Harness  theStream 
ZT/Sf?  RURAL  NEW-YORKER 
physic-ifing  who  treat  patients  afflicted 
with  these  diseases  advise  them  to  ab¬ 
stain  from  the  use  of  alcohol  while  under 
treatment.  Some  of  the  makers  of  these 
kidney  dopes  also  advise  their  customers 
not  to  use  alcoholic  drinks,  at  the  very 
time  that  they  are  dosing  them  with  the 
strongest  kind  of  liquor.  There  seems  to 
he  no  doubt  that  these  so-called  remedies 
are  merely  substitutes  for  rum.  They 
are  practically  worthless  as  remedies,  but 
actually  harmful,  not  only  because  of  the 
amount  of  alcohol  they  contain  in  its  ef¬ 
fect  upon  the  system,  but  because  they 
establish  the  taste  for  liquor.  A  case  is 
reported  to  us  where  a  man  died  after 
several  years  of  ill  health,  and  it  was 
found  that  he  had  swallowed  three  bar¬ 
rels  of  one  of  these  remedies,  and  paid 
for  it  at  the  rate  of  nearly  one  dollar  a 
bottle.  There  is  no  wonder  lie  died,  and 
the  wonder  is  that  his  heirs  had  any¬ 
thing  left  after  he  passed  away. 
I  am  a  woman  and  just  exactly  50.  in 
good  health,  and  with  no  encumbrances 
unless  an  unwilling  husband  and  daugh¬ 
ter  could  be  considered  as  such. 
That  is  from  a  woman  who  wants  to 
go  back-to-the-land  and  grow  garden 
truck.  She  has  had  a  little  experience 
in  a  small  garden,  and  thinks  she  can  re¬ 
peat  on  a  larger  place.  It  may  seem 
cruel  to  Ml  her  so,  but  we  cannot  see 
one  chance  in  10  for  her  to  succeed.  Our 
sympathies  are  with  the  unwilling  hus¬ 
band  and  daughter  in  such  a  case,  for  no 
house  could  stand  with  such  encum¬ 
brances  attached  to  it.  Back-to-the-land- 
ing  is  one  business  which  requires  the 
most  thorough  cooperation  on  the  part 
of  all  the  family  members. 
WOMAN  AND  HOME 
In  the  Christmas  number  we  men¬ 
tioned  the  unfortunate  position  in  which 
some  middle-aged  men  find  themselves 
when  the  wife  dies  and  children  find 
homes  of  their  own.  We  spoke  of  the 
women  on  a  small  farm  who  need  such 
help  as  one  of  these  men  could  give. 
Already  more  than  20  such  men  have 
applied.  As  usual  there  are  all  sorts  of 
propositions.  Here  is  part  of  the  letter 
from  one  man,  who  evidently  does  not 
believe  in  commission  sales : 
As  you  are  in  the  farm  auction  busi¬ 
ness.  I  will  try  to  establish  a  precedent 
by  putting  myself  up  to  the  highest  bid¬ 
der.  I  will  form  a  partnership  deal  for 
a  number  of  years,  or  if  my  partner 
wants,  1  will  draw  the  papers  up  before 
a  minister.  Now  ruy  choice  would  be  a 
lone  woman  between  20  and  70,  with¬ 
out  near  relations;  a  200-acre  farm, 
good  land,  somewhat  run  down  and  di¬ 
lapidated,  with  timber  enough  on  place 
to  make  improvements;  the  mortgage 
not  larger  than  one-half  to  two-thirds 
what  the  farm  is  worth.  Then  turn  mo 
loose  to  improve  land  ami  pay  that  mort¬ 
gage  to  keep  me  from  growing  rusty  in 
the  next  ten  years. 
He  surely  allows  the  lady  u  wide 
margin.  We  are  asked,  however,  why 
such  men  always  insist  that  the  woman 
should  own  a  farm  or  have  some  other 
property  which  they  are  to  manage!  It 
is  understood  that  in  all  these  cases  we 
do  not  give  addresses  without  permis¬ 
sion.  Letters  are  simply  sent  to  the 
interested  parties,  who  use  their  own 
judgment  about  replying. 
