The Rice belt journal., March 03, 1911, Image 2

About The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??

Image provided by: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA

                
_ lRANT S OOTINGNo
T IRTY years ago this , p[ U T= -Y
'pring my wise father
bnuilt a flat-bottomed sloop,
.i feet loan on the keel BY EDWIN MAIN POST
:and 17 feet wide, with
an enclosed cabin that has L
square windows instead of
portholes, and a head- i
room of six feet all over.
it. This cabin is 21
feet long, and consists of one large
room with four wide berths, and a tol - . .,
let room and a kitchen on either side
of the centerboard, at the forward
Father named the boat 'Macy, after
an old friend, and has had her con
tinuously in commirssion since she was ..
launchedt and Andrew Si'mmis, her
first c(apta:in, is still in charge-a hit
gray now, L,urt still the same careful
and trustworrthy skinper as of yore.
Wi h the openirng of the ducking sea
Ponn in October she goes into what we - ,
call winter commission, and when the : s .,..,.; - ,
end of thie season comes around she ,.
is hauled out, thoroughly overhauled -" .
and prepared for the summer work.
A few years ago we built an overhang
ing stern on her and installed a gaso
line engine, so that we are no longer
the slaves of the wind god. The MID
"Macy's Baby," as the stoolboat that
carries the battery is called, is al
ways at her stern, and this, with the
addition of two skiffs and one or more to come down in the skiff and pick up
dinkies for use in the ice, makes quite our game.
a formidable tow for the old boat. There are three things of great im
When we have more than a day or portance in battery shooting; the
two to spend in the quest for the .- first is to be able to kill when the
wily duck, we send the Macy out early bird is in range, the second to be
to get a good place, and have a cat- able to call, and the third to know
boat meet us at the dock to sail over how to use the "flopper." Naturally
to her. Generally we catch .- train the query rises to your lips, "What is
-"-." ` , ... . a flopper?" It is a bundle of worn-out
that arrives at Babylon at half-past a flopper?" It is a bundle of worn-out
three o'clock, and we reach the dock mittens, tied together with a bit of
ten minutes afterwards. string, that I keep in my hand as we
Lay aside for a few moments your lie in wait for the game, and it is
used to attract the attention of birds
that are passing too far away to see
the stool. As I am about to explain
. ...',.. the use of the queer contrivance, I see
a bunch of brant
JTiour if" Tif BArT[R[ leading through the
bay to the north of
us, about a mile
away. .If they keep
., .. their present course
S .. they will pass us
without seeing our
S"... :stool. Something
I '.'~ '-' : i..1i must be done to at
tract their atten
: ..:tion. Quickly I flop
.. " " the flopper up above
. ' :. '':: the level of the box
. ,. . . ,:: .... . . . .two or three times,
arefully watching
:·.... .; ,.:_.> " for any sign that
~, the birds have no
TD (( .. .'..ticed something. If
there is no such
. - ......... sign, I flop again.
troubles and worries, and come with us down to the battery. The 'fff .... fflyV /t Ah, this time they
kill some brant. It is half-past one o'clock, and battery, or "box," have seen it, for
I look up from my desk and see my father's smil- as it is more often they rise in the air
ing face as he says: "Come, Buster, it is time termed, is set and head toward us.
to start." In a moment I have put on my coat pretty well to the windward of the bulk of the Now we lie close, and they come straight for our
mnd hat, and we are on our way to the Wall street decoys, with Just enough of them around it to stool. If I were to flop even once after they have
*ntrance of the subway, as happy as ever two hide it from birds coming down on the head; and seen the stool, they would be oft like a shot-and
ichoolboys starting on a holiday were. We meet in getting in we pick our way carefully through it is just here that the science of using the flop
you on the platform, apd I relieve you of your the decoys and step from the skiff well over to- per means so much. This time they head up on
bag or gun as we board a Brooklyn train. We ward the center, so as not to get any water in my side, and, when I give the word, we fire, you to
thange at Atlantic avenue to the Long Island the boxes. On the deck of the box we have 12 kill two, while I am lucky enough to double with
train, .and soon are at Jamaica, where we change iron decoys that are cut off on .the bottom, ,o as each barrel. When George arrives with the skiff
once more to the local steam train and while to loom up higher than those on the water, and and we tell him 11 are down, he smiles all over.
away the next hour in swapping stories. The these we distribute around, heads to the wind, I call to George to bring father down when he
train stops at Babylon, and we pile out on the to make the box lay level. We each have a rub- comes out to pick up again, for your day would
platform and into the dilapidated back that ber cloth and an old sweater to lie on, and a not be complete without an hour or two in the box
takes us down to the dock. As it is early in the cloth-covered rubber pillow for our heads.. Ad- with that peerless sportsman, who is today, at the
Beason and the days have not yet shortened justingi these comfortably, we load our guns age of 77, one of the best shots I have ever seen.
anough to make it impossible for us to reach cock them and place them against the side on We kill again, and George comelr down with fa
bur destination before dark, the Macy is awaiting ou" right hand, taking care to keep at least two ther. As I get into the boat, father steps into the
us, anchored just off the dock, and we see our inchies of the barrels over the end of the box, so box with agility equal to mine, and I leave you to
Kood George coming off in the little skiff to speed- that in case of an accidental discharge there will an enjoyment that has been the dearest privilege
ly set us on board, be no hole blown in the box. Long experience of my life. We have scarcely reached the Macy
As you board the skiff you will not have to ask in battery shooting has taught me that the long- when you swing, again, and I take up the glasses
George, "Are there any birds?" for he will say: er the barrels of a gun are, the safer it is, and to watch with interest your good work.
'Brant? Why, there's 5,000,000 of the cusses in I heartily recommend 32 inch barrels. As noontime comes we get the Macy underway
Cedar Island cove. We'll have some o' them crit- Being all ready to lie down, with only our eyes and drop down to the box, to reward you with a
ters, and don't you forget It." Captain Andrew above the level of the water, and await the com- cocktail when you come aboard, and have all ready
greets us with a cheery "Good day, gentlemen," ing of our quarry. Two men with sharp eyes can a smoking lunch of Ansel's best. After lunch we
as we reach his side, and you enter the cabin keep a pretty thorough watch, except just be- take turns in the battery, and, when the time
to find upon the table a pleasant welcome in the hind them, and birds coming from that quarter comes to take up, we count a row of brant along
ihape of a generous drink for each of us. My generally swing off to one side or the other of the washer and find 35. We return to Babylon in
lather's hearty toa8t, "Glad to see you on Board, the stool so that they can set their wings and ample time for you to catch your train, and we do
Sir," makes you feel at home at once. light among the decoys headed up to the wind. not let you go until you promise to come again.
We-promptly lay aside our "store clothes" and You, as the guest of honor, are in the left-hand
Ion our old shooting things, as the men get the box, and just as the sun is rising I see a bunch TO DRAW AND HOLD TRADE
anchor up and hoist the sail, and are soon in of brant comirg in over the beach from the
the cockpit enjoying the fresh air. Our progress ocean where they have been roosting. If they "Most of us," said Mr. Shovelton, "are looking out
is slow and stately, due to the flotilla behind us, are headed in our direction, and I think they for ourselves; I think we'll all admit that. The
but we have only about four miles to go. Notice will pass near enough to see Our stool, we lie trouble with most of us is that we don't do this
now the third member of our crew, a big, tall, very close, and occasionally I call them; but the intelligently; we are always thinking of ourselves
fair-haired man with a smile that never comes moment they see the stool-and you can always and our own interest only; and that's where we
off. This is Ansel, a newcomer to the Macy in tells this, because they give a sort of dart up in slip a cog. Let me illustrate:
comparison with the skipper, for Ansel has been the air and, if they are coming in, settle down "I buy fruit to carry home; I've done that for
with us only 20 years. He is a very important again headed toward us-I make no further calls, well, a good many years, and for a long time I
personage, for he is the engineer, chef, mate, gen- but say to you: "They are coming in on your bought around in various places. Then one day
eral utility man and fun-maker for us all. Hark! side. Lie perfectly still until I say 'Now!' and some years ago I stopped at a store where I liked
There is his voice now calling us to dinner, then give it to them." the looks of the fruit and where as I noticed a me
You sit down before a smoking leg of lamb and . It is one of the most inspiring sights in the ment later, the paper bags were a little heavier
dishes of vegetables, with an appetite to which world to see a bunch of these lordly birds head- than those I had been accustomed to find.
you have been a stranger for a long time, and ed for the stool, and a great many people are "And when this dealer had put the fruit in one of
eat and eat of the good things before you until deceived as to the distance they are off, on asc- these bags he didn't simply twist the neck of it
you are astonished at yourself. Topping off with count of their great size-often losing a chance and hand it over to me so in a form inconvenient
some of the chef's famous pudding, and helping by raising too quickly. I watch them with one to carry. He folded the top of the bag over and
yourself to a good cigar from the box on the eye above the edge of the box as they set their rolled it down to form a handle-a grip piece; and
centerboard trunk, you are content I take the wings and come gracefully to the stool, and when then he tied this bundle around securely with
.wheel to let the men go below to eat their dinner, they are in good range, I say: "Now! Let's twine, thus making It up altogether into a bundle
and by the time they hare finished we arrive at try 'em!" and we sit up with our guns in our that was secure and handy to carry.
the place where we will test out the battery in the hands and fire. As they are on your side and "Of course I liked all that, and I found that he
morning. headed up to windward, you will get the best always did up his packages so or putting dn some
At ten o'clock we turn into our berths ready for show, because I must shoot at the tail of the times a wood and wire handle; but always he made
an early call to breakfast At four o'clock we are bunch and will not have as good~. a chance to the package secure and handy for me. He had
ealled, and by the time we are dressed the break- catch a double as you. You can count on my some thought Lor me, and I'vre been buying of him
fast Is piping hoat on the table. We hurry through killing right and left however, and as my second ever since; and if he should move I'd follow him.
ourr meal to let the men eat theirs; and while bird starts to fall, I see you have three down. I would go out of my way to trade with him..
• they are fixing out the battery and stool, we "Well done, my friend, We are not going to "The moral is this: Any small storekeeper, If
take a bit of a nap. be skunked to-day. There are five ofthem, any his goods are right, can build up a trade and hold
The skipper calls us when he sees the men way." it and increase it if he.has the intelligence and the
have tl. e stool nearly all out, and you and I put We both reload our guns, and I take my cap human quality that prompts him faithfully to con
op our sweaters and a dark coat, take our Iguns in my hand and swing it until I see an answering sider not himself alaone but as well the wants mad
d: ahells, and get into the skiff, to be rowed to sidtal from the IMacy. This means that thV are intertt of lia oustomers
$3,50 RECIPE CURES
WEAK KIDNEYS, FREE
RELIEVES URINARY AND KIDNEY
TROUBLES, BACKACHE, STRAIr.
ING, SWELLING, ETC.
Stops Pain in the Bladder, Kidneys
and Back.
Wouldn't It be nice within a week or .,o
to begin to say goodbye forever t, to ,
scalding, dribbling, straining, or t,o f,-
I quent passage of urine; the forehead a:n
the back-of-the-head aches; the st:t
and pains in the back; the growing n:;
cle weakness; spots before the eye; y r
low skin; sluggish bowels; swollen cy,
lids or ankles; leg cramps; unnatural
short breath; sleeplessness and the de
spondency?
I have a recipe for these troubles tt.at
you can depend on, and, if you want to
make a QUICK RtECOVEItY. you '!.t
to write and get a copy of it. Many a
doctor would charge you $3.50 just for
wrlting this prescriptlon, but I have' it
and will be glad to s,-nl it to you cnt!re- I
Iy free. Just drop me a line 1i;..
Dr. A. E. itoblnsun, K-257 Luck is'i'hig,
Detroit, Mich., and I will send it by -
turn inmail in a plain envelpe. As yu  1
see wl:(nl you g-t It, t sl:s rtcip t:,s t:5
only pure, harmless reined: l s, bl t it ...:s
great alicnin: and paln-conl u orn - n pI ", 'r.
It will qui:,kly sl.w, its pcer ,ace y,,
use It, so I think you l:, .1 , uer sn _v at
it Is t\lthout delay. I wi"1 snI ye a
copy fre:c -you can use It and cU:e your
self at hlonl..
NOT UNUSUAL,
- A
"I saw a pianist last night who can
play with his toes."
"Umph!-I've got a kid 18 months
old can do that!"
COULD NOT STAND SUFFERING
FROM SKIN ERUPTION
"I have been using Cuticura Soap
and Cuticura Ointment for the past
three months and I am glad to say
that they cured me of a most annoy
ing skin eruption. It began by my no
ticing red blotches appearing on my
face and scalp. Although they were
rather disfiguring, I did not think any
thing of them util they began to get -
scaly and dry and to itch- and burn
until I could not stand the suffering.
Then I began to u. a different soap,
thinking that my old kind might be
hurting me, but that didn't seem to do
any good. I went to two different doc- I
tors but neither seemed to relieve me
any. I lost many nights' sleep in con
tinual scratching, sometimes scratch
ing till I drew the blood on my face
and healt. Then I started in to us
the Cuticura Remedies and in two
months I was entirely relieved of that
awful pest. I am so delighted over
my cure by Cuticura Remedies that I
shall be glad to tell anybody about
it." (Signed) G. M. Macfarland, 221
West 115th St., New York City, Oct. 5,
1910.
Cuticura Soap (25c) and Cuticura
Ointment (50c) are sold throughout
the world. Send to Potter Drug &
Chem. Corp., sole props., 135 Colum
bus Ave., Boston, for free book on
skin and scalp diseases and their
treatment.
Have to Pull Them In,
Ella-There are just as good fish
In the sea
Stella-But you have to have a pull
to land them.
USE ALLEN,'S FOOT-EISE
the antiseptic powder to be shaken into the
shoes.- It makes your feet feel easy and com
fortable and makes walking a delight. Sold
everywhere, 2ix5. Refuse subrstitjtes. For free trl Il
package, address Allen S.Olmnstead,LeRoy,N.Y.
His Light.
Ella-He says that I am the light
of his life.
Stella-That's gas.
If It's Your Eye Use Pettlt's Eye Salve
for inflammation, stys, itching lids, eye
aches, defects of vision and sensitivity to
strong lights. All druggists or Howard
Bros., Buffalo, N. Y.
If a man's wife can read about poli
tics without wishing she were a man,
he will never experience the pleasure
of being henpecked.
Taylor's Cherokee Remedy of Sweet Gum
and Mullen is Nature's great remedy-
Cures Coughs, Colds, Croup and Whooping
Cough and all throat and lung troubles. At
druggists, 25e, 50c and $1.00 per bottle.
The measure of what we love and
admire is the measure of our own
worth.-Dobson.
ONLY ONE "BROMO QUININE."
That Is LAXATtIVB BROMO QUiNINE. Look for
the signatnre of E. W. GROV.' Used the World
over to Cure a Cold in One Day. 25c.
Some men will do anything for the
sake of a little newspaper notoriety.
IF YOU HAVE A SICKLY
YOUNGSTER TRY THIS
The family with young children that is
without sickness in the house now and
then is rare, and so it is important that
the head of the house should know what
to do in the little emergencies that arise.
A child with a serious ailment needs a
doctor, it is true, but in the majority of
Instances, as any doctor knows the child
suffers from some intestinal trouble,
usually constipation.
There is no sense in giving it a pill or
a remedy containing an opiate, nor is
flushing of the bowels to be always rec
ommended. Rather give it a small dose
of a mild, entle laxative tonio like Dr.
Caldwell's BYrup Pepsin, which by csan
Imp out the bolus and strengthenig the
little stomach muscles, will Im
correct the trouble.
This is .not alone our opinfon
of Mrs. N. H. Mead of I' reePOt,
whose granddaughter has been
successfully and of Mrs. J. R.
of Lena. Wis., who gives it to her
and takes it herself. It is sold
cent and one dollar bottles It
drug store, but if you want to
your family before you buy It
address to Dr. Caldwell and be
ward a supply free of charts.
For the free sample address i
Caldwell, 201 Caldwell buildli&
eoll Il.
ALFALFA CLOVE
^,.,r' strain of ard i
' , ) lie rot< er d
:s, hea k i "
I o " \\'icosin
l-. , cessful f
.e are the
S e, seed (
.Lt: )" ,e, etc., er o
]r ; ,+leea 11p 1e Ta
1' i" . :,nt hardy Af t
ras.-the 10 Ten
r K'i.g Barley-1 3
I i' . . +, ' \ - 'n oe cereal i 11
S er .re other pack
S rities, together
Irtlng with seed t
1 nPS, or send 255c t
', ", flmous French hean
I.,, 8 .Co., %0 . , pdl.r.le
CsIUoet.
ae knlo
Consulted Him Oft wu es.
! r..or
doe 'a m \t the rate You hay1
do :or you ought to "get rich WAs
gcoonfomf
l' , o Fire could hare bo k
o" . pail of water, ,I e
,r , ,t handy. Keep as i nov
Oil handy and aee an
of inflammation, o.dern
Have
Ilt :r-,;gest symptom of CHlum
i , - his being sensible t deral
own f: --ochefoucauld, .
:' I' . Pleasant Pellets
tma: ch, liver and
Sn, granules, easy to
.iml, ithy sometimes means
in a ar' lld passing out soft
Iatrne folk.
I1)':-:: e;c,'rwhere sell Garfled
th,' lir, a:r-te. It acts asa
to N :t Le.
A.girl is always sure her lat~ ~
is th!+ real thing.
INDIGESTIQI
CAN BE
RELIEVED
AND
HOSTETTEl
STOMA
BITTEi
is the medicine-you
rely on to do the.
it is a real digestle
Try it today
Refuse all substittj
CHEAPER THAN ISII =S
Mexican Mustang Liie
of the best oils and penetra
soothing and healingtheafected
IT makes good all losses
by accidents and is cheaper that
insurance pclicy.
IT will take a curb off your
cure him of the heaves.
IT will cure him of cracked
grease heels.
No matter how lon t
deep-seated the pain, this old
remedy will kill it.
25c. 50c. $1 a bottle at DrUs
To Cure Your Pipha1
Take a cup of GRA I
MA'S TEA every
before retiring. Pl
take and marvelous
in two weeks.
Package 25 cents.