Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1910 — Page 2

FOX HUNTING WITH EAGLES AS ENJOYED BY THE SEMI-WILD KIRGHIZ NOMADS.

ENTRAL ASIA is doubtless the home of ■ I falconry. There is no mention of the popI ular sport among the Romans until after the time of Vespasian, but it is known to have been practiced by them as early as the fourth century. From that time until a comparatively recent date this exhilarating sport was in great favor throughout Great Britain and Europe. In England falconry died out as a popular sport during the time of the Stuarts, so that by the end of the seventeenth, century little attention was given it. , In France falconry was most practiced in the first half of the sixteenth century, especially during the time of Francis 1. 1 His grand falconer had a yearly revenue of 4,000 florins, or nearly $2,000. Under his direction there were fifty gentlemen and the same number of falconers, the whole establishment costing that monarch about |20,000. While this is a rather modest sum, as we view those things to-day. It seems the French King thought he was keeping up this royal sport in a royal way. By the time Louis XIV. ascended the throne of France the institution had become really quite expensive. Louis XVI. tried' in vain to reduce the expense of maintaining the royal falconry. It remained for the Revolution to sweep it away in France. In Germany falconry retained its existence as a popular and national sport until near the close of the eighteenth century. It was also a favorite pastime In Italy and other countries of Europe. In Asia the Persians developed great skill in the art, training falconers to hunt all manner of birds, and even many of the smaller animals of that region, such as the gazelle. Doubtless this Is due in great measure to the fact that this sport had its origin in that part of the world. Old prints and engravings depicting the sport as practiced in England give one little idea of the spirit with

OUR PATENT SYSTEM FAULTY.

Sixty Per Cent ot Issues Are Valueless, In Whole or Part. "We are handing out to-day, in 60 per cent of the cases, patents that are almost worthless, in whole or in part,” was the declaration made by Commissioner of Patents Moore at a hearing before the House committee on patents, the Washington Star says. “No other country does that,” he added. ‘‘We are away back in that matter. We have been asleep. Germany has a vastly superior system to ours. So has Great Britain. I have been over there three times to investigate conditions in Europe. We are trying to build up this system so that it will be worth something. “It is unwieldy now and if not braced in many directions it will fall of its own weight. The German pat ents are better, because their applications are mqre thoroughly searched before patents are granted, owing, of course, to the better facilities afforded by the German patent office.. The German patent is regarded as of greater validity because they have the facilities for searching as to novelty. Their examination exhausts everything and Germany is thus enabled to guarantee the novelty of the invention; the government makes that guaranty of the patent, throwing the burden of proof on the infringer. The board of examiners in chief Is a judicial body and passes upon a great quantity of cases, where large monetary interests are at work. I could cite you many cases where influences are brought to bear. 1 have been approached. There is hardly a day passes that some sort of influence is not brought to bear upon some one in our office, upon me, and, I suppose. every commissioner has felt the same thing." X 7== ===== : — Commissioner Moore was advocating proposed legislation to amend the patent laws and practices.

KING OF TRAMPS.

After Girdling Globe O Times Frank Clark Warns of the Wanderlust. Frank Clark, king of tramps* arriving in Chicago after completing his elxth trip around the world, says he has traveled 300,000 miles. He walked 265,000 of that) distance, riding 35.000 miles in the United States and Canada without the payment of one cent fare He exhibits newspaper clippings and other credentials in support of his claim, Clark says: I am a hobo by choice and am the king of tramps. In- .my twenty-two years’ travels I have visited every nook and corner of the world, and have circled the globe six times. The wanderlust was proved a curse tb me. It seized hold of me when I was a ragged newsboy on the Bowery in New York. I joined the navy that I might not turn to tramping the universe. But >t was too tame, and when I was 24 years old I began to roam. 6inee then I have been constantly on the go, just a plain everyday American hobo. I made it a study and became a professional tramp. Now I am an old

