Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 January 1898 — Page 2

HD USE FOR SORROWFUL SONG. Oh. 'what is the use of a sorrowful song? The world knows enough of sadness, (fares press wearily, troubles throng, Toil is bitter and grief is long, And" never is too much gladness. Oh, what is the use of a sorrowful song, i When we might sing one of thanksgiving ■ » ’ That never a soul is too d<?ep in wrong, PKough years are heavy and sin is strong, To climb to truest living! Oh, what is the use of a sorrowful strain brings but tears and grieving! There’s never a life so full of pain But hope ib some corner may bud again, g And bloom into sweet believing. Oh, what is the use of a sorrowful song That eases not one heart’s aching! The hearts that are happiest pass it along, For mirth is heedless and jay is strong; But it bides in the heart that is break- | ing.’ L-Detroit Free Press.

JERRY’S CHOICE.

“Now, see here, Jerry,” exclaimed Farmer Johnson to bis man of all work, “ye needn’t git oneasy Jest because old Podgers hez offered ye a dollar a month more’n I’m payin’ ye. I reckon I’ve got about ez much money an’ kin afford to pay ye about ez much ez Podgers kin or mebbe a little more. “Y»’r’ a fust-class worker, Jerry, I’ll admit that, an’ I don’t want ye to be gittin’ dissatisfied or thinkin’ of dlggln’ out, «o I’ll make a bargain wjth ye right now before we go any further. If ye stick to me an’ work ez well ez ye’ve bin workin’ right along fer the next two years, I’ll pay ye the same as Pod-

“WHAT D’YE SAY TO THAT, JERRY?”

gers offered ye, an ’at the end of the two years Hl give ye the best critter on the place. Yes, slrree, Jerry, ye kin Aahe yer pick of any critter on the bull place, from a sheep up to a horse, or even a gl-raffe or elephant, if I happen to have one of ’em on band when it eomes time to take yer choice. “What d’ye say to that, Jerry? Is it • bargain?” “I*ll do it,” answered Jerry Brant, quietly, “and there’s my hand to bind the bargain.” No further mention was made of the irargain between Jerry and his employer until they were seated*at the dinner table, later In the day, and then Mr. Johnson, with a merry twintie In his eyes, glanced across the table •t his better fraction, and said: “Well, mother, I had to discharge (Jerry an’ hire him over agin to-day." “You seem to be in very good humor ■bout It, so I judge the difference couldn’t have been very serious.” commented Mrs. Johnson, who used to be a Yankee schoolma'am before she married and therefore didn't handle the U. 8. dialect with the off-hand familiarity •f her husband. “Serious? Ye kin bet It is,” ejaculated Mr. Johnson. “Why, I've got to pay him a month more’n I did before, an’ at the etid of two years, if he stays right along, he's to have his pick out of the critthrs on the place to take ■long with him and keep for his own. I expect he'll take a horse, but I can’t help (J. I wasn't goln’ ter let old Podgers hire him away from me, an’ then go around chucklin’ over it behind my back for the next six months.” “Mr. Podgers made flu attempt to hire him, did he?” “Yes, an’ a purty nervy attempt at that. Offered him ?1 more a month, but I settled the matter in a hurry by pilin’ the best critter on the place on top of that. But if he stays the hull two years I reckon he’ll earn it —eh, Jerry?” Jerry blushed, and answered that be would do his best. “Didn’t you exempt my pony, papa? J really can’t think of allowing Mr. Brant to run off with that, even If he does earn it,” exclaimed Fanner John■on’s pretty 18-yenr-old daughter, May, with a sidelong glance of admiration ■t Jerry's broad shoulders and manly features. “O. Jerry wouldn’t be menn enough to take the pony, I guess,” Interposed ber father. • ■a»“No," said Jerry, “I don’t want the y-unless the rider goes with It," lie ?d, sotto voce. what's that?” demanded Mr. .Johnson. “Unless what? I didn't ketch the tall end of that remark, exactly.” Jerry’s face turned crimson, ami he was about to repeat the remark, when the quick-witted young lady came to the rescue. “Mr. Brant”—she always called him by that title, because she considered It ■tore becomluffaud dignified than Jerry—“M r. Brant says he doesn't want •he pony unless the bridle goes wttli It, J bplieve,” she explained, Ingeniously. “Hugh! rreckon a halter is nil he’ll get with her If takes that pony. There wa’n’t anything In the writin's about fhrowlu' In a bridle,” said Farmer Johnson. “You needn’t worry, father. I think Mr. Brant will be generous enough to %»re me my pony," said May, teas irlngly. -•-***'. • «■*-**•-*- «r-

“Yes, you may keep .your, pony,” agreed Jerry, with an undisguised glance of admiration at the pretty face opposite him. May’s eyes fell before bls, but not until they had flashed back a look that caused his heart to beat high with Hbpe. The. fact of the matter was that stalwart, good-looking Jerry had long admired his employer’s handsome and accomplished daughter, but to-day was the first time he had dared to let her know it, either by look or speech. After that, however, their acquaintance rapidly ripened, and a* few weeks later Jerry Johnson by asking for the hand of his daughter in marriage. Mr. Johnson was engaged in the pastoral occupation of milking a cow at the moment this question 0 was sprung upon him, and he nearly fell off the stool in astonishment. “Want to marry my dartqy, May?” he gasped. “I guess not, young man! Nqt-if the court-knows itself. I’ve bln edyercatin’ her fer suthin’ higher than marryin’ her father’s hired man.” if that is the only objection, it can easily- be removed,” interposed Jerry; “I don’t expect to remain anybody’s hired man after my two years are up. I believe I told you when I came here that I had just graduated from college, and intended to make the pursuit of agriculture my life business, instead of going into medicine or law, or any other of the already over-crowd-ed professions. I believe a man with brains can put them to as good use in farming as in anything else, and I propose to prove it. “I am studying the practical side of the business now, and at the end of my two years I propose to go West and buy a ranch and strike out for myself. As far as my education is concerned, I don’t think I shall ever give your daughter occasion to bo ashamed of me, and as to supporting her comfortably and In becoming style, I believe I shall be abundantly able to do so, and ” “Can’t help that, Jerry!" broke in Mr. Johnson. “I haln’t golnter have ye luggin’ Maj’ off jest because ye two young folks imagine ye’r in love. A woman is a mighty queer an’ onsartin sort of critter/anyhow, as ye'll And out-soon enough when ye get hooked up in double harness fer life with one of ’em, an’ if I was in your place I wouldn’t be in any hurry 'bout talcin' a yoke of that kind on my shoulders.” “Anyhow, if ye insist on gettlu’ married in spite of my warnin’ ye'll hafter pick out some other partner besides the one ye've got yer eyes sot on at present, My darter is goln’ back to college next week to finish up her edyercation, an’ when she gets through her schoolin’ it will be plenty time enough fer her to commence thinkin’ ’bout the men. She’ll forglt ye by that time fast enough, so ye might as well give up all hope right now of ever glttin’ her. “I like ye well enough other ways, Jerry, but I don’t care fer ye in the role of a son-in-law. There, now, ye’ve got yer answer fair and square, and if ye want to stay an’ work out the balance of yer time, we’ll drop the love bizness right here, an’ I’ll treat ye as well as ever; but if ye don’t care to stay under the circumstances it is all right, an’ I shan't blame ye any fer goln’. Now, which is it to be, Jerry, stay or quit?” “I’ll stay,” said Jerry, quietly. And stay he did, performing his duties as conscientiously and thoroughly as ever, although the farm life suddenly grew sordid and dull when May went back to her college studies. The months rolled swiftly round, however, as mouths have a habit of doing, until eighteen of them had been crossed off the calendar of time. Then May, as bright and winsome as of old, came home with her dimples and diploma, and though he did not even dare to look his admiration, Jerry was straightway transported to paradise. Jerry's term of service flnallj’ expired, anil he regretfully announced that the time had come for him to strike out in life for himself. “That's so, Jerry,” said Farmer Johnson. “I had clean forgot 'bout yer two years bein’ up to-day. Waal, I’ll look over accounts an’ settle up with ye after dinner, an’ In the meantime ye kin be lookin’ round an’ sorter makin* up yer mind which one of the critters on the place ye want. I believe ye was ter take yer choice when ye quit.” “Well,” said Jerry promptly, “it won’t take me long to .make up my mind." Here he stepped quickly across the room to where May was gazing disconsolately from the window and whispered a question in her ear. For an instant her eyes met his, then she rose with a smile, placed her hand coufld-

“THIS IS THE ONE I WANT.”

ingly In his and together they faced her father. ■‘.‘This Is my first and only choice," exclaimed Jerry, with a ring of mingled pride and triumph In his tones. “But ye can’t do that—taln’t in the agreement. I said critter, not wlmmen

folks, an’ I hain’t golnter allow no such——” - ■ ? “Just a moment, if you please, Mi, Johnson,” Interrupted Jerry Brant drawing himself erect, with proudly flashing eyes, and still retaining May*! hand. “Haven’t I heard you allude the women as queer critters, consarned Critters, plaguey critters, and I don’t know how many other kinds of critters during the past two years and upwards that I have been with you?” “Yes, I s’pose ye have,” acknowledged Mr. Johnson, “but—er ” “All right, sir,” interposed Jerry, briskly. You promised me the best critter on the place, and this is the one I want—and the only one.” Farmer Johnson gazed at the handsolne and smiling young couple before him, in a half-indignant, half-indulgent sort of way for a moment, and then the latter feeling got the better of the struggle, and he quietly remarked: “Waal, a bargain is a bargain, an’ I s’pose I’ll hafter keep my word; but I say, young man”—-and Mr. Johnson’s eyes twinkled mischievously—“don’t ye think ye sorter missed yer vocation, not bein’ a lawyer instead of a farmer?”—Utica Globe,*

HE COULD KICK.

A Mule that Would Be Very Unpopular on the Avenue. At rare Intervals along the mountain roads of West Virginia and Kentucky the traveler tnay come upon a blacksmith shop, but he is much safer in the shoeing of his horse if he will carry a few nails and tools in the bottom of his buggy. On a trip by Round Gap on one occasion I found a blacksmith shop at the forks of the road, and, as usual, a half dozen or more men sitting around it in the shade. My turnout needed some repairs and as the smith was pottering about it Inside, 1 made talk with the men outside. One of them wanted to sell me a mule which he had hung up on the fence and I started in for a dicker. After we had been talking for perhaps a quarter of an hour, the smith asked me to step inside and show him something about the work he was doing. As soon as he got me away from the crowd he came close and grew confidential. • r “Y’ain’t thinkin’ uv buyin’ that critter, air you?” he asked in all sincerity. “Well, I don’t know. I want a mule and that one looks all right,” I said. “You can’t tell a mule by his looks, mister. Mules is fer all the world like women. “What’s the matter with him?” I inquired, quite ignoring the comparison. “He ain’t safe. Course I ain’t got nothin’ ag’ln’ the mule ner the owner and I’d be glad enough fer him to git the money fer him, fer he owes me fer the shoein’ uv him, but I don’t like ter see a stranger tuck in an’ done up like he’s tryin’ to do you.” “But you haven’t told me what’s the matter with the mule,” I insisted. “Will he kick?” “That’s his weakness, mister,” responded the smith, letting his voice fall to a whisper. “You won’t believe me, p’raps, but I’m tellin* you he’s the klckin’est critter in the mountains. He shore is, mister, and I hope I may die right here, es he can’t kick the sody outen a biscuit, an’ never crack the crust. He kin, mister, er I’m a brother to him.”

A Rainbow in the Moonlight.

The great lunar rainbow seen from the houses on the cliffs at Nahant and along Marginal road on the night of a recent great storm was, on the wordx>f an astronomer, a most unusual, as it was a most splendid and Impressive, sight. Halo rainbows about Lady Lunar or bits of rainbow on “the little clouds sailing around the moon” are not uncommon, but a full bow spanning the heavens is not often seen by night. It needs a full and brilliant moon and a small shower. The one which hung in the heavens above Swampscott and Beach Bluff showed with peculiar radiance across the waiter to the people at Nahant whose backs were to the big bright moon that came out of her flying storm clouds long enough to show a quarter hour of the phenomenon. The red and blue in the great bow were fairly pronounced, the orange was fainter and it required help from the imagination to distinguish any of the other four prismatic colors before the rainbow began to fade. Then the most distant right end of it glowed with increasing yet “ineffectual tires." 'lf a “rainbow at night is the sailor’s delight,” ’lts surely the solar bow which is so often seen before sunset. The astronomer who has never seen but one full archihg moonbow in his observant career notes that the chances are few indeed for mortals to observe this glory of the Lady Luna. In the first place, there must be a full moon, and there are only about thirtysix chances in a year, a tenth of the chances to tee a solar rainbow, and these may be quartered by the fact that most people are not up all night, as they are all day. If there were quite as many moonbows as sunbows proportionately—and this Is improbable—we have only one-fortieth ns much opportunity to observe them.—Boston Evening Transcript

A Woman Mint Farmer.

A woman living in Louisiana is supporting herself comfortably on the proceeds of a farm on which she raises nothing but mint All the principal hotels and restaurants in Now Orleans purchase their mint from her, and she makes enough during the summer months, when juleps and other cooling drinks containing mint are in demand, to enable her to live comfortably through the winter.

When Salmon Were High.

On June 12, 1775, upward of 2,400 salmon were takefi «bove the bridge in the River Tyne, and sold In Newcastle at Id and l%d per pound.

CHANGES OF A YEAR.

FARMERS HAVE CAUSE ' FOR CONGRATULATION. A Retrospective View Shows that the Country Has Much' to Be Thankful For—Nation Is Now in a Prosperous Condition. v ’ Prices All Advancing;. Special Washington correspondence: r Thq farmers of the United States surely find their holiday season a very* satisfactory one. The contrast in their Conditions at the present time with those which existed under the free trade which the Republican party has just eliminated from the statute books is very great, and every farmer will doubtless appreciate it. They have contributed very largely to the exportations of the year just closed, which are shown by recent figures of the Treasury Departmentas greater than in any preceding year in the history of the country. Of course the products ot agriculture form a very large percentage of our exports. Products of agriculture form over 65 per cent.' of the exportations of the year 1897, as they did in 1896. In the month of October they formed 75 per cent, of the total exportations. When we take this Into consideration, and then learn that the exports of the United States for the year just ending will be more than a billion dollars, it will be seen that a large amount of money has flown into the pockets of the farmers. A study of the details the prices received by farmers for the articles which they are now selling as compared with recent conditions will be inter-

UNCLE SAM’S ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

esting at this close of the year. Since August, prices of wheat in New York have hovered along the dollar line, sometimes a little below, frequently a little above, and the climax was reached the other day in Chicago when the price of winter wheat touched one dollar and nine cents. ComtMlst this condition with that of a short time ago. On Jan. 2, 1896, the price of red winter wheat No. 2 tn the New York market was sixty-nine cents. On Feb. 7, 1895, it was fifty-seven cents; on Oct. 4, 18J>4, i,t was fifty-four cents and a fraction. Ohio medium class wool, which in November sold in the New York and Boston markets at thirty cents, brought only twenty cents in January of the present year. Montana fine medium wool (scoured basis) which in November brought fifty-three cents per pound, was worth thirty-three cents at the beginning of the year. Kentucky and Indiana unwashed, which in October and November brought twenty-three cents a pound in the markets, was worth but seventeen cents at the beginning of the year. Lard, which in September ranged as high as five dollars and twen-ty-«even cents, is quoted upon Feb. 11, 1897, at three dollars and ninety-five cents. Mess pork, which is quoted as selling in the New York markets at two dollars and seventy-five cents In September, began the year at eight dollars and twenty-five cents per barrel. Beef, which sold in the Now York markets at ten dollars and fifty cents per barrel in November of the present year, is quoted at eight dollars and fifty cents in the same markets in July last. In many other’ things farm prices steadily advanced, and farmers have reason to congratulate themselves upon their Improved conditions. A recent statement by Bradstreet’s, in which it compares prices of nearly 100 different articles with former rates, shows an advance In November in corn, oats, potatoes. milk, beans, peas, hemp, l>arreled beef, mutton, sheep, hops, eggs and wool, while other articles of farm produce retained the advanced position which they had gained earlier in the year. That all these things have had their effect upon the farmer and made his year a pros|>erous one is evidenced by reports coming from every jmrt of the country showing enormous reduction in mortgage indebtedness. Thousands upon thousands of mortgages, hundreds of thousands, In fact, are being paid off with the result of a year’s prosperity under protection nod sound money, and hundreds of thousands of homes will this year have far tjils reason as well as for many others a merrier Christmas and happier New Year than they had known during the period of free trade awl ita accompanying troubles. Not only in the matter of increased warnings do the farmers find thelfcon-

dltlon Improved, but cobpled with this has come a reduction in prices of many articles which they must buy. Bradstreet’s statement referred to above shows a reduction in November In the prices of coffee, cotton sheetings, tin, print cloths, iron and steel, coal and coke and many other articles for the fanner’s money must go. The farmers of the country have reason to congratulate themselves also'.upon the" change which has taken place in the management of their own Department of Agriculture since a year ago. Uncle Jerry Rusk, President Harrison’s Secretary of Agriculture, was a real friend of the farmer, and instituted a number of schemes which-have worked out to their advantage and which are now recognized as permanent Institutions of the country, but the workings of his department were largely experimental, and it remained for his successor to reap the benefit of his work. But President Cleveland’s Secretary of Agriculture, Mr. Mortou, failed to improve his opportunities and seems to have been about the last man who should have occupied this important position. But Farmer Wilson immediately upon his appointment pulled off his coat and has had it off ever since. The department has undergone a transition, and more has been done in the genuine interest of the farmer of the United States than was ever dreamed of before. The new Secretary has pursued a vigorous policy in regard to the distribution of seeds which will be of some definite value to the farmer; he has encouraged in every particular the beet sugar industry, he has placed the department at the Service of the dairy interests in bringing their products to the attention of foreign markets, and with no little success making ih-

vest igatlon in regard to foreign markets for American cattig, horses and other farm animals; he is sending all over the world for new seeds, which will be of value to this country, and, in fact, is doing everything which energy and ingenuity can conceive and which thorough organization and system in his department can foster to materially advance the welfare and business interests of the farmers of the United States. It is predicted by the friends of this department that before President McKinley’s four years of administration have passed, there will be no branch of the Government more Influential and none so popular throughout the country as the Department of Agriculture. A. B. CARSON. The American Practice. • What is specifically true of Iron and steel is true of the whole fabric of American Industry. “American furnace practice” Involves precisely the same principle as that Illustrated in American railroad practice, of operating locomotives and cars of double the capacity of those of England, which is now being extended to double the capacity again. It is the same “American practice” that obtains in every industrial operation, and it has its foundation in that older American practice which gave to the laborer double the amount of wages paid in Europe and stimulated b|m to turn out double the amount of product. It is a practice that has grown up under the system of protection that made it possible, and while it may appear that, in the iron and. steel Industries, ‘‘protection does not protect," It Is obvious that so far from deserving the api>ellatlon of “shackles of protection,” that iwlicy constantly encourages the American -workman and engineer to press forward to greater jichlcveinents.—Pittsburg Dispatch. A Reliable Barometer. Bank clearings are an alMolutely reliable barometer of general buslneas conditions. That a steady and permanent increase in bank clearings from week to week means a positive commercial and Industrial revival is as certain as the law of gravitation. That a commercial and Industrial revival means more employment for the wage earners, and hence increased purchasing jvower for the laboring classes, is equally certain. The iwtnk clearings of Chicago for the month of November tell a tale of good times that must completely confound the most resourceful and tactful of the calamity wallers. There is no argument that can be advanced by the aiMWtlee of discontent that will prevail against figures which show actual businc** transactions. The bank clearings of Chicago for November reached the enormous aggregate of >458,000,000, which Is a gain of $100,700,000 over the corresponding month of last year. This

' ....... . remarkable gain is the highest on record since the good times of 1890-93. The figures of the politicians sometimes lie; bank figures do not.—Chicago Times-Herald. ' . Does Not Please the Germans. , Labor is so low in Germany that neither the United States nor Great Britain can compete with her4nthe manufacture of certain kinds of , woolen goods. Great Britain’s policy is to let Germany capture that market, but our policy Is to compel those who bring their goods-here for a market'to pay a duty which will enable the American manufacturer to pay high wages and still compete with the product of Germany. This policy, which is the policy of Germany, may not please Its woolen manufacturers, but it is so important that we should have the home market for our own manufactures of woolen goods that we cannot afford to, purchase the good will of the German producer by sacrificing the labor and the capital employed in the same Industry in the United States. As a matter of fact, the ill-natured observations of the German press on this subject are the best evidences that the Dingley law is a protective as well as a revenue tariff.—lndianapolis Journal. • To Awaken Sleepyheads. For the benefit *of the sluggard who finds it impossible to awake betimes, some ingenious contrivances have been produced by Inventors. There is a kind of bedstead, for example, which holds Its mattress in a frame that is retained in the normal position by a catch. At the proper hour the catch, operated by a clockwork mechanism, loses its grip and the mattress frame becomes vertical instead of horizontal, throwing bed lets the head of the sleepy person drop when getting-up time arrives, one end of the mattress frame collapsing. But one of the queerest of the patented methods of waking people up involves the employment of a tin pan and a weight hung by a cord. When the hands of a clock reach a certain point, the weight is released and falls upon the pan, making a direful racket. Another oddity is a frame from which are suspended a number of corks. During the night it is lowered gradually by a clockwork mechanism until at the proper hour and minute the dangling corks begin to bob against thq-nose and face of the sleeper. Of course he promptly wakes up. A Liberal Offset. 1 It is estimated that four years of the WMson tariff cost the people of the United States over ?5,000,000,000. Four months of the Dingley tariff have netted a deficiency Of revenue Amounting to about* $35,000,000. Against the latter sum set the enormous gains which protection has showered upon the country in the shape of increased values of agricultural and industrial products, tncreasedwork and wages, and increased operations in every line of business activity, and the deficit of the .first four months of the Dingley tariff seem but a trivial thing. It does not represent more than 1 per cent, of the gross volume of benefits growing out of the restoration of protection and prosperity for the calendar year of 1897. ' “Anonymous” to Be Honored. “Anonymous” is at last to have his statue. It will be set up in Hungary at the expense of Emperor Francis Joseph, being one of a large number to be erected to Hungarian worthies. This particular “Anonymous” is the unknown notary of King Bela, who wrote the “Chronicle of Hungary.” The resemblance will be as accurate in his case, probably, as in that of most of the rest of the dozen named. They’re Not So Warm. An' investigation of the subject shows that the thirteen countries which made formal protests against certain features of the tariff law of 1897, in the two months tn which the details of our exports can be obtained, have purchased $131,446,503 in value of our products and merchandise, against only $107,077,596 in the corresponding months of last year under the Wilson law.—York (Pa.) Dispatch. It Pleases Americana. It ought to be a matter of gratification to all Americans to know that the United States is pursuing an industrial policy which is calculated to cause alarm among the manufacturing nations of Europe.—Cleveland Leader. Should Receive Attention. Truly the matter of promoting American shipping, even by not being above imitating the methodi England has employed, is a fitting one to command attention at the coming session of Congress.—Pittsburg Commercial-Gazette. It Takes Time. Give the lawt a chance. It takes time for the nation to get back to the solid ground from which it shimped when it elected Cleveland and a Democratic Congress In 1892.—Utica Herald. It Is a Gem. *