Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1896 — Page 6

PAGANS AND PRAYERS

SOME ODD OBSERVANCES STILL PRACTICED. Fraying by Machinery—Prayer by Water Power—How the Chineae Cheat the Devil—Why the American Indians Placed Their Dead on Polea. Queer Religious Rites. With the possible exception of the Bushman, who is believed to be first cousin to the Missing Link, if, indeed, there is not a nearer relationship, all nations have some form of religion and ceremonial observances peculiar to its exercise. Among civilized nations, reMgious cere-monies are suggestive in char-

acter aud'symbolic in origin, but as we go dowu jn the scale of human nature there are found many peculiarities of religious observance which are strange, incomprehensible, and, not infrequently, in the highest degree absurd. To us, at least, they seem-so, the fact arising partly from our inability to comprehend auy significance they may have for those who practice them, and partly from the enormous difference between our intelligence and that of the people who use these uncouth rites. .But it is exceedingly interesting to notice that eten when a religious ceremony, once symbolic and full of meaning, has lost all the significance it formerly possessed, none the less does it continue to be .practiced. for the reason that in these things custom is powerful, and the fact that in a heathen nation a religions ceremony is now performed, no matter how meaningless, is sufficient evidence to the minds of the worshipers, not only that there is virtue in it. but that it

AT THE GATE OF THE CHINESE TEMPLE.

aught to be perpetuated simply because h came down to them from their ancestor*. It is probable that to many if not to , molt of the worshipers in pagan temples the ceremonies performed there have no significance other than that of custom. They are like the Chinese idea of the Fung Shway; that is, the eternal balance of things. When a Chinaman builds a , house in one corner of a square lot, a house must also be built in the opposite corner to restore the Fung Sihway; when one chimney or tower is erected on a building, there must be another on the opposite ' side, to preserve the Fung Shwayi. when a plate of rice is placed on one side of a table, another must be opposite that the Fung Shway be not disturbed. The Celestial does not know why this should be so, but he knows that every othqrChinaman has the same idea and that is enbugh for him and to talk to

him about’rnrchitectural proportions, or to tell him that his notion probably originated &,a nice sense of relation, would be to waste your words, for about these things he neither knows nor cares anything; the fact that everybody else believes that the Fung Shway ought not to be disturbed being quite enough for his purpose. He has another idea that, to our minds, seems ludicrously absurd. At the gates of the templed in which he worships there bang bells and when n native of the Celestial Empire wants to say his prayers, or to make offerings to his gods to insure good luck in any enterprise in which he may be engaged, he goes to the parish temple and before entering gives the bell at the gate a tap to let the deity of the place understand that a worshiper is at hand and desirous of attending to business. Nothing, to our minds, could be more exquisitely absurd than this method of signifying to deity a desire to pay reverence, yet to the Chinaman it is fit and proper, and he devoutly believes that unless this prelim- 1 Inary were performed, his prayers and sacrifices would be wasted for the lack bf a god to hear and receive them. The Idea had its origin in an ancient use, very similar to our own, of bells for notifying worshipers of the proper time for service, but of this fact the Chinaman of the>present day knows nothing; he rings the bell because everybody else does, and because as far back as any one can remember, the bell has been rung for thia purpose, and that is quite enough. Speaking of prayer and praying, however, perhaps the most peculiar method ever in vogue in the pagan world is that which is practiced by millions of people in India, Thibet, Chinese Tartary. and China at the present day. The Buddhists hare many prqyers. but of them all none is supposed to have the virtue of one simple sentence, Om mani padmi hum. “The jewel in the Lotus. Amen.” These words are constantly on the lips of the devotees of this faith. The laborer at his toil, the merchant in his store, the traveler on the way, all repeat this mystic supplication; not always aloud, but even when mentally engaged,.-their lips keep up a mechanical^motion as the praying goes on; for the belief ieaupiversal that the greater the numbertimes this sentence is repeated the greater the benefit. A few huijpred years ago. however, some impatient (genius, finding his tongue too •low, conceived the idea that the thing could be done in another way. so he invented a mechanical device to further his devotions. It consisted of a woolen cylinder about 1% inches in diameter and 2 j in height At the middle of one end a ' staple was .inserted, to which a eord 6 to 10 inches long was fastened, the other end being made fast to a rounded piece of wood of convenient size and shape to be held in the hand. The cylinder, was ; hollow and contained a roll of thin parchment. <>n which this prayer was written several hundreds of times. The handle was taken andthe<rftnder was revolved, •n the theory that kt each revolution all

