T3he Sco\irge I A Story of | I
>vv the E<8Lst.»
o/Dotmascus BV
SYLVANUS
~ COBB. JR.
7* ___
Copyrighted 1891 by Robert Bonner’s Sons.
CHAPTER XI. !
Horani is Caged.
Carefully the three men emerged
Trom the dungeon; and when Osmir
had closed and bolted the door behind
them. Selim went on ahead with the
lantern. They were armed with good
stout swords, and the blacks wore
daggers in their sashes.
“In what direction must we pass
out?’’ asked Julian, as they came to
the end of the first valuted passage.
"We must pass up where a guard is
always kept,’’ answered Osmir; "and
our only hope is that we may be able
to fall upon the sentinels, and over
come them, without creating disturb
ance enough for a general alarm.’’
“Whatever can he accomplished by
strength of arm, we will accomplish,”
said the robber; "and I think we can
be shrewd enough not to strike until
we see that the blow shall fall sure
ly."
“You can depend upon us.” added
Osmir, stopping while Selim opened a
door. “We have already placed our
lives in jeopardy, and only a success
ful exit from the palace can now save
us. But. as I told you before, there
is danger in the way.”
“You have counted the chances?”
“Yes.”
“And are you ready to bide the rc
.sult?”
“Yes.”
“Then let us meet the worst. If
you, to set me free, are ready for the
risk, I should be much more so.”
At this juncture Selim, who had
opened a door, and gone on a few
steps in advance, came hurriedly back,
with a look of alarm in his face.
"I bear footsteps in the passage
overhead.” he said, in a whisper.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. I heard them very plainly.”
“What is the passage of which you
speak?” asked Julian.
“It is one through which we must
pass,” replied Osmir, "and one in
which we had expected to find no ob
stacle.”
"It may be,” suggested Selim, “that
a new guard has been set there."
“That cannot be,” asserted Osmir. “I
came through there only a short time
since, and the place was empty. Hark
—I hear the steps from here—and I
think they are coming this way. Hold,
a moment. Remain where you are,
and I will find what this means.”
Thus speaking. Osmir glided away
into the darkness, towards the point
where the stairs led down from the
upper passage. After an absence of a
few minutes he returned, and his first
exclamation told that he was excited.
“The king is coming!”
“The king!” repeated Julian, in a
quick, deep whisper.
“Yes—and two of his guards are
with him. Some one else came as far
as the nead of the stairs with them,
but I think only the king and the
guards are descending.”
“He must be coming to see me,” said
Julian.
“ii must be so,” answered Osmir;
“for there is nothing else here for him
to see, save oare damp walls and
toads.”
"Hark! Here they come. I hear
their voices, and can see where the
rays of their lantern breaks in the
gloom.” It was Selim who said this,
and as he spoke he drew back, and hid
his own lantern beneath the skirt of
his tunic.
uur adventurers, trom where they
stood, could see the foot of the steps
at the far end of the passage; and
presently they saw two men descend,
the foremost one bearing a lantern,
and wearing the robes of the king,
while the other seemed to be an of
ficer of the household.
"I see now,” said Osmir, as he gain
ed a view of the approaching men.
“I was mistaken. The guards have
been left behind, and this is Benoni,
one of the captains of the guard, who
comes with the king.”
The robber chieftain was for a mo
ment undecided as to the course he
should pursue. Once his sword was
half drawn from its scabbard; but
Osmir, who heard the movement,
seemed to have a better idea.
“My master,” he whispered, touch
ing Julian upon the arm, ‘‘let us draw
back out of sight, and allow them to
pass. They will certainly keep on to
the dungeon we have left, and we will
follow them thither.”
“You are right,” replied the chief
tain, “They will be completely in our
power when they have passed us.”
Just back of where our trio stood
was the door by which they had last
passed, and upon one side was a deep
niche in the wall, which had evidently
been constructed for tht reception of
rubbish. Into this they quickly glided,
Selim so effectually cloaking his lan
tern that not a ray of light escaped.
In a little while the king came near
to the hiding place, with his lantern
held carefully before him, and his head
bowed, as tnough he was fearful that
he might make a misstep. He walked
slowly, and his frame shook with a
perceptible tremor. When he reached
the door he stopped, and turned to
wards his companions.
“Benoni,” he said, “I think you may
remain here. This is the last passage,
and I will go the rest of the way
alone.”
I had better accompany you to the
end, sire.”
“No—I prefer to go alone.”
“But,” urged the captain, “the way
is rough and dubious, and you may
miss your step.”
“Out upon thee for an ass!” cried the
king, indignantly. “Do you think my
step is growing feeble? I tell thee it
was never stronger. I will go the rest
of the way as I have said. I shall find
Selim at the door of the dungeon, and
he will render me such assistance as I
may need there. I must see this pris
oner alone. He possesses a secret
which I must fathom before he loses
his head.”
“I beg thee, sire, be careful.”
“Peace, good Benoni. Don’t fret on
my account. I know what I do. I'll
find out the story of this robber's life,
and then his head shall come off right
quickly. Stay you here, and await my
return.”
Thus speaking, the king moved on.
and when the sound of his uncertain,
stumbling footfall could be no longer
heard. Julian reached forth until his
hand touched one of his companions.
“Who is this?” he asked, in a hush
ed whisper. It was Selim.
“There is no time to lose. The cap
tain must be disposed of quickly. Un
cover your lantern, and I will throttle
him.”
Selim did as directed, and as soon as
the rays of light fell upon the captain,
the latter started to gaze about him.
But his free-will movements were
quickly terminated by a blow from the
first of the robber chieftain, w'hieh
felled him to the door, and before he
could move or cry out. he was securely
bound, and Osmir’s sash passed over
his mouth.
“Now,” cried Julian, “for the king.
He will be an easy subject to dispose
of.”
“And how will you dispose of him?”
asked Osmir.
For an instant a dark thought strug
gled through Julian's mind. Here was
an opportunity to put his worst enemy
out of the way, and, at the same time,
free the world from a ruler who had
ceased to do justly. But the thought
was not long entertained. The soul
of the chieftain was above the doing
of such a deed. Osmir noticed the
hesitation, and tremblingly asked:
“Will you kill him?"
“No, no,” was the quick reply. “That
would be too cowardly. He is a poor
foolish old man, whose continued life
must be the greatest curse. We will
put him where he put me, and let his
slaves find him after we are gone.
Come—I will lead to this event, and
then you shall lead to the next.”
Without further remark the robber
moved on towards the dungeon where
he had been confined, Selim going by
his side with the lantern. Pretty soon
they saw the king ahead of them,
whereupon Selim was suffered to go on
in advance. Horam had reached the
door of the dungeon just as Selim
came up.
“Ha, Selim, is this you?”
“Yes, sire.”
“I did not see you when T came.
Where have you been hiding?”
“I have not been hiding, sire; but
have been doing my duty.”
“And the prisoner?”
“He is safe.”
“Open the door. I would speak with
him. He is securely chained?"
“No mortal man can break the
chains wherewith he was bound, sire.”
“Then open—quick. His arms are
bound?”
Like iron, sire.
“And lie cannot move from liis
place?”
“The chains all center upon the holt
in the floor.”
“Then you may remain without, Se
lim. I wish to speak with the prisoner
alone.”
Selim had no particular understand
ing with his companions touching this
movement; but he understood that
Julian would act when he saw fit, so
he proceeded to unbolt the door and
throw it open.
“We can shut him in and leave him,”
whispered Osmir, when he saw the
king about to pass into the dungeon.
“No, no,” quickly returned Julian.
“I have another thought. I may find
use for „ those royal robes which he
wears.”
"By the gods!" cried Osmir, “the
prize is worth ten thousand times more
than I had thought. If you don those
regal robes, Selim and I can lead you
in safety from this place. By the
blessed star, it is a lucky thought. Ha!
He goes in. Shall I accompany you?”
“You may remain close at hand.”
CHAPTER XII.
A Royal Disguise.
Until the present time Julian had
thought of overcoming the king with
out a word—of felling him to the pave
ment and binding him, and leaving
him in ignorance of who had done it;
but a different fancy seized him as he
saw the monarch enter the dungeon.
The temptation to face his deadly
enemy, and let him know to what he
owed his disgrace, was too strong to
be resisted. The thought that he could
now place his foot upon the neck of
the king of Damascus, and grant the
poor life which he had the power to
take, was not to be passed by. And
! then the robber chieftain had an
other reason for wishing to speak with
the king, since the opportunity had
thus unexpectedly offered itself. Ho
ratr. had come on purpose to see him,
to learn some secret. Our hero had a
curiosity to know what this meant.
"Stay a moment where you are.” he
said, addressing the blacks; and thus
speaking he passed into the dungeon
just as the king had discovered that no
prisoner was there.
