Morning journal and courier., 1892-04-22
Farming in Burmah.


 A gentlemen now in this city, who was recently member of the British military police force in Burmah. talks entertaining ly of the natives. "The Burmese,n he says, "have curious way of living. They only cultivate the sides of the hills. The hills are covered with timber, which is cut down every year and replaced by rice-seed. Then, when the crop is gathered, there comes a rain which washes away the soil, and you cannot plant in the game place for four or five years again. Next year they will go and plant another bit of land and raise more rice. The rice, together with little fish which they catch in the rivers, and some salt which they buy, form their only food. They will march down two or three hundred miles for the salt, and will carry it up the hills on their backs. They go to the interior in caravans of three or four hundred, and sometimes they will send their slaves down. In the dry sea- sons they grow tobacco on the sides of the rivers. Sometimes they will gather a crop and at others it will be swept away. And, by the way, let me tell you curious thing in connection with the subject of tobacco. Tobacco from this country is sent into the more civilized districts of Burmsh. There it is rolled into fine cigars which you can purchase at two dollars per one hundred. They are better by far than those for which you will pay ten cents apiece over here. Burmah will eventually open up 6 means of communication for English trade into China It is now a question whether France or England will be the first to gain this advantage. Whatever country builds a railway, the work will be terribly expen- sive-the land is SO hilly, and the natives will put every obstable in tine way. Even the American oil wells cannot be made to pay on account of native opposition"
 The New ReaIistic Novel.
 From the Boston Journall
 Having been requested to publish some extracts from a new realistic novel upon which am now engaged, Iventure to se- lect portion of what is, perhaps, the most truly significant chapter in the book the keynote, if may make bold enough to say so, of the entire work:
 "'Yes,' said Carleton gravely, touching the horse with the end of the whip. Tt is indeed an almost perfect day, Miss Fla mingo.'
 ''He glanced at his companion as he spoke, but the young girl did not answer. She continued to gaze at the scenery around them, and quietly to twist her parAsol, which was tilted over her shoulder in or der to screen her better from the sun. This parasol, which was a silk one of about medium size, reminded Carleton strongly of one which his sister had once carried; he wondered vaguely what had become of this, and fell to speculsting ss to the average price of psrssols. He said to himself, with & sudden twinge of self consciousness. that it was absurd to think of such trivial things; but he reflected that, after all, he had nothing more to think of just then. It occurred to him, however, that it might be well to gay some thing.
 'Hem-m,' he said lightly, do you know, Miss Flsmingo. such day As this always makes me feel as though l could live out of doors all the time
 'ReallyF she answered simply, T have felt just that way myself at times How strange it is, is it notf
 "Neither of them spoke again for 6 lit tie while In silence they rolled along be- hind the horse, watching the sun sink in the west, and the wheels of the dog cart turning round and round and ever round, always in the same general direction, like unto the ceaseless movement in the lives of men"