THE POET. Throwing his pen aside, "If I knew life," he cried, "Then could I write." But when with knowledge wide, Stained by life's purple fruit. Taking hie pen one night l,o, he was mute! Aroiiu Trebor, in Appleton's Magazine. ! 1 I "I"! A. AS Circumstances By HORACE WYNDHAM. There are moments when Phylil da's thirst for information would not be satisfied with the entire contents cf an encyclopedia. It has sometimes occurred to me, during a cross-exam- ina'tion at her hands, that nature in- tended her for a K. C. At the Chan cery bar she would have been In her element. It was half-past 3 when I reached the Curzon street house, and I had shamefully prolonged my call until a quarter to 0. As, however, I had not seen Phyllida for nearly two weeks, we naturally had a great deal to talk About. You mustn't dream of going yet," she said, when at last I arose. "I'm afraid my train will, though." "Never mind," she returned, with generous Impartiality. "You can take the next. I want you to tell me all about your visit to Trouvllle." "All!" Phyllida shot a swift I believe the technical term is "withering" glance at me, but I bore It unflinchingly. "Yes, all. Begin at the beginning, please. What did you do when you arrived?" "Before or after I had got over the first shock of leaving you?" Phyllida sighed plaintively. "You seem to be fond of silly re marks; so please listen to me." I put my watch back In my pocket, and metaphorically entered the wit ness box. A leading question came at once. "Did you have a good time?" "Yes." A triumphant gleam Illuminated my inquisitor's face. "Then you must have got Into mis chief. What was she like? Was she fair or dark?" "That question requires notice," I returned, diplomatically. The protest was waved aside. "No, It doesn't. It only requires a plain answer." "I'll try and think of one, then." "Please don't. I shall have to tell you what It was myself. Still, I don't suppose I shall get the truth out of you." The Insinuation seemed unworthy. Besides It wounded what the best novelists unanimously call amour pro pre. "This is not the best way to Invite confidence," I returned with, I hope, gentle dignity. "A moment ago ajid I was more than ready to reveal th Inmost workings of my soul. As it Is, however, well" Phyllida seated herself on the arm cf my chair, and our eyes met. Re garded from the standpoint of strict propriety, I do not defend the next step she took. Still, it was distinctly soothing and, then, wa were alone. "Now you're nice again," she ex claimed. "You can't think what an alteration it makes in your appear ance. You're quite a different man when you smile." i "Flatterer!" ! Phyllida shook her head. "Of course, I don't really mean it. That is, what I do mean Is, you're just tb.3 same stupid, annoying, old dear whafcever expression you put on." "You have removed a weight from my mind." "I think," went on my companion, eyeing me critically, "there are mo ments when I like you nearly as much as well, George Henderson." "But he doesn't like me at all." "Don't be stupid! You know per fectly well that what I mean ts that I like you nearly as much as I like George Henderson. You needn't sneer at him Just because he's a Colo nial. Some of the best people have .gone to the colonies." - "Certainly, and some of the best Judges have sent them there." Phyllida looked at me sharply. "Judges of what?" Before I could think of r. suitable reply, however, she had remembered the original matter under discussion. "I wish you wouldn't stray from the subject, like this," she observed plaintively. "What I want to know la how you behaved yourself in Trou vllle. You can begin by describing all the girla you fell In love with while you were away from me." "Allot them?" ' "Certainly." -l "I'm afraid I shall have to ko In ten minutes." I Phyllida went through the procesB .known as "bridling." : "So it would take longer than that to exhaust the list, would It?" she exclaimed. "I'm disappointed in you, especially after all your solemn prom ises. Still, I'm glad to have found you out, though." "Far be it from me to deprive you of any Innocent pleasure," I returned, "but, really, you wrong me in think ing" Phylilda's face changed swiftly. Then you didn't r oh, you know with anybody ? ' "Certainly not." " Oh, I, am so glad! Yo didn't mind my asking, though, did you? Not bit." Soma then are so stupid. They'll aavgr be candid with a woman. Now, ' I'va only one mora question. You mast answsr it truthfully. Opes con fesslon Is good tor the er soul, yon know." v Phyllida generally misquoted plati tudes. Still, she seldom damages the sentiments. "What is the question, please?" "It's this: Did you see any girl you liked very much? Please be perfectly candid." "Only one." Phyllida raised her eyebrows. "Oh, Indeed. So you liked her very much, did you?" "Very much, indeed." An ominous expression swept across my companion's brow. "You seem to be perfectly callous." Let us, rather, call it candid." Let us call things by their proper name," she retoroted stiffly. "Upon my word, you can't be trusted out of my sight for a moment. By the way, you didn't go the length of proposing matrimony to this minx, did you?" "Certainly not. Besides, I fancy her mother had other designs for her future." But Phyllida refused to be placated so easily. "Was there anything at all between you?" she demanded. "Nothing more than a haBty kiss or two. You see, I only saw her once." "What!" she gasped. "You you kissed her?" "Yes, but only In a brotherly way." Brotherly fiddlesticks! Oh, how could you?" - "It was quite easy." Phyllida sprang up at the reply. What! You actually boast of It! Why, you must be brazen!" It was high time to assert myself. "Do you condemn me unheard? You don't know all the circumstances yet!" "What other things are there, pray?" "The extenuating ones." "I don't want to hear them. I don't believe there were any. What were they?" "Well, to begin with, the lady didn't object." "Then she was brazen, too. I knew it!" In the Interest of common Justice I felt bound to protest. "Pray do not asperse the character of a lady who is not present to defend herself. I am prepared to accept the entire responsibility for what hap pened." Phyllida softened obviously. "I expected you to say that. But, then, It's because you're a man." "It is merely the truth. However, even apart from this consideration, I could not permit myself to stand by and hear a woman's character as sailed especially In her absence without a word of protest." Phyllida laughs scornfully. "Heroics don't suit you. As for this girl, she's a designing minx a cat, too. So there! I dare say, though, if the truth were only known, she found out how weak you were and led you on." "Well," I admitted reflectively, "her behavior might certainly have been considered as er encourag ing." A new light crept into Phylilda's eyes. "It's just what I expected," she de clared, "only worse. Tell me all that happened. I'll try to bear it." "I don't think I ought to betray a confidence." Phyllida sighed. Then Bhe made another attempt. "Did she put her arms around your neck and kiss you like this?" "Perhaps a little more warmly. But don't condemn her unheard. Remem ber, she was really very young." Phyllida shook her head with deci sion. "Quite old enough to know better, I'm sure." "Not in my opinion." Well, how old was Bhe?" I didn't ask her. It's not consid ered polite to do so at any rate, In the best circles." "Considering the intimate terms on which you appear .to have got, it's cu rious that you let a little formality like that stand In your way." "But I didn't ask her mother." "That was something, then," ad mitted Phyllida. "And did she tell you?" "Yes." Well, what did she say?" "I don't think you ought to Inquire. Consider, how would you like It if " Phylilda's hand touched mine. But I want to know, please." How much?" "Very much. Indeed." And It's not out of a spirit of mere curlbslty?" "Of course not. Don't be so ag gravating. It you still care for me at all, and want me to try and forgive you, just tell me at once how old that horrid girl was when she made you kiss her." "Put your head a little nearer, then." A little pink ear was Inclined to a suitable proximity. . "Now." "Just twoyears." New York Jour nal. Karma. Karma means action, or sequence. In Buddhistic teaching Karma is the law of cause and effect, according to which every deed receives its Inevit able reward in kind. It Is nothing more nor less than the Paulian doc trine: "Be not deceived, God la not mocked, for whatsoever a man sow eth that shall he also reap." Turkey Bailing on an Island. The Buyers Island farm, located In the Susquehanna River below Bun berry has been rented and will ba used and conducted as a farm for tha raising of turkeys. Tha farm has already bean stocked with 100 tur keys. Philadelphia Record. - CHILDREN'S KEEP OFF THE ICE. Small boy Sidney Saltonstall Sackett, Forbid on the pond to elide. Stood listening to the gay racket Of the boys on the opposite side. "I don't believe father would care; be Must know the ice would bear me; Oh, grown-up foiks are so scarey! And to cross the pond he tried. Small boy Sidney Saltonstall Sackett, Though the ice was but cat-ice and thin, With the heel of his boot did hack it, And with him the pond caved inj The water was shallow; still he Was soaked through and through and most chilly, And the water froze on him until he Was iced from his heels to his chin. Small boy Sidney Saltonstall Snckett, Called for help at the top of his voice; Some great big coys heard the racket And pulled dim out in a trice. They laughed till the welkin, cracked, At poor shivering Sidney 8. Sackett, But father warmed his jacket And repented, "Keep of! the ice." Kate Hudson, in Christian Register. PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES. 1. George Washington, Virginia, April 30, 1789-1797. 2. John Adams, Massachusetts, March 4, 1797-1801. 3. Thomas Jefferson, Virginia, March 4, 1801-1809. 4. James Madison, Virginia, March 4, 1809-1817. 5. James Monroe, Virginia, March 4, 1817-1825. 6. John Q. Adams, Massachusetts, March 4, 1825-1829. 7. Andrew Jackson, Tennessee, March 4, 1829-1837. 8. Martin Van Buren, New York, March 4, 1837-1841. 9. Wm. H. Harrison, Ohio, March 4, 1841-1841. 10. John Tyler, Virginia, April 6, 1841-1845. 11. James' K. Polk, Tennessee, March 4, 1845-1849. 12. Zachary Taylor, Louisiana, March 4, 1849-1850. 13. Millard Fillmore, New York, July 10, 1850-1853. 14. Franklin Pierce, New Hamp shire, March 4, 1853-1857. 15. James Buchanan, Pennsyl vania, March 4, 1857-1861. 16. Abraham Lincoln, Illinois, March 4, 1861-1865. 17. Andrew Johnson, Tennessee, April 15, 1865-1869. 18. U. S. Grant, Illinois, March 4, 1869-1877. 19. R. B. Hayes, Ohio, March 4, 1877-1881. 20. James A. Garfield, Ohio, March 4, 1881-1881. 21. Chester A. Arthur, New York, September 20, 1881-1835. 22. Grover Cleveland, New York, March 4, 1885-1889. . 23. Benjamin Harrison, Indiana, March 4, 1889-1893. 2 4. Grover Cleveland, New York, March 4, 1893-1897. 25. William McKlnley. Ohio, March 4, 1897-1901. 26. Theodore Roosevelt, New York, September 24, 1901-1909. 27. William H. Taft, Ohio, March 4, 1909. BRUTUS, THE VEGETARIAN. Twelve years is a long time for a cat to live unappreciated, but Brutus never seemed to mind. The tenor of his life had run smoothly In spite of constant gibes and jeers from the man of the house, who had no liking for a cat that loved asparagus above all things, and refused to show the least interest In a live mouse. "If you will insist on calling him 'brute,' I shall have to name him 'Brutus,' " the gentle mistress had remarked to her husband one day, while the peace loving cat was still a kitten. So Brutus he was from that hour, a queer, big, unoffending creature, that not only declined to catch mice, but utterly disdained meat of all kinds, dining contentedly every noontime on a plain boiled po tato, with perhaps a bit of lettuce, or on special feaBt days a dish of as paragus. For years he was a neighborhood Joke, a harmless, amusing oddity, un til one morning a terrible commotion called the mistress of the house to her kitchen window. It seemed that the small kitchen belonging to the neighbor on the north had scaled her fence, and the fierce little bull dog belonging to the neighbor on the south had crept under his,, and now the two were met In unequal combat In the back yard where Brutus had so long held peaceful sway. . "Call your dog off! ' Get him away quick!" the neighbor behind the north fence was demanding excitedly, while the neighbor behind the south fence was wringing her hands and protesting that her dog would not mind, and Ue would surely kill the kitten, Shd what In the world could they do! - Just at this point twelve-year-old vegetarian . Brutus, the cat without spirit, roused from a peaceful snoose on top of a barrel, and, giving a mighty leap Into the midst of the fray, furnished that bulldog with sur prise. It was a snarling, clawing, merci less surprise. It shed blood that caused, howls of pain, but It was thoroughly affective, tor In leas than two minutes it sent tha bulldog whipped, sllnkjng home to his own back 7ard, while Brutus calmly picked up. tha frightened kitten by DEPARTMENTS the nape of the neck and carried It straight to Us mistress. This done, he resumed the barrel top, an appreciated cat, and since that moment no silken cushion In the neighborhood has been too fine to hold Brutus, the hero. From the Christian Register. A DISINHERITED PRINCE. There was once a disinherited prince named Hector, who lived In a forest with the birds and beasts. The only way he could gain his father's throne was by some heroic deed. In the jungle near where he lived was a monster. His head was a bull's head and his body that of a man. Every year he would come Into the village and devour twelve youths and twelve maidens. He lived In a Jungle which was Impenetrable save for one small path, which led right to the monster's den, but strange to say every one who went In could never get back be. cause this little path was so much confused with other paths. The king proclaimed that whoever shouud kill thtft maneater should succeed to bis throne and marry the most beautiful woman In the kingdom. Hector resolved to try and kill this monster. When the people heard It they draped the village in mourning, for they loved the young prince, and they knew that he would be devoured In the eame manner as the thousands who tried before him. Nevertheless, nothing daunted him. He stayed awake every night thinking of how he should get out after he had killed the maneater. At last he hit upon a plan. He would fill his pockets with stones and drop them along the path. At last the day broke on which he was to go. He girded on one sword which his great-grandfather had left him. This sword had a magic power. Whoever fought with this sword was sure to win. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining brightly. Everybody In the woods was happy, but the people In the village were sad; why shouldn't he be happy? To be sure he was, for he had full confi dence In his sword. He started out and soon reached the edge at the Jungle. After a long search he found the path. He walked briskly, dropping the little pebbles along the way. He knew when ha was nearlng the den by the fierce roar of the animal. At last he confronted the animal. With a leap the monster dashed toward him, but Hector was quick. A fierce battle ensued, in which the monster was wounded by a blow from Hector's sword. He thea left the maneater to die and started for the path, which he found readily by the pebbles. He reached the vil lage the next day. where there was great rejoicing. The feeble old king, being on his death bed, summoned Hector to his bedroom. On seeing Hector luV gave a shriek of joy and died. Hector was crowned then and there. Hector married a poor but very beautiful peasant girl and they lived happy ever after. New Haven Register. A DESTRUCTIVE KITTEN. Perhaps you would like to heal about our pussy and our three birds. We Lad two canaries and one Italian goldfinch. Our kitty was very play ful and also very destructive. The goldfinch and two canaries were put into a large cage. They got along very nicely, but the goldfinch was boss. If he wanted to cat first he chased the others away. Now, our kitty often sat on a chair looking at the birds, and whenever we saw him do this we scolded him. Then he would run in a corner. At night he would sleep In the kitchen whera the birds were. One night he Jumped on the gas raoge.thinklng he would get at the birds, but the cage hung too high. In the morning I smelt gas, for the kitten must have turned on the gas valve in jumping off the range. Of course the kitten was alive, for he had run Into another room, but when I looked into the cage I found the three birdies dead at the bottom of it. Next day we gave pussy away and never heard anything of him. Elvira Calleson, in the New York Tribune. ASK THE PRICE. A lesson had been given on tha composition of minerals of different kinds, and, after it was finished the schoolmaster put a tew questions to the class, to test how tar they had followed his teachings. "Now, children," he said, "can any of you tell me what a diamond la?" ' "Carbon," was the prompt reply that Issued from every throat In the class. ... - "Yes," the teacher explained, "a diamond ; is pure carbon; but yon must reiaember that coal is also car bon. That Was taught In our lesson, wasn't It?" "Yes, sir." . Well,' thea, how could you he sara to tell the. difference between tha two kinds of carbon ?" "Ask the price!" lustily piped .a little fellow In tha front seat, who will most likely make his mark In buOtess soma day! Christian Register. POUL' CULTU IVHBER OF. HENS IX A FLOCK. The Subject Discussed From the Sin gle Point of Utility. By M. Ray Dawley. There Is considerable controversy over the subject of the size of the flock. In the Australian laying con test six bens are kept together. Some breeders even keep hens In individual pens. Laying aside the matter of breeding and considering only the utility points, we want to know what size a flock should- be to make the most profit. Sometimes thirty hens will lay as many eggs as fifty hens In the same pen. The reason for this is that, with fifty in the flock they were too crowded. By reducing the num ber we better the conditions. Sup posing a house eight by ten feet to be large enough for twenty hens, we give each hen the privilege of eighty square feet of floor space, while If the house were built sixteen by twen ty feet, each hen would have 329 square feet to roam over, or four times the room. The latter house should be large enough tor eighty hens. The former house would cost about $25 and the latter one some $80. That Is to say, it costs $1.25 to house a hen in the small flocks, while In the large flocks $1 pays tor the house. So we have a double advantage for the hen by building the house large. Moreover, the sunlight and ventila tion In the large house are better; hence, it Is easier to keep dry and healthy. A factor of as much Importance as the above is the amount of labor re quired. In having only one water pan to fill, one place to feed, one place to gather eggs and one roost to clean, Instead of four roosts, the work can be done In much less time, and therefore the profits are more and the cost of equipment less. On the other hand, a large house cannot be drawn about like a colony house. It has to stay in one place. The hens have to come out on the same ground, and so find less green food and forage than the hens scat tered about In small flocks. Diseases are very contagious, and so the risk Is greater in the large house. I have had splendid results keep ing two hundred hens In one flock In a house sixteen by fifty feet with a yard 100 by 300 feet. Part of the yard is In sod and part Is plowed and sowed to oats or wheat twice each season. The Best Water Vessel. The poultry-man has some trouble to get a drinking vessel to fill the bill. Here Is our favorite. You can see how handy it Is. It Is made of galva nized Iron, and three gallons is about the proper size, though suit yourself on that. Our first one cost $1.50. Fig. I. To Carry and Fill. Fig. II. In Position For Service. Tha home tinner made us one dozen for $6 $12 saved. Advantages. Need not fill every day; easily filled and carried; holds large quantity water; does not slop out; keeps clean and sweet; cannot burst from freezing; chickens ca:i not drown In it; water runs into trough only as used and does cot freeze so quickly. Caution. Do not use acid prepar ations in metal vessels. Serve them In earthenware. Clean and disinfect with one of the many coal tar prepar ations. Weekly Witness. Poultry Yard Notes. Chareoal is essential to the good health of tha chickens. Plow at least part of tha chicken yard up, spread a little lima over it and sow thickly with clover seed. Tha balk of poultry comes from the farm and not tha fancier, but tha best poultry usually comes from the fan cier or small farmer. A house 8x12 is a very convenient slxe lor a small flock of fowls. It a large flock Is to ba housed two or TRY RE. MARKETING CHICKEN FEATHERS Dry Pick and Save tha Feathers Until Ton Have Enough to Sell. Tons of feathers are probably lost each yea in small amounts becausa farmers and poultrymen do not think It worth while to save the few ounces plucked from birds nsed at home and for local market. Another reason probably Is that the prices are thought to be too small to make sav ing these few feathers seem worth while. If a few minutes be taken when plucking Is done to separate the vari ous grades and to practice the best methods of curing them, there Is no reason why a nice little sum could not be saved in each case, and the ag gregate make a considerable advanca In the annual returns from poultry. Chicken and duck, as well as goose feathers, are always In demand, and should be saved, but ought to be kept separate, and the larger feathers placed by themselves. In no case should chicken and turkey feathers be scalded, because the hot water re moves the animal oil and reduces the grade very greatly. Such feathers scalded command only a fraction of the price paid for dry picked ones. Another good point is to keep the white separate from thecolored feath. era, because white stock brings a higher price than dark. After pluck ing, the feathers should be spread out until the moisture is thoroughly dried out. During this time they should be turned daily if they are spread at all thickly. Turkey body feathers, while too large as they come from the bird, are often chopped and used in cheap pillows. A, leading dealer writes that hen and turkey body feathers have only saving value when dry picked, says the Orange Judd Farmer. They should be laid out on the floor and forked over dally, and Bhould be in a marketable condition in three days, when they can be shipped In burlap bags. Ttese grades are worth in mid-autumn between four and five cents a pound. Chicken quills should be thrown away, never mixed with softer body feathers, because they spoil the grade. Turkey quills should be graded; the long tails placed in one box, those from the first two Joints of the wings in another, those from the last Joint in a third. The shorter quills and those from the rump, ranging from five to eight inches, placed in a burlap bag. After a thorough airing they may be packed for shipment. Moisture allowed to remain in them rots the quills quick ly and thus reduces the grade. Coop and Scratching Shed. This form of chicken house is used a good deal in the South, but is well adapted to the North, particularly If the lower part of the scratching shed be made of glass. No nests should be placed In a house of this kind, as it Is useful mainly for confining fowls in bad weather. Feeding For Eggs. To produce a number of eggs In winter I feed the fowls at daylight a light feed of mixed grains, about four quarts to each 100 fowls. As soon as they have their first meal the vessels are filled with warm water, and these vessels should be kept free from ice by adding boiling water when neces sary during the coldest weather. At 9 In the morning the fowls should be given all they will eat of a warm mash that has been steamed over night in a covered mixing box. The last feed should be given them at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and made up of mixed grain thrown In the lit ter. To Increase the egg production a cut of raw fresh bone and meat should be given the fowls twice a week during cold weather. A. C. Hawkins, Worcester County, Mass., in Cultivator. Set Eight at Time. It is best to set at least eight hens at a time. Start them on china eggs, and if they settle down well put in good eggs the next night. When sup plying the eggs dust the hens and eggs with Insect powder and apply the powder twice again before hatch ing. Test the eggs about the eighth dav. nut the Rood eggs under fewer hens, and reset the other hens. Do 'I not be discouraged If some of the bona Wva tha eees manv hours at a time. The eggs will hatch, although a little later than If they bad not been neglected. Sometimes eggs will luff wltlinnt tha hen for thirty-six hours if the weather isf warm, r meen cmcneuu u. u that one hen should care for. More than that will not do so well. Mrs. W. H. Marsh, Tolland County, Conn.j In American Cultivator. I more small ones would be better than very large houses. i One rooster Is sufficient for ten or twelve hens or pullets. If you force your utility hens to moult earlv. you will be sure of a good supply of eggs In the winter ! when prices are high. The Incubator Is always on the Job, never has to leave the eggs for teed or water, and requires less time and care than tha average busy old sit ting hen.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers