The Marriage Vow WHY SOME WOMEN AVOID CUPID BY MISS DORA MAY MORRELL * Many women will not marry be cause they prefer to keep their indi viduality as they cannot if they wed. I They do not care to change their en tire scheme of living to suit some man. They are selfish? Perhaps, but at least they make no one else the victim of fheir fault. The law in many states so discrim inates against woman that it is an argument against marrying to those who know anything about it. The man, generous fellow, says at his wedding, “with all my worldly goods I thee endow." and the wife who believes it finds to her surprise that so far from being the recipient of all his worldly goods he owns even the garments she wears. The woman who sees her as sistant's salary drawn by the worth less husband with whom she will nor live, but who can live on her earn ings, is not likely to think well of a condition which permits the injustice; she who reads of a child willed away front its mother for no better reason than (he malice of an, angry husband is likely, to deliberate a little, for if nature teaches anything or proves anything, it is that the child is the mother's. When the law gives chil dren to their mothers it will do much to make women wish to marry and to become mothers. It may seem doubt ful if these points in the law would keep any woman from marrying, but they have. It is true that woman ioves her freedom, perhaps the more that it is so new to her. She realizes as no man can the blessings which have fceen his for ages to work as he will und climb where daring leads, and she longs to work, too, and to climb, to make herself something to the big (world. She loves the possibility of ithis power so well that she will not iresign it for an unworthy claimant. The man who turns an earnest woman •from the delights of congenial work :and independence must be a man 'whom she loves mere than she does iherseif. No imitation man attracts her, for she counts the cost before Ehe owns him "lord and master,” and in spite of all the talk about the in dependent woman and how she has changed from the “clinging vine” va riety she is like her of all bygone days in that she never does love until Jier heart tells her here is he who is lord over her. Women have so long been forgiving to man's infidelities that it may be surprising to be told that they have kept women from marrying, yet the statement is true. There are women who have what is called instinctive virtue and who have no comprehen sion and can have none of the average man's point of view. To such a one it is monstrous that a man can be un true to her before marriage as after. She knows no reason why, he more than she should seek illicit pleasures. There are always in womanly women two motives in marriage strong within them, and it is often an actual pain to act counter to them. First of all is the desire for children. After a woman has reached 30, unless she is a shallow creature she regrets that she does not know motherhood A French woman once said to the writer: "Of course, marriage is a. necessary evil. Women don't expect to he happy with their husbands, but then there are the children, and one lives again in them, and nas joy even with the sorrow of years;” and the woman who is childless loses all this, her birthright. Then another inducement to the self-supporting woman toward matri mony is the desire to belong to some body. It is not that she wants a home of her own—she has it as the fruit of her labors and the independence for which she pays the price; it is not even for the sake of man’s society. ! These two influences w’lthin woman kind fight for man, and either or both is often stronger than her pleasure in her work, her love of independence, and all the reasons combined which keep her single. Then weigh the bal ance yet more with a man whom she admires, honors and loves, and there is but one reason why woman doss not marry—she can not. Therefore, if man wishes the data concerning matrimony and educated women to change he has simply to make him self the man whom a woman of mind, heart and character will desire, and surely it is better to be chosen as a fine type of higher manhood than as the payer of bills. The man, not his money, is the compliment such a woman pays him when she ceases io be the woman who does not wish to marry. Let there be more men of that stamp and the woman will be un known who does not wish to marry. (Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.) MATRIMONIAL PARTNERSHIP BY MRS. VIRGINIA VAN DEWATER All the sentiment in the world does not mask the fact that marriage is a contract. Xor does the marriage state lose one iota of its solemnity and beauty by be ing a business contract instead of a mere gilden thread of very fragile and fragible love vows. For only by following out the con tract idea and the partnership clause therein implied can marital happiness be made certain and permanent. Sentiment in married life is very beautiful. Without it such life is like song-words without music. But when sentiment ignores businesslike man agement of domestic life it lapses from sentiment (which is the essence of iove) into sentimentality (whose first ! tter is its only connecting bond with "sanity’')! True marriage should be a joint partnership in which "the party of the first part" and “the party of the sec ond part" should (as in regular busi ness firms) be permitted to do as he or she pleases, allowing to the other member of the firm the same priv ilege; so long as neither does any thing to endanger that firm's strength and integrity. Two men who enter business part nership do not quarrel daily as to which shall rule. There is no ques tion of superiority or mastery. There is equality, and the harmony that nothing but equality can bring. Nag ging, too, is a conspicuously absent quantity in the equation. Were two men to plunge into endless disputes as to which was really the ruler, and •were they to seek to win each point by nagging, such a firm might, with i rare good luck, endure for “one con secutive day.” Yet husband and wife who resort to the same unpleasant tactics are ex pected to remain as one until “death them do part.” If two people truly love each other mere difference of opinion on a few— or on many—subjects is no bar to hap piness. The little differences of opin ion amount to no real difference, and with a tactful hand at the helm it is easy to steer around the rocks. These rocks are, after all, usually nothing more formidable than pebbles. It is hard to understand why the early fathers did not enlarge the list of seven deadly sins to eight, in order to include nagging. Perhaps because the example of Samson’s fall through much nagging was then so much fresher in people’s minds as to render a separate warning on the subject less necessary than now. It is a sin that brings its own punishment. Note Kipling's warning to his countrymen, wTho are prone to nag and worry the Hindu: For the Christian riles And the Aryan smiles. And it weareth the Christian down. Far more doth it wear down both nagger and naggee in the married "firm.” Another rock whereon many a good ly marital partnership has come to grief is the subject of money. I truly believe that the greatest drawback to married happiness between persons who love and trust each other is lack of money. There is still another phase of -mar ried life wherein wife and husband might profitably take a lesson from business men: When two men have formed a partnership neither inquires into such details of the other's past as the latter would fain leave buried. Nor does either seek to regulate the personal actions of the other. I do not believe that if the average woman saw her husband was willing for her to have the same liberty as he himself demands, she -would, as a rule, complain or scold as often as she does under other conditions. If a woman insists on being unreasonable and on complaining when the husband who gives her her own way takes his way in return she must expect that he will do as he pleases—and not tell her. That is the invariable result of fault finding and criticism. (Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.) WHIST VERSUS ALGEBRA Fo rmer Much Better for Mental | Discipline, Declares a Prominent Educator. A certain prominent educator holds to the belief that the study of alge bra, firmly anchored upon the school system of the country, is merely a waste of time and a relic of barbar ism. Being tactful as well as promi nent, he says nothing about the mat ter where it might reach the sensitive sars of tradition, but his personal con -viction is that a course in whist would lie far more valuable training. “The ancient defence for algebra— jthe one always advanced ’—he says, h‘is that it affords such valuable men ial discipline. My observation among (thousands of pupils of all grades has -been that it is worse than useless for brain exercise. It is nothing to any pupil but a collection of formulae. It Is properly a special subject, useful 'In a few'scientific employments. “For a real mental discipline, one that would require and inculcate log ical thinking and train the mind while affording opportunity for original work, I should choose whist. ‘ As a good illustration of the re sults of algebra, I recall a class of high school teachers who were taking a summer lecture course at a univer sity. There were four algebra teach ers among them. Invariably these four were the ones who could not grasp the subtle points, had not heard what the professor said and needed further explanation. They spent most of their time in class wor rying their neighbors with questions and looking over their neighbor’s shoulder for a glimpse of her note book. There is no reasonable excuse for fastening algebra upon the schools as an absolute requirement.” * - - Right Side the Best. “She is trying to get on the right side of young Skads.” “She knows that a man's right arm is stronger than his left.” Autumn Costumes The costume at the left is of soft cloth in a "dregs of wine” shade, trimmed with a heavy raised embroidery in the same shade. This embroidery simulates a bolero and trims the underskirt. The princess tunic is ornamented at the bottem with buttons and tjrms a sort of tabier attached on each side to a girdle of the material, the rounded ends of which are fastened with buttons. The yoke is of white lace bordered on each side with a band of taffeta or liberty. The other costume is of plum-celorod taffeta or cloth. It forms a princess tunic with little sleeves and is turned up at the bottom. It is ornamented in front with straps of cord aDd passementerie buttons, and is finished around the neck and sleeves with a cord embroidery. The undersleeves are of Irish lace colored to match the gown, and the little chemisette is of white tucked tulle. The lower part of the skirt is gath ered at the top and set on underneath the tunic, forming a deep flounce. YOUNG GIRL’S PARTY — Cream serge costumes are always so nice, and this would bo a smart style in which to make one. The skirt is made with a seam up the left side 9'! front, it is wcnoped ami stitched twice, and has si.‘»-covered buttons sewn on the inside, ike semi-fitting coat fasten* on the bust with buttons and cords, braid to match is put twice round the entire coat, and also edges the sleeves. Hat of w hite straw, trimmed with a wreath of flowers. Materials required: Six and one-half yards serge 4S inches wide, seven yards braid, two dozen buttons, ZVs yards coat lining. Blue Tweed Suit. A tweed suit for the autumn is of dark blue with a suggestion of pur ple and sepia in the pattern. It has a long coat, not fastened with the ubiquitous three buttons above the knee, but with a loose drooping belt resting on the hips and falling lower in front like a small boy’s “French" suit. This belt and the facings of the coat are of purple kid or fine leather. Toilet Powder. For chafing or prickly heat, brown flour in the skillet and sift twice until fine. For ordinary use a preparation of one-third boric acid to two-thirds cornstarch is suffcient. CHARACTER REVEALED BY HAT The Gtservant Can Tell at a Glance What Manner of Person Is Wearing It. That there is any character to be displayed in the choice and manner of wearing a hat will doubtless be a revelation to many girls. But a girl who is at all observing can tell from the hat another woman wears what manner of person it is with whom she is dealing. There is a little round black hat, w ith scarcely any attempt at trim ming, except a flat, black bow. This hat is sure to he worn by a little old maid, one who is sweetened rather than soured by her single lot. She is one who is absorbed in other people's children. A simple little toque worn with a veil indicates the girl of great com mon sense. Nothing especially star tling or original about her. Just a good sort. The girl who chooses a hat with abrupt angles, who always lias wings or stiff, conventional trimming on her hats, and who never wears flowers, is anothe: kind altogether. You may al ways know her to be determined, in dependent, and if given half a chance, she will be domineering. There is a sort of soft, elusive, feathery kind of creation that is worn by some women. A man would say she was distinctly feminine, womanly in al she did. But she is more than this—she is subtle, elusive and charm ing She is the girl all men think they would like to marry, but there are not enough of this sort to go round. The Blouse. There are many new developments in the woman's blouse, as separate waists are no longer considered fash ionable when they are of an entirely different color. The blouse must b( very serviceable, and many of the present-day dressmakers are attempt ing to disguise them in such a mannei that they will appear to be a part ol the frock. Yet they are separate and distinct in themselves. They are de tachable and can be worn with other skirts. A ribbon girdle, especially with a knot of blue, often aids in giv ing a touch of color to the dress, being folded across the front and cut in a deep V over the puritan collar. A but ton of the same color is worn on the belt. Mark Children's Clothes. Buy a five-cent bolt of white linen tape; cut in small pieces and write a child’s name on each piece. Paste their names written in black ink on white pieces, inside each overshoe, gloves, mitten and cap, and as a re sult the children’s garments never get mixed up or lost at school or church. Darning Stockings. Darning stockings is never a very welcome task, and too often where there is a large family the task seems almost endless. The following method will insure less darning, because the darns being more secure will last longer. Before beginning to darn a hole, tack a piece of coarse net tightly to the stocking over the hole; then darn over the net, and be sure to darn firm into the stocking as well, to keep the darn firm. The net makes such a good foundation that the work Is more quickly done, and the result is a much neater dam than one done in the* old way. Bed Coverings. As fall advances and the country wife Is preparing her house for the cooler days, she will find an excellent substitute for filmy swiss and net cov erings upon her bed in cotton taf feta. It can be purchased in pretty colors and finished with a flounce of the same material. One can applique immense flower motifs to the cover ' ould a color be desired. Then* are flower patterns in cretonne that great ly resemble Bierdermier and they look artistic on cotton taffeta. The latest cover is perfectly square and sections are cut out at each corner so that the straight valance can fall perfectly flat around the bed and will not be tucked up at corners. But the feature is this: A strip of lace insertion, cotton ori ental braid or some fancy trimming is stitched to outline the top of the bed or box portion, and the edges of the straight valance are trimmed with short ruffles of flowered lawn. These are wonderfully pretty, especially when lawn is used to strip the cover. Keeping Ribbons. Do not put odds and ends of ribbon in an indiscriminate mass in a box. Have either boxes or envelopes for different colors. The latter are com pact and easily managed if the ribbon is folded neatly around cards. Thus there could be a card for baby ribbon, another for No. 1 and so on. If the outside of envelope is marked with the color and the various envelopes held together by an elastic it is easily found when wanted. MULES HAVE HELPED MAKE MISSOURI FAMOUS Few Persons Other Than Dealers Know Anything Regard ing Versatile Beasts—How They Are Classified. Kansas City is the world's great est market for mules, those useful an imals that have helped make Missouri famous, yet few person? other than dealers know anything about the ver satile beasts. To the average person "& mule is a mule,” and that’s all. But the dealers will tell you very different. The mule man will talk of “cotton” mules, “mine” mules "pitters,” “levee” mules, “sugar” mules, “rice” mules and even “mahogany” mules. He will talk about a mule’s “conformation,” estimate his height to half an iniehand classify him the minute he looks at the animal. Over half the mules sold on the market are “cotton” mules. Most of them are bought from December 1 to March 1 by the southern planters, or the dealers who supply them. A “cotton” mule must be a good mule, although an extra large one is not uemanded. The height varies from 14 to 151i hands and the weight is from 750 to 1,100 pounds. Trim, smooth haired mules that show breeding— the Missouri variety—are the kind sought for by the southern dealers and called “cotton” mules in trade vernacular. Next in importance is the “con struction” mule. With the opening up of work after the financial flurry this class was in demand. The railroad construction camps want big, rugged animals. Style is no object. Big | most any color will do for a “mine” mule except white. At the mine en trance a white mule gets dirty and looks unkempt. Down in the tunnels he remains just white enough to frighten his mates. To the little “pit ter“ mule in the dickering light of the tunnels there is something so un canny about his white brother that one white mule in a min© will create a panic. Tiien there are “sugar” mules ar.d “rice" mules, used on sugar and rice plantations. The “sugar” mule is a big, fancy priced animal, but the “rice” mule need only be rugged. Mules used in the lumber camps are called “loggers.” The principal re quirement again is not style but rug gedness. When the call comes from the Central America lumber camps the mule men call the animals “ma hogany” mules. The government buys mules de scribed in their specifications as “wheel” mules, “swing" mules, “lead” mules, "riding or saddle” mules, and “pack” mules. Government mules must be sound and from four to eight years old. The size varies. Almost any kind of a mule will do for a farm worker, although the farm er will often outbid the representative of a big drill for a pair of “advertis ers.” Strangely enough, the farmer, the great producer of mules, owns a very small per cent, of them. Most of them are in the hands of the great A Classy Type of Useful Mule. footed animals are in demand to make the drawing of heavy loads in loose dirt easier. Where levees are under construction a still larger mule is used. A "construction” mule is 15 to 16% hands high. A "levee” mule should not be under 16 hands. They are often hitched singly to twTo wheeled carts and a big animal is re quired. But the mule that brings the high est price is the “advertiser.” Size and breeding both count here. For "ad vertisers” or “wagon” mules, as they are sometimes called, big, well-shaped, nicely matched animals, that make the passer-by turn and look again—in short, a team that advertises the owner—are the kind that bring the big prices, hey are gradually taking the place of horses for heavy deliv ery purposes. Many local firms use them, sometimes hitching them three abreast.. "Mine” mules are a distinct type; they must be broad and "chunky,” but not tall. The average height is 14 hands. "Pitters” for hauling ore in underground tunnels should not be over 12% hands high. An ideal "pit ter” is shaped like a dachshund; he has a long body and short legs. Al users of the hybrids, the southern planter and contractor. Mules are high in price now. A good, big “construction'’ mule sells for $225 in Kansas City. A well matched pair of “advertisers” will bring $500. Why is there such a demand for the mule? The reason is not far to seek. The “fool mule” of the comic paper is not such a fool after all. He takes care of himself and the barn men of any big teaming company will tell >ou a pair of mules will outlast two or three pairs of horses at hard work. A mule could give an athlete points on training. He will not overeat or over- i drink. After hard work he will net! eat or drink until rested. He seems ! to know that he cost his owner no ! small sum and will not allow a care less driver to overwork him. He is not of a nervous temperament and loses no energy worrying, as a horse does. To the diseases that attack the horse in the south he is immune. Everything considered, the demand for the mule is a just tribute to his usefulness. Missourians should have a proper pride in the Missouri mule, the ideal beast of draft and burden for the south. FIRST STEP IN FATTENING Turn SHcep on Aftermath Rape, Gleanings in Cornfields, Etc., Preparing For Grains* — More or less difficulty will be met | by those who are feeding sheep for the first time, and more with lambs than with older sheep, because the first are more delicate. The first: i Some Fat Ones. step in fattening is to turn the sheep on aftermath rape, gleanings in the cornfields, etc., thus making good use of such feed and at the same time preparing the animals for their sub sequent grains. This is all prepara tory to their actual fattening and lit tle trouble has been experienced from it, unless possible scours—caused by the green feed, says the Rural Home. When sheep begin to eat corn heart ily they should be carefully watched as to stomach and intestinal troubles. Lambs, especially, eat ravenously. They should be given plenty of salt and water, and induced to eat as much green or dry roughage as pos sible. This will prevent their eating too heavily of corn. Sheep intended for the feed lot in a short time should be brought gradual ly to concentrated feed, while on the green stuff not more than a small handful of oats should be given each animal per day, and at least four weeks should be occupied in getting them on full feed. Sheeij that have not been used to grain should gain well if so fed. When on fattening feed they will finish off nicely and may be marketed by New Year’s. Since they can be finished by that time there is no reason why they should be pushed hard, and possibly at a loss. The greatest trouble an ambitious feeder has is to feed lightly enough at first, to take enough care in getting the sheep on full feed without over feeding or causing them to scour ab normally. Patience and care in the work are the chief essentials. Milk Cement Paint. "Skim milk paint” has recently been going the rounds of the agricul tural press, says a writer in American Cultivator. Skim milk will make a fairly good paint or wash, but whole milk paint is much better, since the grease in the milk is what sets the paint. The following is a personally used formula which has done won ders. It has proven for more effec tive for rough work, in my experience, than best lead and oil paint. Mix a couple of pounds of standard Portland cement in a gallon of milk—sweet or sour—and add colored paint pow der to suit. The cement is heavy and will constantly sink, so keep stir ring with every brushful, since it is the cement which makes the paint a preservative, although the grease in the milk seems to set it. After drying —in a few hours—it is impervious to dampness and forms a hard coat on the wood. The cost is very slight and the paint is unexcelled for barns, fences or any outbuilding of rough timber. I regret not having tried it as a shingle dip, as I believe it would double the life of a shingle. Nest of Hens. It is a waste of time and power— hen-power—to try to hatch eggs that have really been chilled by the hen leaving the nest. If the nest is too flat, the eggs are sure to roll out from under the hen, and if too deep the eggs will pile on | top of each other and get broken. MAKiiii-i i..u CITf iirUL A Little Instance 6f What Paris, the Metropolis of France, Is Doing Along This Line. Paris.—The secret of the surpassing beauty of Paris lies not alone in the city's prodigality in making broad squares and parks and avenues, but also in the disposition to utilise space hpwever small, which is capable of adornment. Xot only the ground itself, but buildings, private as well as public, are made to contribute tc the general beautification This was illustrated r uy years age when a private resident < reeled a six story block at the Place St. Michel just at the head of the boulevard o! that name and facing a b idge across Fountain of St. Michel, in Paris Erected to Hide Unsightly Building. the Seine. The location, adjoining ar open space of considerable dimensions offered an excellent opportunity fci the work of an artist, but the front o' the building, while presentable, wai severely piain. So, in the course of time, the muni cipality took the necessary steps and proceeded to conceal the entire wal with a fountain 85 feet high and 45 feet wide, which was dedicated to St Michel. The monument, which was designed by Duret, consists of a tri urnphal arch in the Renaissance style showing the saint and the dragon, in bronze, placed on an artificial rock from which the water falls into thres basins flanked writh griffins. At tht sides are columns of red marble bear ing allegorical bronze figures. In this way the Place SL Mictae was beautified and the owner of tht building lost nothing, for its appear ance was vastuy improved and its rental value increased. NEW ILLUMINATING SHELL French Projectile That Clearly Re veals Position of a Hostile Vleet or Army. New York.—The inventive mind seems lately to have been paying par ticular attention to the art of war as if in intelligent anticipation of i coming Armageddon, and new weap ons or improvements on old ones art constantly being anounced. The mosl remarkable novelty of the kind is that illustrated—a new illuminating shell which bursts into flame in tht air and acts as a temporary search light, revealing the position of tht army. The projectile is a French in vention, and wras first tested on tht Mediterranean coast with the fortress artillery, the results proving that at night the vessels of an enemy's fleet could be discovered at a distance ot several miles, the light burning long enough for the gunners to get tht range. The authorities were so wei: satisfied with these experiments that Illuminating Shell Reveals Warship. (he illuminating shell was then adapt ed to the field artillery and subjectec to tests on land. Here too the nove projectile proved its usefulness, anc it Is now being manufactured in quan titles. Another novelty, of which Krupp o! Essen has acquired all the pateni rights, is the air torpedo invented bj Col. Unge of Sweden. This is report ed to be one of the deadliest instru ments of warfare yet devised, and it is to be introduced into the German army and navy. Other recent inven tions are the anti-airship gun, a shrapnel grenade adapted for use with the service rifle, and a new automatic gun mounted on a motor truck, said tc be capable of conveying a supply oi ammunition and a crew of ten men 2; miles an hour along ordinar roads and to fire three-pound shells a dis tance ot three and a half miles at the rate of MO shots a minute. Fi6h Makes Good Candle. In parts of Alaska is found a kinc of fish that make a capital candle when it is dried. The tail of the fist is stuck into a crack of a woodei table to hold it upright, and its nose it lighted. It gives a good, steady light of three-candle power and con siderable heat, and will burn for aboul three hours. Greek Cheese for California A company of Greeks is establishing Cahf°rna a dairy and factory at which the milk of 8,000 sheep is L h* made into a special kind of cheese b