Fourth of Juiy.
Maine from her farthest border, gives
Iho first exulting shout,
And from New 1 nvnnjililre' granite
heights tho echoing pnnl rings out:
1'lic tnountnln farms of staunch Vermont
, prolong the thundering call.
Ana MAltsaehttsolK answers. "Hunker
IIIIll' u watchword for us all.
Ithode Inland shakes her sea-wet locks,
acclaiming with the frcu.
And slnld Connecticut breaks forth In
Joyous harmony.
Tho Riant Joy of proud New York, loud
ns nn earthquake's roar.
ta heard from Hudson's crowded banks
to Erie's crowded shore.
Rlllt on the booming volley rolls o'er
plains and flowery glade
To Where the Mississippi's iloud the tur
bid gulf Invades,
There, borne from many a mighty stream
upon her mightier tide,
Come down the unfiling. Ions huzzas
frsm all that alley wide.
And wood. crowned Alleghany's call, from
nil her summits hlgn.
Itcverberalcs among tho rocks that pierce
tho nuusct sky;
While on the shores and through the
awalea round the vast Inland sens.
Tho Mars and Btrlppt.'mldst freeman's
uongs, are UashluK to the breeze,
Tho woortwinn. from tho mother, tnkes
hla hoy upon his knee,
And tells him how their fathers fought
and hied for liberty!
Tho lonely hunter nits him down ,tho
forest spring beside.
To think upon his country's worth, nnd
feci his country's pride;
While many n foreign ncccnt, which our
God can understand.
Is bleRSlujr Him for homo and bread In
this free, fertile land,
Yes, when upon tho eastern const wo sink
to happy Test.
Tho Day of Jndcpcndouco rolls still on
ward to the west.
Till die on tho Pacific shore tho shout
of Jubilee,
That woko tho morning with Its voice
along tho Atlantic Sen.
O God. look down upon tho land which
Thou hnst loved so well.
And grant that In unbroken truth her
children still may dwell;
Nor, whllo tho grass grows on tho hill
and streams How through the vale.
Many they forget their fathers' faith, or
In their covennnt fall;
Keep. God. the fairest, noblest land that
lies beneath the sun
"Our country, our whole country, and
our country evory one,"
George V. Bcthune.
THE
IfWFOlM
intme
DAKS OFGOLD
Tho, -old minor filled his pipe and
j.t'Ulod back In his choir.
"It was way back In 'G3," ho Bald.
' ( wa,s down ia Lower California an'
I was a-dlgglu' for gold. I was klndor
ilowo on my luck, but my pard, Jack
Hurke, and a bolter fellor novor drew
hrcatu, cheered mo up considerable
whonovor I got tho dumps, na every
inornln I'd aay, 'Col dins It! Ivo got
r strike It to-day.'
'Hut lota o' dnya camo and went,
and I never Boomed any hotter off,
"Tho pcelty Injuns was glttln trou
Idofloino, too, an' nows came that n
.''aMJptOt ranches hud boon raided and
burned. '
"This didn't troublo us much, be
cause wo had our rifles and two o'
the speediest horses In California
"Ono night wo was settln' around
tko Jlro aftor a corkln' hot day, for
Ic was the 4th of July.
"I was a-thinlrin' of homo and and
niniosl mado up my mind to start for
tho coat noKt day.
"Jack wsb slngln' a gloomy old
hymn timu Just 'causo ho know It ag
gravated mo. and I was Just goln' to
(huck something at him whon I seen
n sight that mnde mo turn cold.
"Oltiar'aud sharp ngln the skyitood
tho flggor of an' Injun! Only a second
ho stood there, but I know that thero
was more of otn among tho rocks and
boulders. Jack nn' mo mndo n dash
to whore our horses was staked out,
OKpoctln every minute to bo flrod on
from behind.
"When yu wero off on a gallop to
Wllklti'a ranch wo hoard tho critters'
ponies coniiti' full pelt behind uk.
"Our horses wore fresh, but tho In
dian ponies wero very owlft jind nl
most tlrelos;.
'An arrow or two whistled over our
bonds, but thoy necmed to be wnitln'
till (hoy got closer beforo they all
flrod.
I looked at Jack-. His llpi wore
Hosed tight, but there wuk n gleam In
hm oy?B that mado did think lio was
Mirtcr onjnyin it.
' Suddenly oh, It was a bad moment
my horse htumblcd lu a nolo nnd
fell, snapping a foroleg. I raised my
rltlo and would have blown the leader
f tho Indians to kingdom enino If
Jack hadn't slipped the luIcMle rein
of his horse Into my hand an' said:
'Don't lose no tlmo. I'll tako keer
0 those varmints.'
I hatod tcr do It, but I didn't want
to wasto no words, so jumped on his
Jiorso and tore off.
"I tried not to think of Jack, but a
big lump camo in my throat as I im
tglned him lyiit' on tho yaller sand
ivhltojfaced and still.
"'Around tho bent in the road I saw
Vatson's ranch.
' I roused the bouse in less'n it takes
o tell It. and all tho mon wero soon
on the way to Jack's rescue, mo lead
in, toil In' the tato between sobs, for
1 was all give out.
"On wo went. I was afeard to go
round the bend, afeard to sec I
didn't ktfow what.
"Aa wo turned I taw him. Tho
young villyun was standi by a tree
aa calm as yer' please, with his arm
lound up in a hnndkerch'ef.
" 'Whero's tho Injuns?' says I.
' 'Gono,' sayB he. 'When they seen
how near thoy was to the ranch the
heggara scooted. But they winged me
'foro they wont.' '
"Ah," said tue old miner, smiling at
tho recollection as. he filled his pipe
again, "that was tho hottest Fourth of
July I erer had."
Tho Flag.
A flap swung high on n rnmpart bold,
And tho soldiers paw It blow;
And the sun wont down, nnd tho stars
came out.
And over tho field died tho battle shout.
While the sentries paced to nnd fro,
A belt tolled loud In tht midday air.
And a flag fluttered over the trees.
And the people gnzod with proud demean
On tho flag that flaunted the starry thir
teen, High In tho midsummer breeze.
Tho stars havo grown since that far-off
day,
And tho stripes are true nnd bright,
And over tho country they sweep afar
Gallant each sttlpe and gallant each
star
Shining by day and by night.
A slngta bell tolled In the long ago
To rally tho brave llttlo band,
Where chimes now peel In tho stiffening
breeze,
And shouts ring Joyously over tho seas,
And flags wnvo over the land.
WIEV F01GE
TO BE
PRESERVED
If tho shades of tho great departed
over rovlslt tho scenes of their enrth
ly struggles, then tho bleak heights of
Valley Forgo must havo witnessed a
Joyful gathering of illustrious ghosts
lately, for at last it seems assured
that tho historic camp ground, to tho
extent of 1,000 acres, Is to bo pre
served forever as a national park.
It is Intended to rostoro tho sacred
spot to tho condition it was In at tins
tlmo of tho heroic solf-sacrlflco of tho
revolutionary army. Tho entronch
monts aro to bo cleared of tho century
and a quarter accumulation of rubbish
that almost obliterates their lines.
Whon tho commlttco In" chafgo of
arrangements has thus secured tho
historic ground for tho people, each
stato whoso sons suffered and died at
Valley Forgo for tho independence of
tho nation will bo invited to mark tho
particular spot whero its own regi
ment of patriots camped In tho dread
ful winter succeeding Washington's
repulse by Howo at Ocrtnantown.
To tho tourists who toll up tho hill
to tho intrenchmonts of Valley Forgo,
after a visit to tho quaint llttlo house
In which Washington mado his head
quartorB, tho most astonishing thing
about tho encampment is that a cen
tury nnd a quarter of effort by tho ele
ments has failed to make any Impres
sion on tho solid earthworks.
Tho rlflo plt3 uro tilled with dead
leaves, trees havo grown on tho hills
that wero onco cleared of timber In
order to glvo tho sharpshooters a view
of tho points In danger of attack, and
somo of tho advanced posts art) dis
tinguishable only because of tho signs
describing them; but tho lines of tho
trenches aro plainly dlscornlble.
Fort Huntington, with Us fringo of
tall trees, stands grim as over In tho
foreground as ono looks down from
nn anglo of tho entrenchments, and it
requires very llttlo Imagination to seo
tho mouths of tho cannon pointing out
of tho ombraBurcs and tho gleam of
tho sentry's bayonet as ho parades be
hind tho wall. Krom this samo anglo
the valley stretches in peaceful boau
ty, two or three old-fashioned houses
nro tho only structures In sight, and
tho whlto column erected by the
Daughters of tho Revolution to tho
dead who lio burled all around is tho
most conspicuous mark on tho pas
toral landscape.
Except for tho prosenco of tho rail
road at tho foot of tho hills on which
nro tho entrenchments, and tho tele
graph poles lining tho whlto stretches
of highway, Valley Forgo seems Just
as it is pictured In the stirring days of
tho revolution.
Tho roadway up which tho tourists
toll, every other person armed with a
camera, Is a roughly mado path that
has probably received very llttlo at
tention falnco tho time of the camp.
Trees that have fallen or been cut
down "slnco Washington wintered at
Valley Forgo are strown around tho
grounA; tho stones that wero brought
to tho lilies to strengthen tho defences
remain just as they wero placed by pa
triot hands.
Tako a map of Valley Forgo en
campment mado In Washington's time,
nnd o-verj point can bo traced, ovory
fort located. and( tho position of each
headquarters defined, in fact, tho
work of restoring Valley Forgo to Its
original condition will not 'be so dim
cult as may poem at first sight, so per
fectly preserved arc all the lines of the
encampment.
Should it be decided, as seems like
ly, to rebuild tho hutn in rows, just as
thoy stood during tho winter of suf
fering, it will not be hard to arrange
tho camp In tho form assumed when
tho colonial troops settled down to
await tho coming of spring. If the
various states represented In Wash
ington's nrmy at Valley Forge unlto
to rebuild the camp, each stato under
taking to restorO that portion in which
its own soldiers lived, there will bo
no trouble In pointing out the exact
spot lu which wero chartered tho par
tleular shoeless nnd shivering patriots
who claimed that stato as their birth
place. It Ik an open qu?stlon In which partic
ular shape the camp will bo restored.
Some waut It to bo a military post.
Others would Mm to see it an exact
reproduction of the original encamp
ment. Theho aro questions that can
bo threshed out in tho future. The
fact that Valley Forge; is to Ik religi
ously guarded from vandal hands and
rental u forever tho property of the na
tion in suaioleut cause for cougratula-
tlou at present.
jjJP
J&ntfie4&zJt.l
E-ohantod webt A picture In the air.
Dtlftcd to us from out the distant blue,
Vkom the shadowy ancestors through
whose bravo care
We live lu magic of ft drcanv come
true
With covenanter's blue, as If were glass.
cd i
In dowy flower-heart, the stars that
passed.
O blood veined blosHom that can never
blight!
Tho Declaration, like a snered rite.
Is In ench stnr and stripe declamatory,
The Constitution thou shnlt Ion recite.
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "Old
Glory."
O symphony In red, white, blue!-fnn-fore
Of trumpet, roll of drum, forever new
lteverberatlons of tho licll. that beat
Its tones, of liberty the wide world
th rough I
In battle dreaded like a cyclone blast!
Symbol of Innd nnd people unsurpassed
Thy brilliant day snull never have a
night.
On foreign slioro no pomp so grand n
sight.
No face so friendly, naught consolatory
Like glimpse of lofty spar with thee
bedlght.
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "Old
Glory."
Thou nrt the one flag, an embodied pray
er. One highest nnd most perfect to revlow.
Without one., nothing: It Is lineal, square.
Ilia properties of ull the numbers, too
Cube, solid, squaro root, root of root,
best classed
It for His essenco tho Creator cast.
Tor purity arc the six stripes of white.
This number circular und endless
quite
Six times, well knows the scholar wan
nnd hoary,
Ils compass, spanning circle, enn
ullcrht
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved, "Old
Glory,"
Boldly tljy seven lines of scarlet flare;
As when o'er old centurian It blew.
(Ited Is the trumpet's tone. It means to
darts!)
God favored seven when creation grew;
The seven planets, seven hues contrast;
The seven metals, seven dnys; not lost
The seven tonrs of marvelous delight
That lend the listening soul their wings
for night;
But why complete thJ happy category
That gives thy thirteen stripes their
charm nnd might?
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "Old
Glory."
In thy dear colors honored everywhere,
The grcnt and mystlo ternlon wo view;
Faith. Hope, nnd Charity are numbered
there.
And thnVo nails tho crucifixion know.
Threo nro oftonded when one has tres
passed, God. and one's neighbor nnd one's solf
nchnst. Chrlfct's deity, nnd soul, and manhood's
height;
Tho V other. Son, nnd Ghost may her
unite;
With texts llko these, divinely monitory.
What wonder that thou conquercst li
the flight.
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved "Old
Glory."
ENVOI. '
O blessed Flng! sign of our precious Past.
Triumphant Present and our Future
vast.
Dcyond Rtarred blue and bars of sunset
bright.
Lend us to renlrris of Equal Right!
Float on. In every lovely nllgory.
Kin to tho eagle and the wind nnd light.
Our hallowed, eloquent, beloved ''Old
Glory."
A Millionaire's Celebration.
Tho spirit of tho Fourth is no re
specter of persons. It seizes hold oi
the intllionniro as well as tho raga
muffin whoso only means of celebra
tion lies in snatching up defectlvo ex
plosives discarded by his moro fortu
nato brothers and endeavoring to
mako them "go off."
His Ib intenso anticipatory excite
mont and pleasure, but it Is no keener
than tho xest with which Charles M.
Schwab, man of millions, prepares for
and cclebrato's tho nation's natal day.
Mr. Schwab always endeavors to
spond tho day In tho town of his boy
hood, Loretto, Pa., whero his fathor
and mother live. No matter whero
ho is, or what tho business, ho usually
manages to turn up at his magnificent
country homo on tho hill overlooking
tho town n day or two before the
Fourth; and with him como box aftor
box of all manner of fireworks.
Somo of tho pyrotechnics ho uues
to mako glad tho hearts of his llttlo
friends tho children of former play
mates. Tho flrow.orks which Mr.
Schwab reserves for himself aro sot
off on tho night of tho -Fourth, when
ho gathers at his house his friends
and relatlvesi for miles around. Tho
display lasts until well into tho night.
It is dazzling and gorgeous in tho ex
treme, and it causes many an honest
former friend to ejaculate from tho
depth of his wonderment and awe;
"Well, I swan, lut Charlie's a hum
mer!" Origin of Our Banner.
It has often been asked what sug
gested tho design for our star-spangled
banner. There are many traditions
afloat concerning the origin of tho de
sign, but the ono in which there Is
undoubtedly tho most truth Is that
which credits tho design to Washing
ton. The general found in tho coat-of-arms
of his own family a hint from
which ho drew tho design for tho flag.
Tho coat-of-arms of tho Washington
family has two red bara on a whlto
ground, and threo gilt stars above the
top bar. Tho American flag, once de
cided upon, was rushed through in a
hurry, for the army was badly in need
of a standard.
LIVESTOCK
Two Important Experiments.
Tho Iowa Agricultural Union, a so
ciety formed largely of graduates
from tho Iowa agricultural college,
has undertaken to solve' two questions
of very great importance to tho agri
cultural world. Ono of these Is tho In
fluence on tho progeny of tho ago of
tho slro nnd dam. In tho case of
awino and sli6cp this Is to bo extend
cd to Includo tho number of progeny
at time of birth and tho development
after birth. Also tho difference In
vigor between tho different progenies
is to be noted. This ha3 beon a mat
ter that has excited tho keonest dis
cussion among brooders. A large
number of our most advanced think
ers haVo been declaring that tho im
mature sires and damB aro tho causo
of the decadence of constitutional
vigor noted In somo of our highly
bred animals. At tho Bamo time the
practlco has boon to breed from
young animals to got early maturity
which Is conceded to bo of great
value, especially In tho case of meat
animals. Tho second experiment Is
relative to cros3-breodlng. Our stock
men assert that much Is somotimes
gained by a slnglo cross, but that to
use tho results of this cross as breed
ers Is a mistake. They say that whllo
ono cross Improves, moro than ono
deteriorates tho progeny. Tho co-op-orators
In Iowa will sock to determine
the influenco of cross breeding. Ani
mals will be cross bred and their
offspring will bo in turn used for
breeding purposes and their progeny
compared with tho pure breds. The
advantage in those experiments is
thnt they aro to bo carried on on a
largo scale and under tho observation
of skilled experimenters.
Shearing of World's Fair Sheep.
A rule having an important bearing
upon the shearing of sheep to bo ex
hibited at tho World's Fair at St.
Louis has been announced by the
chief of the Department of Live Stock
as follows: "All sheep and goats
must have been ovenly, closely and
properly shorn on or after the first
day of April, 1904, and the date of the
shearing must 'bo certified ontho ap
plication for entry. Sheep or goats un
evenly or stubblo shorn or that have
oecn clipped to conceal defects or to
mislead will not bo allowed to com
pote. The Judge shall disqualify for
competition any sheep or goat deemed
by him as having boon improperly or
stubblo shorn or with its fleece other
wise treated for purposes of fraud or
deception."
Tho question of shearing In connec
tion with tho exhibition of sheep has
been a voxod ono at fairs and exposi
tions for a long time. A draft of a
rule was sent to prominent breeder?
and authorities with tho request fot
suggestions as to tho best form. The
customs prevailing In other countries
ami mado legitimate through climatic
or other conditions, although perhaps
not common with sheep breeders in
tho United States, havo been fully
taken into account. The experiences
of previous fairs and tho necessity ol
avoiding an unenforceable regulation
were considered. Tho rule determined
upon is intended to enforce only such
restrictions as will securo deserved
awards.
In the Dipping of Cattle.
Tho government a short tlmo ago
Issued a proclamation prohibiting the
transportation of mangy cattle except
after having been dipped. Wo pub
lished a summary of tho requirements
at the time. We note somo additional
points that may be of interest to
somo of our readers. Tho dipping
must be thoroughly done, and the cat-
tlo must bo kept In the dip two or
threo minutes, having been com
pletely submerged twice. Tho tem
perature of tho dip should be main
tained at 105 degrees or as nearly
that ns possible, while the cattlo are
in it. It must bo changed as soon as
it becomes filthy, regardless of the
number of1 cnttlo dipped in it. No
dipping should bo dono In cold weath
er unless tho mon having charge ot
thom havo provided warm pens in
which tho animals may be kept till
dry. Tho cattlo must not bo loaded
onto cars till they havo become dry.
Whero largo numbers of cattlo are
ready for shipment and havo not been
dipped, the government will send in
spectors and thoso animals found to
bo freo from scabies will be permitted
to go forward without being dipped.
All public stock yards aro considered
by tho inspectors as having been In
fected and no animal will bo permit
ted to bo shipped out without dipping
except where part ot stock yards have
been set asldo for the use of uninfect
ed cattle.
Potatoes as Hog Feed.
Potatoes aro qulto largely fed to
nogs, but it is found advisable to boll
them. In tho New England States
they are fed extensively, being boiled
In milk and mixed with meal in a
barrel. Frequently several bushels
aro boiled at a time, and when mixed
with corn meal make an appotlzlng
mess. Tho only fault to be found
with this combination is that it is
badly out of balance. Tho potatoes
aro rich in starch and so is the corn.
To such of our readers as aro still
following tho old practice wo would
advlso tho substitution of bran or of
ground oats, for the corn meal. This
would mako a fairly well balanced ra
tion. Tho Canadians cay that pota
toes havo a good effect on the quality
of bacon produced. There Is probably
no better uso to which small potatoes
may be put than this.
Thli Will Interest Mother.
Mother Gray's Sweet- Powders for Chil
dren, used by Mother Gray, a nurso in
Children's Homo, Now York. Cure Fovcr
Ishncss. Bad Stomach, Teething Disorders,
movo and rcgulato tho bqwcls and destroy
Worms. Sold by all Druggists, 2T.c. Sample
FItEE. Address A. S. Olmsted, LoRpy,N. Y.
What is past is past There is a
future- left to all men who havo tho
virtue to repent and tho energy to
atone.
Defiance Starch
should be In every household, none so
pood, besides 4 oz. more for 10 cents
than any other brand of cold water
starch.
Mustn't Flirt Any More.
Tho Cunard company has Issued an
ordor forbidding tho officers to prome
nade the decks with feminine passen
gers or to participate in any social
ovents on shipboard. It seems that
numerous complaints were mado that
the officers wero neglecting their du
ties in order to play gallant, and be
sides, that tho officers snubbed all but
tho pretty girls bringing complaints
from tho ladles not endowed with
beauty.' Tho fascinating wearers of
gold laco and brass buttons will here
after attend strictly to the.Ir duttes,
for Bteamship companies should take
as good caro of their homely passen
gers ns of their good-looking ones.
Rules for Politicians.
"Thero aro," said Thomas Taggart,
tho Democratic leader in Indiana,
"three rules of deportment which
chould bo tho guiding stars of all poli
ticians: First, never take a drink, for
fear of promoting Intemperance; sec
ond, never refuse a drink, for fear of
making bad friends; third, never wor
ry about what happens unless It hap
pons to you."
The Preacher's Evidence.
Roland, 111., Juno 27. Diabetes has
so long beon looked upon as an in
curable form of kidney 'disease that
a sure euro for it must rank as ono of
tho most valuablo medical discoveries
of tho age. And every day brings
forth fresh evidence that Dodd's Kid
ney Pills will cure diabetes. Im
portant ovldenco in their favor is giv
en by Rev. Thos. P. Norman, the well
known Baptist minister here. Mr.
Norman says:
"I had all tho symptoms of a bad
case of diabetes and received so much
benefit from tho use of Dodd's Kid
ney PUls that 1 cheerfully recommend
them to anyone suffering from that
dread disease. Dodd's Kidnoy Pills
will cure the worst form of diabetes."
Dodd's Kidney Pills always cure
diabetes, ono of tho final stages of
kidney disease. All the earlier stages
from backache to rheumatism aro
naturally much more easily cured by
the same remedy.
The Fulton Centennial.
Profiting by former experiences In
tho matter of celebrations in not hav
.ng things ready on time for in
stance, the Columbus, Dewey and oth
er affairs Now York has already com
menced preparations toward the cele
bration of the centennial of the sail
ing of tho first steamboat on the Hud
son. This will be In 1907. and Is to
bo an auspicious event. Steps havo
been taken .toward building a fac
almlle of the Clermont, at first sneer
ingly dubbed "Fulton's Folly," but
which turned out to be Robert Ful
ton's joy and pride when ehe success
fully paddlod her way to Albany and
oack In four days' time. Steamboat
development within the last century
oas been so wonderful that it is fitting
to commemorate the inventions of Ful
ton and John .Fitch in as big a blow
out as steam and money can devise.
Why He Dislikes Republicans
After one of John Sharp Williams'
pull-nnd-haul contests with Republic
ans In tho houso during the last scs-
3lon of congress, Speaker Cannon said
to him: "John what makes you such
a bitter partisan?" "Well, Joe," was
the reply, "coming from you, that Is
certainly very good." "Oh, never mind
about me, but tell mo why you aro
such a partisan." Tho Mlssisslppian
answered gravely, "To toll you tho
truth, I never saw a Republican until
I was 21 years old, and I can't get
used to them, somehow."
FOOD FACT3
What an M. D. Learned.
A piominent physician of Rome,
Georgia, went through a food experi
ence which he makes public:
"It was my own experience that
first led me to advocate Crape-Nuts
food oud I also know from having pre
scribed it to convalescents and other
weak patients that the food Is a won
derful retjullder and restorer of nerve
and brain tissue, as well as muscle.
It Improves tho digestion and sick
patients always gain just as 1 did in
strength and weight very rapidly.
"1 was in such a low state that I had
to glvo up my work entirely and go to
the mruu.tains of this state, but two
months there did not improve me; in
fact I was not quite as well as when I
left home. My food absolutely re
fused to sustain me and it became
plain that I must change, then I began
to use Crape-Nuts food and in two
weeks I could walk a mile without tho
least fatigue and In five weeks re
turned to my home and practice, tak
inn up hard 'work again. Sinco that
time I have felt as well and strong as
I ever did in my life.
"As a physician who seeks to help
all sufferers I consider It a duty to
make theso facts public." Name giv
en by Postuta Co,, Battle Creek, Mich.
Trial 10 days on Grape-Nuts when
tho regular food docs not seem to sus
tain tho body will work miracles.
"There's a reason."
Look In each pkg. for the famous
little book, "The Road to WellvlUe."
HOW JACK LONDON "ARRIVED."
Popular Author Struggled Hard for
High Position He Holds.
Jack London, tho fascinating short
story writer and brilliant war corre
spondent, now at tho front, is but
twenty-eight years old. Threo years
ago ho waa unhoard of by tho reading
world. To-day ho Is road everywhere.
Is sought by publishers, and tho pages
of the magazines, from The Century
down, aro open to him.
Tho story of how ho "arrived."
how ho first sot foot upon the
Etopplng-stono to success, ho
tells in Tho Editor, tho Now
York magazine for literary workers.
Incidentally giving tho latter class
some excollont advico. Hero aro a
fow of his terse, pregnant sentence"
Workl Don't wait for somo good
Samaritan to tell you, but dig it out
yourself.
Fiction pays best of all.
Don't writo too much. Don't dash
off a C000-word story beforo breakfast
Avoid tho unhappy ending, tho
harsh, tho brutal, tho tragic, tho horri
ble if you caro to see in print tho
things you write.
Keep a notebook. Travel with it,
cat with it, sleep with it. Slap into
It every Btray thought that flutters
UP into your brain.
"As soon ns a fellow sells two or
threo things to the magazines," says
Jack London, "his friends all ask him
how ho managed to do it," and then
ho goe3 on, In his own racy way, to
tell how It happened to him.
He had many liabilities and no as
sets, no Income and several mouths
to feed. Ho lived in California, far
from tho great publishing centers,
and did rot know what an editor
looked like. But ho sat down and
wrote. Day by day his pile of manu
scripts mountod up. He had vague
ideas, obtained from a Sunday supple
ment, that a silnlmum rate of $10 a
thousand words was paid, and figured
on earning ?G00 a month, without
overstocking tho markot.
One morning tho postman brought
him, Instead of the usual long, thick
manuscript envelope, a short, thin
one. He couldn't open it right away.
It seemed a sacred thing. It con
tained the written words of an editor
of a big magazine. When, modest as
ever, he had figured In hla mind what
tho offer for this 4000-word story
would be at the minimum rate $40,
of course ho opened the,letter. Five
dollars!
Not having died right then and
there, Mr. London is convinced that
ho may yet qualify as an oldest In
habitant Five dollars! When? The
editor did not state.
But, by and by, in tho course of its
wanderings, ono of his stories reached
an editor who could seo tho genius of
Jack London, and had tho patience to
penetrato beneath the husk of wordy
Introduction and discover the golden
grain.
Hera Is the incident that proved
tho turniug point in Jack Loudon's
literary career, as ho so graphically
tells it:
"Nothing remained but to get out
and shovel coal. I bad dono It be
foro, and earned moro money at it.
I resolved to do it again, and I cer
tainly should have dono it, had (t not
been for Tho Black Cat.
"Yes, Tho Black Cat. The post
man brought me an offer from It for
a 4000-word story which was moro
lengthy than strengthy, if I would
grant permissidn to cut it down half.
Grant permission? I told thom thoy
could cut It down two-halves if they'd
only send tho money along, which
they did, by return mall. As for tho
?5 previously mentioned, I finally re
ceived it, after publication and a great
deal of embarrassment and trouble."
And tho rato ho received for his first
Black Cat story was nearly 20-times
what tho live-dollar editor paid! ,
Nor is Jack London tho only writer
who has beon lifted from obscurity to
promlncnco by tho lucky Black Cat,
which, 3B tho New York Press lias
truly said, has dono more for short
Btory writers ami short-story roaders
than any other publication.
Each of its famous prize competi
tions has brought new writers to tho"
front. In its most recent, tho $2,100
prize was won by a young Texan who
had no? or beforo written a story, and
tho second, $1,300, went to a lawyer's
wlfo in an obscuro Missouri town.
It has Just inaugurated another con
test In which $10,600 will bo paid to
writers in sums of from $100 to $1,500.
This will, no doubt, add many now
names to tho list of thoso who havo
"arrived" through Its recognition.
Tho conditions aro announced in tho
current issue of Tho Black Cat. and
will also ba mailed free to auy one
by tho Shortstory Publishing Com
pany, Boston, Mass. Evon those who
cannot' writo a winning story them
selves may earn $10 by giving a tlmo
ly tip to some friend who can.
But all should bear in mind that it
will be eutlroly useless for any ono
to send a story to Tho Black Oat
without first reading and complying
with all tho published conditions.
Here is a chauco for the reader to dig
dollars out of his brain, for what llfw
does not at least contain ono talo
worth 'telling?
The June Century.
Quoer llttlo fellows aro the poclcot
gophors, and very important factors
In the prdouctlon or tho vegetable
mold of tho west, according to Ernest
Thompson Seton. The result of Mr.
I Sf ton's study of pockotrgophero in,
uamornia, Arizona, Nw Mexico, Col
orado, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, tho
Dakotas, Manitoba, and British Co
lumbia will be presentod to readers
of tho Juno Century under tho title of
"Tho Master Plowman of tho West."
Mr. Seton's drawings, oa always, will
add greatly to the interest and valuo
of his sketch.
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