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s mfmmwmm THE McHENHY PLAINDEALBR, McHENRY, UM r W i S - . . ' 1 } t ~ s p " , v " * w ' ; i^Oiol nucMbrvs AA*»K* p#uc£ftc£ or Jwr/*xjaMGe- mz LARK DECIDES TO EMBARK UPON LITERARY CAREER, 'W .m'.MEAM OF HER LIFE. BUT FINDS. ,N£WS-> ; . '• r.-i PAPER WORK TOO ARDUOUSi? - " " Synopsis.--The story opens In the h6tise rtf Rev. Mr. Starr, where TPrudence, his eldest daughter and" feminine head of the house, con­ sisting of her father, herself, her sisters. Fairy, the twins--Carol and S^ark--'-and. Osnnie, the 'youngest, are awaiting the arrival of their aunt Grace. Liveliness of the smaller" members of the family results dis­ astrously for their appearance. Carol and Lark investigate Christian Science. Prudence postpones her wedding when Carol, catches measles. <Then Carol tries to convert the town roughnecks. The twins score a triumph at the church entertainment. Fairy reveals her marriage engagement, f: CHAPTER VII, . < Lark's Literary Venture. commencement drew near, and began planning momentous things for her graduation, a little soberness > came tnt<> the parsonage life. The girls , were certainly grow­ ing up. Prudence had been married a long, long time. Fairy was being grad­ uated from college, her school days were over, and life was just across the threshold--its big black door just slightly ajar waiting for her to preas it back and catch a glimpse of what lay beyond. Bven the twins were getting along. They were finishing high school, and beginning to prate of college and such things, but the twins were still, well, they were growing up, perhaps, but they kept jubilantly young along 16 the process, and their enthusiasm for diplomas and ice «ream sodas was so nearly Identical that one couldn't feel seriously that the twins were tugging it their leashes; 1 • " : And Connie waa a freshman herself -nrather tall, a little awkward, with a sober earnest face, and with an incon- grously humorous droop to the corners of her lips, and tn the sparkle of her eyes. Mr. Starr looked at them and sighed. **I tell yon, Grace, it's a thankless job, rearing a family. Connie told me to­ day that my collars should have straight edges now instead of turned- back corners. And Lark reminded the that I got my points mixed up in last Sunday's lesson. I'm getting sick of this family business, I'm about ready to--* And just then, as a clear "Father" came floating down the stairway, he turned his head alertly, "What do you wantT* "Everybody's out," came Carol's plaintive voice. "Will you come and button me up. I can't ask auntie to run cjear up here, and I can't come down because I'm in my stocking feet. My new slippers pinch so I don't put them on until I have to. Oh, thanks, father, you're-a dear." " After the excitement of the com­ mencement, the commotion, the glam­ our, the gayety, ordinary parsonage life seemed smooth and pleasant, and for ten days there was not a ruffle on the surface of their domestic waters. It was on the tenth day that the twins, strolling down Main street, conversing earnestly together a? was their cus­ tom, were accosted by a nicety round­ ed, pompous man with a cordial, "Hello, twins." la an instant they were bright with smiles^ for this was Mr. Raider, editor and owner of the Daily News, the big­ gest and most popular of Mount Mark's three daily papers. Looking forward, as they did, to a literary career for Lark, they never failed to show a touching and unnatural deference, to anyone connected, even ever so re­ motely, with that profession. -They did not resent his nicely rounded and therefore pointless jokes. They smiled at them. They did not caU the Daily News the "Raider Fam­ ily Organ," as they yearned to do. They did not admit that they urged their fa­ ther to put Mr. Raider on all church committees to insure publicity. They swallowed hard, and told themselves that, after all, Mr. Raider was an edi­ tor, and perhaps he couldn't help edit­ ing his own family to the exclusion of the rest of Mount Mark. When, on this occasion, he looked Lark up and down with his usual ro­ tund complacency, Carol only gritted her teeth and reminded her heaving soal that he was am editor. : "What are you going to do this sum- mar, Lark?" he asked, without pre­ amble. •{Why--just nothing, I suppose. A# usual." fWell," he said, frowning plumply, "w^'re running short of men. I've heard you're interested in our line, and I thought maybe, jrdy could h£ljt> us out during vacation. How about it? 