3o4 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER 
April 27 
•■PEDIGREE OR INFLUENCE." 
The other morning before I got the fire well 
started, one of the neighbors caine in a great 
hurry to say that a little baby had been aban¬ 
doned and left on the sidewalk. My wile is greatly 
interested in a society that makes a business of 
caring for such poor little outcasts, and locating 
them in good homes—so that they shall not grow 
up In the poorhouse. She wasn’t long in getting 
around to the pooiunaster’s, where that baby was, 
and just as I left home, back she came carrying a 
little bundle wrapped in an old shawl. When I 
got home at night, there was the little thing curled 
up in a big basket before the fire, with some of our 
own baby's clothes on. What a poor little skinny 
thing it was ! All bones and wrinkles—with little 
bird-claw hands. Its clothes were coarse and 
roughly made. Some heartless scoundrel had 
just dropped it on the sidewalk, and left it. Two 
little notes written on coarse, brown paper were 
pinned to the clothing—one apparently from its 
mother saying that she could not care for it any 
longer, and the other telling the finder to give it 
oat-meal water and milk if it cried. That was 
all. All trace of the identity of this little life 
wiped out in a night. 
* 
That was a curious thought, and it brought up 
a train of others as I sat holding our own little 
girl by the side of that poor waif. What a con¬ 
trast between those two children ! One bright, 
clean, healthy and fat, and the other weak, skinny 
and poor, clothed in filthy rags and feeble from 
neglect. One baby measured in her future devel¬ 
opment just about all the hope and ambition of 
her parents. That little life meant so much more 
to work and plan for, so much more to be thought¬ 
ful and earnest about, so that when she came up 
to womanhood, you could feel that most of your 
mistakes and failures were to die with you in¬ 
stead of being grafted on her. The other, a poor 
foundling—homeless, its very name and pedigree 
wiped out—destined to go through life with a cloud 
of disgrace hanging over it. Nobody cared for 
it! Nobody loved it ! If it were to die, who 
would grieve for it, or tenderly cherish its mem¬ 
ory for years ? There they were, side by Bide, two 
little atoms of humanity with life all before 
them. One blessed with love and hope, and the 
other cursed with dishonor and disgrace. What 
a contrast ! One might say at first thought that 
the great social gulf between them, could never 
be filled, and that the poor, abandoned waif could 
never hope to fight its way out of the lower class 
of society. 
* 
But is that true? The history of thousands 
upon thousands of American men and women will 
give it the lie direct. There is a good deal in pedi¬ 
gree, I admit. I am not going to discuss the pedi¬ 
grees of those two babies. It wouldn’t be modest 
in me to discuss the good qualities of the home 
baby’s parents. We have no respect for man or 
woman who will throw away his own child, so 
we will not discuss the little waif’s parents. My 
belief is that if that little neglected atom of 
humanity can be brought up in a good Christian 
home, and made to feel that those about him love 
him, and take interest in his future, he can make 
his mark in the world. Give him strength of 
body and mind to resist disease and evil. Give 
him hope, faith and courage, and let him realize 
that some one is right back of him—wishing him 
well, and he will grow up to manhood, ready to 
face the world and prove anew the old truth that 
“ Lowliness is young amoition’s ladder 1 ” 
You can tell me all you want to about “inherited 
traits and taints”—you give that little foundling 
the right influences in his early days, and build 
up and strengthen the good in him, and he’ll make 
a good man in spite of his present disgrace. Or 
to reverse the picture, take our own little 
baby and let her have her own way without check, 
and the chances are that she will turn out a bad 
woman in spite of all our love and care, and in 
spite of her great pedigree that I am too modest 
to picture fully ! My advice to you is not to brag 
much about your baby’s pedigree, but to see that 
its home influences are what they should be ! 
* 
Well, now, I had no idea of running off into 
such a sermon when I started. I started out to 
talk business. What! Talk business in connection 
with those babies ? Certainly! It’s business that 
keeps the world on the move, and holds families 
together. It costs money to feed babies. When a 
newspaper man undertakes to keep little side¬ 
walk foundlings out of the poorhouse, and starts 
out to prove that human life isn’t all determined 
by pedigree—why we’ve got to do more business 
get more subscribers, publish a little better paper, 
and so on! That’s as plain as a mud fence. 
