10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1900.
COURSE IN PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS
(Copyright. 1000. by
THE OREGONIAN'S HOME STUDY CIRCLE:
PHOTOGRAPHY FOR AMATEURS
III. THE PHOTOGRAPHIC PLATE.
BY GEORGE "W. GILSON.
That -which we find most advantageous
to a beginner Is a plate that will require
at least two or three seconds' exposure
on a landscape In good strong light. After
we have worn off the scare" which we
feel at first, It will be ample time to take
up the more Tapld brands of plates. The
elates come one dozen In a box. "When
wo open them we find they are packed
face to face. That Is. the film sides are
facing. They are of a creamy white,
and should only be opened by a ruby light
in a room that is otherwise perfectly
dark. Bee that no light enters the room
from cracks around the doors or windows.
All white light should be completely shut
oft. In making your ruby light you can
use an ordinary window, shutting off all j
tho light except one pane of glass. Over
this place one sheet of what is known as
"postofnee" paper. It can be obtained
from almost any postofilce or stockhouse,
and is of a deep yellow color. Over this
paper place one sheet of "ruby" paper.
Ruby Lantern.
which can be obtained from any stock
house. You will find that In most cases
this light will be perfectly safe: but It
should be tested before using. To test it
take one of the plates from the box. in
total darkness, and wrap a sheet of per
fectly opaque paper around half of It.
(The black paper which come3 around the
plates In each box will answer the purpose
admirably.) Now expose the other half
of the plate to the light, about one foot
distant from It. for about five minutes,
after which develop (wc will speak of de
veloping later on) it in total darkness.
If there Is no change In the end of the
plate that was exposed to the light, we
may feel sure the light is safe. If, how
ever. It Is found that half of the plate has
developed darker than the end that was
covered by the paper it indicates that the
light is too strong. To Temedy it we
should add one more thickness of the post
office paper. If preferred and more con
venient, a perfectly dark room may be
used, and the light obtained from a ruby
lantern that is, a lantern made for pho
tographic purpojes and giving only red
light through red or ruby glass. (The
dark room will be treated separately.)
Now that we have our light safe, wo can
open the box of plates without any fear
of ruining them. The next move is to
load the holder. There are many styles
of holders on the market; but as a usual
thing the holders are arranged toi hold
two plates. They are what wc might call
a thin box, in which the plates are placed.
They are from one-half to one inch in
thickness, an? whatever width and length
your camera Is capable of making in a
picture. There are two "slides" that fit
Into the holder. When we start in to
load we will draw the slides and take a
plate from the box and lay In the holder,
in narrow grooves that run round the edge
of the holder for that purpose, with the
film side of the plate "out," or toward
the "slide." After the plate Is In the
grooves, we then replace the "slides."
It will be noticed that one side of the slide
is black. When loading the slides the
black side should be placed next to the
plate. When wo have made an exposure
we return the slide with this black side
out, to denote that the plate It covers has
been exposed, and proceed to load the
other side of the holder in the Fame man
ner. To tell which Is the film side of a
plate we should hold It so that we can get
a reflection on the plato from our light.
It will be noticed that one side of the
plate shows a strong reflection. The other
side has a dull appearance, somewhat re
sembling ground glass. This is the film
side. Before placing the plate In the
holder we should dust the film with a soft
camel-hair brush, about two Inches wide.
The reason we do this is to remove any
dust that may be on the plate, and by this
means we avoid "dust spots" In our nega
tive. This dusting of tho film must be
done ln.a very careful way. Only dust one
way. Do not go from one end of the
plate to the other and then back to the
other end. If you do this you will take
the dust off one way and bring it back on
Holding: the Plate.
the other way. The proper way to do
is to take the plate in the left hand, hold
ing it so that the thumb is on one edge and
the middle finger on the other edge, with
the film side of the plate up. Take the
brush In the right hand and dust from the
top of the plate down to the bottom. Then
go back to the top and come down again,
and so on. going very slowly. If we dust
fast we will electrify the film, and every
particle of dust flying about in the air
will settle on the plate. Be careful not
to touch the film with the fingers, or It
will leae grease stains. It is just as im
portant, too, that we do not touch the
back of the plate with the fingers, for it
may be that some time we will have tho
film of one plate come in contact with
the back of the plate that the fingers have
been on. This will also give grease
stains, for the film of the plate will take
up the stains from the back of the plate,
and perhaps spoil an otherwise good nega
tive. However, It is always better to
pack the plates after exposure, and be
fore development just as they are turned
out by the manufacturer, face to face. Do
not make the very common and natural
mistake of removing the black paper from
around the plates before they are all
used. This paper is wrapped around the
plates for two purposes to protect them
from any light that may creep In to them
around the edpes of the box and aleo to
protect them from the box Itself. There
is more or less hyposulphite of soda In
tho cardboard, of which the box Is made,
and. as will be shown later on. this chem
ical is very ruinous to plates or photo
graphic papers unless used In the proper
place, when It becomes one of our most
valuable chemicals. Tho presence of this
"hyjo" In tho box will stain or discolor
H9
Seymour Eaton.)
DIRECTED BY PROF. SEYMOUR EATCN
the plate if it comes In contact with the
film, thus causing the plate to become
worthless, 'inerefore, when a plate 18
taken from the box. be careful to wrap
the remali-.g plates again with the black
paper, after which replace the lid to the
box. when there need be no fear of the
plates getting light-struck. If the box is
in good condition. Plates should be kept,
both before and after exposure. In a cool,
dry place. If they are kept in a damp
place the film, which 13 of an absorbent
nature, will absorb the atmo)here and
become damp and sticky, and this, cvf
course, renders the plate useless. If the
plates are kept in a warm Toom they will
soon deteriorate. After we haye the
holder loaded we should wrap It In black
felt cloth until we are ready to place it
in the camera for the exposure. This
further insures our plate from being light
struck. One cannot be too careful In
handling his plates to prevent them being
light-struck. We are now ready to take
the field for our first exposure.
IV. CHOICE OF SUBJECT.
The selection of a subject Is most im
portant, and to get a pleasing picture
there are certain principles which should
be remembered, so that when a view Is
being selected, the finished photograph
will make a picture worth looking at. a
pleasure to him who looks at it, and a
source of gratification to the maker.
Briefly, the points for consideration may
be said to consist of balance, contrast,
clouds, lighting and foreground.
The first named is tho inclusion of more
or less prominent objects to the sides of
the picture, so that one may have the
effect of balancing the other. These should
not be of equal size, the artistic effect will
be more pronounced If unequal, a bush,
clumps of rushes or a broken branch will
often be all that is required to correct
the lopsided look that we too frequently
see in landscape pictures, beconaiy, a
picture without contrast always looks flat
and uninteresting. It should be tho aim
of the artist to make this contrast grad
ual, never sudden or abrupt, the bright
lights merging Into the shadows without
harsh or decided lines; and both l'ghts
and shades so disposed as to preserve the
necessary balance. A bright white object
on one wide of the picture will throw the
picture out unless some similar light ob
ject can be included on the other side. On
this subject it may be noted that the
contrast given by underexposure or the
want of it. the result of overexposure Is
not art. What Is to be admired is the
soft print, with plenty of contrast, but
with the softness of nature retained.
Clouds may be designated nature's back
ground, and to obtain an effective pic
ture a proper background Is as necessary
as a suitable foreground. Nothing gives
a picture such a finished appearance as a
good cloud effect; it is not always that
clouds can be obtained on the same nega
tive as the picture itself, but when pojai
ble the effect Is always tho best.
Methods of obtaining sky and cloud
pictures will be treated of later on. Tho
subject of lighting la of the utmost Im
portance, and is probably the most diffi
cult to deal with, and for this reason
deserves all the more study. e are
aware that a view will look entirely dif
ferent at various periods of the day.
When the sun is low In the horizon it
throws long, heavy shadows both morn
ing and evening, and when In the zenith
it gives scarcely any shadow at all, ex
cept underneath. Then, too. from the po
sition we take up the sun may fall on
the object, showing all detail distinctly,
or It may be behind the object, throwing
the side next to us into comparative dark
ness. All these give different effects to
the scene, and we should study the view
under the varying conditions so as to se
lect that lighting which will give the best
results for the object we have set before
us. When tho sun is full on the scene
and nearly vertical the resulting picture
will be generally flat and wanting in con
trast; good effects, with plenty of light
and shade, can be had with the sun more
or lees to ono side of the view; and at
times, with the light slightly behind the
chosen portion, a very pleasing effect may
be secured. However, no hard and fast
rule can be laid down, the particular light
that will suit one scene will not suit an
other, consequently the choice must be left
to the individual whose object in every
case should be the securing of a picture
conveying in an artistic manner the im
pression created in him by the view and
the better he is able to show in his worl.
that impression the more claims will he
have to be an artist.
Again, the subject of foreground Is an
Important factor, as without something
In the nearer view there Is a blank which
Is at once noticeable. It should, however,
not be so pronounced as to draw the at
tention from the main subject of the pic
ture, but must rather be in subjection to
it. and if possible should be broken up.
For example, the most charming cottage
will be spoiled by a large lawn or broad
roadway In front, unless, indeed, it Is
possible to include, say, a horse and bug
gy, a couple of children or even a dog "to
break the effect" and draw the attention
from the unsightly expanse. In like man
ner, a pretty view may be destroyed by
a broad, intervening field or stretch of
water, but put a couple of cows on one
or a boat on the other and the whole pic
ture is changed.
The above hints are not by any means
complete, but are given as an Indication
of what may be effected by selection; It
must be kept clearly in mind that to get
an artistic result one must study the vari
ous components which are to be included
In the picture. One must have patience
and tho faculty of observation. Having
decided upon the view, do not be in too
great a hurry to take the picture. Consid
er what is the best position, form your
opinion as to tho most suitable light, and
when these are decided, and the time is
opportune, expose your plate.
Note This subject will be continued
next week.
SHELTER FOR PORTLAND.
Its
Construction Ursred by a "Well-
KnoAvn Citizen of linker.
SUMPTER, Or., Feb. 2C. (To the Edi
tor.) In reading your paper, I see there
is a movo en foot for a smelter at Port
land. Few people of Portland realize
what this proposition means for the City.
Admitting that a great deal that Is read
In tne papers about mining in Oregon s
not reliable, the fact still remains that
we have a country lying In Baker and
Grant Counties that will surprise the
world with the output of precious metals.
I have been In this section in mercantile
business, mostly with mines, for the past
nine years, and have vi6lted every mne
and nearly every prospect in this section,
and can say, without doubt, that we have
not yet commenced to develop our coun
try, and time and capital alone will prove
my assertion. Mining is a venturesome
business only in so far as the manage
ment is reckless and careless, and most,
if not all, of the failures made In this
section can be laid at the Cocr of the man
agement of the property. This applies
especially to people who have mined In
this section from Portland.
Some may say Portland Is too far from
the mines for a smelter, but this Is a
mistaken Idea, for the reason that It would
cost nearly as much to get material here
to smelt ores as it will to get the ores
to Portland to smelt. If a good smelter
be erected jt Portland, it will draw all
grades of ore from all sections of the
Northwest, and thus get a mlrture which
will assimilate to the best advantage.
Tho management of a smelter. If one be
erected, must be placed in the hands of
the best men of Portland, and the very
strictest honesty must be applied to its
business.
Miners, as a rule, or. at least, the suc
cessful ones, are made up of the most
honest class of people on earth (tho pre
vailing public opinion to the contrary, not
withstanding)! and if any one ever gives
one of them a chance to think he is any
thing but honest, their business relations
will forever cease. On the other band,
no class of people will go as far to recip
rocate for a favor extended as these
same people, and one gcod turn for them
will, if they are successful, be repaid a
thousand-fold.
But to return to my subject As partial
proof of what I have said about the Coun
ty, I will describe the latest find In our
Immediate vicinity. A few days ago a
certain party secured a bond on what he
thought was a low-grade gold proposition.
There had been work done on the claim
by a dozen different parties In the past
16 years, and assays ran from a trace to
$8 in gold and silver. Immediately after
securing the option, the party had an as
say made, which run as above in gold and
silver and from J2S to J180 in copper, with
a ledge IS feet wide. This hole Is within 200
yards of the Granite road, and only five
miles from Sumptcr, and there is no doubt
but the mine will pay Its own way from
the grass roots, an Is very apt to rival any
of the great Montana copper mines. Yet
people have been running over it for 40
years, and the writer shot grouse within
50 yards of tho hole last fall.
It stands Portland in hand to rush her
smelter along, for the reason that if this
country keeps up its development of the
various metals, we will have, all kinds
and descriptions here soon. It has always
been said we had no lead. In the past
year the Cable Cove country has nearly
overcome this assertion by showing up
from S to 12 per cent In two mines, and
now comes our latest find of copper, with
an average of over 20 per cent. It Is
tho writer's opinion that in one year there
will be enough ore going out of the Sump
ter district alone to keep a smelter In
Portland humming.
CATO J. JOHNS.
c
DIPLOMATIST'S DIFFICULTIES
Charles Francis Adams on the States
manship of "William H. Sevrard.
Charles Francis Adams has just pub
lished a b'.ography of his father, Charles
Francis Adams, who was Minister of the
United States to Great Britain during our
Civil War. The book is by no means com
plimentary to Mr. Seward, for we find
that statesman described in It' as unfor
tunately conservat-ve In the first instance,
and as nardly less than flighty, when he
should have been dignified and serene, fur
ther on. From the Boston Herald's review
of the book we take the following:
The great disappointment in this coun
try as regards tne course of those in
power in Great Britain when the Ameri
can war broke out was in the.r lack of
sympathy with the Northern section
of this country. It was a sub
ject of little loss than wonder,
and It grew out of the previously
op;n and unrelenting opposition of Great
ju. ain to slavery. Mrs. Harriet Beecher
bwK'e had but recently written her
"Uncle Tom's Cabin," which created a
furore of popular.ty. In that country. She
had gone over ther to be fesated and feted,
and her appearance had been the occasion
of Brltisn reproach to America for toler
ating slaverj. This had continued down
to the time tnat the rebellion broke out.
That the, rebellion was in the interest
of slavery every one at he North knew,
and, indeed, it was not denied at the
South. In view of that fact, the North
looked with a confidence in which there
was not a shadow of doubt to the cordial
ajmpalhy and well wishes of Englishmen
in their resistance to the assaults of
slavery. They were to have a new lesson
of the character of Englishmen, and It
came speedily. Englishmen's Jealousy of
the grow.ng strength of the United States
and their dislike of republican institutions
predominated promptly over ther con
scientious conviction of the wrong of slav
ery. We speak of the general governing
power of England and her more aristo
cratic society in saying this, "but it is not
to -be forgotten that Lord John Russell,
of the Liberals in politics, then yielded to
it, and that one of its most unjust and
offensive supporters was Mr. Gladstone.
Cobden and Bright and Forster are about
the only men of distinguished prominence
in public affairs that Mr. Adanu, the
biographer, finds to be taking our side,
thougn it will be remembered that Francis-
Newman and Goldwln Smith, In liter
ary circles, came to our advocacy, while
the manner In which the working people
stood by us and saved us in the end from
the wrong the olners would have wrought
Is never to be forgotten.
But those public men of Great Britain
who were willing to ignore their previ
ous convictions on the subject of slavery,
and, after all their taunting of the North
for its existence in the Nation, to go over
to the South and give slavery their moral
support in this crisis, naturally sought
an excuse for their betrayal. It was road
ie lly furnished them "by Mr. Seward. He
cook pains to ten tnem mat slavery was
not at Issue in the contest. He( went
further, and repressnted the loyal cause
in Its worst light by repudiating cither the
right, or the wish or the Intention on
the part of the general Government to re
duce the Southern States to obedience by
conquest. This gave these Englishmen all
they wanted. It was a declaration that
the general Government was not fighting
to subdue slavery, and that It did not
claim a right to compel the Southern
States by force to remain in the Union.
This was untrue in the light of what fol
lowed In both Instances, but It involved
declarations which Mr. Adams, the minis
ter, had to meet as soon as he set foot
in Great Britain.
Nor was this all. Mr. Adams found a
state of feeling existing among English
officials with whom he was brought into
association which led him to write In his
diary: "My duty here is, so far as I can
do it honestly, to prevent the mutual Irri
tation from coming to a downright quar
rel." He reasoned naturally that if the
subduing of the slaveholdlng States caused
us so much trouble as we had encountered,
it was little less than madness for us to
take on ourselves a foreign war in addi
tion. Yet what must have been Mr.
Adams' dismay to find that this was Just
what Mr. Seward was preparing to do.
It is on record that the Secretary of State
had proposed to the President to provoke
a foreign war with Europe, under the
amazing assumption that this" would end
the rebellion and un.te all Americans
against the foreign foes. Mr. Adams
knew this, because Mr. Seward had so
Informed him. He knew that intelligence
to that effect had reached England also,
and was believed there. To crown the
whole. In the course of time came the
account of the taking of Messrs. Mason
and Slldell from the Trent steamer by
Captain Wilkes, which appeared to "be the
carrying out of that purpose.
Here was the culmination of a long pe
riod of anxiety for Mr. Adams. He was
cool, calm and eminently skilful through
the whole, and In the end success was
won against this and subsequent dangers,
but that his post was a most difficult one
the portion of Its embarrassments we have
described makes amply obvious. And
there were others of them.
a
Mnrklinm's Dismal Poem.
PRINEVILLE, Or., Feb. 26. (To tho
Editor.) It is now perhaps a year since
"The Man With the Hoe" was given to
the public The poem s still the subject
of numerous communications to the col
umns of this paper. As a whole, the com
munlcatlrns are of doubtful merit, but
they do furnleh high evidence that, as a
literary production. "The Man With the
Hoe" was not born to die. Each line of
the poem contains a thought, which, when
followed, leado Into the labyrinths of eco
nomic science where the opaqueness is so
dismal that the feather-weight philosopher
is only too glad to back out and direct his
mental energies to something more prom
ising and not quite so hard to handle.
JOHN WARREN.
THE WORLD'S f-AMINES
FItESEXT DISTRESS IX IXDIA
CALLS PAST AFFLICTIONS.
ItE-
Faralne In Varionn Countries at
Different Periods of the "World's
History.
The terrible famine in India, which
affects a population larger than that of
the United Kingdom Itself, Is likely to
divert tho attention of Christendom to
3ome extent from the South African war.
If war is killing its thousands at this
time, famine 13 certainly killing its ten
thousands. Destructive as war has al
ways been, pestilence and famine have
constantly run It more than an even race.
and of the two latter, famine Is unques
tionably entitled to the precedence.
It may be said also that as war has
been rendered less frequent and less san
guinary by the progress- of civilization
and enlightenment, as pestilence has been
made less frequent and less deadly by
the perfection of medical and sanitary
science, so also have famines become less
frequent and less destructive of life.
The causes of famine may be divided
Into two distinct groups natural and arti
ficial. Those of the former are rain, frost,
drought. Insects and vermin. The artifi
cial causes may be described as war,
defective agriculture defective transport,
legislative Interference, currency restric
tions, speculation and the misuse of
grain.
By -excess of rain floods are produced,
the soil becomes saturated, and decompo
sition of the seed Is occasioned. In many
cases, too, grain and other crops have
been destroyed by inundations and wash
out:). Frost is often destructive, especially In
temperate regions, by the destruction of
early crops in the spring, and of cereals
before they are fully matured In the fall.
Combined with rain. It will frequently
destroy the vitality of the seed while yet
in the ground. Many famines In Great
Britain In former times have been shown
to be the direct result of frost, and in
Franco so much damage has been done
by It to vines as to greatly diminish wine
production.
In tropical countries drought Is a po
tent cause of crop failure. About 1030
It prevented the annual overflow of the
Nile for 10 successive years, thus causing
one of the greatest famines of history.
Two provinces were wholly depopulated,
and in another half of the population per
ished. Insect plagues seem to have affected the
food supply from a very early period. The
flies and lecusts were among the plagues
of Egypt. Concerning the latter we are
told In Exodus, "Very grievous were they;
before them there were no such locusts
as they, neither after them shall be such.
For they covered tho face of the whole
earth, so that the land was darkened, and
they did eat every herb of the land, and all
the fruit of the trees which the hall had
left: and there remained not any green
In the trees, or In the herbs of the field
through all tho land of Egypt." Even In
our day much distress Is caused by locusts,
grasshoppers, caterpillars, army worms,
gypsy moths and other clmllar pests. And
as to vermin, such as rats, mice, etc.,
destroying the crops, there are many In
stances. In 15S1 there was a plague of
mice In Essex, England, and in 1S12-13, a
famine in the Madras presidency of India
was partly caused by a plague of rats.
Wars create famines by the absence o
the tillers of the soil, by raids upon the
grain bins of noncombatants, and by the
destruction of food and the laying waste
of fertile fields to distress an enemy.
Defective agriculture, of course, aggra
vates distress In times of short crops
from natural causes, and lessens the sur
plus which would naturally accumulate
In the year of "fat klne." And before the
advent of railways, canals and good roads,
large populations were often subjected to
famine, because of the difficulty of trans
porting food from fertile to famine dis
tricts. The chief difficulty In some of the
recent famines' In India has been the want
of means of transport.
Regarding the great famines of India,
of which there were 34 recorded between
tho years 1763 and 1ST8. Mr. F. C. Danvers,
in his report on the famines of India (1STS)
GayB:
"Famines In India have arisen from
several different causes, but the most
general cause has not been the failure of
the usual rains. Distress has also, how
ever, been caused by hostile Invasion, by
swarms of rats and locusts, by storms and
floods, and not unfrequently by the Immi
gration of the starving people from dis
tant parts Into districts otherwise well
provided with food supplies, and occa
sionally by excessive exports of grain Into
famine-stricken districts, or by combina
tions of two or more of tho above-mentioned
circumstances."
Famines are also indirectly caused by
the denuding a country of timber, which
lessens the rainfall. And It may be added
that another cause a natural cause
which finds credence with some scientists,
is the "sun spot" theory regarding rain
fall. The Statistical Journal some years ago
published a paper by Mr. Cornelius Wal
ford on the "Famines of the World, Past
and Present." in which he gave a table
of 350 famines which have appeared In the
history of the world, beginning with those
mentioned In the Scriptures as having oc
curred in Palestine and in the neighboring
nations In the time of Abraham and
Isaac; passing on to the seven years fam
ine In Egypt, down through those which
afflicted ancient Rome; enumerating In
their order those which have visited the
United Kingdom, as also those devastat
ing Europe in the Middle Ages; review
ing in detail the 34 famines which have
devastated India since 1769; and conclud
ing with the terrible calamity which rav
aged North China In 1877-7S. by which
S.OCO.OOO are believed to have died. In the
great famine In India In 1769-70 3.000.000
peop'e are supposed to have perished, and
1.500,000 died in the famine of 1S66. In 1S73
the rice crop In the district of Behar In
Northwestern Bengal yielded only a quar
ter of the average harvest, and as 15.000,
000 people were dependent on this crop for
sustenance, tho government wns oblltred
to make purchases of rice, chiefly In Far
ther India, and provide mans of convey
ing It to the distressed districts, includ
ing the building of a railway 45 miles lonir.
For a long timo 3.000.000 oersons received
daily support, either In alms. In work, or
in loans. This re'lef was continued from
October. 1S73. till December. 1S74. In thlq
way the government expended JCfi.fWCM.
Donations n'so amounting to over Sl.o.'VKTO
were contributed by private subscription.
In this way the death rate was kept down
to onlv ZT persons.
In 1S7S both of the monsoons fnl"tl to
bring their due sunplv of rain, and the
season of 1R77 was little better. The con
sequencesof this prolonged drought, wh'ch
extended from the Decern to Cap Comu
rin. and subsequently Invaded North-rn
India, were more disastrous than any
similar calamity up to that time since the
Introduction of British rule. Notwith
standing unparalleled importations of
grain by sea and rail, and despite the most
strenuous exertions of the Government,
which expended about J53.000.COO for the
purpose, the loss of life from actual starv
ation and its attendant train of diseases
was lamentable. The total number of
deaths from dlseaso and want In the dis
tressed tracts In excess of the normal
mortality for tho two years, 1S76-7S. Is es
timated to have raised the death rate by
40 per cent, or 5.250,000.
Great famines have occurred In Persia
In recent years, and Russia has had many
during the past century, but the most
terrible famine In recent British history
was the Irish famine of 1SI5-7. It was
caused by the loss of the potato crops.
Ireland had at that time a population of
about 8,500,000. and it was largely depend
ent upon the potato crop. That of 1S13 was
a partial failure, and the Hght-hcarted
peasantry, who had no surplus food of
former harvests to fall back upon, were
compelled to take clothlmj and household.
furniture to the pawnshops to purchase
food, and seed for the next harvest. Un
fortunately, the crop of 1S46 was a total
failure, and absolute ruin and starvation
threatened the whole population. Tho
Government was slow In taking adequate
relief measures, and great numbers died
for want of food, and from disease caused
by lack of proper sustenance. Several
millions of dollars were raised by private
subscription, and tho Government con
tracted a loan of SS.000.COO to supply the
wants of the suffering people. When the
full extent of th calamity was realized
the British Government and people did
everything possible, and large sums of
money and shiploads of provisions were
sent from this country. At one time 3,000.
000 Irish people were receiving rations. A
million and a half of people are estimated
to have died by starvation or disease.
Many estates in the Island changed
hands during the period of distress, and
the new English landlords in many cases
evicted the poor tenants who were, of
course, at the time unable to pay rent.
During tho year 1S47, 106,000 Irish emi
grants crossed the Atlantic to Canada and
tho Eastern Provinces alone, and of this
number more than 17 000 perished, either
on shipboard or soon after landing, from
dlseaso or weakness. When wo realize
the horrors of these cruel evictions we
can understand why so many Irish In this
country sympathize with the Boers in the
present war without regard to the merits
of the case. The great Irish immigration
to this country In the last half-century
dates from this great Irish famine.
The Indian famine of 1SS3-57 was the
most severe ever known in that famine
afflicted country. Tho great famine of
1S77 affected 257,000 square miles and 5S,
000.000 people. That of three years ago af
fected 322,000 square miles and 6S.000.CO)
persons. The highest number receiving re
lief in 1S77 was 3,178.000. while In 1S97 moro
than 4.50O.0O0 were being aided during the
month of June.
The peculiarity of the famine of 197
was an almost universal shortness of ra'n.
There was a complete failure of the crops,
only in a few districts, in Bundelcund and
in the central provinces, but almost every
where there was a partial failure. Out
of 250 administrative districts Into which
India is divided, no fewer than 115 were
classified as famine districts, although
none is so classified unless at least 10,003
are employed on relief works. Of the dis
tricts outside few, except those In Bur
man, had any food to spare. Yet no large
imports of food came from abroad, nor
were the shipments of supplies into the
famine district such as would be expected.
On the contrary, there was a falling oft
in the grain receipts by railway. At the
beginning of the scarcity a large shipment
of wheat arrived from America at Cal
cutta and Bombay, but ultimately a large
part of It was reshlpped to England, where
better prices and . better market were
found. High prices, according to the In
dian standard, prevailed over an enor
mous area, but they were not relatively
high when compared with prices In other
countries, and even at the worst period
of the famine they were too low to en
courage Imports of food except at very low
prices. Millions of dollars were raised by
private subscription, the Mansion House
fund In England alone amounting to over
52,500,000. The Indian Government also
expended large sums, both for food and In
public works Instituted to give people em
ployment. The work of relief was conducted on
the well-defined system of the Indian
famine code. Every district is divided
into circles, In each one of which the
machinery of relief is kept in a constant
state of readiness. In years of plenty
as well as In years of scarcity, and Its
efficiency is reported on by inspectors
evcrj" year. When famine arrives the
able-bodied are given local fcbor. while
those una'ble to work receive doles of
grain. This system counteracts the ten
dency of the Indian people to wander In
time of famine from their own districts
in the vain hope of finding employment
and food elsewhere.
Only the low castes, tho coolies and the
landless laborers, were willing to accept
relief. The respectable families of the
Hindu villages slowly starved to death,
though relief was at hand. Great nobles
remitted rents and spent millions on relief
works. Native asylums. In which distinct
ions of caste were respected, fed the peo
ple sufficiently at monthly cost of a rupee
a head; a quarter of the dole paid In
money by the Government relief works,
but of this latter half was often kept
back by the dishonest native officials, who
paid out the wages and sold the grain.
One of the most discouraging features of
these Indian famines is the attitude of the
sufferers themselves. They are almost
universally fatalists. If they are to die
of hunger, the gods so will It. they say;
therefore, why should they struggle
against fate. Believing that they are of
fending the gods by so doing, they even
sometimes refuse to accept relief, and
die because God wills it. Some, too, will
not eat food to which they are unaccus
tomed. For instance, rice eaters will
often starve rather than eat the cooked
products of Indian corn.
These great famines cause distinct de
terioration of physical stamina in the af
fected districts, especially among the lower
classes. It is telling on the capacity of
the laborers, and also on the recruiting
for the Indian army, compelling the Gov
ernment to obtain its soldiers' among the
Gookhas of Nepaull, and the Beluchles
and other better fed peoples of the native
States.
We have never had very extensive fam
ines in this country, although during
Colonial times and In more recent years
there have been many cases of acute local
distress, "because of general or partial fail
ure of crops. The deaths among the recon
centrados under the Weyler reg'me In
Cuba can hardly be called a case of fam
ine, but rather one of enforced starva
tion. Another case of enforced starvation,
which can, however, be remedied by the
simple use of a white flag, now threatens
Ladysmlth.
NATIONAL EXPANSION.
A Question ainny Times Considered,
With Uniform Results.
ALBANY, Or., Feb. 28. (To the Editor.)
As our country Is again confronted with
the doctrlne'of expansion or annexation,
it might be Interesting to review In part
our Natian'sjjbjstry concerning it.
The first qjcpaWjon of consequence oc
curred under 'tlJfcMidrnlnlatratlon of Presi
dent Thomas 'Jefferson. Napoleon, the
First CofSSywwig in great need of
money, ani!$Xor3ircher reasons, proposed,
throush MarMT to sell LouIs.ana Terri
tory, then embracing most of the coun
try between the Mississippi River and
the Rocky Mountains, to the United
States the proposition being made to our
then M.nlster to France, Robert R. Liv
ingston. It ended in President Jefferson
and his- Ministers entering Into a written
contract to purchase the Louisiana Terri
tory from France, for CO.000,000 francs and
the payment of the French debt to Ameri
can citizens, the total of wh ch In our
money amounted to $15,000,COO.
The matter was rushed to completion,
although it was claimed by those who were
considered the beat lawyers of their day,
that the President had exceeded his au
thority, and that it was neceseary to
amend the Constitution to enable Con
gress to buy foreign territory. However,
the ex post facto amendment to the Con
stitution which was suggested was never
attempted, and this great contract of the
first Republican President (his party then
being called Republican) was ratified by
Congress. The question also arose over
our occupation of Florida growing out of
General Jackson's first entering that then
Spanish territory In 1S14, and later in tho
war against the Semlnolcs, and culminat
ing finally In the purchase from Spain of
the territory of the Fiorldas.
Agalr. In the Congressional debates over
the matter of our Northwest possessions,
Oregon and our northern boundaries, the
principles of National expansion and the
duty of the Government to hold to every
foot of territory to which our Govern
"ment could Justly lay claim were dis
cussed and upheld. The Congressional de-
jbate? over the removal of the Cherokee I
Indians from Georgia cover much of the
same ground as now discussed. It was
bates over the removal of ths Cherokee
retained their primitive habits they should
be left to their customs and tribal laws,
and no attempt was made to subject
them to our laws, for the reason that
It would have interfered with their habits
of life and the enjoyments peculiar to In
dian people." However, when they had
become more enlightened, becoming farm
ers and stockralsera. .nstead of hunters of
game. It became necessary that they
should abide by the laws of Georgia and
of the Unltrd States, or be removed to
the forests west of the Mississippi. The
case of their claim as a sovereign peo
ple, holding the right to make and main
tain their own free government, waj
heard In the Supreme Court of the United
States In 1S31, being most ably argued by
John Sergeant and William Wirt. The
Supreme Court held "that the Indian
tribes had the attributes of foreign na
tions, but that they were not so recognized
as foreign nations by our Constitution,
and they were to "be considered as domestic
dependent nations. In a state of pupilage
to the general Government, and holding
the'r territory by occupancy only."
The Congressional debates, however,
were more lengthy and heated over the
admission of Texas, and expansion and
annexation, and the rights of Congress to
carve States out of territory neither a part
of the original 13 States nor acquired
by purchase or conquest, and the right of
Congress to alienate territory once recog
nized as belonging to the United States.
were all matters much debated. A reso
lution was proposed to be offered In Con
gress by Mr. Adams "that the power of
annexing the people of any Independent
foreign State to this Union, is a power
not delegated by the Constitution of the
United States to their Congress, or any de
partment of the Government, but reserved
to the people." However, Congress did
expand the Union and annex Texas
Webster, the great constitutional lawyer
of his day, being turned down. Mr. Web
ster opposed the annexation of Texas by
Congress on constitutional grounds, while
General Jackson urged In a letter written
to Hon. A. V. Brown, in 1S43. that Con
gress had such right, and that it was
the Government's plain duty to annes
Texas to save it from foreign powers, and
for tile protection of our border In case of
war.with Europe.
It is not necessary further to review our
national history on this point. It Is
sufficient to say, without making it a
political question, that as a matter of fact
It has resulted each time In enlarging our
national domain.
GEORGE W. WRIGHT.
VISITORS TREATED BRUTALLY
Hovr Hcnlth O file em ct Vancouver,
B. C, Perform Their Duties.
The "Vancouver. B. C, authorities treat
visiting Americans very brutally in con
sequence of a smallpox scare, accoidlng
to a gentleman whose home Is in New
York, but who Is at present spending a
few days In Portland. He says he board
ed the steamer at Seattle to visit Van
couver, and when the vessel reached the
dock a party of vaccinators came on board
and proceeded to operate on people, right
and left, without as much as "by your
leave." Passengers were huddled into the
cabin and ordered to bare their arms. No
excuse would be listened to, and women
and children were forced to endure the
operation and Indignity, as though they
were galley slaves. "Take off your coat
and roll up your sleeves I" was the per
emptory order, and people were shoved
around, regardless of age, sex or condi
tion. This man refused, and so wao held
on board the boat under guard all day.
and did not go ashore at all. If he had
landed he would have been thrown into
Jail.
Passengers by train are treated the same
way, and he desires intending visitors to
bo acquainted with the treatment they
are to receive. Many well-to-do people,
he says, are now vlating tho Pacific
Coast, for pleasure, and a large propor
tion of them will visit Vancouver and be
subjected to the vaccination, with its ac
companying second-mate brutality, unlcvs
warned against It. Ho does not object to
tho compulsory vaccination as he does the
unnecesrary tyranny of the officials.
One old gentleman, who had bared his
arm and received the hypodermic Injec
tion, stood on the deck blowing the wound,
to cool the pain. He was rudely shoved
Into an adjoining stateroom and ordered to
get out of the way.
women and children were taken into
other cabins and treated separately, but
with just ns much brutality of word and
tone. This touch of British rule has
made him more In love than ever with
American customs, as individual rlgh to
are respected In the United States, as they
are not at Vancouver, B. C. It matters
not how recently a person may have been
vaccinated, the Vancouver virus must be
absorbed Into the system, and no back
talk about It. either.
MURDEROUS MICROBES
Breeding and Feeding in Human
Intestines.
A Xcvr PoTverfnl Germ Destroyer Dis
covered Hovr Microbes Are Killed
While You Sleep.
Millions of microbes, bacteria, ptomaines,
disease germs of every kind live and breed
and feed in the stomach and bowels.
For theJr propagation it is only neces
sary for the liver and intestines to become
lazy and operate .rregularly.
Modern science has been at work to find
a means of killing microbes, and the most
successful germ-dtroyer of all Is Cas
carets Candy Cathartic. They slaughter
bacteria wherever they find them, are anti
septic, stop sour stomach, make the liver
lively, the blood pure, tho bowels regu
lar, everything as it should be.
Go buy and try Cascarets today. It's
what they do. not what we say they'll do,
that proves their merit. All druggists. 10c.
25c. or 50-:. or mailed for price. Send for
booklet and free sample. Address. The
Sterling Remedy Co., Chicago; Montreal,
Can.; or New York.
A I This la the CASCARET table.
I
Every tablet of the only genuine1
Caecarets bears the mnslc letters
"CCC." Look at the tablet fcefors
you buy. and beware of frauds,
Imitations and substitutes.
L tried Ely's Cream
Balm, and to all appear
ances am cured of ca
tarrh. The terr.ble head
aches from which I long
suffered are gone. "W. J.
Hitchcock, late Major.
U. S. Vol. and A. A.
Gen., Buffalo, N. Y.
Cream Bnlm Is placed Into the nostrils,
rpreade over the membrane and Is absorbed.
Ilellef-Is Immediate nnd a cure follows. It :9
not drying does not produce sneezing. Large
Size. 50 cents at Druggists' or by mall; Trial
SUe. 10 cents by mall.
ELY BROTHERS. 30 Warren Street. New York.
Big G is & noa-poisonorj
remedy for Gonorrhcca,
Gleet, Sper ma torrh ten,
"Whites, unnatural dl
charge, or any Inflamma
tion of m neons mem
eEtanS ChEHIWLCo. brnnes. Eon-astrincent.
J Sold by BracsiztB,
or sens in pmin Tarr01,
by express, prepaid, fot
81-fio. or 3 bottle. C2.7J.
Circular Mat on requ:it.
IL-M1DYV
f2v vjThsceiiny Capsules arc superisi
T3 uaiosui or VOpaioaiX
CubebsorlnJMiionsaniiirulDif j
CURE IN 43 HOURS V-V
the samo diseases vithout
inconvenience.
Schlby all drttcgisls.
jpp aL wiM
lalt5Hj- I
I(C)I at u itrijiart.
Il?rjTtnU nnttfion.
liSuTH
V ' V CIHCWJ'XTI.O "",
V X 0. 3. a. y I
v
THE PALATIAL
Not n Inrk office In the ImlltHnxt
.lnoltitelj- flreiiroof; electric lilili
and artesian water; perfect sanita
tion aucl thoruuRli vrn.tIlu.tIon.. Kie
valors tna day and nlnht.
Viooma.
ANDEHSOJT. GUST A V. Attorney-at-Law G13
ASSOCIATED PRESS; E. L. Powell. Mgr ...80J
RANKERS' LIFE ASSOCIATION, of De
Moines. la.; C. A. ItcCargnr. State Azent..502-J
BEHNNE. 1L W.. ItSn. Ternln Shorthand
School ......................2H
BENJAMIN. R. "W.. DentUt 31
UINSWANGEU. DR O. S.. Thy. & Sur..11-tia
BRUEP.E. DR. G. E.. ttyIdan -tl2-m-H
BUSTEED. RICHARD. Atfent Wilson & Mc-
Callay Tobacco Co C02-C03
CAUKIN. G. E., District Agent Travelers
Insurance Co 713
CARDWELL. DR. J. B 500
CLARK. HAROLD. Dentls; 314
CLEM. E. A. & CO.. Mining l'ropenles...315-5l
COLUMBIA TELEPHONE COMPANY
G04-e03-COC-60T-C13-GX4-6ia
CORNELIUS. C. SV.. Phys. and Surceon 200
COVER. F. C. Cashier Equitable Life.. 300
COLLIER. P. F.. Punllsher; S. P. McGutre.
Manager . 413-113
DAY. J. G & I. N 318
DAVIS. NAPOLEON. President Columbia
Telephone Co 601
DICKSON. DR. J. F.. Phrsldan 713-714
DRAKE. DR. H B.. Physician OSIS-SU
DUNHAM. MRS GEO A 711
DWYER. JAS F. Tobacccj 402
EDITORIAL ROOMS Eighth Iloor
EQUITABLE LIF" ASSURANCE SOCIETY;
L Samuel. Manager: F. C Cover. Cashler..300
EVENING TELEGRAM.- 323 Alder arte:
FENTON. J. D.. Physician and SurKeon..300-510
FENTON. DR. HICKS C. Eye and Ear 511
FENTON. MATTHEW F.. Dentist -...SC3
FIDELITY MUTUAL LIFE ASS'N; E. C.
Stark. Manager C01
FRENCH SCHOOL (by conversation); Dr. A.
Muzzarelll. Manager TOO
GALVANI. V. H.. Engineer arsl Draughts
man .GOO
GEARY. DR. EDWARD P.. Physician and
Surgeon , 212-21 J
GIESY. A. J.. Physician and Sursoa....7Cn) 7tu
GODDARD. E. C. & CO.. Footwear, ground
floor :2s Sixtn street
GOLDMAN. WILLIAM. Manager Manhattan
Life Insurance Co.. of New York 200-2ia
GRANT. FRANK S.. Attcrr.ey-at-lavr C17
ORENIER. MISS BEATRICE. Dentist 703
Hammam Baths. King- & Compton. Props.. 300
HAMMOND. A. I: 310
HEIDINGER. GEO. A. & CO.. Pianos and
Organ 131 Sixth St.
IIOLLISTF.R. DR. O. C. Phys. & Surs...50-3M
IDLEMAN. C. M.. Attorney-at-Law...41G-17-13
KADY. MARK T.. Manager Pacific North-
wf: Mutual Reserve I'und Life Asso...G(4-60?
LAMONT. JOHN. Vice-President and Gen
eral Manager Columbia Telephone Co COS
LITTLEFIELD. II. It.. Phys. and Surgeon.. .20-1
MACRUM. W. S.. Sec. Oregon Camera Club2U
MACKAY. DR. A E.. Phyi. nnd Surg....711-71J
MAXWELU DR. W. E.. Phys. & Sunc... 701-2-3
McCARGAR. C A.. State Agent Bankers
Life Association 502-303
McCOY. NEWTON. Atforney-at-Law 713
McFADEN. MISS IDA E.. Stenographer 201
McGINN. HENRV E.. Attornev-at-Lanr.. 311-313
McKELL. T. J.. Manufacturers Representa
tive 303
MILLER. DR. HERBERT C. Dentls: and
Oral Surgeon C0S-G09
MOSSMAN. DR. E. P.. Dentist 312-513-514
MANHATTAN LIFE INSURANCE CO.. of
New York. W. Goldman. Manager 2C9-210
McELROY. DR. J. C.. Pny. & Surg 701-702-703
McFARLAND. E. B.. Secretary Columbia
Telephone Co COJ
MrGUtRE. S. P.. Manager P. F. Collier.
Publisher 415-410
McKIM. MAURICE. Attnrney-at-Law 300
MUTUAL LIFE INSURANCE CO.. ot New
York: Wm. S. Pon.I. State Mgr. 404-403-403
MITUAL RESERVE FUND LIFE ASS'N;
M. T. Kady. Mgr. Pacific Northwest GO4-003
NICHOLS. HORACn B.. Atorney-a:-Law..713
NILES. M. L.. Cashier Manhattan Life In
surance Co.. .if New York 239
OREGON INTIRMARY OF OSTEOPATHY:
Dr. L. B. Smith. Osteopath 40"i-403
OREGON CAMERA CLUB 214-215-21iV2lT
PERNIN SHORTHAND SCHOOL: H. W.
Behnke. Prln 211
POND. WM. S.. State Manager Mutui Life
Ins. Co. of New York 401-403-405
PORTLAND EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY..
....Group.! floor. 133 Sixth stret
Portland pi:ns n.un ,...7H
PROT7.3IAN EUGENE C. Superintendent
Agencies Mutual Reserve Fund Life, of
New York Bn
PTrTNAMj'.S SONS. G. P.. PuMMher 313
QUIMBY. L. P. W.. Came and Forestry
Warden .71(1-71?
REED it MALOLM. Opticians.. 123 Sixth street
RFED. F. C. Fl'h Cnmm!!oner 407
RYAN J- B. Attorney-it-law ..417
:ALI?BUR" "r"4' - Section Director. U.
S. Weather Bureau 010
SAMUEL L.. Manager Equitable Life. 300
f-ANDFORP. A. C .t CO Publisher Aet..513
SCRIRNER'S SONS. CHAS.. Publishers:
jM.f Hohon. Manager .515-510-317
SHERWOOD. J W. Deputy Supreme Com
mander. K. O. T. M B17
SMITH. DR. L B. Oteopa'h 4PS-403
CONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION .300
STARK. E. C Executive Specln!. Fidelity
Mutual Life Association of Phlla.. Pa C01
STRR COLE Pyrocraphy 402
STEEL. G. A. Forest Inspector 213
STUART. DELI Attomcy-at-Law...G13-BJC-G17
STOLTE. DR. CHAS. E.. Dentist 704-703
SURGEON OF THE S. P. RY. AND N. P.
TERMINAL CO 701
STROWBRIDGE. THOS IT . Executive Spe
cial Agent Mutual Life, of New York 403
crpFTMNTENDENTS Or FICE 3ft
TUCKER. DR OEO F.. Den'Ist OlO-RU
U. S. WEATHER RUREAU... OOR-007-30S-909
U. S. LIGHTHOUSE ENGINEERS. 13TH
DIST.. Captain W. C Langatt. Corps of
Engineer. U. S. A 803
U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE. RIVER AND
HARBOR IMPROVEMENTS. Captain W.
C. Lancfltt. Corps of Engineers. U. S. A S10
WALKER. WILL H.. President Oregon
Camera Club 214-215-2HV21T
WATERMAN. C. II.. Cashier Mutual Life
of Nevr Yfrk 401
WATKINS. Miss E. I. Purchasing Agency 710
WEATHERRED. MRS. EDYTH. Grand Sec
retary Native Daughters 71C-71
WHITE. MISS L. E.. Ass't Sec Oregon Cam
era Club 214
WILSON. DR. EDWARD N.. Phy. & Sur.30-3
WILSON. DR. GEO F.. Phys. & Surg...70G-707
WILSON. DR. HOLT C. Phys. & Surg...607-303
WILSON & McCALLAY TOBACCO CO.:
Rlehard Bustecd. Agent G02-G01
WOOD. DR. W. L.. Physician 412-413-4U
WILLAMETTE VALLEY TELEPH. CO 013
A fcTT raorc decant orncp mny lii
hnl ljr nuplylric: to Portland Trust
Comrmny of Orcson. 100 TlilrU mt., o
to the rent clerk in the Lulltllnjc-
MEN NO CURE.
teHTi5 X PAY TH3
MODERN APPLI
ANCEA rcsltlve way to parfect manhood.
Everything els falls. The VACUUM TREAT
MENT CURES you without medicine of all
ncrvcus or dUeaseo of the generative organs,
such as lost manhood, exhausting drains, vari
cocele, Impotency, etc. Men axe quickly re
stored to perfect health and strength.
Write for circulars. Correspondence confiden
tial. THE HEALTH APPLIANCE CO.. room
47-48 Safe Deposit bulldlns. Seattle, YrPh
OREGONIAN BUILDING