COTTON IS KING AGAIN. This Season's Crop Has a Greater Value Than Gold, Wheat or Corn. TEN cent cotton, the Bouth'r dream of golden prosperity, has been realized. After ninny seasons of effort to nil Just production to the five cent, basis the necessity for so doing una sudden ly been removed. I)w prices have done their work by Immensely stimu lating the demand for cotton goods, tind It Is not likely that n return t cheap rates will ocenr, nt least for n long time to come. With cotton higher thnil It hns been In years the demand 1s stronger than It ever hns been lie tore. Americans nre opt to look upon wheat ns the greatest of nil crops, bu H Is a fnct thnt taking Into account all climes nnd countries, cotton Is the mot Impovtnnt crop In the world. It Is a fnct also thnt the United States -supplies a large proportion of nil tlio cotton thnt Is used, a fnr greater pro portion tlinn comes from any other country. The cotton belt of the Unit ed Ntntes extends over nbout ten de grees of lntitude, Imiudiug deve'. States nnd Territories, In which It forms the chief staple, while It it raised to some extent in half a dozen other commonwealths. This region measures something like six hundred thousand square mile of which nhont twenty million ncref are devoted to ruining cotton. It con tains a population of upward of ten million people, while it is safe to say -that ten million more depend for their prosperity, directly or Indirectly, upoii the cotton Industry. Taking Into con fitderntlon the cotton spinning mills, as well ns the cotton raising In dustry, cotton becomes of a greater annual money value to the United .States than gold, wheat or corn. IEARNINO TO PICK COTTON. It Is a mistaken Idea to suppose that the present high price of cotton Is the result of a crop failure. The yield of lost season, 10,600,000 bales, exceeds any crop raised in this country, with the exception of the two previous sea sons, which produced phenomenal yields of over 11,000,000 bales each. The falling off of 500,000 males there . fore should lie construed merely as a return to normal production, but the vast increase in the number of uhcs for the product has mnde this normal crop virtually nn under supply. While no great Increase in the acre age devoted to cotton growing Is likely to take place, the production will be -encouraged by more up-to-dute meth ods of planting, cultivating, ginning and packing, nnd these, with tho high prices which seem likely to prevail for several seasons to come, foretell a . period of prosperity for the South such as the mngnllicent yields of wheat and orn have brought to the West, During the entire period of deprcs- the cotton growing regions pro- iaa been adjusted to a low Nst, which will make the In stable even at a lower price Vuich now prevails. Stations, manned by ex- are not likely again to ble la the Sooth. Cot- wa almost exclusively ft by small farmers, men win own or rent farms, or who work on shares the pieces of hind belonging to the proprietors of large plantations. These men put their own lnbor Into the soil, nnd by careful cultivation make the most of each acre. About tho only assistance they need to employ Is In the picking. The pick ing season mentis ns much to the lnlmr of the Southern Stntes ns harvesting does to thoie of the wheat belt. Cotton raising is by no menns a mat ter unattended by work nnd worry. From the time when the seed Is put Into the ground In the South Atlantic States about the middle of April until the picking Is over In October or early In November the, planter Is com pelled to be constantly on the alert against the many enemies of his crop, and never knows until the fluffy down Is safely housed whether his crop is to be a success or not. Rust nnd blight may descend upon It when the prospect is of the fairest. If there is a continuous drought the leaves and bolls of the plnnt fall off; If there Is too much rnln aftor the boll opens the cotton rots. The cut worn) eats the tender sprouts, the boll worm devours the heart of the plnnt, whilo other crawling nnd flying pests are likely to fall upon It and turn an entire season's work Into waste within a week. It may be truly said thnt eternal vigilance Is the price of suc cess. In raising cotton. Cotton seed is sown in rows by n machine called the "planter." .When the plants are well above ground they nre thinned out by cutting a part of the sprouts, and the grouud between the rows Is gone over with a cultiva tor several times until the bolts are on the plant. Then the rows nre billed up, after which the future of tho crop must be left to the weather and a be nign Providence until the season for picking arrives. The amount of cotton thnt one can pick In n day depends largely upon the experience of the picker, but partially, also, upon the condition of the crop. A light crop makes slow picking, and conversely, nn nbundant crop makes the task of gathering an easy one, A lively worker will gather nliout two hundred pounds of cotton In a day, although there frequently nre cases where ns much ns three or four hun dred pounds have been picked by n single worker. The cotton pickers are sharing In no small measure the prosperity which ten cent cotton has brought to the South. For several years pnst the average wages paid to the pickers have been from forty to fifty cents per hundred. At present, however, prices In many parts of the South have risen to sixty nnd sixty-five cents. From the weighing bankets and the storehouses the cotton Is hauled on big wagona to the gin. Most of the gins In nse In the South are of the old pat tern invented by Bit Whitney, with only a few modern Improvement. This machine separates the fibre by tearing It from the seed by means of a aerie of circulas saw with fine teeth. It la then placed In a condenser, from which it emerges In thin, gauzy sheets ready Tor baling. Five hundred pounds of cotton Is supposed to go into a bale. It Is parked together by a press and then encir cled by six hoops of Iron. In this form It is cnrrled away to market, turned over to the factor or commis sion merchant, and by blm shipped to its destination, going chiefly to the looms of old nnd New England. The cotton raising Industry has been largely controlled by these commission merchants. It has been their custom to advance money to the planters, tak ing ns their security the prospective crop. In this way cotton raisers hnve been kept Inrgely dependent upon them, and they hnve been able to make a good profit on most of the cotton which passed through their hands. At the present time, however, the planters are coming more nnd more to rely tipon their own efforts, nnd when they hnve realized their Independence of the "genernl store" nnd the commis sion merchant they will be nble to ob tain a better return upon their Invest ments. The other development which Is add ing Immensely to the prosperity of the South Is the growth of the cotton spinning Industry. Instead of shipping its cotton to Liverpool or New Eng land, as formerly, the South now works up Its own raw material. Near ly five huudreu cotton mills are now In operation within the limits of the cotton belt, running five million spin dles, representing an Investment of $130,000,000, and consuming annually 1,(500,000 bales of cotton, or atmut one- sjventh of the entire cotton crop. The growth of the manufacturing In dustry, side by side with the fields of LOADING COTTON ON A BIVER COAT. production. Is one of the most encour aging signs for the Industrial outlook of the South. It means millions of dollars In profits kept nt home nnd In wages paid out to operators, and It means a diversity of Interests, which Is the best nsBiirnnce of continued prosperity. New York Herald. It Ulil Not Start. Sho was new to city ways, and when she found herself all alone among strangers. In a Chicago department store, she became somewhat confused. But, nevertheless, she determined that she would not ask advice. Finally tho floorwalker observed this little woman, with tho word "country" plainly written on her garb and fnce, standing motionless In a certain part of the store. Ho turned nwny, but In a short time again saw her waiting patiently on the very same spot. When, after tho lapse of fifteen min utes, she still was maintaining her po sition, the floorwalker deemed It hi duty to ask her If be could assist her In any manner. "Well," she said timidly, "porhap you can tell me when this elevator Is going up." She wai standing on one of the great hot-air register used for heating the store In winter. Llpplncott's. ' Ancient Moiamblque Gold Mines. Discoveries have been made recently of ancient gold-workings in the Ma xamblque country which were origin ally carried on by Semitic people and then by the Portuguese conquerors. A large fort has been found which wu built for the protection of the workers lu the mine of the Muzza River, and from It size It Is believed that many people were employed In the mines This fort was erected by the Portu guese, and Investigations are to be made In order to ascertain the precise period at which It was built. The working now extend for a radius of some mile about tbl locality, and the discovery I considered of no tittle archaeological Interest Originator of the Clrtiue, Philip Astley, a discharged British soldier, waa the originator of the mod ern circus. He gave exhibitions I riding la a ring In 1770, - ill WHAT TO DO WITH PRINTS. The Best Dsn For Exhibiting the Rant and File. The best prints may be put In al bums or sketch books, nnd this Inst plnn, according to (Irnnt Imuran, In the Amateur Photographer, Is the best plan for the rntik and flic. The big rO v-n MEANS OF BXntniTINa PRINTS, prints, enlargement, or direct, we like to frame If they are worth the ex pense. And then comes thnt Inrge clnss of prints which we use for stand ing nbout the room, on the mantel piece, round the glass over the tire, along the tops of frames of pictures, etc., In nny corner we can find. But this clnss soon become so numerous thnt there nre no longer odd corners vneant for their reception, then what is to be done with them. It Is n very simple plnn, ns will be seen. The requisites nre simple. They nre twine, stout paper, red ofllce topo seccotlne nnd a knife. If It Is n slnglo mount we have to denl with we pro ceed ns follows: Lay the mount on It face nnd mark points nt equal dis tances from top edge nnd sides. Take the tape and cut off two pieces an Inch long, bend them Into loops and paste them to the back of the mount Just over the points marked before, the ends pointing toward tho bottom of the mount. Over these ends nnd across tbem paste two small strips of the paper nnd leave the whole to dry and set (Fig. 1). When the paste has set take the twine and tie to the loops, a sufficient to make the mount bang as desired. When two or more are to bang together on the same twine to form a set the only difference I that the tape loop are not used. Instend, tie knots In the twine, and place the knot over the point marked before them, paste strip of paper across the twine Just above the knots (Fig. 2). One advantage of arranging prints this way Is that the dust does not get on the face of the prints. The more decorative scheme Is to nrrnnge ap propriate colored ribbon in this way, and the effect in the hnnds of an ar tistically Inclined person 1 flue (Fig. 8). MANILA MONUMENT; Clnulo Column of California Granite Fol Ban Francleco. A Son Frnneisco correspondent writes: The Battle, of Manila Monu ment Committee has given Its approv al to the design submitted by George T. Brewster, tho New York sculptor. The design is a classic column, sur mounted by a winged figure. It is MANILA STATUS FOB SAN FBANOI800. conventional, and, while little origin ality 1 shown by the sculptor, tho shaft will be one of classic beauty. The committee decided that seventy six feet, the proposed height, was not euough, and the sculptor will be asked to Increase the height. The commit tee 1 also anxious that the material used be California granite. Another change suggested 1 that bronie tab let, commemorative of Dewey's vic tory, be placed on the feces of the bass. rs s i I J 1 THS HtSlT& New Tork City. Every womnn real ises the ndvnntnge of a waist that can become decollete or high as occasion requires. The present style uf EVENING WAIST. gulmpes for nil ages makes such a transposition easy of accomplishment Hid enables both the high nnd the low style to be equally effective. The very pretty May Mnnton model Illustrated can be made with a gulmpe or permanent yoke and sleeves a pre ferred, and Is suited to all soft silks crepes, nets, Inces nnd the like. In the original, however, It Is of apricot satin Alglon, with trimming of velvet ribbon in a darker shade, and remov- THREE-QUARTER COAT. able gulmpe of cream guipure over whtto satin, and makes part of n cos tume of the new nnd wonderfully beautiful soft silk with satin finish. The foundation for the wnist Is a fitted lining cut with the usual pieces, which should be carefully nnd thor oughly boned. On It nre arranged the yoke, simple back nnd full front whtn the bodice Is to be worn high. Whether the waist Is to be worn high or low the right front laps over the left In surplice style, and the double frills edge the low, round yoke nnd run down the edge of the opening to the waist, two extra ones being arranged nt the nrm's-eyes to form short sleeves. Narrow velvet ribbon edges these frills, and wider Is made into bows at the right shoulder, tho neck nnd thv waist, with a loose, soft strip connect ing tho two Inst, When worn high th neck is finished with n stock that closes invisibly nt tho centre back. To mnke this waist for a lady oj medium size four and a half yards of material twenty-one Inches wide, or two yards forty-four Inches wide, will be required, with cue and seven-eighth yard of all-over lace eighteen lucbey wide for yoke and sleeves. Woman's Three-Quarter Coat, A genuine winter has become a fact the demand for the comfortable warm coat has made Itself felt. Tho May Mautou model shown in the largo drawing Is smart at the same time that it fulfills all the demands made by Jack Frost, nnd Includes many ad mirable features. Tho original Is mnde of tan colored melton, with col lar, rerers an I trimming of mink, bu: modo shades, brown and black are all In vogue; all fur Is correct and many excellent models are made still sim pler with collar of cloth and revers of peau de sole, or velvet or both of cloth braided and edged with fur. The coat Is cut with a modified box front and half-fitted back, which In dude under arm gore and provide the perpendicular line that are so generally becoming. The front are under-faced and roll back to form thr revere, and the collar I In curved sec tions that fit the neck comfortably and provide the correct flare. The sleeves are two-seamed snd In bell shape They are faced at the wrist, and may be finished with or without the cuff The coat la closed la doubls-breastet Of f&H!ON.1 style with handsome buttons. The front nnd lower edges are finished with machine stitching In tailor style. To cut this coat for a womnn of me. (Hum size three and one-elghlh yards of material fifty inches wide, will be required. Plnnh lterlveu1. Plush, a fabric which has been out of style for some years, Is now revived by some smart tailors, who can In a way make almost anything "go," pro vided that It be in good taste. The band around the bottom of the skirt Is n feature of a tailor dress. It con be of plush as well as of velvet. It need not be straight, but can be used ns a wavy border. The width of tho border varies from five to eight Inches. With a cloth gown uso a border of velvet or plush. Use taffeta or cloth as a border for a velvet skirt. The Little Lace Sleeve. Instead of using an nnderslcero which Is full and loose being drawn Into a narrow, tight cuff, some mo distes prefer to send home n gown with the sleeve terminating In nn ex tension, called the little lace sleeve. This begins Just nbove the wrist and falls almost to the knuckles, closely resembling nn old fashioned lnce mitt. It Is n lncy sheath for the back and palm of the hand. It Is not ensy to keep thein fresh If mnde of white lace. Woman Honse Gown. The careless, 111-flttlng wrapper has fallen Into deserved oblivion, but the tasteful home, gown Is a comfort which no sensible woman docs with- out. The simple, but excellent, May Mnnton model shown In the accom panying cut, fits closely at the back, but Is free at the front, where It Iff held by n ribbon nt the waist. The shaped backs nnd under arm gores give nn effect of slenderness nnd grace and the soft folds of the front are uni versally becoming. As shown the ma terial is cnslnnere In dnhlia red, but flannel, flannelette and all washable stuffs, are equally appropriate. The princess bnck, with under arm gore, tits smoothly, but the full front Is made over a short lining fitted with single darts. The sleeves aza two seamed, and roll over to form cuffs nt tho wrists. The neck Is finished with a simple turn-over collar that can lie omitted when desired nnd one of linen worn lu Its stead. To cut this gown for n womnn of me. , diimi slzo six and a half yards of ma- A BOMS DOWN, teste ylrds thirty-two Inches wide, or foui and three-quarter yards forty-foul laches wide, will be required. x
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers