Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1908-05-09

there has been trouble with stem
rot or root lice. Asters do not OBJ
ject to partial shade and in such
places are less subject to the at
tacks of certain insects.
Dlsbudding.
To secure extra long-stemmei
howers of the branching varieties,
pinch out the center bud when the
plants begin to branch. Allow about
SIX of the side branches to grow. and
keep the lateral buds removed from
other branches. The entire strength
OF the plant is thus given TO a half
dozen flowers.
In Vick's Royal Purple aster. we
nave developed type of plant in
which precisely this result is ac-
complished by nature. We are also
developing the same type of plant
In several other colors OF branching
asters.
a Circumstantial "Thisfecn' Story
Rcfuted.
One Of the most famous stories
about the thirteen superstition is
that which appeared in the biogra-
ply Of Sir John Mlllais, published
some six years ago. In August.
1885, according to the biographer.
a party gathered at Millais Scottish
home, Blrnam. among them Matt
hew Arnold. Edgar Dawson, a Mr..
II. s. and a Miss @. s. One day It
was discovered that there were
thirteen at table. Miss q. s. was
greatly alarmed. To reassure her
Matthew Arnold, at the end of the
dinner, remarked, "And now, Miss
s.. the idea is that whoever leaves
the table first will die within
the year so. with the permission OF
the ladies. wo will cheat the fates
for once. I and these fine. strong
lads pointing to Edgar Dawson
and Il. 81 will all rise together, and
I think our united constitutions will
be able to withstand the assault OF
the reaper"
Matthew Arnold. according to the
story. died six months afterward,
and little later r.. s. was found in
bed killed by n revolver which lay
beside him. In the meantime Ed
gar Dawson had gone out to Aus
tralia, and after the two sudden
deaths there was natural anxiety
rs TO what should happen to him
within the fatal year. on February
Is, 1886. he left Melbourne on the
steamer Quetta. The steamer went
down on the coast of New Guinea
and Dawson was drowned. "And
now" writes the biographer, what
shall be said OF these thingsf The
facts are exactly as I have stated
them. and are only too we'll known
TO many now living?"
That is the famous story. and
now correspondent OF the Specta-
tor ruthlessly annihllates it by
,old examination OF the alleged
'acts:
THE facts! The party is said to
have taken place In August, 1885.
Accordingly Arnold must have died
N March. 1886, and the Quetta
must have gone down about tho
lame time. Every one knows that
Arnold died in April. 1888,
md have just come across n ref
srenee to the wreck OF the Quetta.
by one who lost several relatives IN
hat Inflated vessel, which gives the
year OF the wreck as 1890. What
'ould a serious biographer have
,een about when he allowed his
memory 10 trick him into penning
Iuch a piece of circumstantial non
sense? In view OF these glaring
discrepancies IL is allowable 10 dis
,redit the whole story. however II
may have formed itself in the writ
sr's mind. Arnold knew from about
1853 that his life was precarious
and that his end was likely TO be
very sudden. Is II likely that even
IN jest he ever uttered such a speech
rs is here put into his MOUTH"
---O-