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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 13, 1903)
THE MORKIKG OREGONIAN. MONIJAY, APRIL 13, 1&03. he regmttcm i ntered at Uw FostcCce at Portland. Oregon. as second-class matter. REVISED Et-'BSCIURPTION RATES. I Bt Mall (postage prepaid. In advance) lailv with Runav nr mnnlh S0.S3 lally. Sunday excepted, per rear ""-SO raiir. wiui bun car. per year - rundar. tier rear. 2.00 lh Weekly, per Tear ... tam rveeaiv. 3 montns. -w I To City Subscribers . Sally, per we-k. delivered. Sunday excepted. JM ally, per week. delivered. Sunday Included.SOc POSTAGE RATES. I United States. Canada and Mexico i 10 i-page paper... .............. to 2&-ian rianer.. ...Zc I Foreign rate double. Newa or discussion Intended for publication i The Oregonlan should b addressed lnvana- I'-r "Editor The OregoElan." not to the nam any Individual. Letters relating to aover- Islng. subscription or to any business matter ould be addressed-ilmply '"The oregonian." I Tba Oreg onlan doe not buy poems or stories x Individuals, and cannot undertake to re . any manuacrlma aent to It without olid ktlon. No stamps ihould b inclosed for this arpoae. I Eaatern Business Office. 43. 44. is, 47. 48. -lbun bulldlnr. New York City: 810-11-1 tribune bulldlnr. Chicago: the a C. Beckwlth pedal Agency. Eastern representaUve. I For sale In San Francisco far L. E. Lee. Fai- Ice Hotel news stand; Goldsmith Bros.. 238 r utter street: F. TV. Pitts. 1008 Market street: I K. Cooper Co.. 744 Market street, near the ralace Hotel: Foster A Orear. Ferry news f-and; Frank Scott. 60 Ellis street, and N. -vneatley, 13 Mission street. For sale in Los Anreles by B. F. Csrdner, boutn Bprtng street, and Ollrer & names, - South Spring street. I For sale In Kansas City. Ma. by Rlcksecker car Co.. Ninth and Walnut streets. I For sale In Chtcaro br the P. O. News Co.. 117 Dearborn street, and Charles MacDonald, 13 Washington street. I For sale In Omaha by Barkalow Broa, 1612 arnam street; Megeath Stationery Co.. 1505 amam street. For sals In Ogden by W. G. Kind. 114 2Sth el; Jaa, II. Crockwelt. 242 25th street. I For sale In Salt Lake br the Salt Lake News Jo'.. 77 West Second South street. I For sale In Washington. D. C. by the Ebbett louse news stand. For sale In Denver. Colo., br Hamilton & Kendrlck. D06-S13 Serenteenth street; Lou than Jackson Book A Stationery Co.. Fifteenth Ind Lawrence streets; A. Series. Sixteenth and urus streets. TESTEKDA'TS WEATHER Maximum tem- erature. 68; minimum temperature. 3S: pre- IlpltaUon. trace. I TODAY'S WEATUCR-Occaslona! rain: brisk loutberly winds. I'OrtTXAXD, JIOXDAV, APRIL 13, 1003 I THE SUX, Till: EAItTH AXD MAltf. Prom the anthropocentrlc theory of he universe human thought has been noving away during many years. This Iheory was long used as the main but ress of the old theology; for it was rgued that the "supreme end and pur- ose of this vast universe wns the pro duction and development of a living toui In the perishable body of man. -ven when through astronomical dis covery It was ascertained how small a Iiartlcle this earth -Is. In the general Icheme of things, the notion that It was -1! for man was not wholly given up. jt has, however, been greatly shaken. nd by many, perhaps most. It has en long regarded as completely over thrown. Of such on effort, on so vast . field, man has been deemed too small result. And what of other suns than fmrs. and their planetary systems? Vhy suppose man the sole Intelligent nd self-conscious being? he the In habitant of one of the smaller planets attached to a second or third-rate sun? Vnd the tragedy required, or enacted. for his redemption what terrible dis proportion! Nevertheless, Dr. Alfred Russel Wal lace. In the Fortnightly Review (Lon don), holds that In view of the more cent discoveries of science the old Idea of "man's place In Nature" ought tot to be considered so overwhelmingly Absurd. He remarks that the evidence pf the great body of new facts and ob- ervatlons within the last quarter of a I-entury affords apparently sure proof Ihat the position of the earth In the ma erlal universe Is special and probably mlque. First ore the Indications that Ivhat we call the stellar universe Is not pf infinite extent. The proofs are not absolute, but the Indications are imp orted by arguments that point with nuch force that way. The detail Is too long for statement, save In a special treatise. But the results, as Dr. Wal lace says, are that our sun Is one of the lirbs of a globular 'cluster of stars, and Ihat this cluster occupies almost the entral position In each plane of the Milky Way. Combining these two con- KJuslons, our sun Is shown to occupy It position near If not actually at the enter of the whole visible universe. IVs to our planet. Dr. Wallace deduces from the facts as known the conclu Won that It Is entirely unique In Its re lation to the sun, for It Is almost cer tainly the only habitable planet. Here is a summary: "The writers on the Subject of the adaptability of other planets for the development of organic life and higher forms of intellectual Swings have usually been content to hhow that certain planets may possibly be now In a, condition to support life liot dissimilar to those forms upon parth. But they have never consld- bred adequately the precedent ques tion. Could such life have originated ind been developed upon these planets? rhls Is the real crux of the problem, md full consideration of the required conditions will surely satisfy us that no other planet can fulfill them. Ma terialists will object that the want of 11 proportion between the means and tie end condemns the theory that the universe was created for the produc fcion and development of man. But is liny such want of proportion alleged En Infinite space and Infinite time? If ie end to be reached be a worthy one, nd if the particular method of attain ing that end be the best, or perhaps the only one possible, there can be no buch thing as want of proportion." The reasoning presented by Dr. Wal lace, considered even In Its entirety. vlll hardly be regarded as worth nuch; for his statements as to the po Bltlon of the sun In the stellar universe. nd of the unique nature of our planet, In comparison with other members of ie solar system, are not surely such rfacts" as he would hold them out to be. But the argument Is an ingenious udescence, with variations, of the old notion of cosmology and theology. bat man Is the supreme end and pur ose of this vast universe, worth a spe. revelation and a Bupreme Savior. Sir. Reames says he expects to be elected. But The Oregontan has full ifalth that the National Administration vlll not be rebuked by failure to send Jr. Hermann back to Washington. It as true that Mr. Hermann was let out at office at Washington by the Presi dent; but that was because the Presi- dent wanted him returned to Congress. Ir. Reames and his friends are roak- ling a great mistake. Their assault 1 omewhat subtle,' but the voters of the First District will see through 1L They (will stand not only by Mr. Hermann, but by the Administration. The con vention "Indorsed" both Mr. Hermann and the Administration: but to make It perfectly clear the convention ought to have given thanks to the Adminis tration for letting Mr. Hermann out of the Land Office at Washington, so he could be returned to Congress from Oregon. That would have silenced all carpers like Mr. Reames and his sup porters. Some men can't see a thing unless it Is made as plain as a pike staff. CHIEFLY IXTERnOGATOnV. We are told that the tariff should be accurately adjusted from time to time to the cost of production. No one will pretend that the cost of production has remained stationary since the Dlngley bill was passed six years ago. It is bet ter, perhaps, to say that the tariff should not be changed just before a Presidential election, and let it go at that. It Is better not to wander far upon the quagmire of actual fact. The tariff should be changed wher ever and whenever necessary (that is to say, never), upon the basis of the dif ference In cost of production between this country and abroad. We make steel billets and deliver them In Eng land about tz a ton cheaper than the Englishmen can. This Is the testimony of President Schwab of the steel trust." Accordingly we should pay a bounty of 13 a ton on all steel imported from Eu rope, Instead of allowing our steel men a bounty of 14 a ton on all steel im ported in competition with their cheap er processes. Undoubtedly, It Is said, there are In equalities In the tariff, and they should be corrected wherever and whenever necessary (that Is to say, never). But what are the Inequalities? Is It not a little remarkable, come to think of It, that not one of the "stand-patters," from Hanna down, or up, has ever mentioned definitely a single one of the inequalities to which frequent reference Is vaguely made, and whose correction Is so cheerfully promised from year to year and from age to age? They are plentiful enough in the steel, and boots and shoes, and Implements, and loco motives, and sugar, and salt, and paper and copper schedules; but neither Aid- rich nor Allison ever heard of them. They are afraid If they do It will make votes for the Democratic party. They are more solicitous for their party than for common Justice to the people. But we should not reform the tariff. because tariff reform will not destroy the trusts. This does not quite cover the case. In the words of the prophet, the bed Is shorter than that a man may stretch himself on it, and the blanket Is too abbreviated to cover him. I can not buy you a watch, my son, for a watch will not keep your back warm In Winter. There may possibly be other uses of tariff revision than to- destroy the trusts. It is the Idolized goal of the "stand-patters" to dissociate the tariff question and, the trust question. The trust question must stand on Its own bottom. So be It. The tariff may stand also on Its own bottom. The question as to the tariff, therefore. Is not whether It will destroy any trusts or not, but whether In all Its aspects It Is right and Just, sound and necessary. Tariff reform will not destroy bedbugs. either; but It will destroy old abuses and lift from the people heavy burdens of unnecessarily high prices which they have carried long. Every Inequality of the tariff should bo corrected. Well, is the tariff on steel equal? Oh, but this is a irreat and glorious country. Well, Is the tariff of 25 per cent on boots and shoes neces sary? Oh, but we are the greatest manufacturing Nation on earth. Well, Is the copper trust not able at length to stand alone, without free copper and high duties on its finished products? Oh, but the tariff should be revised by Its friends. Kindly show why the an thraclte trust can endure free coal, but the steel trust cannot endure free iron. Oh, but our worklngmen must be. pro tected from the pauper labor of Eu rope. Will the Republican party ever revise the tariff, except to make It higher, as It did with the McKlnley and the Dlngley bills? Oh. but there la a Presidential election approaching. and we shall need campaign funds from the protected corporations. If the tariff Is a business question and Is to be settled on reference to cost of production, cost of labor, eta, why is It we never mention these industries by name and discuss the cost? Why Is "It that we fight so shy of the merits of the case and reply to every definite In qulry with only the roost glittering generalities? Is It because we are afraid of too close Investigation into the ability of our infant Industries to stand alone? TUB GOVEnXSHlVI-S PAIIT. This coming Summer, during the Con gressional recess, and while the mem bers of the Oregon delegation are at home and In a position to assist us with their counsels, definite determlna. tlon ought to be reached with respect to our appeal to Congress In behalf of the Lewis and Clark Exposition. As was shown by the success of the appeal made to the State Legislature, It means a good deal to know just what you want before you start to go ahead. The recent attitude of Congress toward exposition projects has not been liberal. The abnormal appropriation for St. Louis was naturally and prop erly the subject of very general criti clsm, and Congress is In the frame of mind to atone for this extravagance by dealing in niggardly spirit with pro jects now put before it. There are many. Including at least one member of the Oregon delegation at Washing' ton, who do not expect the General Government to do anything for us In the way of a direct appropriation; but this Is not thinkable. For other expo sitions conceived on plans similar to our own the Government has given. In one form or another, about a quarter of a million dollars. At Atlanta the dona tion took the form of a fine building. In which the Government exposition was housed: at Nashville It was the same; at Charleston the appropriation was less liberal. Our people would probably be content with the construction of a building; and In respect of the historic Interest of the occasion to be celebrated. It might very properly, take the form of a permanent memorial building. Or the Government might very properly erect a fine monument In commemora tion of the Lewis and Clark exploration something which would by" Its distinc tion and beauty be one of the special Interests and 'attractions of the Fair. But nothing wDl be done unless we decide what we want and ask for It unless. Indeed, we make a strong pull for It. There Is nobody at Washington waiting round to devise something in the way of an appeal for us; we must determine as to that for ourselves, and, having determined, we must then urge our claim with all the energy and with the support of all the influence we can bring to bear. The exhibition which the Govern ment has thus far made at all exposi tions In this country, and which will unquestionably be made here, whether there" be a special money appropriation for us or not, will go far toward making the general interest of our Fair. It In cludes historical records from the 8tate Department at Washington, a beautiful exhibit of arms of all kinds by the War Department, a complete exposition of the workings of the Weather Bureau, models of the principal ships of the National Navy, with a vast number of highly Interesting naval relics, a fine collection of Indian pictures and a mul titude of other Interesting things from the historic and other treasures of the Government. At Charleston there was In the Government exhibit a fine fish eries exhibit, with lire specimens "of beautiful and curious fish In reservoirs, so arranged as to exhibit every move ment. It Is the policy of the Govern ment to assign to the administration of Its exhibits distinguished officers of the Army or Navy, who contribute notably to the social and ceremonial Interests of every occasion. There are special motives connected with our Exposition which ought to make Congress generous In Its dealings with us; but, as said above, we cannot hope that It will take the Initiative. No matter how cordial the feeling may be In our favor, we shall have to make our own plan and formulate our own demands. Our representatives at Wash ington ought to be able to prevent us from making a serious mistake in this respect. STATE COMMISSIONER OF LADOR. According to the news dispatches from the state capital, there are nu merous candidates for the, office of Commissioner of Labor, each securing as many Indorsements as he can. The first Incumbent of this new office will be selected by the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer. He will be named after the law goes Into ef fect on May 21 and prior to June 1, and will hold his office until 1906, when his successor will be elected by the people at the general election .of that. year. The salary of 11800 a year seems to be large enough to create a demand for the office, and the board will doubtless find no difficulty In securing & suitable man for the place. That they will find a .man who will be satisfactory at first trTall who are Interested may be doubt ed, but the board may congratulate It self If It Is so fortunate or far-sighted as to appoint one who will be satisfac tory after he has served three years In that office. The law creating the office of Com missioner of Labor makes It the duty of that official to enforce all laws re lating to the employment of minors and women, all laws enacted for the protec tion of the lives, limbs and health of operatives in workshops and factories, and other laws relating to labor. Bi ennial reports must be made showing the labor statistics of the state and containing information regarding cor porations, strikes and other labor dif ficulties, trades unions and their effect upon labor and capital, the employment of Chinese and Japanese and their wages And cost of living, etc The re port must also contain a statement of such other matter relating to the com mercial. Industrial, social, educational, moral and sanitary conditions of the laboring classes and the permanent prosperity of the respective Industries of the state as the bureau may be able to gather. In giving an account of his proceedings for the enforcement of the law, the Commissioner must make such suggestions and recommendations as he may deem necessary. He Is empowered to require owners of factories to make such reports to him as may be neces sary for the compilation of the lnfor mation specified, and Is given authority to enter shops and factories at all rea sonable times to make investigations, and may subpena and examine wit nesses under oath whenever he may de sire. Some of these duties are such as could be performed by any person of good clerical ability. Others are far from being clerical, and will require the attention of a roan of sound and discerning Judgment and unprejudiced mind. The Oregon laws regulating the employment of women and children were not passed for the purpose of cor rectlng present abuses so much as with a view to preventing the growth of such evils. None of the labor laws are applicable to conditions which require vigorous prosecution In their enforce ment. What is desired Is a man whose character and ability will command re spect for his Investigations and opln Ions, so that the welfare of labor may be guarded without a resort to process of law. An officer who Is charged with the duty of studying labor problems. who Is authorized to enter the premises of another and to demand information regarding certain features of that per son's business, who Is vested with power to take testimony In labor trou bles and to make reports thereon. should be a man who has a wide range of Information, who is too broad in his habits of thought to take a narrow and partial view of an Important ques tion, and. above all, who can be lnflu enced by neither the fear of political punishment nor the hope of political re ward. The Labor Commissioner should be a man who will not feel himself above the wage-earner, and need not feel below the average employer. The fact that the law for the creation of the Bureau of Labor was passed In response to a demand from the labor unions, gave some of the candidates the opinion at first that the board would act. In its selection, largely upon the recommendation of the labor unions. It seems, however, that the members of the board are welcoming Indorse ments from both employers and em ployes, and that the wishes of no single class of citizens will gorem In the matter. This Is as it should be. While there are some valid objections to the appointment of a man who is Identified with labor unions, no man who Is fitted for the place should be denied appoint ment on that ground. Labor unions will protest If a roan "whose personal Interests are with the employers should be appointed, yet the right to aspire to the office should be open to both classes upon equal terms. As Intimated above. the desire of the public Is not for the selection of a roan whose appointment will be satisfactory to all. but for the selection of one whose administration of the office will be above reasonable criticism. The salary is sufficient to command the services of a man who has the requisite ability and business and social standing. The approval of the government Irish land bill by John E. Redmond assures Its enactment by the House of Com mons, and the House of Lords Is sure to -pass any measure Introduced by the Ministry. Redmond can well afford to approve the land bill, for It Is a sreat forward step for Ireland, since It set tles the land question and makes It easier to obtain home rule, for the set tlement of the land question will be sure to Increase the strength of the ranks of the home-rulers. The Irish Land League was organized In 1878 by Michael Davltt. Under Gladstone's land bill of 1S81 and Its success rents were twice raised and reduced 41 per cent. Eight years hence the Irish tea ants would be entitled to apply to have their rents fixed for a third time. A third revision under the land act of 1SS1 would mean ruin to the landlords, and so they cannot afford to allow the pres ent state of things to continue much longer. The landlords will be glad to sell, the tenants will be glad to buy. and the Conservative majority Is strong muugn io lorce tne dui urougn parlia ment and make the British taxpayer carry the burden of advancing the pur chase money to the tenints. There Is one declaration of the Demo cratic platform adopted at Albany that The Oregonlan approves, though It knows the Democratic party would riot carry It out. That Is the declaration that "we repudiate the absurd proposi tion of continuing high- protection on the products of gigantic trusts, non grown plethoric with wealth under Governmental favors." When the Dem ocratic party had control of every de partment of the Government It refused to "repudiate" this "absurd proposi tion," but made Just such tariff act as the trusts dlctated-Hhe act that President Cleveland spoke of as "an act of perfidy and dishonor." The Demo cratic party couldn't get clear .of the trusts. If it were In power. And yet, the declaration as to the abuses of protec tion Is right The Idea that we should -still have infants' swaddling-clothes for Industries of gigantic growth Is In deed absurd. The progress which Is evident In the military-band project speaks well for the public spirit and the musical taste of Portland. Few things could testify more positively to a city's culture and enterprise than a fine organization of this kind. There must be many more who will appreciate the privilege ot contributing to so worthy a cause, and thus make the proposal a reality. Mr. Brown's record in musical and business ways is such as to earn for his present undertaking a fair trial. At the St. Louis Exposition the United States Fish Commission Is pre paring a great display. It will be the largest, most general and comprehen sive, and the most attractive exhibit of Us kind ever presented. Oregon and Washington should be represented tlfere to the best advantage. It -may be sup posed that our State Fish Commissions are In correspondence with the Fish Commission of the General Government on this subject. At the present time 2 per cent bonds of the United States command a pre mium, while French J per cent rentes are a little less than par, and English 2 consols are worth about 90. But It Is probable our 2 per cent bonds would not be so much better but for the de mand for them as a basis for the Issue of National bonk notes. Arbitration is a good suggestion for the Portland labor troubles. If the dif ficulty should become acute, let It be referred to arbitrators, and let work go ahead" In the meantime, the award to date back to the reference, as In the anthracite case. Harrison's official plurality in Chi cago Is 7679. This Is quite ,a come-down rrom tne Ki.ww ne got oeiore ne was so well known. Perhaps he will yet make Chicago a Republican city. The more power to him. Is it the Dlngley bill or the gold standard that causes the strike In Rome? i HL.XGRY STOICS. L'ncoraplalnlnir Finns Endure Fans. Ine'a Horrors. , London Mall. For half a century the hungry silence of famine has hung heavily orer the uplsnd district of Northern Sweden. Crops that a sunless Summer failed to ripen were Inundated by merciless deluges of rain. and finally In many esses swept awsy by Autumn floods, man's food and cattle's fodder being involved alike In one com mort watery ruin. Since 1X7 the people cannot remember so general a failure of their harvest. But It was away In the far north In Arctic Sweden that the disaster was most complete and overwhelming. There nun ger Is never very far distant from the floor of the Finnish peasants and labor era, even in the best of seasons. Lost Autumn the shadow crossed the threshold and sat down with the family an un invited and unwelcome guest that bad come to stay. Barley bread and sour skim milk with a little fish or beef, the flesh of tne reindeer or of cows slauKh tared because ot age or a failure to yield a sufficiency of milk, form the principal looa of tnese people. witn tne failure of their barley ctod went the Finns' hopes of food. The loss of their hay deprived the cattle of fod der and the milk fell short Thus at one fell swoop two of the chief articles of the people's food were taken from them. and they settled down to starvation with a grim stoicism strange to the Western mind. The Finns In Norrbottens Lan. the most northerly province of Sweden, are. as a rule, a deeply religious people. The bible is for the many their only litera ture, ana iner are act to take Its pre cepts quite literally. Here Is but one in- stance out of many. In the Pajala dis trict when during what shauld have been the haymaking season the rain fell constantly day after day. as a rule' the weather was splendidly fine on Sundar. the sun shining brightly, accomoanled by a One drying breeze. Surely the ne cessity was so great that Immediate ad vantage was taken of the opportunity thus afforded? Nothing ot the sort It was the Sabbath day, and beyond at tending to tne cattle nothing that eav ored ol work must be done. And noth lng was done by the great mass of the peasants. Next day. of course, the rain began to fall steadily, and 'again hay making was out of th equestlon. Here ana mere some of those whose holdlnrs were deep In the forests took advantage of the fact that they could not be seen by their fellows and actually did make a little hay by stealth on the sunny Sab baths, but their numbers were few. and local public opinion which is not of the self-righteous variety is still against mem. The people, according to one of their pastors, see the chastening yet loving bands ot Providence In the trouble which has overtaken them, and that Is siren as one or the reasons for their aulet uncomplaining attitude In the face of the terrible suffering which has been ueirs. NEWS FROM BABYLONIA. Relics of Aces Xonsr Past Xott .Gath ered and Pnbllabed. Chicago Inter Ocean. The University ot Chicago press has just Issued the eighth volume of Professor Robert Francis Harper's complete edition of the great collection ot Assyrian and Babylonian letters In the British Museum. This Is the first time that anywhere near all these letters have been made access ible to readers unable to visit London. Readers not familiar with Assyrian may mistake the volume for the Illustrated cat alogue of a manufacturer ot mosaic floors. Those who know what accidents may hap pen in a printing office may take It tor a series of page proofs ot a "pled" font of exclamation points. To still others It may look like a collection of Chinese laundry ucicets. But It is none of these thlnzs. It is simply a reprint of the letters business, social, and otherwhich various Assyrian gentlemen and ladles wrote upon clay tablets. It may be noted in passing that these letters were not Intended for pub lication. They are written on both sides of the paper, or rather. Of the brick. How ever, there can hardly be any Indelicacy In tbelr present publication. The authors have all been uead quite a long time. une or tnese letters, written In a bold hand. Is apparently the request of a Nine veh Alderman that the Vizier of the Ak hoond of Swat appoint his nephew royal camei-xeeper. He Dromues that the nephew will divide bis perquisite! with tne vizier. An Indorsement in another hand shows that the appointment was made. Hence It may be presumed that the division was satisfactory. Unfortu nately, this document was pot discovered until more than E00O years after all the parties were, dead, rather too late to war rant even a Cook County grand Jury re turning; an indictment for bribery. Another la apparently the letter of a Nineveh ruzmtker to his sweetheart, the daughter ot a wealthy manna dealer. He admits that his possessions consist of noth ing more than a few balls ot yarn and a black cat but nevertheless, he protests that he loves her for herself alone. He asks her to meet him around the corner the next evening to attend the perform ance ot a troop of Jurglers from Media. Many words are underscored, and ex clamation -points are numerous, showing that the epistolary habits of lovers were he same then as now. Still another Is of especial interest to Chicago, because the name signed to It after the most careful study, cannot be made out as anything but "Fernando Jones." The writer appears to have been well along In years even then. He tells of a hard Winter at Baoylon, and predicts that Spring plowing will be late In the Delta ot the Euphrates. But with all Its human Interest this vol ume Is decidedly hard reading. Those who And It too difficult for easy perusal are advised to call.ln some neighbor who plays the piccolo nnd let him ploy it Probably his interpretation will be more soothing and satisfactory than their own. But with all Its difficulties for the general reaJer, It Is an extremely Interesting work. which Professor Harper and the Univer sity preea deserve great credit for bring ing within the reach ot alL An Example to Be Commended. Chicago Chronicle. The fact that a pious ecclesiastic ot this city is building with his own hands the chimney on the house which Is to contain the heating plant of his church and school Is treated by some newspapers as a start ling novelty. The fact la unusual, but It Is only fol lowing a famous and admirable example. An oratorio announced for early produc tion has Francis ot Assist for Its theme, Poet musician, evangelist spiritual pro genitor oi a great race ot aremteets and painters; Francis repaired his church with stones gathered far-and wide by his own hands and by himself set upon the frac tured wans. ' Doubtless that Incident a charming as well as edifying Illustration of the holi ness ot manual labor. when rlrhtly en gaged, will form a picturesque scene In the new oratorio for which the musical world waits with delightful expectancy. For an oratorio upon a theme so elevated. so fascinating and so diversified as was the life of the famous son ot Assist must be a welcome addition to art It were better for religion If manual labor for uplifting purposes should con stitute a larger factor In religious activ ity. Time was when labors re est 6 rare when "to labor was to pray" and the religion is not verlle or fruitful which consists little m their labor or prayer. men is unfortunately true of much rro- ressea piety ot tne time. A Great Essential. The Boston Herald, Itself not Immune from criticism for the paucity of the vo cabulary displayed upon Its editorial page, sounds a timely note In a recent Issue. The first thing for us to do. It says. Is to learn to talk English. This should be our lifelong process ot education, which is never "finished." English can express everything; but a monotonous rub-a-dub of a few words worn threadbare Is no more English than a pounded drum is an orchestra. It Tennyson had done this, we should have treated him as Tom Thumb's wife did' her husband when she "put him In a pint pot and there she let him drum." Unhappily, our wives, friends and neigh bors can t do- this with us. Therefore. ought we to feel for them. With bowels of compassion should we commiserate their hard fate, till pity shall make us set resolutely to work to learn to talk English. It Is practice alone, such prac tice as Tennyson and Phillips Brooks so sedulously employed that will help us here. We must cultivate habits ot ob serving sharply and of discriminating clearly and then, ir we have been off to a pleasant dinner party or on a trip to the mountains, why, when we get back we can set It off In a light that shall make It seem almost as good to the stay-at- homes as actually being there themselves. There Is no better fun In the. world, after a man gets bis band In. than doing Just wis. The PassInK of Hypnotism. American Medicine. We recent'y spoke of the evils of popu lar hypnotism and ot the dangers arising from Its use oy tne ignorant since then the warning has been emphasized by oth ers, and now German scientists are ex tending It to the heretofore seriously en tertained therapeutic applications. From Berlin comes the, report that the commis sion of experts In mental diseases ap pointed by the Ministry of Education to Investigate the healing Talue of hypnotism pronounces It essentially worthless. The commission was composed of Professor Mendel and Dr. Gock, Munter and As chenborn, who were appointed during the faith-healing excitement there a year ago. The report declares hypnotism can not produce organic changes, nor cure ep ilepsy or hysteria, but It can be used helpfully In some Instances by removing symptoms through suggestion. An American Hastier. Washington Evening Star. President Francis, of the Bt Louis Ex position, is giving the world a fine ex hibition of wnat we Know la tnia coun try as hustling. During his britt stay abroad In the Interests of the Exposition he his devoted scarcely more than a day to a country. After a chat with King Edward he crossed the channel and had a chat with President Louoet He then hurried to Madrid and talked over mat ters there. The Kaiser at Berlin heard him for an hour, and from Berlin be went to Belgium, and conferred with King Leopold. He was successful, it Is understood, at every point 'interview ing royalty on the fly" would .make a good title .for a lecture, and such a lec ture would make a good feature for the Et Louis show. JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN. He Presents Rotable Example ot Suc cess Attained Tnronsra Persistency. New Tork Tribune. The most Interesting and significant feature ot British politics at this time Is unquestionably the personal leadership of Mr, Chamberlain. Before his recent visit to South Africa, he was the most con spicuous figure at Westminster. He was not Prime Minister. He was the loyal subordinate ot (his chief. But whenever mere was a Mg parliamentary cattle on he was looked to as 'the champion of the government In every department of ad ministrative and legislative action his in fluence was perceived or suspected. When he went to South Africa his presence was sorely missed at Westminster, and mat ters there fell In some degree Into uncer tainty and disorder, so that his return was anxiously awaited. In South Africa he met with one of the most marked per sonal triumphs ever known by any polit ical leader, and he showed himself worthy ot It, He was hailed by Boer and Briton aiiKe as a peacemaker, and he did play that part with extraordinary efficiency. On his return to England he has bad an almost royal greeting, his passage along the city streets resembling a royal prog ress or a sovereign's jubilee, and there Is a universal feeling that the government la now In fighting trim again. Yet this Is the same Mr. Chamberlain of whom, little more than three years ago, a correspondent wrote to the Tribune that the name of Chamberlain is men tioned In Great Britain with bated breath. If spoken at all. amd his unhappy sov ereign will not admit him to her pres ence." That was, of course, preposter ously untrue in both Its statements. There were, however, many in this country, and possibly some In England, who believed it to be true, and who thousht that in the Boer war Mr. Chamberlain's political sun had set -forever. It Is worth while to re call such an utterance, not only for the sake oT the smile which it provokes, but also as a Warning against basing cocksure Judgments upon misinformation and but tressing them with oreludlce and nasslon. Mr. Chamberlain did not thus forfeit his popularity and the confidence of his sov ereign. There was never a moment when he was forbidden to enter her nresence. That is demonstrated by the doings of the present moment Had he fallen so low In WOO he could not have risen so high in 1MB. The fact seems to be that Mr. Chamber lain presents a notable example of suc cess attained through persistency, con sistency and aggressiveness, strencthened. of course, with copious Information and nign intellectual power. He has not best tated. He has not wavered. He has not drifted. He has not turned aside from his aim. He has not been content pas sively to wait for something to turn up, but has gone ahead to turn It up himself. He has Invariably been a positive force. never a negative one. In so strenuous a career he may have erred at times. It might have been better, now and then, had he exercised more patience and less zeal. But on the whole his course Jias been singularly successful, and has well entitled him to the confidence and en thusiastic support which his countrymen now so freely give him. America's Progress In Gastronomy. Washington Post 'In no respect has the American Nation progressed more than in gastronomy, eald Mr. William J. Tomllnson, of New York. "The other night I was with a little party of friends at a noted restaurant In New York City. The place in its very atmosphere was essentially Parisian. The food was cooked by a Frenchman. It was served by French waiters, but In a room finer and' more elegant in all its furnish ings than could be found In Paris. But I started out to speak of the improvement that has come In late years in American eating. Our kitchens today have pro gressed to a point where they compare with the best In the world. All In all. New Tork City is the best place for real fine cookery, but today one can get a meal In Kansas City, Denver or San Francisco that Is beyond the criti cism of an epicure. But I doubt If the people at large have made such progress. It lsn t so many centuries ago since the Anglo-Saxon brought to his table the en tire bodies of roasted animals; he de voured his food after the fashion of a glutton and barbarian. 'Go Into the homes of the humblest French peasant today, and xou will find a kitchen as clean as a parlor, and though the food be simple It will be daintily pre pared. In this artistic aspect of eating the mass of Americans do not come up to the French standard. A "Capital" Adverttalnsr Scheme. Washington Post. As a novel method ot advertising a Washington business bouse the other day sold 1000 new It treasury notes for 99 cents each. The sale lasted Just two hours, and all that time the line of would-be purchasers of ' good money at reduced rates was over a block long. No person was allpwed to buy more thin one bill at a time, but tnere was no limit placed upon the number of times each person might buy. In consequence, the line was of the nature of an endless chain. As each 0 cents was handed to the cashier a bill of sale was made out and a dolUr bill was wrapped up like an ordinary purchase -and delivered to the customer. The Denth of the Greedy Snake, J. J. Montague. In New York Journal. In the Jungles ot Guiana, where the pendulous liana T wlits Its tendrils round- the rider rubber tree. Lived a snake whose chief vocation vas the hurried mastication Of whatever birds or beasts he chanced to see. As Immediate digestion of such food was out ot Question. Having eaten, he would coll up on the ground. Where contentedly he waited till It was assim ilated. For a month or more. In slumber most pro found. Now his disposition sour and his penchant to aerour t .nimii. Mi r,tl fsnrs could strike. Boon convinced th other creatures that there were at least some testures . r 1.1. MNnmlltv lhv AiAn't like. So one evening as he slumbered cam a puma wno naa nurooereu Many sons among the sleeping serpent's And. the snake all unsuspecting, set forthwith anout projecting An ingenious plan to lar him br the heels. After hours spent In tolling he succeeded In uncoiling And In straightening the dormant monster out: Then h carefully relald him. and he gleefully surveyed, aim. With his ull Just half an Inch before his snout. Tou'11 be hungry when you waken." said the cat. "and I n mistaken In my ilie-up ot your nature If you fall To eat up the first thing near you; In which cas I rather fear you Will bite oS some seven fathoms ot your talL" When th dewy eve came streaming through the tree and sent Its gleaming Shafts ot light athwart the learea th snake awoke; And aa consciousness stole o'er him, spied the Ull that lay before him. And attacked It with a sudden lunging stroke. On th moment he had bitten h perceived that h was smitten In the rear, but thought. "I'll fix that when I sus." And he greedily proceeded to consume th food he needed. Heeding- nothing Ull he ate himself alt up. Now. ot course, you all are able to Interpret this sad fable. And will lay aside the paper with th bunch That It's wis to look a llttl at tne nature m your victual. And beware that fatal folly, the quick lunch. NOTE AND COMMENT. The hoodoo seems to have returned. Lieutenant Richmond P. Hobson Is in town today. Look out girls! It seems there was a trifle too much crowing about baseball victories. Some ot the trusts) will soon be enjoin ing Uncle Sam from operating the post age-stamp monopoly. One thing" about this baseball war ti very commendable. No battles are ever fought and no blood Is ever spilled. We are glad to .observe that Mlsa 'AUc Roosevelt Is, back from her Cuban trip. It is too much to expect the public to fol low up -two Presidential parties at once without getting tangled. The report comes from South Carolina that a prominent editor has "just celebrat ed his 80th birthday. The remarkable part about him Is that he has escaped the clutches of Tillman foe so long. The news notes eay that France has appropriated 1(000 for automobtles In the army. Nov put some of New York's swell chauffeurs In charge, and aa devastating- and deathdeallng machines they will be hard to beat Senator Hoar, at the New England din ner In Philadelphia, talked about New England hospitality. It Is better now than It used to be." he said, "but It will stand Improvement I remember how I dined not long ago, with a Connecticut friend ot mine. For dinner there was turkey. It was an excellent bird, and I ate heartily. I eald: 'John, this turkey will make a One hash tomorrow.' 'Yes, George, It will,' the farmer an swered, "provided you leave off now." " A story comes from San Francisco that a noted French gentleman recently strolled Into a Market-street restaurant and ordered mutton chops. When tfao chops came they were so tough he couldn't masticate them without twisting out his teeth, and be called the waiter. When the functionary came the French- man waved his hand at the offending ar ticles with a most deprecatory air, and said: Bahl" Oh. no, no, sir," said the waiter, with out hesitation. "Bow-wow!" Those who have had no practical experi ence in the use ot liquid fuel are often surprised at the elaborateness of some of the methods employed to secure efficient combustion of the oil. One of the latest Is the Orde system, which Is employed for steamships. First the oil must be treed. as perfectly as possible, from water. This Is done by preliminary settling In a tank. From the tank the oil is pumped, under a pressure of 60 pounds to the Inch, Into the burners. On its way It Is heated to a temperature just below Its boiling point, and then, on emerging from the Inner tube of the burner. It Is met by steam and air heated to COO degrees or more, and thus Is entirely converted into vapor. In this form it Is sprayed Into the flame and consumed. There are pickpockets and pickpockets. says a New York correspondent This touching little Incident has to do with one of the gentlemanly variety. On Tuesday evening Effle Shannon discovered, to her sorrow, that one of the light-fingered gentry had relieved her of a purse. Be yond a email sum ot "money It contained nothing of any value. But It was gone. and that's all there was to It The follow ing evening the purse was delivered to her home with one dollar In It There T?aa also a note, as follows: I took your purse. It contained thir teen dollars and your cards, from which I learned your address. As I am supersti tious I return one dollar and keep the rest A Gentleman Lifter." That proves the maxim that there Is honor even among thieves. Most of. the American toothpicks come from Franklin County, in Maine, near the forest home of the white birch, out of which 95 per cent of the domestic tooth picks are made. This wood Is soft and " pliable and ot admirable resistance for the purpose for which It Is used. Whole mills In Maine are devoted to supplying the country with toothpicks, and In the in dustry Is to be found some of the finest and most Intricate of machinery. So tre mendous is the output of thesj machines that in a brief season, during the Spring, enough toothpicks can be made to supply the markets of the entire country for the year to come. A further idea of the ca pacity of the machines may be had from the fact that only 100 men are necessary to operate and run all the mills in Frank lin County. Other mills of this kind are scattered throughout Pennsylvania and Massachusetts and Western New Tork, but the" real home of the toothpick Is In Maine. White birch is not the only wood used for the domestic toothpick, maple and poplar being employed as well, but birch has the property ot retaining Its forest odor and sweetness. PLEASANTRIES OF PARAGRAPHBRS ""Does he Interest himself In books!" "No." eniad Mrs. Newrlch; "my husband baa clerks to do that for him." Detroit rree Press. Husband I should like to have one good, long amok without your interference." Wife You'll have plenty of tfane for that, after you are dead. William. Judge. Ella I suppose my engagement to Tred was a complete surprise to you. Stella Tour en gagement to anybody would have been a com plete surprise to me. Brooklyn Lite. Mrs. Bacon My husband Is so tired when Sunday comes. "iJrs. Egbert Why so? "He's Just got throug! reading th paper of the Sunday before." Tonkera Statesman. "Visitor How do you get along without models for your 'child studies? Daubley Oh, that's easy. I Just have my wife read me osa of her club essays on model children. Chicago Dally News. Jim It seems to me that th lawyer who Is defending your case Is uetng som pretty extravagant language. Jam Tou'd think it was much more extravagant It you knew how much he Is charging me for his services. Jialtlmore Herald. "Father." said the youth, "what Is your understanding of the saying. The raca Is not .always to tie swiff r "Practically, my son." replied th wise father. "It mean that la the race of life the fast men don't usually com out ahead." Philadelphia Press. Mrs. Btlklns (sweetly) Do have soother piece of cake. Cousin John. Cotula John Why, reslly. I've already had two: but it's sa good I believe I will have another. little Johnnie (excitedly) Ma's a winner! Jta'S a winner! She said she'd bet you'd make a pig of yourself! Town and Country. Sura of Hla Welcome. "Let me get at himl" exclaimed the wild-eyed man. trying to force his way through the crowd surrounding the President. "Stop him!" shouted on of th guards. "He's an anarchist!" "Anarchist be darned r raid the struggling man. 'Tm the father of SI children!" Chicago Tribune. "Charley, dear," said young Mrs. Torklns, "did you say you played th favorite In that race?" That'a what I said." was th rather gloomy rejoinder. "Well. I don't pretend to know much about such things, hut I really can't understand why a horse that tnake Itseif so unpopular should be called a favorite." Washington Star. '