RESSo :
ID
VOLUME XIX.
FRANKLIN. N. a. WEDNESDAY, MAY 1 1, 1904.
NUMBER 19.
THE
Ai-JKLIN
. I ".!,..--.
v ? .'' ?.', i " 1
t stood within an old, deserted room
Long given over to the spider's play,
And watched the busy insect at hit loom
: While dropped the sua behind the
-. .? ullliaway. - ,
Drown dust lay scattered ou the mold-
"ring floor
Dust ulled eaoh nook in that drear,
silent plaoe
And as I gazed, a million fragmenti
more
Fell uolselessly through soaree re-
slsttng space.
.
"PUSSUM
An Amusing Story of a Stray Cat Who Walked Up a Screen
v Door and Into the Hearts of the Family Within,
ALtERf
fvfnVffffVfifffflfiVVfilfVVffffffll
He tame to us In his early life, dur
ing the first summer of our suburban
residence. He was not an ostentatious
cat, but bed rabbled and bleary-eyed
shred of gray that sat guarding our
milk bottles one morning when I
opened the back door. Indeed, I have
seldom seen a more forlorn specimen
than was our stately "Pussum" at this
the moment of our Introduction..?
Perhaps he was a prodigal that had
traveled tar, wasting his substance in
riotous living. At least he was very
foot-sore, and had no substance left
that seemed of any value to respect
able people. A vagabond and a tramp,
depending on charity and odd Jobs to
help him on his way, he was doubtless
guarding our milk supply with the
hope of some slight reward. We dldnt
need his protection, but from the
depths of my heart and one of the bote
ties a modest salvage was granted. I
put some milk In a pan, and be drank
it greedily, without thanks. I did not
Invite him In. We had no -cat as yet,
but we bad one planned, and it was
not of this design. I hoped that when
filled he would fare onward to lay pro
teclion and tribute on other milk-bottles
than ours.
I forgot him presently, and was rath
er surprised when somewhat later I
heard the "little woman" announce
that there was a kitten clinging to the
screen door, and crying to come
In. I went out to investigate, and
and found him half way up the screen.
Not being able to get through the wire,
he had climbed it.
"It is unnecessary to come in," I
said. "You can thank me from where
you stand, or sit, or whatever you call
It I appreciate your desire, now that
the pangs of hunger are allayed, to
make due acknowledgment; but time
Is precious, and you should be on your
way. There, are other milk-bottles to
of them.
we have nL-crvanTwithln. We are
We could not . enter-
properly, even if we could.
Go your way. Get off of our screen
door, and hence! Rapidly!"
He refused to hence. With food be
bad acquired vigor, and a voice strong
for his size.
- "Perhaps," I said, "he wishes more
food."
I pushed open the screen, and
begged him to descend. This was Im
possiblehe had not planned for re
treat His tendency was to climb high
er. I was not eager to touch him, but
there seemed no alternative. I de
tached him from the wire, and placed
blm before the pan. Again be ate.
Again, filled with the milk of human
kindness, he climbed up to vociferate
his thanks and his intentions of abid
ing with us always.
1 tried to shake him off It was no
use. -1 unhooked him repeatedly, and
replaced him in remote corners of the
property. He could beat me back to
the screen door, even allowing me as
much as ten yards start. We repeat
ed this race, until finally, I beat him.
He was fully five steps behind when I
got my hand on the knob, and he was
coming with headway. I was rather
warm now, and slightly annoyed by
bis overweening desire to become our
guest With my hand still on the
knob, I awaited him grimly. I did not
kick him. I would scorn to kick a
cat, especially such a cat I simply
lifted him with my foot, and planted
him In our experiment garden. He
described an arc, and disappeared
among the tomato vines. Flinging
wide the 'door, I rushed In, unwilling
to Investigate the result of my vio
lence. A sound from behind caused
me to start and turn. He was half
way up the screen, and going higher.
I opened the portal gently. "Come
in, little stranger," I said. And thus
It was the prodigal became a part of
our household.
As the days passed, the stranger
grew strong and beautiful. Not being
pure Maltese, I named him at first
"Maltlne;" but this title somehow
seemed frivolous, and savored of ad
vertising, whereas "Pussum" earns
trippingly from the tongue, and ex
pressed saore affectionately the deep
regard, and admiration which he pres
ently awakened in us all. Whatever
may have been hie past, it was left be
hind with his bleary eyes and bis ema
ciated tall. Both were fine and ex
pressive within the month, and dally
be grew la grace and noble self-respect
None knew hlui but to love him,
and the occasional mouse, which 1
caught for him In a trap, was a slight
token awarded ia appreciation of bis
sterling qualities and unfailing appe
tite, -w.;- ,j -
I have never seen a eat display more
tSgBI 1KB . KW .M I11UVU M
half a day, sometimes, he would watch
the empty .trap, doubtless recalling joys
already tasted and those still to come.
For me to begin setting it eras the sig
nal for violent enthusiasm on the part
of our faithful mouser, and at morn
ing he invariably rushed fearlessly to
the spot wfiere the trap was known to
do Its most efficient work. There is
even a rumor among Our "precious
ones" that "Pussum" once captured a
mouse on his, own account But the
testimony In the ease le confusing and
contradictory.' I am forced to believe
the reports of this mouse's death have
been "grossly exaggerated." However
this may be, the advent of "Pussum"
has been much to us all, and If we
knew bis birthday we would add it to
eur anniversaries, v ; 1 :
barely asm.
w 'IT. n
'- i
Long time I stood tn meditation deep
VktA. my !ul: "wh the
That ftVhVcounnes of tbli chamber
sleep "
Eternally, mid draperieaot mint?"
My soul made answer: "This deserted
room
O'er which the dying erimion lunlight
playa
Ii thy past life. The dust mutes ia Its
tomb
Are but the ghosts of fruitless yestsr.
. days." ...
W. F. Kirk, in Milwaukee Sentinel.
HGUOW FUHl.
VvWwVVwnVweVVvnVVV
"Pussum" is reliable In other ways.
Even from the beginning be was in
clined to be sober and dignified; and
did not destroy frail objects In the Wild
gambols of klttonhood. I have won
dered sometimes what his earliest days
were like those weeks that must have
passed before that memorable morn
ing when I .found blm protecting our
milk supply. Perhaps he never bad
really known childhood's happy hour,
but only a brief period of bitterness
which he waa anxious" to forget It is
true he would allow - the ' "precious
ones" to wheel him about in their lit
tle carriages, and seemed to take com
fort In this apparent frivolity, of which
he Is still fond. It Is bis only diver
sion. He was old and reflective even
In his youth, and the ways of other
cats are not his ways. Most young
cats, and many old ones, are common
thieves, ready to' leap on the dinner
table, and grab something me moment
your back is turned. "Pussum" Is dis
tinctly uncommon In these matters. He
would scorn to make a flying exhibi
tion of himself like that, or to conceal
his designs. He even may be left In
tbe dining-room alone with safety. It
Is only when we are all seated, and
general feasting la In progress, that
with the aid of a convenient chair he
will calmly climb up, and leisurely se
lect such portions of the food as please
him. If restrained at those times he
regards us with reproach, and contin
ues his selection. If repulsed, h re
tires with dignity, and returns present
ly with renewed determination. After
all, he Is tbe same kitten who once
climbed the screen door, and rallied to
victory from the tomato-vines.
But though a hero of perseverance
"Possum" is not distinguished aa a'
warrior. He has faith in discretion,
and is willing to rely on his speed
rather than upon his skill and prowess
in conflict Not that he is a coward
faced in the -et!uon, I have
seen blm d xxessfully a random
dog,' or theften-pound' torn "tiger"
across the way.- His difficulty seems to
be in getting into the attitude and di
rection of war. Perhaps his object in
running is (to get far enough ahead
to enable hdm to turn around. He does
fight, too7 for he sometimes bears
earmarks of battle. I suppose they
catch him now and then. On the morn
ing after Thanksgiving he bad a lump
on his foireheed, and still more recent
ly be returned In a mixed condition of
mud and (water and humiliation after
a night's Absence. He lamented dis
mally whlbt I had blm in the tub, pro
bably explaining how the cyclone bad
overtaken fhlm before he could make
harbor, and jftvinjr otb- vsAigoltf tes
timony. One night I heard a violent alter
cation just outside my window, and
when no longer able to restrain my cu
riosity, I rose and looked into the
moonlight A half-grown tree stands
by our sidewalk. It was late autumn,
and the leaves had disappeared. They
had been replaced with something
larger. I did not at first realise what
the black bunches were that decorated
the several limbs and forks of the lit
tle tree. Then one of the bunches
moved; then all of them howled. Then
I observed that it was a tree of cats.
On the topmost bough there swung and
balanced a feline form that evident
ly had been driven to a last retreat
I descended to the kttcben, and re
turned with coal. Leaning out, I flung
a hurtling handful, that resulted In a
sudden and wild explosion of cats,
lofivlng a single form still balancing
on tbe topmost bough. Something
about Its outline caused me to discon
tinue the anthracite treatment Then,
(he coast being quite clear, there waa
a cautious descent a stealthy slipping
along the path below, and into the
white moonlight beneath, my window
there stepped with solemn tread our
own great, fray, reliable "Pussum."
Somehow we new connected "Pus
sum" -with romance, for be waa so
stately and reserved tn bin treatment
of bis neighbors. Even when we saw
him considering tb vague Interest
the slender black-and-white cat who
occupied the cellar of tbe Vacant bouse
next door, we did not regard tbe mat
ter as more than "a casual acquaint
aaeesh'' Anyhow, being interested in
building a new addition to our house,
and in our gardening, ire were too busy
lo take more than a passing Interest tn
"Pussum's" affairs. . : ,
. On the whole, K teemed to be a rath
er hard summer for "Pussum." His
favorite corners were disordered; his
favorite cushions tumbled and upset
Less than this has driven more than
one bachelor to domesticity, and per
haps, after all,, we were to blame. '
When tbe taw se waa nettled at last,
he returned much as usual, and pres
ently fell Into disfavor, through a per
sistence In occupying a newly and blue
ly upholstered chair, which we were
trying to keep handsome and free from
hair. Repeated eviction and dire
threats were Of no avail. "Pussum"
slept in the cbalr whenever It stood up
right, and protested when it was mads
uninhabitable with a book, or when its
angle made rest a matter of discom
fort and peril. . , . . .
.-- It- was this law unklndness on our
part that resulted la disaster to the
chair and in deep disgrace on the part
of "Pussum.' I suppose I tipped the
chair a little too suddenly, and "Pus
sum' being dreaming, perhaps thought
he waa telling over a precipice. .At
all events, he clawed and clung desper-
'(,,
ately, with the result that there were
two long slits in the blue fabric, that
were aa wounds In our hearts. When
he was Anally oaptured and banished
I said that this was the end. At sun
rise he should die. It wss simply a
question whether I would tie our little
feline brother to a tree and use him for
target-practice, or take him down cel
lar and quietly remove his head with
my new saw. On the whole, I preferred
the saw, but the "precious ones" be
came violent at mention of either
motnod. They were for overlooking
the whole matter, and declared that
nothing should harm a hair of their
"darling cat." Still I was unforgiving,
and tbe next forenoon which was
sunny and Sunday when I saw him
blinking at me from the steps, while
I filled some vases from the marigold
patch. I was Indifferent and cool In
my manner toward blm. Presently
something was rubbing against my leg,
and purring. I was surprised at this
it was not "Possum's" way. Neither
was it "Pussum," 'for when I looked
down I saw it was the slender, and
hitherto wild, black-and-white cat
from the vacant cellar next door,
"Well," I said, "what does this
meant What do you want?"
Tbe blackmnd-whlte cat lookod up
pleadingly, and continued to rub and
purr.
"No, go away," I growled; "we do
not want you. We've got one cat too
many now."
The blackand-whlte cat looked up.
"That's just what I want to talk
about," she purred. "Our poor Pus
sum.' "
"Oh, our poor 'Pussum!' Um-well,
never mind our poor 'Pussum.' He's In
disgrace. He's torn my beautiful new
cbalr with his claws!"
"Yes," assented the black-and-white
cat, thoughtfully, "I know. But do you
always like to be pushed out of your
favorite seat? And don't you some
times have accidents, too?"
"What has that to do with It? 'Pus
sup' Is a cat. We gave him a good
home he should appreciate It. He
was a stray cat, and we took blm in."
"I I am a stray, too," murmured
the black-and-white cat.
"Well, what of It? What has that to
do with 'Pussum?'"
"I know how much be must appre
ciate his nice home," the black-and-white
cat purred, softly. "I know hs
does, too, for he has told me about it,
and of how good you are to him. I
hope you will forgive him."
"Oh, well," I said, "I suppose we
must Go away now, and don't bother
me."
The black-and-white cat nestled
closer. "One thing more," she said.
"Do you know that I I'm 'Pussum's'
comfort, his companion in grief and
sorrow, and that I have no friends
or home?"
What was the use? After that the
black-and-white cat took up residence
in "Pussum's" cellar, and aterr of
"Pussum's"
"fierF family came along In time to
brighten tbe dull winter days. There
were three of them, and tbe resem
blance was quite strong on both sides.
I hav never seen a prouder mother
than the black-and-white cat. As for
"Pussuu," bis interest was one of cu
riosity rather than of paternal solici
tude. F.e removed his quarters to a
distant art of the cellar, perhaps so
that he might enjoy a night's rest
When I blought him to the box of ex
celsior, ani dropped him down among
his family; he seemed disturbed, and
the lavish endearments of the black-and-white
cat, who put her face to his
and purred aid murmured and caressed
him, only cawed him to draw away
with mingled embarrassment and In
difference Wi man's Home Compan
ion. QUAINT AND CURIOUS.
Newfoundland has a greater propor
tion of wldowa and orphans than any
other country.
A tunnel 1800 feet below sea level,
and twenty-five miles long, has been
planned between Vacqueros Bay, Spain,
and Tanglers, Africa.
In future the police of Zurich, Swlt
zerland, are to receive regular lessons
In "civility and deportment" so as to
bear themselves on all occasions with
"dignity and grace."
Tnere Is no soda in soda water.
Every pint of soda water contains
two and one half pints of carbon di
oxide, a gas. Therefore when you
drink one pint of soda water you
really drink three and one-halt pints.
In olden times rings were worn by
monarch! and rulers alone, but as civ
ilisation advanced and women were
more chivalrously regarded the ring
was given her as a token of the high
dignity bestowed upon her In the mar
riage ceremony.
. In England a special license ia re
quired for the privilege of keeping a
manservant, and a Londoner recently
arrested for failing to comply with
the law brought forward a novel de
fence: "He ia my housemaid.1' The de
fence, however, was not accepted by
the court.
. The English Way. '
An Englishman who baa made bis
fortune in America says: "Tou do not
seem to appreciate the method of tns
English courts over here in America.
The Unite wtes U' alive with ticket-of-leave
men front the Mother country,
and-most of them are doing well. And
there la another class that come here
and often succeed. I refer to the
worthless cbaps who become nuis
ances tn their own home places. They
are baled to court, and being found
penniless are thus advised by the
judge: 'Tou cannot pay a fine. Ton
cannot pay coats. The jails are over
flowing. The court will give yotr ten
days' to leave England and start life
ahew in a country where you are un
known.' ; Where do those fellows land?
In America, of course." New - Tork
Press.
: Hsr Cap act for Him,
Miss Carrye Moore She calls him
her intended. Are they engaged?
- Miss Cutting Hints No, but she In
tends to marry blm. Ht Louis Pio
neer Press,
Tbe mercantile fleet of Japan rank
seventh in the world's shipping.
BAYMOND.MASTEB THIEF
CAREER Of. THE CROOK WHO
. ROBBED KIMBCRtEY DIA
MOND FIELDS. -
A Careful Workman, He Took Months
to Complete Wane Ben te America
for Help finally tent te Prison for
Long Term.
The robbery by masked men of 15,
000 from Robinson's bank at Krugers
dorp, in the Transvaal, has been the
scene of many very daring and gigan
tic robberies.
The organizer of- tbe celebrated dia
mond mall robbery, when, between
$816,000 and -S2f..000 worth of atones
were atolen, wae the most famous
criminal, Harry Raymond, who waa
know aa the Napoleon of the criminal
world.
In 187t. when the Kimberley dia
mond flelde were revealing their rich
ness la the matter of remarkably fine
stones, Raymond paid a visit to South
Africa, and made the Journey from
Cape Town to Kimberley by coach.
He noticed that one day every month
there was a -large consignment of dia
monds from the mines to England by
registered mall, and he determined to
possess himself of one consignment
Tbe consignment ranged in value
from tt.000,000 to $1,000,000, and the
parcels were made np and placed la
the ordinary mail bags and sent to
Cape Town by the mat) coach.
Before deciding upon bis modus ope
randi, Raymond took several journeys
on the coach, and finally a casual re
mark of the driver set this clever
crlmlnal'a mind at work and his plan
was concocted in less than five min
utes. When within 100 miles of Kimberley
the coach crossed a small stream, and
as the horses' splashed through the
water the driver said: "I ahall not be
able to go through the water so easily
In a month or so."
"Why?" asked Raymond.
"Because," replied the driver, "when
tbe rainy season sets In we have to
take a big wooden ferry to take us
over. The stream swells so thit It is
SO feet wide."'
"What would happen if yon did not
get over?" asked Raymond, In a casual
sort of way.
"Why, we should lose the steamer,
and the bags would have to be put In
the Capetown postofflce until the next
steamer sailed," was the reply of the
driver.
The next live minutes the plsn was
completed whereby the diamonds
would be transferred from their lawful
owners to the possession of Raymond.
Raymond then went to England, and
determined to spend a fewt
pounds perfecUnghludmi.
He sentjoimeHcafor five "crooks,"
explained the method of in
tended to adopt He promised it they
helped him to give them 1000 pounds
each for their work, and to -pay all
their expenses.
One man took a farm a short dis
tance from the river, while another
was sent to Capetown with Instruc
tions to cultivate the postofflce offi
cials and get wax Impressions of tbe
keys of the safes.
Another man went to Capetown and
set up a livery stable; the fourth man
being placed In a private house not
far from the postoffioe,
Twelve months was apent In arrang
ing the details, and when all was
ready Raymond waited quietly until
there was a very big consignnrait of
diamonds from Kimberley, and then
he set to work.
Upon the arrival of tbe mall coach,
at the river the driver, to his horror,
discovered that 'the wooden ferry had
by some means got adrift and bad
been swept a couple of miles away.
This necessitated an extensive de
tour of about 60 miles, and all possi
ble chance of catching the steamer waa
lost, which was, of course, the reason
for the young farmer cutting adrift
the ferry.
When the coach arrived at Cape
town the steamer had sailed, and the
bags were, therefore, placed In the
postofflce safes.
At I P. M., the next morning tbe
keys made front tbe wax Impressions
opened the doors of the postofflce and
the safes, whereupon It of the bags
were transferred Into the cart which
the livery stable proprietor had al
ready stationed outside.
They were taken to the private houae
and buried tn the garden, where they
remained for six months.
Raymond kept his word with the
erooks, and they, were paid 1000 pounds
each, and they went back to America.
The 'apoleon" opened an office tn
Capetown aa a diamond merchant, but
when the coast waa clear he came
to England and established himself as
a diamond merchant in Hatton garden.
Here he sold the stones, netting
something approaching 163,000 pounds.
, It was Raymond who stole the Duch
ess of Devonshire picture from Messrs.
Agnew, and he conveyed it to America
on board hie yacht tbe Shamrock. This
yacht waa afterward purchased by
Lord Lonsdale,: who. entertained the
German Emperor on it
Raymond paid 600 pounds a year for
a flat opposite the Royal academy,
which cost EtfOO pounds to furnish. He
drove a pair of the finest horses in
England, which were bought under the
hammer for 1000 guineaa,
He waa paught trying to rob the
Belgian mail in Brussels, and was sen
tenced to II years' penal servitude, or
seven years' solitary confinement
His wife, a very handsome woman,
is In a madhouse tn England. London
Sun.
, Bismarck's Wonderful Eyea,
' No one ever came Into the preeenee
of the chancellor without a deep sense
of the mind-power reflected from those
large gray-blue- orbe. Their flashing
brilliancy and tbe piercing penetration
of the glance ahot from them were
never to be forgotten. Tbey seemed
Incapable of expressing affection, and
their steel-like hardness only Inspired
awe for the towering Intellect tbe lire,
slstlble will, 'Ore defiant courage, the
fiery energy of -their owner. To watch
the lightning changes "of expression
mirrored In them, refecting the strong
emotions evoked by humbled pride,
wounded ambition and thwarted self
ishness; and above all. bv the lost of
hit absolute swsy, was Initeed an en
viable prlvllere- Henry Vlllard In
Century' Ms f,az me,
Charcoal for Poultry.
Tbe habit of mixing grit shell or
charcoal ia with the .mash food is
detrimental to the fowls. It Is very
wrong, indeed, to either clog up the
crop or overload the gissard with
these necessities, the supplying of
which the fowls know very much more
about than we do. ,
The .grit box should bang against
the wall and always have- four com
partments; one for grit one for shell,
one for charcoal, and the other to be
Used for sand or gravel.
It is not necessary to feed powders
or condiments of any kin to healthy
poultry that Is properly housed, cared
for and fed. When they need any
thing In the way of a condiment a
mixture of equal parts of cayenne pep
per, ground ginger, cloves and all
spice Is good, about a teaspoonful In
the mash for each doxen fowla twice a
week Is sufficient Commercial Poul
try. ; : ;
Treating Potatoes.
Some farmers have the. Idea firmly
fixed In their minds that stable manure
ought not to be used in growing pota
toes, the claim being that it causes the
scab which is so destructive. This la
not correct for ft tbhe fungus is in the
seed potato the scab will appear, no
matter what sort of fertilizer Is used
In growing the crop. , The only way at
all certain of avoiding scab In the po
tato crop Is to treat the aeed tubers
used, and this should always be done
regardless of where the seed comes
from. Tou msy contemplate using
seed that you feel certain ia free from
the germ of the scab, but it will be
safer to treat the seed.
Buy some commorient formalin, and
to each one-halt pint of it add fifteen
gallons of water. Tben sqak the seed
tubers in the mixture for two or even
three hours. Do this before planting
and you will be reasonably sure of
having the crop free from scab.
Alfalfa In Orchards."
A number of correspondents who
are Interested In alfalfa have asked If
It would not be a valuable crop for the
orchard. The experience of the writer
has been limited in this direction, but,
so tar as It goes, it is in accord with
that of others who have tried It and Is
decidedly against the use of alfalfa
ia tbe orchard. Two things about al
falfa should be remembered. First It
roots deeply and hence its roots would
ly to rob the soil of fertility
needed bl
Second, as the roots would hoi
aTfoW
any food for the tree antll plowed un
der, tbe deep plowing would of necessi
ty Injure the tree roots. .Try alfalfa
by all means, but try It In the open
field, preparing the seed bed early and
thoroughly and sowing eight quarts of
seed an acre. Sometimes a nurse crop
is grown with It usually timothy
and when this is done tbe seeding of
timothy should be light, not more than
one and one-half or two quarts to the
acre. The growth may be light the
first year, but it will improve. Indian
apolis News.
Hew te Oct Bettor Fruit
At the present time much talk pre
vails among horticulturists In regard
to Improvement by selection, says
American Cultivator. It is not im
probable that In the near future they
will be offering pedigree scions for
sale. While selection is all right and
Important, snap judgements are to be
avoided.
A few years ago a nleghbor of mine
found on a farm on tbe border of a
medow a tree bearing extra fine Por
ter apples. Tbe next spring he took
scions from that tree and asked me to
graft them upon a Porter tree stand
ing on his own grounds. I expressed
to htm a doubt aa to their being any
better when grown on his tree than
that tree was growing. But he claimed
that it was o different kind of Porter;
was dead sure ef It, In (act I grafted
his tree, and while doing It I cut
scions from the tree and grafted them
Into a branch In the top of the tree,
and when I had finished the Job 1 told
him what I bad done, and told him
that it, when the grafts commenced
to bear, he could tell me which grafts
came from that tree, I would nay him
back the money that he had paid' me
for doing tbe work. ' In due time the
grafts fruited, and he was unable to
distinguish one from another by any
difference in size or quality of fruit'
This case of selection did not meet ex
pectation. The Farms' Boy and Girt.
In these two centre the hope of the
farm, of agriculture, of etrlllsatioa;
for civilization, the crystallzatlon of
morality and virtue Into Mgher man
hood and womanhood, must be a prod
uct of tbe farm. That -rural society,
therefore, which does not take the boy
and girl into account, ia but cultivat
ing the shallow surface of the present,
and must not expect a crop of future
greatness. .
Can there' be a farmer n ail this
land that can look with Indifference
upon the growing boys and -girls of
the farm! What a destiny Is theirs!
And can there a boy and girl on the
(ana who is unable to see the great
possibilities that He just abeadd In
their pathway? Grandfather's lot may
have been a hard one, hut 'be hewed
down a forest and wrote an honored
name on many a broad acre rescued
fom the wilderness. Father's lot-may
have had much of drudgery, and his
back may be bent beneath- load of
disadvantage, ..but he sees and Is
painting out the, better way. What
read tbe youth upon the banner he dis
plays? Equity and progress greater
than the charm which yawns between
grandfather and father's day; Can the
farmer boy and girl algb tor something L
else in tne anuianee w tne dawn
which is breaking? Can the shop with
Its ceasleat grind , amid poisoned
breath and aching' brain, res o
called business, with Its never-ending
struggle and cot.itsnt fears, can the
city with Its merciless din and fatal
abysses of sin, have any attraction for
the boy and girl of the farm? The
heart which baa bet In hippy unison
with the song of blris. the eye which
has t'" ';,!l on the rr!sii dew ana
the smiling flowers, the soul which has
been refreshed and filled with the un
folding glories of nature, as seen on
the farm, cannot, long tor the harsh
sounds, the cruel sights and the
dwarfed --etivlrpament of tbe city.
Commercial Foujtry,
Growing Aaparagus. - .
A grower of asparagus writes: First
of all I have to say that if I had a
piece of warm, sandy, well-drained
loam available tor the purpose, I would
think the best time to start an as
paragus natch Is now. at once, with
out more delay than necessary to se
cure a lot of good plants. Usually I
would prefer to grow my own plants,
and grow them in good, rich loam, and
properly pushed and thinned, in order
to get good, large, one-year-old plants,
which I think are far better than the
average run of two-year-old plants
that one can buy.
By looking around one may be able
to get good plants In tbe fall, and I
would not wait until spring, although
that la also a good time to set plants.
The early buyer catches the big plants
usually, which is one reason more why
It is better to start the patch In the
fall.
I make the grtand very rich; in fact.
It cannot be made too rich. I give
each plant plenty of room, not less
than a dozen square feet. I plant
them deep, so that a shallow running
plow will not Injure the crown.
To renew an bid plantation, plow it
over shallow, applying manure or any
good commercial vegetable or potato
manure containing a good percentage
of potash. Any of our standard varie
ties may be used.
Palmetto seems more liable than
others to resist the runt attacks. Co
lumbian Mammoth White Is good.
- If you wish to raise your own plants
next year, sow the seed thinly In drills,
the drills being a foot or fourteen inch
es apart, by hand or with the garden
drill. Do this early' In the spring,
while the ground Is quite moist The
seeds are larse and hard and require
a good deal of moisture to germinate.
In a dry time the teed may be
soaked for a few hours In hot water.
It will then sprout much more prompt
ly. Clipping a corner of tbe hard shell
off each teed will serve to hasten the
process of germlnatlon.--N. T. Farmer.
Keep Good Cows.
It Is just as essential to keep good
cows as any other animal. No man
can afford to keep poor cows, and es
pecially the poor man. If a rich man
wants to waate hla money In poor cows
It Is not quite so bad, but a poor man
must know better, or he cannot expect
much profit. .In order to make head
way the poor man muat keep animals
and use feed thst will make the
ilnvMlt ii nr' Tou cannot afford to
keen a alini I7TT7IT lilkuAi ill"1 " not make
you a profit Be practical ani
ness-Uk and apply the only sui
Keep a book In which to enter cm
side' alt milk, cream and butter,
Whether consumed by the family or
sold. They are worth In your family
exactly what you would have to pay
for them, if you had no cows. On the
other side enter the feed consumed,
whether purchased or raised on your
farm. The hay or corn fed Is worth
on your farm the market price, less
cost of delivering to market. This
test even It conducted for a short
time, will show you Tacts and not what
you guess about it Some people re
fuse to spend money tor the best feed
for their cows. This is poor economy,
because it Is simply sn Investment
which will bring good returns. In se
lecting choice dairy cows. If the rich
est milk is wan d, keep the Jerseys;
if both hotter and milk are wanted,
keep the Ayrshire, but It largo quanti
ty of milk Is wanted for the manufac
ture of cheese, then the Holstelns
must have first place. But, however,
In either case always select the beet.
Suppose yon pay $30 for a poor cow
and come out even at the end of the
year. Suppose you pay $60 for a first
class cow. and at the end of the year
she can show you a profit of $30. If
yoa keep cows for profit just figure
this over carefully. It requires Just aa
good business qualities to be a suc
cessful dairyman aa It doe to be suc
cessful in any other business. If you
dont think so you bad better quit the
business. E. U Morris In the Epl
tomlst jp( n Peeltry Points. ,w,
f An excellent wash for swelled head
ta quinine dissolved in water,
'irregular feeding is apt to cause a
derangement of the digestive organs.
- The poultryman who Is continually
changing breeds never succeeds in the
business. v '
Do not adopt every bill of fare you
hear of. It yours Is producing good
results, stick to tt
It you feed green cut bone, see that
tt I fresh and that it is not from ani
mals that have died of disease.
' The Brown Leghorns lay the small
est egg and. the Light Brahma the
largest pf the popular breed of to-day.
Begin In a small way. grow gradu
ally, stick to It that ia the foundation'
npon which successful poultry plants
have been built
, It costs no more to feed and car for
a pure bred flock than it doe for a
mongrel lot, and the profit are greater
with the former.
Rats are the destructive agent as
sociated with most poultry houses:
Never build floors tn your poultry
houses under which rata can make
their nest and. breed, but have an
earth floor, or floor made of cement
The Qwl and the Cockatoo. ...
The Birds, having to choose a Ruler,
chose the Cockatoo, being daisied b
the aplendor of hla Topknst - , 7
, The Owl expostulated, saying: "
"What, In the name of Gamekeep
ers, can have Induced you to elect aa
your Ruler 'that most frivolous of all
feathered fowls?"
"Why, Just look i bis beautiful yel
low Crest!" replied the other Birds.
"Tellow prest be taxldermatlzed."
the Owl retorted contemptuously. "It
fs not what a; Bird wears on the Top
of bis Head that matters. It Is what
he has Inside." ;
Moral: It takes more than a Coronet
to make a Statesman. London Truth.
Spain exports 38,000 tons of cork ;n-tm!!y-valued
at about $,000,0OO
A SEBM0N FOB .SUNDAY
AN INTERESTING 0ISCOURSE BY THE
REV. L H. CASWELL
SahjMt t " A Uttla Inquiry late Tribute
tetloan - A Pathatle tlgm ts the
Shltlyfcall j Youth Cmditls la Laxmrj
aad Shriaklag Fraas Life's Combat.
Brookltn, N, T. For his Sunday ser
mon, in the Tabernacle M. E. Ckureh.
Greenpoint, the pastor, the Rtv. Lincoln..
Mouiater uaswcu, took as his subject A
Little Inquiry Into Tribulstion.'' The
text wss from Romans v: 8: "But we
glory in tribulations." Mr. Caswell said:
Unto esch the aver recurring questions
eoma. Whence the mission of adversity?
Why the existence of trouble? Do pain
and pleasure proceed from kindred laws?
How is it that while our earth in its orbit
keeps symphony with the host of heaven,
it yet bears the undertone of anguish in
its bosom?
feusll we answer by impeaching Infinite
justice, by declaring the tryranny of pain,
by asserting the bondage of suffering?
Not so. But rather hore for the mission
of trouble and learn the utility of adversi
ty. It is clear to the student of ethics
that there is an unknown quantity in the
formula of suffering. In this question x
equals life life of service or of idleness;
of force or of weakness; or grand or of
mean proportions. Adversity either makes
or ruins a man, his individual character
alone determining whether he shall be
crushed or exalted. Opposing forces stim
ulate to heroic action. A man may choose
to dwell in luxury, but he must do so at
the expense of the stronger forces of char
acter. It is hard to endure pain, it is
fsr harder to resist ease, but by resisting
and by enduring are wrought; out those
princsly qualities which are attributes of
the ideal man. And so we are placed amid
forces, rude and contrary, that we may
gain the glory of breaking and bridling
them. If nature and environment should
befriend and never oppose, gratify and
never grieve, satisfy and never smite, life
would oecome immeasurably less noble.
It is not uncommon to think that suf
fering, as well as sin, enmrs fleet footed
from Tartarus, whereas, suffering is not
dependent upon sin. There is a ministry
of suffering, out there can never be a min
istry of evil. Is hatred the csuse of love;
revenge of forgiveness; selfishness of gen
erosity; vice of virtue? Humility is not
the daughter of pride, nor is error the
propagator of truth. It is not true for a
man to hold, that because lie has sinned
he is capable of reaching a higher holiness.
Give not evil the credit of befriending hu
manity. Bin alienates, debases, ruins. Be
hold how suffering rise- above evil! Evil
is infamous; suffering may bo glorious.
Evil merits antipathy; suffering often de
serves praise. Evil swears fealty to the
infernal; suffering never, hut repeatedly
vows allegiance to the Infinite. To punish
evil is suffering's smallest province. It
exists for a higher purpose than retribu
tion for a stimulating, educating, atoning
purpose so that "afflictions are but the
shadows of God's wings."
Upon material things a literature it
written. Rend it t It tells of strife, strug
gle, contention. The law of dissolution co
operates with the law of growth. The
rock dies that the vegetable may live; the
plant withers that the animal may grow;
the body decays that the spirit may ex-
riand eternally. Counter forces make the
ife of the universe. The metr iesms
becaune of resistance; the shimmering con
stellations that glow npon the brow of
night are hut fire balls from the furnace of
the sun; light itself, resplendent and vi
talitina. comes from combustion, antag
onism and chemical conflict. Adversity
into the very
once sluntfffaTsWie
C ,L: :
uyttorms q
eranite rock. awJuJbi
6uBTsitil'have Thirtw-rl
tiered but for adverse forces active with
in. Chemicals were there to disintegrate,
earthquakes to shatter, fires to fuse, gla
ciers to grind. There were corrodings,
consuming!, erosions, decayings, wither
ing! and washing until the solid granite
unfolded its treasures to make possible
organic life.
What mean the expressions, "natural
election," "struggle for existence," "sur
vival of the fittest?" They indicate that
all life is an extended conflict, where each
order preys upon the next below and grap
ples with the next above for mastery.
The life of nations is no exception to
this law. Civilisation mav boast of her
attainments, bat revolt and revolution are
the arbiters for her progress. She may ex
ult in the "evolution of government, but
turmoil, violence, bloodshed cry out, "We
are factors in thy prosperity. .
What people were more oppressed than
the ancient Hebrews? Rameses enslaved
them in Egypt, hardship harassed them
in the wilderness; the Land of Promise
pledged but little mora than shock on
shock of battle. That was the nation
buffeted, defeated, tried that became the
safe depository of truth, and gave to the
world as its consummate flower Siety In
carnate. What hot been the discipline by which
our own nstion has attained its present
strength? It had indeed a wonderful pa
rentage. The brave little Netherlander
whom the Council of Blood, the Inquisi
tion and the Holy riee could 'not down;
the glorious Huguenot fresh from hearing
the blood cries of St. Bartholomew; the
sturdy, psalm-tinging Puritan who wrung
Magna Charta from John who served
Hampden to resist the king, who animated
Cromwell and his Ironsides at Mars'.on
Moor and Naaeby, who taught Vane how
to die, who struggled amid overwhelming
forces for religious liberty; these, whom
the American is proud to own as worthy
ancestors, are all sons of hardship and en
durance, conquerors in the nobler fields of
battle. Thus out ef milkmiums of struggle
with ttio mvrisd-Wifell hvilra of DerSSCU-
tion arises the America of to-day. The na
tion's birth- was marked by psin. Speak,
ye noble slain of Bunker Hill! Ye patriote
Cleaning arms wna an ancu iw "ulyj
ye pallid lips of the blood sft" anotf of
Valley Forget And tell us that freedom is
gained by devotion to death; that liberty
ride triumphant over a road macadamized
by tha bones of its devotees; tell us that
tha advancing stage of national life are
heralded by conflict and hastened by the
presence of a martyr host! ,
Passing into the realm of the intellec
tual it ia found that the power of incisive
intellect is purchased with the hard coin
of struggle. Tha product of genius is
dearly bought. No pioneer of philosophy,
or science, or religion ever bland hit way
through untrod forests who waa not con
fronted by poverty, prejudice or t ardshipa
innumerable. Not in courts of ease; not
in rich classic halls; not in the midst of
fame and loud hustaa are deepest emotion
engendered, rarest truth found nor aub
limeat conceptions begotten. From a cup
ot nemloca in Ainena; irom w u
Jerusalem; from an apostle's dungeon at If
Rome; from the chamber of a blind bard
ia London have come the thoughts that
Wt awavad the world.
Why is the sacred page se filled with
tenderness, pathos and comfort? It was
not written with a golden pen in an east
chair, in a acholastio library. For ink
there were tears of a multitude of weeper
For pens, there were fishermen, she
herds, bedouins of the desert, slaves, co
viets and martyrs. For libraries, th.
were desolate rocks, caverns, mountii
sides, aea shores and prison walls. Out!
suck harsh and unfavorable eonditi
cam the volumn which through all
years has been coveted by the beree
sought by the lonely, loved by the t
bled. Excellence of thought comet by ,'
of toil, enduranae, denial.
Mind, capable of Infinite thoughts
its Gardens of Qtthsemane. Mind j
the crown of thorns in the very b
lefty achievement. !
It ia said that Ole Bull ascend
rough mountains of Norway, the.e
the majeatie storm, beard the wei
of the pines, listened to the roar
cascades, and from these he caug1
rapturous tones with which he i
th heart of the world. Thus i
cans men have climbed some era
terhorn of chilling adversity, dew
to tome vale of shsdows, lirere,
wave battered liff; because t
braved opposition and hanWii
they have bad passages in their
they have ei'twrienced tlie f
anguish and dm;itinn t'n.it t
come hernia of t' " h, hve
aavanc oi civiiir.,,
priests of science, refinert of society, re
formers of faith. .
What is It that places this premium on
grief? Why are the great doera also the
great suffers! What ia it that vitalize
pain, glorifies sorrow, and makes dead
men's bones walk the earth elothed with,
tremendous influence? Let Moses answer
from the mount of immeasurable glorvi
"I rejected a regal palace and the tress
arm of Egypt, choosing rother to suffer
affliction with the people of God that I
might be a statesman for the oppressed,
liberate a nation of slaves, endure to be
vexed, tried and discouraged through fort
weary years that at last I mijfht stand il
lumined in the transfiguration of tha Son
of God." Let David answer with his waili
of anguish: "0, my son Absalom! my
son. my son Absalom! would God I had,
died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my
son!" It was in the depth of his mourn
ing that he sung those poems which nave
comforted the aching heart for ages. Leti
Joseph and Daniel answer as from a pris
on and a den tuey ascend the steps to
royalty and fame. Let Savonsrolo answer
loving the red hot iron of martyrdom
more than the red hat of a cardinal. Let
Bruno answer, let Gallileo. let Newton
Let Luther answer, and Wickliff and John
Huss, and Wesley, and Francis Asbury.
It ia a noble company. But there are soma
whom reverses have ruined, whom af
dictions have spoiled, who refuse to be
sublimated by suffering or ennobled bv
calamity. I see yonder a Napoleon, of
surpassing genius, the world's autocrat
He builds a throne of steel only to ace it
rust and crumble e'er-he dies. From hia
pinnacle of power he falls and lies proj
trate in defeat. His failure is ignominious
because his snirit is ignoble. Upon the
barren rock of St. Helena he wanders, a
lion at bay, a soul cowed, a phoenix life
in hopeless despair. By his side -awL.tow-ering
above him rises Washington, He
conies to the government when there is
nothing to govern. He bectmes command
er of the American Army when it is small
and defeated. Without navy, without
monev, without munitions, with traitors
and Tories abundant, with generals con
niving for position and grossly slander
ing his eharncter, he meets and defeats
the most thoroughly equipped and ap
pointed government of the world; and
then, notwithstanding the importunities
of a people he has freed, he refuses a
royal crown and passes into history an
embodiment of unselfish service.
Far in the pant 1 see corrupt Nero loll
ing in hit chariot of regal magnificence;
dying by inches a loathsome denth, a ne
tim of the very luxury and extravagance
in which he delights. Rolling over the Ap
pian way on toward the city, he passes the
Roman guard leading a prisoner to exe
cution. Unto the prisoner the Emperor
gives but a contemptuous glonce. That
is all and yet not all. Th.-.t captive rotn
mands the gaze of man'iind. The nam'' of
Nero is a synonym for vice and shahvless-.
ness. while the name of Paul wields a
mightier influence with each succeeding
century. Paul still lives! Die he cannotl
It is true that for this purpose Nero led
K,m fn..tTi frnm nriflnn. But se! Does he
tremble? Does he shrink from his last " i
enemy? Does this spiritual hero vrno
fought with beasts, struggled with waves,
was scarred by the lash, incarcerated,
smitten, stoned and left for dead, does ho
who, when each stroke of the "tribulum
fell upon him, shouted, "None of these
things move," does he now flinch?
The block is there. The blade is ready.
The headsman speaks, "Prcparel" Where
is the tremor in the aged form? With ra
diant brow and stately mien immortal ha
stands. With eve flashing in hope, with
voice strong and confident, hear him de
clare, "I am now ready to be offered; the
time of my departure is a nana, i nova
fought a good fight. I hove finished my
course. I have kept the faith."- Nero
axe cleaves his head and Paul, the hero, is
I TA M.IVPJ r
crowned with the abundant life.
Hnw tat t.
the ministry of the Christ beert
wrought ontr in an me rsssmnar -tow
whose grief compares with that of
Him who is at once the Author and Sa
viour of mortal man? With uncovered m
head bow we before the sublime sufferer.
Behold! Out of the anguish of the garden,
out of the floom of the tomb He of the
riven side. He of the thorn crowned head,
He of the broken heart, walks down the
ages elevating sorrow until it grows with'
a heavenly hallow, lifting the burden of ;
woe from bruised and staggering human
ity. This is He who exalts the lowly and
raises toil to nobility, declaring that pain
sholl no longer be accursed, but that hfe
shall be triumphant in adversity. It this
our life? Not vacillating, meagre, indo
lent, but tturdy, unflinching, enduring,
overcoming, decisive a triumphant hfer.
This onlv is life with deathless potsibih-.
ties, and he only who lives for th future
catehet the secret of the present and its ,
trials. Look we beyond diurnal revolu
tion gauging the tweep of the planet in
its course around the sun. Tnale and
tests, slanders and betrayal, desertion
and opposition are for to-day;' ehaiaeter"
for eternity. If man in the future ex-
Sectt to rest upon his knowledge of truth,
e must find some trial to test it now. If
character is to count forever, some sharp
and merciless criticism must prove its ,
integrity now.
There is no more pathetio figure in the
world of to-day than the shilly-shally
youth cuddling in the lap of wea 1th and
shrinking from life's combat. W are not .
wooden dummies, but must be men of
granite, against whom the leaping wave
and mountainous surges ahall beat only to
recoil in impotent fury. The need of thia
hour is ttrong manhood. Perseverenee is
the characteristic that wins. Expect not
to glide through easy teas, with silken
tails tense In the breeze-of favor. You
mn.t steer through narrow etraite: here
rough narrow str
douhtJ -
a whirlpool ot aounr
of skepticism.
would strand the
heach of desnn
Siren Isle o
list eneb
of vol
IrUrnai
(