Loading...
The Brussels Post, 1921-5-12, Page 74 1 it The Kingdomo The Blind By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM, ---- -- ! Major Thomson are enagod to be inarrled," CHAPTER 1II, A few rays of fugitive sunshine werebrighter in:g Pltcatlly when Geraldine earl her .escort left the Rite. The moment:,ry dein:essien ocee nod by the dramatic little epi,:ede of a few minutes ago, seemed- thready to heve peed from -the g:rl'u maturer eho walked on, itumming to her•se1 As they paused to cross the road, she glanced as though involuntarily ac bex eomp•tnion, His dark morning clothes and rather abstracted air created an atmoslphero of sombreness about hi. of winch she was sucklenty eoneoioue "Hugh, why don't you wear uniform in town?" she asked. "Why should I?" he replied, "After all, 1 am not really a fighting man you see." "It's so becoaniog," she sighed, Ile seemed. to oateh the reminerecent and offered a salver on which were flash in her eyes as she looked down several. eupa of coffee and+ liqueur the street, and a shadow of forebod- glaeses. Captain Granet leaned for- ing clouded his mind, ward in his place and stretched out his "You found: Captain Granet inter- handt to serve hie companion. Before esting,'? ho touter take the cup, however, the Very; she assented heartily,? � "1 whole tray had slipped from . the think he Is delightful; don't you?" waiter's fingers, ealrght the corner of "He certainly seems to be a; most the table, and fallen with its contents attractive type of young man," Thom - on. to the carpet. The waiter himself son admrittod, —a small, undersized person with "And hove wondered to have had black, startled eyes set at that me. such adventures!" she continued. "Life •ment in a fixed and unnatural stare— has become so •strange, though, der made one desperate effort to save Mg the last few months. To think himself and then fell) backwaid+s, that the only time I ever saw him be Every one turned around, attnacted fore was at a polo match, and to -day by the noise of the falling cups and the sharp, half -stifled] groan which broke from the man's lips. Captain Granet sprang to his feet. "Good heavens! The fellow's in a fit!" he exclaimed. The maitre delete' and several waiters came hurrying up towards the prostrate figure, by the side of which Major Thomson was already kneeling. The manager, who appeared, upon the Scene as though by magic, and upon whose face was an expression of hor- ror that his clients should have been so disturbed, quickly gave his orders. The man was picked up and carried • 'ever .Do much more than we can. One away. Major Thomson followed be - :soldier only sees a little bit of his hind. Two or three waiters in a few own corner of the 'fight you know." seconds succeeded in removing the "But can't you tell me some of your debris of the accident, the orchestra 'own pensonal'experiences?"`she per- commenced a favorite waltz. The listed. "They are so much more In: etre d'•hotel apologized to' the little teresting than what one reads in groups of people for the commotion !print." —they were perhaps to blame for hay - "I never had any," he assured her. ing employed :a young man so delicate "Fearfully slow time we had for —he was scarcely fit for service. !tenths." "He seemed to be a foreigner," "Of course, I don't believe a word Lady Anselman remarked, as the man you say," she declared, laughing. addressed his explanations to her. "You're not taking me for a war "He was a Belgian, madam, He correspondent, by any chance, are you?" he asked. was seriously wounded at the chum She shook her head. direcerof the war. Wetook him „ , direct from the hospital:" Your, language isn't sufficiently "1 hope the poor fellow will soon picturesque! Tell me, when are you recover," LadyAnselman declared. going 'back?„ "Please re "As soon as I can pass the doe- of eeffairdo oast tfar taass weiarecoom- tons. in a few days, > hope." oerned. You must let me knew later You hope?" she repeated. "Do you on !tow he is." really mean that, or do you say it The maitre d+hotel; retreated with a because it is. the proper thing to say?" little bow. Geraldine turned to Cap - He appeared for the moment to tain Granet. soewhat repent her question. "I think," she said, "that you must "The fact that I hope to get back,' be very kind-hearted, for a soldier," he remarked epldly, "has nothing He turned and looked at her. whatever to do with my liking my job „ y?. when I get there. As a matter of fact, "You must have seen<so many her- I hate it. At the same Lime, you can .rible sights -so many. dead . people, surely understand• that there isn't any and -yet „ - other place for a man of my age and "Well?" he persisted. profession:' "There was something e "Of ccurse not," she agreed softly. inYour kind "I really am sorry that I bothered of horrorn the mane st I s re a kind you. There is one thing I should like it r uoh I ant"sure you felt to know, though, and that is how you it quite as much as any of us:" He was silent for a moment. managed to escape?" "In a battlefield," he observed slow He shook his head but his amiability ly, "one naturally becomes a little cal seemed to have wholly returned. His low, but here if is different. The fel- eyes twinkled as he looked at her. low did look ghastly ill, 'didn't he? There we're up against a solid wall I wonder what was really the matter of impossibility, he replied. You with him." see, some of our other chaps may try "We shall know when Major Thome the dodge. I gave them the tip and son, 'returns;' she said. I don't want to spoil their chances. Granet seemed scarcely to hear her By -the bye, do you know the man two words. A curious fit of abstraction places down on your left? • he added, had seized him. His head was turned dropping his voice a little. "Looks al- most like a waxwork figure, doesn't towards bhe corridor, he seemed to be he?" adBdTag Conducting a Riichca Shower. f, The following plan war re eptly carried out wit", great suocet•ia. The 'bride-to-be wan invited to a "thimble purtvY Qa her arrival eke found• i'ieveral of her friends already as- m sembled and 'there were numereus re - Merles concerning others who were said to 'be late. Presently the Itoetess remarlceil, "We night have come music while we are waiting for the otter girl's to come, Did we tell you of the new instrument which we got last week? It is called a 'kitchen - ale,' " As the . hostess, 'pronounced the word, the doors between the living- room and dining -room were opened disclosing the missing guests grouped as an . orchestra or band ie grouped, each one holding somesort of kitchen utensil which she proceeded to use ae if it were a musical instrument. Ai the moment when the doors were - opened, some one in the background started the talking -machine, a' record - for a merry tune having been previ- ously put in place.. The performers kept time to this music and were led by one of the girls who acted as con- ductor, beating time with a wooden spoon which she used as a baton. A girl at one end of the first row played ",bones," using clothespins fox the purpose; the girl at the other end held a sieve and went through the motions of playing a tambourine. A . large dish -pan and a wooden spoon made a good .bass drum; an aluminum kettle made a smaller drum; a frying- pan did duty as a ma'tidolin; a coffee pot trade an ex- cellent cornet, and a teakettle made a trombone. A broom and a poker made a wonderful 'cello; the violin, repre- sented by a dust -brush and a toasting fork, was equally good. A hand - organ was contrived out of a cake box and a coffee -mill; an egg -beater made a good rattle. Pie plates were used as cymbals; and a wire broiler was "picked" banjo fashion. A set of fireproof glass custard cups, set out en a enmll table were "played" as orchestra .bells, the performer strik- ing the cups with wooden meat skew- ers. - The tune worked up to a maignif- cent crescendo, ending with. as much noise as could be made, and all the performers "played" as hard as they possibly could whether they contri- buted to the noise or not. The guest of honk, convulsed -with laughter, begged for an encore. An- other tune was started and played to the finish. Then the conductor, turn -1 Mg to face the audience, bowed and I said to the ,bride-to-be: "Realizing the+ value of music in the home we plan- ned this wonderful instrument, the kitehenola, just for you. We are pre- senting it with our best wishes, and trust that you wilt become a skilful performer and that your performances upon the 'lcitchenola' will be produc- tive of much happiness." Whereupon she presented the "baton" (spoon) and stepped aside to allow• the other girls to present their parts of the womler- f it instrument. Of course, each article 'had a card attached to it, the donor's name and an appropriate jingle halving been written on the card. .After each gift had been duly ad- mired ansa acknowledged, refresh- ments were served. The decorations for this part of the entertainment were quite in keeping, for the hostess had used a box holding a card index for household recipes, for the centre- piece, surrounding the box with curly parsley and little red peppers. The "bride's" place was indicated by a pile of the cards tied with red ribbon, each card containing a recipe which had been contributed and signed by one of the guests. The other place cards were made by pasting pictures of kitchen utensils on index cards, (.Copyrlghttd)_ CHAPTER L--(Cont'd,) were seated. She welcomed him with "An Admirable Crichton,". MNsjor a anvils, 'Thomson murmured. "Are no?'" coming to have coffee 'In sport, at any rate," his neigh- with no .? she asked, 'fuer. assented. "Hehas always bean "If I may; he answered, "1 shall vote of the most popular young men have to be off in a few minutes," about town, but of course the women A waiter pause t before their table will spoil him now. • "Is it my fancy," he asked, "or was he not reported a poisoner?" "Ifo was 'mieeing twice, once fpr rover a week," Mrs. Cunn!ngbam re- plied, "There are allants of stories as to how be got beck to the Mines. .A perfect young dare.devi'1•, I should think. I must talk to Mr. Daniell for a few minutes or he will never pub- lish my reminiscences," She leaned towards her neighbor on -the :other vele and Major Thomson was able to resume the role of atter- 'hive observer, a role which seemed ,somehow his by destiny. He listened without apparent interest to the con- 'versation between Geraldine Conyers sand+ the young man whom they had eel discussing. "I think," Geraldine complained', "that you are rather overdoing your 'diplomatic reticence, Captain Granet, You haven't told me a single thing. 'Why, some of the Tommies .I have iboen .to see in the hospitals have been !far more interesting than you." He snided. "I can assure you," he protested, "'it isn't my fault. You can't imagine tow fed up one gets with things out 'there, and the newspapers can tell you "You mean Major Thomson? Yes,- remarked pueer resently. .rt of stick, Thomson," het I know him," she asserted, after a p y. Feat moment's hsitation. "He is very! friend of yours, Miss Conyers?" She hesitated for a moment. quiet to -day, but he is realty most' ."I have known him for some time." interesting. Something in her tone seemed to Their hostess rose and beamed on disturb him. He leaned towards her them all from her end of the table, "We have decided," she announced,) quickly. His face had toe its good- "to take our coffee out in the lounge." hrtlyed very muchce. in earnest as eve CHAPTER II. I "Please don't think me 'impert!- it lpartytrooped t ofth The liteo ec out e restaurant anmde their way to a giant hefriend?" begged, "but—is he a very corner of the lounge, where tables grSh fid no had already been prepared with coffees She did not answer. She was look - and liqueurs. Geraldine Conyers and ,ng over his 'shoulder' towards where Captain Granet, who had lingered be - :Major Tlmmson,•who had just return - hind, found a table to thonselves., ed, was answering a little stream of Lardy Anselman laid her fingers upon qu"The man is in a shockingly weak Major Thomsons arm. state;' he announced. "He is a Bel- Please talk for a few minutes to gian, has been wounded, and evidently S'elarne, she begged. "Your french subjected b great privations. His Is such a relief to her." ! heart is very much weakened. He He obeyed; immediately, although' had a bad fainting fit, ;but with a long his eyes strayed more than once to , wards the'table at which TheCaptain'lehe may recover," Granet and his companion were seat-•. to little party broke up once more ed. Maclnme Seiarne was in a gossipy; itnto groups. apart , who had drawn mood and they found many mutual for a moment apart and seemed to be Acquaintances. adjusting the knots of his sling, turn "To speak a foreign language asled to Thomson. yy-ou do," she told him, "is wonderful. vet?H'ss" lte)askedtoveted consciousness Is it in French alone, monsieur, that "Barely.," MIS the terse reply. you excel, or . are you, perhaps, a There was no specie,! cause for his great 1 cant sears t�ly eall myself that;'Jne going off like that I suppose?' replied, "but I do speak several other Surgeon -Major Themson's silence languages. In imy younger days I travelled a good deal," "German, perhaps, too?" she in- quired nquired with a little gamete. "I pats ata hospital in Berlin," he confessed.' Lads Anselman's party was cud- deny increased by the advent of some acquaintances from an adjoining tablet all of whom desired to be presented to Madame Selarno. Major Thomson, set at liberty, "made his way at once ttowdttxls the mall table ab which Cap- tain (Crane, and! Geraldine Conyers AUTO USED PARTS WO carry a full line of used'parls for alt snakes of encs, donne,! and free front grraso ' and dirt. Magnetos, gears, s1n•ings, complete engines, throe, ale. Tiichest prices paid for old cora, Write,' wire or phone A$TOMoraLTr Veen PATSTO 00., 1030 Dmidas 01. West, Toronto rheas 1'iekdaie 41014 was scarcely a hesitation. He was standing perfectly still, his eyes fixed upon the young soldier, "At present," he said, "I am not quite deem about that. If yen are ready, Geraldine?" She nodded end they made their farewells to Lady Anselman, Granet looked after them with a slight frown. I•Ie drew his aunt on one side for moment. "Why is Miss Conyers here without a chaperon?" he asked. "And why did he o away with Thomson?" Lady Anselman laughed, "Didn't ,she tell you?" "Teel me what?" he insisted eager. ryLady. Anselman looked at her nephew curiously, "l tdently," ahs remarked, "your ,progress with the young lade was not so rapid as it seemed, or she would have told you her secret--ea:Me by - the -bye, isn't a secret at all. "ho and we sit side by side in a restaurant, and, although he won't speak of them, one knows that he has had all man- ner of marvellous adventures. He was one of those who went straight from the playing fields to look for glory, wasn't be, Hugh? He made a hundred and thirty-two for Middle- sex the day before war was declared." "That's the type of young soldier who's going to carry us through, if any one eau," Major Thomson agreed cheerfully. She suddenly clutched at his arm. "Hugh;" she exclaimed, pointing to a placard • which a newsboy was car- rying, "that is the one thing I cannot bear,.ttle one thing which I think if I were a man would turn me into a savage!" They both paused and read the headlines: PASSENGER STEAMER TOR- PEDOED WITHOUT WARNING IN THE IRISH SEA. TWENTY- TWO LIVES LOST. "That is the sort of thing," she groaned, "which makes one long to be not a man but a god, to be able to wield thunderbolts and to deal out hell!" "Good for you, Gerry," a strong, fresh voice behind them declared. "That's my job now. Didn't you hear us shouting after you, Olive and I? Leek!" Her brother waved a telegram. (To be continued.) Tradition in Navies. The navies ot the world are peculiar in their traditions and customs. The wide collar on the seaman's shirt re- mains, though the grease -slushed queue has long been forgotten. The American man -o -war's -man wearsa black neckerchief because the British sailor put it on as a badge of mourn- ing for Lord Nelson; the three white braids on his collar are similarly adopted in token of .memory of Nel- son's victories at Copenhagen, the Battle of the Nile' and Trafalgar. He has put a star in each corner of that queue -guarding collar, and he holds to some other peculiarideas, which other services share, but the battle between the Monitor end the Merrimac, the morning of S3nday, March 9, .Tufty -nine years ago, i'sre- membered and memorialized by all, the great battleships of the world's navies without regard to nation, re. cognized as introducing the greatest improvements . and reforms in the structure of fighting ships since ships were built. Canada has over 38,000 miles of railway, or one mile for every 224 persons. • In Holland all Christian names afterfirst the fi t are taxed. Mtnard's Liniment for, Burns. eta Preserving the Graceful Antelope Half a century ago countless ante- lope roamed the piniries of Canada, the United States and itlextco; today it is doubtful. whether there are 15,- 000 of these graceful little animals in all this vast area, though in past years reliable observers have seen several, thousand in a single day. Mr. Thompson -Seton has estimated that, at the time of first settlement of the west, the range of the antelope Cov- ered two million square miles, and that there were no less -than twenty million of these animals. The riffle and the advance of agri- culture have done their work, One writer, in describing the antelope herds of the "seventies,' says "the prairie seemed to vibrate with the gal- loping of these swift little creatures, and they were slaughtered to such an extent that their outstretched oar - cases were piled is heaps like cord- wood." The antelope is one of the most graceful animals; it is soarooll more than three feet itigh at the shoulder, and is fleeter titan the swiftest grey hound. It is feared, howovor,ethat, while, the antelope is absolutely pro- tected in tits western provinces, it is too late for the species to recover, The Donminion Parks Brunch is endeavor- ingto save the antelope in preserves. In but one of these, However, is sue• cess reported. A !nerd ot the little animals was discovered near Memis- kam, Alta., and these were surrounded by is wire tence enclosing eight sec- tions. As the land was eminently suited to the purpose, and unfit for agriculture, it has been created a na- tional preserve for the preservation of tete antelope, At the time of capture the herd consisted of forty-two ani- mals, and this number has now In- creased to about one hundred, This, unforitutately, is the ouiyerecord of increase of antelope in captivity, and is undoubtedly due to the fact that they are enclosed in their natural range. Dr. W. T. Ilornaday says: "Tho chief difficulty encountered in trying to afford protection to the ante- lope is In ifs own nature. Itis deli- cate, capricious and easily upset, It is so sensitive to shock that it liter- ally 'dies at the drop of the hat' Ow- ing to the extreme difficulty in main - Mining this species in enptiv!ty, its iotal extinction at an early date seems absolutely certain, -tutees it is fully and permanently protected in its wild state, on its native range, for a long period," Canada's action In giving milvorsat protection and providing natural =gee for the antelope will inidoubt- edly prolong the exbsteneo of the speeles, but it Is only a question of time when the atts 0Iice of elviliiation will entirely absorb the free natural ranges' and templeto its extinction, Used Autos FARMERS PAY 1,1' oars of all types; all cera sol1 naD- goat to delivery up ao 300 miloe,. ar 1551 rue of same ataace tf you 5yisla la 4* ewe,erdar as puretattted,, or parallel'. Lace refunded. OA*, to look them over, or as 'ay RING meet:ante et your own ebotce JL D ne to tale any car t0 city retue35IItto p for While tete affair was most Oaeeess- Ineeeoteen. very large otock always on ful, we thought afterward that it wetted have 'added to the effect if the girls had worn crepe paper•reps, inad'e the craps -worn by'enembers ofa beam; or taking. a little more trouble they could ;have made the caps to resemble ].it'chen'utensils, using card- board sand emcee paper for the purpose, "1JotherItoed," . The fair young earth hushed ell her sounds of life, As eveeing,gathercd in the western sky, And calmed the sportive winds that *The might hear Tho , world's' ' first mother's - first lullaby. A rapture, such as mothers share with God By sweet melodious cadences ex- - "My chill! Part of my heart in 1111. - TURD form— My diving thought, plucked from my throbbing breast!" How good was God to give such ,balm divine To sinning Eve bereft of Paradise! To grant .her, mourning over Eden lost, To find new Edens in her baby's eyes. And every mother, crooning o'er her child, Catches the same sweet rapture from the dries, Amd, though shut out of earthly Edens, finds In mother -love a sinless Paradise. —Mary Wood -Allen. Their Own Things. Let the chtldrren have their own washcloths and towels. Children de- light in haying their very own things, and the magic which is brought about by these simple articles embroidered and labeled is v ens1erful. Even grimy ;handed boys have been known to rel- ish their ablutions when accompanied with a washcloth crocheted around the edge with their favorite. color, 'which is generally red, and narked in one corner with their name or initials. COARSE SALT LAND SALT Bulk Carlota TORONTO BALT WORKS GUFF TORONTO hand.Ereakey's Peed Car Market 402 range 0txeet, :, - When the Izoy is too mannish to allow crochet he .will still held dearly to a washcloth which'eme his name print- ed on it. Indelible -ink, put on by hie own pen, will mean touch. Two Delicious Puddings. Prune Tapioca -2 cepa milk, 2 tablespoons minute tap+ieea, '/s. tea- spoon salt, 1 tablespoon butter, 2 tablespoons sugar, 2 egg yolks, 1 cup prune pulp. Gook milk, tapioca, and salt in double boder fifteen minutes. Remove front fire; add butter, sugar, and -egg yolks. Pour into a .greased pan, and bake half an beer. Rub stewed prunes through a sieve until there is one cupful. 'Spread this pulp on the tapioca, and cover with mer- ingue. Date Pudding -3 eggs, % cup sugar, 0 tablespoons flour,•3 teaspoone baking powder, 1 cup nut meats, 11,4 cups dates, 1 cup whipped! cream, juice 1 lemon, Beat the eggs until light, and add the sugar. Mix bhe flour and baking powder, add the chopped nut meats and the dates, which .have been stoned and cut in small pieces. Com- bine with the eggs and sugar, and bake in a moderate oven for twenty minutes. Serve, while warm, with whipped cream, flavored with the juice of one lemon. *Hoard's Ltntment Relieves Oolde, ate. The only test of real Christian"ity," the .brotherhood of man, the only test • that your religion is of the right sort, is your attitude boward His children. "And whosoever shall offend one of these Little antes" --that is, set them a bad example or cause them to become dfscouraged and dissatisfied with life, "it is better for Brien that a millstone were hanged abeut his neck and he were cast into the sea." TORCAN FANCY GOODS CO., Ltd. 7 Wellington St. East TORONTO Importers and Wholesale Dealers in Fancy Goods, Cut Glass, Earth- enware, Fancy China, Toys, Sport- ing Goods, Smallwares, Hardware Specialties, Druggists Sundries. Travellers Exerywhere Wholesale Only In 2,5 and 10-I12. tins at all Grocers Send for Book of Recipes, FREEI t is the children who tax the Crown Brand fac- tory to its capacity. There is some vital need of children that it satisfies better than anything else. That is why it does them so much good— whether used as a sprettd, as a table syrup, in baking, cooking or candy -making. THE CANADA STARCH CO., enneeD, MONTREAL C*cis Bra : i~d Syrup !< rte. (,he_Great 'Sweetener" 33 Sip ON s. Help Save the Home! To Principals and Teachers, Scholars and Parents:— We will send "Home Inspection Blanks" to the teaching staff throughout Ontario for distribution among their pupils. As patriotic Canadians your sympathetic co-opera- tion is sought in the important work of conserving the lives and property of our people from destruc- tion by fire. The inspection is planned to take place throughout the Province during the week of May 2nd. The primary object of this Inspection is to draw atten- tion to hazardous conditions in the homes and have the fire menace removed or corrected by the house -holders. The housing problem makes the protection of dwellings of paramount importance. CLEAN UP Prevent fires by removing the cause, • Ittfortttatlon and text -books, "Conservation of Life and Property from Fire," "Lightning, ito Origin and Control," tree on request. ONTARIO FIRE PREVENTION LEAGUE, INC, 110 Affiliations with Ontario Fire Marshai's Office ' 153 ' (inIeersity Avenue - Toronto 031011510 F. LEWIS, Secretary FOR X R NCE NEED PROTECTION FROM FRAUDULENT SCHEMES, Medicine Hat Makes Contract With Rainmaker Entailing Less Than Average Rainfall. "Is it neceseary,to leave the farmer to learn wisdom at his own expellee by becoming the prey of greedy plunderers? , It ifs a good thing to prevent forest fires; it would be still better to atop the squandering of the savings of the people,"—Mgr. Choquette, .at Seventh Annual Meet- ing - of the Commission of Conserva- tion, The United Agricultural ' Associa- tion of Medicine Hat district has entered into a contract with "Rain- maker" Hatfield, under which, if four indhes of rain shall fall between May 1 and August 1, 1921, Hatfield is to be paid $8,000. He is to be ' given credit for one-half of the precipita- tion at $4,000 per inch up to a maxi- mum of four inches; in other words, if four inches of rain falls, Hatfield gets credit for two- ineltes and re- ceives $8,000 while Providence is to get credit for the other eve inchies. Iri order to carry out his part of the contract "Rainmaker" Hatfield is to "construct and build a rain precipi- tation and attraction plant" ata suit- able location, also rain gauges. The Dominion Meteorological Bur- eau, Toronto, says of this proposal: "In my opinion the whole thing is absurd. We are not ignorant as to the causes which lead to rain, and fully recognize that the fences of nature involved in the production of a summer shower are gigantic, so gigantic indeed that it is hard to can- ceive that any forces chemical or otherwise that can can bring to bear are otherwise than absolutely- pic- ayune. The explosion which wrecked Halifax in December, 1916, did not lead even to the formation of a cloud." Campaign of Education Necessary. C. V. Marvin, Chief of the United States Weather Bureau, says his de- partment is "eagerly desirous of as- sisting in the protection of farmers and others against payment of money for rainmaking schemes and con- tracts," also that "unquestionably a long campaign of education is neces- sary to completely suppress the in- juries of these fraudulent schemes," Prof. E. S. Hopkins, of the School of Agriculture, Olds, Alta., speaking. at the Soil Fertility Conference of the Commission of Conservatic"n at Win- nipeg in July last, showed from re- cords of 36 years duration that during this long period the average precipi- tation at Medicine Hat for what is known as the growing season, May, June and July (the period covered by the Hatfield contract) was 6.14 inches. This average includes the three dry years, 1917, 1918 and 1919. "Water - Powers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta,' published by the Con -- mission of Conservation, in 1916, states that the average precipitation for the sante three months -for a per- iod of 29 years preceding 1914, dins 6.36 inches. Hatfield, in securing such a contract from the Medicine Hat farmers, is therefore gambling on fifty per cent, better than an even chance. Well inay Monseigneur Choquette appeal for protection for the farmers from those who, with nothing at stake, gamble against -ha skiving's of the farriers with faded dice. Sky Science. There are skies blue, red, yellow, black, and grey. What makes the colorings, and what do they portend? lair st it must be noted that thereis really no "sky" in the sense that poets write of it as the "arching dome." What we call the sky is just air, plus the itlnsory effect of distance. And a blue, red, or other cohered "sky" is only air which is holding or reflecting blue, red, or other rays. A yellow sky is that colot because the air is moist. Moist air is more transparent than dry, and it allows the yellow rays to pass. A yellow sun- set is an indication of wet, because the color shows that the vapors in the air are already condensed into clouds, Which wit) soon discharge as rain. A blue "sky" is brought abour. in a somel'•hat peculiar fashion, The weak blue rays of light, which are reflected upwards from the earth, cannot get through the air, and are the'efcre sent down again. So we get a pre- dominant blue- vision, or a blue "sky." A grey sky at sunrise is caused by the air being sufficiently clear to al- low the three main colored rays-. blue, red and yellow -4o pass with feeble intensity. The combination is le "grey." A red sky means that bhe air Is zlT•.t'ereee that 11.; <A,*iq All hitt the red rayl.: This air density is fitler to a great excess of vapor at the point of condensabion auto rain. Thus "red in the morning" portends a wet day, Flies .Olslike Clover, Clusters of clover, if hung in a room aria lett to dry and 'sited pellet o tlu'augiz elate air, will drive away 01050 flies man, stielty saucers of treacle and other fly -traps and fly -papers Cru ever Collect. Character is the peer meta' capital