THE NORTH PLATTE 8EMI-WEEKLY TRIBUNE.
I
FREDERICK PICKAIRING
1
jffiibffk WO sentiments, says the "llttlo .his-
"fjjfl Inrv nt (In. nrnvltimi. which 11 WlBO
1H oiliiciillnnnl pnminlttno h.'lfl tirovided
lJl . .... -1.11.1 '.. .... I.. l.1 t.'.nvt.t
rja lOr l II It L'lilllllUIIM UBU III UIU riuuwl
itffi t'otalonlu, two sentiments arc native
y$vb to tho heart of overy good Catalan
- love of IiIb country mid tho lovo of
A liberty An ardent Independence, as
If Yr tho jnmo authority explains, and a
distinguishing capacity for pursuing
serenely their self-appointed way hayo always
marked this hardy people. Hence It is that to
thin day the Catalan retains liln racial character
istics, chcrishos his old traditions and Catalan
to Catalan speaks In tho ancient tonguo.
Again and again his country has changed
Tiands. Tho seaboard plains and tho lofty high
lands upon tho eastern Spanish frontier known
to tho mediaeval world as Catalonia, havo shared
the usual fate of border territories. Peoples from
the north and peoples from the south Romans,
Visigoths, Moors, Franks, counts of Ilousslllon,
. Mngu of Arragon and -of Majorca, rulers of
France, rulers of Spain In turn havo conquered
or possosed the land. Hut the Catalan has never
ceased to feel himself a Catalan or lost his mas
tering senso of race.
The nnmo Catnlonla Is usually taken to Imply
Tiiorely tho Spanish province, and to mention tho
Catalans Is to call up disturbing visions of In
dustrial strikes, evoking memories of anarchist
activity and despcrnto llarcelona riots Tho pic
ture, It may, par parontheso, bo said, Is perhaps
hardly fair to tho men whoso enorgy has created
the largest, most flourishing senpott of Spain,
who, all snld and dono nro certainly tho most pro
,ie8Blvo, most. Intelligent, most resourceful of
King Alfonso's 'subjects. In nny ca'so, tho Cata
lans on tho French side of tho border uro un-
7T? i" T I
Yvv. 1 Ka 5 1 t ifsaKrsNMia
I rB
ffev Iff JS Uw?i -
f',5,pi ", a ' catazmitj JUrmtzzzr uLU
s'AV
A.H0Z&PJWQZ2) 72rZW&rr
known to nowspnper futno, nor docs tho traveling
public know very inucli as yet of tho beautiful
mid vnrlod Innd which thoy uro so proud to
Inhabit.
It is tho Frenchman's boast that sumplcs of tho
vvorld'B host ecenory and tho range of all Its do
filrablo climates nro found within tho boundaries
of Ills tintlvo country, In these rospoctB French
Catalonia which (with n portion of old Langue
loc) Is defined upon tlui modern map as the
dupartmont Pyrenooa Orlentalen mny bo do
Kcrlbod n Franco In nilnluturo. Mont Cnnlgou.
admittedly one of the most majestic, moat Im
prcsslvo of tho Pyrenenn peaks, is 9,500 feet
lilgh; I'ulg Mnl, n less coiibpIcuoub neighbor,
Htands a trlfto higher; and, clustered closo, are
other tsplendld heights. Tho sennery among those
plants Is of the kind wo usually term "Alplno,''
Imt from tho snow-Hlopos of tho Cnnlgou you may
look down upon tho sun-burnt nhorcm of Spain
nd tho blue, gloaming floor of tho far-stretched
Mediterranean Or, deserting ttio holghts, and
starting, say, from Mont 1.ouIb, loftiest of tho
(foitllled lownB of France, and a now center for
vintcr sports, you doscond tho winding valley of
tho Tot, and In an hour or so you Ilnd yourself
among tho ollvo orchards. Soon magnolias, tho
pointed nloo even palms, nro soon among the
vineyards and In the roadside gardonn, while If
ft ho springtime, inlnuisna llnunt tholr feathery
plumes, and noar and far under tho sunny sky
strotch fields of pink peach blossom
"To thin favored lund," said "Dugouot." writing
In tho Roforuv, "Nature has boon moio than kind;
ho hns been effusive." Hut a sun-flllcd, epnr
Idlng air and the striking contrasts of tho nntural
Hcono are not tho only charms of Cntnlonln, For
tho historian, tho untlqunrlan or the archaeolo
lst tho country abounds In Interest. Its auccoa
lvo conquerors failed appreciably to mold tho
temper or to change tho habits of Its people; In
tvllably they loft behind them concrete vostlgos
of occupation. Local tradition makes much of
luB Anibes and the cm Ions tull towers upon tho
mountain spurs, of which the Tour do Goa. nonr
Vcrnot-les-UalnM, Is n conspicuous example, are
popularly ascribed to tho vigilance of tho Saracen
rulerf. Obviously, however, theso watch towors
nro of fnr later construction, and, like many oth
er so-called Moorish romalns, duto from tho Ar
rntjon dominion, or moro probably from tho
tenancy of tho Majorcan kings. It was tho kings '
of Majorca who made Pcrpignnn, now tho chief
town of tlfe department, n royal capital Tho
architecture of Porplgnan cathedral as, Indeed,
of most Catalan churches
shows markod trace of
Spanish influence.
