JOHN BROWN PARK, OSAWATOMiE, KANSAS BLANCHING BY DRAIN TILES Mm! telife caw browns cabn - a&tttMrcyyf; mjv. OSAWATOMS, DOOM SMALL COIN Proposed New Half-Cent Piece Would Be cf No Aid. Chicago Bankers and Business Men Deprecate Proposed Plan of New Yorker to Aid Americans See No Advantage. Chicago. The American people do not have "half cent" tastes. They couldn't be educated to use anything smaller than a cent. The dollar has spoiled the sense of proportion of the people of this country. All articles are sold on a cent ba sis, and people cannot lose something they never had. These are some of the answers of Chicago bankers and business men to a statement given out In New York ty William H. Short, a banker of that city, In which he urged the coinage of a two and a half cent piece by the United States government. "The use of such a coin," asserted lie, "would mean a saving of $39,000, 400 yearly by the consumers. "The absence of such a coin," con tinued the New York banker, "has resulted in the universal custom of sellers taking the half cent whenever MEW TEST FOR PRUSSIC ACID English Scientist Gives Additional Par ticular of His Latest Chemiral Discovery. London. Dr. A. D. Waller, F. R. S.. professor of physiology at the South Kensington laboratory of the London university, has given additional par ticulars of the wonderful discovery, al ready announced to the Society of Arts, by which the presence of prussle acid can be detected, even in the most minute quantities, not only In hu man bodies, but In any other sub stance. ' The discovery Is likely to have a great effect upon medico-legal juris prudence. Hitherto, as explained by Dr. Waller, analysts have relied chief ly upon their sense of smell to detect the presence of prussle acid. ' But the new method is one hundred times as acute as any of the old methods, and so microscopical a portion as one sixty-five hundredth of a grain can be discerned by It. The article to be analyzed perhaps a part of a hu man body Is distilled in a solution of picric of soda. This has the effect of turning the article red, and thev de gree of redness determines the amount of the poison present. Dr. Waller anticipates that the new test will be highly appreciated oy com mercial analysts. WINSTED FISH YARN IS GOOD Angler Haul In Finny Thief and Reo ognlze Tackle It Stole Five Years Ago, Wlnsted, Conn. Moses G. Butler of West Cornwall, while fishing in Cream Hill lake, five years ago, rested his rod across the bow of the boat to light his pipe. A large fish seized the bait and the pole disappeared. John Patterson, W. D. Bosler, E. D. Cartwrigbt and W. H. Tully were fish ing on the same lake recently when Mr. Patterson had a bite. After halt an hour the bass, which weighed six and one-half pounds, was landed. A hook was found fastened through the roof of the fish's mouth, attached to a second line. The line was drawn In and at the end was found a rod, which , Cartwright readily recognized as the rod which Butler had lost five ftars ago. OSAWATOMIE, Kan. On the occasion of the dedication ceremonies at John Brown park, consequent upon its presentation to the state, Ex-President Roosevelt was guest of honor and the orator of the day. The prin cipal objects of interest at the park are pictured. The monument over the grave of John Brown is the Bpot especially sought out by visitors to the historic ground. Thousands view the park and its objects of interest yearly. a transaction does not result In even money." He said he thought the public lost yearly from this cause "the approxi mate sum of $39,000,000." Here's what Chicago things of this financial question: George E. Hoberts, director of the government mint before he became president of the recently merged Com mercial National bank, thought the American people too extravagant to appreciate a two and a half cent piece if they secured it. "We have a one cent piece, and judg ing from the freedom with which the American people spend money, I don't think' they could be educated to use a coin that would give them a smaller unit of exchange," said Mr. Roberts. "In this country all our units are higher than they are In Europe. Our wages are better; our standard of liv ing is different. I can't see that we need a two and a half cent piece, be cause we have colna enough, and I don't think the proposed coin would be an advantage in trading." Len Small, recently appointed United States subtreasurer at Chi cago, declared over the long distance telephone from hlB home In Kankakee that he had never given thought to what would happen If we had a two and a half cent coin. FETE SNAKE KILLERS Secretary Birds From South Af rica Do Tricks at Zoo. Reptiles Destroyed With Neatness and Despatch by Feathered Flying Animal The Keepers Are Astonished. New York. Two official snake kill ers, who have been added to the col lection at the Bronx Zoological garden, gave an exhibition of how serpents can be slain with neatness and des patch. The snake killers are known to ornithologists as secretary birds. They ball from South Africa. These two got here on Saturday. They are the first ever acquired by the zoo man agement. ... The zoo keepers "-had read a lot about the way in which the secretary birds kill snakes, but they had never seen' the birds In action. Keeper Riley, of the monkey house, - was a little skeptical about their exploits. "Well," keeper Charlie Snyder told him, "there are several no-account snakes lying around loose in the store room back ci the reptile house. Let's give the secretaries a chance to show us." They did. Snyder gathered up a small bundle of snakes, put them In a bag, and a call was made on the newcomers. Snyder opened the bag and pulled out a three-foot water snake. The mo ment It touched the floor the snake darted toward the closed window, and both secretary birds made a dash for the snake. The male reached the rep tile first. Down came the foot of the secretary bird on the snake's back Just behind the head, and In an In stant about two feet- of tail was twist ing around the bird's legs. There was a severe peck or two, and little was left of the water snake's head. The tall slowly unwound Itself, and both the male and female began to make a meal of the dead reptile. "That's about the quickest work I ever saw," snld Snyder, and Riley ad mitted that his doubts had been re moved. When the birds bad finished their "But off hand," said he, "I would say that our present money takes care of the situation pretty well. I don't think such a coin would effect much ol a saving." Henry H. Hart, Chicago merchant, said he would have to give the mat ter consideration before expressing an opinion, but believed the smaller re tailer would profit more under the present coinage system than does the larger store. . "I can see no advantage of such a coin," he added. "The mere coinage of a two and a half cent piece, or a twelve and a half cent piece, will not remedy the trou ble," averred B. M. Chattell of the Illinois Trust and Savings bank. "It Is deeper seated than that. "In America we have become accus tomed to 'two for a quarter,' 'three for a quarter' and 'three for a half,' and our manufacturers have govern ed themselves accordingly. No cigar maker In the United States would think of selling sigara for four, five, six, seven or eight cents, and yet that is what is done in European countries on a corresponding scale of their money. "The trouble 1b, the people of this country, starting in a primitive way, became accustomed to the larger value of coins. If, Instead of having a dol lar, we had something akin to the German mark or the French franc we would accustom our people to a more economical manner of living." - meal another snake was released, and the performance was about the same. Two more reptiles met with the same fate, and then the secretary birds had eaten their fill. After their probationary period oi quarantine Is over they will be put on exhibition in the ostrich house. The; will have a runway alongside the os trich corral, so that they can get all the air they want in summer. The birds have very, long legs and necks. At the base of each of their skulls is a long tuft of feathers, which gives them the appearance of having a quill pen stuck at the sides of their heads With them in the same shipment from South Africa came a pair ol hyrax, a small animal somewhat re sembling a woodchuck. The hyrax, says Director Hornaday, is really the coney referred to so often in the Scriptures. It is carnivorous. Both specimens arrived in excellent condi tion, and will be placed on exhibition soon. In the collection were also an Af rican porcupine, two zorlllas, small okunk-like animals,. with white stripes along their sides, a springhaas,' which is described by Colonel Roosevelt in his last story in Scribner's as looking like a big jackrabblt, except for a long tall, and two small monkeys, one a Diana, the other known as a velvel monkey. These last are very bus ceptlble to cold, and will be hard to keep here. Snake-Skin Gowns Next. Paris. During the fall an attempt is to be made to bring snake skin into use as a fashion fabric. Society wom en on the lookout for novelty will be sure to welcome the Innovation. Marvels can be achieved by the python's skin in the hands of a clever designer, for this skin never pulls or gives. It is both waterproof and pli able, and it can, by skillful manipula tion of Its wonderful scale marking; bring into prominence a pretty point,1 or hide a defect &v3 Two Cents at Cost of S12.S0. London. For refusing to pay a two cent fare In a tramway car Richard Hawkins of Fortune Gate road, Har lesden, was at Willesden fined $li.60. SEND POTATOES TO MARKET Crop Should Be Graded and Packed In Barrels as Soon as Possible After Dug. Potatoes, although one of the most important of our truck crops, are usually badly handled by the average grower. Instead of being sent i to market In bulk by the wagon load, po tatoes should be graded and packed In barrels. The packing should be done as soon as poslble after they are dug, for if exposed too much to the sun they will become soft and the skin will turn green. It is a very good plan to grade and pack potatoes in the field as they are lifted, although when very large crops are grown and It is desirable to grade them more carefully, this can be done better by first sending them to the packing shed, where they can be run through graders and the work done more rapidly. It is Just as important to grade potatoes as fruit or any other vegetables. Early potatoes should be shipped in barrels with holes cut in them for ventilation, and covered with burlap. Poorly Packed Potatoes. The barrels should be frequently shaken while being packed, in order to settle the contents firmly, because being heavy, otherwise they will be suro to arrive at maTket, after long distance hauling, In very bad condi tion. SOIL SICKNESS IN GARDENS Liberal Dressings of Freshly Ground or Slaked Lime Will Prove an Excellent Tonic. (By W. R. GILBERT.) Complaints are common from com paratively small and constantly crop ped gardens anent the poorness of the produce. Even such a thing as a cab bage Is so faint-hearted as to run away on lanky legs as no well-behaved cabbage should. All this Is very annoying to those who take infinite pains with their gar dens and go to some expense In get ting reliable seeds. All' this may occur, and does occur, where ample manure of the barnyard is applied to keep the Boll in fertile condition. It is In fact a kind of soil sickness which ordinary manure cannot over come, but actually aggravates. One sees far less of this In large gardens for the simple reason that the larger area gives a much wider range and rotation of cropping, yet even here comparisons may often be drawn be tween the produce of the large areas and vegetables under field cultivation to the distinct advantage of the latter. There is fortunately an antidote, for freshly ground or freshly slaked lime is an antidote for this. In liberal dressings it will prove a quick and lasting tonic to the sick soil, and not only should this be administered when spring opens, but as far as possible dressed through crops of cabbage and similar things during a dry day and lightly hoed in. When lime can be readily obtained In the best condition there is really no excuse for the bad Btate of things de picted, and even if an extra price has to be paid it Is still the cheapest be cause the only satisfactory thing for the purpose, and whatever may be spent In ordinary manure, if expended on time for several seasons would work wonders. PROTECTING THE HAY STACK Excellent Method Is Shown by Accom panying Illustration Is Quite Inexpensive. A little wire fence, as shown In the Illustration will save its cost 60 times Caving Hay Stack. every season and allow stock to run In inclosure where hay or other grain is stacked. Use strong wire fence netting and fasten to posts of 2 by 4 and put these securely in the ground. When not in use the fence can be rolled up and put away. . ' Most 'important Part of Producing Good Celery Is to Have Plants Firm and Tender. Blanching Is a very important part of producing good celery; because, un less the plants are white, firm and tender, they are not only unpalatable for the farmer's family, but are, of course, unsalable. Excluding the light Induces a solid growth In the heart of the plant and this growth is very rapid. It also turns a plant from green to pure white. Some growers blanch their celery by placing over the plants a section of Blanching by Drain Tiles. drain tile and covering up the top with a coarse cloth or litter. Persons contemplating growing cel ery for the market should' not attempt to do so until they have visited one ol the large commercial celery gardens and learned from observation exactly how the work cf seeding, transplant ing, cultivating and marketing is done. But the farmer who simply desires to grow enough celery for his family use, may, If he follows Instructions, grow good crops, always providing that his soil is very rich and weli drained. LIGHTNING RODS ARE CHEAP It Is Mistaken Idea to Think That They Do Not Protect Buildings Wire Fence Danger. It Is a mistake to believe that lightning rods do not protect build ings. They do when properly put up and no farmer can afford to go with out them unless he chooses to carry bis own insurance. In any case the cost of lightning rods is so small com pared to the protection they give that It Is doubtful whether it is good poli cy to take any risks without them. Of course we cannot put lightning rods on hay and grain stacks but we can put the hay and grain in out barns and protect the buildings with lightning rods. Speaking of lightning, all dangei of death to farm animals coming in contact with fence wires" heavily charged may be avoided by attaching a wire to the strands of the fence foi two or three hundred feet, running one end of it Into the ground about four feet deep. This will afford an outlet for the electricity and render the wire fences as safe as any other. Shelling Beans. After beans reach the stage for shelling they mature quickly. Keep a sharp lookout that some are not wasted before you are aware. The little white field beans are especially prone to scatter their seeds as soon as the pods become dry. Let posterity help pay for the roads. The log drag Is the best dirt road maker. For successful rotation clover should be one of the crops. Careful breeding is the foundation of the best results in bee keeping. On the farm, the best time to do a thing is Just before it Is needed. Letting weeds go to seed means that ydu are laying up trouble for next year. If dry weather sets in do not neglect to stir the soil and mulch. This Is im portant. Curing honey simply means a proper evaporation of the water it contains. Adjust the knives of the bjwn mow er to cut within two Inches of the roots of the grass. Although the watermelon Is a suc culent fruit, wet is more damaging to It than drought Half the plants which refuse to grow for amateurs are starved to death or killed by kindness. Manure will not waste as much fertility in the field as it will in the average farm barnyard. Cabbage and all other plants of the cabbage family require a very fertile and cool, moist soil for good growth. , Carrots are splendid for folks who need iron In their blood. One of the best ways to get it is to eat these nice roots. Sunshine, rainfall and temperature are three Important factors in canta loupe culture beyond the control of the grower. If your beet rows are too thick, pull out some and boll them for greens. Nothing better In the world for this purpose. Never save beans for seed from rusty or diseased pods, and do pot sell them for seed. This same rule applies to some other seeds. After' the ground is plowed for wheat it is a good time to haul out and scatter all of the manure that it Is possible to gather up. Many growers do not attempt to con trol the melon aphis, but leave it to Its natural enemies, of which - the lady beetles are the most important ABOUT ANOTHER APOU Abou Ben Pusher, may his tribe Increase,' Awoke one night from a sweet dream of peace And saw an angel standing there beside his bed. "Who are you, stranger!" Abou Pusher snld "Are you the tax assessor or the census man, Or one who takes straw ballots if he. can?" "Nay, nay," the figure at his bed then, spake, "A simple little record of good men I make. And If you please, I'd like a fact or two To work up In a little sketch of you." Abou Ben Pusher. did not weakly blush And beg the mystlo stranger, with the book, to hush, He rose from off his couch and sat him down Appareled In pajamas and In dressing gown, And rattled off a lengthy lot of things So rapidly the stranger flapped bis wings And sals: "3o slow, good friend, I beg of you Tou talk so fast I know not what to do." Abou Ben Pusher smole a knowing smile And seized the pencil, then with crafty guile, He took the book and spread It on his knees And said: "I write my own biographies." He wrote and wrote until the night was gone The stranger vanished In the paling dawn. Abou Pen Pusher, on the morrow night Awoke again as well he knew he might And saw the angel standing there beside his bed. "Tour book Is ready for you, friend," he said, "Also you'll find cigars, and drinks and lunch. Upon the buffet you may have the bunch." The stranger thanked him, took the book. ana ate, And slapped him on the back with smile elate "Abou Ben Pusher," then the stranger said "The way to get ahead Is keep ahead," Ben Pusher's book holds honor on the shelf Because Ben Pusher wrote the thing him , self. A Disappointment. "Such a dreadful disappointment as the ladles of the Main street church had in the new minister," sighs the caller. "Why? What war wrong? Wasn't he orthodox?" asks the hostess. "O, his principles were sound enough, but you know they had been withont a pastor all fall, and engaged this man without seeing him, and " "Bless me! What could have been the matter?" "I'm coming to that. As he was to arrive the first of December, they thought they might as well have his Christmas presents prepared and out of the way of other things. And when he came, he proved to be a man who had both legs amputated after, a rail road wreck, and now all the ladies who madq carpet slippers for him are terribly put out over it." N A Rock for a Stone. "Quit that!" screams the wife of the man, when he begins rocking the boat "I never thought I was married to a rock-the-boat-idiot." "You're not, Maria," explained the man, earnestly. "I'm, simply paying you in your own coin."' "What do you mean?" , "Didn't you bake a cherry pie for me, and didn't I break a tooth on . seed I found in it?" ' "Yes, but " "Well, if thereafter you'll stone the cherries I'll not rock the boat."- But the wretched woman,, realizing that she was linked for life to a pun ster, began rocking the boat herself in desperation. Her Future. "My dear Miss Flossie," said the1 friend of the family, "I wish to cau tion you against that young Mr. Ply- sogh. I hear that he is a man with sj past." "Indeed?" asks Miss Flossie. "Well, he was here this afternoon and at that time he was a man wKh a pres ent." And she meaningly studied a large diamond ring on the third finger of her left hand, while into her eyes comes the rapt expression of one who con templates the future.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers