Phillipsburg herald. [volume], July 17, 1884, Image 2

About Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905

Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS

                
THE HAPPV OLD BACHELOR.
BY EUGENE J. HALF.
I'm a ba ht-lor still. I ha ve fared very ill
In the hands ot the laiies I've m t,
But my heart Is fo kind I've made up my mind.
Iheir treatment to iry and foiget.
For 'lis j illy 10 be an old le:low like me.
Wita none but mye)l to delight ;
With no one to sc Id it 1 catch a bad cold
By ttuj ii g out late in the night.
I was first very fond of a beautiful blonde,
Who was seven years older than I.
I tried to propose, out she turned up her nose,
And 1 fell that I wanted to die.
She said I was wild, I was only a child.
My Jgh3 with her laughter she drowned,
And at only sixteen I was crushed like a uean
When it goes through a mill to be ground.
The next girl I met was a charming brunette,
Who loved me. she said, "more than life." t
But my wagta were low, and 1 had to say "No 1
Whtn she asked me to make her my wife.
So she married a shoe-dealer, rich as a Jew ;
All the comtort ot Ji;e she enjoys.
She ia one of the "lighu" who declaim "women s
rights,"
And the mother of seven bad boys.
Hy next love affair with a girl with red hair
Was a serious matter to me.
When 1 asked, her to wed me she solemnly said
"I have promised-another s to be."
Each word like a da.t pierced my passionate
heart,
All my future looked cloudy and dim,
She married her choice, and 1 live to iejoice
(tier temper is tested on him).
My friendship one day in a platonic way
With a pretty young widow began.
She dazzled my eyes and I thought her a prize
Till she married a medicine man.
But it's jo ly to be an old fellow like me,
With none but myself to delight ;
With no one to scold if I catch a bad cold
By staying out late in the night.
Millaid Avenue Station, Chicago.
Inter-Ocean.
SUMMER SUPREME.
"BY G. H. 8.
Love and beauty everywhere,
To the sense appealing,
Win their way wiiere e'er we go
Into ihougnt and ieeling ;
We are happy to behold
Field and wood and meadow.
Spangled o'er with dainty things,
Flecked with sun and shadow.
Upwerd now we lift the heart
Nature is our tea her,
And we learn a hundred things.
rem each living creature ;
We are humming with the brook,
With each songster singing,
And our spirits take their flight
With the swallows wiuging.
All the sweets that you can bring
Are to earth descended ;
There in si arcely now a thing
That's to be amended ;
All the germs which are to grow
Under wisest nurture
In their flower and lorm do show
And reveal their future.
Love and warmth awaken all
Into highest rapture;
Ev rylhing a glory takes
Everything they capture
For a healthy soul to be
Sad at such a season
Is not true to wholesome creed,"
Js not true to reason I
Mrs. Gay's Hint, and How it
Was Taken.
UY LOUISA M. ALCOTT.
"My dear Mrs. Merrill, what's the
matter? Is the baby sick?" asked a
pleasant voice as a neighborly form ap
peared at the door of a dull, disorderly
room, where a tired woman sat crying in
the twilight.
"The children are all well and asleep,
thank heaven, but I am so anxious and
discouraged that I couldn't help having
a good cry," answered Mrs. Merrill, wip
ing her eyes as if already comforted by
the arrival of a friend.
"Tell me all about it," said Mrs. Gay,
the nevv-coiner, as she poked up the
fire till a little blaze brightened up the
whole room.
"I wouldn't tell anyone but you, and I
am afraid I'm partly to blame in some
way, yet I don't see how," began Mrs.
Merrill, leaning back with a sigh of re
lief at the prospect of a chance to tell
her troubles and receive sympathy if not
advice.
"If the babies are all well you cannot
have any very heavy grief, dear. But I
know that the small trials are often the
hardest to bear; so confide in me, and
we will see if we cannot make the bur
den lighter," said Mrs. Gay, patting the
hand that held the handkerchief with
such a cheery face that her friend open
ed her heart freely.
"I'm worrying about John, and you'll
see that I have cause to do so when I
tell you that for the last month he hasn't
come home to his supper hall the
time, but spends the evenings at the tav
ern. He comes in late, and so cross and
beery I can t be clad to see him. If it
goes on much longer he will take some
thing stronger than lager, and I shall be
a drunkard s wife.
Here the poor little woman fell into
sobbing again as if her heart wa3 broken.
