Ithe sign
J How He Helped Elmer Brown to a Start in the City X
: . 1
(W, R. ROSE, in Cleveland Plain Dealer.)
The man and the boy had become
(reat friends. They walked among
the hills together walked as far as
the man cared to go. They rowed
pon the lake the boy doing the
rowing and the man lounging on the
ittni B?iu ituu uaDuung 1119 lung nuue
bands in the clear water. '
"Its a sort of life to lead," the
man told the boj "But unhappily
we can't live 0:1 ozone, or go market-
Ins for mannn. There's the primal
curse of work to be considered, boy,
ad few of us can escape it."
The boy stared at him, then bright
ly ncjjea and the man nodded
bacfc.
"Hotter to-d"yslr?"
"No worse, boy."
The lad rowed on in silence. He
Jiad known the man for three weeks,
and know that he liked to sit and
lreain and must not bo interrupted.
Presently tho man raised his eyes
to tho boy.'
"Elmer," ho said, "I nm going
away next week going back to the
fierce old town."
Tha face of tho boy clouded.
"I am awfully sorry, sir," he said.
"Thank yo;:, Elmer. I know yo 1
mean It." Ho stared at the boy. "I'd
like tn do something for you beforo
I go, but I've nothing to give you,
fcoy. I'm as cloe to broke as a nan
can be and get cut of town. That's
Why I must go back to the old grind."
"I don't want you to give me any
thing, sir" said the boy. "I can re
member you without any gift to re
mind me. We've had a good time to
gether, haven't we, sir?"
"A fine time, Elmer. You're one
fcoy in a thousand. Funny how I
tumbled on you. I was pretty blue
tliat day blue with yellow spots.
My legs were bad and my head was
thick. And you came by whistling.
fThen you stopped whistling and
looked at. me. 'Something wrong,
air?' you said. 'Everything,' I an
swered. "What can I do for you?'
yon asked. 'I don't know,' I an
swered. You stared at me for a mo
ment. 'Like a boat ride?' you asked.
Anything you care to suggest,' I an
swered. So you took me out in this
lioat and we floated about on the
nnny waters and when my head be
gan to droop you rowed me ashore
and I slept on the' soft turf under the
trees with your coat for a pillow."
"I remember, sir," said the boy.
You looked to me like a very sick
man, and when you were asleep I
ame and looked at you every little
while to see if you were still breath
tog." "That was thoughtful," said the
man. "But this weak old heart Is
thumping yet. It even seems to mo
that its thump is stronger, The kind
ly doctors gave me four weeks to
stay here. Now I'm going to fool
vuui.i 11 J suing UtILA.
"I'd like to go with you," said the
boy. He had stopped rowing and
was staring at the pale face wlih Us
dusky eyes.
( The man shook his head.
"Not the journey I'm going," he
lowly said. Then he smiled. "But
I would like to give you a little start,
boy," he said. "You are a lad with
tho commercial Instinct .strongly de
veloped. I see it in your face. I
read ft In your hand. What you need
is a beginning. I don't see anything
liere for' you, .but perhaps you should
have an added year or two before you
leave this snug harbor."
Tho boy nodded.
"I'm eighteen," to said. "I sup
pose that's pretty young for boys who
want good job3 in the big town. Of
co:irss I don't want to be a messenger
boy or an errand boy. I can do as
well as that down. here. And there's
something I wanted to ask you about.
It's nn idea that came to me last
Bight." His tone suddenly grew eag
er, his eyes sparkled.
"I know as little about business as
a baby rabbit," said the man, "but
I'm very sympathetic. Let's hear the
Bcheme."
The boy turned the boat a little
and pointed toward the shore.
"You see that small shed there by
the big boat landing"
"Yes."
"It's an old boathoiise and belongs
to Farmer Jaynes. What would you
ay if I told you I thought of renting
It for a. store?"
The man laughed.
"As my advice would be of no ac
count," he said, "I will withhold it
until further particulars are at hand.
What sort of store do you mean, and
why should you start it?"
"It would be the sort of store that
should attract people who came up to
the village on the Sylvan Glen from
'Aurora. There are lots of them dur
ing the season, and they seem to have
plenty of money for little things. I
would keep a full line of picture post
cards, and little curious things for
souvenirs, and some agates from the
jold quarry, and I'll get Patty. Lane,
,phe's the lame girl, you know, to let
sne have the agency for those beau-
Elful things she makes with cones,
, nd In the attic of my aunt's house
there ore a lot of curious things my
grandfather, he was an old whaling
captain, brought home from- the
South sea shells and cups and
carved clubs and harpoons. My aunt
would be glad to let me have them.
And perhaps I'd sell fruit and maybe
a jar of the famous root beer that my
.'aunt makes." '
. The man laughed.
. "Your Btock inventories very enter
tainingly," he said. "I like the
painter. !
scheme. If I had nothing else to do
I d apply for the berth of head sales
man and floorwalker. But can you
swing It?"
"I think so. I'm sure Farmer
Jaynes will rent It to me for almost
nothing."
"Better get a long lease of It on
those terms," laughed the stranger.
"I'll take It for a year with the
privilege of two more. It would cost
but a little to fix it up. I can do the
carpenter work myself. And I'll put
down a nice plank sidewalk to the
landing, and there'll be two more
windows needed, and a llttlo porch,
and a counter and shelving. They'll
let nte have the lumber cheap at the
mill and I can borrow Tom Martin's
horse and haul it myself. I'll have
enough money to put It in shape. I've
saved every nickel that you've paid
mo, sir."
The man sighed.
"Sorry it Isn't more, my boy. And
I'm sorry, too, that I can't help you
any further. I'd like to do some
thing. Anyway, I'll come around and
watch you work and shower you with
advice. Walt!" His eyes suddenly
snapped. "I have It! I'll paint t!io
shop for you! I'll put tho signs on it.
I never did 'paint signs, but I know I
can do It. I'll pnlnt that shop in a
stylo that will draw ndmlrlr.g atten
tion nil the way from Aurora to
Shoreland. Peoplo on the boat will
say, 'What's thatbitof Oriental splen
dor in this dark New England neck
of woods?' And they'll all get off to
Fee what's hidden within the glowing
outer Bhell. What do you Bay, boy?"
The boy stared at his companion.
"I I didn't know you could paint
signs," he said.
Tho man laughed.
"I never painted a sign In my life,
boy," he replied. "But I'm Buro I
can do It. It's a fine profession
and an old one. The first attempts
at art were signs, my boy. Those
paintings on the rocks were designed
to draw attention rather than to ex
cite admiration. Do I get the job?"
"It's yours," laughed the boy.
"Then there is no time to lose. If
you expect me to do good work I
mustn't be hurried. Can you arrange
to let me start to-morrow?"
"If I don't," said the boy, "it will
mean that the scheme is all off. I'll
see Farmer Jaynes this morning. If
I make the deal with him I can get
the lumber on the ground early in
the afternoon. Joe Hanscom is do
ing nothing Just now and he will
help, me with the heavier parts of
the work. You will want some dressed
boards for the signs, I suppose?"
"Yes," replied the stranger. "One
wide one to go across the front and
some shorter ones. I can use tho in
terior of tho house for a palnts'nop
I beg pardon studio. And you can
cut the. boards to fit my artistic sug
gestions." "Yes," the boy eagerly assented.
"I'd like to have you hero while tho
work is going on."
"That sounds cordial," laughed tiie
man. "And when we are tired we
can get into your ' boat andi drift
about the lake. That's tho poetry
of motion for me. I wonder it there
was a lake In Eden, and Adam owned
a boat."
The boat grated on the pebbles
and the boy unshipped the oars- and
stepped to the beach and drew tho
llttlo craft furthcr'up.
"I'll go ove:- now and see the far
mer," he said. "I Just ccught a
glimpse of him through the trees. Ho
is in the south meadow."
"I'll sit hero in the boat end wait
for you, boy. I've nothing better to
do in fact, I know of nothing better
that I could do and I'm anxious
to hear the result of your interview'
with the agricultural person. . I've
already painted those signs in my
mind, and my fingers itch to grasp
the brushes. You'll find me here
when you come back."
"All right,"' said tho, boy. "You
are pretty comfortable, are you?"
"Yes, yes," 'returned the man.
"Run along."
The boy, with a quick glance at'
PSSE5HS2HH5ESBSHSE5HSZSHEESHSHSSSH5HSHS
nl
t's jir-o"
Many persons, undoubtedly because
they never have "looked it up" pronounce
"cero" as "air-reo." This is not correct.
Inasmuch as America practically is
recognized as the world's aeronautic centre,
it behooves its inhabitants to be correct in
their pronunciation of the word.
' Although the Standard (Diclionary
gives tfie pronunciation, as . "ay-air-o,"
constant usage has caused the first syllable
to be dropped, and the word now, as spoken
ft 'by Curtiss and Wright) looks thus, phoned
tcauy spettea;
Aero-Air-o; not a-ir-reo nor eye-ro.
' Aeroplane Air7o -plane, not a ir-reo-plane
nor eye-ro-planc.
l2S2SHSH5SSaSHSaSc!SBL5HSHSHSES2SHS2S2Sc
tha man, strode away at a hurried
pace.
The man leaned a little forward
and a shadow of pain crossed his
pale face. He suddenly put his hand
to his heart and sat there motionless
for some time. Then he dipped bis
hand in the water and wet his face
and a heavy sigh came from his gray
lips. "
Presently he leaned back and rest
ing his elbow closed his eyes.
The boy's feet crunched the gravel
as he approached the boat.
"Hello!'.' he cried.
The man looked up.
"Back so quickly?" he murmured.
"What luck?"
"Good," said the boy. "I've agreed
to keep the building in good repair
and Farmer Jaynes will let me have
it for a rental of $ 10 a year."
"Fine," cried the man. "And
while you're after the lumber I'll get
the daubing material and a yardstick
and a bristle brush and a cruse of
fragrant turpentine. Don't forget
that the studio opens at noon to-morrow
and let all preparatory details
be remembered. Goodby, boy."
"Goodby, sir."
The boy watched the retreating fig
ure, slender and stooping, until the
bend In the roadway hid It from view.
Then he drew a tape line from his
coat pocket and began to make meas
urements. Work progressed rapidly on tho lit
tle building. The boy with some
help from the idle Joe sawed and
fitted and hammered, and within the
building the man worked on those
wonderful signs.
At first the task bothered him, but
in a little while he conquered the de
tails and worked rapidly and surely.
The' certainly were attractive signs,
as attractive as bold lettering in most
vivid colors with harmonious back
grounds and artistic shadng could
make them and the boy stared at
them from time to time with wonder
ing admiration.
"Like 'em?" the man. asked.
"They're splendid," cried the boy.
"Much too fine for the business."
The man shook his head.
"Walt until you bank your profits,"
he said. "I like 'em pretty well my
self for the first effort In an untried
field. What I could do with a little
practice I'm not sure. Anyway, no
body but a blind man can pass this
lettering without seeing it."
The stock was all on hand and In
place before the signs were put up.
The Interior had a neat and business
like look that testified to the boy's
good taste. Everything was fresh
and clean and convenient.
"Good," said the man as he stared
through the doorway with his head
critically on one side. "The tout en
semble Is excellent. That open space
over the counter at the rear I will
take upon myself to cover. The cov
ering will assume the form of a little
farewell glft-I go back to-morrow,
you know."
"I know," said the boy and his look
wa3 troubled.
'"And now for the signs," cried the
man.
He had Insisted upon' painting the
liltlu building, too. He had covered
It with a -neutral tint against which
the signs stood out with surprising
distinctncLs.
Across the front tho big' sign
bore tho words: "Brown's Bazar,"
r.nd there were smaller signs carry
ing "Picture Postcards," and "Cur
ios," and "Brown's Root Beer" and
"Souver.iri-." r.nd on. the side of the
buiid-r.'; that wr.s nearest the landing
tha r-'-nter lad drawn the figure of
a oua:r.t Brcv.nle sitting on the edge
of a tub vltii tho words: "I'm
Brown's Brownie. Drop tn."
The men and the boy stood off a
littla way and surveyed tho signs.
''They may not attract as much at
tention as the handwriting on the
wall," said the man, "but thev cer
tainly can't pass unnoticed." .
"They are great," cried tho boy.
"They are so attractive that I'm
afraid all my prospective rntrons will
want to stand on tho out&ide instead
of coming in."
The man laughed.
"Then we must have a sign of some
sort inside, too," ho said. "And I
fancy I have just what we want. I
brought It with me when I came down
this morning." Ho -went up the path
a little ways and took something
from behind a hedge. It was a large
square package from 'Which he
joi jijir-reo." .
stripped the paper wrapping and dis
closed a landscape. 1
"Why, why," cried the boy. "It's
a painting, a beautiful painting!
Yea, yes, It's the corner of the lake
and the pine grove. Did you do
this?"
"Yes. I did most of It the week
before I met you. I think it will fit
nicely In that open space on the wall.
Let us see." ,
When tho landscape was In place
they both drew back.
"It lights up the whole shop,"
murmured the boy.
The man smiled.
"No slgii painter could fall to be
gratified with such praise as that,
But there, I'm going back to tho
hotel to paek up. Don't forget that
you are to write and tell me all
about your venture."
"But is that beautiful picture real
ly mine?" the boy asked.
"Why, yes. You can do with It
whatever you please. I have a faint
idea It may have something to (Id
with your coming to the big town.
But that's Just a fancy, of course.
Anyway, thevname In the corner will
remind you of a friend and well
wisher."
So the little shop was opened and
the little business prospered In Its
modest way, and the boy was busy
and happy. And every week ho wrote
to his friend In the big town, and
each of his letters drew out a whim
sical answer from the painter.
Sometimes these answers saddened
the boy. Beneath their fanciful
humor he thought he noted a tone of
despair.
The little shop had been opened
six weeks and the fnmo of the won
derful signs was spreading, and the
boy's Income was steadily increasing,
when among the excursionists land
ing from the llttlo steamboat was a
stout man accompanied by his wlfo
and daughter.
He stared hard at the signs.
"I am going to have a glass of that
famous root beer," he told his wife.
"You wait here."
He came back to them presently.
"I found something In there much
more wonderful than the root beer
although that was very good," he
said In a low voice. "You remember
reading of the death of the artist
Hetheridge last week found dead in
his room heart disease. Now his
pictures are In great demand the
critics have discovered that he was
misunderstood and unappreciated.
He painted but little his health was
wretched and his few canvases are
highly valuable. There Is a land
scape of his in this little shop."
"Here?"
"Yes. There is no doubt about its
being genuine. It Is in his style. It
bears his name. He stopped here for
several weeks earlier In the year.. Ho
painted these signs for the boy who
owns the shop a fine lad he seems
and gave him the picture. I'm
going to buy It If I can."
He went back to the shop and
studied the picture again.
"What is your name?" he said to
the boy.
"Elmer Brown."
The stout man studied his face,
"Isn't this a rather small venture
for you, my boy?"
Tho boy smiled. s
"At least It's a station on the way
to town, sir," he answered.
The man nodded. ,
"The tow,n Is waiting for such
boys as you. Here's my card. I want
to help yon if I can. When you come
to town ca'.lpn me before making any
other engagements. It Is lack of cap
ital, then, that has kept you here?"
"Yes, Bir."
"You have capital hero In a form
that you haven't recognized." His
tone quickened. "I want to buy that
picture there. I will give you $1030
for lt. You must believe ma when I
tell you that this Is its full market
price, and perhaps a lilt!? trsre."
The boy stared at him.
"The picture is mine,'! he said,
"mine to dispose of as I will.' I trust
you, sir. 1 believe what you say.' I
will sell- tho picture."
"Good," said the man, quickly. "I
think this will prove a very good
day's work for you."
."It is strange," said tho boy, "that
tho man who painted the picture, the
man whose namo is there in the cor
ner, said he believed It would have
something to do with my reaching the
big town.''
The stout nan drew back and
studied the picture. A Hood of sun
shine through the nearest window
warmed the glowing waters of the
painted lake.
When the man spoke his tone was
very gentle.
"Your friend was right," Jie said.
"And I am sure It would give him
happiness to know that he had
brought happiness to you."
Itorstcr on Cowcatcher.
When the 3.40 express arrived yes
terday afternoon people noticed that
little Robert Thompson, who. was In
the crowd, started on a run for the
engine. In a minute or two he
climbed on the front of the locomo
tive, and as people began to call the
engineer to look out for the boy,'
Thompson secured It practically unin
wlth a large Plymouth Rock rooster
In his arms. .
It had been picked up somewhere
on the route by the locomotive; Its
feet caught so that It was held, and
Thompson secured It practical unin
jured. Lee Correspondence Spring
field Republican. . '
Elizabeth AI:ers Allen, who wrpte
the famoo poem "Rock Me to Sleep,
Mother," fifty years ago, is seveuty
?ven years old. Born In Maine, she
j -'gan to write when she was a girl of
u..een. ' .',. ,.
CRIME IN FOGS.
When the London Crooks Reap
a Rich Harvest
To most folk a London "peculiar"
brings only discomfort or loss, but to
the criminal It means the apportunlty
of reaping a harvest, said a detective
to the Tit-Bits man during the recent
fog. Fogs are perfect godsends to
thieves, and burglars would like them
to last forever. The fog not only ren
ders his chance of obtaining booty
much greater, but reduces those of his
being caught to a minimum.
During foggy weather householders
cannot take too many precautions.
The gentleman known as a "casual
buster" Is very busy at this time of
the year. This Is the slang term ap
plied to a kind of second-rate house
breaker one who works entirely
without plan, but prowls round, a like
ly district trusting to chance for an
apportunlty to "touch," which with
him means "take." He keeps a sharp
lookout for such trifles as an un
latched window or a carelessly se
cured door, which may afford him an
easy entry.
The latter Is essential, for, as a
rule, he carries few "tools;" police
men on night duty are apt to be sus
picious of shabbily dressed men who
are out too late, or too early, as the
case may be, and housebreaking Im
plements are so distinctive that they
insure conviction for any one who is
found carrying them. But on foggy
nights he can take a fuller outfit,
since It is easy to avoid his natural
enemy, and he Is altogether bolder in
his methods, because If the house
which he takes for a "dead 'un" an
Inhabited house left unprotected
proves to contain Inmates his escape
Is a matter of little difficulty. This
type of burglar never attempts vio
lence unless cornered, and it may
comfort timid people to know that a
noise which shows that he has dis
turbed the inmates Ib quite sufficient
to make him beat a. hasty retreat.
Needless to say, perhapB, the "casual
buster" Is looked down upon and even
despised by the expert "cracksman,"
whose work Is always tho outcome of
a carefully prepared plan, and who,
when he "cracks a crib," be ?t a
bouse, a shop, or a bank, knows ex
actly what he expects to get and
where to look for It. Even this artist,
however, does not disdain to make use
of the advantages a foggy night
offers, and many big burglaries are
planned accordingly for this time of
the year.
Offenses which would entail almost
certain capture In fair weather be
come comparatively easy of accom
plishment in a fog. Robbery with
violence from the person Is one of
these. The criminal, shod with rubber-soled
shoes, Is able to approach
and take his prey entirely by surprise,
and ere a Bound can bo uttered he Is
"sandbagged," or half choked, and his
pocketB emptied. Even should the
victim manage to cry out, by the time
a possible hearer has located the di
rection the assailant will have van
ished In the mist. ,
Another class of rogue whom the
fog befriends is that terror of Jewel
ers, the window smasher. So far as
appearance goes, one, might tako him
for an ordinary mechanic or laborer
returning from work, with his dinner
can slung in a handkerchief. But
what the latter really contains Is the
Better half of a brick, which, at a mo
ment when tho fog Is thickest and
passersby'few, is hurled into a select
ed window. The result Is a large
hole, through which the thief grabs
a handful of the valuables within and
decamps. So frequent have these
thefts become that many jewelers now
protect their wares by means of steel
latticework.
Under ordinary conditions picking
rockets is an art requiring long prac
tice, but In a fog the veriest
may at least try his hand with im
punity, since, unless caught and held
111 the very act, he is almost sure to
escape. Moreover, the condition of
the atmosphere offers abundant ex
cuse for bumping Into folk, an acci
dent of which even a clumsy pilferer
can take advantage. The prevailing
fashion among the fair sex of carrying
their purse3 in handbags is one that
lays them specially open to robbery,
and a number of thieves who are not
clover enough to pick pockets make a
living by simply snatching these bags
and bolting. Since this is often done
with success lri broad daylight, it may
be imagined how easy it is in a fog.
Another thing, always distrust the
man no matter what his appearance
may be who asks you the time on a
foggy night. It is an old thieves'
trick, which is still made use of. At
a glance an experienced "prig" can
see If your timepiece is worth the risk
of taking, and it it Is he will snatch
it and bolt. Since he has probably
"marked you down" r.nd followed you
to a rpot which OiTsrs him an easy
means of escape, your chance of
catching him is practically nil. Even
should you succeed In doing so the
booty will, In most cases, have been
passed to a confederate, who has gone
in another direction, so that you have
no proof. Tlt-BUs.
' It Sounded Hopeful.
A young man who vas not particu
larly entertaining wtj monopolizing
the attention of a pretty debutante
with a lot of uninteresting conversa
tion. ''Now, my brother," he remarked,
in the course of a dissertation on his
family, "Is Just the opposite of me in
every respect. Do you know my
brother?"
"No," the debu'inte replied de
murely, "but I t.-.jald like to."
Llpplnoott's.
BUSS WORIUMENT.
Of Mi' Worrimenf
wher:
waitin' srery
She's peekin'.th'oo it windows an' tha's
whiaperin' in de air.
She's after you at breakfus an' at all de
yuther meals.
An' when you takes a walk she comes
t a-taggin' at yoh heels.
She a a-muanin' an' a-groanin', though de
. day it shinin' bright;
SJie sings such doleful music dat aha spoils .
yoh dreams at night.
You lose yoh disposition, you gits trembly, '
thin an' pale
"nra ui jmis wornmem comes campia
on yoh trail.
01' Mis' Worriment, she thought she had
me right,
She tol' audi drefful stories dat I nearly
died o' fright. .
But purty soon 1 staht a song I couldn't
sing an good.
But I pirked out f umpin' lively an' I dome
de bes' I could.
I got de folks a'smilia' ah' de chillim
helped ine, too,
An' ol' Mis' Worrimeat got nervous tb'oo
and th'nn
An den she put her bonnet on, "I gotter
go," says she.
"I bids you nil goodeven', 'cause dia nm
no place fob me."
Conductor- "Vy iss der flute more
softly dan It can'" Flutist (pointing
to score, ppp) "Pecause dey does."
Punch.
"I am so sorry for Mabel, poor
girl." "What's the matter?" "I
heard her telling George that her
face Is her fortune." Detroit Free
Press. X
He grinds no dismal epics out
To bc or sky;
But sings a little lay about
An apple pie.
"When any one faints, open all the
windows Immediately." "And what
if they are already open?" "Close
them Instantly." Louisville Courier
Journal. Young Woman Customer "I'd
like some rice, please. You have dif
ferent qualities, haven't you?" Gro-
cer "Yes, miss wedding or pud
ding?" Boston Transcript.
Wigg "At the first night of Scrib
bler's new play I understand there,
was a big house." Wagg "Yes, but
most of the audience left early to
avoid the rush." Philadelphia Rec
ord. Mr. Struckoll "That there sculp
tor feller says he's goln' to make a
bust of me." Mrs. Struckoll-"Henrj-,
it's dreadful the way you talk. Say
'burst,' not 'bust.' " Philadelphia
Rocord.
For touring in summer,
Though mine is a hummer,
1 never put hands to the wheel;
And this is the reason:
I like things in season,
And mine is an aut umn-obile.
"I carelessly broke the rule and
carried my umbrella into the art gal
lory yesterday." - "Did the guards
take It away from you?" "No, but
a fellow who claimed I stole it did."
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
. "So when Belle rejected Jack, be
went Immediately and proposed, to
Maud" "Yes; but that wasn't the
best of It. What do you think? He
gave Maud an order on Belle for the
engagement ring." Boston Tran
script. "Nobody ever questioned my verac
ity with impunity! " said Colonel Still
well. "Then you have not been
abroad." "How do you knowt"
"Your statement proves that you
have had no interviews with customs
inspectors." Washington Star.
"They say," said Mrs. Oldcastle,
"that Mr.'Burchard has bought a re
plica of one of tho finest rugs in the
Sultan's palace at Constantinople. I
suppose it must be very gorgeous."
"Yes," replied her hostess, "I s'pose '
It is, but as far as I'm concerned, I
wouldn't want any replica. If I
couldn't have the whole piece I
wouldn't have any." Chicago Record-Herald.
Quail in Louisiana.
wuaii are increasing inrougnoui I
vim oiaie. - 1 lie quantities id Louis
iana this year are said to be larger
than In an:' ,.other year as far back
the Stats G--.no Commission say the
Increase i) one of the first fruits ot
the-game protection system.
X", 1 . TVT . ! 1 1 n..nJ.ni . .1.
commission said: "There is no ques
tion but that the great Increase in
these birds is due to proper protec
tion. Last March a closed season was
declared, and from then until Novem
ber the law was strictly enforced.
As a result an enormous number of
these young fowls bred during March
and April, and what is more extraor
dinary, a second setting was hatched
during the fall along about Septem
ber. Observers of the habits of our
native game will testify that this is
a unique occurrence." New Orleans
Times-Democrat.'
Toy Russian Village.
' During hfs visit to Racconlgt, when
free from ceremonial and political
functions the Czar found much pleas
ure In the companyot the little Prince
of Piedmont and Princesses Yolanda
and Mafalda, for whom he bad
brought a magnificent present from
Livadia. 1
This consisted of a model village
populated by dolls dre::?d In Russian
garb. The village is a marvel of per
fection. T'.ie wooden houses or huts
are provide J with windows and doors
which can 'a a opened and shut; there
are shops completely furnished with
counters and goods, a beautiful school
and a church with a clock tower. The
Czar explained to the children every
detail of the wonderful toy and bad a
tremendous amount of fun with them.
London Telegraph.
1
A