1012k 
THE RURAI> NEW-YOKKER 
877 
More Colorado Notes. 
I noted on page 330 what our editors 
say in regard to sending reading mat¬ 
ter here. They are right. The cost 
would be heavy to send, and those 
whom it would benefit most are those 
who could not pay the charges. A man 
called here not long ago who lives 14 
miles out from town or railroad. I 
should judge he was 60 or more years 
old; came from Illinois where he still 
owns a good farm 60 miles east of St. 
Louis, but he had asthma and came for 
health’s sake. He took a 320-acre home¬ 
stead; he and his wife live in a dug-out 
alone, have spent $150 on a well and no 
water yet, he said. . As soon as the five 
years are up he will prove up, sell or 
rent and move into town. I gave him 
an armful of reading matter, and he 
seemed so glad of it; said he would 
have something to do these long even¬ 
ings now. He had read everything they 
had. Now this man was able probably 
to take some good papers, but thought 
he zvas not. Perhaps under the circum¬ 
stances lie could not get the ready 
money. Again, he is not doing accord¬ 
ing to the homestead laws if he has 160 
acres, which say no one who owns 160 
acres of land can take a homestead. 
However, he may not have fully that 
amount of acres in Illinois. Again, he 
is only living on it until he can get a 
title, then leaves. The government idea 
is to make it your home. Thousands of 
acres are taken up and held that way, 
which deprives the really true person 
who would want it for a home from 
getting a desirable one. There are many 
away back from town that this read¬ 
ing matter would benefit who are too 
poor to take papers, etc., but right here 
in town and a few miles out are people 
whose amount of mail would astonish 
some Eastern farmers. My husband 
said last Saturday one man took out of 
the post office an armful of papers and 
magazines, and if these people who 
have will pass them on there would be 
many happy hearts no doubt, and from 
what I hear I 'think they do in many 
instances. In our own home we have 
11 weekly papers, three monthly and 
one semi-monthly, besides papers sent 
us by friends, several a week. But in 
the long evenings and stormy days we 
find plenty of time to read and look over 
even other matter which may be sent 
as in case of last Christmas time, when 
the packages of illustrated papers were 
sent from town. We passed them on 
to others who perhaps really needed 
them more than we did. 
If people have never been in this 
Western country they cannot under¬ 
stand the isolation and loneliness that 
women and children feel in hundreds 
of cases, particularly in Winter, last 
one of course being an exception; one 
has had to stay right at home on ac¬ 
count of cold and storms, deep snows, 
etc. In my own case, although in sight 
of town, which is less than two miles 
away, there are days at a time that not 
a human being is seen. Far away on 
the range horses are pawing the snow 
to get to the buffalo grass, and that is 
the only sign of life. When the trains 
pass some 60 rods distance we know 
the world moves, and how much com¬ 
pany these trains are only one who is 
out on the plains can know. Ten pas¬ 
senger trains a day pass going to and 
from Denver. A very few houses can 
be seen in the distance aside from 
town. If this land was built up with 
homes, not held for speculation, how 
much pleasanter it would be. The coy¬ 
ote and wolf make music in the night 
time. This is one great drawback to 
raising poultry; one has to be forever 
on the watch, for woe be to a chick or- 
hen that strays a few rods from the 
buildings; they are snapped up, not 
given time to squawk. The lack of 
trees one will miss. The experiment 
stations here have demonstrated that 
some kinds can be grown if taken care 
of, and cherries do well, also plums, 
but many have it in their head that trees 
or fruit will not grow here without ir¬ 
rigation, and it is hard to rid them of 
the idea. 
Some people can come here with a 
small capital, take a homestead or buy 
out a relinquishment, put up sod 
buildings, get a little land fenced, raise 
enough of semi-arid crops like milo 
maize, kaffir corn, sorghum, sunllowers, 
etc., to feed cows, pigs and chickens; 
pick cow chips for fuel, have lots of 
grit, both man and wife, and in a few 
years’ time they are in comfortable cir¬ 
cumstances. We know of one case, 
where the family came here six years 
ago; took a homestead six miles from 
town, put up sod buildings, had just 
$200 in money when they came, and 
last Fall this farmer made a sale of 
stock, tools, furniture, etc., which 
brought him some $1,500. He and fam¬ 
ily went back to Iowa, intending to 
stay and sell here when chance offered. 
In two months he was back, and has 
been putting up a large barn and get¬ 
ting stock, ready to live in Colorado 
again. The wife must be full of de¬ 
termination to win out, and hope a 
prominent characteristic, for there will 
be many times when it will look almost 
hopeless to plod on. Every country has 
its drawbacks, but where health is at 
stake much can be overlooked for the 
sake of climate. Colorado’s glorious 
sunshine and pure air does wonders for 
many if they do not come too late. 
Some have asked how much capital is 
required to make a start. That depends 
greatly upon the man and woman, their 
age, etc. Young or middle-aged people 
have a great advantage; they ought to 
endure hardships (if called upon) better 
than those older. If one knows what 
farming is in the dry belt and will not 
put in practice the more humid ways, 
but learn from experiment stations and 
those who have been more successful 
here, have a determination to win a home, 
$1,000 will be enough to give a good 
start; $1,500 is better, but there are 
many who have made a beginning and 
done well on $500. Four miles from us 
is a man who took a homestead two 
years ago, 320 acres; has a little two- 
room house, just got it plastered last 
Fall. He had some pigs, cows and 
chickens, one horse. He worked for a 
cattleman not far away, and earned 
enough to use his team to plow and put 
in some corn. He had enough last year 
to fatten several hogs and keep his 
horse. By changing work for team he 
has got along, as he had not the means 
to buy more horses. The wife raised 
lots of chickens and turkeys. They 
have four children, the oldest only 10. 
They do not go to school, as it is too 
far away. In time there will be school. 
The law is as soon as 10 children can be 
secured a svhoolhouse will be built. This 
year the man puts in a neighbor's corn 
and potatoes, and has the use of tools 
and teams, together with some cash. 
They are young healthy people, and 
will no doubt soon have comforts 
about them. They are Iowa people. 
I was made sad to read of the death 
of “Charity Sweetheart.” I always en¬ 
joyed her pictures of every-day life; 
there was always so much of sunshine 
and charity in them. One could read 
between the lines that they were true 
heart pictures, no dross, all pure gold. 
I shall miss her, for she had been with 
us long. “We all do fade as a leaf.” 
One after another passes off the stage 
of action, and are forgotten save by the 
few. MRS. FREDERICK C. JOHNSON. 
Maple Sugar Experience Wanted. 
Will someone give directions for re¬ 
fining and clarifying maple sugar—also 
for “creaming” it? d. 
A Fly-killer.— One of the best of fly 
killers is a piece of wire netting, such 
as is used for screen doors, about eight 
or 10 inches long and five or six inches 
wide, fastened to a long smooth han¬ 
dle. The flies can be killed with this 
without soiling anything. One can eas¬ 
ily get them on the ceiling at night, thus 
preventing the unsightly spots on the 
paper. mabelle. 
The Staff of Life. 
Long Rolls.—Sift three quarts of 
flour into a large pan, mix in a tea¬ 
spoonful of salt; mix one fresh yeast 
cake dissolved in half cup of warm 
water, or six tablespoonfuls of fresh 
liquid yeast with half pint of warm 
water. Make a deep hole in the middle 
of the flour, pour in the liquid, stir 
from center until the flour is worked in 
to form a batter, cover the top with dry 
flour, cover with a thick cloth and set 
in a warm place until light. When light 
the top will be cracked all over. Then 
mix in three tablespoonfuls of soft but¬ 
ter, work well, make in long round rolls. 
Grease pan and top of rolls, lay in so 
they will just touch, let rise until twice 
their bulk, bake brown; serve warm. 
Potato Rolls.—Boil four large po¬ 
tatoes, peel, wash and rub through 
colander. Mix in a bread pan one table¬ 
spoonful of salt and .the potatoes, and 
four pints of flour; make a hole in 
the center, mix in one yeast cake dis¬ 
solved in one pint of warm water, mix 
well, cover with flour and let rise until 
light. Then knead in two well-beaten 
eggs, half cup of butter, scant half tea¬ 
spoonful of soda and tablespoonful of 
sugar well mixed, work well; make into 
small round rolls, let rise one hour, 
bake and serve warm with butter. 
Corn Bread.—Beat one egg light, stir 
in one quart of sour milk, add one 
scant teaspoonful of soda, one of salt, 
and one of sugar, and half cup of thick 
sour cream. Stir in sifted meal to form 
a rather thick batter; pour in a deep, 
well-greased bread pan, bake slowly one 
hour, serve warm with butter and sweet 
milk. 
Biscuits.—In making biscuits, allow 
one cup of flour to each person to be 
served. Sift the flour, add one tea¬ 
spoonful of baking powder for every 
four cups of flour, add half teaspoon fill 
of soda, a pinch of salt, tablespoonful 
of lard, and sour milk or cream, to 
form a soft dough. Work lightly, roll 
thin, cut out, bake in a hot oven. 
MRS. M. D. D. 
10 DAYS FREE TRIAL 
We ship on approval without n rent 
deposit. , freight prepaid. DON’T 
PAV A DENT if you oro not satisfied 
after uain^ the bicycle 10 days. 
DA NDT RI1Y ° bic 'U cI * or a pair 
UWnUI BUI of tires from anyone 
at any price until yon receive our latest 
art catalogs illustrating every kind o! 
bicycle, and have learned our unheard of 
prices and marvelous new offers. 
ONE GENT ’’ ?’* it will cost yon to 
WfcH I write a postal and every¬ 
thing will be son! you free postpaid by 
return mail. You will get much valuable in¬ 
formation. Do not wait, write it now 
TIRES, Coaster - Drake rear 
wheels, lamps, sundries at half usual piHces, 
Mead Cycle Co • Dept fbo Chicago 
Don’t Delay Buying 
A Farm ers’ Favorite 
Cider Mill and Press 
Cider making time is right at hand. 
Don t depend on your neighbor’s 
press. Have one of your own, A 
FARMER’S FAVORITE Cider Mill 
ftnd Press Combined—one that grinds 
your apples into a fine pomace and 
gets all the cider. The Farmers' 
Favorite is made in sizes to suit 
every farmer. If you want only 
a small one, we have that; if 
you want a large one, we also have 
that. Tell us about how many 
barrels you want to grind and press 
per hour, and we will tell you 
all about the Farmers’ Favorite that 
bestsuit« vour needs. Write at once. 
Cutaway Harrow Co., Box 839 Higganum, Confl* 
DAISY FLY KILLER 
flies. Neat, clean, or¬ 
namental, convenient, 
cheap. Lasts all 
season. Made of 
metal, can’t spill or tip 
over; will not soil or 
injure anything. 
Guaranteed effective. 
Sold by dealers, or 
6 sent prepaid lor f U 
HAROLD SOMERS, 150 DeKalb Ave.. Brooklyn, N. Y, 
STOVES AT WHOLESALE PRICES Direct from 
Factory, 
Freight Paid, and safe delivery insured. Then after 
ONE YEAR'S FREE TRIAL 
we refund yonr money if you 
are not satisfied. 
GOLD COIN 
RANGES 
have 50 years’ reputation be-_ 
hind them. OurStove Book, Free 
tells what makes a stove good. 
Our Profit Sharing Platt Will 
Interest You 
GOLD COIN STOVE CO.. 3 Oak Street, TROY. N. Y. 
How Anty Drudge saved the overalls 
Farmer Jones —“Mary, why did you buy me these new 
overalls? Those others were pretty dirty, but they 
weren’t old enough to throw away.” 
Mrs. Jones —“Those aren’t new overalls, John! They’re 
the ones you had on last week. Anty Drudge told 
me to use Fels-Naptha Soap and see what it would 
do, and there’s the result.” 
Anty Drudge —“Yes, and if your wife will use it for her 
next wash, there’ll be another surprise in store for 
both of you.” _ 
You use a washing machine? Most 
farmers’ wives do. But if you’re using ordi¬ 
nary laundry soaps or washing powders 
you still have the hot, steaming suds, you 
have every disagreeable feature of old- 
fashioned washing, and the only way the 
washing machine helps you is to take the 
place of the washboard. Why not try a dif¬ 
ferent way of washing—the Fels-Naptha 
way? Instead of boiling your clothes, use 
cool or lukewarm water, do away with all 
the hard work and have the wash ready to 
hang out in half the time required by the 
old-fashioned way. Get Fels-Naptha Soap 
from your grocer and try. Follow the direc¬ 
tions on the red and green wrapper. 
For full particulars, write Fels-Naptha, Philadelphia 
