Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 March 1904 — Page 2

The Secret Dispatch

CHAPTER XL Twenty-four miles eastward of the city the small town and fortress of Schlusselburg stands at a point where the Neva Issues from the Lake of Ladoga and on the left bank of the river. On an island, where the river joins the lake and moats it round, is built the fort, which is about four hummed yards square; its walls are of stone, massive, and fifty feet in height, terminating in battlements and turrets of antique form. The passage to this island is by a long drawbridge. The guard which kept this formidable state prison, where many a hopeless sigh was wafted through the rusty bars of its prison grilles across the waters of Ladoga, was composed entirely of a body of dismounted Cossacks, selected for the purpose, as the task of keeping or secluding the dethroned Emperor Ivan was one of no small responsibility and importance. A guard of these men received Balgonie at the gate and drawbridge with a profound military salute; and a picturesque aspect they presented, as their arms flashed in the murky light of the great oil lantern that swung in the dark, weird and deep-mouthed archway. The great masses of the fortress, ghostly and shrouded, with faint red lights gleaming outTiere and there; the enormous strength of the gates, together with the difficulties he experienced in procuring admission, all served to impress unpleasantly on the mind of Charlie Balgonie a state of extreme watchfulness, of suspicion, and mistrust; and also a sense of vast responsibility of the charge confided by Catherine to Colonel Bernikoff. That gallant officer and estimable personage had retired long since, and Lieutenant Tschekin informed Balgonie, would be quite invisible till breakfast time to-morrow, when the dispatch would be delivered to him; and a sigh of real annoyance escaped Charlie when he found that this odious paper was to be yet some eight hours or more in his secret pocket. He repaired to the officers’ guardroom at the barrier gate, and there, wrapped in his cloak, lay down to sleep, Tind if possible to dream of Natalie; btit he had undergone too much toil for such gentle phantasms, so he slept like a dormouse till the sun was high in heaven, unawakened even by the deep boom of the morning gun, as it pealed across the Lake of Ladoga; but ultimately he was roused by Tschekin and Captain Vlasfief, a very handsome young man, but cruel and heartless, whom ultimately he detested. These, after shaking hands heartily, announced that Colonel Bernikoff awaited him at breakfast and was not in a mood to brook much delay. His hasty toilet was soon complete, and he was speedily ushered into a plain, almost naked whitewashed apartment arched with stone. Here, at a table of plain Memel timber, destitute of cloth, but on which massive silvee vessels with rudely formed wooden bowls and platters were oddly intermingled, was seated the Governor. “Hail to you —I wish you health,” said Bernikoff, courteously enough, in the old Russian fashion, and presenting his hand to Charlie, who took it, shuddering, as he remembered the fate of Peter III.; “welcome to Schlusselburg, Captain Ivanovitch Balgonie.” Bernikoff, who wore a dark green undress uniform faced with scarlet, was a man well up in years; he had fierce and shining black eyes that made soldier and serf alike quail beneath their gaze; yet they were small, cunning and twinkling eyes, the lashes of which were half closed —the eyes of one who could act the cruel tyrant on one hand and the cringing slave on the other. * “Seat yourself, captain, and proceed to breakfast, while I read your dispatch,” said the governor. “It is from Catharine Christianowna herself! The Czarina is groat, but heaven is higher!” he added, placing the paper on his forehead, as he bowed over it; and then taking an enormous pinch of snuff he proceeded to peruse that document which had proved of such trouble to the bearer. The eyes of Balgonie, Tschekin and Vlasfief, who alone were present, were fixed inquiringly upon him, and they could see that the contents disturbed him greatly; he grew pale and flushed by turns; his brows contracted to a terrible frown; a red spark of light glittered in his eyes, and his lips were compressed. “Ah, the Asiatics! the accursed Asiatics!" he muttered. This is a most opprobrious epithet in Russia, and excited ■ome surprise in his hearers. He carefully folded the dispatch, and turning sternly to Charlie, who was keeping his eyes on him, and drinking his coffee the while, he said: “Ivanovitch Balgonie, there is a feather in the seal —the usual sign of haste among us here in Russia; yet you have not troubled yourself with much speed, for this dispatch is dated Novgorod more than a month back!" , “Permit me to explain, excellency," Mid Balgonie, eagerly, and anxiously, too. “I shall be glad if you can explain it," ■aid Bernikoff, with increasing sternness. “I have known a general, a*leader in ten battles, degraded, knouted, and sent to hunt the ermine with a cannon ball at his heels for a smaller dereliction of duty than this.” Balgonie’s heart beat very fast while he related his story—of his being misled by a traitor twice; of the passage of the Louga at such terrible hazard; of his subsequent illness, and the episode at that log hut. “That you were In the guidance of a traitor I knew before your arrival; and I am extremely glad that he fell into bls own snare,” replied Bernikoff, a little more calmly; “but this matter is exfremely awkward for you, and becomes more complicated every hour." After glancing again at the dispatch gnd bending his keen, ratlike eyes on Balgonie, he asked. “Were Basil Mierowitz or Usakoff, the grandson of Mazeppa, at the Castle of Louga any time during your sojourn there F

By JAMES GRANT

“No, excellency, neither of them were.” “Spies say differently—but can you swe.firi.it?” ’ "On my honor do I swear it! But why?” “I have had bad news from the headquarters of your from Lieutenant General Weyinarn, since you left Novgorod.” “And these tidings? excellency?” “Are to the effect that your friends, the two subalterns, have both deserted, with several soldiers, all of whom are natives of the Ukraine, and nro nowhere to be found, though pursued by a whole company of Cossacks.” “Deserted!” cried Balgonie with real concern. “Yes —the cursed Asiatics!” replied Bernikoff. For some moments intense anxiety and alarm bewildered Balgonie, and he felt himself grow pale at a time when six searching eyes were_ bent with a doubtful expression upon him. He remembered the hostility, the threatening and mysterious words of Natalie, and grew almost sick with apprehension of he knew not what, as he muttered inaudibly: ' “Basil deserted —and his cousin, too! The whole family will be inculpated and degraded. Oh. Natalie, my hapless love! Did General IVeymarn state this in his dispatch?” he asked aloud. “He did, and” at its end referred to you.” “To me, excellency?” “Yes; here is the document, and it concludes thus: ‘As I and the regiment of Smolensko will shortly march into St. Petersburg, Captain Carl Ivanovitch Balgonie need not return to Novgorod; but, until then, shall attach himself to-your staff, and remain in Schlusselburg, where, ere long, you may require all the good service he can render you—Weymarn.’” Great wepe the mortification and disgust of Balgonie on learning that he was to remain for an indefinite period in a place so revolting and uncomfortable, and with no other society than that of three military jailers—cruel, hard-hearted and avaricious Muscovites of the worst kind; and with these orders died his hopes of revisiting, as he intended, Louga, ou his return, and of seeing Natalie again. Under the ban, as all the household of Mierowitz would be now, should he ever see her more? Every way fate and the tide of events seemed to be against him and her, already in the very dawn of their love.” “And now, gentlemen," said the Governor, lowering his voice, “the Empress’ dispatch contains only two lines, thus: ‘A scheme is formed to free Prince Ivan. Let him not fall alive into the hands of those who come to seek for him!’ Nor shall he!” exclaimed Bernikoff, with ferocious enthusiasm. “Long life to her imperial majesty Catharine Christianowna—hurrah!” “Hurrah, hurrah!” added Vlasfief and the lieutenant. Balgonie, also, as in duty bound, essayed to “hurrah,” but the sound died away on his lips. CHAPTER XII. Full of anxious thoughts, Balgonie passed more than half of the succeeding day on the ramparts of the castled prison alone, avoiding Colonel Bernikoff, Captain Vlasfief and their subaltern, Tschekin, none of whom were consonant to his taste, for all were deep gamblers. On three sides, far around this island prison, stretched the waters of Ladoga—the largest lake in Europe. From the somewhat dreary view of this small inland sea, he turned to survey the fortress, with all its strength of gloomy walls, grated windows, and frowning cannon, till suddenly his eye was arrested bya very remarkable face, which was observing him from the somber depth of a strongly barred and arched window of the great tower. It was a pale face, but singularly handsome —grave, and even sad in expression—a young man’s face with the slightest indication of a mustache, but for which, in its paleness and extreme delicacy of feature and tint, it might have passed for that of a twin brother of Natalie Mierowna! Suddenly it was detected by a Cossack sentinel, Who shouted shrilly and slapped the butt-end of his loaded musk etoon; on this the face instantly disappeared. This was he concerning whom Balgonie had brought that terrible dispatch —lvan, the deposed Emperor—the prisoner of Schlusselburg! “Twenty-three years!” thought Balgonie with a shudder; “twenty-three years in that tower —since his very babyhood —oh, it is terrible!” Other ears had heard the shout of the sentinel; for now a man, who in a boat had been fishing near the fortress, sud-r deuly shipped a pair of sculls and pulled away toward the town with an air of alarm that seemed equalled only by his dexterity. This fisher had been hovering about the fortress all day. “Can he be the gypsy—the half-breed?" thought Charlie; “ah! the dispatch is out of my hands now." t Fortunately for Balgonie, there was a chaplain of the Russian Greek Church, attached to the fortress; and his society, at times, tended to alleviate what he endured from having to associate with sqch a human bear as Colonel Bernikoff —an annoyance from which he would only be relieved by the longed-for return of General Feymarn and tire Regiment of Smolensko to St Petersburg. Through the good offices of the chaplain, with the permission of thq governor, whichj;as yielded very unwillingly, Balgonie was presented one evening to the deposed Emperor Ivan, and the particulars and incidents of that Interview made a deep and sad Impression upon him. Confinement had rendered Ivan's features unnaturally pale nnd delicate; and, by years of systematic constraint and oppression, his fine, clear and very beautiful dark eyes had a soft, subdued sad chastened expression that was singularly touching and winning. The tone of his voice was also gentle and alluring. “Hospodeen," said he, presenting his hand to Balgonie, "I rejoice to meet

you, if one who leads a life so strange as mine can be said to rejoice; but you are one to whom I may talk a little without, danger—eh, Father Chrysostom? And he has told me, Hospodeen, that ypy. are not a Russian, but a native of some island that is far away in the sea. What are you? A Tartar—a Tcherkesse? Oh, no, you cannot be either. I know them; for they guard me,” he added, with a little shudder. “I am your friend, believe me, Ivan Antonovitch,” replied Balgonie. As they were retiring the prince said: “Hospodeen, you have dropped something.” It was the locket with Natalie’s hair. “What is in this?” asked Ivan,, with childlike interest. “A lock of hair, your highness. It is the gift, the souvenir of a lady I love, and who loves me; a countrywoman of your own.” “A woman?” said Ivan, ponderingly. “Yes, excellency.” “I have never looked upon a woman’s face, and know not what it is like; though the Empress visited me when a child, as I have beep told. I have heard that they are not bearded like men. I shall never see one, it is forbidden; yet —-yet—as I often tell Father Chrysostom, I have dreams by day—dreams of something else than wild swans and bearded Cossacks —of something to cling to, some one to love and be loved by. It must be this kind of love you speak of —oh, yes, it must!” said Ivan, as he gazed with stupid but reverend wonder at the lock of hair ere he returned it to Balgonie. “Poor young prince!” exclaimed the latter, as the chaplain hurried him away and the portcullis clanged behind them in its grooves of stone. The priest now urged upon Balgonie, that if his visits were to be continued, the affairs of the outer world must in no way be referred tQ, or the result, might be most disastrous for all concerned. “The seclusion in which the prisoner is kept has, I fear, impaired his understanding, **'♦said Balgonie. “Hah! do you think so?” grunted Colonel Bernikoff, who overheard the remark, as they issued from the tower of Ivan. “You must know, that your genuine Russian is like a tiger, as some writer has it —a tiger who licks the hand of his keeper, so long as he is chained; but who tears him asunder when loose. The Empress quite understands this!" “How is it that you trust me so freely to visit your prisoner?" asked Charlie, who began to fear that Bernikoff might be laying some snare for him by according this hitherto unwonted permission. “Because you are the safest man in Russia to have this liberty.” “How?” ” “As a soldier of fortune —a stranger among us —you can have no sympathy with anything but the strict and steady execution of your duty; and the line of that,” added Bernikoff, darting a keen glance at the Scot, “as with us all, lies in fidelity to the Empress." “True,” replied Balgonie, with something of sadness in his tone, and very little of enthusiasm. “Thus, were I to order you to blow Ivan Antonovitch from the mouth of a cannon, I should expect you to obey!” “I trust th at no such test of my obedience will ever be necessary,” replied Balgonie, with a hauteur which Bernikoff was somewhat unused to see among his subordinates. “We shall have some other and more troublesome prisoners in Schlusselburg ere long,” said the Governor, with knitted brows. “Whom do you mean?” “Old Mierowitz and his family. Warrants have been issued by the chancellor to arrest them all.” “Ah!" said Balgonie, in a faint voice. “Yes, women as well as men; an escort of the Regiment of Smolensko arrived at St Petersburg yesterday with Mierowitz and the Hospoza Mariolizza. His daughter, who seems to be deeply involved in some plot, has for the time effected her escape. But they will soon be all before the Secret Chancery, and then the knout and the wheel will be at work with a vengeance!” The reader may judge how these and similar remarks affected poor Charlie; while the governor, as if pleased that he could thus inflict pain, walked away with a malicious smile on his somber visage. ' (To be continued.)

CHEAP GERMAN LABOR.

Hand Work Costa Farmers in Fatherland Less Than Use of Machines. In a recent report to the department of state on the use of agricultural machines in Germany, Oliver J. D. Hughes, consul-general at Coburg, calls attention to the fact that many of the machines offer no advantages, as It Is cheaper to utilize hand labor. In the bourse of this report, according to the New York Times, Mr. Hughes says: “It seems to me that while the small tradespeople (of Germany) must be supplanted or absorbed by larger rivals, this cannot be said of the agriculturists, as the smaller farmer possesses many advantages over the large landowner, which show that the small farmer has a good chance to compete with the large landowner in the present as well as in the future. Certain branches of agriculture, as, for instance, the so-called spade cultivations, are only possible and profitable on the lands of the small farmer, ab the larger landowner has to have this work done by the use of machinery, which is more expensive or at least costs more in cash outlay. “For Instance, the expense caused by the use of a grain-sowing machine 19 21 cents per hectare, while the cost for hand labor Is only cents; further still, the manure-scattering machine costs 26 cents, as against 13 cents for hand labor; the self-binding grain machine costs $2.67, as against $2.61 for hand labor. Finally, I may say that the potato and turnip gathering machines also cost more than band labor, although I am unable at present td givo the exact figures."

A Good Index.

Listen to what your friends bay of others if you would know what they eay of you.—Chicago DAlly News. What has become of the old-fashion-eu schoolgirl who wrote an essay on “The Horrors of War?"

THE WEEKLY HISTORIAN

One Hundred Years Ago. Both houses of Congress were at work to provide a Republican form of government for the new territory of Louisiana, the temporary appointments all being given to the President. In consequence of disturbances in the dancing assembly at New Orleans it was ordered that no one but the Governor and general officers should enter the room armed with swords or other weapons. It was admitted by the British authorities that they had greatly extended their territory in India by actual conquest. A Tammany society was formed at Alexandria, Va., for the purpose of controlling the national elections. The President and members of Congress united in eating a mammoth. Joaf of bread furnished in one of the committee rooms at the capitol by the baker who supplied bread for the navy. Congress established land offices at Kaskaskia, Ill.; Vincennes, Ind., and Detroit, Mich. A runaway negro was committed to jail at Baltimore and notice given that she would be sold according to law for the jail fees if not claimed by her owner. Seventy-five Years Ago. Four Penobscot Indians made their way in bark canoes to Portsmouth, N. C., to kill porpoises. A factory near Pittsburg, Pa., succeeded in manufacturing a good quality of Iron wire at the rate of one ton per week. Great alarm was created In Louisiana by an uprising of slaves on the coast plantations, which was suppressed and several of the ringleaders hanged. The largest stMtm vessel in western waters was launched at Pittsburg, and was calculated to carry 500 passengers and 350 tons of freight The treaties of commerce and friendship between the United States and Prussia and Brazil were formally ratified. An anti-dueling association was formed at Camden to suppress dueling in the State of New Jersey. Fifty Years Ago. A triple alliance was originated by the signature of a treaty at Constantinople between England, France and Turkey against Russia. The boiler of a steamboat at Cannelton, Ind., blew up and fifty passengere were killed. As the result of a great strike at Creston, England, over 14,000 persons were thrown out of employment and many were reported starving to death. There were found to be 14,065 on the rolls of the department in Washington is receiving money for military service. The Mexican government accepted the Gadsden treaty transferring a section of territory on the southern border of Arizona and New Mexico to the United States. Gen. Walker’s filibustering expedition to Lower California came to an end, and with 140 men he started for San Tomas. The allied powers of England, France and Turkey unsuccessfully attempted to bring Sweden to join in a declaration of war against Russia. Forty Years Ago. Gen. Rosecrans was exonerated by a United States government commission for his conduct of the battle of Chickamauga. The Duke of Edinburg and his bride entered London in a triumphal procession to Buckingham palace. Clement L. Vallandigham, exiled by President Lincoln for traitorous speeches, advised Confederate sympathizers in the North to begin warfare on those who criticised them. Workmen ehgaged in building Forte Tompkins and Hamilton at New York went on strike for higher pay. Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant was made commander-in-chief of the United States army, to succeed Gen. Halleck, relieved. President Lincoln issued a call for 200,000 men to bo drafted for the navy and to supply, a reserve army force. Thirty Years Ago. « Cuban revolutionists fired into a train containing Spanish volunteers near Neuvitas, killing twenty-seven of them. King of Asbantce paid 10,000 ounces of gold to Gen. Wolseley as part of Indemnity to Great Britain. United States Senator Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, famous as an antislavCTy crusader, died suddenly in Washington. The first W. C. T. U. temperance crusade formally began in Chicago at a mass meeting addressed by the Rev. Dr. Thomas, the Rev. Arthur Edwards and others. Marshal Serrano and 34,000 Spanish government troops were drawn up for battle against 85,000 Carlists near Madrid. Twenty Years Ago. The Comte de Paris and his followers were Indirectly warned by President Grevy to cease plotting against Franc* The Mexican commercial treaty was ratified by the United States Senate. Osman Dlgna’s Arab forces began their retreat before Gen. Graham's English army in the Soudan.

Wanted an Experiment.

Miss De Style—You must give mo time. Mr. Poorchap—Certainly. I have nothing but my heart to offer you, and X do not expect you to decide at once. “Then give me two or three weeks.’* “Very well.” “And In the meantime I wish you to show yourself dreadfully In love with me. and I’ll let folks see that I am quite Interested In you.” “Um —-what’s the Idea?” “I want to see how Mr. Richfello takes It”

For Growing Girls.

West Pembroke, Me., March 21st.— Mrs. A. L. Smith,'of this place, says that Dodd’s Kidney Pills are the best remedy for growing girls. Mrs. Smith emphasizes her recommendation by the following experience: “My daughter was thirteen years old last November and It is now two year, since she was first taken with Crazy Spells that would last a week and would then pass off. In a month she would have the spells again. At these times she would eat very little and was very yellow, even the whites of her eyes would be yellow. “The doctors gave us no encouragement; they all said they could not help her. After one box of Dodd’s Kidney Pills, she has not had one bad spell. Of course, we continued the treatment until she had used in all about a dozen boxes, and we still give them to her occasionally,-when she is not feeling well. Dodd’s Kidney Pills are certainly the best medicine for growing girls.” Mothers should heed the advice of Mrs. Smith, for by so doing they may save their daughters much pain and sickness and ensure a healthy, happy future for them.

Moravian Barley and Speltz.

Two great cereals makes growing and fattening hogs and cattle possible in Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Colorado, yes, everywhere, and add to above Salzer’s Billion Dollar Grass, Teosinte, which produces 80 tons of green fodder per acre, Salzer’s Earliest Cane, Salzer’s 60 Day Oats and a hundred of other rare farm seeds that he offers. JUST CUT THIS OUT AND RETURN IT with 10c In stamps to the John A. Salzer Seed Co., La Crosse, Wis., and get their big catalogue and lots of farm seed samples. (O. N. U.)

How to Sleep.

It is not uncommon to hear people say “I was too tired to sleep”—but It is not generally known how great a help It is at such times not to try to sleep, but to go to work deliberately to get rested in preparation for it In nine cases out of ten it Is the unwillingness to lie awake that kegps us awake. W’e toss and turn and wish we could sleep. We fret and fume, and worry, because we do not sleep. We think of all we have to do on the following day and are oppressed with the thought that we cannot do it if we do not sleep. First, we try one experiment to see if it will not make us sleep, and when it fails, we try another and perhaps another. In each experiment we are watching to see if It will work. There are many things to do, any one of which might help us to sleep, but the watching to see if they will work keeps us awake. When we are kept awake from our fatigue, the first thing to do is to say over and over to ourselves that we do not care whether we sleep or not, in order to imbue ourselves with a healthy indifference about it It will help toward gaining this wholesome indifference to say “I am too tired ’to sleep, and therefore, the first thing for me to do is to get rested in order to prepare for sleep. When my brain is well rested, it will go to sleep; it cannot help it. When it is well rested, It will sleep just as naturally as my lungs breathe, or as my heart beats.”—Leslie’s Monthly.

DOCTOR DID IT.

Put on 36 lb». by Food. Feed a physician back to health and he gains an experience that he can use to benefit others. For thia reason Grape-Nuts food la dally recommended to patients by hundreds of physicians who have cured themselves of stomach trouble. One doctor says: “Although a physician and trying to aid and assist my fellow beings to enjoy good health It must be admitted I formerly did not enjoy the best of health myself. In January, 1899, I only weighed 119 pounds. At this time I was living in the Ohio valley and began to think I had about seen my best days. One day about 3 years ago I had an opportunity to try GrapeNuts food for my breakfast. 1 liked It so well that I ate three teaspoonfuls three times a day and have regularly used it up to the present time, and I now weigh 155, a gain of 30 pounds, and enjoy the best of health. “Not only has Grape-Nuts made this wonderful change In me, but through It I have helped my friends, relatives and patients. The sustaining power of this food Is simply wonderful. “I have one patient who is a section hand on the C. & 0. R. R., who eats nothing In the morning but four tablespoonfuls of Grape-Nuts and yet does his very hard work up to lunch time and enjoys the best of health and strength. “I could name a great many cases like this and I still prescribe GrapeNuts in my practice every day.” Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Ask any physician about the scientific principles on which Grape-Nuts food Is made. He’ll tell you the principles are perfect Then a 10 days’ trial proves that the principles are carried out in the food (“all the good of the grains so treated that anyone can digest it all”). Shown in renewed physical strength and brain energy. “There’s a reason.” Look in each pkg. for the famous little book, "The Road to Wellvlllo.”

OPINION OF THE EDITOR OF THE "NEBRASKA FARMER.”

He Expresses His Approval of A meetcan Emigration to Canada. During the winter months the head of the family consults with the otheß members as to the prospects for the future, and doubtless one of the mosfl interesting topics discussed Is that of moving to some district where It isj possible to more easily secure what in necessary for a comfortable where it Is an easy matter to become! possessed of sufficient farm land to assure a competence for the future.) This not only interests the head of the family but every individual member of it Having before me the knowledge where he can secure a home with the’ expenditure of but little money, it la well for him to obtain all Information possible regarding the productiveness of the land in the country , that he may select For several years past a large number of Americans have removed to Western Canada, and as nearly as it! can be ascertained almost all of thesej have expressed themselves satisfied! with the conditions that exist therm. During the past summer a number ofl the editors of farm papers throughout the United States made a personal visit on a tour of inspection, and the re-t ports of these gentlemen prove inter* ing reading. Mr. H. E. Heath, editor of the Nebraska Farmer, a paper en* joying a wide circulation, as well an the confidence of its subscribers, after* giving some idea of the extent of this wonderful country, says: “Western Canada is the last unoccupied and unimproved good agricultural! land in America available to-day." He then discusses its possibilities for raising live stock and the advantages it possesses for dairying, farming and wheat growing, and saye, “What has been said about the country as to the! ability of the soil, the yield of won-* derful crops of wheat. Is quite justified.” To quote further from Mr. Heath,! he says, referring to climate: “These people (skeptical ones) do nofl know or realize that altitude more* than latitude makes climates; that large bodies of water, both fresh and! salt,- that never freeze over, exert a! wonderful Influence on climate. Another Influence on climate, more po-' tent than those named above, which! applies more to the Alberta district,! is the warm Chinook breeze from the 1 Pacific Ocean, which is 600 or 700 miles nearer than Colorado or Wyoming, besides the Rocky Mountain range Is not nearly so high nor half! so far from the ocean as it is downj in the States. “In further considering the climate of the Canadian prairies, we should not lose sight of the fact of the influ- 5 ence of the rains; the total average rainfall for the season is but 18.35 Inches for the territories and 17.84 inches in Manitoba, and that the amounts falling between April 1 and Oct 1 are respectively 9.39 Inches and 12.87 inches or about three-fourths of the entire rainfall From the middle of June to the middle of July there are over two hours more daylight In every, twenty-four hours than there la ln< Nebraska. The main reason why Western Canada wheat grows to such perfection is the effect of solar light or longer period of sunshine It gets each day. This is what makqg seeds or grain more perfect grown in this country than elsewhere. This extraordinary rapid growth of vegetation under the influence of this long continued sunshine exceeds anything known in lower latitudes. “We do not wish it understood that wheat alohe Is the main product of this country; it leads in that yet it id destined to become famous for its cat* tie, bosses and sheep and for its dairy products. We saw more and larger bands of cattle and sheep grazing iq, Asslnlboia and Alberta than we ever saw on the western plains of the United States. One band of cattle numbering 5,000 head were grazing on thn rich grass and sheep without number.” The Government of the Dominion of Canada is still using the same energetic enorts which have been used for the past five or six years to settle up these western prairies, and on application to any Agent of the Canadian Government the settler will be able to secure a certificate entitling billin' to a low rate, which will give him the opportunity of visiting any portion of •Canada’s grain producing domain.

Done to a Crisp.

A small boy was undressing the other evening before the open fire in big nursery, says the New York Tribuneu His mother gave him his nightshirt and told him to hold it to the fire tel warm. • * She left the room for a minute, bu| returned quickly when she heard thfl boy say to bls father: ' “Papa, is this shirt done when it'fl brown?." j

10,000 Plants for 16c.

This is a remarkable offer the John Ai Salzer Seed Co., La Crosse, Wis., makesThey will send you their big plant and seed catalogue, together with enough seed to grow . 1,600 fine, solid Cabbages, 2(000 delicious Carrots, 2,000 blanching, nutty Celery, 2,000 rich, buttery Lettuce, 1,000 splendid Onions, 1,000 rare, luscious Radishes, 1,000 gloriously brilliant Flowers. This great offer Is made in order to In* dace you to try their warranted seeds—for when you once plant them you will grow no others, nnd ; ALL FOR BUT Iflc POSTAGE, providing you will return this notice, and* if you will send them 20c in postage, theyl will add to the above a package of the famous Berliner Cauliflower. (0. N. UJ In English schools three hours a wesfl are given to needlework; in New Xori| schools but ser*. -