Miss  Lotisk  Cai.dwkij,  of  the  Kan¬ 
sas  Agricultural  College  warns  Kansas 
housewives  against  reckless  and  indis¬ 
criminate  buying  of  kitchen  equipment. 
We  are  afraid  that  some  of  these  farm 
women  who  have  to  go  out  to  the  pump 
for  water,  and  have  nothing  hut  a  leaky 
box  for  a  sink,  will  not  be  likely  to  prove 
very  reckless  in  the  purchase  of  their 
equipment.  We  would  like  to  see  them, 
however,  just  try  their  hand  once  with 
capital  enough  to  do  some  indiscriminate 
buying.  It  Certainly  would  add  to  their 
happiness,  if  it  didn’t  add  to  the  family 
hank  account.  There  is  no  reason  in 
the  world  why  the  kitchen  should  not 
A  New  York  physicinn.  Dr.  Charles  bt'  *•*  “  sa"i,“I  J’  »ml  “> 
Tiitnam,  with  the  hearty  cooperation  of 
his  wife,  has  adopted  nine  little  children 
— all  of  them  ill  when  first  taken  into 
the  Putnam  home.  Many  people  feel  at 
limes  that  they  would  like  to  adopt,  or 
care  for,  a  child,  but  they  demand  beau¬ 
tiful,  healthy  children  with  good  minds 
and  natural  faculties  that  will  make  such 
adoption  a  pleasure.  No  one  wants  the 
poor  little  sick  child  who  most  of  all 
needs  home  and  tender  care.  Thus  the 
most  needy  and  deserving  children  are 
passed  by.  I>r.  Putnam  has  taken  sick 
children,  cared  for  them  and  cured  them, 
and  given  them  legal  rights,  and  we  do 
nor  know  of  any  finer  spirit  of  modern 
philanthropy  than  this  beautiful  work. 
It  is  a  serious  questiou  as  to  whether  it 
is  wise  to  adopt  such  children  and  give 
them  full  legal  rights  with  the  members 
of  your  own  family.  From  our  own  ex¬ 
perience  we  should  hesitate  to  advise 
such  adoption,  but  it  is  a  fine  thing  to 
take  these  little  ones  who  have  no  chance 
and  help  them  to  a  well-nourished  body 
and  a  well-trained  brain. 
'HE  double  value  in 
the  Hansen 
building  of  gloves  and  gauntlets 
is  that  you  have  every  physical 
comfort  with  the  moral  advantage  of 
confidence. 
Confidence  that  any  Hansen  will  &ive 
exactly  the  desired  decree  of  pro¬ 
tection  against  weather  and  wear. 
Confidence  that  your  finders,  wrist 
and  fist  are  unhampered  —  free  and 
efficient. 
Confidence  that  you  are  wearing  the 
£vlove  approved  by  &ood  taste  in  style, 
Stand  design.  Confidence  that  Hansen 
leathers  are  unmatched  for  softness 
with  strength  and  “iuve,”  with  lon£ 
wear  and  economy  always. 
Write  for  free  book  with  proof  of  the  wide 
versatility  of  the  Hansen  line.  500  styles 
(many  illustrated),  for  motorinfe,  driving, 
semi-dress,  work  and  areny  need.  Also  styles 
for  the  women  and  children. 
If  your  dealer  is  not  supplied,  write  us  direct, 
write  for  book  now  anyway. 
O.  C.  Hansen  Manufacturing  Co. 
136-AF  Detroit  St.  Milwaukee,  Wis. 
Make  yur  own  electricity.  It's 
.cheaper  than  kerosene  if  you  have  a 
\  brook  with  a  few  feet  fall.  One  horse- 
rtk  power,  running  constantly,  will  give 
At  electric  lights,  running  water,  and 
■l  power. 
II  Thnusamls  of  farms  have  been 
■  I  modernised  at  small  cost  by  the 
Ij. -•  FITZ 
Steel  Water  Wheel 
ylfof  It  develops  the  full  power  of 
fll/j/  the  stream,  needs  no  care,  costs 
11/ jhff.  nothing  to  run,  lasts  \  lifetime. 
wUfft  a  t;i*r  stream  it  runs  all 
iaflliH'  the  form  machinery. 
ijlj  Measure  your  own  stream — 
yff  our  tree  book  tells  how. 
Fitz  Water  Wheel  Co. 
\  103  George  St  ,  Ha  over.  Pa. 
\jr  Makers  of  all  types  of  a  iter  wheels 
A  Happy  Family,”  as  All  Co-operative  Societies  Should  Be 
equipped  as  the  burn  or  the  workshop 
The  live  stock  in  the  house  ought  to  b< 
put  far  ahead  in  comfort  of  the  live  stock 
out  in  the  barn. 
Summer.  Wo  could  got  a  stereopticon  ma¬ 
chine  from  a  reliable  company,  who  fur¬ 
nish  short  lectures  with  their  plates.  We 
could  give  popular  lectures  on  the 
Panama  (’anal,  the  Yellowstone  National 
Park,  Foreign  Lands,  etc.,  and  charge  a 
small  admission,  the  funds  to  be  used  for 
better  tilings  along  the  same  lines.  It 
would  be  instructive  as  well  as  entertain¬ 
ing.  but  the  main  idea  would  he  the  get- 
together  movement  for  the  people  in  gen¬ 
eral  around  here.  Through  the  medium 
of  the  pictures,  etc.,  this  community 
could  be  gradually  welded  into  some¬ 
thing  that  would  be  a  big  help  to  all  in 
many  ways,  hut  especially  to  keep  the 
hoys  and  girls  on  the  farm  and  make 
the  life  a  little  less  monotonous,  espe¬ 
cially  in  the  Winter.  What  do  you  think 
of  my  idea  ?  g.  l.  a. 
Michigan. 
I  he  papers  record  the  death  of  II. 
(!.  Smith,  who  weighed  415  pounds.  Mr. 
Smith  seems  to  have  been  a  philosopher 
of  more  than  ordinary  wisdom.  The  fat 
man,  the  lean  man,  the  bald-headed  man 
or  he  with  a  big  nose  will  always  at¬ 
tract  attention  and  people  ask  them 
foolish  questions.  Mr.  Smith  carried  a 
card  on  the  back  of  which  was  printed: 
“I  am  informed  that  I  commenced  get¬ 
ting  bigger  right  after  birth.  Yes.  I  am 
stout.  I  weigh  about  415  pounds,  I  have 
weighed  more.  Yes,  I  have  tried  to  re¬ 
duce  iny  weight,  and  gained  15  pounds. 
Yes.  warm  weather  affects  me.  I  eat  the 
best  food  I  can  buy  and  plenty  of  it.  I 
sleep  well,  and  my  health  is  generally 
good.  You  will  do  me  a  kindness  if  you 
never  mention  rheumatism.  I  am  six 
feet  three  inches  tall,  my  hat  is  71-.,  my 
shoes  10,  my  collar  21.  Yes,  my  clothes 
are  made  to  order.  Yes,  occasionally; 
and  so  do  my  friends.” 
When  he  saw  a  man  looking  at  him 
ami  about  to  ask  questions  Smith  would 
hand  him  this  card  and  thus  anticipate 
his  questions.  Here  is  a  good  suggestion 
for  heading  off  some  of  the  talkers  who 
insist  upon  asking  questions  when  they 
meet  one  who  carries  an  affliction.  They 
do  not  stop  to  consider  that  the  afflicted 
one  may  be  sensitive  or  shy.  The  card 
ought  to  stop  them ! 
It  is  remarkable  how  much  discussion 
there  now  is  about  sweeping  powders. 
There  was  a  time  when  the  housewife 
simply  took  the  broom  and  raised  a  dust. 
Now  everywhere  people  are  telling  you 
to  scatter  some  damp  material  on  the 
floor  to  hold  the  dust  and  prevent  it  from 
rising.  Most  of  these  powders  appear 
to  be  made  of  a  combination  of  sawdust, 
sand  and  oil,  hut  tea  leaves  are  fre¬ 
quently  used,  and  also  scraps  of  damp 
paper.  The  writer  once  took  the  job  of 
sweeping  out  several  big  buildings,  and 
in  those  days  there  was  nothing  better 
than  sawdust  well  dampened  with  water, 
with  a  small  quantity  of  oil  mixed 
through  it. 
* 
“I  saw  a  smith  stand  with  his  hammer, 
thus, 
The  whilst  bis  iron  did  on  the  anvil  cool. 
With  open  mouth  swallowing  a  tailor’s 
news.” 
That  is  the  way  Shakespeare  illus¬ 
trates  the  folly  of  listening  to  idle  gos¬ 
sip.  Do  we  not  all  know  of  people  who 
do  this  very  thing — letting  the  important 
business  of  life1  go  while  they  listen  to 
worse  than  idle  stories?  Possibly  some 
of  us  could  look  into  the  glass  and  see 
such  an  offender.  Very  likely  if  we  could 
have  the  time  spent  in  discussing  things 
that  are  useless  or  worse  we  could  put 
every  road  in  the  country  into  good  work¬ 
ing  order.  This  same  time  employed 
with  energy  to  real  labor  would  put  light 
and  heat  and  water  into  every  house. 
Some  people  waste  money,  others  waste 
time,  and  some  do  both  at  once. 
If  this  farm  paper 
doesn’t  make  you 
happier,  stop  it  and 
getyour  money  back 
No  preaching  —  but  nearly 
1,000,000  homes  are  better  places 
to  live  in  because  there’s  one 
paper  that  feels  and  voices  the 
real  needs  of  the  fanner  and  his 
family,  as  well  as  the  needs  of 
his  acres  and  his  stock. 
Have  you  the  time  to  read  a  paper 
that  makes  you  gl«id  you  live  in  the 
glorious  country?  Send  $1  for  five  years; 
or  write  for  free  sample  of  Farm 
Journal  and  free  copy  of  Poor  Richard 
Almanac  for  1916.  Write  today  to 
The  Farm  Journal 
130  Washington.  Square,  Philadelphia 
It.  N.-Y. — As  a  general  plan  your  idea 
is  good.  Each  plan  of  this  sort  is  a 
special  one,  and  the  local  conditions  and 
spirit  of  the  people  must  be  considered. 
General  plans  arc  useful,  but  to  make 
it  a  full  success  some  one  must  study 
the  locality  and  use  great  tact  and  pa¬ 
tience  in  handling  local  tastes  or  preju¬ 
dices.  Send  to  the  Agricultural  Depart¬ 
ment  at  Washington  and  also  to  the 
State  College  at  Fast  Lansing,  Mich., 
for  pamphlets  and  documents.  Study 
these  thoroughly  and  then  try  to  adapt 
the  suggestion  to  your  local  needs. 
The  U.  S.  Government  is  after  the 
manufacturers  of  so-called  “kidney 
cures,”  and  it  has  been  able  to  show  up 
several  of  them  as  frauds.  Many  of  these 
so-called  “cures"  contain  from  40  to  50 
per  cent,  of  alcohol,  probably  in  the  form 
of  brandy.  The  Department  stales  that 
alcohol  is  a  medical  irritant,  dangerous 
in  mn n>  cases  of  kidney  disease'.  The 
Cranberry  Pie. — One  cup  cranberries 
cut  in  half,  wash  to  remove  seeds;  one 
cup  sugar  mixed  with  berries,  also  one- 
half  cup  chopped  raisins;  two  even  table- 
spoonfuls  flour;  good  pinch  salt;  one  tea- 
spoonful  vanilla ;  one  cup  cold  water. 
Duke  with  two  crusts.  MRS.  c.  u. 