But Mrs. Gay's kind arms were around
her, and the friendly boy saidhopelully :
"It will be your own fault if you are,
my dear, lor John Merrill is too good a
man to do anything of that kind unless
driven to it."
"What will drive him? Not poverty
or trouble, for we are doing well and
haven't a debt in the world," said Mrs.
Merrill, with an air of honest pride.
"The want of a comfortable home will
do it for him as for many another man."
"What do you mean? Iam sure this
is a nice house, and I do my best to
keep it so," cried the well-to-do mechan
ic's wife, surprised and a little offended.
"Forgive me, my dear, but I want to
help you, and can only do so by
giving you pain. Now look around the
room and tell me frankly if it is the
sort of a home that a tired man wants to
come to?"
A long pause followed the bold speech
as Mrs. Merrill looked at the scene be
fore her eyes, that seenied, to see the
clearer for the tears lately shed. The
room was comfortably furnished, but in
the state of disorder which three lively
children would produce during the day.
Toys lay about the lloor, chairs stood
here and there, work was heaped upon
upon a sofa, and supper was spread upon
a table in the corner. Not a tempting
meal, an untidy joint of cold meat, heavy
looking bread, a lump of butter and cold
tea. The cloth rumpled, the lamp unlit,
the fire untrimmed, and the wife sat
red-eyed and despondent in her wrap
per, with her hair half down, waiting to
receive her husband with tears and re
proaches. For the first time she seemed to see
herself in a new light, and after that long
look she gave a great sigh, and said hum
bly: "I see what you mean. It ia hard
on John, but I get so tired and he
doesn't seem to care. I've lost my pride
in thinga and got shiftless. How" can I
do better?"
"I'll show you. Practice is better than
preaching. Go up and make vourself
nice, and tell me when you come back
if things are not improved." answered
Mrs. Gay with a nod and a smile that
seemed to lift the other woman out. ol
her slough of despondency like magic.
"I am ashamed to let you, but I will
for John's sake, if he will only come!''
and Mrs. Merrill ran away to hide the
trouble in her face as she thought of her
John driven from home by her ignor
ance and neglect.
She did not hurry, for she was tired,
and stopped to kiss her rosy children
and cry a little longer before she came
slowly down in a neat woolen dress.
white collar and apron, smooth hair, ana
a hopeful smile on her face.
It changed to. a laugh or pleasure ana
surprise as she opened tne dDor ana
stood surveying the cheerful change Mrs.
Gay had wrought so quickly.
The room was in order, the lamps
were lighted, the table drawn to the
hearth, where a cheerlul hre blazed, ana
a pair of slippers lay warming czily. A
well worn dressing gown hung over the
back of the easy chair, and the evening
paper lay invitingly near by. A red ger
anium with a green leaf or two stood in
the middle of the table, and gave quite
an air of elegance to the clean cloth, the
dish of nicely sliced cold meat, tidy plate
of butter, and the pie Mrs. Merrni nau
forgotten.
The fragrance of hot tea and toast was
in the air, and Mrs. Gay was singing as
she flew about the little kitchen.
When she heard the laugh she cams
in to receive the much improved hostess
with the words:
'There! isn't that better? I couldd't
do much at short notice, but it just gives
a hint of what I mean. I don't think a
tired man will want to leave a warm
hearth, a comfortable supper, and a pret
ty wife for beer, smoke, and cards, do
you?",
''No. indeed I don't! How nice it all
is. I used to keep it so till I got discour
aged and careless. 1 hope John will
come soon and enjov it all."
"Put the lamp in the window, and run
to meet him when he does come. I shall
slip away, and I advise you not to tell
him your plan. . Just say you want to
have things nicer, and be your pleasant
est self. He will be surprised and pleasd,
and fall into the trap we have set for
him. Keep it always ready, and show a
happy face, no matter how tired you are;
that is a man s best welcome home.
"How can I thank you? Tell me some
thing more lean do to attract John?
Shall I have beer for him? He depends
on it now, and will miss it, I'm afraid,"
said Mrs. Merrill, holding her good
neighbor fast, eager for more helpful
hints.
"Give him plenty of well-cooked,
wholesome food, with a cheerful wife to
serve it, and he will soon cease to care
for beer, I think. Try good couee, tea,
and milk for drinks ; give up pies and
such stuff; things of that sort create a
bad taste for stimulants. Have your
bread good, and serve up simple, invit
ing meals every day, and John will soon
enjoy them too much to want anything
poorer," answered Mrs. Gay, hood in
hand.
