Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1891 — Page 5

LOVE OR DEATH. BV WM. W. fc*3TG. 'You caaaot-send me fnmyou, sweet—better To smite me where I stand dead at your Feet! 1 toave no fear—soe, with all my life's Great love, my breast I bear, white as a woman’s, And as pure as God—death at your feet Will be supremely grand. Strike! strike •deep! Let your dagger’s point go to my heart’s red Core up to the hilt. Pause not, but Strike—strike swift; set the keen point here Where my heart’s pulse rise and fall doth Only beat for you. Strike to the bright blade’s Eitn, and let the rich blood of great Love With crimson stain my body’s death. I Am not of this puny race of men—half devil, Half God am I, therefore slay me, or give yourself To me, for all my heart toward you Aches; my soul is fed with love of you; my Body bums with love's desire for you—if then I be not worthy of your love, give me what Host men sea here at your feet, Else will I tear you from Lust's arms. Who long hath ravished your pure body to His beastly need, though heSl gapped red, and All the earth did cry: *Murder have you done Most Soul!” Strike! else I claim you mine. Palmyra, Va.

Dr. Elfenstein's Mission

1 Remarkable Romance.

BY EMILY THORNTON.

CHAPTER XVlH—Continued. Then a violently storm was raging. The storm was, strange to say, the first that had occurred in the evening since his night view of the haunted (bowser, and its dancing demon, just five weeks before. Not wishing to 'he seen by any of the inmates, he did not venture out until after nine o’clock. Then the wild wind and drenching rain served to retard his progress so much that it was fall quarter to ten before he felt the warn pathway. and 'crept behind the clump of thick, wet bushes, where, once concealed from view, he paused to light ;a small dark lantern !he had wisely brought with him. By the aid >af this he proceeded to examine what seemed only a dull, blank wall. Close inspection, however, revealed a a large stone that was loose, which he easily drew forth, making a clean, unobstructed passageway, through which a, man could creep, and without hesitation, in he went, landing directly upon an old but still [passable floor. Towering his light, he paused to examine this floor, and “found, to his surprise, wet tracks upon it, that told plainly that very recent footsteps had passed that way. Followingithese, the young man walked in a direct line across the building, until he reached ,a (door, which, upon trying, he 'found, !to his chagrin, securely fastened. Even while he paused -to reflect upon his next movement distant footsteps fell upon ihis ear, just beyond the door, and hurriedly he darted hack, extinguishing his light as he did so. Just in ttime was this movement made, for a hand unhooked the fastening, •opened the door, and there, to his unmitigated surprise, stood Ethel Nerver:gail, the girl so much the object df his thoughts since that narrow escape of hers a day or two before, with a lighted ■candle in her hand, peering into the darkness beyond. Had she seen him? he asked himself; •creeping like a thief toward this unfortunate house, and, hearing ihis steps, had she come to warn him away? No; the thought was absurd, and he soon saw that she came seeking merely a, covered basket, not observed until then, standing j.ust beyond the door. How pale she looked, as he viewed for •one moment her sad face, and—yes, sorely those were .tears '.that Jell from her beautiful hazel eyes upon her cheek! The sight <of those tears caused him to •take one step toward her, but she for’tunately did mot see him, but drew to the •door, after securing the basket, and he then heard her little feet start down the ■corridor. Eesolved not to be balked in his efforts to (unravel, this night, one mystery at least, Dr. Eisenstein pushed again toward the door, and to his joy it this time yielded to bis touch. Poor Ethel!! this night for the first time had been required by (Sir Reginald Glemdenriing, to visit the tower, and follow out directions he gave heriim full, for producing the illusions that were to terrify the unsuspecting public. In great agitation then, and still weeping, she had proceeded to the fulfillment of her loathsome duty, and in her grief and excitement, for the first time forgot to fasten the door, after possessing herself of the food. This forgetfulness accounts for the entrance of the Doctor into the corridor, and enabled him to follow her advancing figure, softly in the distance. CHAPTER XIX A TERRIBLE FRIGHT. Wiping away her tears, poor Ethel placed the basket of food and knife upon the floor, by the entrance of the tower, as Sir Reginald had told her to attend to the business in that quarter before administering to the wants of the concealed quadruped. ■ The wind raged furiously without; the thunder rolled, and lurid lightning flashes entered the windows of the tower as she crept up the stairs, on and on, up and up, ever up, while her heart beat faster and faster, as she thought of the loathsome task before her. At last the weary steps were climbed, and she stood panting on the broad landing, just below the upper windows of the place. It was standing on this landing that her part of the ghostly work was to be performed. Taking then a long-handled torch, with which the colored lights above were to be touched in order to light them, she applied the candle to it, and reaching up soon had every one illuminated and flaming away in the usual unearthly looking glare. In doing so she never observed the tall, silent figure of the man who had crept after her and now stood in the shade below, intently watching her every njoKon.

Thu stuffed form before her was Mat to bo attended to. Taking, therefore, the lamp from within the head she lighted it, and putting it back almost exclaimed at the effect the colored light gave the eyes. Winding the crank slowly, she saw that it worked as she supposed it would, and soon the impish figure was swung aloft, and stood dancing to and fro, to the terror and dismay of all outward beholders. With tears still falling over her pale cheeks, Ethel stood with her eyes fastened above upon the swaying motions of that frightful-looking image, when her heart almost stopped within her, and a wild cry burst from her lips as these words fell upon her ears: “Is it possible that this is the occupation of Miss Ethel Nevergail this stormy night?” Turning, she saw advancing toward her, and fully revealed bv the lights above, the form of Dr. Eisenstein. “Oh, Doctor,” she wailed, as she buried her face in her hands, and burst into low sobs of pain and dismay, “how came you here to witness my disgraceful work?” Then suddenly remembering her charge, and true to the interests of her employer, she again seized the crank and, lowering the image, extinguished that head lamp, as well as the others, leaving everything in darkness but for the feeble flare of one little candle she had placed upon the floor. Then turning she faced her accuser. * “I came, no matter how; suffice it that I was determined to unmask this daring fraud, and so allay the fears of timid women and children. Certainly, in doing this, I never expected to discover that Miss Nevergail was the prime mover in this outrageous piece of work!” Ethel listened to the cold, hard words in utter despair, then fluttering like a wounded bird to the side of the indignant man, she laid one small, white hand’on his arm, which was shaken off in disdain before she could utter one of the following words: “It is the first time I ever did this thing. Oh, believe me; surely you must remember that I was in Liverpool when you saw that sight, the time when it last appeared?” “Yes, that is true; I had forgotten. But that does not absolve you from tonight’s ghastly deception,” was the still cold reply. “But Sir Reginald compelled me to do it. I begged and entreated him to excuse me; I told him it was sinful, but he flew into a passion, and bade me disobey him on the peril of his everlasting displeasure. Sir, I was homeless, and he was sick! What was Ito do?” “Forgive me! You poor little girl, I was harsh andcrudl in my judgment. You were, indeed, obliged to execute the vile plans of the baronet. There,” added he, tenderly, as he drew her hands from her face, and with his handkerchief wiped away her tears, “weep no more;' you were not to blame. Child, give me your hand in token of forgiveness.” Laying her trembling hand in his, she murmured: t “Then you do not despise me?” ’ “Despise you? No! no! I only,” he stopped; he was about to say “love you,” Unit remembering his vow, he added softly, “pity you!” “Yes, you may pity me! Oh, auntie, auntie! why did I ever promise you to •come to this wretched place?” was her wailing cry. Still holding her hand in his, and also taking from her the candle, he turned (and led her down the long, steep stairs. Only once did Ethel speak, then she merely said: “Sir Reginald will be very angry, if he hears of your entrance herel Must he be told?” “I will think it over, and let you know to-morrow. You must sleep to-night, and so recover from this nervousness.” They soon reached the bottom stair, and entered the eorrldor. Then Ethel remembered that her work was but half done, and the rest could not be accomplished until Dr. Eisenstein had left ner. Turning to him, she said: “Will you kindly tell me how you entered this place? You must leave mo now, going silently as you came.” “I will. I came through the ruins. I saw you open a door, and reach for a ■basket, then I instantly entered.” “But surely, I fastened it again?” “You were so .agitated you. forgot to do it. I certainly opened it, without difficulty, and crept after you, eager to solve the mystery of the haunted tower, which I then, for the first time, began.to connect with your movements. But you ■are weary now, so I will legve you, and return as I came.” Giving back the candle, he took her hand and was just saying, “Good-night, Miss Nevergail,” when suddenly both stopped short in their walk; both turned deadly pale, as .a short, strange, loud report, close by their ears, startled and confounded them. Then, to their horror, something darted toward them, a huge form swooped past, dashing the candle to the ground, thus extinguishing it, leaving them in total darkness and gloom. “Oh,.what is it, what as it?” cried the terrified girl, as she nestled close to her companion, while be, scarcely realizing what he did, threw his arms around her form, to protect her from he knew not what. Suddenly, a wild, unearthly laugh or yell floated to them from the other end of the corridor, and as it passed, Dr. Eisenstein pressed the girl he held closer to his heart, and laid his cheek against her frightened face. “What can it be? Is it imp or ” “Devil, I guess,” interrupted the Doctor. Then, gently raising her, he said: “But this will not do; I must strike a light and see what this can be. ” Stooping to find the candle, another eldritch-like wail came, this time as if from the ruins, and with the first sound Ethel darted toward the man beside her, crying: “Oh, do not leave me! I shall die, I shall die!” Gathering her once more in his arms, the Doctor whispered: “I will not. You are not so afraid now, and thus, close to me, are you, dear?” “No; not so fearfully afraid as I was. ” Gently stroking her hair, the young man felt, even in the terror inspired by their dreadful position, a feeling almost of rapture steal over him as he held her thus close in his arms, with hers clinging to his waist. But, suddenly, calmer reflections came; he felt this thing must be seen to; whatever presence had been near him must be discovered, and that he ought to follow up the sound. “Child!” he whispered, “whatever has been near us, I know by that last cry, has escaped into the ruins, through the door by which I entered. That being so. I must in duty carry jrou to a place

of safety, then search around to see what it could have been. ” Instantly, then, it flashed over Ethers mind that the ape, Sir Reginald's choice concealed treasure, had escaped, and that the knife she had so carelessly given him had done the deed. He had cut his way out. Oh, the terror this thought thrust into her heart was almost unbearable! At once she became, as it were* a dead weight again in the Doctor’s arms. Then another thought came that imparted new life. Her oath had been taken never to reveal the existence of that animal, nor of the concealed room. * In order to keep this vow Dr. Eisenstein must not examine the premises. She knew well now the meaning of that first report. The beast had knocked down the iron shelves burst open the panels, arid in consequence a light would show the Doctor that opening and the room beyond. No. He must never examine this corridor. Nerving herself for a now task, she said: “Doctor, I cannot consent to left a moment here alone! Nor will I consent to your exposing yourself further to-night. Take me, then, to my room, and we will lock up this place, and you can steal softly from the house another way. ” “But, Miss Nevergail, surely this ought to be investigated. ” “Oh, no, please do not investigate! I cannot allow it—cannot endure it!” As she spoke, a long, deep shudder passed over her frame, and the Doctor, noticing it, knew at once that her nervous system could stand no more, and therefore felt it was best to yield. “Shall I not, at least, light the candle?” “No, no! I cannot bear it!” murmured the poor girl, horrified at the thought of what a light might reveal. “Tell me, then, which way your room lies, and I shall carry you thither at once!” “Straight! Just beyond the door by which you entered, through a passageway; my room lies opposite its door,’’she returned. “But, indeed, Doctor, I can walk, if you will only let mo hold your arm. I would rather. ” “Well, be it so!” returned the man, releasing her, yet still retaining her hand, which he drew under his arm. When they neared the door of the ruin, however, Ethel felt a strong current of air upon her cheek, which revealed the fact that it stood wide open, and Instantly a deadly fear of the horrible creature that had escaped, being still near, seized her, and again she shrank closer to her friend, while her faltering steps told of departing strength. Without a word, Earle Eisenstein once more lifted her in his arms, and so passed into the passageway. Remembering that his presence there must be kept a secret, the young girl whispered: “Step softly; let no one hear.” “I will,” he breathed back, and, guided by the dim light uuder the door indicated, he passed through, emerging from the open wardrobe into the bedroom beyond. Placing her in a large easy chair, he stepped back, closed and fastened both doors, then returned to her side. “Please, Doctor,” she murmured, “examine every part of this room, before you go, to be sure the dreadful —the dreadful ” she hesitated. “Yes, I know,” he interrupted, “and you will soon see that you are perfectly safe.” Obeying her wish, he then made a thorough search of room and closet. But, as he supposed, nothing was to be seen. “Now, how will you you leave the house?” she murmured, anxiously. A sly look back toward the porridor caused her to exclaim, in a whisper, as she laid her hand entreatingly on his arm: “Not there, Doctor; promise me you will not return to that place this night, but will go directly home. ” Again Earle yielded to the pleading of the sweet girl beside him, and again answered: “Then I must either drop from your window or go through the hall. Stay! I see a strong strap around your trunk. It is the very thing! I will fasten it to balcony, and so. slip down by its aid to the ground. Are you willing?” “Perfectly, Doctor,” she whispered; “do you know I should have died from fright had you not been there?” “Yes, I know; and now, before I say good-night, I shall mix you a composing •draught, and then you must promise me to go instantly to your bed as soon as you take in the strap and close the window, and the last thing, swallow the preparation I shall leave. Will you do this, in return for my not investigating further what I see you do not wish explained?” Ethel hesitated, then, remembering that she could not see Sir Reginald that night, she gave the promise. A moment more passed, and then the strap had been fastened, the JHoctor had whispered, “Good-night, and God bless you,” and she watched him disappear amid the darkness and storm. Darting out, she secured the strap without trouble, fastened down the window, and soon slept under the effects of the anodyne he had so thoughtfully left for her use. Well indeed was it for her that she could sleep, for without some rest she could never have borne the terrible excitement that awaited her in the nearing hours of the coming day. But why anticipate new troubles? Ah, tirhy, when the words of inspiration say, so pointedly. “Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. ” [to be continued.]

Girls and Boys.

Old Friend—“l s’pose girls are a good deal more expensive to rear than boys, ain’t they?” Old Family Man—“ Wall, they is fer a while, but mos’ generally as soon as a girl marries the expense is through with; but just as quick as a son gits married he wants to borrer all you’ve got.” Railway collisions, from the inability to stop the locomotive, are likely to be made impossible when the electric light is substituted for the oil lamps now in use. Recent experiments prove that the electric headlight casts light from half to three-quarters of a mile ahead. A train going at the rate of sixty miles an hour can thus be stopped in time to prevent any accident. The fool is pleased with himself, the wise man dissatisfied. Score one for the fooL

AGRICULTURAL TOPICS.

A FEW SUGGESTIONS FOR OUR RURAL READERS. Some Information or Value to the Farmer. Stock-Breeder, Bee-Keeper, Housewife and Kitchen-Maid. THE HOUSEHOLD. Water at Meals.

good by washing out tho digested food, and by exposing tho undigested part more thoroughly to the action of the digestive ferments. Observation has shown that non-irritating liquids pass directly through the “tubular” stomach, and even if food be present they only mix with it to a slight extent. Pepsin is catalytic body, and a given quantity will work almost indefinitely as diluted, provided the peptones are removed as they are formed. Water, drunk freely before meals, has another beneficial result—it washes away the mucous secreted during the intervals of repose, and favors peristalsis of the whole alimentary tract. The membrane thus cleansed is in much better condition to receive food and convert it into soluble compounds. The accumulation of mucus is especially well marked in the morning, when the gastric walls are covered with a thick, tenacious layer. Food entering the stomach at this time will become covered with this tenacious coating, which for a time protects it from the action of tho gastric ferments, and so retards digestion. The tubular contracted stomach, with its puckered mucous lining and viscid contents, a nomal condition in the morning before breakfast, is not suitable to receive food. A glass of water washes out the mucus, partly distends the stomach, wakes up peristalsis, and prepares the alimentary canal for the morning meal. Exercise before partaking of a meal stimulates tho circulation of the blood and facilitates the flow of blood through the vessels. According to Dr. Leaf, who has made this subject a special study, cold water should be given to persons who have sufficient vitality to react, and hot water to the other. In chronic gastric catarrh it is extremely beneficial to drink warm or hot water before meals, and salt is said in most cases to add to toe good effect produced.

