Here the throng of from fifty to two hundred men, women and children dressed for the occasion may be seen in sun and rain planting rice.

A more light-hearted, merry set of laborers would be hard to find. When the rain is not pouring, in the back

ground may be observed a jolly set of boys and men playing the violin, guitar and other instruments, producing sweet strains of music, to which the enchanted laborers endeavor to keep time as they quickly and skillfully place the rice plant in its watery bed. Sometimes

the whole throng seem to be inspired by the music and join in a race to see which can make the best progress at

the work.

Caribou and man plunge through the mud and water at full speed. The peculiar shaped plow executing the work of stirring the wet soil into a thin mud.

The custom of dress in the field is very appropriate for the occasion. All are barefoot. The men and boys with their trousers well tucked up at the bottom, while the women and girls wear short skirts that are quite becoming.

The work of harvesting and thrashing rice is also a very odd proceeding and fully as interesting to a foreigner.

-W. N. RISDON, P. I.

It takes a life-time to build a reputation—a minute to destroy it.

The dark round spot in a man's eye is the only thing to look at while talking to him. If you cannot see it, beware.

RICE.

Rice forms the principal food of one-half the population of the earth. It is more widely and generally used

as a food material than any other cereal. Rice is the staple food in Southern China and India, also some other countries having a tropical climate.

Rice is not so good for food as wheat and some other grains. More than nine-tenths of rice is made up of starch and water, and only about a third of the other tenth is gluten, so that it makes when eaten, more fat than muscle.

Rice first grew in the East Indies, where it has been raised since the most ancient times, but it now grows in all the warm parts of Asia, Africa, and America. It requires much water. In fact a rice field must be flooded, always keeping the head of the plant above the water.

Rice commonly grows three or four feet high and bears its grains in heads much like wheat.

The best rice in the world grows in the United States, in South Carolina and North Carolina. The next best in Japan. This rice is rich in fats and has a fine flavor, and is ranked high among rice-eating nations for its nutrition.

The United States produces less than half the rice it The average importation is about one hun

consumes.

dred and seventy-five million pounds a year.

Rice culture is now one of the leading industries in Louisiana and Texas, where irrigation makes it possible to use land formerly only used for stock grazing.

Rice is an annual plant, belonging to the natural family of the grasses. There are a great many varieties of rice, differing in character, yield and quality.

However the battle is ended,

Though proudly the victor comes
With fluttering flags and prancing nags
And echoing roll of drums,
Still truth proclaims this motto
In letters of living light-
No question is ever settled
Until it is settled right.

Though the heel of the strong oppressor
May grind the weak in the dust,
And the voices of fame with one acclaim
May call him great and just,

Let those who applaud take warning,
And keep this motto in sight—

No question is ever settled

Until it is settled right.

Let those who have failed take courage,
Though the enemy seems to have won,

Though his ranks are strong, if he be in the

wrong,

The battle is not yet done.