Semi-weekly Independent, Volume 2, Number 46, Plymouth, Marshall County, 18 April 1896 — Page 6

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AN OLD-FASHIONED NEIGHBOR.

It's oh! for r.n old-fashioned neighbor, Like, the or.i' I remember of yore, Who always neat calico aprons and gowns Hxcep: on the Sabbath day wore. !And who in i.'iy care-la Jon hours, With a sUi;b.ii:H't perched on hor head, Han in brincing bowls of nice jelly or jam, Ur loaves of her freshly-baked bread, And then, without asking me whether I needed her hell, fairly tlew To do in the kindest and quiekest way, Whatever she saw was to do. Nowaday though a friend may assure me That over my burdens she grieves She really can't aid me for fear of mishap To her laces or very big sleeves. And as f.r the dubs women govern Why. they are but schools for the arts, Where minds are improved in an elegant way lint no tin.e is devoted to hearts. Or else rhey are pledged to the seeking Of those whom most people condemn An Io.-t beyond hope so it's plain to be seen. There's no chance of assistance from th. :a. Ami it's oil! for an oM-fashioned neighbor. When m.Vfsky with dark clouds is o'erspre.ul. To run neatly dressed in a ealieo gown With :t ':ü!o:inet perched on her head. THE FATE OF EVERETTE AUSTIN. 'Vhro piaoo is this;" I inquired of a m.-iri who was digging a ditch near thi water trough. lie stopped his work, and looked up and pushed his sombrero on the back of his head, giving :i .sigh and passing Lis hand across his brow. "It is the Circle-A ranch. It belongs to Lverette Austin, fan I b-; of service to you;" "ll-oh wul. yes; at least the: boss can. I've lamed my horse, and as I'm a small matter of lifty miles from my vVs i i native I cau't walk in this weather."It is rather warm," he assented. "Slight!;-. Is Mr. Austin in, or anywhere around';" "lie's no: in, but he's around. I'm Älr. Austin.'' "Ohl iadr.-d. Well. I am Mr. P.rant -Willian. if., r.rant Mr. Austin, and I must risk you if you ran let me put lip my k'-r-o until its foot is rested or until I fud .-.otne way of getting to "Miles Citv;" Mr. Aus: la .stepped forward, lifted the ragged somc-brero. and put out his grimy h.iud. "I'm happy to meet you. Mr. lira:::. I am sorry I ran't rail a man to take your mount, but if you will turn him over to me I'll stable him ami attend to the foot, and you can go up to the holism and ask Mrs. Austin to make .von comfortable. The men are all oft" on the range." -'illi answered, and rifc sctT'lf to the barns. ' 'They were beautifully kept, as few 'but lOnglishmen keep their stables, and I was glad thaMuy weary steed should "be so well instaTTeT. I saw in a iuowtent that my host was accustomed to being his own veterinary surgeon. It puzzled me to reconcile the fact r his manual labor and ragged working clothes with his large possessions, Lis perfectly appointed stable, and his yet more perfect language, so unmistakably British, for I was new to Montana and its people; though not a tenderfoot, by many years of Arizona experience. r The doctoring of "ay horse finished. 'Austin led the way to his house a long. low. tmp.iinted structure, set up a foot or so from the ground on posts. There was a wretched attempt at a bed or flowers near the door, but the 6u;i and wind gave it small chance of success. A few stunted petunias, a straggling line öf mignonette, and several bushes of sapless red and pink geraniums were all that rewarded evidently patient rare. My host was not communicative, nor did he exjiect me io bo so. I started to give him a reference, but he cut nie oll by changing the subject. In a moment more we Lad gone up the steps and stood on the porch, which boasted of neither roof nor railing. Austin handed me a feather duster, and we brushed the white dust from oar boots. Then we event in. ' ".Sit down and I will announce you o Mrs. Austin." he said, with no apparent perception of the Incongruity of the language and his attire. It was a tidy little drawing-room as I did my host the honor of calling It all through my visit with some well-chosen colored prints from English papers on the rough board wall, clean white

curtains, a few cane chairs, and a box covered with cretonne, which served as a divan. There were no Hew books or papers, but the old and much Used ones were of the best. There was a pot of "wandering Jew" In the huge fireplace, which made a very pretty effect. I was just looking at my travelstiined countenance in a small mirror, when a door opened, and Austin, holding it back, stood aside to admit his wife. "We are very glad to see you, Mr. Urant," she said, with the most delightful of well-bred Knglish accents. "Mr. Austin told me of your accident. I am orry for the horse, of course, and ifor you if you had need to make "baste, but for ourselves it cannot be looked upon as a misfortune." "Your husband has treated the poor animal so skillfully that I fancy I may promise not to encroach upon jour hospitality very long." "Please put aside the idea that you are not, or may not be, welcome. We are most happy to have you." "Now, I .rant," said my entertainer, 'Mrs. Austin will give you your room. We cannot do much for you. but there Is plenty of water, both hot and cold, nd that will not be amiss, as I know by experience, after a midsummer cide in tti.s country. I will see yuu at tea." lie went back to his dicing sd

Mrs. Austin conducted me to my room. The ceiling and the floor were of solid boards, like the rest of the house, but the partitions were of white xnanta and every sound in the place was perfectly audible. However, it was clean and darkened and cool, and there were no flies, which I took as the crowning blessing of Providence. I sat upon the chintz-covered potato box, which served for my chair, and gazed at myself in the mirror again and wondered, profanely, what the woman must think of me. I sighed for my calling suit, which was safe in Miles City, and considered my surroundings; my hostess, in chief. In absolute regularity of features, she was not a beauty; but she had the line gray eyes, liner brown nair, strong chin, sensitive mouth and dignified carriage of the best examples of the women of her nation, and, above all, an air cf grave sweetness which is peculiarly and distinctively English. Her figure was indifferent and her gown had not and never had had any style of cut, which also gave evidence of her Knglish birth; but it was pleasing and harmonious, in some way. Altogether she was a fascinating woman a woman that a man must absolutely worship. She knocked at the door and brought me a big wooden bucket of hot water. My sensations at being served by this woman, with her air of the daughter of a hundred earls, were not pleasant. My toilet made, I went back to the drawing-room and read "Pelham" until, at Ö o'clock, tea was served tea as only the English serve it, with slices of bread and butter, as thin as cloth, atnl rich cream, and good tea, none of the bitter, nerve-shattering, green decoction which is dignified by that name in the average American house. I found out afterward that this was the one mejr.l of the day where there was auy approach to luxury. Austin carie In, after having washed his hands and brushed his smooth Uritish heac. With the exception of a coat slippoJ on over his llannel working shirt, he wore the same clothes in which he had been digging. So we sat there we three and talked of the doings in the outer world in quite the same strain ns we should have talked in London. My host in his boots and work suit aid my queenly hostess in her calico gown might have been seated in a lordly mansion. After a time a Kdl rang. "The dressing bell." said Mrs. Austin; "we dine at half afur ', and it is now 6 o'clock. I retired to dress, a simple operation, which consisted of running my fingers thiough my hair and retying my necktie. However, I devoted as much timo as possible to this, and together wim sitting on the potato box and meditating I succeeded in consuming tAonty minutes before I returned tD the drawing-room. Mrs. Austin was already there, looking even sweeter and more girlish, in an ancient but fresh white muslin and white ribbons. Mr. Austin joined us at the end of five minutes, fully attired in evening clothes, with a spray of mignonette in his buttonhole. A great, gruff fellow in a dirty apron announced dinner in the surliest of tones. I saw Mrs. Austin wince and a frown passed across her husband's brow. "firant," he said, "I regret to say that you will have to eat at the same tatle as the ranch hands do. We tried long ago to have a separate dining-room, but it made too much illfeeling among the tuen." That ras the one apology he made during my stay. We sal at an oil cloth "covered board on Jong wooden benchci?, Mrs. Austin at the head, her husband on the left and I on the right, as I hfd offered her my arm in entering the dining-room. Our dinner was

