something
uttuOnes
RURAL SCHOOL HAS MISSION
Where One Bushel of Corn Grew Be
'ore Two Are Now Secured by Meth
ods Just Brought Out.
Uy rtAY P. 8P1CAIO
' Tho training lot country children to
Sgrow two bushels ot corn whoro ono
buBhcl grew beforo Is a commendable
thing. To bring tbls about many
changcB may bo mado In tho pro
grams of most country schools. Arith
metic problems may bo worked out In
terms of corn and potatoes and cowb.
Heading may bo largely confined to
tho subjects of lntorest to country
boys and girls. Essays on farm top
ics may be written In place of tho
usual parsing and other grammar
work. This will lay a foundation for
much prarMcal work In tho later
years of school life.
Older students trained in tho ele
mentary principles of agriculture
could conduct germination tests of
com and grain. Hords could be test
ed, rations could bq worked out for
live stock, records could bo kept of
poultry, gnnnenta could bo mado for
home, and the art of cooking could bo
cultivated. These and many other
practical things could be worked out
with the school house as a center.
Added to this is the social pleasure
that could be obtained by overyono In
tho community when a permanent In
terest in tho school was established
HaBket socials, ovening entertain
ments, picnics, school house fairs, lec
tures, and moving pictures would
make the rural school a real factor
In the social Improvement of the
school district. Tho country school
has a mission which should not be
neglected.
TELEPHONE TEACHES A BIRD
Most Original Method of Instructing
Parrots in Art of Elocution Em
ployed In London.
London has a school of elocution for
birds. Trained parrots are made
teachers of other parrots by being
placed near tho pupils' cages. While
whistles and various musical instru
ments are used In giving Instructions,
one of the most original methods of
Parrot Listening.
teaching Is by tho employment of the
telephone, says tho Popular Electri
city. With the feathered pupil perched
upon a stick In tho instructor's hand,
a telephone is held In such a position
that Polly may readily distinguish tho
words or sounds emitted, and whether
from tho oddity of the thing or from
some other cause tho bird invariably
pays strict attention.
Sockless.
Bennle was looking over his broth
er's shpulder at tho pictures in a new
.geography.
"What aro thoso men with the
Ibusby hair?" ho asked.
"Thoso aro Australian aborigines,"
ireplfed Ben.
,"Don't they wear any moro clothes
than that?"
"That'B about all."
"Dear me!" exclaimed tho little
brother, "what in tho world do they
hang up on Christmas?"
Bruldlcal Circle Stones.
How many stones In tho Druldlcal
circlo at Keswick, England? Ono an
tiquarian says forty-eight, but othor
mathematicians give different and
varying estimates. A favorite number
Is thirty-eight Superstitious natives
declare that the lofty circle Is haunt
ed by fairies, who bring to naught tho
efforts of tho profane to take a census
of tho megaliths, '"They can't be
counted," says tho guide, "however
long you try."
The Ghost and the Meat.
We hnvo all heard of tho French
schoolboy who, asked to translate
Into English tho French of "To be or
not to be," evolved this: "To was or
not to am."
Another schoolboy has equaled this
translation in recovering from Ger
man the text, "The spirit Indeed Is
willing, but the flesh Is weak," in the
form: "The ghost, of courso, Is ready,
but tho meat Is feeble." Youth's
Companion.
Not Unlikely.
"Well, my boy," said the visitor to
Hobby, "I suppose some day you ex
pect to step Into your father's shoes."
"Oh, I suppose so," said Bobby,
gloomily. "I've been wearln' out
overythln' else ho wear3 ainco mothor
learned how to cut 'em down for
me."
Wise Brother. '
"What's a stepbrother?" asked HUJo
Mabel of her six-year-old brother.
"A stepbrother," ho roplled, "is mo
Bitting on tho front 3top. '
AMUSEMENT FOR DULL DAYS
Wolf, In Search of Prey, Enters Outer
Circle and Makes His Way Around,
Closing the Gate.
Tho Illustration represents In tho
simplest outline n prlmltlvo wolf trap.
Tho dqttcd lino Is a gato oponlug In
to a circular enclosure How was the
trap sot and tho wolf caught?
