Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, May 16, 1912, Page 4

dorwich !t;lletin nud Gaufied. L == 116 YEARS OLD, -.!;g'-::rl.p‘l‘l:.l p;l::}.llu a week; Goe a (=" teffc mat! Bui] usl; Qf 'u R Willimantie Office, Reom 2 Murray Telephone 216 Building. e ———— Norwlch, Thursday, May 16, 1912. B Cona. sa. ssebnds [ i PERSONALITIES V8. PRINCIPLES. For the first time in his long cam- palgn of 1912, Colonel Roosevelt de- c¢lared in Ohio that principles and not personalities are the issues. This must have surprised his hearers, in view of the fact that without having the epportunity presented he has taken it in the past few months to place per- sonalities so far to the front that he has obscured any issues which bhe claims to stand for, He has made all his fight on personalities, dodged the issues om which he has been often asked to express himself and tells the Qhioans that he emulates Lincoln. He is opposed to changing the term of the presidency to six years, with no further election, because that stands in the way of his avowed purpose; and in speaking of principle, his brok- en promise, the determination to break the rule that no president shall have a third term, his somersault on the rec- iprocity question for the sake of cor- raling the farmers’ vote, and his wail against the bosses, when he has gained his offices and is at present backed by those fhom he terms bosses only when they support his opponent, are the strongest kind of evidence that the greatest principle he is working for is “me and my policies.” Yet his poli- cies. are not of a national character, but all would have to come back to the states for their action and, be- ing turned down there, would be washed. It is high time that he realized that personalities are not the important requirements in pleading his cause. His cause would have had a better ring if he had started out on princi- ples. It is like the reciprocity situa- tion,” however, He likes personalities, but he is not gaining votes thereby. His best results have been where he did not speak. THE TIPPING EVIL. he tipping evil has sted so long that it is figured on as a necessity in order to get decent service in the large hot and restaurants. It is sanction- ed in practically all such places in fact, wages are for that reason ixed low and the inducement of the s the reason for employes being attracted to the jobs. There is of- fered now in New York an opportun- ity to escape from this system of ex- tortion which by no means is con- fined to that city, but exists over the entire world. It may not be possihle for the general public to reach a de- cision regarding the demands of tb waiters in one large hotel in the me- tropolis, which, if not granted, threa ens to exiend over the entire The waiters want their fines for blun- ders, accidents and mistakes dropped, bett food, less hours, a raise in weekly wage and a day off each week. The eating public cannot deal with these matters, but they e vitally interested at the same time. A strike in the food factory is a serious situa- tion, but the consumer has a chance to reduce his cost of living, which he might not feel at liberty to doat an- other time. The public may not have to give tips if it doesn't want to, but experiences show that the service is neglected, attention ceases and most of the bill of fare is out if the abom- inable tipping habit is not practised. The wages should be such that tip- ping is not necessary to provide a liv- and, = ing, and not being a necessary ad- junct of the business, it should be for- bidden. It can safely be said that tip- ping will hardly die without a strug- gle. ILLITERACY IS WANING. Throughout the United States there has been a large reduction in illiteracy during the ten years between 1900 and 1910 in persons over ten years of age. The census bureau shows that there has been a deciine from 10.7 to 7 per cent. in their relation to the tots population over ten, showing that coming gcneration 18 getting advan- | tages not posscssed by their es- sors, Compulsory education is doing much in bringing this about, the cen- sus bureau having treated as iliter: any person who cannot write, wheth they could read or not. Both in the white and negro population has the decrease resulted he proportion of illiterates was less in all nine geo- graphica all but divisions of the country and wo states, Connecticut and York. In these two states, in the percentage was substan- the same at both censuses, the number of illiterates was larger in 1810 than in 1900, mainly as the r sult of the heavy immigration to country during the past ten years, O ing to the same cause the number of illiterates has increased in a consider- able number of other states, although the proportion of them has decreased in that time. Connecticut has 901,026 persons over iemn years of age by the last census, against 730,454 in 1900. There are 53,665 illiterates against 42,973 ten years ago, an increase of one-tenth of one per cent, over the lagt census figures. The foreign-born white population of the state is 328,759 or an increase of 91,363, It is from this increase that the large number of illiterates have been received inio the state, showing them to he acquired rather than pointing a trend towards {lliteracy, At Peaks island, off the coast from Portland, Sunday, a gay young woman | showed the female was more enduring | than the male, by diving from the piar | Into the cold sea water for some time after her partner ran to quarters with his teeth chattering. g In the Kansas stale republican con- veantfon, the Roosevelt majority was asked if it would support Taft at the polls if he was nominated nt Chicago, and they shrieked “Not” They are not disrupting theiy party! If, as Professor Hamilton of Tufts college declares, (Me International Warkers of the Werld is the real beckbons of the seginfist party, soeisl- fomn is ftoo un-AmeMean (o bs inviting Nomedmiatis citizens | Insanity seems to be the plea of last his hands | { PLAYGROUNDS DESERVE SUP-| PORT. The success which is attending the movement to place the playgrounds for chlldren upen a wholeseme and effi- cient basis is the cause for congratu- | lations, The assurance that there wil be six grounds this year will mean provisien in all sections of the city for the children. In paying particular at- tention to supervision, the Playgrounds assoclation is preparing to get the full benefit of such recreation spots. Mo allow the children to assemble at these grounds without supervision and leav- ing them to their own guidance in the play would permit the development of ungoverned enthusiasm and the in- clination of the older children to boss the younger or take possession of the games and apparatus as they desired. Supervision will overcome those trou- bles and work for the benefit of all who may want to enjoy the grounds. The mevement deserves the earnest support of all in providing such equip- ment and apparatus, The appropria- tion asked of the city is a small one and when it is considered that cities are favoring the idea to the extent of appropriating thousands of dollars in providing places for children to con- gregate for play, thus taking them off the street and removing the liability of injuries from cars, teams and au- tos, Norwich, it is believed, will fall into line and see that its children are provided for, The second year will show a vast improvement over last summer which was only in the nature of an experiment, but showed such good results that only a comtinuance was considered. PLEA OF LAST RESORT. Hardly a crime wherein capital punishment is the penalty, is com- mitted nowadays but what there is of- fered the plea of insgnity as an ex- | cuse for its commission. The country has experienced this from shore to shore, and today many cases in New England are balancing on the report of sanity experts. An important factor in carrying out such claims is money and it seems possible to get just as many experts of acknowledged ability for one side of a case as for the other. resort, as the necessary doubt can thus be aroused, and it has saved many from the noose or electric chair. Crime is of course committed oy persons in an abnormal state, so that the breaking into the criminal class is the result of a mind that is to some ex- tent unbalanced. Invariably, however, the crimes are well calculated, with a full knowledge of the consequences at- tending the same, from the many ex- amples that have been made of those who took the life of gnother. It is reasonable to suppose that if they pos- sess the cool cunning necessary o carry out their intentions that they know what they are doing and are de- termined to take the chance and ask for mercy. In the case of the man who plans to kill his victim, rather than the one who does it unpremeditated, the plea of insanity must be kept within the law, as a protection to