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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 7, 1905)
THE MOBSJCM? OKEGOraAy, SATURDAY. JANUARY 7 190o. Entered it the Postoffiee at Portland, Or is second-class matter. REVISED SUBSCRIPTION RATES. By mall (postage prepaid In advance) -Dally, with Sunday, per month. ...... .( .85 Dally, with Sunday excepted, per year. . 7.50 Daily, with Sunday, per year -- 8.00 Sunday per year...... ..... 2.00 The Weekly, per year. 1-60 The Weekly. 3 months .60 Sally, pr-week,, delivered. Sunday ex cepted 15 Sally, per week, delivered. Sunday In- eluded i '-20 POSTAGE RATES. United States, Canada and Mexico 10 to 14-page paper c 16 to 20-page paper.., .-c 32 to 44-page paper 3c Foreign rates, double. EASTERN BUSINESS OFFICE. The S. C. Beck with Special Agency New Tork; Rooms 43-50. Tribune building. Chi cago: Room MO-512 Tribune building. The Oregonian does not buy poems or sto ries from individuals and cannot undertake to return any manuscript sent to It without solicitation. No stamps should be Inclosed for this purpose. KEPT ON SALE. Chicago Auditorium Annex: Postoffiee News Co.. 17S Dearborn street. Denver -Julius Black. Hamilton & Xend rielc. 006-012 Seventeenth street, and Frue auft Bros.. 605 16th eU KaasM City. Mo. Rlcksecker Cigar Co.. Ninth and Walnut. Los Asgeles Harry Drapkln. Oakland, CaL W. II. Johnston. Four teenth and Franklin streets. Minneapolis M. J. Kavanaugh, 50 South Third; L. Regelsburger. 217 First avenue South. New York City L. Jones & Co.. Astor House. Ogden F. R. Godard and Myers & Harrop. Omaha Barkalow Bros.. 1C12 Farnam; Vage&th Stationery Co-. 130S Farnam. Salt Lake Bait Lake News Co- 77 West Eecend South street. 6an Francisco J. K. Cooper Co.. 746 Mar ket street: Foster & Crear, Ferry News Stand; Goldsmith Bros., 236 Sutter: L. E. Lee. Palace Hotel News Stand; F. W. Pitts. 1008 Market: Frank Scott. 80 Ellis; N. WhVatley. 83 Stevenson; Hotel St Francis News Stand. Washington. D. C. Ebbltt House News Stand. PORTLAND, SATURDAY, JAN. 7, 1&05. LEADERSHIP XX THE ORIENT. In Europe the opinion is expressed that it would be serious business if Japan, victorious over Russia, should take the leadership of Asia and adopt a. Monroe Doctrine for the Orient. But "why would it be serious? And serious for -whom? Has Asia no Tight to autonomy? No right to independ ence, within her sphere? Possibly Japan may -win such position as will enable her to assume a kind of direc torate, and protectorate, over Eastern Asia. Or, If not quite that, some such position as the United States has in the affairs of the Western Hemisphere. Japan "wouldn't rule entirely. No more do we. But, in all the important af fairs of the Orient, it would be neces sary to consult Japan. There ought to be some power to lead the Orient, and Japan, apparently, is the power to do it Such position, achieved and main tained by Japan, would prevent the partition of Oriental countries among the powers of Europe. It would start a new civilization in the Orient, which would make a balance to 'existing con ditions in Europe. It would cut Russia out Russia, that has expected to ab -sorb all Northern China and Corea, and to strangle Japan. It would set also a limit to the aggressions of other Euro pean powers, in the Orient. It is not probable, nor to be be lleved, that the United States would suffer as a consequence of the ascend ancy of Japan In the affairs of the Orient. Japan is sufficiently enlight ened to desire the development of trade. Russia, on the other hand, is a rigorous and repressive despotism, controlled by an oligarchy the most selfish and corrupt of modern times. Once planted flrmly in the Orient, Russia would be amenable to no Influence that the world might bring to bear upon her. Japan will wish to enter into close relations with the Test of the world. Russia claims to be great enough to stand in her own solitary grandeur, upon an In dependent despotism; and a nation nvhose government defies public opinion at home, and suppresses every effort to formulate or assert it, cannot be nation with which others may easily deal. It eeems to us that whatever other nations may say or think or do, the United States and Great Britain are bound, as matters now are, to sympathize with the aspirations of Japan, PORTLAND'S STREETS. In Portland the principal streets are now in very good condition, and are kept reasonably olean. In fact, the only really decent streets in Oregon are in Portland. Yet there are localities in Portland where the streets need attention, not merely for cleaning, but for new construction; and this work ought to be forced on the indolent and unenterprising property-owner. Many persons are still heedless of the ordl nances against throwing litter on the streets, and dogs are a filthy nuisance. It must be said, however, that on the whole Portland has made great prog ress in Improvement of her streets dur ing the last three years. But the town is too large, or scattered too widely, to permit the expectation of asphalt streets and cement sidewalks all over It. One thing always is to be borne in mind, namely, that -only by constant attention can the streets of 'any city even of a small city be kept in good order. Much will always remain to be done, in every city, for good streets snd for clean streets; but it is a fact that no city has made or is making more nrocress In this direction than Portland. But the work is like "free dom's battle" it is never finished, and must descend from sire to son. Never will all the streets of a city be -perfect and ehtlroly clean. But no city should lve up the effort for improvement. Portland presses the effort now, and will continue to press iu At this time, upon the approach of the Lewis and Clark Fair, it is especially necessary to do so. Street work,, must be inces sanL Every housewife will tell you that she can't afford to let her