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4.1
OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
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Country and Cily.
PAPER published nonr tho southern boundary
of Missouri speaks of tho great advantages to
tanners of the telephone where It hns bcon In
troduced. The improvement, it 1b remarked,
"places city and country In Immediate com
munlrAtlan. renderlne unnecessary four-fifths
"tCotrffia that hare been made on country roads." High-
iway may bo muddy and weather stormy, but the world
can be rung up according to the necessities of the mo-
meat, facilitating business and social life, nnd saving an
Immense amount of time and effort. A marked tendency
f the age la to bring tho country into closer touch with
4fee centers of populathra. Electric roads are multiplying
ad make tholr way Into neighborhoods that could not
tope for steam lines. Rural free delivery of the malls Is
moriag onward with groat strides. Over 20,000 routes arc
in operation. Missouri alone hns 1,200. Farmers got their
letters and tho daily newspapers delivered almost at their
doors, Each day's events reach the country promptly, and
tho old rural isolation Is disappearing. Means of roady
travel grow bettor and keep on extending, and the good
roads organizations gain constantly In active support.
Within a dozen years electric transit In the cities has
more than doubled the area suitable for town residences.
Oltles themselves aro spreading farther Into the country,
f which suburban soctloivs aie a pleasing modification.
Labor on the farm hns been rendered easier by lngonious
machinery. All whose memories stretch back to pioneer
days can bear witness to tho enormous advance toward
bringing country and city closer together. Progress in
that respect proceeds at an accelerated pace. Going to
4lie city or taking a run Into the country is a common
place incident IIow far the space between will eventually
be annihilated is beyond the range of conjecture, but the
old lines of separation are disappearing In so many ways
that the future relations of country aud city are full of
hopeful Interest
There is a reflex side to the drift of tho population
to the cltlos. Love of country life is a natural and general
feeling. The merchant who conies to tho city as a youth
to make his fortune often returns to the country when lie
retires, and dreams of doing It all through his business
career, ire would hardly be willing to admit tho deep
tenderness of tho memories of the old farm. All tho re
motencss1 of that quiet nook has passed away. You can
"ring up" the farmer of to-day and And that he Is abreast
with the cuaront news aud that he has it in printed details.
Vianks to the rural delivery carrier. St. Louis Globe-Dem
ocrat
wl
Leap Year Over Half Gone.
I E do not wish to urge anyone to raBh and pre
clpltate action, but it is our duty to call the
attention of young Indies, nnd, Indeed, of all
unmarried ladles, to the exceptional privileges
which Immemorial custom allows them In the
I (lunrtoniary period through which we are so
jTapmiy passing. The number of weddings Bhows no In
crease over oruinary years, and it is to bo feared that the
feminine world has not roalized how little potential energy
there is In water which has passed the mill. The decay of
the peculiar customs of Leap Year Is strongly evidenced bj
the almost complete lack of Jokes on the subject In thf,
newspapers, since it is well known that topical humor
lingers long after the vanishing of Its cause.
So for from Leap Year sinking Into noxious desuetudo,
it might be expected that its peculiar privileges would
be more widely used than ever before, now our young
women are becoming more adventurous and also much
harder to suit. The requirements for admission to mat
rimony imposed on the young men by the opposite sex havo
risen as rapidly as the standard of scholarship in the uni
versities, and a young man whose attainments a few years
ago would have been considered suiliclent to qualify him
for the position of master of a household would nowadays
tiave to be content with his degree of bachelor.
Really, It is not at all certain that women do not do
most of tho proposing every year. Very little is known
nbout this mysterious though Important topic, anyway.
Each person's experiences are limited to a comparatively
few instances, and these are always regarded by both
parties as exceptional In all respects. Novels are alto
gether unreliable and the government has not added ques
tions concerning the methods of matrimonial negotiations
to the census queries, although many more personal and
loss important vital statistics are procured. It may even
be doubted whether matrimonial engagements are neces
sarily or even commonly preceded by formal declarations,
any more than are military engagements.
However that may be, we do not recommend our
maidens, no matter how desirous they are, and should be,
to obtain tho best men for husbands, to adopt the conven
tional form of proposal. Breaking the ice Is n disagreeable
process. It Li better to thaw it And let no one nbataHn
from such maidenly maneuvers as she cau advantageously
use for fear lest the man should, through gallantry, accept
her unwillingly. It is rare that a man is persuaded Into
doing anything he really does not want to do; much moro
rare bhan women think. A man's affection for the oppo
site sex is in the beginning general nnd diffuse. A man
is naturally so altruistic that he normally loves all women,
and on which one of them he ultimately focuses the full
force of his affection depends on circumstances and on tho
woman. New York Independent
i
w
, Fraud Orders.
IIEN a business concern in the United States
begins suddenly to recclvo a largo number of
letters dally, It may bo sure that, although no
ripple has disturbed the surfaco, a quiet in
vestigation is going on, and If there Is any
thing dishonest about the business a notice will
soon appear from tho postmaster, to the effect
that the Department at Washington hns ordered the reten
tion of nil letters addressed to that man or company.
The dishonesty which is held to justify the Issuing of a
fraud order may not bo a mere barefaced attempt to Btoal
an effort to get something for nothing. Thq charging
of an excessive profit, or misleading advertising, hns called
forth such an order. A rocent caso In noint Is that of a
T J ! i ISiSZ- i t V . - "
Oonipany which advertised to furnish seed for an agricul
tural product and to buy the product at mnrket prices.
The. order against the company was issued because it was
learned that It sold in small quantities, for a total of ?000,
seed which It bought In bulk for $3; and because it repre
sented the product as easy to raise, When, in fact it is
difficult
This fearless attitude and action of the Government is
of the greatest possible benefit to the country at largo in
two ways. It checks, indeed it stops absolutely, one kind
of fraud, and It protects innocent persons from loss through
that fraud. The thing on -which stress should be laid is the
availability of thlB strong arm of protection.
There is always a large number of fraudulent schemes
afloat, dependent upon the publicity which they get through
advertising. When one's attention Is attracted by such an
advertisement, he has only to call the attention of his
postmaster to It, nnd to nsk him to notify tho Department
at Washington. To do this In every suspicious case Is a
duty which every honest man owes to his neighbor as well
as to himself. Youth's Companion.
Japanese Inyentiveness.
T has long been supposed that Uie capacity
for Initiation Is the characteristic of Western
nations alone. According to some lending an
thropologlsts, as one goes from West to East
he finds this capacity disappearing and tho ca
pacity for Imitation taking its placo. The Chi
nese nnd Japanese are Imitators, not inventors.
But the present wnr between tho Russians and the Jap
auese Is rapidly proving the Idea to be mere assumption.
It Is tho Eastern rather than the Western people which, In
this contest, are exhibiting the capacity for initiation and
invention. Their strategy is almost faultless, and it is
their own. Their artllllery Is astonishingly destructive,
and, In some of its most deadly features, Is the product of
Japanese Invention. Their naval tactics have been so un
expected and successful as to promise a revolution in tho
future methods of naval warfare. When peace comes and
the Japanese carry their genius into the Industrial world,
they will demonstrate perhaps In a more telling way that
the capacity for Initiation does not diminish as one travels
toward the rising Sun. Church Standard.
Saved for tho Fish Trade.
The fish man drove Into the yard a
few days after the new summer resi
dents had taken possession of their
home, and seeing un open door he
stepped In and confronted the mis
tress of the house.
"Gettin' settled, I b'pqso," he said
agreeably, allowing his gaze to wan
der from two half-unpacked trunks to
a table loaded with miscellaneous arti
cles. "Well, take your time, take your
time; there's plenty of it up here! I
understand your husband's a doctor,
ma'am."
"Yes, he is," said tho summer resi
dent, who in spite of warnings from
city neighbors that she had better dis
play no haughtiness of spirit under
questioning, was unablo to put much
cordiality into her tone.
"Well, now, I come near beln' a
doctor," said the fish man, still with
a wandering gaze. "My folks wanted
I should be one, all exceptln' of an
aunt that had money, and was looked
to to help mo out financially If I took
up with a profession. She spent ono
summer here, nnd she made a rog'lar
study of my character an' parts, nnd
at the end of tho season sho up an
told my folks that 'twouldn't do, I
must go Into business.
" 'That hoy has got too much Intel
lect to be hove away on a doctor,' sho
said; those were her very words. Now
how would you like n couple o' good
mnck'rel all slit up an' ready for the
br'ller?" Youth's Companion.
A RUSSIAN HEROINE.
MRS. E. W. VOBONOBA.
Mrs. E. W. Voronoba, -wife of the commandant of tho maritime province
dragoons, has organized at her own oxponso a transport system for the
wounded. She has also Joined the Sisters of Mercy during the war. Sho lias
oven signified her willingness to go to the front and serve in the Red Cross
ranks. Iler purse Is always open to any demand having for Its object tho
promotion of deeds of mercy in connection with caring for wounded Rus
sian soldiers.
it Is unfortunate that this faith n When tho fnml v croes awnv on n vn.
woman has in a worthless husband"! cation, they don't have a good tlmo for
can't be cashed at a grocery store.
two reasons: worrying for foar pa may
hnve a good time at homo, and that
he may not send them all the money
they want
OLD
jj FAVORITES
Lnndi.
