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Exeter Times, 1898-7-14, Page 7„.„ —1114104hdleff NiThe Home seeltefletielelkelledholiele • ASPARAGUS. itesparague is one ot our most health- •ful spritg xelithee. Everybody that •has n garden ShOnld ptaut a tew rows, a 'emit, ot this succulent vegetable. On in the ground, it growfor years, requiebag little attention but liberal topdressing, as it is a perennial plant, The esparagus officinalls is a speoles cultivated. in gardens for eake o the young and. tender shoots, which form a valuable and well known article of food. It is the old-fashioned "sparrow - grass," though this pronunciation is now obsolete, cropping out rarely. We •Wage all seen it in country gardens, before raarkee gardens beceme the fash- lot or a means a industry, sending Up its tall, feathery sprays of grasseA bloom m summer advances. • Old-time parlors had their fire -lams graced -with it in summer weather, and the soft, wavy green is elways beauti- ful for decorating • and for bouquet It re quite worth while to caltivate the root for thispurpose, though its prime ode is as a food. When the young and tender shoots are at the right lergtheout just below the surface of the sencl in the morning before the sun u• hot, and. place in cold water till wanted to cook. One eule for cooking asparagus is as follows; it is taken from a reliable cook book: Wash well, put on stove in bon- • ne; water, boil five mitutes, pour off water add more boilitg hot boil ten to fifteen raloutes, then put in a lump of butter, salt and. pepper if wished, stone stxr in a little tlaickeniag made of one teaspoonful of flour mixed with cold water. Toast slioes of bread, but- ter, and ponr over the asparagus a,nd gravy. Anther rule is to boil the lengths till sort, 'without cutting, and. serve up- on slices of bread. Many rules for cooking asparagus are extant, but we like it cooked according to the first given, without the thickening, and served as side dish with meat, or fish • and bread. It is a fine relish used in • this way, and more wholesome that' pickles. As a breakfast dish it is palatable, convenient and wholesome, and should be seen often upon our tables, TT fl ETER. TIMES ABOUT Terel HAM. A subscriber writes for a remedy for dandruff and to prevent the hair from &Mpg out. Dandruff is not a disease unless it appears, in a most aggravat- ed. form. It ca,n only be prevented from accumulating by perfect cleanliness of the scalp, It is a mistaken idea that frequently washing of the scalp tends to increase dandruff. Such is not tbe • case. Wash the hair at least twice a month, using a good lather made from en= kind of tar soap; .Rub this into the scalp, thoroughly, with a. stiff • brush, 'which ca.n be bought for this purpose for from 5 to 25 cents each. Rime the hair in clear water to which a little borax leas been added. Then the hair may be dried and afterward the nealp should be rubbed into a glow with a coarse towel. For excessive dandruff the following lotion -will be beneficial providing its use he followed by frequent washings, with thorough rinsinas: One part rosemary, one part tincture of cantharides, one and one-half parte eolution of carbonate of potassium -witht four ounces of distilled water; apply once a day. When the hair shout a tendency to fall out, the very beat thing to stop its corning Out and promote its growth Is the abundant use of genuine olive oil. Saturate the hair thoroughly and keep it saturated for a week, until the • dry scalp has absorbed all it will, then wash with pure soap and water. If • this operation is repeated every two or three months the effect is saicl to be marvelous. An old-fashioned reraedy, but one that is nevertheless a. good. one to pre- vent the hair from falling out, is made • by steeping three large Oniots in a quart of rum, until the strength of • the onion is all drawn out. !kepis this to the scalp every day or so. ID the odor of the onion is disagreeable add, a few drops of lavender -oil and a few grains of ambergris. There is no tonic as goad for the hair as a good, firm, bristle brush. The hair abould be thoroughly brushed at last once a day. It should be vigor- ously brushed in every direction ex- cept the right one. And if you will put a towel over •your shoulders dux - mg the brushing, even the most scrupu- lously clean will be surprised at the amount of dirt they can get out of • their hair by this method. HOlef.E MADE WINDOW AWNINGS. If housekeepers knew the oomfort to he secured during the summer from Window awnings all would have there even though some personal sacrifice was needed to meet the light expense. If one buys the regular iron frames that can be taised when not needed for protection, and the ready made awn- ing cloth, they are rather expensive, but very satiefactory ones can be made at home at little cost by taking one inch strips of !timber long enough to reach from the top of the window' frame cloevt two-therds the length of the window, with the extension strips about twofeel; long and a cross strip as long as the window casing is wide, The side framee are • nailed, one on each :side of the window frame at the top at euelx an angle that the lovver ogle call lee roiled to one end of the exten- sion etrips, the lower end of achicla is hailed, to the side of the evindoee caS3.• The other or fifth Arlo being fastened across at each end of the in strips where they join tbe exteneion Stripe to hold them. in place and make the frame more eolid, 'Whet complete the frame reaches from the top of the widow clown to about two-thirds of ita depth extending outward at least twe !et below. It le thee ready fee' the cover which • may be Mede of heaer uableathed pius1in ene long, straight strfp down the (setter with a laug tri- artgalar strip dawn ettch eid.e, the clearest coming amp over the sidefrarnee. This effeetually excludethe sun and at thel game time admits of a free °emulation et the air. One can hardly believe iv/aat a difference it will make in the temperature of e room it the surx shines full npon the windows, and having been orace used, noae would ever willingly be witheut theln again. Lu 'the fall the rauslin can be removed and laid way and will do duty for many summers, The frames need not be taken down and. will last for several years, 11OW TO COOK STE.A.K. I bave seen realty timekeepers, es- pecially in the rural distrieta, scar and pound their steak to a pulp, then fry it in butter or pork fat, the fat and juices boiling about the meat until it becomes gray and leathery, the radii - able extracts escaping into the gravy, say a a writer. This is not the best way to cook steak. If one has no coal, a good aubstitate may be found in oak, having a brisk fire, then allowing it to die dewt to a bed of glowing coals then broiling the ateak unsoaxred, Cumber; it every hall minute. ft le a greae mistake to have steak out thin; the thicker the cut the bet- ter it will retain its nourishing juices. Never out it less than one inch thick; it shrinks a little in the cooking. To be just right there Should be a thick layer of rare in the center when done. But an evenly out steak may be cooked in the frying pan to taste very nearly as though it was broiled, by heating the pan very hot, greasing it ever so lightly with butter, or the fat upon the steak, then frying one side until done, then turning and finishing upon the other. 'Unlike the broiling process; it is best when turned. but once. Be careful to use only enough butter to Prevent it stioking. If it threatens to atick to the pan before it is time to turn, shake the pan to loosen the steak or move the meat with your fork. Sirloin and rump are considered the best cuts, but they are expensive. The larger round, the vein and. neck, it cut thick, even and diagonally with the, grain, are all very nourishing, sweet and juice', and bave no waste, as in sirloin. The lower round. toward the shin makes an excellent Hamburg steak, chopped with a raeat chopper, which every woman should possess, now that they oan be bougbt very cheap- ly, and cooked about one minute upon a heated. frying pan, tossing it up light- ly with a fork to insure an even fry. If the pan is not previously heated, lb will boil and simmer in its own juice, atd become tough and gray. TOXINE AGAINST LOCUSTS. There is a- good. deal for the farm- er to think amain ths story receiv- ed from Mashonaland, Africa, of the efficacy of the toxine remedy against lowest% One farmer who procured a. supply of locust toxine from the gov- ernment says that. as inoculated locusts died he kept and dried them, and aft- erwards, having given the fungus time to mature, ground there into powder. A swarm of locusts which was two hours in passing, went into a five -acre mealie patch, and some of the insects were seeurated with a solution from the ground -up, powder and set loose again. In a couple of days the swezra was visibly affeeted, the lociusts re- maining stationary on the mealie stalks. A little later they were all dead, and the farmer declares that he has not a single locust on his whole farm. If the story is true 11 points to an effeetive metho& of treating a long list of farmers' pests. ARMY SFIRLTER TENTS. The Austrians have recently adopted in their army a shelter tent, which, when not pitched., is separated into pieees cut to fold over and form storm coats for the soldiers. The material is a light, strong waterproof linen, bound along the edges with wide braid and provided with cords which serve the double purpose of fastening either the tent or coat. Upon halting for the night the soldiers remove or unpack tiaeie mats in pairs, tie them together and form the tent upon their two erifles, which, with bayonets fixed, are stuck into the ground. to form. tent - SE WOULDN'T TEMPT HIM. Said au indignant mother to her lit- tle son: Why did you strike little Elsie; you naughty boy ? Dick, indignant in his turn,—What dose she want to cheat for, then? How did she cheat? asked mamma more mildly. Why, explained. Dick, we were play-, ing et Adam and Eve, and she had the apple to tempt me with, and she never terapted me, but went and ate it up herself.. MARKET FLUCTUATIONS. She told me her heart and hand Were priceless. What did you say? .r told her T could go off somewhere and wait until ah e sent me word that they were marked (Iowa.• ' A TASTE OF IT. Noted Artarthiet, explaining his pos- Won to felloWepassengers On Western railway train—V0 vett all 'awe ban- ished from the statute eeooks. Ve vent airy citizen to do as he blease— Leader of Western Outlaws, sudden - 13r boarding the teat—old up yq, bands I • • els Se. nienietet of eaillefeleigeett:e3EL3t4les h itzte4." story *vapor. EMBROIDERY STITCHES. A style of embroidery tbat finds great favor in Exigland is the Mount Mellick work, It. is weed in everpose eible way, and. oombiaes such an olio peclrida of etitches that one wonders It ehonld bear any One particular name, Perhaps its Most distinguisaing feature is the thick padding over whioh the satin and button -hole stitches are taken, The figuree are not solidly eov- ered, as in Frenea. work, but a, broad line of heavy work defines the edge, wale the centres are filled in with all kinds of stitthes. Great variety is giv- en to the work by using different fill- ing stitches. To obtain the high relief which is de- sirable the padding must be put in very carefully. le it is uneven it will be impassible to give a smooth effect, axed if the running stitches are too loosely taken they will fall up inplaces If they are drawn too tightly the ef- fect will be equally dePlorable. Coarse cotton can be used for padding and in the first layer the cotton is put back and forth aeross, the needle being put in close to the former stitch, so that the cotton is all on the top, and on th,e wrong side only little edge stitches . Fig, 1. Fig. 2. are seen. The next row has the cot- ton laid on heavily in the opposite dir- eotion—that is lengthwise. An occa- sional book stitch is taken to hold the long stitches in place. Sometimes when the relief is to be very high another row of cotton is laid on lavishly, and held down to the first two rows by a slight tacking with fine sewing -cotton. The upper row of padding must always run in a direction opposite to the satin stitch that is worked over it. Soft white cord of the kind used for piping may be used for padding stems, but it should be shrunk by dipping in water and. drying slowly before using. Aetheugh the work is very handsome it shows novel effects rather than strict conscientiousness in being faith- ful to nature. In a group of cherries (see Fig. 1), for instance, the large in- side stitches do noh give the round centres one might expect to see. In the specimen cherries the outline is made with heavy cotton in a sort of long &aims'stitch, with 'the needle put in at the left side instead of through the loop. When made with short stitches this work is called rope stitch, and where only an outline is needed it is very useful. Eaoh stitch within the cherries is a. loop caught down by a short stitch. The orescent and star, Fig, 2, which is a, favorite figure in embroideries that attempt Oriental effects, has an outline of chain or tambour stitching, which no one needs to bet told is aa, suc- cession of single loops. The filling of the figures is in honeycomb stitch, or lace -work, as it used to be called. The first row is a far -apart button -holing; in all the following rows the needle is passed under the loop above, and. then into the material a little lower down to draw each mesh into the shape of honeycomb cells. This stitch is used for covering large spaces. rapidly. The leaf Spray, Fig. 3, is outlinecl with rope stitch, which, an most ex- perienced embroiderers know, is most simple. the only secret of making it properly being the precise evenness of the stitches. The *very °parse thread used gives the rope stitch the appear- ance of a heavy cord. The centre of each leaf has a line of dots worked over, and over. Fig. 3. Fig 4. The ivy leaf illustrated in Fig, 4 is edged with li button -hole stitch tak- en very deeply int.° the material and worked over a cord. The stitches slant with the shape of the leaf. The vein- ing is a coarse feather' stitch, with the stitches all taken on one side instead of alternately, . One of the leaves in Fig. 5 has half its surface covered with close satin stitch slanted and worked over very heavy padding. The other half is out- lined with hattorshole, or " loop edge.' The other leaf is edged with couching ortede by covering the line with cord, and working a short cross stitch over it at Stated intervals. TIM long stitohes crossing the leaf are trellis or herring- bone. The small dots are French knots, made by drawing the needle's point through to the right sede and wind- ing the threed around it three or four times, and then pushing the point of the needle back to the Wrong side as tearlyes ppesible to the pleee it went 12. Fig. U. 0, hale ii.ehiln,,Stiteh edge with filling, or veining made of the "wbeef- ear" stitch, whieb is very Mtleh need la Mount Xellick work. To do it properly make a chain -44a loop first; then take a stitoh ti the left, bringing the point of the needle through where the thread oomes from; pull the thread and needle through; there do the same to the right and make anotber chain loop. This is one of the showiest of filling stitehes, and is very Pretty for centres ofog,7iss15,0,le ribbon or 6c:4%11 deasitma g ns.de withlong loop stitches each one caught down at the tip with a short etitele The stem iro leemeington, or back, stitch, with the needle taken beck at the side, instead of directly on. the line of the previous ss tillustretee one of the o stitches introduced into Mount heeds Melilok work, A,fter a little practice this "bullima stitoh" can be deftly and easily made. The needle is put in from the centre, and brought out at a point from 11 quarter to a half inch away. The cotton is then wound around the needle as in a French knot, and then the point is put into the cen- tre again. Fig, 9 is a coarse kind of couching ton -hole stitch, across the cord, tak- ing care not to disturb their regular- ity. Fig. 10 is an easily 'worked stitch that is very useful for outlines or for aebati:t7chu.paNanVnidt with vt .aeiejlo.rt Ictroisss sativteehrytalk°13eng lig. 11 is a sore of rope stitch. It is made similarly to chain stitch, ex- cepting pleat the needle, instead of be- ing taken in the loop, is placed at the left side of it—that is, the needle is put in there with the point coming up through the loop. Like emus of the other stitches in um upon this work, the beauty of this depends upon its precision; each little stitch should. slant exactly dike its neighbor. Fig. 7. rig. 8., There is a re,sem.blance between Fig. 12 end the ordinary brier, or cored, stitch. The prineiple is the same, but the variation consists in putting the stitches close together; and the needle instead of being put under the previous stitch, is placed directly in it, thus making quite a different and more elaborate effect. Mount Mellick is a misappliecl name when used, as it frequently ts, for am- broidery with silk upon rich materials. It is always worked with cotton, and invariably upon some material which will bear washing. Thin fabrics are which is very effective in large de- signs upon holland or denim. To make, it, lay several lengths of cotton, or what 12 called crochet, cord, side 5y side evenly. With a long thread of cotton work a regular far -apart but - unsuitable, as the heavy work tears away from them. Linen sheeting and satin jean are the materials preferred in Ireland, where the work originat- ed. Fig 9. Experts say that the cotton tised should be all of the same size, and rather coarse. For padding, a still coarser number may be used. Many persons use knitting -cotton for the em- broidery, especially upon things which have )to be frequently washed. The ef- fect of the soft, white, half -twisted cot- ton upon eoarse sheeting is very pretty, rauch resembling the .quaint needle. - work of Puritan days, SOMA of the patterns used in this work abroad are so little modernized that it would be easy to fancy the larger pieces, such as curtains and bed -spreads, were made by bands that stopped working many generations ago. In some specimens of the work anus teurs have used ookired cottons, but doing so seems to change the charac- ter of the work. The big, bold stitches that are so pretty in white look coarse and giazing in colors. Nearly all the larger designs sup- plied for Kensington -work can be ad- apted to Mount efellick, Of course the latter is not suitable for small arti- cles where delicate material and fine work aro required, but it is e quick and pleasing method of decorating such things as bed -spreads, table -covers, sofa -pillows, yacht-eushionsi sideboard - scarfs, linen towels, and a host of other things, So rauch of the embroidery that is undertaken in these days is sight - wrecking in its nature, that it is plea- sant to recommend this coarse, easy - work for leisure hours. There is a Fig 10. Fig. 11. Fig. 12. certain advantage, too, in havitig work that may be carried about in summer jaunting without detriment to its looks. Some of the pieces, like table - covers or curtains, mar be too large for convenience in working, bat it is mid the work eau be done in strips, which may be joined together when finished by oross-stitch overeating, whieh, the uninitiated. may not know is overhendin,g, or whipping over a steel knitting -needle, whieh, when Pulled out, leaves an open, fagotlike stitch which makes quite at onto:tet- te,' join, CANOPY FOR BICYCLES. A Western inventor hes patented a canopy for bicyelee, which has a rod clan:sped oii the head at the machine, with a ball and socket joiet at the tippey end, whiele allows the canopy 'to be Set 12 any position. The deVite can be folded up and stored iv a small case wheti nett iDupe. evelegeevaele— # • $ On the Farm. -110.11,40 SUCCESS fhT FAAXING. General gsgeritials. Thoroughness, A love for the work, Adaptation to the business, Constant, steady application. Good business ability and manage, ment, ;Tudgmeut and care in marketing Larne products, 4. well-equipped. farm. work shop, • Good oare of all farm, leaildings. • Good, care of farm implements and mathinery. Frequent and. thorougla cultivation, espeolany in drought. As to fertitity : Economy of feytil- zzers and care in application. Saving of all liquids in stables and hog -pen. Application of manures "soon as pos- sible after made. Coesideration of fertilizing value in feed. purehased, , Judicious use of commercial fertiliz- ers. In the Dairy. cuer°enld. 141 PPlludre haeearl,talpuorfe aranuitmear,ls'arief-- rider:It exereise; abiandance and var- iety iefeed; shade and shelter from extrenaes of hetet and cold, and kind da nacidrayrgce oniwnt 140. setireceautomuenatraat eblrleetdiminegaof C b acrolnenavnaenlaidnieessudeaeirinoytstranoiborlmaed.tignecledaaitryb Ortotiomin„ Care dairy. implements and A good aerator for milk. A good churn operating by concus- sion. Some good power for Churning. In Garden and Orchard. Careful .cultivation.langement with reference tot smGaelnlerfrouusitsp.lantations of all hardy Careful preparation of soil before PirevtielgCulture of all hoed crops. • tproper a•tusderoonfeinriolt as apreven- tivThorough and seasonable use Of proper insecticides. Attention to pruning and etbannitig of fruit and vegetables. Storing vegetables for winter use packed either in sand, darap moss or something that will retain their fresh - Plans laid in advance and seeds se- cured before the season for aotive gardening operations. In the Hen -Yard and. Hen-Itouse. Grit, cleanliness; ventilation; aurra- th an winter; variety in food; abund- ant dust b,a,ths; exercise for fowls; constant supply of green feed; fresh' water, plenty at. all times, and lime in some forra for shell material. Freedom from vermin secured by: Portable nest boxes often removed and cleaned; tansy in nest boxes with lime, sprinkled underneath, low, port- able roosts removed each' month and • scorched with burning straw, and fre- quent white -washing of whole inside of hen -house. In the Home. "'Wife well willed." Wee ones wisely warned. Willing workers wisely wrought. Words well watched. Written wisdom well selected. Wrathful wrangling words tabooed. Wrongs unresented. Wants well supplied. Work well planned. Wastes well guarded, Wood house well filled. Water well provided for. Wholesome well cooked food for table. Worthy guests warmly welcomed. A LATE POTATO CROP. The expediency of planting late po- tatoes extensively is a matter regard- ing which farmers are in doubt. The fact that potatoes have been, and still are bringing unusually high prime, is an inducement to. try to raise the crop on a large scale this season. On the other hand, says an Eastern exch- ange, the potato crop of lase year was small in yield. and inferior in qual- ity. Farniere who found. the crop an almost complete failure last fall are not anxious for a repetition of the disagreeable experience, . In estimat- ing the probabilities it is also to be remembered that the Icoal acreage planted to the earlier varieties of pota- toes is uneommonly large. However, a good many late potatoes will be plant- ed, and the una.voidable risks will be token. With potatoes commanding a highprice, niany small and inferior tuber will surely be planted, but this course will surely be a mistake. Small potatoes are not "just its good" tor plantin,g, as large ones, whether the large ones are worth 41 a bushel or only 10 cents. No farmer would con- tend that the 'grain from little nubbins was as good for planting as the oorn from large, well -ripened ears, Such potatoes as the farmer wishes tee raise are the kind he should seleet to plant, The question as to how closely the tub- ers may judiciously be subdivided for planting is one upon which farmers do Dat agree, awl I do not know as they ever will. The scab is one great draw- back to successful pot eto culture. The simplest; of all rules for a,farmer who does not want to raise scabby' potatoes is not to plant webby potatoes. A theory on this subjeet that 1 will hot indorse, although It may be correct, Is put forth by an agricultural' paper, 11 is that spreading potatoes where they cen remain for some weeks ex- posed to the Strong light of day, but not to the direct. rays of the sun kills scabs fungus as well as toaghens the sprouts, As an experimeat, last sea- son a bushel of seabby potatoes that Were not exposed to light were plant- ed and the product we bedly affected, The rest of the lot were spread on a barn floor One deep and. tureted ocean. - tonally so as to let the light strike elt sides ot them. They were spread Out 8.0 soon as datger frena freezing was past, and kept on the been floor till the lest of 3nne, When they were planted the 'sprouts were stubby, tough and dark green, The potatoes were teleo green an (Wel'. 'They Were ont to one or two eyes without breaking off the esirvuts, grew quickly and mede a good. crop, with not a eoebby po- tato in the lot, If clean seed potato- es are planted in ground where scabby potatoes grew the previente year, the erop will be affected, If webby seed must be used, perhaps the best, thing to be recommended is the treatment with formelin. The treatment consists 12 hinnereing the seed potatom for two hours in a solution compmed of eight ountoes of familia to fifteen gallons of water, • FEEDING COWS ON PASTURE. When the pastures begin to fail it will be necessary to give the cows some extra feed. Indeed, it has been thong), to be Profitable to give this extra load even in the first flush of the grass, for the inereased product t ot only paid for the extra food, but the condition of the cow was improved, all through the following winter and into the next sumnaer. Any animal may acquire a reserve force, so to speak, by width the system accumulates the ma- terial for a, lengthened product dar- ing a seasonof lessened supply of tood. This extra feeding on . the pasture avoids any draft on this accumulated reaerve, gained through good. feeding dering, the winter, and provents that frequent falling- off in condition which is apt to occur while the eows are lin the fiush of milk, while the pastures are fresh. • This has been demonstrated by both practical feeding and scientific tests ha dlueh thae lciobwersalonadgdictoidonpatsatuthree ghretayses \yr e of grain food, either simple corn meal or gluten raeal, or indeed some change even of green feed, as peas and oats mixed or green sweet corn witli the grain on. It was found at one of the experiment stations that this extra feed was not only liberally paid, for during the summer, but its effect was noticeable during the next winter and into the following summer. It has been and still is, my practice to feed 10 lbs of corn meal daily to 4ny cows while on the best pasture and to add green cat fodder in addition when the pastures begin to fail later in the ma- son. And this better feeding has paid well without exception as regards in- dividuals cows. They all respond to the stimulus, while the calves of them cows always va aysi rue:: ove on their dams in SHADE 7011 STOOlt. If there are no trees in the pasttire be sure and -provide shade by building a cheap 'shed. with roof but no sides. Better gains during the hot days will more thnn. offset the cost. Keep the watering Moire full. POINTED PARAGRAPHS, Winter comes before the falls -in the price of the ice, . Good imitations are sometimes sup-. erior to poor ()Tighe's. Every time a man plays at the game of love he tries to cheat. The want of money makes the mare go—in exclaange for a wheel. Sense of touch consists of knowing just whom to strike for a loan. Some men can't screw their courage up without the aid of a corkscrew. Straaage as it may appear, nations always go to war for the sake of peace. "While there are few female orators, all women are extemporaneous speak- ers. The French elief boils the Spanish mackerel, but the American humorist roasts it. Young military attaches are always willing to instruce pretty girls in the use of arms. Some men are so versatile that they don't stick to one thing long enough to snake a success of it. Every singer in a quartet can point out three good reasons why the organ- ization isn't absolutely perfect. It may be more blessed to give than to !receive, but the average man is al- ways -willing to let the other fellow have the blessing. VTR LOVE OF IVLA.CHTNERY. Most people are so well -pleased with the mere appearance of a pretty piece of machinery that they do not think deeply of its practicability. This char- acteristic of human nature is well un- derstood by the dealers in mechanical inventions. At an industrial exhibition—so the introducer of a certain invention re- ports—a prosperous looking farmer stood for sorne time bef.ore a brand-new and somewhat complicated piece of ma- elanery, apparently lost in admiration. Finally he said to the exhibitor: Mighty useful machine that must be, It is, indeed, said the exhibitor. Kind o' handy to have 'round, eh? Decidedly. The farmer looked at it uneasily a moraent more, and then said: Say, mister, what's it fur? STRANGE CUSTOM, The 13ayanzi, who live along the Up- per Congo, have a strange custom whieh makes life a burden to the mar- ried women. Brass rods are welded in- to great rings rowed the necks of the wives. Many of these rings worn by the women whose husbande are well to do weigh as much as 30 pounds, and this burden must be carried 'by the wratehed creatures as long as they live, VICTORIA CROSS, Britieh propriety was so shoekeS at the appearance at a variety theater tif Piper Eindlater, just, decorated with the Victoria Cross by the 4lleeh'S awri hand for continuing to pipe at Dar - gal after lie had been won:elect by the Afridis, thet the War Department he- stirled etself and. foaled hini a place as janitor at one. The Alhambra was paying tlee piper §125 a week. No steps hese been 'taken to help to nliving balaers of the Viotoria Cross who are in the workhouse and other places where their conntr)es neglect is less public, Makes thoutiaatas of woraeh gelffer eilersce, rather teen toll their trouble) to anyope. Ter each Indian Wornan'a 'Balm is a per^ feet hooe, 11 cures 1I womb e troubles, correets monthly irreu- larties, abeliebes the agonise of makes weak WOrOOP 3 strong and renders life worth ) ) 'e41.4*-ttiilSiiVffereSeVitReeigt. Price so cents per Box, or 6 tor B2-30. At Druggists, or Mailed on Receipt of Price by t. MILBURN .ft CO,, Toronto, THE EXETER a TIMES gita OF ANY ev.aA-tv.a4no,liw-vtrAe—vewt-svirs.s...v THE DIETZ DRIVING LAMP Is about as near perfection as 50 years of. Lamp -Making can attain to. It burns kerosene, and gives a powerful, clear,white Vie and will neither blow nor 'vein. When out driving with It the darkness easily keeps about two hundred feet ahead of your smartest horse. When you want the very best Driving Lamp to be had. ask your dealer for the "'Dietz." We issue a special Catalogue et this Lamp andif you ever prowl around alter night -fall. it will Interest you, 'Tis walled free. i. R. E. Di= co., 6o Laight St., New Vox*. ,• Spoons: terms to Ca4a(1111/1 eastogiere. COSTLY MESSAGES. Sixteen thousand dollars is said to be the record. price paid for a cable- gram, that price having been paid' fax a. message by Mr. Henniker Heaton, to Australia in behalf of the British Parliament. Reuter's account of the murderer Deeming's trial, 4.000 words, cost $8,000. An 1800 word dis- patch from, London to Argentina cost $7500. The most expensive private message so fax is that sent by the Xing of Italy to the Duke of Abruz- zi, at Rio Janeiro, informing him of the death of his father, the late Duke of Aosta, which cost 42670, The New York Times' cable dispatch of the proposed Spanish treaty some twenty years age cost 47,000, CAN'T ROB THIS BOX. An Austrian has invented a system for collecting the contents of contri- bution boxes NO:doh prevents robbery, the collecting sack having a number of sliding bars across its mouth which are so adjusted as to retain a pre- arranged positiozi when attached to the bottom of the box, which is anto- matically opened by the bars on the sack, both receptacles closing and lock- ing as they are separated. STONESIN CODFISH. -Among the curious things connect- ed with the codfish is the frequency of large stones being found in the stomach. Tlaese are of various sizes; sometimes in a large fish weighing maty pounds. It is a popular belief among fishermen that these are ta,ke en just 'before a storm for the pur- pose of anchoring tlaeraselves (luting the expected swells of the sea. This supposition is corroborated by the fact that all the fish taken before a storm 'agree in this pecularity, where- as nt ordinary Ur:am nothing of the kind can be detected. 55 wicvnerper. 2rinfiale; 4:541-$391114t)351LX*614.6 neuters/ of FRICABEED NECKTIES. • A Parisian student in order to wit a bet swallowed five seek neckties. The conditions were the neckties should be cut into pieces and dressed es a salad, with oil, salt, vinegar ad. pepper and this original rat/Were should be swal- lowed within six minutes. The student performed this difficult operation in five minutes end te heat. CASTOR IA • Ear Infants and Children, Tee fad - *inns 216:antra