A V ONES and twos—a steady stream—the army of the Ameri can hofcces, 100,000 strong, is drifting back to the country side. It has already started; it will be warm weather be fore the last of this \ host has left the cities. All summer long these men will be traveling "deadhead" ' throughout the Uni ted States, working here and there a few days, but always moving on to the far-away fields that looked green. They will help gather the berries, the hops, the hay and the harvests. They will wander as far west as the coast and as far south as the Gulf of Mexico. All the-men in this army are not “tramps," in the common accep tance of the word, for some are willing to work. Therefore the real \ I1? "HITTITTG # ^ Ttf£ GFIT*>\ tramps despise them and call them "gay cats.” But from this great host of casual workers—ihe despair of so ciologist?—ihe ranks of the tramps and the yegg men" are kept full. Indeed, in this great aggre gation of men that the city pushes forth each spring and receives back each autumn the tramps might bo likened to the non-commissioned officers and the "yeggmen" to the commanders of regi ments and brigadiers. These "gay cats"' are sim ply the private soldiers. But no matter by what name they are known to penologists, they all spring from the same soil: the slums of the great city or the tactory town. Freight trains carry most of them about the country. Despite the at tempts on the part of the various railroads to abate the tramp evil, it appears to be Irrepressible. As fast as it is subdued on one road it is sure to break out on another with increased force. The "gay eat" is the lowest order of the peripa tetic underworld. He is generally devitalized, in competent and lacking in physical courage. There fore he sneaks into an empty box car and makes /* his journey slowly, hut in comparative comfort. The professional “hobo" and some of the "yegg men.” on the other hand, scorn the freights and disdain to ride on anything but passenger trains, especially the much-advertised limited flyers, so they can boast about it afterward and vaunt them selves around the campfires of their kind. There are not a few "gay cats," however, who travelon passenger trains, and these are. curiously enough, those whose trade is setting the stoel on big buildings or bridges, men of nerve and daring. These ride either "blind baggage" (between the front—doorless—end of the baggage ear and the v locomotive tender), or on the trucks of the wheels. under the cars themselves. Riding “blind bag gage" is comparatively comfortable, but the riders are liable to have lumps of coal thrown at them by the firemen. "Holding down the rods." though, which is one of the slang terms for riding the trucks, is more dangerous and dirty, but less sub ject to interruption en route. It is when the train lakes a curve at high speed that the "gav cat" who is riding on the trucks goes on his last and longest journey. Sieep or hunger or fatigue may loosen his grasp for a second, and he goes under the hurrying wheels. This manner of death is called "greasing the rails,” which is quite graphic enough to warrant avoiding further de scription. Thousands of "gay cats" and others risk fhi ir lives blindly in this way every hour of the 24. This item in the butcher's bill of the rail ways is enormous. There are some travelers' tales (hat. have been told so often by “gay cats" and by tramps that they have become tradition—almost classics of their kind. One is the story of a man now known as "Portland Shorty.” He was a “gay cat” riding the trucks on a fast passenger train in the west some years ago. There was a bad wreck during the night and many wore killed. “Shorty." cov ered with dirt and blood, and really very seriously hurt, finally succeeded in extricating himself from ihe wreck and crawled out. By that time it was daylight and the relief train with its surgeons had arrived. “Shorty” was a man of education and inteHiger.ee Groaning with pain which was not stimulated he let the company surgeon and claim agent betid over him. "He'll be maimed for life if he lives. Better settle with him as well as you can,” he heard the surgeon whisper to the claim agent. “Shorty” signed *a waiver of damages in ride of ten minutes and got in cash. He was taken to the company's hospital, cared for and cured. Strangely enough he kept his money. winter in jail or in tile workhouse. The workhousa is ill namosl; there is no work 10 be done there. Others "work the missions"—"go 'round the Horn.” they rail It. There are over twosccre misrions of various denominations in -\'ow lie is running a large and gaudy saloon in Portland. Ore., and trying to l'orget that he ever rode the trucks on a fast train. The men who ride thus on the passenger trairs—if they do much of ii—soon grow deaf in one ear or blind in one eye—sometimes to tally deaf and sightless. This is caused by the terrific roar of the wheels against the rails and the continuous hur ricane of dust and gravel. Many t ram ps try Iiiu.rei men- neacs and faces In some way. l»it it is impossible to avoid tlie danger of bursted ear drums or hopelessly damaged eyes. When a man crawls out from under a fast ti*tin after a -00-mile run he looks but little like a human be ing. During the summer the “gay cat" works with such persistence as nature has given him. If he cannot find work lie is not above begging or steal ing in many cases. Dong ago the farmers used to lodge and feed them In their own houses. Now they make them lodge in abandoned barns or in open air camps. At berry or hop-picking they are paid by the quantity gathered; in the harvest or hay fields they receive the minimum of a dollar a day and their food. Fn a camp of "gay cats" at night they gather around the fire and play cards for stnail stakes or tell stories. Sometimes a “gay cat's" money goes in garni) ing. but ho is oftener despoiled by the professional "holK\" who takes his coin away from him by brute force. One brawny, able-bodied tramp, with or without a gun. will "stick up" and rob a group of several “gay cals" without much difficulty. The tramps' roost, too. by the way. is often held up and robbed in turn by tlie prowling "yeggman" with a pistol of large caliber in his fist. At any rate, the poor “gay cat" returns to the cities in the autumn as penniless as when he left it in the early summer. If by any chance he has any money left, it goes in the cheap saloons along the tough streets. During the winter he keeps soul and body together by washing dishes or acting as waiter in the cheap restaurants; by doing odd jobs, such as carrying signs and snow shoveling: by addressing envelopes—if he can write well enough—and by doing other such hope less work. Then, too, there are the missions and pickings and stealings now and then when there is not too much risk of arrest. A portion of the ‘ gay cats" are dish washers in the cheap restaurants. They \fork from 15 to tS hours a day for an average wage of three dollars a week and food and lodging Their surroundings are very bad. Their feet tiro almost constantly wet with water heavily charged with washing soda that is used to cleanse the greasy dishes; and the air is as foul as can be imagined. The poor "gay cat." misnomer—devitalized by heredi tary ills and dissipation, soon,gets to the end of his moral tether. Of all the legitimate work there is. dishwashing in a cheap -.restaurant is the low est. There is no depth beyond it, and the only sequence is the city hospital, the almshouse, the morgue and the potter’s field. Other less industrious "gay eats" spend the PLAYING CAPDS Ilf A 5OX. CAP. the rity. No outcast above the rank of a 'gay cat" would think of entering one. The "gay eat" can get his bed and two meals by simply applying, and if he pretendf to be convert ed and gives "testimony" now and then, per haps he can get meals and lodging for two or three weeks, with possibly an odd job occasional !y. When the "gay cat" grows tired of one mis sion or has outstayed his welcome, he moves on to the next. There are punugh of them to last him til rough the winter if he is discreet. The election is also a source of dishonest revenue to these by-products of an industrial age. Money, shoes and winter clothing circulate freely then, and the number of nomads is augmented. The majority of this vast army of 100.000 or so are American born, but of foreign parents. The Irish and Germans head the list, of these chronic wanderers. The first generation apparently was hard working and reasonably honest. The second seems to have a large sediment of the "gay cat" or “tramp" element in it. Why this is so never has been explained satisfactorily. Possibly it ia because Ihe fathers and mothers worked them selves nearly to death trying to bring up their children on a higher social level than they them selves ever had enjoyed. At any rate, the fact of degeneracy in the second generation remains. In Massachusetts many misdemeanors, such as trespassing on railroad tracks, riding in box cars, tramping, begging and vagrancy in all their phases, are punishable by sending the offender to the East Bridgewater farm colony. Last year there were over ",000 commitments to that in stitution. Vagrants are sent to East Bridgewater on indeterminate sentences. Ihe maximum time being at present, two years. Until recently the maximum term was three years, but the shorter term has been found to be sufficient. In the case of first offenders, release on probation is permitted at the end of nine months if conduct lias been exemplary. It is estimated that but 19 per cent, of the men thu* paroled relapse into vagrancy in the state of Massachusetts. Boubtless many cf them do elsewhere, but more than half of them are regenerated, so that instead pf be ing a charge upon the state they become an ub sc-t. The East Bridgewater farm colony is looked upon by penologisls as an unqualified success. So far as can be judged now, this is the only practical way of regenerating and revitalizing this large class of mental and physical incompetents. Life and work, under proper discipline, in the open air do more to make good citizens—or at least to transform parasites on society into pro ducers—than anything else, so the pcnoiogists say. KEEP YOUR CHILD FEARLESS From the moment of the average child's first fall, when the mother cries out and picks him up with such manner and words that he screams with terror, the instilling of fear goes on. The average child begins by be V ins carefree, but the average loving , mother undermines that confidence with the most earnest industry. The forbidden fruit of the tree of knowl edge is forced upon the child until his naturally erect, fearless mental car riage gradually becomes distorted, and he stoops and bows to the inevitable. So writes Clara Louise Burnham, in Appleton's. To allow fear-ridden conversation to take place in the presence of children —talk concerning sickness or disaster, is another molding influence, robbing them of their gladness, teaching them fearful resignation to inimical, irreslst ible lowers. Even though they show no evidence of it at the time it is sink ing into the curious, eager thought and must hear fruit. A Very Odd Clock. An extraordinary addition lias been made to the exhibition of inventions now being bold in Berlin. A shoe maker named Wegner, living in Stras burg, has sent in a clock of the grand father shape, nearly six feet high, made entirely of straw. The wheels, pointers, case and every detail are exclusively of straw. Wegner has taken 15 years to construct this strange piece of mechanism. It keeps perfect time, but under the most favorable circumstances cannot last longer than two years. "Darling,” said the American heir ess, "it is Dot. true, is it, that you want to marry me for my money?" "No, dearest,” answered tl e duke de Ragges ct Patchez, "but I don't hold it against you.”—Baltimore Amer ican. MUST BELIEVE IT. Every Reader Will Concede the Truth of This Statement. One who suffers with backache or any form of kidney trouble wants a lasting cure, not i merely a temporary benefit. Profit by the example of Rev. J. M. Suffield, of 2179 S. 8th St., Lincoln, Xebr.. who confirms a report ; of his cure after several years. "I told in a state- ; ment made for pub lication in 1900 how Doan's Kidney Pills | had relieved me after other reme dies had failed," said Rev. Suffield. “I have no hesita- • tion in confirming that statement now. 1 I have used Doan's Kidney Pills at i various times and they have never ' failed me.” Sold by all dealers. 50 cents a box. j Foster-Jlilburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. A Dubious Tribute. The young theological student who had been supplying the Rushby pul pit for two Sundays looked wistfully at Mrs. Kingman, his hostess for the | time being. "Did you like the sermon this morning, if 1 may ask?" he in quired. "You done real well with the material you selected,” said Mrs. Kingman, with much cordiality. "As I said to Zenas on the way home, 'I've heard a 1 dozen or more sermons ‘treached on that text, and this young man's the first one that ever made me realize how difficult 'twas to explain.’ ”— Youth's Companion. Sheer white goods, In fact, any tine Wash goods when new, ewe much of their attractiveness to the way they are laundered, this being done in a manner to enhance their textile beau ty. Home laundering would be equal ly satisfactory if proper attention was given to starching, the first essential being good Starch, which has sufficient strength to stiffen, without thickening the goods. Try Defiance Starch and you will be pleasantly surprised at the improved appearance of your work. The First Word. “That is what I call an ideal mar riage,” Hardy declared to his wife as they were walking homeward after an evening at the Carrolls’. “Actually, l believe both think absolutely alike.” “Y’es. they are certainly charming,” assented Mrs. Hardy; "but about thinking. Joe. if you will notice, she generally thinks first.”—Youth's Com panion. Important to Mothers. Examine carefully every bottle of C ASTORIA a safe and sure remedy for infants and children, and see that it Si In Hse For Over 30 Years. The Kind You Have Always Bought. Finance and Fasnions. Howell—I thought you didn't like the way the tailor made that cheek suit and that you were going to make iiint take it back. Powell—I tried to, but I found that protested cheeks didn't go with him.— Bohemian. For Colds and Grip. Lane's Pleasant Tablets (laxative) cure eolds in an hour and are the best treat ment for griii. Do not wait a minute when you feel a cold coining on. but get a box of t!»<-—<* iablets and save suffering and ex fiense. They are sold hv druggists and dealers at 25 cents a box. Orator F. Woodward. Lc Roy. X. \'. Sample free. The Insignia. "What makes you think that man would make a detective?” “Because it. some natural to him tc wear a slouch hat and a white neck tie.” Try Murine- Eye Itemedy For Red. ttcak. Weary, Watery Kye*. Compounded t»v Experit-nred Physicians. Conforms to tne Pure Food and Drugs Law. Murine Doesn't Smart. Soothes Eye Pain. Try Murine for Your Eyes. 'true friendship can afford true knowledge. A want of discernment cannot be an ingredient in it.—Thor eau. Lewis' Single Binder cigar—richest, most satisfying smoke on the market. Your dealer or Lewis’ Factory, Peoria, 111., The best thing to do when you catch a cold ia to let go of it. ONI.T ONE “BROMO oriXINE " That is LAXATIVE BHOMO yltlNINE. lxiok foi the signsiure of K. W. liHOVK. I ,ni the World over u> Cure a Cold in One Day 2uc. One way to remove paint is to sit down on it. before it is dry. Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. Tor children teething, softens tbe gums, reduce* In fimmmstlon. Alleys pstn, cure* wind colic. SJc» bottle. It sometimes happens that a distant relation is too close. 5c and 10c Perfect Crackers —Always Taken a Biscuit retain their freshness— until last cracker is gone— The triple - scaled, wax - lined package keeps then crisp, flaky and whole—free from dust and exposure. Are the product of a million dollar bakery— They are made in white tile—top floor ovens—surrounded by air and light. Think how good these crackers must be. You can’t help buying them again and again after you try the first package. At your grocer’s—5c and 10c. l00SE-\VlLES biscuitco. ~ Positively cured by BARTERS T>aySwee?rn.llH & Sig Plant. Tool and S#*d Catalog Bf-ee to Intending buyers. Write for iWB ime today. HU THE JOHN A. SALZEK SEED CO. 3@ LaCROSSE, VMS. w fl| This. Trade-mark | Eliminates All Uncertainty UJL in ilic purchase of paint materials. It is an absolute guarantee of pur ity anl quality. For your own ■»-- protection, see I that it is on the side cf every keg of white lead you buy. 1 NATIONAL LEAD COMPANY tl02 Trtf*> lnlUlni. Ntw Yat W. N. U.. OMAHA, NO. 15, 190S. TOILET ANTISEPTIC -NOTKINC L(K£ IT FOR TriTTU Paxtine excelsanvdentifrice < l»L I bb I n in cleansing, whitening and removing tartar from the teeth, besides destroying ail germs of decay and disease which ordinary tooth preparations cannot do. SfiAlPaxline used as a mouth t* KvtUvfln wash disinfects the mouth tnd throat, purifies the breath, and kills the germs which collect in the mouth, causing sere throat, bad teeth, bad breath, grippe, and much sickness. PUPA when i.'.lamed, t.r-d. aihe 1 alt Ei I bw and burn, may be mstamiy relieved and strengthened by PaxtLee. PATABBU Paxline will destroy the germs VBI Annll that cause catarrh, heal the ru Oam mat ion and stop the discharge. It is a sure remedy for uterine catarrh. Paxtine is a harmless yet powerful germicide,disinfectant and deodorizer, used in bathing it destroys odors and leaves the body antisepticaliy clean. FOR SALE AT DRUG STORES,50c. OR POSTPAID BY MAIL. LARGE SAMPLE FREE! THE PAXTON TOtLET CC.. BOSTON. MASS. Worms “Cascarets are certainly fine. I gave a friend one when the doctor was treating him for caucrr of the stomach. The next morning he passed four pieces of a tape worm. He then got a box and in three days he passed a tape-worm 45 feet long. It was Mr. Matt Fteck, of Milleraburg. Dauphin Cc.. Pa. I am quite a worker for c«seu rcts. I use them tuyself and find them benefit ial for most any disease caused by impure blood." Chas. E. Condon,Dewiston, Pa., (Miffiiu Co.» Pleasant. Palatable, Pofcmt, Taste Good. Do Good. Never Sicken, Weaken or Gripe. 10c, 25c, 50c. Never sold in bulk. The genu ine tablet stamped C C C. Guaranteed to cure or your money bud;. 921 Omaha Directory RUBBER GOODS by mall at rut prices. Send for free catalogue. VVER8 DILLON DRUQ CO.. OMAHA. NtBR. Revero Rubber Hose ^Sl.e.or LEWIS SUPPLY CO., OMAHA MAPLEINE a flavoring that is used the same as lemon «>r vanilla. By diHsolvinf granulated sugar in water ami adding Mapleiiu*. a delleiotre syrup i s made and a svruu bedcr * haa map * Mapleine i s sold by grocer?. I f not ^-nd .ifte fur 2ox. bot.and recipe book, i Tiprni *r». to.. F0R THT1TT7 pirp distemper IJr I |\l K L VL CATARRHAL FEVER I 1 I 1 |\ Pm I P. AND ALL NOSE * AND THROAT DISEASES Cures the siek and acts as a preventive for others. Liquid given on the tongue. Safe for brood mares and ail others. Bestkidnev remedy; 50 rents and $1.00 a bottle: fo ld and llu.00 the dozen, field by at! druggist* and horse goods houses, or sente-vpiess paid, bv the mamifuetuers. SPOHN MEDICAL CO., Chemists, GOSHEN, INDIANA Registered U. S.i'at. Office Ask for the Baker’s Cocoa bearing this trade mark. Don’t be misled by imitations The genuine sold everywhere PUTNAM FADELESS DYES