' the prayers written .on tha, jmrehment within it were repeated.'priest* in* I stantly perceived the working value of the model and pfprqptly uaotjpjiolized the manufacture of fho prayer cylinders, deriving therefronf ho’ |mail ifetiefit in the way of revenue/ In'some parts of India the use of these, cylinders is almost universal, nine out <if ten of the men met by the way revolving their cylinders as they walk or ride. The idea was soon found capable of extension; for, the priests reasoned, if praying could be done with a small cylinder, why not with a large one. So great cylinders, havifig a diameter of 5 to 6 feet and a height* of 7 to 8, were prepared, loaded with 'prayers, a crank was fitted np, by which they could be turned, they were set up in the temple, and any one, by the payment of a small fee, was allowed to turn the machine a certain length of time. The result was a grand success, for the

AN INDIAN MODE OF BURIAL.

people soon came to learn that by the payment of a fee they would be able to pray more in five minutes than they could hope to do all their lives in any other way, and the incomes of the temples waxed great and the priests grew fat, for wealthy men, well able to pay, "but unwilling to work at the wheel, sent their servants to do the turning, looking in occasionally to see that the job was being properly done. The wheels were kept going day and night, and the demand for them became so much greater than the supply that another improvement resulted. A monastery in Thibet was situated beside a mountain stream, luid it occurred one day to the priests thatlt would be a good idea to rig up the prayer wheels with a water-power attachment, let the water do the turning, and credit one who paid money into the treasury with so much time of the wheel. The idea was found to be both brilliant and practical; a water wheel was made, the prayer wheels placed in position over it, the apparatus was set in motion, to the immense satisfaction of everybody concerned. The people were satisfied because they could do their praying with far greater ease, having only to pay and not to work; the priests were content, for all the time of the wheels was fully taken up, and sometimes rich devotees paid in sujpg so large ns to engage the services of the wheels for years at a time. Thus it is that in North India, Thibet and China to-day water wheels are at work day and night, grinding out jirayers for the people. The question of revenue is thus seen to play a very important part in heathen temples, and the wits of the priests of Buddha are often racked to the utmost to provide wherewithal Co carry on the business. In some temples of South India the intelligence of the elephafit is utilized to raise funds, and on great festivals an elephant, trained to the work, goes to and fro among the worshipers, holding a basket with his trunk and soliciting contributions from the faithful. He gets something from everybody, too, for he has a truculent way of presenting the basket that intimates to the devout that the sooner they disburse the better it will be for them. Some years ago a number of English and American clergymen were visiting a temple in Benares, when the elephant deacon was making hi* rounds, and he stopped before them holding out the basket with a significant grunt. They were loath to give anything, but at the request of the guide, who warned them that the beast might be troublesome, every one* got out his pocket-book. It was the only time in their lives that any , of them ever contributed to the revenues

of a heathen temple, but then an elephant collector has not the urbanity of a church deacon, and his trunk has a persuasive flourish about it that will draw rupees from the most reluctant. Some of the most singuar customs of paganism relate to death and burial. In Africa, even at the present day, human sacrifices are commonly practiced by some tribes of the interior. Save on rare occa-

sions, they do not sacrifice their own people, bnFcaptives taken in war, and wars are frequently waged, not so much for conquest as to obtain victims for sacrifice Volumes have been written about the human sacrifices of Dahomey, and

PRAYER WHEELS IN THIBET.

though this nation is perhaps the worst in this respect, there are others where this form of worship is extensively carried on Very frequently, the bodies of the victims are oaten, but in many cases, the unfortunate wretches are butchered, simply that their blood may be offered to the hideous images that stand in the temple inclosures. In India, the pagan native deems himself peculiarly happy if he can die on or near the sacred river. Before the days of British control, the dying were carried by their friends to the banks of the river and laid in the water. Frequently they were taken out in boats to the middle of the river, and then thrown over to drown. These practices were in great measure stopped by British authority, but in secluded places they are said to be still carried on, though to a necessarily limited extent. Burning the dead in India has never been interfered with r by the Government, though the suttee, or burning widows, on the funeral pyres I of their husbands, was long ago abolished i by the interposition of law. Perhaps the most peculiar burial rites j are those of the Chinese, who, in their I funerals, nre as odd as in most of their i other customs. A Chinese funeral is mini- ' aged strictly with a view to cheating the devil, who is understood to lie in wait near the residence of the defunct CelesI tial for the purpose of carrying off his soul. Just before the departure of the funeral cortege from the house a considerable quantity of firecrackers is set off in front of the residence, together with a peculiar variety of smoky pyrotechnics, and under cover of the smoke thus made the bier is raised and the carriers leave the house in a smart trot. They go up the street a short distance, then suddenly turn into a cross street or alley and stop and yell, more fireworks are burned, and after a pause of a few moments the funeral march, or rather trot, is resumed. Kitnning, turning short, and halting, together with fireworks and yelling, finally bring the cortege to the place of burial, but the cemetery is never entered through the gate, but through a gap In the hedge or fence or hole in the wall, and, after more fireworks and yelling, the body is finally interred. The cause of this singular procedure is this. It is well understood that the devil, although in some respects shrewd, cannot see very well, nor can he turn without a great deal of difficulty, bis joints and muscles being so arranged that while he can travel like a race horse as long as he goes in a straight line, a good deal of time and effort is necessary when he wants to turn a corner. So the fireworks are let off at the hor.se in order to blind him, and when the smoke is sufficiently (letise to obfusiute his vision the procession starts, leaving him watching at the door. Of course, in a little while he discovers how he has been Tricked and starts after it on a rim, but when the first corner is turned he is unable to stop, and so shoots on ahead. The same bad luck attends him for several turns, and after repeated experiences of this kind he gives up the hunt in disgust. goes on to the cemetery and sits down nt the gate to await his prey. Right her- the Celestials are too smart for him, and. by avoiding the gate, always manage to have the burial over before he finds <sit what is going on. It may seem strange that the Old Boy does not learn better, and. considering the fact that several millions of the almond-eyed are annually spirited out of his reach by the same means, it really seems that he ought to be aware of the means adopted to deceive him. but. as Chinese proverbial lore expresses it. "the devil never learns by experience,” which is a full explanation of the whole situation. The same contempt of the devil’s stupidity is seen in a peculiar burial custom among some of our aboriginal tribes of Indians, who formerly elevated the bodies of their dead on poles from a belief that the eyes Of the evil one were so placed in his head that he looked always downward, and, of course, the bodies being above him, he might pass under and never see them. In all heathen mythological lore, though many peculiar superstitions are found, the origin of which is lost in antiquity, there is perhaps nothing more curious than these methods by which Chinese and the American Indians cheat the enemy of mankind.

Sol Smith Russell relates some funny experiences with ambitious amateurs. While he was playing in Chicago Harry Hamlin, the manager of the theater at which he appeared, begged him as a personal favor to give one of his feminine friends a chance. Mr. Russell assented to this and gave her an oppor-

DEATH ON THE GANGES.

tunity to interpret a role for nothing. She was very bad in the part, but the climax came when Mr. Russell had to utter a soliloquy before an open window. To his surprise the young woman made her appearance through this window instead of through the door, thus ruining the scene. She never played again. Next night Mr. Russell, still amiable, tried another one of Mr. Hamlin’s friends. All went well until she had to exclaim: "Oh, I have lost my husband's love.” Perhaps it was stage fright, perhaps a lapsus linguae, but at any rate, she remarked, in tear-drench-ed tones: "Ah. I have lost my husband’s gloves." That broke Mr. Russell up. He was the husband, and his gloves, as a rule, with their finger holes and general dilapidation, are the joys and amusement of the profession.

It seems strange that a child's mind should be infallibly attracted to the naughty rather than to the nice. A year or so ago I took Ethel and barold to see the play of “Little Lord Fauntleroy.” I rashly fancied that the example of the little hero’s gentleness and goodness would have a fine effect upon my little relatives. The day after the performance I overheard Ethel and Harold say “Bully for you,” and "Cheese it. Cully,” with an alarming ease and frequency. “Where did you hear such expressions?” I cried, only to receive the answer, “Why, at’ ’Little Lord Fauntleroy.’ Don’t you remember? Dick, the bootblack, talked like that’i

A Sol Smith Russell Story.

A Lesson Misapplied.

MORE WAR TARIFFS.

INCONSISTENT WORK FOR THE CHRISTMAS SEASON. A Sad Commentary on the Spread of Lofty Doctrines Preached from Thousands of Pulpits—One Republican Senator Who Favor Freer Trade. Had Better Gone Home. Instead of adjourning as usual for the Christmas holidays, a time for the universal celebration of the message: “Peace on earth, good-will towards men," the Republican House of Representatives remained iu session at Washington for the purpose of preparing a high-tariff bill. Luder the pretense of desiring to raise more revenue for public expenses in event of a foreign war, the McK : nleyites who misrepresent the people iu Congress have hurriedly constructed a protectionist measure which they have rushed through the House. Although not in all respects so bad as the iufanious tariff of 1890, which the Democrats repealed iu 1894, the bill is practically a restoration of that trade-prohibiting law. A horizontal raise of 15 per cent, in duties all along the line, will effectually shut out the goods which foreign nations are anxious to send us in ex-' change for our surplus products. It is a sad commentary on the spread of the lofty doctrines preached in hundreds of thousands of pulpits at the time, that the people’s representatives should be engaged in trying to enact laws so much at variance with the gospel of peace and good-will. That all mankind are brothers; that the boundaries of nations are but artificial lines; that war between two countries is as hateful as between two individuals; that the best interests of men everywhere are united by common ties; that all races and peoples should be friendly and helpful, this Is the lesson of Christmas. But the McKinleyites hold a different faith. They believe that it is the duty of each nation to be as exclusive as possible; that men should look upon their neighbors who live across the boundary line of a political division, as enemies to be hated and punished; that the foreigner should not be allowed to trade with us, and that the Ideal state of society would be one in which laws were shaped so as to inflict the greatest possibly injury on the commerce of outside countries. Acting on these principles they now seek to shut out imports by high taxes, and thus to establish a policy which breeds isolation, jealousy and distrust, instead of free intercourse and mutual confidence. That the threatened Increase of tariff duties cannot possibly become law, owing to the President’s steadfast opposi- ’ tion to protectionist theories, does not lessen the unchristian spirit of the men and party who are responsible for them. They are willing and anxious to check civilization, hinder human development, and delay the coining of universal peace and prosperity, for the sake of narrow partisanship and the spoils of office. If the people are wise they will at the next election put it beyond the power of these mischiefmakers to carry out the schemes which they now advocate.

The Free Port Project. Senator Frye of Maine has introduced Into the Senate a bill which authorizes the establishment of a free port at Fort Pond Bay, a harbor on the extreme eastern end of Long Island, N. Y. The bill provides for what will practically be a great government bonded warehouse, with facilities for operating factories within its walls, under the supervision of the United States Treasury authorities. Vessels entering and leaving this port will be free from tonnage dues, from entrance and clearing fees, and from any harbor master’s fees due under State laws. Foreign merchandise may transshipped in the port, or landed upon the piers, without being entered or specially bonded, and imported materials may be manufactured for exportation by the factories within the limits of the port. The final section of the bill authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, under like circumstances and conditions, to establish similar free ports at any other suitable places in the United States. Should the bill become law there is no doubt but that the novel experiment, for this country, of a free port would speedily be tried. Eminent capitalists have already expended considerable money on a railroad to Fort Pond Bay. and have purchased large tracts of land to be used as sites for docks, warehouses, and factories. An excellent harbor and broad deep channels to the open sea Insure the safety of vessels entering the port The advantages to the shipping interests, and the import and export trades, would soon make Fort Pond a center of commerce, and its success would be followed by the establishment of many similar ports. That any changes in our tariff system which makes it easier to and export goods will be greatly beneficial to the country, is beyond question. Democrats will therefore favor the project for free ports, as a long step toward the ideal condition of perfect freedom for vessels to come and go as they please, without toll or tax. bringing such goods as we need and carrying our products to every shore. But it is certainly very inconsistent for a protectionist Senator to aid in extending facilities for foreign trade. Only a few years ago this same Senator Frye stated before the Home Market Club that “we import annually $700,000,000 worth of goods, all of which could and should be made in this country.” Now he appears in Congress to urge a measure which will encourage the Importation of the hated foreign products. Which is right, the Senator Frye who wants to totally exclude the goods of other countries by a high-tariff wall, or the Senator Frye who tvants to establish free ports where foreign goods can be landed, stored or manufactured,more easily than under the present system? Is it not the general opinion of all business men that the latter is the more sensible policy ? Buzzards for Pottery Workers, Ex-Representative Buchanan, of New Jersey, who is in Washington, has felt it necessary to explain his presence at the national capital: “I came to eat Christmas turkey with my sis-ter-in-law.” But Mr. Buchanan took occasion to add, in an incidental way: “While I am here I shall see what can

be done to restore the duty”—meaning the duty on pottery. From which it would seem that the pottery interests would like to feast on turkey all the year round, leaving to the consumer the less nutritious fare of buzzard.— Philadelphia Record. CLEARED HIS CLIENT. How a Western Lawyer Overcame the Preponderance of Kvidence. ‘•My first case,” said a well-known attorney, "wag the defense of a negro preacher in Missouri who had been arrested for stealing wood from a railroad company. A great deal of fuel had been lost from time to time, so when the culprit was arrested the company was so anxious to make an example of him that it employed special counsel and prosecuted the case vigor, ously. The evidence against the old man was convincing. lie had been seen sneaking around the woodpile and was arrested while carrying off a load. “I had subpoenaed about twenty wellknown business men to testify to the previous good character of the defendant. When the prosecution’s case was (dosed I put one on the stand and asked: “.‘Do you know the defendant’s reputation for honesty and integrity?’ “ ‘Yes,’ was the answer. “ ‘What is it—good or bad?’ “ ‘Bad. He will steal anything he can get his hands on.’ “A titter ran through the court room. It wasn’t the answer I nad expected, but it was too late, so I put on a bold front and called another. He testified as the other witness had, and tlie prosecuting attorney rubbed his hands with satisfaction. Before I got through with my witnesses I 'proved that tny client was a most notorious thief, who was never known to neglect an opportunity to steal something, no matter how trifling it might be. Then I called a couple of physicians, proved the existence of a mental disorder known as kleptomania, read some authorities to show that it was a good defense if proved, and submitted my case. The old preacher was acquitted, and thereafter stole with impunity, for he considered his acquital in the face of facts equivalent to a license to steal.” —San Francisco Call.

Wilson Bill in the Sonth. In his speech against the proposed tariff bill Mr. Underwood, of Alabama, said: “It has been contended on the floor of the House that the Wilson bill has caused great loss to our manufacturing interests throughout the country and loss of work to those persons engaged in manufacturing in this country. As far as the district that I represent is concerned, the opposite has been the case. During the summer of 1894, before the repeal of the McKinley tariff bill, a large majority of the manufacturers in the Birmingham district were “out blast” and a large number of men were out of employment. After the repeal of the McKinley bill and the enactment of the Wilson bill, during the fall of 1894 and the winter of 1895, the furnaces in the Birmingham district commenced to go into blast, until at the present day instead of there being a large number of men out of employment all of the furnaces of this district are in operation except six, and four of these six are prevented from going Into operation by reason of litigation in which they became Involved prior to the enactment of the Wilson bill. Instead of a reduction of wages, as is claimed by the Republican members on the floor of this House, the wages of the laborers employed in the coal mines, iron ore mines and furnaces in the Birmingham district have been increased 25 per cent. These are facts and not theories, and go to show that where manufacturing industries are located at advantageous points a protective tariff is not necessary for their prosperity.” Not the Time for Tariff Revision. As was to be expected, pressure is being brought to bear upon the House Ways and Means Committee to traverse the entire tariff law for the purpose of satisfying various interests preferring tariff for protection. Chairman Dingley and his committee should not suffer this pressure to alter their already designed scheme. This is not the time for general tariff revision. It may be that if the executive, the Senate and the House were of the same way of thinking on political economy the law might be reviewed not only for increasing duty at some point" but for lowering it perhaps at others. Whatever effect a deliberate reconsideration of the subject might have under other circumstances, this Is not the time for tariff revision. The country wants rest and peace. Business is already showing confident reaction and steady revival. Manufacturers, merchants and farmers do not desire to start out in a new year apprehensive of radical changes in the customs. Trade and production are both accustomed now to the existing schedules, and to provoke irritation would be the chief result of opening up a tariff debate which, while wasting Congress’ time, would inevitably be futile in the end.—Chicago Times-Herald. Iron Workers Happy. The Iron Age of De*. 28 has an article summing up the i year .1895—the greatest year for the iron industry ever kfaown. After mentioning some of the unsatisfactory features it says: “Those who have least cause to complain, among all interested in the iron and steel trades, are the workingmen, who received substantial advances In wages and were better employed than for several years.” It was not the iron workers who asked Reed and Dingley to increase duties on Imported goods. An If and a Why. If a tax on wool to secure the vote of Ohio is a good thing, regardless of the best Interests of our manufacturing industries, why is it not a good thing to tax hides as a means of securing the votes of Montana, Idaho and the other cow-punching sovereignties of the great sage-brush region?—New York World. New Style of Corset. The latest ideas in the way of stays are those which lace up in front Instead of the back. They are said to be much better for a weak back, and also have the advantage of making the waist look much smaller than the old Style. |

FACTS FOR FARMERS.

HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS FOR THE AGRICULTURISTS. Various Styles of Protected Drain Outlets—An Inexpensive Shelter for the Pigs—Value of Ginseng as a Crop A Convenient Milk Stool. Protecting Tile Outlets. Unless special care is taken to protect the outlet of a tile drain, there is danger of its being more or less injured. If it is in the pasture, stock tramping about it are liable to crowd the tile out of place or break them. Where land washes very easily, heavy rains will frequently displace them. It is also sometimes desirable to so close the opening in the drain that muskrats, rabbits and other vermin cannot enter it during a dry time and build an obstruction. Several such devices are illustrated in the cut. Outlet D is particularly suited to a tile which has its opening in the bank of a creek or ditch some distance from the bottom. It is merely a wall of stone or brick laid in cement. This protection prevents the-washing away of earth from about the outlet or a displacement of tile or earth by freezing. Where stone is abundant, this style of an outlet is as practical as any and more substantial than many others. Outlet C consists of a wooden box made of 2-inch hard wood, open at one end, which is slipped over the end of the drain. At the outer end a door, binged at the top, is so arranged that the water can readily flow out, but noth-

VARIOUS STYLES OF DRAIN OUTLETS.

Ing can go up the tile. A similar box outlet, E, is square at the outer end, over which iron rods are secured or a piece of strong wire netting is fastened. Outlet Fis simply a tile with holes in the top and bottom through which iron rods are passed. Trapdoor outlet A is a tile to the opening of which a circular piece of galvanized sheet iron is so attached that the water can pass out, but the entrance of any foreign matter is prevented. Outlet B is similar with a square tile for the end.— Farm and Home. A Chinese Sacred Root. Ginseng is the fleshy root of a perennial herb, native to the middle and northern United States and Canada, but found-far sonth on mountains. It grows in rieh soil and shady situations, its root being from four to nine inches long and bearing a simple stem about a foot high, carrying three tive-dlvisioned leaves and terminating in an umbel of Inconspicuous greenish white flowers which are succeeded by a small ber-ry-like red fruit. It has a peculiar and rather pleasant smell and a sweet, somewhat pungent, aromatic taste. European and American doctors consider it almost worthless as a remedy, but the Chinese regard it as a general panacea, so much so that its use will doubtless greatly increase with the larger supply and lower prices. It übounds-back of Kingston, Ont., whole-

A GINSENG PLANT.

saling at $1 per pound and retailing at $5. A' practical floriculturist says that Es the trade is to be preserved, care will lave to be taken to prepare the root properly and not dig it up indiscriminately, as the root does not reach any great size in one season, but takes years to develop. It should be dug in the fall when the roots are heaviest and command the best price. Cows in Winter. Cows need but little exercise in winter. If the weather is pleasant they can be turned out every day, but whenever It is so cold that they will stand and Bhjver when turned out, the best place fdt them is in the stables, where it is reasonably comfortable, says the Ohio farmer. If care is taken to keep the stables clean and to supply plenty of good feed and water, the cows may be kept under shelter all through the winter without detriment, and; in nearly all cases, will give more milk than if and exposed to the cold' and storms. But either let the cows go dry and winter them largely on bay or good roughage, or else armake them comfortable, and feed sufficiently liberal to maintain a good flow pf milk during the winter, as half feeding a milch cow is never profitable. Second Growth Timber. The scattering trees that grow up by roadsides and in fence corners are usually much tougher wood than trees of the same variety that grew up in the original forest. Exposure to sunlight and severe winds is what toughens the fibers of such trees. Oaks and hickories that have grown up in this way are especially valuable, as they are mostly valued for their toughness. It will pay farmers who have such timber to make Inquiries, and with a little trouble they can probably find a good market for It. Lime in Food for Fowls. Laying hdns require lime to produce the shell, but it is not always best to feed the lime separately. Some kinds of food are rich in lime, as wheat and peas. Where these are given no extra lime will be needed and none win be

eaten. Cora U very deficient In lime, and if fed exclusively the egg sheila will be thin and fowls will get in the habit of eating their eggs. Besides, corn is too concentrated food, and does not give bulk enough in proportion to its nutrition. Clover is rieh in lime, and if cut in fine pieces It will be eaten by fowls In considerable quantties. It also aids the digestion of less bulky food. Making the Pigs Comfortable. On many farms the hogs are kept in pens in one end of a large shed, or other building that is likely to be cold in winter, even though the walls may be secure against the entrance of wind. Growth cannot be expected when an, animal is suffering from the cold. If

INEXPENSIVE SHELTER FOR PIGS.

the hogpen cannot be made warm, one may at least build such a place as is suggested in the accompanying sketch. In one earner of the pen Is built a small box-like affair, just large enough for the pigs to get into and He down. A swinging door is provided, and in this small enclosure the heat from the animals’ bodies will keep the air very comfortable. This plan has been tried in a cold building with great success. Peach Culture in Cold Climates. Webb Donnell stated recently that “it is not the severe cold of winter which injures peach trees so much as freezing after the sap has begun to stir in the spring.” I belteve,' says B. F. Ferris, in the Agriculturist, if this were the case Southern Missouri trees would be as liable to Injury as those from Northern lowa. If not, why not? All fruit trees in Missouri have to pass through as much freezing as those in lowa, and there is as much or more thawing and freezing following a mild winter as there is after a severe one. Still, our fruit trees are in better condition after a mild winter t.l?an after a cold one. lowa is now raising many peaches, not because we have had lees severe changes during late years, but because varieties have been produced which will stand more severe cold weather, and further because of lato our winters have been mild. Sunscald may be caused by a sudden cold snap after the sap has started, and I think this is the case. But black-hearted trees are caused by low temperatures in midwinter. A Handy Milk Stool. The seat of the stool shown in the accompanying illustration is made of a one inch board twelve inches wide and sixteen inches long. The two front

MILK STOOL.

legs are made of inch boards; the other is a round piece of wood. A hoop on the front end holds the pajl In position, while a projection on one of the front legs prevents it from slipping down. Alaike Hay. Alslke clover has generally a more spindling growth than the common red variety. It is therefore better hay for sheep and young stock, lyhlch will sometimes reject the coarse stems of clover that has grown teo rank and has fallen to the ground. The Alslke clover is little likely to do this. But the plants grow so closely together that the stems make nearly, or quite as much feed, and generally of better quality. Digestibility of Apples. There is great difference in the digestibility of different kinds of apples. Some are very rich with hard and solid pulp, while others are juicy and digest easily. The Spltzenberg apple has a very fine flavor, but it cannot be eaten by some who can eat at will of varieties like the Fameuse. Most of the sweet apples are hard to digest. Even when cooked they are tough and do not break down as sour apples will. Roses. When cold weather comes bind the trunks of rose bushes with £traw and mulch around them also. They will respond next season with more than the usual number of roses.

One of England’s Fleets.

Great Britain has one fleet (now at Constantinople) made up as follows: Ramillles, flagship of the Mediterranean squadron, a first-dass battleship, of 14,150 tons displacement, 14 guns; the Hood, battleship, 14,150 tons, 14 guns; Trafalgar,, battleship, 11,490 tons, 10 guns; the Balfleur t battleship, 10,500 tons, 14 guns; Howe, battleship, 10,800 tons, 10 guns; Rodney, battleship, 10,300 tons, 10 guns; the Collingwood, battleship, 9,500 tons, 10 guns; Hawk, cruiser, 4,360 tons, 10 guns; Arethusa, cruiser, 4,300 tons, 10 guns; Vulcan, torpedo depot ship, 6,620 tons, 8 guns; Sybille, cruiser, 8,400 tons, 8 guns; Ham, cruiser, 1,830 tons, 6 guns; Surprise, dispatch vessel, 1,650 tons, 4 guns; Dryad, gunboat, 735 tons, 2 guns; Ship Jack, gunboat, 735 tons, 2 guns; and the Ardent, torpedo boat destroyer, 6 guns. The list comprises nineteen vessels, exclusive of torpedo boats, of which nine are first-class battleships. The fleet carries 160 heavy guns, without Including the lighter caliber rapid-firing guns, of which there are a large number on all the ships.— Boston Post The Marquis of Tching, Ambasador of China to France, accompanied by his little daughter; attends 6 o’clock mass every Sunday morning in the Church of St. Honore d’Eylau, in Paris. I The Princesses of the English royai family have, on the average, married at the age of 22; the princes at 28. Scientists predict that in a century’s time there will be no disease that Is not curable. One of the best helps toward heaven 1s a good mother.