Praying For Rain.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7665, 27 June 1896, Page 4

Praying For Rain.

A solemn procession, the like of which has not been seen in the Spanish capital since the seventeenth century, paraded the chief streets of Madrid the other week. No fewer than eight hundred priests with lighted taper, and thousands of members of religious congregations, also carrying lighted tapers, and five hundred sacred banners took part. All the choristers of the Madrid churches were present, divided into three large groupß, at the head, middle, and end of the procession, nnd they sang the Litany of the Saints as they marched along. The chief feature of the procession was, however, the body of Saint Isidro, the patron saint of Madrid, who flourished in the thirteenth century, and whose body, encased in a magnificent silver filigree urn of the sixteenth century, was carried by priests in a portable altar. The streets were crowded with people, who knelt as the body of the saint passed along. The procession was organised on the initiative of the Queen Regent for the purpose of making Divine intercession for a termination of the terrible drought and a speedy conclusion of the war in Cuba. An accident attended with dreadful results happened to a man named Donald McKenzie at VVaihi last Saturday. McKenzie, who is a bushman, residing in Walmsley's bush, is subject to fits. While attending to a fire in the hut on Saturday eveuing, he was overtaken by that form of illness, and being unable to help himself, fell into the flames. Ho apparently outstretched his arms, but that was the only etfort he could make, and lay face downwards, with the fire blazing round his face, neck and arms. He cried out, and his mates rushed to the hut. The sight which met their eyeß was appalling, as the man was literally roasting. Not a moment was lost in rescuing him from his terrible predicament. McKenzie'a beard was quite burnt off, as also wcs his hair, and his face was so raw as to be almost in pulp. He was taken to Waihi, distant about two miles, and Dr Wright's services were secured. During the night McKenzie suffered dreadfully, but he was relieved by death next day. If an increase of eggs is desired in the poultry yard -and who will say it is not when eggs are now selling at 2s per dozen — before very large sums of money are expended in the purchase of everlasting layers, the drafting out of all hens over a couple of years old, and the introduction of young roosters of one of the best laying breeds, is to bo recommended. Early pullets give the increase, and the only wonder is that the people persist, as they do, in keeping up a stock of old hens, which lay one day and stop three, instead of laying three days and stopping one. In some parts of England it is the invariable rule to keep hens only one year. Feeding will do a great deal— a surprising work, indeed — in the production of eggs, bub not when old hens are concerned. They may put on fat, but they can not put down eggs. Their tales* are told, their work is over ; nothing romains to be done with them bub to give them a smell of the kitchen fire. Anyone who has children will rejoice with L. B. Mulford, of Plaiufield, N. J. His little boy, five years of age, wbb sick with croup. For two days and nights he tried various remedies recommended by frieuds and neighbors. He saya : " I thought euro I would loae him. I had seen Chamberlain's Cough Remedy advertised, and thought I would try it us a last hope, and am happy to auy that after two doses he slept uutil morning. I gave it to him next day, and a cure was effected. I keep this remedy in the house now, and as soon as any of my children show signs of croup I give it to them, and that is the last of it." For, sale by E. D. Smith, wholesale and retail agent. — Advt.