A llttlo below Porplg
nan Is tho small town of
lSluo with tho rains of an
nbbnye and somo beauti
ful, richly-ornamented
cloisters. Tho Visigoths
mado Elno tho scat of an
Important bishopric. In
Roman times tho llttlo
town, which then stood
actually upon tho coaBt.
was known as Helena, so
called In compliment to
the mother of tho "good"
Emperor Constantino. Col
llouro, tiny but extrdmcly
picturesque, also owes Its
nnmo to tho Romans.
Port Vendros, nnothor
fishing port, still nonror
tho frontier, was built upon the site of a tomplo
dedicated to the goddosi Venus, and was origin
ally "Portus Venoms."
The RomanB wero 500 years In Catalonia, and
bosldos tho building of numerous roads, thoy
naturally found tlmo to exploit somo of tho many
mineral springs. Tho Insignificant townlet,
Prades, still possesses tho remains of baths
which wore constructed by tho Romans; local
chroniclers nssert that thoy also discovered the
healing wntorfl nt Vernot-los-Dnlns. Vcrnot.
which stands among tho foothills of Mont Cnnl
gou, Is a vorltablo "beauty spot" of tho Pyrenees.
For conturlos It hno boon frequented by French
men and Spaniards; lattorly It has leaped Into
CATAZIUY3 Afjff&JSf
favor with the English as a winter spa. Tho old
village of Vernet, which faces the luxurious
grounds of tho modern otnbllssement, is a typical
Catalan village, and, owing to its situation, is
strangoly picturesque. The red roofs of tho
crumbling houses cover both man and beast, and
tho narrow, twisting streets follow tho outline
of tho hillock in the manner usual with southern
mountain hamlets, but thoy are crowned by a
mediaeval church and chnteau, and framed by
distant bluo and purple heights. Near at hand
Mont Cautgou erects his snowy head. For tho
Catalans Mont Canigou is tho "delectable moun
tain," an object of admiring wonder, almost a
logondary god.
Another spn, mado fashionable by the Romans,
Is Amclli)-les-I3aln8, a trim, Spanish-looking town
closo on tho frontier, whoso warm climate at
tracts tho French consumptive. Not far from
Amolln Is tho pass across which Hannibal led his
leclons on tho historic march to Italy. Tho
Romans had previously sont ambassadors to beg
tho Catalnns not to allow the Carthaginlnn mer
cenaries to traveiae tholr territory, but to turn
them back. Hannibal, however, contrived to
flatter tho owners of tho soil; Catalans nnd Carth
aginians mnde friends, and tho soldiers were al
lowed free passage. The Col de Porthuis Han
nibal's route and another Catalonlan col are tho
only two passes across tho Pyronees which are
practicable throughout the year; thoy offered a
convenient means of egress or retreat to Moor
ish and Spanish invaders. Had there been no
good passago through tho 'great chain the his
tory of the Catalans must havo been less cheq
uered and tho Catalonlan sonboard might not
havo formed a fairway for the restless warrior
peoples of mediaeval Europe.
JWllJlJilJlL,
PROFITABLE AS EGG LAYER
Drown Leohorn Hen, 8lx Years Old,
Stops Laying Just Long Enough
to Hatch Out Brood.
An to the ago limit of profitable egg
production thero nro many exceptions
to this rule. Somo lions are novo?
profitable egg producers, whllo others
tnny bo profitable for years. I havo a
throe-fourths grado Brown Leghorn
that Is nearly bIx years old and Bh
baa not stopped laying Blnco early last
Bprlng long enough to hatch a broort
of chickens, says n writer in nn ex
change. She got broody last April and
was given eggs, but Bho sat but a few
days until eho quit her nest and wan
laying again in a short time. Sho has
been almost a continual layer. up to
this date, and is still laying. Much
of tho tlmo rho laid an egg every
day.
Tho regular profit of $1 per fowl
seems to satisfy tho average poultry
man. This is wrong, for no ono
ahould bo Batisflcd In any lino of work,
GkcHffl
hWlT HOWIAND
flEVEK QUIT
Rose Comb Drown Leghorn.
but constantly striving for bettor re
sults and larger profits. Two and
threo dollars per fowl is a possible
profit and is being attained by some
men in tho poultry business today.
Tho secret does not Ho in the fowl
or the variety, but In the human
brain. Let us all study more care
fully tho rulcB and principles that
govern poultry culture. Lot us strive
to increase the profit in our flocks,
and thue each, year sot up a new
standard for tho succeeding year. By
thought, perseverance and persistence
great things can be accomplished
with poultry.
INJURIOUS HABITS OF HENS
Pulling and Eating of Each Other's
Feathet 8 May Be Cured by Al
lowing Them Free Range.
Sometimes a flock of hens acquire
the habit of pulling and eating each
other's feathers. In some cases they
aro bo bad that the flesh of the fowls
become torn and sore, and tho wholo
flock Is nearly naked.
When they first show tho eigns of
this vice measures should promptly
bo token to cure them.
Tho troublo is caused by too closely
confining the fowls and allowing
them to be idle. Where posslblo they
should be turned on the range whero
the fascination of chasing bugs and
eating tho green stuff will make them
forget the bad habit.
When they cannpt be turned out
they should bo mado to scratch for
their grain In deep litter. Bundles
of wheat or oats, or sunflower heads
may be hung up just high enough
that thoy will have to work to get the
seeds. Give them some turnips or
mangle beets or cabbage heuds to
work at anything to keep them in
exerclBo and busy. Feed them plenty
of green food, meat, meal, beef scraps
and green cut bona.
Rub carbolated yasellno on the
plucked fowls whore the feathers
have been pulled out
a (Mm
The lnundry girls go sttng; they oft
leave us In tho lurch;
Tho Choir Ladles' Union wants a higher
scale In church;
The sewing git Is are striking, and decline
to athltrnte;
The waitresses, assembled In tholr lodge,
refuse to wait,
'As the dnys go rolling on
Olrls keep striking pro and con
Oh, cursed spite, that matters should
havo coma to such a state.
Tho lady cooks are putting down their
ladles, and, alas!
Tho lady clerks may strike before an
other week shall pass;
Posterity will look upon this as a strik
ing ago
The chorus girls nro unionized, they're
marching from tho stago
Ah tho days go rolling on
Girls keep striking pro nnd con;
Tha time Is sadly out of Joint, and strik
ing is tho rage.
Tho chambermaids aro striking; the
stenographers, no doubt,
Will next bo forming unions so that they,
too, mny walk out;
Hut the summer girls aro loyal, they
aro charming still and gay;
They are flirting on tho beaches, .they
aro sploshing In tho spray!
As tho days go rolling on
Girls keep striking pro and con
But tho summer girls aro busy in the
same old way.
How He Spunked Up.
"Joslah," oxclalmed Mrs. Henpeck,
who had endeavored without success
to convince the conductor that their
Charloy, who has been shaving regu
larly twlco a week since last April,
was only six years old. "Joslnh," sho
exclaimed, "aro you going to set there
and lot this man talk back to mo thlB
way? Why don't you spunk up?"
Suddenly arousing himself as if
from a trance, Mr. Honpeck said:
"Stop addressing your insulting re
marks to my wife, sir. I want you to
understand, sir, that If any member
of thlB family Is to bo talked down it
Is me, sir do you understand? Mo!
Thero, Maria, how do you like that
for spunkln' up, eh?"
SHIPS WHICH WILL NOT SINK
Once moro wo hear talk of au unslnkable ship,
remarks tho Now York Commercial. An English
Inventor claims to have solved tho problem, but
his experiments havo boon confined to a small
model only four feet In length and nlno Inches
wldo, so tho problem of applying his systom to a
vt'BBol 500 or 1,000 foot In length Is by no means
bolvud.
Few people outstdo of practical shipbuilders and
navigators understand tho difference between a
largo vessel and a small ono In polut of structural
strength. Tlio strongest vessel that floats In tho
water Is a common rowboat. Ono can tako nn or
dlnary rowboat and carry It by tho ends or it
can rest on clouts under each end without break
ing In tho middle, but tho strongest man-of-war
or 'ocean liner that floats today would break In
two if subjected to a similar Btrnln. Tho larger
n vessel tho weaker It becomos In this respoct,
and for thla reason many apparently good ideas
which work out well In model form havo failed
utterly when nppllod to lnrtfo vessels.
It Ib doubtful, it any roal progress In building
Bhlpa has boon mado since tho days of the Great
Eastern, as far ns tho use of water-tight compart
monts and bulkheads Is concerned. TJho doslgnor
of tho Great Eastern divided that vessel Into cel
lular compartments, and no Improvement on this
plan has as yot been mndo, although It is not used
extensively bocauso It requires too many hntchos
for the loading and unloading of cargo.
