HE custom of celebrating the- New
Year by 1 aving behind. In theory
p.t least, oiie'a pet pernicious habit
or besetting sin, may be hack
neyed, but It certainly Is not en
tirely relegated to tho limbo of
things forgotten or outworn. Some
time New Year's day, when a
quiet moment In the day's swirl
offers time for thourht. there will
bo a hasty taking stock of the
year that lr, pine, a recounting of
errors and failures, a silent prom
ise that this or that will not occur attain.
And what does It all amount to, after all, this
old cuHtom of revamping threadbare resjlvtions
or selecting new one's? The cynic will smile and
isay that it is all a waste of rff .it, a fia.'.i in the
,pan, a half-hearted sloping over of mistakes by
wordy and none too sincrr rrcmlsc-s of reform.
;The humorist will have his little fling in cartoon
and witty quip and Jast. He will gargle with the
sardonio glee of Robin Gocdfellcw over the folly
of mortals and find in every resolve new subject
for laughter. From tho pulpit on Sunday will
sound the admonition of the minister and tho
moralist. They will taJie good resolutions seri
ously, and set upon them the stamp of divine
approval. And whether the wry sneer of tho
cynic, the mocking grin cf the humorist, cr the
approving smile of the moralist prophesy the fate
of the resolutions and their maker, It will be true
that even tho moat moinratary impulses toward
better things will not be entirely wanted.
There was a time when, in the simple faith of
childhood, you ret down In black and white your
promises to do better. On t!n first page of your
new diary, a yearly Christmas present, you wrote
In your best Spencerian hand we knew none
better In those days something like tills: "Dur
ing thia year I resolve not to lose my temper;
not to be saucy at home; net to put off doing
the things I dislike; to read my Iiible every day."
Direct, sounding blows were these on the chain
mail of your besetting sins of a quick temper, a
wickedly sharp little tongue, procrastination, and
childish irrellgion. Behind closed doors, lest nny
one see linn in so meek a moment, Brother Dick
was scribbling earnestly: "I promise myself not
to be late for dinner, not to forget, to wash my
neck and ears, not to get in debt to father for
my allowance, and not to play hookey a single
day." Of course you failed, both you and Dick,
before the little diary
had its new gilt dimmed
or the soft penciling of
the latter had blurred
Itself into unrcproaehful
Illegibility. But the cf
fort wasn't altogether
wasted, and there were
fewer fit3 of temper and
cleaner neck and ears
than would otherwise
have been.
We grown-ups miss,
as we get older, some of
the past and gone aids
to New Year'B resolves.'
The day was once upon
a time more marked by
pleasant social customs.
Only In officialdom is
New Year's now a state
ly day of ceremonlul.
But It is not hard to re
call that a decide or
two ago there ft ill mr
vlved some of the di;
nity and good cheer that
had attached itself 1(:
the day. Before the
Christmas fruit cake
had all been devoured,
or the stone j:irs of
small caker, sn.'Vred too
Eoverely from the In
roads of rapac'i-us chil
dren, preparations for
New Y'enr's day were
..well under way.
Children were not in
cluded In this celebra
tion. This was essontiailv
elders
T'jtrAf-if. V " 1 'T. I tJy. SITV VISWT J SrjG
'. V ' v - ' a 1
u 11 nwmrVyfl hi immmammmmmiiam
of those who liM filled the
pewR, esieelal!y that of one
man, the governor of the ptate,
whose aquiline profile. Hashing
eyes and strahht. glossy black
hair for::ie( a never to be-forgot-ten
personality.
Watch nhht hyns have a
rersnna'i'v of tin lr own, as
tliOKe of fhrist-nas or Eatrr. If
not so widely known. They are
natnra'ly serious nnd n bit. fore
boding, with n t: n"h of the mel
ancholy that Is associated with
ll'.e rapid night of time.
Thi yrnr !s (ronp. bynwl rcAll
With all Its hopon nnd fours.
