Chatham uccoro,
H. A. LONDON,
Editor irnd Proprietor.
"terms of subscription,
5 2.50 Per Year.
. t -
She Chatham fUrori.'
LITTLE MAKE-BELIEVE
OR
A CHILD OF
BY B. L.
CHAPTER III. 2
Continued.
"Git up," said he; "you're .wanted.'
This was so judicial a summons that
Little Make-Believe looked around for
the policeman who had come to seize
lier for some unknown crime. Seeing
do Gffiecr ot tQe law her head sank
upon, her breast again.
"Don't yer hear?" cried Dot-and-carry-one.
"You're wanted."
'TThat for?" asked Little Make-Believe,
a listless tone.
"We're going to play one of your
games," replied Dot and carry-one.
'.We're going to pretend."
Little Make-Believe shook her head.
She tad no heart for games, not even
for the game which had become almost
a second nature to her.
"Let me alone," she said.
Some unaccustomed note of suffer
ing in ker Tiee caused Dot-and-carry-one
to stoop and lower his face to the
level with hers.
"What's the matter .with yer?" he in
quired, less from compassion than
from curiosity.
'Tin almost starving," she said, "and
Saracne's waiting at home for grub
and I ain't got none to give her. I
can't play no games, 'cause I ain't got
strength to crawl."
"If yer'll play this game," said Dot-and-carry-one,
"yer'll git lots of grub
for the pair on yer. I ain't gammon
in;. -What sort o grub?" asked Little
Make-Believe, increduliusly.
"Pies."
With a glad cry little Make-Believe
jumped to her feet.
The mention of pies and the prospect
of possessing them were like Heaven
to her.
A pie was the very thing Saranne
expected her to bring home.
For a moment or two she throbbed
yith ecstacy; then came a revulsion.
Had not Dot-and-carry-one said they
irere only going to pretend? He saw
tie doxmt in her face.
"Don't be a little fool." he said. "We
are going to pretend to fight the sav
ages. The chief one of 'em is Mike,
the Pieman, and we'll tackle him fust
He's waiting for us to play the game,
and the Government's going to pay him
for the pies."
This last statement was perhaps the
most daring and original declaration
Dot-acd-carry-one had ever made. In
his way, the lad was a genius, and
quick in device when a questionable
transaction was in view.
Little Make-Believe did not pause to
consider; she thought only of Saranne
and, accepting the Sag handed her by
Dot-and-carry-one, took her allotted
place at the head of the ragged regi
ment. The children sat up a cheer when
they saw her there. Little Make-Believe
was a great favorite with them.
CHAPTER IV.
"What Occurred to the Expedition Com
manded by Little Make-Believe
Against Mike the Pieman.
Mike the Pieman was a little shriv-eled-up
old man, who had been in the
pie business for more years than any
one in the neighborhood could remem
ber. His stand was on the curb outside
the principal entrance of The Maiden's
Blush, and he drove a roaring trade,
seldom going home without his entire
stock being cleared out.
He made only one sort of pie. What
sort of pie that pie was no man knew
except himself, and no one inquired.
The only thing of which a buyer
could be sure of was, that the pies
were very hot in temperature and sea
soning. There was a legend that Mike the
Pieman was very rich. That is scarce
ly probable, for a fortune is not to be
made out of one pie can; it is likely,
tiowever, that he was well-to-do, for
he was a close-fisted old fellow, who
was never known to give away a pie
or to sell one under price.
"Halt!" cried Dot-and-carry-one, and
his ragged regiment came to a stand
still within a few yards cf The Maid
en's Blush.
"There he is," said the young scamp.
"There's the chief of the savages.
He's got a extra hot lot o' pies running
ever with gravy, which he made espe
cially for us. I can taste 'em afore
hand, can't you?"
The sight of all those hungry mouths
working would have been a sight to
remember.
"Ho knows we're here," continued
Dot-and-carry-one, "but he musn't take
no notice of us till we goes up to him,
or the Government wouldn't pay him
for the pies he's made for us. If yer
knew the juicy stuff he's put in them
ies yer mouth'd water to that extent
that "yer wouldn't be able to speak.
Now, this is what you've got to do.
.When I saw forward! which I shan't
cry loud; in case he should hear us
you'll all n yer foller Little Make-Believe
straight to old Mike. Then let
me see; who's the strongest boy in this
here crowd?"
"I am!" and "I am!" and "I am!" vo
ciferated every one of the boys.
"I should say," said Dot-and-carry-one,
"that Jimmy Tyler is."
s TB fight dj. tvro oa 'em," said
VOL. XXVIII.
I!
THE SLUMS.
FARJEON.
Jimmy Tyler, with defiant looks; "one
down, the other come up!"
"And I'll back yer," said Dot-and-carry-one,
secretly exulting in the
progress he was making. "Well, you,
Jimmy Tyler, you'll jump on old Mike's
back the moment yer git to him. He'll
like that, will Jimmy, 'cause he can
stick it on the Government. I dessay
the pair yer'll tumble into the road
it's jest what he wants done to him,
'cause he can git what they calls com
pensation. If yer hurt him a bit, all
the better. Then all on yer jump on
him and tumble him about. He wont
mind he'll enjoy it! And I shouldn't
wonder, if yer do it well, that you'll all
get medals from the Queen. Did yer
hear what that man said what was
standing by Mr. Dexter's shop? 'Give
it 'em hot, he said, 'for the glory of
Old England.' That's what he said,
and that's what the Queen likes, and
that's what we're going in for. Are
yer ready?"
"Yes," they cried.
"But what am I to do?" asked Little
Make-Believe.
"You!" exclaimed Dot-and-carry-one,
somewhat puzzled. "Oh, you'll open
yer mouth and shut yer eyes and see
what Gawd'll send yer!"
After which direction Dot-and-carry-one
looked warily, around, to see thai
no policeman was nigh to spoil his lit
tle game, and then said softly:
"Forward!"
The Charge of the Light Brigade
pales in comparison. Before Mike the
Pieman knew where he was, Jimmy
Tyler had jumped on his back and
pulled him down into the road, where
he lay struggling with the six or seven
young ruffians bent on carrying out the
orders of Dot-and-carry-one.
This young gentleman took no part
in the scuffle. Directly Mike was down
he opened the can, took off his cap,
and swept into it at least a dozen pies,
steaming hot, with which he ran off as
fast as his legs could carry him.
It was the work of a moment. The
great Napoleon himself could not have
executed a strategic movement more
deftly.
And almost before one could say
"Jack Robinson" the pies were gone
and the jaws of Dot-and-carry-one were
devouring them.
Meantime, Little Make-Believe did
exactly as she was told.
She opened her mouth and shut her
eyes and waited for what God would
send her
The only movement she made for
which she could claim originality was
to put her fingers in her ears, to shut
out the din of the battle.
The paper flag in her hand was thus
elevated above her head, and seemed
to stick out of it like a feather.
The cries which Mike uttered as he
struggled with his foes seemed to her
scarcely real; her senses were almost
entirely absorbed in eager expectation
of being able, through the intervention
of Providence, to satisfy Saranne's
.wish of a pie for supper.
The battle did not last long. Dot-and-carry-one's
proceedings had not
been unnoticed by two or three of his
followers, and he had scarcely disap
peared round the corner before other
unlawful hands were laid upon Mike's
succulent store.
All the rest of the regiment followed
suit, helping themselves without com
punction; and one, less selfish than his
comrades, seeing Little Make-Believe
standing stock still, with her mouth"
wide open, popped a pie into it as he
raced past her.
The pie was too large and the mouth
too small to be disposed of in one bite,
and would have fallen to the ground
had not Little Make-Believe hastily
caught it.
She had tasted it, however, and na
ture was strong within her; nothing
in the shape of food had entered her
mouth during the long, weary day un
til that moment; her eyes, open now,
Mated with gladness; greedily she
sucked her lips with the gravy on
them, and in a moment of thoughtless
ness -was about to take another bite
when the figure of Saranne rose before
her.
It was enough. Choking back her
hunger, she ran toward her home,
holding the precious Die close to hex
breast.
This was the sight which Mike the
Pieman beheld as he rose to his feet,
flushed and filled with anger.
All the other children had disap
peared: only Little Make-Believe was
in sight, and in her hand food unlaw
fully begotten. After her he hobbled,
furious for revenge.
Luckily or unluckily for Little Make
Believe, his capacity for pursuit was
not of a high order.
He suffered from periodical attacks
of lumbago, and this was one of his
bad days."
Little Make-Believe would have got
clear off had not Mike restored to an
other expedient in the cause of jus
tice. He called, or rather gasped:
"Stop thief!"
This cry would have been uttered
the moment he had extricated himself
from the clutches of his foes had he
not been proverbially short of breath,
an infirmity which, aggravated by
rage, had for the time deprived him of
the power of speech.
V
PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. C, THURSDAY. DECEMBER UlSVy. NO. 18.
But his compulsorily slow gait, as na
hobbled after Little Make-Believe,
brought back his wind, and with it, in
a weak state, his voice.
Twice did the summons to law-abiding
citizens ' escape him, and he was
about to utter it for the third tim
when a violent spasm in his back
doubled him up, and he was compelled
to cling to a lamp-post for support.
Coding toward him as he was in
this position was the man who had
addressed the children as they marched
past Thomas Dexter's shop.
: In his progress this man had brushed
by Little Make-Believe, and had taken
notice of the pie ' she was hugging to
her breast.
With keen insight he saw immediate
ly how the matter stood, and decided
how to act.
Influenced by a feeling of compas
sion, he addressed a policeman who
had been attracted by Mike's sum
mons. "Some vagabond's been stealing
Mike's pies," he said, "and the old fel
low's run after him."
"Which way has he gone?"
"That way," replied the man, point
ing iu an opposite direction to that
taken by Little Make-Believe.
The policeman slowly sauntered to
ward the indicated thoroughfare, and
the man, inwardly rejoicing at the sue
cess of his maneuvre, turned his back
upon lumbago-s'trieken Mike and mort
swiftly pursued Little Make-Beiieve.
She hearing hurried steps behind her,
quickened her own, but she was no
match for her pursuer, who overtook
her and laid his hand upon her shoul
der just as she reached the door of
Thomas Dexter's shop. Then came
suddenly upon her the full and true
consciousness of her act.
In fancy she saw the helmet, the
truncheon, the dock, the magistrate,
the lockup.
The strength with which exaltation
of spirit had inspired her weak form
deserted her at the touch of this hand
upon her shoulder, and overpowered
with terror she cowered down at
Thomas Dexter's feet.
"What's the matter?" inquired
Thomas Dexter, gazing on the crouch
ing form.
Little Make-Believe did not stir.
Quick of fancy, she was realizing the
horror of her position.
It harrowed her vicarously. What
would Saranne do? How could she
get food when her sister, her child
mother, could no longer provide for
her?
"There's nothing to be frightened
at," said the man, raising Little Make
Believe from the ground. "I sent the
policeman off on a wrong scent. So
you've been despoiling the Egyptians?
But do you ; want to be taken red
handed? Why don't you eat your pie?
They couldn't cut you open to prove
the larceny."
"It's for my sister, Saranne," mur
mured Little Make-Beiieve, by no
means sure whether kindness or
treachery was intended.
"Fo: your sister Saranne?" said the
man. "But yourself, little 'un you
look hungry enough to eat a brick."
"I am," sighed Little Make-Believe.
"When did you have your iast
meal?"
"I had two potatoes last ninlir.."
"And since then?"
"Nothink."
"Come, come," said the man. "eat
the pie. Never mind your sister Sa
ranne." "Let me go let me go!" cried Little
Make-Eelieve, and she twisted herself
from his kindly grasp. "You're a
wicked, wicked beast!"
And before the man could recover
from his astonishment she had disap
peared. "What do you think of that for hero
ism?" asked the man of Thomas Dex
ter. "Could a princess show higher
qualities than that ragged morsel of
humanity? She can forget her own
hunger with savory food at her very
lips can withstand the temptation
because she has a little sister at home
to whom she plays the part of mother.
If I had a penny to spare I'd give it
her, but it's not in my power. She's
off to Paradise Buildings, where she
and her sister live, to complete her act
of self-sacrifice. Good-night, guv'nor."
"Good-night," said Thomas Dexter,
and entered his shop, shrugging his
shoulders.
CHAPTER T.
Thomas Dexter Has Strange Dreamar.
On the following day Thomas Dexter
attended the sale of old curiosities in
an auction room, in Leicester Square,
which had once been Sir Joshua Rey
nolds' studio.
He had marked down half-a-dozea.
Jots which he was anxious to buy
enamels of no particular Taiue in
themselves, but likely to suit a cus
tomer who had a craze for them.
Having secured the enamels at a
price which he knew he could double
in the selling, he made his way back
to Clare Market.
Never in his life had he had a day's
illness, and no sign3 had warned him
that sickness was near, bat when he
was within a quarter of a mile of his
shop a su.dden vertigo caused every
thing to swim before his eyes picture
shops, costermongers' barrows, flaunt
ing women, newspaper boys, bits of
pavement, gutter and sky, all jumbled
up and going round together.
He caught hold of some railings to
steady himself, and presently the sky
went up into its proper place, and the
gutter came down, and the pavement
flattened itself out, and the flaunting
women passed him with bold looks,
and the costermongers wheeled their
barrows along quite naturally.
Except that there wa3 a strange air
of newness about everything, the mov
ing life around him had undergone no
change.
; (To be OontUraeO'
Girl of the Day.
She will feel old-fashioned the first
time she clasps this bracelet round her
glove, but she will realize in a few mo
ments that it is the fashionable thing
to wear; and she will wear a bracelet
of gold or silver, or made entirely of
links set with mock jewels, and the
jewels will match her gown.
Bail For the Complexion.
The use of rouge and powder is very
injurious to. the complexion, clogging
the pores of the skin, causing black
heads and a dull, sallow look that is
far from pleasing. Many of the face
powders contain bismuth, which in
jures the nerve centres when constant
ly employed, and has been known to
cause serious results.
Ivy Screen of a Duchess.
So attractive is the novel natural
screen the Duchess of Westminster
has in her morning room in Grosvenor
House, Loudon, that all the women
who see it are delighted, except those
who are artistically blind. It is of ivy
a mass of beautiful leaves, richly
green and it stands across the great
room almost like a wall. Such a screen
requires space, and is not designed for
fiat dwellers. New York Press.
Eujrenie't Sad Pleasure.
When Empress Eugenie visits Paris
she almost invariably occupies a suite
of rooms facing the Tuileries gardens.
Much surprise has been expressed that
she should take up her abode in such
close proximity to the scene of her
triumph long ago, thereby invoking
memories which could not be other
than bitter. The subject was delicate
ly broached in her presence recently,
whereupon the old lady said: "It is
perhaps the greatest happiness of my
life to look upon the garden where my
eon played in his childhood a sad
pleasure, if you will, but ane I would
not forego willingly."
The Sunday Xreea.
There is one section of the dress re
form which pleases many, and that is
the new fashion of dressing plainly for
church. The Sunday dress has really
gone out of fashion. It is no longer
considered proper to wear one's best
clothes to ehurch. The best clothes
must be laid away for worldly pleas
uresfor the theatre or circus and the
plainest gown, or, in fact, the every
day outfit, is to be worn on Sundays.
Women of the East have leaned grad
ually toward this, and for some time
It has been noticed by strangers they
kok exceedingly plain when attending
hureh. Chicago News.
College Outfits.
As for the underclothing, it should be
new and of the best quality, but plain.
A girl with all the novelty of college
life upon her will have little time to
mend, and her underclothing should
be new and strong enough to resist
severe laundry treatment. It should be
plain, as in most college laundries an
extra charge is made for elaborate
pieces. "I shall never forget," said
one girl recently, "iny experience with
some ruffled white skirts. They were
o much more simple than anything
I had ever worn before, that I was
filled with indignation when they were
subjected to an 'extra charge at the
laundry. I went down and remon
strated and finally refused to pay. A
day or two afterwards I was sent for.
to go to the president's office. Imagine
my feelings when, on entering. I found
that severe and reverend gentleman
engaged in contemplating my unlucky
petticoats. Needless to add I agreed
at once that they were elaborate, and
sent home for some others." Harper's
Bazar.
For Coats in All tencllis.
All fur coats are not short, however.
There are half-length coats.
There are three-quarter-length coats.
There are coats of full length.
A redingote of broadtail is an edition
de luxe in the three-quarter length. It
is double-breasted in the slightly diag
onal fashion from the left side of the
square neck to the centre front at the
lower edge of the garment. Both fronts
are cut in the same fashion which
makes a full length, graduated lapel on
each side, should the coat ever be worn
open and turned back. It is not likely
it will, however, as it looks too Well
buttoned down from the left of its
square neck, with white Kid buttons
rimmed with black jet. These buttons
are gems of beauty and smartness.
Three of a smaller size adorn each of
the cuffs, which in this case finish
sleeves that just fall short of reaching
the wrist.
To harmonize with the buttons
there's the lining of white silk and the
band, over an inch in width, that out
lines the square neck square at the
front, that is-j-and a portion of the
square-built cuffs. These bands are
made of white kid, embroidered in
black silk, in the Greek key pattern. At
intervals the embroidering is adorned
with a cable made of the tiniest black
jet beads.
And so it goes.
Apparently there's no limit. The
gilet of one coat is embroidered !n wee
rosebuds delicate enough to adorn lin
gerie, while that cf another shows
leather strappings upon a cloth founda
tion. Philadelphia Record.
The Menace of low Shoes.
Perhaps girls are more prone to -resent
interference when presented on
the score of health than on any other
0ysyyysy Ax
ground. If the cause for this impa
tience remains inscrutable, it no less
certainly is a fact. Yet it may be sug
gested, with all due deference to possi
ble prejudice, that there is certain and
great danger in the common habit of
wearing low .shoes regardless of weath
er. These older and sadly wise women
who have bought their knowledge with
a heavy price see their younger sis
ters tripping about on cold, stormy
days in French-heeled "ties," and shake
their heads sadly, remembering how
they too learned by experience that
high heels and damp feet were sure to
work mischief to that marvellously del
icate organism with which femininity
is endowed. They are aware that the
ankles are peculiarly susceptible to
chill. They recall one does especial
instances when most direful illness has
followed such rash exposure. A cer
tain beautiful young girl lay on a bed
not of pain alone, but of torture
through her long-anticipated summer
vacation, bemoaning when so much
too late the deaf ear turned to warn
ings which, the doctor sternly informed
her, might have warded off disease.
It was only "getting her feet wet," only
a sudden chill. But the consequences
were serious. Harper's Bazart
A "Saxr Field For Girls.
There is an opening for a capable
young woman in almost every country
town. This is in the combined profes
sion of catering and fine cooking. Once
upon a time in our villages ladies per
sonally superintended their'family bak
ing and were proud to be known as
"famous cooks." That day is gone, and
with it much of the delicious food that
few servants save chefs can attempt,
and, as well, much of the entertaining
that was wont to provide a "groaning
table" of good things for the obselete
tea-party, superseded by the wafer and
cup of bouillon of an afternoon tea.
Many women would be still more hos
pitable if, in their country homes, that
did not imply disorganization and dis
comfort extending from the kitchen on
throughout the house. A moderate
priced caterer, who could take entire
charge of the function, would be a boon
to them. Our villages are supplied
with bakeries plenty of them. But
the product is usually poor. The best
cakes, pastry, and breads, furnished at
reasonable prices, will find a ready
market for them, while orders for sal
ads and ices might be taken, and if
well filled will be often and often re
peated. These statements are not the
orizing; they are the result of observa
tion that has noted what women with
but slender equipment have achieved
and can guess what better preparation
might effect. The fact cannot be stated
too strongly that, outside the large
cities, there is an enormous unworked
field for such provision as is here in
dicated. Harper's Bazar.
Ostrich plumes rival floral creations.
As many as six bracelets are worn at
once.
Black velvet ribbon lends chic and
beauty.
Varying shades , of the lilac make a
lovely hat.
Lorgnette chains retain their vogue
and variety. L
With elbow sleeves so much in fash
ion bracelets of all sorts are now great
ly in vogue.
Black gowns are coming in fashion
again for street wear, and some most
attractive ones are being made up at
the present moment.
A gray leather belt with a handsome
gold buckle is very effective when worn
with a dress of the same color. Un
dressed leather is mostly used.
A charming example recently seen of
an informal hat for street or carriage
wqar was a pale-blue, satin-finished
felt. It was a tricorn shape, and was
small and trim. The turned-up brim
was trimmed with many small ruches
of black satin ribbon, and the crown
of the hat was slightly trimmed with
a twist of black velvet.
"Velvet heavily embroidered, silk
heavily embroidered and cloth heavily
embroidered all are in fashion are
most effective and certainly give a
charming finish to what' otherwise
might be a gown, on the rather severe
order. A surprising amount of warmth
can be gained in these little packets by
having an interlining, which will not in
the least interfere with their fitting
well.
Rather a noticeable feature of many
of the more elaborate gowns for cool
days is to be seen in the elaborately
trimmed boleros that, are worn with
the cloth or silk skirts. A silk or cloth
costume that would in itself not be
warm enough without some outside
wrap is made quite possible by one
of these boleros, with its short sleeves,
that slip on over the waist of the
gown.
The yoQug King ot Spain comes of a
long line of royal ancestors, including
such rulers as Charles V., Philip XIV.,
Empress Maria Theresa, and the inevi
table Mary Queeu of Scots, from whom
many royal famiiies of Europe are de
s tended. He is now nineteen yeara
old.
FAKING ANIMAL HORNS.
Uethods Adopted by Dealers to Fool tha
Unwary.
It is not strange that the desire for
the horns and heads of great game ani
mals should at times be catered to by
the American fakir, whom, like the
poor of holy writ, we have with us always.-
But, fortunately, for honest
people, the "faking" of horns is in
most cases impossible. It is decidedly
risky to the party of the first part, and
almost certain to be found ont. Two
young taxidermists of my acquaint
ance once came to grief by a clumsy
and foolish attempt at grafting one
pair of elk antlers upon another to se
cure great length of beam. Faked
"death-lock" antlers are becoming so
common that no collector need be with
out a pair. Whenever a pair is offered
you for inspection, note whether or
not the opposing antlers have rubbed
each other at their points of contact.
If they have not, then the antlers were
interlocked by the interposition of hot
water- and wooden wedges.
It is becoming rather common for
Ovis poli horns from Tibet to be
mounted by using "scalps" of the white
sheep of Alaska. This is so cheap a
fraud it is a wonder that any man
will, through it, deliberately throw
away his reputation. And yet, one
case of that kind occurred in Chicago,
and quite recently another broke out
in Colorado.
The drollest of all faked horns, how
ever, appeared in a. New York maga
zine about four years ago. An enter
prising assisting sub-editor, bavins
more ink than experience, decided he
would make up an article about "Big
Game Hunting with a Camera." So
he obtained a nom de plume, a lot of
animal photographs taken in the New,
York and Washington zoological parks,
some ink, pens and paper, mixed them
thoroughly and made an article. It
was an unqualified thriller, and the cli
max came to his adventures borne on
the horns of a female White-tailed
deer! He related that after several
daily pettings of the fawn of the afore
said doe while she was gadding about
making calls she suddenly returned to
her flat, caught him unawares, charged
him repeatedly, smashed his (imagin
ary) camera, and in her final charge
missed him and buried her horns in. a
tree! "Heads and Horns," by; W. T.
Hornaday, in Scribner's.
WORDS of wisdom:
;Worry gives the doctor halt his work.
Sin's f ootholfl depends on our affinity
for it.
You cannot draw men to truth by
clubbing them with it.
Before the great "I AM" our "I will
be" looks insignificant.
Early and provident fear is the
mother of safety. Burke.
Ridicule is the first and last argu
ment of fools. C. Simmons.
Scruples too rigid are nothing els
but concealed pride. Goethe.
It is easier to analyze one another's
burdens than to bear them.
It is easy to preach contentment af tei
your salary has been raised.
It is worth while going through a
lot of dust to get one diamond.
There are too many men praying fox
peace with 'their fists clenched.
Men who shine for their own glory
generally throw gloomy shadows.
Violence in the voice is often only th
death rattle of reason in the throat.
Boyes.
If a man could have half his wishes
he would double his trouble. Pool
Richard.
It is a good deal easier to criticlst
the Bible than it is to crystallize it into
conduct.
He that reigns within himself, and
rules his passons, desires and fears, is
more than a king. Milton.
The soul is most certainly immortal
and Imperishable, and will really ex
ist in the unseen world, taking nothing
with it but the discipline gained here.
Socrates.
Heal Matlneo Luncheon.
It was only a little after 1 o'clock
yet when the new boarder came in
for luncheon he found the table cleared
and the remains of the meal stone
cold.
"How is this?" he said to the butler.
"It isn't late. Why are you in such a
rush to-day?"
"It is matinee day," replied the but
ler. "What of that?" asked the boarder.
"The cook isn't giving a theatre party,
is she?"
The butler grinned. "No, sir," he
said, "but we have luncheon half an
hour earlier on Wednesdays and Sat
urdays. One o'clock is the regular
hour, but as soon as the theatrical
season begins it is moved forward, on
matinee days, to 12.30. That is the
custom in all boarding houses that are
popular with women. It gives them a
chance to eat and get down town in
time for the first act." New ..York
Press.
Too Well.
Uncle Absalom Millsap went to the
oSco of- the village newspaper with a
grievance. "I want to tell you," he
said, "that there's a good deal of hum
bug in advertising."
4iI am sorry to hear that," respond
ed the editor. "In what way?"
"Do you remember that you had
three advertisements of 'fine milch
cow for sale' last week, in three differ
ent parts of the country?"
"Yes, and I've heard from all three
of those ads., too. They resulted in
selling the cows. I tell you, it pays to
advertise in the Banner."
"It didn't pay me!" snapped Uncle
Absalom. "I wanted a fine milch cow,
and I went to all three of those places,
one after another, but somebody had
got there ahead of me every timel"
RATES OF ADVERTISING,
One square, one insertion $1.00
One square, two insertions 1.50
One square, one month 2.50
For Larger Advertise
ments Liberal Con
tracts will be isnade.
Canals and IZoads.
J5(3ief9KKERE and there one hears
H' the question asked. Why
5K should the cities contribute
to the buildinsr of roads for
the country districts? and
it is instantly answered by asking.
Why should the country districts con
tribute to the payment of the cost of
the canal system, when it only benefits
cities? In neither case has the person
asking the question comprehended the
fact that the development of the c
nals and the development of roads are
both questions of developing transpor
tation, and that the State that is able
to have the cheapest transportation is
the State that controls the commercial
supremacy of the Union, and that both
canal and road development go hand,
In hand in enabling New York State
to maintain its commercial suDremaevl
Roughly speaking, of the $100,000,
000 to be expended upon the Erie Ca
nal, $85,000,000 Is paid by the cities
and 315,000,000 by the rural districts.
Roughly speaking, of the $50,000,000
to be expended for the development of
the highways, fifty per cen. or $25,
000,000, is to be paid by the State at
large, $17,500,000 is to be paid by the
counties according to the mileage im
proved in each county, and $7,500,000
is to be paid by the "towns according
to the mileage improved in each town.
Now, of the $25,000,000 to be paid' by
the State at large, eighty -five per cent.,
or $22,250,000, will be paid by the
cities and the remainder Will be paid
by the rural districts, so that one sees
readily that the rural districts contrib
ute $15,000,000 for the canals for the
cities, while the cities contribute $22,
250,'300 for the roads for the country;
that is, the cities are contributing
$7,250,000 more for the roads than the
country districts are contributing to
the cities for the canals. This is not
an unfair proportion, considering tha
greatness Of the two propositions.
There has never been any intention on
the-part of the highway conventions,
composed of the Supervisors and tha
Highway Commissioners of the State,
to formulate a plan for road develop
ment whieh .would be in any way bur
densome -to the cities by increasing
their taxation. The cities inadvert
ently will benefit largely from road
improvement, because the price of
farm produce will be reduced to the
consumer; because the farmer can
bring double the load In half the time
to the present shipping centres on im
proved roads over what he can at the
present time. The indirect benefits to
the cities In the purchase of cheaper
farm produce are fully equal to tho
indirect benefits to the farm by having
cheap transportation on the waterways
of the State for the benefit of cities.
Tribune Farmer. . '
Wide or Narrow Tires f
On smooth, hard roads the difference
is not so great, but cn sandy or muddy
roads or in plowed fields wide tires
are so much better than narrow ones
that we wonder that farmers do not
insist on having them. The Metropoli
tan and Rural Homes publishes the
following:
The Missouri experiment station has
made a series of tests extending from
January to September of last year in
order to ascertain the value of wide
tires as compared .with narrow ones.
Conclusions follow.
In conducting the experiments two
ordinary farm wagons were used, one
with six-inch tires, the other with
standard one and one-half-inch tires,
both wagons of the same weight, and
each loaded with 2000 pounds. It was
found that the power needed to draw
the narrow-tired wagon, with 2000
pound load, on a gravel road, would
have pulled a Wad of 2472 pound on
the wide-tired wagon. The same pow
er required to draw narrow tires
over dirt and gravel roads, when these
.were dry and hard, was found suffi
cient to draw a 2530-pound load on the
wide-tired wagon under the same con
ditions. It was shown that where
these roads were deep with mud. but
partially tlried at the surface with a
few hours' sun, the same power re
quired to draw the 2000-pound load
over them on the narrow tires would
pull a load of 3200 pounds on the wide
tires.
The director of the station states
that the conditions under which tko
narrow tires offer an advantage over
the wide ones are "unusual and of
short duration," and further, that
"through a majority of days in the
year, and at times when the dirt roads
are most used, and when their use Js
most imperative, the broad - tired
wagon will pull materially lighter than
the narrow-tired wagon." Also that
"a large number of tests on meadows.'
pastures, stubble land, corn ground,
and plowed ground in every condition,
from dry, hard and firm to very wet
and soft, shows without a single ex
ception a large difference in draft in
favor cf the broad tires. The differ
ence ranged from seventeen to 120 per
'cent.
As a result of all experiments con
ducted he says: "It appears that six
inches is the best width of tire for
combination farm and road wagon,
and that both axles should be. the same
length, so that the front and hind
wheels will run in the same track.
London tand Come High.
whn the record was made In New
York by the sale of a piece of ground
at Broadway and Wall street for $4 a
square inch, the sale is recorded of
a lot 09 the Strand, London, for $31 a
square inch.