HomeMy WebLinkAboutExeter Advocate, 1900-3-22, Page 6110MiNGT
y JOHN El—Tit —A NCa'al WINTER,
Seettyreetve use br to ettatatme
Evieracaily tee career of a nurse
Was disposed of aud pat on one side as
an impossible one. 'I:Imre only reanained
then open to bur that of a typewriter.
The acenunts which she getheied of
tele way of makiere a living were woe
hopeful. She would pay 10 geineas
be taught the trade, and 81N months
would see bee in a fair way ef eerning
a decent living. She could, until she
was proficient, live very cheziply and
quietly in her modest little room, and
ehe would have every intereet in forcing
hereelf ahead as quiekly as possible.
There was nothing in the manipulation
of a delicate and intelligent machine
(this was the way that a young girl,
whose acquaintance she made in a tea -
;amp, spoke of hee typewriter) which
oduid be in any way revoltinta to bele
,mg
eteefe
....
----
It fascinated, enthralled, amazed her.
or whiett was in any sense beyond ber
powers,
"And of course," said the girl, •if
you go in for shorthand as well, you
just double your value from tbe very
kart."
"Is it difficult?" Mary asked, rather
diffidently.
"Yes. it is difficult," the girl replied,
"but by no means insurmountable. And
the advantages are enormous. Oh, it is
a grand life for a woman. Any woman
of average intelligence can make a liv-
ing at it; and a woman whose intelli-
gence is above the average can do more
than make a living. She can command
her own price. Then it is a free life( I
mean in this way. If a Woloan goes in
for nursing, she needs years and years
of training, and goodness only knows
whether she will prove herself a .really
:skilled nurse at the end of it. She needs
euperlannuin strength, endless patience,
antinite tact, and for what? To earn at
best 2 guineas a week, to be treated a
little better than a servant. to be al-
wuys in a position that is entieely tem-
porary. A typist, on the other hand, es -
pedally if she is also a stenographer,
can easily make £1 00 a year, provided
thet sbe is really good at her work. She
has her fixed hours., her fixed bolidays.
Sae has. always her Sundays and her
Saturday afternoens. All the tact that
Is necessary for her is to mind her own
business and hold her tongue. She bas
her evenings to herself. and, if she likes,
she can get• extra work then so as to
put by an extra sum to her ordinary
earnings for her slimmer holiday. It is
a line fife for a woman—there is no /Ms-
-Sea:0 about that.
The reeelt of this chance meeting and
emeversation with an utter stranger was
that Mary went straight away to a cer-
tain scbool of typewriting, and at once
entered herself as a pupil for the entire
canrse, and then she set Iserself to work.
She was an ept pupil. Her well bal-
anced miner, tinged by disappointment
;and trouble, but uneuffled by the great-
er passions of life, quickly grasped the
Sutricacies of the curious dots and
dashes which seem so myeterioris and
coefiasing to the majority of mortals.
She -matte rapid progress, and before the
eix n)C11ths wbicIl she had allowed h er-
aelf Loi her pupilage had come to an
end she found herself established in the,
eflice of a small firm of brokers at a
salary of 1 13 shillings a week.
It was of course bet a beginning
Still it was a beginning, and Mary had
accepted it gladly. both for what it
brought her and tee an earnest of better
things to come, And each evening when
she had left the office end had had tea
at the nearest X Y Z ehop she tvent
off to the school and worked hard at her
shorthand.
A few months more saw her in differ-
ent cirenrestateces, for :die left the firm
of brokers and engaged herself to a
lawyer of large practice. who paid her
ei0 shillings a week and treated her
pleasantly 11)1)0 ±110 bargain. After near-
ly a year in this office her employer sud-
denly died, and she Was thrown out of
work. '
Not that dm we' destitute—by no
means. She had lived carefully, almost
frugally, keeping always in mind the
possibility of a rainy day in titaie to
come. She took a week's holiday and
epee it at Dovercourt, where she sat by
the glorious sea, basking in golden ern-
eleine and the keen brisk air, reveling
novels nd drieldng in a full simply
ef health and strength, which would
last her for at le ISL a yeer to come.