Tn nil vnrv wntt (it vvr!ti rivlW.
Aud carry umbrellas, and keep dry shoes,
Aim say what overjr one's saying acre
And wear what every oua elso mint
wear;
But to-night I'm sick of the whole affair,
I wnnt fren Ufa and I want fresh air:
And 1 sigh for the canter after the cat-
The crack of the whips like shots in a
battle,
'Vta mi'illfT nt hnrnn and hoof nnd heads
That wars and wrangles and scatters' and
n rends:
The green beneath, and the blue ahovo;
And dash aud danger, and life nnil love,
And Lascal
Laeca used to ride
On a mouso-gray mustang close to my
side.
With blue aerape aud bright-belled spur;
I laughed with joy as I looked nt her!
Little knew she of books or of creeds
An Ave Muria suulcod her needs;
Little she cared, Bave to be by my side,
To ride with me, and ever to ride,
From San Saba's shoro to Lavaca's tide.
She waH ns bold ns the billows that bent,
Sho was ns wild ns the breezes that blow,
From her little head to her little feet
Sho was swayed in her suppleness to an'
fro
By each gust of passion; a sapling pine,
That grows on the edge of a Kuuhiih
bluff,
And wars with tho wind when the weath
er is rough,
Is like tills Lnscn, this love of mine.
She was alive In every limb
With a feeling, to Ulie finger-tips;
And when tho mm is like a fire,
Aud sky ono shining soft snpplilre,
6ne doc3 not drink in little sips.
Why did I leave tho fresh and the free,
That suited her nnd suited mo?
Listen awhile, and you will seo;
But this be sure in earth or nir,
God and God's laws are everywhere,
And Nemesis comos with n foot ns fleot
On the Texas trail ns in Regent street
Tho nir was heavy, Hie night was hot,
I sat by her sldo nnd quite forgot;
Forgot the herd that were taking their
reHt,
Forgot that the air was close opprest,
That tho Texas norther comes sudden
nnd soon,
In the dead of night or the blaze of moon;
That once let the herd nt Its brcnth take
fright,
Nothing on enrth can stop their flight;
Aud woe to the rider, and woe to the
Bteed,
Who fall In front of their mad stampedol
Was that thunder? No, by the Lord!
I spring 'to my saddle without a word.
One foot on mine, nnd sho clung behind,
Away! on a wild chnso down the wind!
But never was fox-hunt half bo hard,
And never was steed so little spared,
For wo rode for our lives. You Bhnll
hear how wo fnred
In Tcxns, down by tho Rio Grande.
The muutnng flew, nnd we urged him on;
Thero was one chance left, and you havo
but one;
Halt, j u nip to the ground, and shoot your
horse;
Crouch under his carenss, nnd tnke your
chance;
And if the steers in their frantic course
Don't bnttor you both to pieces at once,
You may thank your stars; if not good
by To tho open air and the open sky,
In Texas, down by tho Rio Grande!
The cattle gained on us, and, just ns I
felt
For my old slx-nhooter behind in my bolt,
Down came tho mustang, and down came
we,
Clinging together, and what was tho
rest?
A body that spread itself on my breast,
Two nrms that shielded my dizzy head,
Then came thunder in my enrs,
As over us surged tho sea of steers,
Blows that beat blood into my eyes,
And when I could rise,
Lnsca was dead.
I hollowed a grave a few feet deep,
Aud tJhoro In Earth's arms I Inid her to
sleep;
And thero she is lying, nnd no one knows,
And the summer shines nnd tho winter
snows;
For mnny n day tho flowers havo spread
A pall of petnls o'er her head;
And I wonder why I do not enre
For 'things that aro like the things that
wore.
Does half my life Ho burled there
In Texas, down by tho Rio Grando?
Frank Desprez.
SUBSTITUTES FOR TEA.
Leaves Found in tho American Woods
thut Huvc Served Well.
Many substitutes for tea can bo
found In any ordinary woods, says tho
Washington Star. Tho idea Is not a
now one, for many country folks mado
uao of the substitutes in tho days
when the luxury of CJilneso tea was
not so easily afforded as now. Before
tho Revolution, when tho colonists
wero in a turmoil over the stamp
taxes, it was considered unpatriotic
to drink tea thut had paid tribute to
the government, and the so-called lib
erty tea was tho popular drink.
