Benoit Belletonte, Pa., February 25, 1916. I THE BIRTH OF THE OPAL. The sunbeam loved the moonbeam, And followed her low and high, And the moonbeam fled and hid her head, She was so shy, so shy. The sunbeam wooed with passion— Ah! he was a lover bold— And his heart was afire with desire, For the moonbeam pale and cold. But she fled like a dream before him, Her hair was a shining sheen; And oh, that face would annihilate The space that lay between! Just as the day lay panting In the arms of the twilight dim, The sunbeam caught the one hesought, And drew her close to him. Out of his warm arm startled, And stirred by love's first shock, She sprang, afraid, like a trembling maid And hid in the niche of a rock. And the sunbeam followed and found her And led her to love’s own feast; And they were wed on that rocky bed And thedying day was their priest. And lo! the beautiful opal, That rare and wondrous gem. Where the moon and the sun blend into one Is the child that was born to them. HOW TO GROW SWEET PEAS SUC- CESSFULLY. If we except the rose, the sweet pea is easily the most popular of all flowers. This is not to be wondered at when we consider their comparatively easy cul- ture, delicious fragrance and the im- mense quantity of flowers which may be culled from quite a short row, while in favorable locations the vines will con- tinue blooming for at least three months. The late Henry Eckford of Englahd may be called the father of the sweet pea, as previous to his making this beau- tiful and fragrant annual his life study there were only a few small flowered varieties then in cultivation. It was in 1870 that he started his life-work on the sweet pea, and the development since that date has been one of the wonders of the floral world. : It is said that some scientific botanists believe that certain races of plants have rare periods which may occur once in every few hundred years when they develop all sorts of eccentricities; and if this be so, the year 1901 marks one of these rare periodsin the history of the sweet pea, as it was in the summer of that year that a new type of sweet pea was found in at least three gardens, one of these being in Northamptonshire, one in Somersetshire and the other in Cam- bridgeshire, England. All these evolu- tions or sports are said to have been found in that fine old pink grandiflora variety, Prima Donna. This new variety was of very large size, the standard and wings being beautifully waved and crimp- ed, and thus the new and glorious Spen- cer race of sweet peas was born. The first of this new type to be exhib- ited was the one found by Mr. Cole, gardener to Earl Spencer, Althorp Park, Northampton, and under the name of Countess Spencer, the color of the flower being a rich rose pink; and its appear- ance at the annual exhibition of the Na- tional Sweet Pea Society’s show in Lon- don created great excitement and ad- miration among the enthusiasts. This new variety was offered to the public in 1904 and now Countess Spencer has many hundred offspring, embracing all colors previously found in this family and others of quite new shades. In fact, it might be said that only two colors still baffle the sweet pea hybridizer, these be- ing a pure yellow and a rich full deep blue, such as is found in Salvia Patens. Although the sweet pea was first in- troduced from Sicily about 1600, prac- tically ninety per cent. of all the sweet pea seed used throughout the world is now grown in California, it being esti- mated that 2,000 acres are grown there every year. As one acrewill, in an aver- age season, produce from 600 to 1,000 pounds of seed, it will be at once ap- parent that this seed will eventually pass into the hands of thousands, nay millions of amateur and professional growers. I ought to state, however, that many of the finest Spencer varieties do not as a rule produce more than 200 to 300 pounds of seed to the acre. Although in this section the sweet pea vines reach a height of not more than four to five feet except in exceptional seasons and loca- tions, in our Northern States and in Canada the plants attain a height of from ten to twelve feet, and there bloom from June until frost. There is no royal road to success in growing the sweet pea. The amateur and small grower is quite as likely to make a success of his culture as the pro- fessional gardener, provided a few simple rules are followed. The ground must be thoroughly cultivated and deeply dug. It must also be well manured and the seed should be sown as early as possible. Of course, the ordinary cultivation as ex- tended to the vegetable plot will give fair results, but for those who are anx- ious to have flowers the “best ever” and far surpassing those of their neighbors, some extra labor must necessarily be expended in preparing the soil. If it is intended to grow the peas in rows, a trench should be made at least two feet wide and two spadings deep. In removing the soil, throw the top layer on one side and the bottom or sub-soil on the other side of the trench. Loosen the bottom of the trench with a fork, or should it be too hard, take a pick, breaking it up well, and mix with it any old garden re- fuse or rough stable litter, on top of which put a two or three-inch layer of decayed stable or cow manure, then re- place the bottom part of the soil, mixing this again with well-rotted manure and a little bone meal; then fill up with the top soil with which incorporate thoroughly rotted farm-yard manure, bone meal, and a little sulphate of potash. If this could be done in the late fall so much the bet- ter 10r the future well-being of the plants; failing which of course it must be done in the spring, but should be allowed to settle for some days previous to planting. Unless the trench is thoroughly consoli- dated the soil will dry out very quickly, therefore tread it well before sowing the seed. When the trench is completed, ap- ply a good dressing of freshly slaked lime, sufficient to give the ground the appearance of a cover of snow, raking or pointing it into the top two inches of the soil. It should, however, be applied a few days previous to sowing or planting. soot might be dusted along either side of | Philadelphia Record. i thickly. Make a drill along the center of the trench two inches deep and place | the seed from one to two inches apart, { and after covering make all firm, either { with the back of the spade or treading. When the seedlings are about two inches ' ! in height thin out to four inches apart, | and stake as soon as possible. The best material for this great essential in the well-being of the sweet pea is good twiggy brush, failing which poultry wire or string, run horizontally from poles placed in the ground four or five feet apart, may be used. During dry weather the plants must be regularly supplied with water, but never give it in small doses. Unless you have the time and facilities for giving the plants a thorough soaking, better leave them alone. The hoe must also be used at least once a week, oftener if possible. This will keep down the weeds and at the same time form a dust mulch and so conserve the moisture that is in the soil. Should the vines be troubled with green aphis or pea louse, spray immediately with weak kerosene emulsion and arsenate of lead, using it every four days until the plants are perfectly clean again. Alternate this spraying with one of pure water. It is seldom that sweet peas or other plants are attacked by insects when they are growing strongly, therefore, it is well to apply a little liquid manure at this stage. This might take the form of acid phos- phate, dissolving one ounce in two gal- lons of water, or acid phosphate or Scolch the row, applying it after first stirring the ground, then thoroughly water it in. To prolong the flowering season never allow a seed pod to form. The more flowers you cut the more there will be to cut. To those who have the convenience of a cool green-house or cold frame, even better results may be had by starting the seed in pots; this'method being exten- sively used by the majority of the best growers. Two or three seeds are sown in a three and one-half or four-inch flower pot, during February, the plants being set out in ground prepared as above, some time in April, each potful being turned out one foot to eighteen inches apart in the row, and undoubtedly much better results are to be had by this method. The plants must, however, be carefully “hard- ened off” ere setting out. flower, regular applications of liquid ma- nuer should be given at least once a week. Superphosphate or acid phosphate is excellent, also nitrate of potash or sulphate of ammonia at the rate of half an ounce dissolved in one gallon of water. For a “change of diet” use liquid manure, made by steeping cow, horse or sheep dropping in a tub, or the drainings fpom a farm cesspool or pig-sty may be used. It must not be applied in too strong a form, rather start the first ap- plications quite weak, and increase in strength as the doses are repeated. When the hot season has “come to stay” it is advisable to mulch the rows, ‘using thoroughly rotted short manure, or lawn clippings, working it well around the plants and for at least a foot on each side of the row. The plants are much benefited by thorough overhead spray- ing, but this should only be applied after the sun has gone down. One of the great secrets of success in sweet pea culture is early sowing. Get the seed into the soil at the first possible moment after the frost is out of the ground. This early start allows the seedlings to make strong deep root growth under cool conditions, the plants being thus in a better condition to with- stand the heat and drought of late spring and summer. BEST SWEET PEAS. In choosing varieties, much naturally depends on individual taste as to colors, and there are now so many fine sorts on the market that he would be a bold man indeed to name arbitrarily any set as be- ing the very best. However, I feel cer- tain that the following includes the finest varieties now in cultivation either for garden and house decoration, or exhibi- tion purposes, and all are true Spencers. I head the list with Yarrawa, a beauti- ful large rosy-pink with lighter wings. It is the only early flowering variety in my set, and worthy of a place in all gar- dens, as it comes into flower at least two weeks earlier than any of the following: ; Ming White, easily the best pure white self. Primrose Spencer, rich cream self. Hircules, rich pink self—an improved and larger Countess Spencer. Elfrida Pearson, blush-pink, somewhat similar to Lady Evelyn Eyre. ‘Mrs. Routzhan, cream-pink, suffused amber. Doris Usher, lovely salmon-pink. Margaret Atlee, rich apricot-pink on cream ground. George Herbert, large rosy-cerise self. ing Edward Spencer, rich crimson self. Illuminator, rose on salmon. Royal Purple, a large, clear purple self. Dainty Spencer, white, edged rose. Margaret Madison, sky-blue self. Wedgwood, clear blue self. Orchid, pure lavender self. King Manuel, deep blackish-maroon. Thomas Stevenson, orange-scarlet self, though this will be superceded by the new variety, The President, which is very much larger and” altogether a bet- ter flower. Fiery Cross, scorching fire-red, a great and decided advance. Robert Sydenham, rich orange-salmon. Mrs. W. J. Unwin, white, flaked, orange-red.—By George W. Kerr, in the einen] COUNTING OUT RHYMES. To Determine Who Shall Pay for Theatre’ Ticket FOR MUSICAL COMEDY Onery, orey, calcium lights, Filason, folason, pink silk tights; Who'll finance our party through? Queevy, quayy, out goes—you! FOR GRAND OPERA Pagliadci, Carmen, Faust, And Meistersinger funny; You're the jolly little man Who gets to spend his money! FOR DRAMA Maughn, Pinero, Knoblauch, Shaw, Let us at their dramas gnaw; Here's one we would like to see, - If you will paymaster be! FOR VAUDEVILLE Rag-time music, monologues, Acrobatics, dancing dogs; We their charms will gladly note, Crack-a-feeny, you're the goat! FOR THE MOVIES Eni, meni, mini, mo. The average grower sows his seed too ! - From the time the vines are in full | gog Let's go to the Picture Show! Come what will and come what may, You'rethe one who has to pay! : Values of Penna. Farm Land. { Improved farm land in Pennsylvania is worth on an average $76 an acre and un- improved farm land is worth $50 an acre according to statistics gathered by the | Department of Agriculture. | The range of prices for improved farm ! land runs from $278 an acre in Philadel- phia county to $26 an acre in Cameron county. For unimproved farm land Philadelphia county leads with an aver- | age of $240 an acre and Cameron unim- proved farm land is worth $16 an acre. | In considering the variance in prices, | the locality and general condition of the country are the two big features, as the value of landon the outskirts of the larg- | er cities is greatly increased over that’ of the real farm centers in the interior | part of the State. In many sections the | timber and coal lands are not profitable | for farming and the value of the land for | agricultural purposes is greatly reduced. | For improved farm land Philadelphia’s figures of $278 an acre leads. Delaware! county farm land, which is practically | adjacent to the Quaker City is worth $210 an acre. The price for improved farm land in Lancaster county is $180 an acre. Lancaster county is sometimes called the “garden spot of the country,” | and it is claimed that it is the richest | agricultural county in the United States The rich tobacco lands aid materially in bringing up the Lancaster average. Al-! legheny county land, close to Pittsburgh, | is valued at $175 an acre and Montgomery | county at $130 an acre. Other high | values are: Cumberland $120, Lehigh $106, Bucks $105 and Chester, Snyder, | Union and Westmoreland $100 an acre. | For the unimproved farm land which includes the average land with wooded fields, Philadelphia leads at $240 an acre ! | [ | with Delaware second at $140 an acre. | Other figures are: Lancaster $120, Alle- | gheny $118, Cumberland and Montgomery | $80 an acre. The interior counties show low aver- ages per acre for improved land as fol- | lows: Cameron $26, Potter $32, Pike $38, | Warren $40, Wayne $42, Clinton $44, | Forest and Susquehanna $45, Luzerne and Monroe $46. For the unimproved land the low fig- ures per acre in the State are: Cameron $16, Fulton and Potter $20, Clearfield, Elk, Forest and Wayne $25, Susquekanna $26, Sullivan $27 and Monroe and Pike How Treasure Island was Written. Boys who have read Treasure Island with delight may not know that Robert Louis Stevenson wrote it to please his step-son, Lloyd Osbourne, whom he de- scribed as “a schoolboy home for the holi- days, and much in want of something craggy to break his mind upon.” Mr. Osbourne recently told the way in which “R. L. S.,” as he is called by those who love his books, wrote this splendid sea story, which all of you must read, if you have not already done so. “As most people know,” says Mr. Os- bourne, “Treasure Island was directly in- spired by a small map I drew as a boy. When the map was finished, R. L. S. happened to lean over my shoulder, and added, tremendously to my delight and not a little to his own, the crosses for buried treasure and the deliciously ro- mantic names now so well known. Then he said enthusiastically: ‘I'll have to write a story all about it” And I said: ‘Yes, something really interesting—who it was that buried the treasure, and why the little island was called Skeleton Is- land—and not like your other books.’ And he said: ‘O, no—nothing so stupid or tiresome, but full of pirates,and buried treasure, and the things everybody really likes.’ “These were not the exact words, but I can remember the gist of that conversa- tion as though it were yesterday, and Mr. Stevenson's eager, mantling, whimsi- cal face. The next day I was electrified to have the first chapter read aloud to me—the first chapter of ‘my’ book. The others followed in almost daily succes- sion. That the book was marketable or had any future outside the family circle did not occur to R. L. S. until a consid- erable time afterwards. Yet this was the beginning of his success.” Treasure Island became so popular that Stevenson’s other books began to sell, too, and it is interesting to know that a schoolboy had a part in his success as a writer. . Penn. Faims Own 22,698 Autos. Pennsylvania farmers own over four- teen per cent. of the automobiles regis- tered in the State during the past year. On the first of the year there were 22,698 automobiles in the hands of the farmers of the State, according to the estimates of the Bureau of Statistics of the Depart- ment of Agriculture. The report shows that 9.5 per cent. of the farmers are car owners and this means that there is an automobile on one out of every ten farms. A year ago it was estimated that there were 15,000 automobiles in the hands of the farmers of the State. In 1915 there were 159,984 automobiles registered in Pennsylvania and the farm- ers are shown to own 14.1 per cent. of that total. The rural residents undoubt- edly led by afair margin all other classes as purchasers of cars during the year. In ten out of sixty-seven counties the reports show that from fifteen to eigh- teen per cent. of the farmers own cars and in thirty-one counties ten per cent. or more of the farmers are shown as car owners. Lancaster county leads with over eighteen per cent. of the farmers owning an estimated total of 1842 cars. Chester county farmers own 1019 cars and Bucks county farmers 963 cars. Edison Prophet at 69 Says. Thomas A. Edison celebrated the sixty- ninth anniversary of his birth by work- ing hard in his laboratory, as he has done almost every day for many years. He talked with newspaper men for a few minutes and said the following things: “The war will last two years longer. “The allies will win, because of their ability to get the things necessary to carry on the war properly. “The United States will not become involved in the conflict. The worst that can possibly happen will be the breaking off of diplomatic relations. : “There should be a law against any- one under 21 years smoking cigarettes. Mr. Edison would prefer to see a boy with a revolver rather than a cigarette. ‘Women will vote, and there should be a national amendment to that effect. The instincts of women are good and they are bound to have their voice in government.’ —Put your ad. in the WATCHMAN. POTASH MADE OF FELDSPAR Discovery, It is Said, Will Enable America to Produce All the Amount Needed. The European war has brought the United States face to face with the problem of supplying its own potash. Several new methods of providing a substitute for German fertilizers have been brought to the attention of the government. The most promising of these is that patented by a Canadian, which provides for the extracting of potash from ordinary feldspar. The feldspar is heated with limestone and iron oxide at a temperature of about 2,200 degrees Fahrenheit, which pro- duces a partly fused mass that is eas- ily decomposed by a weak acid. From this product the potash salts can be readily extracted for further purifica- tion. Another method of obtaining potash will be tried out at a New Orleans dis- tillery where molasses is used in large quantities. In the distilleries where molasses is fermented it is said that more than one hundred and six tons of potash is wasted daily, and is it this waste the New Orleans company is en- deavoring to forestall. It is possible to make fertilizer from this otherwise worthless material at a price that will meet competition even after the war is over. | BRUSHED CAR OFF HIS EAR So Declared Owner When He Was De- scribing His Escape After Collision. In telling the details later, William A. Lucas said he brushed the car off his ear, but that was somewhat of an exaggeration. He was explaining an accident that occurred at Washington street and Vermont avenue, when the car in which he was riding with his wife and her sister, Mrs. Kate Holmes, ! all of 652 Towne avenue, was struck amidships by an unknown motorist in a powerful machine. The small car which Mr. Lucas was driving was turned over, and Mr. Lucas was thrown out, so he fell with the full weight of the machine on his head. The car was one of the light ones about which so many jokes are attempted. : By bracing himself Mr. Lucas suc- ceeded in raising the machine enough to escape. He was not seriously in- jured. Nor was his wife or sister-in- law. All are more than sixty years old.—Los Angeles Times. Celebrities Cheap. Sam Gompertz is said to be going to build a new amusement place at Coney island, on the site of Dream- land, with everything free except ten cents admission. Probably that is why he was the largest bidder at the auction of the contents of the Eden i He bought John Purroy Mit- | Musee. chel, William the S. O. Bill Sulzer, W. Jennings Bryan, Anna Held, Sarah Bernhardt and 12 other assorted fa- mous people, all in a lump, for $190, or | $10 apiece. He just missed getting 19 “makers of history,” from Cleopatra to Roosevelt, which went en masse for $230. Thomas A. Edison, clad in a check suit, was sold separately for ! $10, and Colonel Goethals brought $10. | Both beat Governor Whitman, who was disposed of, “scenery and every- thing,” for $7. Some of the large prices of the day, paid for group fig- ures, in which the auctioneer protest- ed that the very wax at 256 cents a pound was worth more than the bid, were Admiral Fletcher bombarding Vera Cruz, five figures, $25; General Funston entering Vera Cruz, eight fig- ures, $49; Lee’s surrender at Appo- mattox, 14 figures, $100; Pope Pius lying in state, four figures, $40; “Hor- rors of the Spanish Inquisition,” $50; Hans Schmidt, $10; and the execu- tion of the four gunmen, $40.—New York Commercial. The King and the Peasant. A lot of good space, time, ink and sympatay is being wasted on old King Peter of Serbia, in telling what a sad thing it is for him to be a king with- out a kingdom, of how he was lifted tenderly from his horse, of how he was taken to Italy and is to live in a palace in that country until the time comes when he may return to his own land. And while all this is being written the Serbian people, the peasants who have been tramping barefooted along frozen roads, whose homes have been destroyed and whose loved ones have, in many cases, been killed in battle, are forgotten.—Savannah News. Buried by Lantern Light. By the light of lanterns the body ef Annie M. Scott of Phoenixville was interred at Grove Methodist Episcopal cemetery, West Whiteland, after a trip of ten miles, which had consumed two days. By night the procession had reached Kimberton, five miles from the start- ing point, where the trip was aban- doned and resumed in the morning, but it required until late the second evening to reach the cemetery, the road leading for the main part through fields because heavy snowdrifts closed the highways.—West Chester, Pa., Dis- patch to Philadelphia Inquirer. Good and Faithful Servant. Sir S. Ponsonby-Fane is dead at an age of ninety-one years. The span of his years becomes apparent when you appreciate that he was an attache of the British legation at Washington in 1846-47. That was when James K. Polk was president, James Buchanan secretary of state and the Mexican war was on.—Cincinnati Times-Star. “SWAT RABBIT,” NEW SLOGAN ‘They're Vermin, Not Game, English Timber Owners Are Now Be- i i ing Told. i © To encourage the growing of more timber in England by organizing all resources of labor, a committee has {been appointed by the government un- | {der the chairmanship of Francis Ac land, the London Chronicle states. : Lord Selborne, minister for agricul ture, drew attention to this step at an exhibition of English timber organ- ized by the English Ferestry associa- tion at the Surveyors’ institution, Westchester. He said that the committee was ap- pealing to land owners and land agents to let them see their woods and make proposals for the purchase ! of timber. The committee appealed ! to the owners to give what help they , possibly could in the felling, conver- sion and hauling of the timber. If an English landowner would con- sider that rabbits are not game but’ ‘vermin, as they certainly are, and go in for the cultivation of timber, it would be to his great benefit, the com. ! mittee said. i The war bas.created a big demand | for timber, boards and scantling, espe- | cially the kind used in the erection of huts. During the last twelve months | more pit wood has found its way to | the English coal field than has been the case for the last twenty years. Some of the men present said that | while they would do all that was pos- sible to give aid to the government in i this direction, they were disinclined to feather the nests of the timber deal- ers. ANXIOUS ABOUT HIS HEALTH Guest at St. Louis Hotel, Not Satisfied Made a Somewhat Humorous Request. Fred Thompson, night clerk at the Laclede hotel, St. Louis, is asking his friends to believe this one: “About eight o'clock the other night,” Thompson says, “a tall, rangy ruralite entered the lobby of the hotel and approached the desk. After I had fixed him up with a room he asked me if I would take care of some money {| for him. I told him I would be glad | to put it in the safe. He fished down { in his trousers pocket and produced a ! $2 bill. | “Just put that away,’ he said, ‘I am going out for a little while and I don’t want to take any chances with these city slickers.’ “I kept my face straight and assured him it would be safe on his return. He started to leave and then turned | around and asked me how late we i kept open. . “‘Oh, I'll be here when yocu get back,” I told him. “Well, I don’t know,” he replied. ‘I calculate I'll be pretty late. Most ten o'clock, likely.’ “I assured him I would be on deck, but he did not seem satisfied. After pondering a few moments he asked: “‘Could I see Mr. Laclede? “That had me going for a few min- utes, but when I recovered I told him Mr. Laclede had gone to bed.” Pierre Lac.ede, the founder of St. Louis, for whom the hotel was named, died in 1778. Jap Statesman of Prominence. Governor Hattori of Hyogo prefec- ture, who was among those awarded honors at the coronation of the em- peror of Japan, has held his post since 1900, a unique distinction among his gubernatorial confreres. The happy relations which he enjoys with all offi-: cial and private classes in Hyogo pre- fecture have caused him to repeatedly decline offers of promotion, by which he might have held a seat in the cabi- net and exercised diplomatic abilities in higher and more stormy spheres. He was born in 1851 and is a graduate of an American college, Rutgers, from which he received the degree in the "10s of bachelor of commerce. He was nominated a member of the house of peers in 1903. Signs of Paratyphoid. Paratyphoid has recently come to the front as a disease. Among the al- lied troops in France there have been more than 1,200 cases, with a case mortality of 1.5 per cent. The Lon- don Lancet says it is not always pos- sible to distinguish it from typhoid, but in general it is a milder disease with shorter duration and often ap- pears as a sudden onset with shiver- ing, abdominal pain and aching limbs, without abdominal distension and when there is an eruption this is of large and palpable spots. Abnormally slow heart action is characteristic. The mosquito is suspected as the means of transmission from patient to patient, but this is still in doubt. Much Beef Goes to Waste. Although various estimates place the number of cattle in Paraguay all the way from one to four million head, the cattle industry, with untold possi- bilities, is scarcely out of the stage when the animals are slaughtered for their hides alone. While all the world is clamoring for meat, cattle in Para- guay sell for but little morc than what their skins will bring. Inexperienced. “We are getting up ao symposium on the subject ‘Is Marriage a Fail- ure? ” we remarked to the celebrated actress whom we had been sent to in- terview, “and we would like to hear wour views on the matter.” “Dear me!” she exclaimed. “How can you expect me to throw any light on such a question? Why, I have “earlier than in temperate zones. been married only five or six times.” ‘SMALL MAN WINS HIS SPURS Trenches Make Him a Better Fighter Than the Larger Soldier, It Is Now Said. A “Bantam Corps” now is organiz ing ‘in British Columbia. It may not be easy to explain why, but the fact is that energy and pugnacity seem ta become intensified as the physical bulk diminishes in all animals, includ: ing man. The capacity for enduring physical hardships generally dimin. ishes as the size and weight increase, so that the idea of a “Bantam Corps” is one of the most practical and valu ‘able of the suggestions offered in con: nection with recruiting. Among the many cherished but now fossil delusions of militarism that have been for centuries regarded as axi omatic this one of coupling power of endurance with size of frame is the most obstructive of progress. Hun. dreds of thousands of eager recruits have been rejected because they were a trifle below the prescribed dimen. sions, or for slight defects of eyesight or teeth. Trench fighting has revolutionized i the prevailing ideas about war in this as in other respects. A small man may endure the strain of trench work bet. , ter than a large man, may be a better sniper, is a less expansive target for the enemy’s bullets and is likely to be less expensive to maintain. In the | old style of fighting, which was large ly a matter of charging on foot or on horseback, weight might tell in favor of the heavier man, but there is com- paratively little of that sort of fight ing now. HEAT WON'T HELP MATURITY Result of Columbia Professor's Studies Conflicts With Former Views. Children do not reach maturity in tropical climates more quickly than in temperate climates. This remarkable conclusion, which runs contrary to a widely held belief, has been reached by Prof. Franz Boas, professor of an- thropology at Columbia university. Professor Boas, fresh from participa- tion in a scientific ‘survey of Porto Rico, has just made his report to the New York Academy of Sciences, which undertook the investigation. “The first of our anthropological in- quiries had for its cbject the study of conditions of growth of the body in a tropical environment,” Professor Boas says. “It is generally assumed that heat has the effect of accelerating the physiological development so that in warm climates children reach maturity Our inquiries do not substantiate this view, The material has not yet been collated, but from the general character of the data I venture to say that they will be of the greatest importance for prac- tical measures relating to the hygiene of childhood and for the management of schools.” Leprosy in Boston. A case of leprosy was discovered in Boston a few days ago. This males two cases within five weeks. The latest victim is a sailor, about seventy- two years old. He was born in the United States and has followed the sea for many years, having visited Asiatic ports, where he evidently con- tracted the disease. It is said that his present illness began about ten years ago, but that he never before applied for treatment in Boston. When he appeared at one of the local hos- pitals the case was recognized and was reported to the health depart- ment. The other case of leprosy, that of a dishwasher, was not diagnosed for seven months, though the man was un- der treatment much of the time at the same hospital. Marks on Aeroplanes. The distinguishing marks of the aeroplanes of the fighting powers are as follows: France, Belgium and Serbia—the device of a blue center ring with white and red rings outside. Great Britain—a dark red ring; the device of a red center with a blue outer ring, similar to the French, is also used. The Russian mark con- sists of three horizontal bands of white, blue and red. The central pow-: ers, Germany and Austria, use a black “Iron Cross” painted on a white ground as a device, while Turkey uses p crescent and star upon a red! ground. Granted Two Days to Marry. Furloughs from the front are fixed by the generalissimo at six complete days, but the heads of corps may give two days extra to soldiers who have been the object of citation entitling! them to wear the cross of war and to! those who can produce a certificate from a mayor stating that they are about to get married.—European Edi- tion New York Herald. Tries to Pin Up Heart. Frank Gati, thirty-eight years old, of 406 East Fiftieth street, tried to kill: himself in the erysipelas ward of Bellevue hospital by sticking a safety, pin through his heart. He was pre- vented from carrying out his inten- tion by a nurse, but he grimly told the doctors that he would succeed; next time. He is charged with at- tempted suicide—New York Evening; Sun, Usual Result. “Good heavens! Another riot call!” “Yes.” ” “What’s happened now?” . “Nothing out of the ordinary. A crowd of pacifists have been holding a ‘get-together’ meeting.” :
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers