Decatur Democrat, Volume 48, Number 38, Decatur, Adams County, 24 November 1904 — Page 7

SKILL in woodcraft hO W the BUSHMAN FINDS HIS WAY BY MEANS OF LANDMARKS. Every Detail of u Route Over Which He Hill once I’naneil lx Photographed on the Brain of the Alert and Obnervnnt Trapper. sVhat appears marvelous and positively uncanny to a town person is simple to a bushman. Years of continuous observation develop the bump of locality; every object jj as a place and meaning to a trapper; bis eye is ever on the alert, and what his eye sees is photographed on the brain and remains there for future reference at any time he may require lt This bump of locality is highly developed in all Indians and whites who have passed many years in the bush. Without the faculty of remembering objects a bushman could not find his way through the forests. Provided the trapper has once passed from one place to another he is pretty sure to find his way through the second time even if years should have elapsed between the trips. Every object from start to finish is an index finger pointing out the right path. A sloping path, a leaning tree, a moss covered rock, a slight elevation In land, a cut in the hills, the water ir the creek, an odd looking stone, a blasted t ree-all help as guides as the observant trapper makes his way through a pathless forest. Os course this tax on the memory is not required of trappers about a settled part of the country, but I am telling of what is absolutely necessary for the safety of one's life in the faraway wilds of the north, where to lose one's self might mean death. I followed an Indian guide once over a trail of 280 miles, whereon we snowshoed over mountains, through dense bush, down rivers and over lakes. To test my powers of a retentive memory the following winter, when dispatches again had to be taken to headquarters, I asked the Indian to allow me to act as guide, he following. On that long journey of ten or twelve days, always walking and continually thinking out the road, I was in doubt only once. We were standing on the ice. A tongue of land stood out toward us, a bay on either side. The portage leaving the lake was at the bottom of one of these bays, but which? The Indian had halted almost on the tails of my snowshoes and enjoyed my hesitation, but said nothing. To be assured of no mistake I had to pass over the whole of last winter's trip in my mind's eye to the point on which we stood. Once the retrospect caught up with us, there was not further trouble. Our route was down the left hand bay. When the Indian saw me start in that direction he said, “A-a-ke-pu-ka-tan” ("Yes, yes, you are able"). The most difficult proposition to tackle is a black spruce swamp. The trees are mostly of a uniform size and height, the surface of the snow is perfectly level, and at times our route lies miles through such a country, and should there be a dull lenden sky or a gentle snow falling there is nothing for the guide to depend on but bis ability to walk straight. It has been written time and again that the tendency, when there are no landmarks, is to walk in a circle. By constant practice those who are brought up in the wilds acquire the ability to walk in a straight line. They begin by beating a trail from point to point on some long stretch of ice, and in the bush where any tree or obstruction bars the way they make up for any deviation from the straight course by a give and take process, so that the general line of march is straight. During forty years in the country I never knew an Indian or white bushman to carry a compass. Apart from a black spruce swamp it would be no use whatever.

In going from one place to another the contour of the country has to be considered, and very frequently the "longest way round is the shortest way home.” A ridge of mountains might lie between the place of starting and the objective point, and by making a detour round tiie spur one would easier reach his destination rather than to climb up one side and down the other. If 1 were to tell you as a fact that when a bushman sees the track of some wild animal in the snow he can tell you not only the name of the animal, hut if it was male or female, within an hour of the time the tracks were made, if it was calm or blowing and the direction of the wind at that time and many other minor things, you would think this wonderful. Yet, as wonderful as this may appear and hardly to be credited, an Indian boy of ten or twelve can read this page from nature as easily ns one of us can read a page of print.—Forest and Stream. Trademark*. The practice of employing n mark to denote the goods of a particular trader Krew out of the use of signs, which were of great antiquity, but it is difflo’llt to assign a date to the origin of trademarks proper. They were apparently in use in the time of Elizabeth, but the first recorded case is in 1783 . when it was decided that the sale of a certain medicine under the mark of another trader was fraudulent. No satisfactory law was passed, however, until 1862, when the first ritish trademark registry was estabislied. This law was repealed by the designs and trademarks act of "3. the principal clauses of the old Brt being incorporated into this new one, and all proceedings for the regisratlon of trademarks are now regulatb the patents acts, a special branch the patent office being devoted to nils pork.

OLD CHINESE CALENDAR. The Er , r ° r ” Were by a Jesuit Astronomer. In the old Chinese classic, the records s“°’ we are told that "he hade Hi and Ho reverently to regard the signs and respectfully give the times of men." Hi, Ho and two others of the respective families were ordered to the four points of the compass to determine the equinoxes and solstices 1 he bird, supposed to be our Cor Hv drae, was to be the star of spring, Antares (Alpha Scorpii; of summer Beta Aquarii for autumn and the world renowned Pleiades the sign of the win ter solstice. "Oh, you Hi and Ho,” the old document continues, “all around there are three hundred and sixty and six days! Lse the extra moon, order the seasons and perfect the year. Faithfully regulate the hundred offices, and all the works will be perfect. ’ Thus was formed the first Chinese calendar about 2,300 years ago, before the Christian era, and its regulation has always been an object of care and interest to the emperors from Yao dow*n to tiie present day. Practically no changes were made in it until the mission of the Jesuits to I eking in the seventeenth century. The help of Mohammedan astronomers had been sought, but they were unable to cope with the difficulties which presented themselves, and the emperor, Kang Hi, was thankful to let the Jesuits take the lead in all astronomical researches. He built them an observatory at Peking, which Father Verbiest fitted up in 1668 in thorough up to date style. The errors of centuries had accumulated in all departments of the science, and the foreigners had a hard task to eliminate them and introduce European improvements without exciting hostility. The accuracy of their calculations soon inspired such confidence that Father Verbiest was appointed president of the mathematical tribunal. lie soon turned his attention to the calendar, rectifying the errors, but not making many changes beyond introducing the twelve signs of the zodiac and dividing it into 360 degrees instead of 365%. as was the old Chinese division. The reformed calendar went into many details, and the calculations were given down to the year 2020 A. D. It was published in thirty-two volumes and called in honor of the emperor the Kang Hi Perpetual Calendar. The solar and lunar years are both used, and a combination is effected between the two by adding seven extra moons during the period of the lunar cycle—that is, nineteen solar years. The civil year commences with the second new moon after the winter solstice and consists of twelve months or moons, called large or small, according to whether they consist of twentynine or thirty days. When an extra moon is to lie used a thirteenth month is not added, but one of the months is doubled. The rule that the winter solstice shall be kept in the eleventli moon is never departed from. — Living Church. An tnflnlKheil Prayer. A southern doctor of divinity in New York on bis vacation was speaking of unusual prayers he had heard. One was made by a young lawyer who, through innate piety or from a desire to advance his political fortunes by being identified with the church, besought the preacher to call on him for prayer in the weekly prayer meeting. Suspecting that politics and not piety was at the bottom of the lawyer’s desire to pray in public, the preacher did not call on him until one rainy night, when the attendance was slim. Then Brother 11.. being asked to "lead us in prayer," began bis supplication. In great detail he mentioned the various situations, personal and general, in which the divine guidance was desired. Finally, however, he hesitated as if be had forgotten anything else to say. He showed signs of confusion, and then, in a despairing tone of voice, continued: “In conclusion, your honor, I might mention many other things, but these will suffice for tonight. Amen." Remarkable Smile. Mr. Robert Pollok, a Scottish poet, while a student of theology once delivered a trial discourse before the Secession Divinity hall. Glasgow, the subject of which was "Sin.” His manner of treating ft was, in the opinion of his fellow students, rather bombastic, and at some passages there were audible symptoms of the amusement which they derived from Mr. I’ollok's high flown phrases. At last there came one Hight of fancy which was so remarkable that the professor himself was fairly obliged to give way-and smiled. It was when the young preacher had reachet a < max in his enumeration of the drea - ful evils which sin had brought into the world. „ "And had it not been for sin. remarked Mr. Pollok, with great vehe. mence of manner and tone, had it n Xn for sin. the smile of folly had ne’er been seen upon the brows of wisdom.” Xapoleon and Ills Hats. It is interesting to note that the legend of the "petit chapeau" J Frenchmen always refer ao'ir of the first Napoleon as the little Ct" This is because the hats worn more becoming. A became hat of ’> r ' These facts are Yoflc Tribune.

the secret Service HOW THE STATE SPIES OF EUROPE DO THEIR WORK. Military Secrets Often Revealed by Local Papera to Watchful Govern- 1 meat A K enia — Rnaaia and Fiance Partial to Female Spies. When people read or hear of a seciet service agent the picture of a man ai med to the teeth with revolvers and stilettos, a mixture of a Sherlock Holmes and a Bill Sikes, rises before their eyes. Now, as a matter of fact, the best secret service agent in the world and tiie one most generally relied upon by the nations is tiie editor of the local paper. Let us call the town Greenbeach and assume that the government has decided to build a hidden battery close by. The editor of the Greenbeach Gazette will announce in his columns that Inspector or Captain So-and-so has arrived at the local hotel to superintend some work for the government. Next week tenders will be Invited for bricks, cement and slags. The foreign intelligence man, reading this news in Paris, Berlin or St. Petersburg, begins to chuckle, “This is going to be interesting.” A few months pass, while foreign eyes daily scan tiie paper for news of the battery. At last the editor gravely informs his readers that “new guns for the battery now building have arrived.” “Aha,” says the intelligence man. “our agent in London must have a look at that!” And accordingly one day a pleasant foreigner arrives at Greenbeach, starts painting tiie cliffs, chats in the evening with the local topers at the bar and is a good listener when yarns about the new battery are told. Finally he departs and sends his report to his chief, who hands it on to liis expert branch for close investigation. As regards the spies of the secret intelligence service, it is interesting to know that the supply largely exceeds the demand. For any one who has not been in the service himself it seems incredible what numbers of scoundrels, young and old. are to be found in most armies and navies who will willingly sell their country’s secrets to the highest bidder. These and a few specially appointed agents are the main retailers of military secrets. There are. further, the deserters, who, arriving in a strange country, generally without money, turn the knowledge they have acquired during their time of service into money by selling their country’s secrets. On this account of course prices are not so high as is generally believed. For example, a government would rarely pay “several thousand pounds” for the purchase of a signal book. Was not the secret of the French field guns sold In 1898 to Germany for' 5.000 francs (£200), and such a secret has a hundredfold the value of a signal book. Altogether the life of the secret service man is not devoid of interest. He gets hardened to the business, and If it were not for the exciting fact that where other people deal in goods he deals in the lives of nations it would soon pall. Os course on the first occasions when you have been sent to a foreign country and carry papers in your pocket which if found on you. would obtain for you twenty years' hard labor free of charge, it is difficult to keep perfectly at ease when talking to a high police officer or military official. In the end, however, you get used to it and careless till you are caught. The main agents of Russia and France are ladies, while Germany prefers men. So does Britain. The triumph of the French policy of employing female spies was celebrated in Italy when a well known lady of the French embassy managed to get the Italian minister into her toils. It was at the time Italy intended to occupy Tunis and to establish a protectorate there. The Italian fleet was preparing at Palermo. In only two more days it would sail, and Tunis would belong to Italy, when during one of the lovers’ meetings the Italian minister let the secret out. Ihe rest belongs to history. France arrived first and occupied Tunis.

Here is another fact which may appear hardly credible, but is absolutely true: At the beginning of the South African war I had to consult with the intelligence department of a large German gun firm, and for fun the chief of the department showed me tiie record of the armaments of the Boers. M ell, this record was true to the last line, while tiie report of the British intelligence department contained not even a list of guns sold to the Boers by British firms previous to the war. Great Britain lias an excellent but small secret service. We pry less perhaps than any other power, but no important subject is left uncovered. M e spend perhaps £5 against £SO by our continental neighbors, but much o. eur intelligence costs nothing, being accepted from honorary sources. For this reason it is frequently valueless. In the South African war many mistakes were made through inaccurate news and the employment of people who would go to any length to justify their employment for the time being The compilation of facts is fairly easv in British possessions. Foreign officers can always secure admission to factories and dockyards, and the openness of their treatment is not equaled in any other couutry.-London Ex press. ___ Speedy Patlkto Pulchritude. “Doctor” said the homely maid, can you recommend something that will make me beautiful •• -Yes: inherit half a million, rep. ed the M. D- “Two dollars, please. Chicago News.

HE COULD WAIT. The Way Ln f cad io Hearn Pushed Himself Into a Situation. Lafcadio Hearn at one time in his career was employed on a daily paper in Cincinnati. ’ He obtained the position by present- ' Ing bis application in person to the edi-1 tor. “We don’t need anybody at present," Baid the editor. Hearn sat down on a chair, pulled a : book out of his pocket, wiped his glass- I es and smiled. “1 said we don't need anybody,” repeated the editor loudly. “I heard you,” replied Hearn affably. “1 will just sit here until you happen to need somebody.” That editor was not long in “needing" Hearn. For lack of anything better the new man was sent out for a descriptive story to be written in the steeple of the Catholic cathedral. When tiie story was handed in it proved to be a composition rivaling the word painting feats of a Ruskin or a Gautier. He pictured the city as It looked from the steeple and imparted to his description something besides beauty. There was reality in it. Persons who had viewed the city from the steeple averred that tiie story was marvelous for photographic accuracy. Now, Hearn was so nearsighted that ten feet from his nose all objects were misty and indistinct, and it is doubtful if he could distinguish the nearest house from the point to which he had climbed.—News Letter. THE COMPASS. The Belief Was Once Held That It Disclosed Men’s Thoughts. A belief that the mariner’s compass disclosed men’s thoughts was entertained b> a number of ancient Mexican companions and allies of Hernando Cortes. His habit of consulting his compass and chart in his advance through the country and the ease and assurance with which he reached whatever town or village he determined to make for tended to confirm this idea. In tiie estimation of the Mexicans the compass was a universal oracle. Accordingly in one of the conspiracies which were set on foot against Cortes by the Aztecs a number of the natives, most likely innocent of what was in contemplation, were earnest in entreating Cortes to have recourse to his infallible guide, tiie compass, that he might ascertain for their mutual satis faction that they at least were faithful. Cortes himself records the singular idea held of the powers of the magnetic needle by his Aztec associates and their request in a letter addressed to the Emperor Charles V. Their belief, he adds, was one in which be took care to confirm them. , TRUTH TRIUMPHS. Life Is a Conflict, and Error Dies In the Struggle. Life is a struggle. Wars end. but the ’ war of the race—the antagonism of thought, the strife between men, be ’ tween man and the forces external to him, within the soul of the individualends not save it be with extinction. Error gains many a temporary trl--1 umph, but the final victory is with . truth. There is substance in truth that in the last balance outweighs error. 1 Nature's process is by test and trial, by unfolding, changing, ripping up, undoing, redoing. By contrast and con1 flict she tries sincerity and treachery, honor and dishonor, fitness and unfit1 ness, courage and cowardice, truth and error. The conflict of ideas between social and political systems and between creels and philosophies is as rude as the conflict between the sea , and land. Error dies in the struggle.— From "Balance: The Fundamental Ver- ’ ity,” by Orlando J. Smith.

Fatal Applause. An English lady snake charmer nanr.ed Leyton was e performing at a | village called Vaelhllnger, in Rhenish < Prussia, in a menagerie with a boa , const) ictor. This she permitted to coil i round her neck and breast. Her cour- , t.ge met with thunders of applause i rrotn the spectators, who little dreamed , that by their signs of approval they i mid sealed the poor charmer's death ! varrant. Such, however, proved to be '■ tee case. for. apparently infuriated at i ■ their demonstrations, tiie reptile tight- ; imed its coils and amid the shrieks ol |, the public strangled the lady on the j i platform before anything could be: I cone to assist her. The snake wgs im- 1 mediately killed. , Cautions. "Leonidas!” exclaimed Mr. Meekton's wife on his return from a journey. "I 1 am at a loss to understand your conduct when we parted. I said goodby to you.” "Yes, Henrietta." I “Why didn’t you say goodby In response?" "I was just about to do so, Henrietta, but I cheeked myself. I was afraid you would accuse me of trying to have I the last word again.” Declared Hi. Intrnttonn. Mrs. Rusher—Has Mr. Goldcoin. with whom you have been dancing all the evening, at last declared his intentions. ■ Mabel? Mabel—Yes, aunt. Mrs. Rush er—l am so glad! And wlint did he nay? Mabel—He declared he would never marry. Apt to He Elusive. “Pa. who are the ‘authorities?’” I “They are the fellows who at critical : times claim that they have no au- ] thority.”—Cleveland Leader. • Her. “Did Marjorie marry for love?” “Ob. no. She is too well bred for that.’’—Life.

Railroad Notes. President Roosevelt and members of theoaiiinet will beat the World’s fair at St. Louis, Saturday, Nov. 26, 1904. Rate 11.50 for round trip via Clover Leaf. T. L. Miller, agent. On Wednesday, Nov. 30th the Erie railroad will sell cheap excursion tickets from Decatur to Chicago and return at rate of $3.50. Return limit December 3, inclusive. Ask Erie agents for particulars. Special homeseekors’ excursions to the Southwest, Nov. 10 and 22nd, via the Clover Leaf. Do not forget the regular homeseekers’ excursion Nov. 15th. Get information from nearest agent or address M. A. Chambers, Frankfort, Ind., E. L. Browne, Toledo, 0., or W. L. Ross, Toledo, O. $27.50 Hot Springs, S.D . 30.7*0 Deadwood and Lead and return from Chicago daily, via the Chicago & North Western Ry. Correspondingly low rates from other points. The Black Hills region the great natural sanitarium of the west, is one of the most picturesque spots in the world and well worth a visit. Information and tickets can be secured from your home agent. Illustrated Black Hills booklet with valuable map mailed I on receipt of 4 cent in stamps by W .B . Kniskern. Chicago. A beautiful map, valuable for reference, printed on heavy paper 42x64 inches mounted on rollers; edged bound in ckth, showing our new island po; sessions. The Trans-Siberian Railway, Pacific Ocean cables, railway lines and other features of Japan, China, Munchuria, Koorea and the Fai East. Sent in receipt of 25 cents in stamps by W. B. Kniskern, P. T M., Chicago & North Western R’y, Chicago, 111. Homeseekers' excursions via South ern railroad in connection with the Queen & Cresent route to c 'rtain points in Alabama, Georgia, Florida North and South Carolina, Kentucky. Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia on the first and third Tuesdays in each month —May to November, 1904 nclusive, at the very low rate of one fare for the round trip, plus $2 Tickets are good going 15 days, and for stop-overs south of the Ohio River with final limit for return of 21 days from date of sale. On the same dates oie way settlers’tickets will be sold to points in tne same territory at one half first-class rates, plus ¥2 from Ohio River gateways. For rates schedules and full information, call on your nearest ticket agent, or write J. S. McCullough, N. W. P. A., 225 Dearborn street. Chicago, 111.

AT PROPER PRICES the Snow Ageney Abe advertised or not. just as you pr< h r \ I 1 ' , • 1 c nnn A( KFS of the b< st locations to be foetid on the market 'l’o illust r:r< lh M V rso m?n free mail route, within one■ mile of distt.< s< 00l or w» m ► an orchard. cnxlintirv bl d-.lngs. >'”. ! ' £ , s E | T yor bl' P with a rood farm of'min 40 i°“ 'S’". - p rem ct“ I d an‘Jndo f"/oX'Z theci'r with Nacres 1S a jLr ru ]■ iv- 'on The in provemenia consist ot a barn.pood ’hree room j I auk house. &C. p' ipp 1 *! (MN. ot No 912 which is a ‘.‘‘ •'racre tract of first-class sandv loom soil I 'fi of S' Ne. prop p-'b > pui upon the market each week. Phone 230 J. F. SNOW Decatur, Ind. - -—A --—— • so comfortable traveling IC via CLOVER lKf v ROUTE ' Exposition Line} j Jt Louis WorldsFair tOO ~n I £ % lite' ' t FREEDS!' RECLININIyCHAIRy) MEALS /M-'V 3W ‘ A LA ZZ A^ToLEDWftjSiWERN' \v^i c gMi*-**™**--. _ yl

Chicago excursion. On account of the international Live Stock exposition, the Erie railroad will sell excursion tickets to Chicago and return at very low rates. Tickets on sale November 27, 28 and 29. Return limit December sth. Personally conducted excursions once a week via the Clover L"af and 'Frisco system to the timber and farming lands of Southwest Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. The best corn and wheat lands the great state of Missouri. The soil is black, sandy, alluvial deposit. The climate is healthy and mild, and the water pure. Thousands of acres of alfalfa, the best hay and forage crop known. Cotton pays as high as $75 per acre, and alfalfa as high as $72 per acre. A few small tracts for sale in the Ohio colony of Lilbourn. Other colonies starting. The last great chance to buy as good corn land as Northwestern Ohio lands at a low price. Splendid railroad facilities and good drainage. Excursions start from Toledo over the Clover Leaf route at 5:02 p.m. For rates and full particulars call on or address, W. L. Ross, 623 Gardner Bldg, Toledo, O. E. L. Browne, Toledo. R. B. Hart, 613 'Frisco Blgd., St. Louis, Mo.

THE GREAT SOUTHWEST. MINT SEEKING HOMES WHERE LANDS AR CHEAP AND CLIMATE IS MILD. Low Rates for Homeseekers and Colonists Twice a Month. Many farmers in the Northern and Eastern states are selling their high priced landsand locating in the Southwest—in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Manv who have been unable to own their homes in the older country are buying land at the low prices prevailing in the new country — •J 5 ¥10,515 per acre and up. These lands are mostly cut-over timber lands, some of them possessing a deep rich soil produeing corn, wheat, oats, clover cotton, fruit and vegetables. Well improved farms are scattered throughout this country. Many places with small clearings and some improvements can be bought very cheap. Our descriptive literature gives a fairly good idea of this country. It tells about the soil, crops, climate, people, schools, churches, water and health. It contains maps showing locations of counties, towns, raiLvays and streams, and gives names and addresses of real estate dealers in the towns. Keil need rates for homeseekers and colonists are in effect first and third Tuesdays of each month, byway of St. Louis, Cairo or Memphis and the Cotton Belt Route. Let us send you our literature and quote vou rates. Address E. W. Laßeaume, Gen. Pass, and Ticket Agent, Cotton Belt Route, St. Loins, Mo.