Argentine flour, which Is trying to
make Its wny Into northern Nrar.ll,
cannot comiM tc with the American
product.
Oklnhoma la making n place for her
self In the world. 1-nst year she pro
duced 2.',(HK,(KH) bushel of wheat and
more thnn l.VMXM) bnles of cotton.
Grooved rnllit have been Introduced
on tonic of the Chicago street railroad
track and they are likely to adopted
there as a substitute for nil other kinds
of rail In use.
Ono ticiieflt that the Vnlted States
Is conferring upon Franc at her ex
position is an Introduction to corn
bread. If the French will drink less
absinthe and ent more corn tread,
they limy yet regain much of their lout
prestige.
Another pnper-mnklng subxtnnee has
been developed. The Wild cime, which
grows In iinlliiiltcd quantities through
out the south, can he converted Into
pulp at nominal expense. Nothing was
ever created In vain. It was supposed,
tip to this time, that nature had over
done the fishing pole Industry.
Americans who contemplate going
to Porto Itlco. or Culm, or Mexico.
Will do well to learn Spanish. English
will "do" around hotels mid barber
shops, and among the better edu
ented people, but not for everyday, nil
around Intercourse with the people.
Linguistic changes are effected slowly
always. Americans will never gain
that Intimate commercial hold on Latin
America that the Ceriiiaus have until
they learn Spanish, and, for Bnixll.
Portuguese.
Canon Kd wards, who spoke for the
foreign delegates at the farewell meet
ing of the recent Kcuiiieiilcnl Mission
ary Conference In New York city, said:
"You have got your problems to solve
In this nation, but you will solve thctn.'
There has never been u moment since
the foundation of our government
when that feeling has not been su
preme In the hearts of the American
people. No temporary fear or depres
sion has weakened the nation's pur
pose to fulfill Its mission, nor eclipsed
Its faith In Its ability to do the things
given It to do.
Trofessor Forbes, the state entonio
loglst of Illinois, estimates that witti
out the assistance of birds the state o
Illinois would be carpeted with Insects,
one to each square Inch of ground, at
the end of 12 years. Prorcssor Meal 01
the United States department of ngii
culture calculates that one species, the
tree sparrow, destroys 875 tons of nox
lous weed seeds In seven months u
Iowa alone, and the Investigations of
the department of agriculture nuve
proved beyond question the value of
hawks and owls us the natural one
"mles of the small rodents so harmtu
to agriculture. Farmers are beginning
to realize the great practical value ot
birds, but women continue to demand
their slaughter at the dictates or tush,
loo.
The opposite of rest Is not work, It
Is restlessness, and one of the popular
"quick-lunch counters" Is its exponent.
The modern time-saving young man,
says a keen satirist, gives his order
I before removing hat or coat, thus
economizing 15 seconds. When bis
order arrives, he gets his fork Into It
as It appears over his shoulder, and
cleans the plates before the sauce ap
pears, which thus lias to lie eaten by
Itself. Cups of coffee go down in two
swallows. Little piles of cakes are cut
In quarters and disappear In four
niouthfuls; and the reully accom
plished luncber assimilates bis last
quarter of cakes, wiggles Into his coat
and pays his check at the desk at the
tame moment. The next be is half a
block away In pursuit of a receding
trolley 1
Within 47 hours after unexpected
orders had been telegraphed to a sur
prised outfit, the battleships Mussachu
setts and Iudiana, then moored on re
serve at League Island, were commit'
sloned, manned, equipped and re'
ported reudy for any fighting service
required, A flue achievement this,
and one filled with the credit to all
bands from Itear Admiral Casey and
bit captains down to the apprentice
boys, but notably Itenr Admiral
Crownlusbleld wW conceived the plan
and made, possible Its realization. It
It doubtful If this smart and cheery
work but been surpassed abroad, de
spite the practice the other tea powert
have In such war exercises, Great
Britain congratulated bur sailors upon
tbelr readiness In mobilization when
Fashoda quickened the bralu and bur
dened the brawn of ber reserve fleet.
But this clever trick, tblt deft array.
topi that effort and tets a higher
standard for the world.
TAKE HEART.
TIiotirIi fearful storms have swept In wrath Perchance tfcon many times hunt failed,
About thy toilsome, ruined path, Home weaknemi over thee prevailed,
And thou hiwt ofttimes been capt down And thou hast faltered in the stvifs
And sore dismayed by fortune's frown, And sadly rued thy blighted life;
Faint not, but bravely bear thy part. Though great thy srief and keen thy pain
O fellow man; once more take heart. O weary one, take heart again.
The storm Is follnweu by the ealm, Dwell not noon thy mournful past.
And winter's (tales by airs of balm, Arise, and for the right stand fast;
park night (jives place to sun-bright day; He strong and brave, fold not thv hands,
lt hone still ehcer thee on thy way, , For thee still flow life's golden sands;
Rewind the cloud still shines the tun; To better things sweet voices call
Press on until thy work is dwie. . And Uod in love rules over all.
-John Allen Uuilford, in Boston Transcript.
I IF THE PRAIRIE COUNTRY. I
By Bertha Gerneaux Woods. f8
.5 W
IT was n dry, stifling dny on the
prairie. The tonth wind blowing
with hot. Irritating persistency
across the plains rnlsed clouds of
dust that almost hid the view from
the woman at the window of the sod
house. She could sec only faintly the
burnished golden cups of thojirlckly
pear, or the deep crimson of the pin
cushion cactus blossoms, breaking the
monotony of the brown stretch of land.
The tVeaniy bells on the yuccn were
dimmed with the dust of the plains.
In the small, square sitting room, al
though the windows were tightly
shut, a gray co.itlng lay on the fur
niture and mantel, on the row of
rose geraniums and the little pot of
heliotrope in the window. Hester
Gilbert's lips were tightly compressed
aud there was a sad look In her eyes.
That south wind was blotting out
from her view more than the flower-
dotted landscape. It seemed to dim
all remembrance of the long days of
perfect went her, when the prnlrle
seemed an Kden nnd strength and bopc
grew largo with the fresh, bracing
air.
Some one came In with a heavy,
wenry step, and stopped a moment on
the threshold to look at the drooping
figure. Then he approached her with
awkward tenderness, laying his toll
roughened hnnd on her shoulder.
What's tho matter, Hester?" he
tald, softly.
There was a smothered weariness
In the tones, but her cars seemed deaf
that morning to anything hut the
wind's piercing voice. Half uncon
sciously she drew a little away from
Lis hand. . ..
"It's everything," she snld, "every
thing! Why did we ever come here, to
tuch wretchedness ns this?"
He did not attempt another caress,
except with bis anxious blue eyes.
and ber fnce was turned away from
them, hidden In her bands.
He slipped something back Into his
pocket. Hester did not see the mo
tion. It was only an Indian arrow
head that he bad found half burled
In the tod, and had unearthed, think
ing It would make a pretty addition
to her cabinet of curiosities. She was
so tired that now she would not care
for It; some other time, he thought
Her nerves were all quivering; It
was always to when the south wind
mew.
"Hester," be began again, gently.
"I've hpen thinking for several dnyt
I don't know but we ought to fix
It tome way to you can go back East
for a while quite toon sooner than we
planned. You've bad a hard time of
it out here. I know how bard It's
teen, with the homesickness and all,
01 "v. 'H'Z, '.:' -t, i'i -:
""No," she Interrupted, "I can wait.
We'll go together later. Just as we
planned all along. You couldn't man
age It, John. Why, how could you?"
"Oh, 1 11 get along some way that'll
be all right. I've been thinking I
could spare a little of the stock, after
all. You know Brown would be glad
to buy what I could tpare."
He spoke bravely, and Hester smiled
faintly up to him. In the depths of
ber heart she felt sure she would
never consent to tuch a sacrifice. They
would wait till they could take the
long-planned trip together, or not go
at all. But Just now, with the wind
making her grate her teeth together,
the did nbt protest. She was In the
mood to enjoy the Imaginary self-indulgence,
regardless of what it would
cost the one dearest to her.
"We'll tee," the tald, briefly.
"There's to much to think over first
But It's good of you, John, to plan It
to."
She would have called after him and
dung to hlra, If she could have seen
the look on hit face at he weut out-
all the weariness of It, and the pa
tlence and the brave anticipation of
the loneliness to come.
In Just a few minutes he was back
t her tide.
"Hetter," be tald, rather anxiously,
"what would you tay to letting two
people come In for a little rest. They've
stopped the wagon Just a little way
from here. She seems a childish
young thing, and be looks at If the
world had been too much for him
he's to thin and tlckly-looklug. What
do you tay to bringing them in?"
"Ob, John, how can we, when It't
a bard to keep us at It is?"
'He looks real tick and worn," re
pouted her husband; and that brought
the response be knew It would.
"Go ask them, then," said Hester.
"If we can make It easier for them,
we ought to, I suppose."
"You come with me," coaxed John.'
'Go get on your bat, aud we'll ask
them together."
She guve a slight protesting laugh,
but weut, nevertheless, clluglng to
bit arm, and almost resting her face
sometimes on bit tboulder.
"What a country!" the tald, half
under ber breath. "Dust, dust, ev-
erywherel You breathe It and taste
it and get your eyet blinded by it!"
They were very near the traveleri
Dow. Tht tired bone, with dejected
down-bent heads, were snatching what
little rest they could. In the covered
wagon sat the man and woman such
a hollow-cheeked, Inrgo-cyod man, and
such a little slip of a wife! The hot
wind flapped the canvas cover, and
sent swirls of dust over the two oc
cupants nnd their scanty possessions.
That they were scanty indeed, Hester
could not help seeing In the briefest
glance. A dry. untempting lunch the
wife was taking from a basket Some
of the self-pity that had darkened
Hester's face all thp morning faded
out of It, and was replaced by a purer,
nobler look.
"You nsk them, John," she said,
softly.
"They'll like It better from you,"
whispered her husband.
The face of the little wife In the
big wagou brightened visibly nt ber
approach.
"You must be tired out," Hester be
gun, without preamble. "We want
you to come up to the house for a
llttlo rest and to have dinner with us.
Won't you 7"
A pleased smile breaking over the
young face seemed almost to fade out
the little worried line between tho
dark eyes. An answering gleam stole
over the worn fn"e nt ber side, but
they both protested faintly. They
couldn't give so much trouble; it
would not he right.
"You come right along," said John,
with kindly authority. "We want you,
so don't make any fuss about It.
We'll take the horses Into my barn;
let 'em try my feed nnd a good bucket
of my well-water."
The two men went off together,
Hester and the little wife beating their
way back to tho sod house. A look
of cheer and comfort seemed to be
In Its brown walls now. "How good
It will seem to rest In a house!" said
tho little wife, with a happy sigh.
"Wouldn't yon like to lie down a
little while till dinner Is ready?" said
Hester. "Come right Into my room,
and Just feel that you are at home."
A protecting kindliness had sprung up
In her heart for this little creature
with the appealing eyes. "You must
lie so hot and uncomfortable! There's
cold water In that pitcher, and I'll
bring you some warm. No, It Isn't a
bit of trouble. Then you must just
rest until dinner."
Unpleasant thoughts were far away
as Hester prepared the simple dinner,
trying to make It as attractive as pos
sible. She would get out some of her
wedding china why not? John would
enjoy It, and It might make a bright
spot In the day for the strangers. She
even picked a bunch of astragalus,
making jtcentroplcee of the white,
furry Ieaveir "A' sprig of wild geriiu
inm was laid at each plate.
There were cheery facet around the
table, and Hester's face was not less
bright than the others.
The gaunt stranger sat a little more
erect now.and his fnce.after even this
brief rest, seemed less sharply out
lined. The warm, human kindness
at well at the outward comfort had
wrought the change, and In tome way
made It easier to remember in Whose
larger protecting care they were, and
would still bo when rolling over the
brown prairie. Bit by bit their ttory
came out The man told how he bnd
been a carpenter and builder in Iowa;
what a happy little home It had been,
and why they were flying now to the
untried world of Colorado, that Mecca
for consumptives. The gaunt man
and the young wife avoided the dread
ed word; they tald. Instead, "people
with any tort of lung trouble."
Hester's dish of canned wild plums
teemed to i.ieet with Bpcclal favor
from the gaunt man. He accepted the
pressing offer of a third taucerful with
an apologetic laugh, and Hester men
tally schemed to convey a generous
supply to the canvas-covered wagon.
'1 don't know when George hat en
joyed anything to," tuld the little
wife. "Everythlng'i to good! And
oh, how nice it feelt to be rested!
Traveling will be to much easier
now!"
They went back to the sitting room.
John und Hester talked cheerily of the
prospective home In Colorado, and
brought out ' a book of views of the
wonderful tcenery. The gauut man
and bis little wife bent over them with
keen interest "It'll be a great move
for us," he said. "It teemed to be
the only thing for us to do, and I'm
glad we're to neur there. I feel more
heartened up to-day than any time
since we started. We won't forget
your kindness, I can tell you."
"Ob, pshaw!" taid John, and "Don't
tpeak of It!" tald Hester, in a breath.
"It't been to pleasant for us to have
you!"
It wat necessary to take up the jour
ney again. The two men weut out
to the barn together.
The eyet of the little wife tougbt
Hester's. "You have been to good,"
the tald, almost in a whisper, "to good
to take ut in! Tblt awful dust and
the heat- I wouldn't have minded
them to much for myself, but it hat
been to bad for him. It makes the
cough worse, and that always fright '
ent me. Sometimei when we tnivt
been going to slowly tho horses Just
seemed to creep, and when the dust
has almost seemed to choke him, 1
have felt as If I should go frantic.
All these days that we have been on
the way I have been longing so to
reach Colorado. I have felt as if I
couldn't wait, when the waiting might
mean everything to him, nnd It has
been so hard, almost Impossible, to
keep cheerful before him! That Is
always very hard, don't you think so?
When your life Is all wrapped up In
somebody else's, to keep thot one from
feeling how you suffer? And, of
course. If they knew, that would make
It all so much worse.
How the poor young thing was emp
tying ber heart out! It was as If nil
the grief and anxiety of the days In
the covered wagon, rolling over the
brown plains, had burst Its bonnd.
and must pour Itself out to this list
ener. "I wanted you to know," the excited
little voice ran on, "how kind you have
been what n comfort It has been to
ine! lion't you sen bow much less
tired he looks? And ho hasn't coughed
near so much, not near! You have
cheered us up. too. It has been so
strange all this Journey every day
taking us farther nwny from home,
and the trying to choke down the
liomeHlckn 'ss an " She broke off
short with gratitude aud tears shlulug
In her eyes.
There was Just time for Hester to
take the little brown hand In hert
and press It close, when the two men
came back.
The man with the stooping shoulders
nnd the flush on elthe.' cheek went up
close to the little woman with the
bright, eager eyes.
"Well, little woman, are you 'most
ready?" bo said, patting her shoulder.
You've had a tine rest, haven't you?"
He coughed sharply as he spoke, but
she smiled up nt blm brightly that be
might not know how much more It
racked ber chest than bis.
"You'd better get on your bonnet,
little woman," he said; "It's time we
were goiug. I don't know bow we're
to thank you and your wife, Mr. Gil
bert, for all you have done for us, but
we feel It, sir. we feci It."
'It wasn't anything at all!" John
protested. "It has done us good to
hnve you here.
Hester and the llttlo young wife
went Into the tiny bedroom together.
The wind had stopped its maddening
song outside, nud the nlr was clear
again from Its burden of dust. The
furniture would have to be dusted for
the third time that dny, but the
thought brought no scowl to her fore
head now. The little traveler pinned
on the rusty black lint, nnd turned
to hold out both hands Impulsively to
Hester. "Thnuk you ngnlu," she said;
and then. In a whisper, "Colorado Is
a wonderful place, Isn't It? Haven't
you heard about the way people get
cured thee people Just as bnd off
as George, or worse? You feel suro
It'll do blm good, don't you?"
She searched Hester's face as If to
read her fate there. It was hard to
meet the girlish eyes.
'I've never been farther West thnn
this myself," she said, "but everyone
says It't a wonderful climate In Colo
rado for people with trouble with their
lungs. I'm so glad you are going
there, and when he's grown well and
strong you'll be coming back to tee
us."
The delight of that possible future
was In the young wife's eyes. 'If ho
only does!" Bho said. ' "Oh, If he only
does!"
There were hearty handclasps ex
changed a few minutes later. Then
the "prairie tchooner," with Itt freight
of human love and anxieties, rolled
slowly away. The two left behind In
the little sod bouse stood long at the
window till the wagon was teen a
dark blot above the sharp horizon.
With a quick, impulsive movement,
Hester's band stole Into ber husband's.
"How good you are!" sho said, al
most solemnly. "And while I bnve
you, wby do I care about other things?
Did you- think I would renlly go East
without you? Why, John, I couldn't
bear It away from you!"
Far off In the big wagon a little
woman sat with her round cheek
pressed against a shabby coat-sleeve,
and the cry of her heart was like that
of Hester's. "What are other things,"
she was whispering, "while I have
you, dear?" Youtb't Companion.
Something About Trees.
The ttemt of treet have provision
for a symmetrical arrangement of
branches, the nodet or polntt where
the buds are produced, being placed
at regular intervals. This tendency
toward tymmetry is, however. Inter
fered with by several disturbing
causes, internal and external. The
most important of the former is the
varying degree of vigor In the buds,
which bebuve like distinct plants,
some of them growing into strong
branches, while others produce com
paratively small shoots.
Even if all buds were of equal vital
ity, regularity would not result. Many
of the buds and tender shoots are de
voured by birds, Insects or squirrels.
When of larger size, branches are of
ten torn away by high winds, blasted
by lightning, or broken off by acci
dent. A tree will sometimes grow
Into an irregular form through the
pressure of prevailing winds. This
Irregularity bat also Its use. In a
gale of wind It will be observed that
the branches tway In all directions,
and the varloua movementi counter
balance each other. If the branches
were arranged with perfect regularity
they would all tway together, and the
leverage would be to great that the
tree might often be uprooted or broken
off short.
In Japan are notr published three
timet at many bookt hi In Italy.
ftCROObOOOOOOOaeoOOOOOOC!
FARM TOPICS!
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOC(
IVoaalnt Lsinbt,
' tf Iambi are fed a little grain dally
from the time they can be leaned to
eat It there la almost no trouble at all
In weahtog them, and they Deed toot
brink in weight or worry for the
mother. They may be left .with her,
ItnQ they will not nurse an runVe than
bspt to take a tuck when they are
sty, but aa the ewe la hot burked
ulany her milk totes both flavor
anil nutritive Quality after, a few days
Jfl the lamb no longer like tt The
nabttanay remain for a few days, but
seldom longer, and be baa weaned him
elf. k
Renewing Aaparst TAedi
'An old run out or neglected aspara
(ran bed can be bctt Improved after
the season for cutting Is over, by put
ting on -a liberal dressing of manure
In June or 'July nnd plowing it In,
not taking much care to prevent break
Ing the roots or to save seedling plants.
The plants are apt to become root
bound, nnd they will grow up all the
better for a little breaking nptof the
matted roots. Keep the weeda out all
the eummer, and in early spring or
even in February, if the ground is
open, put on from 000 pounds to a
half ton of good fertilizer to the ocre.
This will push it along to make a
good growth, nnd It will be better If
It is not cut very freely that spring
or not at all after the first of June.
IMenty of Space For Chickens.)
The farmer whose hena run at lnrgt
at all times when the ground It net
covered with enow may excuse him
self for keeping them In houses smaller
thin are generally advised for the
number of fowl upon the plen that
they have plenty of room during the
day. Perhaps If his house It well
ventilated they may not need much
more than roosting room nights. But
the man who keept a tmnll flock In a
email honse and small yard, ostensibly
to furnish his family with fresh eggs,
need not expect to Increase his income
by the tale of eggs If he puts twenty
five hens in a space only large enough
for fifteen. He will be likely to lose
eggs and lose hens, too. We have
kept more in a pen than we thought
profitable, because our space was
limited, but we found It required er
tra enre In cleaning, ventilating nnd in
other ways, to that we think we could
have done better with a email num
ber, and few would have cared for
the beus and the bouse as we did.
Thrifty Taunt Turkeys.
Dace the coop on dry, taudy ground
if possible, and move it dally. Feed
dry bread crumbs or bread dipped lu
milk and squeezed dry, rolled oats,
clabbered milk, onion tops, dandelion
leaves nud lettuce chopped fine. They
will eat greedily. Give nillli to drink
and always keep a supply of fresh
water in a shallow dish vovered to
that they cannot get their bodies wet
In It Don't overfeed them. Feed of
ten; but little at a time, and scatter
cracked wheat for the first two weeks.
After that whole wheat will do. Keep
a srppfy, of email, sharp gravel and
ground bo"ne. ' , .
After the first few days let them
travel during the day at will. The
turkey hen will protect them from
passing storms. But tee them home
arnlgbt. and keep them in till the
dew Is off the grass. Do not put them
in a close building; they want plenty
ot fresh air. and without it will soon
droop and die. Watch for lice. The
large variety clings to the back -of the
bead and neck and is bard to find.
Adrop of lard, without ealt rubbed
well' in, will destroy them, but do not
use much or you may kill the poult.
In conclusion, observe these - rules
Proper breeding stock, proper food and
proper core and cleaning, and I feel
euro you will have a good return in
tho fall for your trouble. Alex John
aon, in New England Homestead.
taBMBSrtrtTtTtSHta J, .
Car or Milk CUnitli.
Possibly for persons just come into
possession of cows beglnuert lu
dairying, or for those who have made
their own butter only hitherto and
propose to cater to the public for
markets, It may not bo amiss to direct
attention to some simple but Indis
pensable rules. They are, founded
both in science and experience.
1. Don't carelessly spill milk. Bac
teria and disease germs rapidly multi
ply by such means.
2. Borax is recommended In the wa
ter for washing vessels and for wash
ing bands of the milkers and others
having to do with the work.
3. Don't let the churn stand nu
cleated too long after the churning.
4. If a churn has been out of us
It should oe cleansed with boiling wa
ter and thoroughly scoured with salt
Better scald It two or three times.
0. Some one well, says there li
nothing gained in patching np old
utensils about a dairy. Like farming
tools, the apparatus of a creamery ot
cheese factory generally deteriorates
more quickly in value from neglect
than from practical use. '
6. Salt water will corrode the Iron
work of dairy utensils very quickly.
Beat and rubbing carefully by a dry
cloth are both necessary. It fs very
poor economy to let your tools or ma
chinery corode. What should last ten
years may be spoiled la one seasou
by such neglect
7. - The good Old-fashioned bablt ot
Betting the milk pans, crocks, cans,
etc., la the sunshine, right side up, out
In the open air is hygienic and based
on common sense as well. The good
housekeeper rinses as soon as pos
sible wiu cold water, then washes In
side and out with hot water, Hhses
again with hot water, wipes dry aud
then gives them the fresh air and
sunshine tftth.-rajiD( Field aud Fir
tide.; ' "
HIM STATE HEWS CONDENSED
PENSIONS GRANTED.
Heavy Storms In Mercer County Young Ltdy
Arretted lor Herts Stealing Centen
arian Dies From Effect of Surgery.
Tensions granted last week were: Ly
man L. Shnttuck, Pleasantville, $5;
Abcdncpo Crnin, Osceola Mills, $105
Robert Shields, Boggsvillc, $io; Will
iam P. Cherry, Midway, $8; Orlando
P. F.aton, Curry, $io; Thomas Young,
Philipsburg, $12; Joseph L. Thomas,
Wilkinsburg. $to; Samuel F. Hazlctt,
Tarcntum, $6; Thomas W. Rhea, Salts
burg, $i; Ferdinand Buckingham,
Franklin, $S; Janus M. I'cck. Corry,
$io; Nelson Flack. Bellcfnnte, $ia; Wil
liam R. Galbraith, South Uurgctts
town, $io; Andrew J. Brown, Mans
field, $K. Robert if. Miller, Turtle
Creek, $12; George Wilson, Lewisfown,
$u; John W. P.crrv, New Bucna Vista,
$17; Thomas W. McConncIl, Canons
burg. $io; Abraham Klmgcnsmith,
I.tcchlnirg, $u; Jeremiah Stan
dard, McDonald, $8; Joseph A. Miller,
Mount Pleasant, $io; George O. Jones,
Washington. $S; Hamilton H.Sny.Park
ers Landing. $io; Baxter Hamilton,
Roaring Springs. $io; Joseph A. Het
rick. Oakland, $12; minors of F.phraim
Catlin, West Newton, $12: William
Stanton. Clark. $12; Austin C. Ecklcy,
Snow Shoes, $10.
Capt. Tilton Reynolds, of Rcynolds
villc, formerly a special agent of the
dairy and food commission in the rifts
burg district, has been appointed a Capi
tol park watchman by Gov. Stone.
Mayor Robert J. Black and James L.
Dcvcnny, of McKccsport. have leased
about 10,000 acres of land in the oil fields
of Tennessee. Both have had consider
able experience in the oil business. They
say the oil sand lies about 500 fect be
low the surface and the oil is pronounc
ed nf the best quality. A number ol
drillers will be sent .to Tennessee in a
few days to drill several wells at once.
While cleaning out the test well being
put down by the West Monongahcla
Natural Gas Company the workmen
discovered that the well contained over
400 feet of oil which seemed to be com
ing from the upper sand. Samples of
the fluid were taken to interested parties
and was pronounced of an excellent
quality. The well is located on the Ma
nown farm at the east end of the river
bridge, opposite Monongahcla, and is
only down about 2.400 feet. It is pro
posed now to drill the well to the sixth
sand in the hope of finding more oil.
A heavy storm prevailed throughout
Mercer county Friday, wind, hail ami
linlifning doing great damage. The res
idence of Dwight McFarland was struck
three times bv lightning, and a barn
owned bv W. Mercer, in Hickory town
ship, was burned. Hail literally cut the
young corn to pieces nnd knocked fruit
off the trees. Two barns a few miles
west of Sharon were also destroyed by
lightning.
Tattl Shaplcigh, the young man who
lias been missing from Lock Haven
since Tuesday last, was found dead
Sunday morning about a mile from the
summer cottages near Farrandsville,
the point for which he started from Ha
gars' farm on that day. Hundreds of
men have since last Wednesday search
ed the woods.
The Van Gicsen Oil Company has
been organized at Lccchburg with the
following officers: President, T. J. Van
Gicsen; secretary, C. A. Ehrenfeld;
treasurer. J. B. Kifer. A number of
prominent men of this town are stock
holders. The company has secured 500
acres of oil territory in Venango coun
ty, which will be thoroughly developed.
James L. Smith, a carpenter of Butler,
died Tuesday from lockjaw. On June
,V he stepped on a rusty nail that pene
trated his shoe and into his foot. Smith
was a member of Company E. Fifteenth
Pennsylvania volunteer infantry, and
served with that company during the
Spanish war.
Michael Maloney, of Glenwood, Sus
quehanna county, is dead, aged 107
years. He was one of the pioneer resi
dents of Northern Pennsylvania. At
the age of 104 years he underwent a
very critical surgical operation. Until
within a few years he was in possession
of all his faculties.
J. n. Kramer, of Brookfield town
ship, Mercer county, a well-known far
mer, was seriously shocked by lightning:
and his horse killed Tuesday afternoon.
Since the accident he has been totally
paralyzed and speechless.
fictt pffi. Prir a nrittv rrirt fir.
ly out of her teens, is a prisoner in the
lockup at Altoona on the unique charge
of horse stealing. It is alleged that she
and John Mauk, her lover, lured a team
from Liveryman King, of this city, and
drove to Bellwood, where they sold it.
George Buxton, of Cherry Tree town
ship, Crawford county, died Tuesday
niornng of lockjaw, after severe suffer
ing. A short time ago Buxton put a
lighted pipe in his pocket while, driving
home from this city, setting fire to his
clothes and burning him severely. His
injuries resulted in lockjaw.
Last week a mammoth hemlock tree
was felled on Wolf Run tract, Corydan
township, McKean county, opposite the
village of Kinzua, which measured 6
by 5 feet at the stump, was 116 feet long,
and the butt log 18 feet long, will pro
duce 3,500 feet of lumber, 7,000 feet
being estimated for the whole tree.
At Conncllsville a dog attacked the
little child of William Bradley Fri
day evening and had to be torn loose,
the dog taking a piece of flesh with its
teeth. An exciting chase resulted in the
death of the dog and another dog, both
of which a policeman shot.
Vcrn McKillip, a 16-ycar-old son of
Hugh McKillip, of Paeblo, near Brook
ville, shot and instantly killed himscif
while handling a revolver, the ball strik
ing him in the head and ienetratiug his
brain.
Puddlers to the number of 200 em-,
ployed at Moorhead's mills, Sharpsburg,
struck Monday against a roduction of
20 per cent, in wages. The finishers ac
cepted the reduction, but unless a com
promise is affected, the mill will have to
shut down, throwing over five hundred
men out of work,
Marion Smith, 19 years old, son oi
James A. Smith, of Grove Summit,
Clearfield county, one of the best known
farmers in that section, was struck by
lightning and instantly killed while at
work in a hay field late Saturday after
noon. He held a hay fork in hn hand
and it was shattered lo pieces.