xuaixaa OFAN OCTOGENARIAN.
[ Written for thtrDotrolt Free Press by a man
83 years old. ]
Llko to an oak upon the mountain top
Whoso crown is eoro with ago , I stand
Among : the younger folks or later years ,
A "tblnklnjr rain , " and as , time unfolds
My lengthened life to view Jn retrospect ,
My spirit wakens irio to solemn memories.
I do remember much of childhood's joys.
And how the hours and weeks and months
Did glide away "with down upon their feet ; "
"When hope and expectation grew apace ,
And all the future glowed -with mellow light.
Ambition fired my young heart , lending
Imagination wings , and , joining hands ,
Wafted my vision toward untried fields ,
And painted , wlib golden tints , the hill-tops
Of ideal bliss. Illusions thus beginning
Follow through all the stages of our lives.
Forever on the wing , the years glide fast ,
Weaving , with watchful eye , the web
Of life ; itself a mystery stupendous ,
Mocking man's impotence of its solution.
Jndulprcnt Heaven 1 beneath thy starry vault ,
For all these eighty years these eyes have
viewed , "
With wond'ring gaze , the drapery of the skies ,
And scan'd thino azure .dome with childish
maze.
Now in this "sore and yellow leaf , " the wonder
Grows. The stars that twinkled at my advent
Twinkle still , and all the beauteous host.
Sun and' moon and stars and the ethereal
Blue of visiblo'glory. greetmy dim vision
As In my childhood's morn. The change is
not
In them but me. As contemplation wraps
Mo in sweet embrace , a solemn imupulso
Bids me ask the years , if In the long record
There shall bo found some act performed
Of good , to tell the world , when I am gone
That I lived not In vain. Tell me ,
Oh burled years , if posterity
Shall find in the long record a token
liaised in virtue's realm to save
From swift oblivion the name I bear ?
' The answer comes , and only this
"Stillest streams oft water fairest meadows ,
And lot the bird that fiuttcreth least
Is longest on the wing. " Propitious Heaven 1
And is this all the fruit of eighty years ?
Ambition's but a vain conceit that
Cheats mo with delusive hopes of good
That never shall bo mine , well , well I
This dream Is almost finished.
A few to-morrows yet may come and go ,
And leave my yesterdays but vacant space , .
Till out this nightmare of eighty years
I wako to fairer realms , to find.
At length , the motive of my being.
BRACELET NIGHT.
"Oh I'm in such a delcmma. That
dreadful cook has gone. Took tlie
twelve o'clock boat and left me here
without a word of warning ; and here's
the house full , and Paul Graynor , who
- is so fastidious , has come. And I do
assure you , Eve , Lucette hasn't the least
idea about cooking ; and I'm not sure
whether you put eggs and butter , or
cream of tartar and vitriol in pie crust ! "
And pretty little Mrs. Wallace the
bride of six months , and the hostess of
five'belles and six desirable gentlemen
plus Paul Gaynor , newly arrived
looked , as well she might , the picture of
despair.
Eva Ashton laughed merrily
"That's what it is to be married ! Do
you know I never could imagine why
all the dramas and romances end in
marriage and a glare of rose lights ?
But then you know , saucy cooks and
tough apple crust would sound dreadful
ly after billets , and I'm thine forever. "
"Oh , you quiz ! you haven't a bit more
feeling than Fred. To think of his bring
ing home Paul vGayhor , and I without a
cook ! "
"There there , Ethel , don't look so
desperate. Remember , I am a New
England , girl ; and if I can't Redowa , I
can make biscuits , " rejoined Eve , pin
ning up her flowing sleeves revealing
a pair of snowy rounded arms.
"Biscuits ! you ? "
"Yes ; and tarts and blanc mange ,
and pies ; and roast meat and and
! " answered Eve
everything majesti
cally ;
"Oh , you delicious creature ! But
then , it would never do at all what
would people say ; ? "
"Not half so many disagreeable
things as they would over a poor sup
per , or none at all ! "
"But that lovely dress and your hair
Is so becoming ! I want you to fascinate
Paul ! "
"Half a dozen are about that business
already. You should take a peep into
the parlor. Belle Tartleton is really
supurb-looking. and she is netting that
purse that she s been finishing for the
last year , and looks like the last fashion
-plate. Maude is.in an attitude , reading.