The four-leaved looso strife was,
no doubt, tho herb from which this
beverago was made, possibly with the
old of various other herbs. Thl plant;
grows a foot or two high and may b
recognized by its simple, upright
Btoni, upon which the leaves are sat
in whorls of four or five, tho yeilowi
starliko flowers being produced ok
long, slender stocks from near the
huso of the leaves. It is common ta
almost every woodland. Tho loavo
of tho New Jersey tea, a low bush,
which grows everywhere In dry wood
lands, ami bears in June aud July a
profusion of delicate whlto blooms,
was also extensively used during tha
Revolution. An infusion of the leave
bolls n bright amber color, and ia
looks Is as attractive as the real bev
erage, but tho taste, though astrin
gent, Is by no means lively.
Some effort has been recently mad
in commercial circles to rovlvo tho iim
of this plant as a substitute for tea.
Tho leaves are said to contain about
10 per cent of tannin. Hemlock loave
and those of tho arbor vltae hav
played an important part in tho mak
ing of rustic tea. The arbor vltae is
u treo that grows wild in great abuit
danco in northern woods, and tin
old-time Maino lumbermen used fre
quently to resort to it leaves for tea
when othor herbage failed them fo
tho purposo. It was thought to b
very Invigorating.
The leaves of tho wiutergreen, a
small plant, whose bright red berries,
about tho bIzc of peas, are sold on tho
streots under tho namo of tonberryj
hnvo long been used for tea. From
tills it takes the namo by which it Is
known in Pennsylvania. New Eng
enders for some unknown reason call
It checkerborry. Tho foliage Is very
aromatic, nnd people who llko a dnsto
of splciness In their drink have some
times added Its flavor to real ten.
It is near of klu and Btmllnr In tnsU
to tho creeping snowberry, a small,
delicti to vine, abundant In tho groat
bogs and mossy woods of tho nortii
nnd Alleghany regions, and this U
also approved by mountain palntos ai
a substitute for tea. Thorcau, In "TiU
Maine Woods,' toils of his imUaa'
guide bringing it into camp ono ulghj
nnd recommending it as tljp best of, Q
substitutes for ten. ''It has a slight
cliet'kerberry flnvor," he records, "and
wo both agrco that it was bettor than
the black tea wo had brought W
thought it a discovery and that il
might be dried and sold in tho shops
Bettor known as a tea plant is tltf
Labrador ten, or the ledum latifolia ol
the botanists, which grows In cold
bogs nnd mountain woods from Penn
sylvania northward. Tho leaves,
which emit a slight, not unpleasant
frugrnnco when bruised, tiro tough
and lenthery and covered with a rusty
brown wool. Steeped, they give a
wild, gamy flavor to hot water, nnd
tho drink resulting suggests a poor
grade of black tea.
Sweet fern, which is such an ubun-j
dant growth everywhere on sterile
hillside and by mountain roads, is an
other famoiiB tea plant, often known
as "mountain ten." In tho Wnr oft
the Rebellion its uso for tea wns par
ticularly provident in tho Southern
Stales, and many a Southern lady wn
was reared In luxury was reduced te
drinking this poor substitute for her
favorite Oolong or flowery Pekoe.
The foliage and flowery of ull th
golden rods are Imbued 'with an
listrlniront nrlnclnlc and are moderate-
, . - -- - - -
ly stimulant so mat tneir suiinuiuiy
for the manufacture of a domestic tea1
was recognized by tho American col
onists as long ugo as when George
III. was king over thctn. Ono specie,
tho fragrant-leaved golden rod, known
sometimes as Bluo Mountain tea, pos
sesses, in addition, tho flavor of licor
ice. Drunk piping hot In tho wilder
ness it makes a pleasant feature la
the camper's limited menu. This es
pecial kind of golden rod begins to
bloom quite early In the summer and
is eaBy of recognition, evon by th'
non-botanical, because of the llcoric
perfume which tho leuves give out,
when rubbed. It Is a very common'
species In tho pine barrens of Jersey.
Tho nstrlngent quality, in a greater or
less degree, is possessed by nearly all
these plants. They also contain con
siderable tannic acid In their make-up.
These two qualities go far to make tea
tho popular beverage It is.
Took tho First Tow.
The late John II. Ilamllne, of Chi
cago, was one of tho, foremost advo
cates of civil service reform in that
city, says tho Outlook, aud was In
strumental In securing the passage of
the law that established tho merit sys
tem there. Although the mnyor who
appointed the first civil service com
mission was notoriously hostile to tho
measure, And planned to render it use
less, Mr. Hamlino did hot hesitate to
accept a place on It.
"now can you compromise with th
opposition," ho was asked, "by getting
oh a commission like that, which will
hnvo no power?"
"When I am going anywhere," h
replied, "I do not wait for a star. V
hitch my cart to anything which hap
pens to be going my way."
It is worthy of note that having
climbed aboard his cart he managed,,
to the mayor's amazement, to keep It
straight in the path of municipal re
form, and made tho law effectiv,
despite all opposition.