VOL. LIV.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., FEB. 25, 1899.
NO. 8
'gxp&ximcz gzpnxtmzut.
Nam* one  or more  Books,   Persons or
Events That have   Greatly   Impressed     and   . Shaped
Your    Lives
let Premium.—All things which surround us
are our educators, but our advancement depends largely upon our ability to appreciate
and build into our lives the helpful elements of
theee surroundings. We are constantly chant?.
Ing, learning, maturing, and there are few
abrupt transitions. Yet behind all that seems
to have been most commonplace and gradual,
there are in many lives some special influences
In something or a somebody who placed in
our hands a key to hard things, who opened
or trained understanding, directed choice,
became an authority to us, because of whom
we have become what we are instead of a different person that we might have been. The
holiest place in heart and memory by comment consent Is given to the mother. I retrace the years of my life for nearly a quarter
of a century and pause before a noble personality and declare that this women, my
mother, most Influenced the course of my
destiny. Who can meaeure the power of a
good home? Perhaps that poor unfortunate
who never possessed such a treasure has the
keenest appreciation of it. I can. truly eay
that no matter how far I may have fallen
short of the idea set for me, the fault has
been my own, and not that of any one in the
early home. A mother's earnest devotion
and untiring watchfulness inspires the
beet ambition, the purest living and cling
longest to the memory. In my early 'teens I
remember there came to me a distinct arousing or awakening to intellectual life. A great
and wise teacher showed that education
would not be completed in the high school or
even in the university, but would continue
through all the years of living. An insatiable reader from childhood, I now come to
understand that one could afford to read only
those books that were most helpful, that
placed one in the highest companship,
whether the writings were sermons or novels,
history or poetry. This teacher taught us to
use our eyes and opened up to our view the
wonderful realm of nature all about. We
learned that open-eyed people go through
life much like bees through a flower-garden,
taking what is best and adapting it to the
needs of body and soul. So much depends
on the view on9 takes; so often our vision
is beclouded orturned in the wrong direction.
Gehazl looked down from the mountain top
and saw danger and defeat and death, but
what a glorious vision Elisha had as he gazed
upward; he saw only victory and deliverance.
We are not all geniuses, nor is it probable
that very many of us will reach the highest
ranges of philosophy, but even in the grind of
what is called practical life, (and a happy
grind it is if properly entered upon) we may
use our eyes and ears for our own betterment,
and for the uplifting of others by seizing upon the helpful suggestions of nature and
drawing them into our hearts to become a
Part of our character. Too often we fail to
«ee the beauty in the common things. Each
day of the year in our changing climate has
rich lessons for all those who have the seeing
eye. "Earth's crammed with heaven." No
Plant grows in our gardens, no flower blossoms by the roadside, out of which, If we
will but turn aside, God will not (peak to us.
Truly
There ia no tree thst lifts its crest,
No fern or flower that cleaves the sod,
No bird that sinus above its nest,
But tries to speak the name of God,
And dies when it has done its best.
Looking back then upon all that has been
given me of best and strongest influence in
MJ life, I eay unhesitatingly that the first and
greatest impetus to the higher life was given
by my mother. By her work and example my
education was begun, and under the direction
of a conscientious teacher, echool life brought
an ever widening view. In later years, literature and travel have filled in and developed
mind and heart, but these without the earlier
vision must have failed. A Hoosikk.
2d Premium.—Nineteen years ago a golden
gate swung open to me as strange as though
a little fairy had placed in my hand a magic
key. I could compare it to nothing stranger
than the wonders of Arabian Knights entertainment. It has shaped my life. It has influenced my friends. It has made me what
I am intellectually, spiritually and socially. I
refer to the great Chataugua idea. Something said to me when I was a country girl,
in a blue calico drees, "try to go to ono of
the many Chautauquas." I was picking berries in a faded, tattered, calico gown on a
hillside. It wae a hot day and girl fashion, I
had planned what I would do with my berry,
egg and pie money.
I did not buy a navy blue silk dress at all.
The Inward monitor said "there is something
better than clothes." The trip would cost as
much as the dress pattern. I went accompanied by my mother. What did I learn?
"Once I was blind but now I see!" I mingled with cultured people, I felt that I was
one of them. I wore what I had, for at theee
choice assemblies fashions are the merest
chaff.
We heard music tbat made us think of the
golden gates of the New Jerusalem. Lectures
on art set us to reading Ruekin, the great art
critic. History had for us new charms. Delightful Wallace Bruce set us reading Scottish
history from the pen of the conjuror Walter
Scott. Oh, we have since lived in a new
realm. Poor people may drink at the>e fountains if they manage their money aright.
There are no less than 40 of these intellectual
Meccas in the United States. Attend one ln
your own State. Do as we do. Rent a furnished room and board yourselves. Cookies,
canned fruit, ham and "slch" may be taken
from home in a basket, If you have to economize. We attend the assembly for two
weeks each year and It costs us but $12 apiece;
this Includes everything. The lectures, sermons, entertainments are so elevating that
you'll have no desire to hang on the back
gate and engage in gossip with Mrs. Smith>
as of yore. Your note book will be full of
suggestions, and you will stuiy and delve in
spite of your work. Never mind the work
will go on as usual, but your whole life will be
enriched by what you've heard. It is shocking to be illiterate in this wonderful age. No
matter if you have had no college training, other peoplo "are in the same boat!"
Persons of intellectual development will generally find something to feed upon and will
not be satisfied to sleep the sleep of the "son,
content with his husks."
"Ho, wake and watch, the world is gray
with morning light." L. R S.
Ohio. 	
3d Premium.—Prom observation and personal experience the person that most shaped
my life was the man I married. Marriage at
once weighed me ln the balance—It elevated
or lowered me In the eyes of those who knew
me. It controlled my ambitions, It shaped
my literary tastes. The man you marry
has ■ power to promote or prohibit spiritual growth. Another one influenced me. A
middle aged woman; she is Interested ln me
personally from the depth of her heart; or she
is so graceful you never surmise otherwise.
She is a perfect mother in her church; she
seems never to missseelngtheleastandglving
them a welcome. How could I come in contact with her without stealing some of her
graces?   "It is like touching the hem of his
garment." Books. The "Romanco of Two
Worlds" converted mo to a higher spiritual
ambition. I was In perfect cetacy of joy
while reading lt. I don't know that I could
recommend the book, for when I reread It tho
spell was broken, I could not find the charm.
The little booklet "Hanna Jane," caused tho
most tears to flow. It ehows how unkind society is to devotion and sacrirk'3 alone.
Mothers muet keep up with the procession.
The poem that gave me the most comfort is
"After Death In Arab!."
When you come where I have stepped,
Ye will wonder why ye wept;
Ye will know by wite tilings taught,
Hero is all, nnd there is naught.
Central, Fhahces.
In my early youth I had the good fortune
to listen to my father whilo he read to us children the Life and Peteonal Recollections of
Abraham Lincoln. My father was a great admirer of Lincoln, and he instilled into us
children the same feeling and love. Although
it has been some years since then, many of
the events of the martyred president's life are
fresh In my memory to this day, and the impressions made for good upon me by them
can never be entirely erased. Ohildren are
easily influenced by what they read or hear
read in their presence, more than wo many
times suspect. We see the need then of good
wholesome literature ln the formative period
of child life. I am truly glad to see the
growth of the Children's Reading Circle of
this state. Of course there is some Imperfections in its workings, but on the whole it ls
doing a great work for the children of the
Hoosler State. That about Lincoln which
Impressed me moet ae a child, was his unfailing good humor and natural kindness of heart.
He seemed always to be in good spirits, and
was kind to everybody and to everything. I
wish to give a few instances of hie kindness.
Ono day at the log school house ln the backwoods of Indiana where Crawford taught
school Abe strongly rebuked a playmate for
crually torturing a turtle. At another time
when Lincoln's family and some other emigrants were starting for Illinois, they left a
little dog on the far side of the creek, as no
one wished to take it with them. Tho littlo
creature, knowing it was left behind, whined
so plteously that Lincoln's heart was touched.
He turned back, pulled off his shoes, rolled up
his panto, waded across the stream mid the
cakes of Ice and brought the little dog safely
over and said he ' the cry of joy thatllttledog
gave, as he leaped into my arms, repaid me a
thousand times for my trouble." Oould such a
heart as that fail to respond to the cry of hu
man beings in dlstrefe? Lincoln when a
young man made a trip to New Orleans on a
flat boat. There he witnessed the crime and
misery of slavery. The sight of slaves chained,
flogged, sold from their loved ones and otherwise maltreated made a deep and lasting impression upon him and helped to give him
those strong anti slavery sentiments which actuated his after life. His tender heart bled
at the sight and he registered a vow that if he
ever got a chance to strike that thing (slavery)
he would hit it hard, and he did. Little
thought the slaves or masters that this long,
awkward flat-boat-man would one day be the
liberator of the colored race. Did Lincoln
then have any faint impression of his future
great work? Who can tell? Of all the grand
and noble men that have figured in our national affairs none bear tho noble example to
the rising generation that does our own "honest Abe the rail-splitter." Long may his influence live in tbe minds and hearts of the young
of this land, and may there be more, yea,
many more Abraham Lincolns. X. Y.
ln the home. The second premium fell to
one whoso earnest spirit wae caught up by the
Inspiration of the age, and forced her Into
the struggle for personal culture aud spiritual
growth, books, magazines, lectures. The
third premium recognized tho wholesomo influence of a congenial marrlogo relation. One
speaks of Dickens opening up the world of
books to her life. To another poetry wae a
great source of blessing. Mr. Logan says
"we may be known by ourbooks." If wo have
no books wo shall be known aB surely by their
absence. All of tho copy wo aro unable to
publish. Tho proverb says "lama part of all
I havo met." Mrs Frances, a widow lady,
speaks of tho blessing of association as like
touching the hem of a truly gracious and pure
person. Such an inspiration calls one not to
bo better than his nelghbers but to be better
than himself. But full as I am of this subject
I must give way for our excellent letters.
No. 150, Mch. 4.—Wh-tt do you mean to the
people who know you—What do you stand for?
No. 157, Mch. 11.—What do you do on the
farm In March?
No. 158, Mch. 18.—How do you treat oats
for black smut?   With what success?
No. 159, Mch. 25 —How can we best prevent
carrying mud and sand into the house? What
should we make walks of, and how?
No. 100,  April 1.—What ls the  fault of a
Beedbed that needs plowing deep tho firet cultl-*
vation.   Give the remedy..
No. 1G1, April 8.—<;[vo us tho story of
your grape vines. What building may they
climb? How do you grow them on buildings
and on trellises?
No. 102, April 15.—Let us talk fences again.
What kind are you buildiDg and cost? Elnd
of poet?, steeples and cost? Do you like ratchets or wire fence*?.
No. 1G3, April 22.—Give crlticlems on
this department. Aleo etate how writers may
Improve and shorten  copy.
No. 101, April 29. How do you treat cows
from drying off to calving? How avoid milk
fever? 	
Premiums of $1 75 cents and 50 cents will be
given to let, 2d and 3d best articles each week,
Let copy be ae practicable as possible and forwarded 10 days before publication to
Lafayette. E. H. Collins.
Complimentary.
Editors Indiana Fabmeb.
We beg to hereby notify you that we have
disposed of our plant and business to the
American Steel and Wire Co., of Chicago.
In retiring from your advertising list, we
wish to thank you for the many courtesies
extended to us during our business life and
to express our satisfaction as to the results
obtained by advertising in your paper.
Indiana Wiki Fence Co ,
R. Schweitzer, Adv. Mgr.
Orawfordsvllle, Feb. 17, '99.
BBVIKW.
The first premium was given to the mother's Influence. X)t our generous flow of copy
several made earnest mention of this  power
Sowing Blue Grass, Etc.
Editors Indiana Farmeb.
Will you be kind enough to answer the following questions in next number? Best time
to sow Blue grase seed; beet time to eow Orchard grass seed, and how much seed per acre?
Also, how much Timothy per acre and how
much Red clover per acre. T. H, W.
Bloomington,
—Blue graea may be sown either In fall or
spring. Select a still day, for the least wind
carries the seed far and wide. Just beforo a
shower is the best time. Uee from 10 to 15
pounds seed to the acre, according to quality
of the soil; rich soil requires less than poor.
Sow orchard grass as early tn spring as possible. Late sowing does not succeed well. 25
pounds is the average amount of seed. Sow
Timothy in the fall. Use 8 to 12 quarts of
seed. Sow red clover any time from January
to April. Use 12 to 15 pounds of seed. Pulverize the Boil well for all these seeds.