The Brattleboro reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1907-1912, 1909-07-16

One Of the western railroads has given
up the plan of suspending operating en-
ployes for attractions of rules, claiming
that such methods of punishment are in
effectual. Instead, a system of efficiency
| records has been installed, and this is con-
suited when any question arises as to pro-
| motions.
Once in awhile England still offers asy-
mm to some alien exiles. just now she
has nofficially opened her doors to eight
women from the harem of the ex-sultan of
Turkey, who are staying in one of the
fashionable hotels near Portland square,
and no one is making any effort to inter
fere with them.
Farmers in Colorado are complaining of
the depredations of coyotes, but in a
strange way. Insects are damaging crops
badly this summer, and the farmers say
that the chief cause of this is that there
are not enough songbirds in the fields.
The coyotes eat many young birds which
are Matched on the ground
The authorities at Carlsbad were much
disturbed a short time ago because the
water supply of some of the most famous
springs showed signs of failing. Experts
were called in at once, and it was found
that some nearby mines were injuring the
source of the springs. As this meant the
ruination of Carlsbad the authorities at
once ordered the mines abandoned.
4 telephone company in Iowa took its
instrument out of the office of a business
man who swore at central because of the
poor service rendered. The company said
that the telephone would be put back
when the man had promised that he
would be gentleman in future But he
promptly took the matter into court, and
the Judge told the telephone people to
put back the instrument, as it was their
Job to run telephone service. not reform
the world.
Much trouble is being met with in
China because of the way in which natives
are holding up trains in the interior. The
Chinese there are not used to the engines
and won't keep off the track, with the
result that quite a number are killed or
injured. But when there is an accident
the relatives and friends of the victim
hold up the next train and make the pas
sensers pay damages. And the passengers
are lucky if they escape without being
stoned.
Here in the east one seldom hears of
Miami university of Ohio, yet now that
institution is putting out claim to have
graduated one president of the United
States, seven governors of states, three
cabinet officers, seven United States sena-
tors, seven ambassadors, "a congressman,
one speaker of the house, 81 state sena-
tors. 60 army officers, &c federal and state
Judges, and 80 college presidents, though
her total graduation list is less than 1000.
The Times enters a protest against
the present method Groton takes with
tramps. At present they are given
loaf of bread and can of salmon or piece
of cheese and directed to the lookup,
where they find the door open to receive
them. They build a fire, make them
selves at home and 60 whenever and
wherever they like. If this continues
Groton will be the tramps headquarters
and the village at their mercy.-Groton
(Vt) Times.
The use of rat skins in various indus
tries has created demand in London
alone to the amount of nearly 100000
year, states a British publication. They
are used among other things for book
binding, photograph frames, purses and
for the thumbs of ladies' gloves. A new
branch of work is likely to increase the
consumption largely, and as much as 70
to 80 cents day has been earned by the
unemployed, in Denmark last year, when
the rat act was passed. The damage done
by rats in England alone is estimated to
amount to many millions of dollars per
annum and their capture already occu-
pies large number of persons.
Miss Jeanette L. Glider, editor of
Putnam's, tells this story: A serving maid
had Just come from Ireland, and a Brook
Ign woman engaged her. A bell hung, in
the girls room, and the morning after her
arrival her mistress rang the bell to get
her up But the maid did not get up,
though the bell rang and rang Finally,
slipping on dressing gown, she fastened
to the new servants room. There, wide
awake. the maid lay, laughing at the top
OF her lungs. What on earth are you
laughing at. Norah?' said the mistress.
Faith. num-" Norah answered Dim
laughin' at that bell. As sure as Oh live
OF haven't touched it, an'-jest see-lt