With nil its lirlnlit nnd Rlnddrnlng
Slllllrf ,
With Mil I'n innurnrrn t'nn,
Is an old I . at In hymn to a com
mon meter tune that Illustrates
the tendency of this branch of
hyninology. Charles Wesley has
been most prolific In voicing
tblB thought.
WUdnm ns ribp. nnd might, and
prl.ip,
To fiort who Ipnthenn out our 1ity(;
Who nparea im ypt anothrr ypnr.
And makes us net hi goodnpRi
hfrp,
I" an old favorite. Often Just
on (he stroke of roldnlght anoth
er of his voiced the feelings of
the congregation, that begin
ning. Jetn, nil vi rnnBompd unnn of frraee,
The holy Joy prolong,
And nlimit to the Hodcpmor'!
praisp,
A noli'Min mldnlRht onif.
1: W
j ft
5 rw
'..'
iiniiif "
1 ft 1
Si AVG
the festival of their
Orders to keep fiorn under foot were
rigidly enforced, and did you wish to see the
fun 110 place remained but tho second-story
landing, which gave somewhat inconspicuously
upon the hall below, with a strained view of
the big parlors, and none of ihe dining room
beyond. That it was there and in full work
ing order was evidenced by a keen sense of
mell.
It was always great fun to wander up and
down the principal residence streets as noon
drew near, to find out who were to be at
borne and who were not. A basket tied to the
door knob with ;?ay red ribbons said, for all
the world to hear: "We are not receiving to
day." If you were a boy and daring, later in
Ihe afternoon you stole up on the step to peep
In and discover, by the number of cards with
in, the respective popularity of village maids
and matrons. Wherever the door lacked tho
basket, you knew that behind the drnwn
shades there was the soft glow of candles or
the yellow glare of gas, poor substitute for
sunlight on snow, but presumably kinder to
complexions and gowns Just a trifle passe.
And you knew that in each house, subject
only to trifling variations of background, there
would be enacted thn same scenes.
Into the front door that opened at the first
touch of the bell passed a fluctuating stream
of men in holiday attire. There were elderly
beaux a-plenty in broadcloth that was brushed
to the point of perfection, smart young dan
dles, sporting the newest fashion In ties;
awkward beginners not quite used to the
length of their frock coats we called them
Prince Alberts In the days when New Year's
calls were In vogue and a sprinkling of substantial-looking
business men paying homage
to the established custom of society. Every
body who was anybody In "our town" paid his
devolrB to the Incoming year by making the
rounds of his friends' homes.
Once Inside, there was the neat maid or
solemn butler to rfeeive the caller's card and
help him witli overcoat, hat and cane, and then
a dash for his hostess and her daughters and
friends under the chandeliers with tho p:!:i::i
drops. "Happy New Year" resounded on all
sides. In the course of the afternoon the in
defatigable had seen all their friends, had
sampled the choicest types of Christmas bak
ing, had toasted again and again the New Year
in punch of varying strength and pungency, or
substituted coffee In homes where temperance
principles were popular. They had said pret
ty things to popular dames In the stimulating
atmosphere of holly and green wreaths, and
had matched wits with fascinating damsels In
the dangerous vicinity of mistletoe that still
boasted some berries. It was all very gay,
very Informal, and very homey. At no other
lime or on no other occasion did the holiday
hilarity reach so high a pitch.
"I'd like to do it all over again," Is the tes
timony of one stately lady, whose home twenty
years ago was the scene of yearly New Year's
receptions. "No other social function on my
calendar was such fun for the gueBts and so
little trouble for the hostess. The decorating
had been done a week before, and a few fresh
flowers wt re all that were needed. Given
bright lights, a dozen pretty girls to help en
tertain, 1 he simplest cakes, and plenty of mild
ly exhilarating punch made from a roclpo that
my Kentucky grandfather declared harmless,
and success was Bssured. When six o'clock
came you had seen all the nice men of your
acquaintance undisturbed by the usual Influx
of other women, and had sent them away at
peace with the world In general and full of
the spirit of nelghborllness."
Meanwhile, upstairs In the library window
scats curled the family small fry, watching the
procession as it passed, commenting with Ju
venile frankness on the toilets of the callers,
counting the visitors as they came, listening
to the hum of voices downstairs, the girls hug
ging close to the rash, the boys making daring
detours to "peek" through the balustrade, re
turning to report what young ladioB were sit
ting en ihe steps with what young men, and
evi :i, in some rases, what they were saying.
I.eiH.er tiptoeing prowls, down the bark stairs
to th lair of a frl r.dly 00k, led to quick and
ji:b'.liu:t rtt-iniM wit'i off.'rinvs of cake rnd
iMi'-t cup, v. heivw ith tio hours might hi be
guiled until six, when twinkling street
lights warned tho callers to retreat.
Not a serious way to start tho New
Year! No. but a friendly one, that left
hostosses and callers with a glow of human
friendliness to last as warmth for ninny a
day. And If seriousness were lacking, the
same decade that enjoyed Now Year's call
ing found itself also at one with the cus
tom of watch-night service. For, itr- "our
town," as in yours, mayhap, It whs the
thing to spend the closing hours of the old
year In the quiet seriousness of prayer and
sacred song. Children had their share in
this, for fathers and mothers had not In
that simpler time learned to fear the giving
of definite religious Instruction to their sons
and daughters. It was clear and plain that a
child must be trained In the way he should
go, and watch night was a part of that train
ing. And, indeed, no youngster ever tried to
beg off. There was first of all the joy of doing
the unusual and the fun of sitting up past his
bedtime. Bo you hied yourself to the nursery
couch or the sitting-room lounge, after a hot
supper, an old fashioned winter supper of sau
sage and fried potatoes or scalloped oysters
and muffins, and took a long, long nap. At
half-past ten, father waked you, tucked you
Into cap and overcoat, and the family party
started out under the cold stars, snow crunch
ing under foot, to the nearby church.
Not so very long ago the writer came
across an old chromo, of the sort that looks,
In a dim and favorable light, like a fairly de
cent oil palnttng. In 1U day It had doubtless
been the chief ornament of a well furnished,
comfortable parlor. Now It cluttered the win
dow of a second-hand shop, dingy and out of
sorts with fate. But even In the unflattering
light of a dusty show window, It had a certain
charm for the one who found It. It was the
picture of a watch-night service, such as she
had once known so well. Bright moonlight
flooded the scene, bringing out In sharpened
detail the snow-laden boughs of drooping elms
and the Gothic spire of a small stone church.
From stained glass windows and opened door
came streaming the warm glow of shaded gas
jets. From village streets flocked men and
women and children, stopping to say a word of
greeting as they passed Into the vestibule. The
spell of the picture took her, with the speed
of the magic carpet or of the seven-leagued
boots, back to the New Year's eves of her girl
hood. So she had walked with father and mother
and a sleepy s nail brother. Just so the treer
had looked In the frosty moonlight. And Just ,
as warm and poftly glowing had been the
stone church, through whoso open doors came
t lie? resonant ttralns of the great organ. She
remembered v.itli aching vividness the faces
M F4KM
y 7 T rlf'f ,TVtT
CI
A bit more joyful Is the splendid, quaintly
Irregular,
Come, let us anow our Journey pursue,
Itoll round with the year,
And npver Btwnd still till the Muster
appear.
It was cosy after this to go home filled wit'
loftiest aspirations, ready to begin the new
diary with ambitious resolves that were bound
to o'erleap themselves because of their very
loftiness. There was one watch night when
there drifted Into the ken of the child the
poem that has since meant to tier, as it does
to many, the very npirlt of this day. From tho
choir gallery, just before the midnight hour,
came the softened chorus of a strange melody.
Then into the silence of the vaulted church rose
a wonderful message In a voice that bore con
viction to the listeners. It sang to the organ
and the hushed accompaniment of the choir:
Ring out, wild be I In. to the wild klp,
The flying cloud, the fronty light;
The year la dying, In the night;
Ring out, wild bell, and let him die.
Through the whole of the splendid poem It
swept, on to the triumphant conclusion:
"Ring In the Chrlm that la to be."
To the child the most dramatic moment of
the evening came Just on the stroke of the In
coming year. While outside whlBtles blew and
giant crackers exploded, bells clashed and
clanged, inside hands clasped hands while to
gether they sang the good old standby, "Blent
be the tie that binds," before the hush of the
benediction and the glad chorus of "Happy New
Year's" that concluded the service.
There Is another sert of quiet ushering In
of the baby yoa.r that is conducive to the good
resolve that counts so easily under favorable
conditions. There were those in the old days,
as there are In these, who fert that after the
gala afternoon the happiest way of all was to
sit quietly about the fire, chatting with half a
dozen congenial Kpliits, singing a bit if tho
spirit moved, reminiscing us old times came
back In the hush, and ending with the silent
loust and the dash of sentiment that makes
"Auld I.aug Syne" the fitting song for such a
moment.
That some such happy hour may begin little
J911's firHt appearance Is the best wish one
can offer to friends.
I.t the aUHptrloiiH morning be expressed
'With a white stone distinguished from th
If you allow your young cattle to
barely eke out an existence this win
ter, they will lose In flesh nnd bodily
Igor to such nn extent that It will
take two months of good pasture to
bring them back to thehr present con
dition. Such management swell the
farm loss account and gradually de
creases the net profits that you may
expect next year.
The farmer who grows clover for
hay and seed and sells both may
think he has done a good thing for
the soil, but aside from the roots
which have been exhausted growing
the crop he has done the soil more
injury than with any other crop he
can raise.
A good heifer with her first calf at a
little past two years of age, if she Is
from a breed of fairly high producing
cows, Is worth from JaO to $100. A
steer that will bring that much money
Is usually fed two to three times as
much as tho average heifer.
Pumpkins are one of the best winter
green feeds for almost all kinds of
stock, especially relished by dairy
cows, and they are excellent to mix
with dairy feed for the production of
milk, the cows relishing them greatly.
It Is not to be supposed that every
heifer will make a first-class cow, but
the manner in which she is fed and
cared for from birth will have some
thing to do with deciding the question.
The feeding of dairy cows for best
results Is more comullcnted. and In
volves more thought than most per
sons realize; merely throwing a cow
an abundance of food Is not all.
It is impossible to tell the profitable
cows from the unprofitable animals
unless you test your milk. The quan
tity of milk Is not enough. The but
ter fat must be considered.
It Is very important that when tho
calves are first placed In tho feed lot
they should be given the most palat
able feed that can be obtained until
they have learned to cat.
There Is no known feed that Is bet
ter for poultry than good clean grains,
accompanied by plenty of clean, fresh
water and an abundance of charcoal.
Now Is the time to study up on the
now "serum" method for preventing
hog cholera, then you will bo rendy
to act at ouce when you have to.
The only way to be Biire a cow has
good milking qualities which can be
perpetuated in her offspring is to bo
suro Bho has good blood In her.
In Improving a flock of mutton
sheep, the ram Is practically tho
whole thing until such a time as the
ewes aro equally well bred.
Don't pack the dairy cow away for
winter into a dark comer of tho sta
ble and expect to take out a strong,
healthy cow lu the spring.
Generally farmers who feed stock
upon their farms are successful farm
ers, but not all successful farmers
need be stock feeders.
Producing what the consumer wants
and putting It on the market in an
attractive form are two of the secrets
uf successful dairying.
It Isn't much use to keep cows that
milk hard. You can find just as good
ones that milk by man-power and not
four horse-power.
So the statoly Dryden has put
thought. May it be true of us all.
the sumt
Hunter Who Has Millions
Paul Ralney, Who Is Worth S30,0C0,
000, Has Achieved Fatie in tii'j
Came Shooting and Other
Sports.
Puul Ilainey wus born slth plenty
of money and a resthss disposition,
both of whifh have ii ceased When
his father died, leaving him a little)
matter of f :c,n00,0i)i made In ccko at
Tittfiburg, Paul ll'iiney went to New
r'annda and Me:;!co, und to chronicle
the anim l.i lie has slaiked would be
to cr. ale;, i:e (!. v. lid bean's oT this
enti;.i:er:t. Yet. l.e !:::! !'c( r been a
l:c," rid l:;.s si ways ",.! yed
1-" v bl t lT:!e fl t:i'.'i:!:'M.
lie ' ::'ini't to i-Vrt 1 , a g ;!: tr.'.ll
' ' ' ' .1' t 1 i: b;r ; ,. i ',y ,rji ; .1 I tie
H' l.i.-. A!s" 1 e ; i!;. i- c '1, jr-,-, ..... , j .r ',', ,; I'm! J(- ;-,( y, nnii-1. ;w; l,i
I -nil ". l' "," ", v: !' I ' ' the 1 i.i! . in i i i a In
he v as f.ii.b ; v;i ; no :ir.' .t ,: . '," u 1' : s In fn'v.d id a
yacht iiiia-i, tinl! : 'i, ; !.i r, !. t ;. : : r 11 t ! .' I. . : 'i''!i
tori.-t, and all ; i.'itj a'i j I.. r th" j v.y'.r, 1!... '. .-1 rl.
lie has l ot all ov c.'u!..j-y, j t !.. ::( :. V! e t i;: li; U umv
Yolk with it :.::i ..:b l.U bro'i-c
They '.pen' :ti(.:i y in tl:e l,;vish - but i
not In the ! e!i h ;vV (,1 I'!"s'.ii:r j
niibi'.'inire:-. r. d I'. mi!, j ; : i- i t 1 ! trly,
l-ru to
1 a i'. .!
li
plan.nlrg will take him across Africa,
Australia and up Into India.
Paul Ilainey Is the type of a rich
man's t-.oii i.iueh more prevalent than
ii'.cny people supposed. Supplied al
ways with in,, re money than most
ti.e.i ever e. he has been tailed
"Ail 1 rlea';: , rcatcst k penier," but he
1..: t ,t v ,u 1 l:ls f.uidii or his health
in !.''! i, a ii.-i. 'lis i.ttilude towards
!rs i al'h p t1 at of one who lias been
i,rt-:,,sle ( i.u .; Ii to know how to get
lotii it ti.c ,t''t amount of healthy
, leaii ire fu" l,i::isidf and otbue
Mr. Kalney is considered the best
polo player in America and (hat
means nerve, strength and quickness.
Ho is a devotee of other sports, a big
game hunter royal, and able business
man, and u type of tl "good fellow"
at his best. He Is ai d single.--Hampton's
J!valne.
M.xed Dates.
"Are you guli g to wait till tho lani
to buy your holiday ftlrts?"
"Oh, It's mo early to think about
late shopplr
Mares do r.ot usually give troubl
by abortion If given good food and
reasonable cpro Of course, when
pregnant, a mare should not be over
driven, nor be compelled to smell
blood or offal, and should not back
or hold bark heavy loa Is liar stall
sl'ould not have much Incline Nour
ishing food, pure water and fresh air
aro essentials. If one 4uspect ergot
or Binut in hay or iced It r-hould bo ,
discarded.
It Is estimated that barn-yurd ma
nures have n value of about two thirds
that of commercial fertilisers, t tiers
fore the careful saving of farm ma
nures and their judicial application to .
the soil are vital factors in farming
operations, and as essential to -con
tinued success as plowing tho land or
planting the crop.
The price of dairy products In the
winter Is so much higher than In sum
mer that only a small extra effort as
to care and judicious feeding may re
sult In a considerable Increase In the
profits from the entire herd at this
season.
The intelligent flock-masters ar
fast coming to recognize the fact that
the man who makes the most of his
opportunities In handling a farm flock
must become a breeder and feeder of
high-class mutton, more especially
Bheep.
Tho farmer who is breeding a floes
of improved mutton sheep and feeding
them In an Intelligent and painstaking
manner, may plan bis feeding opera
tlona so that he may have a good near
by city market every week In the year.
Farm-yard manures benefit the soil
by acting as a mulch and make hu
mus, but their benefit to the growing
crops depends entirely upon the
amount of nitrogen, phosphoric acid
nnd potash they contain.
It Is true that the generality ol
farm mares are low In quality, but
that Is no valid excuse for farmers tc
persist in breeding horses that no
body wants, not even themselves.
Sheep raising numbers among Its
requirements quietness and content
nient in a degree perhaps not so es
sential to success In the handling o!
other breeds of live stock.
In the production of strawberries
tho best specimens aro obtained onlj
by careful culture, '.he plants should
bo of a large fruited and firm fruitec
variety of the test flavor.
liegin to take the chill off the watei
you give the horses when the wenthei
gets cold. You can heat It chcapei
on the stove than you can In the
stomach of the horse.
A thick coat of paint daubed over
the severed limbs when pruning in the
orchard or wood lot prevents cracking
of the wood and gives the trees a bet
ter appearance.
. The ordinary diversified farm with
its abundant use of horsepower fur
nishes ideal conditions for growing,
developing and training draft horses.
It will pay anyone that keeps from
25 to 100 hens to build a shed close
to the henhouse In which to deposit
tho droppings during the winter.
It is best to separate pullets from
tho rest of tho flock, let them have
free range nnd feed largely of whole
or cracked corn, wheat or oats
H Is Impossible to create capacity.
You may breed for it but you can't
create it and it's a very important
function in the dairy cow.
There Is the most money In the
long run In dairying by selling the
cream or butter only and keeping the
other products on the farm.
The Duroc Jersey sows are very
docile; they are easily handled during
the breeding and farrowing season and
are very prolific breeders.
Under no circumstances should any
thing be added to milk to prevent Its
souring. Such doings violate the law
of both God and man.
The problem of keeping the Joys
and girls on the farmstead Is solving
itself, for farm lite Is becoming more
and more attractive.
Cattle ralslne presents a promising
field of endeavor to those who almS
alike at personal satisfaction and
financial profit
All damaged limbs should be cut
out, becauso they are likely to In
jure others while swaying In the
winds.
It requires skill and a liberal sys
tem of feeding to grow and develop
a high-grade draft horso for market.
The sheep responds profitably to
conditions of peacefulness. They need
sensible treatment as to surroundings.
In the large city markets the best
prices for fatted fowls are realized
from about February to July.
Lousy hogs are a direct source of
loss, which, with worms, prevent divi
dends in the hog business.
Attention to every minute detail
In dairying must bo observed If tho
best results are reached.
All weedB and dead branches should
bo cleaned out of the small fruit gar
tens and burned.
A good square walk for a farm
horse Is llko a good square deal for
oien.
All soil Is niado up of ground pul
verized rock and vegetable mutter.
Dairying is still a peculiar industry
as adapted to tho northern states.
Meats and ground grains aro rich
In protein and are egg makers.
Not one half tho farmers reallzo the
profit there on pusture land
While It Is some trouble to strain
the cream before churning, but when
that Is done there will be no white
specks in butter. i
The feeder is the only man that can
tell how much food the colts require
for their best growth and develop
ment. Fresh air Is all right for the hens,
but not when It Is sifted through knot
holes and cracks between the boards.
Ham lambs are a drug on the mar
ket, yet thousands of farmers con
tinue to flood the markets with them.
Sheep that are kept as scavengers
soon assume the appearance that
their purpose would signify. .
Good, bright oat straw is good
roughage for Idle horses, but some
grain should be fed with It.
Hold on to some of the clover for
spring feeding. It is great when the
sheep get tired of timothy.
I lens are much better breeders than
pullets, because a greater per cent, of
tho eggs are fertile.
Warm water In winter, given morn
ing, noon and night, make the hens
sing with delight.
One of the great economies In
growing of sheet) Is that the shelter
is inexpensive.
Now Is the time of year to feed corn
freely to all stock, even including;
milk cows.
If sheep are left out in a cold rain
they are almost sure to contract
catarrh.
