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.