i i|-j « / a committee of three 3 1 I editors in a contest re cently held, the Spec i tator was declared by them to be the best weekly news ', paper publi-hed in Virginia. % WJIMM .WW —.——^— 9o} I wr ~ ura "■ , , —i mi ■ ■!■■ »—-——-~~~— . $ Our kegul r Semi -Annual | tt $ g Clearance Sale 9 * s $ will bo in force fir the r.ext 30 days. All our \f * ** $ Men's and Boys* Suits, a % ¥ jk including the very latent styles and colors; will be _t r, W A $Ad at greatty reduced price.-. If you have ever a £ dealt at ihb :,t re, you kno ■>.< when we announed £ a REDUCTION it mean? ih it we positively do re- ~*A ■ duce prices Ihß rale w,!l alio include our ft £ \f '+ Negligee and Working' ? i Shirts. Overalls and 1 r Hosiery. | I— ======-= -_g | SPECIAL : I g We have an odd lot of suits, I 8 sizes 33 to 35, that we will I 5 sell at 84,00 a suits. | 3 A i These clothes include the cassimeres and worst- T> ■ eds and are a great Bargain. Every one of them 5 v cost us more. % | All Straw Hats will be sold at Absolute Cost. | I Jos. L arth & Company I i\ No. 9 S. Augusta St., Staunton. Va. « AIR IS FREE! WHY PAY FOR IT ? One step from the Pine Torch to the Tallow Dip! One step from the Tallow Dip to the Oil Lamp! One step from the Oil Lamp to Gas! The last and ftnal step brings us to Electricity, the only light for decoration and illumination, Don't become asphyxiated—Use Electricity. Don't undermine your health by using poisonous gas. "Why pay for Electric Fan service to cool the additional heat caused by heat producing illumination. Blue Ridge Light & Power Company. NOTICE! Having leased the Wayman -Foundry and Machine Shops- situated on East Kalorama St., we are prepared to do all kinds of jobbing- Stove Repairs a Specialty. Give us a trial and let us convince you that we can do your work right. ALL WORK GUARANTEED. CHILDRESS BROS., STAUNTON, VIRGINIA. WS" Long Distance Phone 623. ! 01 a nn ton fl£S Upectetot £**» AND VINDICATOR. P VOL. 88 "V STAUNTON, VA., FRIDAY. JULY 23, 1909. NO. 30 ; L_ , : «*f ■ in 1. -I--. i - — ——— «_. _r ii ', ~— —™~ ifhe Visiting of Mother Danbury jßy PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR (Copyright, by J. B. Llppincolt Co.) In the small village everybody is interested in everybody's else doings —not always with a malicious con cern, as some would have us believe. For among primitive folk there may be kindly prying, and gossip is some times gentle. There was no lack of this village meddling, if meddling it might be called, when Felix Danbury, he who was son of the Widow Danbury and chorister at Cory church, led Martha Dickson to the altar. There was some sorrow, too, in all this interest, for the marriage of Fe lix meant his loss to the community. Martha lived at Baldwin's Ford, and thither her bethrothed had promised to go and take up his abode. Usually the woman follows the man, but in this instance old Mrs. Dickson, who was also a widow, had protested so loud and long against separation from her only child that the lover was compelled to assure her that she would gain a son rather than lose a daughter. It was very noble indeed, and there had been a beautiful scene in which old Mrs. Dickson had wept on Felix's shoulder and blessed him. "You're a good boy," she told him. "I know that the folks air a-goin' to say that you're desertiu' yore mother, but 'taint so; she'll come over here a-vlsitin', an' we'll go over there, an' It'll be just like one tamily; an' be sides, yore mother wouldn't be lonely like me, fcr she's got Mellssy." "Melissy" was Felix's married sis ter, and on his marriage it was with her that his mother went to live. There were those who came to con dole with Mother Danbury upon the loss of her son, but she was very brave, and they had their trouble for their pay. "No, no," she would say, rocking complacently, "a man ought to have a wife, an' ef he can't git her to come to him, he's got to go to her. I don't blame Widder Dickson now a bit about Marthy. 'Taint like me, that's blessed with two children to be the support of my declinin' years." "But why couldn't she 'a' come over here?" her gossips protested. " Twouldn't 'a' been fair to ask her that; for she'd 'a' had to tore up root an' branch, while I ain't got nothin' to do scarcely but to slip out o' my house into Melissy's. An' then it ain't as ef Felix was gone fur good. You see Baldwin's Ford ain't fur away, an' I kin run over an' drop in on 'em almost anytime." And so, placidly, the old lady went on with her knitting day by day, look ing under and over her glasses as often as through them as she paused for little chats with the neighbors or to murmur gentle admonition to Me lissy's children. Outwardly she was calm, but her soul longed for a sight of this son, whose form had gladdened her eyes every evening as he returned from work, and the honeymoon was hardly over before she had "dropped over" to spend a day with her two dear children. The day was a joyous one for her — for them all. Felix was radiant, his wife shyly happy, and the Widow Dickson brought out and spread for her visitor the best that her larder afforded. This was the first of a series of such visits made at short intervals, and sometimes of a Sunday returned by all the family from Baldwin's Ford. At such times Cory's church heard Felix's voice again, and it re joiced, too, that he was not entirely lost to its service. The village looked on at the pretty romance and smiled because there had been so many to prophecy that it could not be. The tongues of gossip had been wagging pretty free ly. Some had said that Mother Dan bury would never go to Baldwin's Ford; others that the Baldwin's Ford ists would never return the visit. One side held that Felix would forget his mother in a month, and the others, with equal assurance, gave Martha a little more than that time to leave her native town, and both gave what to them were adequate reasons. So the village looked on and smiled as month after month passed and these prophecies came to naught. The simple folk still had their ideals, and there is nothing in life so satisfactory as having one's ideals realized. In the fulness of time there came good news from Baldwin's Ford, and there was much bustle and flutter about Melissy's house and running in of the neighbor women. When they emerged it was with nods and smiles and knowing winks, as if they were bubbling over with some glad, mo mentous intelligence. The spring wagon was hastily rolled out, and old Star, stepping more lively than she had done for a dozen years, was has tily put between the shafts. Jeff de posited a mysterious bundle in the wagon's bed and then leaped to the seat. Then Mother Danbury came out, all smiling anxiety, and with flut ering ribbons and nods to the as sembled people she was borne away towards Baldwin's Ford. How the women gathered and chat ted about it and wondered. It became a village event. Jeff finally returned grinning and shamefaced, to an nounce: "It's a girl, and Mis' Danbury says It weighs nine pounds." The men on the street, after hear ing the news, chuckled and walked away. Meanwhile there was rejoicing also In the village of Baldwin's Ford. Felix was joyfully tearful, and bust lingly glad the grandmothers, while Martha, all white from her travail, lay nursing her babe to her bosom. "Don't you think the little dear is wrapped up a little heavy?" whis pered Mother Danbury to the widow. "Too heavy!" sniffed the widow; "no, indeed. Why, when my Marthy was two days old I had her wrapped in twice that amount of stuff." "But Marthy was born in the win ter." "That don't make no difference; a baby's a baby. I've had one." "I've .had three." yas Mother Daa bury's quiet retort. "One of 'em's dead, though." "She didn't die till she growed to be quite a girl, go it was the will o' Providence an' no fault o' mine." "La, Mother Danbury, 1 didn't say it was." This was a trifle conciliatory, but Felix's mother was hurt, and the Wid ow Dickson was put Into an attitude of defence as to her rights over her daughter's child. The next day, when the doctor came, the Widow Dickson forestalled Mother Danbury in questioning him, and took all the responsibility of car ing for the child upon herself. "I don't want to take the child from you, Martha Ann Dickson, I only want to help you. It's my son's child as well as your daughter's," said Moth er Danbury. "My daughter had all the pain o' bearin' this child." "Well —well—" The other old lady stopped. She had nothing to say that quite fitted the occasion. Day after day Mrs. Dickson bathed and cuddled the baby while her visit or was compelled to stand by and look on. Finally one morning when the baby was nearly three weeks old wagon wheels were heard in the yard, and Mother Danbury came Into the room with her bonnet strings tied and her duster on. "Well, I guess* I'll be goini, Marthy," she said to her daughter-in-law. "Why, Mother Danbury, you ain't a-goin', are you?" "Oh, the baby's doin' first rate, an' it seems I ain't needed here any more." Marthy begtm to cry. "But I want you," she said. Then Mrs. Dickson broke in with many tears. "It does seem strange to me, Marthy, that you should be a-cryln' after somebody else after the mother I've been to ye! That's all the thanks a mother gets." "Never mind, never mind, you'll get along all right, both o' you, an' you know there's Melissy an' the chil dren, at home to look after." "But what will Felix say?" moaned Marthy, for Felix's mother had chos en a safe time, when he was away, to take her departure. "Felix is my son, too," said the widow, sternly. « Then Mother Danbury turned on her for one brief moment. "Fair exchange is no robbery, Mar tha Ann Dickson," she said, and went out at once to the wagon, where she tied down her veil, though the day was hot. The baby smiled in its sleep. It is a pretty fallacy that says babies smile thus because angels are whis pering to them. In most cases, as in this, the little ones, wise from oth er scenes, are smiling at the foibles of those greater infants whom we are pleased to call grown people. The return of Mother Danbury was a source of great wonder to the com munity, and again tongues flew freely and inquiries were rife. The flying rumors could not but come to the ears of their subject and some of the overbold even went so far as to ques tion her. But they could elicit no more definite reply than: "Marthy an' the baby was a-gettin' along all right, an' I could do more good at home." Then she closed her lips. The voice of the croaker was de cidedly suspicious as she said: "I smell a rat." After that Mother Danbury paid no more visits to Baldwin's Ford, nor . did she apeak of its people unless I she were compelled. On a morning, though, other news was brought, and the old lady's indif ference fell from her like a cloak. With tearful eyes she made her way towards the forbidden place, and as she stepped into the wagon there were none who had the heart to be there and wave a good-by, for the word said the baby was dying. She came like an angel of peace to the stricken household. The widow i was ready for a scene, but firmly aud j gently the stronger woman put her | away. She kissed Martha and soothed her as the hysterical widow could not do. Then she turned to her son. "Felix," she said, "ain't there no hope?" "No, none." I " 'The Lord glveth an' the Lord taketh away-—" But she could go no further. An hour later the child breathed its last in'her arms. It was she who bathed it'and put it in its little gown and laid it silent in the cradle. The widow had no remon strance to offer, butt she came later and said: "Oh, Motier Danbury, I'm afeared it's a jedgmient. I was so hard an' jealous about the pore little eree ter. I've done wrong, an' the Lord's took it. Fergive me, fergive me!" She fell upon her knees. Mother Danbury lifted her, and her own tears fell now. "Yeu see how little all our feelin's an' wills air compared to his," she said. "The child wasn't'ours, it was his, an' he has showed us his sign." The afternoon sun stole in and kissed the little, wax-like face as the old women stood with clasped hands looking down upon the dead grand child. Life 100,000 Years Ago. Scientists have found in a cave in Switzerland liones of men, who lived 100,000 years ago, when life was in con stant danger from wild beasts. To-day the danger, as shown by A. W. Brown of Alexander, Me., is largely from dead ly disease. "If it had not been for Dr. King's New Discovery, which cured me, 1 could not have lived," he write*, "suffering as did from a severe lung trouble and stubborn cough." To cure Sore Lungs, Colds, obstinate Coughs and prevent Pneumonia, its the best medicine on earth. 50c and $1.00. Guaranteed by IJ. F. Hughes, druggist. Trial bottle free. ■—.<*m 9 ♦ ■ — Wilbur Wright has gained 25 pounds in weight during the last five months. He thinks that aviattion has something to do with it. . 9 9B 9 9 , A Nignt Rider's Raid. The worst night riders are calomel crdton oil or aloes pills. They raid your bed to rob you of rest. Not so with Dr. King's New Life Pills. They never distress or inconvenience, but always cleanse the system, curing Colds, Head ache, Constipation, Malaria, 25c, at B. F. ".Hughes' drugstore. HORTICULTURE =B "^ti^fiv^''■ J 00 BIRDS HELP THE FARMER?' When Permitted to Labor Undis turbed They Thoroughly Police Both Earth and Air. As objects of human care and inter est birds occupy a place nliecl by BO other living thing, and the various | movements to protect and foster them j would be fully justified were there j ! no returns other than esthetic. Only the thoughtless and the ignorant still hold that the graceful forms and beautiful plumage of these master pieces of nature serve their highes': purpose when worn on a hat for a ' I *"'■-■ ■ ■».. | '■>; "!®v_i - i ■: '-■'■ f \ irk "%* '; * - , ■■',-■ —, .?.. .. —r- - —I Useful Insect Eater—Kentucky War bler. brief season, to be then cast aside and forgotten, the plumage dimmed and faded, the beautiful songs quenched forever. While by no means insensible to the higher value of birds, the farmer who is asked to aid in measures for their protection is entitled to inquire as to the practical purpose they sub serve, and how far they may be ex pected to return his outlay of time, trouble and expense. Since most birds eat insects and since many eat practically nothing else, it is their insect-eating habits that chiefly invite inquiry, for so ac tive and persistent are birds in the pursuit of insects that they constitute their most important enemies. When birds are permitted to labor undisturbed they thoroughly police both earth and air. The thrushes, sparrows, larks and wrens search the surface of the earth for insects and the larvae or hunt among the leaves and peer under logs and refuse for them. Thus each family plays its part in the never-ending warfare, and r.he number of insects annually con sumed by the combined hosts is sim ply incalculable. It is well that this j is 30, for so vast is the number of insects and so great is the quantity of vegetation required for their sub sistence that the existence of every ___________ "Wv&_t' %- ■■-... j :v-ff;' ■—■.»-»-. ~,,1..-™-,....—,■—. Forest Conservators—Nuthatch. green thing would be threatened were it not for birds and other agents spe cially designed to keep them in check. While birds are not numerous in the sense that insects are, they exist in fair numbers everywhere—or would were It not for the interference of man —and so rapid is the digestion of birds and so perfect their assimila tive powers that, to satisfy the appe tite of even a small bird, great num- ; bers of insects are needed. Much of ; this food is hidden and must be ! searched for; much of it is active and must be vigorously pursued. Hence only by the expenditure of much time and labor do birds procure their daily food. With birds the struggle for existence is peculiarly a struggle for subsistence; shelter is obtained • with comparative ease, and if climatic conditions are not to their liking they ; migrate to other regions. When by reason of favorable condi- ! tions insects have multiplied and be come unusually abundant, birds eat j more than at ordinary times; hence tbe importance of their service during I insect invasions. It is not, however, \ at such periods that their services ■ ilF VOU ONLY KNEW HOW i St. _. '* ? <-Gj jrtTB If 1 I lE g would, bui.d you. up, increase your 5 ■ weight, strengthen your weak 8 B throat and lungs and put you in I E condition for next winter, you I E would begin taking it now. 9 W Take it in a little cold milk or water £* I 50c and $1.00. All Druggists 9 HiH-||.1>lf.lilM.iiillVHiHl are most valuable. It Is their per sistent activity in destroying insects every day, at all seasons, and In every stage of growth—the long, steady pull, rather than the spasmod ic effort —that tends to prevent In sect irruptions and to keep the bal ance true. ■ PEAR TREES ARE PROFITABLE Some Useful Information to Be Used in Planting and Cultivating for Good Returns. The soil best adapated to the growth of the pear Is a clayey loam, a very light soil not being conducive to longevity nor to fine growth or much fruitfulness, and a very heavy soil retarding growth and stunting the trees every way. No matter how desirable the soil may be otherwise, unless well drained the trees will not thrive. Pears grow over a wide range of climate, however, but the best results ' are obtained in rather moderate ell- \ mate. When a tree gets stunted the first or second year no amount of care and attention seems to enable it to re gain the lost growth. Time can usually be gained by not plowing the entire tract of land at once, but thoroughly plow and work up strips for the tree rows, say six or eight furrows wide, the intervening space being worked up later or when there is more time. The standard varieties should be , planted about 25 feet apart each way and the dwarf 12 feet apart each way. Some growers plant alternate rows of dwarf and standard varieUes. Most people prefer to have them kept In separate fields, however. Dig holes at the proper distance about a foot deep and large enough to ' contain the roots nicely without cramping; have a half barrel or tub of good rich mud near at hand, and when the broken or crushed roots are removed with a sharp knife dip the trees into the tub, covering the roots with this mud, and In this way Insur ing the earth clinging to the roots. Some good rich soil should be sprin kled in the bottom of the hole. Then set the tree In, spreading the roots nicely and then shovel the soil in carefully, settling the tree from time to time, and in this way have the soil well down among the roots. When the hole is about two-thirds • full, press down firmly with the feet j and then fill up and complete the job. [ FIGHT THE INSECT PESTS. \ For the little white fly use sulpho- ' tobacco soap according to directions ' on the package. I For rose bugs in the evening place I two or three ounces of quassia chips ! (to be had of the druggist) In a pail . and fill with boiling water; two or J three gallons, according to size of the I pail. Let stand until next morning, ! then apply the liquid to the plant with a garden syringe, getting the tea on all sides of the foliage and stems. If the\tea is applied hand-hot it will be more effective. ; A strong soap suds made of any ] good white soap, if applied quite I warm, is discouraging to the bug pop- | ulation, and is especially "good" for i the green louse or aphis. Red spiders affect the outdoor as well as the indoor plants and are usually found on the under side of the foliage, causing the leaves to turn brown and to curl at the edges. If badly affected strip the leaves from the plant and burn them. The brain of the male begins to lose weight at 40, while that of the female starts ten year.