____
CHAPTER V—Continued
. “I’m glad to know that the ex
perience wnsn’t unpleasant,” broke
In Nancy’s, her eyes dancing. “Do I
get out here?” (as Matt, his face
the color of a peony, stopped the
engine.) "And do I keep straight on
until I reach the top?”
. “I’d better show you the way,
hadn’t I? That Is—unless—unless
you’d rather go alone. I—I dcn’t
want to butt In If—”
“Oh, come on,” laughed Nancy.
*1 wasn't keen on solitude, If that's
what you mean. And If you've got
time to play around for an hour,
nothing would please me more. Jack
was vanquishing a wood pile;
Cousin Columbine was napping; and
Aurora was too much Inclined to
give advice, so I ran away."
Matthew laughed softly. It was
a pleasant laugh, and his voice
was pleasant, too, thought Nancy,
when he forgot himself and spoke
naturally.
“Aurora Tubbs strikes me com
pletely dumb,” he told her; “and
advice la one of her strong points.
What’s she found to pick at about
you?"
"Stockings!” said Nancy, and
wondered If Mat, following close be
hind In the narrow path, was
blushing again. "My sport hose got
left at home, and she Implored me
to borrow a pair of Cousin Colum
bine’s ‘black cottons.' Honestly, I
didn't know till I saw Cousin Col
umbine the day we came, that cot
ton stockings were manufactured
any more."
“They’re growing scarcer all the
time," said Matthew gravely. “Even
In Pine Kldge there's not much call
for ’em; and the high lace boot Is
doomed.”
Nancy whirled about. This was
the strangest young man she had
ever come across. One moment he
stammered with confusion, and the
next was saying something as amus
ing as It was unexpected. Their
eyes met as she turned, and they
both laughingly felt better ac
quainted.
"I wonder," remarked the girl as
she started forward, “where Cousin
Columbine gets hers?”
“lou mean boots?”
Nance nodded because the trail
was steeper here, and she found her
self a little short of breath.
“Maybe she gets ’em where she
gets the middies,” suggested Mat
thew. “Slow down. Miss—er . . .”
“Don’t be Victorian,” said Nancy,
without turning. “Was I going too
fastr*
‘Too fast for your own good, at
this altitude. It takes time to get
acclimated when you’re transplant
ed from sea level. Has your broth
er found a job?”
“Not yet; and he’s pretty worried.
Oh, Just look at the Peak 1 And—
and—why I never Imagined such a
view. I didn't know there was any
thing like It In the world!”
Matt beamed, as pleased with her
enthusiasm as If he were respon
sible for the view himself.
“Keep on,” he told her, "till you
reach that old pine that’s been
•truck by lightning. That tree is
practically on the summit; and
there Isn’t a finer view for miles.”
“How could there be?” Nance
stood, breathless, at the foot of the
ancient tree. Plains, and mesa, and
mountains lay stretched before her
—behind her—on every side; val
leys that would be green as emer
alds In summer; deep gorges; snow
capped peaks. “It’s almost too
beautiful to be true,” she said at
last. “Why has no one ever built
a home on this spot?”
Mat tapped the scarred old tree
trunk, shaved clear of bark where
lightning had done Its work.
“A house would be too good a tar
get 1 This Is the highest point In sev
° era! miles. Are you afraid of
thunder, showers? If so, you’d bet
ter pack your trunk before the mid
dle of May!”
“Are the showers so bad?”
“Sometimes they're fierce. Moth
er Insists It’s because we’re so near
the sky! Those storms are the
only thing In the world, I believe,
that she's afraid of. Her father
was killed by lightning before I was
born."
fiance sniverea.
“No wonder she’s frightened I It's
• miracle this tree has escaped be
ing demolished. Does anybody
know how old It Is?”
Matt shook his head.
“It’s a great deal older than any
one In these parts surely. Miss
Columbine remembers It just like
this when she was only a little girl
It must hare been struck by light
nlng many times. I often think—
that Is—I—”
Matt was, all of n sudden, self
conscious again; but Nance was
“Go on,” she begged.
“I only mean," he hesitated, “that
—that this tree must hare seen a
lot of Interesting things: Pioneers,
yon know, in their covered wagons;
the flrst settlers struggling to build
homes; Indian massacres- or war
dances; and later, prospectors
trudging along with burros. I—I
often wonder how many ef those
sights this pine looked down on."
Nancy was silent, partly because
no boy had ever talked this way to
her before, and partly because what
Matthew said had stirred her Im
agination. She was silent so long
that the young man moved uneasily.
“I—I suppose, all thlg sounds
sort of foolish—to a girl like you,
but—”
“Why should It?” Nance looked
at him so disconcertingly that
Matthew lowered his eyes for Just
a moment. “I guess you thought
I was being dumb; but really,
I was trying to see things—
the things you say this old tree
must have seen. And by the way I”
(Nance glanced up, smiling, at
which Matt became pleasantly
aware of a dimple In her left
cheek). “There Is something else
It saw that you didn’t mention. It
witnessed the betrothal of Victor
and Aurora Tubbs 1 She said I'd
And their initials cut In the bark.”
Matthew laughed.
"Mother remembers those Initials;
but lightning ripped that bark off
years ago. I hate tQ hurry you,
Miss—er—well," (desperately, as the
girl grinned at him). “Nancy, but
It’s getting along toward sundown
and'll soon be cold. Shall we move
on?”
Nance said, regretfully; “It’s so
wonderful here I can hardly tear
myself away. Is that the path
which leads down by the Tubbs es
tate? I’ll try that trail some day
when I'm energetic; and when I get
homesick I’ll come up here to get
away from every one, and either
bawl my head oft or snap out of
^he attack.”
'*' "We’ll have to see that you don’t
get hofneslck,” returned Matt with
unexpected gallantry.
A half hour later they drew up
went to bed with a cold. The wind'
was furious, and Nance retired
to her tower and surreptitiously
donned two pairs of silk stockings,
since no chance had arisen to buy
sport hose.
Even a stouter heart than hers
would have found the day more or
less gloomy. The halls In the old
house were frigid; and wind blew
through every crack. At Auroras
Invitation she took pen and paper
Into the kitchen, meaning to write
letters; but under the good woman’s
steady fire of conversation It was
Impossible to concentrate, and .at
last she sought the sitting room In
search of reading matter.
To one of Nance’s generation the
contents of the walnut bookcase
were not enticing. There was a
handsome edition of Scott, but one
glance at long pages of description
was enough. There were two old
fashioned novels and a set of Dick
ens which looked a bit less hopeless
than the others. Nancy could re
member her father reading parts of
"David Copperfleld’’ aloud when she
was little; but these volumes were
big and heavy. They looked endless,
too. In desperation she went back
to the kitchen and Aurora’s mono
logues.
"is tnere a public library in tins
place?” she questioned.
Aurora popped a pie Into the oven
and responded: “‘What good would
It do? So far’s I know they ain’t
anyone in Pine Ridge but Victor
Tubbs that's got time to read, and
it takes him all day to read the pa
per. And no wonder! He don’t
let even the smallest advertisement
get by him. He's upset Juanita con
siderable by mentionin’ a place in
Colorado Springs where you can
get a perm’nent wave for two dol
lars and fifty cents. She's asked
Eve Adam to tuke her down some
day when they go to see Luke at
the hospital, and I won’t hardly ex
pect to recognize my own daughter
when she gets back. No, we don’t
have any use for a library In Pine
Ridge.”
Recalling the ‘‘confession” maga
zines she had seen Juanita Indulge
In at the drug store, Nance sug
gested: “Perhaps If you had a real
good library young folks wouldn’t
waste their money on such trushy
reading matter.”
“Maybe," admitted Aurora, “buL+
doubt It. And If you mean those
love magazines, I’ll admit I find 'em
real refreshin’."
“But I thought you had no time
to read!”
“No more I do," replied Aurora,
undaunted at this sly thrust, “but
sometimes I glance at 'em to rest
me. Here’s Mark Adam with the
milk. Shut that door quick, Mark.
Do you want to freeze us? How’s
Jack gettln’ along? How’s Luke?
And Is your mother bearin’ up un
der this affliction?”
Mark deposited two milk bottles
on the table as he said: “One ques
tion at a time, please. This is some.
THE STORY FROM THE BEGINNING
Ruined, financially, by the stock market crash, James Nelson, Boston
merchant, breaks the news to his household. Nance, his daughter, nineteen,
Is on the verge of her Introduction to society. A short time before, an
elderly cousin of Nelson's, Columbine, had written suggesting that Nance
come to hor at Pine Ridge, Colo., as a paid companion. The offer had been
regarded as a Joke. Now Jack, Nancy's seventeen-year-old brother, urges
her to accept the proposition, to relieve their father of a financial burden,
and offering to go with her so that she will not feel too lonely. The girl
agrees that Jack shall write to Cousin Columbine, and they will await her
answer. Columbine wires welcome to both of them, and despite some mis
givings It Is arranged that the two shall go. Welcomed by Cousin Colum
bine, they are somewhat dismayed by her unconventional attire and man
nerisms, but realise she has character. A young friend of the old lady,
Mark Adam, Is Introduced. The desolation (to Nance's city Ideas) of Pine
Ridge appalls the girl. The newcomers meet Aurora Tubbs. Cousin Colum
bine's cook and housekeeper, and Matthew Adam, Mark’s older brothor.
Cousin Columbine explains her reasons for desiring Nance to come to her,
and tells some experiences of her 71 years on the plains.
at Miss Columbine's side door to
find Mark Adam scanning the road
Impatiently, and Jack seated on a
suitcase.
"Have you got a Job?” gasped
Nance, spying the luggage as she
took Mark's upstretched hand and
Jumped down lightly.
Jack nodded, while the other boy
exclaimed: “ “Where the dickens
have you been. Matt? We’ve tele
phoned everywhere to find you.”
“Hasn’t a feller got a right to
take an hour oft? What’s up?”
“Good and plenty. Luke’s broken
a leg.”
Matthew started, his face grave.
“You’re not kidding, Mark?"
“Sure I’m not. That new bronc
kicked him. Dad and Mother have
carried him to the hospital in the
car."
“Is It a bad break?”
“How’m I to know? But” (turn
ing to Nance with his customary
smile), “It's a case where an 111
wind blew somebody good. Jack’s
got a Job with us till Luke’s around
again. Pile In, feller. We must get
going. We'll take good care of your
little brother, Nancy I”
“HI I Walt a mlnutel” This was
Aurora, bursting through the door
with a covered basket “I made a
layer cake this mornln' and It’s sure
to get stale with Jack away. I cut
off a hunk for Nancy, and the rest's
in the basket with a couple o’ loaves
of good fresh bread. You bold that
basket right ride up, boys, and ...”
She was still expounding voluble
Instructions when the engine start
ed. Mark blew a kiss of thanks as
they drove away.
CHAPTBR VI
TT WAS ten days before Nancy
l saw her brother again, a rather
lonesome ten days, on the last of
which the Colorado sunshine gave
way to what Aurora called “a baby
bllasard,” and Cousin Columbine
storm, Isn’t It? Are you occupying
the kitchen In order to keep warm,
Nancy, or to profit by the conver
sation of our estimable Mrs. Tubbs?"
"Don’t you be uppity, Mark
Adam,” snapped Aurora. “She’s
here to get warm, and no wonder
with nothin’ but a layer of silk
stockln’s to protect her legs. You
haven’t answered—’’
"Give me time,” Mark interrupt
ed, warming his cold fingers at the
stove. “Jack couldn't do better.
We’ll have i expert milker long be
fore Luke’s ready for the Job again.
He sent his love to every one, and
so would Matt if he wasn’t so bash
ful. Say!” (turning to Nancy),
"how’d you ever manage to rope my
shy brother into taking you up to
the old pine?”
“Rope him!’’ exclaimed Nancy. “I
call that an insult.”
“Well, to tell the truth,” broke
In Aurora, “I almost lost my breath
when you rode Into the yard the
other day. It ain’t Matthew Adam'a
habit, takln’ girls to ride; and you're
so stylish, Nancy, I dunno how he
got up courage to suggest you goln'
In that old truck.”
“That’s the advantage of a college
education,” observed Mark, with a
wink at Nancy. ‘The emergency
arose, Aurora, and despite his fenr
of the female of the species, my
brother was able, because of his
superior learning, to conquer—”
“Goodness gracious I’ burst out
Aurora, “I never heard such rub
bish. What are you giggling about,
Nancy? You ought to encourage a
young man to talk mor4 sensible.
How’s Luke? And you didn’t say
If your mother was bearin’ pp. I al
ways thought Luke was her fa
vorite, or maybe it’s because he
ain't so husky as the rest of you.”
Mark grinned as be slipped off
the wet Jacket
“Luke’s doing first rate. He’ll
be home next week and hobble
round on crutchea. Mother’s all
right; and If she like* Luke best,
Aurora, It’s only because he’s not
so good looking as the rest of us.
It's what they call the—er—ugly
duckling complex, I suppose."
Aurora snorted.
"I dunno what anybody's com
plexion has to do with It; but
there’s some folks In Pine Ridge
that thinks Luke Adam’s the hand
somest of the lot, not excepting
Matthew. And he’s an awful sweet
boy, too. There's Miss Columbine
pounding. No, Nancy,” (as the girl
sprang up), “I'll go find out what
she wants while you keep Mark
company. Set close to the range,
Mark Adam, and get yourself het
through."
“Tell me," said Nancy, “Is Jack
really doing the work all right?”
“Sure he Is!” Mark was strad
dling a kitchen chair, his elboWs
resting on Its back while he looked
“I—I Suppose, All This Sounds
Sort of Foolish."
at the girl Intently. “Mother’s
adopted him already—says he’s just
like one of her own boys, and that’s
high praise—from Mother! She
wants you to come out and spend
a .Sunday when it's good weather.
What In time do you do with your
self a day like this?”
"Listen to Aurora," replied
Nance softly. “I wanted to read,
but Cousin Columbine’s books look
stuffy; and Aurora tells me there’s
no public library. She says no one
In Pine Ridge has time to read.
What do they do—evenings, I
mean?”
"According to the old story they
‘set and think, and sometimes they
Just set!’” laughed Mark. "I’ll
bring you some books from home
tomorrow, Nance. If we had a li
brary here, even a smnll one, I bet
the population would profit by It.
AH most of these people read is
trashy magazines.”
"That’s what I told Aurora; but
she said—”
“You’re to stay to dinner,” an
nounced Aurora, bursting In upon
them. “Miss Columbine says she
wouldn’t send a dog Into this
storm without he had a good full
stomach. Don’t you make any ob
jections, Mark Adam. Mercy to
goodness! Are my pies burnln’?”
But the pies were safe, browned
to perfection, though Aurora de
clared her fright had given her a
palpitation.
“And I can’t get a proper meal
with young folks clutterin' up my
kitchen," she declared. "You put
some coal In the slttln’ room stove,
Mark Adam, and then you and
Nancy clear out till I call. Din
ner'll be ready In no time; and Miss
Columbine’ll be offended If yon
don’t stay. She says maybe you’ll
keep Nancy from bein’ homesick."
“In that case," returned Mark
with an engaging smile, “I can't re
fuse."
It was after Mark Adam had con
tinued on his way, fortified by a
substantial dinner and armed with
a pumpkin pie and Aurora's ‘‘com
pliments'' for Jack, that Nancy
carried a glass of warm milk into
Cousin Columbine's bedroom, and
asked If there were anything she
could do for the invalid.
“You can sit down and let me
look at you,” responded the old
lady. "I’ve got the upper hand of
this cold already, and am staying
here only because I believe In
‘safety first.’ Every hour wasted
by sickness , makes me Impatient.
There’s so much to do In this won
derful old world; and when you’re
over seventy there’s such a little
time to do It In. Aurora tells me
Jack’s getting on all right—not that
I expected anything else. He’s got
the Nelson grit, and there’s no
chance that he’ll be Imposed on at
the Adam ranch. Eve would see to
that even If John Adam wasn't the
kindest soul alive. Some thought
they were too easy going when the
boys were youngsters, but—look at
the four of ’em!”
"So far I’ve seen only two,” Nan
cy reminded her.
“Well, you’ll see them all In good
time, unless you get desperate and
run away from me. I love Pine
Ridge even In a blizzard; but I
can see how It looks like the end
of nowhere to a girl brought up as
you’ve been. I was glad Mark
Adam happened In at dinner time
to keep you company. Haa Aurora
Tubbs been talking you to deathT*
Nancy laughed.
"Not quite. I let her rattle on
and killed time listening.”
(TO BB OONTINUSD.) 1
Howe About:
Sentiment
Manufactured Roar
Ford’s Philosophy
O. Boll Syndic*!#.—WNU Barrie*
By ED HOWE
THE groys sentimentality Amer
icans have long practiced In
their public affairs, and do not pri
vately believed in, has done them
great harm. No one can doubt it
was our foolishly sentimental task
offcnaklng the world safe for democ
racy that landed us in the World
war, at an expense which bankrupt
ed us, and harmed instead of pro
moted democracy; It gave the politi
cians their present terrlbls power.
Gross sentimentality (too much
sympathy for evil doers) ruined our
courts, and built up a legal system
that la the astonishment of the In
telligent world ; It has corrupted our
youth, our women and our religion
—everything we are now In almost
universal revolt against had Its In
ception In gross sentimentality.
The writers and leaders known as
the Sob Squad have taken advantage
of our smiling, hypocritical acqules
ence In sentimental folly nntll we
are the laughing stock of sane for
eigners. Our present groaning be
cause of self-inflicted wounds will
make a page In future histories that
will disgrace the once brave word
American.
* m m
I have Just been reading another
African book, and encountering two
well-behaved maidenly ladles who
went everywhere. They had no am
bition beyond seeing the country; no
reforms to Introduce. So they were
welcomed by all the whites, and the
natives found them so unusual they
were all delighted to see them. The
author thus dismisses them Anally;
‘They had been everywhere In the
world that one would like to go, and
experienced nothing that In their
eyes amounted to risk or discom
fort But they will never write a
travel book, their observation is too
accurate, their views too sane, to
•ommand attention."
* • •
I have lived so long, and heard so
many tales., only a very unusual one
Interests me. Today I gave a little
attention to this: A twenty-year-old
girl of the best set In a small town
Is taking a liquor cure.
• • •
The wrldng between the lines
here Is that publishers will print
nothing about Africa, or anything
else, not absurdly exaggerated. In
everything In print publishers Insist
that lions roar menacingly, maul
hunters, and carry off women and
children.
In all you read, look out for the
manufactured roar, and discount It,
or your reading will add to your
confusion.
* • *
Henry Ford recently wrote: “A
man has no divine right to a Job,
but must work to find work. Char
ity undermines character; self-help
Is the only road to economic salva
tion. I do not .believe > in routing
charity; I think ft a shameful thing
that any man should have to Btoop
to take It or give It. It Is neither
helpful nor human. The charity of
our cities Is the most barbarous
thing In our system. True charity Is
a much more costly effort than
money giving. Unemployment has
become one of the most dreadful
words In the language.” . . . This
philosopher spent a large amount
of money In getting this sound
thinking before the people, but they
paid not the slightest attention to it
• • •
I was once In the company of a
mother and daughter, and especially
admired the daughter. “She de-'
serves all you say of her now," the
mother sifld, "but a* a child ahe
waa terrible; I was busy half the
time returning things she stole
from the neighbors. And she was
a tyrant with the other children
and with her parents. In her baby
hood I as sincerely regretted she
ever was born as I how rejoice In
It, for she Is an unusually credit
able woman; she frequently shames
me with her ladylike manners.” . . .
I admired the young woman the
more because she so successfully
overcame the natural bad habits of
youth. 8uccess In life Is realisa
tion as we grow up that If we are
to enjoy the comforts of civilisation,
we must acquire civilized habits.
• • •
I rarely read without encounter
ing a statement that capitalism has
failed. . . . Every such statement
la silly, but no one can be convinced
of It Capitalism la nothing more
than the least troublesome way
demonstrated by long experience, of
handling necessary barter. It has
no more failed than has marriage,
or law, or philosophy ; not nearly so
much as religion or democracy. . , ,
What do these men mean when they
say capitalism has failed? Are they
declaring that when we wish to buy
a railroad ticket It is better to pay
for It with corn on the ear or pigs
on the hoof than with money?
• • •
If a man la born a fool, must he
remain one forever? ... At least
on* philosopher holds out th*
hope that the brain may be im
proved by proper exercise, aa may
th* muscle*. I have forgotten hla
name, but thla philosopher declares
that a man who better* hla conduct
at the same time Increases bis brala
{tower.
The Home Aquarium
> '
How Toy Fishes Arrive From Germany.
ftvpared by National Geographic Society,
Washington, I>. C.—WNU Service.
FISH aquariums In American
homes, once Inhabited only by
goldfish, now are stocked with
finny creatures of strange colors
and shapes from many parts of the
world. The toy fish merchant has
enlarged his stock to Include fish
from far distant waters, and aquari
ums are about as common In Amer
ican living rooms today as potted
plants.
Who started the fad of aquarium
fish Is a bit of a mystery. Rumor
names Egypt; but although the
fresh waters of Egypt are replete
with curious and beautiful dwarf
fishes and the Egyptians developed
the art of glass-blowing during the
I’tolemalc and Roman periods, about
300 B. C., there Is no evidence that
vessels of glass were used for
aquaria.
It Is well known that tho lure of
breeding fishes In captivity took
possession of the Chinese several
hundred years ago, spreading to
Japan, and thence over the western
world, with the goldfish as Its orig
inal object of Interest. During the
past 75 years, experimentation with
the balanced aquarium has passed
through various salt and fresh-wra
ter phases until, with tropical toy
fishes, It has reached the peak of
enthusiasm and success In Europe"
and America.
Not that the goldfish has suffered
a loss of popularity. Many millions
still are reared annually In the
United States, largely for martyr
dom In the quart globe, and there
Is little diminution In the demand
for bizarre and costly varieties.
Among the cold-water species It has
no rivals.
Nevertheless, tropical fishes have
superseded goldfishes In many of
the smaller hatcheries, and some of
the larger goldfish farms have
built conservatories for rearing
them.
Many shops In the larger cities
are devoted exclusively to their
sale, and a pet show without a dis
play of the colorful midgets would
he noticeably Incomplete. Rut It Is
true, also, that while most Ameri
can and European homes have been
ornamented at some time by the
presence of a few goldfishes, the
majority have not as yet succumbed
to the allurements of the toy trop
ical, though fish “fans” spring up
dally like mushrooms, enticed by
the flash of color, the beauty of fin
and form, the remarkable breeding
habits undisturbed by captivity, and
the use with which the aquaria are
maintained.
From All Over the'World.
Many kinds Imported Into the
United States are sold and shipped
almost the length and breadth of
North America—from Florida to
Canada and from Massachusetts to
California—but hundreds ns equally
beautiful and Interesting are as yet
unknown to the fancier.
The happy hunting grounds for
toy fishes, explored and unexplored,
range In the western hemisphere
from the Carollnas south through
Florida, and from Mexico through
Central America, Panama and
South America to the most south
erly point of Argentina. In the
eastern hemisphere, Egypt and other
parts of Africa, Australia and
Asla—includlng the Island groups
of the Malay Archipelago, India,
China, Slam and other countries—
have been drawn upon for the sup
ply of dwarf fishes appearing In the
home aquaria of the Occident.
Their habitat is chiefly the swamp,
the ditch, the rain pool, the rice
field, clear mountain streams and
stagnant lowland waters, ponds,
brooks, lakes, rivers and estuaries;
but some either make migrations to
the coasts or live perennially In
brackish or wholly salt water.
Oceanic species thus far kept In
American aquaria have been prin
cipally gobies.
Tropical toy fishes are of many
genera and species and even
of many varieties—some natural,
others cultivated. Their adult body
length measures from I Inch to B
inches.
The anatomy of the toy fish is
not unique. Swim bladders and
other organs common to larger
fishes are common to them, and
their fins are the same—caudal, or
tail, fins for swimming and propell
ing, fins beneath, called ventral and
anal, and pectorals (behind the
gills) for helping maintain the equi
librium; also, dorsal fins (on the
back), which Indicate moods and
physical states—health and content
ment when erect. Illness and depres
sion when lowered. The majority
have no sort of protection against
enemies except In such teeth as they
may possess.
Some are so peaceable that a
number of species live amicably in
one tank; otheriJ so quarrelsome
that two males cannot occupy the
same aquarium, and a male may
kill his mate.
. Some subsist largely on algae, but
most favor small water animals,
such as entomostracans (the mi
nutest of crustaceans), annelids,
and Insect larvae.
Raw beef, cereals, roe, and shell
flsh, also dried shrimp and other
desiccated foods, appear on their
bill of fare, and many experiments
have been made with concentrated
foods, such as cod-liver meal and
other glandular products, to ascer
tain their response to vitamin nutri
tives—experiments which have con
firmed their amenability to a for
eign diet and especially to substi
tutes for the lime, minerals, en
zymes and other catalytic agents
present In live food, which air di
gestion, purify the blood, and keep
the skin lustrous.
Mouth of Fish Incubator.
The majority lay eggs and leave
them to thelT fate, but some carry
their eggs In their mouths, taking
no fobd while Incubation is In prog
ress, and subsequently caring for
the young, which swim back into
the mouth at the approach of dan
ger.
Some build nests and vigilantly
guard the eggs and fry; others
bring forth their young alive.
Nearly always when the fry re
ceive any care It Is given by the fa
ther, but in mouth-breeding species
It Is usually the mother who gath
ers up the spawn, and among Cl
chllds, which Include the Brazil
ian half-moon and Mesonauta, both
sexes guard the egg and fry.
In yet another species, the Chan
chlto, the eggs are hatched In a nest
scooped In the sand by the male
fish. When able to swim, the young
rise and school, the mother leading
the procession, the father bringing
up the rear.
Hazard* of Tropical*.
The only martyrdom to which
the tropicals are subjected I* acci
dental. Some expire from the cold.
Occasionally an aquarium Is left
uncovered and the fishes, many spe
cies of which leap like salmon, clear
the rim with one Jump and dry up
on tlie floor; or an aquarist con
cerned for their comfort may trans
fer their tank to a radiator and
forget It until they are completely
cooked.
Exportation of toy fishes from
Germany Into the United State* be
gan nearly SO years ago, numerous
species having been first success
fully bred In that country from par
ent stock captured In Its tropical
haunts. Though many thousands
now are propagated elsewhere, a
large percentage of those owned In
the United States being “home
grown,*’ considerable numbers still
are shipped from Germany and
South America.
Europe boasts permanent and
notable exhibits of toy fishes In helf
a dozen of Its public aquariums—
those of London, Amsterdam, Ant
werp, Berlin, Frankfort and Leip
zig. The United States laya claim
to two. That of the Lincoln park
aquarium. In Chicago, consists of 58 *
tanks, showing many brilliant spe
cies from the Orient and 8outh
America. That of the Stelnhart
aquarium, In San Francisco, con
sists of 81 tanks of similar species
and, in addition, many brought from
Samoa and Hawaii, which display
the vivid colors and the fantastic
shape* that characterise the fish**
of those waters today.