work of housekeeping fall behind; and street work, or the work of keeping streets In, order, requires the same con tinuous attention. How many High School pupils in Ore gon. Washington and Idaho, depend ing on -memory and having no access "to public prints, could on request glv an intelligent summary of the Russian Japanese War? And how many teach ers in public and private schools can impart the information? How many ordinary readers, excluding those fa miliar with the art of warfare? Gen era! Thomas M. Anderson, U. -S. A has written an epitome. of the Man churlan campaign for The Sunday Ore conian. It will be published tomorrow It is free from military technique and is just erich an article as trill brine back vividly the principal events In this unparalleled contest. General An derson'sTVeview commends itself " to every one Interested In a.,war that in cluded th. bloodiest battles Jn all his tory. FRAUDS, AND LAND FRAUDS. The Philadelphia Record assumes a irtue. It discusses the land frauds, under Investigation In Oregon, and pro ceeds to say: In regard to the Indictment of Senator Mitchell and Renrerentajlve Hcfknann, or Ore gon, for iiarticJpatlon In land .frauds, it Is necessary to bear In mind that, according to public opinion in the land wale end terri tories the public domain 1 fair game, and the most rnterprlslng man. 'gel the most of - It. Xcrrm. Mltol-x.nl and Hermann are net accused of trying to grt an undue share of the earth surfao for themselves, but of taking money o help other persons to do so. Of courae. this complicates the matter a little, but from the pioneer point of view 'It does not change tboi essence of the transaction. Now here is assumption that the Eastern States, and the great State of Pennsylvania, which has no public land or it would have been stolen long ago. is so honest that it can entertain no thought that anybody in. Oregon or the West could come honestly by public land.. Here and there fraud has been committed, doubtless: but where there are public lands people are entitled. under the law, to enter them. There was no law when Penn occupied the site of Philadelphia. He simply swin dled the Indians out of the lands, and the Philadelphia Record has Its office on a favored part of the tract. Some frauds have been perpetrated in Oregon and in other Western States, no question. The authorities are pur suing them vigorously, with the help of all the people. It has been the policy of the Government to give its lands in the West away; else there would be no settlers In the West. A few have taken lands unlawfully; but these have no support in the public opinion of the West. And we of the West have, as we trust, proper pity for the poor. ring-ridden, corporation-ridden State of Pennsylvania, where everything that anybody could steal was stolen long ago. STATE WILL BENEFIT. From the statement of the plans, of; the reclamation projects in . Klamath County it appears that Oregon has everything to gain and nothing to lose by granting to the United States all lake-bed lands that may be uncovered by drainage. Title to the lake beds is vested In the state, and if the water in the lakes should be- lowered by drainage, the state would continue to be the owner of the land. Since, how ever, the expense of lowering the water is to be borne by the Government, the reclamation officials ask that the lands uncovered shall be ceded to the United States. This Is no more than a fair re quest In their present condition the lands in question are of no value whatever to the state or to Its industrial inter ests. If reclaimed by the Government, 100,000 acres of productive land will be added to the tillable area of Klamath County, furnishing homes for 2000 fam llles. The state will lose nothing In making the grant desired, but will gain to the extent that the amount of wealth-producing and taxpaylng prop erty Is increased. .The commercial In terests of the state will be benefited by the large expenditure of money in the construction of Irrigation and drainage works by the Government, without involving any expenditure by the State of Oregon. The lowering of the water in Klam ath and other lakes in Klamath County will not only uncover a large area of lake bed, but it will drain another large area of swamp land now of com para tively small value. This swamp land is owned by private individuals, and It is the plan of the Government to have each of the owners bear his propor tion of the cost of reclamation. Some will make the required agreement, while others will refuse, according to the view they take of their se-eral in terests. Wtlh these lands. In private ownership the state need not concern itself, for the Government will not in jure any man's property without mak ing due compensation. Unless there are important facts radically different from any that are now known to the public, there seems to -be no reason why any member of the Legislature should hesitate to vote for a bill granting to the Government the title to all land it may -uncover In Klamath County lakes. GOOD YEAR FOR KING CORN. Corn Is king by a good 'safe major ity in this country, according to the final report of the Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Agriculture, which appeared last week. Not only was the 1904 crop of such vast propor tions that It has been exceeded but twice, but the high prices at which it was marketed made a new record for Its aggregate . value. The record corn crop of the country was produced In 1899, when the official returns cred ited a total of 2,666.440,000 bushels. In 1902 the Government placed the figures at 2.523.648,000 bushels. Last year the Agricultural Department figures show a yield of 2.467.480,000 -bushels, but on account of the increase in prices Its market value was 570,000.000 greater than the crop of 1902, which until that year had held the record- for value. The returns of the department on the 1904 wheat crop show a marketable value greater than for 1991, although the crop Is nearly 200,000,000 bushels less than for that record year. In this respect there is far less cause for con gratulation than there is over the ex cellent showing made by the corn crop. The dimensions of the yield of the coarser cereal were so far above the average that In supplying business for the transportation companies, ware housemen and numerous other Indus tries dependent on the grain trade much of the loss through a poor wheat crop was equalized. In the case of wheat the abnormally high price was not an unqualified blessing. While the gross returns which were divided among the farmers and speculators were several million dollars greater than ever before, a much smaller pro portion of the population of the country was benefited by these prices than was the case with .corn. The shortage made heavy inroads on the profits of some of the roads traversing the Amer lean wheat belt, and capital, thus suf ferlng, passed the blow on to labor by laying off train crews and reducing op erating expenses, so that dollar wheat this time was at the expense of the American people and not due to any strength in the foreign markets, which in all previous seasons have been the prime factors In elevating prices. Despite the constantly increasing de mand for corn as a food product, and increase in the home -consumption due to the short crop and high prices of wheat, the decline in corn shipments was far from being so pronounced as that of wheal, American corn shippers thus holding their foreign trade much, better than wheat and flour exporters. It Is on the latter that the high-priced American wheat win work" more hard ship than on any one -else. Europe has become accustomed to cheap wheat and flour, and the demands of the palate must fit the purse. Although the Liv erpool market at no time in the past Ix months has risen to a figure which buld admit of American shipments being made at a profit, there has been no scarcity of wheat for the Old World millers and consumers. The strength this side of the Atlantic has. of course, had a slight sympathetic effect in Europe and has elevated prices so that India, the Argentine and other cheap-wheat countries have been ena bled to market their surplus holdings at figures which at a minimum guaran teed handsome profits for the growers. These prices are sure to induce In creased acreage in wheat in all coun tries where the cereal is grown, and much of the apparent benefits of dollar wheat will be nullified. - A poor wheat crop with low prices is but little short of a calamity in this country, but it does not follow from this that a small crop and . big prices are matter for much congratulation. A big crop or a good crop at a remunerative price (which may be lees than a dollar) will offer satisfactory returns on the Invest ment for thevfarmer, and it will also keep" in operation a large number of at tendant industries which lag or cease altogether whenever, there is a poor crop, even though it be sold at fcigh prices. "CHKAP UNMANLINESS." Mrs. L. H, Harris, a Southern woman whose breezy 'thoughts on plain, every day matters and conditions of life have found their way Into our current litera ture, has an article in a late number of the Independent, upon "Old Bachelors in New England," in which some very palpable truths are . presented. Begin ning with the assertion that the future of this great country does not depend so much upon ''protection, prosperity and imperialism as it does upon fidelity to certain ,family Scriptures and do mestic dogmas," this writer gives the male bachelor"of New England such a setting out. in selfishness, in cynicism. In discourtesy, in, unmanliness, as should be a revelation to this class of men of a much wider area than is rep resented by the term ''New England," who shirk the higher duties of life by remaining unmarried. Of the girl-bachelor, whose name is legion in that land of spinsters who make a brave showing of Independence, Mrs. Harris speaks in terms of pro found respect softened with pity fer a fate at once unnatural and sad, and a position that is forlorn and barren of the highest joys of life. One of these, she says, occasionally remains single from choice, but roost of them would have married if they had had a ylder choice. Going back to the first class, she says that if all of the men who compose it would marry, the congestion that now exists In some industrial centers would be greatly "reduced, because there would be fewer women ready to work for less wages than are paid to men, and the accusing mobs of sallow-faced working girls seen in the larger cities and towns would be smaller. It is. admitted that the-wife fades also, but she has something to show for it in the roses that are transplanted in the cheeks of her children, -'while the Nation is paid in citizenship for every wrinkle she wears." This Is certainly a comforting way to look at it from the standpoint of the faded wife and mother, and it is a prac tical one, too, to a certain extent. It does not necessarily follow that one who advocates marriages by whole sale is also In favor of large families in each and every case. Still, in the View of this writer. If we could get this gen eration of calloused single people, in New England only, properly mated. man and woman, it Is safe to reckon that we should have In the next "a bet ter grade of workingmen, more hope ful women, more statesmen, poets and prophets, because more children would be born of that class of women, whose pathetic enterprise in the - hardfisted world alone proves that they are ex traordinarily Intelligent, able, industrl ous and long-suffering." The arraignment of bachelor men throughout the article is sharp that of bachelor women pathetic, with a dash of sarcasm at their enforced claim to independence bravely assumed and de sire for "development." We may prop erly take exceptions to some of the more sweeping statements made in this advocacy of wholesale marriage for what marriage brings to the individual, the state and the race. With the fol lowing statement, however, we must in the main all -agree: There la nothing more pathetic or reproach ful n American life than the Increasing num bers of delicate women who have been forced to declare themselres the Industrial and In tcUectual equals of men. Meanwhile most of the men titter behind their hands at the announcement. Every one of -them since Adam knows that a woman Is not like him In functions or In strength, that she was care fully fitted "to another sphere; yet. since relieves him of the obligation of taking care of her, he encourage? her brave hallucination that she Is able to take care of herself. This Is a cheap unmanliness of the same grade shown by earlier savages, whose women kind did all the hard labor. The article may be said to make a strong presentment and elaboration of the opinion that the men of the world should provide homes for the women of the world, and maintain them therein in the simple interests of society, the Nation ami the race. It is not unjust to characterize as "cheap unmanliness' the tendency to shirk this duty, or to lav the blame of our disorganized In dustrial conditions at the door of its grave delinquency. LITERATURE OF THE OUTDOORS. How country life is attracting greater number or Americans every year is shown in no clearer way than by the Increase in periodicals devoted to Its various phases. Country "Life in America, with its superb photographic reproductions, has been so successful that Its publishers will issue a new magazine devoted to aspects of garden Ing, and the Review of Reviews Com pany will also issue a new magazine of similar alms. The weekly Illustrated Sporting News deals with the broader subjects of the outdoor life, and there are hosts of publications devoted to sports of all kinds. Outing, the lead ing magazine of Its kind, does not con fine itself to any one department, but treats of all open-air Interests with a catholic spirit. As- to books on topics of this kind, each season brings them in greater numbers; until It seems as if the whole population- must be interested in the country to the extent of buying books; and periodicals on the subject. The; Easterner Is' told by one writer how to build a log cabin, and. by another how to run a duck farm on a pond. . Moun tain cottages, seacoast cottages, for est cottages, lake cottages, are de scribed in . a manner that makes the reader long to abandon the steam heated flat for a breezy country home with chinks between the logs, and holes in the roof. The growth of this coun try spirit is rnarke in the East. Peo ple who live in the cities make "Sat-urday-to-Monday" visits to their own or their - friends' country homes; In deed, the- country has almost attained the distinction of a fad. In Oregon such a change has not taken place, for the- reason that the outdoor life has never been abandoned, as in the East. Without great cities and with a Summer climate of which the call to the sea, the wood and. the hills cannot be resisted. In no 6tate is there more of the open-air spiirt. It ls taken as a matter of course, and is not made the subject of long articles In magazines, but it exists, and Oregon may be pleased to see other states pat terning after her ways. The development of the material re sources of. the United States since 1890 has been stupendous. As shown by the Baltimore Manufacturers' Record, the 3'early output of our farms, mines and mills exceeds -by about $7,000,000,000 that of fourteen years ago. In the volume of railroad- traffic and general business activities the same great advance Is seen. The increase of population, which averages about 25 per cent a decade, would in itself count for a great in crease in business development, but the volume of trade and the value of our agricultural and manufactured prod ucts have increased much more rapidly than our population. The menace of depression does not, in the judgment of men whose opinions are of weight In the world of finance and Industry, shadow the country, even from afar off. The lesson of the past is, however. plain. Briefly rendered. It reads: "In time of prosperity prepare for adver sity by the exercise of the simple vir tues of economy, industry and pru dence." The tendency of prosperous times is toward extravagance, and the current never set more strongly in that direction than now. Charles M. Harvey, writing of the events of 1904 in Leslie's Weekly, says When Disraeli, in 1865, in connection with Lincoln's death, said, 'Assassina tion has never changed the history of the world' (implying that it never would), he did not foresee the conse quences of the taking off of Von Plehve. Russia's reactionary Minister of the Interior, in 1904. Von Plehve's assassination made way for the acces slon of the Liberal Minister, Prince Svlatopolk-Mlrsky, who induced Nich olas to bring the heads of the local as semblies to SL Petersburg and who thus gave shape and direction to the forces which are working to abolish Russia's 'absolutism by assassination and to place that country on the roll of modern states." These forces have been again turned aside by imperial direc tion, but there is evidence enough that they are not quelled. In these words of Omar's "Rublyat," Russian autocracy. though still triumphant, can read its eventual, doom: The moving finger writes; .and haying writ Mores on; nor all your piety nor wit. Shall lute It back to cancel halt a line. Nor all your tears wash out a word of It. A British army officer of the Intelli gence Department, -who is writing brilliant series of articles on the war In the World's Work, glve3 a curious glimpse of Japanese me'thods. He tells of meeting a young Japanese officer In the Legation at Paris. A year later he met the Japanese at an English univer sity. Before the outbreak of the pres ent war the British officer visited Port Arthur in the disguise of a German merchant, and, going into a barber shop there, fouri'd that the person shaving him was the identical Japanese officer he had met before in Paris and England. Later, as British attache, with Kurokl, the officer met his Jap anese friend in command of a company. The story throws a curious sidelight on the system of international espionage. Tolstoi's son declares that France, Germany and Italy must realize at the conclusion of the war that their inter ests He with Russia. It is possible that Germany may reach such a conclusion but indications are that Italy and France will be more inclined to line up with Great Britain. The shifting of European alliances, implicit or ex plicit. Is likely to be one of the most Important results of the war between Russia and Japan. Governor Pennypacker, of Pennsyl vania, continues his, quarrel with the press. So far his muzzling attempts have resulted in little more than an increase in -the amount of space devoted to him in the press of his state. Penny packer cartoons have appeared rather more frequently, and his smallest act has furnished occasion for stories more or less humorously belittling the Gov ernor. ' Representative Butler, of Pennsyl vania, a .member of the -House naval committee, says that while in other de partments of the Government real com petition is allowed on bids, when it comes to building battleships "one or two bidders fix it up among them selves." All the same "as Portland bridge and sewer contractors. The Japanese continue to attribute all their victories to the illustrious vir tues of their Emperor. Perhaps this is the reason why we hear of no Samp son-Schley controversies between the Japanese Generals and Admirals. Evidently the President cares nothing for the questions of authority that hav engrossed the attention of the Canal Commission. Instead of seeing the fur fly he wants to see the dirt fly. Russia is about to employ more troops in preventing desertions. This raises the old question of who shall prevent the guards from deserting. Perish the thought of a ship subsidy. savs the Merchant Marine Commls slon; all we ask is a subvention. His Revenge. Chicago Trjbunc. The young woman had refused him. "I never could marri a man of your habits." she said. "StlL I hope you will do nothinc desperate on account of this." "I don't know," he sbil "I can't prom ise. Some day I maylgct drunk enough to come and propose to you again. NOTE AND COMMENT. . . ' On Cook 'Books; Few books nowadays appear to be sold on their merits alone. The public must be attracted by some sort of com bination offer. If trading-stamps arc not given. The latest Instance is a book which the advertisement says consists of "Practical and Tested Recipes, One for Each Day In the Year, for Dishes Mentioned by the Best Eng lish Authors. With an Appropriate Quo tation for Each Recipe." One is glad to know that only dishes mentioned by the best authors arc included; it would be terrible to the cultured stomach to be filled With food mentioned by some xiulte common writer: The housekeep er must feel highly elated to know that the dish she Is preparing- is. sure to have a literary flavor, even if she fail3 to give it much material flavor, and how inspiring to pause in chopping up the garlic to read, an appropriate quo tation. With this book there would bo no danger of strlklrfg a jarring note. as the literary matter Is guaranteed to be appropriate. From time to time wo have noted great Improvements In cook books. The lifeless, dictionary like volume of. our mothers time has been replaced by an airy, fairy book lct. bound In gold and Ivory, giving the favorite dishes of actors with photo graphs of the actors-or by books full of poetical quotations in which the names of- various dishes are embedded and en jellied. This is well, but we look for even more improvement. A cook book in dramatic form would. bo a step In the right direction. Soups could- be treated in a curtain-raiser Entrees would lit well Into a comedy, and roasts could appropriately be introduced into substantial drama. Pies would give texture to a tragedy, and sweets Avould go excellently with a French farcc Who ""knows but that' wo may live to see cook books in the torm ol a musical play or even of grand opera? Too much cannQt be done to elevate housekeeping from a drudgery to an art and to make tho housekeeper less precise and more soulful. In view of the number, of causes cited to account for tho reluctance of young men to enter the ministry It is surprising to come across one really excellent reason for taking to tho pul pit. The Rev. Hugh Price Hughes, a Welsh minister of some note, recently exclaimed, "God knows that I cannot listen to a sermon, so that Is why He has made me a preacher," Be a preacher and you won't have to listen to sermons. Renovated butter" has. a sort of morgue-y sound. The Seattle Times tells of a man who fed his hens milk and whisky, so that each egg would be a ready-mixed egg nog. It Is not at all Improbable that before some of us die although we might, perhaps, wisti to die first we may see a lady entering for the amateur golf champtonshlp, and possibly winning it against all the men. An analogous calamity occurred In croquet. Horace Hutch inson, in Country Life. There's callantry for you. Think of calling a woman's victory a "calamity." However, hard names will not stop the onward march of woman. Having tri umphed gloriously at croquet, she will conquer on the golf course, and when man has been outdone upon the field of athletics, we may find crowds of university boys, who have abandoned football as too rough, going to cheer on their gridiron heroes from Smith or Wellesley. Isn't it an awful possibility that Russia may yet besiege Port Arthur, and that we may have to await its fall all over again? 'How to Retain Girlish Beauty" Is the title of an article In a Sunday pa per. We'd rather learn how to set one. Bombs are being imported into Rus sla. ' The Nihilists must be arranging blow-out. "Give us liberty or give us death." say the Russians. But tha Czar mere ly gives them well, just raises Cain with them. An ultra-religious carpenter in Spo kane entered a neighbor's house, took two girls from bed and spanked them for not attending church. The apostolic laying-on of hands was not a marker to this. "Evangeline" Is too anti-British for British Columbia school teachers. They should send a mission to London to throw Lonsrf ellow's bust out of the Poet's Corner in Westminster Abbey. At last a scientific rule has been formulated to insure happy marriages. The man seeking a wife must divide his age by 2 and add 7 to the quotient, thereby ascertaining the age his bride should be. Thus, If a man is 30 years of age, half of SO added to 7 gives 22, the ace his wife should be. For a wo man to find the age her husband should be. she must take 7 from her own age and multiply the result by 2. Thus. a woman of 30 should be married to a man of 46. After this .there can be no excuse for divorces. Everyone will be happy and sing paeans to science. When a man wounds you on one cheek, it's no sign of a Christian spirit to turn the other, if he's a barber. Lawson but we promised not to mention him for a week. WEX. J. Work of Canal Commission. Engineering Magazine. The work before the present Isthmian Canal Commission must ncc csarily be largely independent of any thing hitherto contemplated, and its plans must be developed and completed Tor practically an entirely new project Thls is a necessary procedure for a number of important reasons. Among others, during the pastr three years, even, material developments in the size and motive power of steamships have been made and thosp developments are In active progress at the . present time. Steamships over 700 feet long have been built and there are already seri ous statements from ocean transporta tion companies regarding the building of ships apprpaching 800 feet in lcngtli. Loaded vessels have entered or left the harbor of New Tork with a draft of 32 or 33 feet and possibly a little more. Although It is not prob able that the greatest ships afloat will, immediately after Its- completion, seek the Panama Canal, it Is practically cer tain that the opening of such a canal 'will shift some lines of ocean traffic and stimulate others, so that it Is a measure of wisdom, only to follow the instructions given to the former com mission, and tacitly at least to the present commission, to construct a waterway which shall afford accommo dation for tha larirest shios afloat. y ODD SCRAPS OPJ0RE1GN NEWS, j . The-signaling station at Kildonan is the only pne in tho world which refuses to report passing shins on a Sunday. At a brewery company meeting the other day It was mentioned that tea was largely taking the -place of whisky and soda. It is proposed to tit gongs to all London fire brigade appliances to take the place )t the familiar shouts of the firemen as the engines rush through the streets. Postcards made from peat are now be ing manufactured at Colbridge, County KJldare, where paper-making from peat hds been in progress for some time. Asked why he had not called In a doctor earlier, the son of a Shoredltch woman, found unconscious and. dying, said he kn,ew his mother was going to die, and he wanted to. save the money. Because he followed a, funeral leading a dog by a cord which happened to be col ored, a carpenter at Gorlltz, In Prussia. has been sentenced to nine months Im prisonment "for an offense against reli gion' The Britannia, the largest warship ever launched at Portsmouth, was christened with Colonial wine, and margarine In stead of pure Russian tallow was for the first time used- In greasing the launching ways.t During the year forgetful patcngcrs left in trains on the London and North western Railway 417 hats, caps and bon nets. 617 umbrellas, nine sunshades and 191 walking-sticks, besides heaps of rugs and bags. While cycling. Alfred Collings fell as the result ot a side-slip. A pipe which he was smoking was driven through hl3 tongue, causing bloodipolsonlng, which ended in his death, and a Hackney Jury returned a' verdict of accidental death. Native Christians In many parts of the worm have contributed toward the Bible Society's Centenary fund, which has now reached l,00O,COO. The aborigines at Ha- poon, North Queensland, collected 15 worth of oysters, as they have no money. Hard-pressed, a fox, aftor running round St. Giles House, Lord Shaftes bury's country residence near Wimborne, made for the pantry, followed by tho hounds, to the consternation of the ser vants, and succeeded in getting onto a cupboard. While a lady was sitting in the dress circle of the Regent Theater, Salford, her clothes were Ignited by a match dropped from the gallery- She lost a claim for damages brought against the manage ment at Salford, the Jucgc holding that all reasonable precautions had been ta ken. The steamship Ben Ledl. which has ar rived In London from Lelth to complete cargo for China, has 200 tons of old horseshoes on board. A Lelth firm is shipping these to Hongkong; they number about 250.000 of shoes, all more or less worn smooth and thin on the Scottish roads. There is to be another lot for China shortly. f Belief in t'ae superstition that a wound from an alder bush will prove fatal has been strengthened at Sutton Park, Bed fordshire. A gamekeeper named Albert Povey was chasing some fowls from a spinney to the roost, when he tripped up on an alder bush, a spike of which en tered his hand. The wound was promptly dressed and an operation performed few days later, but the man died from tetanus. An unexpected effect of the revival In the Merthyr and Rhondda valleys of Wales has been to check volunteering. A doctor at Aberfan, who is an officer In the Third Volunteer Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, said yesterday that the Free Churches of the district actually denied membership to men in the corps. "It is simply because they wear a red coat." he explained. "That Is regarded here as the devil's brand." Serious disturbances have occurred at the Knight's Deep mine at Johannesburg, between Chinamen and Kafflrs. The lat ter turned out on Sunday to avenge one of their number, who had been assaulted, but the police persuaded them to dis perse. In the middle of the night the Chinese flocked out In a body and set fire to the Kaffir compound. The result was a stand-up fight, in which the Chinese. being better armed than the blacks, more than held their own. One Chinaman and three Kaffirs were killed and 30 of the combatants wounded. Ant nests are being used this year as presents. Messrs. Gamage, of London, who have many of the nests In stock, say that they are in great demand as pres ents for children. Each nest, which costs 12s 6d, Is contained In a cabinet ten Inches square and three inches deep, and con sists of about ZOO working ants, some eggs and aphides, the tiny insects which the ants milk as cows. Every detail of the ants' life can be studied the milking of the cows, the washing of the children, and the building of the nests. Even the funerals of the dead ants can be seen oc caslonally. The ants only require feed ing with a lutie honey about four times a year, so the children owning a nest can obtain much instruction at a minimum of labor. BITS OF OREGON LIFE. Taking Advantage of the Snow. Lakeview Examiner. Hev. S. Snyder built himself a sleigh this week, and if the snow remains long enough he may be seen enjoying a sleigh- ride. Why Did He Leave the Goose?. Mitchell News. If the person who left us the goose the other day while we were out of the office will call when we are In, we shall credit him with a year's subscription to the Jsews. Impartial Treatment for Each Leg Democratic Times. Sam Walker, who lives In Meadows precinct, met with a distressing accident a few days ago. While operating stump-puller the machinery broke and struck him. one of -his legs being broken once and the other once. Hardy Rock's Misfortune. Oretown Correspondence Tillamook Herald. Hardy Rock had the misfortune to walk in.to a ladder which projected from the rear end of Charles Ray's hack, in front of thfe Postoffiee, this week, which re sulted In a queer-looking nose. A Little Hard on the Calf Dayton Chronicle. If that fellow who beats us to our cow night and morning will come around, wi will run him a footrace to see who buy the feed the rest of the Winter. We arc getting all the milk we want as it is, but under the present arrangement it is apt to shrink the calf. Ye Editor's Painful Dilemma. Albany Democrat. Hon. John H. Mitchell, United States Senator for Oregon, has the Democrat' thanks for the following seeds: Two Dackages scarlet turnip whlte-tlpped rad lshes, two packages Emerald Gem musk nvrlon, two royal red tomatoes, three black-seeded tennis-ball lettuce, and tw red-top strap-leaved turnips. This puts the Democrat man In an awful quandary as to the position to take In the Senator timber-land case. Meanest Man Is Found. Tillamook Herald. We have no objection to a man stopping his subscription to this paper If he don want it. That's his privilege. - But when that man has taken the paper from the postoffiee every week, and read it. too, for a year, and he steps in and loftily informs nutallsher that he never ordered it and "won't pay a darned cent." we con slder him so small that his measly little soul 'wouldn't rattle in the shell or mustard seed. THE NEW YEAR'S . OREGOXt AN; . , i - f i Washington Connjx -News, i The' Morning Oregonlan's special Lewis and Clark edition was I;ued on Monday. -Every part or this great Exposition ' clearly set forth In numerous Illustrations and' In -colli mn after column of 'choice reading matter. 'It Is a good edition to send to your Eastern, rela tives. It is rar mqre elaborate than air -tho letters you. could write between now.-and itho closing day of the Exposition" -would be. Forest Grove Times. , The Xcw Year's edition of The Oregonian, iraucd Monday, was a wonderful presentation of the resources and possibilities of the- West Coast. It covered ever' phase of evry in terest that this great region posserse&Z and did It so well as to leave little to be added in the way of general Information. Although past efforts have shown tho great resources ot Th Oregonian for doing such work. It la an ever new wonder how it can do so much and do It so well. The appreciation of the public for that Isaue I. shown by the fact that though a big extra edition was printed In. the flrst place. It was exhausted the nrst day. and an other edition had to be printed, and the Fort. land Postoffiee was almost swamped In hand ling It. Baker City Democrat. The Xew Year's number of The Oregonian Is great paper, eclipsing all former attempts at pecial editions. It deals of Oregon In an ex haustive manner, and of the Lewis and Clark Centennial In such an elaborate way as to at tract tho attention of tho people of tho United States toward Western enterprise as it has never berorc been attempted. As a newspaper Tho Oregonian easily leads all others of tho Far West. Hoqulam Washlngtonlan. The Oregonian ot Monday deserves grat praise for Its successful effort In placing ths great Lewis and Clark Exposition before the people of the United States. This wilt be worth millions to tho States of Oregon and "Washington, and people are Just beginning to realize its vastness. It will bring tens of thousands ot visitors, who will be walking ad vertisements ot our greatness, our genial cli mate and wonderful resources after their visit. For that reason a stream of peopla and money will set towavd this Coast as tho result of tha Fair. Yakima Republic The Oregonian on Monday morning 'issued fine Illustrated edition devoted to the Lewis and Clark. Exposition. As for many years past. The Oregonian 8rst-of-the-year special ts far more comprehensive than that of, any other paper on the Coast. SHverton Sllvcrtonian-Appeal, The New Year's edition of Tha Oregonian, illustrative of the Lewis and Clark Fair, ex cels all previous efforts cf that paper, and will, no doubt, prove to be of great value to the entire State of Oregon, as well as to- Port land, the Fair, and the enterprising- publishing company which issued It, A great many extra copies have been sold In SHverton through the local agent. Lloyd Riches, and will Snd happy recipients In all parts of the United States. -Woodbum Independent. A magnificent effort and fills a great and present want. It is principally devoted to the Lewis and Clark. Fair prolcct. and the brilllat result of much labor, expense and re markable skill. The Oregonian for many years has been an indefatigable worker In behalf ot the state's interests, and Its New Year's edi tions are eagerly looked for by all,' and espe cially appreciated by old-timers. Thousands of copies of this Issue have been sent. East, and the State of Oregon will receive Incalculable benefit. Tho Oregonian well sustains lt$ repu tation as tho leading and greatest newspaper oC Oregon, and It has no peer west of ths Rockies. Portland Chamber of Commerce Bulletin. The flrst thorough newspaper exploitation of the Lewis and Clark Fair Is made'" Ifr the New Year's Oregonian. More than 21 pages of the Issue are devoted to this subject, and are full of half-tone illustrations, which for artistic taste and skill have never been equaled. Such work would have .been wasted - had not the mechanical work of printing the paper been equally good. Tho cuts stand out clear, sharp and distinct in every outline, and in thc aggregate will startle .the uninitiated as t-j the splendor and magnitude of the Fair. The purpose aimed at has- been to Illustrate the details of the buildings and- grounds, though a general vlciy ,xt each' hujjjlus: I" given on an adequate, scale,. Thui then? is conveyed to the mind of tho reader some idea of the architectural beauties of the buildings. such as cannot bo gained from general views ot the whole Lese Majeste Again. Philadelphia Record. Henry James, on his recent visit to America, told at a dinner party in Cambridge an anecdote that concerned the Emperor of Germany. "It was reported," said Mr. James, that ori a certain morning the Emperor would drive out In brilliant uniform, at tended by a bodyguard unusually largo and splendid. A little boy came early to the palace gates and waited there a long time to see the royal party. "Finally, after three or four hours, tho lad's patience failed him. "The booby isn't coming," he said. 4X shall go.' "Thousrh the boy was only talking to himself, a police officer heard him, and seized him by the collar. ' 'Who did you mean by booby, boy?- he thundered. 1 T meant,' the lad faltered T meant er my friend Fritz. He was to have met me here, and he hasn't turned up. "The officer let go bis hold." " 'Be more careful In the future, lie said, 'and now clear out.' "The boy hastened across, the roadway. At a safe distance he halted, assumed a derisive air, and, ere he took briskly, to his heels again, shouted: " Who did you mean by booby? 11 Extracting Good From Trouble Philadelphia Inquirer. When public attention is attracted to Oregon by the clamor of the land-fraud cases, the Lewis and Clark Exposition appears In the focus of publicity. OUT OF THE GINGER 'JAR. "What Is worse than owing- money you can't" pay?" "Being owed money you can't collect." Cleveland Ledger. She Do you think that a woman can truly love but once Z He Well, if that's the only chance she has yes! Detroit Free Press. Van Q. Mrs. Chadwick must bo a very magnetic woman. Do Q. I should say so! She has shocked tho whole country! Detroit Free Press. She I wonder why the baby doesn't begin to talk, John? He Why, I guess, because you don't give him a chance, dear. Yonk ers Statesman. Mrs. Nurox What hook can I get that will fit me to enter the best society? Mrs. Blusox Have you tried the checkbook? Cleveland Leader. "Take tho world as you find It," Is Mr. Rockefeller's motto. And he doesn't seem to care much whether or not anyone is look ing. Somervllle Journal. McFlub A "United States Ambassador has a cinch. Sleeth Why so? McFlub Because what passes for Ignorance in other public officials is diplomacy with him. Courier Journal. "One danger 'bout education." said Unc'e, Eben, "is dat a young man i li'ble to stan aroun recltln 'Woodman, spare dat tr&. when he ought to be choppin' firewood. Washington Star. Travers I hear you are lecturing on the "Strenuous Life." Palavers Yes. I got tired of hustling, and it's so much easier to tell other people what to do than It is to do things one's seir. Detroit Free Press. "How long have you been tho husband of the defendant?" "Twenty-four years." "Eh! She's just testified that her age Is but 28. How do you" explain this?" "We we mar ried young. Your Honor." Cleveland Plain Dealer. Knicker There's one strange fact I've noted. Bocker What's that? Knicker A boy Is christened with water-and afterward takes booze, while a ship Is christened with booze and afterward takes to water. New York Press. Frishtened Mother My child, what In the world are you doing with all that flaming red paint smeared over your face and hands? Fool' lsh Boy I wanted f git a Job. an? I eeen an ad In th' paper that said: "Wanted A Bright Colored Boy." So I Jlst paints meIf the brightest color I could, an was' Jlst startin" out t" see th MUr what advertised. Baltimore American.