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IjCTIMS OF VODKA.
the Russian Peasants
t ,
s ui Drink.
are Slaves to
at an American Correspond¬
ent Saw in Russia.
'ndcubtedlf the lower strata of the
population are the drunkenest
• an
under the sun, Looking back
le the thought occurs
road, as in letter
savs Thomas Stevens a
Russia to the New York World,
no village, save Yolosovo,
yhich drunken people were not
uch in evidence. At every
, m stayed
ci de traklir where we over
the fore part of the night would
t pandemonium,
less of a
t hc shouting and singing of roys-
u filled with
ig moujik 8 (peasants)
(an alcoholic beverage made out
] have seen gangs of gray¬
re< see-sawing, flinging
ed old men,
arm8 about and making fools of
r the sight of
pelves generally in
[■hole [.elves village, yet not attracting to
so much as the curious or
Uchful gaze of a single woman.
L Sunday all the men seemed to
[inking L and carousing little and circles all the in
we.e silting in
[ of the houses gossiping, The
i 3 seemed (o be absolutely ob-
i = of (he proceedings or even the
mcc of the other. The drunken-
was sad enough, but the indiffer-
lof the women to it was the sad-
bf all.
hietimes, but not often, were
ten women. Near one village we
L crowd of drunken men and
ten, as merry and picturesque a
If subjects as Bacchus himself
I wish.
ad in hand they reeled along and
now and then they stopped to
[ and to express their joy in wild
ter. They halted and sung for
(nelodious bacchanalian song,well
a listening to, as we rode past.
icn were in red shirts, black vel-
reusers and top boots. Thc
n were in aii the colors of thc
ow, with red well in the ascend-
Arri ring at the little old di-
ited inn by tiie wayside the
'-makers, one and all, removed
caps and crossed themselves dc-
r, then proceeding on their way
f up another bacchanalian re-
we reached the groggery. It
cheap io; house, roofed with
with a little porch at thc door,
perch stood an oid moujik
gallon demijohn of vodka, from
he U:l ' ‘filing glasses holding
third of a pint. He seemed
the crowd. One of
portions costs 15 copecks, or
pight cents. The best vodka is
[ r0B1 rye, the worst from pota-
A moujik can get howling
|for 15 cents.
, andliolj days the
vodka
the l )oint ot lll ° maI °
la °'’ ma ' * ,e
• n> nakedness, his house
1 ni S about his head, his
m 'f he upon the verge of star-
F;;t the improvident moujik
mi: his last kopeck for the
''ii runs in debt, He pledges
win" < r °ps, his horse, his only
his labor in advance at a
discount. He becomes insol-
IS unable to pay his share of
s taxes.
1 ,l1 " 111 >' informant said. the
alCllt :iad been inclined to deal
y w ‘ ; li him. \ u,ia b^ e to P a .'
et i, uxes VPC d was because he had
,
v °dka, aud had theieby paid
era! times over, ho reasoned
ai government that had de*v-
1 from serfdom, a weakling
['' d and borne with patiently.
P l boi-ne with him for twenty-
n ; lvoril, g between the duty
f 11 " lliru Die lesson of a little
hard experience and a
Ke to 1 esort to extremes. Be-
"i ll the present how-
■aonjik year,
who fails to pay his
to be flogged. From
1 twenty
fi es may be administered.
0 °f five kopeck goes with
oke.
A r f rr *‘ct Statistician,
statistician claims that
■
gets shorter every
Nead Hght. I had $10,000
[ Now a
p ve only got $5000.” j
Fogs in Newfoundland.
There is one subject upon which
find bt. Johns people to be touchy—
fogs As everybody knows, the Arc¬
tic current sweeps through the Atlan¬
tic from the Pole directly past the east
coast of Newfoundland, and that its
chilly waters, meeting those of the
warm Gulf Stream, cause the frequent
fogs which prevail for many miles at
sea off Newfoundland. Some parts of
the coast are never free from these sea
clouds, and many a poor fisherman in
his dory has been separated from his
companions and lost in the heavy fogs
which hang over that great submerged
island know'll as the Grand Banks, the
home of the cod and the great fishing
grounds of the world.
Whether or not it's because the fo<>--
gier the weather, the better the fishing
—and everybody in St. Johns is in-
terested in the fisheries—I don’t pre¬
tend to know, but it is certain that
the good citizens of St. Johns will
never admit that it is foggy in the
city. A fellow passenger on the
steamer, Mr. Bowers—a truth-loving
Newfoundlander—assured me that I
would observe as a striking meteoro¬
logical phenomenon when I reached
St. Johns that a dense fog frequently
hung over the ocean and around the
clifts at the entrance to the harbor, but
never—uo, never—did the fog reach
the city. “It is most remarkable, sir,”
lie said.
And so it would have been. But,
alas! when I stumbled against my
friend Bow'ers on Water street in a
fog so thick you could cut it he assured
me that it was not a genuine sea fog,
but only a slight mist. —[New York
Herald.
Literal Obedience.
An old English gentleman who had
risen from the ranks, and, after mak¬
ing his fortune as a charter-master,
had retired, fell ill, and summoned a
doctor. The doctor was a great imi¬
tator of Abernethy, and cultivated an
aspect of uncouth honesty.
“I shall give no medicine,” lie said,
<‘You’re blowing yourself out with
beer; give it up. Drink port. Walk
or ride, but don’t hang about the
house iu this idle way. No more beer
—drink port. I'll call again in a
month.” And away went thc doctor.
At the appointed time he returned.
The patient w'as much better and grate¬
ful, but grumbled at the expense to
which his cure had put him.
“I eawn't stand it. Look thee—it’s
downright rewination—nothin’ less.
Yo’n find me in the workhouse if
tilings go on i’ this way.”
The doctor cried,—
“Nonsense! A wealthy man like
you? How much do you drink?”
The old man answered, iu perfect
simplicity of heart:
“About the saatn as I used to drink
o' beer—two or three gallin a day.”
The Rose Bath.
The rose bath is a luxury far off, de.
eirable but unattainable, so says the
practical mind, but not so. The lux-
Ul y of the ancients can he obtained by
nineteenth century maiden at a
cos t secont | t 0 nothing. The bath of
roses can be made as follows: The
warm water, in quantity amounting to
the usual requirement of the bath, is
p u . gt so ftened by stirring into the tub
finely sifted oatmeal, into which also
is added half a pint of glycerine; lastly
put into it two drops of attar of roses.
If the massage treatment be available,
use it by all means; if not, let a coarse
towel and hard rubbing serve the pur¬
pose of the massage system. This
bath is simply fine, as it softens the
skin and blends perfume into each
lj ne 0 f tiie body. After all, to ob-
tain it is a simple thing, too. the two
drops of the attar of roses being the
greatest expense of all. — [St. Louis
Post-Dispatch.
Concerninr the Wind’s Variations.
A series of observations for a hun¬
dred consecutive days has been made
at the top of the Eiffel Tower on the
velocity of the wind. Speaking gen-
crally, the velocity at that elevation
was three times in the average greater
than nearer the ground. Much of the
diminution of force aud speed is no
doubt due to the check given bv
houses and other objects near the sur¬
face of the earth. The observations
present many curious details as to the
variations at various times of the day
and night, due u* changes of tempera-
ture.
FOlt FARM AND GARDEN.
WAHTS OX A COW'S TEATS.
Warts on a cow’s teats are rather
difficult to remove while the cow is
giving milk without producing sores,
owing to the constant hritation caused
by milking. If the warts are not so
large as to interfere with milking let
them remain until the cow is dry, then
remove by burning with lunar caustic
or tying a thread about the neck of
each wart, which in a few days will
kill the wart and it will drop ofl’.
Small warts will sometimes disappear
if smeared daily with salt lard.—[New
York Sun.
OW TO PRODUCE GOOD VEAL.
If milk only is fed to calves, the
veal will present a white, desirable
color. Beaten eggs, to finish off with,
may be mixed in warm milk. From
four to six eggs night and morning
should be fed for a week or ten clays.
This improves the quality and solidity
of veal. Two months is the best age
for veal, and less than six weeks old
veal is not good. Calves two months
old, fed as indicated, on milk, make
large, white veal, and the meat is not
laxative. When the vessels of the eye
are of a light rose color in veal calves,
the meat will be while. But when
red, the veal will be red, and the fat
tinged and unsightly. Veal too young
is soft and sticky to handle.—[Ameri¬
can
MASHES FOR HORSES AX1) CATTLE.
Mashes are useful feeding for deli¬
cate or sick horses or cattle, but the
universal rule is to make them small
and feed sparingly. In fact, in feed¬
ing all animals, overfeeding is to be
avoided. When an animal does not
eat up the feed clean, that remaining
in the feed trough should be removed
and given to animals which clean out
the manger. It is bad practice to
place such rejected food in the next
meal, as delicate feeders are like over¬
fed children—wasteful and capricious.
Bran mash: Put two quarts of
good, sweet bran into a pail and pom-
boiling water over it, mix thoroughly
with a clean stick or iron spoon, auu
let stand until cool. Bread mash:
Break up a loaf of bread and soak it
in fresh milk, and add a little salt.
This is a nourishing feed for weak
and delicate animals. Linseed mush:
Boil half a pound of whole flaxseed in
two quarts of water until it is reduced
to about three pints, and while hot
pour over a quart of bran, mix and
feed when cold. Alan is the only ani¬
mal that takes kindly to hot feed and
drinks.—[Boston Cultivator.
J
RAISING POTATO SEED.
Potato flowers are very abundant,
but not so much can be said of the
fruit. Some varieties are much more
apt to produce tke fruit usually cal ed
“balls” than others. Two years ago
we made some extended observations
upon tiie fruiting tendency of several
kinds of potatoes, and it was found
that in those varieties producing little
or no seed that there was a lack of pol¬
len in the stamens. For the prod no-
tion of seed, at least two parts of a
flower are required to be in a healthy
condition.
First, there needs to be a vigorous
seed-vessel bearing good sound young
seeds (ovules) and substantial stamens
producing the pollen or flower dust, as
it is sometimes called. In the majori-
tv of potato flowers there is a, so to
speak, “fatty degeneration,” to use a
stock-breeding phrase, of thc stamens,
ami the pollen is abortive, and conse-
quentlv tho pistils which seem healthy
are unable to produce seed.
This conditiion of tilings may be a
result of the continued practice of
propagating the potato from year to
year by means of the tubers, and not
relying upon the seed as a means of
continuing the species. New' sorts
originate by sowing the seeds, and
therefore those who wish to produce
crosses between the best varieties, to
combine their good qualities should
bear in mind that good pollen is one
of the essentials, and should be gov¬
erned in their selections accordingly.
— [American Agriculturist.
POULTRY PICKINGS.
Grapevines planted in the chicken
runs and trained to the fence afford
shade to poultry; and also fruit to the
farmer in autumn. The vine3 should
be trained high up.
In warm weather whitewash ami
%arbolic acid should be applied freely
to the interior ot all hen houses as
well as nests and roosts. We usually
whiten up everything about the poul¬
try quarters every three weeks the
year round. A white building is
more attractive than a dingy one.
The fowls like it, and this alone is a
good reason for keeping it so.
Eggs should be gathered daily aud
stored in a dry place, not a cellar.
Fifty degrees is a safe temperatue.
Eggs intended for hatching should be
gently turned once a day. Egg cases
holding two or more dozen are conven¬
ient for this purpose. It repays the
farmer to properly care for the eggs
and not permit them to remain longer
than a day in the nest.
Never use ashes or lime to mix with
hen manure. If cither is used, away
goes the ammonia, which is the most
valuable part of thc manure. Every
morning with a shovel and scraper the
floor of the hen house should be
thoroughly scraped and the accumula¬
tion placed in barrels in a dry shed
close at hand. When enough has been
stored it may be used in a semi-liquid
form about the strawberry vines, cur¬
rant and raspberry bushes and other
fruit and vegetable plants. It wfill pay
to look after the manure and not throw
it unmindful of its value.
There are people who make poultry
pay largely and others who do not.
Experience has taught that there is no
legitimate business which pays better,
but it must be conducted with care
and skill. The lack of these is why
nine-tenths of our farmers do not
make it a success. A farmer who
keeps a struct ledger account of all the
returns and expenditures from his
poultry is an exception. Alany keep
no account at all. Such are the ones
who cry “poultry don’t pay.” Lack
of experience, patience, system and
understanding of ;lic amount of work
connected with poultry raising tell the
reason of their failure. Is it not true?
The Cochin is short-legged, flat-bod¬
ied and heavily feathered. The Lang-
shan, so often mistaken by inexpe¬
rienced persons for Cochins, is long,
feather-legged, possessing an erect
carriage. In othor points the greatest
difference is noticeable. TVe Cochin
is sluggish in action and spirit, the
Langshan active and nervous. The
Cochin has coarse yellow flesh, the
Langshan pure creamy white and
abundance of it. Taking a comparison
of the two breeds we would consider
the Cochin more of a fancy or orna¬
mental variety, the Langshan is in
every way useful. 1 admire the
Cochin fowl, yet my preference for
utility is with the Langshan. For
those who have never kept Langshans
and wish to add a useful breed I ean
recommend them.—[.American .Agri¬
culturist.
FARM AND GARDEN NOTES.
“Go for” all sheep-killing canines.
Ensilage is increasing in popularity.
Keep working off the poor animals.
The potato sorter is a clever device.
Harvest gxnl crops and good deeds.
A good season for the industrious
bee.
Good bead work saves much band
work.
Turkey hens attain maturity earlier
than the gobblers.
The chickens that eat the most grit
are in thc best eouditiou.
Wheat bran is one of the most val¬
uable ingredients in egg food.
Young chicks area benefit to the
garden, but keep ouithe old ones,
Teach the dog not to frighten the
chickens and they will soon learn not
to care for him.
The best results will be secured by
keeping the young poultry as dry as
’
poS3ible unti i they are feathered.
If you have any old hens to sell this
season the probabilities are you will
realize as much for them just now as
at any time
Young fowls need plenty of water
to drink, but should not have more
than this. Ducks and geese are no
exceptions.
Systematic work means regularity
and carefulness. Everything come*
in the regular order. There should be
a time for each branch of labor.
If you have auv old straw stacks
which you do not need for bedding.
either use them for mulching the land
or get them into the manure pile a?
soon as possible.
SCIENTIFIC SCRAPS.
*
Electric cabs have been successf ully
introduced in Germany.
In some portions of the world, at
the time of full moon, there is said to
be a tendency toward a diminution of
clouds.
Experiments made in Austria show
that the addition of soda to Portland
cement enables it to withstand the ac¬
tion of frost.
The great progress made of lato
years in veterinary surgery is shown
by the fact that the mortality is but a
trifle over one per cent.
Uranium is now classed among the
rare metals. On account of its elec¬
trical resistance it is peculiarly adapt¬
ed for use in electrical insulation.
The electric spark lias been photo¬
graphed by means of a specially-con¬
structed camera in wfinch the sensitive
plate rotated 2500 times a minute.
Trees do not suffer from electric
lights, as has been supposed. Dr.
Siemens is said to have proved by ex¬
periment that the ciectric light aids
vegetation.
An officer in the English navy liaa
designed a flash signal lantern by
means of which the Morse code ean be
used more quickly than by any other
means now in use.
Captain Williams, of Jeffersonville,
Penn., twenty years blind, is recover¬
ing his sight. He thinks the glare in
his room of an electric light has some¬
thing to do with his recovery.
An English Jadv, Mrs. Watts
Hughes, stretclio, a membrane over a
receiver, spreads on it a sort of paste,
and makes musical sounds write their
vibrations on this prepared surface.
The greatest marvel in telegraphy is
said to be the synchronous multiplex,
an instrument by means of which six
messages can be transmitted upon one
wire, either all from one station or in
opposite directions.
The size of battle ships has greatly
increased in lecciff years, the comple¬
ment of men lias decreased and the
total number of !l as ®!*o de-^
cieased, but the broadside weight of
metal lias immensely increased.
Eels contain as much poison as
vipers—according to one studious
Italian scientist. After careful inves¬
tigation, lie finds that an eel weighing
four pounds possesses enough venom
to kill ten men. When the fish is
cooked, however, the poison loses its
power.
At the last conversazione of the
Royal Society, London, England, a
new brontometer was exhibited which
will, on one slip of paper, note the be¬
ginning, variati’u in intensity and
termination of rain and bail, the in¬
stant of each lightning flash, and the
beginning and duration of a thunder
clap.
A Scotch writer says that lie lias
sprinkled wasps and bees with rose-
colored powder and has found that
thus handicapped they could with ease
keep up with the fastest trains. Thoy
were not carried along by the rush of
air caused by the train, but won Id en¬
ter and leave the cars by the windows,
sometimes disappearing for a minu**>
or more ami then returning.
An oculist in Breslau, Germany, has
recently treated 500 cases of defective
eyesight, for which the cause was not
apparent. It rose as suddenly as an
epidemic, and w r as confined to men en¬
tirely. At last lie found the reason for
it in a new fashion of very tight shirt
collars. He made the young men un¬
button their collars, and their eyes got
well.
The function of the lightning-rod is
generally misunderstood; its purpose is
not to receive and carry oft' the shock
of a lightning-flash but to prevent that
flash. The flash is an effort to restore
the equilibrium between the positive
and negative electricity of the ground
and tiie clouds respectively. The rod
promotes a silent and gradual flow of
electricity and tends to maintain the
balance.
To Remove a Cinder From the Eye.
The traveling public may be inter¬
ested in knowing that the proper way
to remove a cinder from the eye is to
rub the other eye. Rubbing the af¬
fected eye only inflames it and very
rarely removes the offending cinder.
This statement is vouched for by med¬
ical authority, and one trial will con¬
vince the most sceptical. — [New' York
World.