FREAK BIRDS AND BEASTS IN THE PHILIPPINES. HriNO MX If Uncle Snm could collect a pair of specimens of each species of boasts, b'u\la and reptiles which inhabit his newly acquired Philippine possessions ho would Lave a zoological "biggest show on earth." Some of the most re markable ones are shown in the accompanying cut. The spectre is the most grotesque of Oriental animals. Its eyes are like a great pair of spectacles and its feet and ankles are uncovered bone formations. The kaguan, or flying fox, is a bat. It lives on fruit. The mongoose is a pest which we should beware of importing. The zibeth is a variety of civet cat. The bu ceros rhinoceros, who imprisons his mato in a hollow by building a plaster wall over the entrance hole, so that sho cannot leave the nest during tlie nesting season, is the oddest of Philippine fowls. Father Hornbill feeds his wife through a small hole all the while. When the eggs are hatched he hammers down the wall and lets her out. The paradise major is one of the most gorgeous birds in the world. The bufl'alo is used as a beast of all work. I I I Modern War Mechanism. 8 I p Searchlights, Steam Ploughs ancl Heliographs in South Africa. As might be expected, the English are using in tho South African war the most modern military appliances that can be had. They are thoroughly Up to date in the matter of guns and am munition, and even the surgeons are using new means of developing X rays. The War Ofiice has negotiated with Marconi's business representa tives for wireless telegraphic outfits, nnd by this time the apparatus ought to be in service. Moreover, a num ber of other appliances that are not necessarily iustrnruents of war have been put to use in the contest with the Boers. One of tho most striking instances of this kind is the employment, of a steam plough for digging trenches. The ploughshare and pruning hook are particularly typical of the arts aud spirit of peace, but now, for the first time iu history, the former implement has bocomc a military weapon. The steam plough is not in itself auy novelty. It has been used for years on a large scale in the western parts of the United States, where the great wheat and corn crops of the country are raised. It is also well known in other parts of the world where agricul- KIMBEBLEY SEARCHLIGHT. (A powor'ul electric light is installed on Uih shaft head at the Do Beers mine. Bv tllls light signals were exchanged be tween Kimberloy aud the force under Lord Mothuen.) lure is conducted on the wholesale ])lau. The particular plough usod in South Africa was desigued by Colonel Templer, of the Royal Engineers, and differs only iu trifling details from that with which tho American wheat grower breaks up the surface of the fertile prairie. The superiority of this means of digging trenches is so manifest that one wonders why it was never thought of before. A three •wheoled "traction engine," such as is BBITIBH employed in hauling heavy wagons from town to town or jn operating itinerant threshing machines, drags the steam plough of Colonel Tempter through tho soil. Two of the wheels are large and broad, and the third, out in front, carries only a small part of the load, and is used mainly for steering purposes. There is nothing especially new in the resort to telephony. The Ameri can Signal Service has long had ample equipments of this kind for field work, particularly in the dissemination of orders from headquarters and there (Used for tho Ilrst time in the South African War.) ceipt of reports from subordinates during an action. It is not at all likely that the English are ahead of the United Slates in this respect. However, some interesting features are presented by one of the instances of telephony in South Africa just de scribed in the dispatches. After arriving on the field cf battle at Elandslaagte, General French suw the necessity of prompt reinforce ments. In his army were several telegraphers, who were provided with portable telephones, batteries and in cidental apparatus. A regular tele graph line passes in the vicinity of Elandslaagte. General French's men tapped one of the wires of this lino. The first step was to establish an elec tric connection with the overhead wire. This was done by suspending thereon, by a metallic hook or clip at the top of a light, portable stick, one end of another wire. The latter ex tended downward to a box containing a telegraph key and sounder, two or three cells of battery, and a conveni ent combination ol telephone trans mitter and receiver. To make the ap paratus work, it was further necos sary to run the lower end of the hang ing wire into the ground. Thus a regular "circuit" was formed, the earth affording a return route for the Wr'reut. Either a telegraph key or a telephone could be used, according to the convenience of the operator. A convenient substitute for Mar coni's apparatus has been found at Kimberley in the powerful electric searchlight there. It is a mistake to suppose that such a device is service able only at sea. Although the uses which it has in the navy are somewhat different from those thus far found for it on land, it certainly has its value on terra flrma. At Kimberley it has performed a double office. It has as sisted in the watch for an enemy, ana it has furnished an excellent means ol telegraphing. By switching the cur rent on and off the light can be broken up into dots aad dashes, to form tele graphic letters. The enemy might see these signals, but-as a secret code would doubtless be employed, the sig nificance of the flashes would not be understood except by the initiated. Searchlights have been made whose rays could be discerned at a distunce of fifty or seventy-five miles. At Kimberley it was known that Lord Methuen's army had oome within twenty or thirty miles nearly a fort night ago. No difficulty should have been experienced in sending messages concerning the situation in the be leaguered city, therefore, although a HOW BOEnS DESTROY RAILWAYS. reassuring response could not so eas ily be transmitted. The Boers, too, are learning to use modern methods. A small coutingent have realized the uselessness of mere ly tearing up a section of railway and throwing the rails into a stream —the usual Boer method of destroying a track. What they now do is to heat the centre of a section to a white heat and carry the rail by its two cool ends to the nearest tree or telegraph pole, round which they twist it in sush a way that it is absolutely impossible to use it again for railway purposes. When the usual plan is adopted, the British troops merely search for the missing sections and replace them. A valuable method of communicat ing, which the British are using in South Africa, is the heliograph, such as our army has long employed on the Western plains. General Buller, while at Frere sta tiou, communicated daily with Gen eral White, at Lady smith, about tt\ i ty miles away, with tho heliograph. Sun rays flashed back and forth told the besieged army to be of good cheei and assured the relief column that the garrison, though hard pressed, was l cheerful. Moruionx' Curlotia Alplinhct. An alphabet intended for exclusive 'ise in Mormon literature was de signed by Orson Pratt and W. rhelns, both contemporaries of the great apostle of tho Latter Day Haints, d 3030 <D t J E A AH AW O CO AM AW , *■ j. 2 J" O W v 112 7 ' 01 OW U VOO HHP a i a c <s" o•© p t i fi T D CHE 0 K CA r V ETH * 8 6 D S I'UltM n<E A z E;3H vtz R L M N NG SECRET srELLISO SYSTEM. Brighntn Young. The Mormon abece dary consists of forty letters based OD a sort of phonetic system. It has never come into very general use, but is employed when secret intelligence is transmitted from one head of the church to a distant apostle. A South Sea Inland It rl<le. The bridal procession was ap proaching. In front, walking abreast, came the wedded pair—tall, hand some, and of an excellent tawny hue. The bride, a beautiful young girl, ex hibited a ludicrously absurd appear ance. Her shapely legs and feetwor< naked. She wore a low bodice' ol scarlet satin, bedecked with shoulder knots of brilliant blue. Bound hei body so m*uy robes, some of th« paper-likq bavkclotli, others woven ol the native grass, were enwrapped, that her aspect, instead of impressing us, as it doubtless did the natives, with respect for her wealth, merely made comic suggestion that the pooi child was parading inside a barrel! Her pretty head, running over with close rings of tan-tipped hair, wae uncovered; and her neck and limb; glistened with oil. —Blackwood. Health the Mattmprlng of Succens. The chief essential of success for a young man is what the vast majority of young men think about the least— that is, good health and a sound con stitution. That is the lirst thing; nothing precedes it. In the battle for success, that should be a young man's lirst thought; not his abilities, nor his work, but his health. That is tlie basis; the cornerstone of all. Abilities cannot bring but health may, and generally does, develop ability.— Ladies' Home Journal. Miinchaaarn Corroborated. A very singular zoological curiosity is now on exhibition at the New York State Museum of Natural History, at Albany. It consists of a section of the trur.k of a large oak tree direotly UNIQUE ZOOLOGICAL SPECIMEN. through which is thrust the antler of what must have been a large deer. A ■part of the skull remains attached, still bearing the other antler, plainly showing that the deer must have died upon the spot, being unable to pull away from the treo after once becom ing fast. Of course the presumption is that the antler was not imbedded iu the oak when it was full grown; evidently the deer whilo rubbing his horns on a youug sapling, or butting ugainst it, in some way got fast, and the tree as it grew gradually grew moru and more round the imprisoned prongs. The specimen was found iu the Michigan woods. A Blind Shot. A well-known divinity professor, a grave and learned man had five daugh ters, whom his students irreveutly named "Genesis," "Exodus," "Num bers," "Leviticus" aud "Deuteron omy." Beginning his lecture oue day, the professor said: "Gentlemen, I wish to speak to you about the age of Gen esis." Roars of laughter came from the students. "Genesis is not so old as you sup pose," continued the professor. More roars— so long continued, in deed, that the worthy man had time to think before he made the uext remark. He said timidly—aud he managed to hit the mark this time: "I may not be thinking of the same Genesis as you are!"— Collier's Week 'J- Odd Companions. A Maine man has a fox and a hound lhat arc boon companions. When both animals were iu the pup stage, they were placed together aud have uow enjoyed a year of each other's society iu peace aud harmony. They *leep together and play with each other much after the manner of two frolicsome pups. The fox has perfect freedom of action, coming and going at will, but he always returns at night to share the dog's bed.—Keunebec (Me.) Journal. A Famous Western Capitalist. Among the progressive cleineut foi which the middle West is famous, Mr. John C. Hubiuger, of Keokuk, lowa, is without a peer. As a manufacturer, ns au enterprising capitalist aud as a philanthropist his fame lias spread over many States. Although but forty-seven years of age, he can look back upon scores of commercial victories, each oue 01 which has bene fited mankind, for his liberality is as bountiful as liis business sagacity ie marvelous. Mr. Hubinger was born in New Orleans, La., his parents be ing of French and German origin. Al most Jjefore reaching man's estate he secured patents on a number of valua ble mechanical inventions, theroby laying the foundation of his present fortune. His attention was early directed to the manufacture of starch by improved processes, autl in the course of time he became the head of a concern hav ing an annual business of millions of dollars. JOHN C. HI'BINUF.R. While Mr. Hubinger is devoting hit best energies to the manufacture ol his new and wonderful product, this will not interfere with tho exercise o! the splendid hospitality which he, hif wife and his four children dispense al their palatial Keokuk home. An apparatus has been devised foi automatically photographing people as they enter shops aud other places. \ FARM AND GARDEN.] Acorn# an Hog Feed. Where acorns are used largely in fattening hogs a rather aol't, spongy flesh is produced, while the lard is very oily and does not harden readily. This difficulty eau be largely over come by feeding corn two or three weeks before butchering. Fof(l a Mixed Flock. It is an old saving among dairymen that "the making of a good cow is half in the breed and half ill the feed." This is equally true of poultry. Ono cannot get fat chickens or good laying hens from any breed if they are not fed properly, but with food enough one breed may be fattened easily. The same breed an I same food would give good results in eggs. This is why we dislike a mixed ttoak of fowl, with blood from a half dozen breeds of fowl. When you are giving one hen just enough to stimulate her to egg production, you are giving others just enough to fatten them so they will not, or cannot lay. If the feed is re duced to take off their superfluous fat then the others do not have enough to make eggs from. Get the right breed and then learn how to feed them. Good Plowing. What used to be called good plow ing, the turning a furrow over smooth ly and leaving the upturned surface perfectly level, is not thought as im portant now us it was when we were young. The plowing match at agri cultural exhibitions does not draw the jrowd it once did, even wheu there is no couutor attraction of trotting horse, bicycle match or baseball game to draw the people away. The improve ments in harrows, horseshoes and cultivators enable the farmer to pul verize his soil, as it could not have been done by the plow, and to leave it level if he wishes, though it may Have beeu but poorly plowed. And many of the farmers aie beginning to ihink that the best plowing is what our fathers would have called a poor job, the furrow set 011 edge instead of mined over, and then worked mellow afterward. The land so hand led gives 1 better crop than that which has been turned upside down. Fending: for Kijx#, The question of feeding hens at the least cost to obtain the best results is Dne that has long puzzled poultry raisers, many of whom differ 011 ma terial points regarding the method of feeding. Home advocate giving a warm masli aarly in the morning, while others prefer the first food to be grain of tome kind thrown in the scratching shed among the litter. The latter say the exert ise thus obtained gives the fowls an appetite and aids the di gestion, while the former say the fowls need the mash first, since the long hours of fast make it necessary to furni h a food which can be easily mil quickly digested. One thing is certain, that if hens ire giveu a full feed of mash early in the morning they will not take tlieex sreise which they should have during ;he remainder of the day. Their hunger lias beeu satisfied,aud they will content themselves with standing around, huddle l together in » corner of the house. While, on the other hand, if giveu grain first, or even only a partial feed of mash, they will then begin to hustle for more. A hen should be kept busy all day iong, aud then given, before roosting time, all lhat she will eat. Half-fed Qcns will not lay; neither will lazy hens. It therefore follows that the method of feeding is just as important as the kind of food that is given. No matter how perfect the ration may be, if not judiciously giveu, the results will not bo satisfactory. A goo 1 plan to adopt is to give just a little, say one quart to fifteen hens, of mash, made of equal parts of corn meal, grouud oats aud shorts, with a few vegetable scraps, mixed the even ing previous, and allowed to stand over night. This will partially ap pease thoir hunger until laying time, after which they will begin to hustle for the grain. Millet makes one of the best grains to be given, as the small seed furnishes a greater amuuiit of exercise. During very cold weather corn should be fed, but at other times oats and wheat will give the best re sults. —Home and Farm. Making ISutter Without Ice. If these directi lis are followed, oue can find a ready sale for every pound of butter made, as the butter will be sweet aud will stand the warmest weather wit out tasting old. The milk is cooled as soon as possible after being drawn from the cows, thon strained into two gallon tin buckets. I prefer deep-setting. The covers are not put on the buckets until the milk is perfectly cool; then it is set in the cellar on bricks which have air slaked lime sifted anions them once a week. 'llie cellar is kept vary clean, and is well ventilated at night. I skim the miik after it has set for 24 hours, aud stir the contents of the crer.in jar thoroughly every time that new cream is added. The cream should only be slightly acid when churned. Overripe cream will not make goo.l butte". I use a barrel churn, and wheu the but ter comes iu grains I draw the milk ofl'and wash till Hi» water runs clear. Then I take up the butter in butter bowl and salt, using one and a half ounces to the poind. Work salt in as lightly as po<siblo, and set in a cool place for 24 hours. Instead of wonting and bating with the puddle to get the brine out, take n large soft cloth and press the brine out, when the cloth becomos wet. wi intf it out and pi oss again. Work ing spoils tho grain and keeping qual ities. After the brine is absorbed, shape and mold iu one pound prints, wrap each in waxed butter paper and pack iu waxed paper lined box until mnrketed. 1 use no soup for washing milk vessels. Kinse tlmn well iu coid water, and scald, putting soda in the scalding water. The sooner the milk is cooled after being drawn the better the butter will be,and the mure < ream you will get. The dryer the cellar or milk house, the better. Good butter can not be made when milk is kept in a damp, mouldy place.—Mrs. l.obert Athworth iu tho Epitomist. l-'ftttening Fowl*. For fattening fowls for market n /th ing is better than corn and cow pea°, writes Fred Orundv in Poultry Topics. They will round out a fowl in about ten days or two weeks, giving then) that plump meaty appearance that buyers and consumers are delighted with. Finishing fowls for market is an art that few people fully understand. One must be guided largely by previous conditions. If the birds have 1 eeu confined iu a yard all the season they may be peuued in a small enclosure and finished up for market iu about ten dayß by being fed all they can eat. If, however, they have an uulimited range all summer it will not do to shut them up and begin stuffing them all they will swallow. Such a com so ■would kill them off in short orde Begin fattening range fowls gradu ally. Feed them corn or corn and cow peas iu the evening and again in the morning when they are let out. About the third day call them up at noon and give them a little corn. Gradually increase the quantity given them at a feed until about the sixth day, when they may till themselves up to the beak three times a day. In 15 to 20 days they should be ready for market. In fattening fowls, young or old, there are two things beside feed that are absolutely necessary, and thefe are water and grit. Ie sure to pro vide an abundance of both if you de sire the quickest results. Keep them close by your feeding spot so that the birds can obtain all they desire. Where highly fed they need lots ol water to soften the food, and lots of grit to grind it with. Separate the fowls yon desire to fatten for ina ;ket from those you intend to keep. If all of them have had free range through the season don't pen up those you are fattening. It is not safe to do so. Pen up those you in tend to keep until you are ri I of the others. Feed the peuned fowls light ly ou soaked oats and bran and a very little corn ou the ear. Give them a cabbage, squash, pumpkin or any sort of green or succulent stuff once a day to keep them quiet and in good health. Root* of Trees and Berry Ru*lieA. The fruit grower might assume with considerable confidence that if the loots of his trees and bushes and vines were iu excellent condition t at there would be no failure of the crop. This would only be comparatively true, for thero are insects and blights that attack the fruit and foliage of trees and vines growing ou good roots; but as a rule the damage done by these pests is much iess on stock that is in a thriving condition. So we can say that primarily the condition of the crop is largely determined by the rots aud their relative vigorousuess. In the winter time the roots are tho only part of the stock that must be protected from the excessive cold, and if thoy are not damaged the trees will weather the hardest winter-. Artifi cial protection of the roots in the north is thus n generally recognized necessity, but we do not a ways give the same care and attention tj the roots in the summer. Root-injured trees in the first place should never be planted. If the nur sery man sends them to yon to fill an order, return them, and have them deducted from the bill. They will al ways prove disappointing and unsatis factory. It is better to take the bull by the horus, and remedy the evil at the outset. In transplanting our stock most of the small fibrous roots are in jured, and according to our present system of digging up trees aud vines there seems to be no remedy for this. But there ought to be some method of transplanting stock without disturbing the rootlets, or at least without seri ously injuring them. When these roots are transplanted, the roots should be soaked in water and moist earth at once. That tends to com pensate a little for the tree's loss of vitality. But the main thing in sum mer is to have the roots growing in congenial soil. This cau only be ac complished by having the soil well draiued aud the trees sunk well down. They should not have a mound of earth around them in summer,for that makes the water run off. They should rather have a hollow circle around the trunk where the water can collect. This, of course, only when the soil is thoroughly drained below. Then no stagnant water will collect. Iu this slight hollow the fertilizers and mois tnre can be poured, aiul they will go direct to the root feeders where they are needed, a d there will be little or no waste such as is often the case by the present systam.—Professor James S. Doty, in American Cultivator. Hope Town'* lU'MiHi'knblH Kiiil;r. The bridge at Hope Town, over which Lord Methuen's column recent ly advanced, is the most remarkable structure of the kind in Cape Colouv. Its length is no less than 1400 miles. The bridge at Aliwal North is only B<>o feet loug. Hope Town is notable as being the last town on the Orange river. A few huts or scattered farm steads are the only signs of humau habitation along the great waterwaj for GOO miles to the Atlantic-
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers