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Tip. rOKNING OEJA'GONIAN, THUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 1900.
10
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SIME
HISTORY
(Copyright, 1S08. by
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THE?ORlfGONlAN,5HOMESTUDYCIRCL&i'DIRECTEDBY(PaOF.SEYMOUR EATON
" f
POPULAR STUDIES
IN SHAKESPEARE
X. CORIOLAXUS.
BT J. V. DBNNET.
Contributors to this course: Dr. Edward Uow
don, Dr. "William J. Itolfe. "Dr. Hamilton TV.
liable, Dr. Albert S. Cook, Dr. Hiram Coroon.
Dr. Isaac Jf. Demmon, Dr. Vlda D. Seudder and
others.
The Play a an Actlns Drama.
The play of "Corlolanus" Is never acted
as Shakespeare wrote It. To begin with,
l Is much too long for the exigences
of the modern stage. At least two-fifths
must be omitted In any modern repre
sentation of the play. Again, for nearly
150 years theatrical managers did not
have confidence in Shakespeare's work In
"Corlolanus" and conjoined with his work
the work of other playwrights. During
the whole period, say. from the time of
the reformation 16G0, and, for all we know,
even from Shakespeare's own time) down
to the year 1820, "Corlolanus" was not
brought out once even nominally, as
Shakespeare's play. In 1749 a play on the
seme subject was produced in Covent Gar
den, written by James Thomson, the poet,
the author of "The Seasons," and "The
Castle of Indolence." It is a sort of com
bination of Shakespeare's play and Thom
son's play, compiled in the main by Thom
as Sheridan (the fainer of Sheridan the
dramatist), and Improved and amended
by John Philip Kemble, tnat has had
moat vogue upon the stage.
, "Corlolanus" Is likewise too complex
in its construction, too Indirect in Its
-dramatic movement, to be a very effective
play for acting, except under conditions
that admit of great spectacular and scenic
display- As an Illustration of this it may
be mentioned that when Kemble produced
it he introduced a procession, not definite
ay provided for by Shakespeare, in whch
.240 people took part, vestals, llctors, sword
bearers, standard-bearers, etc., besides the
regular dramatis personae of 35 members,
aind bssides also crowds to represent cltl
'"zens, spectators, etc
U Is evident, then, that the full measure
of enjoyment which "Corlolanus" affords
as a play can rarely be obtained from see
ing it acted. In reading "Corlolanus"
scarcely a iine seems possible to he spared,
and yet. as we have seen, two-fifths of it
at least has to be cut out in acting. On
the other hand, the greatness of the two
principal characters of the play, Corlola
nus and Tolumnla, can only be guessed
at by a reader who has never seen them
liaper&eaated by genius.
The honors of "Cor olanus" as an acting
play belong to John Philip Kemble and
Ms sister, the great Jdrs. Slddons. It Is
doubtful if ever an actor has appeared
upon the stage whose impersonation of
tlieiRsman character has been so complete
as were the Boman impersonations of John
Komble. And of all of Kemble's Roman
characters, Brutus, Cato, Corlolanus, etc.,
his Corlolanus was chief. Corlolanus
was indeed Kemble's greatest, grandest
part. His tall and imposing figure, his
countenance, noble and dignified, his sol
emn and grave demeanor, his easy yet
commanding gestures, his stately and Im
pressive elocution, were the complete
realization of all the external requisites
of the part. But, in addition, he evinced,
by his development of the all-absorbing
passion dominant In Corlolanus charac
ter, such energy and force as made his
impersonation irresistible.
Mrs. Slfidons' "Volumnia was second only
t her Constance and her Lady Macbeth.
The great tragedienne was notably strong
la pantomime, and the part of "Volumnia
especially as John Kemble provided for
it In his version of "Corlolanus," allowed
the display of very considerable panto
mimic power. Let us listen for a mo
ment to what an eyewitness, the trage
dian Charles Mayne Toung, wrote of her
as she appeared in the triumphal pro
cession in "Cariolanus" above referred to:
"I remember her coming down the
stage, in 37S9, In the triumphal entry of
her son, Corlolanus, when her dumb show
drew plaudits that shook the building
Drury Lane). She came alone, march
ing and beating time to the music, roll
ing if that be not too strong a term to
describe her motion) from side to side,
swelling with the triumph of her son.
Such was the Intoxication of joy which
Hashed from her eyes and lit up her
whale face, that the effect was irresisti
ble. She seemed to me to reap all the
glory of that procession to herself. I
could -not take my eyes from her. Corio
Janus, tmnner and pageant, all went for
nothing .after she had walked to her
place."
The .following Is another account of the
same event:
"'New, in this procession, and one of
the central figures in it, Mrs. Siddons had
te walk. Had she 'been content to follow
tin the beaten track of those who had
Bono before her she wonld have marched
across the stage, from right to left, with
the solemn, stately, almost funereal step,
conventional. But at the time, as she
often did, she forgot her own identity.
She was no longer Sarah Siddons, tied
down to the directions of the prompter's
book. She broke through all traditions.
She recollected that, for the nonce, she
was Volumnia. the proud mother of a
proud and conauoring hero. So that,
when it was time for her to come on,
instead of dropping each foot at equi
distance in its place, with mechanical
exactitude, and in cadence subservient
lo the orchestra deaf to the guidance of
nor woman's ear, but sensitive to the
throbbings of her haughty mother's
hewrt, with flashing eye and proudest
smile, and head erect and hands pressed
firmly on her bosom, as if to Tepress by
jnaaual force its triumphant swellings
she towered above all around, and rolled,
and almost reeled, across the stage, her
very soul, as It were, dilating and riot
ing In Its exultation, until her action lost
vM grace, and yet became so true to na
ture, so picturesque and so descriptive
that the pit and gallery sprung to their
feet, electrified by the transcendent exe
cution of the conception."
The above descriptions refer to a time
when Mrs. Siddons was only 55 years old,
and her brother (who took the part of
Corlolanus) 33. Some critics thought that
the Volumnia of the occasion looked more
like the sister than the mother of Corlo
lanus. But this fault was easily .over
looked in the excellence of the imperson
ation as a whole.
As to Kemble's Corlolanus, the testi
mony as to Its greatness Is equally strong.
.Macready, who saw It many times, speaks
of It in his "Reminiscences" as "peer
less." Genest, the well-known historian
of the British stage, calls it "his great
est part." Sir Walter Scott, who was
mot only an admirer of Kemble's, but also
an Intimate frind of his, spoke of his
Brutus, his Cato and his Corlolanus as
being "his best parts." but placed his
Cerielanus first. "You know what a com-'
plete model of the Roman he is," -he
wsrotc to a friend on the occasion of
Kemble's retirement.
The Kembles John. Charles and Mrs.
Siddons were frequently called "The
Tliree Graces." Both the brothers pos
sessed much of the classical beauty of
their greater sister. "When John Kemble
first appeared on the London stage the
.general remark was, "How very like his
sisterl" But Charles Kemble was hand
somer even than his brother. Leigh Hunt
said of him that "his face and figure were
Ideal' and that "he was the nearest ap
proach to Shakespeare's gentlemen and
"heroes of romance" he had ever seen.
The three constituted a trio such as no
other family has ever given to the stage.
"Corlolanus" was first brought out by
John Kemble In Drury Lane in 17S9. It
OF CORIOLANU
Seymour Eaton.)
was again brought out "by him in Covent
Garden In. 1806. It was -also the -.great
play in his repertoire in his last year
upon the stage (1817). when, however, the
part of Volumnia (Mrs. Siddons having
retired from the stage) was taken by Mrs.
Faucit, the mother of Helen Pauclt Also
it was the play he chose for his last ap
pearance in Covent Garden, in his "ever
memorable farewell to the stage," June
23, 1817.
Of that last appearance John Howard
Payne, the dramatist and player (author
of "Home, Sweet Home"), wrote:
"I can never forget Kemble's Corlo
lanus. His entree was the most brilliant
I ever witnessed. His person derived a
majesty from a scarlet robe, which he
THE FORTUAE
managed with inimitable dignity. The
Roman energy of his deportment, the
seraphic grace of his gesture and the
movements of his perfect self-possession
displayed the great mind, daring to com
mand, and disdaining to solicit, admira
tion. His form derived an additional ele
vation of perhaps two inches from his
sandals. In every part of the house the
audience rose, waved their hats and huz
zaed, and the cheering must have lasted
more than five minutes."
Hazlitt. the critic, gives a more detailed
account of that memorable evening:
"Mr. Kemble took his leave of the stage
on Monday night, in the character' of
Corlolanus. On his first coming forward
to prononunce his farewell address he
was .received with a shout like thunder.
On his retiring after It, the applause was
long before It subsided entirely away.
. . , It Is nearly 20 years since we first
saw Mr. Kemble in the same character;
John Philip ICemhle as Corlolanus.
yet how short the Interval seems. The
Impression seems as distinct as if were
yesterday. . . . We forget numberless
things, but not the first time we saw Mrs.
Kemble, nor shall we easily forget the
last. Corlolanus, the character in which
he took his leave of the stage, was one
of the first In which we remember to
have seen him, and It was one in which
we were not sonry to part with him, for
we wished to see him appear like himself
to the last. Nor was he wanting to himself
on this occasion. He played the part as
well as he ever did with as much fresh
ness and vigor. There was no abate
ment of spirit and energy, none of grace
and dignity. His look, his action, his ex
pression of the character were the same
Lrllflli HRHBBi. ii mlWrn Ml vmpm fipiasn
m it n j a JKflP jiB lrfec
1 1 UP L m 1 1 sill! 8 l5 '
THEATER ROYAL, URURY LAMS.
as they ever were. They could not be
finer."
John Kemble was then in his 61st year.
His career, taken all in all (with the pos
sible exception of Macready's), was the
most honorable and successful In the his
tory of the British stage.
Of great players in the part of Corlo
lanus since John Kemble there have ben
a number, though not many. Kean played 1 , ir yu w?K,in tne morning witn a bli
the nart in 1820 on the occasion whon ' ter taste In the mouth, coated tongue,
v fi? Mrni" WL lift ffiv . Perhaps headache, your llyer is torpid.'
for the first time the text of Shakespeare v, nVi pnrtor-q T.mio t.J tmi
peare
was -wholly used, but Coriotanus was not
one ofKean's successes. It was much
less meritorious than his Brutus. For
one thins. Kean's Inferior figure wag not
suited to the part. Macready also, played J
j Corlolanus, and played it well. Barry
I Cornwall, the poet, declared of it, quot- I
ins Shakespeare: "This is the noblest;
"Roman of them all!" Macready also
played It In an elaborate revival of the j
; play m urury x.ane in fiM., wnejt very
aiucn attention was given to me scenery
and staging. The .first oTdght hlP J9
vlval was the great dramatic event of
the time. Dickens and Bulwer Lytton"
warm friends of Macready's, both of
them, were present. Samuel Phelps also
presented the play In Sadler's Wells inl
1S4S. as one of his .series of revivals of
Shakespearean plays, he himself taking5
I the part of Corlolanus. Charles Kemble,'
then a -eteran of 73. was nresent on the
first night of this revival, and several'
times during the play pronounced Phelps
acting "very fine." i
In America the great performers of
Corlolanus have been Edwin Forrest, Ed-,
win Booth, John McCullough and Law
rence Barrett With Booth, McCullough.
THEATER.
and Barrett the part was not of primary
importance. But with Forrest Corlolanus
was one of his best roles. "Lear, Othello
and Corlolanus," says Lawrence Barrett,
in his biographical 'sketch of Forrest,
"were -Forrest's greatest Shakespearean
parts." But while other Lears and other
Othellos have arisen, "Corlolanus," Mr.
Banrett goes on to say, "died with him,
the last of all the Romans."
Questions for Research, and "Review.
1. What are the characteristics of the
citizens as a political class? "What is
their importance as compared with the
same class in "Julius Caesar"?-
2. What great political problem does
the play present? What evidences of
Shakespeare's political wisdom and
knowledge of political motives?
3. Do we get our knowledge of Corlo
lanus, early In the play, mainly from
what he says and does, or from what
others say of him?
4. Does Menenlus (In act scene 1) un
derestimate the' power of 'the tribunes to
intrigue and bring things to pass? What
is their character?
5. What Is foreshadowed in the words
of Coilolanus (act 3, scene 1), "I wish I
had a cause to seek him there"?
6. What must have taken place at the
home of Corlolanus between scenes 1 and
2, act 3?
7. Does Corlolanus understand the peo
ple as well as Volumnia does In act 3,
scene 2? Is her reasoning sound?
8. How is our judgment held in sus
pense between policy and Integrity
throughout the play?
' 9. Doesr Menenlus at any point In act 4,
scene 6, 'lose In your esteem?' What is
his most characteristic speech in act 5,
scene 1?
10. Why does Shakespeare cause us to
lose some of our respect for Aufldius
In act 4, scene 7?
11. What Is probably contained In the
letter which Corlolanus gives to Mene
nlus In act 5, scene 2? Does Mene
nlus (in act 5, scene 4) fulfill former con
ceptions of his character?
12. Which character seems of superior
strength in act 5, scene 3 Corlolanus or
Volumnia? As a man would Volumnia
havo proved greater than Corlolanus?
Does she win him to her will by pre
senting the same kind of motive as in act
2, scene 2?
13. "What previous contrastlngs scene
does act 5. scene 5, recall?
14. Is the death of Corlolanus necessary
to the play? As necessary as the death
of Lear or Othello?
15. What Impression as to strength of
character does VIrgllia produce? What
kind of husband must Corlolanus have
been?
16. "Thlnk'st thou it honorable for a
noble man still to remember wrongs?"
is this the nieaning of the play?
Ohio state university. '
Army Sobriquets.
PORTLAND, Jan. ,37. (To the Editor.)
I am aware, as you say In this morn
ing's Oregonlan, that General Jubal A.
Early was General Lee's v"Bad Old Man."
In that portion of the Northern army In
which I was privileged to serve, our boys
also called Longstreet General Lee's "Bad
Old Man," and soldiers who had any
thing to do with his command at Second
Bull Run, Gettysburg, Chlckamauga and
the Wilderness will readily enough own
up that Longstreet was, Indeed, a "Bad
Old Man" for our side. Maybe Oeneral
Longstreet did not like the title; possibly
that is why he gave it to General Early.
General Lee called Longstreet his "strong
right arm" after the death of "Stonewall"
Jackson. There were many doubles In
both of those heroic old armies. There
were "Pap" Thomas and "Pap" Cutler.
"Uncle" John Sedgwick and "Uncle" Jim,
waaswortn, ana so on ana so on.
J. A. WATROUS
' o
If you wake In the morning with a blt-
You need Carter's Little Liver Pills,
FARMING IN "ALASKA
ItBPORT OX THK SUBJECT OP EX
PERIMENT STATION'S.
Insufficient Appropriations for the
i j. Work The Botanicnl Survey
' ' Preservation of Crops.
, "WASHINGTON, Jan. 11. A. C. True,
'the chief of the experiment stations un
der the agricultural department, has sub
mitted the following report to Secretary
Wilson on the subject of experiment sta
tions In Alaska:
The appropriation ''To enable the sec
retary of agriculture to Investigate and
report to congress upon the agricultural
'resources of Alaska, with special refer
ence to the desirability and feasibility of
the establishment of agricultural exper
iment stations In said territory and the
selection of suitable locations for such
stations," became available July 1, 1S93.
With the aid of a small portion of the
first appropriation for these investiga
tions, which remained unexpended after
the report to congress on the preliminary
survey of the agricultural conditions and
possibilities of Alaska, made during the
summer of 1S97, hod "been prepared. Pro
fessor C. C. Georgeson was appointed
special agent In charge of Alaska Inves
tigations and sent to that territory In
the spring of 189S, arriving at Sitka, May
12. It was arranged that headquarters
for the work of this office In Alaska
should be established at Sitka, and It
"was hoped that quarters might be ob
tained in the government building there,
but this did not prove feasible. After
some difficulty a temporary lease of a
small house was secured. This building
was poorly suited to the requirements of
our work. Arrangements were at once
made with a number of persons having
gardens In Sitka, by which Professor
Georgeson was enabled to make experi
mental plantings of seed of over 100 va
rieties of vegetables, grain, grasses and
flax, which he had taken with him for
that purpose. Seeds were distributed lit
a number of different localities In Alaska,
and measures were Instituted to obtain
Information regarding the crops, meth
pds of culture, keeping of animals and
agricultural possibilities of different re
gions. On June 7, 1S93, Dr. W. H.' Evans, bot
anist of this office, proceeded to Alaska
and continued the botanical survey of
the coast reglqn, which he had begun
the previous summer.
The work in charge of Professor George
son during the summer of 1898 was in
the following lines:
First Experiments In growing different
varieties of cereals, forage plants, flax
and vegetables in "gardens placed at his
disposal by citizens of Sitka. In spite
of the late planting, oats, barley, flax,
potatoes and a number of different kinds
of vegetables of good quality were ma
tured, and clover and grasses made an
excellent growth. Useful data were also
obtained from these experiments regard
ing the effect of different soil conditions
on the germination of seed and the
growth of plants.
Second Experiments similar to those at
Sitka, hut more restricted In variety,
were made at Skagway, with the aid of
Mr. George Sexton, a resident of that
place.
Third Observations and records of the
soil temperatures wera-made at Sitka and
Skagway, and arrangements for similar
observations were made at a few other
places. f
Fourth Samples of soils were collected
at Sitka apd at Kenai, in Cook inlet, of
which moisture and other determinations
were made under the direction of the
chief of the division of soils of this de
partment. Fifth Circulars of Inquiry regarding ag
ricultural conditions. In different pacts of
Alaska, including both the coast region
and trie Interior, were sent out, and a
number of replies were received and re
ported. Sixth A number of places In the coast
region of Alaska were visited, and sur
veys and reservations of land for ex
perimental nurposes were made at Sitka,
Kadiak Island, and Kenai, in Cook Inlet.
The botanical survey conducted by Dr.
Evans was of shorter duration than that
of the previous year, and, owing to the
lack of transportation facilities, compar
atively few places were visited. A con
siderable number of new specimens of
the flora of the coast region were, how
ever, collected. Several species were
found which may prove of considerable
value as sand binders, for which there Is
great need In many localities in the
United States.
, .Reports on their work were prepared by
Professor Georgeson and Dr. Evans, un
der the supervision of the director of this
office, and were transmitted to congress
In January, 1899.
As the results of these Investigations
were sufficiently favorable to justify the
continuance of agricultural Investigations
In Alaska, congress made a third appro
priation for this work for the current
fiscal year, increasing the amount from
$10,000 to $12,000, of which sum $7000 was
made Immediately available. The secre
tary of agriculture was authorized to
expend this fund "to investigate and re
port to congress upon the .agricultural
resources and capabilities of Alaska, and
to establish and maintain agricultural
experiment stations in said territory, in
cluding the erection of buildings and all
other expenses essential to the mainte
nance of such stations." As the terms
of this appropriation indicated that ex
periment stations were to be regularly
maintained In Alaska, as In other parts
of the United States, plans were made
for putting our work In that territory on
a pennanent basis. As It was decided
that, on the whole, Sitka, the capital of
Alaska, would be the most convenient
place In which to establish an office and
laboratory, and from which to supervise
Investigations along the coast, as well
as In the interior, and to disseminate In
formation regarding these Investigations
to different parts of the territory, It was
deemed essential that a building should be
erected at that place which might serve
as headquarters for these investigations.
Plans were tefore drawn for a build
ing which should contain offices, laboia
tories, and quarters for the special agent
In charge. The plans provided for a sim
ple but substantial wooden building, con
taining ten rooms, to be built at a cost of
about $5000. Castle Hill, a lot in Sitka
which a number of years ago was set aside
as a site for government buildings, which
were afterwards located elsewhere, was
selected as the site for the experiment sta
tion headquarters, having been reserved
for this purpose by an order of the presi
dent. As the amount of the appropriat'on
was not sufficient to warrant an expendl
turn for this building large enough to com
plete It, it was decided to make a con
tract which would provide for the inclos
ing of the building, completing the roof,
and finishing the lower story during the
present year. Bids were therefore called
for-on these terms, and the contract was
awarded to the lowest bidder, Mr. George
E. Jones, of Juneau, Alaska, for the sum
of $3700. The building Is now well ad
vanced, and it is expected that the work
contracted for will be fnlshed by the mid
dle of September.
The regular force for the Alaska in
vestigations was Increased by the ap
pointment of two assistants and ono labor
er and 'provision was made for engaging
the services of other temporary assistants
and laborers as occasion demanded, and
the funds for this work permitted. A con
s.derable number of farm Implements and
four work oxen were purchased.
Arrangements were made for the clear
ing of land for experimental purposes at
Sitka and at Kenai (In Cook Inlet), on
the reservations made tor that purpose
the previous summerl Preliminary inves
tigations were also begun at Kadiak. Seeds
were distributed to a number of persons in
d.fferent localities in A'aska, who agreed
to report the results of trials with them.
The weather bureau having determined to
move the headquarters of Its Alaska serv
ice from Sitka to Eagle, in t&e ipterior, H
was arranged that Professor Georgeson
should have supervision of meteorological
observations at Sitka and a few other
points In the coast reg.on, and that the
officers ins charge of the weather bureau
should assist this office In obtaining in
formation regarding the agricultural cap
abilities of the Interior.
Besides the erection of the headquarters
building and. the clearing 6f land, Profes
sor Georgeson was Instructed to continue
experiments with different crops at Sitka,
to study the soil and Its treatment, and, if
pracicable, to make experiments in the
preservation of forage crops In the silo.
The following extracts from the progress
report made by Professor Georgeson un
der date of August 17, 1S99, will serve to
show what Is being done In these lines dur
ing the present season:
"I arrived at Sitka April 6, with my two
assistants, one laborer, four work oxen,
and the Implements purchased for use hei e.
At that date there was still snow on the
ground everywhere, except spots having a
southern exposure, and occasional snew
6torms continued to occur until the end
of the month, and we had frequent and
heavy rain storms. Little work, could be
done In the way of preparing and bacdlng
ground until the latter part of April, and
conditions were not faorable for outdoor
work before the middle of May. The sea
son was abnormally backward and cold, a
condition which was not peculiar In Alas
ka, but prevailed over the entire United
States. Early planting was useless, cs the
seed did not germinate. However, we fin
ished seeding our experimental crops. May
18. Juno averaged 10 deg. colder than June
of last year, and growth was slow until
the latter part of that, month, July and
the first half of August have been f a or
able, and at this writing the grains are
nearly as far advanced as they were last
year at this time. In fact, some of the
earlier varieties of barley have begun to
turn yellow.
"The crops consist of many varieties of
barley, oats, spring wheat and spring rye,
also buckwheat, flax, field peas, vetches,
grasses and other forage crops. We have
also growing an extended list of vegetables
but only a sample, so to speak, of each
variety. The grains receive our chief at
tention. All kinds of hardy vegetables
have, passed the experimental stage In
the coast region of Alaska; they can be
grown to perfection. The grains have, on
the other hand, never been tried here be
fore, and It Is as yet problematical what
kinds can be grown here successfully. I
find a wide difference In the adaptation of
different varieties of the same grain, and
for a few years to come the pioneer work
of testing varieties will be of Importance;
till we ascertain which, If any, can be re
lied on to mature. Including everything,
we have upwards of 200 separate plats
growing and under observation the pres
ent year.
"The land occupied by these crops con
sists of garden patches scattered all over
the town. All told, we occupy 12 such
patches. They have, with two exceptions,
been tendered rent free by the people
who own them. Some of them are new
ground, others had been In seed for several
years, since they were cultivated; in either
case the soil could not be put in the best
condition for cropping the present year.
The meager growth on new soil which was
observed last year Is again shown, but a
drecslng of quicklime on the soil at the
rate of about two tons to the acre im
proves the growth of barley, oats, buck
wheat and peas materially.
"At this writing the prospects are that
all the barley, flax, buckwheat and peas
and several of the earlier varieties of oats
will mature, but wheat and spring rye are
uncertain."
Much difficulty was experienced In ob
tainlng suitable laborers to assist In the
work at Sitka, and the task of clearing
and draining the land proved more formid
able than was expected. Some four acres
of new ground on the station reservation
have, however, been cleared and partially
drained. A road has also been built along
one side of the farm and up to the station
building on Castle Hill. It was expected
that log buildings, as quarters for one
assistant and for the oxen and implements,
would be erected on the reservation this
season, but this has been found imprac
ticable and temporary quarters have been
secured in the town of Sitka. Through the
courtesy of Hon. J. G- Brady, governor of
the territory, an arrangement was made
to fill a ello on his place and feed the sta
tion oxen at his barn during the coming
winter.
The work at Kenai has been In Imme
diate charge of Mr. H. P. Nellson, who,
with the aid of one laborer, has accom
plished a relatively large amount of work.
Professor Georgeson has visited this place
and reported on the work there under date
of August 3, 1899. There being no culti
vated land available for use, It was neces
sary to use new ground.
In spite of the fact that new ground Is
not favorable to the growth of crops, the
vegetables and grains were doing well.
The grains were short but healthy, and
they will probably mature seed. The sea
son has been unusually dry there this
year and the crops were In need of rain.
About three acres of land have been
cleared at Kenai and a combined log barn
and Implement shed erected. A log silo
has also been constructed and filled with
native grasses. Several ions of hay have
been made from the grasses growing In
the vicinity. Provision has thus been
made for the maintenance during the win
ter of the yoke of oxen used in connec
tion with the station work at Kenai.
At Kadiak the preliminary investiga
tions have Included the growing of vege
tables and grain. The season has been
unusually dry, which makes It doubtful
whether the crops will mature before kill
ing frosts come.
A complete and satisfactory report of
operations in Alaska during the present
season can not, of coilrse, be made at
this time, but our present advices indi
cate that the work Is proceeding In a sat
isfactory manner and that no greater dif
ficulties have been. encountered than might
have been expected. Necessarily a rela
tively large amount of time has been giv
en to the erection of buildings and clear
ing of land during the present season,
but it Is believed we shall have consider
able useful Information regarding agri
cultural conditions In Alaska to report
at the end of the season, in addition to
that reported last year. The remoteness
of the region, the inadequate and expen
sive means of transportation, and an In
sufficient and high-priced supply of labor
materially Increase the cost of agricultur
al investigations In Alaska. The work In
Alaska, moreover, does not receive any
financial aid such as is directly or indi
rectly glyen to the stations in other parts
of the country, either by the state gov
ernments or by the colleges with which
the stations are connected. In view of
these facts and the need of additional
funds for the completion and equipment of
the station headquarters, it is hoped that
the appropriation for the Alaska station
will be increased next year to the same
amount as is given to each of the other
stations. $15,000, and that half of the ap
propriation will be made Immediately
available.
. o P-
Husband's Real Estate Kiprhts.
PORTLAND. Jan. 16. (To the Editor.)
Will you please answer the following
question? Can a married woman dispose
of real estate wh'ch is In her own nam"
without her husband's signature or con
sent, and has he a life dowry in the same
If not signed by him?
C. C. MARTON,
343 North Sixteenth Street
Some authorities hold that under a
statute like that of this state a w.fe may
execute a deed, but generally It Is held
that It Is prudent to have the husband
also sign the Instrument. The husband
has a curtesy right In the real property,
not a dower, and the rule Is that it is
against public policy to make any contract
during his life to cut off this curtesy.
1 o
BUSINESS iTEMS.
If Ilaby Is Cuttinqr Teeth,
Be sure and use that old and well-tried remedy.
Mm. "Wlnslow's Soothing Syrup, for children
teething. It soothes the child, softens the gusu,
allays, all pain, cures wind colic and diarrhoea.
DEMOCRATS EXPECT GAINS
COUNTING CONGRESSIONAL CHiqiC
ENS UEFORE HATCHED.
Factors They- Overloolc in Making:
Their Hopeful Estimates Party
That Visited the Southwest..
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13. The democrats
are making every calculation for a vig
orous congressional campaign this year,
and have stated their hope of carrying the
next house of representatives, or at least
havinjr a fusion majority In that bocy.
They feel considerably encouraged over
the fact that the republicans have but 13
majority In the house at the present time,
and that there Is a possibility of carrying
enough districts this year to overturn this
rather slender margin. Of course, they
are calculating on electing democrats m
all the districts in the East which returnca
democrats to the present congress, and are
basing their hope upon carrying Western
districts. The democratic point of view 13
that the gold-standard bill will lose a
number of congressional districts in the
West, and that it will make no difference
In the election of democrats In the East
who were elected in 1S93 upon platforms
which did not declare for silver, and Ig
nored the money question entirely. These
democrats must have forgotten that in the
districts that have been redeemed from
free silver and which have a populist rep
resentation in the present congress are
those in which the fight was made square
ly upon the gold standard as the most
prominent Issue.
They are also looking forward to regain
ing the senate, and will make especial
efforts to elect legislatures In Wyoming,
Montana, Idaho, Colorado and Nebraska.
In Nebraska two senators are-to be elect
ed, but one is now a populist,
and, to all political Intents and
purposes, a democrat, and the other
a republican. The democrats are therc-
fore hoping to defeat Warren, Carter,
Shoup, Wqlcott and Thurston, especially
Wolcott and Thurston. They believe that
the silver question and Bryan Idea Is yet
prominent enough In these states to bring
about democratic or fusion results on ac
count of the passage of the gold-standard
bill. The present republican majority
in the senate is 12, and with Kyle, of
South Dakota, acting with the republi
cans. Is 14, and the defeat of five repub
lican senators would make a difference or
but 10 votes, and the democrats would yet
be unable to regain control of the senate
In the next election.
The democrats, however, are making an
error In not taking Into consideration the
wrong position which the party wl 1 take
Upon the subject of expansion. The fact
that the republicans will be right and
the democrats wrong upon- this great
question when the national conventions
make their declarations will not only be
sufficient to return republicans in most of
the states named, but In some of them It
is expected that It will overcome the sil
ver sentiment and result In republican vic
tory. Nebraska has been carried' by the
republicans before, and it Is believed that
upon a legislative fight It will be carried
again, even if It should vote for Bryan.
Wyoming is not believed to be doubtful
on silver, and especially upon the expan
sion Idea, n Montana, Carter Is very likely
to be re-elected because of the bitter fac
tional fight growing out of the election
of Clark for senator by the democrats.
Wherever a Clark man Is nominated for
the legislature the Daly faction is pretty
sure to knife him, and when a Daly man
Is nominated the Clark faction will do
the same. This ought to result In the
election of republicans In Montana In
many of the legislative districts hereto
fore carried by the democrats. More
than this, a large section of Montana Is
not interested In the production of silver
at all, and In those sections the republi
cans have won heretofore, which will give
them a good start in the race. While no
doubt a very vigorous campaign Is going
to be made by the democrats this year
to carry congress, even If It loses the
presidency, It will be almost Impossible
for them to have success when they are
wrong on the money question and wrong
In the other great, vital questions relat
ing to holding and managing the terri
tories acquired from Spain.
Hermann's Smooth Way.
The delegation which has recently re
turned from a trip through the Western
states and territories are telling some
good stories, and here Is one of them that
Is at the expense of Commissioner Her
mann, of the general land office. It Is
said that the trip was pretty well adver
tised, and at every station where any
considerable stop was made, there was
always "a large delegation, most of them
with complaints to be preferred against
Hermann. There were men who had trou
blo with arid lands and desert-land claims.
Others were those who did not like the
way the forest reservations had been ad
ministered. There were others who made
a great point upon the way the land offi
cers had treated them, and In fact the
commissioner found himself In hot water,
and getting constant complaint wherever
ho went. The senators and representa
tives, as well as the governors of the
territories who were in the party, soon
learned what was going on, and they
would settle back while Commissioner
Hermann made his replies as best he
could. They do say that Mr. Hermann
was glib enough to get around every com
plaint, and made more promises than he
will be able to redeem if he should con
tinue as commissioner for another four
years of McKinley's administration.
Of course these men are dissatisfied.
People in the land districts are always
dlsatisfled. No one can run a forest res
ervation to suit everybody, and It is ab
solutely Impossible to render decisions in
the land office so as to be satisfactory
to both sides, when contests are waged
with such bitterness. More than that,
many of the things complained of Com
missioner Hermann was in no way re
sponsible for. He had to administer the
law as he found it. It was not within
his power to make regulations which
would satisfy the timber men and at the
same time the sheepmen on the forest
reservations But It is amusing, neverthe
less, to know that he was confronted
with delegations wherever "he went, and
the people of Oregon, who know Mr.
Hermann so well, can appreciate how the
congressional delegation enjoyed them
selvesy at his expense, especially when
he smoothed them all down In his own
peculiar, oily manner. "They didn't get
away with Hermann, not a single one
of them," said one of the senators of
the party. "While we had a good laugh
at the expense of Hermann every time,
yet we could not help but admire the man
for the way la which he answered every
charge that was made against his admin
istration of the land office."
Protection for Boise Assay Office.
The secretary of the treasury has rec
ommended to congress that an appropria
tion of $20C0 be made for constructing
steel doors with combination locks to the
vault of the United States assay office
What virtue there is in
bare cleanliness!
Pears' soap does nothing
but cleanse, it has no medi
cal properties; but it brings
the color of health, and
health itself, Give it time.
at BoIeo. Idaho, and for th pAirch.xe -
a burglar and fireproof saf for v
that Institution. The present safe Is
old fashioned one, while the eaira. c -the
vault Is closed by a wooden
only. It Is stated that there are a
times large quantities of bullion on !. i
at that assay office, and proper fae' . i
should be furnished to insure Its si' y
as v.ell as that of the efiiee n i .
There Is but one watchman, employ ta
this office, and the safety of the bu i
at night is, in a great measure, dtp " .. l
upon the vigilance of this one mar u t
Is an injustice to the assayer In c o.'j
The director of the mint strongly r .
ommends this appropriation for the B 3
assay office, and the members of the 1 7.
delegation in congress are going- to t k
the matter up. and hope to secure t a
necessary appropriation at an early d-tc
Illegal 31arrlnp:ci of Divorcees.
PORTLAND. Jan. 16. (To the Editor.)
Is a ma-rlage legal f solemn.zed in ci
other state than Oregon inside of rix
months from the time one or both of tLa
parties have obtained a divorce in fia
state. CITIZEN.
The state supreme court has held trit
any person divorced In Oregon wha mr
rles again In e.ther this or any othr s e
within the period of six month?, U rot,
so far as the laws of Oregon are c:n
cerncd, legally un.ted In matr.mony. The
decision was rendered In the case o ii -Lennon
vs. McLennon, 31 Oregon, j -g is.i.
Th's was a case of marriage in Varcou r
by one of the parties to a divorce In t'r -gon
before the expiration of thi s-ix
months bpoclfled In the statute. It ws
contended that ao ths Hrst marriage w..a
dissolved by the divorce proceedings I Hh.3
state, the restriction entailed by the Or -gon
statute forbidding either from marrj
lng again within s.x months would not be
effective In Washington. The court lu.d
that the divorce was not fully grar - It
Oregon until after six montjis from tha
date cf the decree, and hence the b -ds
of the first marriage had not until tr-en
been fully dissolved. The supreme c urt
of Kansas has held the same In a cxra
arising in like manner under the Oregon
statute.
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