-: earlier. deYdCnot words Staunton People Kavt Abso lute) Proof of Deeds at Home. ft is not wonts, but deeds that prove true merit. , The deeds of Doan's Kidney Pills, foi Staunton kidnej sufferers, have mad I heir local reputation. Proof lies in the tes imony of Staun ton people w ho have been eared to .stay cured. William Ij. Bohr, !0!1 Front street, Staunton, Va., says: "1 used Doan's Kidney I'iiis, and the results were sat isfactory. Kidney complaint was with me for a !ona; time and I suttered from severe pains in my back and sides. Stooping or lifting caused sharp twings to ciarl through me and 1 had to have assistance in getting out of bed. The kidney :secretions were very irregutai in passage, and I had but little control over them. I tried sev eral advertised remedies, but received no relief until I procured Doan's Kid ney Pills at Thomas Hogshead's drug store. I continued taking Doan's Kidney Pills until 1 was completely cured. L publicly reconi mended Doan's "Kidney Pills six years ago, and to-day I am pleased to state that the cure has remained permanent." Per sale by all dealers. Price 50 cts Foster-MilburnCo., Buu"alo,2vew York, sole agents foi the United Stales. Remember the iMUfcfe—:Doan's —and take no other. LAWSON RED7 41138. Will make the season of 190!) at the stables of W. C. B08SSRMAN, 210 North Central Ave., Staunton,Va.at the low price of *K> to insure a mare in foal. Panting with mare forfeits insurance. All care will be taken to prevent accidents. but will not be responsible for any that may occur. DESCRIPTION—Lawson Red is a beautiful mahogany bay ; stand lo\ hands high, is 7 years old, and will weigh about 1200 pounds. He is elegantly bred, is stylish, exceedingly handsome, and developed a 2.40 trial without any training whatever. Altogether, no better bred, prettier or more stylish horse has ever been owned in this section ol Virginia, and with fair opportunities in the stud, should sire not only speed and race horse <|ualities, but road and car- age horses of the highest class. I George Wilkes J I Kent Mare. C9 I I DolK- Suankcr (Henry Clay. « fRed Wilkes \ ( Doll> spanku fold Telegraph. ** I I i Mambrino Chief n I Manbrfno Pay Master «fv I.Queen Dido J (Dam ot Goliah. . J .Daughter of J Mare. ■g ! I (Dictator J Hambletonian _o Ji«£ e I | f Clara > American Star £ | .Dictator Girl . I Dam oi Shark I I rr>r -_j___i (Mambrino Champion di Miss Alice - J I Daughter of Highlander . I Fnnnv Hill (Mark Time by Berthune Q I ll-ann. Mill (Daughter of Crusader « I __ (Hambletonian .o !^ b l al vT„ __, fMessenger Deaoc J (Kent Mare I I ISatinet I Roe's Abdallah Chief |S . . . f Prince Orloff -j I A . , „ . O Annie Lawson \ _. „ ( Hambletonian .<, Sk^v** J L a.ao -I i Glenn Mary ,' (Kent Mare lu._«,.ct n . J American 4ta-- .Maud i No trace (Fanny Star i M onell Ma* W. C. BO-MPERMAN, 210 N. Central Ave., Staunton, Va. fffJL ECONOMY" GAS RANGES ' C *°' THE ORIGINAL ELEVATED OVEN and BROILER LINE '- The kind that saves your back" The height of ambi tion of all other makes is to be as good as the "Economy." If you will examine its constructionyou will see how well it j is made in every part. It is properly proportioned,skillfully and beau tifully designed. It is the correct distribution of the highest class material obtainable that makes it durable. Notice in particular the Porcelain Enamel front; it is rust proof and everlasting. The "Real Economy" is made in many styles and sizes. Every stove guaranteed. Kou wish to see one demonstrated call at tr Staunton Gas Go's. Display Rooms. Wool! Wool! To get the highest price for your wool see Amos Klotz before selling. Also paying the highest prices for Beef Hides and all kinds of Junk. AMOS KLOTZ, Cor. Lewis St. & Middlebrook Aye. PHONE 638. I JUST ARRIVED! I GAGE HATS FOR SPRING 1909! j | The most beautiful creations ever show in Staui ton. j J We are also displaying the Regular Full ► Line of J PATTERN HATS j ' that has made this store so favorably known through- * j out Stounton and Augusta County. j I MRS. CHAS. SOUTHARDS & GO. j L-*- ..— ...■—..—»..-.-».-—»--».- * » __| __ __n______h ____________■ i_i___>_i_i_i_i __________# _____ _/_■ __H______i ____■ ___■ £(■■ ikS -_•& *-" Twi'V Hfl__r*V The Kind You Have Always Bought, and which has been in use for over 30 years, has borne the signature of — and has been made under his per- yj(/-]ty'i > ~~y < *~ sonal supervision since its infancy. +*f \ ed regularly in the Spec- j A TATOR. )