"I will try my best. I never thought
that food mde any difference. I can
cook and I'll feed John as you advise,
nicely and wisely."
"My dear, half the drunkards we see
are led to their bad ways by poor food,
uncomfortable homes, and wives who,
through ignorance, selfishness or neglect,
leave their husbands open to temptation.
The poor men want rest, comfort and
cheerful society when the day's work is
done, and home is the safest place to
find them in. See that your John is not
driven away by any failure on your part,
then if trouble comes, remorse will not
add its bitterness to your share of sor
row. I hear the gate creak good-night
and God bless you!" cried Mrs. Gay, cut
ting her lecture short and vanishing out
at the back door as Mr. Merrill came in
at the front.
neiioi ' how smart ana cozy you are.
Is it anybody's birthday? ' he exclaimed,
pausing to look about with a face that
rapidly changed from weary indifference
to pleased surprise.
Mrs. Merrill meant to obey her friend
and say nothing of the fear which had
led to this happy change, but her heart
was so full it would overflow in spite of
her, and running to her husband she
held him fast, saying with a voice that
trembled with love and hope and self
reproach: '"I wanted to make home look pleas
ant to you, John. I have been a selfish,
careless wife, and don't wonder that you
like other places better, but I am going
to try and do -my duty and make you
love to be here more than at the tavern,
before it is too late. Forgive me, dear,
and help me to keep 'father' safe for the
babies' sake and mine."
Then she broke down and hid her face
in John's waistcoat; but her tears said
what she dared only hint, and Merrill
found it hard to keep his own voice
steady for a minute.
He understood better than she knew
what danger menaced him, and blessed
her for the opening of thi3 refuge from
the temptation which was just beginning
to make its power felt.
"I will, please God!" he said manfully,
as he laid his hand on the earnest little
woman's bent head. " Don't blame your
self, Kitty, when you have hardest part
to do. I hope I'm man enough to keep
steady and not disgrace my children. I'll
quit my bad ways and stay with you, for
I'm tired of them. I wras tired of find
ing things in a muddle here, children
crying, worried wife, and the rest of it,
but I ought to have lent a hand and not
run away."
"No, it was my fault. Don't say a word
more, but come and have tea; it's all
ready, thanks to Mrs. Gay, who came
and cheered me up and told me what to
do," said Mrs, Merrill wisely leading her
husband to his easy chair and bustling
about to bring in supper, and prove her
penitence by deeds rather than by words.
"Ah, thi3- is comfort ! Beer be hanged!
Here's to Mrs. Gay's health, and long life
to her! cried Merrill,, holding up his first
good cup of tea with a nod and smile to
his wife.
They drank the toast and kept the
Sledge they silently made that night,
elping one another to stand fast against
the mutual temptations, and do their
best to make home a safe and happy
place for both parents and children.
MONTHLY EEPOKT OF AGRICULTURE.
The July report of the State Board of
Agriculture is just out. "We give some
extracts:
WHEAT.
At the time of going to press with this
report (July 5th) abstracts of assessors'
rolls for 18S4 have been received from
the County Clerks of sixty-three coun
ties, leaving but eighteen yet to be heard
from. Of these not yet reported, but
four Doniphan, Harvey, Montgomery
and Sedgwick had any considerable
area sown to winter wheat last Fall, so
that the winter wheat acreage of 18S4
can be very closely approximated.
The increase in area over last year
was much larger than heretofore esti
mated by this Board. The South
eastern counties Crawford, Chero
kee and Labette instead of
decreasing their areas iorty or nicy per
cent., as anticipated, owing to tiie slight
and unsatisfactory product of last year,
decreased less than ten per cent. In all
other portions of the State the increase
was very uniform, and was not confined
to any one section. This increase in
acreage could reasonably have been
looked for in the light of our past exper
ience, rrontabie yields nave alwavs in
duced increased areas, and partial fail
ures have invariably had the opposite
effect. The following statistics of the
Winter wheat crop in Kansas for the
past seven vears, clearly illustrates the
effect that success and failure have had
upon.it:
year. Acres. Bushels. Average
Yield.
