THE RURAL WEW-YORKIR. 
i 
- Oi^course, uoneof our rondel’s would think 
of being foolish enough to permit themselves 
to lie swindled like the “terrible examples” in 
the following cases, but some of their neigh¬ 
bors who have to borrow the paper may: A 
unique swindler has been exposed in Spring- 
field, Ohio. He first had printed elaborate 
letter heads reading: “Miami 1,umber Co. A. 
Barclay, Manager. Dressed Lumber, &C. 
Cash (mid for Logs of all kinds. Springfield, 
Ohio.” On the sheet he wrote letters to men 
here and there, generally telling of the acci- 
dental death of some man who had just been 
hired to work for the lumber company, and 
who bad died before his name was taken. On 
this man there was nothing to identify him ex¬ 
cept the name and address of the man to whom 
the letter was written. Then followed a list 
of valuables belonging to tho dead man, 
amounting to, say fflfl, $20 of which were in 
money. The company had buried the body 
at an expense of #88, and were thus out $8, If 
the receiver of the letter was a friend of the 
dead man, would ho kindly send the $8 nud tile 
company would at once send cm his valuables. 
It is pretty certain that more than one man 
who thought, he'd be a friend to such a corpse 
had sent on the small sum of money asked, 
expecting to get $50 or $70 worth of Valuables, 
which of course lie. never received, because 
the lumber compan y,corpse and valuables were 
all myths. A common way of playing this 
profitable game is when the “crook” repre¬ 
sents himself as the proprietor of a hotel at 
which a wealthy unknown guest supposed to 
be a relative of the receiver of the letter, has 
just died. The letter has, of course, always 
a printed heading and is often embellished 
with a fine cut of the “hotel.” It is “Greek 
robbing Greek,” or rogue swindling rogue in 
all successful attempts to work this dodge, for 
the dupe was trying to get, under false pre¬ 
tences, the property of a man he really didn’t 
know. 
Here is a big swindle which is being 
practiced extensively “out West,” especially in 
Iowa. Statistical blanks are sent out. to farm¬ 
ers requesting them to fill out on yield of 
crops, etc., sign their names and return to 
sender, stamps for paying return postage be¬ 
ing inclosed with the blank. But after a 
little the Signature of the farmer turns up at¬ 
tached to a note in the hands of “an innocent 
purchaser,” which note the courts decide must 
be paid. This Is a dangerous swindle, since 
the obtaining of crop reports from farmers 
lias become so common. The U. H. Depart¬ 
ment of Agriculture, and that of nearly every 
State, send out their blanks regularly for crop 
reports. Agricultural papers and non-Rgri- 
cultural journals also frequently solicit such 
reports; but, of course, v hen these are sent 
to the kuowu offices of the papers no fraud 
will bo attempted. 
Mrs. A. A. Morrison is the latest exposed 
alias of the party surreptitiously advertising 
the “Common Sense” and “Arnold” Incuba¬ 
tors. Bam is, of course, the real rascal. 
“Mrs.” Morrison writes to the papers highly 
extolliug the machines and gushingly blessing 
the “inventor,” and a “green” editor occasion¬ 
ally gives admission to “her” puffs, 
To Several Inquirers. —E. C. Alley, Au¬ 
gusta, Mo., is all right—at any rate we have 
never head of anything to his discredit. 
Allison & Herne, Now York City is au alias 
of tho humbug “ Hev” Joseph T. Inman.. 
No, really we can’t recommend the Monarch 
M’f’g Co., Chicago, 111., or any of its goods... 
We do not recommend the Pioneer M’f’g Co., 
nor Pursuits Co., nor the Portable Klectric 
Light Co., all of Boston, Mass...... “ Dr.” 
Rice, of Louiaville, Ky., is a humbug.J. 
Lyu & Co., this city, are ordinarily trust¬ 
worthy.... .....We don’t recommend II. A. 
I'-llis & Co., Chicugo, 111.We don’t ree- 
onnneud Dr. Greene, of this city, or his nos¬ 
trums . ... 
Caro. 
u Every Man is presumed to know the Law. 
Nine-tenths of all Litigation arises from /;/- 
no ranee of Law. 
SALK OK PLANTS UNTRUE TO,NAME. 
L. E. .1., Smyrna, Del .—1 ordered 18,000 
Cumberland Triumph Strawberry plants from 
a large New Jersey nurseryuuiii. When they 
blossomed and fruited it turned out that less 
than 200 of them belonged to the variety or- 
de red. A lot of t he plants and berries were 
sent to the nursery man who was asked to tell 
to what variety they belonged. He replied 
that he did not know, though he had been 
many years in the business. From indications 
last, season the variety sent will probably prove 
worthless, and, if so, I shall lose from $800 to 
$400, Already T am $100 out of pocket. I 
have heard several complaints that the same 
party has sent out' young fruit trees which 
took three or four years to come into bearing 
and which turned out not to be true to name. 
In each case the purchaser gets a low-priced, 
inferior or worthless variety while paying for 
a high-priced desirable sort, and loses the dif¬ 
ference in price and the use of his money nial 
land during all the time till the fraud can be 
detected. What legal remedy' has he against 
the cheating nurseryman? 
Anb —The situation is substantially the 
same os it would be if a man bargained to pur¬ 
chase a horse and the seller delivered to him a 
cow. The nurseryman is, therefore, liable in 
damage to the full value of the plants and 
trees paid f<>r, which were not. true for name, 
and perhaps, also, for the expense of setting 
them cmt. He should certainly be also liable 
for the interest on the money and the rent of 
the land until the fraud or mistake was dis¬ 
covered; but it is hardly likely the law in its 
present condition would go so far; though it 
might be important and would certainly lie 
interesting to get up a test case. More strin¬ 
gent legislation on this matter is urgently 
needed in nearly every {State in the Union, 
and the public and our law-makers are becom¬ 
ing alive to its importance. The last session 
of the Kansas Legislature punished by fine 
and treble damages deception in the sale of 
shrubs, plants aud trees, and other States 
should follow the example. Such legislation 
should be demanded not only by the public at 
large; but. also by all honest nurserymen, for 
owiug to the severe competition to which they 
are subjected by dishonest men in the same 
business, they are among the greatest sufferers 
by such rascality. If the nurseryman cun l>e 
served with a summons in this State the suit 
can be brought here, otherwise the injured 
party will have to seek his remedy in New 
Jersey'. 
ROADSIDE TREES AND SIDE-WALKS. 
A. .7. I\, Johnstown, N. Y. —1. What is the 
law in regard to planting shade trees along 
public highways outside of corporations? 
How far apart should they be planted ? 2. How 
far from the fence? 3. What is the law with 
regard to building side-walks in the same 
places? 
Ank.— 1. The N. Y. Statutes say: “Any 
person liable to highway' tax, who shall trans¬ 
plant by the side of the public highway any 
forest shade-trees or fruit-trees, of suitable 
size, shall be allowed by the overseers of high¬ 
ways, iu abatement of highway tax, oue dol¬ 
lar for every four trees so set out, but no row 
of elms shall be nearer than 70 feet; no row 
of maples or other forest trees nearer than 50 
feet, except locust, which may he set 80 feet 
apart.; fruit trees must be set at least 50 feet 
apart, and no allowance, as before mentioned, 
shall lie made uuless such trees have been set 
out the year previous to the demaud for the 
abatement of the tax, and unless they are well 
protected from animals at the time of such 
demand. Not more than one-fourth of any 
person’s tax can be so abated.” 2. When the 
road is three rods. wide the trees 
should bo six feet from the fences 
If tho road be wider, the distance from 
the fence to the trees may be one-fifth of 
the width of the road, providing such distance 
does uot exceed 11 feet. 8. Side-walks may 
l>e constructed within the above distances. It 
is made a misdemeanor with a fine of uot less 
than $2 and uot more than $5, to drive a horse 
or team upon tho same, except for legitimate 
crossing, one half of the fine to go to the own¬ 
er or occupant of tho adjoining land. 
G. .1/. A, t Onon, Mich. —Husband wills all 
to his wife without reserve; 1. husband 
dies; 2. wife dies; 8. their only child dies 
without issue and not married; who is the le¬ 
gal heir to the estate? 
A ns.- The laws of Michigan provide that iu 
such cases the estate shall descend to the near¬ 
est of kiu. If there are no kindred, it shall 
escheat to the people of that State for the use 
of the primary school fund. 
fUiscfllattcmts. 
CATALOGUES, ETC,, RECEIVED. 
“ales of their implements. An elegant Turkish 
rug is to be given to each purchaser of a har¬ 
ness who lives in a territory uot occupied by 
an agent. The object is to secure new 
agents. We have one of the rugs and can 
heartily commend it to our lady readers. It 
will add to the comfort and beauty of any 
farm home. We dislike to cause trouble in 
any family, yet we strongly advise every' far¬ 
mer's lady, be she his wife, mother, sister or 
sweetheart, to give her lord small rest nntil he 
secures an agency for this harness for himself, 
and oue of those rugs for her. The family 
will run more s moothly to pay for it. Send 
for the pamphlet and mention the Rural. 
“Americus” Bone Fertilizers.— Cata¬ 
logue from Williams and Clark Co., Hanover 
Square, N. Y.—This firm is known wherever 
fertilizers are used. The “Americus” products 
are bone fertilizers ammoniated largely with 
meat nncl blood. The refuse from the New 
York slaughter-houses is used by this firm. An 
account of the process by means of which thi 3 
refuse was rendered available was given in 
our Special Fertilizer Number. Farmersshould 
send for this catalogue and study it well. The 
reasons why' a good fertilizer is more economi¬ 
cal than a poor one are plainly given. The 
catalogue itself is an example of what a good 
fertilizer ought to be—it contains much infor¬ 
mation in a small space, and contains little 
that is useless simply to make bulk. 
Steam Engines. —Catalogue from Wood, 
Tabor & Morse, Eaton, N. Y.—Thus firm claim 
to be the pioneers in the manufacture of prac¬ 
tically' portable steam engines. They have 
kept pace with the times and are still in the 
front rank. The constant aim is to make the 
best engines from the best materials and in 
tho best mauner. A good engine will make 
money on a farm large enough to give it work 
enough. A good engine is a help; a cheap aud 
defective engine is a murderer of time, profit 
and life. Those who study this catalogue will 
learn much to their advantage concerning the 
safe application of steam to agriculture. 
Those who do business with the firm will re¬ 
ceive fair treatment. 
Embroidery Bilk. —Circular from the 
Brainerd & Armstrong Co., G21 Market Rt., 
Philadelphia. Pa.—The silk is sold in ounce 
boxes. It is really the short pieces from the 
factory. They are too short to go on a spool 
or skein anil too long to throwaway. Instead 
of tying these short pieces to the next hank, 
they are laid aside and made up into “waste” 
to be sold in ounce lots. The pieces are from 
three to 10 y ards long and are of all shades 
aud colors. The ladies will be interested in 
this. 
Woman’s Work. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY LOUISE TAPLIN. 
Novelty Steel Harness. — Catalogue 
from the Sherwood Harness Co., Syracuse, N 
Y.— We have frequently commended this har¬ 
ness. 1 ii our opinion it is the best thing of the 
kind on the market; and the farmer who fails 
to investigate tho claims that are made for it 
is injuring bis business. A study of this pam¬ 
phlet will open many eyes that ueedopeniug 
badly. The Sherwood Harness Co. have 
adopted a novol scheme for increasing the 
a pine tree. 
A HANDFUL of inooti from iht* wootlslile. 
Dappled with trold and brown. 
I borrowed to gladden my chamber 
In tiie heart of the dusky town; 
And there. In the flickering shadows 
Traced hy my window vine. 
It lin* nursed Inlo life and freshness 
The gem of a giant pine. 
I turti from the cool-blossomed lilies 
Dewy the whole day through— 
From the flaunting torches of tulips 
Fame like In form and hue— 
From the gorgeous geranium’s glory. 
From the trelUs where roses twine 
To welcome the sturdy stranger. 
This floor little alien pine. 
Out of this feeble seeding 
What wonders the years may bring; 
Its stem may defy the tempest; 
Its limbs Iu the whirlwind swing, 
For age which to men cornea laden 
With weakness and sure decline 
Will add only growth and beauty 
And strength to this tiny pine. 
Hark! Is It an airy fancy? 
The roar of Its storm wrung limbs. 
Then the sigh of Its tender tassels 
To the twilight isephyr hymns; 
The rain on Its thick soft greenness, 
When the spring skies weep and shine— 
Oh, many and mighty the voices 
Haunting this tiny pine! 
Shops anil the jar of machinery. 
Mills and the shudder of wheels— 
Whnrves and the bustle of commerce, 
Ships and tho rushing of keels— 
Towns and the hurry of living, 
Tin- murmur which none may define 
I hear and see as 1 listen, 
Wntehlng this tiny pine. 
I will take It again to the woodslde, 
That safe with Its kindred there 
Its evergreen arms may broaden 
Yearly more strong and fair; 
Aud loug after weeds and brambles 
Grow over this head of mine 
The wild birds w 111 build anil warble 
In the bows of my grateful pine. 
—Philadelphia Times. 
OF INTEREST TO WOMEN. 
Brule County, Dakota, has elected a wo¬ 
man as Ruperiuteudeut of Fublie Schools, Miss 
Alice J. Sanborn, a graduate of Wisconsin 
University. 
