Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1880-11-17
As TO PUTTING on AIRS.

The peacock is majestic biped
Whether we contemplate the gaudi
ness Of his plumage, the proud way il
which be carries bis head, or the state
ly style of his footsteps. there is mucl
in his general walk and convers ltiol
that compels attention. When he lift
up his voice in shrill scream who's,
notes re-echo as far as the ear cal
reach, we are attracted, even if we d'
not admire. He stru about with al
air of importance, as if be owned th,
whole ncigbborho0d and could impair
information as to the value of every
piece of real estate therein. From a.
personal appearance he might hr sap
posed to be both wealthy and tai,utc,i
for his feathers are giit-cd-ed and hi,
dainty demeanor bctokens certain
kind of culture If he were only
shrewd enough to hold his tongue
people might not discover what az
empty-headed creature he Is HI:
speech betrays him He tells his
story with such mock dignity as L
expose the shaliowness of his preten
sions And yet he IS happy because
he is all unconscious of the fact that he
IS as easily seen through as if made o
green glass Instead Of being clad il
those gorgeous green feathers. To q
on d.oss parade this biped has no equal
1t is in the performance Of solid duty
that he is found lacking. For regular
usefulness the ordinary barn-yard hen
/ is his superior While he lives the
peacock is of no particular use. When
slain there is but little of him, anG
that little makes not very s1,vory
meal The common duck, who wad-
dies through the mire and quacks as
he waddles, is, whether alive or dead
a far more desirable bird than the pea
cock in all his pomp and pride
We must not blame the poor pea
cock for his apparent vanity and air
ishness, for circumstances beyond his
control have made these traits a part
of his being. For him to strut is as
natural as for the duck to waddle. He
comes as honestly by that high-toned
screech as the canary by his tunefu
song. The gay feathers grew in his
tail by the same decree of Providence
that provided bristles for the pigs
back and wool for that of the sheep
If the bird does his best it is not fol
US to find fault with him. But if hui
man beings of whom better things
might be expected find no higher aim
than to ape the bird of brilliant plum
age and stately mien, they may justly
be made to serve as targets for the ar
rows of the critic There are some
human beings who are born with
golden spoons in their mouths and fol
whom there is no special mission in
the world except to count their spoons
and strut on dress parade. Happily
these people are few; so few, indeed
that the world can afford to feed them
in pay for the sport and the instruc
tion they afford. The sport is mingled
with instruction, for as the world
amuses itself by looking at these gooo
people and watching their antics while
on dress parade, it learns from them
wholesome lesson, namely, 10 be a
little like them as possible. When
men and women of whom the worlo
expects service neglect their work tC
put on airs and to play peacock, tn;
sport ceases and the display becomes
in the highest degree mela lch0ly.
One of the saddest sights is pea
cock caught in storm. a common
barn yard fowl looks sorry enough as
he stands on one leg in the rain, will
dripping feathers closely adhering tc
his stalwart form. But such a WEI
fowl is beauty itself compared will
the forlorn appearance of the draggled
and disastrous peacock when soaked
with rain and stuck up with mud
His proud head droops. his tail trails
in tie mire and each step seems
miserere. Thus it is with the airisf
person from under whom the stills o
pomposity are knocked and who, hav
! ing for some time been appraised al
his own estimate, suddenly linds him
self marked down to what the world
Justly considers his actual cast
value. The world makes some mis-
takes, but it has fashion Of marking
values of this sort with a reasonable
degree of accuracy.-Phila. Times.
PICKING IND PACKING AP
PLES.
Winter apples designed for long
L. L harEnctn1 n n
they developed color and flavor natural
to the ripe fruit Many sorts may
hang on the tree with benefit until
there is danger Of injury from frosts
Varieties that ripcn irregularly ought
to be gathered accordingly. 1t is
worse blunder to allow the fruit to re-
main until over ripe than the other
extreme Of picking while immature.
Harvest apples in dry weather only
for fruit free from atmospheric mois
ture when taken from the tree, other
things being equal keeps longest
Always hand-pick apples which are tC
be stored, and be careful not to bruisC
or break the skin in subsequent hand
ling. Secure the fruit from sun and
storms until sorted Many of our besi
pomologists have two sets OF hands at
time Of harvest, one for gathering the
apples and the other for sorting anc
packing Immediately in barrels. Shake
the barrels gently two or three times
during the process Of filling, to insure
the apples packing closely; press the
head heavily down and secure it tight
lv to avoid all movements Of the fruit
| inside. Place the barrels in some dry
cool spot, and do not store in the cellar
until the approach Of freezing weather
Apples require to be kept in as low {
temperature as may be and not freeze
The cellar or house employed for stor
| l.. ,,y..It t.I