Effie is on the rug , tossing her curls
about , and playing with your grayhpund ;
while Lute guess what Lute is doino- ? "
"Crochetting ? "
"Nothing of the sort. She is making
a calico frock for a poor child. "
Mrs. Wallace went off in a peal of
silvery laughter.
"What are you laughing at , " pur
sued Eve , reprovingly. ( Lucette more
sugar ! ) "I assure you , it is the pretti
est" tableau. If Mr. Gaynor can" resist
that , he musthave a heart of adamant. "
"But seriously , Eve , do you know I
wanted you to' make a conquest of
Paul ? "
Eve was grave in a moment.
"My dear Ethel , never say that to me
again. I have no words with which to
express my contempt for women who
angle for men's hearts" and fortunes ,
and study smiles and pretty speeches ,
as an acton does his part. "No , Ethel-
If Fate is ever so unkind as to marry
me off the capricious goddess shall at
least give me a man who has surprised
my respect and affection not one whom
I have hunted down. "
"Good gracious , " exclaimed Mrs.
Wallace , surprised out of all elegance
of expression , by seeing the handsome
mischievous face of Paul Gaynor , peer
ing through the vine-shaded window.
"WHat.is . it ? " asked Eve , looking up ,
but seeing nothing.
"Nothing , nothing ; only you are so
fearfully strong-minded. Is that almost
done ? You are getting flushed. I am
afraid you will be a fright. "
"No comments , Mrs. Wallace. . In so
important a matter as the composition
of a tart , it is necessary that my sereni
ty should not be disturbed. Go up and
entertain your beloved Paul. "
Mrs. Wallace cast another glance at
the window. Paul was gone. Was he
with that odious Belle Tarleton ? how
much had he heard ? What did he
think of Eve ? Meanwhile the tart and
biscuits were finished.
"Would you like anything more ? "
asked Eve.
Of course not. There was fruit and
cream and all sorts-of things , and , fair
ly boiling over with impatience , Mrs.
Wallace hurried Eve off to the drawing
room , where her first glance showed her
Paul , on a footstool , before Belle Tarler
ton , holding the reel from which she
was winding silk.
"Such occupations are theonlyones , "
he observed , with unusual distinctness ,
as they entered the room , "fitted for a
lady. All course employments are ir
reconcilable with my idea of an elegant
and refined womani- ; "
"Aslc him if he likes biscuits and
tarts ? " whispered Eve maliciously ; as
taking up a book , she went to the farth
est window ; where enshrined behind
white muslin curtains , she looked
out on a glowing western sky , and
water rosy in the day's dying gleam.
After awhile the murmurs in" the
drawing room died away in silence.
Belle Tartleton had moved and seconded
that they should walk , and there Was a
'bringing out of broad brim hats and
'then Eve had the drawing room to her-
self.
Presently some one parted the cur
tains.
"Lovely , .isn't it ? " asked Eve , with
out looking up , supposing that it was
Mrs. Wallace.
"Very , " returned a deep voice .that
made her start. And she encountered
a glance from Paul Gaynor expressive
of admiration , doubtless , of the land
scape.
He stepped in , and without further
ceremony seated ) himself beside ? her ,
while Eve drew aside her full skirt as
if it had been her
calmly as great-grand
mother , and sat quietly looking out.
She was in no hurry to talk. If Mr.
Gaynor had any ideas he couldn't help
airing them presently ; and if not why ;
it would simply be a waste of time to
tallc for him. She never had on hand a
store of ready-made smiles and glances ,
manufactured for appropriate occasions ;
and Mr. Gaynor , who seldom had a
chance to see a han'dsome face in a state
of anything like repose , improved the
opportunity and studied the broad , calm
brow the eyes , full of grace , tender ,
bright , and the mobile , sensitive mouth ,
as though he was asking a mental daguerreotype -
, guerreotype of her. Then , laying aside
that Paul Gaynor had smiled , compli-
me.nted and held silk reels for ladies
that day , the real man came out , and
basked in the light of Eve Aston's
upright , earnest nature , and talked as
not one man in five hundred can , and
not one in a thousand ever does talk tea
a woman.
It is a fact the bell rang for supper ,
and neither of them heard it , so that
Mrs. Wallace ( who , having tiptoed into
the drawing-room a short time before ,
had tiptoed out again enchanted ; and
had been malicious enough to keep
Belle Tarleton in a state of semi-distrac
tion at the foot of the stairs till the bell
rang , under pretence of discussing her
new point collar ) was obliged to come
and call them.