Among the books she had taken down
'with her was one which , had been lent
to her by her one intimate friend, the
girl Lucy Chalmers, wlio bad first given
;her information ;thole; the life and ca
1011 of a typist. if 11 had been three
golden days by the sea ere eho began to
read it. It was called "A Lover's Creed
a Love."
It is almost iropossible for me to tell
rale effect that this story had upon aviary
Conway. It was 0 story of passion pas-
eionately vvritten. It was fervid, full of
life and ritir and color, and it Was clean
end wholesome in tone Withal. It Was
minaistakebly tbe work of a men rich
imaginatioe who Was yet full of
SematMon /setts° anti sound judgment. It
fascinetecl, enthreaTett, erntudel tens She
event to bed and dreamed of it.
She reed it over agein $everal times
during tins rest of her tveek's boliday.
leaving the other imolai unread after the
first glance into their, to her, nneeniug-
! lees Pages, During' those few clays she
1 lived with it.
I 1.e.ii 51)0 \'Vent back o sonclon She
was feeling stronger and more really
free jast then than ehe bad ever dove irt
all her 11 10 before. She was ind opentl en t,
see steed taea to face with the world, it
is true, but it was no longer a world of
which she was aireicl She stood firm
upon her own toot. She owed not a
Uy to to any Mall.
Hcr first errand was to go to a great
shop where typewriters are sold.
"I wish to put my name down oia
yorm boolte," she said.
"As typist?"
"And stenographer."
'What is yeur :mood?"
Cue hundred and twenty," said
Mary. with qtdet assurance such as car-
ried conviction with it.
"You are uaed to our machines?"
"Yee; I have used no other.
"Well, if you will give me yonr
name and address, I will let you know
if anything suitable °flees itself.''
"Thaek you --Mrs. Conway, 201 Wel-
lington street, laloomsbury."
The clerk wrote down the mime and
address, and Mary turned to go. "By
the bye, be said, ‘`.1aon't know if you
wouldn't be just the one for a gentle-
man now on our list. Let me see,'
turning over the pages of a big book--
" `Lady—uot young girl--quiet---inust
bave speed over 100.. You nsight go
and see this gentleman. I'll give you a
card. It is Mr. Alan Stacey, the novel-
ist.
"The author of `A Lover's Creed of
Love!' " cried Mary, breathlessly.
CHAPTER VIII.
ALAN STACEY, THE NOVELIST.
It was with a beating bent filled
with nervousness and apprehension that
Mary Conway found herself waiting at
the house of Alan Stacey, the novelist,
in Fulham.
It was evidently a somewhat old
botts.e and was inclosed in 0 high walled
garden. It was at the gate of this „ear -
den door that she waited patiently after
giving a humble pull at the handle of
the bell, snch as she would not have
given at the door of a duke. At last she
rime again, and then her summons at—
tracted attention She heard footsteps
on the other side of tbe door, and then it
was flung- open, and a male in the usual
decorous garb of a servant stood to hear
what she wanted.
"Does Mr Alan Stacey live here?'
she asked.
"Yes, ma'am." ,
"Is he at home?"
"Mr. Stacey is not out, ma'am," the
man replied. "but he does not usually
see any one at this bour Mr. Stacey is
in his study, ma'am."
"Still I think be will see me," said
Mary, eagerly. "if you will give him
this card."
"Walk- this way, ma'am," Fetid the
man. taking the card between his finger
and thumb in the peculiar manner of a
well trained servant.
He led the way down a broad flagged
pathway which led to the house. It was
covered by a kind of veranda, and on
either side a charming garden spread
until bounded by the old wall. It was
a charming garden. rich in ancient,
mossy turf and gay with many flowers.
All manner of creepers intwieed them-
selves about the pillars which suppoeted
the sheltering roof overhead, and great
hydrangeas bloomed at the bases of
them.
The house was long and low, bed
long windows opening like doors and a
wide veranda running its entire length.
