Bnani Shooting
IftiiMHHfoE:
ON
tgjUIIlTY years ngo thla
IrAl.-rxSl spring my wise father
built a flat-bottomed sloop,
45 feet long on the keel
anil 17 feot wide, with
an enclosod cabin that haa
squaro windows Instead of
portholos, and n head
room of six feot all over
It. Thla cabin la 21
feet long, and consists of ono largo
Toom with four wldo bortliB, and a toi
lot room and a kitchon on either side
of tho ccntorboard, at tho forward
and.
Father named tho boat Macy, aftor
an old friend, and haa had her con
tinuously In commloalon Blnco sho was
launched; and Andrew Sammls, her
first captain, la still In charge a bit
.gray now,, but atlll tho Baino careful
and trustworthy sklppor as of yoro.
With tho .opening of tho ducking sea
eon In October Bho goes Into what wo
call winter commission, and when the
end of tho Boason comes around sho
la hauled out, thoroughly overhauled '
and prepared for tho Bummer wdrk.
A few years ago wo built an overhang
ing storn on her and Installed a gaso
lino onglno, bo that wo aro no longer
tho alavoa of tho wind god. Tho
"Macy'a Baby," as tho stoolboat that
carries tho battery la called, la al.
ways at her atom, and this, with tho
addition of two skiffs and ono or more
dlnkles for uso In tho leb, makes qulto
a formidablo tow for the old boat.
When wo have more than a day or
two to spond in the quest for tho
wily duck, we aond the Macy out early
to get a good place, and havo a cat
loat moot us at tho dock to sail over
to her. Generally wo catch a train
that arflvos at Dabylon at half-past
throo o'clock, ,and wo roach tho dock
ten minutes afterwards.
Lay outdo for a few moments your
Great South Bay
J3" EBWiN MAIN POST
1 II T ' I -Ml A ffnri
troublea and worries, and como with us down to
kill some brant. It is half-past ono o'clock, and
I look up from mydesk and sco my father's smil
ing fAce aB ho says: "Come, Duster, it is timo
to start." In a moment I havo put on my coat
and hat, and we aro on our way to tho Wall street
entrance of tho subway, ns happy as over two
schoolboys starting on a holiday wore. Wo meet
you on the platform, and I relievo you of your
bag or gun as wo board a Brooklyn train. Wo
chango at Atlantic avenuo to tho Long Island
train, and soon aro at Jamaica, whoro we cbango
onco more to tho local steam train and whllo
away tho next hour In swapping stories. Tho
train stops at Babylon, and wo pllo out on tho
platform and into tho dilapidated hack that
takes ua down to tho dock. As It ia early in tho
season and tho days havo not yet shortened
enough to make It impossible for us to reach
our destination beforo dark, tho Macy la awaiting
ua, anchored just off tho dock, and wo sco our
good Oeorgo coming off in the little skiff to speed
ily set ua on board.
Aa you board the skiff you will not havo to ask
George, "Arp thero any birds?" for ho will say:
"Brant? Why, there's 6,000,000 of the cusses In
Cedar Island covo. We'll have some o' them crit
ters, and don't you forget It." Captain Andrew
greots ua with a cheery "Good day, gentlemen,"
as wo roach his side, and you enter the cabin
to find upon tho table n pleasant welcome In tho
shapo of a genorous drink for each of us. My
father's hearty toast, "Glad to soo you on boardj
sir," makoa you fool at homo at once.
Wo promptly lay asldo our "storo clothes" and
don our old shooting things, as tho men get tho
anchor up and hoist tho sail, and aro soon In
the cockpit enjoying the fresh air. Our progress
is slow and stately, duo to tho flotilla behind us,
but wo havo only about four miles to go, Notice
now tho third member of our crew, a big, tall,
falr-haircd man with a smllo that nevor comes
off. This la Ansel, a nowcomer to tho Macy in
comparison with tho sklppor, for Ansel has been
with us only 20 years. Ho is n very important
personage, for ho Is tho engineer, .chef, mate, gen
eral utility man and fun-maker for us all, Hark!
Tbore is bis voico now calling ub to dinner.
You sit down beforo a smoking leg of lamb and
dishes of vegetables, with an appotlto to which
you havo been n stranger for a long time, and
oat and eat of tho good tilings beforo you until
you aro astonished at yourself. Topping off with
some of the chefs famous pudding, and helping
yourself to a good cigar from tho box on tho
centerboard trunk, you aro content. I take tho
wheel to let tho men go below to cat their dinnor,
and by tho time thoy have finished wo arrive at
tho placo whoro wo will test out tho battery in tho
morning. v
At ten o'clock wo turn Into our borths ready for
an early call to broakfast. At four o'clock wo aro
called, and by the tlmo wo aro drossod tho break
fast Is piping hot on tho table. Wo hurry through
our meal to let tho men eat theirs, and whllo
thoy aro tlxlng out tho battery and stool, wo
tako a bit of a nap.
Tho skipper calls us when ho sees tho men
havo the stool nearly all out, and you and I put
on our sweaters and a dark coat, take our guns
and shells, and got Into tho skiff, to be rowed to
the battery. Tho
battery, or "box,"
as It Is inoro often
termed, is set
pretty well to tho windward of tho bulk of tho
decoys, with Just enough of thorn around it to
hide it from birds coming down on tho head; and
In getting in we pick our way carefully throufeh
tho decoys and stop from tho skiff well over no
ward tho center, so as not to got any water In
the boxes. On the dock of tho box wo have 12
iron decoys that aro cut off on tho bottom, so as
to loom up higher than thooo ou tho wator, and
these we dlBtributo around, hoada to tire wind,
to make tho box lay level. Wo each havo a rub
ber cloth and an old awoator to Ho on, and a
cloth-covered rubbor pillow for our heads. Ad
Justing these comfortably, wo load our guns,
cock them and placo thorn against tho sido on
our right hand, taking care to keep at least two
inches of tho barrels over tho end of the box, so
that In case of an accidental discharge therowlll
bo no hole blown in tho box. Long oxporlenco
in battery shooting has taught mo that tho long
er tho barrels of a gun aro, the safer it Is, and
I heartily recommend 32 inch barrels.
Being all ready to Ho down, with only our eyes
above tho level of tho wator, and await tho com
ing of our quarry. Two men with shnrp eyes can
keep a pretty thorough watch, except JuBt be
hiud them, and birds coming from that quarter
generally swing off to one sido or the othor of
(ho stool so that thoy can sot their wings and
light among tho decoys headed up to tho wind.
You, as the guest of honor, nro In tho left-hand
box, and Just as tho sun is rising I see a bunch
of brant comlrg In over the beach from the
ocean whero thoy have been roosting. If they
are headed in our direction, and I think thoy
will pass near enough to seo our stool, wo Ho
very closo, und occasionally I call thom; but tho
moment thoy seo the Btool and you can always
tells this, becauso thoy give a sort of dart up in
the air nnd, If thoy aro coming In, sottlo down
again headed toward ua I mako no further calls,
but say to you: "Thoy aro coming In on your
side. Llo perfectly still until I say 'Now!' and
then give it to them."
It is one of the most Inspiring sights In tho
world to see a bunch of theso lordly birds bead
ed for tho stool, nnd a groat many people aro
deceived as to thp dlsanco thoy nro off, on ac
count of tholr groat ulzo often losing a chanco
by raising too quickly. I watch them with ono
eye above tho odgo of tho box ns thoy sot tholr
wings and como gracefully to tho stool, nnd when
they nro In good rnngo, I say: "NowJ Let's
try 'oral" and wo Bit up with our guns In our
hands and fire. As they nro on your sido and
headed up to windward, you will got tho best
show, becauso I must shoot at tho tnll of tho
bunch und will not havo ns good n chanco to
catch a doublo as you. You can count on ray
killing right and loft however, and as my second
bird starts to fall, I seo you havo throo down.
"Well dono, my friend. Wo aro not going to
bo skunked to-day. Thore aro five ofthom, any
way." Wo both reload our gunn, and I tako my cap
In my hand and swing it until I seo an answering
signal from the Macy, This means that they aro
to como down in tho skiff nnd pick up
our game.
Thoro nro threo things of great im
portance in battery shooting; tho
first la to bo nblo to kill when tho
bird la la rnngo, tho second to bo
able to call, and tho third to know
how to uso tho "floppor." Naturally
tho query rises to your Hps, "What is
a floppor?" It is a bundlo of worn-out
mittens, tied togother with a bit of
string, that I keep In my hand as we
llo in wait for tho gamo, aud it Is
used to attract tho attention of birds
that nro passing too far away to see
tho stool. As I am about to explain
tho use of tho queer contrivance, I see
a bunch of -brant
leading through the
bay to tho north of
us, about a mile
away. It thoy keep
their present course
thoy will pasB ua
without seeing our
stool. Something
must bo dono. to at
tract tholr atten
tion. Quickly I flop
the Hopper up above
tho level of the box
two or threo times,
carefully watching
for any sign that
tho blrda have no
ticed something. If
thoro 1b no such
sign, I flop again.
Ah, thla tlmo thoy
have seen It, for
thoy riso in tho air
and head toward us.,
NoW wo He close, and they como straight for our
stool. If I wore to flop evon onco aftor they have
seen tho Btool, thoy would be off like a shot and
it Is just hero that tho science of using tho flop
por meana so much. This tlmo thoy hoad up on
my sido, and, whon I glvo the word, wo Are, you to
kill two, whllo 1 nm lucky enough to .double with
each barrel. Whon George arrives with tho skiff
and wo toll him 11 aro down, ho smiles all ovor.
I call to Georgo to bring father down when he
comos out to pick up again, for your, day would
not bo comploto without an hour or two In tho box
with that peerless sportsman, who 1b today, at tho
ago of 77, ono of tho best BhotB I havo over seen.
Wo kill again, and Oeorgo comes down with fa
ther. As I got into tho boat, father stopa into the
box with agility equal to mine, and I leave you to
an enjoyment that has been tho dearest privilege
of my life. We havo scarcely reached the Macy
When you swing again, and I tako up tho glusstm
to watch with interest your good work.
As noontime comes we got tho Macy underway
and drop down to tho box, to reward you with a
cocktail when you come aboard, and have all ro'ady
a smoking lunch of Ansol's best. After lunch we
tako turns in tho battery, and, when tho tlmo
comes to tako up, wo count a row of brant along
tho washer and find 3C. Wo return to Babylon In
nmplo tlmo for you to cntch your train, and we do
not let ypu go until you promise to como again.
TO" DRAW AND HOLD TRADE
"Most of us," Bald Mr. Shovolton, "aro looking out
for ourselves; I think we'll all admit that. Tho
trouble with most of us is that wo don't do this
Intelligently; wo aro always thinking of bursolves
and our own Interest only; aud that's where wo
slip a cog, Let rao illustrate;
"I buy fruit to carry home; I'vo dono that for
well, a good many years, and for a long timo I
bought around in vnrious places, Thon ono day
sotuo years ago I stopped nt a store where 1 liked
tho looks of tho fruit and whoro as I noticed 'n mo
ment later, tho pnpor bags woro a Httlo hoavier
than thoso I hud boon nccustoraod to find.
"And whon this denier hnd put tho fruit In ono of
theso baga ho didn't simply twist tho neck of It
and hand it over to me ho in a form inconvenient
to carry. Ho folded tho top of tho bag ovor and
rolled It down to form u handle a grip piece; and
then ho tied this bundlo around securoly with
twlno, thus making It up altogother Into a bundlo
that was securo and handy to enrry.
"Of course I liked all that, and I found tha,t he
always did up his packagos so or puttlna on some
times a wood and wire hnndlo; hut always ho mado
tho package socur6 and handy for mo. Ho had
somo thought for mo, and I'vo been buying of him
ovor since; nnd if he should move I'd follow him.
I would go out of my way to trade with htm.
"Tho moral is this; Any small storekeeper, if
his goods aro right, can build up a trndo and hold
it and increaso it if he has tho intolllgcnco and the
human quality that prompts him faithfully to con
aider not hlmsolf alono but as well the wanto and
Interests of his customers."
CHOSEN SENATOR FROM MAINE
No climate In tho country has been
regarded au less encouraging to the
growth of Democratic tlmbor than
that of the 1'lno Tree state, but since
the thaw of last Septomber tho mete
orological conditions have been al
tered. It was admitted by some political
Jeremiahs that a Democratic gover
nor might slip through tho breach in
tho Republican lines and intronch
himself at Augusta, but tho most en
thuslastlo visionary hardly dreamed
of a Democratic legUlnturo or a Dem
ocratic Bonntor. Not slnco 18GG, when
Hannibal Hamlin crossed tho Kenne
bec, hnd a Democratic senator been
sent to tho national capital from
Maluo, and not for thirty years had
any Now England stnto elected a Dem
ocratic senator.
So, us Democratic senator from
Maine, Charles P. Johnson will natu
rally bo tho center of interest when he
reaches Washington to supplant Sonntbr liugono Halo. Ho haa had less ftpo
rlonco aa n loglalator than JiIb distinguished predecessor, but ho hns had ions
oxporlenco lit publlo life.
Tho newly elected senator was born D2 yenrs ngo in tho old town of
WlnBlow, on tho Kennoboo. Ho was sprung of Now England,' stock on both
sides, his father being a, harness maker, not a poor Wan, but by no menna
nflluont. Young Johnson wan educated In tho country Hchools and wont lb
duo tlmo to Bowdoln collogo, entering with tho clnss of 1370.
Aftor hta graduation ho studied law, teaching school In tho meantime
to bring in somo money. Ho wub admitted to tho uar In 188(5 nnd haa con
tinued to prnctlco Blnco then In tho town of Wntorvllle,
GOVERNOR-ELECT OF GEORGIA
toovcrnor-oloct Hoko Smith of Geoi
gla, who exposed a plot of Now York:
cotton speculators to Infect the cot
ton Acids with tho bolt wcovll for the
purpose of cutting futuro crops short
and enabling tho speculators to win
a fortuno by going "long" of the cot
ton market, was a member of Presi
dent Cleveland's cabinet. Ho was last
fall elected governor of Georgia,
Tho first information of tho plot
came In a letter to Mr. Smith from a
man, whoso name he rofuBos to give,
but In whom ho places entire confi
dence. At Mr. Smith's request the
wrltor camo from New York for a per
sonal visit with the governor-elect.
Convinced by the ovldenco offered
by this informant. Governor -sloct
Smith gave prompt warning io the
farmers and tho planters of the south
that two. plotters havo In their posses
sion at least 1,000,000 llvo boll wee
vils, and aro waiting their opportunity
to scatter theso disastrous Insects
ovor Georgia and South Carolina.
Tho exposure created tho liveliest
Interest throughout Georgia, especially in view of the fact that vory recently
tho experts of tho country gathered at Atlanta to mako planB for combating
this insect.
Govornor-clcct Smith ia a natlvo of North Carolina, but studied law in
Georgia and was admitted to thp bar in Atlanta, whoro his homo has been
slnco 1872. Ho Iiub been a delegate to two national Democratic conventions
and was secretary of tho intorlor under Cleveland from 1893 to '1800.
HANDLES BIG EDITORIAL JOB
Hugh Chlsbolm gave a dinner re
cently to tho American contributors
to tho Encyclopedia Brltannlca.
Thore aro 1,500 contributors to this
stupendous work in England and
America. They have written 40,000 ar
ticles, comprising 50,000,000 words.
Editing all this ia an enormous under
taking and even the proof reading Is
a stupendous Job.
The issuing of tho encyclopedia la
the greatest undertaking in modern
literature, Evon tho binding of it may
croato a panic in the market for fine
leather. Tho binding of 1,000 copies
requires 15,000 skins. What makes
tho task of producing tho work more
Borious 1b tho fact that it is brought
out in 28 volumes simultaneously,
whereas tho last previous edition wai
published ono volume at a time and
took 14 years to complete.
Mr. Chlaholm has 04 editors work.
Ing under him and tho cost of prepar
ing the issuing of thin edition Is the
fact that for'tho first time in Its history tho encyclopedia Is to bo printed on
India paper aa well aa on tho ordinary stock. Tho India papor edition will
occupy so Bmall space (28 inches in all) that tho entire 28 volumes and Index
can bo lifted at ono tlmo. Mr. Chlsholm has been in chargo of this work for
eight years, Ho camo to It from tho position ns lender wrltor on tho London
Times nnd ho oxpocts to go back from it to his newspapor work.
ELECTRIC RAILWAYS EXPERT
Thoro is now n movomont in Now
York for tho building nnd operation
of a now subway to relieve tho con
gested trafllo conditions, and ono of
tho prominent bidders for tho, work 1b
Prank J. Spraguo, whoso portrait is
shown. Mr. Spraguo is ono of the
best known nnd most highly success
ful electrical engineer' In tho coun
try. At one tlmo ho was an assistant
to Thomas A. Edison and is known
as tho pioneer of tho modern electric
railway. Ho founded an electric rail
way and electric companies and has
been engaged In electrical work In
navy yards, torpedo stations and bat
tleships. Tho other bidders aro William Mc
Adoo, who constructed the Hudson
river tubos; John Brndoy, a largo con
tractor, and tho management of tho
present subway.
Ono of tho greatest problems con
fronting Now York today la that of
transportation. Tho facilities tor
handling Its millions of residents aro entirely inadequate and patrons of its
subway, surfaco and elevated lines are crowded Into cars like cattle. It is
doubtful if any othor community in the country would submit to the con
ditions which are declared to prevail In the metropolis. :
1
