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CURIOUS GROWTH ON A TREE
Peculiar Formation at Top of a Com
mon 8pruce That Is Explained by
Country Life.
London. Tho photograph flhowa a
curlouB growth on a common Bpruco
tree. Tho tree was about forty years
old, and was cut down a short time
ago and this growth formed at tho top.
It forms a very dense mass, and In
circumference measures exactly seven
feet, whllo the weight of the pole and
growth as seen In the flower-pot comes
to nearly three-quarters of a hundred
weight. The natural spruce may be
4
MIC wireless spark that cries to tho
shoro for help when night and terror
scttlo down on tho doomed steam
ship, and the wild moment of
thanksgiving us thu messago of do
Uvcrauco drums in the weary
operator's eur, has furnished many
11 thrill, but tho cry from shore,
xcarchlng tho sea and finding tho
whlto speck on Its bosom that means
hopo and life, Is rare, und to put it
mildly, reversing tho order of things.
Of courso, in story books tho horo
often finds hluiRulf east uway and Is
put to no great shift to rig a wire
less, whose uncouth putterings turn tho great
steamship from her path and bring the right girl
In tho bargain.
Hut this is a story of Swan Island. Desplto
tho name you would not caro to live on Swan
Island. Thero are no. swans, nor nro there uny
dainty ox-eyed JunoB or peroxdo Junos to marry
tho castaway carl.
Swan Island lies In the tropics, somo hundred
miles off Honduras if you insist on getting out
your ntlas and by common report 1b tho most
forsaken thing In tho Caribbean sea, which Is
saying much.
ft would be hard to imagine a more dreary placo
or one Ipbb suited for tho local color to a story
'with a thrill. A few huts scattered over tho
Bwampy ground, somo palms, somo cocoanut
treeB, and tho tally Is complete, all but tho wire
less station.
Commerco must bo served, nnd the United
Fruit company has erected on Swan Island a lit
tle station that keeps tn touch with steamships
passing COO miles out to seu. Tho station also
roltiyu messages from Port Union, Costa Rica
(see your map agnln), over to Jamaica.
Nothing else romalns In tho summing up at
Swan Island but scorpions, trautulaa and 11 multi
tude of carnivorous insects whoso execution would
drivo tho Npw Jersey product to envious suicide.
Thither nt the close of h sweltering day in
autumn came a new wireless operator nnd a visi
tor. Necessity brought tho operator, curiosity
brought tho visitor. The same Btcamshlp depos
ited both on tho whlto beach, to call a month later
with another operator. Kecunn, the wireless man,
was In luck, for after n mouth nlono on Swan
Island that 1b, nlono so far us whlto companions
aro concerned oxcopt for a slnglo "bench comber,"
which Is doomed sufllclont by tho company men
show tho beginnings of a lino of self-addressed
conversation which would not entitle them any
too firmly to tho major promise, "Man Is a ration
al animal."
' Curiosity and scorpions brought tho visitor, ono
Warren Carow, who hailed from Now York and
should havo known better. Carow had monoy
and troops of friends, picked up In odd parts of
tho globe, but ho preferred to list scorpions. He
was n nnturallst, ho told tho wireless man, and
Kccnan, accustomed to Btrange men and strango
places, shrugged his (moulders and was glad for
tho companionship tho nnturallst brought.
At daylight, before tho heat of tho sun mndo
lifo n burden, Carow collected his ugly specimens,
and later ho talked with Kecnuu, who furnished
gossip of tho world snatched from tho passing
craft. Two weeks passed In desultory fashion,
with morning searches and afternoons looking
over tho hot bluo sea boforo und tho lagoon be
hind, that lay llko n spot of tarnished silver
showing through tho scrawny palms. '
Carow wo8 careless and ono morning It hap
pened. Tho lobster-IIko claws of tho scorpion
nipped and Carow went off balonco. Tho nip was
not dnngcrouo, but tho sprawl throw him into
lino for tho stinging tall of tho holder of venom
that meant death death unless heroic measures
wore adopted. Vhntovor elso Carow was ho was
not u cowaid. Tho report of Keonnn and all. in
formation that can bo gnthcrcd shows ho acted
witli Spartan courngo hut ngnlu ho was careless.
Tho small pot In tho cnlf of tho log where tho
poison entcrod was bared by him nnd n common
Jnckknlfo brought Into play. Quickly Carow cut
at tho plnco, and slashed until there was a froo
flow from ,n wound thrco Inches long. Ho bound
up tho log with strips of clothing and hobbled
back to his hut.
Keonan saw him atid hurried to his nsslstnnco.
Carow was mndo comfortnble in a bunk, and
sweltered cheerfully through tho uftornoon, bo
Moving ho had saved himself. CoplouB doses of
brandy muddled his senses and Kecnon returned
to his post. Thoro wero no signs of tho swift
death that follows tho sting of tho 'scorpion.
VJIZVE&66
Two days passed and on tho evening of the
third Kccnan noticed the mat curtntns drawn in
Carow'H hut. A group of natives gesticulated bo
foro the door, but none would enter. Tho wlreloss
operator pushed asldo tho drawn matting, wonder
ing why Carow should havo closed himself In
when tho slightest breath of sultry air was a
blcssod relief. Carew sat In u corner of the hut
laughing. He had lighted the lamp, which added
to tho almost unbearable heat of tho but.
Tho wirolcss mun gaBped out: "What's tho mat
ter? Don't you want any air? You'll suffocate."
Ho started to draw asldo the curtains, when tho
naturalist stopped hint.
"Don't." ho said. "It's cold. My leg will catch
cold.'
Swiftly Keounu had him by U16 shoulders, and
thero In tho stifling room examined tho wounded
leg. It took but u glance to not thu swelling and
tho coming of thu first mortification around tho
wound. Qnngrcne would set In, if It had not como
already. Tho end was certain death.
More brandy and water thrown on him despite
protest, brought from the naturalist tho story oft
tho cutting. Ho had used an unclean blado, and
this was tho result, Roth men returned to tho
wireless station, Koenan helping tho now fright
ened hunter of scorpions.
A grim plUmco settled over them, and whllo
Carew sat dumbly awaiting tho outcomo Koenan
thought hard.
It was nearly midnight when the Idea came.
Away out at bob, hundreds of miles, wero ves
sels passing. If ho could only summon ono and
persuade tho captain to turn In to savo a life.
"I'll wireless n doctor, old man!" Keenan shouted,
Joyfully clapping the Inert Carew on tho shoulder.
Tho naturalist was too amazed for tho tlmo be
ing to grasp the Idea, but after ho caught tho
spirit his anxiety was pitiful.
"Hut tho steamship would not tuin so fnr," ho
walled. Then ho cried out: "Promise them any
thing. I can pay."
Ills dynamos running smoothly, Keenan lin
gered tho koy nnd the bluo sparks crackled. Ho
repented at Intervals und waited. Thero was no
answering click In tho receivers. Through this
night tho crackling kept up whllo thu nwnkoned
natives and tho comber hurried to thu station to
watch tho blue spark that snarled out Into tho
tropjeal night.
Toward morning Port Llmon answered, but hero
was no help. At daylight tho swelling had In
creased, and with tho nppronch of what ho be
lieved tho end tho Now York man beenmo calm.
"I am sorry, frlond," ho said, "but I think It's
pretty near over. Wo nro too far from help, and,
besides, it is nil impossible No ship would turn.
I promlso not to break down again. If I do bo
como cray and thero Is no hopo, I depend on you
to" and ho nodded significantly townrd his re
volver. Keenan did not answer. Somewhere out on the
Cnrlbbean ho know tho Santa Marta was plough
ing along, so ho piled tho wireless unceasingly.
Tho answer canto about nlno o'clock In thu
morning from tho Santa Martn, which roportod
her position exactly 420 milos to tho southeast.
Rapid oxchnnges brought a refusal to turn to
Swan Island. Tho ship's surgeon, Dr. W. S. Irwin,
standing bcsldu the wireless, said it would bo uso
less. And tho messngo was sont to'Keennn, who
dared not look at tho doomed young man.
That seemed to to bo tho end for a moment.
Then there enmo a now sputtering in tho receiver.
"The doctor says to perform tho operation your
self." "How can I?" the spark from Swan Inland ques
tioned tho Snnta Martn at sea.
Rack' came tho Instructions.
"Oct him ready," snld tho wirolcss. "You havo
Warron'B medical book thoro and you can go on
tho pages I mention. Dcscrlbo tho symptomB."
Kceuan told tho condition of tho wound nnd
tho circumstances, but ho InslBtcd on his fears
whon It enmo time to amputate.
"No amputation necessary," enmo br.ck tho mes
sago. "A lot ot cutting according to direction and
your man Is saved."
J&JBJVD
Keenan howled this message to thu trembling
man' and made ready for further directions.
"Tako a tourniquet," said the wireless. It was
hard to believe that out of sight beyond the hori
zon n trained mind at another Instrument was di
recting through spaco the way to save a human
life. 9
With the aid ot the beach comber the tourniquet
was applied und.u knife Carew's own, which hud
caused the trouble plunged in boiling water to
tnako it clean. More brandy was served to him
by the wireless man and everything was ready
for the operation. A native boy who acted us
Herman's helper ran after articles as directed.
ny turning to the page ho had been directed
Keenan found a chart of the leg.
"Ready," he flashed to Dr. Irwin.
The first direction came, he repeated It back
and it was verified, so thoro could bo no mistake.
Knch part of tho lunclng wns gono over carefully
under repented Instructions. Meantime the Santa
Martn continued to plunge along on thu blue Ca
ribbean.
And when tho cutting was over there came
tho query from tho ship to shore:
"Have you any tar?"
Kecnuu had, and thu instruction came to boll
It and pour It on tho now clean wound. It wns
rough surgery, but tho best thing under thu cir
cumstances. Carow fainted under it and was re
vived. "Tell him he's safe now," camo tho wireless.
Tho tourniquet wns removed and tho numbed
log, still horribly painful under tho searing tar,
was bandaged.
"Got plenty of brandy?" asked tho spark.
"About tho only thing wo have," Keonnn pound
ed back.
"Iet him havo enough to forget his troubles,"
ordered tho surgeon, and tho messago was sent.
Now by rights nil should hnvo beon over1 with
the saving of Carew. nut thero remained thu ono
touch that will bo a long tlmo finding Its dupli
cate. Tho following day the young naturalist appear
ed dragging himself along with n cano In deflauco
of orders. Ho stopped by tho wlreloss man who
had taken his Instrument out under tho trees.
"Forget it," ho said when tho other began to
romonstrato. "I feel great. It's wonderful to
know you're going to live after all. .1 want to
thank that doctor."
So Kccnan raided l(tho Santa Marta again nnd
tho surgeon wnB called to tho wirolcss room.
"Tell him I can't opornto tho key so it means
anything," said Carow, "but If ho will sit down nt
thu Instrument I'll make some dots with tho thing
and that will servo for tho present. You know
our hands will really touch whon IiIb has ono koy
and I thu other nnd tho nlr between.''
And 60 it happened that through tho air over
thu bluo Caribbean there passed sundry dots that
meant nothing nnd overythlng.
r LYflPsBBBfBSBrsvr $t
Spruce "Witches' Broom."
observed nt tho top and in tho right
hand corner. Of course, the pole was
only Inserted In the pot for tho pur
pose of photography.
Tho pecullur growth of Bpruce (Pi
cen uxcelsu), shown In the accompany
ing photograph, Is one of tho numerous
forms of wltchee' brooms, which occur
on many kinds of trees. Tho most fa
miliar example of witches' broom 1b
that which appears on the common
birch, somewhat resembling a crow's
nest in outline. Modifications of such
growth are found, however, on most
kinds of trees, (sometimes fairly com
monly, as In hornbeam and cherry; at
other times at Infrequent intervals, as
in spruco and pine. They vary a good
deal In habit, some forming untidy clus
ters of long, slender branches, as In
the laburnum and lime, and others
growing into globular or cushlon-llko
compact musses such as the one hero
indicated. All are considered to orig
inate through irritation set up in tho
first place In ono or more dormant
buds; but by thu time tho growths aro
noticeable the source of the original
Injury cannot alwajB be determined, a
peculiarity of such growths being that
onco the abnormal condltkm has start
ed it goes on indefinitely, nlthough tho
original fourco of bud Injury may havo
disappeared. It is well known that the
causo of somo such growths is duo to
fungus agency, nnd others to insect
punctures. Tims tho large -witches'
brooms on' birch aro known to bo
caused by the fungus Exonscus turgl
dua, whereas tho small, and much
moro harmful, knotty growths on
birch branches nro duo to irritation sot
up by a tiny Insect, Erlophyes rudls.
As a rule, large growths, such us tho
ono shown In the photograph, do little
or no harm to tho trees on which they
may chance to exist, but tho small
birch growth provlously nottced often
kills thoso on which It occurs. Coun
try Llfo.
TRY CHILD OF EIGHT YEARS
THE SURPRISE.
"Well, what's tho verdict, doctor?" y
"You aro worn out. Tho best thing for you to,
do Is fix up your business affairs and take a
month's vacation." "'
"Why, confound It, doctor, I Just got back!"
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
HE SOLVED IT.
"Talking nbout tho servant problem, I know
one man who got a woman to do his cooking,
wnshlng, Ironing, housework, monding nnd clean
ing, just for nor board."
"Vyitero did ho got n prlzo servant llko that?"
"Sho's 'his wlfo."
ITS ADVANTAGES.
"Thoro Is ono good tiling nbout tho stock of
that Irrigating enterprise."
"What is ,lt?"
"Thoy ought' to be able to water It cxten
French Court Has Case of Attempted
Murder, With Schoolboy as De
fendant In Case.
Paris. -At Rennes, a boy of eight
years, named Francois Lonormand,
has boon tried for the attempted mur
dor of a schoolfellow. Lonormand
had been punished at school for some
trifling fault, and belloving that a
child named Joachim Keronas bad
"told on" him, ho lay In wait for
KoronaB in n lane, knocked him
down, nnd struck him on tho head
with a knife, and kicked him fiercely.
Tho victim lay for a long tlmo bo
tween llfo and death, and tho doctors
fear that his reason has been hopo
lessly nffectcd. Tho child statod In
his defenso that ho wns drunk at tho
moment of tho crimo. IIIb statement
was proved to bo true. Tho court ot
Montfort decided that ho should bo
confined in n reformatory, but tho
higher tribunal of Rennes qunshed
tho verdict, and sent him back to hla
parents.
Trolley Wire Nearly Kills Boy.
Chicago. A crowd of schoolboys,
who throw n wiro over n trolley con
nection "Just for fun," niny cost the
llfo ot Walter Armons, aged eleven,
who touched tho wiro.
Coxey to Invade Washington.
Washington. General Otoxoy is go
ing to lead another army ot unem
ployed Into Washington. Ho declnrca
ho will head 500,000 Into Washington
May 1.
IS CHILD CROSS,
FEVER SH SICK
is
Look, Mother! If tongue
coated, give "California
Syrup of Figs."
Children love this "fruit laxative.'
and nothing else cleansep, the tender
atomach, liver and bowels bo nicely.
A child simply will not stop playing
to ompty tho bowels, nnd tho result is
they becomo tightly clogged with
wasto, liver gets sluggish, stomach
sours, then your little one becomes
cross, half-sick, feverish, don't cat,
sleep or act naturally, breath Is bad,
system full of cold, has soro throat,
stomach-ache or diarrhoea. Listen,
Mother I See If tonguo Is coated, then
glvo a teaspoonful of "California
Syrup ot Figs," and in a few hours all
the constipated waste, sour bllo nnd
undigested food passes, out of tho sys
tem, and you hnvo n well child again.
Millions of mothers glvo "California
Syrug of Figs" because it Is perfectly
harmless; children love it, and It nev
er fails to uct on tho stomach, liver
and bowels.
Ask nt tho storo for a 50-ccnt bottlo
of "California Syrup of Figs," which
has full directions for babies, children
of all ogrs and for grown-ups, plainly
printed on tho bottle. Adv.
Professional Rule.
Ex-Patient Your bill of ?'.'0, doctor,
Is altogether ton much. Why, it was
only u headache 1 had.
Doctor Quito so; but, my dear sir,
I diagnosed the case as incipient
brain fever Mind my bill is in ado out
accordingly.
WHAT AN 0HI0AN
HAS TO SAY ADOUT CONDITIONS
IN WESTERN CANADA.
W. E. Lewis formerly lived near
Dayton, Ohio., He went to Saskatche
wan seven years ago with $1,800 in
money, a carload of household effects
and farm implements, including four
horses and three cows. Of courso, tho
first year he only got feed from the
crops, but tho socond year had 100
acres in wheat which made over 2,800
bushels. Ho has not had a failure la
crop, and nt prcsont has 22 head ot
horses, 15 head of cattle and 35 hogB,
and owns 1,120 acres of land, all un
der cultivation. He has been offered
$35 an acre for his land, and should
he care to dispose of his holdings ho
could pay all his debts and have $30r
000 to the good; but, as he says,
"Where could I go to Invest my money
and get as good returns." He con
tinues In his lotter to the immigration
department, August, 1912:
"We have equally as good If not
bettor prospects for crops this year as
we had three years ago, when our
wheat ranged from 30 to 48 bushels
per acre. I never believed such crops
could be raised until I saw them my
self. I had 15 acres that year that
made 50 bushels to tho acre. Our
harvest will be ready by tho 12th.
Wo havo this season In crop 400 acres
of wheat, 125 of oats, 90 of flax and
run three binders with four men to
do tho stooklng. Wo certainly like
this country and tho winters, although
tho winters are cold nt times, but wo
do not Buffer aa ono would think.
What wo havo accomplished here can
bo duplicated In nlmost any of the
new districts." Advertisement
Too Cheap,
llko to propose
a little
He I'd
toast
She Nono of that cheap stuff for
me. I'm hungry. Rrlng mo a bird
and n cold bottlo.
A GRATEFUL OLD MAN.
Mr.W.D. Smith, Ethel, Ky., writes?
"I have been using Dodd's Kidney Pills
for ten or twelve years and thoy have
done me a great deal ot good. I do
not think I would be
alive today if It
wero not for Dodd's
Kidney Pills. I
strained my back
about forty years
ago, which left it
very weak. I was
troubled wlthinflam-
mnUnn nt ihn hlnri.
w. u. amitn. for. Dodd's Kidney
Pills cured me of that and the Kidney
Trouble. I tako Dodd's Kidney Pills
now to keep from having Backache. I
am 77 years qld and a farmer. You ara
at liberty to publish this testimonial,
and you may use my plcturo In con
nection with it" Correspond with Mr.
Smith about this wonderful remedy.
Dodd's Kidney Pills, 50c. per box at
your dealer or Dodd's Medicine Co..
Buffalo, N. Y. Wrlto for Household
Hints, also music of National Anthem
(English and German words) and reci
pes for dainty dishes. All 3 cent free.
Adv.
Hiring a Cook.
"And you have two afternoons off a
week."
"With tho ubo of tho nutomobllo?"
Loulsvlllo Courior-Journnl.
Important to Mothers
Examine carefully every bottle ol
CASTORIA, a snfo and Buro remedy for
Infants nnd children, and aco that It
Bears tho smv
Signature of Qia&ffi&c&M
In Uso For Over 30 Yoara.
Children Cry for Kctchor'a Castorii
Queer 8ort
"What bent bos this young man la
the drama?"
"Straight work."
..
MJ
la
.