1878.. . 1,297,555 26,518 955 20.43
1879 1,f29 659 17,550.259 11.54
1SS0 2,2li,9V7 23. 07.223 10.61
1881 1.974,693 19.161.896 9.71
1882 1465,75 33,943 398 23.16
1883 1,480,204 28.958.SSl 19.56
1884 2'147,5S8 47,858.000 ' 22.28
This marked fluctuation in the areas
of principal crops will undoubtedly con
tinue to occur in Kansas until our arable
lands are fully occupied, and rotation of
crops becomes a fixed feature in farm
operations, as it is in the older countries
and States.
Although the crop went into the "Win
ter in excellent condition, having had a
vigorous growth before frost, the Winter
season was of such long duration, and of
such low temperature, that grave fears
were entertained as to its ability to with
stand the adverse conditions. As Spring
advanced,however,accompaniedas it was
with generous showers, it was discovered
that the only serious damage- to the crop
occurred in the extreme southeastern
section of the State, where about 7 per
cent, of the area was destroyed. The en
tire loss from freezing for the State
amounted to but about 21,000 acres, or less
than 1 per cent, of the whole. Several
uniavorabie conditions have been re
ported from various portions of the
State.tsuch as "chinch bugs" in the east
ern portion, chess and "blight in the
eastern and central sections, a super
abundance of rainfall in the south-cen
tral portion, and wind and hail storms
in the north central : but none of these
have been of sufficient magnitude to m
terfere materially with the yield. The
smallest average yields were had in the
counties that suffered most severely from
freezing, and if these few counties had
escaped from the cause just mentioned
the average yield for the State would be
larger this year than ever before.
With the assessors figures for sixty
three counties, and a conservative esti
mate for the remaining eighteen, the
State acreage is 2,145,000, an increase
over the area sown the year previous of
480,000, or per cent.
A compilation reports from over 400
correspondents, makes an estimated
yield from this iarge area of about 22.28
bushels per acre, or a product of 47,oo8,
000 bushels. If the final figures corrobo
rate this estimate, there is little doubt but
that Kansas will be the leading wrheat
State of the Union this year.
The spring wheat area, instead of de
creasing as was conjectured, increased
slightly as compared with last year. This
was undoubtedly due to the favorable
weather that obtained at seeding time
The area i3 confined almost altogether to
the northern tier of counties, and amounts
in the aggregate to 85,000 acres. The
estimated yield of this cereal' for the
State is 14.77 bushels yer acre, or a total
product of 1,255,000 bushels.
This product, combined with that of
winter wheat, "gives an estimated wheat
product for the State this year of 49,113
000 bushels.
The quality of the winter wheat is re
ported from all sections as being fully as
good as it was in 1882, and superior to
that ol last year.
An idea or the large increase in area
can be gathered by consulting the follow
ing table, in wrhicH a few of the prom
nent wheat counties are compared with
18S3:
Counties.
Acres iw Acres in
1SS3 1SSU
107,02 1V7.674
77,401 107246
71,63 9,962
65,175 89,746
62,7I 84 805
54,881 76,2 0
45,246 58 205
33.222 5.726
80.161 55.9SI
?4 34 55,i03
89,014 53,591
34.13 47,45
'ePherson...
Dickinson....
Valine
Sumner
Barton ,
Marion
Cowley
Reno ,
Rice
Ellsworth....
Osborne ,
Lincoln
Nearly thirty per cent, of the entire
area of McPherson county is in winter
wlieat, which makes it, as far as this
Board has knowledge, the largest wheat
county of equal territory in the United
States.
CORN.
The last half June was exceedingly
favorable in all portions of the State to
the growing corn. Fields generally are
reported to be cleaner of weeds and bet
ter cultivated than one year ago.
The condition of the crop is marked
below what is was last yeai at this time,
by correspondents, only on account of
its backwardness. It is about twelve
days late as compared with last sea
son, but the present favorable weath
er is causing it to grow rapidly
and vigorously. Correspondents gener
ally report it to be of good color, and as
having a eood stand, and if moderately
good weather prevails from now on, an
average crop may be confidently looked
for. In Cowley county, and in a few of
the Eastern central counties, complaint
is made of continued wet weather, which
is impeding its cultivation, but in the
great majority of counties the only un
favorable condition reported is back
wardness. There ia now every prospect that a fair
average yield will be harvested in the
extreme Western counties. The rainfall
up to this time has been ample, and the
ground is thoroughly soaked.
The acreage is probably a small per
cent, less than it was last year, owing to
adverse circumstance3 early in the seas
on. The feeling among farmers is hope
ful for a crop of corn equal to that raised
in 18S3. The condition for the State, as
compared with 1883, is 90, or a falling-off
of ten per cent.; but correspondents agree
that if the weather of July proves reas
ably favoroble, the condition on August
1st will be fully equal to that of the year
before.
Rye has decreased 7 per cent., but tbe
condition of the crop is 10 per cent bet
ter. The oat crop is not near as good as
last vear. Broom corn is 8 per cent: be
low last year.
A large increase in the acreage of
sorghum but its condition is 5 per cent.
less. Flax in area 14 per cent, less than
last year. The area is 133,000 acres.
Castor beans decrease in area since 1SS3
20 per cent., but better condition. Pota
toes an increased area and a splendid
outlook.
fruit.
The promise of a full crop of apples
has been reduced during the past month
at least 2o per cent. High winds have
blown much of the fruit from the trees,
and much more is dropping from the
effects of insect stings and other causes.
It i3 probable that three-fourths of a
full crop will be gathered. The peach
area, as stated in previous reports,
is confined to the south-central portion
the State. Cutside of this section the
crop is an entire failure. Cherries are
abundant in all sections, while the pear
crop will be less than one-half of an
average. In the large fruit counties of
Jenerson and Leavenworth a great
amount of damage was done to the apple
crop by a severe wind and hail storm
Blackberries and grapes will yield heav
ily in all portions of the State, having
now a promise of a much better crop
than was gro wn last year.
POPULATION.
The increase in population during the
year has been about 10 per cent., and is
now about 1,130,000.
KANSAS WOMEN.
Various Things Concerning Them.
Miss Florence Adams has been ap
pointed assistant postmaster at Sedgwick
City.
a. miss uora mil was iouna dead in
the road near unase, luce county, it is
thought she died from the effects of the
intense heat.
Howard Couravt: The Ladies' Library
Association will send for $175 worth of
new books this week instead of S75
worth, as stated in last weeks paper,
This will make a valuable addition to
the library, and the ladies deserve great
credit for the enterprise they have
shown in the matter.
Mrs. Annie Graham was burned to
death a few days ago in Topeka. She
had started to light a fire, and the wood
not igniting as quickly as she wished
she attempted to place some coal oil on
it. In some manner the hre blazed up,
and reaching the half empty can which
she was holding it exploded with terrible
force. She died shortly afterward
having lingered in the most terrible tor
ture. Humboldt Union: Several cases of vol
untary fasting by individuals have been
reported from time to time in various
parts of the country, but the parties
have been generally strong and healthy
and capable of great endurance. A re
markable case has come under the ob
servation of many of the citizens of this
place. The case is that of an old ady
the mother of Mrs. Denny who has
been unable to take food of any kind for
upwards of forty days. The fact that she
i3 over eighty years of age gives interest
to the case as one of remarkable vitality.
It is entirely involuntary.
Wichita Eagle: That the women of
Kansas are a full match for the men and
a little to spare, was never more forcibly
illustrated than by a little incident that
occurred in Gypsum township the other
day. For prudential reasons, and in
view of the fact that we have not yet
taken out an accident policy, we with
hold all names. A farmer living in that
township was in a great hurry to get his
harvesting done, as the wheat was fully
ripe and the weather fine. Therefore he
hitched his horses to the harvester and
with his boys and hired men went out
into the field and began work, entirely
overlooking the fact that the last stick
of wood on the woodpile had been
burned to get the breakfast. Raging
hungry the force came in at noon. The
good wife had the table set with all the
taste of which she was mistress, and it
really looked inviting, but there was no
dinner upon it. "Sarah, where'sthe din
ner?" inquired the farmer, somewhat
anxiously. "I don't know whether it is
done or not. There was no wocd for a
fire, so I hung it in the warmest place I
could fand. It s on the ladder at the
south side of the house." It is needless
to say that the whole force was detailed
ac chopping wood that afternoon.
Hutchinson News: Recently, Mrs
Lloyd, of the Alfalfa range, was patting
her shepherd dog on the head, when he
suddenly turned around and snapped at
her. Feeling assured by his actions that
he was mad, Mrs' Lloyd got her revolver
and shot him through and through four
times, but still he would not give up the
ghost. A farm hand then took him away
and killed him with a club. eeimg un
easy about the matter, and having great
faith in the "mad stone" theory, she
learned that the nearest one was at Kan
sas City. To that place she sent Mr.
Wiley, who immediately wired her that
the stone could not be taken awav from
the city. Mrs. Lloyd started at once,
and by the time she arrived there, the
symptoms of hydrophobia were plain
enough. Her eyes wrere badly bloodshot
and she was looking very wildly about
her. The stone, which was about the
size of a dice, was applied to her hand,
and it took immediately, a sure sign of
hydrophobia. If no hydrophobia exists
it will not adhere at all. After several
hours' work the terrible poison was all
extracted and the lady completely cured.
It might be well to ntate in connection
herewith that the medical and scientific
world declare the "mad stone" to be the
veriest humbug, and that hydrophobia
can be cured just as quickly by running
a pair of tongs through a la3t year's bird's
nest as it can by fooling" with a mad
stone."
She Asked the Question.
A good story is told of the Catholic
Bishop of Atlanta, Ga. He recently ad
dressed a large assembly of Sunday-
school children, and wound up bv ask
ing, in a very condescending way, "And
now, is there a-a-ny little boy or a-a-ny
little girl who would like to ask me a
question?" After a pause he repeated
the question, "Is there a-a-ny little boy or
a-a-ny little girl who would like to ask
me a question?"
A little shrill voice called aloud,
"Please, sir, why did the angel3 walk
np and down Jacob's ladder, when they
had wings?" "Oh, ah, yes I see," sai
the Bishop; "and now now, is there
a-a-ny little boy or a-a-ny little girl who
would like to answer little Mary's ques
tion?" New York City has 7,326 butchers,
bakers ; there are 10,000 liquor dealers.
FAKSI AND HOUSEHOLD.
Hints That Will he Found Useful to the
Farmer and His Family.
The Bermuda is a Southern grass, and
Southern farmers are about equally di
vided in opinion as to whether it is a
pest or a useful plant. It propagates from
the root as well as the seed, and when
once established in the soil is as hard to
get rid of as quack grass. It may be sown
in .pru or May, much as you would sow
flax or oats, care being taken not to cover
it too deep.
A successful cultivator of raspberries
says the canes of black caps are not us
ually pinched back early to obtain the
best results, and that the Doolittle will
not grow much higher after it is headed
back, while the Mammoth Cluster and
Gregg, headed back at the same time,
will increase in height about one third.
Hence the reason that some sorts must
be headed lower than others.
If possible, plant trees on new ground
where none have grown before. If nec
essary to fill up the old orchard, take
special care in preparing the place in
wrhich to set the new trees. Remove
the soil where the old ones stood and re
place it with fresh earth. Mulch the
newly-planted trees heavily and broadly
with straw manure, and also apply it to
the old ones remaining.
A heavy rain upon ground freshly
rolled will beat it down so that it will be
difficult to cover the seed even when it
becomes dry. considerable woric with a
sharp harrow will be necessary, and not
infrequently the cultivator is needed to
loosen the soil. But if the harrow fol
lows the roller it will require a bard rain
to pack the ground so solidly that a har
row will not cover the seed.
The creameries in Sullivan, "Wis., put
their butter into earthen jars or crocks
of from five to twenty pounds each, and
send these to regular customers in Mil
waukee, who use the butter and return
the jars to be refilled. In this way the
denizens of the city get firm, fresh butter
for their tables all the time, and the dai
rymen get good prices. Both parties
profit by the transaction.
Some useful hints are given by the
American Cattle Journal with regard to
the care of sheep. It says: "Keep sheep
dry under loot with litter. This is even
more necessary than roofing them. Never
let them stand or lie in mud and water
Let no hogs eat with the sheep in the
Spring. Give the lambs a little milk
feed in time of wreaning. Never frighten
sheep, if possible to avoid it.
A successful florist gives the following
as his method of starting slips of rare
and tender plants: Underneath the usual
layer of sand in which the slips are
planted and covering the bottom of the
pot or box he placed a layer ot oats
which, when soaked with moisture, ex
ude a mucilaginous substance, acting as
a stimulant and feeder to the tender
roots of the slip. By this method he
seldom fails to root his slips.
Too much green food fed to cattle
sometimes causes hoven, which is a dis
tension of the first stomach, in which
gas is evolved by the fermentation of
the green food. The symptoms are
swollen belly and heavy, laborious
breathing. Inthe early stages relief
may be given by the prompt adminis
tration of chloride of lime, in doses of
from two to four drachms, or a teaspoon
ful of pulverized charcoal every fifteen
minutes in half a pint of water. The
last resort is to puncture the stomach.
It is best, however, to endeavor to pre
vent it by making the change from hay
to grass gradually.
A Western farmer manages the Can
ada thistle in this way. He keeps about
200 sheep and whenever he discovers a
patch of thistles he salts the sheep there,
putting a small handful of salt in each
thistle at the root. Besides the action
of the salt, which tends to destroy them,
the thistles are eaten by the sheep close
to the ground, and after one or two salt
ings the grass among the thistles, as well
as everything else that hides them
from view, has been eaten off, so that
each thistle is easy to be seen and to re
ceive its handful of salt. After this treat
ment it i3 seldom that any thistles are
seen the second year.
There are many reasons given why
creamery butter, as a rule, sells higher
than dairy butter. The secret of it prob
ably lies here: It is better butter, and
one prime reason for its being better is
because the man who makes the butter
does not own. the milk, and therefore
has to stand the criticism of those who
do furnish it. When a man has fifty or
one hundred persons wondering why he
does not get the highest market price
for his butter he is very apt to do it.
When the buttermaker owns all the milk
he is too easily satisfied with the Quality
of his make of butter. American Dairy
man. For honey-producing the honey locu3t
ranks high in the estimation of beekeep
ers. It blocms earlier than does the
linden, and produces more certainly if
not so bountifully. The American Bee
Journal speaks strongly in praise of this
beautiful and useful tree, upon the ground
that it blooms early in the season and
bees visit it in swarms. It insures rapid
breeding in the hive and strong colonies
ready to gather honey when white clo
ver come3 in season. It also make3 an
excellent hedge where Osage-orange has
been extensively tried and experimented
with for hedge and failed.
Shellbark hickory represents among
forest trees the highest standard for fuel.
Calling hickory 100, other trees will
compare with it for real value for fuol as
follows: Shellbark hickory 100; pignut
hickory, 93; white ash 87; white oak 83;
dogwood 75; fern oak 73; white hazel 72;
apple tree 70; red oak 67; white beech 65;
black birch 63; yellow oak 60; hard
maple 59f white elm 5S; red cedar 56;
wild cherry 53; yellow pine 54; chestnut
52; yellow poplar 44; butternut and
white birch 43, and white pine 30. A
number of these wood3 which show a
very low value for fuel, are highly es
teemed for cabinet work and interior
wood work.
A prominent daily paper mentions
that an Italian scientist has shown that
flies transferred the eggs of a human
parasit from one spot to another some
distance away, and the paper adds: "This
has a special interest in connection with
recent reports from Ohio, where, it is
said, sheep are being fast swept away by
a worm, the egg of which is deposited in
the sheep's nostril by a fly. It is not
very clear just what connection there is
between the fact that the gad-fly :xsirus
ovis) deposits her eggs in the nostrils of
sheep, whence the grabs find their way
to the brains and often kill the animals,
and the fact that other flies may carry
from place to place the eggs of otherv in
sects or parasites."
A correspondent of the New York
Tribune writes: "I notice in the Tribune
and other papers statements to the effect
that many sheep are dying this Spring
from a disease known as grub m the
head. The cause, symptoms and results
of this malady are correctly described in
the articles which I have seen. If taken
in time, the disease is easily cured, but
if not there is no remedy. It is caused
by a peculiar kind of fly, which deposits
its eggs in the nostrils of the sheep in
hot weather. These eggs develop to
ward Spring into grubs, which eat into
the brain and invariably produce death.
A. sure remedy is this: After the hot
weather is over and the eggs deposited,
make a strong decoction of Scotch snuff
and assafoatida, and then inject a table-
spoonful into each nostril. The sheep
will reel and stagger like a drunken man
after the operation, but there is no dan
ger, l was nrougnt upon a iarm in new
York, and I have seen this remedy ap
pliied on thousands of sheep, and always
with success. The snuff induces the
most violent sneezing, which dislodges
and ejects the eggs. No sheep properly
treated in the manner, derscribed will
ever die of this disease. But when the
grub is once hatched and developed
there is no remedy."
DEMOCRATIC FUN .
The New York World likes a little fun
about as well as any paper published.
We find in it the following from its
Washington correspondent. "We cannot
reproduce the likenesses of Senators
Brown and Ingalls, but can vouch for
their beiDg genuine, with a little effort
to caricature :
THE BROWN-INGALLS EPISODE.
"Washington, June 26. The inside his
tory of the Ingalls-Brown episode in the
Senate has never been fully understood
by the public. Brown is a grandmoth
erly old soul, who has grown rich in
building railroads in his State. He ir a
devout Methodist, and is never so happy
as when he is leading in choir-singing.
When he is not asleep in the cloak room
this good old man nods gently in his
great armchair in the Senate. With the
air and look of patriarch, the dress of a
Mormon elder, Brown has always been
considered one of the most peaceful men
in the Senate. Several weeks ago he
was very much disturbed by receiving
the following letter from a constituent:
"Atlanta, Ga., May 20, 1884.
Senator Joe Brown:
Sir: Do vou know you represent a
State of fighting men? You have not
had a scrimmage since you entered the
Senate. Unless you get into trouble
soon the State of Georgia will rise up and
denounce you as an unworthy represen
tative of a section of fighters.
K. K. K."
This letter troubled Brown very much.
For several days he cast about for two of
the most inoff ensive Senators in the Sen
ate, the two least calculated to resist an
attack. He selected Hoar and Dawes.
Brown's attack upon the morality of
Massachusetts, hissed through the Sena
tor's false teeth as he tugged at his white
beard in one hand and clutched his man
uscript with another, resounded through
Georgia, siirring the pulses of the san
guinary men of that fierce State.
Carried awray in the fever of his ex
citement the now awakened Southern
Senator unwittingly took in the dreaded
Ingalls, of Kansas.
Ingalls has had for some time, the
monopoly ofabusing his fellow-Senators.
He is supposed to be the inventor of the
powerful system of argument consisting
of calling one's opponents a liar, a thief
and an assassin. Ingalls shook his head
savagely when Brown invaded his dom
ain, but the genial Browrn was so husky
in his delivery that only an occasional
word of his speech as read was heard.
That night Ingalls received a letter.
It was a3 follows:
"Topeka, Kan., June 10, 1884.
"Senator Ingalls:
"Sir: Are you losing your grip upon
public affairs? What is the matter with
you? Has the effete life at "Washington
sapped your Roman vigor? A whole week
has passed and you have called no one
in the Senate a liar, thief or an assassin.
Answer by telegraph the reason of your
mysterious silence.
"JonN Bowieknife,
"Editor of the Topeka Thumper.'
This letter fired up Ingalls to a sense
of the situation. He seized upon the
Congressional Record the next morning
and hunted for a victim. He found
Brown slightly moie exposed to attack
than anyone else. Every one remem
bers the thrilling scene when Ingalls
stood up and called Brown a forger, a
thug, and even an assassin lurking be
hind the Government Printing House in
wait for his victim.
Here is a sketch of Ingalls as he fired
the word "thug" at the bold and unpro
tected head of Brown. Brown was bo
shaken in his views by the awful exple
tives shot at him that he was bathed in
a nervous sweat. His knees trembled
under him. It was not until late in the
day that he rallied, and prepared his re
ply. The preceding sketch represents
him as he stood in a dignified way be
fore the Senate, and told his associates
that he was not a thug, not a forger and
not an assassin. But Ingalls had the
last word, and he again called Brown
more bad names, which were telegraph
ed verbatim to the Topeka TJiumper.
Both men have been since then daily
recipients by mail and telegraph of con
gratulations from their friends upon
their courage and pugnacity.
The Drinkers of Blood.
Cincinnati Commercial-Gazette.
They haunt the abbatoir every week
and drink the warm beef blood by the
cupful. It is caught as it flows from the
animal's throat. It benefits thin-blooded
persons. Some time since a woman
came to the stock yards who said that
her physician had told her she must
drink beef blood.
"But I can never do it, never!" said
she, shuddering.
"But it tastes just like milk," said the
gentleman appealed t6. "Come, I will
blindfold you and give you a glass of
milk. Then I will give you some more
milk or a glass of blood, then a taste of
milk, till you get them mixed up and
you won't know which is which."
She consented and drank the glass
first given her with a relish. "Ah, that
was the milk. Now I think I can try the
blood," she told them.
"But madam, you have drank it al
ready," said the gentleman.
The New York Athletic club has
mortgaged its gymnasium for $125,000 in
order to finish it. .