A THRILLING SPORT IN CENTRAL ASIA

man. My hair is tinged with gray, and I walk with a stoop. I am tired of it all. I am a failure in life. I never married. Sometimes I wonder if I could not have been a success in life had I tried. It all seems like a dream. But I am through tramping. I came back to America to die. Belated ambitions have lately sprung up in my breast and I want to satisfy them before I die. Maybe it is too late now. I fear it is. , Nothing I have done was worth while. I have been taking in the sights all my life. My experiences read like a yellow back novel, but they don’t bring me bread. I am lonely and tired of it all, and have no place to go. Any place is home to me. I have been imprisoned and .driven out of four countries. I have mingled with the scum of the earth. Women

Clark

tramps of Spain have been my companions one month, and I have associated with successful Americans abroad the next Too often for- my own good American consuls have come to- my-res-cue and have made me comfortable. Again I would go hungry for days. I learned to speak the language of every country in the world: at least I picked up enough to ask for lodging and food. I have been shot at, and beaten into insensibility by ruffians of foreign countries. * There are thousands of boys in the United States that have, this same craving to travel. To them I will jsay. Stay with your parents. Don't read yellow-back novels Go to school and study hard, and attend Sunday school. Wait until you can afford to travel before you begin to roam. Because: A tramp must sleep in barns.

which it is followed In Asia, even to this day. A picture showing the congregation leaving some fashionable New York City church on a pleasant Sunday afternoon would pass for a portrayal of real war just about as truthfully as those old prints showing the nobility going afield to indulge in a few hours of hunting with falcons represent the real sport as followed by the daring riders of Asia who indulge in this pastime. A glance at the accompanying illustration from the London News is conclusive evidence in support of that statement. One ean fairly see the movement, so truthfully has the artist handled his subject. It requires no stretch of imagination for one to feel that in such riding there is the . thrill that courses through one’s being from a keen sense of ever-present danger. Here one sees no ambling palfrey burdened with lady fair, nor over-fat charger bearing a knight in silken armor; and the difference is , quite noticeable, indeed. Another noticeable feature brought out in the illustration is that the natives of those regions not only use hawks and falcons, but they train eagles for the purpose of pursuing such game as the gazelle, the fox and even the wolf. The Kirghiz nomads of Central Asia are keen sportsmen who highly prize these magnificent birds and the sport they give. During part of the year this sport forms their chief amusement. The men ride out in company and beat the country for a fox, their favorite quarry. The hunt is short, but the excitement is intense. As soon as the quarry is sighted the eagle is unhooded and thrown. A mad rush follows—eagles, dogs and men on their wildly racing steeds. The eagle “stoops” at the fox in efforts to turn it. When successful, the dogs rush in and pull the quarry down. The weight of these birds is very great, and on the saddle can be seen the wooden perch which the falconer uses to support his arm when carrying an eagle on his fist.

Often he must go hungry. He may dress in rags. He is likely to fall into evil ways. He may be a drunkard or burglar. He must chop wood. No one has any respect for him. He loses interest in life, and may decide life is not worth living. There are scores of other reasons why boys should not be tramps. Last of all, I point to .myself as a reason why a boy should not be a hobo. If you have the wanderlust, overcome it before you are lost.

LAWYER A MODERN INNOVATION

Evolution from the Crude and Bar. barous Rulings of the Powerful. In the more primitive times the man was the head of all family relations; his wife, his children, his servants, were his to do with as he would. If a babe was deformed, sickly or a girl where he wanted a man-child, he had only to say the word and it was slain or exposed to the elementa and wild beasts. Later kings arose, and when such an one ruled a tribe or nation “whom he 'would he slew, and whom he would he kept alive.” Suspicion in the king s mind meant death, swift when merciful and lingering through untold torments when kingly hatred or policy so decreed. In due time the priest became at times superior to patriarchal prince and kingly tyrant and claimed his human sacrifices to appease the outraged gods. Not only the criminal and the captive enemy perished. “In Ur of the Chaldees,” when Abram left the city with his childless wife Sar-ai, both doubtless rejoiced in their hearts that no man-child of theirs had gasped out its budding life on the altar of Hurki, the relentless moon god. Under systems so crude and cruel man lived subjected to strong thieves and slaying mercilessly brute and man who lessened by fraud or force his limited substance. From a general paucity of necessities and luxuries and the ease of escape beyond the reach of post or pursuit, arose the Draconian laws, which put to death millions of human beings for crimes that to-day are petty offenses indeed. Naturally this “king’s justice” was an inquisitiofi and not a trial, decided not on abstract rules and Icarefully weighed evidence, but by whatever rude justice, mercy, policy or favor might rule the royal mind or judge’s reason for the time. Execution followed fast upon sentence, and when the Assyrian’s face was covered and he was led forth he knew that bitter torture or sudden death was close at hand. Whoever .questioned the justice of the king or the decision of judge or priest might be a brave man, but seldom survived the resentment of his judges. Therefore the lawyer is a modern innovation.

A Little Scheme of Hers.

Ella—Why do you let him call you by your first name? Stella —I want to encourage him to help me get rid of my last name.— Judge.

CARP PROTECTED IN OHIO.

Catch from Lake Erie Netted the Flihermeu *2,000,000. The much-despised German carp of •G years ago has come into his own, »ays the Columbus News. Last year there were 7,000,000 ■ pounds of carp caught In Lake Erie nd the tributary rivers, which brought n the handsome sum of $2,000,000 to -he lucky fishermen. Twenty years ago the carp was despised by all fishermen and a bill was introduced in the legislature to pay a royalty for its extermination. Now a bill has been passed to protect him. It was made a fine jy the present legislature of Ohio to iatch carp under ten inches in length and the fishermen who undertake to market carp under that length are liable to be haled before a court of justice and heavily fined. This law, however, applies only to Lake Erie and the rivers which flow into it. Carp that are to be found in other streams in Ohio have been found to lack the size of the lake fish. The German carp, which is the only carp to be found in the state, was first Introduced in Ohio 25 years ago, and his development was slow. It took several years for him to become acclimated to the waters of the rivers and lakes, and only in Lake Erie and its contributing waters has he ever developed into a marketable product. He has been found to be a prolific breeder and in the last four of five years has become one of the most important commercial fish along the lake front. This bill just passed by the legislature also has reduced the size of white bass, perch and other fish that may be marketed, it having been found that net fishing is materially reducing the production of fish of all kinds.

SHORT METER SERMONS.

Join in the child’s games. Solve his doubts. Answer his questions. Become a child again.—Rev. M. C. Peters, Baptist, New York City. He is rich indeed who, like Enoch of old, through his growing and his de. dining years, walks with God. —Rev. J. E. Price, Methodist, New York City. The church has tod largely centered 'ts attention on doctrines, and too littL’ on personal and social righteousness.—Rev. W. H. Foulkes, Presbyterian, Portland, Ore, Never were there so many opportunities given to women as now, and never were there so many avenues of opportunity open to them. —Rev. W. W. Bustard, Baptist, Boston, Mass. That man is greatest who can draw most readily on all the stored wisdom of the past, who can utilize whatevw he has ever learned at a moment’s tice. —Rev. A. P. Brown, Baptist, Fresno, Cal. Imagination will construct a God out of its own impressions. He will be bigger than a man, wiser than a man, but all in the terms cf a man. — Rev. F. S. Spalding, Episcopalian, Salt Lake City. The miser is the most miserable ot men. What.he prizes becomes worthless. It neither ministers to his own comfort nor to the welfare of others. —Rev. Statom, Presbyterian, Coeur D’Alene, Idaho. Theology is born of the brain of man. It deals with dogma, creed and ceremonials, and is powerless to influence the life of man to bring it into harmony with the Divine. —Rev. W. P. Lyon, True Life Church, San Jose, Cal. When a man is tempted downward, he ought to stop and think. If some selfish consideration entices him toward the abyss, he should wait for the saber second thought.—Rev. Newell Dwight Hillis, Congregationalist, Brooklyn. Facts without principles are lumber without nails, stones without mortar, materials without a plan, body without life. Facts become science when arrayed in the order of principles.— Rev. F. J. Van Horn, Congregationalist, Seattle. The only guarantee of good conduct we require of she men who are called to positions of public trust is an oath to perform their duties faithfully. An oath is an appeal to God as witness and as judge.—Rev. J. F. Carson, Presbyterian, Brooklyn. The truth is food for the human soul, by which it grows and becomes strong and noble. Truth is instrumental. It is through a knowledge of the truth that we find freedom and peace and strength—Rev. J. W. Rowlett, Unitarian, Atlanta. Gambling has been defined too exclusively in terms of the harm it does the other man. It has been made to consist wholly in injustice to your neighbor, the desire to worst him, the willingness to leave him in a worse condition than you found him. —Rev. Charles D. Williams, Episcopalian, Detroit.

Two Strange Coincidences.

A structure known as Stoodley Pike, which stands ninety yards high and is situated near Hebden bridge, England, has a remarkable history. It was juilt in 1814 to commemorate the peace of Ghent. Singular to relate, however, it fell on the very day that the Russian ambassador left England prior to the Crimean war. Rebuilt by public subscription, it withstood storm and rain for half a century, but on the same day that the British government issued itF ultimatum to the Boers it was struck by lightning and badly damaged. These unique coincidences have strangely perplexed local people. —Strand Magazine. Anyway, the wife of a worthless man is pretty well qualified to pose as chairman of a grievance committee.

REMINISCENCE OF THE GRIST MILL AND THE MILL BOY OF THE OLD DAYS.

HERE are but few men in the country that have reached the half-century mile stone on the highway from the cradle to the grave but have memories lingering around the old grist ■mmm* mill of their boyhood days, writes L. O. Emmerson in the Princeton (Ind.) Clarion-News. In their mind’s eye they see its steep roof and hear its “chew-chew”— and think that is just what the bldanill w*if doing wifa the corn and wheat that was pouring into its insatiable old grist mill with "wool carding” painted in big letters along its jtfde which might be read with ease a halfmile away, with closer inspecti(H( showing in smaller letters this sign near the entrance door, which all were expected to read: "Custom days Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Toll one-sixth for corn, one-eighth for wheat. First come, first served.” Here all the gossip of the country was exchanged for its kind. Here knives were swapped, either by inspection or'unsight or unseen? Horse swapping was also of common occurrence. On those “custom days” from early morn to dewey eve the crowd was coming and going, swapping and bantering. Did it happen to be a campaign year, politics was discussed by all except the miller, who was supposed to favor all sides and have nothing to say, and it was regarded as a breach of good breeding,to attempt to draw him into discussion. The milling was most often done by the boys of the family, ranging in age from 10 to 17 years. If anyone should inquire about the size of any certain boy, and was told that., he was big enough to go to mill, they would consider the answer satisfactory. When the family ineal barrel showed signs of exhaustion, a bag of corn would be selected the evening before some particular custom day, and at night after all the chores were done and the family was all indoors, 3 bed quilt would be spread out upon the floor and the corn poured thereon. Then the family would gather around and shell the corn upon the quilt, while the cobs would be thrown aside for use in the kitchen stove. Then the quilt would be gathered up, causing the corn to collect in the center, when it would be scooped into the’ bag and set aside till morning. Bright and early the next day it would be placed across the back of a horse with a boy mounted astride, and he would strike out for the nearest mill. Sometimes he would have to go five or six miles. The sign, “First' come, first served,” was strictly adhered to. Often he would be among the last to arrive and many times he would have to stay till dark for his grist, and then ride the lonely way home through woods and swamps in the darkBut all this was nothing to the day he had spent with the other mill boys, wrestling, jumping, playing ball and marbles, swapping knives and exchanging gossip for gossip, which he knew would be called for and listened to by all when he got home. A good supper would be waiting for him when he arrived at home at last, for of dinner he had had none. Mills quit grinding custom grists more than twenty years ago. In the old grist mill times when a boy came he was met by the miller at the platform in front of the mill door. The miller there took charge of the bag of grain, which he placed in a row of other bags, each in the order of its arrival. And when the last grain of any grist had disappeared down the hopper the miller would shout "Rake away!” This was the signal to the mill boy whose grist had been ground, and he must quickly rake all the meal in the meal box- to the end and not allow it to get mixed with the next grist, just poured into'the hopper. It was curious that people always supposed that the meal they got was ground from the same corn that they brought to the mill, when in fact it took several bushels of corn to fill the mill before any would run out. But they were satisfied and that was enough. Mills now buy your wheat and corn outright and sell you their meal and flour. The exchange is made at once, and you do not have to await your turn. No more do the mill boys congregate about the place. Going to mill has lost its charm; it is a lost art. We who have served our time must accept the customs and say farewell to the old grist mill, which, like ourselves, has seen its day.

THE FAMILY DOCTOR

Pellagra.

This is a disease which has long been known among the peasants of northern Italy, northern Spain and parts of southern France, but has only recently been discovered in this country. It is variously regarded as a skin disease and as a form of insanity, for it is in reality both; that is to say, there are skin eruptions and a disturbance of the mental faculties, both due to the same cause. The disease is at first remittent in character, that is to say, It has periods of remission—in “the winter —when the patient is apparently in his ordinary health; but each spring it returns worse than before, and so it goes on, with three steps forward and one backward, to a fatal; termination at the end of from three to five or six years. The eruption begins as a diffused redness or discolored patches, itching most distressingly, and is followed by a peeling of the epidermis ih the form of branny scales. It is most marked on the backs of the hands and feet, but may come on the body or legs as well. It begins in the spring and gets worse during the summer, but may nearly or quite disappear with the adtent of cold weather. The next spring it returns, and now there are digestive troubles added —pain and distress in the stomach after eating, diarrhoea, and often vertigo headache, and persistent ringing in the ears. In the winter these troubles again become less, but return In aggravated

form the next summer, and with them appear mental symptoms—delirium and profound melancholia. And’ sc the disease goes on until death puts an end to the patient’s sufferings. This description is that of the disease as it occurs in chronic ‘form in Jtaly. In this country it is apt to bt more acute and rapidly progressive without the winter remissions ot> served in the European cases. Pellagra occurs generally onlj among the very poor add those living under the most unhygienic conditions; but although poverty may predispose to the disease, its sole cause so far as known is the eating of diseased maize This grain trouble is a corn-smut, 3 fortn of mold which attacks the grain stored in damp places. The prevention is simple—the use of flour and meal made from good grain only; but ;in the conditions under which many of the Italian peasants live, this is not so easy as it sounds.—Youth’s Companion.

Slang Tabooed.

Slang is tabooed in the home of a West Philadelphia family principally because there is a bright little girl who displays a persistent aptitude in retaining expressive but uncultured phrases. The other evening at dinner the mother, father and daughter drifted into the vernacular and a fresh start was necessary. The little girl started It. “I’m not ptuhk on this bread" she remarked. “Maggie,” said her mother, “you want to cut that slang out." “That’s a peach of a way of correcting the child,” commented the father. “I know,” replied the mother, “but I just wanted to put her wise.”—Philadelphia Telegraph;~~“ ~

End of the Courtship.

“She referred me to her father." “And what did he say?” “H* said that was her way of letting undesirable suitors down easy and gave me a 5-cent cigar.” Louis. Ville Courier-Journal. ’ ' A widow and ner fortune are soon married.