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