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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1900)
s Yee Morning okegonian, Tuesday, pkcemisek -5, isoo. fts rsgomcou Entered at the Postolace at Portland, Oregon, as second-class matter. TELEPHONES. Editorial Booms 168 J Business 02ce...OG7 REVISED SUBSCRIPTION BATES. By Mall (postage prepaid). In Advance Dally, with Sunday, per month .$ S3 Dai:y, Sunday excepted, per year......... W Sally, with Sunday, per year 0 00 Sunday, per year 2 00 The "Weekly, per year 1 50 The Weekly. 3 months SO To City Subscribers Sally, per week. delivered. Sundays ercepted.l5o Dally, per week, delivered, Sundays lncluded.20c POSTAGE BATES. United States. Canada and Mexico: 10 to 10-page paper...... ................. ....lc 1C tc 32-page paper 2c Foreign rates double. News or discussion Intended for publication In The Oregonlan should be addressed Invaria bly "Editor The Oregonlan." not to the name of any individual. Letters relating to advertis ing, subscriptions or to any business matter should be addressed Eimply "The Oregonlan.'' The Oregonlan does not buy poems or stories from Individuals, and cannot undertake to re turn any manuscripts sent to It without solici tation. No stamps should be Inclosed for this purpose. Puget Sound Bureau Captain A. Thompson, efflce at 1111 Pacific avenue. Tacoma. Box 855, Tacoma PostofSce. Eastern Business Office The Tribune build ing. New Tork City; "The Rookery." Chicago; the S. C Beckwith special agency. New Tork. For sale In San Francisco by J. K. Cooper, 748 Market street, near the Palace Hctel; Gold smith Bros.. 230 Sutter street; F. W. Pitts. 1003 Market street: Foster & Orear. Ferry News stand. For sale In Los Angeles by B. F. Gardner. 250 So. Spring street, and Oliver & Haines, 10C So. Spring street. For sale Irr Chicago by the P. O. News Co.. 217 Dearborn street. For sale- In Omaha by H. C Shears, 105 N. Sixteenth street, and Barkalow Bros.. 1012 Farnam street. Tor sale In Salt Lake by the Salt Lake News Co., 77 W. Second South street. For sale In New Orleans by Ernest & Co., 115 Boyal street. On file In Washington. D. C with A W. Dunn, 600 14th N. W. For sale In Denver, Colo., by Hamilton & Kendrlck, DOO-012 Seventh street. - TODAY'S WEATHER-Onerally fair; vari able winds, mostly northerly. PORTLAND, TUESDAY, DEC. 25. The argument of Secretary of "War Boot before the Senate committee on military affairs, urging the immediate passago of the Army bill, ought to be effective; would be effective before any other body than the United States Sen ate, but a legislative body so narrow minded and mercenary as it has proved itself to be by its practical defeat of the Hay-Pauncefote treaty through its fa tal amendment is not likely to pasr. the Army bill without further debate. Sec retary Root's argument in favor of the retention of the Army canteen Is un answerable, but the action of the Sen ate on this measure will be, like that of the House, dictated by demagogic considerations rather than sound pub lic policy. Of course, the Government would not be in an embarrassing mili tary situation today If the "United States Senate had not been controlled by Dem ocrats and Populists In 189S, who re fused to extend the term of service of the short-term regulars and the United States Volunteers beyond July 1, 190L The probability of the present situation was then pointed out by the Republican leaders, but to no purpose, and so to day we are in danger of disgraceful failure and violated public faith in the Philippines. The tactics pursued by General De wet in South Africa are so effective that it Is fortunate for the British Gov ernment that they were not adopted by Generals Joubert and Cronje against Lord Roberts and General Buller. The present Boer campaign in both the Transvaal and the Orange Free State is simple enough. The British Army Is two-thirds of it composed of Infantry, which the Boers were powerless to re sist in its advance over the veldt, with its plains traversed by streams. It was not difficult for the British Army to sweep over the veldt and occupy the leading Boer cities and towns, but this occupation compelled the Boers to leave the streams and plains and take to the mountains, from which they descend on the British forces at every opportu nity that represents an advantage. The British mounted troops are not greatly in numerical excess of the Boers; they are not equal to the Boers, man for man, as marksmen; they can only march about half as fast, because the British trooper equipped means at least double the load for his horse rep resented by the Boer horseman. The Boers never stand and fight except when they have a sure victory in their grasp. The English Generals have not yet been able to force an action, capture the enemy or destroy his organization, and the situation affords another illus tration of the original blunder commit ted by the home "War 'Office when it failed to see that an army of mounted irregulars who were marksmen could rot be caught and rounded up by In fantry. So long as Dewet can secure horses for his men, forage, food and ammunition, he will be successful until he Is run down bv a greatly superior British mounted force. The purpose of Dcwet Is to -ouse the Cape Colony Dutch to insurrection. Their time to rise was a year ago, when Bulier was beaten at Colenso and Methuen had bren repulsed by Cronje. They did not rise then; they certainly will not rise now, when insurrection is hopeless. "When the British mount their Infantry In sufficient numbers to stop all the ' . arths" of the fox, Dewet, the war in S uih Africa will be over. Meantime this useless warfare on the part of the Euers is sure to degenerate into mer cll ss conflict on both sides. In De vi t's battle of the 25th ult. three Boers were tried for firing on the British aft. r having surrendered, and shot for tL.ir treachery. A wounded Boer de 11b rately shot a young British officer as he stood by his side, and was bayo neted on the spot. Although many of the methods sug g sted for reforming vice are lmpracti cMp, thty srve an indefinite end which all uf as aim at but which we differ as to the means of attaining. It is well that so many regard the public welfare as an object of Individual and public solicitude. "Whereas, up to the very modern present the social process was entirely unconscious, now It Is the opposite. Whereas laws were ordained, systems of government formulated and regulation of vice and crime dictated by personal selfishness, now public in terest is tfc? comprehensive motive and end. Our social organization has ceased so far to be blind and organic that It has become purposive and de liberative. "We have become aware that in our extremely artificial envi ronment progress must be a conscious object of achievement, and that public measures must be In the Interests of social development, and not solely of Individual advantage. Thus our des tiny is In our own hands if we shall but work it. A number of worthy peo ple are offering their conceptions of re form, which are mutually inconsistent, but which have the same approximate purpose. OutOf the flux of their opin ions will be evolved the best Instrument for working that purpose, although the Individual suggestions which will be fused into it are themselves inadequate. A writer down river remarks In the following querulous vein: Why should the citizens of Portland object to the extension of common-point rates to any seaport town? Can she not maintain her commercial supremacy without placing her heel upon the neck of every community that at tempts to do business outside of her limits? This policy never raised a man above his fol lows, and will prove a lasting blight upon any city. "We had a sort of hlfalutln idea that Interests of Astoria, Warrenton and Flavel were not factors in the common point logomachy. "We were seduced to believe that the Lower Columbia had arguments to offer Instead of towns to build. "We were inveigled into the mis conception that the worthy .people near the ocean had money to make for pro ducers and commerce, instead of for themselves. "We were Invested with the false notion that they were plead ing for the Interior Empire, and that they had such lofty and profound faith In their contention that they were will ing to let their Interests work out their own salvation. "We labored under the assumption that commercial ambition was nothing beside commercial advan tage. "We were almost persuaded that Portland's side of the argument was selfish. In comparison with the superla tive and Inscrutable altruism down river. But the above remark unveils the othir face of the Janus and reveals the secret of an incomprehensible mys tery. It shows why so many common point effusions pour out from down river. In spite of the efforts of humani tarians in her behalf, covering a period of many years, Mrs. Maybrick, the American woman who languishes in Aylesbury prison under conviction of having murdered her English husband, will spend another Christmas day in durance. The case of Mrs. Maybrick has been one of International battle dore and shuttlecock for years. She has had many champions In America who have been firm ii the belief of her entire Innocence of the charge of pois oning her husband. Among these was the late Miss Abigail Dodge (Gall Ham ilton), who made an eloquent plea, strong in sympathy and honest convic tion. If not In logic, for the release of her countrywoman. Eacn succeeding Home Secretary has, however, been as deaf as his predecessor to every plea for mercy in her ,behalf, refusing to recognize In it a plea for justice. It Is now stated that there Is no possibility of Mrs. Maybrick's release as long as Lord Salisbury is Chancellor of the realm. His lordship having a stubborn British resentment against a former Chief Justice to gratify, takes this means, it is said, of revenge. However this may be, and It is probably an ex aggerated statement, it Is evident that Mrs. Maybrick's prospect of release from prison has not improved with the years. After all, her life is probably not more miserable than if she had fulfilled to the end the part she as sumed in becoming, for mercenary con sideration, the wife of a besotted man, of disgusting appearance and habits, many years her senior. PUBLIC OPIXIOX IlESPOXSinLK FOR GAMBLIXG. There are people who have periodical fits of morality, which they reveal by denouncing their own community, as standing for a moral condition which has beeh, growing worse .until it has now reached a very low, depth of de pravity. The Oregonlan does not agree with these prophets of present evil and coming woe. Portland Is a city of 100, 000 people that is remarkable for Its orderliness, peaccfulness and abstemi ousness of Its Inhabitants. Its Improve ment In these respects In the last ten years has been very great. Drunken ness Is so rare that a man may walk our streets for days without encounter ing an example of it. The sanitary con dition of the city has greatly Improved. Specific complaint is made concerning the prevalence of the gambling vice. So far as the vice Itself is concerned. It Is impossible of extirpation, and most difficult of regulatlonal control, because there is really very small aggressive public opinion behind the hostility to the gambling evil. It Is an Interesting historical fact that this has always been the case. Thoughtful men In every age have discussed and de nounced the evil of gambling, but the hostility of public opinion to gambling has never been vigorous, as has been the public opinion which early made alcoholic intemperance odious. The drunkard as a subject for Jest and satire Is as old as literature, and gambling, too, is a very ancient vice. Its Implements, are found in the oldest Egyptian tombs. Loaned dice have been found in Pompeii. Chinese gam bling can be traced back as far as 2300 B. C. The highest civilization of an tiquity recognized gambling as a great evil. It was forbidden under the Ro man law, and the term aleator, or gambler, was one of reproach. In spite of the edicts leveled at gambling and the severe legislation against it, the Romans were exceedingly addicted to It in the latter days of the Republic and of the empire. Cicero was as fond of gambling as the great English ora tor and statesman. Fox, and the Em peror Augustus Caesar was a passion ate dice player. The ancient Germans were Inordinately fond of gambling; like the American Indians, they would hazard all their wealth upon a throw of the dice, and' this kind of gambling went on unimpaired in England in pop ularity until Elizabeth's time. Gam bling was the popular vice of the high est classes In the eighteenth century. The sister of General Braddock, killed In the French "War, lost all of her for tune at cards In a month, and hanged herself at the age of 23. "When Crock ford opened his new gambling-house, termed a club. In 1S27, the Duke of "Wel lington was one of the subscribers. Since the advent of Queen Victoria, the public morals of the upper classes have greatly Improved, and gambling as a public vice passionately Indulged has no longer any standing in England. The legalized forms of gambling known as lotteries, were finally put an end to by act of Parliament, the last eUte lottery authorized in England be ing drawn in October, 1825. Lotteries were not deemed immoral In "Washing ton's day, for he bought tickets openly and they wera a source or revenue to colleges, to towns, as well as Individ uals. Now, it is clear that gambling, whether la Its Illegal or legalized forms, has never had to encounter as vigor ously hostile a public opinion as intem perance. It soon became bad form for a gentleman to get drunk, but it can hardly be said today that It has eVen yet become bad form for a gentleman to play cards for money. There has always been a deeper public indiffer ence to the gambling evil than there has been to the drink habit, chiefly be cause the drink habit Is a noisy vice that advertises Itself by offensive words and actions in public, in crimeB of drunken violence. That there is as much gambling in Portland as there waB ten years ago we do not Delleve; It was a "wide open" town then, for the police was then In notorious partnership with vice and crime. "We do not believe that in any respect Portland Is other than a far better city than it was ten years ago, and we do not believe that the gam bling evil is as prevalent as It was ten years ago. Nevertheless, we do not blame the agitators who denounce the gambling evil for not being content with the statement that "there must be a public graft ot a private graft." There cannot be a private graft unless the Police Board chooses to permit It, for they could break any policeman, high or low, who attempted it. On moral grounds, the "public graft" Is indefensible; for that means practi cally licensing a business which Is al ready an outlaw. The real reason why the gambling evil Is practically "licensed" because the bulk of the business men are opposed to the extinction of gambling-houses. They believe that "gambling-houses make things lively." The gambler's dollar Is "a nimble sixpence." In Seattle nearly ten years ago the reform ministers found out that the business community of which their own churches were com posed were really backing the gam bling business, because they believed It brought trade to town that otherwise would go to Portland or Spokane. The men who gamble could not protect the gambling-houses a moment; It Is the business community that does not gam ble that protects the gamblers, whom the Chief of Police, the Mayor or the District Attorney could pinch to death tomorrow. MIGHTY MOXTAXA. The report of the State Mine In spector of Montana has an Interest as a statistical document that is- by no means confined to that state. Rich In minerals of various types and grades, as are all the Rocky Mountain and Pacific Coast States, as well as the great, practically unexplored territory of Alaska, Montana, as shown by this report, produces 2X 1-3 per cent of the copper output of the world, and 61 per cent of the output of this country. This Is the more wonderful in view of the fact that the development of the copper Industry in that state Is scarcely more than a quarter of a century old. "While twenty-five years ago gold, silver, lead and copper nad been discovered In various sections of the state, or the then territory, of Montana, work In minerals was confined chiefly to placer gold mining. "Much was hoped for In those days," says the . Inspector of Mines, "but the most sanguine never dreamed of such accomplishments as the period since that time has wit nessed." Marvelous as has been the develop ment of the mineral resources of Mon tana In this interval, that which has been accomplished serves to show that this mineral Industry Is yet In Its in fancy. Included In the possibilities In this development, which every year re duces to certainty, are the constantly Improved methods in mlnlrg. Ores that a few years ago were deemed worth loss are now worked with profit, and the vast bulk that Is constantly being discovered and unearthed justifies the confident statement of mining experts that the mineral wealth of the state Is practically inexhaustible. Referring to the official figures, we find that the total mineral product of Montana for 1839 reached the enormous value of $68,467,507 54. In this aggre gate of mineral wealth copper led with a record of 246.602 pounds, the value of which was $40,911,903 74; silver, which Is to a considerable extent by-product of the copper production, came next with a coinage value of $2i;7S6,S34. The gold product of the year amounted to 233,125 ounces, with a value of $4,819,156 95. In addition to these, the lead product was 20.344,750 pounds, the value of which was $903,410 33. bringing the value of the four metals mined dur ing the year up to the total quoted, and snowing an increass over the preceding year of $17,138,240 39. A notable feature In the prosperity that attends the development of min ing properties is the influx of a large labor population. This, together with the fact that good wages are the rule In Montana mining camps, should lead to contentment and constant accelera tion of numbers In the ranks of labor. Experience, however, demonstrates that contentment Is not alwnys an accom paniment of good wages, and this has proved true In the mining districts of the Middle Northwest. Still, mineown ers of Montana have been more fortu nate than those of Idaho in confining discontent among their employes to demonstrations of the more harmless sort, and as a result there have been no great strikes or property wrecks In , the copper camps of Montana like those that have disgraced the Coeur d'Alene regions of Idaho and retarded progress In Its sliver Industry While, as above shown, Montana's mineral resources are varied, copper Is king, not only In the Industrial, but as shown In the political annals of the state during the past few years In the political life of the state. A more even i-that Is to say, a more general devel opment of the vast and practically un touched areas of this great state but now a wonderland among the waste places of the continent will regulate matters of this kind In due time by destroying the abnormal balance In the scale of wealth and political influence that has resulted from what may be termed a one-sided development of re sources. In the meantime, while cre ating Individual wealth In enormous sums through mining industries, the state has earned sufficient repute In ag riculture, In stockralslng. In horticul ture. In dairying, in whatever, indeed has been undertaken by her citizens, to entitle her to be called "Mighty Mon tana," and to attract tnither as the years go on an enormous population that will look to the Pacific Coast States for a market and furnish a. roar- kct In fair exchange for the surplus products. In various lines, of this section. Frank H. Morris, Auditor for the "War Department, who was killed Sat urday, fell a victim, it seems, to the fact that he was so hard a taskmaster as to requite from each clerk working under him a good day's work for a good day's pay. A disgruntled clerk, who had become partially incapaci tated for worlcthrough overindulgence in liquor, and whose pay had In conse quence been reduced, shot and killed the man whom he accused of disrating him, refusing, as Is usual In such cases, to see that he himself was to blame for this result. There is a temperance lec ture more powerful, because more prac tical, than any ever delivered by John B. Gough, In this statement. The drunkard is being eliminated from the Industrial life of the Nation, more slowly, perhaps, in clerical and subor dinate positions under the Government, than in other vocations, but still he i passing even from these. It is unfor tunate that valuable lives are now and then sacrificed to the Insane resentment of the drunkard in this process of elim ination, but this seems to be a feature of the process which cannot be entirely controlled. So far from retarding this movement, an event like that chroni cled In the murder of Frank H. Morris in "Washington must accelerate It. Nature has been pursuing a relent less war of extermination against coy otes, and now human effort Is engaged in supplementing the process. But it Is not demonstrated by experience that the latter agency will diminish the number of the varmints, however much the attempt may be successful. East ern Oregon will accept this statement as a dispassionate, disinterested fact, and not as an argument against the sheep industry. Nature has been en gaged in the process for a very long time, but in destroying some coyotes by famine she has made it easier for the survivors to subsist on a reduced food supply. It may be that our scalp bounty law is doing no more than spar ing nature her Winter cruelty. Secretary Root is a plain, logical business man, and withal a good Judge of human nature. His estimate of the Army canteen Is In evidence In these lines He takes men as he finds them, not as the reformer would have them, and, estimating them as individuals with wills of their own, he considers that the abolition of the canteen would drive soldiers out of the post exchange where they are subject to salutary re straints to the demoralizing and vicious surroundings outside of Army posts. All sensible persor.3 know tnls, but some gooa people fail to recognize it, so blinded are they by their detestation of drunkenness. The Multnomah delegation Is said to favor the consolidation of several county offices as a legitimate means of reducing the official expenses of the county. This Is well. Let us have an Auditor that audits, and a Recorder who writes up the records. And let the Municipal Court do Its full share of petty legal business, to the end that one Justice Court may be dispensed with. We have too many purely orna mental offices. So says the Taxpayers' League, and "so say we all of us." Bryan may get supererogatory com fort out of the example of Jefferson. When the sire of Democracy was tem porarily. eclipsed by Hamilton, he bided his time and went Into retirement. Bryan Is like his prototype to the ex tent that he has followed the precedent, but his finale may be different. Jef ferson built up a party of his own. Can Bryan go and do likewise? How many people who condemn Con fucianism and Minister Wu's utter ances know what they condemn? Are they the good Christians who cry for punishment of the Chinese and next day at Sunday school teach passive ness, submlsslveness ana non-resistance? Adequate provision must be made for our Army if we arc going to play the role of a great Nation successfully. No argument can make tnis fact plainer. Its simple statement Is enough. Cudahy is probably the only rich man on earth who has a son worth $25,000. LA DAME XVX CA3IELIAS. The Better She Is Acted the 31ore Dangerous She 1. "William Winter in New Tork Tribune. The comedian, William Warren, some times told a story of an old farmer in New England whose wife had been for many years an Invalid, and of whom an inquiry was made as to her condition. "She Is sick," he said, "and she's been sick a long time. I wish the'd get well or or or something." A kindred aspira tion 13 prompted by the recurrence of th consumptive French courtesan, Camllle. This hectic and calorific female, who ha.s been lingering at the point of death for about half a century, solicited the public attention last night, at the Garden The ater, and again Intimated that the Erring Sister, however much she may deviate Into loathsome vice, can still remain capa ble of "love," and can still exemplify the sublimity of renunciation. She was Im personated by Sarah Bernhardt, who-sv embodiment of her Is measurably familiar to this community, and who, at least, make? her. artistically, clean. There Is no smell of the medical dispensary about this performance: the emotion of It. espe cially In the colloquy with that conven tional wooden-headed frump, Mr. George Duval, is sympathetic and persuasive: the demeanor of It, the explosive scene with the belligerent Armand, Is duly agonized and hysterical: and its simulation of deathbed rufferings Is refined and pa thetic The most poetical, womanlike ana touching impersonation of this part that has been given In America Is that given by Modjeska; but Sarah Bernhardt Is, for all practical purposes. In this embodi ment, a sufficient type of the Gauthler kind of woman. Many words on this old and Indelicate subject would be tiresome. It ought, however, to be said that Marguerite Gau thler is not representative, but excep tional, and, therefore, not illustrative, and not pertinent. In any consideration of the question that Is suggested by the play in which she figures. The vice ot unchastlty vulgarizes and degrades its victims, even when they start from an average condition of virtue. Most of the females who lead vicious lives appear to do so because they are, by nature, coarse and low, and because they prefer evil ana like It. The exceptional woman, even at the worst of her frailty, may retain the original fiber of a fine character and ma prove capable of heroism. Nobody doubts that, and nobody denies that, as to all sinful persons the great and sacred vir tue of charity Imposes a solemn duty. But this is a theme that ought not to be obtruded upon public attention !n a theater, where moral platitudes are al most as nasty, and quite as offensive, as Impure pictures and filthy "lessons." The time has come when this particular play 1 of "Camllle" should be "quietly Inurned." It leads nowhere: It tells nothing: It only serves to suggest topics that are bettei left a.one; It tends to confuse, In many "minds, the perceptions of right ana wrong: It Is radically diseased: and the better It Is acted the more pernicious it becomes. TUB IXTAXGIBLE POLE. Frozen Xorth the Vnieea Goal of Glory-Seekers. Chicago Journal. With the beginning of the new year four expeditions are going to the region of eternal frost. The north pole that objective point of many visionaries and grave of many gallant dead Is to be sought anew. Perchance some will find. Perchance there may be another record to writ of heroism, suffering ana death. There is to be an expedition from the United States under the direction of Eve lyn B. Baldwin of the Weather Bureau. Mr. Baldwin Is at present In Europe con sulting with other scientists and Inspect ing ships. The funds for this expedition are to be furnished by William Zlegier, a New Tork citizen with means and an aim in life. There Is to be a Russian expedition commanded by Vice-Admiral Makaroff, of the Czar's navy, "who will sail In the already famous Ice-crusher, Ermark, a vessel that has already dem onstrated Its ability to smash through a sheet of Ice 14 feet thick. (Privately, we bellevo hat the pole, if reached at all. will be reached by the triumph of brains over force, though the pulverization ot 14-foot floes may perhaps Illustrate tne Russian idea of science.) There Is to be a Canadian expedition In charge of Cap tain Bernlce hats off. If you please, to so gentle a name! who Is now In London to fit out his craft, the Scottish King. A German expedition Is assured, though trie plans have not yet been published. In addition Dr. Nansen and the Duke of Abruzzl are credited with having planned a search for the pole In company, though they have not promised to start this year, and must, therefore, be omitted from the reckoning. The pole Is the Intangible goal of glory scekers. The aim to reach It may be charged directly with the loss of 400 ex plorers' lives and not less than 200 stout and splendid ships. It Is a region made romantic by Its peril and shrouded with tho Impenetrable veil of tragic mystery. Men have come from the search crazed and crippled, but eager to begin anew. Such is the fascination of the adventure-Like an Icy fleece the snowfleld spreads. And the Icy founts run free And the bergs begin to bow their heads And to plunge and sail in the sea. So runs the song In commemoration ot Lady Franklin's sorrow. It Is a deadly undertaking, and the hearts that face It are stout. Thero Is a long record of peril and disaster to recall. It will not deter the adventurers. Perhaps the new cen tury will reveal to us the mystery that lies beyond the cheerless fields of Ice that surround the pole. We desire a fair field and 'no favor, but we would wish, of course, that the rival expeditions should find the American flag flying rrom the pole when they reach It. It would be a feather In the cap of .he Weather Bu reau. KILLING CKIMIXALS OX SIGHT. Docs Much Good nnd Is "Almost ItlKhteons." Chicago Chronicle. While engaged In an act of highway robbery Tuesday night John ("Red") Cor bett was shot and killed instantaneously by a faithful policeman named Edward J. Grady. Policeman Grady Is a hero. There are many such on the Chicago police force, and the fact would be demonstrated with sufficient opportunities. The opportunities to shoot a highway man caught In the act are not frequent. Most of the crimes perpetrated by thugs and hold-ups occur when no policeman is In sight. The policeman may be on other sections of his beat, protecting life and property. He does not happen to be near the- spot where a desperate crime Is being committed. It would be a great plan of criminal administration In cities If sure shot policemen like Edward J. Grady could be omnipresent. The criminal record of "Red" Corbett, 30 years old at the time of his death, ex tends backward to his early boyhood. He has committed crimes of all degrees up to murder, and has served various sen tences In penal Institutions. Ke was one of the very worst products of slum bar barism In cities. Corbett was a degenerate hero of crim inal life. Engaged In countless broils and conflicts with the police and with men ho was holding up, he had been shot at more than 1ft) times, but never before was seri ously wounded. His equally degenerates criminal admirers anonunccd that he bore a "charmed life." The ghastly romance M crime has its atractlons for the crim inal classes, who are not fascinated by any romance of virtue and love. It Is better that such a desperate crim inal should be shot ar.d killed by a police man, an agent of the law In the line of duty, than for lynch law to intervene for the punishment ot crime. It Is almost righteous that a peace officer, a guardian of the public safety, should shoot, and shoot to kill, when he finds a criminal In the act of crime. He vindicates criminal justice summarily and saves the courts a great deal of time, labor and expense to taxpayers. WHITXEY'S LITTLE JOKE. It Mny Point n Morn! for Certnln Very Free Newspapers. Chicago Tribune. The rumor, which Is being revived, that William C. Whitney and Lillian Russell are to be married, having attracted the attention of the former, he rises to ex plain that It Is not to he taken seriously, as the lady has never seen nor spoken to him In her life, and would not know him If they should chance to meet. In a eiuletly satirical vein Mr. Whitney adds that this Is only "a pleasant Illustration of the liberty of tho press." Mr. Whitney is to be commended for the good nature with which he takes this attempt to marry him off to a lady with whom he has not the pleasure of an ac quaintance, but none the less he Is right In his quiet hit at the match-making pro clivities of certain newspapers. It has become too common for these newspapers to announce the forthcoming marriages of millionaires or otherwise con spicuous persons to actresses and comic opera singers, some of whom may already be married, some may have been married several times, while others have no In tention of marrying any one. As none ot the preannounced marriages ever takes place it would seem appropriate that these newspapers should abandon their benevo lent efforts in the line of marrying oft stage celebrities to millionaires. The lat ter are quite competent to choose for themselves when they contemplate matri mony without suggestions from any source. Probably the custom Is most frequently the result of the ingenious press agent's Ingenuity in concocting advertisements for his principal, but It is none the less reprehensible on that account. Before making any more millionaire matches common propriety suggests inquiry of the men concerned. Khartoum ns a Health Resort. London Express. For the coming season, and as long here after as fashion may decree, Khartoum will be the Winter rendezvous of the most aristocratic This will have the effect of transforming ithe place. As a matter of fact, there Is not a single hotel there at the present moment. One large and pala tial building Is in course of construction, and it Is hoped that It will be sufficiently finished by Christmas to open Its doors to visitors. Tho number of Americans who have already taken their tickets for a Gaze's or a Cook's tour Is very large. It Is. perhaps, not far out to say that the competition In Egypt has affected the popularity of the French and Italian Riv iera far more adversely than political or any other influences have done. POEMS FOR CHRISTMAS READING Bethlehem. Ruth McEnery Stuart In Harper's Magaxlne. O Bethlehem, starred Bethlehem. Bright with the Coronation gem Upon thy brow through history. Whose eyes have seen the .mystery. Kail brow and eyes and diadem Ball. Bethlehem! O Bethlehem, Queea Bethlehem, Of hallowed lap and diadem. Thy Kohlnoor, It la a star; Thy hands are white as UUes are; Thy song la sorrow's requiem, Queen Bethlehem! Christmas Bells. Martha McCulloch-WUUams In Frank: Leslie's Popular Monthly. Softly silvern, and golden clear, The passing bells of the passing year. Ring out! ring out! O chimes! A knell for the rose, and the Summer dead. For the lavish. Autumn full richly sped. And the blossomy April times. Softly silvern. O Christmas bells! Tour dlnsomo clamor or falls or swells In. a chorus richly ringing. Hark! hark! It swells Into upper air, To Join the stave, so fin, so rare. The earth, the heavens, are singing. Richly silvern and high and far. As the dazzllnr gleam of a falling star. Hark to the angels crying: "Peace upon earth! Good-will to men!" And bells from hamlet, plain, and glen. In high accord replying. Christmas Sonar E. H. Scars. Calm on the listening tar of night. Come heaven's melodious strains. Where wild Judea stretches forth Her silver mantled plains. Celestial choirs from courts above Shed sacred glories there, And angels with their sparkling lyres Mako music on the air. The answering hills of Palestine Send back the glad reply. And greet from all their holy heights The Day-spring from on high. O'er the blue depths of Galilee There comes a holler calm; And Sharon waves. In solemn praise. Her silent groves of palm. "Glory to Gcd!" The sounding skies Loud with their anthems ring. "Peace on the earth, good wilt to men From heaven's Eternal King." Light on thy hills, Jerusalem! The Savior now Is born. And bright on Bethlehem's joyous plains Breaks the first Christmas morn. The Dance of the Christmas Trees. Florence Evelyn Pratt In Punch. In the land where Santa Claus keeps house. Where Jack Frost creeps as still as a mouse. There Is a whispering and a rushing Like small rain falling, like full streams gush ing. To the horn of the wind, to the flute of the breeze; 'TIs the dance, the dance of the Christmas trees In the far-oil Christmas Tree Country. In that far land, where the snow lies deep, lien go stamping, with teams that creep; With creaking sleds and with axes keen. They go to gather the Christmas green. Little green babies and sturdy trees, Down they rush like a wild young breexe, "Good-bye, my Christmas Tree Country!" At night when the silence Is profound. The others foot their solemn round With many a sparkling wreath of Ico And flaunting snow-plume point device. And tho little star3 in their nightgowns white. Sit up late to stare at the sight In the far-off Christmas Tree Country. The Northern Lights on the hills so bare Tiptoe eagerly here and there. Over tree-shoulders, trying to see The Christmas trees dance solemnly; The trees which did not go to town. Keeping the feast among woods so brown In the far-off Christmas Tree Country. The Eve ol JIary. Nora Hopper In North American Review. Sing out. and with rejoicing bring Shepherds and neatherds to their King Their King who lies in stable-stall. With straw for all His plenishing; Who In His hands most weak and small Doth hold the earth and heavens all; Sing loud, the Eve ot Mary! Bring In the soft ewes and their rams. And brinr the little crying lambs; This stable's wide enough for alL Bring hither all the bleating dams, And bid them crouch ai-ound the stall, And watch the wonders that befall Earth, on the Eve of Mary. This mother-mold with drooling head Hath hut a straw-hea? t-j her bed; Yet. did she list, nould angels come And make a ralace of h-r shed. With myrrh and music bring Him home M.d thsse glad mouth- the one mouth dumb Here, on the Eve of Mary. But rather would stir lie blow Thatched roof, and hear the north wind blow. And pattering footsteps of the rain. Aye, rather would she rlay her thrpe And take her Joy; to quit all pain His lips are on her breast again Sing low, the Eve of Mary! Sing low. Indeed; and softly bleat. Tou lamblnz ewes, about her feet. Lest ye should wake the Child from sleep. No other hour so still and sweet Shall fall for Mary's hiart to keep, Until her death-hour on her creep Sing soft, the Eve of Mary! A Christmas Dance In Dixie. Frank L. Stanton in Collier's Weekly. Br'er Abram. take dat fiddle and chune de ol strings rlsht Dey eandtn er de cabin flo fer dancin' Crls'mus night En put some roszum on dat biw, en let de music roll; Fer de gals is comln down de road lak glory In yo' soul! En heah come Sleter Mandy stan dar ea take yo' place; Dey ain't no lady In de Ian' got such a shiny face! Br'er Rufus Is yo' pa'tner; his foots kin klver groun'! Dey ain't no one kin beat him a-swlngln' gals eroun' ! Strike up de ol'-tlme chune now pat foot, en swing yo head! De chune dat makes de quadrille; en den play "Short'nln Bread!" En come In. Sister Sarah; han's 'roun', en take yo' chance! De preacher's In a fidget, en de deacon's In de dance! Han's "roun! en swing yo pa'tners! Up ter de center walk! (De roodnces en de gracious! but don't dat flddle talk!) De Treacher will be wld us fo de night's out I be boun'! De ol' flo's des a-creakin en de room's a-gwlne 'roun'! Come in des everbody dars room enovgh fer all! Dance 'twcll de winders ttlmble, en shake de roof en wall! En put mo' rozzum on dat bow, en let de music roll; Fer dls heah time Is Crls'mus, en Its glory In yo" soul! PLEASANTRIES OF PAIlAGnAPHEItS It often happens that people sing jubilantly at church, "We shall know each other there," who refuse to know each other here. Tlt-Blts. A Scientist at Work. "How did you come to be a professional beggar?" "I ain't no pro fessional beggar. I'm employed to git Up sta tistics on how many heartless people they Is In this town." Chicago Record. A Dangerous Element in the Parish. "Do you think the new clergyman can pull your church together agaln7" "Oh, yes; that Is, If we get him started before the golf-playing section gets hold of him." Puck. Missed the 8pread- Parson Primrose How was it you didn't have a turkey dinner this year? Weary Wraggles 'Clause dls wuz de furst Chrls'mus I didn't spend on de Island. Leslie's Weekly. Fame. "Do you devote much thought to your poems?" asked the eminent explorer. "Bless your soul, no!" said the eminent versi fier. "I nave reached a height wtjere I can afford to let that part of the werx fall on the reader," Indianapolis Press. "" X0TE AND COMMENT. Good morning, have you been held upt It's a good toy that lasts till the da$ after Christmas. The telephone service well, wouldn't that keep you waiting? Richard Croker has had an operation performed on his neck. Et tu, surgeonT The Boer losses are always so heavy that the British never count their own. Christmas football games will maka lively casualty columns In the newspapers tomorrow. It Is now up to General Dewet to an nounce that he -will eat his Christmas dinner in London. This is the one day of the year when it does not require the entire family to get the small boy out of bed. If any man wants to ba the greatest thing that ever happened In the 19th cen tury, he will have to get a move on. Now doth the sad-eyed father Full sadly stroke his chin; For bills for Christmas presents Will soon be coming in. Having studied under W. R. Hearst, Bryan ought to bo able to conduct a, newspaper that will cast a yellow glare over the whole State of Nebraska. Perhaps Uncle Sam will nnd In his stocking this morning that $200,000,000 in demnity he haa asked China for, In which case he can give the Sultan that jso.cxw. An Indiana woman wants a divorce be cause her husband offered to sell her Tor J2. It he had made the price $1 she would, of course, have felt entitled to two di vorces. Mme. Thiers, wife of a former Presi dent of the French Republic, has been de scribed as a woman whose mental food was her cook bock. Later revelations seemed to corroborate this statement, for after Mme. Thiers' death, when a col lector of autographs advertised for soma of hers, only two were forthcoming, and both were notes to the Blysee baker. In the first she asked him to brown the rolls a little more, and in the second to fur nish dinner rolls smaller in size, "since," as she explained, "my guests never eat tha whole of them and the rest is wasted." Thomas M. Costello, a member of tha New York general assembly, has prepared and will introduce a bill which he hopes will do away with labor strikes should it pass. The bill Is modeled on the New Zealand law. Briefly, it provides for a permanent court of arbitration, consist ing of three members, and awards are to be compulsory. One member Is to be chosen by the labor organizations and one by the employers, the two to select a third, who must be a Justice of the Su preme Court. This method has worked with marked success in New Zealand, no strike having taken place there In rive yeara- In one of the scenes of "David Harum" a horse stands outside In the rain. It la a very real appearing horse so real. In deed, that many of the audience believa it" to be a bona fide animal. Recently William H. Crane, who Is playing David Harum, received a. letter in whloh tho writer, after apologies for Intrusion, said that she had been of a party that had wit nessed "David Harum" the previous even ing, and that later a discussion had arisen over this horse. Finally it had been decided to refer the matter to Mr Crane. One side held that it was a real flesh-and-blood horse, the other that It was an effigy made of wood. "Would Mr. Crane," asked tho writer, "be good enough to tell which it was?" Turning the letter over, the actor wrote: "Neither. W. H. Crane." Which was literally true. for the counterfeit horse la made of papier tnache. Ex-Alderman William A. Baumest. of New York, sailed from there on May 15 last on a pleasure trip. On the fifth day out he put in an empty champagne bottla his card, on which he had written: "Twenty-five dollars reward for the per son returning this card. W. A. B." Thea he corked the bottle and threw It over board, with Secretary Christian Werner, of the German Consulate, for a wit ness. A few days ago Mr. Baumest got a letter from France Inclosing the card. The letter reads: "Etretat, Nov. 27. 1900. Sir: While walk ing along the sands we perceived a bottla dancing on the waves, and we waited un til the waves had cast It ashore, which very soon came to pas3. Then we picked it up, and great was our surprise to sea that the bottle contained ai card. Not be ing familiar with the English language, we had It translated by an amiable fellow-citizen, who rendered it to us In French. Not having the pleasure to know you. sir, we hasten, nevertheless, to send It to your address. Accept our most sin cere compliments. "Two sailors of Etretat, a village on tho Lower Seine. France. "GASTON DALLIN, "PIERRE PAUMELLE. "Of Tower street, in Etretat, France." Mr. Baumest last Saturday mailed a draft for $25 to the sailors, wishing therm good luck and a merry Christmas. The Lake Side. John Greenleaf Whlttler. The shadows round the Inland sea Are deepening Into night; Slow up the slopes of Osslpee They chase the lessening light. Tired of the long day's blinding heat, I rest my languid eye. Lake of the Hills! where, cool and sweet. Thy sunset waters He! Along the sky In wavy lines. O'er Isle and reach and bay, Green-belted with eternal pines. The mountains stretch away, Below, the maple masses sleep Where shore with water blends, WhUe midway on the tranquil deep The evening Heht descends. So seemed It when yon hill's red crown, Of old, the Indian troa. And, through the sunset air, looked down Upon the Smile of God. To him of light and shade the laws No forest sceptic taurht; Their livinr and eternal cause His truer Instinct sought. He saw these mountains in the light Which now across them shlne3; This lake. In Summer sunset bright. Walled round with sombertng pines. (Sod near hm seemed; frum earth and skies His lovlnc voice he heard. As, face to face In Paradise. Man stood before the Lord. Thanks, O dur Father! that like him. Thy tender love I see. In radiant hill and woodland dim. And tinted sunset sea. For not in mockery dost thou fill Our earth with light and grace; Thou hld'st no dark and cruel wMl Behind thy smiling fac