v
I
7
1
v
The Oinaha Grain Exchange
v '
1 (r ' ..' - '; : ; - '
. .. --.V U-... - :
uv.: N;,;,v::... C. ::. :- -
"
3MBxsssssssMssss w iHjj .fffjij-j.-
AMOS H. MERCHANT, SECRETARY
IMAIIA'S grain exchange Is taking
o
on a tangible shape, and is all
'but an accomplished faci. Its
lfr,Sl organlsat'on is complete, It has
been provided with headquarters,
has chosen a sccritary to manage its
affairs and will very soon be transacting
bus ness In th3 regular way. H is not ex
reetei that It will revolutionize the world
of grain, traffic at its start, but it is a be.
ginning to a revolution." During yeors past
nun well informed as to conditions have
predicted success for Omaha as a grain
market, and. have expressed wor.der thnt
no etepj have been taken to establish one
here. In 1891 the legislature passed the
public warehouse law, and a tentative
effort to establish a grain exchange nt
Omaha followed. I unrest Ion was provided
for, the Omaha rating was recognised at
the principal markets of the world, and fir
a lime the venture appa:ed to thrive.
Unfavoralla railroad rates and a couple
of bad crcp years did the buFlness for the
Omaha grain market, and s:ncc P03 noth
ing has been heard of It until the earning
Raises Fancy
WlllCj urteaing anu raining oi enei
I I lund ponies has proved an Inter-
for Mrs. M. B. Bracklln of
Minneapolis for some time past,
and she is in a fair way of amassing a
large fortune. Mrs. Bracklln's love for
these animals was doubtles Inherited from
her father ana enhanced by her early en
vironment. In her childhood she lived
cn a farm and her father, who was a lover
of good steeds, bought several bloodej ani
mals, of which he always took excellent
care. Afur tliey left the farm Mrs.
Brackiin always had horses on which to
expend her Interest ar study.
About three years' ago, when Mrs.
Bracklln was living at Rice Lake, Wis.,
he bought a Shetland pony for her little
daughter, and, becoming interested in the
little horses, she added one by one until
four or five tiny stnlls were partitioned oft
In the stable. Even then she had no idea
of taking up pony raising as a business.
In fact, not until Cptain J. Murray Hoair
of Maquokcta, la., a veteran pony dealer,
suggested that sha turn her love for the
little animals info a means of money
making did she decide to handle ponies.
The herd grew slowly, for Mrs. Bracklln
picked the foundation stock with tho
greatest care. Bhe has been In Minneapolis
now about two years and has united
her herd with that owned by 3. F. Elwell.
Last year there were 110 ponies, but now
thero are only eighty. This fall, however,
a number of Imported animals wll be
added. Some are kept in a pasture nt
Wayxata, others are In a small pasturo
near her home and a few are kept In tho
table at her residence. A number ara
at Como park In the livery and six or
eight have been rented to families at the
lake.
Iu the winter, when moro ore at the
OF THE OMAHA GRAIN EXCHANGE.
of the Chloigo Great. Western stirred It to
life again. Now it is about to be roa'izel.
The life of Amos H. Merchant, the newly
appointed secretary of the Omaha Grain
exchange, may be summed up in ths wordi:
"Thirty years with tho Northwestern."
He was born in Malm and came west w'.x-n
yet n s-nall boy, ending h'.s travels in Min
nesota du Ing th$ winter of 18C8. He found
work with the Northwestern Ral'.way com
pany, with which he continued in one ca
pacity or another until lat Mirch. He
was t title n?d in three places In Minnesota
and then trarsferred to tloux City, wherb
he served for tight month, befora coming
to Omaha in May, 18H0. He wai assistant
g. nerul fi eight agent of the Framont, Elk
horn & Missouri Valley road he-e. Aftr
leaving the company last winter ho bred mo
interetfteJ in ml. Ing operatlona in Wyo
ming, which in e. est he still continue'.
Mr. Merchant's long srtlcl in the traffic
department and as traveling freight agent
have made hlTi thoroughly famltir with
th-; gr.iin business and an exp?rt Inspector
of grain.
Pony Herds
house, she makes bran mash for them
twice a week and prepares tempting dishes
from carrots. Bhe had a pony once that
had a human weakness -for certain things,
among which were buckwheat cakes and
rice pudding. In n year no veterinarian
had brcn called and Mrs. Bracklln is a
marvel to the boys In tho neighborhood.
"She doctors 'em herself," they whisper
in an awed tone. Indeed, there is noth
ing abont the entlrj care of horses or of
that business that Mrs. Bracklln does not
understand. At a depot ono day pho
even finished one of the crates which held
a flny pony going on a long Journey, while
th2 men who watched were obviously sur
prised to see the nails go In straight and
suaro.
Ono of Mrs. Bracklln's special delights is
the matching of animals and rhe says th-it
she believes that ponies are more Ol.Ticult
to match than big honfes, but, then, she
never is catltfUd with a match unlers It H
os perfect us can be. She his tried every
where to find a match for the stallion
Mystic, but Mystic remains without u part
ner. Her eye is unusually gooj, too. When
she camo from Rica Iako unl looked
over Mr. Elwcll's herd she found an animal
which she believed would match ono sho
had in Wisconsin. When the two were har
nessed together they w?re found to te ai
perfectly mitched a team as anyono would
a?k for, in gait as well ai In appnrarxe.
There are two ponies In the pasturo,
brother and sister, txautlfully matched ex
cept size, which are models of devotion to
each other. Even in sleep they He ille" by
side.
Contrary to the practice of many pony
raleers Mrs. Bracklln does not bUlave In
using nn animal until it Is well grown and
Urong that if, until It Is at least S years
old. Neither does she believe in keeping a
colt thin the firH year in orJer to reduce
iu six.
Next Speaker
-:
I I Mlln 1 1 00(0
GEOROy W. CT.ARKE OP Town. WHO WlfX BR OHOSKN SPKAKER OIT
THU HOUSK OF THE TIIIHTIKTII OKNKRAti ASSEMBLY OF IOWA.
assembly of the state of Iowa will
at tho capitol in Bos Moires. It
will bo unique in one regard; its
organization has alrsady been pr&c ical y
agreed upon. - The sentiment of the members-elect
Is so well known that It is ac
cepted as a fact thut Hon. Oeorga W.
Clarke of Adel will be elect.d speaker of
New Fur Hats
KW YORK, Dec. M. feame Fna' Jon
II.hh ordained two revivals In ml!
linrry clrc.lt. One Is the futhtr
N
-tO'Val hnt Vis r... .w. nu .
latter seems the mure apprcpr'ate
to the crisp weather which usually uthrJ
In the New year, at least that Is what
milady seems to think, Judglrg from her
purchases.
My work has been double d this season,"
said the buyer for a great ml 111 cry es
tablishment. "To my thorough know.edgo
of the millinery needfuls of othir years
I have had to add an understanding of fur
qualities and vuiues. Wo have hud to en
gage u special designer to asfist in the
evolution of the fur hat, and have Id. el
several experienced fur operators."
The result has eertulnly Justified the out
lay of time and thought. The fur hats are
charming creations .and ore dee'dedly the
reigning fad of the moment.
Perhaps the greatest charm of fur Is Its
adaptability for almost every sort of oo a
sion. The small toquo of dark hued fur is
eminently correct for morning wear, while
the isltime loaded ermine flat glvvs the fin
ishing touch of elegance to tlia even ng
toilette.
But the most striking feature of thejo
fur hats is not the fur Itself, but the ma
terials which are combined with It. Guuzy
lace Is edged with fur, and winter an 1
summer meet on tho fur hat, which Is rose
wreathed. There seems no limit fo tho
combinations which are being worn, each
with tho sanction of good tu,sio. Thiy aro
dictated by the desire to attain IrulMUml
ity, and they do not fall of their ohjert.
Moleskin is a closo rlvut of eim ne in
the millinery field. For daytime wear It
can be even said to have attained tho
superiority.
A pretty moleskin hat is built somewhat
on the lines of an olJ-fjahijir d pi k?,
though Willi a more decided front fa e.
The soft fur furnishes a pretty backgr. und
for the face, whether it be young or o'd.
Tho under brim has no further udornm.nt.
But the crown und outer brim seems ut
first glance a chaos of fur, lace and fea' ti
ers. Closer Inspection reveals the me:l?r
of the creation. Cream lace has born ar
tistically appliqucd on the fur, and In lha
nest so formed rest several tmull black and
white birds. They are of a variety which
never flew on sea or land, but thiy look
marrelnusly In place on the soft g;-ay fur.
The brim tits snugly to the hair In the
back, provided it Is woru low4 after the
prevailing fashion.
of Iowa House
the houso and he and Lieutenant Governor
Herrlott have already conferred In regard
to committee appointments, so that the
wheels of the legislature will be Bet In mo
tion with 1r of delay than was ever
known in the Hawkeye state. The session
has a number of Important matters to corns
before It, among them amendments to th
revenue lawa and other legislation of In
terest to the people of Iowa.
for New Year
Mink Is a fur that has perennial popu sr
ity. That and sable nre always correct,
however the tlds of poptilur fancy tbb
and How. Just as long as mink acords
well with a certain shade of trcnio brown
hair, just so long It will be worn by cer
tain damsel.'.
Coarse mesh wool laco Is us--d for th
crown of a stylish mink toque. Theis
heavier laces seem more fitted for fur com
bination thun the more filmy weaves and
are much In demand. The rolling brim is
bent In something of the thrte coTre " ff(.ct,
and is ornamented on either side of tha
front by two smull real animal h.ads. Tiia
lace of the crown extends s'lgii'.ly over this
brim, thus giving tho needed color contrast
The only other trimming is a cluster of
sirall fur tails at the back.
It is noticeable that the fur hats aro
simply trimmed. A cluster of flowers, a
single plume, or a bit of lace applique
nro the approved ornaments. Perhaps it
is a reaction from the over-trimming of the
spring und summer. Perhaps tho richness
of the fur does away with the desire for
further dlnphiy. In either case, the result
la artistic.
A recent window display, was placarded
"L'nder the Reign. of King Ermine." The
application was not inapt, for the window
Hiowed a bewildering array of articles for
weir fashioned out of ermine and of ermine
alone. The pusslon for white has had
the most to do with ermine's popularity.
Other white furs are often substituted for
the ermine, with utmost equally good
effect.. Th best of these are trimmed
with Uts of black fur, for the purpose of
simulating the more e,)enslve fur.
Moleskin is used to cover another scoop,
shaped frame. The flaring brim Is also
faced with the moleskin and Is ornamented
with medallions of hellot rope-colored panne
velvet. Thexe are embroidered with French
knots In a slightly darker shade of silk.
A heliotrope shaded ostrich plume starts
from the front of the crown and fulls over
the hair In tho back.
Yellow Is ono of the most fashionable
colors this winter. Cream deepens to lemon
and that again to or.,nK. All are permis
sible. And with yellow comes the pench
ant for gilt. First came the gilt button
and caboutl.ons, and more lately tho use
of gilt braid and ribbon of varying width
and thickness bus olitulnaJ. Borne of the
Kilt ribbons are us pliable as silk. They
are particularly effective on tho whlto fur
"ul- HARRIET HAWLKT.