1906. 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
963 
Hope Farm Notes 
“Out West” —As I said last week, 
when the eastern man gets to the rich, 
black prairie soil he cannot fail to be im¬ 
pressed with the vast natural wealth of 
this region. Most of us know what it 
means to drain a swamp and fit it for 
crops. After it has been well aired 
and limed we know what great crops of 
grass or grain or truck it will produce. 
This black western soil appears to be 
more productive than our drained swamps, 
and the vast stretches of it, mile after 
mile, make an impressive showing to one 
who comes from a thin, rocky hillside. 
Our land at home has been in cultivation 
over 200 years, while some of this black 
soil is barely 50 years from the raw 
prairie. If there can be any contest be¬ 
tween the two it might be compared to a 
shrewd man of 65 competing with a stout 
fellow of 30 in the full pride of his 
strength. We all know instances where, 
in such contests, the older man holds his 
own—headwork and skill being a match 
for brute force. As I saw it in a two- 
weeks’ trip this is a fair comparison be¬ 
tween farm conditions in the Central West 
and a strip along the northern Atlantic 
coast. I shall try to bring this idea out as 
best I can in brief sketches of what I saw. 
We are told that “short stories make long 
friends,” and so I shall chop this story up 
fine. It seemed evident that for all the 
western man talks of his rich soil and 
large possibilities he still recognizes the 
power of the East. As far west as 
Omaha I was told, “We are really not ‘out 
West’ any longer—the ‘West’ is beyond 
us!” Many western people seem to be¬ 
lieve that eastern thought still dominates 
the country. I liked the spirit and pros¬ 
pect of the Iowa State College. It seemed 
to me far superior in worthy and hopeful 
outlook to most of the eastern classical 
colleges. I would like to send a boy there, 
but I should hardly expect him to return 
to our thinner land, after learning how to 
farm on rich soil—for the two systems are 
quite different. In spite of this I found in 
some places an idea that for some rea¬ 
son it was better to send a boy east to 
be educated. Just why there should be 
this reverence for the educational spirit of 
an older and in some respects overripe 
civilization with a fresher and more vig¬ 
orous spirit right at home, was hard for 
me to understand. It cannot be said that 
the Yankees were ever greatly superior 
as farmers. The very nature of their 
soil and conditions made them rather trad¬ 
ers and handlers, but there can be no 
doubt about the power of their thought 
to dominate or guide American thinking. 
In Missouri I spoke of the debt which 
the West owes to the small economies of 
a past generation of Yankees. These little 
savings were accumulated and loaned on 
western farm mortgages—thus providing 
needed capital for many a farmer. I 
thought I was safe in saying that “in a 
way the true greatness of the West dates 
back, in the last analysis, to the baked 
beans, the fishballs, the doughnuts and 
mince pies which were eaten in the New 
England kitchens a century ago.” Later 
I was told that the region in which I said 
that was not settled from the East at all, 
but more from Kentucky. The stream 
from the East went north of there. The 
New England people will always have a 
lifelong regret that Abraham Lincoln did 
not have a drop of Yankee blood in his 
veins. They cannot quite get over it by 
saying that New England, books inspired 
him. I am obliged to admit that the corn- 
fed Yankee out West has a mellow ripe¬ 
ness which the pure baked bean product 
does not aspire to. 
The Social Side. —Booker T. Washing¬ 
ton says he began his school career by 
sweeping out a room. That was the first 
job they gave him at Hampton. He had 
worked for a Yankee housekeeper who 
always knew where to look for dirt. 
She seldom looked at the open places in 
the middle of the room, which were quite 
sure to be clean, but under chairs and 
beds where dirt traps abound for the 
careless. Washington knew that he would 
be judged by not by his clean places but by 
his dirt—and he did a good job. A 
stranger in the West can easily see the 
clean places, which are the natural wealth 
of the soil and the strong open character 
of the people. The “dirt” will be repre¬ 
sented by the lack of finish, the im¬ 
mense wastes and the vast tribute which 
western farmers are paying to middlemen 
and handlers. For example, the little 
towns through which we passed seemed to 
me, for the most part, slovenly and ill- 
kept. In our country such places are kept 
clean and attractive with trees and shrubs. 
Where I live it is uncommon to find a 
house unpainted and without blinds. These 
prairie towns seemed slouchy and raw, 
with a majority of the houses in sight 
unpainted and often out of repair. I 
understand why people in my own sec¬ 
tion slick up and make things neat. It is 
less the spirit of beauty than the de¬ 
sire for gain, though the former has 
much to do with it. Most of our farmers 
expect to sell their property some day 
for residence purposes, some take Sum¬ 
mer boarders. It is a matter of business 
with them to keep their property looking 
well, and neatness becomes an asset. In 
the West, land has reached its high value 
for its productive power—the more corn 
and meat it can turn off the more it is 
worth as an investment. I can under¬ 
stand that paint and trees and flowers 
add little if anything to the commericial 
value of such land, while, as I have said, 
with us they do increase the selling price 
and the chance for sale. A farm in our 
own neighborhood might be likened to a 
man before marriage, preening himself as 
best he can to attract the lady—increased 
value. These western towns and some of 
the homes remind me of a man safely 
married wlio has a wife so devoted to him 
that he thinks he can afford to be careless 
and easy-going in appearance. No doubt 
one could be happy in many of these 
towns, but they did not attract me. They 
seemed somehow to thin out and slide 
off into the rich, level, monotonous prairie. 
The big cornfields in some cases came 
crowding up into the backyards of the 
outer fringe of houses, as if to say: “We 
are the only things worth while here. 
You houses where men are sheltered and 
trade are merely suffered to remain on 
the landscape. We represent the great¬ 
ness of the country. We make the town 
—it does not make us!” The location of 
these prairie towns cannot begin to com¬ 
pare with that of hundreds of places in 
the rough lands of the East. There the 
hills range away on every hand, giving a 
softness in Summer and a wildness in 
Winter which add a great charm to life 
in such places. Raise a child on one of 
these hill towns, with eyes trained to 
look across the valley to another hill, and 
raise another child in one of those squatty, 
unbeautified prairie towns with a life look 
over the rich, monotonous prairie, and 
there will be sure to be a difference in 
the children. The hill child will have his 
longer day of dreaming and thinking. 
When the two children grow up the 
dreamer will probably regret that he is 
not more practical, while the hard hustler 
from the rich flat lands will wish that 
there was more poetry about his child¬ 
hood. It did not come to me until I 
thought of this why J. Whitcomb Riley’s 
poetry has such a hold upon many west¬ 
ern people. The western people are com¬ 
ing to know that their lives crave senti¬ 
ment and poetry to put the true gilding 
on their cornfields. On the campus at the 
Iowa College stands what seemed to me 
one of the noblest college buildings I 
have seen. I am told that there were those 
who objected to this building—its cost and 
appointments. The criticism was that it 
was too good for a farmer—that a boy 
would get from it too exalted an idea of 
his life and an indifference for his humble 
home. It did not seem so to me. A 
shoddy building with flashy colors and 
impudent angles might affect a boy that 
way, but this simple, imposing structure 
stood there typifying a broad, noble, in¬ 
spiring life—such as it seems to me is to 
come out of the wonderful, yet crude, 
strength of the great West. 
Home Again. —I will take up another 
side, as I saw it, next week. After all the 
strength and riches of the West I was 
glad to come back to the Jersey hills. 
“There’s no place like home.” That’s the 
sentiment that has kept the population 
scattered in this country. But for that 
most of our people would have left the 
thin corners and flocked to the rich land 
in the Mississippi Valley. We reached 
home after dark, and rode home behind 
Bob and Nellie. When the lights of 
hom.e first glimmered across the valley 
you might have had the entire West for 
all we cared. We had baked potatoes and 
boiled Lima beans and baked apples for 
supper. Truly it came near to being a 
“dinner of herbs,” but love was there. 
Then after supper there was much to tell. 
Merrill was sorry that the wind and the 
frost had held up the spraying. The 
strawberries are nearly all covered, and 
we have had good sales of potatoes and 
pork. The little boys had cut their brush 
and started on their ditch, and have done 
well in school. Another great story has 
begun in the Youth’s Companion, and 
we are learning about Bunker Hill in the 
history. The baby is well, and can al¬ 
most say a word or two. It’s all right! 
As the dark night closed in around us the 
watchman, had it been at all necessary to 
employ one in New Jersey, could have 
said with perfect truth, All’s well! All’s 
well! H. w. c. 
The Most Satisfactory Light 
The Angle Lamp is not the only method of lighting your home, but taken all in 
all, it is the most satisfactory. 
For, while it floods your room with the finest, softest and most restful light, 
making the home more cosy and inviting, it requires almost as little attention as 
gas or electric light, is as simple and convenient to operate as either and 
actually costs less to burn than the ordinary troublesome old style lamp. 
Our catalogue "N ’ (sent free on request) explains how a new principle ap¬ 
plied to burning common kerosene has so 
completely done away with all the smoke, 
odor and bother of ordinary lamps that 
such people as ex-Pres.. Cleveland, 
the Rockefellers, Carnegies, Cookes, 
etc., who wouldn't think of using or¬ 
dinary lamps have chosen 
THE 
Angle Lamp 
for lighting their homes and estates in 
preference to gas or electricity, gasoline, 
acetylene, or any other method of 
lighting. 
This catalog tells how the special Angle 
burner and the shape of the glassware 
(see above Illustration) give combustion so perfect that the Angle Lamp never smokes or smells whether 
burned at full height or turned low; why the lamp Is lighted and extinguished like gas; the advantage 
of having the under-shadow of other lamps done away with completely; also why the Angle Lamp burns 
)6t0)4 less oil than any other for the same amount of fight. And then oilers you a 
OA Hove Tpi 51 1 And it does more—gives you the benefit of our ten years experience with all lighting 
d if MJtXj 3 11 Icll, methods. Before you forget it — before you turn over this leaf—write for catalog “hi” 
listing 32 varieties of The Angle Lamp from $1.80 up. THE ANCLE MFC. CO., 78-80 Murray St., New York 
ICE 
CUTTING ‘■JST 
with 
DORSCII All Steel, Doable- 
Bow ICE PLOWS. Marks aud 
vats two rows at a time ; cuts any size cake 
and any depth, and does it with ease and economy. < 
Does the work of twenty men sawing by hand. Pays for itself 
Wo days. No farmer, dairyman, hotel man or other can afford te 
be without it. Ask for catalogue and introductory prices. 
d ohn Dorioh&Sons. 2 2 O W elle w a ukee*W U» 
M W Hand and self feed, adapted to 
MW steam or gasoline engine or 
■■ horse tread or sweep power. 
HARDER MFG. CO., Capacity 30 to GO cords a day. 
Box 11, Cobleskill, N. Send for circular. 
Portland Gutter 
Only $15.70 
This handsome, stylish, 
and popular cutter Is made 
of guaranteed materials 
throughout. The body Is 
the latest style, 30x84 Inch, 
22-lnch back, gives warmth 
comfort and elegance In appearance, Gear woods 
are select air-seasoned, runners are rock elm, steam 
bent, 1)4x|4f Inch. Knees and beams, l^xLfj Inch, 
channel shoes H x Hi Inch, braces clipped to knees 
and gears Ironed up very strong and secure. Re¬ 
movable trimmings, dark green union cloth or whip¬ 
cord, as preferred; regular stuffed cushion and spring 
back. Paint—body black with fancy moulding, gear 
and shafts Brewster green or carmine neatly striped. 
Complete with shafts and shifting bar. Only $15,70, 
A Full Line at Factory Cost. 
All these cutters have channel shoes and re¬ 
movable upholstery, ulso tltted with good shafts 
aud quick shifting bar, which Is held In position by 
thumb-screw, can be changed from one position to 
another In a minute's time and gives you choice of 
having horse travel straight ahead or at one side. 
Remember this, more cutters are made in 
Kalamazoo than In any other city In the 
United States and when you deal with the KAL¬ 
AMAZOO SUPPLY HOUSE you deal at head¬ 
quarters and pay one small profit only, to actual 
factory prices. 
Only $20.50 
A favorite cutter, e 1 e- 
gant design,extremely sub¬ 
stantial, heavily Ironed, 
well braced, wing dash, ex¬ 
tra high roll back, Body 
84 In. wide,30 In. long, seat 
18 In. deep, highly finished 
spring cushion and hack removable. Trimmed In 
green cloth or whipcord. Hns carpet, nickel arm and 
dash rail. Body painted In black, striped with green 
or carmine, gear also striped. Channel shoes. This 
cutter Is extra quality, only $20.50. 
Only $21.50 
This Great Eastern Port¬ 
land Cutter,very fine, high¬ 
ly finished,nicely trimmed, 
extra roomy, easy riding, Is 
trimmed In heavy green 
wool cloth or whipcord. 
Body painted rich black, 
striped with green or carmine, gear also striped. 
Channel shoes and removable upholstery. Carpet 
and all other trimmings. Price $21.50. 
Extras for any cutter. Pole, Instead of shafts, 
add $1.50; pole and shafts, add $3.00; genuine car 
plush, red or blue, mid $3.76; 28-oz. rubber top for 
any cutter, add $12.50. 
We will stake our business reputation on these 
cutters. They are high class and cannot be dupli¬ 
cated by anybody else for the price and we will prove 
It. Select the cutter you want, send us the whole 
amount with order or $3.00 just to show good faith 
and we will ship the cutter at once on approval. If 
satisfied pay the freight agent the balance due. If 
It Is not exactly as represented, we will pay freight 
both ways and at once refund your $8.00 or any other 
amount you have paid us. We have many other 
styles, Including a very fine speeder, price only 
$40.50, Old Comfort, $20.00, and Spring Cutter, 
only $29.85. Also runners, very handy to put on 
buggy axles, only $5.25. Light and heavy bobs, 
etc. Send for our new general catalogue C88. Full 
of bargains In everything for the farm and home. 
Buffalo, „„ 
RobesSI.OO 
ON APPROVAL 
For buggy, sleigh or 
automobile there Is 
nothing finer to be had 
at any price. Aruerl- 
an Buffalo Robes are a thing of the past, but we 
Her the * KAZOO” BUFFALO ROBES, a 
ubstltute that has every appearance and many ad- 
antages over the genuine Buffalo Skin Robe. They 
re pliable, soft, lined with astrakan and Interlined 
dth rubber cloth, making them absolutely wind and 
raterproof and much warmer and more comfortable 
han any stiff skin robe. These robes are worth 
10.00 of any man’s money and you will say so when 
ou see It. You canDot buy a more elegant appear- 
ag or more serviceable robe at $25.00 retail. We sell 
o you direct at almost factory cost. 54x52, $5.00; 
4x62, $6.00; 54x72, $7-00. Send $1.00 as guaran- 
ee of good faith. Pay the agent the balance when 
ou get your robe. If you are not absolutely satls- 
led, tell the agent to return It to us at our expense 
,nd we will refund you your $1.00 and pay charges 
ioth wayB. 
Why not order robe and cutter together and save 
H transportation charges on robe—will pack It under 
eat of cutter and guarantee safe delivery. 
CASH SUPPLY & MFG. CO. 
i/ a ■ AuAYnn MIAUL 
to 
QUICK ICE CUTTING 
Is essential. Farmers, dairymen, butchers, 
hotels and cutters generally will find a 
Red, White and Blue Ice Plow 
will work quicker, better and 
_ ._ q 
easier than 50 men « 
with saws. They \ 
are superior in > 
quality; and are 
strong, keen, fast 
cutters; 3 sizes—cut 
7M, 9 and 10H inches deep, nave patent clearing 
tooth, swing guide on TV and 9 in. Save cost first 
season. Ames Plow Co., 54 Market St,, Boston, Mas. 
Cata¬ 
log of 
plows and 
all kinds of 
ice tools free. 
Send for it now. 
You never saw a 
saw which saws 
like this saw saws 
and last so long a time. 
Frame of heavy angle 
steel strongly 
braced—absolutely 
no shake. Patented—adjust¬ 
able, dust-proof, non-heating 
oil boxes, etc. Wo make these 
Appleton Wood Saws 
in 6 styles—strong, simple, safe and successsful 
—and we make a 4-wheel mounting for wood 
saws and gasoline engines which is unequalled 
for convenience and durability. Saw your own 
wood and save time, coal and money—then saw 
your neighbors’ wood and make $5 to $15 a Day. 
We make the celebrated 
HERO FRICTION FEED DRAG SAW 
nothing like it—no other so good. Also feed 
grinders, shellers, fodder cutters, huskers, 
manure spreaders, farm trucks, windmills, 
etc., all guaranteed full Appleton Quality. 
Catalog free for the asking. Ask for It now. 
APPLETON MANUFACTURING CO. 
ST Fargo Street Batavia, Ill., U. S. A. 
lumber or saw wood, make lath er 
shingles, or work lumber In any form, you should 
know allabout our improved 
AMERICAN MILLS 
All sizes Saw Mills, Planers, Edgera, Trimmers, Lath 
Mills, Shingle Mills etc. Complete line wood 
working machinery. Catalogue free. 
American Saw Mill Mch’y. Co. 
120 Hope St., Hackottstown, N. J. t 
6 10 Engineering Bldg., New York City. 
A RAPID PRESS 
Spencer’s /fet 
Hercules 
SPENCER’S HERCULES 
teed capacity 4 tons an hour, or no sale. 
Very strong. No jumpers required. Send 
for catalogue. In writing mention this paper. 
O. A. SPENCER, DWIGHT, ILL. 
The WAGON to BUY. 
structed. haves labor, annoy¬ 
ance and expense of repairs. 
STEEL WHEELS Notts': 
Your address on a postal will bring you free catalog. 
The Geneva Metal Wheel Co., 
Box 17, Geneva, Ohio. 
Havana Low Wagons 
All steel, ms.de to last; wood gears also. Save high 
lifting, hard pulling, avoid cutting up fields. Tires any 
width up to 8 Inches. STEEL WHEELS furnished TO EIT 
OLD GEARS. Write for lice booklet. 
HAVANA METAL WHEEL CO., Box 17, HAVANA, ILL. 