Tho Invention to which roforonco hns boon
mode consists of surrounding tho vessel with a
watertight bolt divided Into cells for tho purpose
of giving tho vessel groater buoyancy ns It sinks
in the water. Thero is really nothing now lu
this ldeoa and It has been applied successfully In
building lifeboats and other email vessels. It
addB to tho width of the vossel above tho water
lino and the inventor Is wrong in claiming that it
would not Intorforo wth its cargo-carrj lng capa
city. Modern stcnniBhlpS nro Bufo enough when nt
aea, so far ns tho storms nnd lnshlng of tho waves
aro concerned. Tho dangors that threaten them
are collisions with other vessels, with dorellcts or
with Icebergs, nnd, of course, running nshoro or
on a rock In a denso fog. Tako two vessels of
equal size crossing each othor'a paths, let ono
strlko the other amidships and tho vusbcI struck
would bo cut In two it the other were going nt full
speed. Tho tremendous force of tho blow Is al
most beyond calculation. In tho enso of a ves
sel tho bIzo of tho new Imperator, It would prob
ably bo equnl to n striking force of 8,000,000 foot
Ioiib. No cellular belt or any othor concelvnblo
construction would eavo n ship under tuch condi
tions. Tho thing to do is to avoid nil bucIj rlskB
as far ns poBslblo. Tho Titanic wns lost bocauBo
Its captain had too much confldpneo In Its unslnk
able construction.
Jmgijj9
THEN TROUBLE BEGAN.
"Those who nro unlucky In lovo aro snld to b
lucky nt enrds." remarked Mrs. Gnagg.
"If thnt'o tho case" responded Mr. Gnagg, "I'M
bet I could break tho bank at Monte Carlo''
Cleanliness is more Important than
medicine for poultry.
Plonty of buttermilk and clabber
eaves buying meat scraps.
Sanitation is tho great chick rem
edy. In other words, prevention.
Patient attention to tho llttlo thlngB
1b what makes success with poultry.
Cull all your young chickens, keep
ing tho&o nearest to tho standard of
perfection.
Lato hntched chickens need as much
caro as early ones; don't think they
can rustle a living.
Tho gooso is a grazing bird, whllo
tho duck thrives with a Umltod
rvmount of green food.
For table It pays to hatch chicks
from February to Novombor, but tho
number should bo limited.
If duck eggs aro set under tho hens
from this tlmo on, it will bo best to
mr-to tho nest on tho ground.
Remember tha,t fowls that "look
alike" will attract bettor attention
and Boll better than tho hit and miss
kind.
About tho best remedy for ecaly
legs, which 1b tho work of parasltos.
1b an application of molted lard and
sulphur once a week.
Drinking troughs nocd frequont
looking nftor In summer. Nothing like,
a filthy water or food trough to brood
dlseaso In hot weather.
Feed loss corn and othor grain than
you did during the wlntor. Tho birds
feed largely on wormB and lnsootji
whllo thoy are running on range.
Too Late.
A boy, rlvo years of age, who had
recently become the brother of an
other llttlo boy, was sent to tho
grocery tho other day to got somo
loaf sugar. By mistake tho grocer
gave him granulated, and tho boy was
sent back to have It changed.
"How do you llko your now broth
er?" asked tho grocer, as ho was
weighing out tho right kind of sugar.
"Oh. I don't llko him vory much."
the little fellow answered. "Ho cries
ill the time."
"Why don't you chango him. thon,
as you do tho sugar?"
"Wo can't chango him now, 'causo
we've used htm throe days."
Tho Pearl Fisher.
Smith dug up mussels from the stream;
"Somo day, perlinps," said he,
'I'll llnd a pearl inside of ono
That shall bring wealth to me."
Jones worked away year nftor year
And ndded to his store,
And pooplo envied him who saw '
Tho happy smile ho wore.
One day Bmlth, who was old and poor.
Cried out. "Uehold! Behold!"
The pearl that ho had found was worth
Ten times Its weight In gold.
Jones looked, and envied Smith his luck
And Smith, with hoad ii-whlrl. '
Forgot that Jones' store was worth
A thousand times tho pearl.
Kind Girl.
"I often heah people say they havo
to go away by themselves to think,
non't you know. It's so funny. I can
think just as well wight In a cwowd
is I can anywhoh elso "
"Yes," sho answered nftcr deciding
not to say It. "but you must remem
her that you nro bo different from
ordinary men."
Important Advantage.
Tho man who Is a stepfather line
jno Important ndvantnge. H1b wife
:an't sot up the claim that the children
Inherited all their disagreeable traits
from him.
Unappreciated Genius.
"Sho has married a wonderful chess
player."
. "Urn. Does sho oxpect to support
blra, or has ho Inherited money?"