The trap consisted of two circular
fonces higher than a wolf could scale,
with a gato as was shown on tho for
mer diagram. To set tho trap a lamb
OKl
"Primitive Wolf Trap."
was placed In tho snfo. center nnd tha
gato was opened as is shown.
Attracted by the bleating of tho
lamb, tho wolf entered tho outer circlo,
Solution of Puzzle.
made his way round, and presently
pushed aside tho gato, which closed
with a spring nnd shut oft all escape.
'Best He Could Do.
Mr. Raymond appeared at his neigh
bor's door one Novembor ovening at
dusk in a towering rago and uttering
fierce threats against his neighbor's
dog Nero. Vainly the neighbor trlod
to explain that Nero was only a puppy.
"Ho belongs to Johnny," ho wont on,
"and It would break Johnny's heart If
anything happened to him. I think,"
hopefully "that his manners will im
prove." "Mnnncrs," roared Raymond. "I'm
not complaining of his manners, but
his nature. After he had Jumped all
over mo he bit the back of my leg."
"That'B as far as bo can reach'
broko in Johnny In a wounded tono.
"You don't expect-a llttlo pup like him
to bite a big man like you on tho neck
do you, Mr. Raymond?" Youth's Com
panion. Bound to Get It.
Tommy, after going to bed, becamo
thirsty, or thought ho did. Ho called
out:
"Ma, I want a drink."
Tho mother's volco answered back:
"Tommy, you go to sleep."
Tommy grunted, turned over, and
was silent for ten minutes. Then
again:
"Ma. I want a drink."
"Tommy, you go right to Bleep, waa
tho reply.
Intense silence again for ten min
utes. Then:
"Say, ma, I want a drink."
"Tommy, if you don't go right to
sleop I'll come" and spank you."
Moro silence, this tlmo for about
two minutes. And thert:
"Say, ma, when you como to spank
me won't you bring mo a drink?"
RIDDLES.
What is tho difference between a,
pastry cook and a blllstlcker?
One puffs up paste, tho othor pastes
up puffe.
What is the difference between a
hungry man and a glutton.
One longs to eat, tho other oats toe
long.
Who was the first whistler and what
was his tuno?
The wind, when ho whistled "Over
tho Hills and Far Away."
Why Is a cherry llko a book?
Bccauso It Is read (red).
If you suddenly saw a house on lire,
what threo celebrated authors would
you feel Inclined to name?
Great Scott, Howltt, Burns (Great
Scott! how It burns!)
Why Is tho Interior of a thoator evoi
a sorry sight?
Because the boxes aro always In
tlerB.
Why Is a spendthrift's purBo like a
thunder cloud?
Because It Is continually. lightning.
Why do gypsies never become in.
sane?
Because thoy lead no-mad Hvos.
Why Is photography antagonistic to
portrait painting?
Because it Is a foo-tographlc art
What Is tho difference betwocn a
man going upstairs and ono looking
up?
Ono Is stepping up tho Btalrs, the
otho.; Is staring up the steps.
(o)
(e)
AN ALLURING SIGHT
Bewildering Object He Had Often
Dreamed of Becomes u
Reality.
By JEAN DICKERSON.
Neal Woodson paused beforo tho
window of tho Woman's Exchange
nnd regarded the display of toothsome
dainties with appreciative eyes.
Flaky pies, rich loaves of enko,
pyramids of airy biscuits, fat loaves
of bread and all tho sparo cornorB
wcro tilled with plates ot delicious
looking little cakes In endless variety!
In tho mlddlo ot the window was
a long platter heaped with llttlo
heart-shaped cakes frosted In pink
and whlto.
"Just tho thing for Prlscllla's birth
day party," decided PrlBcllla's broth
er and with tho thought ho Bteppoil
through tho door and took his plnco
among tho customers lining the coun
ter. Two girls In dainty whlto waited
deftly upon the seekers after homo
cooked viands.
Neal found himself following every
movement of the younger of tho two
girls. Fair and slender with Hashing
brovn eyes demurely veiled by thick
dark lashes she was an alluring
sight, Neal had dreamed of such a
white dimpled chin and such delicate
ly curved pink lips curling upwards
at tho corners nnd ot such line,
bronze-gold hair tucked behind pink
ears.
Now tho reality was before him. Ho
determined that none other than this
fair maiden should minister to Ula
wants. But she was waiting upon a
man standing hcsldo him.
"Oh -the sugar hearts?" asked tho
girl pleasantly, and she went to tho
window and boforo Neal's agonized
glance sho counted out four dozen of
the heart-shaped cakes until thoro
was only ono left on tho platter!
Tho man took tho cracking paper
bag of sugar hearts and paid for
them and went his way.
Neal wus nware that tho girl wub
speaking to him.
"What will you have?" Bho asked.
"Sugar Hearts,'' replied Neal, wildly
hoping that thore might bo moro of
the pink and whlto cakes.
"I am so sorry the last have Just
been sold."
"There's ono loft," said Neal, rather
stupidly. Sho was so wonderful he
could not let her go.
Tho dimples came Into play and tho
corners of her lips deepened. "You
wouldn't want that ono?"
"Yes, please," said Neal dizzily.
Sho brought him the sugar hcurt
twisted In a tiny bag. "Five cents,
plenso," she said dehiurely.
Neal gave her a live dollar bill bo
that ho might watch her while ,she
rang up the amount on tho cash regis
ter and brought him a handful of sil
ver change.
"Perhaps I could order Bomo of
these sugar hearts," ho ventured ns ho
turned to go.
"Certainly you can." Sho brought
forth a book and poised a pencil over
It. "How many?"
"Five dozen. Please mark them
'Neal Woodson,' nnd I will stop for
them tomorrow night."
'Thank you," Bald tho girl and
turned away with heightened color to
wait upon another customor.
When Neal reached homo his Bister
met him In tho hall. Prlscllla was
small and dark and brilliantly lovely.
"What are you carrying In that ab
surdly enroful manner?" alio nsked
mischievously.
Before Nenl could protest she had
captured tho tiny bag from his gloved
lingers nnd was peering at the lonely
sugar heart.
"Well, Neal Woodson of all tho
sentimental sillies, what " Between
exclamations Prlscllla was examining
the pink frosted dainty.
"It's a sample," said Neal sheepish
ly. "It's a sugar heart. I saw them
In tho window of the Exchango and I
have ordered five dozen for your party
tomorrow night. I brought this homo
for you to taste. I'll bring them
homo tomorrow night."
"You ordered llvo dozen? Neal
Woodson, you aro a dear! I must
hug you tor It."
"I can send Mary down after them "
said Prlscllla when sho had released
her brother.
Neal put up a protesting hand. "No
I told her er I said 1 would stop
for them I don't mind it's on my
way home."
"Very well, vo ry well, dear.''
soothed Prlscllla with suddenly merry
eyes and sho darted away Into the
drawing-room and waltzed airily up to
the long mirror.
"I wonder 1 wonder If Doris Al
len wasn't there today?" sho giggled
at her charming rollectlon.
The next day Neal closed his desk
at the usual hour und wont to the Wo
man's Exchange.
Ills pretty girl was not there.
A plain, matter-of-fact vounc woman
waited on him and ho did not lingt-r to j
watch her ring up his In tho ash
register It was tho very snmo ash
register, too!
Neal had lost interest In tho sugar
hoarts and when ho roachod home ho
thrust tho big box Into Mary's hands.
Dinner was a hurried affair and he
csqapod Immediately afterwards to his
room. Ho had to dresB for tho fancy
dross party which Priacllla always
gavo on lior birthday.
HIh sinter had laid his suit on tho
bod but it was not tho one he had
ordered. lie had chosen to go as a
troubadour but the yellow and black
costume waa not In evidence. In Its
placo waa a costumo that ho vlowort
with growing dlBcomflturo.
PrlBcllln, It seemed, had decreed
thnt ho was to nppoar aa tho Knavo
of Hearts honco this costumo of
pink and whlto velvet nnd tho sug
gestive UUlo tray of BUgar hearts
Instead of tho legendary tarts. Ho
smiled ehooplshly nnd blushed, All
right for Prlscllla!
When ho went downstairs tho long
rooms wero full of laughter and merri
ment for Prlscllla's guests wcro choos
ing partners by means of heart-shaped
cards that exactly matched.
Neal noticed that each guest put hla
or her hand Into a bowl and drow what
ever luck camo uppermost but beforo
ho could reach tlw crowd around tho
men's bowl Prlscllla thrust a pink
pnper hoart In his hand nnd waved
him away.
"Go llnd your pnrtnor, knavo," sho
ordered and Neal groaned for ho be
lieved thnt had been assigned to some
wallflower. Ho read tho motto on his
cnrtl: "Will you bo my heart's de
light?" That's mean of Prlscllla
mtpposo it should chnnco to bo thnt
dark eyed, skinny Miss Wlcka?
So ho emerged from tho dancers
and found himself boforo an alcove
Riven ovur to a shaded Beat nnd a
mass of greonery.
Sometimes fate Is kind to lovora;
therefore, when Neal paused In the al
cove and stared Incredulously in wnB
because his beautirul nirl was sitting
there a verltnble Queen of Hearts In
rosy pink nnd white and holding a
pink card that mntched hla own.
When sho saw him sho blUBhod.
"Oh, it Is too bad of Prlscllln," sho
protested as ho hold out hla hand with
his token In Its grasp. "Sho wouldn't
let mo draw a card."
"Too good, you mean," ho snld
warmly and sat down beside her.
Aftor nwhlle, when conversation lan
guished, Doris Allen asked domurely:
"What shall we talk about, 'Cnbbago
and Kings?"
Neal shook hla bond. "No, let us
speak of thu Queen of Hearts and how
sho camo to bo Helling sugar hearts
and I'll tell you tho rest some other
time!"
Ho whirled her away In an enchant
Ing wnltz and they quite- forgot tho
tray of sugar hearts In tho nlcovo.
But tho sugnr hearts had served
tholr humblo purpose that of making
two peoplo happy.
(Copyright, 1013, by the McCluro News
paper Syndk-nto.)
Troubles.
Tho family had not had their 'phono
very long and took a great Interest In
It. On tho outside of tho telephone
directory thoy had Beon tho words,
"Trouble, Call No. 4217." It had been
a hard morning and everything had
gone wrong when tho lady of tho
Iioubh happoncd to think of the tolo
phono, nnd called 4217 and asked:
"Is this where you report troublo?"
"Yea."
"Well, I only wanted to report that
our cat got drowned in tho cistorn
this morning; tho baby Is cutting a
now tooth; tho cook loft suddenly;
we are all out of BUgar and Btarch;
tho stovo pipe fell down; tho mllkmnn
loft only a pint Instead of a quart to
day; tho bread won't rnlse; my oldest
child is coming down with the mens
lea; tho plumbing In tho cellar loaka;
wo have only enough coal to last
through tomorrow; I ran out of paint
when I got only halt over tho dining
room floor; the mainspring of tho
clock Is broken; my husband'B threo
ulsters nro coming to visit us tomor
row; tho man has not called for flio
garbage for two weeks; our dog has
got fleas; tho looking glass fell oft tho
wall today and broko all to pieces, and
I think my husband is taking consid
erable notice of a widow lady that
Hvcb next door. That's all today, and
If nnythlng else happens I'll call you
up later."
To Pull Down Prison.
Tho prison of St. Lazaro la going to
bo pulled down and rebuilt, and with
It will disappear a curious little relic
of old Paris, a tiny shop In which tho
last public lotter writer In Franco
plied his trade. In olden times, be
foro cducntlon had become general,
tho public lotter writer did a thriving
trado and tho ono just outside St.
Iazaro had mnny customers of note.
Among them waa, If rumor and tho
present proprietor of tho little shop
may be believed, tho world famous
Manon Lascaut, who dictated her lovo
lottors to I)e Grleux there, whoro tho
only customers now aro Illiterate ser
vant girls, who wilto homo to their
friends in Brittany. So rare ban tho
necessity for vicarious lettor writing
become that the present proprietor of
tho place lias ndded another moro
prolltable trado to hla program and
acts no an informal lawyer and man
of business to many of tho prisoners
in St. Ui.are Paris correspondence
London Standard.
Washing Grimy Hands.
Evory automoblllBt who has had to
repair his machine has longed for
Homo way to wash his hands, ordi
nary soap and water being almost uso
leaB aa a inuaiiH of removing the many
and tenacious varieties of dirt that
gather upon them on such occasions.
So chaufTours and men who drive
their own cars will wolcomo tho di
rections glvun by that authoritative
French scientific magazine. Lea An
lunloH. This paper dlrecta that the
hands bo rubbed with gasoline, tho op
eration being twice repeated; than
thoy are to be washed In sweet oil or
butter, after which a thorough wash
ing with soap and water will remove
the last vestiges of dirt. The nulls,
however, require special attention, and
It will repay the automobllist to keep
a mixture of beuzlnu and alcohol ex
pressly for the nails.
II 1 hTr77 y'SV kTTyt-i r-1 r.
(UHKBHft
mm
"1 Kiizo within our und ilroiun
Of n'lorU-H tin-re urn jot to gain,
In fancy 1 ran eo tho Rlonm ,
Of Htinltt ptlaccs In Bpnlu;
Tholr splendid towrrn olouvo tho nlr,
Ami yon nro evntlo mUtn-ss thcro.
"Within your houICiiI eyos I kuzo
And cli cum of KnllHtit nrmorcd knights;
I llvo In other, KlurloilM days.
My fancy hoiuh to ttplcndld heights:
I loo you lluiint my colors thoro
Whom unlubln nro bravo und Indies fair.
"I look within your deep, dark eyes,
And futiry cnrrlos mo ufnr,
Whoro proudly llontltiK stiimlttrds rlae,
And 'umlefeiiteil IokIoiih ura.
With you to sweetly bid mo dure.
II (lii-ani that I um leader there."
Tlio Indy licnved n sigh or two.
And nald: "How HpUimlld It would seem,
And how 'twould pay us both If you
Could act uh woll ns you i-nn dreamt"
Ho coiisod to babblu then nnd tburo
Of unlliint Itnliihts und Indlt-H fulr.
An Incentive.
"Now, my boy," snld tho head of tho
Arm, "If you will attend Btrlctly to
your duties I will do something Una
for you. I want you to nlways ask,
when you answer tho telephone, who
It 1b boforo you let It bo known
whether I am hero or not, and nlwayH
bo careful, when peoplo como hero,
to find out who thoy ato and what they
want boforo you como Into tho prlvnto
olllco to learn whether 1 wish to boo
them or not."
"Yea, Blr," ropllod tho now officii
boy, "I understood. I had to do that
whoro I worked boforo."
"Very well. Seo that you mako no
mistakes, and, aa I have said, 1 will
do something nlco for you."
"What aro you goln to do for mo It
I glvo satisfaction ralso mo wages?"
"Well, I can't promlso thnt, oxnetly,
but I'll bring you tho score cards o(
tho ball games and let you in ale o nn
album ot them if you tend to btiBlncBs
properly. I never mlBs a game"
When You Have Gained It
You press ahead to gain success,
And fnr away you seo a goal;
But aro you touched by tenderness,
And have you gladneaa In your kouI?
You plunge ahoad day after day, ,
You have no tlmo to Jeat or pnuao;
But do you leavo along tho way
111 will for you or for your causo?
Long, long ngo you mado your start,
And you have traveled far and fast;
But havo you klndneaa In your heart
And tholr respect whom you havo
passed ?
You view your goal afar; you press
Utiflcarrcd ahead whore others fall;
But aro you auro 'twill bo success
When you hnvo gained It, aftor alll
Mildly Anxious to Know.
"I have crossed tho Atlantic twenty
times," boasted tho man from Now
York. ,
"Havo you?" replied tho man from
Chicago. "My record beats that."
"Oh, really? How many times have
you boon over?"
"l'vo never been over" at all; but
I'vo set foot In evory Btuto In the
Union."
"Quito remarkable. By the way,
old chap, how mnny states nro there
now?"
Almost Spoiled It.
"Tlmo has been very kind to you,"
ho said when they met, after the lnpso
of years.
"It la very good of you to say bo,"
hc replied, making no offort to con
coal her pleaauro.
"Not at all, not at all. Ono 1b al
ways Justified In straining a point If
necosanry to spread hap I mean I
couldn't truthfully say nnythlng oIbo."
Her Fnther'o Idea of It.
"Why, I didn't know your daughter
was musical. Mr. Wagstalf."
"Sho Isn't Sho'H merely giving mo
a chnnco to help support a music
teacher who would probably bo too
proud to depend on charity."
m
A
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ROOST CLOSET FOR POULTRY
Considerable Stress Laid on Curtain
In Front of House at Maine
Experiment Station.
In tho curtain-front typo ot poultry
house used at tho Maine oxporlmont
station a feature of tho original plan
on which consldornblo stress was
laid was tho canvas curtain In front
of tho roosts.
This curtain, together with tho
back wall of tho houao and tho drop
pings board under tho roostB, formed
a closot In which tho birds were shut
up at night during cold weather".
Whon tho curtain-front houao wna
11 rat dovlsed it was thought essentia!
to provide audi a closot to consorvo
tho body heat of tho birds during tho
cold nights when tho tompornturo
might go well below zero. Expo
rlenco hns shown, however, thnt this
was a mlstako. Actual teat shows
that tho roosting closet Is of no ad
vantage, oven In such n sovero ell
mnto as that of Orono. On tho con
trary, tho birds certainly thrlvo but
ter without tho rooat curtain than
with It. It has been n gonoral ob
servation among UBors of tho curtain
front typo of houao that whon thu
rooat curtains ate ubciI tho birds nro
particularly suscoptlblo to colds. It
la not hard to understand why this
should bo bo. Tho nlr In u roosting
closot when It is opened In tho
morning Is plainly bad, Tho fact
that It 1b warm In no way offsets
physiologically tho ovlla of Its Inck
of oxygen nnd excoss of carbon dl
oxld, nmmonlacnl vapors, and othor
oxlinlntlous from tho bodies of tho
birds.
For somo tlmo past It has been felt
that tho roosting closet was at least
unnocoasary, If not In fact ii positive
ovll. Consequently tho tlmo of bo
ginning to closo tho roost curtain In
tho fall hns boon each year longer
dolnyed. Finally, in tho fall of 1910,
It was decided not to use theso cur
tains at all during tho winter. Con
Boquontly thoy wore tnkon out of tho
hmiBe, or splkod to tho roof, as tho
caso might bo. Tho winter of 1910-11
wns a sovero ono. On eovoral occa
sions tho tompornturo droppod to 30
degroos bolow zero. Yet during this
wlntor tho mortality was exceptional
ly low and tho ogg production excep
tionally high.
In vlow or this exporlouco tho sta
tion hns decided to discontinue tho
ubo of the roost curtain. It would
soem to bo gonorally undoalrablo or
nt least unnecessary. ,
FOR SHIPPING EGGS SAFELY
Holder Made of Corrugated Straw
board Is Provided With Small
Hole at Each End.
This egg holder Is mado from cor
rugated strawboard, tho ogg bolng In
serted by opening nn overlapping Joint
nt tho Bldo. Tho container Ib provided
with a Binnll hole at onch end so that
r
8afety Efln Holder.
It may bo opened nnd closed without
tearing it, Bays tho Popular Mechan
ics. Tho holder Is adapted for Bend
ing eggs safely by parcel post, or
carrying them with thu loaat. possibil
ity of breakage
Eggs Bhlpped by express are often
queered by bnggago smashers.
Tho well-fed nnd well-cnrod-for fowl
Is tho ono that brings tho profit.
Whon tho old hen begins to lay and
whip her chicks it's tlmo to woau
them.
Fall chickens find a good markot ns
roastoB during January, February and
March,
Tho poultry industry la growing
boyond tho hopoa ot ltd most rndlcal
friends.
Egg shells mny bo utilized a second
tlmo if crushed and turned over to tho
chlckons,
Tho brooder has not, as yot, reached
tho Btago of perfection that tho Incu
bator has.
Lack of moisture In tho Incubator
moans tough shells and dead chicks at
hatching tlmo.
To successfully uso eggs In tho arti
ficial hatches ono muBt, if possible, bo
euro eggs of the hlghcBt vitality.
An egg laid In November and Do
combor will bring twlco nB much
money as tho ono laid In March or
April.
While heavy laying Is as a rulo
doslrablo, phenomounl egg records aro
not a guurantoo of strong, ruggod off
flprlng.
m
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pLMNOFEC