where it's best for you,"
answered his wife sharply. "You'd
better be gettin' yourself ready now;
I shan't be more than a few moments
up-stairs."
In a very unwilling state of mind
Mr. Willet was undressed, and placed
safely in bed at the unusual and, to
him, unpleasant hour of six o'clock,
and a summer evening into the bar
gain. Being left to himself he found it
a dreary time, and in the morning he
screwed up his courage to inquire after
the other invalids.
"They've all been treated wrong,"
said Mrs. Willet. "Like you, they
ain't so well, so they're restin' quietly."
"In bed?" queried Mr. Willet, anx
iously. "Same as you," responded his wife.
"You'll 'ave some friends in to-night
that'll cheer you up a bit."
"I'll come down and see 'em," said
Sam, weakly.
"You'll do nothing of the kind: you
lie where you are and get well. I
don't want all my nursing to go for
nothing."
Mr. Willet's remarks on nursing for
tunately were not heard they were
not complimentary-. Mrs. Willet
smoothed his pillows, arranged the
clothes and said she'd bring him some
gruel later on.
"I don't want any," said the patient
shortly.
"Ah, you're losing your appetite, are
you? It's a good thing you've got some
one to look after you and see as you
'ave your food regular."
Mr. Willet said nothing argument
was useless; he lay and looked at the
limited view of the world that was
permitted from the small window of
his bedroom. The sun was shining
brilliantly; he could hear coming faint
ly from the fields familiar sounds,
proving that the work was going for
ward where he ought to be assisting.
What a fool he was! Why had he not
gone back to work when he was able,
instead of laying himself open to this
self-imposed confinement? Even the
knowledge that his fellow-sufferers
were in a like position failed to bring
him consolation.
Evening had barely set in on one of
the most dismal days he could remem
ber when voices below signalled the
advent of anxious inquirers. Mrs. Wil
let ushered them upstairs, but Mr. Wil
let did not seem hospitably inclined,
and the look that greeted the good
Samaritans that entered could hardly
have been interpreted into one of wel
come. "Sorry to hear you ain't so well,
Sam," said one of them; "we all
thought you was a-pickin' up wonder
ful." "It's surprisin' 'ow these .things
turn," said another. "I 'ad a brother
who sprained 'is ankle once, an' 'e was
in bed three weeks."
Mr. Willet glared at the last speaker,
and had he been anywhere else but in
bed his look might have instilled the
recipient with a fear of worse to fol
low, t
"Make yourselves comfortable," in
terposed Mrs. Willet. "There's a little
cordial down ftairs I've been givin'
to Sam; 'e don't take it now, an' it's
a pity to waste it. I'll bring it up."
The conversation was very one-sided,
Sam being-treated to graphic descrip
tions of some Interesting1 evenings at
the Pig and Whistle from which he
had been debarred, the details of which
were bitter-sweet to the hearer.
' "Sam's not very lively to-night," said
one, with a commiserating glance at
the ruddy face, showing like an angry
sunset against a white cloud of bed
clothes. "I suppose it's not to be won
dered at, though."
"I've got a 'eadache," said Sam,
which was not far from the truth,
though it sprang from suppressed an
ger more than impaired health.
"Ah, well, we won't keep you talkin'
any longer," said another, compassion
ately; "we must go and call on Joe
Rogers and the other pore sick folk."
Next morning, after extending her
professional care to the needs of her
patient, Mrs. Willet left him to the
companionship of his own thoughts
while she went into the village for a
feAv necessaries known to housekeep
ers. Mr. Willet devoted much time to
planning an excuse for a rapid recov
ery; but ideas did not come as he
wished. He was in the midst of these
problems when he heard the front
door open below, and a well-known
voice calling his name broke his medi
tations. "Sam! Sam!" called the speaker.
"Can I come up?" Apparently think
ing his question needed no answer,
footsteps followed the voice, and the
owner of both entered the room.
"Why, Joe!" exclaimed Sam, in a
surprised tone, "I thought you was Id
bed. 'Ow's the knee?"
"Better," said Joe. ignoring the first
remark. "Why don't you get up?" he
continued, leaning over the end of the
bed and looking at Sam. "Foot still
bad?"
"No worse than you knee, I suppose,"
Mr. Willet growled In response. " 'Ow
can I get up? The wife won't let
me."
"No more will mine, but I've done it.
She's gone out shoppin'. I'm sick of
nursing."
" 'Ow can I get up without making
an ass of myself?" returned Sam, bit
terly. "I don't want the wife to know
as I've been playin' the fool."
Joe gasped and looked at Sam with
an ignorance of the situation.
"Well, bless me," he said. "You
don't mean to tell me you think she
doesn't know it. Wot do you take
her for? I thought you'd have guessed
after last night."
Any doubts as to Mr. Willet's condi
tion would have been at once dispelled
had those who questioned it been pres
ent after this remark. Throwing the
bedclothes violently off the bed.and
regardless of sprains and bandages, he
sprang to his feet.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Only that we've been made foojs
of," answered Joe, with a laugh. "Put
tin' us to bed and orl that rot: and last
night, too. Regular put-up job to make
us mad."
Mr. Willet was a reserved man as
a Tule, but his language was of a
forcible nature as these facts dawned
upon him In all their fullness.
"Help me to take off these infernal
bandages," he said, when he had fin
ished his criticism of the whole pro
ceeding. " 'Ow did you find out?"
"Guessed it partly," said Joe, as ho
assisted' Sam out of an entanglement
he was getting hopelessly involved in.
"Bill. Morgan told me the rest. 'E al
ways did give secrets away when 'e'd
a drink or two. I don't think they'll
be as keen on first aid, though, after
this."
There was consolation t in this
thought, and having no fear of disillu
sioning his wife as to the deceitfulness
of his character, Mr. Willet dressed
with celerity and sallied out once more
Into the sunshine, his movements in
no way affected by his recent accident.
Recovery Lad been rapid in other
quarters, and the late cripples joined
forces in restoring the fallen spirits
once more in the congenial surround
ings of the Pig and WThistle. The
glamor surrounding the duties and
pleasure of nursing was destroyed
somewhat after this in Foxdale; and
if afterwards it was necessary for any
to indulge in that particular employ
ment, the person concerned was care
ful not to prescribe for her patient in
public Tit-Bits.
'White Antg as Food.
A recent book on the Congo Free
State gives this picture of the fondness
of the natives for white ants: "In the
white ant month the natives have a
verv busy time. The river is deserted.
and men and women, boys and girls.
go out to gather the white ant for food.
I cannot say I admire their taste, but
the white ant is not bad as food mere
ly very rich. In this month he is about
an inch long; the natives gather him
in hundreds, pull off the wings and
roast him. The native boys have a
shorter way with him. Sometimes at
mess white ants flopped on to the table.
attracted by the light. The boys, who
were waiting, pounced on them and
without further ceremony popped them
into their mouths."
Making Saltpeter From Air.
For aces whenever persons wished
to make a particularly strong state
ment about the impossibility of doing
anvthing. they were more likely than
not to say, "I can't pull it out of the
ir, can I?"
Now "Professor Muthmann, of the
Polytechnical Academy in Munich, has
found a way by which many things
can be nulled out of the air. He has
demonstrated that by passing high elec
tric currents through moist air from
one platinum point to another, nitric
cid is formed and can be gatheerd
bv the use of suitable apparatus. He
has shown that saltpeter can be "pulled
out of the air" at less than one-fourth
of Its present cost. New York Press.
Italy 'ouncr Generation.
Out of every hundred young men
called up for military service in Italy
nearly fifty per cent, have to be ex
cused for physical unfitness. , -
OYSTER SHELL " CULM HEAP." .
Great Banks Find Ready Sale For Sev
eral Purpose!.
The average citizen may not know
that oysters are planted, cultivated
and harvested like any other crop, a
person who engages in this industry
being known as an oyster planter.
Thousands of acres of oysters are un
der cultivation in Hampton Roads,
which, during the harvesting season,
is often literally alive with the reaping:
machines of the oystermen.
When the oysters are from one and
a half to two years old they are usually
large enough to be sold, and, as a rule,
part of them are sold at this age and
the balance in the third or fourth year,
after which time the ground is allowed
to rest a year before being planted
again. Great care must be exercised
in the selection of bottoms for oyster
planting, if the planter would be finan
cially successful.
The largest packer in Hampton opens
from 100,000 to 200,000 bushels of oys
ters in a year. In this house, as the
men open the oysters, they drop the
shells on an inclined plane from which
they slide into a trough and are carried
along by scrapers attached to an end
less chain called a "shell, conveyer,"
which takes them without further labor
to the shell pile in the yard. When a
shucker has filled his gallon measure
he carries it to the strainer, where the
oysters are strained and measured.
They are then emptied into large casks
kept full of fresh water, by means of
which any loose shell or grit is washed
out. From these casks the oysters are
dipped into a second strainer, and when
separated from the water are again
measured and packed.
The shells are sold for from one to
three cents a bushel, and are used ex
tensively by oyster planters for the
propagation of oysters. They are
placed in small piles on grounds found
suitable for the purpose, where the
spat or small oyster will attach itself
to the shells. They are also used for
making shell lime and for building the
excellent shell roads found in some
parts of the Virginia peninsula. Phila
delphia North American.
Size of Philadelphia. .
Some idea of the great size of Phila
delphia may be gathered from the
figures in the department reports just
printed. There are in the city 1147.71
miles of paved street,, besides 412.29
miles of unpaved roads in the suburbs.
All but a small percentage of these
streets have modern "improved" pave,
ments, of asphalt, granite block or
brick. The paved surface would make
a continuous driveway thirty feet wide
from here to the Mississippi.
There are beneath these streets 951
miles of sewers. They would form a
continuous water course as long as the
Ohio River.
The streets, with 31S city bridges, are
lighted by 942G electric arc lights and
33,409 gas and gasoline lamps. One
thousand four hundred and 'nineteen'
and six-tenths miles of water pipe con
vey witter to 242.50G premises. Only
11,738 premises are not supplied with,
city water.
There are more than S00 miles of
conduits for electrie wires, represent
ing more than 5000 miles of ducts, and
there are still 18.1S9 miles of electric
wires in the air, sustained on 61.9S1
poles.
There are 435 miles of street railway
track, enough to reach from the Dela
ware to Lake Erie. Philadelphia Led
ger. ;
Carnegie's Indifference.
The rejection of a proposal to build
n library does not worry Andrew Car
negie in the least. He is familiar
enough with iron structures to make
allowances for beat and cold, expan
sion and contraction. "Sometimes the
people are warm, sometimes cold," said
one of Mr. Carnegie's former asso
ciates, "it all depends on how the sun
of prosperity affects them. Talk to
Carnegie about this refusal of his libra
ries and most likely he'll tell you about
the man who built a chicken house.
The walls were constructed of wood.
For a temporary roof he stretched an
old carpet over the structure. That
night it rained. In the morning the
owner found his hen house in collapse
and the fowls dead beneath the walls.'
He blamed his enemies, but he should
have censured the elements. Water
had caused the carpet to shrink and
the Avails yielded.
"So will a rainy day humble a pride
built up under the sua of prosperity."
Dettroit Free Press. J
The Rainbow.
To form a rainbow the sun must
not be more than forty-two degree
above the horizon. .-,-....