society. More than one has sald that all are more or less insane, which makes it necessary for the alienists to draw the line pretty fine in declaring a criminal insane when he committed the crime, but that he has since recovered. This seems to be a means of circumventing the law which has sprung up in receni years, which, if it could be relied up- on every time, would soon put the criminal in a privileged class, EDITORIAL NOTES. The continuous rainy spell is not such an improvement upon a droutlh. Good roads, which the bicycle stim- ulated, are now bringing the wheel back into favor. Happy thought for today: Tt takes exoneration to drive the little nigger of prejudice out. The master of a motorcycle flies; but he always looks as though he was working his passage. The prospect of more than ordinary excitement at both national conven- tions is of course pleasing to the hotel men. Seattle has taken the proper step. Hereafter the stars and stripes will| alone be carried in parades. The red flag is barred. * It is better to have a tender regard for mother every day in the year than to wear a white carnation one day in memory of her, So great is the amount of advertis- that Baltimore i3 getting because of the democratic convention, it figures it is worth ten times the cost. The uncertainties of life are being added to in the face of plenty of warn- ing when an airghip flight is accepted, even with the best of aeronauts. The women’'s clubs of Maine have astonished the men by their ability to discuss state affairs, and by the| valuable statistics they have broughi out. An admiring southern editor has this to say of Champ Clark: “He is as hard to hate as a bale of cotton, and just about as likely to disturb anybody!” If Roosevelt should capture the re- publican nomination thers is no evi- dence whatever that the Ameri people will forget tradition and grat his ambition. n fy The reason Roosevelt doeg not meet President Taft on any issue is because | he has been with him on every issue. | Taft is not the political dodger, but | the people can see who is! There is a farm near Doniphan, Kas., which in 1892 was two miles from the river; and now it is only 270 feez: from the river, which is gnawing away the banks like a crocodile, { Uncle Joe Cannon celebrated his 76th birthday in Washington by at- tending a circus. He has been a ring | master 8o long that a circus has a peculiar fascination for him. As the subjects the Colonel is spend- ing his force upon are not national issues, and cannot be made so, it ia easy to see how he can let them go by the board should he win, liarmon 1s spending considerable ‘ime und talk on Bryan. He is evi- dently preparing for the future black horse, Having Nice Weather, This is a nation of jesters. We build 4 $2,000,000 moenument to Abraham Linealn and then compare him with :fiunol Roosevelt, -Milwuukes BSenti- | gether, THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE Rules for Young Woriters. 1. Write plainly on one side of the paper only and number the pages. 2. Us:(?en and ink, not pencil. 3. Short and pointed articles will be glven preference. 260 words. 4. Original storles or letters only will be used. 5. Write your name, age and ad- dress plainly at the bettom of the story. Address all communications to Un- cle Jed, Bulletin Office. Do not use over The Truly Brave. Who are the truly brave? The boy or girl with self con- ol, Who'd scorn to wrong a living soul! POETRY. The Violet. Sweet, lowly plant! onee more I bend To hail thy presence here, Like a beloved returning friend, From absence doubly dear. ‘Wer't thou forever in our sight, Might we not love thee less? But now thou bringest new delight— Thou still hast power to bless. Still doth thy April presence bring Of April joys a dream; ‘When life was in its sunny spring— A fair unrippled stream. And still thine exquisite perfume 1s precious as of old; And still thy modest tender bloom, It joys me to behold. It joys and cheers, where'er I see Pain or earth’s meek ones press, To think ihe storm that rends the tree, Scathes not thy lowliness. And thus may human weakness find, E'en in thy lowly flower, An image cheering to the mind, In many a trying hour, UNCLE JED'S TALK TO THE WIDE AWAKE CIRCLE. We told you last week that what we give out in breath helps the plants, and what the plants give out help us. We this week will consider the violet, which is now carpeting this portion of the earth