The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-15
New England's Greatest Literary
Work.

II may be the twilight Of the literary
gods, the MONDAY of the literary god
let's Of New England, but one major
divinity and planet rules and shines
there, undiminished and unobscured.
Our old friend the Hon. ROBERT BAILY
THOMAS, now OF formerly Of West Boyls-
ton, Mass, continues his beneticent
activity. The one hundred and fifteenth
number Of his old Farmers Almanack'
is nov ready to hang upon the wall.
There is no handler encyclopaedia or
more filing for the price. Three gen.
erations have learned astronomy, poetry
and weather wisdom from its crowded
pages; and nov it bears sway among the
fourth. Professor GEORGE LYMAN KIT
TREDGE of Harvard has shown that Old
Mr.. THoMAs's masterwork eliminates
all subjects and is compact Of all knowl-
edge. II Is a safe adviser. II is the one
unerring prophet. For example: What
days will heaven send us from April 10
to April "a. 1902 Open the oracle; con-
suit the SoTtes Thomdsidn1:
Expect some mind sprtnglike days
Expect themi II they don't come you
have been happy in the awaiting of them,
and the seer has not broken any prom
Use. So from April q to April 80, there
will be -frosts in some places: but there
will be no frost for Old Mr.. THOMAS. So
the August probabilities are conserva-
tive: Perhaps rain hot and sultry expect
some rain; warm, sultry and showery.'
In the last week Of November: About
this time expect some snow and a sud-
den change TO colder" This Is weather
insurance reduced to ascience. It puts
to shame all the weather bureaus and
woodchucks in the world.
Old Mr.. THOMAS the sage is ever more
engaging than Old Mr.. THOMAS the man
Of science and reader Of signs and stars
If we may say so without irreverence to
the illustrious dead, BEN FRANKLIN was
a boy compared TO him. Thus:
Economy !. . virtue. but there Is a tr1e and
false economy"
Exactly; and many Of Old Mr.. THoM-
ASS pupils in New England have learned
true economy and are mortgsging their
houses to buy automobiles. AS Old Mr..
THOMAS writes, The patient OK is too
slow for this hurrying age In the
saw Every man should attend to his
own business" the philosopher squints
at that keen sociological curiosity which
is supposed to characterize the dweller
in rural communities. winter apples
should be picked before they are TOO
ripe, says the Worcester county Hesiod.
Summer apples are sure to be. The
boys attend to that. Here are golden
words about a golden art:
Making mlnco pics is a serious matter, ana not
TO be lightly undertaken. All the materials should
be OF the beat duality. each Ingredient have It's due
proportion, and the aggregate be blended into u
harmonious whole. It's the devoted housewife
alone who can bring them to their best estate.
Time. experience and skill such as she applies are
necessary to the creation OF the mtnce pies We have
In mind, whatever other SORTS OF things may 60
by that name"
Good Old Mr.. THOMAS ought to know
what a mince pie is by this time. For
him no baroque or barbarous imitation
no vulgar trihings with that high mys-
terry, that supper of the gods.
The tail fthe Lion is as lifelike as ever
and his roaring is distinctly audible.
The Crab is good enough TO eat with or
without devilling. Old Mr.. THoMAs's
signature is as firm and legible as ever,
in spite of his advancing years.