This veranda was paved with brilliant
colored tiles. OD which were flung here
and there rich looking rugs. Huge easy
chairs, wicker tables and a hammock
made a pleasant lounge. and there were
goweriug plants everywhere.
"Will you take a seat here, inaMm?''
said the man, indicating 01 largo chair.
"I will inquire if Mr. Stacey will see
you.
Mary sat down, and he disappeared
into the house. She sat drinking in the
pleasant scene, doubly pleasant after
the arid stretches of Bloomsbury brick
and mortar. to wbich she was accus-
tomed, To her it see.med like a sylvan
retreat far, far away from the ruse and
turmoil of cities where strife liana. She
could hear hes first acquaintance, the
servant, speaking nied 0 man's tones
answering:
"All right. I'll come out. said the
man's voice. ,
The next moment ta tan man in light
gray clothing came out by the window
Mary was in Alan Stacey's presence.
"Mrs. Couwayt" he said. looking at
the card in his hand and then at her.
Mary sprang to her feet. "Yes, I am
Mee. Conway," he said tremulously,
"Mesfirs. Bloomillgby thought that I
ShOCIld Stilt yon."
"As a typist?"
"And stenographer," she added
quickly.
"Pray sit down," said Alan Stacey'
kindly and himself pulled a chair near
enough to talk with ease: ,"What,is
yonr speed as shorthand writer a",
'A hundred and twenty. '!
"Good I Yon look intelligent, which
is 1110TO to the point. Have you, been
with any author beforel''
"No." answered Mhry; "I have been
with a solicitor, and that, of course,
was work needing great (tare and pre-
cision."
"Ain yes! And why did yon leave
Liam?"
"I did not leave him," she replied.
"Unfortunately for me, he died."
"I see. Do you think you teeneld like
my kind of work?"
"Yes." said she promptly.
Sal ant not very easy to Work with.
I'm as crochetty as most other literary
men," Mr. Stacey wild. "I have jest
get rid of a men, an excellent fellow,
for no reason than that he sat on the
edge of his chair and Waited. I would
bare tergiven many thinare but
bie \vetting 0;) 0(1.' oppressive. It ltilled
every idea I had. Licaure that 1,1111(1 a
young lady. Slut 13)1) \Y Sltakespeare by
;mare and ('1)21 121 quete Xenophon, but
she would mend eity copy as sho went
en" --
"Oh, hoev daiettl she?" Mary lmrst
out. Mr. Stacey looked at iser with a
vague sense of arnueement. "I assure
yott, IWAS--well, never Mind her llame;
it is immateriel, but lafiss 131ank we
svill call her—thortgla very small pota-
toes of me. I ttata't write by hand.
I've got writer's (tempt), and I have al-
tvays a terrible lot of work in hand. If
I bad gone 011 With 111iss Blank, I
elsoulai have been as dead as a doornail
by this titne. She Gould not do my
work without ironing it out as she
went along, so that every vestige of
style and indtvidnality WitS eliminated
completely."
Blau gave a little gasp, "But, I
thought site took down what you dic-
tated," she mid almost breathlessly.
"Yes, but if she saw what she thought
Wes an. error slie was always kind
enough to mend it for me," said Alen
Stacey, smiling at tise remembrance.
'She knew -test a little tod much for
me. She meet have been overeducated
or something My last helper had, on
the contrary, no ideas. He had a nete-
book and a sharp pointed lead pencil.
When I was in form, he was excellent.
Wben 1 had to get a certain anseunt of
cony 1(111190 out 131 a certain time and
I l'escln't so much as the gbost of an idea
be my head, he used to sit on tile edge
01 11 chais• waiting till 1010 get an idea.
If he would have read the newspaper,
gone to eleep, walked about'the garden;
If he would have yawned even, I should
not have minded, but he never did. He
said orme it WrIS till in the day's. work
whether he worited or waited So, when
I -couldn't eyork, be waited. 11100 to get
rid of him. I found him an excellent
billet and swore I would never have an-
other helper of any kind. Then my band
earns in and said'No; I'M hanged if
you shall use rue delicate.' So I
sent to Bloonsingby's. So now, airs. Cos -
way, you see what kind of ' naan I am
to deal with—nervous, irritable, alinost
eccentric.
"I ain not afraid," said Mary, mil -
mg. This man was wholly delightful
to her, surrounded by a halo of ro-
mance, still young, strong, unconven-
tional and wholly human.
"Ilave you seen any of my work?"
he ask -ed.
"I have read the `Lover's Creed a
dozen times at least." she answered.
"Ah I Then you will to a certain ex-
tent understand me. I should need you
from 10 to 5 80011 day. Well, not on
Saturday afternoons. That goes without
saying.
• ''1331111 ready," said Mary. ,
'aYou would lunch here—by the bye,
where do you live?"
"In Bloomsbury.
"That's 0 far cry.
"I should seelt for rooms in this
neighborhood," she said quickly, "I
am not wedded to my present mearters.
"Still better. You are married, Mrs.
Cosway ?''
"My nanse is Conway," she said
gently "I am a widow."
"00, forgive me! One likes to know
everything. Have you children?"
"None—nor a single relative in all
the world."
'Poor little sol I'The words slipped
out unconsciously, as if lse were think-
ing aloud. "Theis about terms."
"I will take what you Etre accustom-
ed to pay," said Mary.
"I have, let us say, 2 guineas a
week; " he returned hurriedly.
"Brit won't you try me first?" said
Mary, ratatit.3r taken aback by this un-
ceremonious way of arranging the mat -
"No, no. Your speed is 120, and
you look as if you would just suit use."
"But my references!" she exclaimed.
"Mrs. Conway," said the novelist,
turning rend lookine directly and taxed-
**40t:IN
'
"My name is Conway," she said gently.
ly at her, "I would just as soon not see
your references. 1 know too well the
lies one tells when one wants to pass
some one on to one's friends, I know
too well what they are worth. Your
/est employer died, yon tell me"—
"But it mightn't be true," she fal-
tered. "I would really rather"—
"Do you want a character with trier ,
he broke
"But everybody knows yota" she
cried ingenuously "Everybody has
read your books."
"I wish they did. I should tustke a
decent income then. No, no, Mrs. Con-
way. I know what I am and what I'm
not. I know my own limitations and
exactly what I am capable of. It's my'
business to read character. Yon may
not suit me as a secretary, but only
time can show and prove that. So far
98 you yourself are concerned, honeety
is the dominant note of your life."
Mary could not help starting. Alan
Stacey continued: "You give yorreself
away continually because you cannot
conceal your real feelings In 0 sense
yon are bad for yourself because you
cannot dissemble. You couldn't tell a
downright lie if you tried, and you are
so honest that you wouldn't try."
"I do hate lies," said Mary in a tone
tee if such a fact \Yee° rather to her
detriment, than otherwise.
S'Lot sue loolc at your hand. Yes; it
18 capable—preeiee, upright and highly
nervous We shall be able to work to-
ttethet- very well, I am certain At all
tweets, let us try tomorrow moniing."
"ale. Stacey," said Mary, rising as
she epolse, "I will ao Illy very best "
"We shall got on splendidly," he re-
plied, twirling out hie hand. "1 fop do-
ing a particularly difficult piece of work
just 11011, a most difficult subject, in
which the bundling is everything, the
whole difference bettven sttecess and
failure. I was writieg with iny fist --
yes, doubled up so—in deepair, vvhere
nsy servant told me you were here.
Look tit this"—sprearling ont his hand
and showing an angry stvollen red rage
of muscle which rose between the first
and second fingers and extended beyonr1
the wrist. "That means the intensest
and most exquisite agony It seems to
disappear above the wrist and to rise
riemin in the underside of the arm,
frosu where it runs i11 a rope of pain to
the very armpit.
VE4L) PE CONTINUED.)
THE BITER BITTEN.
46. Trick That 'Didn't Work Out Josi
as Was ifoipected.
There were three of them, and as
they entered the German saloon on the
corner the tall young man, who wore
razzie dazzle clothes and posed as
"fast," remarked in an undertone to
his companions that he would --show
them something good."
They lined up at the bar, and the
tall young man ordered three 5 cent
drinks. Ween these were disposed of,
he laid down 10' cents on the bar, at
which the Gorman proprietor remark-
ed, "Nein; "lifdeema The tall young
man repocketed the coin and thus ad-
dressed the German:
"1 just gave you 10 cents, didn't I?"
"Tab," responded the German.
"Well, here's 10 cents. Tbat makes
20, so you owe we 5," added the
young man, again depositing the dime
on the bar.
The German looked bewildered,. but
placed the dime in the money drawer
and handed the tall young man a half
dollar, with the request tbat Ile deduct
therefrom the 5 cents due him. The
tall young man bad just the correct
change, 45 cents, left in his pocket.
This he promptly handed to the Ger-
man and received the bait dollar. Then
the three companions repaired to the
street and indulged in a mighty laugh,
while the tall young man swelled up
like a prize turkey on parade. . Every-
thing went lovely until they parted
company and the tall young man
boarded a car for his home in the
suburbs. Imagine his feelings when
the conductor banded him back the
50 cents which be tendered in re-
sponse to the request for fares with
the information that the piece was
"bad." It was all the money he had,
and he could not persuade the con-
ductor to trust him, so be was eject-
ed at the next corner and had to walk
the remaining Eve miles to his home.—
Chicago JournaL
TRAINING OF ANIMALS.
Only Accomplished, it Ix Said, by thn
Use or tbe Whip.
The populartheory rhat aninaals can
be taught tricks by firmness and kind-
ness is a grins error, according to a vet-
eran circus man who has sent forth
the dictum tbat no animal was ever
trained to do anything unnatural ex-
cept by punislarnent. 11' it knows hun-
ger or pain will follow disobedience, it
W111 obey.
It takes the whip to break the colt to
harness or saddle, but the end justifies
tbe means, and tbe tinimar s intelli-
gence when once it has learned its les-
son does av•ay with 11(11 (11.) uee of tbe
whim But IS 1 borse is taught -tricks,
such a.s one sees in it circus, the con-
staut use of the whip is necessaiev,
and the little pat on the neck the train-
er gives the animal iu public is not be-
stowed io private. l'hure is never any
let up in their training.
Trained clogs always appeal to wom-
en and ehildrenfor the little animals
appear to thoroughly enjoy their work.
But the barking and frisking are only
the natural joy of the poor beasts at
being let out of the cramped quarters!
where they stay when they are not in
the ring. Moreover, they know the
trainer does not whip them In public.
There is scarcely a trick a trained dog
does tbat he likes or that he will do at
order unless punished. Willis Cobb
was the first dog trainer to make a
reputation, and when he was middle
aged be abandoned bis profession be-
cause, be said, he had not the heart to
go on making a living by whipping
dogs. --Cleveland World.
Why 'rimy Keep tu the Right.
"It is a rare treat for a person to go
through Europe the first time," said a
returned tourist "I visited ono old
palace in Scotiend and was walking
down a long corridor when 1 crime to a
sentinel, who told tile to keep to the
right. I could not see any reason Why
1 sbould keep to the right and nesked
him why, but he said be could not tell.
I finally asked the custodian, and he
said he had looked it ttp in the 1.11'elliVOS
of tbe palace and l'oond that pearly
100 years ago the floor was painted,
ano some people wanten over tee fresh
paint. 'TIM offieer of the day was or-
dered to station a sentinel there to
keep people off frotri the fresh paint
and have them walk to the right. The
order had Dever been countermanded,
and from that day to this a sentinel
stands there and tells everybody to
keep to the right,"—Indfanapolis Peees.
Ile '.Von.
She—Yes, love you, hitt I always
said I was goirig to marry a rich mai1.
ale—Well, do. Marry me, are] then 111
Pc 'tile richest man in ttm 'Avorld,-1)10111.-
delphis Bulletin.
offswrommwesimeastmes,r,o,
HOW TO HANDLE BEES.
A Beekeeper's Ideas of Safe and Sat-
isfactory "firays. '
Tbe prospective beekeeper will natu-
rally be interested In "how to handle
bees." A theory of the operation is
thus set forth by a writer in Rural
New Yorker: To become familiar with
the habits and life of the honeybee in
an intelligent and practical way it is of
course necessary to use a movable
frame hive of some sort. In order to
meet their needs we must know what
Is going on inside the hive. When bees
are in the field gathering honey or
when swarming, they will never volun-
teer an attack, because they are then
filled with honey, but when their little
home 18 molested they will then act in
self defense and resent the attack. It
Is therefore necessary to use a smoker
of *erne kind. Before opening a hive
sena in a few'puffs of smoke at the en-
trance to alarm them, and they will
immediately rush for the combs and
fill thenteelves with honey.
skfter smoking them it is well to wait
ft minute or two that they nmy gorge
themselves. The cover can then be
lifted off and a little more smoke blown
HANDLING Bans.
In on top of the fealties, and the bees
will adhere nicely to the -combs. With
screwdriver or tack puller tbe division
board can be removed and the combs
pried apart and one by one examined
without danger of being stung.
In an apiary where there are many
bees flying it is always best to be on
the safe side and wear a veil, but
gloves are unnecessary and cumber-
some. A beehive should not be pulled
apagt every few days for more curiosi-
ty, but should be examined occasional-
ly to ascertain the needs of the bees
and condition. If the colony is weak,
it can be strengthened by adding it
frame or two of sealed brood taken'
from some other colony strong enough
to spare it. It is well Mo select one
kind of hives and frame, so that all the
furniture of the hives will be inter-
changeable, and not have two or three
kinds of hives in the apiary, which will
surely cause it great deal of vexation
and annoyance.
Bees should always be handled very
gently. They seem to dislike qnick,
jerky movements. In early spring or
autumn, when tbe days are cool, it is
prudent not to open the hives until
near midday, when the. field bees will
then be out gathering honey. OD cloudy
or rainy days it is best not to open
hives, for the field bees are then at
home and are erose, being deprived o±
the privilege of gathering the precious
At night is the very worst time to
molest bees, as some pilfering persons
liave found out to their sorrow. It is
true that bees do not fly at night, but
they crawl and sting. By injudicious
handling bees Call be made very irrita-
ble and cross, so that they will sting
everybody near and far and will re-
main angry and vicious for weeka.
Formulas For Cotton Fertilizer,
Ieive formulas, all good for making
fertilizers for cotton. the total amount
in each formula being for all acre, 9.10
given by Home and Farm: First, ni-
trate of soda, 330 pounds p acid phos-
phate, 100 pounds; muriate of potash,
100 pounds. Second, cottonseed meal,
100 pounds; dissolved South Carolina
rick, 200 pounds; kainit, 300 pounds.
Third, cottonseed meal, 150 pounds;
basic slag phosphate, 300 pounds; kai-
nit, 100 pounds. Fourth. 'filtrate of soda,
250 pound 4; acid phosphate, 150 pounds;
muriate of potash, 75 ponnds. Fifth,
nitrate of soda, 130 pounds; dissolved
South Carolina rock, 408 pounds; muri-
ate of potash, 78 pounds.
A Favorite Lettnce.
When planning a garden, the many
varieties of lettuce may well puzzle the
nctvice.
Prize Head is apparently an Ameri-
can type and a favorite, being quite
generally grown for family us/a. The
. .. . .
PRIZE READ LETTUCE.
plants are unusually vigorous and en-
dure hot weather better perhaps than
any other kind of equally good quality.
They also do well in early spring and
late fall. The heads are large sand
loose, Sometimes two feet across, the
leaves green, with reddish or brown
tinge.
TILE DRAINAGE.
Views of a Ill'arnier Who FInili In It
Many and Lasting 31.3,enclits.
Some farmers appear to think the one
ly gain from underdraining is that the
eoil is dry enough to work sooner after
hard rains and will yield better Grope
when the season is wet. But this is by
no means all tbe benefit, according te
all Obio Fenner correspondent who is
an enthusiastic advocate of tile drain-
age. ,He names and comments upon
the foliovving additional reasons for his
faith:
First, a better yield in dry seasons;
second, it is easier to keep the ground
clear of weeds; third, vegetables, grass,
etc., are made more palatable; fourth,
weeat and clover tlo not heave out so
lemma by freezing and thawing; fifth,
tile soil does not wash so much; sixth,
it makes the soil more fertile.
To say that ditching prevents dam -
ago by drought may seem strange to
those wbo have never tried underclrain-
iug their land, but those who have
ti.iecl it know that the crops over and
near a tile ditels are better in a dry
season than weere no tile are used.
The droughts that do tbe most damage
are those wiset-e a dry summer and
fall follow an open winter and a wet
spring. This is caused by the wet
w'(1( 31)01' re the spring making the soil
run ,togetber and becoming compact.
When dry weather follows, it is more
injurious than if the soil is loose, as 11
generally Is over and near a tile ditch.
As to the second reason—it is easier
to get rid of Nveeds—a little observation
will prove it to be correct. It is in the
wet spots in the wheattields where the
'heat is, killed by the water that the ,
dock, ragweed, chess and other pests
are the WorSt. It iS the same way in
the cornfield and potato patch. The
low, wet places are generally the most
difficult to keep clean.
The third advantage is that the prod.
ucts of well drained land are more pal.
atable than those grown on wet land.
The same variety of potatoes planted
in different soils will produce potatoes
of dissimilar qualities. Those grown
on well drained land will cook dry and
tnealy, while tbose grown in a wet,
heavy, clay soil will .be of an inferior
quality and will be soggy wben cooked.
The fourth advantage claimed—that
wheat and clover are not injured so
much by the ground's freezing and
dotes not need explaining.
As to the fifth claim—that the soil
does not wash so much—I aln not quite
so positive as I am about tne others.
The loose ,soil over a tile ditch will
wash easily it' the tile does not have
the capacity to carry all the water that
runs to it.
As to the lest claim—that it makes
the soil more fertile. 1 WORD by this
that it not oulv meltes the land more
•
prod octive, but that it adds fertilizing
elements to tile soil the 5311119 as we do
wben we eover the ground with ma-
nure, or fertilizers. Some cnay inquire
when these elements are applied. The
answer is, every Slay in the year and
by the water and air that pass through \-
the soil. *-1
While a heavy coat of stable manui
may make better crops for six, eight or,
ten years and an applicetion of com-
mercial fertilizer will show for several
years, if they are not renewed the soil
will not show any gain from them aft-
er a time, but the tile direle like "a
thing of beauty." is -a joy forever."
The Den Davis APPle.
"The 13e1 Davis apple in many ways
has. given pleasure to thousands and
brought dollars to hundreds, but no
DEN DAVIS APPLE.
one knows who Ben Davis was or
fol.
where he lived or died. All that 1 ,
known of its history is that ft can,
into favor with orchard planters Ili -the
southwest, and the name traveled
with the tree. In tlie markets of Phil-
adelphia there are probably more of
this variety offered for sale during De
-
certifier and January than any other.
Its ruddy cheeks on a pale yellow
ground are tempting, and its eating
qualities are by no means poor, yet it
could not be classed as specially fine
but as an all round good variety it h.
popular points. And then it Is it good
tree for the tnarketman in this. that it
does not take as many years to come
into bearing as some kinds, like the
Northern Spy, for instance and IS ft
regular yearly bearer, not requiring the
resting spells that some demand. and
seems to be no favorite with apple dis-
eases that feast on other kinds. Alto-
gether It is a safe variety to plant."
So Meehan's Monthly sums tip this
much discussed fruit in connection
with the illustration here given.
The Other Side of Broom Corn.
As the phenomenal price of broom
corn will attract many to enter into,
-this industry, It may be well to recall
some of the less roseate facts about it.
For instance, that it Is a crop requiring
special knowledge and tools, is trou-
blesome and expensive to harvest and
tImaeln precarious because quickly
detiitiged by unfavorable weather and
at times very low in priee.