•m ON HIRTY years ago this spring my wise father built a flat-bottomed sloop, 45 feet long ou the keel and 17 feet wide, with an enclosed cabin that has square windows instead of portholes, and a head room of six feet all over This c&bic is 21 feet Ions, and consists of one large room with four wide berths, and a toi let room and a kitchen on either side of ihe ceDterboard, at the forward end. Father named the boat Macy, after an old friend, and has had her con tinuoutfly in commission since she was launched; and Andrew Sammis, her flrst captain, is still in charge--a bit gray now, but still the same careful and trustworthy skipper as of yore. With the opening of the ducking sea son in October she goes into what we call winter commission, and when the end of the season comes around she is hauled out, thoroughly overhauled and prepared for the summer work. A few years ago we built ah overhang ing stern on her and installed a gaso line engine, so that we are no longer the slaves of the wind god. The • Macy s Baby," as the stoolboat that carries the battery is called, is al ways at her stern, and this, with the addition of two skiffs and one or more dinkies for use in the ice, makes quite a formidable tow for the old boat. When we have more than a day or two to spend in the quest lor the wily duck, we send the Macy out early to get a good place, and have a cat- boat meet us at the dock to sail over to her. Generally we catch a train that arrives at Babylon at half-past three o'clock, and we reach the dock ten minutes afterwards. Lay aside for a few moments your (IKIAF SOUIH BAY ay EDWIN MAIN POST >py»)4Ktr av AM0 jrvfMTJM* awsttWfcr";*• "fffTim our i ntm mr ry* v* mms 4 <-KX^ T/ffH THF DCCOVj m troubles and worries, and come with us down to kill some brant. It 1B half-past one o'clock, and 1 look up from my desk and see my father's smil ing face mb he says: "Come, Buster, it is time to start." In a moment I have put on my co&t and hat, and we are on our way to the Wall street entrance of the subway, as happy as ever two schoolboys starting on a holiday were. We meet you on the platform, and I relieve you of your bag or gun as we board a Brooklyn train. We change at Atlantic avenue to the Long iBland train, and soon are at Jamaica, where we change once more to the local steam train and while away the next hour in swapping stories. The train stops at Babylon, and we pile out on the platform and into the dilapidated hack that takes UB down to the dock. As it is early in the season and the days have not yet shortened enough to make it Impossible for us to reach our destination before dark, the Macy is awaiting us, anchored just off the dock, and we see our good George coming off in the little skiff to speed ily set us on board. As ycu bc«d the okiu juu wiii not have to ask George, "Are there any birds?" for he will say: "Brant? Why, there's 5,000,000 of the cusses in Cedar Island cove. We'll have some o' them crit ters, and don't you forget it." Captain Andrew greets us with a cheery "Good day, gentlemen," as we reach his side, and you enter the cabin to find upon the table a pleasant welcome in the shape of a generous drink for each of us. My father's hearty toast, "Glad to see you on board, sir," makes you feel at home at once. We promptly lay aside our "store clothes" and don our old shooting things, as the men get the anchor up and hoist the sail, and are soon in the cockpit enjoying the fresh air. Our progress is Blow and stately, due to the flotilla behind us, but we have only about four miles to go. Notice now the third member of our crew, a big, tall, fair-haired man with a smile that never comes off. This is Ansel, a newcomer to the Macy in comparison with the skipper, for Ansel has been with us only 20 years. He is a very important personage, for he is the engineer, chef, mate, gen eral utility man and fun-maker for us all. Hark! Thire is his voice now calling us to dinner. You sit down before a smoking leg of lamb and dishes of vegetables, with an appetite to which you have been a stranger for a long time, and eat and eat of the good things before you until you are astonished at yourself. Topping off with some of the chefs famous pudding, andt helping yourself to a good cigar from the boi; on the centerboard trunk, you are content. 1 take the wheel to let the men go below to eat the!? dinner, and by the time they have finished we arrive at the place where we will test out the battery in the morning. At ten o'clock we turn into our berths ready for an early call to breakfast. At four o'clock we are called, and by the time we are dressed the break fast is piping hot on the table. We hurry through our meal to let the men eat theirs, a»d' while they are fixing out the battery and stool, .we take a bit of a nap. .The skipper calls us when he sees the men Have the stool nearly all out, and you and I put #n our sweaters and a dark coat, take our guns ~i!hd shells, and get into the skiff, to be rowed to the battery. The battery, or "box," as it is more often termed, is set pretty well to the windward of the bulk of the decoys, with just enough of them around it to hide it from birds coming down on the head; and in getting in we pick our way carefully through the decoys and Btep from the skiff well over to ward the center, so as not to get any water in the boxes. On the deck of the box we have 12 iron decoys that are cut off on the bottom, so as to loom up higher than those on the water, and these we distribute around, heads to the wind, to make the box lay level. We each have a rub ber cloth and an old sweater to lie on, and a cloth-covered rubber pillow for our heads. Ad justing these comfortably, we load our guns, cock theq^ and place them against the Bide on our right hand, taking care to keep at least two inches of the barrels over the end of the box, so that in case of an accidental discharge there will be nc^hole blown in the box. Long experience in battery shooting has taught me that the long er the barrels of a gun are, the safer it is, and I heartily recommend 32 inch barrels.1* Being all ready to lie down, with only our eyes above the level of the water, and await the com ing of our quarry. Two men with sharp eyes can keep a pretty thorough watch, except just be hind them, and birdB coming from that quarter generally swing off to one side or the other of (he stool so that they can set their wings and light among the decoys headed up to the wind. You, as the guest of honor, are in the left-hand box, and just as the sun is rising I see a bunch of brant coming in over the beach from the ocean where they have been roosting. If they are headed in our direction, and 1 think they will pasB near enough to see our stool, we lie very close, and occasionally I call them; but the moment they see the stool--and you can always tells this, because they give a sort of dart up in the air and, if they are coming in, settle down again headed toward us--I make no further calls, but say to you: "They are coming in on your side. Lie perfectly still until 1 say 'Now!' and then give it to them." It is one of the most Inspiring sights in the world to see a bunch of these lordly birds head ed for the stool, and a great many people are deceived as to the distance they are off, on ac count of their great size--often losing a chance by raising too quickly. I watch them with one eye above the edge of the box as they set their wings and come gracefully to the stool, and when they are in good range, I say: "Now! Let's try 'em!" and we sit up with our guns in our hands and fire. As they are on your side and headed up to windward, you will get the best show, because I must shoot at the tall of the bunch and will not have as good a chance to catch a double as you. You can count on my killing right and left however, and as my second bird starts to fall, I see you have three down, "Well done, my. friend. We are not going to be skunked to-day. There are Ave of them, any way." We both reload our guns, and I take my «ap In my hand and swing it until I see an answering This means that they are to come down in the skiff ^nd pick up our game. There are three things of great im portance in battery shooting; the first 1B to be able to kill when the bird is in range, the second to be able to call, and the third to know how to use the "flopper." Naturally the query rises to your lips, "What is a flopper?" It is a bundle of worn-out mittens, tied together with a bit of string, that I keep in my hand as we lie in wait for the game, and it is used to attract the attention of birds that are passing too far away to see the stool. As I am about to explain the use of the queer contrivance, I see a bunch of brant leading through the bay to the north of us, about a mile away. If they keep their present course they will pass us without seeing our stool. Something must be done to at tract their atten tion. Quickly I flop the flopper up above the level of the box two or three times, carefully watching for any sign that the birds have no ticed something. If there is no such sign, I flop again. Ah, this time they have seen it, for they rise in the air and head toward us. Now we He close, and they come straight for our stool. If I were to flop even once after they have seen the stool, they would be off like a shot and it is Just here that the science of using the flop per means so much. This time they head up on my side, and, when I give the word, we flre, you to kill two, while I am lucky enough to double with each barrel. When George arrives with the skiff and we tell him 11 are down, he smiles all over. I call to George to bring father down when he comes out to pick up again, for your day would not be complete without an hour or two In the box with that peerless Sportsman, who is today, at the age of 77, one of the best shots I have ever Been. We kill again, and George comes down with fa ther. As I get into the boat, father steps into the box with agility equal to mine, and I leave you to an enjoyment that has been the dearest privilege of my life. We have scarcely reached the Macy when you swing again, and I lake up the glasses to watch with interest your good work. As noontime comes we get the Macy underway and drop down to the box, to reward you with a cocktail when you come aboard, and have all ready a smoking lunch of Ansel's best. After lunch we take turns in the battery, and, when the time comes to take up, we count a row of brant along the washer and find 35. We return to Babylon in ample time for you to catch your train, and we do not let you go until you promise to come again. signal from the Macy. TO DRAW AND HOLD TRADE "Most of us," said Mr. Shovelton, "are looking oat for ourselves; I think we'll all admit that. The trouble with most of us is that we don't do this intelligently; we are always thinking of ourselves and our own Interest only; and that's where we slip a cog. Let me illustrate: "I buy fruit to carry home; I've done that for--- well, a good many years, and for a long time I bought around in various places. Then one day some years ago 1 stopped at a store where I liked the looks of the fruit and where as I noticed a mo ment later, the paper bags were a little heavier than those I had been accustomed to find. "And when this dealer had put the fruit in one of these bags he didn't simply twist the neck of it and hand it pver to me so In a form inconvenient to carry. He folded the top of the bag over and rolled it down to form a handle--a grip piece; and then he tied this bundle around securely with twine, thus making it up altogether into a bundle that was secure and handy to carry. "Of course I liked all that, and I found that he always did up his packages so or putting on some times a wood and wire handle; but always he made the package secure and handy for me. He had some thought for me, and I've been buying of him ever since; and if he should move I'd follow him. I would go out of my way to trade with him. "The moral is this: Any small storekeeper, If his goods are right, can build up a trade and hold It and increase it if he has the Intelligence and the human quality that prompts him faithfully to con sider not himself alone but as well the wants and interest* of his customers." STATE NEWS '*> "y V • Pills Royal Visit a Nuisance Emperor Excessively Polite find Caused Embarrassment to All the Other Quests. The more sovereigns I saw, the nore I became convinced that they liave no inkling of the inconvenience embarrassment they stir up. FYom the cradle up they hear so much of the bliss they shower on those who receive them that they do not in the least imagine what a nuisance their visits are. The emperor arrived at four o'clock- He was young and handsome; but, al though he had a very good figure, he seemed to me elegantly turned rather than nobly and imposingly. His man ner lacked the sort of ease which one expected. He appeared to beacon- strained; his excessive politeness had something commonplace about it; and everything, to the starchlneSs of the tightest iff uniforms, lent him the itlr of a charming officer much more than that of a young ruler. A place had been laid in solitude at the head of the table. The emperor seemed put out about it, and pushed his armchair close to my seat He ate little and talked a great deal. A{ter passing into the drawing room he remained there two good hours, standing up the whole time. It was asserted his clothes were so tight that any other attitude was uncom fortable.--Prom the Memoirs of th< Countess Polocka. Will Remove Smoke Stains. Two pounds of powdered pumice, a gallon of soft soap and a pint ol liquid ammonia make a paste that will remove smoke stains from brick work. Ready for a Bargain. Pat (reading sign, "Umbrellas 76 cents up")--What will yes charge me for one of thim closed?--Judge's U brary. Ed wards vllle.--jphe jail at Edward*- ville is placarded, "Smallpox Here." A large yellow sign appearing on the large gate at the main entrance. Wil liam Clark, a white man arrested about a month ago, on a dharge of dis turbing the peace, is the victim of the disease. - Kewanee. -- Canadian reciprocity was Indorsed at a meeting of the Henry County Swedish-American Re publican league and condemnation of corruption in the last Illinois legisla ture was voiced in resolutions. Canton.--Joseph Drobney, an Aus trian, Bhot and mortally wounded Mi chael Smarzik, another Austrian, at Gilchrist. Smarzik was brought to the hospital and Drobney to the Can ton jail. Aurora.--Patriotism • in the hearts of the West Aurora seniors reached such a high point that they refused to at tend school on the anniversary of George Washington's birthday and marched through the streets in a body proclaiming their love for the flrst president. Alton.--Manager W. H. Sauvage has drawn up an agreement between himself and William Calvey, an Alton barber, in which Calvey agrees for the sum of ten dollars to shave the keep er of the lions in the cage on the stage at Temple theater with lions and othei? savage beasts standing around him. Monmouth.--As a result of a fresh man banquet held in defiance of the warning by President McMichael, Monmouth college is minus 65 mem bers of the freshman class. Alton.--Lieut. J. B. Maxfield of the Alton division of the Illinois Naval Keserves was notified his division would be allowed to make a selection of one of four torpedo boats which the United States navy will send to Illinois for use by the reserves. It is probably the Gwin will be chosen. Qutncy.--Henry Voglsang, a team ster in the employ of Frederick Cord- siemon, and a resident of the South side, was very badly injnred at Gard ner park when the handle of a scraper flew up and hit him in the face. The right eye was practically torn from the socket and the flesh cut and broken in a fearful manner. Galesburg.--George Hast, who at tempted suicide on a passenger train at Rio, died. Cairo.--Mrs. Elizabeth Tegetoof, Bixty-flve years old, living near Bard- well, Ky., was killed by an Illinois Central passenger train. Monmouth.--As a result of a fresh man banquet held In defiance of a warning by President McMichael and a class fight, 65 members of the freshman class at Monmouth college have been suspended. The total loss of students in two days' controversy is more than 100. The freshmen quar tered at the Colonial hotel succeeded in enjoying a hastily prepared ban quet after a fierce battle with the sophomores, in which lights were ex tinguished and chemicals hurled In all directions. A number were in jured. A freshman named Cleland was found suffering intense agony from the effects of acid thrown in his eyes. Springfield. -- Representative Ed ward D. Shurtleff sent into the house a resolution from the Illinois Milk Producers' association protesting against the Canadian reciprocity treaty. It went into committee. A resolution asking a vote of the people on an amendment to provide for initi ative and referendum was sent intc the senate by Minority Leader Bur ton, and in the house by Representa tive Tice, who presided in place of Speaker Adklns. An effort to force an adjournment of both houses on April 27 waq made by Senator Clark, who sent in a joint resolution. Bloomington. -- Work upon the proposed extension of the Illinois Traction System line from Grundy county to Jollet will commence as soon as the right of way is secured The Fisher syndicate commenced this work, but recently sold out to the McKlnley interests .and the latter will rush the work of construction. Carml. -- Joseph Owens, twenty years old, son of a wealthy farmer, was accidentally killed while hunting ducks on the WabaBh river. Bloomington. -- An extraordinary damage case has been filed in the Douglas county circuit court, Wal ter Ellis suing Miss Mary Davis be cause she shot him. He asks $10,000 damages. According to the story told by the complainant, he called upon the woman, and, after a quarrel, she drew a revolver and shot him. The bullet lodged in his side and he has been in a serious condition since. Jollet--Some young woman, whose name was not learned, saved Richard Bennett from injury and possibly death when she stopped Chief Lang- don and his driver as they were re sponding to a fire alarm and told them that a man was lying in the roadway beneath the railroad viaduct at Clin ton street. Ottawa.--Concerted- search for the body of Robert Newton, who drowned himself at Ottawa early in the month, has been stopped, though watchers have been placed at points along the river south of Ottawa to see that the body does not float away should It come to the surface. Rldgefarm.--Ridgefarm has a sensa tional whipping aase, which will be aired in the police court. The victim is Miss Agnes Purkhiser, a handsome sixteen-year-old girl, who, is said to have been unmercifully beaten. by Professor Albertson of the high school faculty. Freeport.--One bridge washed away, an engine and a railroad crane carried Into the river, two bridges under wa ter and a workman swept down stream and stranded on an island, represent some of the damage done on the Dodgeville branoh of the Illinois Cen tral north of Freeport, by the raging Pecatonlca. Paris.--That fie would go before the grand jury and make some startling revelations regarding election corrup tion, if the talked-of investigation of voting is brought to issue here, was the sttaement made by Truant 031"or Foeeyh L. Quinn, $3,5(1 REGIPF CURES V WW KIDNEYS, FREE RELIEVES URINARY AND KIDNKY TROUBLES, BACKACHE, 8TRA1N> |NG> 8WELL1NQ, 1TC. / -- •tops Pain In the Bladder, Kidney* and Back. Wouldn't It be nice within a week or so to begin to say goodbye forever to the scalding:, dribbling, straining, or too fre quent passage of urine; the forehead and the back-of-tbe-head aches; the stitches and pains in the back; the growing mus cle weakness; spots before the eyes; yel low skin; sluggish bowels; swollen eye lids or ankles; leg cramps; unnatural short breath; sleeplessness and the de spondency? I have a recipe for these troubles that you can depend on, and if you want to make a QUICK RECOVERY, you ought to write and get a copy of it. Many a doctor would charge you 18.00 just for writing this prescription, but I have It and will be glad to send it to you entire ly free. Just drop me a line like this: Dr. A. E. Robinson, K-250 Luck Building, Detroit, Mich., and I will send it by re turn mall In a plain envelope. As you will see when you get It, this recipe contains only pure, harmless remedies, but it has great healing and pain-conquering power. It will quickly show its power onbe you use it, so I think you had belter see what it 3s without delay. I will send you a copy free--you can use It and cure your self at home. ASTONISHED THE "OLD MAN" His 'Rah-'Rah Son by No Means the "Dude" He Had Hitherto Seemed to Be. The new governor of a western state has two sens. One is big and husky like his father, but the other is more slight; and at times he rather vpt«»s htg father by his affectation of 'rah-'rah-boy clothes and a general air The two sons and the father were of lassitude and dudishness. in the library one night and the name of a prizefight referee came into the conversation. The 'rah-'rah boy had been sitting by, twiddling his thumbs, but his ears pricked up at the man's name and he drawled: "I rather like that chap. He's all right." "What do you know about him?" the other brother asked, rather con temptuously. "Oh, he gave me a shade the best of It one night." "Gave you the best of it?" both father and brother shouted. "Yes; you see I flght under the name of Toung Ryan and he counted pretty slow one time when I was down."--Saturday Evening Post. Ellen Terry's Joke. When Ellen Terry was presented with a Founders' gold medal at the New theater, New York, recently--an honor conferred In recognition of her great services to dramatic art--she was called upon to make a speech of acceptance. It so happened that the actress was exceedingly hoarse and she was therefore forced to cut her remarks Bhort. So she told this story: "A friend-of mine once bought a par rot and gave much money for it with the understanding that it could speak fluently, but when he reached home with it he found to bis • dismay that the bird was dumb. So he took it back. 'This parrot cannot say a word,' be said indignantly to the bird fancier, 'it can't talk at all.' 'Talk!' the deal er exclaimed. 'Come to think of it, I know it can't, but it's a devil to think.' " Denominational Puzzle. The wife of a prominent Unitarian clergyman is still wondering what her cook meant. She was a new cook, and there was every reason to believe she was a good cook. At any rate, she had unquestionably served in good families, and she brought the best of references. Nevertheless, her new mistress did not hesitate to give her a few instructions. "One thing I want you to remem ber, Nellie," said she, "is the way we like our oatmeal. Don't leave it wa tery. But we don't like it hard and dry, either." "Trust me, mum," responded the cook, confidently. "I'll get it right, never fear. I've worked in Unitarian families before." CHILDREN AFFECTED By Mother's Food and Drink. Many babies have been launched into life with constitutions weakened by disease taken in with their moth ers' milk. Mothers cannot be too care ful as to the food they use while nurs ing their babeB. The experience of a Kansas City mother is a case in point: "I was a great coffee drinker from a child, and thought I could not do with out it. But I found at last it was do ing me harm. For years I bad been troubled with dizziness, spots before my eyes and pain In my heart, to which was added, two years later, a chronic sour stomach. "The baby was born 7 months ago, and almost from the beginning, it, too, suffered from sour stomach. She was taking it from me! "In my distress I consulted a friend of more, experience and she told me to quit coffee, that coffee did not make good milk. I have since ascer tained that it really dries up the milk. "So, 1 quit coffee and tried tea and at last cocoa. But they did not agree with me. Then I turned to Postum with the happiest results. It proved to be the very thing I needed. It not only agreed perfectly with baliy md myself, but It Increased the flow of my milk. "My husband then quit coffee and used Postum and quickly got well of the dyspepsia with which he had been troubled. I no longer suffer from the dizziness, blind spells, pain In my heart or sour stomach. "Now we all drink Postum from my husband to my seven months' old baby. It has proved to be the best hot drink we have ever used. We would not give up Postum for the best coffee we ever drank." Name given by Postum Co., Battle Creek, Mich. Get the little book, "The Road to Wellville.'* In pkgs. "There's a Reason." Brer rrad the tbore lettert A Me appear*, from time t» tl«* They •re gcaala*) Use, ul fill •* fciMi tatemt. WANTED TO BE AGREEABLE Parmer's Rather Humorous Explaitii> tlqn for Telling Exceedingly •' * "Tall" Story. ' lT*in« Batcheller one# told a story of * farmer on the Connecticut hills. rettf 8te«P land for planting, isn't it? a visitor asked the tiller of the soil* * steep," the farmer assented. I suppose it's quite difficult to plant your com?" "Quite difficult,** came the echo. The visitor waa Interested, and would not be put off with short re plies. "Eh how do you manage to plant on this hill?" he persisted. The farmer gazed at him pityingly. "We have to shoot it all into the earth with shotguns, stranger," he as sured his guest. The visitor gasped. "Really?" h« ejaculated. "Really now? Is that ac tually true?" The farmer sighed and turned upon his guest a look of withering scorn. "No, that isn't true," he answered. "I'm trying to make conversation." A WOMAN'S KJDNEY3 Are Often Responsible for Untold Suffering. Mrs. August Wittenberg, 1083 Hop kins St., Milwaukee, Wis., says: "Kid ney trcruble came on me almost be fore I was aware of it. There was a constant inclination for the kidneys to act and the secretions were accompanied by burning and scalding. The headaches find giddy feelings that op pressed me were al most unbearable and life soon lost all in terest. Loans Kid ney Pills came to my attention at that critical time and I used them faith fully until entirely cured." Remember the name--Doan's. For sale by all dealers. 50 cents a box. Foster-Milburn Co., Buffalo, N. Y. POINT OF VIEW. The Man--Gee! The water is fine today. The Fish--That's all right, but what I want to know is how's the land? Wifely 8ollcltude. Appealing to the police to find her husband, who went to work and had not returned heme at eight o'clock, but requesting that the officers nei ther arrest nor "talk cross" to him, a woman left a note In the hands of Patrolman Hickerson at Sixth and Ed- mond streets containing information concerning the missing husband. The note in addition to giving a de scription of the missing man read that the wife "was worried nearly sick because it was the first time that he had done this." "I don't want you to arrest him," continued the note. "Tell the policfr to please not talk cross to him."--St. Joseph Gazette. The 6ubtlety of Him. "John, dear," said Mabel, as her lord and master entered the house, "I've Just had a letter from mother, and she is coming to visit us. It is a pret ty expensive trip for little Muddy, and I wondered if we couldn't help her out a little." "Of course we can," said John, giv ing his wife a generous kiss. "Just you write and tell her that I'll be only too glad to pay for her railroad ticket back home again as soon as she de cides to So."--Harper's Weekly. Hit Light. Ella--He says that I am. the light of his life. v Stella--That's gas. Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets regulate and invigorate stomach, liver uid bowels. Sugar-coated, tiny, granules, easy1 to take. Do not gripe. Some men will do anything for the sake of a little newspaper notoriety. BACKACHE Cured by Lydia E Pinknam'* Vegetable Compound Mmioii'ti Gap, Kentucky.--"I suf. two > ears with female disorders, my health was verj bad and I had a continual backache which was simply awful. I could not sitand on my feet long enough to cook a m e a l ' s v i c t u a l s without my back nearly killing me, and I would have such dragging seo- s a t i o n s 1 c o u l d I hardly bear it. I iad soreness in each side, could not stand tight clothing, and was irregular. I was completely run down. On ad- rice I took Lydia E. Pinkham's Vege table Compound and Liver Pills and am enjoying good health. It is now more than two years and I have not had an ache or pain since I do all my own work, washing and everything, and never have the backache any more. I think your medicine is grand and 1 {iraise it to all my neighbors. If y<m hink my testimony will help others you may publish it."--Mrs. OLLOB WOODAUL, Morton's Gap, Kentucky. Backache is a symptom of organio weakness or derangement. If you have backache don't neglect it. To pet permanent relielf you must reach, the root of the trouble. Nothing we know of will do thia so surely as Lydia E. Finkhara's Compound. Write to Mrs. Pinktaam, at lijnn, Mass., for special advioet Your letter will be absolutely confidential, and the advice fre®»