822 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
NOV. 29 
THE FIE HUNTERS’ PROFIT. 
A TALE OF PLUNDER. 
Being an account of the Farmers' Movement of 1890- 
1900, viewed from the standvoint of a citizen of 
America, A.D. 1930. 
( Concluded.) 
“ The Department inventors were too ambitious. If they 
had been satisfied to make a smaller machine that would 
do the work of an ordinary two or three horsepower engine 
the test would have been a great success, bnt, as I said, the 
Department aimed too high and determined to run a heavy 
train with a cheap machine.” 
“ Did they really store the necessary power in this 
barrel? ” 
“ Yes, in fact they stored too much of it. Some of the 
springs were wound too tight. The train started all right 
and went tearing along at full speed. The barrel was 
placed in front of the cars where all could see it. At Wor¬ 
cester a stop was made and a number of notable men 
gathered about the barrel to hear the Secretary of Agricul¬ 
ture explain its mechanism. They stood there deeply in¬ 
terested, fully convinced that the turning point in Ameri¬ 
can manufacturing had come, when, crack! crack! went 
something in the barrel and it literally flew in pieces send¬ 
ing staves and broken springs in all directions, seriously 
injuring several of the spectators and killing the secretary 
outright.” 
“ What broke it?” 
“Some of the springs were wound up too tight. The 
consequence was that they broke and shattered the barrel, 
letting off all the other springs in one tremendous smash. 
This mishap nearly ended the whole thing. Worse acci¬ 
dents had happened with steam or electricity, or even gas 
and kerosene oil, but the opponents of the plan to try to 
harness this free force, magnified the matter and did their 
best to frighten the people. A strong effort was made to 
stop the Department from making any more experiments, 
but happily this failed.” 
“Did they give up the coiled spring plan ? ” 
“ Not by any means. They saw that their mistake was 
in trying to do too much work with it. Its power was 
limited, but up to a certain point it answered every re¬ 
quirement. It was entirely suitable for thrashing ma¬ 
chines, pumping water and hundreds of other farm 
operations that had previously meant the expenditure of 
so much heat and costly force. Beyond this it could not 
go. The manufacturers of small steam engines and horse 
powers found their business diminishing until they turned 
their attention to making improved coiled spring machines 
and attachments for using them on plows and other farm 
machines. It became a very common sight to see mowing 
machines, reapers and wagons on the road moving easily 
and quickly along without horses or other animals. A 
coiled spring barrel, weighing less than 100 pourds, pro¬ 
vided all the motive power. Every farmer had a dozen or 
more of these barrels which were used to utilize all the 
wind that blew against the windmill or all the power that 
came down the brook. Those who did not care to wind up 
their own barrels could buy them already charged from 
the government, and have them delivered as regularly as 
the mails. Machines for converting this power into heat 
were quickly invented, so that the expense and trouble of 
buying and handling fuel were largely saved. And yet 
the thoughtful people back of these experiments were not 
satisfied.” 
“Why not?” 
“Because the force saved in these machines was not strong 
enough to do away with the immense advantage enjoyed 
by the capitalists. As I stated awhile ago, it came to be 
generally recognized that all wealth came from labor or 
force; as man directed this force intelligently the wealth 
he produced increased in value. God had filled the world 
with force just as He supplied air, water or fire. It beat in 
the ocean waves, it blew over the earth in the winds, it 
was locked up in coal or in the weight of running water ; 
it was everywhere, free, only waiting for man to utilize it 
and make it produce wealth. Originally, before machines 
and tools were improved, force was more evenly distributed 
and there were fewer class distinctions. But when in¬ 
ventive genius began to perfect machines for capturing 
more of this free force and therefore turning out more 
work, the unequal distribution of wealth began, because 
law and custom kept the secret of these machines with a 
select few and they were therefore able to outstrip the 
others who were forced to pay them for their secret. In 
fact, all through history the ability to capture and utilize 
•this free force had marked the distinction between wealth 
and poverty. Just so long as one class must pay another 
its price for collecting and developing this power, just so 
long must that class pay a tribute to the other with the 
advantage entirely with the seller. What these men 
wished to do was to make a cheap machine capable of 
holding such a tremendous volume of force that the 
monopoly of the manufacturers or * force catchers ’ would 
be broken up, two-thirds of the price of goods taken off 
and manufacturing scattered to every village in the coun¬ 
try instead of being concentrated in a few favored places.” 
“ Of course, I can see with my own eyes that this finally 
took place, and I have read about the beginning of this 
new era.” 
“ It was largely an accident. A miner in New Mexico 
discovered in the ore mills a piece of a curious black metal 
that he had never noticed before. A sample was sent to the 
Department of Agriculture at Washington, where quite 
exhaustive experiments were made to disco\er its true 
properties. Among other things, it was desired to know 
if it would prove a good conductor of electricity, so a por¬ 
tion of it was drawn out into a wire and stretched between 
two iron posts in one of which a small quantity of electri¬ 
city was stored. Two learned scientists got into a heated 
dispute over the matter. One stood with his hand resting 
on one of the irou posts considering himself safe from the 
electric charge, because he stood on the woodeu floor. The 
other learned gentleman in order to emphasize his re¬ 
marks, brought down his cane with a great deal of force 
upon the other post. What was his surprise to see his dis¬ 
tinguished friend fall over as though struck with a heavy 
blow. It was some time before the stunned scientist 
could be brought to his senses. When he finally recovered 
he stated that the full force of the cane’s blow had come 
upon him. While he was willing to sacrifice himself iu 
the interests of science, he hoped that his learned 
friend would either consider this one experiment 
satisfactory or just receive a transmitted blow from 
his cane and see how it felt. But the secret was 
out—the direct transmission of power. Luckily the 
new metal was found on land belonging to the government 
and It could readily be made public property. A few ex¬ 
periments easily demonstrated the fact that under certain 
conditions the force could be handled with perfect safety, 
being far more readily insulated than electricity. The most 
convenient form of storage for this force was determined, 
and in a very short time it began to be sent about the 
country. Great fans of thin iron were put up along the 
shore for the waves to dash against; wires of the new 
metal transmitting this tremendous power at once to the 
general storage—an immense block of iron—whence it 
could be tapped and sent about the country at will. The 
tremendous force generated at Niagara was also utilized 
and supplied to the public at a price corresponding to the 
postage and railroad rates.” 
“ How long was it before the effect was noticed ?” 
“ Almost immediately. The coal and oil trade stopped 
almost at once because the new force produced heat and 
light more cheaply and quickly than they could be pro¬ 
duced by any other means The road question became the 
leading national issue, overshadowing everything else, be¬ 
cause men saw that with perfect roads this new force 
would take half the business away from the railroads, and 
do more than the telegraph had ever done to bring the 
world closer together.* The great cities began to break up. 
For many years the country had been emptying its best 
men into the city. In fact, the country had steadily de¬ 
creased in population, while the cities had become perfect 
hives of humanity. Now this was all changed. Previ¬ 
ously men had rushed to the city because the great crowds 
and the accumulations of money there had made it possi¬ 
ble to use those economical methods of collecting force and 
making a price for its products. Now that force was as 
free to one as to another, as were also the machines and 
the materials for preparing articles necessary to health 
and comfort, there was little chance for one class to take 
advantage of the necessities of another, and men living in 
the country found themselves within reach of the pleas¬ 
ures which had previously been supposed to be served to 
those who came to the city. Then began the reform and 
the true idea of brotherhood and kindly feeling which have 
been growing up to the present day.” 
“ But I would like to know something about the social 
life of that time. How did men work ? What did they 
do ? Of course theirs must have been very different from 
our methods of doing things.” 
“ Yes, indeed. You will be surprised to learn how ig¬ 
norant those men were, and yet they boasted of their wis¬ 
dom and really thought they were surprisingly smart—but 
I declare! See here! while we have been talking we have 
reached the end of our journey. There’s Africa—see 
freedom’s visiting ground. In 10 minutes we’ll be at the 
pier. Is your father to meet you there ? ” 
“ I hope so! If he has decided to go home with us, he’ll 
certainly be there. Where’s my wife; I want her to see 
this.” 
Mary was quickly discovered and our three friends found 
a convenient place where they could obtain a good view of 
the pier. Mary’s young man followed closely behind her, 
while John’s proteg6 was close at hand.” 
“ There he is, John,” said keen eyed Mary, pointing to a 
dignified old gentleman who stood at the end of the pier 
waving his cane, to which he had attached a red hand¬ 
kerchief. 
“ Yes, yes, I’m glad enough—but who in the world is that 
young woman hanging on his arm so lovingly?” 
“ Why that must be-s-h-h ! ” and Mary nodded in the 
direction of her young friend. 
*• I see. I see ! But doesn’t it strike you that she’s 
rather affectionate for a ward f ” 
The two young men made their way to the gangway and 
as soon as the ship was made fast they sprung to the pier 
and rushed to where John’s father and the young lady 
were standing. By the time John and Mary had reached 
the scene they found the old gentleman with his flag¬ 
decked cane clutched in his hand, prepared to attack the 
two rivals who were retreating in poor order. 
“ Why, dear father,” said Mary, “ let me introduce my 
friend.” 
The old gentleman lowered his cane, and with a merry 
twinkle in his eye, said: " In order to explain matters in 
the fewest words, permit me to introduce my wife! ” and 
he took the smiling young lady by the hand and led her 
forward. “ This age is too fast for men to put off import¬ 
ant matters. Our young friends here are too late. Lag¬ 
gards in love can never win.” 
He turned to bow to the young men, but they had dis¬ 
appeared, doubtless convinced of the truth of the old 
gentleman’s statement. 
“ Well, father, are you going back with us?” asked John. 
“ Well, yes-that is, my wife is going and I’m going 
with her.” 
Mary and the bride had already planned the trip. 
One cent will mail this paper to your friend in any 
part of the United States, Canada or Mexico, after you 
have read it and written your name on the corner. 
A LTHOUGH we are nearing the joyous holiday time, 
our Chief Cook is in sad trouble; it has been quite a 
serious question with her for some time what could be the 
reason why many of the old-time helpers in the women’s 
department should apparently hold aloof from it now; but 
she has charged the fact largely to their many cares and 
duties through the busy summer days. 
* * *- 
It now appears, however, that the trouble comes from 
the fact that The R. N.-Y. has not hitherto been able to 
speak English plainly and emphatically enough in inviting 
its old friends especially, to assist in this important de¬ 
partment. Else why this letter written to the former pro¬ 
prietor of The R. N.-Y. ? 
“I wonder if you are the French cook of our woman’s de¬ 
partment ; and if so, why have you driven all the lady 
assistants from the domain ? With so many new names 
and so few of the old ones, the department seems like a 
stranger, and I feel a little timid about entering the 
sanctum.” This from our life-long friend, May Maple ! If 
May Maple is afraid of us, what wonder that friends who 
have known us for a less number of years are timid. 
* * * 
Can one cause of this mistaken idea possibly be that 
The R. N.-Y.’s outspoken pride in his handsome bride, 
The American Garden, has led to a belief that he has an 
aristocratic wife who must perforce have a “ French cook ?” 
* * * 
ONCE again, we must say that our capable "Chief Cook” 
hasn’t a particle of French blood in her veins. She was 
born and reared on a farm, and fed from childhood on the 
wholesome fare served up by The Rural New-Yorker, 
and as a natural consequence she was married to a farmer. 
She earnestly desires the cooperation of all the lady read¬ 
ers of the home department in the effort to make it unsur¬ 
passed in practical value. Most especially does she desire 
the assistance of the older helpers, to make it seem like 
the same dear old Rural that “ father used to take,” and 
that we have all known and loved through so many pleas¬ 
ant years. Is this plain enough ? If not, what more can 
we say ? * * * 
Never ^.feel that the new friends are rivals or supplant- 
ers, dear old friends. We must make new friends, or fall 
behind in the race; besides, many of our old friends are 
passing over to the other side. Let all who have a friendly 
feeling for us work together for the good of all; our friends' 
must needs be each other's friends, whether new or old. 
* * * 
One of the city papers asserts that the best autumnal 
breakfast dish that has come to the cognizance of people 
who know what’s what is a compound of hashed chicken, 
tender green peppers and small clams. The first impres¬ 
sion on the senses is made by a savory, stimulating per¬ 
fume, which is said to be calculated to convince the most 
jaded reveller that he was mistaken in the miser¬ 
able supposition that he “ could not eat anything.” 
The second assault on his appetite is made through 
the eye, which gradually discerns that it is not 
simply a chicken hash which invites, but a glorified 
medley of clams, peppers and hashed chicken ; but 
taste alone does it justice. Its creator is George Boldt, 
who, in anticipation of taking charge of the new [Mr.] 
Astor House, has recently despatched one of his young men 
all through Europe to gather ideas. This sounds as though 
it might tickle the American palate more pleasantly than 
most foreign dishes are wont to do; and inasmuch as all 
the ingredients but the clams are farm products, we hope 
our readers will be swift to make a trial of it. Perhaps 
it may do good service as a holiday dish. 
* * * 
Each of the friends who so kindly helped us to make 
this department a delightful one for Thanksgiving, sent 
her best recipe for pumpkin pie. It looks as though this 
delicacy were a necessity for the feast. We suggest that 
our housekeepers try all the recipes. One of them must 
be “ the best.” 
|Hi£jcclUincou,o' 
In writing to advertisers, please mention The K. N.-Y. 
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as Soft as Silk. 
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sharp western winds my skin Is as soft as silk, and as fair as any one 
could wish-all due to Packer’s Tar Soap, which I have used for years 
and consider the finest thing for the complexion.” 
Packer’s Tar Soap is pure, mild and curative. It soothes while It 
cleanses. Price, 2 > cents. All Druggists. Sample, half-cake, 10 cents In 
stamps. Mention The Rural New-Yorker. 
The Packer Mfy. Co., lOO Fulton St., New York, 
