The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1896-10-03

selves withh'do in imitAtiop sfthei
cousins in town, who are compelled
perforce, 10 do 90. The woman in town
however, has lectures, amusements O
various kinds, and = round Of socia
calls which occupy her tine apd pgc
vent her moping over imaginary ms
The country woanau fh no houses herself
10 quite likely to develop into . mis-
anthfope or, even worse, into IN In
veterate gossip, who never fails to know
| pore about, her ynefghhQrs' bvsipdba
thep y deeir4ble. Tie habit OF fosSif
II one Of the most insidious Of evils. I,
begins frequently with . neighborly
ana quite possibly . kindly. interest in
the affairs of Others, but curiosity and
the desire to ~ clever tlings too often
get the better Of kindly resolutions, and
the sacrifice of character follows. Many
& slanderous story has been started by
the sneer and cutting words Of wom-
sn who was not malicious at heart, but
simply desired town the applause Of her
acquaintanees. There are none who can
consider themselves proof sgainst dan.
ger of lapsing into this wreteAed habit
Certainly, the Hebrew prophet who
called the tongue an unruly member
had met with this in his day and land.
The greatest safeguard against the
habit Of gossip il asa abeosbing interest
in something beyond the selfish hum
drum cares of the hour. Nothing is
more eleyating and . surer protection
against such folly than q rural life
among the flowers and the birds and
other living creatures Of the Acids and
wods. She who has learned to lay her
hands lovingly on every blossoming
plant and even on the homely weed in
hC- dboryard, and greet each by name,
is not in danger of degenersting into
frivolity. There are too many interests
in the world Of plant life around her for
her 10 seek any artificial sensational
ism. To the lover Of birds and insects
there Ia a multitude of interests in every
visit to the field. Each day IN spring.
summer or autumn records some new
story. There is no companionship more
fascinating and full of interest than
that Of dumb wild creatures Of the
woods and fields. that ere left 70 them
selves to live out their lives in the natur-
al haunts where they were placed. It
is quite an uncommon thing even for
women who live in the country to know
the notes of birds and recognize each
feathered creature by his 0fif As he
comes back In the spring. There are
some birds that remain withsus all win
ter besides the CHEEKY little snowbirds.
Naturalists now know that several
varieties of birds rear their young in
the depths Of winter, protected in the
recesses of the great forest trees.
One of the sdvaptages Of atfjctly
rural life to the ut7litarian il the knowl-
edge It gives rs Of our friends. Some
of the most valuable insect friends Of
the farmer are ruthlessly Destroyed
every day through sheer ignorance. 1t
is now recognized BY all intelligent
entomslogist3 that the most e2ectval
method OF fighting the numerous insect
pests that each year briags is through
their hatura& foes. The farmers Of our
hop-growing counties have long recog-
nized the despised skunk az valuable
assistant in the destructiop Of the hop
worm. The common toad IL well known
~ the friend Of the gardener. The
however. is not 70 often known
in this country. In Europe it - eeseE-
ally protected and known even to chill
drcn as kindly insect. It 10 q shiny
litfls 1d beetle, spottea with blAek; md
is TOO ottep mbtpken Tor tie dtstfue-
tive buflale meth, whieh Il in no way
except in atFe and. sh9p&
The ladybug i q harmless, cleanly lite
tie creature, each one Of whom destroys
large quantities of the green Ice which
prey upon our plants and fruit trees
in great hordes, and against which all
remedies o1 shdrticulture fail. 1t Is
hardly necessary to recall the use OF .
knowledge Of our friends and foes in
the vegetable kingdom. She who
knows herbs and simples and uses her
knowledge wisely il indeed fortunate
u 0uaQs-N. y. TYibunA -
0oeolA4y.