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About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1913)
x BIRDS THAT NEST ♦ IN THIS VICINITY % KINGBIRD. ails I.*tin name is "Tyrannus tyran jms," which being Interpreted means lust plain tyrant, but this Is only a par tial truth. The fact simply is that he is a fighter of fighters, if his home and loved ones are molested, but If you will stay at a respectful distance and tend strictly and absolutely to your own business he will not bother you nor anything else, but woe betide the man, bird or beast that gives signs of injur ing that precious nest. _ J , The nest is not hard to find, for the owner knows well his ability to pro : tect it and therefore does not need to 'rely upon concealment, as is the case ■ with so many birds. They seem to , prefer cottonwood and box elder trees as places for nest building, but any 'kind of tree will do very well. A ver tical crotch in the tree, seldom below Six feet or above 25 feet from the ‘ground is preferred. Sometimes very odd and unusual places are selected, however, for the location of the neat, •uch as windmill towers and the like. One observer reports that he found a nest on the fifth wheel of an old buggy by the roadside, and still another In a slight hollow rotted out of the top of a fence post. The nest itself is composed generally of twigs, grass, weeds and rags, more ,or less thickly lined with wool or *,grasses. The eggs are creamy white, ••potted and specked with reddish brown, numbering from three to five. Nesting begins about June 12, and nests mav be found as late as the last • week In July. In August the young of this species and their near relatives, the Arkansas kingbird, may be seen In abundance In almost every grove f | They are not the first birds to arrive In the spring, May 8 being the usual date for Sioux City, and they leave for the south in the latter part of the summer before the migration of the •most of the other birds begins, so they are not with us long. , The most, if not all, of the food for himself and his little ones, is taken on the wing. The kingbird Is a true sport In this respect; he gives his victim n fair chance in an open field. You will jsee him sitting on a fence or telephone post, wire or perhaps the dead limb of ft tree, then dart suddenly into the air Ifter some invisible object, returning igaln to his former perch, but, though nvislble to you, it was not so to his iharp eyes, and with your glass you sill be able to observe that It Is very leidom indeed he returns without n nlller or other Insect in his bill. He ias been called the "bee martin" from he fact he is as fond of honey bees a you are of the honey, but tie is no ‘onder than you are of the loafer, so it : • affirmed, and there seems to be -petty good proof for it that he takes flly the drones, to which he is quite /eleome. I THE BLUE-WINGED TEAL. Water birds are fully as Interesting > study as land birds, though, of lurse, the conditions for Btudy are not f pleasant. Either high topped rubber oots or else a perfect disregard for et feet and soaking clothing is one of te first prerequisites. The blue-winged teal Is perhas the ■at know of all the ducks that nest or lgrate In this locality. They arrive f>re about March 26 from their winter tarters to the south. They fly in Stall flocks, densely massed. The pln ais and mallards reach us llrst, but ley belong to a larger variety. The pe-wlnged teal le among the first jthe smaller ones to reach us. The npsts are nothing more than a ■ llow In the ground. In the center of clump of weeds, generally on the ore of a lake or slough, but iome hes in hay lands near the ponds. Thus ■s nests are frequently destroyed en the farmer plows up the meadow, e lining of the nest consists, first ;a layer of grass and weeds, and, ln i le this, a lining of light grayish down an the breast of the mother bird. [Is.six to 12 buff-white eggs are laid put the 1st of June. The female is } Slose sitter and does not fly until i I Intruder is very near. fhe food of this speces is very slm 11 to that of all ducks, consisting of v Iatlc plants and small gastropods i In the fall wild rice, when it Is | plable. There are few school boys | §> have not seen these ducks In some K pside pond securing the dinner by |s >plng up," thus standing on their | ns In the water. [• fe cannot claim for the ducks that E S' are of any great economic value I. far as their food habits are con I jed. Their function seems to be 1 | of furnishing an object of sport K shunters, and I am not one who E !ld deprive them of the Joy of the I i under proper restraint of law. But B tig hunting cannot be condemned too |‘ [rely, for the reason that many birds H ifrightened away from nesting in i, Vicinity and many that would lay B i golden eggs" and produce large K As are destroyed. Spring shoot 11 5* a very Bhort sighted policy, even H tbe hunters’ viewpoint. NIQHTHAWK. | ring your summer vacation when | were visiting at grandfather*. IV In the twilight of the summer Sng you have heard a "b-b-ur sound and observed a bird shoot downwards with set wings, only rn when a few feet from the earth “•y away. No, he is not trying to lit suicide but only trying to get upper. | bird you observed was the hawk, the noise was by the rush * atr through his wing*, as, after t to some height, he descended to i the earth again, with wings set nouth wide open, drawing In any 1 Jcy Insect that might chance to be | j way. This is only one method §! is. however, of catching his food, ft '«• see him darting hither and >■ f^hrough the twilight he Is still i| habits are almost purely nostur || {to much does he resemble the bat || k particular that he Is. In some H of the country called the “bull g though of course he has no re 41 <hlp whatever with the true bat. B; often mistaken for the Whip ■ fin. to whom he is closely re K; but may be distinguished by the |M White spot on his wing, which is R | »«rn when he is flying. If there If? it enough. Although he loves ■ |m rather than light, he will fly Anally in the daytime, if dls R: [or if the day is cloudy. Another ■ ting habit he lias is that of rest 1*1 sgthwlse instead of crosswise on Hf jjh- of a tree. MfciKMt. is really no nest at all but HI Shallow hollow in the sand and HR, with no lining of any kind. Hr * kind of neat Is well fitted for on. for so closely do tlio color ■4 eggs blend with sand and peb »|f ,% you will pass very near them ■i and •- again without thinking Wm-West being any place around. If well does the mother bird blend ||: t surroundings that it is with ||H y that you win be able to dls 11 linger, the Nighthawk does not aK ten at night, his only note being PHI nasal “peart" Though It is PR that the sound made with the «■' wy be music m his ears, re |t cricket in this. These birds arrive In the spring »t Sioux City about May 12 and depart for the south in the late summer, gathering in large flocks for the pur pose of company on the long Journey. —4— THE BELTED KINGFISHER. To see a drum major throw his baton in the air and catch It on the fly Is interesting, but not halt as fascinating as to see a Kingfisher do much the same thing with a fish. To observe this feat you prob#>ly will have to be a patient watcher for a considerable length of time, but it will be well worth your while, when you do see It done. Perhaps lie may be sitting quietly on a limb of'a tree, or hover ing over the water, when, suddenly darting down, you may see a fish Jerked up out of the water, thrown into the air a few feet, to be caught ex ultantly by the bird before it can reach tTie water, and borne off to a branch of a tree to be devoured. Or It may be that the fj.sh will be scarcely no ticed by the observe?, until the bird is perched on the liinb of a tree. From this, it will be seen that the bird Justly deserves the name of the king of fishers, but Audubon declares that “belted should apply only to the female." Though a king, he much prefers the solitudes, is not at all of a social na ture, and very seldom is more than one bird seen at a time. The secluded spot by some trout stream, shallow pond or small lake is his favorite haunt, though the birds are very com mon In the vicinity of Sioux City and along the banks of the Big Sioux river. Something better in the way of a house would naturally be expected from bo elegant a bird, but to tell thp truth Mr. Kingfisher is a poor house builder. The best he can provide for Ills family Is a dugout, and Mrs. Kingfisher is a wretched housekeeper, being really filthy about it. The Kingfisher dwell ing is made by digging out a hole in a high bank by a creek, river or pond back to the distance of four or five feet, with an enlarged cavity at the end of the tunnel. Here, on the bare soil, or at most on a bed of fish bone, which the parents have found indi gestible and thrown up in the form of pellets, the eggs nro laid and the little ones hatched; but the mother bird takes no interest in keeping this place clean, and by the end of the sea son it becomes truly filthy. From six to eght glossy eggs form a complete set. Those who have tried eating the Kingfisher say that the flesh has a disagreeable taste, but that the eggs are excellent eating. A fHE HOUSE WREN. There ere few bird* that have th* faculty of winning the affections of people like the wren. It Is at home alike in the city, village or on the farm, does not seem to care particu larly which. Just so It is near the habitation of man. Activity, fearlessness and friendli ness are qualities of Its character In Inverse ratio to Its size. But to tell the truth it is sometimes Inclined to be irritable and a little quarrelsome. Much larger birds, such as the martin and bluebird find them combatants hard to conquer. The English spar row is the wren’s worst enemy, ob he Is of so many other birds, and many are the buttles royal they fight during a season. But considerable of this trouble may be avoided if a human friend will put up a box with a bole in it Just the size of a quarter of a dollar. This is ample room for the wren to go In and out, but is small enough to keep out the sparrows and other bird enemies. Do not forget to put a step Just undernearth the bole In the box, so that he may have some thing on which to alight. This should alwuys be done with bird houses. A nice box with a hole Just the right size Is much preferred, but almost anything will do for a nesting place if a box is not handy. Many are the stories told of odd places where wrens have built their riesta, such as old tin cans, starch boxes and, In some in stances, the pocket of a farmer’s old coat hanging in the summer kitchen. When a pair have once made up their minds as to a desirable place for nest building, you might almost as well let them go ahead, even if it is not the place of your choice, for it makes little difference how often their nest is de stroyed. they will go to work to re build it. The nests are very bulky compared with the size of the bird, composed largely of sticks, lined with line grass or hair. The eggs are six to eight In number, pale pinkish white in color, very profusely specked and spotted with brown. Two broods are reared each year, incubation beginning on the first set generally about May 30. When the baby birds arrive, then the real' work begins, and papa and mamma wren must search far and wide for Insects to feed the little ones. Their favorite hunting ground is In the shrubbery of the gardens and orch ards, looking first of all on the ground. In this way they find and destroy many injurious insects overlooked by the other birds. The song, which Is at its height in the courting season, is a merry little roundelay, and has been described as "a forcible, voluable gush of hurried comment.” He has a scolding note, too, that he does not hesitate to use when anything displeases him. April 28 is the date for his arrival in Sioux City, and he departs for the southern clime in September, Wanted Good Recorde. Returning home from echool. Resale was caught In a severe thunderstorm. The next day one of the neighbors who had seen her running home as fast as her little feet would carry her, said: •'Bessie, yesterday when you were so frightened In the storm, didn't you think of all the wrong things you ever "Oh! no," replied Bessie, "I was a trying hard to think of Just one real good one." Music and Mastication. "Now the waltg is going out with restaurant orchestras.” “I’m sorry. I hate changes. I had gotten used to chewing my food In waltz time.’ ’ Seven Santsnce Sermons. Never esteem anything as of advantage to thee that shall make thee break thv word or lose thy self respect.—Marcus Aurelius. • * • The thing we long for that wo are For ones transcendent moment. —Lowell. • • e All power is a trust and we are account able for Its use.—Disraeli. • * • Difficulties are things that show what men are.—Epictetus. • • • Consecration Is not something done once .for all; It is a maintained habit of the soul.—Mpnod. * • • . I believe That the feeble bands and helpless tiroping blindly In the darkness. Touch Ood's right hand in that darkness And ar* lifted up and strengthened. —Longfellow. * • • I am promised infinite power to work and whenever I have trusted It fairly aid squarely I have found that the promts* was true— E. ^C. iiaia. t > imprudence of (Prue. t i? We gfaMaidandaffigtiwaymai \<gfr/op/fiey?s/?er > Coyrright, iju, Tta BatMbni f CHAPTER XXVin, Conclusion. Sir Geoffrey was an adroit swords* , mainland a practised duellist, but he roffna he had no mean antagonist In Robin. It. was, a match between the clever masteFof fence and the soldier, accustomed to fight with his life In his hand, regardless of (jartJL jyid tierce. At pose and trick. Sir Geoftrey was the superior, but he was under the disad vantage of a tempestuous fury tnst prevented his making the best use of the dexterity that had brought him out vlfctdr from numerous encounters, while Robin's coolness more than compen sated fo’fulck of flpesse and his skill as a swordsmin sSon proved Itself. Sir Geoffrey, in spite of his passionate on slaught, was gradually beaten off the roadside and driven step by step to the door or (fie ibn, .where Robin, galm as thought they had bSfflT merely fenc ing for amusement, goaded him Into rashness with an exaggerated display of caution, and taking quick advantage of a wild lunge, disarmed him and sent his sword flying a dozen paces away. At tne clash of weapons and sound of warfare, the Inn door opened a few Inches and a bald old head peered cau tiously out. "Gentlemen, gentlemen!" piped a. trembling voice, “mine Is a respectable house; pray you dp not get me Into trouble. I Implore you, If there Is mur der to be done, for heaven’s sake go a little farther up the road; there Is a quiet spot, not five minutes’ walk away where no one will disturb you while you kill each other." "It Is all over, mine good host; ’twas but a friendly bout; no one Is the worse for It by so much as a cut Anger," laughed Robin. "Steve, pick up Sir Geoffrey's sword and restore It to him. Escort him Into the Inn and treat him courteously until I call for you." As they disappeared, he turned to Prue. who had watched the duel with mingled fear and Joy, and now hurried to his outstretched arms. "Oh! Robin; why didn’t you kill him?” she cried. "Why, ’twas a duel, dearest, not an assassination—” he began. “He would have killed you If he could, I’ll be sworn," she protested. "I Raw murder In his eye when he rushed upon us, and surely you would avenge the treachery that brought me to this lonely place with a man I detest, who desired to force or shame me Into mar rying him?" "I am almost grateful to him,” mur mured Robin, with his lips to hers, "that he brought you here and procured me the Inestimable happiness of seeing you once more and bidding you fare well." "Is It Indeed happiness for you to bid me farewell?" pouted Prue, reproach fully. "Almost—compared to the unutter able anguish of leaving you, perhaps for ever, without” Prue drew herself away just far enough to look into his eyes with be witching tenderness. "Does It grieve you so much to leave me, Robin?” she said softly. "Can you ask, heart of my heart?" he replied. "You little know how sore ly I am torn In twain by the duty that separates me from you.” "Then why should we separate?” she cajoled, nestling against him. "Oh! tempt me not beloved,” he Im plored, feeling himself melting like wax under her touch. "Honor and loyalty call me to France—■'* "Then take me with you!" she cried. In ringing tones. A hand was laid on Robin's shoulder with no gentle emphasis. "What folly Is this?" demanded a harsh voice. “De Cllffe, I have overheard the wiles of this enchantress and although I be lieve your loyalty Is beyond reproach, I cannot allow her to test your powers of roststence too far. Can you really believe that she wishes to accompany you? Bah! 'tls but another coll to bind you more securely and make your es cape more difficult. But It shall not avail, I swear It on the bones of St. Anthony! Viscountess Brooks, do you wish to have this man's death on your conscience? If so, use your arts on him and you will soon b# gratified; for I myself will run my sword through his heart, rather than see him a traitor to his king.” "Your grace misjudges me,” said Prue. proudly. “I come, as you should know, of right loyal stock, and nothing Is further from hy wishes than to hind er his departure. I but claim the right to go wherever he goes.” “The right! What right?" sneered the duke. "The right In the sight of God and man, of a wife to follow her husband," said Prue, unflinchingly. As she stood there so beauttful and undaunted, the love light In her glor ious eyes seemed to Irradiate her whole face with Indescribable tenderness and dignity. Sven the angry duke dropped his eyes, abashed, and his tone was sensibly lowered when he exclaimed, "Wife? Husband? De Cllffe, what Is the meaning of this midsummer mad ness?” “Oh! Prue," cried Robin, "you know not what you say; how could you dream of sharing the fortunes of an exile— an outlaw?" She raised her eyes to his,' brimming with tears. “Because I lovs you, Rob in,” she sighed pathetically but brave ly, “and life without ypu Is worthless to me." Then, with a sudden change to petulance, "Oh, why do you leave me to do all the love making? Is It not shame enough that I was a peti tioner for your hand, but that now I must come as a beggar for your heart? Sure, I did think you loved me—a lit tle,” and she burled her face In her hands. “Bweetheart, It Is because I love you so dearly that I am loath to let you throw away your beauty and sweet ness on a poor soldier of fortune," said Robin; scarcely less agttated than she. "Who Is apparently ready to ruin himself for the Idle caprice of a frivo lous coquet,” Interposed the duke, with asperity. The carriage which had followed Sir Geoffrey's had arrived while the duel was in progress, and drawn up un noticed at the bend of the road. Its sole occupant alighted, and lingering In the shadow of the trees, became an .in terested spectator, himself unobserved. "De Cllffe." continued the duke, "time presses and you must not linger. Think only of your duty and be Arm.” There was a brief silence, which Prue broke, addressing her husband. "I will not force myself upon you. Rob in. Tell me what you wish and I will obey, even if It breaks my heart. But if you do not take me away, what will you do with me? You cannot escort me yourself—you can hardly return me on Sir Geoffrey’s hands. Am I to re turn to Tumbrldge on foot aed alone?" I “I will charge myself with your lad>* ship's safe conduct,” Interposed the duke Impatiently. “A thousand thanks,” returned Prue, sw8®hlng a profound curtsey. “Tour grace’s courage has not been overrated, yet methlnks, If you reflect upon what might happen when some one told your charming duchess that you rode Into Tumbrldge at break of day with the Wldgw Brooke on the pillion, you will -be grateful for my rejection of your offeTt” She turned to Robin with a submissive Sir that made at least one onlooker smile, “I will plead no more with you, Robin, but If I must leave you, swear to return to me and I will be true to you If I have to wait 611 years.” She threw her arms round his neck and drawing his face down to her, kissed him with passionate abandon, then bursting Into tears, sobbed out, “If you can leave me now, Robin, fare well!” There Is a limit to the powers of en durance of the most resolute, and Rob in could stand no more. He clasped her In his arms and soothed her with the tenderest caresses. “I will never leave you, my wife,” he declared, "no one shall take you from me. Tou are mine and only death shall rob me of -the dearest treasure on earth. Say no more, m?IWrd duke; it Is settled. My wife will go to France with me. The king* will welcome the daughter of his father’s frielta as the bride of his own faithful servant’ •• •< • “If your mind Is made up I have no more to say,” returned the other, with a look of deep annoyance, “except that If the Viscountess Brooke—” “Pardon me—the Lady Prudence de Cllffe,” Interposed a bland voice, and Lord Beachcombe stepped out of the shadow, and taking Prue’s hand, pressed a respectful salute upon It. ‘Permit me, captain, to congratulate you on your marriage and to welcome your fair bride into the family of which I am the head. I had reason, dear Lady Prue, to fear that you might be molested on your journey, so took the liberty of following Sir Geoffrey's car riage, to be at hand In case the road to Tumbrldge might lead to—Just such a breakdown as you suffered a while ago, and Just such a romantic rescue as our gallant friend had prepared for you. I rejoice that I arrived In time to witness the reunion of husband and wife—such a delightful surprise for all of us—and to wish them a happy future —beyond the sea.” At the approach of Lord Beachcombe. the duke had pulled his hat lower over his face and drawn his mantle more closely about him. With a sign to Robin, he gilded away among the trees, and only the sound of hoof beats on the road marked his retreat. Perclval, who had been too much engrossed In hunting out a water tight boat to take notice of what was passing within a few yards of him, now approached, but stopped short at the sight of so many unexpected figures. “This Is my wife, Perclval, who has decided at the last moment to accom pany me to France,” said Robin. “Is there room for her In that boat or shall we need a bigger one?” “Plenty of room,” cried Perclval, tak ing In the scene with eyes bulging with bewilderment. “But, Lady Pru dence, ’tis Impossible for you to brave the night in an open boat and the perils of crossing the channel in a fishing smack.” Why, there ’tls!” she laughed, with saucy confidence, “If ’twere possible, ’twould scarcely be worth the doing! Steve, will you help Sir Geoffrey’s rar lets carry my vallBes on board. With in the carriage you will find my Jewel box and other trifles. ’Tls not much In the way of wedding equipage for a court lady, but ’tls more than I had when I was waylaid on Bleakmoor and the highwayman could find nothing— at least, nothing portable—to rob me of, ’ and she threw Robin a glance of Irresistible drollery. “This will Indeed be a racy dish of scandal for your friends, madam," said •Sir Geoffrey, from the Inn door. “It will lose none of Its spice In passing through your hands, Sir Geof frey, ’ she retorted, with asperity. "Pray do not forget to give yourself full credit for your share In the es capade.” “I will take good care of your repu tation, Ladv Prudence, and also of Sir Geoffrey s,” Interposed Beachcombe. At his voice. Sir Geoffrey started and turned livid. “Od’s death!" he exclaimed. “What brings you here, of all men?” “Why, Just a trifling wager; I think you 11 own I’ve won It fairly,” re turned the earl, as Sir Geoffrey strode away, and calling to his men with curses, flung himself Into his carriage and drove off at a gallop. Lord Beach combe, scarcely waiting to press a hur ried kiss on Prue's hand and wish her long life and happiness, followed him with no less speed. “The sail Is hoisted and the baggage aboard,” Steve announced. “Will It please your ladyship to hasten: we should be halfway to Rochester by now. Robin carried his bride over the rough causeway and made her as com fortable as circumstances would per mit, In the stern of the boat. With his ample cloak he covered her from the chill night air, and taking his place beside her, gave the word to push off. Steve guided the boat Into mid stream, then set himself to steer by the sail that pulled and strained from the mast under a favoring wind. Perclval In the bow, kept watch for any sign of danger to his precious freight, and behind, In the darkness, Prue lay In the arms of her lover husband _THE BNP. Earrings on Frenoh Poodle. From the Baltimore Sun. About the latest thing In dog faslK Ion reached New York last week by way of Ithaca. It was noticed In the lobby of the Knickerbocker hotel on Wednesday, and was remarked again on Friday at luncheon. Those who were sitting about at the hour saw a black French poodle pass through the further entrance, leading by a leash a handsomely dressed wom an. From the dog’s ears hung ear rings. which looked like pendants of sapphires hung In gold. The owner of the dog was said to be Mrs. Hender son. of Ithaca. The dog attracted a great deal of attention from the population of the east wall of the lobby, and many ex clamations of “Cute!” and “How per fectly lovely” were heard. That’s 80. “Apartment house life has some recompenses." "As to howT“ “You can get the last word with your wife by bawling It up through the tubs, as you hustle out" jJtlVVA^JC'l linN ^ .CANDIES. Maple Crfittn C'altdy—One cup White granulated sugfcr, just enough water to dissolve; add two cups' maple syrup and boll till it hardens in cold water. Let cool until It can be handled, then pull, THE H<5trSEWIF!5, — Fat scouring white enamel slnfe an<T bafh tub, use a soap powder moistered with A bit of ammonia and use in ftie same manner in which you use scours ing soap or powder. This does not scratch enamel, cuts the grease and does not roughen the hands. The garbage can which the collector has rammed holes through in breaking loose the frozen contents is just the thing for winter, because the water drains off through the holes and there Is less to freeze. So clean the can well and set It aside for next winter, and next autumn put the one used in sum mer away over winter. Helpful Hints on Washing—Soak clothes In warm water over night, then In the morning boll half hour, add one half cakeJoffp, two tablespoons coal oil and also a little bluing to water they are boiled fit Rinse in two waters and hang out. Use a flesh brush on woolen under-* wear and flannel shirts and on any garment that requires rubbing. It makes them clean and saves a lot of hard rubbing on washboard. Clothespin Apron—This apron Is much more handy than a basket or box for clothespins. Saves lots of steps and time. Material: 1% yards (jean Is good); double together, cut out plain circular apron. Now take upper half, put half-moon shape, put t#5 partstogether again, letting points of upper come into belt line. Hem or bind, put on band button, buttonhole stitch through center apron, forming I'tfo "5ockets. This will hold five or six dozen pins and not inconvenience one in the least to wear whjle ljfinsjng. clothes. Put on apron when taking clothes from line. Hang up in wash room and apron Is always ready to wear. - THINGS WORTH KNOWING. Every housewife knows how pro voking it Is to have the under crust of pies soak. If they will butter the crust before Ailing is put in, it will be as nice and flakey as the top crust. Especially is this well worth using when making custard, cream or pump kin pies. To clean a lingeries waist that might b harmed by too frequent washing— Procure a large paper sack. Place waist In the hack and pour a package of cornstarch over the waist. Shake vigorously till waist is well covered with starch. Leave for two or three days, when waist will be clean, and, by pressing well, will look like new. DANDELION SALAD. This time of year, when vegetables are getting stale and the appetite capricious, dandelions come in good play. They act as a medicine or tonic, and a very good one, too. Besides, they are within the reach of everyone. They are In their prime now and will be good until they are out in bloom, when they begin to get bitter. Dandelion Salad—I gather the dande lion by using a knife and cutting down Into th« root, so as to keep the bunch Intact. This makes them easier to clean, besides preserving the little ten der buds, which add to the salad. I cut off the outside leaves, or those that are beginning to die, then wash them thoroughly and put them in a chopping bowl and chop them up fine. Then season with salt and vinegar. The dressing is made as one would make gravy. I usually make It after frying meat. I stir the flour into the fryings and when it is cooked through (not browned) I stir milk or cream into it, making It a little thicker than for gravy. This I pour over the chopped dandelions and mix thoroughly. We think this fine. It may sound strange not to cook them, but we do not care for cooked greens since I learned this way. I fix lettuce the same way, but in stead of using milk for the dressing I use water. I do not cut the lettuce unless the leaves ye very large. y The Table. Substitute for Angel Cake—One egg beaten with ona cup sugar, one cup flour, one teaspoon baking powder (or one teaspoon cream of tartar,) ana one-half cup scalded milk last, ana ‘flavor; beat well andjoake In an angel^ cakfi pan. . Prufla.Cake—Two eggji, one scant cup sugar, - one cup prlbjes seeded and mashed fine, one toaspoAC cloves, ondsfeaspoon cinnamon, one sc^h^t-tea spoon soda dissolved in Iwo Ts<ble-' spoons’vjvater, about one cup fldur. Make two layers. Put together wlt» whipped cream. v ,“l THE TABLE. 'Ni Smoked Finnan .Haddie—Lay haddie ItV roaster or large dripping pan, then cover with boiling water. Set in hot oven 15 minutes, remove carefully and drain, lay on deep platter and pour over the follow ing sauce: To one pint sweet milk add large tablespoon flour, let come to a boil; add piece of butter, salt and pepper to taste. The fish will not aped any salt. Snow-whipped Cream—To dlte whites of three eggs beaten to a frotii pQd ft frtnt cl cfeamand four tablespoonfuls irt sweet Wine with three of fine white sugar and a Teaspoonful of lemon extract; whip It to a froth and serve It In a glass dish. Lay lady-fingers or sliced sponge cake on dish and heap "snow" upon it. This la an inexpensive dish as well aa attractive and very easily prepared. Apple Salad—Chop six apples fine, half the quantity of cabbage and scant one half cup nut meats. Mix all together with salad dressing. PUDDINGS. Apple Rolls—Cook one cup of dried apples until done, sweeten and flavor with nutmeg. To two cups of flour add one teaspoon baking powder, a ■pinch of salt and half cup of lard. Make a stiff dough and roll out thin. Spread apples on the dough, then roll anj cut in rounds. Bake in slow oven, ■Slta "lerve ^iot with cream sauce or whipped creatn. _; Cream Sauce—One egg, one cup powdered sugar, half cup thick cream, one-third cup milk, half teaspoon va nilla. Beat white of egg till stiff, add well beaten yolk and gradually beat In sugar, add milk and cream and boll till thick, then add flavoring, Apple Pudding—Quarter half a dozen good cooking apples and1 reok as for sauce; put in a baking dlSft and cover with dough made as follows: One pint flour, one-half cup sugar, pinch salt, three tablespoons lard and butter mixed, two heaping teaspoons baking powder. Milk enough to make soft dough (too soft to roll and too thick to run). Spread over apples and bake until done in moderate oven. Serve hot with any good sauce. THINGS WORTH KNOWING. Wash all new articles before using (meaning washable articles), especially under garments, for one never knows what amount of germs may have col lected In them. Also wash new stock ings before wearing; you'll find they last again as long. I was a city dweller for several months last year, but retained a coun try woman’s love for sunlight and fresh air for drying my dresses after laun dering. The soot covered them with spots. I made bags of the thinnest cheesecloth, suspended my dresses In them and grasping the sides of bag and dress, hung them on the line. The sheerness of the cheesecloth allowed free circulation of air, and the dresses came out with no smell of laundry room and no smudge from soot. To Keep Cut Flowers,—Put half tea spoon salt in a quart of water. They will keep much longer than with clear water. Use for Old Brooms—When a long handled broom Is worn out, instead of throwing It way, tie a piece of felt or flannel around the head, and made a floor polisher. It will make work much easier and keep llneoleum in good con dtion. Footmarks can be rubbed off i at any time without stooping. A MESSAGE FROM NICE Grand Hotel Des Palmiers, Nice, France. —We are now located at Nice, France—the winter resort of the English, Germans and French. It Is certainly a beautiful place for winter sojourn for people of leisure. The opera and other amusements are provided with dally concerts In the park, and every day seems to be a holiday. Along the beach Is a wide cement walk, four miles long, and between 11 and 13 dally Is thronged with promenaders. The people In this country walk more, I think, than In fashionable watering places In America. There does not seem to be so much dress as would be supposed to be the case, where this class of people congregate. We took an auto ride over the famous Cor nlche road to Monte Carlo. The scenery and view Is considered very beautiful and the drive has become world renowned, but to my way of thinking when the driveway to Stone park, Sioux City, is completed, the magnificent view of the Missouri river and the distant landscape will be more attractive. Therefore, the people of Sioux City, in my opinion, may look forward to the city possessing a drive that will make the place noted when the boulevard is completed. As a genera! proposition I do not favor comparison or deprecating foreign attractions, but in this Instance I could not help contrasting the view, pronounced bo fine, with the home vlewB. I wonder if our citizens really ap preciate the fact that in the new park the city has a grand possession, capable of being developed into a pleasure ground that will become noted In the course of time. At Monte Carlo I presented my visiting card, as the rules require, and answered a few questions aa to occupation and resi dence and obtained a card of admission to the greatest gambling tabllshment In the world. Our visit, however, was only that of curiosity, and even If we had been disposed to gamble It would have been Impossible to reach the tables, of which there are many, all surrounded by groups of players, so that It was Impossible to get nearer than the third row back and "peek through.” The celerity with which the stakes were laid and the ball whirled with the quick result as the croupier raked in the coin or shoved it over to the winners, is Inter esting to observe. There was no waiting. A minute and It was all over. There were probably a thousand men and women In the room at the time that we were there. A short time sufficed to see all there wa» for a stranger to ob serve in this Immense establishment, and aa our time was limited we viewed the city. It is a large place with fine build ings, and the parks and grounds made at -, tractive by flowers and cllmbtag vines which present a beautiful view In every direction. It would not be possible fer an ' ordinary city to attain to the degree of eleanilneas that prevails at Moate Carlo, nor to ehmlaat* objectionable buildings nor unsightly places. But when such care Is taken the effect is very satisfying. We are glad to have been able to sea these places and will carry away with us pleasant memories. I think the next time I go away It will be a good plan to take a typewriter with me so as not to weary my friends in reading my writing. How ever. if you will endure it this time you will not need to do so much longer, as it is but a short time to June, when we sail for home. Sincerely, Jonathan W. Brown. The Panama Canal. All Americans are interested In ana proud of the great canal now near ng completion in Panama. In an address re cently delivered before the students of Johns Hopkins university. Colonel Gorgaa explained exactly what was being done by our engineers. His address appears In a recent issue of The Journal of the Ameri can Medical Association. Speaking of the plan which was being followed, he said, that, in the ordinary ac ceptation of the words, we are not build ing a canal at Panama. We are building two lakes; one on the northern side of the mountain chain, which is the backbone of the isthmus, and the other on the south side. The engineers, in selecting the loca tion for the canal, sought the lowest point In the mountain chain extending from Patagonia to Alaska This was found to be at Culebra on the Isthmus of Penama. The Isthmus of Panama here runs east and west with a mountain chain running in the same direction. They then took tha river rising nearest Culebra on the north, the Chagres, and dammed it. This makes the large northern lake, Gatun. They then found the river which rose nearest Cule bra on the south, the Rio Grande, and dammed this, making the southern lake, Mirailores. They then connected the two lakes by means of a canal about 9 miles long, cutting the mountain ridge at Cule bra. They then connected the northern lake with the Caribbean sea by a sea level canal about 8 miles long, and ths southern lake with the Pacific ocean by means of a similar canal. We now have, commencing on the north at the Carib bean sea, a sea-level canal 8 miles long, connecting the Caribbean sea with the northern lake. Lake Gatun; then south, 23 miles through this lake, then another canal 9 miles long through the moun..aln ridge connecting the northern lake with the southern lake; then about 2 miles through this southern lake. Lake Mira flores; then another 8 miles of sea-level canal connecting the southern lake with the Pacific ocean. The level of the lake Is 85 feet above the level of the canals, connecting the lakes with the ocean. Locks, therefore, have to be placed In the dams so as to raise and lower the ships between these levels. This work Is now drawing to its close. The chief engineer states that he will be passing ships through from ocean to ocean by July. 191& A Fortunate Misfortune. From Pels Mels. “Lucky chap you are to have a nose Uke that. Tour cigars won't go out la ths rain."