Dec. 31 "*% GOOD OLD TIMES. Itis well, asan old deacon used to say, to "'connt up our blessings" oc- casionally, and this is the way the American Esconomist compares the present condition of the farmer with "good old times" Despite all the talk abeut the hard- ships of the farmer, he isa king com- pared to his father or grandfather. If he doubts, let him hunt up the old gentleman's day bvok of forty years ago, and note the prices then. A bushel of wheat would buy three fourths of a barrel of salt ; it will now buy two barrels. A bushel of corn would buy seven and one-half pounds of sugar ; to-day it will buy twelve and three-quarters pounds. -- Ten pounds of butter bought thirty- three and one third yards of cotton cloth then; now it purchases forty- eight and one third yards. Ten pounds of cheese were worth twenty-five pounds of nails ; the cheese now pays for fifty-four pounds of nails. A pound of washed wool grown te years before the war would buy one. fifth of a barrel of sult, three and five- sixths pounds of sugar, three and two- thirds yards of cotton cloth or ten pounds of nails. To-day his one ponnd of woe! will pay for three-fourths of a . barrel of sult, eight pounds of sugar, six and ove-half yards of cotton cloth and twenty-two-pounds of nails. These figures are based on New York city prices. But asa matter of fact he never realized anything like those prices in bis local market. Freights were high, and when the cost of bringing produce to the New York market was deducted from New York prices for farm produce, and the cost of bringing the merchandise from New York to the village store at which he traded wus added to the price of what he bought, the average farmed was really not more than half as weil off ten yeats before the war as our figures would indicate. For instauee, in L857, it cust 25, cents to bring a bushel of wheat by the cheapest route from Chicago to New York ; 10 1891 it cost less than six ceuts. Surronnded by these conditions, life on the farm was hard indeed. Calico und Kentucky jean had to do for Sun- day garments, and an ox cart in which to ride to church was the height of style. Luxuries for the table were alrost unknown ; johnoy cake and salt pork was a princely diet. Those were daysof hard times, when the farmer cradled his grain, and raked and bonnd it by band. He toiled esrly and late, scrimped, and received less return for a week of hardest toil thanthe farmer in 1896 receives for a single day's plea- sant ride on aw moing machine or a saved and self-binder. Let us bave no more of such old times." 'good Possibilities With Old Fences. There ure many farms bearing old rail fences that their owner have felt for years would be better torn down and rebuilt upon the same or other location. They have been built upon anladded to antil they contain at least enough good rails to construct a good straight fence. The under- taking is not a big one, and when it 18 finished the satisfaction of seeing the ia ad- firewood for next evustructed fence, ali the will more than repay the time and new wire. neat, newly dition to summer, farmer for There ic no more favorabie time for the moving of rails than just after the ground has frozen and before snow comes. A pair of bobsleighs can be used, even if there is no snow, wher the site of the new fence is to be some- where else than that of the present one. Ifthe ground should be too much frozen to break the crust to set the stekes or posts, everything can be got in readiness to buildin the spring, and that will be found a great advantage when the building time does come. The sorting of the rails, cutting and sharpening stakes or preparing posts and sawing up the "done" fence timber junto firewood can all be finished in the slack season, aud the putting up of the fence will be as nothing in the spring before seeding when the sound will be so soft that the stakes can all be driven with a sledge hammer. If possible do not put this work off another season. The commencement of such jobs that have stared one in the face for years, pro- pbably is more than half the under- taking. The old snake fence is an eye- his gore and « harbor for rubbish and. » weeds, while the new straight one will gave land and give the farm a tidy, prosperous appearance. ' Y. P. 8. Cc. E. CONDUCTED BY THE PERTH CO. - UNION. We would commend to the En- deavorers of the County, who are in- terested in Mission wotk among the Indians: of the North West, a little paper entitled "Progress," published by the students ot the Regina Indus- trial school. It is replete with infor- mation concerning the life and cus- toms of the Indians, and devotes much space to acconnts of Mission work being carried on among the different tribes. It is published twice a month at the low price of 25 cents a year. The editor is Mr. D. C. Munro, well kuown in Perth Co. When you come to the meeting, leave behind Your fear of criticism, Pressing anxieties, Selfish thoughts, Coldness of heart, Every hindrance. Bring with you, Your Bible and Hymn book, Prayers and praises, Seeking hearts, Christlike Spirit, Earnest mind. The Friends Society at Gowrie is arranging fur an open meeting on Thursday evening, Dec. 10th. They have invited the members of the neigh- boring societies and are looking forward to having a pleasant and profitable time. A correspondent writee, 'We re- quest the prayers of our C. E. brethren. Our little Society is yery interesting We have God with us, a strong tower." The "Methods" meetings iu both Milverton and Millbank were intercst- ing, well attended and replete with helpful suggestions for better work. The Oxford County Convention held at Embro on Novy. 17 and 18, every respect a decided success. indeed. was in The attendance was large and the spirit and Rev. E. R. Hutt of Pres. for next interest good. Ingersoll, was elected yeur. A request has come from one Society for practical suggestions in this colnmn ou the work of a temperance and good- citizenship committee in a small vil- laze. These will be published the last week in Dec. Let there be response to this request. Following the suggestions of the County Exeentive, Knox church, Strat- furd, held a Methods meeting on Mon- day evening, Nov. 30th. The' pastor, Rey. M. L. Leitch presided. Rev. Mr Moyer gave a very practical address on "work". This was followed by an 'open parliament" on "Methods,"' led. a hearty by the County President. A number of helpfal suggestions were given on the work of the Officers and Commit- tees, which will result in better work being done by all. Some pointers for Presideuts--be prompt, be energetic, be whole-hearted. Our pledge means prayer, meditation, work. Tavistock Society elected the follow- ing ofticers lust week: Pres., Miss Me- Gregor; Vice Pres., Mrs. Johnson ; Rec. Sec'y., James Scott ; Cor. Secy., Miss Jessie Bell; Treas., Mrs E. B. Spark. Lightning Rods on Barns. The subject of protecting farm build- ings by the use of lightning rods was tuken up fully in the Advocate a few Mr. John H-skett. of Loudon Township, Ont., re..ces to us issues ago. his experience, which was decidedly ndverse to the use of rods, though the bulk of evidence is certainly in their favor, and "one swallow does nut mnke His barn, which wasa tine structure, some Gf feet long, was rodded at very considerable expense in 1885, and he states that the rods were maintained in good order. In May, 1894, the barn was burned. There were three points on the ridge of the roof, the two outer ones being a ehort distance from the ends. The rods were made of copper. After midnight, when in bed, he was aroused by a re- markable crash, accompanied by a tearing eonnd, which others in the locality heara. Though not raining at the time, a storm clond had evidently passed over or near by. In a short time he got up and looked towards the barn, the roof of which was on fire ; the whole upper part being ablaze, but none below, so they were able to get the stock -out. His theory was that the rod had attracted a bolt of lightning, but was not sufficient to con- duct it to the gronnd and that it ex- ploded at the roof, igniting a consider- able surface of the shingles. One of the points was afterwards found melted in the ruins. This circumstance had the effect of making Mr. Haskett un- alterably opposed to rods as far as he was personally concerned, and he told the agent that he would not have them replaced for nothing ; ia fact not if the lightning rod people paid him to allow hem to do so.-- Farmers Advocate. a summer." Town at Thirty Cents Apiece. Ee decrease in values in the far west is almost inconceivable to one who has not been through the change from inflation to depression.' Hun- dreds of prairie cities are finding their real. estate almost' unsalable. They were once so sure of being the cen- tres of the business: life for a large surrounding country that the fall is yond their comprehension. A sale of the assets of a Central Kansas bank that failed m 1889 was held the other day, and many lots in Western. town additions that had been a part of the bank's assets were sold to the highest bidder for thirty cents apiece. They had been appraised at $70 each when the bank failed ; but, as they were on the outskirts of a place that lost its grip on prosperity, they had nothing to keep them above the level of farm land. Farms inthe western part of Nebraske and Kansas are iu the same condition. They are not salable ex- cept wheré they can be combined into large ranches, and where the owners are possessed of clear titles. Thous- ands of these are owned in the East under the deed of a sheriff, throngh the process of foreglosnre. The loans that were made on them in the hal- eyon days are past dne, and the mort gages have taken their own' This bas all resulted, not from the lack of effort, but from the fact that not enough water has fallen in the Western third of Kansas and Ne- braska to make the crops grow. That isthe whole *matter. It is not bad judgment or politics that has driven these thousands out of the Eden that they had sought, but the failure of crops. Kansas has losta quarter ofa milJion in pupulation in this the fact has exerted a depressing in- It is the difference between the rising and the falling tide. 