Therefore we don’t hesitate to make a practical 
application of our theory of human life. 
Some people write in that they would like very 
much to send us a few subscriptions, but- 
“ I guess I’m not much of an agent.” “I haven’t 
got the gift of gab.” “Somehow I don’t seem to 
know how,” etc. Now, gentlemen, we might just 
as well say that, because that little foundling’s 
parents are knaves and heartless wretches, it’s 
no.use to try to raise him—better throw him into 
a tub of water and done with it! No, we purpose 
to let influence and well-directed effort beat bad 
pedigree. You say that you are not a born agent! 
How do you know that, when you haven’t really 
tried? Life must have a dismal aspect to you if 
you really sit down and admit that you can't 
muster at least a part of the courage and per¬ 
sistence of those who are going to walk off with 
pianos and buggies on May 1, as a result of their 
subscription work. They were not “ born agents ” 
by any means. They just forced themselves to 
keep at it. Now we have used strong language 
at you this week, and we want it to sink into your 
minds, and hooked on to our idea. That idea is that 
May 1 ends the premium contest. Come in on the 
home stretch with a good club , and one of the 
premiums will be yours. Forward ! 
CROP AND MARKET NOTES. 
The first Norfolk asparagus came in early in 
the week. 
The first Florida Wax beans sold for $3.50 to $4 
per crate. 
Chicago wheat prices have advanced, and the 
market is active. 
Bermuda potatoes and onions were pretty 
closely cleaned up this week. 
Asparagus shipments from New Jersey will 
probably begin during the week. 
A very few of the best Florida tomatoes have 
sold for $6 and upward per carrier. 
While prices of dressed meats are high, those of 
eggs are low, and these will be much more largely 
used. 
Importations of prunes are more than double 
those of one year ago. What’s the matter with 
California ? 
The export trade in cattle and dressed beef is 
very light. There are two causes for this: prices 
are higher here, rendering it less profitable, and 
the sources of supply for the European countries 
are being extended. 
(Continued on next page.) 
£Ui£ccUancou£ 
IN writing to advertisers, please always mention 
The Rural Nkw-Yohkkk. 
Better Crops 
result from use of fertilizers rich in potash. Most fertilizers sold 
do not contain 
Sufficient Potash 
to insure the best results. The results of the latest investigations 
of the use and abuse of potash are told in our books. 
They are sent free. It will cost you nothing to read them, and they will save you 
dollars. GERMAN KALI WORKS, 93 Nassau Street, New York. 
DARLING’S r» E FERTILIZERS 
PURE FINE BONE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS. 
Complete for all Crops ; quick in action, lasting in the soil. Send for Catalogue 
and Prices, and see what we offer for 1895. 
L. B. DARLING FERTILIZER COMPANY, Pawtucket, R. I. 
More Oats and Straw, More Large Potatoes, 
More Corn and Stalk, More Vegetables, 
More Luscious Fruit, More Growth of Young Trees and Shrubs, 
FOLLOW THE JUDICIOUS USE OF THE 
Made by THE CLEVELAND DRYER COMPANY, who have made a full line of scientifically-made 
Fertilizers for different soils and crops. We makegoods that insure a profit for those who use them. Nitrate 
Soda—Sulphate Potash—Muriate Potash—Sulphate Ammonia—Ilried Flesh—Dried Blood—Soluble Phosphoric 
Acid—always on hand for those desiring to compound their own formulas. 
THE CLEVELAND DRYER CO., 130 Summit St., Cleveland, Ohio. 
apwi! fmmmmg 
^Successful farmers use 13 
B Bowker’s 
B Fertilizers, 
SI - Because they are made rich,— 
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— They contain just the materials—^ 
which experience has shown to be—* 
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For sale by agents. —^ 
Agents wanted where we have none.—« 
Illustrated catalogue free. —^ 
Jt^nnu/i/rp fertilizer co., ^ 
DUnlxLlI New York & Boston. 
^bmwhhuhhunmmmi? 
FERTILIZERS 
■ HUBBARD & CO- 10 Id 
—Special brands for all 
crops. Dealers and con¬ 
sumers address 
10 Light St., Baltimore, Md. 
THERE’S NO DIRT IN OURS! 
The following are the guaranteed analyses of 
Albert’s Highly Concentrated Manures: 
Brand. 
Nitrogen 
Per cent. 
Arailalbe 
Ph.Acid. 
Per cent. 
Potash. 
Per cent. 
Horticultural. .. 
12.00 
13.00 
21.00 
Garden. 
12.00 
14 00 
20 00 
Special Garden. 
13.25 
11.50 
26.00 
Vineyard. 
13.00 
11.00 
28.00 
Fruit Tree. 
6.00 
18.00 
36 00 
Compare with the analysis of the brand you are 
now using. Prices and booklet on request. 
ROBT. L. MERWIN &, CO. 
88 Wall Street, New York. 
DIAMOND 
D 
ASHES 
OUK UNLEACHED HARDWOOD ASHES are the 
best in the world. Prof. Robinson, Florida State 
Chemist, in the Florida Bulletin, July, 1890. gave this 
brand first place over all other wood ashes on the 
market. For analysis and prices address 
The C. E. DePUY COMPANY, 
STOCKBRIDGE, MICH. 
We ship our best 
Screened Canada 
Unleached 
Hardwood 
ASHES 
at bottom prices. Analysis and Weight Guaranteed 
Address THE FOREST CITY WOOD ASH CO., 
No. 9 Merchants Row. Boston. Mass 
DAYTONO^ ,J IN USE. 
Largest Rake Factory 
in the World. 
If you see our name or the Tiger’s 
Head on an implement 
YOU KNOW ITS GOOD. 
We want you to know all about 
THE FAMOUS TIGER LINE 
OF IMPLEMENTS. 
Cut this out and mail to us when 
you write for catalogue describing 
our Rakes, Harrows, Tedders, 
Loaders, Side Delivery Rakes, 
Mowers, Drills, Corn and Bean 
Planters, Transplanters and the 
rest. DO IT NOW, F 7 
Stoddard Mfg. Co., Dayton, Ohio 
ODORLESS GUANO 
MINERAL UUHHU 
delivered at your 
nearest station, for 
#> 20.00 per ton. 
Agents wanted in every farming town. Send foi 
circulars to THE FOREST CITY WOOD ASH CO. 
No. 9 Merchants Row. Boston. Mass 
Buckeye Wrought Iron Punched Kail Fence. 
Alio manufacture™ of Iron Creating, Iron Turbine and 
Buckeye Wind Engine., Buckeye Force Pump., 
Buckeye, Globe and Champion Lawn Mowers. Send 
for lUuHtrated Catalogue and Prices to 
MAST, FOOS & CO. SPRINGFIELD. O- 
0C A.. C ft f or MACHINES to weave your 
03 10 OOiwU fence at 18 to 2 oe. per rod. 
Weaves 100 rods per day. Strongest indorsements- 
Send for illustiated pamphlet, giving valuable in¬ 
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agents to sell fence and machines. Mention this paper. 
STANDARD WIRE FENCE CO., 
2 Main Street, Canandaigua, N. Y. 
If It were, we would win it just as we do now, 
for we stand ready to guarantee our fence to 
be the strongest of all wire fences made. 
We do not ask you to take anybody’s figures 
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bona fide test of the real article. On the 
other hand, if a fence must be “vigilant,” 
| “active” and “brave,” there is no use looking 
further than the Page. It’s the oniy live 
fence. “Dead” soft wire fences are exempt. 
PAGE WOVEN WIRE FENCE CO.,Adrian,Mich- 
KEYSTONE 5!E8S»" IRE 
For farm purposes. Have you seen it ? Before 
purchasing, be sure to send for our 1895 catalogue 
It wil interest you 
Keystone Woven Wire Fence Go., 
No. 49 Locust Street, TREMONT. ILL. 
CABLED FIELD AND HOC FENCE: 
Steel Web Picket Lawn Fence: Steel Gates, Steel 
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DeKALB FENCE CO., * i HighSt.,DeKalb,Ill. 
NEW ANGLE STEEL POST 
PLAIN WIRE FENCE. 
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direct. Write for circulars. Agents wanted. 
HOMER STEEL FENCE CO.. HOMER, MICH. 
MACHINES 
SUPERIOR MFG. CO. Martinsville .0. 
