The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-08-27
Spite of Bicycles ii Still
Holds Its Place.
Radical Change in Method of
Making aud Packing.
Mr.. Darling'S Interesting Chat on
an Every Day Subject.

Court A. Darling, who knows every
ager and agent who ever visited this city
within the past score OF years sat In front
OF his well kept hay and grain house
on the cornsr OF Mathewson and Foun-
tain streets this morning looking spick
and span as he always does. His recent
trip to Ell gland and the continent did
him heap OF good, as he put 1t.
Paris has never been overpraised, said
he. In fact the story has not been
colored enough. Ionoon, too, found
TO be much better than i anticipated and
my whole trip was delightful.
tell you it is pleasant to visit places
you have read sbout and heard about all
your life. Antiquity isa great thing in
some sections. or course, when II comes
to living there's no place like the United
States.
I'll tell you what strikes the American
visitor strongly abroad. 1t is the re-
narkable cultivation OF everything. Here
we lind lots OF wild, rough land. There
the fields are filled with growing things.
Good grass land, ELI?
Best you ever saw.
This allowed the reporter to switch Mr..
Darling of on the subject he wanted to
talk about, but it was a great drop from
Paris to hay.
Ii has besn common talk that the
bicycle craze has ruined the livery stable
business, that blscksmiths have felt the
force of these horseless carriages and
that eve dry goods houses attribute the
loss Of business as much to bicycles as
to shirt waists. In fact great deal has
been laid at the door OF bicycles and
for which they must answer.
How about the effect OF bicycles on
the hay trade, Mr.. Darling?
Well, don't see as it makes much
difference. 1t makes some, OF course.
hat and the electric cars have shut out
the "noble boss" to certain extent, but
there are good many horses in this
vicinity and they have to be fed. There's
no getting away from that.
Come In and see my new hay empor-
ium.
Everything was as neat as a parlor.
rne bales Of hay were piled attractively
and the odor OF .be premises vas delight
full.
There's been considerable OF a change
since first started in this business. We
used to buy hay by the load and 1t took
all outdoors TO stow it.. Now every thing
is baled. The hay business, like every
thing else, has beon improved by compe-
tition. Now you can get tons and tons OF
the stuff in a small place. The trade has
been brought down to science in pack
ing. 1t Is more convenient tor all hands
concerned.
Now, sell lot OF hay to tho Ital-
ians. They haven't much room to keep
IL In and these small bales can be- pokeu
away in any convenient corner. Yes,
men of means with largo barns prefer
this way Of keeping hay, because it is
much neater and more easily handled.
Then there is as much difference in maxi
ing hay now from the old way as there
Is difference between the stage coach and
the railway.
The old-fashioned farmer used 10
spread 1t out, leave 1t In the sun and cure
1t until there was very little OF II left.
All the sweetness was taken out of
IL by the process. Nowadays they keep
the life AMI sweetness in IL and I've got
some up IN the loft that Is as good hay
as can be found in America. And it is
all on account OF how it is made. Science
tells in hay manufacture just as much
as 1t does In its application to the finest
electrical machinery.
You were talking about the effect OF
bicycles. Well, generally speaking, the
persons who enjoy them never had any
use for horses. The livery trade cuts no
great figure anyway. Stable keepers buy
close and In some cases you have to wal.
a long time for your money.
People keep horses for the love OF the
animal and there are n bout as many of
them hereabout as there ever wns. 1
tell you, there Is great deal OF comfort
In owning fine horse, anG owners of
them are particular about what they
eat. The best is none too good for
them. The quality of the hay has been
advanced, perhaps through the medium
OF bicycles and the quantity disposed OF
has not diminished very much. That's
the way i tnd 1t. guess that would be
the general opinion of hay dealers all
over New England.
Glad you called. Come again. You,l
always find comfortable chair here.
MIR. Darling has sold more hay To cir
Gus men than all other local dealers com.
bined.