with blue and which many Wide Awakes like to gather in the flelds. There are, perhaps, a soore of varieties of the violet, and it practical- 1y Dbelts the temperate zone of the earth with its flowers, and it would ibe interesting to know its name in all countries. The name we know it by comes from Viola, which is Latin for a wallflower, but in this country it grows more in the open field than near walls; in the east the violet is the pan- sy, and this is the most wonderful flower of the family. The French call it pansee—“a thought;” the Italians | call it flammola—"“the little flame;” the Greeks called it Ton for Io, a beau- tiful princess of Argos, whom Juno turned into a cow, and the little pan- sieg have many popular names in Eng- lish speaking countries, where they are known as heartsease, three-faces-un- der-a-hood (which perhaps made it the token of modesty in the language of flowers), and call-me-to-you (which is why it is also in some places regarded as a token of remembrance). It is a shy little flower, for the sweet violet never shows its seedflower, which is green and, like the blind gentian, never opens, but follows after its profusion of blue bloom. Our field violets em- ploy the insects to serve them, so they | have a honey pot, and the bees come for honey, and the violet sifts pollen upon their backs and they take it to other flowers to perfect the seed; and where blue and white violets grow close together the pollen is mixed by the hees, and blue and white violets are the result; and the violet has hon- ey-lines to direct the right insects to its honey, and fuzz to keep the insects away which will be of no service to them; and it grows in clumps and spreads so the flowers on new roots in new earth on the outside are best; and the inside roots get weaker and weak- er and d‘e, and the outside roots are always moving into new ground and making better flowers. This little plant is busy purifying the air like the big- gest tree, and is helping nature main- tain life-invigorating balances. LETTERS OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT. Hilda Driscoll, of Montville: ceived my prize book and was I re- very Boys and Girls Department glad to get it, because I did not expect it. I like it very much. Lolita M. Gay, of Norwich: I wish to thank you for the nice book I receiv- ed. It is very interesting. 1 enjoyed reading it very much. , Jeffrey Coit, of Norwich: Received the boek Thursday and have read it nearly through, Thanks very much. Hoping to win another prize. Alfreda Timayens, of Norwich: 1 thank you very much for the book. I was going to write to you before, but I was having an operation in Boston. I read the book through down in Bos- ton. Loretta Gregory, of Taftvillle: T wish to thank you very much for uh:.,a, nl(;e book you sent me. 1 enjoy reading it. PRIZE BOOK WINNERS. 1—Thomas Corcoran, of Taftville, “A Boy's Fortune, by Horatio Alger, Jr. 2—Harry Gleason, of Stonington, “The Young Bank Messenger,” by Ho- ratio Alger, Jr. 3—-Gertrude Kaminski, “Daddy’s Girl,” by Mrs. L. T. Meade. 4—Abbie F. Davidson, of Oxford, Mass,, “Adventures of a Brownie,” by Miss Mulock. 5—Charles Murphy, of “Down the Snow Stairs,” by Corkran. 6—Wilbur D. Hobby, of Gurleyville, “Pussblodgett’s Folks,” by Anna F. Burnham. 7—Marion Burdick, of Chaplin, “Wa ter Babies, by Charles Kingsley. 8—Alecia Haggerty, of Norwich, “Girls of the True Blue,” by Mrs. L. T. Meade Winners of books living in Nerwich may call at the business office of The Bulletin for them at any hour after 10 a. m. Thursday, or any. time there- after. of Norwich, Fitchville, Alice LITTLE ORIGINAL STORIES. An Ax to Grind. When 1 was a little boy, one cold winter morning [ was accosted by a smiling man with an ax on his sheul- er. ? “My pretty boy,” said he, “has your father a grindstone?” “Yes, sir,” said L “You are a fine little fellow,” sald “will you let me grind my ax on Pleased with the compliment of be- ing called “a fine little fellow,” I Te- lied: p"uh, yes, sir; it is down in the shop. . » “And will you, my man,” said he, patting me on the head, “get me a little hot water ?” How could 1 refuse? brought a kettleful. “I am sure,” continued he, “vou are Ionn of the finest lads that ever I have seen; will you turn a few minutes for I ran and soon me?” Pleased with the flattery, I went to and 1 toiled and tugged till I was almost tired to death. The school bell rang, and I could not get away; | my hands were blistered, and the asx was not half ground. At length, how- ever, it was sharpened, and the man | turned to me with: | “Now, vou little rascal, you've play- ;ml truant; be off to school, or you'll jrue AL | Alas! thought I, “it to turn a grindstone, but now to be | called a little rascal is too much.” | It sank deep into my mind, and often | I have thought of it since, | When I see a merchant over polite to his customers, methinks, “That man has an ax to grind.” THOMAS CORCORAN, Age 9. Taftville. | work; i is hard enough Johnnie and the Rabbit. One day Johnnie's mother told him to go down to the tree by the brook and get her a pail of black dirt for her flowers. So Johnnie took a shovel and pail and went down to the tree and began digging for the dirt. When he had a hole made in the ground a little rabbit jumped right out in his hands. He took his stocking off and | put the rabbit in it to carry home. His | mamma told him she would let him keep the rabbit for he was a good boy to get the dirt for her, so he made a nice little house for it and they are the best of friends. MARGARET WELSH, Age 7. Taftville. . Farm Notes. I am a country boy and live on & large farm with my uncle and aunt It is very pleasant on the farm and in | tha farmhouse. In summer we raise vegetables of all kinds, and large crops of corn and oats. Last year my uncle gave me spot of land to raise onions on. They did not grow very w for it was so dry that they possibly could not grow. Last summer I had lots of fun help- ing rake the hay and making loads and mowing it away. Nights and mornings I have my | chores to do. which is just fun. Early in the morning I take the dog and go for the cows, see to the sheep, feed the Amy and Bess were housekeeping for the day. Bess was visiting Amy and that morning Mrs. Rutledge, Amy's mother, had gone to spend the day with a friend who lived in a neighbor- ing suburb, 'he girls were quite ex- cited over the prospect of getting their own luncheon. “I do hope Mrs. Ryan won't coma in,” Amy remarked to Bess. Mrs. Ryan was a next-door neighbor, and such a pleasant one that Bess was surprised at the remark. “1 don't see why,” she exclaimed. “I thought you liked her.” “I do like her., But I don't want anybody to look after me. I can get on all right by myself,” Amy answered with her most independent air. But Bess looked a little doubtful. *T don't know,” she returned thoughtfully. “Sometimes I think it’s rather nice to be taken care of.” % They did the morning’'s work to- for they had refused to let Mrs. Rutledge do a thing, When Kitty Claiborne brought in a baked custard about 11 o'clock, explaining that her mother had been baking and had sent it over, Bess was surprised to catch a frown on Amy's face. “I suppose she thought we wouldn't know how to make u dessert for ourselves,” she ex- plained later. “Dear me, Amy! You're awfully independent, aren’t you sald Bess, much impressed. “Oh,« I don't care 'to have people do things for me. I'd rather look oul for myself.” After luncheon the girls declded that they would go to the park tor an hour or so, “We must lock the windows before we go out,” Amy said: “veu fix the kitchen windows, Bess, und I'll look after the front ones.” It happened that one of the kitchen windows was a little out of arder. The dapendent” AMY’S INDEPENDENCE And Amy sald again, | rope was broken, and the window was supported by a stick: Bess did net notice this. She struck the stick with her elbow, knocking it to the floor, and the window f¢ striking her arm. It was a wonder that t e arm was not broken, and the pain was so great that Bess nearly fainted. She tried to call to Amy, but only faint moans came to her 1ips, and her face was ashen. Amy locked the wihdows in the front of the honse, and then went back to see why Bess was so long, At the kitchen door she stopped. and screamed. Poor Bess was a rather terrifying object, and at the signt Amy lost her head. She clapped her hands over her ears. to shut out tha sound of Bess’' groans, and ran out of the front door and down the street. What Bess would have done if Kitty had not hapfened to look out of the window at that minute, it is impossi- ble to say. But almost as soon as Amy started on her way down the streer, Kitty was running to Bess' assist- ance. In a moment she had the win- dow up, releasing the poor, bruised wrist, and then she called Mrs. Ryan in, and between them they made Bess