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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Clinton News Record, 1921-1-13, Page 6The Rosary of • r, Nimrod Briggs ememeammaemmemeammemmea Dy WILLIAM DUDLEY P. LLIY. PART II. The bey went out, was shown where to hang his hat and coat, duly pre, sented to Mr, Briggs, and leaned one of Nimrod's black aprons, He climbed on to a stool and started setting, the "classified" from the ease of nonpareil --the daily job that every compositor in the office avoided if he could. It was only a little fear -line advertise- ment saying that Fred Ba:bcook had lost a key ring that forenoon which .'.contained. two keys and a metal tag marked L. C. Stevens. But he was all the rest of the afternoon till press time setting it and a couple of others, That afternoon, while the last forms wore being locked and we were stand- ing around as per custom, watching the paper go to press, he said to Mr, Briggs: "About that -first ad I set—the lost keys. How does it happen, I wonder, thatea man named Babcock is adver- tising for keys marked Stevens?" "They probably belong to the old Stevens property gut on the North Foxboro road," replied Nimrod. "Fred is caretaker for the property, winters. The Stevenses go to Toronto durin'' snow time!' "And leave it furnished?"' "Yes," said Nimrod Briggs. He said it ratter°impatiently. His attention was focused on lifting an old clothing store ad that refused to lift. If he had not been so occupied he might have thought it queer that the new boy should make such an inquiry, That night, as we were washing up animal the sink, the pressman asked him: "Where you living?" "Nowhere—yet!" replied the boy. "Come with me over to Mrs. Math- ers'—she'll take you in," said Nimrod Briggs. "The paper's got an arrange- ment with her to board its help the first week they're in town, anyhow. If they don't have the price, the widow takes it out in advertisin'. Didn't Sam Hod tell you?" It was Friday morning that ['Blink" —Robbins—as the boy called hint be- cause of the way he blinked his eyelids in a pitiful attempt to see bis way— started his try -out. Keeping an eye on Bobbin's work, we finally had to admit that, while it was cruel, all the same he was impossible. It was cruel because he was trying so desperately to make good. He was impossible, be- cause, despite hisendeavor and the low wages, he was more of a hindrance in the ad alley than he was a help. He • couldh't see to do his work. He had 'to hunt the copy and his type case over with his good eye, and tiset took time, time all out of proportion to the amount of advertising he set. While we were making up our minds what -course to pursue. 1n jus- tice to him as well as to ourselves, the Robbins boy's face deepened in its tragedy. His fear of losing his job was so vital that it made hint do things that were just the opposite of what he •should have done to Bold our confidence. Ti we told hin- to hurry With an ad r ear press time, he was almost sure to pi it, or else the thing wowl'n't lift afterat was set• So the second Saturday afternoon, as kindly as we could, we called hhp to one side, gave him his six dollars, Briggs made them out, letter after Letter, And wlien he reached the 'eat one, Itir. Briggs laid it aside with a slightly shaky hand, epee' the type ease before him, He . drew off his spectacles and stared straight sawed, secin•; nothing. "Poor sen•of-a-gun!" he whispered. "Poor eon-c£-a-gtmi" Putting' his speetaeles on, he drew out again the second to the oast let- ter he hart read. And he went over again these words: I don't believe a word you say about living in any old empty country house to save expenses,` I might have bee hoed it once, perhaps. But not after you've had such a long time as this in which to get settled. You siniyly don't want me withyou--- "Empty country house!" echoed Nimrod Briggs. "What- empty old eountry house is there that he could have searched out and took to live in?" Then his jaw dropped as a re- coleection returned, "Could it be pos- sible, now --could it?—that the young one found Fred Babcoek's keys?" The help cams?back to work at one o'clock' but, strange to record, Mr, Nimrod Briggs said nothing to any- one about the letters he had found, or the clueto the lad's possible hiding place, till the hue and cry of the felony was over. But Mr. Nimrod Briggs did his work listlessly and half-heartedly that afternoon. Many tunes his mind wandered away from his work; there was unutterable sadness on'his face; he was given to ninny moments of gazing out of the window beside his type eases. (Continued in next issue.) Asthma. Asthma is a disease characterized chiefly by paroxysms of shortness of breath. Sometimes the paroxysms are so severe as to threaten life itself, yet they always come jest this side of such a termination. It is of course not the only disease marked by short nese"of breath, Various affections of the hangs, of the air passages, of the heart and of .tlie:kidneys present this symptom; but there are always other signs by which the physician can be guided, so that he wiIi avoid the mis- take of treating the disease as asth Children sometimes have attacks of shortness of breath, ow:ng to spasmod- ic closure of the larynx; these attacks resemble asthma somewhat, but their true nature is usually easy to recog- nize; and, moreover, asthma is rarely seen in children. In asthma, as distinguished from most other similar affections, it is ex- piration that is difficult; you can take a full breath, but the trouble is to get rid of it in order to take the :text, The condition is thought by some dodtors to be a spasmodic narrowing of, the smaller bronchial tubes; others think the trouble Is a spasm of the dia- phragm, which interferes with the na- tural movements. Until recently asthma was nee of the great enigmas of medlefne, for ,i8 and said: ten the exciting cause of the attacks Suppose, sonny, you sort of take was inexplicable. Sometimes they 00 - your time and look around. See if car with absolute regularity; at other you can't connectup with something else to do- "You mean, now, that I'm .fired?" he asked, "Well, not exactly fired—yet. You can stay around here and work for a time until you find something else] if ,you won't be too long ebout getting it." He worked the next week,, blindly, spiritlessly, stupidly. He was such a nuisance around the office that we contemplated giving him twelve or fifteen dollars and telling him to pull his freight—anywhere—so long as he , got from underfoot. Meeting Mrs. Mothers on the street, Sang told her he did not intend to be responsible for the boy's board after Saturday. "Why," exclaimed Mrs. Mather's, he only stayed that first week with me. He seemed tothink four dollars was toe much for board. I don't know where lie went or where he's Iiving." Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, drag- ged away. Saturday came. The office girl figured in his six dollars into the pay roll, drew a cheque for the ninety - odd dollars to cover the whole, cashed it at. the Dominion Bank, and left the money in the green box safe while she went to dinner. When she cane back the money drawer was ,blank empty J$mpty to the last bent cent. The lock on it had elways been faulty. It was an office joke that our old box safe., could be opened with a jackknife or a hatpin. The Robbins boy (lid not come back after dinner. Chief Hogan was notified. He promptly telephoned a description of the lad to all surrounding towns. We ran an account of the theft on the front page of the paper that afternoon, asking our subscribers to help appre- .. hence the miscreant. He was not heard from that night, nor all day Sunday. 'The following Monday, abut half - past twelve, old Nimrod Brig came back early from his dinner. He went into the back room, hung up his coat end hat on the hook that had held it. for two dceadce and sat ,Meeh on his Moo l to iea•d ti'' Tomato morning 'Pill not one watchfat sperkwas seen; paper 4p: ead ea! b'ef'ore hint on a l , . type case. I And only then my ear took note He Wan M.0. -;-“,.E..1 by -1]fe m'in+erafaHow mournfully the wind could call times they are very irregular. In some cases they recur frequently in one place, while the sufferer is absolutely free in another place; they may come on daily or for long periods they may not come at all. All this is now ex- plained largely by the theory of ana- phylaxisor what used to be called idiosyncrasy. diosyncrasy. It explains most satisfactorily not only the asthma of hay fever—which is owing to susceptibility to the action of certain ragweed or grass pollens— but else tate asthma that sometimes follows the eating of eggs, shellfish, strawberries and many other kinds da food, and the asthma that is excited by the presence of cats or other house bold pets. In a1.1 these cases there is some pro- tein or albuminoid substance to which the asthmatic has all inherited or ac- quired susceptibility, and the minutest quantity of which, either inhaled or taken into the stomach, will cause a violent systemic reaction, manifested by, the paroxysm of asthma. The cure is effected by giving the -offending pro- tein in such manner and in such doses as to convert the suffer'er's suscepti- bility into immunity --the modus oper- andi being the same as that upon which the elflcacy of the various bac- terial aaterial vaccines depends_ Covered Fire. When winter nights at deepest were,. After a world of pleasant talk Before the blazing hickory log, And when the pauses longer grew, And the old clock more plainly spoke Some Dile would rise—say drowsily, "Time now to cover up the lire," And 1, who never sleepy grew While tossed that ball of pleasant talk, Watched ruefully the red Coals heaped With ashes gray and velvet -soft, aproh he had h a'. the 'Robbins boy, luinging by the window. He was at- ti'acted by It because out of the front pocket protruded wbnt looker] like a Mown tiie great chimney's darkened rhino:.' But on the stairs we climbed, to bed bnnoli of old enves,il:r tI in my dreams to still Climb oa), Nina Puzzled, Niod wt minae and i Ana, buried •up an comforts 'warm, took them out, 'T'here weredozen of My last thought was about the are hent, frayetl tend soiled—comnlcn stamped post offeree envelopes—which appeared to have 'been carried around do the lad's pocket for a year slid a day. On all of them was a Montreal postmark, and the different addresses on anteceding dates Indicated the,hoy'a search .fbr work about the country. Otte/Deity mingled with compassion for the lad's predieanient, and a won- der if there was anything he could do to assist a bad ertuatidn, at last prompted alimrod to ant the lettere in ehranologlclel dates according to, the Iwstnar1ks.•alms ho adTils justedepee- taeTes and draw forth the first en- closure. the letter was written On cheap dote papern pencil: The mall head been carried In the boy's pocket so long that a4,were almost ellatittgurlehaMe,Nevexthaless, I , Asleep bencatli the coverlet; But 'safe and sure to wake up glad, And leap to meet the morning light— As I, myself, would wake up glad. A leaf from childhood's etory-boolr Of all who sat around that hearth In those Inc', friendly winder. nights, ,Not ono remains, nor hearth remains And careless monitory makes store, Alone of all that pleasant talk, These words that as a curfew toll, TO wart how passing late the hour! "Title now to cover up the fire. " Thole aro about 9$,000 graves of Canadians on the battlefields of Hum ope, about 5,000 in Groat Britain, and abnoat 6,000 In Canada:,. a total of 66,000, HOW TO AVOID CON TRACTING COLDS SPRING AND AUT(JMVIN IS Various PERIOD. Various Precautions to bo Taken to'Develop Resistance to Changes .1111 Temperature. Wo would taco to draw attention to the great danger just before taxes are lighted in the fall and after they have been allowed to go out la the eyeing, During these periods we are likely to sit In a temperature holder than would be tolerated for a moment it mid.win- ter• when our fires are going. Wo can usually withstand each temperatnrce so long as am aro moving about, but if it is necessary to sit for any length of time under theee conditions arida, tional clothing seethe be put en, One of the most frequent ways by which the'1'eeistapce of our bodies i lessened and the temperature of out bodies tewered out o! proportion to tate heat produced, is by getting wet, or by cold, damp feet, Then there is also the danger of dressing too warmly. This perticular- ly applies to Infants and small chiid- ren when an excessive nniotint of clothing keeps, the skin bathed in moisture' and in that way rondos it :much more susceptible to changes. of tempet'ature,. • The regulation "of -the dint is ex• tremely important, It must be borne in mind that our foot] constitutes the fuel and 11 that fuel is .not carefully selected and properly assimilated, it will not keep' up the necessary resist• ing powers of the body. In fact, the violation of any of the laws of hygiene which have a tenden- cy to lower the resistance of our body, very materially predispose to colds. Overwork, either physical or mental, and insufficient sleep are both impor- taut•predisposing causes, and should be guarded against whenever possible. . Take Precautionary Measures. One of the tuost precautionary mea- sures so far as contracting colds is concerned, is the proper ventilation of the skin and body. Our clothing should be of such character that it permits the access of a change of air to the skirt, at the same time so re-' related that it prevents undue ellmine- tion of the body's heat. More people contract colds from not exposing their skin to the'air sufficiently than by un- due exposure. The frequent tepid bath and even a cold plunge or cold shower is very beneficial in training the skin and developing resistance, as imalso the frequent air bath. The Im- portance of this cannot be over esti- mated. A little exercise in one's bed- room or in the bathroom before retir- ing or on rising In the morning with the entire body exposed to the air is very Helpful in developing resistance to bold. Probably the .most desirable ma- terial to wear next the skin is linen mesh. The popularity of woollen goods for underwear has been based on the fact that wool will very rapidly absorb moisture and perspiration. While' that is true, at the same time it undoubtedly retains that moisture, and therefore is not as safe as Is linen mesh. Underwear should be open in texture and of a medium weight, The extra protection of our bodies during cold -weather should be in the outer garments, not in the under garments. For we must bear in mind that at moat times, even in winter, while in our homes or in our offices, ware- houses or stores, we are practically in a summer temperature, and if we have on extra heavy clothing, suitable for winter weather outdoors, we are likely to have our skin bathed in perspire - tion and therefore predispose- our- selves to cold. The time when we want the extra. protection to our bodies is when we go out in the cold, and, therefore, the outer garments should constitute the .main difference between stunner and winter apparel. In securing ample ventilation for our steins, we should be careful to se- cure a free supply of fresh air tor our Lungs. Never sleep in a room with the windows closed. Refuse to occupy a room or an office that is not proper. ly ventilated, There are also certain abnormali- ties in the nose and throat that pre- dispose to cold, such as growths in the nose, adenoids and diseased con- dition of the antrum. These are likely to keep up irritation, and, therefore, mean a lowered resistance of the rau- cous membrane and consequently a greater susceptibility to cold. Mary's Son. NEW DIRECTORS OF THE ANS OF MONTREAL •,r SIR LOMER GOUIN 1t GENERAL SIR ARTi-IUR GURRiE The enlargement of the directorate of the Bauk of Montreal which was decided upon et the recent annual meetingas a r at]t) a of seat: of the extending P the institutions, has resulted in two gentlemen of nationalreputation being added to the board, namely, the Hon, Sir Lamer Gouin, K.0,M`,GG.,,and s General Sir Arthur Currie, G.O,M.G., K,C.B„ LL.D. If you stop to find out what your wages will be And how they will clothe and feed you, Willie, my son, don't you go to the Sea, For the Sea will never need Mu. If you ask for the reason of every com- mand, And argue with, people about you, Willie, my son, don't you go on the Land, For the Leaad will do better wit1c)ut you: It you stop to consider the work' you have done ' And to boast what your labor is, worth, dear) Angels may come for you, Willie, my sou, But you'11 never be wanted On Earth, Clear! -Rncl yas'tl. Kipling. New Use for Tapo. Have you tried using adhesive tape to mend •the,•' lining in the heels of shoes? Draw the lining as smooth as peeelble and cut the tapeto ilt tlio bole. It saves stockings and darning, ee Rattan Invented "Specs." There has been considerable discus - e1011. as to Who invented apeotacles, and who had the pleasure of wearing the Chet pair: The boner is generally awarded to an Italian naniod Sateino Arnica!, who died in 1817, Reindeer are snore numerous than horses in Norway, THE MOST VALUABLE JEWELS'OF ROYAL BRIT/SH CROWN JEWELS FINEST IN WORLD. Icourt, Richard III, wore It at Rose tvoi'tlt Ie lelti, but after his defeat hid t tris crown with the ruby in if In a haw- thorn bush. Some one whosename hos net been registers:] found the crown and Henry VII. was crowned with it, The ruby led a ltunulrum existence for the next 164 years, until It 1\'115 Mid •by the Puritans to au um recorded purchaser and afterward by unknown routes returned to the crown of Charles IL It is the size of a small hoe's egg, and is set with a gold backing so ancient that 110 jeweler will run the risk of taking it off to neeasure the stone accurately. In King George V's state crown it occupies the place of pride in the front. Must be Worn by a Woman. Probably the most melees of the British crown jewels is the Koh-1- Noat', which is in Queen Mary's state crown, The name means mountain of light. 1t was found in the diamond • fields of Golconda in southern India, 11 is believed that after its first cut- ting the Koh-1Noor weighed 1,000 carats, but it has been reduced by a series o1 cuttings to 100 1-6 carate. Queen Victoria wore it as a brooch, buteQueen liery has it in front of her state Crown. The Kob-1-Noor is sup- posed to bring bad luck to any man who wears it, but to be harmless for a woman. It was valued at $700,000 when presented to Queen Victoria. The present abode of the crown Jewels is the Wakefield Tower in the Tower of Loudon. 30 enjoins the 13loody Tower and faces the Traitors' Gate. ',The walls of the \Vakefleid Tower are more than eight feet thick. There is only one entrance and the windows are heavily barred. Under instructions from Bing Edward VII. a famous firm of builders of safes was called in and they constructed to hold the crown jewels and regalia an oc- tagonal steel easement with see] bars. It stands in the centre of the tower with an open space between it and the walls on all sides, and is approac(ted by a narrow flight of stone stairs. The experts who built the- casement be- lieved that any thief who trice to en- ter it will be either electrocuted or guillotined, but innocent sightseers may stand on the outside and look in for sixpence. During the war German air raiders made particular efforts to bomb the Tower of London, and in 1917, after four bombs had narrowly missed their marls the crown jewel's were removed Lo Windsor Castle, whence they were returned to the Tower when the war was over, An Unsatisfactory Dinner. The tourist sat clown to has first din- ner in a French restaurant, He d1d not know a word of the language, and so pointed to the first item after hors d'oeuvre. They brought him soup. Aftor that he pointed to the next. Again soup. Soup a third time. In despair he point- ed to the last of all. They brought ]tile toothpicks. Well Guarded in the Jevrei House, Wakefield Tower, in Tower of London. The British drown jewels form the greatest and meat valuable of all royal collections ot jewels. Among them are the Black Prince's ruby, the ISbh-i-Noor of bloody history, the scam ,phh•o of Edward the Confessor; the Stuart sapphire, the Stars of Africa and the pearls of- Queen lelizabeth. Their value cannot even be eetlntated. The Stars of Africa alone have been valued at $7,800,000, Tlie greatest tragedy that ever hap- pened to the British crown jewels was. in the time of the Commonwealth, when the Parliament, being utterly in- disposed towards kings, passed a re- solution that all emblems of royalty should be totally broken up, the gold and silver melted down and the jewels sold 'to the best advantage. Under these instructions the Black Prince's ruby was sold for $200. The crown of Alfred the Great, made of gold wire, melted down to 79% ounces of gold. At that time gold was valued at•$150 an ounce and Alfred the Great's crown brought $11,925. The crown of Queen Edith, wife of the Saxon King Harold, brought only $800. The 600 - year -old chalice of Edward the Conies-, sor brought $5,100, and all trace of it hes long since been lost. The three state swords were sold for $60 each. Those prices are all according to the value of money at present. They should be divided by ten to get the actual figures at the time of sale. A Gem's Reputed Powers. Among the oldest gems 01 the jewel house is the sapphire of Edward the Confessor, which As originally set in his coronation ring. It was buried with hint in his shrine in Westminster, but in 1101 the shrine was broken open and this and other jewels were removed. The sapphire is now in the cross on the top of the Ring's state crown. The stone is reputed to have the power of curing sciatica and rheu- matism, but it has not been used for this purpose recently. The Black Prince's ruby carte into the possession of the British crown in 1867, In that year Don Pedro of Cas - Lille lolled the King of Granada and stole the ruby, which was of Oriental origin and even then of great an- tiquity. Later in the year he gave it to Edward the Black Prince for help- ing tutu win the battle of Najera, Ed- ward bequeathed it to his son, who afterward became Richard II. Its next appearance is in the reign of Henry V., who wore it at the battle of Agin- iheu Buffalo Bill Pia sued to Kiln:Hs Wife There twee one time in the life of Buffalo Dill when it almost became necessary for him to shoot his wife, and, es much as he loved her,'he was prepared to do it. They had been rid- ing homeward over the plains together when a batfd of hostile Indians came upon tlteni. The account of the pur- suit, which his widow, Mrs, L. F. Cody, tells in her reminiscences of the great plainsman, maids a thrilling and dra- matic adventure. • "flautist Take these reins,' Brigham was galloping now in har- per,;, with the buggy swaying and careening behind as he rushed down the hill and on toward the winding road beyond. Will shifted in his seat and raised himself on one tutee. I felt his elbow bump against me and knew that lie was reaching for his revolver. 'then he bout over and kissed 111e on the cheek. Lou," be said, "I want you to know that I love you bettor Mail anything else in the world! That's why I may have to'do something that—" I looked up hurriedly. Something had touched my head. It was Will's re- volver, and he was holding it pointed straight at my temple, I screamed. "Willi Wil]!" 101' husband looked down at Ino, His fate suddenly appeared to be old and lined and hard. "They've got rifles," •he said shortly. "I've only got this revolver; 'They can outddeitaneo mo. I want to bo toady —so that if they get rpe I can•pull the trigger before I fall. It's bettor for a Woman to be dead, Lou--tluen to be in their kande." The breath seemed to have left my body. I wanted to scream, to laugh, to sang, anything except to realize that at my side my husband was leery- ing himself to fire the bullet that would kill his own wife—rather than allow her to fall into the hands of the Matting enemy, On and on we went, with the baggy railing and rocking, dropping into the liollo'ws and au'llios 0.1 tiro road, then bounding out again, as faithful old Brigham plunged on, Above me I heard 117111 talking to him- self, ns if striving for courage to hold to hie resolve. With all the strength I heel, I placed the reins inw one hand, then with the free one reached out- ward. I touched Will's arm. Then I felt his left hand, icy cold, close over mine, We sped onward—a quarter of a mile—a half mile, Then from the dis- tance dame a faint, thudding Bound. Will bent olose to me. "Remember, Lou," he Bald again, "if the worst comes—it was because I loved you." I pressed his right hand tight, and the rocking, leaping journey con- tinued. Alternate fever and chilling cold were chasing through my veins. My teeth were chattering, my whole being was aquiver. On and on we went, while the thudding sounds from the 1lstaarce seemed to grow nearer. Then suddenly I felt Will turn in tho buggy. I saw hint raise life revolver and fires straight into the air. He waved his arms and shouted, "Burry, Lou!" he boomed. "A lit- tle more, ani] we're safe! Hurry— ltnmry!" Again, the whip cut through the air. Then far ahead I saw the forms of men, urging their horses forward. "It's some of the boys!" Will called to nia "I asked then to ride out along the road 1f we didn't get baolc on timel" The forms came dozer. Cody waved and shouted to them and pointed to the dietauce, A clattering rush, and they had passed us --on toward the belie and the place, where a persuing band of Inddanat• now tiVOuld become a fleeing, scattering group of fugitives, Weakly I sante forward. Dully I felt Will take the reins trot) my hands, Then the world went blaek, The slew dor threats of lay reslstanee had dnappetl, „ arIttereemr4 Children end Vire, lttvery )nether should ace to 11 that hdr children are taught to guard against fire. This can be done by be- ginning •early to instil a wholesome fent' of lire, and by explaining its dangerous nature. Children naturally like to play with matches, but the danger attending this practice should be pointed out anti it necessary ex- amples brought up to show why they should be lot alone, It is better to actually frighten .a persistent child by enlarging upon the results rather than fail to impress it with the grave danger which liar in the apparently ltammless little piece of wood. Match- es, the kitchen range and the open fire in the hearth should be shown as sources of great harm to little folks and never to be tampered with. Children dearly love to play about a tonere, but many little lives are an- nually sacrificed inthe eager desire to watch the flames dance and leap in the air, A hard and fast rude in every home where there - are little folks should demand teat a bonfire is never to be lighted sage in the presence of some older parson. When playing about a bonfire, children should wear woolen clothing, which ignites less a'eadijy than cotton. Fleecy garments, such as outing flannel and eiderdown, ivhich,are free quently worn indoors in cold weather, are both highly dangerous when brought near a dame. A spark from an open fire or a flying match head is sufficient to set such a garment instantly ablaze, owing to the nap which covers the surface of these ma- terials. Not only ,should Children be taught to be careful about fire at every time and place, but they should be taught what tro do in case their clothing should be accidentally set on fire. .Ilnve them go through a little fire drill, and have them practice rolling over and over an the floor, which would be the very .best: thingto do ,should such an accident occur. Older boys should' be taught, to care- „eully extinguish the flame from their fires when out camping,' even to the tiniest spark, before leaving it. Many destructive fires have started by (ail- uro to observe this simple precaution. It is not enough in the case of a self-willed ' or an inquisitive -minded child motet' to forbid playing with fire or with matches. A careful ex- planation of cause and effect may clinch the matter by pointing out the danger and the results which are lia- ble to follow disobedience. The Useful Tin Steamer, Not all housewives appreciate the usefulness, both in cooking and Can- ning, of the old-fashioned round tin steamer. It saves labor, money and fuel, and for that reason is superior to the expensive modern steam -press sure canners and cookers. Moreover, it is a timesaver., Many foods that are usually boiled can be cooked in one- third of the time in a steamer set over a pan of boiling water. Any good tinsmith will make—for a moderate charge—a tin steamer modeled on the common round ones, but somewhat-lerger and deep enough to hold six jars of quart size. Steam- ers that are made to order are usually of heavier and better tin than the ready-made ones andso are more dur- able. You can ,cools various cereals—such as cracked wheat, oats and cornmeal mush—in larger quantities in a steam- er than in a double boiler; that is a distinct advantage in cool weather or when there is a large family to be served. Cracked wheat, especially, is an excellent cold -weather brealcfast dish. A gallon pan of it can be cook- ed in the steamer at one time, and it need not be watched; a glance now and then to maize sure that the water does not ,bold away is sufficient. Squash, pumpkins, potatoes, caflots and beets can be cooked in the steam- er—set directly over the water—and will lose far less in substance than they would lose if they were boiled. Spinach and other greens should be steamed in a pan that has been set, without water, in the steamer. The practice of boiling greens in water and then throwing away the waiver means a sheer waste, for nearly all of the mineral salts that the greens contain is thrown out with the water. Aspar- agus, too, tastes better if it has been steamed; not only does it retain a fuller flavor, but it does not break ttp, as it does when boiled. Fruit dumpl- ings and roller -placed in the steamer in the mune way as the vegti.tb s"-- ,•• batter padding and fruit tape.',,—of in greased pans,placed in the eti.aas ee',--all benefit by being atom). Ilton, too, is delicious wile,] Sien;"r i• far the .steaming preserves the fel flavor of the meat. The usual stt r•a- er will accommodate one half <= s small .tram. As for canning, although tete of!, fashioned outfit does not work rz rapidly as the more modern outfits Aa, it is much cheaper, and it ans vers tae needs of a small family, • EspeoiaTy is it useful wben there are -greens Go be canned, for. you `earl seta large panful inside the canner; Tis ou'iy other expense of the steamer is for a cheap enamel pan•—enc that will hold about a gallon—to' tit the bottom of it, The Farmer's Girls. The fernier with :a large family of boys is generally supposed to have the advantage over the neighbor who has only girls in his family; but in there days, when brains -count se ranch in succeesfu1 farming, it should make little difference financially whether the children on the farm are 'boys or girls - 'Che ideal family has both boys and girls; but where .the boys are all' girls the work can be planned in such. a way .as to give each member' a healthful oecupatlon and an income; and the father of the fancily need not be overworked even if hired help is scarce. • One farmer who rejoiced to call four pretty, healthy young girls his "boys" is prosperous and not overworked, be- v cause he planned so wisely to meet the necessities of the case. Hired help is almost out of the question in his neighborhood, and so he put his farm to grass and reserved only enough. acreage to raise the necessary grain crops. From a large herd of Jersey 00155 the girls made excellent butter, and they received a fair share of the proceeds. They kept the butter tip to a certain standard and always reach: - ed more than the market price 'More their customers. Every farmer knows that there is no surer way to build up run-down land or to keep up the fertility of a farm than by dairying. Moreover, making butter is as fascinating el, fancywork when it is done in a clean kitchen or dairy; and when the maker is well paid for the work it becomes still more fascinating. On the same farm are a large num- ber of chickens, the income from. which also is divided fairly, and the work shared by the girls. On another farm the girls are inter- ested in poultry and small fruits—an ideal combination. They pay their father a fair price for the feed for the chickens, and earn enough to pay for their Clothing, books, music and am- usements. In corn or .wheat that farm would have overworked its owner sadly; but used as it is it is -- profitable, and the owner can dispense with outside help. In 'another family one of the girls earns a respectable sum 'every year from county fairs. She is always on the lookout for fine farm products to exhibit, from wheat to garden vege- tables, and frown canned 'goods to fancywork. The small farm might not keep the family in comfort -Moe say nothing of providing luxuries—if that girl and her sisters were not capable and energetic; as it is they are able, out of their earnings, to provide for themselves and to hire a man to help their father; yet they use only a small part of the farm land. One sister raises flowers and plants on a small garden plot; another sells canned vegetables, fruits and preserves; and the third harvests her crop of prem- iums once a year, Where things aro rightly managed girl ,farmers are quite as suoceseful and as prosperous as their brothers. Give them their own kind of work and the problem is solved.- To boys and to men, raising chickens, looking after flowers, raising pet lambs, working for premiums at fairs and such work would be too pottering. A young man wants something that will occupy all of his energy—hands, body and brain; but girls are peculiarly successful in the lighter, more tedious tasks. Wherever the work is so planned as to give to each one his or her share of the labor and the income, and a chance to build up a specialty, life is easy and happy, and the family is sure to enjoy the comforts of the farm and many of its luxuries. Two Points of View. A typical illustration of German rule in Poland before freedom came to its people is given by Mrs, Cecil Chester- ton in the New Witness. The German military authorities had issued a coin, mend to the people of Warsaw that they should furnish a list of their meals and plate, from door ladles to samovars.. A German officer, billeted n1 a Polish household, says`leIrs. Chesterton, found himself lonely on Christmas Day, The faintly wee keeping the festival, and the officer sent a note asking if he might join the party. The hostess was compelled to assent, and Herr Lieut. Grunsbaclr partook of a lavlsit stepper. It happened thee lila hostess had kept back a silver samovar, which, usually secreted under the bed, on Chrlstmas Day shone forth in all its glory. Some one suggested that it would be wiser to remove the samovar be - tore the Herr Lieutenant entered, but the hostess insisted that he was there as a guest and not as alt ememy, and that seven a Prussian would respect the bread and salt, The evening the - lowing the party an umpleasantlook- ing man came to the house acdom• ponied by two German soldiers. lie had called to collect the samovar that the Herr Lieutenant had reported. Not only did he remove the samovar, but he assessed 'a fine because the law had been disobeyed. Shortly afterwards the Weer asked his i4ates0 why she avoided. biro, What had he done to on•end her? She could no longer restrain her indigna- tion and told him what she thought ot him—to his profound astonishment. How could she blame him for doing what was obviously his duty? Hos- pitality entailed no obligation to for- get one's fatherland. Germany had need of samovars, What mattered else? Reading the Old Books. An old book—if it is a good one— should improve on acquaintance. The better you know it, the more you can got out of it, To know it better you must read it again from time to time. The books whish you will care to read again will be full of character. Read the old poems agile for their music and for a better insight into their meaning. Every day should e,dd something to your emotional expert mem and the broader your experience, the more yon will get out of the poem. Besides thee) you may be able to read it Me now mood and see it in another light—anti every poem has. a thousand and'one lights reflecting fawn it. That Is why most people cannot enjoy reed- ing poetry. once, • head the old books again! A. S""rnneh ]banknote of the value of one franc, after being in elreulatlon for seano months was recently exam- ined by French scientists who disco..eted 80,000,000 4ritallli thriving en it.