All Ethel's merry glances and wicked
innuendoes glanced off from Paul's im
penetrable coolness , like straws from
polished steel ; but the lofty Eve for
once blushed crimson , and insisted on
sitting by Mrs. Wallace ; and wouldn't
even look up when Paul recommended
the biscuits to everybody , saying that if
the } ' knew what he did about them ,
they would eat double the usual quan
tity.And
And Belle Tarleton bad Paul all to
herself that evening ; for immediately
after supper Eve disappeared , and Avas
nowhere to be found , though Mrs. Wal
lace looked for her everywhere.
This desperate state of affairs , how-
iver , lasted little more than three days.
After that Eve recovered her equanim
ity , and took long walks , and rode , and
boated , and danced with Paul , without
any1 recurrence of the same alarming
symptoms ; though she had taken up a
liabit of blushing like a rose if Wallace
perpetrated even the most innocent and
indirect little jest on the subject.
By degrees , five or six. young desira
ble young jgentlemen dropped off , leav
ing * only Fred Batrham , who , having
been refused by all the young ladies
successively , passed the last evening
of his sojourn at Rose Glen , in the com
pany of his trunk and valise , , and de
parted early in the morning , in a very
melancholy frame -of mind indeed.
That evening Eve also was missing to
the chagrin of Paul , with whom she had
promised to take , a moon-light ride , and
who fully intended during said ride , to
secure the monopoly of all other rides
she should chance to take in the course
of her mortal life. She was late in the
drawing room the next morning , also ,
( an unusual thing with her ) ; and there
were dark violet circles around , her eyes ,
and an uneasy flush in her pale face.
Paul looked at her in astonishment ; and
she grew still more uneasy beneath his
searching glance. At that moment ,
Nell , the pretty quadron chambermaid ,
came up somewhat hesitatingly , holding
in her hand a handsome and somewhat
remarkable lava braclet. "
"Is this your bracelet , Miss Ashton ? "
she asked.
"Yes , returned Eve , , promptly , "I
missed it last evening. " Where did you
find it ? "
"Nell hesitated.
"Where did you find it ? " repeated
Eve.
" 1 I can't quite remember , Miss
Ashton. "
"Can't remember ? " exclaimed Mrs.
Wallace. "Why Nell , what do you
mean ? Speak out at once. " *
"Well then ; if I must , " said Nell ,
desperately , "I found it this morning ,
right by the corner of the fireplace in
Mr. Bayham's room. There ! "
A dead silence succeeded her words.
Belle Tarleton and her cousin Lute look
ed at each other with a sneering smile.
Mrs. Wallace turned crimson. Paul rose
hastily and went out , while Eve stood
motionless and speechless.
Mr. Wallace was the first to recover
his senses.
"My dear Eve don't look so , " he said ,
kindly. "There is some mistake. When
did you first miss the bracelet ? "
"This morning. I wore it last even
ing , and I thought I laid jt on my table. "
Belle cast .another lightning glance of
triumph at Lute , but quick as it was ,
Mr. Wallace saw it and at once half
divined the mystery.
"My Dear Eve , give yourself no fur
ther trouble , " he said. "Give me the
privilege of examining your'room , and
go out and take a walk. Mrs. Wallace
and I will soon solve this mystery. "
Glad to. escape from * the pitiless eyes
that were on her , Eve took her hat and
went down to the water. There was a
low , rustic seat under the shade of a
spreading tree , and there she sat down
only to start up again the next moment ,
for Paul Gaynor parted the shrubbery
and came , and stood before her.
"Eve , " he said abruptly , "what is
this ? Can you explain ? "
"What- * she asked,4 calmly , as he
stopped , apparently at n loss. "I ac
knowledge that 1 lost my bracelet , and
I don't doubt Nell's word , .though I
can't tell any more than you how , it
came there. But , granting all this , is
your respect for me based on so slight a
foundation that a breath can overthrow
it ? I think you , at least , might have
known me better. "
If Paul hadn't been in love , and as a
consequence ridiculously and insanely
jealous , he would have seen and felt that
truth itself looked out of that clear eye ,
and the pride of uprightness flushed that
fair cheek ; but , being in love , and of
course , absurd , lie persisted :
"But your absence last night , Eve.