Hints, to Housekeepers. A coakse comb is good to smooth the fringe of towels, hapkins, tidies, etc. To restore crushed velvet, hold it over the spout of the teakettle and let it steam well, then comb up the nap. W6en you find a soap that Is pure and suits your skin, continue to use it. Frequent changes are bad for the complexion. Silk dresses should never bo brushed with a whisk broom, but should bo carefully rubbed with a velvetmttten kept for that purpose only. Salt and water will prevent the hair from falling out, and cause nets hair to grow. Do not use so strong as to leave particles upon the hair when dry. If canned shrimps are used for salad they should be carefully looked over so as not to leave a bit of tho shell, rinsed in cold water and mixed with the dressing. Equal parts of bay rum, borax and ammonia make a nice preparation for cleaning the head; apply freely to the scalp with a brush and then wash in clear water. Very many attacks of sick headache can be prevented if those who are subject to them are careful about their diet and largely restrict the same to vegetables and fruits easy of digestion. They must forego meat, cheese, pastry, beer, wine, etc.; in fact, neither eat nor drink anything which is stimulating in character and at all likely to tax the digestive organs. A good dressing for shoes is white of egg, or some good oil, olive or sweet oil, applied with a bit of flannel. It keeps the color of the leather, and shoes thus treated do not harden after being thoroughly wet. Oil is tho proper dressing for patent leather, linseed oil, some shoemakers say. It is first rubbed on and then polished with a dry flannel. Patent leather treated in this way does not crack or become dull after wetting. The best way to prevent pickles from molding in the cellar is to set the jars upon blocks, so the air can pass under as well as around the jars. It is a good plan to cut pieces of writing paper the size of the mouth of jars containing preserves, apple-butter, or anything likely to mold. Grease the papers well and place within the jars right on the contents. The mold will form on top of the paper, and can be removed with it without loss of any part of contents of the jar-

THE OKCHAUD. B>ne>U«ii lor the Improvement of Fruit*, They need improvement. There has been an advance in some respects, but the general movement has been retrograde. Take the strawberry. Thousands enjoy them now, where a hundred could years ago. But for this thank the eultnrist The fruit has not improved. No variety is better, or yields more abundantly than any that were popular a quarter of a century ago. I know it is customary to smile at the retrospective fancies of elder folk. They are told that distance lends enchantment to the view, but I know that we could go to the strawberry bed without regretting that we did not bring a pound of sugar with us. We now have for the table, sugar flavored with strawberries;we had in those days strawberries for their own dear sakes. Is it not the same with most fruits? I say most, for iu some lines, notably the grape, there has been a genuine advance, though even here we have not done much better for ourselves than the Catawba did for us in the days of which I write. This reference to the grape brings me to the point, how best to improve our fruits? Shall It be by hybridizing or by relection? And if by selection, what are tfe to select? We can get new races by hybridizing or crossing, butit isof little value as an

improving element. Hybridization or crossing, is the foe of evolution. It is a conservative power, the deadly enemy of progress. In the origination of now races it is, however, invaluable. There was a time when people believed hybrids were sterile. American horticulturalists surely know that hybrids are not necessarily sterile. Rogers of Salqm, over a quarter of a century ago, produced a new race of grapes between two species. We all know this race is not sterile. This is the only case wliere we know of a certainty that the founders of new races were hybrid. Various raspberries and gooseberries have been hybridized, but no new race has sprung from them. But there are races from supposed hybrids, supposed hybrids witli good reason. There can bo but little doubt that the Kieffer pear and its kindred originated as a hybrid between two good species,' The race of raspberries of which tho purple cane is tho type, is evidently between two good species, as also Is the type of blackberry of which the Wilson is the representative. It is believed that the Siberian crab and the common apple have given us a hybrid race, and there may be some others. Once we have the new race too must look to selection of seodlings for tho improvements we desire. It is by no means clear that environment has anything to do with directing new forms. The introduction of new species for hybridization, or the importation of new varieties from abroad, all havo their uses of giving us newlines for starting on, but selection must be tho chief Weapon in our war against rough nature. It seems to me the duty of nurserymen to take into their own hands, more than they have done, tho improvement of fruits, intelligently keeping in view desirable points, and ultimately selecting from seedlings till they accomplish their ends. It will surely pay. —Thomas Meehan.

The Future Apple District. Some of the States, notably Arkansas, are rayidly developing into apple growing regions, and that State is now the home of promising new varieties, among which may bo named the Arkansas Black, Elkhorn, Crawford, Slloam, and Shannon. While the Western and Southwestern States will be at a disadvantage as regards the foreign trade, they will control the market in the great cities of the interior, and theso with tho numerous towns, will requiro a constantly increasing supply. The Niagara Grape. »• Some growing Niagara grapes have this season realized an average price of ten cents per pound. As the variety is extremely prolific,this price is very profitable. Specimens of this grape sent to Europe have been pronounced superior to any other of our native American varieties. It will probably be extensively planted in France and Switzerland next year. THE FARM. Farmers and the Malls. One reason why the farmers of the present day are not fully in sympathy with the great blooming modern world is that they hold themselves apart from it too much, says a writer in the American Agriculturist. Homo think they must

leave their business and move into the town or village to gain free intercourse of ideas with their fellow-men; others despair, berate the farm, and settle down to what they consider their hard fate in life. But this is folly, when the farm is by far tho best place in all the world to live. Farmers and their families need not live without society if they will take half

FIG. 1. MAIL POST.

tho pains to cultivate it that Is displayed by townspeople.'As for communication, country dwellers do not half employ the facilities for it which our government and many others have provided at a merely nominal cost. Thousands of farmers’ families do not send or go for their mail oftener than once a week. Why? Well it Is a mile, or two or three miles, perhaps farther, to tho postofflee; all hands are busy indoors and out; It is a long distance to walk, and tho horses cannot be spared. But a little thinking and contrivance would easily suggest better arrangements. Does a stage, milk team, or even an occasional neighbor pass the farmhouse daily? Arrange to have the mall carried and brought every day. Many enjoy this privilege now, and it is easy to note the difference in the intelligence of families so served, and those who only hear from the postoffice on the day when the weekly paper

FIG. 2.

CONVENIENT MAIL BOXES.

comes—perhaps not then, but wait for a chance drive that way. In most cities the mail is delivered several times every day. Some communities send a person or twice a day, to bring and distiToute the mail. In others it Is the custom to take turns in regular order. Under any condition it is well to have a bag carried. It greatly diminishes the risk of losing the letters, change sent for stamps, etc. The illustrations show some of the conveniences which are in actual use. A substantial post having been erected beside the road, a strong hook is set in it to catch the family or neighborhood mail bag, without stopping

FIG. 4. MAIL KEG.

over it a short piece of stove pipe or tin. Fig. 3 is roofed by two half-inch boards, one of which has hinges and a leather tag so it can be quickly lifted. In Fig. 4is seen merely an old paint keg thoroughly dried and a part of one head removed. Whatever eourse is adopted, don’t fail to use the malls freely and frequently. I have known several notices of deaths or funerals, and telegrams of importance, disastrously delayed when forwarded by postoffices to persons who rarely called. A farmer should take care to keep easy and safe ways of ingress ami egress to his cultivated fields. More wagons are broken down by going through deep furrows or over ridges than by twice the travel on smooth highways. Often in repairing a road the pathmaster will, if

FIG. 3.

tjie team, as seen in Fig. 1, or a permanent receptacle is firmly nailed to it. In Fig. 2 is shown how one end of a staVch box is partly removed and a roof made by springing

not prevented, spoil the way in or out of a field that the farmer has made. The farmer should not allow this to be done. The field, if good for anything, ought to load a wagon many times during the year, and will also requlre-a good many heavy loads of manure. This easy entrance to the field may therefore be quite as important to a farmer as to have good roads in the middle of his highway.

THE DAIKY. Keeping llj) the Flow of Milk. It is an old saying, but, judging from the practice prevailing upon many farms, tho AmcrU'an Farmer says, there are thousands of people who never heard of it, that a cow is simply a for converting food into milk. It is the toocommon idea that if one owns a cow he should have a constant and liberal supply of milk without reference to the quantity or quality of the feed. Sucb people realize there is a necessity of feeding something, but they experiment to see how little they can givd and keep the cow alive; and onco in a while we find a person who is giving his cow what ho considers generous keep, in the shape of a free run to a straw-stack in a bleak field. Such treatment as. this will surely bring disappointment at the pall. The cow cannot give more than she receives, and if tho owner expects a full pail of milk of good quality, ho can only hope to secure it by generous keep. And when wo say generous keep, we do not moan pampering. There m such a thing as overdoing in the keep of cows —that is, they may be fed in such a way that the feed is worth more than the milk. But no practical man will do this, and there is no necessity for doing it. The cows should have comfortable quarters, be fed and watered regularly, and not stinted in tho supply of good wholesome food. Such treatment will be found not only the most humane, but the most profitable, making tho conscience of tho owner lighter and his pocket heavier. Aside from this consideration of tho returns to bo realized at tho time, tho owner should consider that tho value of a cow as a milker may be permanently injured or Improved by tho course of winter treatment to which she is subjected. An animal reduced to tho verge of starvation five or six months in the year, and shivering through every storm in tho questionable shelter of a fence corner, is not in condition to do very much at keeping up tho flow of milk. Once allowed to fail in milk a cow seldom comes back to full flow again. Dairy Notes. Secure a good breed for stock, andi then feed and treat them well. The farmer, not tho retailer, should; have the main profit on milk. Prof. SanhChn says in the Manchester, N. H„ Mirror: In summer experiments with cows for a small dairy, I found it as cheap to go direct to the grain bin or hay mow for extra food to bridge over droughts or to maintain tho milk flow in the fall as It was to depend upon tho green foods, daily secured at much trouble. In a large dairy this element of incouvenionco would disappear largely. Some years ago one of tho best dairymen in Herkimer County, N. Y., desiring to ascertain tho profit he was realizing from different cows in his herd, instituted a serins of tests. Ho had found from actual experiment that the average cost of keeping liis dairy stock tnrough the year was at the rate of $35 per head, and this sum was embraced under tho following items: Two and one half tons <v* hay at ©s per ton.. *2O.(X Pasturage during the scanon 7.03. Two hundred pounds ground feed In the ■prlng B.oo* Interest on cost of oow at #4B, and depreciation ten per cent 4.50 Making, per oow *38.00'

THE AFIAUY. niaok* anti Italian*. This subject has boon much discussed for some years, and while most modern bee-keepers admit that the Italians are> superior, there aro a few who still Insist, on hanging to the inferior (in'iny opinion) blacks. To avoid any ambiguity or unnecessary words, I will proceed at once, to point out what I consider the merits, and demerits of both races. First, let us consider the difference inhandling them. In handling Italians, if you lift out a comb gently, the bees adhering thereto will mako no fuss whatever, but will go on with their work as though they had not been disturbed. If you get stung while handling such bees,, it is most likely by a black robber from a. neighboring hive. I have taken a comb from a hive of Italians with the bees adhering, and carried it a hundred yards from the apiary, and after keeping it out for quite a while, have returned it. with the bees exhibiting but little excitement or uneasiness. Now try this onblack bees., As soon as you raise thei frame from the hive they will commenceI flying, running and falling off, and if you are looking for a queen among such, bees, your chances of seeing her are very poor. Some of the advocates of black bees* claim that this is an advantage when extracting, and so it is; but taking all things into consideration, I very much, prefer to have the bees stay on the comb* and remain quiet until I want them off, when I can use a brush. That theItalians are more gentle than the black* I think no one who has had experience with both can doubt, and the nearer you come to the uniform threc-banded worker the gentler you will find the bees. While working in the apiary during a scarcity of honey, if you have both races of bees, you will be apt to have one or two bees buzzing in front of your nose, ready to sting you without cause. Investigation will show that these are almost invariably black bees, even though they are the minority of the apiary. When Italians find that there are any sweets to be found that they can use* they are quick to take advantage of the. situation, perhaps even more so than the. blacks, but they are not everlastingly hanging around on the lookout for any bit of honey that may be spilled, av the blacks arc.

I have seen Italians getting honey and increasing in numbers, while blacks in, the same apiary, were decreasing and did not have a cell full of honey in the. hive. This was only last year, when it had got to the survival of the fittest with bees. G. M. Doolittle, 4n an article on this subject, says that black, bees cap their honey whiter than Italians. This, of course, is an advantange to the combhoney producer, as such honey will bring a higher price. I have taken no. observations in this line, but have no. doubt that Mr. Doolittle is correct, as his word is almost law among beekeepers. I believe those the only advantages that can be claimed for them. —S. E. Miller , in Farm, Field am? Stockman.