465 
(Tlje poitlfnj 1) a rfr. 
PROFIT IN POULTRY. 
“ Do you think there is any money in poul¬ 
try ?” said a young farmer to me one day. “My 
wife has the hen fever and thinks of going 
into poultry raising quite extensively another 
winter, for the purpose of raising broilers. 
She likes to fuss with hens, but when I go 
near them, they fly all over me, get on my 
head, and are altogether too familiar; I can't 
stand it. 1 ’ His question was a fair one; it has 
been asked hundreds of times before, and in 
all probability will be asked times innumera¬ 
ble in the future. Any man embarking in 
any new venture, financial, mechauical, agri¬ 
cultural or otherwise, wishes to know whether 
the do’lar he puts into it is likely to be re¬ 
turned to him with a few added cents as 
interest on his investment. Any man (and 
man embraces woman, ’tis said,) with a sound 
head will settle this point before embarking 
in any new enterprise. 
In the case mentioned above it is safe to say 
that the farmer referred to will not make 
poultry pay. He “can’t spend time fussing 
with them.” He doesn’t want them “climb¬ 
ing all over him.” He had better “quit the 
business before he begins it.” If there is one 
occupation that requires “ fussing” more than 
another, raising poultry is that one. The 
secret of success in the whole business is atten¬ 
tion to little things. That farmer’s wife will 
be very likely to make it pay, if she goes at it 
in the right way. Women are usually more 
successful with poultry than men, for the 
very reason that they will pay more attention 
to the details. 
As to the profits to be derived from poul¬ 
try, the same pains-taking care, and the ap¬ 
plication of the same business principles that 
would insure success in any other occupation, 
combined with a thorough knowledge of the 
business, would prove fairly remunerative in 
this. There have been many failures and disap¬ 
pointments among beginners These have 
usually resulted from over-enthusiastic indi¬ 
viduals emnarking in it without sufficient ex¬ 
perience, or a willingness to give proper at¬ 
tention to details. A man has a small flock 
of hens which prove quite profitable, yielding 
l ^net income,say,of one dollar per head. Ten 
i|L H ns. $10dollarspr< qt; 1,000bens, $',000profit- 
^hus he reasons. Why not? If thepoultryman 
can surrouud his 1,000 hens with the same con¬ 
ditions which surround the 10, there is no earth¬ 
ly reason why he cannot make a proportionate 
profit. But, can he? Hens will not succeed 
in large flocks, hence they must be kept in small 
numbers. 
He must expect to spend more time in car¬ 
ing for a large number than he would for the 
smaller one He must learn the business 
thoroughly before engaging in it extensively. 
He mu«t remember that good things come 
slowly, and must not expect to make a for¬ 
tune all at once. If he really wants to make 
a business of keeping poultry, he should try a 
few hens at first and get all the information 
he can from all possible sources. If he suc¬ 
ceeds with the few, be may increase the num¬ 
ber by raising chickens from his own flock, 
and thus avoid the cash outlay necessary if 
hens are purchased. This may seem like a 
slow wav, but it is a safe one, and the poultry, 
man will thus be more likely to make the for¬ 
tune he is after, than he would be in any 
other way. 
If he has the broiler business in mind, the 
same remarks wifi apply about beginning in a 
small way. Artificial incubators, brooders, 
etc., are a necessity, and the outlay must of 
necessity be considerable. Incessant atten¬ 
tion is necessary, and while physical strength 
is not so indispensable as it is in some other 
occupations, those who are averse to hard 
work had better shun the business Yes. there 
is money in poultry, just as there is money in 
dairying, in fruit-growing, stock-raising, etc., 
but as there are many who fail to get the 
money there is in these and other occupations, 
so there are those who will fail to get the 
money there is in poultry. f. h. y. 
NOTES. 
The only sure cure for an egg-eating hen is 
a sharp ax or hatchet vigorously applied just 
back of the ears. The mischief may some¬ 
times be prevented by making the nests so 
dark that the hens cannot see the eggs, but 
this is simply a preventive, not a cure. 
Change the Feed. —The hens appreciate 
a change of diet as well as you do. 
If you have any fowls to dispose of this 
year, get them in good condition and sell them 
as soon as they stop laying for the summer. 
They will sell for rnoi’e then, and much feed 
will be saved. 
This is the time of year when the theorist 
comes to the front with his cures for gapes, 
lice, cholera, etc. Some man with a half- 
dozen hens knows more about these complaints 
than the experienced poultryman who has 
kept fowls all his life. 
i-ttiscfUfinfous, 
FARMERS AND TRUSTS. 
The situation viewed from a dealer's stand¬ 
point ; human selfishness and greed , com¬ 
mon to all classes, the immemorial cause 
of monopolies of all kinds; those who com¬ 
plain loudest against trusts ready to join 
one for their own benefit; moderation of 
trusts; prices regulated by the relation of 
supply and demand. Jf prices can be 
fairly forced up by a natural scarcity, 
why not by an artificial one? It is equally 
wrong to force pHces up or down beyond a 
reasonable profit on the cost of produc¬ 
tion and handling ; the artificial organiza¬ 
tion of society responsible for all the evils; 
an instance in point; the moral of it all. 
There are two sides to every question, it is 
said, and the longer I live the more clearly I 
apprehend the truth of the saying. It would 
seem that there could be only one side to the 
matter of monopolies—of trusts—and yet 
there is a standpoint in which at least an 
apology can be made for the evil things. 
Monopolies have existed as long as man has 
existed: they are not a new thing. They are 
of all grades, big and little. It is the big ones 
which the enormous wealth of the period 
has promoted, that cause the excitement. 
They all proceed from the selfishness of 
the human heart, and this selfishness is not 
confined to one class, whether capitalist, man¬ 
ufacturer, merchant or farmer, to men of 
large means or of small. The men who are 
loud in their outcry against combinations are 
just as ready to combine when they can. 
Farmers have made combinations as well as 
other classes. They have not succeeded, per¬ 
haps, but success is not in the discussion. It 
may be said that they have not aimed at ob¬ 
taining extortionate prices, and it can be said 
with as much truth, that other combinations 
have not aimed at anything more than to se¬ 
cure fair profits which they could not sepa¬ 
rately do. A patent gives a monopoly to one 
man and often ho gets enormous profits in 
consequence, yet it seems to be conceded that 
he should have them. If an article becomes 
scarce the price is raised and no especial 
complaint is made unless the scarcity is due 
to the action of a known combination. If a 
scarcity of flour is threatened, and the retail 
grocer puts up the price, who complains 
whether it is advanced five or fifty per cent.? 
As soon as the scarcity is surmised, the farm¬ 
er asks more for his wheat, and if there is no 
open combination there is a tacit agreement 
to force the price up. Where is the differ¬ 
ence, morally, between this attempted combi¬ 
nation, and the salt trust or the binder-twine 
trust? Now if it is a wrong to force the price 
of salt, wheat or other product to a higher 
price, or one unnaturally high, it is as much 
a wrong to force the price down below a liv¬ 
ing price. It is the same wrong whether the 
price is made to go up or down, and it all 
comes from the selfishness of man, from the 
artificial situation of society, and this is no 
worse in one class than in another. 
All this can be shown more clearly by an 
illustration which is apt and true, as it hap¬ 
pened in the experience of the writer, and it 
was this story that I now relate that brought 
these thoughts to my mind. 
Last year the best manila binder twine was 
sold by the makers at cents per pound in 
large lots. At least that was the price paid 
for 10,000 pounds by a dealer, a neighbor of 
mine. He sold out his stock of hardware, hut 
was unable to sell the twine with it, and he 
then placed it in my hands to sell on commis¬ 
sion. Dealers were asking farmers 16 cents 
per pound for the best quality of twine, which 
would yield them a profit of three cents per 
pound. In large lots the price would be cut. 
The crop of wheat was very short and twine 
plentiful. The prospect of selling the whole 
stock on my hands was poor, so the owner 
determined to put the price at 14 cents which 
would yield him a profit of perhaps a-half 
cent over freight, and a small commission. 
The sale was well advertised. Do you think 
the farmers rushed in to take this good twine 
at a low price? Well, they came; but they 
were not satisfied with the price. They went 
from one store to another, quoting the price 
of inferior twine, joined together to beat 
down the price and actually compelled the 
greater part to be sold at a price without 
profit or below coat to the dealer. They were 
not any better satisfied with it at 14 cents 
than they will be this year at 18 cents or over. 
Wbat do you think the feeling of this dealer 
will be in regard to this particular trust ? 
Probably he will not shed tears if those farm¬ 
ers have to pay a much higher price this year 
than last. Then how can those farmers con¬ 
sistently condemn the trust? Which shows the 
greater selfishness ? 
The moral of this is that no class can lay 
claim to'the virtue of unselfishness. If men 
get too greedy and require us to pay them 
what we regard as too much profit, let us 
fight them as we can, but do not let us assume 
that we ns a class of producers or dealers are 
superior to them. As society is now organ¬ 
ized, it is the practice of every class, includ¬ 
ing farmers, to buy cheap and sell dear. So¬ 
ciety is organized on the principle of selfish¬ 
ness, nor is it likelv to be changed until the 
millenium. Yet it is our duty to restrain this 
greed not only in others but in ourselves as 
well. 
I hope the meaning of this article will be 
seen. It is onlv to make the matter clear 
that it is written—to show that one class 
should not be arrayed against another; for 
here the injunction: “Let him that is with¬ 
out sin cast the first stone,” aptly applies. If 
any'man or anv set of men claim too much, 
let us use every honorable method to circum¬ 
vent their designs, but. don’t let us whine and 
exclaim against the greed of men when no 
class is exempt from the failing. This is writ¬ 
ten from'the standpoint of a dealer. 
Since the foregoing was written, th« follow¬ 
ing appeared among the Associated Press dis¬ 
patches—a very apt corroboration of what 
has been said and one that needs no further 
comment: 
Evansville, Ind.. June 24 .—A combina¬ 
tion of farmers exists i" this part of Indiana 
that, is having serions effect on the merchants 
in various towns. The farmers combine and 
agree to purchase from onl^ one store in a 
town, the owner agreeing to sell at a net profit 
of 10 per cent. The farmers reserve the right 
to examine his books and invoices. Tn some 
instances dealers have obtained two invoices 
—one trne, the other false—to show the farm¬ 
ers’ committee. If the combination continues, 
as it probablv will, a number of merchants 
will be compelled to leave for other fields of 
business. Already there has been a serious 
emharrasem°nt in consequence of this attempt 
to destroy competition. dealer. 
Ttffimmi’s Work. 
CONDUCTED BY EMILY LOUISE TAPLIN. 
CHAT BY THE WAY. 
J UST now—indeed at all times—the ques¬ 
tion of cleanliness is most important 
Careful bathing, or thorough washing and 
sponging all over the body, is a necessity. 
As a matter of fact, one may bathe as thor¬ 
oughly with a couple of basinfuls as in a big 
tub, only the process is not so agreeable. 
Have a rug to stand on- -a large square of 
burlap is good—and then see that the washing 
is well performed. A few drops of ammonia 
in the water will remove any odor of perspir¬ 
ation. If the skin on the face and hands seems 
harsh and dry,put a tea-spoonful of glycerine 
in a basin of warm water, and the difficulty 
is removed. In summer, especially, women 
with delicate skin should take care that they 
do not scrub too hard with a rough towel, as 
it is ape to chafe the skin. 
* * * * 
Fully as important as the complexion dur¬ 
ing the warm months is the care of the feet 
Thorough cleanlinesss is the ODly producer of 
comfort. Those unfortunates who are troub¬ 
led with much perspirarion from the feet wifi 
do well to put a very few drops of carbolic 
acid in water for bathing them. This pre¬ 
vents any odor. Another necessity for the 
comfort of the feet is regular cutting and fil¬ 
ing of the toe nails. With proper care there 
is comparatively little risk of the tortures of 
an ingrowing nail. 
* ^ * 
And the hair too needs extra care in the 
summer. It should not go longer than a week 
without washing, for when there is much per¬ 
spiration it is in great need of cleaning. Don’t 
we all know people, otherwise clean, whose 
hair seems positively frowsy —we can use no 
other word—for want of a good washing? 
Use either Ivory or tar soap; the former 
cleanses without irritating: the latter removes 
dandruff aud seems to stimulate the scalp. 
When rinsing the soap out, a few drops of 
ammonia in the water will be beneficial, nut 
too much dries out the hair, and renders it 
very unruly. Iu addition to the washing, 
thorough and frequent brushing must be in¬ 
sisted on. Thorough brushing is the one 
I thing necessary to give hair its natural gloss. 
As for hair dressing, the fashion now is to 
wear anything most becoming. Those loose, 
untidy French twists are very bad style now, 
but the hair may be worn either high or low. 
Neat, trim styles are most fashionable, but 
the tight, exaggerated Psyche Knot is little 
worn. Most stylish for young women i3 a 
flat, round knot of fine plaits, worn just 
above the nape of the neck. This is the bas¬ 
ket plait: according to the highest model it 
is just as flat and round as a basket lid. It is 
most becoming to small heads. 
OUTINGS IN NEW ENGLAND. 
XII. 
MARY WAGER FISHER. 
T O sit on piazzas and hear people talk is 
one of the inevitable amusements at the 
sea-shore, and in listening to the chat¬ 
ter of women I was often reminded of the 
talk in Mr. Howells’s novels. A young Cali¬ 
fornia lady once said to me; “Do the women 
in New England talk as Mr. Howells makes 
them talk in his books?” I replied in the af¬ 
firmative, and when I mentioned the matter 
to a young Boston teacher, she laughingly 
said: “Yes, we do talk just as he makes us 
talk. He couldn’t have hit us off better, if he 
had sat on a hotel piazza for a week and taken 
down the conversation stenographically.” 
One of the Marolehpad cottagers who knew 
everybody and whom every body liked, 
was quite a character in this way. He 
had graduated from Harvard with distinction, 
but at the expense of bis health which, as he 
believed, was irretrievably ruined, producing 
some heart and nervous troubles which pre¬ 
vented him from sleeping while lying down, 
so that for a quarter of a century be had 
slept in a rocking chair. It was his habit, 
every night, to run around the “Neck” for 
exercise and to induce sleep, and for 30 years 
he bad daily run three miles. He was an act¬ 
ive, cheerful man, of great intelligence, an 
omnivorous reader and in his early manhood 
he had been a clergyman and had preached in 
a good many country churches. His ideas of 
living were of great simplicity, and be prac¬ 
ticed what he preached, which was better. 
He often talked ot the foolish way in which 
people wear out and waste themselves in ef¬ 
forts to imitate the methods and styles of 
others, a weakness which sacrifices all interior 
growth to outside show. In this way he ex¬ 
plained the decline and failure of farming in 
New England, in the neighborhood of towns, 
like Adam, laying all the blame upon the 
woman—the desire of the farm women to 
dress like their town sisters and to furnish 
their country homes like town houses—pianos, 
silk gowns, and hire help instead of doing the 
work themselves. 
Of course, in a place like Marblehead, with 
its beautiful harbor, yacht clubs and no end 
of pleasure boats, a great deal of time is spent 
on the water in rowing and sailing. One day 
we took a skipper and yacht and sailed 20 
miles up the coast to Gloucester, a fish town, 
the foremost fishing port in the world, and 
just how it has happened that Gloucester, of 
all the Atlantic coast towns, has retained its 
supremacy in fishing, r am unable to say. It 
is a very picturesque place—with some 20.000 
people, or more—and a great resort for ar¬ 
tists, whose white umbrellas are pitched about 
in great profusion. The fishing outfit of the 
city counts 500 sail boats, and $3,000,000 worth 
of fish are taken annually. The shops of boat 
gear—ship chandlers’ shops—are very inter¬ 
esting. A good many of the Gloucester young 
men obtain service in the merchant marine 
and serve in the navy. There seem to be a 
great many idle men od the wharves, and it 
is an easy matter to start one off on a sea 
yarn. On our way up we sailed across Salem 
harbor, past the beautiful Beverly Farms, a 
favorite outing place with Dr. Holmes, (Whit¬ 
tier lives near Salem) ; past Manehester-by- 
the-Sea, where the sandy beach sings when 
you walk on it; past Magnolia, so named for 
its native trees, uncommon elsewhere in New 
England, and so on to Gloucester. On the 
way, we passed a rocky island called “ Nor¬ 
man’s Woe” (see Longfellow’s poem). Little 
and Great Misery Islands, and in sight of the 
Isles of Shoals well out at sea Celia Thaxter, 
the poetess, has made these islands somewhat 
famous especially the one called Appledore. 
A greatly admiring friend of hers told me 
that Celia’s father, becoming disappointed 
and disgusted with the way the world 
wagged, bought a farm ou Appledore, add 
removed thither from the mainland with his 
wife, a sweet and lovely creature, and the 
three children, all of tender years. Here 
Celia—the only girl—grew up in a hermit¬ 
like way. The wind blew so in winter that 
in passing from the house to the barn, they 
had to go on all fours to keep to terra firtna. 
gJfVhea Celia was about 14 years old, a young 