Only explain that ; tell me where you
were and what you were doing. "
"Never never ! " murmured Eve
growing crimson.
"NeverThink again , Eve. You
may never tell the world , but I I have
a right to know. "
"STou are the last person in the world
whom I would tell ! " answered blunt ,
impolitic Eve.
Paul sprang to his feet ; for he had
seated himself beside her.
' 'Farewell , and forever , Miss Ashton. ' '
"Farewell , but not forever ! " retorted
Eve , undaunted and indignant at his
want of faith. 'Not forever ; for you
will one day find wjiat injustice you
have done me and come to beg my par
don. " And catching up her garden
hat , , she walked back tp the house so
fast that , though she had chosen the
longest path , she was there as soon as
he. 'Mrs. Wallace met them with a face
beaming with smiles. *
"We've found it all out. Come tip
to Eve's room. John , go and call Miss
Tartleton. . Come Eve. "
Bewildered , Eve followed her eager
hostess to her own room1 , where she
found Mr. Wallace 'triumphant , and
Effie looking very odd and uncomfort
able indeed-
Presently in swept Belle.
"You all know , " commenced Mr.
Wallace , "that after Nell's curious
story , which threw us all into so much
confusion , I sent Miss Ashton out to
walk" , and you see that she has just re
turned ; and you , Maud , Lute and Efiie
are witnesses that Mrs. Wallace and
myself have been guilty of no double
dealing , and that the explanation of the
mystery lies here ( tapping Eve's jewel
casket ) , untouched , as when we discov
ered it. Here it is ( lifting out a heavy
gold band bearing the name of Belle
Tarleton ) . I would advise ] you not to
wear it the next time you arrange your
neighbor's jewelry , as the clasp "is inse
cure , and you may find , as jn this in
stance , that instead of ruining your
friend's character and happiness , youll
only get bracelet for bracelet ! "
"Hush ! you are too severe , " whis
pered Mrs. Wallace.
"Not a bit ; she deserves the utmost
censure. "
"Can you forgive me ? " asked Paul of
Eve , an hour after , in the dear old bow-
window.
I think she did ; for she married him.
But it was not till a year afterward that ,
by dint of coaxing and teasing , he elic
ited the fact of her whereabouts on what
he called the "bracelet night.1 Then it
came out , something in this fashion :
"You won't ? " " "
laugh at me "Not"
"Positively ? " "On my honor. " . K
"Well , then bitt you'resure ybti
won't " laugh ? It was so silly. "X was
very "much in love with you ( Paul that
was very silly ) , and very much afraid
that you 'fancied Belle Tarleton ( sillier
still ) ; and I sat down by the water and
was thinking about it , when I saw a
bunch of white lilies. And I picked'up
a little stone and thought , if 1 can hit
that topmost lily , he loves me ; if not ,
no. And I threw it with such force that
I lost my balance and went after it , and
was nearly suffocated in the mud and
my slippers were full of it and I could
scarcely drag them home and my
clothes were dripping and I had lost
my ride with you all for nothing ( be
cause I fell before I could see whether
the stone hit the lily or not ) ; and next
morning , you looked at me so , I thought
you knew all about it , and I had such a
headache you wretch ! you'ye broken
"
your promise ! " for Paul was" laughing
till the tears ran down his cheeks. And
all that Eve has to say to get him in
good humor when he has the sulks
( even model husbands do sometimes
have the sulks , girls ) , is "Bracelet for
bracelet. "
The Great Bell of Moscow.
The CzorKolokolor "Kingof Bells , "
at Moscow , is much the largest bell in
the world. It weighs no less than 193
tons , and is twenty-one feet in height and
in diameter. In the .tower of John the
Great , at Moscow , is the most stupend
ous bell now in regular use , but this
weighs only sixty-four tons. The next
largest is in Pekin , fifty-one tons ; then
comes Nienna , eighteen tons ; Montreal
( Roman Catholic Cathedral ) , thirteen
and a half tons ; " Great Peter"in , York
Minster , ten and three-quarters tons ;
"GreatTom"at Lincoln , five and a
half tons. The Czar Kolokol was sus
pended in a tower of vast strength in
1734 , but three years1 afterword it fell
down during a fire , and a piece six feet
high and three feefc wide -was broken
from it. It remained sunk in the earth
until 1837 , when the Emperor Nicholas
had it raised and placed upon a pedestal
of granite. This giant communicator of
sound has since been consecrated as a
chapel , and religious services are held in
it. Baptist Teacher.
The Coming Days.
In the coming dayspf woman suffrage.
" Our candidate has risen from the hum
blest -walks. When but a little girl ,
picking huckleberries , barefooted , too
poor to own a sunbonnet , she read
Homer's 'Odyssey' .in the original
tongue. What do we see here now ? "
A voice : " The same homely , freckled ,
saucy thing she always was ; so there. "
Meeting breaks up amid great confusion
and tearing of hair. New Haven Regis
ter
HARPER'S YOUNG PEOPLE , published
in New York , is one of the best publi
cations in this country for children , and
is , we are glad to know , enjoying a cir
culation as wide as the country itself.
Copiously illustrated and replete with
choice stories and other matter appro
priate for the young , it is fast finding its
way into every well regulated house
hold where children abound to mentally
feast upon its many good things. j
PIiEASAlfX PEOPLE.
As wo pass along
In the way of duty ,
Through the rosy lanes ,
By the homes of beauty.
Or in city streets ,
Grand with spire and steeple ,
What a boon it is
Mooting pleasant people.
Looking into eyes
Full of fellow feeling ,
All the kindly thoughts
Of the heart revealing ,
How the longing soul
Cheers up and rejoices ,
Like a Sewer refreshed ,
Hearing pleasant voices.
Meeting ready hands
When the burden wearies ,
Answers kind and true
To our earnest queries.
Friends perhaps in need
When ourowrj have left us ,
When the reaper death
Has of kin bereft us.
Finding open doors ,
With some friend to greet us ,
When within our own
There are none to meet us.
Then a hearthstone bright ,
With the flro ne'er dying
Of home's altar , love ,
Ever time defying.
Oh , the kindly word.
Little does it costone.
And the simple smile
Heaven to the lost one.
Let us.sciitter these
Without stint or measure ,
As they others bless
Will they bring us treasure.
AGBIGULTUEAL.
Why is Fancy Poultry so Costly ?
Indiana Famcr.
The above question is often asked by
those intending to purchase high class
poultry , and the fact that the prices are
high , compared with that of the com
mon market , is probably the principal
reason why the farmer hesitates to in
vest. But if he would look into the
matter a little I think he "would find
that , after all , the farmer makes but lit
tle profit , and the prices are not unrea
sonable.
In the first place the breeder must get
his stock , and this will cost him consid
erable , if he is a true breeder and "gets
the best. " He must then prepare for
keeping them , and unless he builds good
warm houses and has all the .facilities
for raising young chicks. lie might just
as well "sell out" immediately , for he
will never be successful. Now , for the
next three or four years he must study
his fowls carefully and constantly , for
as much depends on his knowledge of
mating , feeding and all the many good
and bad points of his fowls , as upon the
quality of his original stock. Then
about the third or fourth year , after he
has spent a large amount of time and
money , after he has been subject to the
adversities Avhich so often attend the
raising poultry , after he lias faithfully
fought disease , "vermin and bad luck
generally , if in the meantime lie has not
becume disgusted and quit , he will
probably have dozen chicks for sale.
Now , is it surprising or preposterous
for him to ask go a pair 'for them ? Ai
best fancy poultry cannot be raiset
nearly as cheaply as the common mon
grels.
Wheat as Food for Stock.
London Farm and Home.
A more pressing point for fanners to
consider- just now is the utility o mak
ing use of a great deal of their new wheat
crop at home for stock-feeding purposes ,
instead of pressing it on the market un
der the. disadvantageous circumstances
just mentioned. Wheat meal may be
made an admirable substitute for oil
cake in fattening cattle and 'sheep ;
hence those farmers who have been ac
customed to make heavy outlays in the
purchase of oil cake for winter feeding
of stock , will act ? imprudently if they do
not abandon the system this year , and
fall back on their heavy stock of home-
produced wheat as a substitute. Wheat
meal is reckoned even better than
barley meal for pig feeding , and it would
be economy to keep back nothing but
tail barley for pig consumption this sea
son , marketing the whole of the head
corn , and making use of wheat largely
for the production of pork. Prices of
store pigs have been low for some con
siderable time , and remain so at present.
Farmers of an enterprising turn will
take advantage of this circumstance by
buying large store pigs and converting
them into pork , chiefly by the consump
tion of wheat meal.
Apples for XliUi Coirs.
It has doubtless been the prevalent
opinion that apples are not good to feed
to milk cows. On this subject a writer
in the National Live Stock Journal says
that they are just as good for cows as
for pigs ; but cows cannot , like pigs , be
permitted to help themselves without
stint. They must be dealt out to them ,
according to the judgment of the breed
er. "A half bushel per cow daily , in
two feeds , could be used with advan
tage. The writer once fed thirty-six
cows running to pasture , each per da } * ,
a peck of common apples , for forty-five
days , and the daily milk and cheese rec
ord of. the season showed a production
of 430 pounds of cured cheese due to
feeding the apples , equal to 17 ounces of
cheese from each bushel of apples ,
which was worth , as dairy cheese is now ,
10 cents a pound. The whey from the
increase of milk to make that amount of
cheese , reckoned at 75 cents per 1,000
pounds , was worth $2.90 , making the
total product from 405 bushels of apples
fed , § 45.90 , equal to 11 J cents per bush
el. It costs less trouble to feed the ap
ples to the cows than to deliver them at
a cider-mill , though one was quite con
venient. We have no statistics of re
sults from apples fed to cows when
making butter , but consider them quite
as valuable for butter as for cheese pro
duction. "
Preparing for Winter.
Farmer's Review.
On almost every farm there are spec
ial things needing to be done as a pre
paration for winter. It may be the sta
bles need overhauling , new planking for
the stock to stand on , the stalls repaired ,
broken windows made whole , loose bat
tens nailed tight , or the doors made to
fit more closely. Implements are stand
ing out of doors which ought to have
been housed before , and should be now
without delay. If fuel is out of doors it
should be housed where it will keep dry.
The chicken house needs a thorough
clearing out and whitewashing , remove
till old litter from the laying boxes , and
jive them and the perches a dressing
with kerosene. If infected with vermin ,
shut up' tight and fumigate thoroughly
with burning sulphur , repealing the
operation in tori days afterward , the
chickens being of course kept out dur
ing such fumigations and until it has
been thoroughly aired. The barn yard
needs a thorough cleaning out , and its
contents , whether of manure piles or of
scrapings , spread over the meadows ,
where it will give better returns than
if used almost anywhere else. The
cellar , if not already renovated ,
should have a thorough clearing , and
a coat of lime wash and proper arrange
ments made for the necessary degree of
ventilation during the winter. The
more it can have without allowing the
temperature to fall below freezing the
better for everything stored in it , and
for the health of the family above it.
The cellar is too often a breeding place
of sickness in the family without the
cause being suspected. It should have
a pipe connection reaching from near
the bottom up through the floor and in
to the flue of the kitchen stove , with
proper arrangements for admitting air
from the outside. This will keep up a
constant circulation , carrying oil' all
foul odors or unwholesomegases gener
ated. But of all the other things need
ing to be done , none is of more pressing
importance than providing shelter from
the storms for such stock as it is not in
tended to stable. The fall thus far has
been unusually warm. But the cold ,
bad storms will certainly come and find
the stock illy prepared to meet them ,
because of the previous warm weather.
It is riot a difficult or expensive matter
to construct sheds which will protect
the animals from such storms and add
greatly to their comfort. They should
be open to the south and enclosed
on the three other sides Where
timber is valuable the three sides
can be built up of logs notched
together at the corners witli a frame
work of poles overhead , and a covering
of straw or slough ha } ' . Where timber
is not available the sides can be built of
lumber and roofed with straw or hay.
Let a cold storm strike stock without
protection and the effect is at once
visible. In giving milk there is at once
a large shrinkage in the amount. If
fattening animals they come to a dead
halt , and it is days before they get on
the up grade again , during which time
the food they consume is little better
than wasted , since they show no gain in
weight. If young animals , their growtli
is for the time checked and at a loss to
the owner. There is no more pitiable
sight under heaven than to see live ani
mals out in a cojd storm trying to shel
ter themselves under the lee of a rural
fence with backs arched and tails turned
to the wind. They cannot be so ex
posed without pecuniary loss to the
owner. It is the poorest kind of economy
to try to save the expense of furnishing
shelter to live animals when the profit
to the owner depends upon their making
the largest possible gains from the food
consumed.
Sacred Cattle in Texas.
New Mexican Stock Grower.
John. O'Neil , a cattle raiser of life long
experience in Victoria county , Texas ,
called on the Stock Grower "this week
and a conversation with him proved
most interesting. Mr. O'Neil is one of
the very few breeders in this country of
Brahma , or sacred cattle , of the East
Indies. It would at first seem farcial
to speak of raising "menagarie stock , "
but Mr. O'Neil will soon be able to prove
to stock men of the west that this strain
will show as many good qualities as the
much-talked-of Herefords andDurhams.
The first sacred cattle brought to
America consisted of two lots , one of
which went to Georgia and the other to
Louisiana. In 1879 Mr. O'Neil noticed
cows near his own home which were a
cross between the natives and the Brali-
mos , and were the property of a neigh
bor. The winter and spring of 1879
were exceptionally hard on cattle , and
the "die off" was something tremen
dous. Our observing friend saw in the
spring that the Brahma cows were in ex
cellent condition , and after experiments
he concluded that the breed would be a
good one to cross witli the native stock.
Mr. O'Neil secured a bull and two cows
( thoroughbreds ) from the Louisiana
herd and afterwards increased the num
ber from Georgia. The result of the
cross was satisfactory. They are of
good size , fine beef qualities and possess
the best rustling qualities of any breed.
Mr. O'Neil obtains the best results
from a cross between the sacred cattle
with pure Durhams , and the male stock
from this cross he runs with his natives.
There is a heavy demand in Texas for
the Brahmas , as they are called , but it
is utterly impossible to supply it. Mr.
O'Neil intends to stock a ranch in this
territory , when our New Mexico cattle
owners will have an opportunity of see
ing the sacred cattle. The thorough
breds are described as being of a rich
cream color , and the bulls have a very
prominent hump on the shoulder.
FAR3T XOTES.
New York and Pennsylvania grow
two-thirds of all the buckwheat produced
in this country.
In feeding corn to pigs that are being
fatted better results will be obtained if
the corn is fed in connection with bran ,
shipstuff and vegetables.
Mr. John Gibson , of Trempeleau
count } " , Wis. , has made over 2,000 gallons
lens of choice sirup from sorghum this
season , averaging about 160 gallons per
acre. *
The ground is not a safe place for the
fowls at night , as croup is engendered by
the cold earth. Always provide roosts ,
and have them so situated as to be'out
of draughts or currants of air.
Milk is excellent for fowls , and it will
pay to buy and use it" for them , as it ma
terially increases the number of eggs.
It may be fed either sweet or sour. It
is given either in dishes or mixed with
the soft food.
Layering grapevines may be attempt
ed at any "time after the wood has be
come firm , and before the buds in the
spring. The difference between layers
and cuttings in that the layers are'not
detached from the parent vine , which is
thus enabled to nourish the new plant.
Corn that is to be cribbed should be ' c
thoroughly dry or free from swell. The ft
crib floor should be several inches above 1 <
the ground so that the corn may not be a
axposed to dampness or moisture. The p
zrib should also be thoroughly cleaned h
out and well aired before storing : the
corn.
corn.A Wiiiconsin farmer stoutly maintains
of the beetles
the
that he prevents ravages
tles in his potatoes by .planting one or
two flaxseed in each hill. Be says the
bu"-s will shun the flax every time , and
that ho has grown potatoes m this way
for ten years and secured good crops
when others failed.
Although some of the breeders of
heavy draft horses maintain that all the
French breeds are classed as Normans ,
the French only recognize the Perche- '
, and admit
rons as the true thoroughbreds
mit no others to be classed in the stud
books. The term Norman is an Amer
ican one , and unknown in France.
From GO to 63 degrees is considered
the proper temperature for churning ,
though the temperatures vary in differ
ent dairies , for much depends upon the
conditions. Sweet cream should be
churned at a lower temperature , and for
a longer time , than sour cream. The
amounts of butter obtained vary under
apparentlv the same conditions , and al
though r fair yield may bo obtained one
day it ma } ' bo much less the next.
PERSONAL AXD OTHERWISE.
The Duke of Cambridge won the
hearts of the men of Kingston by.beg-
ging to be relieved of police protection
while eating his dinner at St. George's
Yacht club prior to his embarkation.
When the emperor of Brazil was em
barking for a pleasure trip on a small
steamer , a few days ago , he fell into the
sea. He was rescued by the inspector
and the chief engineer of the steamer.
Detaille , the French battle painter ,
has been studying Russian military
types , and has received every courtesy
and advantage that the Russian authori
ties could otter , even in giving a royal
palace for a lodging place.
In Boston they tell a really shocking
story to the effect that Miss Georgia
Cayvan , while playing there , happening *
one day to be in a florist's shop , pointed
out a certain form and requested that it
be used the next time any of her admir
ers left an order for a floral tribute. It
is to be hoped that no one will believe
the tale.
Col. Cauer , the sculpture of Garfield
memorial bust in St. Louis , is 56 years
old , and has made statues of nearly all
the sovereigns of Europe as well as of
other famous persons , tiiose of Kaiser
Wilhelm , Francis Joseph , Metternich
and Bismarck being perhaps the best
known. He has a son aged 22 , who has
executed a good statue of Count Moltko.
Miss Fisher and Miss Hosmer , the lat
ter bearing the decorations presented
her by Queen Victoria for services in
the Zulu war , have arrived at Philadel
phia to take charge of the training
schol for nurses at Blocklcy almshouse.
Dr. Schlieman modestly calls his resi
dence at Athens a "cottage , " but it is
by far the most beautiful villa in that
city a magnificent mansion , almost a
palace , of the finest Pcnthelic marble
and enriched within and without by the
doctor's splendid "finds. " .
A reunion of a more than usually in
teresting character was that of the five
daughters of Samuel Pine , of Buffalo ,
N. Y. , but who now lives in Milwaukee
at the advanced age of 91 years. The
youngest of them is 50 years and this
is the first time in forty years that all
have met together.
A quiet , reserved gentleman of 73
years is Admiral Porter. His eves are
still bright , his voice is soft and entirely
destitute of the husky , foggy characteV
popularly supposed to attach to jollvold i
sea dogs. His face is bronzed , and his
hands large and knotty , but soft in f
texture. To relieve the monotony of
the not over hazardous duties of a pres
ent naval commander the admiral has
written a startling novel , which is now-
publishing in-parts. He has already
achieved a reputation as a brave naval
officer , a historian , an inventor , an au
thority on projectiles , armament and
explosives , the designer of an ingenious
and formidable submarine torpedo
boat , besides being somewhat of a poli
tician.
Providing for Daughters.
New York Tribune.
The way of happii es and comfort
for single"middlejgea women would
be made much easier if a different
method was pursued by parents toward
their daughters while they are still
young. Nothing , of course , can recom
pense a woman for the loss in her
life of the love of husband and chil
dren ; but there is no reason , why , add
ed to this bitterness , she should always
have the humiliation of dependence.
Half the terrors of a single life to a
woman lie in the fact that she will
never have a' home of her own , but
must remain a dependent on fathers
and brothers , the one too many in the
household ; the beneficiary on sufferance
in the family , though she actually work
twice as much as the actual members.
A father naturally sets his boy on his
own feet at coming of age ; but as nat
urally he keeps his daughters depend
ent upon himself. It is a pleasure ,
perhaps , to him to give her her gowns
and pin-money at thirty as when she
was three. He does not reflect that
she has the longing , equally natural to
every man and woman , to take her own
place in the world ; to be a rooted plant ,
not a parasite. The difficulty is easily
solved. If the father is wealthy , let
liim settle absolutely upon his daugh
ter when she is of a marrying age the
amount he would have given her as
dower , instead of doling out the inter
est as constant gifts ; if he is a poor
man , let him give her some trade or oc
cupation by which she can earn her
uwn money. This course would obvi-
iite the mercenary necessity of mar
riage which rises night and day before
the penniless , dependent woman.
"For heaven's sake , what are you do-
tig , Mr. Schneidervrow ? " exclaimed the
jader of the orchestra to the second
iolin : "you're not keeping time at all ;
ount the beats , man , count the beats. "
Ir. SchueSdervrow
dropped his bow ,
joked over the audience of deadheads
nd exclaimed in despair , "It vas im-
ossible ! " He had misapprehended
the
iaders meaning. Boston Transcript. > ;
