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About The Loup City northwestern. (Loup City, Neb.) 189?-1917 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 27, 1908)
ACROSS THE DESERT In Oklahoma we were stalled lor a day in a town called Shawnee. The sanply on our diner gave out arl at this town we had our first experience with local restaurants. We went to the "New England Home Restaurant." so-called. We didn't dare sit down, for fear we'd never get loose again. The sandwiches were made of bread at least two and a half inches thick with a piece of cold fried beefsteak be tween. We took a chance at the real thing in hot tomales one day. A little boy was selling them at one of the sta tions. Well, after the first bite, mine fel! out of the window. A lean and melancholy dog made a dive for it. gave a sniff and. with a disappointed look, sneaked away, and 1 didn't blame him. He looked hungry, too. w * * * ■ \t one of those little prairie towns that seem to actually leap out of space, they come so suddenly into * view, we found our cow in a shed by the station. We made quite a stop here and everyone got out. Several of the passengers wished to follow our custom and boy some milk, and some adventurous ones even essayed the un accustomed feat of milking her them selves. 1 was offered the chance to try. but -efused. having sore recollec tions of my first and las: attempt to milk. It was on my uncle s farm up in New York state, and I. wishing to do everything that a real farmer should, desired to enroii milking among my accomplishments Being of tender years, and with the confidence that usually accompanies that stage of life. T entered the barn for my first lesson with the utmost nonchalance, and gaily humming a dairy tune. I don't remember hr,w I came out. hut I think it vvas by the elevated. When I first lroked at the cow she was all peace and contentment, but when she saw me she looked dissatisfied, and I knew there was a kick coming. She stopped Chewing her cud and let it run down the loop—then, after a few minutes, she rang it up again, having decided upon her line of action. La'er 1 dis covered that I was on the line, and very near the transmitter. ***** A» the aforementioned Shawnee we began to get some entertainment from our misfortunes. A young man from California, one of those serious fel lows. with a face like a deacon, but a fund of humor within, wrote our tele grams containing the most airy flights of imagination, and showed them to the anxious and perspiring passengers, who spent their time pretty equally be tween swearing at the management of the road and making the poor conduc tor's life miserable. One of these telegrams was shown to me. It stated that the herd of ele phants belonging to Ringling Bros.’ Wrote Telegrams Containing Airy Flights of Imagination. circus, that was stalled 4U miles away, were to be brought over and take the passengers on their backs across the washouts, where another train would meet them. Looking around to discover the au thor of this delicious fiction I was met by a preternatural]} solemn glance and a comprehensive wink. After that we pooled our energies, and when I think of what we made that trainful of passengers believe, not to mention the several other trains we were always meeting, for v.p were generally stalled seven and eight deep. I am astonished at the credulity of human nature. We devised one telegram about a number of prairie schooners that were to come over the hills and take us by old Spanish trails far from the wash outs. My serious friend showed the message, very secretly, to an excita ble little German, who evidently be longed to *he 1'needa Child company, for he had about a baker s dozen of small children, and a gentle, childlike faith that was truly touching. We assured him that the conductor could let only a few in on this excep tional opportunity, as it would be im possible to take all the passengers. It wouid be necessary to secure tickets in order to get places, and he'd better do it now—and not let the conductor put bitn off—just insist. In great excitement the little man flew to the poor, distracted conductor, and asked him mysteriously for tick ets for himself and family. ' Tickets—what tickets? demanded that long-suffering man. "Ah, you know—you kendt fool me —I know ail aboud it. mine frendt." wagging a knowing finger in front of his nose. "I know that you must be crazy. I don't know anything about any extra tickets." ■ Dot's all right. You don't want to led on. bud I haf been toldt. I'wish to ged tigeds for dose brairie vaggons— vat?" "You’re crazy!" bellowed the exas perated conductor, to our unholy joy. "VYho’n Sam Hill told you anything about prairie wagons" You've been out in the sun too long. Dutchy: go to bed and put ice on your head." * * • * • The monotony of our trip was fur ther varied by the arrival at one sta "Covered Her head with a Blanket When I Pointed My Camera at Her. tion of a lady of the peroxide tint of blonde, who smuggled in a small monkey and a large-sized flask. The monkey was hidden beneath the berth, so she would not have to put him in the baggage car. The greatest excitement ensued: -ightgear and lingerie (I trust I use the right word > wore in great evi dence. Everyone asked everyone else what the trouble was. but none seemed to know Finally the mystery was solved. The blonde iady pleaded on her knees in very maudlin accents that the hard-hearted conductor would not send her precious pet to the baggage car: hut he was obdurate, and poor Chico was banished to the accompani ment of his mistress' sobs. * At El Paso wp were stalled all one Sunday; but with the expectation of leaving every moment. A bull fight was on, over in Mexico, just across the river, but we dared not go for fear of being left by our train. From El Paso we kept north across ; th<* .rid table lands the low hills, like ; crumpled, rusty tin, lying along the 1 horizon. They are treasure houses of j copper, these hills, and. every few : miles, a mine opening may be seen j perched high up on a hillside, a short spur of the railway leading to it. Crossing the desert between Tucson 1 and Fort Yuma, we ran into a sand storm. The fine sand sifted into every smallest opening and made breathing well-nigh impossible. Fortunately it did not last long. We had only run into a corner of it. and were soon out. The desert showed us several of her capricious moods, for presently we were treated to a most perfect mirage. Apparently a lake or broad river in the desert, with little islers and rocks mirrored in the most beautiful, cool and wettest looking water imaginable. Fort Yuma claims the distinction of ; being the hottest place in the ttnion. A story is told of a soldier who lived there, and died. The night after his death his spirit appeared to some of his comrades at their camp fire. They asked him what he wanted, and he said Hades was so much colder than Yuma he had come back for his blanket. It certain!' lived up to its reputation the day we were there. A number of Indians were seated by the platform displaying articles of beadwork for sale They object stren uously to being photographed—think ing the camera has the evil eye. and while it takes their portrait will also steal away their soul. However, these scruples can be overcome at the rate of 50 cents a scruple. Who says the commercial in stinct lurks not. in the breast of the Indian? One old woman, w ho was said to be a hundred ami four years old. covered her head with her blanket when I pointed my camera at her. For her entertainment I did a little sleight-of hand work, making the pass with a quarter, pretending to swallow it, then picking it off her blanket, finally rubbed it into my trouser leg and made it disappear entirely. 1 only succeeded in frightening the poor old creature almost to death. She clasped her hands in fear, made the sign of the cross, crooked her fingers to avert the evil eye. and, pointing to me, put her fingers to her head like horns, indicating that I was a gentleman extremely well-known but of unsavory reputation. Leaving these interesting remnants of the great race that once owned the land, we continued upon our sadly interrupted journey. WaEkmg Bit© The first costume is a very ^pretty dress in pastel blue face cloth; the skirt has a pleat each side front stitched nearly the whole length: front this two rows of silk oriental embroider} are carried quite round. The bodice has embroidery up each side, and a pointed vest of white silk embroidered with blue and gold tinsel thread The tight fitting under part of sleeve is tucked, the upper part, which is full, is tucked horizontally on the front Hat of pale blue felt trimmed with bows of brown velvet and ostrich feathers Materials required Nine yards 4b inches wide, nine yards embroidery, seven yards sateen for ining. The second has a skirt of gray plaid cloth with flounce of plain cloth at foot, above which is one of plaid. The coat is of the plain cloth with revers and under sleeves of plaid. As will he seen the cut is quite new. the front being only fastened on bust, shows a smart blouse beneath. Hat of gray straw trimmed with silk ruches and damask roses. Materials required: Five yards plaid 4b inches wide, four yards plain cloth 46 inches wide, six cards silk for lining coat. HUCKABACK WORK LENDS ITSELF WELL TO FANCY DESIGNS. Huckaback is again as popular, if | not more so. than ever before with the fancy needle workers. Xo wonder, after one sees the lovely bits of fancy work made with huckaback and tinsel. Some very pretty bags are made by using silver or gold th-ead to inter lace the little huckaback threads and often the work is more artistically out lined with gold or silver beads thread ed while the worker is outlining the pattern. Every style imaginable is seen in this work and many oriental patterns show a variety of colors with gold plentifully used in osulines. A dresser scarf was made with three tabs at each end. each end buttonhole stitched with pale blue silk and worked with eyelet. Above this was a six-inch band of pale blue mosaic de sign. outlined with gold. In the center was a triangle of gold and blue. Pin cushions. chair cushions and prac tically everything in a cover design can be fashioned this way. Little opera bags are woven with silver threads and hung with long pendant silver threads and goid interwoven, with gold threads and gold beads, or black thread and gold beads. The heavy silk-like floss is best for the purpose and can be threaded with finer gold threads. I Girdles are empire at the back. The spring tailormade is prettier than for years. Coats are short and fit the form closely in the newest suits. Sleeves, despite variations, gener ally are upon Japanese lines. Metal decked evening scarfs are dis tinctly Egyptian in appearance. Cretonne patterns appear on every thing. from organdie to pique. Skirts almost without exception are plaited in one way or another. The plain coat sleeve is the only one used for the new short, tight skirts. . The touch of green is chic just now. and includes the kid slippers of rich iaure! green. Chip straw hats, it is said, again will blossom out. Just now leghorns lead. Coarse straws are more prominent than formerly. A glorified rajah silk just out. seek ing spring favor, has a satin finish and is in a two-tone weave. French Girdles. The new girdles sent over from the center of fashion are narrow strips of ribbon or velvet. They go around the waist from the center of the front, cross in the back, return, and tie a little to one side in a knot, whence the ends hang to the knees, i It is a graceful style, but it will never suit women w ho show any signs of be coming stout, for the lines in front only accentuate the size of the hips. Velvet Coats with Cloth Collars. Nothing is prettier than the cloth skirt surmounted by a long velvet coat the same color. The skirt will have a two-inch band of velvet at the edge. For young girls dainty pastel shades are much sought after. TO BE ATTRACTIVE. Hair Must Be Kept in Perfect Condi ticn—Arrange It to Best Advantage. The secret of beautiful hair is iD knowing how to make the most of it how to coax and coddle it into grow inE. and to arrange it to the best pos sible advantage. It is the natural frame for the face and whether or not this frame is be coming remains with the woman her self. A horrid, untidy, slipshod way oi twisting up one's crown of glory will make the most adorable woman look like a cartoon. Arrange it in Huffy, pretty, neat coils and it will change the cartoon into a picture worth photographing. It is wonderful what terrible things a woman can do with her own head. You think this w hen you go to a matinee and view the sea of mussv pompadours and crooked parts and wispy locks spread out before you. Hairpins are falling, hair ribbons are dusty and soiled, straggly ends of hair are looking out to see what they can observe, while here and there is displayed the business end of a switch that has not been properly con cealed. Combs are set in crooked, and in many cases a head of hair looks more like a bird's nest than a coiffure. To have pretty hair you first of all must have clean hair. '1 his means that you should sham- i poo it every two weeks. The hair catches even more dust than the face. it has a thousand littie arms reach ing out for it. The Bordered Gown. An original white frock of the youthful simplicity" order struck a new note the other day, being worn by a golden-haired girl in slight mourn ins. It was a soft filniiness of very fine white net resembling tulle, and both the upper skirt t short to the knees in front and apparently caueht up at the back of the waist to fall in irregularly edged box pleats l and the lower one were bordered with a deep hem ol black velvet, above which was em broidered in a jet running design of round garlands and ribbons, looping over and under a band of silver tissue laid beneath the net. This idea could be varied and car ried out in all sorts of colors, or in one or two shades combined with a white or ivory gown, or all in one pale hue. The difference in material is often sufficient contrast; velvet on chiffon or crepe de chine, for instance. Lace Gowns. The majority of lace gowns are car ried out in white, for a great deal of white is worn at the southern resorts, both in regard to toilettes and millin ery, with ivory as its chief rival, but the lace gown is also conspicuous in colors such as raspberry pink and mole brown, a frock of the latter car ried out in punched lace having be neath it a slip of ivory satin. Serge Cutaway Coat. A successor to the covert coat, which long ago had its deathblow so far as smart dressmaking is con cerned, is a serge cutaway with long basques, fastening with three but tons, and in either black or blue. This is a separate coat and will be distinct ly modish with either tub frocks or tweeds and cheviots. A METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF WATER IN BUTTER — ! Process Devised by the Wisconsin Experiment Station Under Direction of E. H. Farmington, Dairy Husbandman, The imporanee of knowing how I much water the butter of each churn ing may contain is being more and more appreciated by buttermakers in creameries. They would like, if pos-! sible, during the buttermaking proc ess. to *ake a sample of the butter, de- ; termine the per cent, of butter therein, and then vary the method of making the butter so as to increase or di minish the water content, as may he advisable. Very few creamery but termakers ate attempting to do this at the present time, but the num ber will undoubtedly increase in the future, provided a satisfactory method can he obtained. The importance of this knowledge can easily be demonstrated. Xo but termaker wishes to exceed the legal limit of Hi \>er cent, water, as sucn butte;- comes under the head of ' adul Tne Wisconsin High-Pressure Oven. terated butter" on which he must pay a 'ax of ten cents per pound. The Imttermaker is also interested in mak ing a butt»\ which shall not lie too ; dry. that is. contain considerably less | 'han 10 per cent water, as a very dry butter containing eight to ten per | cent, of water will have a tendency to diminish the churn yield. If hurtermakers ra.n churn and work butter so tltar it will always contain something loss than 10 per cent, water, they are undoubtedly well sat isfied with their work, but when the Per. Cent, of Water in Different Sam and Time Required to Complete in the Wisconsin High-Pressure S Fahrenheit. The Wisconsin high-pressure oven is the result of suggestions made by G. H. Benkendorf, instructor, and K. L. Hatch, a student, connected with the Wisconsin dairy school. it has developed through various stages dur ing the past year and as now used is giving very satisfactory results. Our illustration shows the oven with an opening in the door, A. so that the drying parts inside may be seen. The oven is made of cast iron. Tic outside shell is about 12 inches square and tbe inside she!! about nine inches square. The two castings are bolted together in front and the door A attached to the casting in the sane way as the firing door of a boiler is hung This door does not fit air tight, but simply cl*.s. s like the door of a stove oven. The temperature of the oven may be taken by inserting a thermometer through a hole in the door. A space for circulating high pressure steam is left between the outside and the inside shells or castings of the oven. Hie oven is connecied with a hign pressure steam system by means of a ihree-fourths-inch pipe which is screwed into the outside shell. By opening ihe valve. B. hot steam is forced between the walls of the oven. The amount of steam used may b regulated by the exhaust valve at C. The temperature of the oven is gov erned by the steam pressure and by the amount of steam used. The valve. B. is usually turned wide open and the supply passing around the walls of-the oven regulated by valve C. With a steam pressure of 60 pounds we have obtained a temperature in the oven of l’M) degrees Fahrenheit; low er steam pressures give lower tem peratures. By employing the boiler pressure ordinarily used, in a cream ry. a temperature of 2-10 degrees Fahrenheit to 280 deprees Fahrenheit may easily be obtained. This temper ature .s high enough to dry