Mrs. Ethel Lynn Linton, the English novel¬ 
ist, has caused much comment by her paper 
on the higher education of women in the Fort¬ 
nightly Review. Rhe considers thorough edu¬ 
cation not only useless but injurious to a wife 
and mother, and says that any youug girl 
determine! Ion intellectual advancement ought » 
to take a vow of celibacy. 
Apparently, Japan admires our ways and 
fashions as .much as we admire hers. The 
Empress of that favored land, now wears 
Parisian toilets, and desires her court to do 
the sa me, and—tell it not in Gath—one of the 
Mikado’s enterprising subjects has recently 
started a corset factory, according to the 
newspapers. 
Whatever opinions may be expressed of our 
chief executive and liis ways, one thing is cer- 
taiu—Mrs. Cleveland’^ social administration 
is a success. Wo bear nothing but praise of 
her tact and amiability, as well as’her person¬ 
al attractions. Apparently, she makes just 
such a hostess as the incomparable Miss Har¬ 
riet Lane, who, as the President's niece, enter¬ 
tained the young Prince of Wales during his 
visit to this country years ago 
THE ONE ACCOMPLISHMENT. 
It is the natural wish of every mother to 
educate her daughters in some social accom¬ 
plishment, that will add to their att ractiveness 
and agreeability. What the accomplishment 
shall be is a difficult question to decide, if the 
student displays no very strong bent in any 
one direction. 
Some lighter grace above the solid part of 
one’s education is always desirable; a person 
who merely possesses solid information alone 
is apt to appear pedantic. But very often 
the time spent in acquiring so-called accom¬ 
plishments is absolutely thrown away. Take, 
for example, piano playing. Almost every 
girl attempts this, aud in families of smal 
means the household is often skimped to ob¬ 
tain an instrument and lessons. Wherever 
there is the slightest fondness or aptitude for 
music it is certainly allowable to economize 
closely in other ways to obtain it; its enliven¬ 
ing influence on the household cannot be over¬ 
estimated. But don’t we all know cases where 
a girl utterly devoid of ear is kept drumming 
at her practicing, just because Mrs. B’s daugh¬ 
ter plays so prettily, and gains so much praise 
by it? 
By all means let every girl who has the op¬ 
portunity learn something of music; above 
all, if she has any voice, let her sing; she will 
give pleasure to herself and others, and light¬ 
en many a tedious hour. But don’t let her 
strum all her hrains away. 
There is oue social accomplishment far 
more useful than music, and that Is, the art of 
agreeable conversation. The girl who plays 
the piauo fiuely, but is unable to converse, is 
always at a disadvantage when compared 
with one who, devoid of “ accomplishments,” 
knows just what to say, aud when to say it. 
What are the requisites for a good conver¬ 
sationalist? First of all, a kindly and sympa¬ 
thetic disposition, together with a readiness to 
be pleased by others. Add to this the impal¬ 
pable quality we call tact, and a fund of varied 
information, such as comes ouly with much 
desultory reading, and we have all the mater¬ 
ial, if we do but use it aright. 
If we make up our minds to really please 
people we are pretty sure* to succeed. But 
there is one noticeable fact—a person may of¬ 
ten gain a reputation for agreeable conversa¬ 
tion merely through listening pleasantly to 
what others say. So, to tie truly agreeable, 
we must cultivate the art of listening as well 
as talking, aud, like Madame de Stael, enliven 
the conversation by “brilliant flashes of si¬ 
lence.” 
FRANK PEOPLE. 
Of all uncomfortable, uncompromising, of¬ 
fensive people,* your “frank” friend is the 
worst. He never minces matters. He tells 
you the worst he thinks of you (and he gener¬ 
ally thinks the worst) never by any chance 
letting you go about witji the false but com¬ 
fortable idea that he approves of you. If there 
is a pimple the size of a piu-head on your uose 
and you were cheating yourself with the happy 
thought that no one would notice it because of 
its insignificance, he at once appt ises you of it 
with such au air that you straightway feel it 
to be tho size of a bucket. If you are wearing 
a home-made gown that some kind soul has 
complimented you on until you have almost 
come to hope that people will think it “tailor- 
made,” your ft’unk friend assures you that the 
scum of the back is all askew, and that the 
skirt droops oti the left side. Each new 
wrinkle and gray hair is “frankly” alluded to, 
but wo have always noticed that frank people 
are frank only in oue direction. If your bon¬ 
net is becoming, your dinner excellent, or 
your new house charming, it never occurs.to 
