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~animiiNi~aHinBNiNmQ~iDiBm ~mgi~ii mMilin RBBiiRDIAm~
(Topeka Letter.)
Although extreme hot weather has
resulted in great loss for the Kansas
farmer In his corn crop, yet it will
prove such a benefit to the wheat crop
that the gain on the latter will un-
doubtedly greatly eclipse the lomJ on
the former.
The weather has been all that could
hoped for in brlnginz about a good
wheat crop. Wet weather, accompan-
ied by a light wind, which was pre-
valent there last spring, caused the
,wheat grains to swell and grow plump.
This year Kansas will lead out with
100,000,000 bushels of spring and win-
ter wheat, a reCord even for.~that'atate.
This crop is sold at the average of 60
cents a bushel, would give to every
man, woman, and child in the United
~3tates $1. If placed in box cars on a
~ngle track it would reach from Wich-
ita to Chicago and back again.
Commencing the latter part of May
and extending far into July tbe great
wheat belt of Kansas is the scene of
thrilling excitement. Just now the
trains going into Kansas are loaded
to the guards witn men called harvest
hands, although a great many of them
meyer saw a 10-acre wheat field. These"
,men are from all parts of the country
and from every walk of life. The pro-
f~idnal' tramp is out for his s~fmmer
outing and the city man comes for a
turn at the binder just for exercise.
Glr/~ ms ]~U*vGmt Hands.
If the harvest hands play, out, then
the girls of Kansas are called on to do
the work, as a great many of them
were last year, and they did it with
credit to themselves. Fifteen thousand
harvest hands have been imported this
season, but it is not likely that will
prove enough. These extra men are
employed only during harvest time,
and part of them during the thresh-
ing season which follows. This re-
quires from 90 to 100 days. After this
work is finished there is practically no
work for-these' extra men and teams
until the next year. The men are paid
from $1.50 to $2 per day. Extra men
and teams are paid from $3 to $3.50
per day.
In each county a chairman of every
cchool district is appointed. He calls the
farmers together about three weeks
before harvest. They then know how
many men they need, and their reports
are sent to the central bureau, general-
ly located at Kansas City. The men
are granted railroad fare at half rates,
and they are instructed Just where to
go by the'agency at Kan~a~ City,
where a good portion of them head
for.
One lrarmer's 8ehomc~,
The Kansas wheat belt celaters
around Wichita and within a radius
of 100 miles from that place sixty per
cent of the Kansas wheat is harvested,
while fn 17 counties one-half of the
state croP grows.
A farms1, in BaPton counWqast year
adopted and carried into successful
operation a plan by which all outside
help was done away with. He planted
his wheat commencing in September,
a certain number of acres each month
until March, Then when the September
wheat grew ripe in May he was able
to attend to it alone. As the other
patches ripened he attended to them
also. So he keeps up a continual har-
vesting and planting. Out of a 500-acre
field, with the help of two grown sons,
he managed to clear $7.000 last year.
Other farmers are adopting his cheme.
There are a great many complaints
of the manner in which the harvest
hands fail to do the work. They are
not used to the hot sun of a harvest
feld and the hard work soon brings
many of them to the ground with sun-
stroke. Fully one-third of the hands
who came last summer had to quit be-
fore the harvest was well begun. Con-
sequently the farmers have made a
bigger demaud this year so they can
have their pick of the hardiest of the
lot. It is said that Kansas pays out
$600,000 every year for imported la-
bor.
Hard B-ds.
A German doctor advises the adop-
tion of a hard bed, and that children
should ,be trained from the beginning
to sleep upon no other kind. It Is cer-
tainly true that, as a rule, the hard
bed conduces to the most refreshing
kind of sleep, the feather bed, so dearly
beloved by our grandmothers, being
enervating in the extreme, and en-
couraging weakness of mind in the
matter of getting up in the morning.
o .~'o *de~4sew~4o
WOMEN W0RKIN IN THE WltEAT FIELDS.
: THE BEARD OF OLD. to be traversed before he again comes
q~he ~man Didn't ]Keep HL~ Face Clean
Until Over Forty Years Old.
In Cicero's time and after (possibly
also before) many men wore beards,
and only men over 40 were clean shav-
en. Spartianus speaks of Hardian as
wearing a full beard tocover scars upon
his face. Die Cassius also speaks of
him as the "first" to wear a beard. He
is not the first emperor whose bust
shows him to have allowed the hair
ulmn his face to grow, but he is the
Jlr~t o~e represented as wea:tng a full
board. Evidently, therefore, Hadrian
did not introduce beards, but only the
custom of wearing them long and full.
On Trajan's column there is a repro-
an altar; many of the men appear in
the ~cene as bearded, but by no means
all of them. Again, we find a scene
wherein the seated emperor is sur-
rounded by attendants, some of whom
are bearded. In still another
group Trajan is standing with
a roll in his hand, addressing
his men, and again w~ see both
bearded and bearless men among
those who stand before him. On the
rectangualr reliefs of the arch of Con-
• stantine we find that the men accom-
panying Trajan are bearded, even
when he and they are clad in the toga.
within sight of its long terrace. Here
a magnificent view awaits him. Far
away the entire city lies spread out
be~ore him. On the other side the
noble Danube can be seen like a silver
band for many miles, while the ranges
of heights can be traced to the Carpa-
thian spurs and the Styrian Alps. So
carefully marked are the roads
through the forests that with a small
pocket map one may trust oneself
alone in the densest woods.
Gen. Corhin'~ Costly J'otmtoen.
The first Irish potatoes grown in
New Mexico were raised by Adj. Gen.
Henry C. Corbin, major general United
States army. That was twenty years
ago. Corbin was then a major serving
on the frontier posts hundreds of miles
from civilization. Part of his work--
and no small part of it--was to get
suitable prey!siena for his men. Fresh
vegetables in New Mexico were almost
impossible to be had, and were corre-
spondingly craved by the soldiers.
Having been brought up on a farm,
Major Corbln took an interest in the
problem of growing things for tbe use
of the post, and ~particularly in the
possibilities of irrigation. One day it
occurred to him that by tapping a
,*~pring in the hillside and digging a
TREASURERS OF OLD.
BEING UNEARTHED IN THE
FAR EAST.
Old Mo~le Floor RecentLy DV.~ Up In
Jero~tiem ~ Peeollar Drawing that
Taft of Bl~tor;csl grants Ag~ &go.
~hon ('hrlath~uity q~ Young,
(Jerusalem Letter.)
Former discoveries of fragments of
me•ale p~vements in Jerusalem, Pales.-
tins, and its neighborhood have been
eclipsed by a recent find which is most
elaborate and exquisite in design and
execution, and which ls also In a state
of almost perfect preservation, the col-
ors of the mosaics in their artistic
combinations being as bright and effec-
tive as the day the work was finished.
A few weeks since the owner of a
little property in a small Jewish col-
ony Just outside the Damascus gate, in
digging a~dtteh in his yard, came upon
some mosaic work at about four feet
below the surface which, when uncov-
ered as far as permitted by the streets
bounding the excavation on two sides
and the wall of a house on the third,
disclosed the ancient mosaic pavement
which the illustration shows. Further
excavations await the order of the
Turkish government, whose officials
have taken the site in hand, and which
may sow the pavement to extend some-
what further in length on one side.
The patter would indicate that the
complete width at one end has been
uncovered. This mosaic floor is about
220 paces west-northwest of the Da-
mascus gate. The part, already un-
covered is about 18 feet in length by
11 in breadth. The upper and larger
part of the pavement is composed of
an exquisite design, including a central
panel surrounded by an elaborate
frame. The panel has its chief figure,
a representation of Orpheus, in a sit-
ting posture, and playing upon an ll-
stringed harp. Grouped within the
panel are animals and birds', including
a serpent and a salamander, which lat-
ter two are in an attitude of conflict. In
the lower right-hand corner is the
horned and goat-footed figure of the
God Pan, with his pan pipes under his
left arm and his right hand out-
stret6hed, and beneath it a hare. In
the other lower corner is a centaur,
with his hand over his mouth. The
posture of these animals' and figures
suggests that they are entranced with
the music of the harp of Orpheus.
Green branches on .the white back~
ground, interspersed here and there,
given an added brightness and beauty
to this central design. In the elaborate
work of the wide frame surrounding
TtIE MOSAIC FLOOR.
this panel are wrought medallions in
leaf-enclosed wreaths, 14 in all, con-
taining representations of fruits, ani-
mals, and birds, with symbolic human
.heads in the four corners, each looking
towards the center, where Orpheus sits.
Beneath this main part of the floor,
but wrought in with it so as to form
an harmonious whole, are two rows of
designs, there being three in each row.
The first row is composed, of three
panels, the central one containing two
female figures in Byzantine dress, with
a column standing betweeu them, and
a G.reek name written alongside of
each in poor orthography and style of
character. The lettering suggests the
reverse side of the Byzantine coins. On
either side of this central panel is an-
other, containing each a stone which
protrudes above the surface and sug-
tombs beneath. The lower row
IGNORANCE NO EXCUSI~,
'l"hL~ ~ou~f 91an Properly Buncoed by
n Greek ~u~tomer.
If in the course of your wanderings,
gentle reader, you should ever find
yourself in the Grecian village of Mar-
copoulo, ~5 miles out of Athens, don't
as you value your cellbacy~if you are
possessed of that pleasing attribute--
pick up any handkerch]efs which you
may see lying on the ground. A suit
of breach of promise, which is now be-
ing tried in the Grecian capital, should
be a warning to all bachelors who in-
tend visiting Hellas without a chaper~
on. The plaintiff in this suit is a re-
markably good-looking young woman,
who demands that a young man, a to-
tal stranger to her until recently, and
who never asked her hand in marriage
in his Hie, should become her husband
or pay her heavy damages. In the vil-
lage of Marcopoulo there is a curious
custom which has the force of law. On
.certain hoiidays the villagers assemble
on the village green, and on these oc-
casions any unmarried woman who
thinks it is about time she took to
herself a husband drops her handker-
chief has all the binding force of an
engagement. Now, the fair plalntiff
in this suit made up her mind a while
ago that' the boys In Marcopoulo were
rather "backward about coming for-
ward," and her chances of matrimony
weregraduallyslippingaway in.spite of
her good looks. So she went to the vil-
lage green on the next holiday and
dropped her handkerchief. There hap-
pened to be a strange youth in the vil-
lage that day who was not familiar
withthe local customs. Thevillage boys
fought shy of the handkerchief, but
the unsuspecting stranger picked it up.
Then the villagers set up a great shout
and brought to him a blushing beauty,
whom he had never seen before, an-
nouncing to him that she was his fu-
ture wife. Naturally he was astonished,
and could only murmur: "This is so
sudden." Partially recovering his com-
posure, he inquired if he might ask
just why the young lady was to be his
future wife. He said he was over young
to marry yet, and, in fact, declined
With thanks. But the villagers ex-
plained their ancient custom to him
and the young lady declared that he
would marry her or she would know
the reason why. The young man swore
by Pallas Athena that he would "see
her further" first, and made his c~cape
from the village. But the glrl was bent
on marrying, and the personal inclina-
tions of the man in the case could not
be considered. So she brought suit for
breach of promise and it is thought she
will win her case, and the young man
be forced to either marry her or "pay
through the nose."--New York Press.
WONDERFUL COW-HORSE.
'~ew Jersey Again in Line Virith ~ome
thl,g Abnormal.
Veterinarians are interested deeply
in a freak cow-horse, which is in the
possession of Mr. William S. Hugo of
EY-zabethl)ort, N. J. At first' glance
the animal looks like a mare of nat-
ural size, but on approaching her hind
quarters the formation of a cow is dis-
covered in ~he hip bones, which are
level with the backbone. She measures
23½ inches from one hip bone to the
other. The mare has natural shoulders
and head, but when traveling has the
peculiar stride of the cow.
The animal has attracted much at-
tention, and several circus men have
endeavored to buy her. The mare can
get over the ground in lively fashion,
while not appearing to be going fast.
Iu the st~ll the animal chews her cud,
as does a cow or Dull, and if watched
closely many of the attributes of the
bovine can be observed. When swish-
ing flies her motion is the same as
that eta cow. She can gallop, but in a
clum~y fashion only.
V~hv l'~o!W Wear ]~arri~g*.
The custom of boys wearing earrings
in China is thus popularly explained by
the Chinese: The boy is the greatest
blessing that heaven can send. The
spirits like boy babies. It is natural
that they should, everybody likes them.
Very often, if the boy babies are not
~¢atched closely, the spirits who are
constantly around grab up the un-
watched boy babe and carry him off to
their home. Girl babies are not such
blessings and the spirits care nothing
for them. The earring is a feminen
ornament, and the spirits know that;
so the Chinese mothers have the ears
of their boy babes pierced aml put in
huge earrings. When the sprites are
around looking for boys they will see
the earrings and be fooled into think-
ing the boys' are girls and will pass on
and not trouble them.
~1111 i in inii _ l II ml
urren epics "Re, ol.oe.r
Firxt Cbr/#tian Charch.
The sea has sometimes swallowed
up a churc~h that has been built too
near the edge of the ocean, but it is
di~lcult to understand how a whole
edifice could sink into the earth, to be
rediscovered beneath the foundations
ot its successor. Such. however, has
been the case with the church of Santa
Maria Antigua at Rome, built in the
fourth century and now uncovered by
the demolition of the newer church,
Santa Maria Libcratrice. The en-
trance to this strange old church is
built on to a vestibule of Caligulas
Palace, and was once decorated with
pictures, which, of course, have been
ruined by the accumulation of earth
and debris. Some, however, are fairly
well preserved and give the history of
Joseph and his adventures with Phar-
Veteran Con~ul'~ ~ecord.:
Horatio J. Sprague, United Stat
mansul at Gibraltar, died recent
~tt that place, aged 77. He was t
oldest of the American representatW
abroad and had been consul at Gibr~
tar for fifty-thre years. He was vex
popular among the residents.
\
Mr. Sprague was the dean of t|
American consular service and his rs
grd at Gibraltar was altogether uniq!
BURIED FIFTEEN CENTURIES.
aoh and Potiphar's wife. Another se-
ries of pictures represent the history
of our Saviour. This church must un-
doubtedly be the first Christian church
ever built t~-~ Rome, and was especially
erected to abolish the cult of Vesta
HORATIO J. SPRAGUE.
and most eminently gratifying to
department at Washington. The aged
consul was born at Gibraltar, Aug. If
1823. His father was a Bostonian,
who settled in the great fortress town
soon after the war of 1812 and became
a permanent resident. In 1845 young
Sprague was made consul and re-
mained in that office for fifty-three
~ear~. He served under fourteen pres-
idents and personally entertained
three of them who visited Gibraltar
after leaving the White House. These
were Fillmore, Pierce and ~rant. The
consul was a warm friend, of Admiral
Dewey and when the hero of Manila
stopped at the Rock on his way hom~
Mr. Spsague took charge of him for
a time and hospitably entertained the
famous sailor. During the war of the
rebellion Mr. Sprague was in a most
and Juturna. "The wonderful poiut delicate position, but he carried it off
about it all is." says an~talian savant,
"that this Christianizing transforma-
tion actually took place in the I;a!uce
of the Caesars.'"
~t~e ~rouble in Virginia,
Virginia has a state constitutional
convention in session. It was called
primarily to regulate the suffrage
questlou, but the question of sectarian-
ism became involved and its settle-
ment required much effort.
The present constitution of Virginia
re,:,~,nizes religion by describing it as
the duty which we owe to our Cre-
ator." The manner of discharging
thlz duty, it says, should be "directed
only by reason aad conviction, not by
force and violence." Therefore, all
men are entitled to a,free exercise of
religion according to the dictates of
conscience. Then comes this para-
graph:
"And that it is the mutual duty of
all to practice Christmn forbearance,
love and charity toward each other."
A leading member of the convention,
in the interest of nonsectarianism,
moved to strike the word "Christia-"
out of this paragraph. On this ques-
tion Rabbi E. N. Calisch, a distin-
guished Jewish scholar, was ~nvited to
undress the convention. He spoke with
persuasive eloquence and sharply ann.
lyzed the phraseology of the section.
He said that the use of the word un-
der discussion made the section con-
tradlct its own terms.
Other speakers said that the phrase
"Ch-ristian forbearance" was entirely
uestitute of sectarian significance--
that it was as unsectarian as the
phrase, "'Mosaic meekness," or "Mil-
tonic simplicity," or "Websterian elo-
quence." But the ethel' argument pre-
vailed and the entire clause was elim-
inated, leaving only the definition of
religion and the declaration for free-!
don of conscience.
An Automatic Faucet.
A simple and very effective contriv-
ance is described as follows by the
with great credit to himself and to
the cause of the North. In the late
Spanish war he was placed in even a
more exacting situation, but he met it
capably and well, Although he has
visited this coun2ry but once he was a
.patriotic and enthusiastic Amerlcan.
The l~a. on Hor,r#bacl~
Sept. 14 is said to have been set aa
the date for springing a conspiracy to
overthrow the French republic and in-
stall Prince Louis Napoleon as an em-
peror.--Ext~;act from cablegram from
Paris.
A.~ to °'Ideal, n"
It is said that London financiers
take the projected continental boycott
of American goods seriously, and tha~
some of them are inclined to believe
that England should take part In it.
Their view is that the monaee of Amer-
Ica is not merely a matter of trade. They
profess to regard the question from a
hlgb]y moral standpoint. They say it ls
no advantage to the world that a great
nation should dominate it with ideals into
which, they allege, nothing except money
can enter and with a system of govern-
ment }n which money is the eontrollin..~
power. The ideals of Europe have ever
been higher than tl~at, and to drop to
the American standard woul~ be a fatal,
error.
Sad, isn't it? The United States is
the only country which has engaged
in war within Lhe last forty years
from any but selfish motives. Its res-
cue o2 the Cubans was the only piece
of pure knight-errantry seen in that
Scientific American: To provide a time. Europe allowed the ~rmeutans
means for automatically closing a fau- to be tortured and massacred because
no European power couid trust the