nut all the water in weighed samples of hui ter within an hour, or even less, pro viding pans large enough to spread the butter in a sufficiently thin layer are used. The oven lias been in use at the dairy school for several months. Many comparisons have been made of re sults obtained by determining the per cent, of water in the same sample of Dies Taken from One Tub of Butter, ly Dry Different Weights of Butter team Oven. Temperature 240 Degree* D Amount „ PEE CENT « ATE* AFTEB heating healed! - TCB prams of ,ub < H hour I hour labours 2 hours 4 hours 6 hours. ' _ 1 f _ A . ' Top. 1,1 1.4 17 4 -- 17.6 17 6 *0 B Mtrt ! ■ 1 ! V. 2 1 17 4 17 5 17 .7 C-Bot 17 0 17 2 17 4 10 I 13 I .... 15 5 15 6 1 13.5 II 13 1 . 15 8 13 8 15.8 III 84 ... 16 2 16 4 16.4 50 IV. 11.6 .... , 16 0 : ... . 16 2 16 2 V. i 8.2 . 16 2 ! 16 4 16 4 .n l i 16 5 16 7 . j 16 7 16 7 16 N II. 16 5 j 16 6 . 16 6 16 7 16 7 III 14 1 i 14.7 1. 16 7 17.1 17 1 50 IV. 12 0 15 2 ... 16 6 16 8 16 6 V. 10.8 14.2 I 16 4 I 16 5 16.6 ,q I 16 9 16.95 .... 1 . 17.0 11. 16 9 16 93 17 0 III. 15.2 . 16 7 ] 16 8 50 IV. 10.2 . 16 4 . .. . 16 9 _ V 11.4 .... . 15 6 16 6 I. . 16 3 16 4 .. 10 4 _"_J_Il_. 15 7 15 7 13 73 rn _ in. ...;. i5.i i6.4 te r. IV. 16.0 16 5 16 5 10 1. 16 I ! 16.1 E -0 ' HI. 16 0 ' 16 2 __^I ’'Sampled as directed by official chemists' method. water drops to tea per ceut. or even j less, the hutterniaker is justified in making an effort to inerease the water content of the- butter somewhat. There would he many advantages in taking a --ample directly from the package of butter to be tested, with out going through the somewhat lengthy and tedious operation of pre paring a sample as described by the official chemists' method of sampling. A series of experiments have been j made to determine whether or not it is always necessary to take a sample of butter as directed by the official chemists' method Samples were taken from a 60-pound j tub of blitter with a common butte. trier, which removes a core of butter j through he entire length of a 60- ) pound tub. This trier full of butter weighs about 50 grams. Portions of ten grams each were taken front the top. middle and bottom of this butter trier and placed in small evaporating dishes. Another trier full. 50 giant was placed in a larger dish. These j evaporating dishes containing the; i weighed samples of butter were heat- ; ed until the water was driven off The loss was calculated as the percentage ! of water in the different samples. A comparison of the results obtained ! from these ten and fifty-gram sant- ; pies was made with other samples taken front the same tubs of butter, by placing several triers full of butter in a glass jar. then melting and cool ing the blitter, as described by the offi cial chemists' method, and determin ing the water in ten and in fifty grams of this sample. The results ob tained in these trials, cs well as ob servations on the length of time neces sary to heat the butter to drive off all the water, are given in the table ac- j cosjpanying^vhis article butter by this and by other methods. A close agreement has always been found between the so-called "chemists' method" and this oven, when a reason able amount of care was used in mak ing the determinations: in fact, our work had led us to have more confi dence in the results obtained by heat ing 50 grams of butter in this oven than in those found by heating two or three grams in a boiling water oven which is commonly used in the chemists' method. The larger sample. 50 grams, about one-tenth of a pound, reduces the ef fect of errors of analysis, and the high er temperature of the oven shortens the time of heating necessary to drive off all the water in the butter. Getting Rid of the Manure.—The curse of tile average stall-arranged cow- barn is the manure. To avoid this, many are cutting out the stall and feeding from the side wall man ger. This necessitates the abolition of the chronic boss Most milk cows are now made hornless, but that does not do away with bossism. The prac tice of many is to feed while milking, teaching each cow- its position at the manger, hut it takes time to do this and then it is not wholly to be depend ed upon. Much the better way is to install a litter carrier. The barn can then be divided into stalls, each cow having a stall, then if necessary the different cows can be given a different feed. You Better.—Better commence with five really good cows than with a herd of 20 that are best described by he words, “just cows." Burn this in a j board and use the board in making . a stool, or nan it to the door.