“Ho! Selim!" shouted the monarch,
turning his face to the door. "What
is the matter here? Is not this the—”
He stopped, for the light of his lan
tern. falling upon the face of the man
who had followed him in. revealed an
other face than that of Selim.
"Horam,” spoke the chieftain, “you
find the Scourge of Damascus not quite
as powerless as you had expected.”
“What ho! Selim! Selim!”
“Easy, old man. Selim will not
come at your bidding. Let me inform
you that I am master, for the present,
of this lower region, and Selim is my
slave.”
“Mercy!” gasped the terrified king.
“What ho! Benoni! Benoni!”
"Benoni is in my power,” said Ju
lian. "He is bound hand and foot, and
cannot help you. And, thou base,
false man—thou, too, art in my pow
er. Down in this deep dungeon, where
the light of day cannot come, and
where the noise of the upper world
cannot penetrate, here I have thee
as thou did'st hope to have me. Ho
ram. I am thy master!”
The king's knees smote together,
and the lantern dropped from his
hand.
Mercy! lie cried. And then, as
though remembering that he was king
of Damascus, he clenched his hands,
and tried to speak with the voice of
authority.
“Vile miscreant,” he said, “let me
pass! If you dare to oppose me, you
shall be torn limb from limb!”
“Easy, old man. I am your master
now. and if you give mo occasion, I
may do you harm.”
There was that in the look, tone and
bearing of the stalwart chieftain which
caused Horam to quail. The lantern
had fallen in an upright position, and
its light revealed quite plainly the
features of the two men.
“You will not kill me?” whispered
the king.
“No,” replied Julian. "I should
scorn the deed; and I should despise
myself if I did it. I wish simply to do
this. I must leave this palace tonight,
and you must remain here in my place.
Some of your slaves will find you in
the morning. You must strip off that
purple robe, and that golden chain;
and 1 must have the jeweled crown
from your head. Come—I have no
time to waste.”
“Ye gods of heaven!” ejaculated
Horam. “how can this thing be! Who
ever heard of such a thing! Who
dares to disrobe the king?”
“I dare to do it!” replied the rob
ber, sternly and quickly, at the same
time taking a step forward. “Remove
the garments instantly, or I shall
tear them from you.”
"No, no; you dare not rob your
king.”
“Peace, poor fool! Hesitate another
minute, and I will smite you to the
floor! Off with the robe!”
The trembling monarch cast one look
into the face of the man before him,
and then shrank back against the
wall. He was as a mere child, and for
the time, while unable to do evil, he
seemed an object of pity.
“If I give you these things will you
spare my life?”
“I told you once—yes. And once
more I beg you to remember that my
time is short. You will save yourself
some trouble if you obey me.”
This was spoken very slowly, each
word dropping from the robber’s lips
with the weight of a death sentence;
and the lowering of the brow, the
swelling of the broad bosom, and the
nervous working of the hands, told too
plainly that the edict must be obeyed.
(To be continued.)
HOME MADE HONEY.
A Restaurant Man Captures a Stray
Swarm of Rees.
Ralph Gushee, the lessee of the Park
Department restaurant overlooking the
Hudson at the upper end of Riverside
drive, tells a remarkable story of how
he obtained the honey which is one of
the "specials” on his daily menu.
"Two weeks ago,” said Mr. Gushee to
Corporation Counsel Whalen, who was
the host of a party of politicians at
Claremont, "I noticed a swarm of bees
under the tree down there overhanging
the drive just where the carriages
stand at the dinner hour. 1 offered $10
to anybody who would remove them
and nobody wanted to take the offer
until one of the policemen detailed to
guard Grant's tomb heard of it. He
said he knew all about bees and 1 told
him to go ahead. He went down in the
basement and got an empty sugar bar
rel. Then he demanded a sheet and bor
rowed a pair of buckskin gloves from
a gardener. He spread the sheet on the
drive under the tree and set the barrel,
from which he had removed a couple
of staves, on its side. Then he climbed
the tree and gently shooed the bees
down to the sheet, whence he gathered
them up into the barrel. This was
covered with the same sort of mos
quito netting with which he had en
veloped his own head and taken back
of the hotel. There must have been
tkree or four quarts of bees, and they
settled into their new home as natural
ly as though they had come to River
side Park for that purpose. They be
gan to hive at once, and for the last
two weeks I’ve been getting four or
five pounds of honey right along and
the bees are still at home and at work.”
Mr. Whalen remarked laughingly
that as the bees were evidently taking
sweetness from the blossoms in the
park it would be in order for the city to
increase Mr. Gushee’s rent. It is sup
posed that the bees came across the
Hudson River from New Jersey.
MM AUK ABLE SHOW
ING.
HOW WE COMPARE WITH THE REST
OF THE WORLD.
In Wealth, Product Inn mill Connumptloil
the I’nitcd slut os, with fl Per Cent of
tli« Population, KijuhIh Half of tlio
Itcmutmlcr of Mankind.
A comparison of the t'nlteci States
with the rest of the world as regards
annual production, consumption, pop
ulation, wealth and many other Items
relating to the question of comparative
prosperity, shows some remarkable
facts. With less than 5 per cent of the
population and only 7 per cent of the
area, yet In many ways we equal or
surpass all the rest of the world com
bined, and taken as a whole, we are
equal to one-half of all the remainder
of mankind besides ourselves. We
equal or surpass all the rest of the
world in corn, cotton, eggs, petroleum,
leather products, copper, forest and
products. We produce two-thirds as
much as the rest of the world In coal,
pig iron, steel; three-fifths of the total
food and agricultural products and
manufactures; one-half as much In
silver, iron ore, fish; one-fifth as much
In p^ld, wheat, oats, hay, butter and
chosue; one-fourth as much In hops
and beer; one-fifth to one-tenth as
much in barley and wool.
Reckoned In value, we consume
twice as much corn as all the rest of
the world, one-half as much wheat,
one-third as much oats, one-third as
much cotton, one-fifth as much wool,
one-third as much sugar, one-half as
much fish, nearly as much coffee,ione
fourth as much tea, and about three
fifths as much meat. We have lone
third as much wealth, one-thlrn as
rnuqh gold, one-fifth as much silver,
one-tenth as many sheep, one-thliil as
many cows, two-thirds of the railroad
mileage, twice ns much life insurance,
one-half as much savings bank depos
its, one-fourth of the export trade.tone
tenth of the revenue and expenditures
and less than one-thirtieth pf the
world's debts.
We are today practically Independent
of the rest of the earth. In a few
years we shall raise our own sugar,
silk, all fibers, tea, coffee, wines, and,
in fact, everything used by mankind.
The conclusion then, is warranted
that in another generation if the pres
ent system of Protection is continued,
the people of the United States and
Territories will equal or surpass in
production, consumption and wealth,
the peoples of the rest of the world
combined.
Comparison of Present Status, Annual Production, Consumption, etc.. Between
United States and Rest of World.
Figures are approximate. Where possible, official; otherwise, from most reliable
authorities, dating January 1. 1901. or last fiscal or calendar‘year. Where last an
nual iigures are abnormal an average is taken of recent years.
• —Per cent—
United Rest of
Status ami commodity. World. l'nlted Slates. Rent of world. States.world
Population . 1,600,(810.000 77.000,188) 1,623.000,000 1.8 66.2
Area .sq. miles. 52,000,(88) 3.603,(88) 48,367,00(1 7 93
Wealth .$400,000,000.0(8) 100.000,000,000 800.0(8),000,000 25 .5
Gold production .$ 320,000,(88) 80,000,ooO 240,000.000 25 io
Stock of gold .* 4,841,(88),000 1,020.200.0(8) 3,840,800,0(8) 21 .9
Silver production .(.**)$ 100,1819,(88) 33.(881.(88) 07,(8)0,000 33 to
Stock of silver .$ 3,820,000,000 650,000.000 3,170,000,000 1. 83
Paper money .* 3.I88).000.(HHI #40.000.060 2,660,000,000 11 89
Corn production .....bu. 2,800,000,000 (b)2,100,(88),(88 ) 700,000,(88) «5 *-.>
Corn consumption .bu. . 1,900,000,000 188),()00,000 08 3
Wheat production .l>u. 2,5(8),(881,(88) (b)630,000,000 1,870,000,0,0 25 e>
Wneat consumption .bu. 4S0,000,(881 2,0*0.000,(88) 1, S3
Oats production .bu. 3.100,000,000 (b)S00,000,000 2,300,000.1881 26 A
Oats consumption .bu. 770,(88),(88 ) 2.830,000,000 25 o
Rye production .bu. 1,380,000,000 26.000,(88) 1,364,000,(88) L ,)8
Parley productio)) .bu. 760,000,000 90,000,000 660,000,0(8) 12 8S
Hay production .tons. 250.(881,0(8) 65,000,000 185,(88),(88) 26 A
Potato production .bu. 4,(810,(88),(88 * 210.000.000 3.760,000,(88) h ,)4
Hops production .bales. 1,050,0(8) 2(8),(88) 860,(881 20 80
Butter and cheese.tons. 2.600,(8)0 700,(89) 1.900,0(8) 2« <3
RKlf8 . 20,000,000,000 10,000,(88),000 10,000,000.000 50 50
Cotton production ....bales. 13,500,000 (b)16,500.000 3,000,000 78 22
Cotton consumption . baies. 3,500,000 10.(88),(88 ) 26 A
Wool production .lbs. 2,700.(88),000 300.000,(88) 2.400,(8)0.000 It S9
Wool consumption .lbs. 450,000,000 2,250,000.020 17
Spindles In operation . 105.(88),(88) 21.(88),0(8 ) 84,000.000 *.0 HO
Number of sheep . 7881,000,000 45,(881,000 455,000,000 .) .1
Number of milch cows. 62.(8)0,000 16,000,000 40.000.000 26 A
Sugar production .tons. 8,550,000 210,(88) M40.000 2.5 9t,5
Sugar consumption .Ions. 2,100,(88) M40.000
Coffee consumption .lbs. 1.700.1810.0(81 790,000,000 1.210,000.000 4h M
Tea consumption .lbs. 450.000,000 86,1881.0(8) 36t),(M8).OOo 19 8t
Food production .tons. 350.000.(68) 150.000,(89) 200,000,000 4 3 6i
Food consumption .tons. 1*28.000,000 222,000,(84) 3, 03
Agricultural products . $ 16,(881,(881.000 7.000.188),000 9,000,000.(88) 44 50
Meat products .tons. 26.(881.(88) 10,000,(88) 16,000.188) 38 62
Leather and products .$ 600,000,000 350,(8)0,(88) 250.000,0(8) 58 42
Fish products .tons. 3,250.000 1,(881,0(8) 2,250,(38) 31 69
Forest area ..acres. 1,336,600,0(8) 700,000,000 636,000,000 53 47
Forest products .* 3.(881,(881.(881 1,7381,018),0(81 1,500,000,000 50 &
Beer' production .gall. 6,550,(8)0,00(1 1.221.(881.1100 6,329,000.(88) 19 81
Wine production .gall. 3.000.000,000 26,500,(88) 2,974,000.0(8) .9 99.1
Petroleum product . . . gall. 5,000,000.000 2,5(81.(88),(881 2.500.000,000 50 50
Coal production .tons, 750,000.0(81 3(81.000,018) 450,01X1,(88) 40 60
Copper production .tons. 468,500 280,00(1 £
Iron ore .tons. 90,000.000 30,000,000 60,000,(881 33 (i.
Pig iron tons. 4(1.000,000 15,(88),(98) 25,000,(88) 37.5 62.5
Steel .....7.7. tons. 27.(8)0,000 11. (881.(88) 16,000,000 4ft 60
Steam horse power. 70.(881,(89) 26,000,000 45.000,000 3*5 64
Manufactures' .$ 40,(881,(88),(9)0 15,000,000,000 23.(100.000.(88) 37.6 62.5
Railroad mileage . 475,(98),000 ( 0196,000,000 280,(881,(88) 40 60
Spent for public education..! 500,000.0(8 ) 200,000,(88) 300,(981.(881 40 60
life insurance in force. ...$ 18,000,000,000 12,(88),(8i(),(88l 6.(8)0,000,(88) 67 33
Savings bank deposits.$ 7,(88),00ft,(881 2,500,000,(88) 4,7810,(88),(88) 36 (54
Shinning .tonnage. 30,(881,(88) (d)5,500.000 24,500,(88) IS 82
Revenue .. .$ 5,600,000,000 600,000,000 5,000,(88),0(8) II 89
Expenditures $ 5,900,(DO,000 525,(88),mm 6,375,000,(8X) 9 91
Fxnorts ■ 3 7,750,000.(98) 1,5(8), (88), (881 6,250.000,000 20 SO
Imports " } 9,(89), 000,000 87,0.(881,(891 8,160.000,000 9 91
Debt 7.7777.$ 33.1100,(891,(98) 1.050,0(10.(98) 31.950,1881.000 3 97
(a) Commercial value*, coining value somewhat more than double these amounts.
(b) Average recent years,
(c) Total truck, 2(50.6(91 miles,
fd) More than four-fifths engaged in lake and coast trade.
COMMON SENSE.
Every Producing: Country Cuts l’rlrr» on
Its Surplus Oootln When Exported.
Referring to the circular issued by
The American Protective Tariff
League, urging a general response to
the inquiry of the industrial commis
sion relative to domestic and export
prices of American-made goods, a well
informed correspondent writes:
Your circular No. 171 is acknowl
edged. 1 am not a manufacturer, but
have purchased and shipped goods to
a Mexican railroad. It was then the
universal practice to give a discount
on goods shipped to that country.
This practice, I believe, is common in
all countries, and some of the British
railways are, I am told, by their char
ters forced to give lower freights on
goods for export. Sir Bernard Samuel
son, M. P., F. R. S., in his report on
“Railway Goods Tariffs,” December
22, 1885, gives these British rates
among others:
COTTON GOODS.
Export. Domestic.
Manchester to London... .21. 36.
Manchester to Liverpool.. 6.10 10.6
GENERAL MACHINERY.
Export. Domestic.
Leeds to Hull.12.6 25.
Leeds to Newcastle.11.6 14.2
A like discrimination seems to be
made in Belgium.
It seems to me the Industrial Com
mission should extend their inquiry,
unless they wish it to be inconclusive
and unrelated to well known facts
governing the foreign trade of all
producing countries. Unloading man
ufactured commodities on foreign mar
kets seems to me a patriotic proceed
ing. It keeps mills running regularly.
Hence the power to purchase in this
country Is increased by the consequent
steady employment, and the increased
production makes it difficult for for
eigners to pinch our markets, as, for
instance, in 1880, when they caught
ns short on steel rails, and for two
months held the price at $82 per ton.
Yours truly,
EDWARD P. NORTH.
New York, July 25.
The instance cited by Mr. North of
a systematic reduction by British rail
ways of carrying charges on export
goods is very much to the point and
entirely conclusive as showing the
commercial policy of our greatest trade
rival in placing a premium on export
business. The same policy is pursued
today in Great Britain and by all the
leading export nations on the conti
nent. A recent consular report to the
state department tells of the marked
disparity between domestic and export
prices In certain lines of iron and
steel production in Germany. It is
the regular practice of the Germans to
work off their overproduction by
means of cut prices on goods for ex
port. Cut price goods from every
country would now be dumped on the
American market if the free traders
and tariff revisionaries had their way.
It is the certainty of this result of
tariff tinkering that prompts the busi
ness interests to vigorously oppose
any and all meddling with the existing
schedules of the Dingley law. They
do not want this country flooded with
cut price stuff from all creation, to the
infinite detriment of American pro
ducing interests and American labor.
They very much prefer, and so does
every level-headed, right-thinking man
to keep American labor employed at
high wages, and. when necessary to
secure outside markets, work off their
surplus production on somebody else.
That Is the common-sense of the mat
ter.
What Not lo Do.
According to the Winona (Minn.)
Herald of July 10 Congressman Bab
cock objects to being classified as a
Free-Trader. He is quoted as saying
in a recent letter to a personal friend
in Wisconsin:
"Some of the papers try to make me
out a. Free-Trader, and claim that I
indorse the Democratic idea that all
trust-made goods should go on the free
list. This is simply ‘rot,’ and I write
this that you may know just what my
views are.”
It would have been interesting and
very much to the point if more of the
letter had been quoted, to the end that
light be thrown on ‘ just what my
views are.” Enough, however, is made
known to indicate that Congressman
Babcock's ferocity as a smasher of
Tariffs and trusts has undergone some
amelioration since he introduced his
famous bill last, winter. He has had
time to think it over, and while he
probably doesn’t understand the ques
tion any better than he did six months
ago, he is at least better informed con
cerning what not to do.
“Muscadine” is a disease to which
silk worms are liable. It consists of
a fungus growth in the body, which
breaks through the skin and speedily
kills the insect.
Poultry Briefs.
In the presence of the writer one
farmer said: ‘'I have the fattest hens
in the country and they lay the tew-|
est eggs of any; they have the run
of my corn cribs.” Too many hens1
have the run of the corn cribs, and!
are not only spoiled for present use
fulness, but are likely to transmit the
same quality to their offspring.
* * *
It Is certain that more nitrogenous
material should { be fed. As one ex
perimenter says: "It Is quite probable
that no general rule applicable to all
cases can be determined, for possibly
the ration best suited for the produc
tion of broilers, which are forced as
rapidly as possible until they reach a
suitable market size, may not be best
for the production of breeders in
which vigor and strength are prime
essentials.” In other words, it is
possible to feed to bird3 destined as
broilers more corn than to a bird des
tined to produce eggs.
• * •
A correspondent asks how roup af
fects birds. The principal symptoms
are fever and watery secretions about
the eyes and nose. The fever will not
naturally be noticed unless attention
Is called to it by the other symptoms.
In some cases the head swells and the
eyes are closed by the swelling of the
lids. There are at least two distinct
diseases we call roup. One of them is
of a caturrhal nature and occurs in the
winter, spring and late fall. This dis
oase is successfully doctored, so some
poultry men report. The other occurs
during any part of the year, but is
often most destructive during the hot
weather. In this disease few of the
birds show a swelled head or little
symptoms about the head. In fact
many birds we have seen die from this
kind of roup, indicated it only by a
very high fever and diarrhoea. It is
a very contagious disease, and can be
fought best by prevention.
Little attention is paid to poultry
farming as a business in the West.
This may be largely accounted for by
the fact that prices in Western cities
do not reach the height of those in
eastern cities. The farms of the West
are generally quite freely supplied
with poultry whose keeping costs the
farmer next to nothing, at least in the
summer, when foraging is the rule.
The products of these farms go onto
the marketB at a low price, and the
general buying public is satisfied with
the quality enough to buy and use it.
During the entire year dressed poultry
can be purchased In Chicago at from
S to 13 cents per pound. At this time
(August 3) dressed hens are selling at
retail at 10% cents per pound, and
they are of good quality. Poultry
farming Is Increasing In the West ag<^
there are now hundreds of establish
ments scattered through Illinois and
adjacent states; but there are near our
big cities no such poultry farms as we
find around the large cities of the East,
where prices for poultry are relatively
high. As an Illustration of this dif
ference In prices we note that a South
Water street (Chicago) firm reships a
very largo part of Us game birds to
Philadelphia, because they can pay the
freight to that city and get enough for
their birds to return a handsome profit
over the price they would get in Chi
cago. • •
Alleged Frocois of Preserving Butter.
In the endeavor to find something
that will save time, be cheap, and neu
tralize the effect of dirt in the milk,
many milk men are hoping and wish
ing for a preservative that will be
cheap, chemist proof and, sure death to
bacteria—a most impossible combina
tion. If every handler of milk would
tack up in the northeast corner of his
memory the fact that any compound
that will poison bacteria will also poi
son man, there w'ould be more pure
milk, less court fines, and a general im
provement all around. The following
is an official report on a much lauded
and wonderful compound that was go
ing to revolutionize the dairy business,
a few months since:
Consul Freeman, Copenhagen, under
date of April 22. 1901, says:
“I am in receipt of so many inquiries
from the United States in regard to thp
reported discovery of a new and suc
cessful process for preserving butter,
meat, eggs, etc., that I am led to sug
gest that notice be given in the Consu
lar Reports that the so-called discovery
is a failure. The alleged inventor ap
plied for a patent, but his application
was rejected. The sealed package of
butter which was presented as a test
of the process bore a notary’s certifi
cate as having been sealed up In 1900,
but it was proved that the butter had
been preserveed only a few weeks the
date. February, 1901, having been sur
reptitiously changed to read February,
1900.”—Hoard’s Dairyman.
The Pmnnjlvanla Fight on Oleo.
The battle over oleomargarine in
Pennsylvania seems to be going in
favor of honest goods, at least in the
domain of legislation. The oleo bill
recently passed is about as stringent
as the New York law. Whether or not
it will be enforced is another question.
In the past the State officials entrusted
with the enforcement of the law neg
lected it to such an extent that they
were accused of beins- in the employ
of the oleo makers. The scandal
growing out of this alleged connection
resulted in a change of officials, and it
may be that the effect of the agitation
on the new ones will prove salutary.
It is pretty well accepted now among
horticulturists that in replanting
transplanted plants the earth should
be packed as hard as possible over and
about the roots. This packing brings
the earth into close contact with the
feeding roots and the air spaces are ob
literated. With a little moisture the
plant can soon get into growing con
dition again.