'The loss has cour- red entirely in the Western counties, for the Eastern part of the State has in the past year gained 18,000in popu- lation, while the State as a whole has gained only 1,900, although the births outnumbered. the deaths by several thousands.--From "A Problem of Ar- idity," by C. H. Harger, in North Am- erican Review for December. way, and fluence on those who remain. Beautiful Honolulu. From Time and the Hour Just the common street is an incon- ceiyable flaunting of orange, end wiite™ blossoms, -- mense flowering cherry (bought by sac- cred bribery from an Intlian garden) to the oleanders, which here attain a tree-life growth; and all is filled in by an noder-like of trees, bananas, ferns, and trailers; and you are not sure pleasant faintness which creeps into you is due to the etrong fragrance of this tropical growth or to the unaccustomed heat. In place of committal to sugar poli- tics and the wild little storm ina tea- pot which was always beating around the "throne" of Hawaii, let us look np- whether the cloyed, ward and feast on the vast rainbow which, with second and third attendant prisms, and often, faintly a fourth, town asthe breeze "Pun ch- head-quarters hover over the whiff' light showers from bowl," sentinel volcano, for donkeys and travellers who come to study the extinct. How usage may constrain nowadays it is but' a few years since a happy custom greet- ed athlete and invalid alike. As the newcomer drove among the embowered ways of Honolulu, many citizens, evi- dently of the governing class, Jadies und gentlemen, bowed courteously and raised the hat iu welcome. How grate- fully do I now recall this subtle little antidote to homesickness! True, a vit of gossip might have given iufor- mation of the stranger's "antecedents," yet it was like the sweet gossip of home, as welcome for the moment,' as east wind. By the way, so searching is scrutiny of all new arrivals that con- tagious sickness is usually kept at bay, 1u «quarantine. Neither snakes nor other venomous reptilian life has gain- ed mire trbeantital Hawaii. That iF , the centipede, is me poisonless bere, under such potent spell as is said to have devene- med the little brown lizards running about Malta, no longer vipers since fastening on St. Panl's hand. What- ever may explain it, the scorpion, tarantola, anc centipede, occasionally imported with cargoes of dyewood from Panama, where all are venomvuus directly become harmless here, the writer does not kuow, The Best Advertisements. e Many thousands of unsolicited letters have reached the ufacturers of Scott's Emulsion from those' cured through its use, of Coos: and Scrofulons disease! None speak wo confidently of its seein: asitbee who ner tested it. 'County -Feels Like a New. Man-- 'by Four Boxes of Dodd's Fills. Cardinal, Dee. ae (Special) -- Mr Robert McIntosh, a farmer very wile: ly known inthis county, and living near the village, has been in a painful and dsiigerons condition as the result of kidney disease affecting the blad- der. When called upon he said: "During three years, until quite re- cently cured by using four boxes of Dodd's Kidney Pills, Ihave been an intense sufferer from kidney disease which kept gofhg from bad to wo-se though I was doctoring all the tame." Under advice T begun using Dodd's Kidney Pills, at once realizing great help. I now feel like # new man and am perfectly cured of kidney trouble in any form. Eng'ish Plum Pudding. One pound of raisins, quarter pound of flour, one pound of suet (choppe fine}, one pound of currants,. three quarters pound stale bread crumbs, half nutmeg (grated), quarter pound brown sugar, five eggs, grated rind of oue lesaon, half pint of brandy, half pound of minced candied orange peel, Clean, wash, and dry the currants. stone the raisins. i ients together. them to the brandy, then pour over the dry ingredients and mix thorough- ly ack in greased small kettles or malile (this will make six pounds), and boil six honrs when you make it, and when wanted for use serve with hard or brandy sauce. (=?) A Good Deal in a ce ae I paid a Torente x a veciintie® on ecatarrh a large sumof mouey, but I got no be- nefit. Itmed them all, but finally, almost in despair, and assuredly with- out any faith, I tried Chase's Catarrh Cure. Itis all that it is recommend- ed, which is saying a good deal iua few words. Joel Rogers, clerk, Divi- son Court, Beeton. Improved blower in each 25c. Wore ureasea Gioves Seven Years Jvun Siron, mason, Aultsville, Ont., had Salt Rheum so severe that for seven years he wore greased gloves. He writes: "I used a quarter of a box of Chase's Ointment."" It cured me. No trace of Salt Rheum vow. Chase's Oittment cures every irritant disease of the skin, allays itching instantly, andis a sterling remedy for piles. Ayoid imitations. 