The Syracuse Journal, Volume 22, Number 6, Syracuse, Kosciusko County, 6 June 1929 — Page 9

The BLADE of PICARDY

By FRED MCLAUGHLIN Copyright by Ths Bobba-Merrlll Co, W. N. U. Service SYNOPSIS Capt. Francois de Vigny, serving with Maximilian’s army tn Mexico, tells the story. A roysterIng group of officers Is discuss* ' ing La Anita, who. ramor says, has lured French officers to death or desertion. Summoned by Maximilian to make explanation. De Vigny undertakes to deliver the message to La Anita. CHAPTER ll—Continued “Lopez!” 1 gasped. What tn the name of treachery had Lopez to do tn this menage, what was his business in this house of mystery and of murder? I felt Instinctively that the other man was her “worthy cousin." Colonel Lopez was the trusted aide of bis majesty, Maximilian, almost bls chief of staff; he was behind half the moves that the emperor made. Not only that —Colonel Lopez had fostered the Investigation that led finally to the trial and execution of La Anita's father. True, he had kept himself in the background. I had never trusted Colonel Lopez, nor liked him. and this thing only added fuel to the flames of my resentment. Red rage possessed me; if Colonel Lopez—~— I moved toward the door, for indirection of action has never been a fault of mine; but even with band extended I stopped, for I heard the sound/of a footstep. I turned, and came face to face with La Anita. There was a smile of welcome on her face. She was dressed in a black lacy gown cul very tow. I think I must have gasped at the sheer beauty of her, for a light of triumph flamed for an Instant In her eyes. Her clear musical voice was pitched unnaturally high: “Captain Vigny, it is good of you—" “My poor ears," 1 cried; “surely, senorita, you cannot think that 1 am deaf.” Her laugh was even of greater volume. “Your pardon, senor." she said; “that stupid cocinera of mine can neither cook nor hear. After I have talked with her I speak unconsciously louder for a space. Is it not droll?” I listened. The murmur of voices had ceased, i stood aghast, realizing only 100 well that this situation called not for a deft blade, but for a brain Infinitely more agile than mine. La Anita laughed softly; but her laugh had nothing tn it of pleasure. She, too, seemed to be listening. “Had I known you were here,” said she at last, “1 should have wasted no time onr the cocinera. I had no desire. senor. to keep you waiting." “The little time accorded me. senorita, permitted me to note your excellent library, and to enjoy some •of these wondrous paintings of yours." She sinlled at this. “Besides." 1 continued, driving straight ahead —as a soldier should —“in strange places one hears, if one’s ears are properly attuned mysterious and interesting sounds.” “Ah: tts but. the chatter of idle men, who. lacking brains to amuse themselves. drink to pass the time away. 1 have an idea that Colonel Lopez and my worthy cousin, who cannot wait In patience, have been into my wines again." She turned to the doorway, wherein stood the dark-faced, silent mozo: “You may tell Colonel Lopez and Senor Madrella that they will find me here.” Following the mozo they came tn. each with a half-filled glass tn his hand. Lopez, sighting me, stared an awkward instant, then he put back bls massive head and went off into an uncontrollable spasm of laughter. “Another sailor." he cried, “on life’s uncertain ocean, pining for the music -of the Lorelei; another motb bound for the flame of beauty!" His tone nettled me. “1 am not a beauty-bound moth, senor; neither do 1 pine. I am here on his majesty’s business.” Wherein I tied, for the flame of La Anita’s beauty had burned me deeply, and visions of her lovely face had filled my thoughts, in my urgent desire to see her again, to listen to the music of her voice, to thrill in the glory of the very air that surrounded her?-1 had almost forgotten that the real purpose of my errand was to meet that murderous cousin of hers. She spoke to the mozo again: “Get Captain Vigny some wine. . Monsieur le Comte. I would present my cousin, Senor Pablo Madrella y Gutierrez." Senor Madrella bent his fine body in the middle and bowed halfway to. the floor. He was all of six feet, with a comfortable breadth of shoulder and a lithe grace tn his muscular body that suggested the latent power ot a panther. His eyes were a deep blue-gray and they had the steadfast look of a man of courage; his hair was straight and nearly black, and a black mustache and Vandyke failed to hide a resolute mouth and chin. A vague idea came to me that I had seen him before; even his voice seemed faintly familiar. “There Is a question in your eyes, senor." said Madrella. “I was lust wondering." 1 answered. Intent on approaching the crisis with directness. “If Senor Madrella 'and t'olonei Lopez—just now—were drinking his majesty’s health.” “Ah." cried Lopez, “the French are ever a jesting people. Must the lovely La Anit/ be saved only for lieutenants and captains; may not a colonel hark to the lure of beauty? And you have just denied, captain—" Thus challenged I drew the summons from my pocket, and La Anita, white of face and swaying slightly, read ft. She proffered It to her cousin. who considered it with grave eyes. “Just what may my cousin expect on the morrow, captain?" he hsked. J turned to Lopez and found a distinct threat In his dark eyes. I knew that he and I .estrange were behind this move, and I knew that Lopez bad brought about the execution of La

Anita’s father; yet here was the intriguing colonel, fl welcome guest in her home, and an avowed suitor for her hand. “Senorita.” he said, a proprietary confidence in his tone, “it is a trifle. I assure ybn. You may depend upon me to see that no awkward questions are asked.” “You are very kind,” she murmured. Now she turned to me: “How much may I depend upon le comte?” I think she knew my standing with the emperor. “Just so much as my service to his majesty will permit,” said I.' Anger flamed In Madrella’s eyes. “You make your service a convenient thing, senor, as well as a faithful shield." At last! A wild exhilaration possessed me; I had drawn him out. “My service has never been a shield,senor; I require none. If I must be direct—and I prefer to be—here it Is: Four officers of his majesty’s service have come to this house;, two have disappeared completely, the third, an tn different swordsman, today nurses a wounded shoulder, and the body of the fourth was taken from the canal One loss might have been passed over as an accident—a coincident—but four would seem to take on the phase of deliberate planning. “May I tell you. captain, what happened to them?” “Three only, senor; Mironsac wil'. speak for himself. You may tell me If you so desire, but I retain the right to believe or not. as 1 choose." “Senor 1" he rasped. “You—” Lopez broke in: “Slowly, Pablo, slowly; Captain Vigny is on a mission for Maximilian." “1 am not," said L “1 have finished the business of the emperor." “Very well, hot-head," the colonel placated. “Remain quiet while Senor Madrella tells us. Have you not the courtesy—?” “Plenty, my colonel,” said L “where courtesy is required—” La Anita gasped, and 1 turned to her, all humiliation. “Your pardon senorita; I forgot.” "Go on, Pablo." urged Lopez. “Duroc,"’said Madrella, "he whom you found in the canal, died In honorable comhat.” "With you, senor?” He nodded. “With nie.’’ “Perchance the sword of Duroc was not so skillful." “Not so bad.” mused the cousin, tn the tone of a connoisseur, ’‘not so bad.” “Duroc, as 1 remember, was a Gascon, and faithful. Did you make certain overtures, senor?” Madrella hesitated. “Yes.” said La Anita, “my cousin offered him honorable service under the deposed President." “He refused,” said Madrella. “And died." I finished. “Any soldier of France would have done the same.” “But Leroux,” smiled Madrella, “and the other one—Besancon—did nui refuse, and did not die.” “Do you mean to say—?” I gasped. “Os a surety, captain." The worthy cousin’s face took on a look of great complacency. “They recognized the error of their ways, they foresaw the fall of Maximilian, or. possibly, it may be that they did not relish the taste of cold steel, for—believe melt has an evil flavor. At all events they serve now under the glorious banner of Benito Juarez!” “You He, senor.” I said; "no soldier of France would do that thing.” I heard a sharp intake of breath whistle through the teeth of Colonel Lopez; La Anita sighed, a deep sigh of anguish and of horror, and Madrella stood—poised, expectant—a cold smile on his face. The precious ras cal was enjoying himself: and 1 al most loved him for it A massive walnut library table stood between us. Madrella placed the outspread fingers of both hands upon it and studied me a long moment: “You will apologize—is it not so?” “It is not so,” said I. "Then, of course,” smiled Pablc “you will fight.” “That. - senor. has been the actual Intent of my mission." Madrella raised his eyes to the mantel over which hung the two swords. Mironsac had called them rapiers, but he had been in error, for they were really small-swords, and most ideal for fencing. Colonel Lopez stood on a chair, and, taking down the weapons, laid them side by side upon the table. “If you two must fight,” he said, “though I consider ft stupid and entirely unnecessary, the least I can do will be to assist yon." “Are you not called.” said Madrel la. still with his blue-gray eyes upon me, “the Blade of Picardy? It affords me a fine delight. Captain Vigny to try the skill of one whose name and fame have gone so far.” He indicated the weapons with a glance, and as I made no move, continued: “Will you choose?" “But should 1, the challenged party, be required to choose merely of swords, senor? Is it the custom tn Mexico—?’’ “You will pardon me, captain." said Madrella; “it was a natural assumption with me that one with such an aptitude for fencing—” Now, at a sign from her cousin Anita brought forward a long, nan row. mahogany box. which, on being opened, disclosed a pair of silvermounted dueling pistols. “Must there be any choice, senor.” said Madrella. “further than pistols across this table—or the swords?" Now I considered this thing. I had come to the home-of La Anita for the one purpose of removing a deadly menace that lay tn the path of Maximilian. In the service of. his country —and of his emperor—a soldier should never cons’der his own life. That little gray-hatred mother of mine in St. Simon would mourn the loss of an only son, hut she would understand. And on the morrow—did I fall —that failure would be difficult indeed to explain to Cupido. and to Neville, and even to the cynical Lestrange. The man who stood before me,

waiting for me to choose, was an evident master with the sword. The biade. then, offered a possible fail ure. and failure was a thing not to be considered, whereas the pistols—- “ The pistols seem more to my ilk Ing.” said 1. “Ah—no!” cried La Anita. “You cannot, senor.” She caught my arm “We must,” said Madrella, reaching for the remaining weapon. “But the emperor,” she objected; “already he has summoned me. Must another—?” “Senorita.” said 1 gently, for I was torn by her unhappiness. “Colonel Lopez, tn whom his majesty places great and abiding faith, will tell him on the morrow that It was Captain Vigny who sought this meeting, will assure him that .it was through no plan of thine.” “It's murder." said Lopez harshly. “Murder or not —it must be." - “Unless the captain wishes to apologize.” suggested Madrella. “A thing—as you very well know —that 1 have no intention of doing. Is the table, Senor Madrella, wide enough to suit you?” Madrella, considering the six feet of smooth walnut, laughed. “In a fine display of courage, captain, you have surpassed the other four soldiers of France." Now I remembered the overtures made to the other men who had followed the lure of beauty. “You do not offer me a commission in the Liberal army—a commission under Benito Juarez?” He bowed. “1 must do you the honor to admit that such an offer would be useless; aye, worse than useless—a foolhardy thing, senor.” La Anita touched my arm again. “Monsieur,” she said softly, "look at me." , There has never been a face since time began as lovely as hers. Knowing my Imminent death I drank to the lees of her beauty. The clear amber eyes were fathomless wells of sweetness, the pointed chin trembled ever so little, the slightly parted, red tips showed the tips of pearly teeth, and on the oval face lay an indefinable expression of pleading. “I am looking, senorita, and with death before me I take reckless courage in telling yon that no woman In all the world has ever approached the perfection of beauty that you have attained.” “Thank you,” she faltered. “Monsieur—is there no way?” Her eyes fell before my steadfast look. “Would you have me apologize to your worthy cousin?” “If 1 should ask you— Y* A soft light came into the amber eyes, a light that burned up my bravado and turned my bones to water. “Anything that you ask me to do,” said r. a hopeless slave to a sudden, overwhelming love, “that will I do.” She must have read that love in my eyes, for her hand trembled on my arm. Then she did the thing that only a woman of high resolve could have done. “It is not for me, senor. to ask you.” Whereupon she turned Ssistl ' it So We Stood Each ir White Shirt, Pistols Half Raised. to her cousin, raised on tiptoe; and kissed him. “Goodby.” she whispered. Then she walked, unsteadily, across the room and stood beside Lopez. For tnat kiss I would have died tn perfect happiness. Depositing the pistol on the tabie 'I took off the all-enveloping coat Senor Madrella shrugged out of the long hrown coat that had fit his flue body with such precision. So we stood, each In white shirt, pistols half raised, facing each other across six feet of polished walnut “I am sorry, senor.” said 1, “that 1 cannot place you. Surely I have seen you before; even your voice is vaguely familiaF.” The laugh of Colonel Lopez broke an awkward tension. “You have seen him in the mirror. Captain Francois; and his voice is very like your own." “Pablo tnio.” cried La Anita, “save for the beard and mustache he is your brother!” Now 1 started, marveling, for we were of a height except for a possible inch in my favor, and the lines of our bodies held an amazing likeness. The gray-blue of eye was nearly the same as mine; the straight nose, the ears, poise of head, and a certain alertness of gesture seemed very much my own. Even under his beard I recog nized the familiar, obstinate set of mouth and chin. My hair was not so black as his. nor quite so straight, and his skin was darker by far than mine. Even with the differences of beard and complexion and many vita! points of dissimilarity that closer inspection might reveal, the resemblance was startling. “How tragic a thing," La Anita breathed, “that two such magnificent men should' kill each other!" I bowed to her. "Senorita, you have made death a beautiful thing for me.” “Enough.” said Madrella. who. I am bould not have failed to see the worship In my eyes. “May we ask for your assistance. Colonel L» pez?” _ . ' “It Is an evil business. Pablo.” said the colonM. Pablo shrugged bis shoulders.

THE SYRACUSE JOURNAL

“Francois." said Lopez. “Is ther» no way?” “None; yon will convey my regrets to the emperor, colonel—ami to her majesty, the sweet Carlotta?” “Assuredly. I shall count, then When I have reached the count of three you may fire.” He thought a long moment- “Arrangements for a second shot will be unnecessary." We raised our guns. His aimed at my chest, in one last desperate effort to hurt him tn the eyes of the woman w’ho loved him I kept the slgHlfs of my weapon between his eyes/NI would see to it that he«did not make a handsome corpse. As in ikdream I heard the colonel’s voice: “One!” followed by a great sigh from Anita. I leaned against the massive table, bracing my body for certain aim. “Two!” Madrella’s smile was dis-’ concerting. I tried to match it—and failed. t “Three!" I remember that La Anita cried out as 1 pulled the trigger. The effect was as startling as though the gun , i held had been a cannon, for the hammer fell upon an empty chamber. and Pablo Madrella. who had made no attempt to Are, stood bowing and smiling. “A man of consummate courage, senor,” he said; “you give me added respect for France!”' With the useless pistol in my hand I stood, staring stupidly. Colonel Lo-i pez swore, and La Anita broke into hysterica! sobbing. “Name of G—d.” I cried, "did you know, senor, that the guns were empty?” “Aye.” said he; “it was but to test your courage.” I cast the weapon from me and caught the handle of a sword. “The sword Is always loaded; guard!” “Ah—no!” cried La Anita. I looked down into her tear-wet face. “Did yon know, senorita.” said I. and all my happiness hung on her answer, “that the guns were empty?" “Dios,” she said. “no. senor; never would I have put any man to such a test; it was a devilish thing to do—and my cousin—” I pushed the table away with one mighty pet and overturned. Lopez and I moved it Into a corner. “Pick ir up, . Madrella," 1 cried; ! “pick up your sword.” “No. senor.” “Then, before G—d,” said I. “1 run you through as you stand!” The voice of Colonel Lopez was harsh with anger: “Your actions were reprehensible, Pablo, and anything that Captain Vigny may choose to do will be quite within his rights.” Now Madrella picked up the sword and swept it In a vicious arc. The reluctant air sang beneath that blow. He turned toward me. His face was flushed, for the words of the woman he loved had hurt him. “Maj; I -apologize. senor. for that trick?” With the green sweet world ahead of me again, the feel of a beautifully balanced sword tn my hand, and the thought that the glorious La Anita had seen me go—unscathed—through an ordeal that would have broken the nerve of many a man of courage. I could afford to be generous. “The trick, senor. Is already forgotten; guard!” Our swords came together with a slithering clash, beat away and touched again. 1 felt of his blade, and found an Iron rigidity in his wrist. As an experiment I tried a simple tierce, and met a perfectly bal anced parry and a lightning riposte that grazed my ribs and brought a gasp from La Anita. “Nearly. Anita mia," he said, with a smile. “In dueling, senor.” snid 1. " ‘nearly’ Is as far away as the moon." The * heavy carpet deadened the sounds of our shuffling feet as we swept across it; there was heard only the clash of steel, the sibilant hiss ot desperate breathing, the quick crash of lunge and parry. ’ The successful duelist, 1 think counts to some extent upon the nerve of his antagonist. Feeling it out and finding ever so little a lack, he plavs the game accordingly. The manner in which I had withstood Madrella’s “test” had added nothing to his confi dence; and now, as the contest progressed. I had a certain indefinable feeling that the cousin’s nerve was not a thing that could stand up undet a long-continued equal battle. He must have the advantage or he “broke." Many men. so I have dis covered, are like that. When the realization came to me that 1 was his equal In skill and strength a vast relief swept over me Already, that night. I had died once, and no more fear lay in me. So I thrilled to the game; It gave me keen enjoyment, and I talked to him; “Dn roc." I said, “was not so had, senor—eb? And poor Mironsac. with his baby face and worshipful eyes, was easy— Is it not so?” “Por Dios." Madrella cried, breath ing heavily. I pushed him back and forth across the spacious chamber, but never was I able to break through. His defense was as perfect as a wall. Subterfuge offered the only chance, for the man seemed tireless. Openly 1 tried a quarte. which he met with graceful efficient parry: then, seeing what he Imagined to be a fair opening, he plunged tn reckless ly for riposte. My blade wrapped around his tn counter-parry. Now. for one sufficient instant. I had caught him off balance, and I staked ail on one swift counter-riposte. Too late he saw his error. He managed to deflect my blade away from his chest but that was the best he could do 1 saw my point disappear in the white shirt under his arm; I felt the steel take hold, then I drew back quickly and—on guard again—waited. La Anita moved quickly to the sid<of the stricken man. whose nerveless fingers opened slowly, permitting the sword to fall to the heavy carpet who swayed slightly, leaning toward the girl for sup|w»rt. and upon whose face spread IS greenish pallor of agony and of fear. “1 would go—home," he gasped. (TO BE CONTINUED ) Better Farmer Than King The soubriquet “Farmei George” was given to George 111, in allusion to bis bucolic tastes.

i HOW TO LIVE 1 j LONGER *l**«**^t M e w e w^eM e^* M e M e^* M e M k w * M « M^****SM> **** <M S M ’**** k *s t By I ❖ JOHN CLARENCE FUNK A FALSE ECONOMY THRIFT is a splendid thing but' when it reaches the point of i miserliness it ceases to be a virtue.! One of its most jieeuliar manifestations is the practice of keeping down blinds to “save the rugs." In the rural districts of some sections of the country the whole house will be shut up tight, summer and winter, "so that the carpets won’t fade.” Many city matrons in lesser degree are guilty of the same conduct. Prisons of former years were both | dark and damp; and they consequent-' ly not only confined those unfortunate enoygh to be sent to them, but killed them with disease. However, in these , days of enlightenment even many jails are reasonably light, and get ! plenty of fresh air. Why then, emu- ; late the penal practices of past years by saving the colors in rugs and car- - pets? Germs are cowardly things. They ! love the dark and thrive tn It. They are equally attached to dust. Conversely. they flee from sunlight, fresh air and cleanliness. Physicians realize the fundamental fact that an abundance of sunlight is essential for normal development and the maintenance of a good physical condition. Drawn blinds bar It altogether. While in many latitudes It becomes impossible in the winter time to keep the windows constantly open during the day. this need not be so during the late spring, summer and early fall. One thing is certain, .winter will not keep out the sunshine if vou are witling to let it in. One step farther Is required, how- j ever: window glass filters out the most beneficent portion of the sun’s rays. It becomes necessary tlierefore. not only to let in light but to permit the sunshine to enter direct. In severe weather a few minutes is enough. In mild seasons one cannot ; have too much of it. Therefore, raise all blinds, and keep them up; then | throw o|>en the windows and let In i the sunshine and fresh air. Better I a little dust and faded colors than ! disease. Be thrifty. But don’t let thrift tn | this connection get the better of you. i If you do. you will be a miser—perhaps a sick one. And you even may turn into a dead one! * * * A VICIOUS PEST THE fly is one of the dirtiest insects in existence. It is a pity i that if presents such, an inoffensive appearance and that it lacks a stinger. If It were ugly and aggressive humanity’s Indifference to it would immediately change into opposing Its dangerous activity. But that is where the trouble lies The harm that ft does is accomplished so slyly that the average individual is likely to become ( careless regarding this pest, especially if he happens to live in the country True, there is a great difference between the house of former days full of flies fresh from the barnyard ano the comparatively flyless farmhouse of today. However, much still needsto be accomplished before this enemy to life has been laid low. Typhoid fever is a disease ot filth and uncloanliness. It is Invariably contratted by taking food water or milk which has been infected by ty piloid fevet germs And it is right here that the innocent looking fly he comes such a powerful and deadly emissary I This insect Instinctively haunts un protected cess pools and in this man ner collects germs on its feet which it later det»oslts on food by the slm pie process of walking on ft. Out side conveniences should therefore always he efficiently protected ‘ It is not always possible. es|>ecially on farms, to remove the barnyard products that are such a favorite haunt for the fly; but even there a certain amount of sanitary care and the efficient screening of one's house will diminish the hazard from that source. Moreover, there Is-absolutely, no ex- • ruse for anybody to maintain any fly-attracting spots in the Immediate neiglihorlumd of their dwelling Ex p<»se<| garbage and other filth' magnetic to the fly should not be toler | a ted. As to food (and this applies to city and rural folk equally) thoroughly wash uncooked foods such as lettuce, celery and endives. This mechanical process may remove fever infecting germs deposited by flies in the process of marketing this produce. To con<-lude. the best kind of fly for human beings is a dead one. Do not tolerate conditi»>ns that breed and don't give him quarter if he invades your home Swat—and live! (®. 1929 Western Newspaper Onton.) The Self-Sufficiency Age An obstinate, ungovernable self-suf-ficiency plainly points out to us that state <»t imperfect maturity at which -the graceful levity of youth is lost ami the solidity of experience not yet acquired —Junius Camera Long Known The camera, it is believed, was in- i vented by (jiovanni Battista della Porta in the Sixteenth century, though the principle was actually known before. Onion Long in Favor Native io southern Asia or the borders of the Mwlitenranean sea. the onion has been esteemed an excellent the earliest times, of which there are authentic records. Egyptians cultivated onions at the dawn of theii history. Complementary Qualities Love must be intelligent, and Intelligence must be loving before eithei can reach its fullest exercise.—Her ridge.

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Passenger-Carrying Wheelbarrows in Szechwan.

(Prepared by the National Geographic ’ Society. Washington. D. C.) FEW nations have a greater problem in feeding and clothing their citizens than a single province in China, Szechwan, where approximately 60.0(10.000 people live isolated liehind great jnountain barriers. Szechwan is the westernmost of the provinces of the middle zone of China, lying over against Tibet. None other of the divisions of the great republic has so many inhabitants. There is a most intensive, if primitive, domestic commerce in Szechwan, and millions of the laborers of the province spend their lives on its roads, bearing burdens on their backs or pushing the wheelbarrows which supply the only wheels that ever touch the network of roads and trails. Sharing with these carriers the burden of tile nation's life is the proverbial "Man with the Hoe,” usually a poor tenant giving half his crop for the rent of his acre. Frequently, however, he is able to own his own implements and a water buffalo, with whicn he plows his own and his neighbor’s plot? receiving in turn his neighbor's help in seed time and harvest. Still others, and on the rich Clfengtu plain they are numerous, are wealthy farmers, who live in fine homes and till their estates with the help of sons and grandsons or with hired servants. To these farmers is given the task of feeding a nation of 60,000.000 people: for Szechwan, isolated by mountain barriers, must be self-sustaining. The measure of this task is appreciated when we consider that fully 50 per cent of the 1 Si.ooo square miles of Szechwan is too mountainous for cultivation. which means that these 60,000.000 are sustained on an area less than one-half that of the state of Texas. Add to this condition his lack of scientific knowledge and the primitive implements with which he labors, as well as the necessity of securing and returning to the soil, as fertilizers, all that he reaps from it; remember, also, that rice, his chief cereal crop, is the most difficult of all cereals to produce, especially in a country where the hills must be terraced and water lifted to fill the paddy fields, and it becomes evident that the Szechwan farmer's task is next to impossible and its accomplishment little short of a miracle. Rich Soil and Plenty of Rain. He is, however, favored with a teriiperate climate all the year and naturally rich soil, an atmosphere saturated with moisture, an abundant raintull, and a never-failing supply of water for irrigation from the melting snows on the mountain near by. He produces nearly every vegetable and grain found in our market and others to which we are strangers. The fruits that are ours are his also. Apples are few and poor in quality, hut the persimmon and orange are second to none and are produced in great abundance. One thousand oranges on the upper Yangtze can be purchased for 50 cents. He knows little of the science of gardening, but much of its method. By interplanting, especially beans and pears, which he knows improves the quality of the soil; by crop rotation, which he knows increases his yield, and by intensive fertilizing and the sowing of vetch in the fallow season, he manages to keep his fields rich and raises from two to six crops a year. He has made Szechwan knowtr as the Garden of Asia, the land where famine never comes. The tenant farmer pays his rent with the major portion of his rice, which is the master crop and his chief concern and joy in life. In the early spring he plows his paddy fields, and then prays for rains to flood them, offering incense to the god of the garden, whose shrine is built near by. When rain and "gods fail him, he sets to work with endless-chain, foottreadle pumps, laboriously lifting into his terraced fields the water that he has conserved in the valley. Then, breaking up the rice sod, which has been grown from early sowing in highly fertilized plots, he transplants it in hills in the watered paddy fields. The roily water makes the hoeing of his rice field impossible; so he does not hoe it; he toes it. With bare foot he feels about the plant with his toes, and if he finds a weed, he toes it out; then presses the dirt firmly in place again. With his right foot he toes two rows, with his left foot he toes tfro rows, and thus he toes four rows as be goes. That’s the way he hoes. For the harvest the farmers combine

Savages Good Navigators Marshall islanders are said to be among the most expert navigators tn the world, taking into consideration their limited equipment, says an article in Pathfinder Magazine. They build canoes of the trunks of bread fruit trees. These boats carry sails and their cruising range is far greater titan that of the canoes made by most other primitive people. Their strange charts, called "rib-

and render mutual assistance. The rice is cut with the sickle, gathered in bundles, and the grain beaten out by striking it upon slats in the* center of a large bin which is pulled along after the threshers. Dried upon bamboo mats, rolled and cleaned, it is then ready to be transported to market. Salt Industry at “Flowing Welk” About midway between Chung king and Chengtu the traveler in Szechwan is tempted by the long train of salt carriers to turn aside and see c the renowned salt industry at Tszliu-ching, which means “Flowing Well.” Its origin is lost in antiquity, being first mentioned in the reign of the Minor Han dynasty in Szechwan, A. D. 221-263. With its forest of derricks, it resembles an oil boom tpwu. The wells have been drilled by foot power to a depth of 2,400 feet for brine, and about 2,800 for natural gas. which is used exclusively for the evaporation of the brine. Salt is the unfailing source of government revenue and its production is gudrded most jealously to prevent monopoly. The proprietor of the salt well cannot own a gas well or evaporating plant. Likewise, the owner of the gas well or evaporating plant cannot engage in the other branches of the industry, thus making each dependent upon the other and preventing family or government control. There are no flowing wells now. the brine being lifted in bamboo buckets about 50 feet in length, and 4 to 5 inches in diameter. The power is supplied by water buffaloes, hitched in fours to a GO-foot horizontal drum, about which the rope fastened to the bucket winds as the animals are beaten around tlie circle at a wild gallop. The magnitude of the industry may be gleaned from the fact that every, family demands its weekly pound of salt, and that many tons are exported, each month to other provinces. Returning once more to the Big road and passing without comment its towns and located about ten miles apart, one comes to Chengtu, the Perfect capital, a vice-regal city of half a million people, ruling over Szechwan and Tibet. It .is surrounded by a finely constructed brick wall, 35 to 40 feet in height, with a thickness at the top of 20 feet and a circumference of more than nine miles. Chengtu is an ancient capital, its first recorded wall being built 2,315 years ago. Marco Polo described it as a trinity of cities beautifully embellished. Its approaches were carved marble bridges which spanned its moat. Its wall, nearly 20 miles in circumference, inclosing a population of more than a million, was surrounded by rows of hibiscus trees, which iu autumn bloom made it the “Embroidered City,’’ a name that has long outlived the wall and its trees. Some conception of the toil required to erect such a wall may be gained from the historical records, which state that the construction of one of its extensions, eight miles in length, .required an army of 100,000 men and 9.600,000 days' work. Ancient Irrigation System. Chengtu has given its name to the plain on which it stands. This plain is said to have one of the finest and most ancient systems of irrigation in the world. It was perfected about 200 B. C. by Li Ping, who has since become the patron saint of Chengtu —the only instance, perhaps, where a civil engineer has become a patron saint. He divided the Min into three great delta systems of rivers and canals, which radiate to all parts of the 80-mile plain. The waters are united again in two main streams, which leave the southwest and southeast borders of the plain by the Min and the Lin rivers. He left the people this motto for I regulating the canals: “Keep the banks low and the bottom clean”; and this wise counsel has prevented the disastrous floods of andient tithes, while furnishing a never-failing supply of mountain water for the fields. It is not, however, this fertile plain, with its irrigation and teeming millions; nor the city, with its ancient culture and modern shops; nor yet the wall that claims chief consideration, but a modern institution, tbe Christian, college, rising just beside it; for, interesting as is Old China, with Its walled-in peoples and civilization. It holds no such world significance as the China of today, which such institutions have in large measure made possible.

belib,” are constructed of thin strips of wood tied together with til»er. Some of the strips give the position of the islands and others the direction of the prevailing winds. With such guidance the native navigators make their way with unerring precision for hundreds of miles over the Pacific. Their Grip on Africa Great Britain, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Belgium have African colonies.