Newspaper Page Text
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EDITORIAL PAGE
THE SUNNY SOUTH
JULY 9, 1904
study of Hawthorne’s works. While, as stated
above, his current vogue is tremendous, many of
the present generation have not the acquaintance
with him which he merits and they require. It
U/>e SUNNY SOUTH
Published Weekly by
Smith Ththli fhtn<y Cr\ ma >' not bc said of him that hc was preat in a di ~
'jU’llfiy \3UlLltl fls./lg dactic sense, but where keen dissection of human
Susine/s Office
THE CONSTITUTION BUILDING
nature, brilliant display, of imagination, gentle
ness, unalloyed tragedy, pathos, excellence in style
and art, and sheer fascination are involved, the
direct profits to the reader are proportionately
large. He is not like some writers who appeal
only to one phase of the individual’s life. One
! never grows too old to enjoy his limpid charm
and the young man and woman find especial at
traction in the delicacy and bewildering labyrinths
[of his fiction.
The South and Outdoor
Sports
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
Subscription Terms:
To those who subscribe
to SKe Sunny South only
Six Months, 25c One Year, 50c
LESS THAN A PENNY A WEEK
Entered at the poatofflee A tlnntn, On.,n» aecond-claaa i9.il matter
March 13,1901
ftkr Sunny South la tho oldest weekly paper of Literature,
Romance, fart and Vldlion In the South & It now re*
Jlored to the original shape and will be pubtlstied as for*
Uierly every week & founded In 1814 It grew until 1809,
when, as a monthly. Its form was changed as an expert*
meat dp It now returns to Its original formation as a
weekly with renewed vigor and the Intention of ecllps*
ing Its most promising period in the past.
The Centenary of a Great
American Novelist
HE Fourth of July this year was
r made luminous by two conspicuous
causes; it celebrated the birthday
of the world's greatest republic and
the lapse of a hundred j'cars since
the birth of that republic’s greatest
novelist. The quaint town of Con
cord, Mass., where Nathaniel Haw
thorne spent most of his working
years, was on Monday thronged
with pilgrims from every section of spent on paraphernalia and enthusiasm roused to
the country—men and women to fever heat over the standing of the “home team.”
whom the great writer’s name was a In addition to the large leagues, less pretentious
synonvm for keen, subtle intellec- interstate leagues have been organized and so
tual pleasure and who had grown to j thoroughly has the microbe of the great national
love the man as thev saw his gentleness through diversion inoculated the people that combinations
Democracy Foregathers
at St. Louis
MTD much enthusiasm the
democratic convention met
at Bt, Louis Wednesday
of this week. T T nllke
the stereotyped republican
gathering 1 of tho month
previous, the spirit of the
convention was one
of continual excitement,
hinging on the uncertainty
of the issue of the con
vention and the contingen
cies which might arise at
any moment by reason of
the many booms in existence and the
i _ . . , ,, , , . uproarious conduct of the delegates, who
: lor an impression of the extent to which he has , heerpd now for 0!eve]and and agtain
, influenced present fiction and the popular vernacu- for Fark( , r while but a slight circum-
lar one has only- to read, even superficially, his Stance was necessary to turn the en-
works, then compare them with much of what is thusiasm in tnV-direction of Bryan, the
being produced today. two-times nominee for president.
At this hour it is impossible to prophesy
anything definite with reference to the
final actioh of the convention. The ballot
rule, which requires that a two-thirds
vote is absolutely necessary to presi
dential nomination, was confirmed at a
decisive meeting of the resolutions com-
CASUAL survev of conditions in the miUep - Tllis d1sp ° sps of thp ^‘ te f pt to
- . hi make the nomination of a candidate con-
SOllthern states this summer Will be t.ingent on his receipt of a majority vote,
sufficient to demonstrate the salu- j
tarv degree in which this section 1
lias given itself over to healthful
open-air sports. The' fad, it is too J
natural to be called a mania, in this:
direction will probably reach a
maximum with the current season,!
although we are justified in express--
ing the hope that following years-
will see no perceptible dimunition.
In practically every city and town
and hamlet baseball nines have been
organized, varying sums of money
Along' the Highway
By FRJfMK L. STANTOM
the medium of his printed works. SeveraT years
have passed since his death, but they have not
served to obliterate the brightness of his fame or
the justice of the critical-approval which the world
has attached to his literary endeavors. Indeed, it
is doubtful if “The Scarlet Letter" does not out
rank in popularity the ephemeral literature of to
day and yesterday, albeit it was produced several
decades ago and treats of an American phase
which probablv has no living witnesses, even
have been formed between counties and even small
villages for the playing of the “game of the dia
mond.” The rural as well as the urban populace
probably know more now concerning hits, two-
baggers, home runs, fouls, strike outs, in and out
curves, “speed and control,” and errors than at any
time in its history. The best phase of the conta-
O, WIND OF MORNING!
will by listenin’ to ’em talk a whole
I.
mile!”
O, Wind of Morning, over fields of
dew.
A LIFE TEXT.
1
: I follow fleetly the wide wings of
Life gives us toil,
you!
But toil blesses our bread:
II.
The seed’s in the soil
And the harvest ahead!
I know the secrets of the daisies
bright.
Then, ho; for the tasks, lad!
The dreams of lilies, lifted to the
The weeds trample down;
light:
And all that Life asks, lad,
1
III.
Life's labor will crown!
The crimson mystery of the rose's
SOME OLD-TIME PHILOSOPHY.
breast,
Happiness by the bushel would be
The trees where birds build, singing
great; but you'll find that you can
round the nest.
get along gloriously on a pint meas-
1
nre.
IV.
' The sun that gives the color to the
clod,
Where the seeds climb into the
sheaves of God;
Sometimes a hurricane does good,
by showing folks that when you mean
business you ean clear up a lot of
land in a brief space of time.
V.
We often meet Joy in the middle
of the road, but we’re so afraid he's
I know, or dream, such knowledge
trouble in disguise we never bid him
still is mine.
“Good morning!”
Under a heaven with its lights di-
vine.
The sunset of life is only bright to
those that met the sunrise with a
VI.
song.
Rut of myself so little do I know—
—
The tasks to take—the pathway I
WHEN JOY PLAYS THE FIDDLE.
should go!
I.
In Life’s dim December—
VII.
In meadows of June,
O, Wind of Morning, over land and
When Joy plays the fiddle
sea.
We’ll dance to the tune!
Whisper the secret of Myself to me!
Hold Sorrow in tether.
Thank God tor all weather.
THE PRACTICAL OLD MAN.
Hands round all together
The poet, newly returned from col
lege, said to “the old man;”
When Joy strikes the tune!
i “Father, I can hear the trees whis-
II.
pering secrets all day long; they say
We need light and laughter—
such beautiful things to me!”
The dark comes so soon!
The “old man” looked thoughtful;
So, when Joy plays the fiddle,
then he said:
Three cheers for the tuner
“Here, John! Take this ax an’ chop
With Life fleet in flying,
! down a few of 'em, an’ rail ’em
With Grief to us crying,
through my sawmill, an’ you’ll make
We’ll dance down the sighing
more money in a minute than you
When Joy strikes the tune!
Judge Alton B. Par Her
Even according to this ruling. Judge Alton
B. Parker, of New- York, appears to be
the choice of the convention at present-
gion is that it has affected every class and age and
both sexes. There are almost as many "fans” Several spasmodic booms have been
-1 ii i i, - , r .i sprung in the interest of different an-
# among the old gray-beards as in t he ranks of the n P unc * d and quiescent candidates, such as
among our patriarchs. From start to conclusion ebullient youngster, and the feminine portion of j Gorman, of Maryland; Cleveland, of New
the book is filled with artistically subdued drama, - the population is interesting itself vastly, although J Jersey; Gray, of Delaware, and oiney. of
Pathos, whicn never becomes strained, vies with j its knowledge and enthusiasm cannot be truthful-. ^ the Ch spon\a n ie^y n and h irpu < iIe oTumt
tragedy the more melancholy and somber because , lv said to be as intelligent as the same qualities j pu t forward in favor of judge Parker.
when displayed over ruffles, straight-fronts and
picture hats. To summarize the situation, the en
tire south has gone baseball mad and a very for-
recognized traits of prejudice and smug popular tunate lunacy it is, since it encourages a love for
dictum are delineated with the touch of a master, j clean, manly contest and takes its devotees out in
Wherever the morbid element theatens to become the open air. to fill their lungs with rejuvenating
too oppressive, or the intense incidents too stirnu
The Cultivation of Sorghum
For Syrup and Forage
IN TWO PARTS—PART I.
veiled in the narrative form. All the passion and
folly of human nature; all its infinite psychology in
the most evasive and baffling forms; the well
iating. there is the delicate, fanciful display of im
agination, lighting the gloom with the fireflies of
ozone, coax the anemic blood to the surface and
give the jaded mind a chance to forget its troubles. of thp men
a J & I sen b.id nr
The hard work which has been accom
plished in his name throughout tho pre
ceding six months showed evidence in
the steadiness with which the delegates
remained loyal to his standard, in the
face of studied efforts to stampede them
to strange gods.
Bryan started off. the first day. with
a tribute of nure ffidiffer&nce on the part
jture difference
xvlub, four and
eight years
, . . . i f-f-u. had practically bowed in adulation
( A Or is baseball the sole catalogue of sports in to him. On Thursday, however, he ob-
phantasy, and relieving the strain with some un- which the south is today interested. In city and tainea his revenge, for at the mention
expected turn of his wonderful mind, appearing al- countrv the old reliable lawn tennis, with its splen- ? f n;,rn "- supported by strenuous ef-
r 1TA .. . , 1 1 ° . ■ - - ’ •, forts of the Nebraska clique, the tconven-
most preternatural. Healing in the most ele- did exercise, is more popular than ever: the Cana- tion went Bryan-wiid, the delegates, ai-
mental emotions, it is no marvel that wherever dian game of lacrosse is coming more into vogue ;■ ternates and gallery gods lending ail the
civilization has penetrated, this remarkable book swimming, boating and mountain climbing have fnrcp nf thoir hinss to shouting fo r the
lias gamed for its author a large and instant fol- their own enthusiastic devotees, ever increasing in the midst of this ebuiition. Bryan
lowing. • jin number; foot and horse racing are more preva-! stood silent, satisfied, noncommittal on
Substantially the same mav be said of his other lent than ever; while we muSt not fonret srolf and thp platform, waiting for it to subside,
great novel. The House of the Seven Gables, placid croquet, which is such an indispensable ad-1 ness of political fortune and those who
Sin, suffering, mysticism, folklore, biting, wonder- junct to the rural wooing. Statements from the direct its queer turns,
ful ironv, love and the subtlest possible analysis proprietors of the great metropolitan houses which i *. At lthls I lour i lt is ln l p °t Riblp , tpprophPS , y
of the human mainsprings of emotion and sordid supply sporting goods of every description are to though it mey he set down as positive
ambition characterize its plot and development, the effect that the demand for equipment and in- that jt wUl censure the trusts severely.
Among competent critics there is even a division structions is unprecedentedly heavy and that their j S™
of opinion regarding the respective merits of the j capacity is tested. t south in its present conservative course
two books, although it is likely that predominance Especially noticeable is the revival of interest! concernin,sr the neero ’ denounce tJ,e pres '
would be given the first mentioned because of its in the gentle art of fishing, although we never for- Ind “^we^for^uch*torm^SoraV’a"
condensed, graphic and incisive style. Notable get old Izaac Walton and bis dreams of piscatorial the precedence of democratic doc-
for their beauty and occult power are his short delight to anv alarming extent. Men who nre- ! tr i nPS ” . , XT T ,
stories 3.nd sketches. His romance is so delight- \ iousl\ satisfied themselves with two or three liams, temporary chairman, in opening
fully tinctured with combined imagination and davs’ vacation in the heated term are so thorough- the convention was a masterful arraign-
realism, so strikingly marked by the fire of creative ly’infatuated with sport in some one of its innum- tLr* ciTims^He gJiJcieveiand^the
genius and so pervaded throughout by carefully enable departments, that thev arc cither extending credit for scotching the panic of 1893 and
balanced dramatic episode, as to win a permanent their leaves of absence or arranging their business! fpr esta ' blishins the currenc v system of
hold on the taste and memory, once the reader hours so that they may pay more attention to it at ! cuLd°°th^ asaeruons"^') ^fiba Root^to
has thoroughly entered into Hawthorne’s mood, regular intervals. ; the effect that the republican party was
The element of spontaneous humor is also present All of which is well. The south is in the first l? be °rodited for th e prosperous condi-
in his creations, although it was distinctly a minor throes of a commercial, industrial and intellectual holding that it resulted from purely nat-
part of his equipment. i development which is going to test every fiber in ural caiises . which would have operated
There is one gratifying concomitant of the pres- the nature of the ambitious man, and one of the j mSer^gCTeLuon^of "SluSns °whlch
ent celebration and that is the probability that a most commedabie preparations for the frav is the might have been in power at the time,
greater impulse will be given to the reading and cultivation of a sound, lusty phvsique.
Longevity Prescription Made Up
Of Simple Ingredients ^
Th e current convention will, no doubt,
j go down into history as one of the most
! enthusiastic and fully attended in the
annals of parties in the United States.
■H'B question of the possibln
duration of human life,
when put to great states
men, scientists and others
who have almost reached
the century mark of life
has been answered in va
rious ways.
Von Moltke. at the age
was still possessed
fine Intellectual power
remarkable vitality.
When asked how he man
aged to live so long and
ich excellent health, he replied, “By
moderation In all things and by
ar out-of-door exercise.”
spl, the famous Italian statesman,
“Regularity and abstinence are
ecrets of long life “
J Dow, the American apostle of tem-
ice reform, replied, when asked the
don: “Refrain from fretting.”
naro replied: “Extreme temperance
ting and drinking.”
G. N. Pope, the aged Tamil scholar.
“Be sure to have some gr-at life-
to do which holds you upon the
for the accomplishment of a pur-
atid yon will live.”
se words from the Ups of eminent
who lived te •. wonderful old age
f intense interest, but they are not
old and judicial advice of the scien-
ently T worked out a plan, the rules
llch. if followed carefully, will result
ie increased longevity of one's life.
Irst word of advice to those who
I live long is to avoid disease, espe-
such diseases as one is disposed to
act through Inherited weakness,
la to be done by knowing one’s pre-
1 disposition to disease and exercising the
: necessary care, in occupation.general hab-
! its and diet that will indefinitely postpone
! the attack to which one is predisposed
from birth.
I advise such care in diet and general
hahits of life- as will defer as long as
possible the hardening of the coats of the
blood vessels, that generally comes on
before its natural time, and other dete
riorations of bodily vigor that are the
concomitants or equivalents of the physi-
! cal conditions of old age. In old age the
tissues dry up and the joints stiffen.
Keep your tissues moist and your joints
well oiled.
EXERCISE IS NEEDFUL.
The first thing needed to keep the tl»-
1 sueg healthy and strong and the various
organs in good working order is a cer
tain amount of exercise taken every day.
Regularly taken exercise strengthens the
heart, thereby causing that great organ
to pump the fluids of the body to the
remotest corners and thereby improving
i nutrition and causing all the other or
gans to do their natural work and .to
' take a dellg-nt, so to speak, in doing their
natural worje.
This nutrition abundantly supplies the
body with power and furnishes material
for the combustion which, when suffl-
I cientl'y strong, gives the body the ability
to resist chills, which are the na.tural en-
1 emies of life. A prerequisite to the sue-
I oessful effect of exercise is oxygen. Hence
fresh air in plenty is the second useful
! thing.
Among other circumstances influencing
. the duration of life, heredity is of the
: great influence. Those whose ancestors
1 have lived to great ages have a good
chance of longevity, while those whose
parents tw»d blood relations have died
early have mostly inherited a tendency
to short lives, yet it is possible by ju
dicious arrangement of the manner of
living to increase the duration of their
lives, especially by counteracting the ten
dencies of which their short-lived an
cestors have died.
There should be moderation of eating
and drinking, especially in regard to meat
foods. The rule of moderation applies
to the whole life, but the necessity for it
Is increased in old age, when the organs
and tissues are able to take up only a
much' smaller amount of nourishing ma
terial than in youth. Few people have
an idea of the small amount of food re
quired in old age, and the fear of many
persons that by eating little they may
lose strength is entirely unfounded.
In the matter of food my recipe for
longevity will strike, I am afraid, the
American people in a weak spot. The
most important advice is to refrain from
large quantities of meat and eggs. The
latter, when eaten in large quantities or
continually every day for the three meals,
or even for two meals, are as destructive
to length of life as the regular and free
consumption of alcohol.
In fact, no matter what kind of food
is taken, the quantity should he small.
The human body can live and thrive and
work op a surprisingly small quantity of
nourishment. Great moderation in eat
ing Is, therefore, one of the' keys that
unlock tli£ doors of long living.
SAYS FEW NEED ALCOHOL.
As to the food accessories, alcohol is
quite unnecessary for most persons, and
ought to be avoided entirely, excepting
in the smallest quantities. ,
Little jea and coffee will go a long
CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE,
Theoorie.
(With apologies to Edgar Allan Poe in
Town Topics.)
It was in the Windy City, I was musing
full of pity, on the party that the
witty,
Wise and manly Abraham Lincoln led to
victory of yore,
When a journalistic Raven, in my cham
ber sought a haven.
And I cried with spihit craven, “Tell the
worst and get it o'er;
Tell me whom they've nominated! Tell
it quick and get it o'er I”
Quoth the Raven, "Theodore.”
“Prophet,” cried I, “thing of evil! Proph
et still, if bird or devil!
By this roof that bends above us, by the
chef we both adore!
Tell this soul with grief dejected, if he's
going to be elected.
Will this country be projected to the dogs
while we deplore?
He has had three years already, will he
have another four?”
Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore!”
"Be that word a happy token,” I ex
claimed in accents broken,
71 ’Tis the kindest ever spoken to a fel
low feeling sore;
To our ranks good men we'll muster, and
we’ll rout this bronco-buster;
And that cushioned chair whose luster he
is fondly gloating o'er—
Chair of Washington and Cleveland he is
fondly gloating o'er—
He shall sit In nevermore.”
And that Raven, never flitting, still is
sitting, ^till is sitting
On a placid bust of Cleveland just above
my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seem ing of a
politician’s dreaming.
And the sunset, o’er him streaming,
casts a shade from shore to shore;
And Teddy’s soul from out the shadow
that extends from shore to shore,
Shall be lifted nevermore.
—Town Topics.
By HELEN HARCOURT.
Written for Sjhe Sunny South
OMB time ago the writer re
ceived a letter from a lady
in Alabama referring to
the subject of this article,
as follows;
"Will you please, for the
benefit of the readers of
The Sunny South, write an
article on the Chinese su
gar cane? I remember
that in I860 my father
planted a package of the
seed sent from the agri
cultural department at
| Washington, and in the fall of that year
he had iron rollers .made to crush the
cane. From the juice obtained he suc-
| ceeded in obtaining a gallon or two of
j very dark sirup. By the time the war
j was in full swing, people had cultivated
j the Chinese sugar cane to such an ex-
j tent that the sirup made from it was the
I principal chance for sweetening the bitter
j cup of rye coffee. Finally the sirup was
known as ‘sorghum,’ though why or how
j I do not know.
j "A few days ago, watching the amber
I Sirup flowing into a howl, my thoughts
j flew hack to those dark days, i recalled
: how the old men, the women and chil-
| dren, worked, with the aid of a decrepit
horse or blind mule to pull the lever
I that was attached to the wooden rollers
i of the cane mill. Wooden rollers had to
;be used in those days, as the foundries
i were closed that made the iron rollers,
and the creaking sound of this wooden
i machinery could be heard a mile away.
“In the fall of each of those dark days
this creaking sound and the hum of the
spinning wheel made the music that we
! at home marched by while the boys at
(he front stepped to ‘Dixie.’ I have often
thought that if the Daughters nf the
| Confederacy (of today! knew how this
same sorghum had helped to keep the
I wolf from the door, they would emblazon
a stalk of this graceful cane on their
banners.
“With appreciation for your helpful
papers in The Sunny South. I am truly
yours. MRS. R. M. C.”
It is pleasant to receive such a letter
as t'his—pleasant to read these reminis-
censes of dark days gone forever, blotted
out by the sunshine of the present, and
pleasant, too, to learn just what our le-
I gions of readers would like to know
j about. So here is the story of that val-
I liable cane that was first known as the
i Chinese, because the seeds came to us
i from China, but was really entitled to
I the name it now bears—eorphum. Its
story is identified with the latest im
provements by scientific men. in the
search of the best methods of utilizing to
the full this graceful, long-leaved cane of
many names and many nations.
ITS VARIOUS NAMES.
For the sorghum vulgare, or panieled
millet, has as mwiy names as there are
countries in which it grows. In India it
is called javaree; in Egypt and Nubia,
dhourra. and in the West Indies it js
known as Guinea corn. This latter name
is either due to the fact that the plant
was introduced into the islands direct
from the western or Guinea coast of Af
rica. or else to its general use in the
feeding of the African negroes in the
West Indian colonies.
Sorghum was once upon a time so rare
a plant and was deemed so wonderful
that the seeds were worth almost their
weight in gold. A Swiss scientist de
ceived as a precious gift from a brother
scientist a spoonful of sorghum seeds,
and in d«e time published an account
of the methods of culture and its results
in the "Transactions of the Berne So
ciety.’’ It is one of the many advant
ages possessed by the sorghum family;
that tt flourished in all sorts of soils,
requires but a small quantity of manure,
but little labor to take- care of it. and,
finally, that it takes but little away from
the soil in return for the large yield it
gives in sirup, forage and seed. In Eng
land it was so rare a plant in the year
1596 as to be found in but one garden in
the whole kingdom.
Sorghum saccharatum was introduced
into Jamaica in the year 1759, starting
theye also from a few experimental plants
in one garden, that of Phillip Miller.
From this one little patch “it grew and
it grew.” not. till it reached the church
spirt, hut ail the rest of the West India
islands. The golden colored seeds of this
sorghum or millet are sometimes sold by
the grocers and are used like rice in the
J making of puddings. This variety 01
I sorghum is a native of India and is not
i only extensively cultivated there, but
[also in China and Cochin Cntns.. in Nu
bia, where the stalks often grow to a
(height of 16 to 20 feet, they are used, af-
jter being stripped of the leaves for fod
der, in the building of temporary Luxe 0.
j shelters.
There are many varieties of sorghum,
[divided into two main groups. One oi
'these is the sweet or saccharine sorgum,
[which contains a considerable amount of
'sugar; the other is non-saccharine, con
taining hut a small amount of the sweet
! principle. The nrst group is raised chief
ly for the production of sugar and sirup;
[the other for that of forage and grain
[and silage. Broom corn, which is a va
riety of sorghum, is valued for the man-
lufacture of brooms and brushes.
Sorghum is believed to have started on
Its travels around the world from equa
torial Africa, finding a congenial resting
place in all the warmer countries of the
globe. In Asia and Africa it is today one
of the principal food supplies for man and
1 beast. It was introduced into the United
States in 1855. and these plants were
grown from seeds brought from China.
Hence its earlier popular name of Chinese
sugar cane Ten years later fifteen other
varieties were brought into the United
'States from South Africa, and since then
■ many other varieties have been intro
duced.
Sorghum filled a "long felt want, and
its cultivation has spread very rapidly.
Forty years ago it was almost unknown,
but once it got well started on its tour
among the farmers they quickly recog-
i nized its value and f§lt that it had come
to stay and to grow.
I At the outset of its career in the United
States sorghum was raised entirely for
the making of sirup and sugar. It was
not long, however, before its great field
of usefulness as a crop for fo/age and
silage became generally understood, and
then the second group of sorghums that
devoted all their energies to the produc
tion of leaves, stalks and seeds came
rapidly into favor. Today sorghum is
recognized as one of the most valuable
forage crops for the south, and especial
ly for the drier portions, and for a large
part of the semi-arid lands of the west
and southwest. In 1895 in Kansas \!one
283.137 acres of the saccharine sorghum,
232,498 acres of the non-saccharine kinds
were raised for grain and forage.
! The manufacture at sorghum sirup is
still in its experimental stage, but even
with the imperfect and crude handling it
| has usually had thus far, save in some
|few instances, its value has been abun
dantly proven. The sirup from this cane,
when properly made, is clear and attrac
tive in appearance, and has a peculiar
flavor that is -generally liked. Its quality,
1 moreover, is being constantly improved
by experiments, not only by private
manufacturers, hut by government ex
perts, under the auspices of the agricul
tural department.
HELPING THE GROWER.
The greatest difficulty hitherto experi
enced lay in removing the impurities from
the sirup so as to eliminate its usual 1
■cloudy appearance. By far the larger
: part of the 25300.000 of gallons of sorg- (
hum sirup made in this country each
year is produced by horse power and sim
ple and inexpensive apparatus. It is the
■ smail sirup makers that the agricultural
department is especially seeking to serve
by showing them how they may make a
good thing better. There are tens of
thousands of these primitive sorghum
1 sirup makers, and they are worthy of all
the assistance that the government can
afford them.
Sorghum sirup is usually made by sim
ply grinding the cane and boiling and
1 skimming the juice, but there are better
ways than this, although it may bo that
, those who make the sirup only lor home
! use will consider fhe improved methods
as "too troublesome to bother with,” for
there are many men who will take more
pains to *0 the best for strangers, rather
than for those who ought to be the first
objects of their best efforts. “Anything
is good enough for home use.” is their
: motto, when it should he "nothing is too
, good for those who are nearest and
| dearest.” Cloudy sirup, that no stranger
would buy because of its unattractive
looks, can hardly he more attractive to
lone's family, especially as when so much
impurity Is left in the sirup, it is liable
1 to ferment. It is a good old saying that
“whatever Ms worth the doing is worth
the doing well.”
It will be impossible in the space of
CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE. i
Uhe Btisy World
Interest in tho Far Eastern situation
now revolves arounrj the rumors exten
sively circulated to the effect that Russ'n
has decided to surrender Port Arthur to
the Japanese. Reports substantially
state that the czar sees the futility of
attempting to hold the beleaguered
stronghold, knowing that protracted ef
fort in this direction merely means
sacrificing an enormous number of men
and spending a small fortune in arms
and ammunition. The argument is furth
er advanced that there will he less dam
age to the prestige of Russian arms in
an action of this nature than an outright
defeat. The plan, as tentatively outlined,
contemplates surrendering the fortress;
acid all appurtenances, the troops and
officers, however, being allowed to re
treat honorably, with no clause relating
to parole. If such an arrangement js
effected, it is presumed that the soldiers
thus relieved will he uspd in supporting
Kuropatkln’s army, which now stands so
badly in need of reinforcements.
Another interesting rumor is one which
claims that the czar and his counselors,
despairing of an early successful issue
to the war, and seeing only further
disaster ahead for both navy and army,
contemplates making peace, advances to
lapan through a third friendly power. If
an understanding can be reached with
out serious loss of dignity and without
seriously sacrificing the point? for which
Russia has all along contended, an en
tente may he reached. All is uncertainty
in this direction, however, since Japan”
will probably hold out. stubbornly for all
tlie concessions which were denied her
ten years ago as well as those involved
directly in the present war. The czar
also realizes that any sudden change of
front, even i:i the face of the existing
unsatisfactory situation, would cause
him much domestic trouble and possibly
seriously affect, international relations.
In the absence of actual fighting, both
Russians and Japanese are devoting
themselves toward blackguarding each
other. Reports are given to the press of
Russian atrocities toward captured Jap
anese soldiers, while the Russians re
taliate with harrowing tales of the bar
baric manner in which irresponsible and
ill-oommandered Japanese infantry and
cavalry are harrying Korean villages,
ravaging women and committing other
outrages, backing definite confirmation,
little reliance is placed in these sensa
tional reports, observers generally being
of the opinion that both combatants have
ulterior motive- in setting them on foot.
It is said that dissatisfaction and open
criticism of the authorities is. rife m
Russia, while Japan still offers solid and
uncarping support to the administration
of the war.
EAR ADMIRAL AL
BERT SMITH BAR
KER. who, with his
-taff, was shown dis
tinguished honors at
Lisbon, is a veteran
of two wars. He
served with distinc
tion in the rebellion,
being present at the
capture of the New
Orleans forts and at
the siege of Port
Hudson, in the Span-
Jldmi-at Barhpr ish war he first serv-
! ed on the strategy board, next was as
signed to the protected cruiser Newark,
later commanded the Oregon, and relieved
j Dewey at Manila bay as commander in
: chief in 1899. Admiral Barker was born
In Massachusetts, and was graduated
from the naval academy in 1861. He
was made a captain in 1892, and was
promoted to liis present position in 1899.
He has been commander of the navy yard
at Norfolk and also at New York, and
it* now chief of the Atlantic squadron.
OHX SHARP WIL
LI A MB, who was
chosen temporary
chairman of the dem_
ocratic national con
vention, is the demo
cratic leader in con
gress. He is now
serving his sixth
term in the house
from the eighth Mis
sissippi district and
is an eloquent speak
er and a keen debat-
J S William* er. Mr. Williams
was born at Memphis, Tenn., July 30,
1854. and after the battle of Shiloh, where
his father, a confederate vaptain, was
killed, the family moved to Yazoo City.
Miss, Young Williams was educated jn
the Kentucky Military institute, the Uni
versity nf the South, the University of
Virginia, and at Heidelberg, Germany, and
filter studying law was admitted to the
bar in 1877. He also has extensive In
terests as a cotton planter. He was a
delegate to the convention that nominated
Cleveland and Stevenson, and favors
Judge Parker's nomination.
TT.AS C. SWALLOW,
who was nominated
r or president by the
prohibitionists, is a
noted advocate of
lotal abstinence from
strong drink. He.is
editor of The Penn
sylvania Methodist
and also superin
tendent of the Meth
odist book rooms at
Harrisburg, Pa. Dr.
Swallow was born at
s c j wallow Plains, Pa., March 5.
1839, and was educated at Wyoming sem
inary, being made a D.D. a few years
later by Taylor university of Fort Wayne,
Ind. In 1897 he created a great sensa
tion by an expose of Pennsylvania poll-
ticians, was indicted for libel, but was
acquitted. The same year Dr. Swallow
ran for state treasurer on tLe prohibition
ticket, receiving 118.000 votes. He ran
for governor the following year, receiv
ing another large vote, and again was a
candidate for the same office in 1902
Four years ago. at the Chicago conven
tion, he was a candidate for the presi
dential nomination, but was defeated by
John G. Woolley. Dr. Swallow's home
lo in Harrisburg.
OUR OWN LANGUAGE.
(From Vogue.)
A newspaper scribe has been drawing
attention to the nouns of multitude in
the English language and to their con
fusing effect upon foreigners. A small
boy having erroneously referred to a
“flock " of tigers, tne critic asks why
should it be considered incorrect to
sneak of a flock in connection with
tigers? Why should we say any of the
following: A host of angels, a shoal of
porpoises, a herd of buffaloes, a troop
of soldiers, a covey of partridges, a
galaxy of beauties, a gang of ruffians^
a heap of rubbish, a drove of oxen, a
school of whales, a congregation of wor
shippers, a corps of engineers, a bamd
of robbers, a swarm of locusts or 1
crowd of people? "A foreigner having
referred to a number of vessels as a
flock of ships was informed by The
Philadelphia Press that a flock of ships
was called a fleet; a flock of girls is
called a bevy; a flock of wolves is cailed
a pack and a pack of thieves a gang.
Probably few natives ever reflect upon
bow maddening English is in many re
spects to the foreigner who undertakes
to acquire conversational use of it. Such
a paragraph as this helps him to realize
the alien's linguistic woeg.
