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About The North Platte semi-weekly tribune. (North Platte, Neb.) 1895-1922 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1911)
NOTES MFADOWBROOK I A. 1 3 K i HE practlco ot New Year's Day calling Is said to bo a heritages of tho Amerlcnn peo plo from tho early Dutch fathers and mothers on Manhat tnn Island. Thcreforo it Is of northern orl Eln, but It has a Armor hold on tho South today than It has In many places In tho North. In Washington, tho capital, Now Year's calling Boem Ingly Is n fixed habit. Custom has given It virtually tho forco of law, and tho Washington peoplo dc not wUh to bo considered In any way law-breakers. Tho prcBldont of tho United States holds tho earliest Now Year's Day re ception. It Is In tho broadest senso a public reception, for ovory American of whatever creed, color or station In llfo Is welcomed Into tho big Whlto House. to greet tho chief exe'cutlvo and I1I3 wife, who by custom as fixed as that of tho holiday calling, Is lenown as 'tho first lady In Vie land." Tho "wedding garment" la not neces sary for tho visitor at thq Whit House on tho first day of tho year. Tho callers como literally somo In rags and somo In volvot gowns, Tho president by forco of tho custom-law of prcccdonco is obliged to divide his reception into two parts, ouo for officialdom and ono for tho "laity." Preccdenco would not - bo Buch a powerful thine in Washington "wero it not for tho prcsonco hero of bo many foreigners to whom proco denco Is everything. Tho roprcsentn tlves of forolgn governments would tako instant offenso nnd also would tako Means to show It If they wore not given tho exact plnco In lino to which their sorvico rank entitles thorn. Thoro is ono thing which for eigners havo to forgot whllo in tho diplomatic service. Their social rank at homo counts for nothing In dlple mntlo circles. Length of service Is tho only thing which is given conoid oration In establishing procedenco ox copt, of course, that ambassadors rank mlnIstorst Irrespective of tho tlrao they havo been In tho diplomatic em ployment Now Year's Day President Taft seeks his offlce and transacts such business ob Is absolutely necessary. Ordinary otaclal mat ters must wait tho coming of tho second day ot the year for consideration. Whon tho first ofllco duties ot tho morning are over tho president re? turns to tho Whlto House propor, where he takes his placo in the big cast room with his wlfo at bis right hand. By tho' special invitation of Mrs. Taft the wivos of somo of the moro prominent officials of Washington, with some of her closo acquaintances among tho resident Washington families, aro asked to becomo members of tho receiving party. Tho cabinet women always are present at tbo Whlto Houso reception, taking tholr places at tho right of Mrs. Taft in order of cabinet rank. Tho wlfo of tho socrotary of stato takes tho first placo, and the wlfo of tbo secretary ot -commerce and labor tho last place. Cabinet positions rank in tho order of tho crea tion of tho departments. With tho president and In full uniform aro tho young army ofllcer and navy ofllcor aides. It Is Major Archibald Butt of tho army who Is Mr. Taft's chief personal military attendant. It is Major Butt'a duty to repeat tho namo of each guest as ho or sho is proscutekJo tho prosldcnt, and a hard duty It Is, for tho major must catch ovory whispered namo as tho visitor gives It to him and catch it correctly, for it ho makes a mistake he Is likely to glvo offonso to Bomo per son who thinks that his name ought to bo known oven without tho asking. Major Butt's position carries with it cares to mako a man's hair grow white over night. At elovon o'clock in tho mornlnG the official procession begins. For an hour it has boon form ing outsldo tbo Whitb Houso, for tho linos of tho visitors are long, being made up as they aro of senior ami Junior officials of come hundreds of dopartmontB, divisions, bureaus and sub bureaus ot tho government. Tho presldont receives tho diplomatic corps in a senso separately. The foreigners rank by 'themselves and anything lileo a chanco to glvo offense Is avoided by treating dlplomncy as an entity sepnrato from American officialdom. Tho diplomats aro all garbed In tho drosB of their rank and somo of thorn are fearfully and won derfully garbed, wearing in somo cases high toots, the soft leather of which falls ovor from tho tops in moro or loss graceful folds, tight trousers, sometimes white, sometimes blue and on occasion red, and cloaks trimmed with costly furs. With somo ot the foreigners tho sword Is an Inseparable companion vwben full dress Is worn. of State Philander 0. Knox. -Tho mem bora ot tbo supreme court and the members of both houses of congress follow with army and navy officers in thoir handsomo dress uniforms tread ing fast on their heels. Somo one might ask why tho army and navy do not tako procedenco of the civilian officials a) Now Year's receptions and other formal functions. To got tho answer to tho Question it in only necessary to remember that in a re public tho military power Is nlwayB Bupposod to bo subordinate to tho civil power. Tho army ranks tho navy becauso It was of earlier croa tlon. Tho highost ranking officers ot the army today aro tho lieutenant gen orals ot tho Borvlco, all of whom aro now on tho retired list, but their rank holds, nevertheless, becauso, although re tired, they aro stilt in tho military service. Lieutenant General Nelson A. Mllos, who un questionably Is tho best-known living Amorlcan soldier, resides In Washington. Ho still takos n moat active Interest In government affairs. About eighteen months ago tho general wub thrown from his horso whilo riding along tho Potomao drive. Miles Is a splendid horseman and It Is said that hlB mishap was tho first of tho kind which had happened to him In all tho yoara ot his service. It was feared that ho would dlo from his Injuries, but his splendid natural constitution, reinforced by tho strength which comes from nn abstemious llfo and from campaigning In- tho free air ot tho fields, helped him on to rapid recovery. Ho shows no sign today of tho accident. Tho first officer In tho holiday line of tho sol diers still on the active list of tho array Is Major Goneral Leonard Wood, now tho chief of start of tho United States nrmy. Only fourtcon years ago Wood was a surgeon of tho sorvico, ranking as a captain. He becamo col onel ot Rough Riders through tho Influence of Theodora Roosevelt, and later McKInlcy raado him a brigadier general of tho lino, from which position ho rose to bo a major general. By the deaths or tbo retire ments of ranking major generals, Wood la now at tho head of tho army Thero aro three hun dred army officors sta tioned In Washington. Evory ono of them, un less on sick report, is compelled to bo in lino at tho Now Yoar's rocop tlon. A few days boforo tho holiday nn order Is iBsued by the gonorol commanding that all of ficers ot tho District ot Columbia Bubjoct to duty shall pay tholr re spects lo the president of tho Unltod States on tho morning of tho year's first day. If an HPPoaraucohe Is likely to be called to account for disobedience, a bo rlous offence, Tho armr In Its commissioned rnnks Is represented In Washington by details to gen oal staff, to quartermaster, to commissary, to ordnanco, to engi neer and to artillery work. Moro oor, thero aro many officor bIu dfcnts In thtf city who aro taking "strategy" coursos at tho war col leges. Yho highest ranking offlcor of thv active lUt ot either armed se!?i.co In Washington today 1b Adtalrnl Goorgo Dowoy. Ho holds his actlvo rank for life. Ho Is long pnst tho goneral retiring ago which is fixed for tho navy at sixty-two ycarj, but an act croatlng blm full admiral carried with it tho delegat ed tight to remain on the active list no long as ho should chooso. Dowy Is still In actlvo sorvico, although ho no longor goes to sea. Thoro Ib no nrmy officer of oqual rank with Dowoy. An admiral ranks with a gonoral nnd thoro has been no full general ot tho Borvlco slnco tho days of tho last great trio Grant, Sherman and Shorldnn. Tho official visitors to tho White Houso on Now Yoar'a Day form in eoparato lines, tbo momberB of each department ot government taking positions by themselves. Tho lints radiate from tho front door of the executive mansion In a dozen different directions. Tho multitude of officials and Bub-ofu-clals Is bo greaL that It would seem It would take hours for tho president to greet each of Uncle Sam'a servants acparatoly and to call him by name, but tho arrangements aro perfect for expediting tho lino ot march past what might bo called the rovlowlng stand. In two hours at the most tho last official has been greeted und thon tho "laymen" are admitted to tho presidential prcsonco. Year after year thou sands ot Washington residents and visitors from afar tako advantngo or" tho holiday to Bhake the president's hand nnd to xcuango a word of greet ing. Men, women and childmn aro in tho lino. Somo of tho mon in frock coats and Bilk hats, some of tho women in fetching morning apparel, but for tho most part it la tho workaday portion ot th populace which lllos Into tho groat east room to say tho Happy Now Ycor word. Colored pobplo are numerous, for In Washington they form at least ono-thlrd of tho population, and mnny ot them seek tho "Whlto Houso on tho holiday. It la a plo turosquo crowd and ono well worth watching for tho charm of tho human interest which it holds. Ab Boon no tho Whlto House recoptlon is over tho women ot the cablnot retire to tholr own homes, whero in turn thoy hold rccoptlons to which ovorybody 1b welcome. Tho wivos , of . nearly all tho public officials also keep open house) on the afternoon ot Now Year's Day. The Whlto House recoptlon is tho only ono glven by the president during the year which Is in ovory sonso a publlo reception. No ono is barred from admittance. The holiday recoptlon is followed by four soml-publlc roceptlons given in tho evening, and to Uicse ad mission Ib onlyby card. So It Is that only once In tho year is It possible for overy American to call at tho Whlto House and be cortaln ot a porsonal greeting from the president Wo groet you vJth a hearty hall, A welcomo ot tho best; Wo bring fond hopes of friendly deeds, And that you'll do tho rest. We usher In your coming reign With fealty and cheer, And heart to heart, glvo royal start To you, our glad Now Year. The cablnot comes first, beaded by Secretary officer falls to put In an . What are you bringing unto us, This welcome to return? What's hidden in your secrot bands, Knto fortunnto or etornT What aro tho words of destiny You'll Bpoak for us to hear? Oh, bring you good pr bring you III, Ab on you go, Now Year? You will not speak tho socrot's Baf, Your lips aro firmly sealed, And not on threshold ot your reign, Aro they to be rovoaled, Yot will you not, to human will A pliant friend appear. And let us shapo somo part of you, Ob,, promising New Year 7 TImo now to carefully plan tho now houso. It Is very dcslrablo that tho cwa lambs oxorclso dally. Ono bit of Impurity in tho pall may spoil n wholo dairy's milking. Tiling la proTlng to .bo tho very best way of making good roado. Gentlenosa counts much with fowls, as It does with other birds and ani mals. Tho air-tight storm window Is the frtond of tuberculosis and tho enemy of health. "Water is very essential In winter nnd BUiritacr to tho health and vigor ot tho flock. Chickens should havo good food nnd plenty ot It hs well ns clean fresh wa ter ami clean coops. It la claimed that string beans grow' In tho hothouso very prollflcally, and nro touder nnd delicious. When tho whlto of an egg to wntory It shows thnt ono Is not feeding a good, woll balanced ration. Thoso who do not havo a supply ot alfalfa on hand will find red clovor to bo a satisfactory substitute. This Is a year of- high-priced food-ing-Btuffs and you ought to know JuBt what It la costing to fcod your cows. Aro tho hens .roosting out on tho troo& thoso cold nights? ) Dottor got thorn In and avoid frozen combs and feet. Oat straw that Is freo from mold makos an oxcellont wlntor forngo for mules, young cattlo and boarding horses. Fall calves grow about as much in twelvo weeks as the spring calves would In elghtoen, I an assertion fre quently mado. Tho things which nro Important in tho poultry business nro tho things which are doomed tho least import ant by tho big ralsorB, It Is poor economy to food stock muBty or spollod ensllngo. Tho but tor will havo a bnd flavor and tho milk will bo far below standard. Corn, and alfalfa usually can bo at tended to whon tho wheat needs no care, thua distributing tho labor moro equitably throughout tho soason. Llmo la gonornlly considered ono of tho most efficient disinfectants, be causo It possesses tho ability to do fltroy organic manor" as well no bac teria. A llttor carrier will add much to koop tho barn clean becauso tho boys and mon will work moro readily thnn If tlfoy havo to doponcl upon tho old niothod. It Is a good plan to feed colts a lit tlo grain Just as soon In llfo as they will eat It, but if this la not done It should at least not bo put off until tho colt la weaned. The great troublo fri tho avoratro -dairy la that animals aro underfed, copocialiy during tho Bummer when cxcobbIvo rellanco la placed In grass paeturago na a balanced ration. Wool substanco in what tho wool growor is looking for, provldod It Is not mado up of too coarso fibers, which la not usually tho case. Dens ity and flno fibers aro usuully asso ciated, After tho 200 pound mark Is reach ed, tho hog should bo marketed as soon as conditions will pormtt. It Is a mlstnko to try lo mako thorn much heavier for often tho expenso Is equal to tho profit. At a very low cost tho farmer can build cement walks around his build ings that will last forovcr, and sovo his wlfo a lot of worry and hard work caused by mud bolng tracked into tho houso from dirt walka. Look at tho wlnter-bloomlng bulbs which nro put away In Novombor to root. Thoy may need wator, .and thoy should bo In tho dark, 'and In cool placo. In a cold framo outdoors Is an Ideal placo for them. It is not bo much tho brood or kind of pig, whoro pigs aro kept for profit, that merits consideration, as "tho sort of tho kind," for tho difference between two families of the same breed, au regards tho qualities' of vigor, prolificacy and aptitude to fat ton, may bo very great, Indeed. Thero aro ovor 12,000 dalrle te Lea don and suburbs. c Tho well-vontllnted barn Is plt a cBsentlal as tho warm ono. . , A long pedlgrco will Hover develop long sldo pork Upon a short t During tho Inst year Now York city consumed 51,000,000 pounds ot' poul try. Nevor loosen 6r throw out anjr mare ollago than you want t feed Imme diately. During the winter, months sheep should bo well protected from Btorm of all nature., -5. Roup can nsually bo traced to damp quarters, drnfta In tho poultry ho'use and overcrowding. - "r ' fcnbbltB, mlco and other thlrigsfgo to mako tho rearing of nn orchard' unpleasant for Its ownor. ' "' Giant "wntonnolons grow In DIar bcklr, Asiatic Turkoy. Somo of them aro as largo nn a flour barrel. - s'- Tho majority of mistakes aro' waxfa in tho poultry business In tho over taking ot details fn management. Cold rnlna nro much harder on cows than dry cold. Damp cold ponotratos to tho bones. Frovldo drjr sholter, Dairy product ti nro now bringing un usually high prices, bolng abovo tho VAluea.usually soon at this time of the year, A colt that ts well aummoredand grnln Ted boforo being weaned In tho fall Buffers little setback whan It Is woancd. Sheep a year" old or moro- commonly gain faster on corn When thoy havo only dry roughago, especially clover or alfalfa. , Bettor copy tho farmer who pro duces Ills yields at the lowest cet. than tho man who produces the larg est yields. s N Ah noon as tho leaves fair and nfew sharp freezes ripen the .new wood, we mny commonco to prune fruit and ohado trees. Pumpkins have been in use for feed ing cattlo and hogs for many years and nro v.aluod very highly In some communities. Tho introduction of co-operative testing associations would be a source ot education and stimulus to all dairy men and farmers. The calf Is tho cow In the making. Feed with that thought in mind. Gen erous feeding now ensures generous mllklngs by-nnd-by. , ., Variety Is of great Importance In feeding all live stock for whatever purpose, excopt It may bo tho last stoges of fattening hogs. Dnlrymcn realize, porhapa far bet tor than thoy havo ovor dono boforo, tho vnluo of Bummor fillngo In tiding tho anlmaln ovor Bllm pastures. All houses and nests should be cloan. Tho ogga should bo kopl In cool, clean, dry places, and placed thoro Immodiatoly after gathering. Crushod voy6tor shells In enormous quantities aro Imported by Germany, from England ovory year. Tlioy are UBod by tho Germans in feeding poul try, - ; Every owo in tho flock ought to be tho producer of a closo, uniform, clean coat ot wool just as she should bo tho producer ot a lusty, growth lamb, A ration for a dairy cow should ful fill tho following requirements: It should bo balanced, palatablo, home grown aa noar aa possible, and finally; it should bo economical. A Missouri fruit farmer, whoso or chard of 200 acres contained about 10,000 apple troos, sold his crop this season for $100,000. A Btorago com pany bought tho fruit on tho trees. When ono rides through a dairy sec tion it does not tako verv much Imntrl- nation to decldo whether the farmers nro making monoy or not. Tho ap pearand of tholr places Is sufficient evidence Tho host pig to koop Is that which obtains tho host sale In tho locality,' and thoro Is no doubt that tho best' breed for any individual doponds mainly on circumstances, and espo-' dally on local tastca. A closo, poorly vonttlatod stablo is ono ot tho most potent ngonts in the spread of tuberculosis. If our cattle could bo kept out In tha open evory day in tho year, wo would havo vory Uttlo tuborculosls In our herds. Cottonseed may bo fed to atoors with good results, although tho usual practice now is to food tho cottonaoel meal remaining after tho oil has been oxtracted in tho mlllB, Tho cotton seed has a pronounced laxative effect if fed heavily, GrapoB aro pruned In tho fall; uau aly a halt to two-thirds of the new growth Is taken off depending on the system of training that Ib used and in northern Btatoa the plants are laid on tho ground and covered with earth' in much tho same way as raspberries. mm