comfortable. Amy came to her senses after a time and went back, feeling very much ashamod of herself. She found Bess in the armchalr, her wrist bandaged and, though she was still rather pals she had reached the point where she I could smile, | Amy found It hard work to excuse | herself, “I suppose you're awfully | angry, Bess. But you looked so white that 1t scared me out of my wits. | ‘ulldn‘l know what 1 was doing.” | “I'm not angry a biL"” Bess returned [ taintly, “But I'm glad we had such | good nelghbors to look after me” Amy's cheeks reddened. “Yes" she acknowledged, quite humbly for her "1 guess it doesn’'t pay Lo be too |n- hens and horses and help around both ‘barns and get the wood, feed the little chickens, ducks and tus 8. My uncle and aunt are very kind people and do all they can to make it happy for me. A year ago last Christmas my aunt made me a present of two little guinea pigs which 1 named Cain and Abel. They are great fighters. One day they got out and were gone two weeks. ‘When they came back one’s head was bitten very badly. We all think they had been in a fight with a woodchuck. They fight with other anlmals, but are clever to humans. HARRY GLEASON, Age 13. Steningten. Behind Time, A condemned man was led out for execution. He had taken human life, but under circumstances of the great- est provocation, and public sympathy was active in his behalf. Thousands had signed petitions for a reprieve; a favorable answer had been expected the night before, and though it had not come, even the sheriff felt confident that it would yet arrive in season. Thus the morning passed, without the appearance of the messenger. The last moment was up. The prisoner took his place on the drop, the cap was drawn over his eyes, the bolt was drawn. Just at that moment a horse- man came into sight, galloping down hill, his steed covered with foam. He carried a packet in his right hand, which he waved rapidly to the crowd. He was the express rider wtih the re- prieve. But he had come too late. A comparatively innocent man had died an ignominious death because a watch had been flve minutes too slow, mak- ing its bearer arrive behind time. There are men who always fail in whatever they undertake, simply be- cause they are ‘behind time.” JOSEPH W. PRUE, Age 1L Eagleville. Sir Walter Raleigh. One day as Sir Walter Raleigh was sitting in his chair and smoking, his servant came into the room. The man saw the smoke curling over his master's head and he thought he was on fire. He ran out for some water, found a pail that was nearly full, and hurried back and threw the water into Sir Walter's face. Of course, the fire was all put out. After that a great many men learned to smoke. And now tobacco is used all over the world. It would have been well if Sir Walter Raleigh had lefit it alone. . HAROLD N. VARS, Age 12. “Norwich. The Story of Echo. Once upon a time there lived a king who had a very pretty daughter called Echo. He called her Echo because she liked to have the last word with every- body. One day her father told her some- thing and she answered back and said it wag not so. Her father got very angry and sent her to live in great forest all by herself. Here she lived a long time with no one to talk to. One day a young man had taken his little ssiter out in this forest and when he went to look for her she was gone. He called and called and finally he heard an answer, and he looked and saw Echo. He was very angry and went away. Kcho was very sorry and hid herself and never came out again: but if you go in a lonely spot and call she will answer yvou, but she will not show her- self. JAMES CRONIN, Age 9. Baltic. The Prize Pig. “Those are fine voung pigs,” said the farmer, looking into the sty. “Maybe one of them will win the prize at the show.” “Did you hear that?” squeaked a lit- tle pink pig. “With a complexion like this, I shall of course win the prize."” “G-r-r-r-!” grunted her brother. “Your complexion is8 no better than a baby’s. Now my tail is the most curly in the sty. You others will have no chance at all if I go to the show.” “Pooh!” said the pink pig. ‘‘Nobody will be able to see a tail ifke that with- out a magnifying glass.” This made the black pig cross. He bit his sister and she bit him back. They squeaked and grunted till they woke Mother Pig. “What is the matter?” asked she. “Which of us do you think will win the prize at the show?” asked they. “I hope neither of you will win it,” replied Mother Pig. “The prize is given to the fattest pig—which eats the most.” “T will eat pink pig. “I will eat more than you,” squeak- ed her brother. “And the pig which w the prize does not come back from the show,” continued Mother Pig. ‘It goes to the butcher’s and is turned into fat pork.” “My complexion isn't very geod, af- ter all,” said the pink pig, turning paJle, “and I am not at all hungry “I mean to stretch my tail until it grows straight,” remarked the black pig, “and 1 want only one meal a day.” BETH BATTERSBY, Age 14 Baltic. lots,” squeaked the little Margaret’s Conscience. Many years ago in the northern part of York, which w; one vast wilderness, lived a girl by the name of Margaret. Not far from the St. Law- rence river was her home, in a li log hut. She did not have any brothers or sisters, so she was obliged to amuse herself most of the time One day she spent many unhappy hours, because she did not obev her conscience. This day she seemed very lonely, and =0 she stole int ting room, and looking at th the s listened to its tickiing. She thought it seemed to say “Do right, little girl, do right, do | right.” She wanted to touch the long pen dulum, but still she could hear it sa “Den’t touch. don’t touch.” She did not intend 1o stop the clock from ticking. hut it seemed very tpmpi- ing for her to touch the pendulum So walking slowly up to the clock she touched the pendulum and to her surprise the clock ceased ticking, She Was very sorry she had done it Her father happened to walk in and looking up at the clock =aid “Some one has been meddling.’ Margaret said: “T did it. Is it really broken?” The clock was not broken, but Mar- garet was so frightened that I think she always obeved her conscience after that. EDITH W. PLATT, Age 12. Warrenviile. Two Little Friends. There is a spare room in my house and every vear some bird builds i3 nest in . and th two sparrows have hullt a nest T happened to be up there one da looking for something when 1 saw two sparrows twittering. T opened the win- dow and found that one of them had a broken wing. I took it and cared for it until it was well, and now it is quite tame. I let it go the other dav and found that it could not fly. But it tried. and tried, but in vain. It could not go where it wanted to. So I carried it up to the blind and left it there. When its mate came there was very much twittering. Both of them will eat out of my hand and sit on my shoulder. GERTRUDE KAMINSKI, Age 12, ear there Norwich, Bad Appres. One day Robert's father saw him playing with some bad boys. He had known for soma time that hig gan was learning bad habits, and now he knew the cause. He was very sorry, but ha thought it best not to punish Robert at the time. In the evening he t from the orchard six beautiful appl He gave them to Robert, telling him to la&y them away for a few days until they became mellow. Robert thanked his father and put them away in the pantry. Just as he wag putting them away hig father laid on the plate a seventh apple which was quite rotten and asked Robert to let it stay there. “Father,” said Robert, “the rottem apple will spoil all the others.” .. Bight days afterwards he asked his son to open the door of the pantry and take sui the apples. “'Oh, father!” he cried. “This is just what 1 expected when you told me to leave the rotten apple on the plate.” “My boy,” said his father, “T have often told you not to play with bad boys; for, just as the rotten apple has spoiled all the good ones, so the com- pany of such boys will make you bad.” Robert never forgot the lesson which his father had thus taught him. When any of the bad boys who had once been his playmates asked him to join in their play, he thought of the rotte@ apple and turned away from the ALICIA HAGGERTY, Age Narwich. —— How Ruth Settled It. “Here comes mamma,” said Ruth. “Q mamma, must [ save some candy foy: (frace?" ‘I think a good little s sald Mrs. Ford. “But Grace didn't her: ter would,” give me any of like idn't she? that?” “Well, T thought it was real mean.” “Dear me! Then mamma is going to have two mean girie?" Ruth stood for a moment—for omly a moment-—they darted into her moth- er's arms. “No, no!” she sobbed. sure Grace forgot.” “Now I'm happy said “I have two kind girls.” FNNIE M'SHEFFERY, Age 13, LETTERS TO UNCLE JED. Why the Little Girl Was Crying. Dear Uncle Jed: Left out in the cold, a lady called one day at a house wher'a there