'The woirk'll be easy and it'll be fine experi­ ence for you. We'll pay you five dol- lafs a week. This is a little town, and we're called a little publication, but outf work and our aim and methods are identical with those of the big city pa­ pers." He swelled visibly, almost alarmingly. "How abont It? You're •5 the one with the literary1 ionglngs, , aren't you?" Lark was utterly speechless. If the National bank had opeued its coffers to Jthe always hard-pressed twins, she could not have been more completely confounded. Carol was in a condition neatly as serious, but grasping the grtfrity of the situation, she rushed into the breach headlong. "Tes--yes," she gasped. "She's Ht- : arary. Oh, she's very literary." . Mr. Raider smiled. "Well, would you I: like to try your hand out with me?" ! - Again Carol sprung to her sister's relief. . "yes, Indeed, she would," she cried. •STes, Indeed." Atil tfieu, determined to impress upon rbtnr thut * the Daily flews was the one to profit chiefly from jriw added|»"4'AoA' it'# • lucky day for the Daily News, too, I tell you There aren't many Larks in Mount Mark, in a literary way, I mean, an(j--the Daily News needs some--that is, I think--new blood--anyhow, Lark will be just fine." "All right Cottle ft, Monday morn­ ing at eight, Lark, arid TO set you td work. It won't be anything very im­ portant. Yon can write up the church news, and parties, and goings away, and things like that. It'll be good training. You can study our papers between now and then, to catch our style." Carol lifted her head a little higher. If Mr. Raider thought her talented twin would be confined to the ordinary style of the Daily News, which-Carol consid­ ered atrociously lacking in any style at all, he would be most gloriously mis­ taken, that's certain! It is a significant fact that after Mr. Raider went back into the sanctum of the Daily News, the twins walked along for one full block without speak­ ing. Such a thing had never hap­ pened before in all the years of their twinship. At the end of the block, Carol turned her head restlessly. They were eight blocks from home. But the twins couldn't run on the street, it was so undignified. She looked longingly about for a buggy bound their way. Even a grocery cart would have been a welorne though humbling conveyance. "Lark," she said, "I'm afraid we'll be late for dinner. And auntie told us to huixy back. Maybe we'd better run." Running is a good expression for emotion, and Lark promptly struck out at a pace that did full credit to her lithe young limbs. Down the street they raced, little tendrils of hair flying about their flushed and shining faces, faster, faster, breathless, panting, their gladness fnirly overflowing. And many people turned to look, wondering what in the world possessed the leisurely, dignified parsonage twins. Aunt Grace sat up in her hammock to look, Fairy ran out to the porch, and Mr. Starr laid down his book. Had the long and dearly desited war been de­ clared at last? But when the twins reached the porch, they paused sheepishly, shyly. ;"What's the matter?" chorused the family. "Are--are we lite for dinner?" Carol demanded earnestly, as though their liyes depended on the answer. The family stared in concerted amusement. When before this had the twins shown anxiety about their late­ ness for meals--unless a favorite des­ sert or salad was all consumed in their absence. And it "was only half past four! Carol gently shoved Connie oft the cushion upon which she had dropped, and arranged it tenderly in a chair, "Sit down and rest, Larkie," she said In a soft and loving voice,/ "Are you nearly tired to death?" Lark sank, panting, into the chair, and gazed about the circle with bril­ liant eyes. "Get her a drink, can't you, Con­ nie?" said Carol Indignantly. "Can't you See the poor thing is just tired to death? She ran the whole way home!" "What in the world?" began their lather curiously. "Had a sunstroke?" queried Fairy, smiling. "You're both crazy," declared -Con­ nie, coming back with the water. "You're trying to fool us. I won't ask any questions. You don't catch me this time." "Why don't yon lie down and let Lark use you for a footstool, Carol?" suggested their father, with twinkling eyes. "I would, If she wanted a footstool," said Carol positively. "I'd love to do jit. I'd be proud to do it. I'd consider jit an honor." Lark blushed and lowered her eyes modestly. • "What happened?" urged their fa­ ther, still more curiously. "Did she get you out of a acrape?" mocked Fairy. "Tell it. Lark." Carol's voice was so intense that it impressed even skep­ tical Connie and derisive Fairy. Lfirk raised the glowing eyes once more, leaned forward and said thrlll- lngly: "It's the literary career." , The silence that followed this bold announcement was sufficiently dra­ matic to satisfy even Carol, and she ipatted Lark's knee approvingly. "Well, go on," urged Connie, at last, 'when the twins continued silent. "That's all." "She's going to run the pally News." "Oh, I'll only be a cub reporter; I guess that's what you call them." "Reporter nothing," contradicted Carol. "There's nothing literary about that. You must take the whole paper In hand, and color It up a bit. And for goodness' sake, polish up Mr. Raider's editorials. I could write editorials like his myself." Fairy solemnly rose and crossed the ! porch, and with a hand- on>-Lark's shoulder gave her a solemn shake. "Now, Lark Starr, you begin at the be- gtaalag and tell us. Do you think we've all wodil&ihdians? ~ We. can't wait un- 'til you make a newspaper out of the l>aily News! We want to know. Talk." Thus adjured. Lark did talk, and the Btfte story witl»r many striking erpbel- 'jhhimtti.ts fro|h 'Carol was given Into 0>e hearing qj.lhe family, . "Five dollars a week," echoed Ron­ nie faintly. "Of course, I'll divide that with Carol," was the generous offer. ,.,t "No, I won't have it. I haven't1 any literary " brains, and I can't take any of your salary. Thanks, Just the same." Then she added happily: "But I know you'll be very generous when I need to borrow, and I do borrow pretty Often, Larkie." ! For the rest of <theweek Lark's lit­ erary career was the one topic of-con- • versation in the Starr family. Lark's clothes were put in the most Immacu­ late condition, and her wardrobe great­ ly enriched by donations pressed upon her by her admiring sisters. Every evening the younger girls Watched Im­ patiently for the carrier of the Daily News, and then rushed to meet Slim. The paper was read with avid Interest, criticized, commended. They all ad­ mitted that Lark would be an acquisi­ tion to the editorial force, indeed, one sorely needed. During those days, Carol followed Lark about with a hungry devotion that would have been observed by her sister on a less momentous occasion. But now she wo» so full of the darling career that she overlooked the once most-darling Carol. On Monday morn­ ing, Carol did not remain upstairs with Lark as she donned her most business­ like dress for her initiation into the world of literature. Instead, she sulked groucliily In the dining room, and when Lark;-radiant, star-eyed, danced into the room for the family's approval; she almost glowered upon her. "An> I all right? Do I look literary? Oh, oh," gurgled ]*ark,:-with mustic in her voice. Carol sniffed. """Oh, isn't It a glorious morning?" sang Lark again. "Isn't everything wonderful, father?" "Lark Starr," cried Carol passionate­ ly, "I should think yoK'd be ashamed of yourself. It's bad enough to turn your back on your--your lifelong twin, and raise barriers between us, but for. you * to be so wildly happy about it is--^per­ fectly wicked." Lark wheeled about abruptly and stared at IVer sister, the fire slowly dying out of her eyes. "Why, Carol," she began slowly, In a low voice, without music. "Oh, that*s all right. You needn't try to talk me over. A body'd think there was nothing In the world but ugly old newspapers. I don't like 'em, M4 She 8ulked Grouchily Room. in the Dining w|th hope-filled eyes, saw a high and mighty figure, Immense, all-powerful, standing free, majestic, beckoning her to come. It was her first view of the world's press. B But on the fourth;nK>rninjR*#benghe entered the office, Mr. Raider met her with more excitement In his manner than she had ever seen before. As a rule, excitement does not sit well on nicely rounded, pink-skinned men. "Lafk," he began hurriedly, "db you know the Dalys? On Elm street?" "Yes, they art members of our church. I know them." He leaned forward. "Big piece of news down that way. This morning at breakfast, Daly shot his daughter Maisle and the little boy. They are both dead. Daly got away, and we can't get at the bottom of It The family Is shut off alone, and won't see anyone." Lark's face had gone white, and she clasped her slender hands together, swaying, quivering, bright lights be­ fore her eyes. "Oh, oh!" she murmured brokenly. "Oh, how awful!" Mr. Raider did not observe the white horror "in Lark's face. "Yes, isn't it?" he said. "I want you to go right down there." "Yes, Indeed," said Lark, though she shivered at the thought "Of course, I will." Lark was a minister's daugh­ ter. If people were in trouble, she must go, of course. "Isn't it--awful? I never knew of---such a thing--before. Maisie was in my class at school. I never liked her very well. I'm so sorry I didn't--oh, I'm so sorry. Yes, I'll go right away. You'd better call papa up and tell him to come, too." "I will, but you run along. Being the minister's daughter, they'll let you right up. They'll tell you all about It, of course. Don't talk to anyone on the way back. Come right to the office." "Yes--yes." Lark's face was fright­ ened, but firm. "I--I've never gone to the houses much when--there was trouble. Prudence and Fairy have al­ ways done that But of course It's right, and I'm going. Oh, I do wish I had been fonder of Maisle. I'll go right away." And she hurried away, still quiver­ ing, a cold chill upon her. Three hours later she returned to the office, her eyes dark circled, and red with weep­ ing. Mr. Raider met her at the door. "Did you see them?" "Yes," she said In a low voice. "They --they took me upstairs, and--" She paused pitifully, the memory strong upon her, for the woman, the mother of five children, two of whom had been struck down, had lain th Lark's strong ender arms, and sobbed out the ugly story. SMALL ROCK OF CHICKENS SHOULD PRODUCE ER0U6H EGGS FOR FAMILY Would it have been honorable for Lark to write up the tragic story--even though it was her job to do so--since the suffering mother had given the girl full confidence unwittingly? (TO BE CONTINUED.) PUT ONE OVER ON THE GUARD anyhow# I think - they're downright nosey! And we'll never be the same any more, Larkie, and you're the only twin I've got, and--" Carol's defiance 'ended Jn-a -poorly suppressed sob and a rush of tears. Lark threw her gloves on the table. '"I won't go at all," she said. "I won't go a step. If--if you think for a minute, Carol, that any silly old career Is going to be any dearer to me than you are, and If we aren't going to be Just as we've always been, I won't go a step." Carol wiped her eyes. "Well," she said very affectionately, "If you feel like that, it's all right. I just wanted you to say you liked me better than anything else. Of course you must go, Lark. I really take all the credit for you and your talent to myself, and It's as much an honor for me as It is for you, and I want you to go. But don't you ever go to liking £he crazy old stories any better than you do me." Then she picked up Lark's gloves, and the two went out with an arm around each other's waist. It was a dreary morning for Carol, but none of her sisters knew that most of it was spent in the closet of her room, sobbing bitterly. "It's just the way of the world," she mourned. In the tone of one who has lived many years and suffered untold anguish, "we spend our lives bringing them up, and loving them, and finding all our Joy and hap­ piness In them, and then they go, and we are left alone." Lark's morning at the office Was quiet, \>ut none the less thrilling on that account. Mr. Raider received h'fer cordially, and with a great deal of unctuous fatherly advice. He took her into his office, which was one corner of the press room glassed in by itself, and talked over her duties, whfch, as far as Lark could gather from his discourse, appeared to consist In doing a6 she was told. "Now, remember," he said, in -part, that running a newspaper is . busi­ ness. Pure business. We've got to give folks what they want to hear, and they want to hear everything that hap­ pens. Folks want to hear about the private affairs of other folks. They pay us to find out, and tell them, and It's our duty to do It. So don't ever be squeamish about coming right out j blunt with the plain facts; that's .what we are paid for." This did not seriously impress Lark. Theoretically, she realized that he was right. - And he talked so Impressively of the press, and Its mission In the world, and its rights and its pride and its power, that Lark, looking away Challenged Soldier Demanded, Senti- nel'sName on Pretext of Report* Ing Him to Lieutenant. Among the members of the Indiana university ambulance corps at Allen- town, says the Indianapolis News, there is one man who from this time on will require, while on guard duty, any person whom he challenges at night to furnish his full pedigree. There is a reason. Recently while the section was on guard at the camp this man was sta­ tioned at a distant post on the grounds, at a place where the guards experience a great deal of trouble with men climbing the fence during the wee hours. Shortly after one o'clock 10 the morning the guard saw a man climb­ ing the fence. He hurried up, chal­ lenged the man, and asked for an ex­ planation. It was forthcoming. "Well," said the challenged one. "you are to be congratulated. I have been coming over this fence every night for a week and I have never been challenged before. I would like you to give me your name and your section number, and I will report you to your lieutenant." In a dazed manner the guard did so and the man walked ofT. Not until he was "kidded" by his section mates on telling the story did he fall for his being duped. He is now on the trail of the man whose ingenuity saved himself. Airplane Wrecks Train. An airplane has often proved Itself more than a match for its antagonist in an unequal encounter. A French aviator once penetrated far behind tho German lines and chanced upon ' a heavily laden troop train. The speed of his craft being fully twice that of this unusual antagonist, It gave him an advantage he was quick to use. The airplane flew so low that its machine gun was brought to bear upon the cars, raking them with disastrous results. Still flying very low, the airman in­ creased his speed and, on coming abreast of the locomotive, shot both engineer and fireman. Left to itself, the locomotive raced forward uncon­ trolled, and taking a sharp curve at high speed was wrecked with great loss of life. Flavine as Antiseptic Falls. Flavlne, or acrlfiavine, which has re­ cently been called the Ideal antiseptic for use in wounds, Is unequivocally condemned by Lieut. Alexander Flem­ ing of the British Army Medical corps, after a series of experiments with its effect upon his own blood, upon mi­ crobes and upon pus. The Lancet pub­ lishes his experiments in detail, and his conclusions are that strong solu* tions of flavlne have a more destruc­ tive action on the blood than on the microbes, and that weak solutionsj have no antiseptic effect worth men­ tioning. "I Nickel I* Out of Date. It Is announced by the press of one of the-large cities In the United States that Its 5 and 10 cent stores are to be supplemented with 25-cent stores. This looks very much as If, In the course of time, the old-fashioned and once popular dollar store would find its way back.--Christian Science ton,«-si , FLOCK FOR PRODUCTION OF EQGS AND MEAT. (Prepared by the United 8tatea Depart­ ment off Agriculture.) ' The keeping of a small flock of layf ing |>ens on a town or village lot of" in a cTty back yard Is an Important branch of poultry keeping. Though the value of the product from each flock Is small of itself the aggregate is large. The product of 'feuch a flock, both in the form of eggs and fowls for the table, may be produced at a rela­ tively low cost, because of the possi­ bility of utilizing table scraps and kitchen waste which would otherwise be thrown away. A small flock of hens, even as few as "six or eight, should produce eggs enough, where used eco­ nomically, for a family of four or five persons throughout the entire year, ex­ cept during the molting period of the fall and early winter. By the preser­ vation of surplus eggs produced dur­ ing the spring and early summer this period of scarcity can be provided for. The keeping of pullets Instead of hens also will insure the production of eggs at this time. Not only will the eggs from the home flock materially re­ duce the cost of living, but the su­ perior freshness and quality of the eggs are In themselves well worth, the effort expended. Eggs are a highly nutritious food and are so widely used as to be almost Indispensable, and an occasional chicken dinner is relished by everyone. Where conditions render it feasible and cheap small flocks of poultry should be kept to a greater extent than at present by families In villages and towns, and espgclally In the sub­ urbs of large cities. The need for this extension of poultry raising Is partic­ ularly great In those sections where the consumption of poultry products exceeds the production with the result that prices are high. . 4 Kind of Fowls to Keep. Householders usually desire not-«aiy eggs for the table and for cooking, but also an occasional chicken to eat. For this reason one of the general purpose breeds, such as the Plymouth Rock, Wyandotte, Rhode Island Red, or Or­ pington, Is preferable to the smaller egg breeds, such as the Leghorns. Not only do the mature fowls of these breeds, because of their larger size, make better table fowls than the Leg­ horns, but the'yoking chickens for the same reason make better friers and roasters, whereas chickens of the egg breeds are only suitable for the small­ er broilers. The general-purpose breeds are also "broody" breeds, the hens making good sitters and mothers, which is a decided advantage when it is desired to hatch and raise chickens, since the hens of the egg breeds sel­ dom go broody and are ip any eyent rather unreliable sitters and mothers. If. however, the production of eggs outweighs the desire for an occasional table fowl, the lighter egg breeds un­ doubtedly will be found better, be­ cause they lay as many eggs and do so on less feed, with the result that they produce the eggs more cheaply. It Is by all means advisable to keep some pure breed or variety. Where this is done, sales at a profitable fig­ ure can often be made of breeding stock which it is Intended to market or of eggs for hatching. * , Size of Flock. , The size of the flock which can be most efficiently kept will depend first of all upon the space available and, secondly, upon the amount of table scraps or other waste which Is avail­ able for feed. It is a mistake to try to overstock the available space. Better results will be obtained from a few hens In a small yard than from a larger number. The back-yard poultry flock rarely will consist of over 20 or 25 hens and In many cases of not more than eight or ten, or occasionally of only three or four. For a flock of 20 to 25 hens a space of not less than 25 by 30 feet should be available for a yard. Where less space Is available, the size of the flock should be reduced, allowing on the average 20 to 30 square feet per bllfd. A few hens are sometimes kept successfully with a smaller yard allowance than this, but If the space Is available a yard of the size indicated should be used. Procuring Stock. The best way for the city poultry keeper to procure hens Is to purchase them in the fall. An effort should be* made to obtain pullets rather than old­ er hens, and the pullets selected should be well matured, so that they will be­ gin to lay before the cold weather sets In. Evidences of the maturity yf pul­ lets are the development and red color of the comb and a size and growth which are good for the breed or va­ riety. Hens will lay little or no eggs during the fall and early winter, while they are molting. Well-matured pul­ lets, however, should lay fairly well during this period, so that an imme­ diate return is realized from the In* vestment. The purchasing of pullets In the fall is preferable in most casef to purchasing day-old chicks or td hatching chicks- in the spring. Usual* ly there is little space available for the raising of chicks, and. moreover, many city dwellers have had no experi­ ence In raiding them. ""Under these Conditions the results are apt to be vpry poor. Hatching and rearing chicks also necessitates broody hens for this purpose, or else investing money in artificial apparatus such as incubators and brooders. Such an Investment is often too great to prove profitable with the average small flock. If chicks are raised, they must be fed throughout the summer and no return will be ob­ tained until the pullets begin to lay In the fall," except that the males can be eaten or sold. Buying New 8toek. When pullets are to be purchased, it is well if possible to go to some farm­ er or poultryman who may be known to the prospective purchaser. In some cases It may pay to make arrange­ ments with the farmer to raise the de­ sired number of pullets at an agreed price. Where the householder does not have an opportunity to go Into the country for his pullets, he can often pick them out among the live poultry shipped into the city to be marketed. The advice of some one who knows poultry should be sought in making such a purchase, to make sure that pul­ lets or young hens are obtained, and that the stock Is healthy. Often the local poultry associations are glad to help the prospective poultry keeper to get stock by putting him in communi­ cation with some of Its members hav­ ing stock for sale. Sometimes the local board of trade or chamber of commerce is glad to help to bring to­ gether the prospective purchaser and the poultry raiser. CONTROL OF THE GYPSY MOTH Severity of. Infestation lihportant Fae> tor in Determining Which Method Should Be Used. (Prepared by the United States Depart­ ment of Agriculture.) Gypsy moth in orchards can be con­ trolled by a number of methods, the severity of Infestation being an impor­ tant factor in which method should be used. If only a few egg clusters are present In' the orchard, early spraying, such as Is applied for the codling moth after the blossoms have fallen, will be found useful, providing the amount of poison used Is Increased to ten pounds to 100 gallons of water. If the infesta­ tion is more serious, a second spraying early In June, using a similar amount of poison, will be found very satisfac­ tory. In cases where the Infestation Is severe It probably will be necessary to creosote egg clusters In the winter and spray In the spring If the insect is to be controlled. In any case, thor­ oughness is a prime essential if good results are to be Secured. All poor or hollow trees should be removed, and If badly infested wood­ land is nearby the orchard trees should be banded with the sticky sub­ stance previously mentioned or with tree-banding material. Orchard In­ festations can be managed by follow* lng up these methods, and It will not require much additional expense or a great deal of extra work to protect the trees. In making this statement it is assumed that the orchard is being cared for by up-to-date methods for protection from the codling moth and other Injurious Insects and diseases, and it Is improbable that these results can be brought about in neglected or* chards or where the owners do not practice the best horticultural methods in handling their growing trees. MAKE PROFIT WITH TURKEYS No Better 8ide Line for Farmer Who |e Favorably Located FawU Self-Sustaining. i The farmer who Is favorably located for the purpose, cannot find a more profitable side line than the raising of turkeys. In that, as In all other kinds of business, economy in production and systematic management are the first essentials to success, and these re­ sults may be accomplished, to a large extent, by rendering the fowls near­ ly, if not wholly, self-sustaining dor- ing more than half of the year. POOR COCKEREL IS HANDICAP Not Only Should Male Bird Be Pure­ bred, but He Should Be From Strain of Producers. •flie poor cockerel is a great handV cap to progressive poultry raising. Not all poor cockerels are mongrels; there are many poor birds among the recog­ nized breeds. An effort should be made to get the best to head the flock. Not only should the cockerel be pure­ bred, but he should be from a. strain of producers. USE FOR HOME-GROWN FEEDS "Comfortable Stable, Abundance of Bed- ding and Little Extra Care la Recommended. Owing to the high pri<|̂ , 4C brail nmTmlllfeed most milk producers are feeding, home-grown feed*. Warm stabling, abundance of bedding and ex­ tra care will tend to reduce the cost of feed and the cows will yield mora WISE Hi WESIBH CM HUE j f • • * % - . . . _ WW fm/e a Big Factor in ning the War. Reports to hand indicate that West- etf» Canada has a vastly increased acreage ready for crop this year over splendid open fall of 1917, gave a better opportunity for fall plowing than for some years. Work in the fields was almost continuous until the end of November. In fact, in the neighborhood of Plncher Creek, Alberta, there was sufficient mild weather in January of this year to permit farmers to plow, and many took advantage of it A great many Americans owning land in Canada moved up last year, and this has also helped to increase the acreage. They came into possession of the land at prices varying from $15.00 to $30.00 an acre, and with the proven yields of wheat running from twenty and as high as fifty bushels per acre, with a set price of $2.21 a bushel, they could Join production and patriotism to­ gether with a big margin of profit The Post-Intelligencer of Seattle, Wash., gives a very conservative state* ment of the agricultural development and opportunities in Western Canada. Ia its issue of December 14, 1917, it THE RED CROSS NURSES OF EUROPE - ARE GIVING TOASTED CIGARETTES TO THE BOYS ̂ To anyone who doesn't know of the Wonderful advances that have been made In the preparation of smoking tobaccos in the last few years it may sound strange to speak of toasted cigarettes. Strictly speaking, we shpuld say ciga­ rettes made of toasted tobacco; the smok­ ers of this country will recognize it more readily by its trady> name. "LUCKY STRIKE "--the toasted cigarette. The American Tobacco Company are producing millions of these toasted ciga­ rettes and these are being bought in enormous quantities through the various tobacco funds conducted by the news­ papers of the country and forwarded through the Red Cross Society to the boys in Prance. This new process of treating tobacco not only improves the flavor of the tobacco but it seals, in this flav<# and makes the cigarettes keep better. • ; > The Red Cross nurse it always glad to have a cigareUe for the wounded Wwjer, as, in most instances, that Is tha Oral asked for. --Adv. "t-: "Exceptions. Vi*-. "Do you believe beauty Is ln,the aye of the holder?" ? f f ; "Not if the .hoWwr.PQutots,^ v To keep clean and healthy take Dr. Pierce's Pleasant Pellets. They regu­ late liver, bowels and stomach.--Adv. An old bachelor says that an opti­ mist is a married man who says that he is glad of It. ' A DAGGER IN THE BACK That's the woman's dread when she get* up In the morning to start the day's work. "Oh! how my back aches." GOLD MEDAL. Haarlem Oil Capsules taken to­ day eases the backache of tomorrow- taken every day ends the backache for all time. Don't delay. What's the use of suffering:? Begin taking GOLD MEDALi Haarlem Oil Capsules today and be relieved tomorrow. Take three or four every day and be permanently free from wrenching, distressing back pain. But be sure to get GOLD MEDAL. Since 1®S GOLD MEDAL Haarlem Oil has been the National Remedy of Holland, the Govern­ ment of the Netherlands having granted a special charter authorising its prepa­ ration and sale. The housewife ot Hol­ land would almost as eoon be without bread as she would without her "'Real Dutch Drops," as she quaintly call8 GOLD MEDAL Haarlem Oil Capsules. Thisi Is the one reason why you will nna the women and children of Holland so sturdy and robust. _ GOLD MEDAL are the pum. original Haarlem Oil Capsules imported direct from the laboratories In Haarlem. Hol­ land. But be sure to get GOLD MEDAL Look for the name on every box. 8old by reliable druggists In sealed package, three sizes. Money refunded If they do not help you. Accept only the GOLD MEDAL. All others are imitations. Adv. -- * The widow's nslght uwar#e the remit "Since the beginning of the year American emigration into Canada has been greatly stimulated according to the reports of the Dominion authori­ ties, and has been almost entirely made up of farmers attracted by the fertile and comparatively cheap wheat lands. "Whatever may be said of wheat culture as a profitable avocation in ordinary years, since the beginning of the war it has offered advantages quite beyond the usual opportunities. WaF has boomed the price of wheat until the farmer now receives around $2 for his product at his granfary. Average crops, according to the adap­ tation of soil and climate are from 12 to 25 bushels to the acre. Even the minimum crop, at $2 per bushel, brings in these war times a reasonable profit. Before the war wheat culture was fast being abandoned by farmers who worked Intelligently for results on the right side of the ledger. It has been the popular crop for new coun­ tries, but when the pioneers settled down to business It was generally corn, hogs, cattle and diversified farm­ ing that brought the profits. Iowa and the Dakotas in turn, as their prairies became settled, mortgaged the land on wheat culture and afterwards paid off the mortgages with corn and hogs. "War Is thus bringing a temporary encouragement to wheat farming. Many of the ranchers of Manitoba, Sas* katchewan and Alberta laid away $20,000 to $80,000 in the banks last fall. It may be pointed out, however, that the growing of wheat is not the only inducement, which it leading settle­ ment to Canadian lands. Low taxation, favorable agricultural climate, and profitable prices not only for grain bat for hogs, cattle and all forms of farm produce all contribute their share toward the rapid settlement of the fer­ tile lands of Western Canada."--Ad­ vertisement. He'd Paid the Bifls. "How did Weds happen «r mtfvy a dressmaker?" "For her money. She made all of his first wife's clothes." v