60c. per box. The closing examinations in the County Model schools will commence on Monday, Dec. 7. 2 Square Pianos. ao nale at 9 for wood or lumber, taken in exchan nes and may actory Wareroom oo The MORRIS FIELD, ROGERS Co. Ltd. bargain--or will be oxchanged Theroughly repaired since be seen at Almost Passes Belief a -- _ Nicholson, Florencevillo, ae for Beven Long ears with CANCER ON THE LIP, AND IS CURED BY AYER'S wa: ar a 52 a | conenited soe: surpese but cer began' to Sarsa- parilfa ae 1 vied for Cat 'nto 'the | Flesh, spread to chin, and I suffered repay f for Reve 10 long years. FI nal '3 woek or tw ewok nt noticed a -- Decided. crepe pe the Ayer's sce Sarsaparilla Admitted at the World's Fair. AXEWS PILLS Regulate the Bowels. it trace of At Cost. se as CAKRIAGES left we are disposing of them AT COST in order to make room for ou large stock of ALEXANDER ALL GOODS F which we expect in a few days. Everything in the Furniture line still 'being sold at the most remarKable low prices. Undertaking attended tv as usual in the most thorough and practical manner. Don't mistake the place. SALLOWS = ALEXANDER'S, Mam Street, Listowel Cheese-maker Wanted, ---- Listowel SASH & DOOR FACTOR! To mannfacture cheese for the teagan of ine or the Moleaworth Cheese & Butter Co. Chee be receiv. ed up to one o Saturday the i4th of ow ember, intormation apply to br ender not necessarily or further Tho lowest BAMFORD BROS, Molesworth, Oct. 17, 3 Taek- --_ ----, Sciatic » t e weic Pains, Builders and Contractors , Py is on the fide, ete. nm toe ontrack for the eroution of allclas se of 'pul diggs. Plans and specifications drawn an TRanpuy Belleved and Cured by stimates furnished on applicat oes ' é The". &L." ¢ 'enthol Plaster ¢ ana ne esd your D, & L. Menthe Plaster -" oe ob ape bac ue sae | ie =p ", niventtats) viens ph ane 'rapid rey in co mtbey ect is PUINTE, Elizabethtown, Ont DAVIS & LAWRENCE CO., Lv. Proprietors, Mont Frames Blinds etc, 4 4] , » > Sash Uoors . : 7 | Furnished op short] notice. Planing done @ erde er. Everything in the. 'Sanidinn ne will b iven ht pt atte sl ant Ths LASS WORKS A SS50P GRARAN Jas. Armstrong, Listowel s oldest established Grocer, is te the fore | Charges Very Moderate. New and Fresh Groceries | Ba ~for family use. | miford Bros, CHOICE TEAS AND COFFEE, | NEW RAISINS AND CURRANTS, | | FRESH CANNED GOODS, PROVISLONS OF ALL KINDS. FARMERS T will pay the highest cash price for good Dairy Butter at my RESIDENCE, WALLACE 8T. on Bargainsin CROCKERY and GLASSWARE. Orders filled and delivered promptly. long continuance in business is the best guara: that wedealsqnuarely and give good value "er the money. e JAS. ARMST RON ee -- Mondays and Saturdays, Auction Sales conanctoa Counties of Perth, xe 4 Huron and Waltiggta fe =e THOS. E ay, a Anuct, Ask yo . our Druggist " t niet Tra itme Worts FROM THE TEA PLANT TO THE TS Cte IN ITS NATIVE PURITY. * Monsoon" Tea is packed seulor the er rvision the growers, and is adver'isud andr old by them +a sampleot the best qualities of Indian and Ceyior " or that reason they 1 ha e but th cy fresh leaves go into Monsoon packages. T-tiswhbe "Monacon,' the perfect Tea, can be 'dat the = oo price an infvrit tea, up in sealed caddies of {Ibo rth and ted woe | in three flavours at g0c., soc, and 6c T' your gr cerrders cot ne it. ed ins to write SER... HAYTER & £0, 1 and 13 Frovt St. CURE CONSTIPATION' ~ INDIGESTION DIZZINESS Murray & "RupTionS ON THE SKIN . Sine FIES C TACIT Lanman's n Agreectic vaxutive and NERVE TONIO, Bold by Drugwes c. bent by Mail. nil Sc, 500.4 FLORIDA WATER and $1.00 per package, Sam _. KO NO The Tavera {OTH POWDER LORAL EXTRACT * for the Teeth ref, Toilet and Bath. Sald by J. Livingstone, Jr. Druggist, 'When Baby was sick, we gave her Castoria, Whnn she was a Child, she cried for Castoria, 'When she became Miss, she clung to Castoria, When she hed (hildrvn, she gave them Castoria, ° ; Consumption. cr. (Po ioe a . Pree tO address. 7. stacUM Cul CHEMICAL oa" Mia. "g "e * IC ntific paper fn the < we PSYCH INE should be without it, "ect B32. Year; $1.00 lz onthe, Address, & CO, 'Poumaxns, 361 Broad pra ned 7 1 x. ae Throat Diseases, myn -y sufferer. Give Express ang way, sew York City, fhe To locum Chemical Co. Ltt. toronto, Can Who can think -t Sates te ene Wanted--An Ide pera de tear ere Saat iat of two hundred inventions vane © v £0 that you need I GU RE Firs! * gaffocation. phates FREE Nebesto teetion 3 Yost tire. mares OR. TAFT BROS., 185 ADELA! ting ard mapper 185 ADELAIDE ST. Ww. Rue wc. eerste f mire. Teast. (Ok. 7 TORONTO, ON fF, Having a few more BABY ° sh)