of the poorest; both as to food and cookin,;, and there was no profusion. I realised now the full poverty of my cntortr.iners and remembered having heard that the price of horses was stejdil decreasing. I fancied, too, that .Vrs. Austin did not care to have dai.uiS for herself antl her husband while The democratic American citizena st Iter board fared on plain things. I could see that there was no lov wasted on the master and that his dilss suit and aristocratic bearing were a source of annoj-anoe to his free bMn employes. They were sullen and sniff, as was the man dignified by the time of cook. On the whole, I was glad so leave the table and get back to th drawing-room. 'Vt" breakfast at 0:30, Mr. P.rant," my t-) st ess informed me, graciously, hohlii g out her hand to say goodnight It was a rather large hand and work-hardened, but firm and beautifully shaped. I have said that every sound in the house could be heard, because of the manta partitions. I had just lain dovn ou my cot, when 1 caught the voice of Austin. "Iteally, Alexandria, the men are getting almost unmanageable. They border on mutiny.' "I know It, Everette. It makes me very nervous, too. I'm so afraid they will do you some harm." Oh, I fancy not." 'Krerette!" "Well?" "Sdpposo you stop wearing your evening suit and that we give up our tea In the afternoon. They think we are pmting on airs, as they call it." "Xo, I will not. I am not going to change the habits of thirty years and throw over all memories of honte." "Von are only one of twenty, dear. It might be wiser." Put the woman's counsel went unhcciU'd. There were boutonnieres at our places at breakfast, and Austin, fresh from his tub, in an old but natty corduroy suit, tried, with much cheerful loud talking, to cover the evident sullenuess of bis "hands." After break

fast he donned his working clothes and went back to the digging of ditches. My horse was better, so I left at 10 o'clock, with considerable reluctance. Mrs. Austin was so charmiug. Xo wonder Austin was desperatelj in love with her. I sent Mrs. Austin a box of new books and some small trinkets such as a man believes that a woman likes, when I reached town. Two days after they had gone I met a friend who had come to the city that morning. "P.y the bye, P.rant. wasn't that a ghastly thing about those Britishers at the Circle-A ranch?" "Who. the Austins';" I cried, turning coll and foreboding. "Yes. You've heard about it, then?" "Xo. For heaven's sake! what is it?" Wel the way I heard it was this: Their men on the ranch didn't like them, recused them of being 'bloody aristicMts,' I believe, and they set fire to v.he grass near the stables two or three nights ago. You know it's been a dry year, and the grass burned well. Austin and his wife tried to fight th flames and keep them from the stable, all alone; no men to be found uatil it was quite over. Thev kept th barns safe, all right, but Mrs. Austin pretty woman, they say was sc burned that she died in perfect agofy at the eud of an hour. The men had turned up by that time. Been doven at Central City at a dance, they saiC- Arstin nearly went crazy while his wife was suffering, but after she died he went outside, drew h-s gun, and shot the foreinau and another of the - in seals." "Thank heaven!" "Wait-that's not all. The ones he didn't ki, it seems, said it was coldblooded murder I believe they were all half drunk. Anyway, they held him and dressed him up in Ids evening suit- -they had a special grudge against ft and then they took him out and strung him up to the rafters of the blm. It is supposed that there were lif'orn men. but, of course, they can't bv found; yon know how it is. Did you say you knew these Austins?" "Yes. I knew them," I answered. San Prf.neisco Argonaut.

Sand Painting, One or. the most curious native customs of India is that of making sand pictures or "sand painting," as it is often called. It is generally done on festal days In front of both houses and temples, and it has a religious significance. The sand, which Is prepared and sold by natives of the Deccan, is white, red, black, blue, orange, and purple. A woman, who has observed certain preliminary ceremonies, takes the sand in her hand, and allowing it to trickle out as she moves her arm forms upon the prepared ground in front of the door curious colored designs, inclosed with a border and representing human figures, crosses, semicircles or bird. One explanation of the purpose of theso pictures, according to Mr. .1. W. I'ewkes, is that they are believed to attract good spirits. To step on a sand painting brings bad luck. This strange custom assumes a scientific importance when it is known that it prevails in almost exactly the same from among the Tusayau Indians in the southwestern part of ihe United States. The Pueblos, like the Hindoos, ascribe to the pictures the power of attracting friendly spirit:;, and tin.' aiso use them in ceremonials intended to cure the sick. It has been suggested that, as far as it goes, this fact is an Indication that our Indians are related In origin to the native races of Ijdia. Tin first European discoverers of America thought they aa 1 hit upon the eastern extremity of Asia, when the name of Indian was given to the red skinned people whom they found here. Would it not be a singular coincilence if furtht'r evidence of community of origin should finally establish the fact tlnr: the Indians are re: ally Indians? ' ' How Hees Servo Thieves. There ds a largo moth, commonly known as death's-head moth, from its having a curious mark on its back like a skull and cross-bones sculptured on an old tenbston?, which makes very free with the bees' honey. It flies in the dusk of tho evening when t to bees are at rest, ami enters the hole in the hive, pokes its long sreker through the wax walls which surround the comb, and draws much honey into its stomach. Very often in the long evenings there are many bees lingering round the hive, but if the death's-head alights and niovci toward the door, they do not take much notice; yet one stiug would kill it, and It has no means of hurting the bee in return. So much troubled are ome hives by these curious visitors that the bees erect a flat wall of wax just within the hive door, allowing a small opening to exist on either hand. This, as a rule, puzzles the moth and it cannot enter. On the other hand, if n moth gets right into the hive the Imh's do not kill it, but either let it alone or use nil their ingenuity to stop its honey -stealing propensities. While the moth is enjoying the meal, the bees occasionally pull down some of the honeyromb behind it, and mould the wax quickly so as to form a dense wall. When the moth has finished its meal, and turns to get out of the hive. It finds itself walled up and Imprisoned for life. Clara What, engaged to him? Why. it was only the other night that he told me nothing could Induce him to marry. Maude Yes, Jack was always susceptible to the Influence of the person ' he happened to be with. New York Herald. You can't save some people from being Imposed upon; expose a" thief, and some people will love him.

Guessed Kxactly. o...,oi; ............... ... :.. i i ii a.a'j O'lMiiuii I lie rii jii-i in n.iiniP uric a an account of a terribly bungled exo cution. McSwilligen Couldn't the sheriff get the hang of it? Pittsburg ChronicleTelegraph. The Hiatus. She I've sren just sixteen winters. He Ah, I see, you've spent the r4st of them in Florida. Yonkers Statesman. i i Very True. Professor--It pains me. William, whenever I am obliged to punish you. William I know that, sir, but it doesn't pain you on the same spot. Fliegende Bl letter. It Alway Pay. "How did your daughter come to get the duke?" "By advertising." "Xonsense! You don't mean to tell me you advertised for a husband for your daughter?'' "Xo. But I advertised my business." Exchange. Some Inside History. "See how clean of snow Brown's sidewalk Is and look at Jacobson's next door." "Yes, but you don't understand." "What?" "I saw Brown borrow Jacobson's snow shovel two hours ago."- 'e e- : land World. Saw His Fate. Try Roentgen's photography before proposing. Xew York World. Honors Kvcn. Wool I met a Bussian to-day who had served a long term of exile in Siberia. Van Pelt Mv own brother lived for years in Brooklyn. Exchange. A Generous Nature. Bangkrupt went into the Delarin the other night, and after eating a hearty dinner summoned the waiter."What is your name, Alphonse?" he asked. "Patrick McCuffy," replied Alphonse. 'Thank you," said Bangkrupt, putting the name down in his memorandum ! book. "You have served me so well I'll place your name on the list of my preferred creditors for a liberal tip." Harper's Bazar. Doubtful Honors. F.obby (presenting a friend) Mamma, do you see Tommy Jones? Mamma Yes, Bobby, but I've met Tommy before. Didn't you know it? Bobby But you know, mamma, that you said yesterday that I was the naughtiest boy you ever saw. So I wanted you to see Tommy Jones. Harper's Bazar. Ten to One. There was once a, lawyer who indicated his oflice hours by a notice oa his door: "In from 10 to 1." 'An old sea captain, who kept coming for about a week without finding him in, at last furiously wrote under this notice: "Ten to one you're out." Exchange. Ton Had. IJtle Mrs. Xewbride (tearfully Oh, dear me! I wonder what can be the matter with this rake?" Husband (cautiously) It is a trifle heavy, that is a fact. Little Mrs. Xewbride (sobbingly) It is as heavy as le-le-lead and I put In plenty of ruh-raisins to raise it, tut-too! Harper's Bazar.

Äifl P f:;' Ill i .'X;:rg

A Greater Itrooklyn. Over-the-bridge people are now talking about C-reat er Brooklyn. They must annex Xew York or Xew Jersey to become greater. Xew Orleans Pio ay une.

Certainly Not. Ella Do you think the bicycle will ever take the place of the horse? Delia Certainly not. They ran't make sausage meat out of bicycles. A Life Position. "Have you got a permanent position. .Tawley?" "I think so. Snip & Co. have employed me to collect, your account with them." Harper's Bazar. An Interesting Phenomenon. "Dear me." said a South American republic as it looked at Croat Britain's map of Venezuela. "It is really very astonishing if it is not misrepresented." "What is it?" inquired a sister country. "The manner in which a country is liable to shrink in this warm climate." Washington Star. "Many a True Word." The office boy Der editor is busy; jist drop yer stuff in do slot. Miss pi .soy (the sweet singer of Sing Sing) Tell iue, does he get many poems? The oflice boy ('disgustedly) Poems! Why, lie's got 'cm to burn. Judge. Sure Indication. "Those photographs must flatter her." "Why?" "She's ordered another dozen from the same negative." Science for the Household. Extract from woman's club proceedings: "Many a man who goes to bed with insomnia bcomes a cataleptic the minute the baby begins to cry." The Proprieties. "But why," persisted the native, "do you serve the missionary for dessert;" "Oil. he was such a pudding," rejoined his wife, lightly. The propriety of the thing was too manifest to permit further discussion. Detroit Tribune. : fr im cwhat Misunderstood. Clerk (in jewelry store) Cold rings? Yes, sir, step this way, please. Eighteen carats? Mulvaney Xo, sir, Ii've been altin' onions, av tit's anny o' yure bizness. Xew York Ledger. Her Idea. "Mrs. Dash, can you tell me about your husband's incubator?" "Oh, yes,' this Is where the dear littl chirks hatch, you know, and that's tho brooder." "What does the brooder do?" "Why, It lays the egjs."

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WOODEN SHOES !N DEMAND. Footrrcar of the Dutchman Find Favor in Aincrici. Th? largest wooden shoe rsrtory la Ani'-rii-i is located at Orand Bapids, Mich. Tiie factory does not overshadow all the ofuer buildings in its vicinity, ;ior -.! es the liuui of its industry disturb the veace and pliet of the neighborhood. It is a small two-story building w:t;i a ig:i out in front to distinguish it from the dwelling bouses in the same secluded street. It is operated by two Hollanders who have been making wooden shoes almost from infancy. The junior partner occupies rooms in the .xeo.nd story of the factory building, and the senior partner, witii h:s family, lives in the rear, while the lao tory pr p'T. the largo-t in lb. rouetry. and producing about half of all ths wool.ci shoes made on t Lis side of tiie water, o'-oapies a luxii' room on the ground floor opening on the nree:. Three me:: tin 1 steady employment i:i the fa'-;, :;,-. a::d th ' force at times is increased to live, and the product w-pi average the year around about U'H.) pairs of s'noes a week. A wo. l ei shoe is produced entirely by hand, and in its evolution from a block of Wood to the finished product it undergo. throe operations. The wood is purchased in shoe lengths, and th hoes always go through the procos"s in pairs. The shaper takes two blocks, end !irsr with a broadax. and then with a hau l adze, he hews and hacks witlx greet apuren recklessness until he has reduced the blocks to a semblance of a pair of shoes. Then he puts them on a block of wool. and. with a long knife, that looks like a scythe blade, swivelled to the Mock at one end, lie rapidly brings the rough blocks to the perfect form of a wooden shot'. The blocks are then turned over to the borer, who with a variety of implements makes the hole for th-' foot. He first bores a hole for the heel ami then wirh what looks like an exaggerated cheese spöon works his way lo.vard tho toe. An expert workman ran reaoh the too in two or three minutes, while a green hand could not get there in half an hour. On'-e started with augers, knives. se.)ops and scrapers, the place for the foe.-: is rapidly shaped. Tiie vorknian often uses calipers and measures, so that one shoo of a pair shall b-i as near as possible the mate of the ot"h tr. The shoe is then sent to tho drying-room to remain a mouth, when the final touches are To give it the last scraping and the artistic linish. Willow is the l'st wood out of which to make wooden shoes, but the American willow is unlike that which grows on the native heath of the -wooden shoe. In this country bass wood is usod almost entirely, and is light, easy to work, durable and dry. Occasional orders are received for fancy shoes to be made of maple or walnut, and once an extra line pair had a mahogany venevr. The shoes are especially adapted for wearing in wet places, ami the demand for them is steadily increasing. The Hollanders brought 'them over from the old rountry. and wow long made sport of by the irreverent. Iut the Americans have within a few years been coming to the conclusion that In adopting tho wooden footwear tho Dutch had pretty level heads. The shoes are especially desirable for work in laundries, breweries, stables ami ou the farm when the ground is wet. They do not become saturated with moisture, never get out of shape like leather boots, and are surprisingly warm and comfortable, ami in addition they are rheap. and will outlive several pairs of cowhide boots. The awkwardness of wearing the shoes soon passes away, and when tiie wearer enters the house he kicks them off for shoes or slippers of more graceful build. Tho shoes sell for a dozen, adult sizes. for small sizes and Sl.N) for children'.-, and are shipped to all parts of the country from there. The Hollanders are still the largest buyers, but the Americans are making rapid progress in adapting them to their own lists;. IVsides the factory at Crand Kapids then' is one at Holland, Ottawa County, producing alwut lifty pairs a week when in operation, which Is only part of the time. Iowa has one or two small shops, and Xew Jersey has on or two. but fw if any work more than four or live mouths a year except the big factory at Crand Itapids. Nevr Y'ork Sun.

"Women's "Ways. A domestic wife is a blessing, but .not if she is too domestic. A wife is willing to be obedient, but she hates to be considered a slave. When a woman says no. she wants you to insist upon her saying yes. A man wiii always respect a woman If he sees that she respects herself. With a wenvau, her sojjI should always bo at lease as well clad as her bly. If a married woman commences as a slave, she will never regain her freedom. A great many women transfer to their baby the love they once had for their husbands. liven when a woman is in love she never forgets to see that her hat is ou straight. A woman should not be afraid to die. Why. just think of it! It relieves her of the marriage tie. A woman who Is a good cook can always retain the respect of her huskind. if not his love. A woman should be chary with her kisses and caresses, oven to her husband. We get tired even of a canvasback dlick if w e have it everv da v. A Itavotirt Ja. It is claimed that the Sultan never drinks :1 -oholie liquors. The bayonet jag is lie only kind that will over nrou-e him. Cleveland Plain Dealer. Our idea of a man indiffen nt to the world's scorn. Is one who would carry . corset box through the streets. j