were three children—a boy and two girls. It happened that the boy had the whooping cough and one of the girls had the measles, and every one was petting and making much of them. The other little girl sat in a corner, erying as if her heart would break. The lady went over to her and asked “What {s the matter™ The c¢hild stopped crying for a mo- ment and sald, sobbing: “Oh. dear! They've all got measles and whooping cough, and T haven't got anything! Oh, de: and she burst out crying again as hard as ever. MONICA DONOVAN, Age 11 Taftvilie. How did you “I am almomt Mrs. Ford. Charles Likes to Farm. Dear Uncle Jed: 1 am going to tell you the kind of work I like the best. I am living in a village now, but when the weather gets a little warmer I will go farming. I like the work very much and it will soon be time to get prepared for it. I think a farmer has a lot to con- tend with, He has the cattle and horses to take care of and when it comes spring he will have to get the ground prepared to plant 1 like to plant and take care of the crops: but when it is time to go haying, a fellow will do a good deal of sweating some days during haying. T work very hard. Sometimes it comes up showery and we have to hustle to get the hay in from the rain. After this work is done the har- vesting Is ready: but I do not do much of that work for it is then time to go to school, and I go back to my place of knowledge. CHARLES MURPHY, Age 14. Fitchville. Anna’s Pet Dog. Unele Jed: 1 read the stories and letters in the Wide Awake circle and I am very much interested in them. I am eleven years old and I am in the seventh grade. My teacher's name Is Miss Sayles, 1 have a brother. His name is Hen- ry. He is twelve years old. We have a farm of about 150 acres, gix cows, ona horse, ome pair of cat tle, one goat named Jehnie, one dog named Topsy and one cat, Our dog ir vVery affectionate and she is also gentle. If we throw a ball to her she will cateh it and bring it back to us. She is a collie dog, parg sghepherd. ANNA SCHRIEFER, Age Columbia. Our Schoel. Dear 1'ncle Jed: There are thirtwe one scholars in my school. My tea er's name is Miss Eva M. Spaulding. I like her very much, and I think the other scholars do, too. I have a sister, Alexina, and brother, jeorge, who attend the same schoo Alexina is six years old and George is nine I,have been wm in the fifth grade. scholars in my grade, I study the following subjects: Lan- guage, arithmetic, histor writing, reading, geograph spelli and phys fology. 1 like reading the best Your niece, BERTHA Warrenville o school five yvears and There are six BASSE Age 12, My Home and Myself. ncle Jed: | home. It is in { twenty houses, & church, a schoolhouse, two silk mills, grist mil's, and a saw and shingle mill, It is sit uated between hills. It reminds | me of birds in a nest name was derived from m Great-great-grandfather riey. The | way I know this, my grandmother and 1 piayed -Robinson Crusoe. She pui | the last letter down =0 she had to teil a story. She tald about Gurieyvilla [ am now attending school My teacher's name is Miss Frances M, | Bliss. T like her very much. We have | about five weeks maore hefore the long barefooted will tell yeu Gurleyvilla, vith only store, & Dear 1 my | whic two Its | ts vacation; then I will go | when It i warm enough. and play | and be as happy as the birds In the treeg: and be delighted to paddle in the r;nnls after a pleasant rain. T will now close, 80 goodh: WILBUR D. HOBBY, Age 10 | Gurleyville, { My Dog Dewey. | Dear Uncle Jed: I thought I would write and tell you about the little dog we used ‘to. have. He was a fox terrier Papa brought him home to us when he was a tiny little puppy six weeks | 0id, and he was just as cute and pretty as he could be. We named him Dewey. He loved to go out in the fields ane woods with us and chase the squir- | rel When the chickens were scratching in the flower beds we would say: “Look out for the chickens, Dewey! and away he would run and drive them around the yard in a hurry; but he never hurt them. Dewey disliked music very much, and when anyone ed or sang he would whine and ery in a most doleful man- ner. One sad day Dewey ran away down- town and was killed by the eleotric cars. Wa all felt very sorry Grandpa brought him home in a bag and we buried him under our crab ap- pla_tree. We have never cared mucn for any dog wince. Your little friend, ABBIE F. DAVIDSON, Age 10, Oxford, Mass .