8
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECE3IBER 1, 1906
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PORTLAND, SATURDAY. DEC. 1, .1906.
NEW PROPOSALS FOR CONGRESS.
It has been reported, and it comes
from so many sources that probably It
to true, that the President, in his forth
coming message will urge the passage
of an inheritance tax. It would be
constitutional no doubt, for euch meth
od of taxation has hitherto been em
ployed by the United States; and, if
we mistake not, upheld by the Supreme
Court. There are reasons to show why
such a tax would be entirely Just. The
only question Is whether it should be
laid by the United States or by the
several states. The best and most
fruitful sources of revenue the United
States already possesses. Should not
the states retain this one? For the
states, as well as the General Govern
ment, need revenue in large amounts;
and it seems a question whether all the
readiest means of obtaining it ought
to be taken away from them. But we
believe the country is resolved to have
taxation both of inheritance and in
comes, within reasonable limits. Ore
gon already has a succession tax, andJ
so have many other states. Perhaps
the Oregon tax is not large enough.
In these times of centralization the
reserved rights of the states, as we
used to know, or to talk about them,
do not stand for much. Congress Is
even urged to enact a child labor law.
It is asserted that it may be done
through application of the Interstate
commerce power, by prohibiting any
carrier in interstate commerce from
transporting the products of a mining
or manufacturing concern which em
ploys children under a certain age say
fourteen or sixteen. This seems a far
fetched argument. The states can, if
they will, better deal with this subject
of child labor through their recognized
police power. Enactment of a child la
bor law by Congress would almost cer
tainly raise a host of difficult constitu
tional questions; for there will be those
who hold that the Constitution, has not
wholly ceased to exist, and that the
states still have some proper functions.
But, as things are going, who can find
tho line?
MB. COKEY'S LUCK.
. Eecent advices from the scandal fac
tories of Europe say that one Mabel
Gilman, who has been generally cred
ited With the skilful performance of
transforming William E. Corey, pres
jdent of the Steel Trust, from a re
spectable marrfed man into a disrepu
table gilded fool, is now about to de
sert him fo-an Earl, a Duke, or some
other aristocratic Idiot who, departing
from the usual rule, prefers American
beauty to American dollars. It is to be
hoped that the rumor Is true, and-that
the unfortunate who captures this par
ticularly, brilliant chorus lady will do
us the further favor of keeping her on
the far side of the ocean. .
There are other reasons why respec
table America would like to see some
eclon of Europe's decayed royalty take
possession of such a beautifully gilded
gold brick as Mabel. It would undoubt
edly cause deep chagrin and. perhaps
pain of a certain kind for Mr. Corey
who discarded a true loving wife with
no more feeling or ceremony than' in
laying aside a garment he no longer
cared to wear. Had Corey married the
chorus girl it would have been only a
question of time until he got about
what he deserved. The decent public
will' enjoy watching him "holding the
bag" while Mabel continues her hunt
for snipes and gutter snipe6 in "Yur
Tup." Another feature of the situation af
fords more or less1 satisfaction to the
American people. There lies in a pro
spective match between the chorus
lady and a titled European a possibil
ity of evening up at least one score
in the matrimonial game which is con
tinually being played against us. "We
have been getting much the worst of
the bargain in this -steady trade of
handsome American girls with plenty
of dollars for some noble rake 'with
nothing but a moth-eaten title and a
decaying castle. The recipients have
not only taken our girls and their dol
lars, but have spent the money, thrash
ed the girls, And otherwise added to
the indignity of .the proceeding. - There
is every reason to believe that if Mabel
Gilman picks up any royal Joblote on
Burke's bargain-counter, chastisement
in the family will not fall on her shoul
ders, and the money will be spent by
her. '
VALUE OF FRANCHISES.
No other city of importance on the
American continent, has been troubled
with such a serious drainage and sew
erage problem as for generations has
bothered New Orleans. Lying ten feet
below the level of the gulf of Mexico
and the Mississippi river, twenty foot
levees are a necessity in many places,
and even with these in good repair,
there is constant danger to the city of
being partly submerged by the waters
of Lake Pontchartrain, which during
heavy winds are swept intb the rear
of the city. The entire city, with the
exception of one ridge of comparative
ly limited area, which rises two feet
above the gulf level, is flaf and ac
cordingly is a huge basin for catching
and retaining the rainfall of nearly five
feet, with which the place Is favored.
From these conditions it can be under
stood what a monumental task Is In
volved in proper drainage and sewer
age.
But New Orleans after many years
has succeeded in installing "a system
of drainage canals and pumping sta
tions by which the city has become
clean and healthy and will always re
main so. The improvement also in
cludes a water system by which the
citizens are supplied with pure water
at reasonable rates. Considering the
enormity of the task and the expense
attached to such a work, one would
naturally get the impression that this
modern improvement would prove very
burdensome-on the taxpayers.
But New Orleans is more fortunate
than some cities in the United States,
for aU of the expense for these im
provements Is paid for out of the In
terest on funds secured by the sale
of streetcar franchises, being excep
tionally valuable . privileges which
some cities present free to favored cit
izens. The magnitude of a fund which can
be raised from such a source is shown
in the case of the Portland street rail
way franchises. In the sale of the
Portland Consolidated ". properties in
this city, the actual value of the road
and equipment, deducted from the sum
paid to the franchise promoters by the
recent purchasers, shows the value of
the franchise to be over $4,000,000. This
sum, at the moderate rate of 5 per cent
per year, would yield an interest in
come of $200,000, or considerably more
than $500 per day a sum sufficient to
work wonders In a great many lines
of civic Improvement. Portland has
already given away some of Its most
valuable franchises, but the example
set by New Orleans should serve to
prevent the exploitation of any others
for the benefit of a few unscrupulous
plutocrats.
OUR COAL LANDS.
It Is estimated that the United States
Government still owns between fifty
and sixty millions of acres of coal
lands. Considering how much has been
stolen Or turned over to wealthy cor
porations, for two or three dollars an
acre, this fact is surprising. This land
was acquired by the Government as
part of the Louisiana purchase and by
other similar acquisitions. It was paid
for by the people of the Nation. The
question now arises, what shall be done
with it? Shall it be turned over to the
trusts for exploitation with little or
no recompense t6 the Nation, or shall
it be husbanded and made to return as
much as possible?
The Interstate Commerce Commission
Is prepared to recommend to the Pres
ident that this coal land, .which the
Nation still owns, shall neither be
given away nor sold. In the opinion
of the commission the Government
ought to retain the title and lease the
land, thus making it a permanent
source of revenue. It could be leased
for a very large sum, enough, it is
said, to defray almost the entire ex
penses of the Government, Including
the interest on the national debt. If
this can be done, why not do it? Why
should' the people continue to pay
taxes, when they own property which
with honest management, would relieve
them of the'necessity? Why should the
Government squander Its legitimate re
sources upon the favored corporations
and then tax the people to pay its
current expenses?
In this matter the question of gov
ernment ownership Is- not Involved.
The coal lands of which we speak al
ready belong to the Nation. They have
been bought and paid for. The only
question now is, shall they be managed
with reference to the public welfare,
or shall they go to swell the possessions
of the rapacious trusts? Some of the
coal land of the government has been
sold to the trusts for $2.50 an acre.
Land of precisely the same quality will'
rent for $1,000 per acre. This being the
case, common sense says rent It. The
plutocrats will advance many Ingeni
ous reasons why the people's coal land
should be given away, but these rea
sons are all vitiated by the element of
self-interest. The Nation has In these
lands a permanent source of income,
and If it Is wise, it will keep them and
so manage them as to produce the
greatest possible revenue.
TJfE STATE HISTORICAL SOCIETY."
Preservation of the memorials of
their history is a distinguishing mark
of people who feel themselves worthy
to live, and who, therefore, wish to
hand on to posterity a record of them
selves. Israel, in antiquity, did a work
of this kind that has been a treasure to
all succeeding ages. Every nation that
has created a literature has done the
like. Valuable as the annals of a peo
ple are, it is not in mere annals that
we have the best pictures of their his
tory. The revelations of their spirit,
that come from their miscellaneous lit
erature, are the best of all that is hand
ed on to. later times. History, apart
from these revelations, is little more
than a series of dates, useful In fixing
chronological sequences, but worth lit
tle as a transcript of manners and of
life. .
As yet, the Historical Society of Ore
gon has done little but collect ma
terials and sort them for preservation.
It was a misfortune that the Society
began work too late to get the best and
fullest chronicles. The field had been
gleaned already by enterprising per
sons who wanted the materials for
their private use; and most of what
they gathered has-been removed from
Oregon and placed In collections else
where. The Bancroft collection in San Fran
cisco contains a mass and variety of
Oregon material both unique and rare;
indeed impossible of replacement or
duplication. Possibly it might be
brought back to Oregon, but it would
require a great deal of money. Private
libraries among us contain most of the
printed books and documents of our
early history, but most of the letters
end manuscripts and other memorials
that were once in the hands of private
persons, invaluable as pictures of life
and manners in the early times are
lost, irrevocably. Some have been taken
up by collectors and carried away;
others, in many households, have been
neglected, mutilated carelessly, and at
last lost or destroyed. Most of the best
material, therefore, has disappeared.
Yet the Historical Society of Oregon,
during the few years of its existence,
has done wonders in gathering such
remains as were still recoverable. To
this work the Assistant Secretary, Mr.
George H. Himes, has given his sole
attention. With an intelligence and in
dustry worthy of better recognition
than he' has received through the very
small salary paid him, he has labored
In a field that had already been gleaned
of most of Its best material, yet has
gathered together an astonishing
amount of valuable matter, which may
be used for monographs upon our his
tory, or for special Illustration of vari
ous parts of it.
The material is as yet only partly
sorted and classified; for Mr. Himes
has been able to pause for very short
periods, in the midst of his duties as
collector, to do this work. Besides,
there is not room nor furniture, nor
necessary assistance. The City of Port
land generously allows use of two or
three room at the City Hall, but soon
may require them for its own purposes.
A need of the state is a building for
the Historical Society. The time has
come when the Legislature should
make provision for the need.
Since the Historical Society Is a state
institution the building for it should be
erected at the Capital of the state.
That would be necessary for compli
ance with the Constitution. For the
present time, arid indeed for many
years, a building of moderate dimen
sions and cost would suffice. Joint use
of it for several other purposes might
be made by the State. It should be so
constructed that enlargement of it
would be easy and convenient, upon a
consistent architectural" plan.
The time has come when the State
ought to lend stronger support than
heretofore to the Historical Society;
first of all should house it suitably, and
then shpuld make a proper biennial ap
propriation for support and furtherance
of its work. The State cannot afford
to deal shabbily with its Historical So
ciety any longer. Thus far It has been
allowed to lag behind that of every
other State of the Union.
IS. MARS INHABITED?
Among the 'interesting celestial
events of the year 1907 will be an oppo
sition of the earth and Mars. The two
planets will pass each other on the
same side of the sun and will be sep
arated by the comparatively trifling
distance of 40,000,000 miles, or there
abouts. There will be no danger of a
collision, but the approach will be so
neighborly that astronomers expect to
make new observations and verify or
correct old ones. The orbit of Mars
lies outside the earth's' and when the
two planets are on opposite sides of
the sun they are so far apart - that
Mars looks insignificant to us; but next
July, when the opposition occurs, it
will appear fifty times as large as
when 1t is most remote. Hence the
telescope will have a very fair chance
to do some good work in unveiling the
Martian secrets. Something may be
discovered of interest in connection
with the question whether our nearest
independent neighbor is inhabited or
not.
Some time ago H. G. Wells wrote a
book called "The War of Worlds," in
which he assumed that Mars was in
habited and described an invasion of
the earth by its inhabitants. "They
were sent down upon us In huge pro
jectiles, from which they emerged to
wreak devastation upon defenceless
humankind. Others besides Mr. Wells
have cherished the fancy that Mars is
populated with intelligent beings. Some
astronomers, even, have entertained
It, among them Camille Flammarion;
but his Imagination often runs away
with his reason. Professor Pickering
of Harvard, who is a great authority,
says that In many of 'its physical and
climatic conditions Mars resembles the
earth somewhat closely. According to
him it has an atmosphere, seas and
mountains, and around its poles vast
Icefields collect In Winter which in
Summer disappear.
Mars is traversed in all directions by
peculiar markings which look to the
eyes of some. astronomers like artificial
canals. They were studied carefully
by the Italian Schlaparelll. and have
excited much speculation. If they are
canals they were undoubtedly dug to
conduct the melted snow from the
polar regions over the surface of the
planet for irrigation.
Mars probably has no" rain, because of
its thin air which will not transport va
por. It is the best scientific opinion that
vegetation flourishes, however, since
changes of surface color occur which
cannot be accounted for otherwise.
This Vegetation, if it exists, must be
watered by the canals; though, after
all, these conduits may be natural and
not artificial. Mars receives less sun
light than the earth, but not much less
heat, according to Professor Pickering.
Still, it is subject to greater extremes
of temperature.
Upon the whole, there are difficulties
In the way of the supposition that in
telligent life exists upon Mars;' but to
say that it is impossible is rash. Sci
ence is not so prone to declare impos
sibilities as It was half a century ago.
The discovery of radium, among other
things, has taught the scientific mind
to be cautious and has decidedly dis
couraged Hogmati6m.
Upon the face of it. thercis no reason
Vhy other worlds than ours should not
be inhabited. To suppose that the
earth has a monopoly of life and intel
ligence is a narrow conceit which has
little Justification In what we know of
Nature. Even if we could prove that
there Is no life upon the other planets
of our solar system, which we cannot
do, we must not forget that there aue
other systems without number, "worlds
on worlds In phalanx deep," strewn
through the unimaginable gulfs of
space. Of these worlds we know at
present absolutely nothing except that
they exist. The present indications of
science are that life is a property of
matter and wherever in the universe
the conditions have been favorable life
has probably been evolved.
The football season of 1906 with its
spent energy, heartburnings, broken
noses, wrenched knees," turned ankles
and numerous fatalities, Is ended.. For
tunately ended, It is said, since, under
the new rules, according, to Arthur B.
Reeve (a recent graduate of Princeton)
In the Independent, the fatalities of the
game have been fewer, the non.fatal
injuries far less serious and one-third
less frequent than under the old. From
the opening of the season of 1905 to No
vember 10 there were 15 deaths and
eighty-two injuries, as results of the
game; the record for the entire season
was 22 deaths and 96 serious injuries.
The tabulation of returns up to No
vember J 10 of this year shows three
deaths, directly due to football. In the
United States, and 54 Injuries of all
kinds. Full returns are not yet in.
This proves, as cited by Mr. Reeve,
that football is not yet a parlor game,
but it is no longer tdeadly. ;
Secretary Root, In appearing before
the H6use committee on appropriations,
urged the necessity of liberal appropri
ations for tariff experts. He stated
that the department is preparing to
make every possible effort to extend
national commerce, and made special
reference to the tariff commission now
visiting Germany. Tariff experts are
now In Germany for the explicit pur
pose of persuading Germany not to re
taliate on the country by putting in
effect a tariff system similar to our
own. This is one of the cases where
examples would prove more powerful
arguments than precept or theories.
Our national commerce can be extended
on a more liberal scale as soon as we
are prepared to treat our foreign cus
tomers as liberally as we insist that
they shall treat us.' A tariff expert is
not needed to hasten trade expansion
If we will follow this' golden rule.
You see, all the Incidents and all the
accidents of .high civilization must
keep up their pace. Now here are the
stylish wine clerks in Alaska. The
Nome Gold Digger says: "It will per
haps be noticed by those who visit the
most popular resorts that all of the
wine clerks are now wearing new and
fashionable neckties. This is account
ed for in the fact that Tom Nestor
while on the outside was induced to
buy a whole-case of neckties and he
brought them to Nome and presented
them to tno boys In white suits." You
will see even in Furthest North imi
tation of all high society you find in
the temperate . zonetf. The first fami
lies, or their scions, offshoots or water
sprouts, are away up there, too.
The Government Reclamation Serv
ice, in keeping with all other employers
of labor, is seriously handicapped
through a shortage of help on its vari
ous projects. On one of the big ditches
in Arizona four different contractors
have thrown up their contracts for the
same piece of work in less than six
months. Never befo:-e in the history of
the country has labor been in such a
dominant position as now. The thrifty
man has opportunities to lay by a suffi
cient sum to carry over the "hard
times" that follow waves of prosper
ity at irregular intervals. That many
men are not thrifty will be disclosed
when the first breath of adversity
strikes the country.
Norway and Sweden have applied fo
the Russians for recognition of their
claims to Spitsbergen. ' They have also
applied to other European powers for
assistance in perfecting their claim.
AS Spltzbergen produces little but ice,
and even that cannot be brought into
competition with the trust product in
lower altitudes, the anxiety of the ap
plicants for a clear title to the country
is not plain. The North Pole tourists
are not yet going up in sufficient num
bers to make the business of peddling
Spltzbergen Icicle souvenirs profitable
the Summer season is too short for
Spitzbergen Hotels de Glacier, and a
Spltzenberg apple will not grow in
Spitzbergen.
President Roosevelt took up the re
form of the game of football last year
and, in order to save it, said to those
who sought to abolish it: "I have no
sympathy whateyer with the over
wrought sentimentality that would
keep a young man in cotton wool." "On
the other hand," said another champion
of the new rules, "there was no
reason for sympathy with the over
wrought ''brutality that put a young
man in sterilized cotton." This the
game, though "reformed." still does,
judged from the gashed heads, broken
noses, lacerated hands, etc., that, duly
bandaged, show up on the day follow
ing a "great game."
Last session the Senate Committee
reported In favor of expulsion of Reed
Smoot, Senator from Utah. The vote
is to be taken early next' week. The
result is considered doubtful. Smoot,
though not a polygamiet, Is "a Mor
mon apostle," and held by many ac
countable for encouragement, or at
least defense, of polygamy.
Mr. Baer of the Reading Road has
opened his mouth and prophesied
again, saying that the men who create
nothing want everything. Mr. Baer has
told the truth in spite of himself. He
meant to prophesy against the agita
tors; but Providence turned his words
against the idle rich.
If Dr. Judson is elected President of
the Chicago University, Mr. Rockefel
ler will make another munificent gift
to the institution. If he is not elected
Mr. Rockefeller will make no gift at
all. "Who can doubt that the January
election will be favorable to Dr. Jud
son? Dr. Owens-Adair has published a
book of 537 pages, containing "Some of
Her Life Experiences." She begins with
pioneer times. Includes in her narrative
interesting reminiscences of many im
portant persons and events, and pro
duces a very readable book.
The bride in this city, who scorned
congratulations succeeding her wed
ding ceremony, may not be a type of
woman that it would be well to copy,
but her courage upon this occasion Is
undoubted. " -
The President and the Speaker of the
Oregon Legislature vre to be elected
in the same old way. The people have
not yet driven the politicians out of
the capitol at Salem.
The footbaH'championshlp has not
departed from Oregon; it's still in the
Oregon family, and Multnomah can
draw on Eugene for recruits.
The land-fraud net is dragging east
ward. When it reaches the National
Capitol even bigger thieves may be
brought up. :
The Wyoming Legislature might vin
dicate Its two Senators by resolution,
yet this has been proved not a sure
method. 1
It was a big victory for the Oregon
College football boys, largely because
It took them ten years to do It.
Thanksgiving over, it's time to begin
saving up for Christmas presents.
NEW SHAKESPBAR REJECTED
Doubt That the Earl e)TjRoland Wm
the Immortal Fluwrlrht.
London Cable Dispatch in New York Sun.
Dr. Karl Bleibtreu's discovery of the
true Shakespeare does not impress Eng
lish litterati and critics. On analyzing
the German professor's reasons for his
new faith they find these entirely un
convincing. Dr. Bleibtreu declares that the "low
comedian, William Shakespeare, who
regularly got drunk at the Mermaid
Tavern," could not possibly have the
wide learning and knowledge of other
countries which the author of the
Shakespearian works evidently pos
sessed. On the contrary. Roger the
Earl of Rutland, who Dr.-Bletbtreu con
siders the real Shakespeare, is known
to have spent considerable time in
France and Italy, to have studied law
at Padua and to have visited other
parts of the world where he would
have- gained the experience necessary to
enable him to write the famous plays.
His mission to Denmark in 1603 to rep
resent James I at the baptism of the
Danish Crown Prince enabled him to
obtain local color for Hamlet and he
actually met G-uildenstern and Rosen
cranz at the Danish court. Two mem
bers of the latter family were fellow
students of his at Padua. The Duke of
Rutland was imprjsoned for political
reasons from 101 to 1603, during
which period no Shakespearian-drama
appeared, while "CoriolanTis" and "The
Tempest." the last of the Shakespearian
plays, appeared in 1612, the year the
Earl of Rutland died.
The foregoing are among' the most
striking of the coincidences which
have convinced Dr. Bleibtreu, whose
"proofs" are perhaps at least as strong
as those of other Shakespeare dethron
ers. They are considered irresistible by
Dr. Turszinsky, the eminent German
literary critic, who hails Dr. Bleib
treu's discovery as being as impor
tant in the realm of literature as Co
lumbus' discovery of America was geo
graphically and -politically.
On the otherhand. Professor Dowden,
who fills the chair of English literature
at the University of Dublin and who is
one of the greatest living Shakespeari
an authorities, sees absolutely no evi
dence to Justify Dr. Bleibtreu's theory.
He has not seen the doctor's book, but,
judging from the published summary,
he is strongly of the belief that it will
prove another mare's nest. He points
out that the Earl of Rutland was born
In 1576, 12 years later than Shakespeare,
and If he was the author of the works
attributed to the latter he couldn't
have been older than 14 or 15 when he
produced "Love's Labor Lost," a cir
cumstance which is quite incredible.
Professor Dowden repudiates Dr. Bleib
treu's description of Shakespeare as a
low comedian who got drunk regularly,
and says it is wholl.y unjustifiable.
Professor Herford. another Shakes
pearian authority, regards the theory as
likely to prove to he greater rubbish
than the Baconian one. Dr.. Abbott de
scribes it as absilrd and Dr. Gollancz
says it is rubbish.
American Coal for OOOO Yearn.
Chicago Record-Herald.
Officials of the geological survey de
clare that the present generation, the
generation to follow, and still other
generations need not worry aboux the
coal supply of the United States.
"There is an abundance of coal in
this country," said one of the. survey
scientists. "In fact, there is coal to
burn for many centuries to come.
While It is impossible to make any ac
curate prophecy, I think it is safe to
say that the supply in the United
States will last for 4000 or 5000 years."
Then the scientist paused for a
minute, stroked his chin reflectively,
and repeated: "Yes, I think it is per
fectly safe to say that the coal de
posits in this country will not be ex
hausted for probably 4000 or 5000
years."
The idea got abroad in the land that
the tremendous consumption of coal in
the last 25 years threatents to exhaust
the supply, and in comparatively few
years a new fuel will have to be in
vented or discovered to take the place
of this product.
"A PATRIOT'S PRAYER."
Latest Poem of Alfred Austin, l'oet-Lan-reate
of England. ,
II manque tojours quelque chose a la
belle vie, qui ne finlt pas eur le champ de
batallle. sur l'echataud, ou en prison.
Lamennais.
Tho we must die. let me not die
In ignominious strife. '
With fate invincible, and sigh
To linger out my ltfe
With powers decayed, onfeebled mind
And slowly slackening- breath.
Burden of pity to my kind.
And dead before my death.
No. let me perish, sword in hand.
At Honor's sudden call.
Guarding my menaced Motherland
And for faer safety fall.
Or mount the scaffold with firm gaze,
Martyr to some great cause.
And end my not inglorious days
For Freedom's outraged Laws.
What is this life except a trust
For nobleness and right.
The torch which, while we may, we must
Still bear and keep alight;
And when, from our exhausted will
It flickers, hand it on,
That it may burn and Jbeckon. still.
Till Time Itself be gone.
But If, in unheroic days,
No great deed may be done.
Let me at least deserve this praise:
"He lived and died an one
"Who looked on Life with fearless eyes,
And with intrepid mind;
So leaves, where now he silent lies.
An honored name behind."
Swlnburn Old Manor, Kent. England.'
AND THE CAT
f ill -m 1 ;?''f
-
-ii
BETROTHALS IN DOCTORS HANDS.
Sages of Medicine and Theology Urged
for Affianced Conple.
Philadelphia Dispatch.
Betrothal under the sanction of the
family physician, not trial marriage, is
the idea advanced by Mrs. Lucy B.
Thwing. a scholarly Phlladelphian. to
counter the remarkable views set forth
by Mrs. Elsie Clews Parsons of New
York in her recent book. "The Family."
Mrs. Thwing. who is the wife of Pro
fessor Charles Barton Thwing, an em
inent physicist, regards Mrs. Parsons'
remedy as impracticable. From a long
study of the marriage problem for Mrd.
Thwing Is almost as deep a student as
is her husband of such questions she has
decided that the betrothal should be a
much more solemn arrangement than at
present, and that it should be subject to
"ratification" by a physician, Just as the
marriage ceremony proper is by a magis
trate or clergyman,.
She writes:
"Some one surely ought to remind Mrs.
Parsons and the bishops who feel agitated
about her book that we already have the
matter of trial marriages well provided
for. but we call It betrothal.
"Perhaps many are not quite careful
enough to make the betrothal as fully
serviceable as it should be in many ways,
but we usually announce it, encourage a
ring as a symbol of a definite sort of
relation, and make all sorts of prepara
tions for the more binding ceremony
except, perhaps, that most essential prep
aration, the solemn and careful inquiry,
by both maid and man, into their mutual
fitness for marriage.
"Tho- doctor of medicine is as fit and
fully as necessary to bless the betrothal
as the doctor of divinity is suitable for
the marriage proper. If I left out either,
it would be the doctor of divinity. But I
should not leave out either. It were
better to consult both. Mrs. Parsons has
found a needful line of research. Let
us not try to hinder her. but to help her.
"All the older people have such a con
vention as has been suggested. Usually
it means far more than ours Is ordinarily
supposed to mean to .the betrothal pair.
"The Hebrews put up a tent, or its
equivalent, and left the lovers alone in
it. The Brahman looks over his new
wife, and. If pleased, makes her a mother;
but if he thinks her unfit she remains in
his house as a servant. He certainly has
room to exercise his intelligence.
"ITnder the Jewish laws the woman also
made her choice before marriage.
"I wish our boys and girls might all
become acquainted with themselves and
with the great, clean, orderly world In
which we live. And the period of be
trothal seems the sweetest time for such
learning."
The President Defended.
Chicago Record-Herald.
Now two things with regard to the
conduct of the soldiers need attention.
First, they were not mereVy private
citizens sheltering their friends; they
were soldiers under military discipline,
sheltering men who had disgraced the
uniform. Secondly, they themselves
made a race issue of the matter; the
riot to begin with had some racial an
tipathy at bottom, and the battalion
deliberately took a race stand with re
gard to It in all its phases.
These facts made it intolerable that
the offense should go unpunished. They
also left no option In punishment ex
cept the discharge of all the members
of the battalion, even though a few
men, innocent even of sympathy with
the rioters, would thereby suffer along
with the guilty.
It has pleased a good many critics
to regard this as an act of tyranny on
the part of the executive. Were the
President a known hater of the negro
race there might be some ground for
It. But surely of all men In public life
he is least to bo accused of such a
prejudice. Were he a hater cf the rank
and file of the army he might be ac
cused. But to state the supposition is
to make it ridiculous.
Madame Calve'a Slghtlcas Fiance.
Paris Correspondence In N. Y. Sun.
A contributor to the Echo de Paris,
after dining with Mme. Calve, quotes
her as giving the following description
of her fiance:
Ho became blind 11 years ago. He
was working In a laboratory with his
brother and a foreman when a short-
circuited wire blinded all three of
them. The brother subsequently died
from melancholia and the foreman
committed suicide. The fiance, who
was then married, lost his wife. She
died of 'grief over her inability to re
store her husband's sight. Since then
he has loved only music.
The writer says that the fiance's last
visit to a theater before his affliction
was two days before the catastrophe.
He went to the Metropolitan Opera
House and heard Mme. Calve sing
"Carmen." -He met her and said to her:
"With your voice I see again. It
re-creates for me a landscape of dewy
valleys and dark forests."
Their marriage will take place next
June. From January until March they
wilj be on a yachting cruise in the
Mediterranean. There will be an or
chestra on board the yacht.
The Forest Spirit.
Chicago Tribune.
The editor was criticising the poem
just brought in by the literary contri
butor. "You speak of the 'spirit of the for
est,' " he said. "Do you think there is
such a thing as a forest spirit, as dis
tinguished from any other kind?"
4 es, sir," fiercely responded the literary-
contributor. "Didn't you ever
hear of such a thing as wood alcohol?"
COMES BACK
From the Indianapolis Xewa.
IN THE SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
TOMORROW
First and foremost, all the world's
news by Associated Fresa, special
correspondents and member of The
Oregonian staff, making the fullest
and most complete record of any
Pacific Coast newspaper.
PEARY'S OWN STORY
OF HIS DASH TO
"FARTHEST NORTH"
One of the most thrilling stories
of adventure of modern times, told
by the chief actor Commander
Peary himself of the Arctic expe
dition, published by arrangement
with the New York Herald.
No one can read unmoved the
simple, absolutely truthful tale of
the awful fight with ice and storm.
It Is the story of the
Final desperate rush, when men
ate their dogs, told in faithful de
tail. Afloat for five days on an Ice floe,
and escape on bridge that bent.
Lost in blinding storms and cut
their way through drift with pick
axes. Cut off from provisions by crack
in ice and forced to live on half
rations.
Musk oxen save lives of the party
when their despair was the great
est. NOVEMBER DAY SCENES
IN PORTLAND HARBOR
Two pages of illustrations In
color and black showing better
than text can, the City of Port
land as a seaport.
COLOSSAL BLUNDERS
OF SOME BIG MEN
Dexter Marshall, omitting every
thing except a bare mention of the
Czar, the biggest blunderer of all.
tells of bad breaks made by world
famous men and of blunders by
others which wrecked the fortunes
of political leaders in America and
Europe.
HOSPITAL DEVOTED
TO ANIMALS ONLY
W. B. Northrop writes from Lon
don about a new institution which
devotes itself to treating dumb
creatures belonging to poor folk.
Rich men's horses, dogs and birds
are rigidly excluryd. The most
expert veterinarians of England
are employed to give free aid to
useful animals and pets.
OLD STORIES REVISED
BY GEORGE ADE
The tale for tomorrow is "Maud
Muller, Who Raked the Hay," In
which Mr. Ade sets forth what
might happen to the Judge if he
went trifling with a'-wise Maud of
the present day. In this satire the
Hoosier humorist has struck his
' old gait.
EDITORIALS BY
THE LAITY
A page of opinion on current top
ics, including Llcutenunt-General
H. C. Corbin's views of the Army
canteen and a Portland kitchen
maid's solution of the "Servant
Girl" problem.
HAM BURR'S
GRANDMA'S PARTY
Read how Kdward Townseud
tells and W. II. Galloway illus
trates what happened.
BOOK REVIEWS AND
NEWS OF LITERARY FIELD
The cream of bookland Is given on
the book page, together with news
of men and women busy in literary
life. Among the bonks reviewed
are: "The Golden Goblin," by Cur
tis Dunham; "Through the Gates
of the Netherlands." by Mary K.
Waller; "The Land of Enchant
ment," by Lillian Whiting; "The.
Self-Interpretation pf Jesus
Christ." by Rev. G. S. Streatfleid;
"In Pastures New," by George
Ade; "Chipplnge Borough." by
Stanley J. Weyinan; "The Breath
of the Runners," by Mary Mears;
"Indian Boys and Girls," stories
and verse By Alice Calhoun Haines;
"Rosemary in Searrh of a Ka
' ther," by C. N. and A. M. Wil
liamson; "A Spinner in the Sun,"
byMyrtlo Reed.
NEW YORK'S DISPLAY
OF WEALTH AND FASHION
An Interesting description of the
New York horse show Is given in
the usual letter from Emilia
Frances Bjjucr. This event was at
tended by tho wealth and society
of the national metropolis, and was
the occasion of the display of soma
of the finest throughbreds ever
brought together. The letter also
deals with the new play "Tho
Daughters of Men" by Charles
Klein, author of "The Lion and the
Mouse," which was recently in
Portland, and David Bispham's
new opera, based on Goldsmith's
t "Vicar of Wakefield."
SOCIETY, MUSIC
AND THE DRAMA
Complete reviews of local social
musical and dramatic happenings
are given in The Sunday Oregonian
each week. The items vary from
description of receptions and wed
dings to concerts and local thea
trical news. A resume of the past
week in the Portland playhouses ls
presented as well as announce
ments for the coming fortnight,
and there are always interesting
stories of stage life. The depart
ment Is Illustrated with repiixluc.
Hons of photograplus and sketches.
NOTES, NEWS AND GOSSIP
OF THE SPORTING WORLD
A special feature of the sporting
department tomorrow will be a re
view of the football season which
closed with the Thanksgiving
games, so far as the college teams
are concerned. No branch of
athletics is overlooked In this de
partment. With the Associated
Press service supplemented by let
ters and dispatches from special
correspondents and articles by
staff writers. The Oregonian covers
sporting news more thoroughly
than any other newspaper In tho
. Northwest.
REVIEW OF THE WEEK
IN BUILDING AND REALTY
The present year is breaking all
records1 in volume of activity in
Portland property. This movement
is watched keenly by all who have
money invested here and all who
are interested In the progress of
the city. Important sales and
various phases of the situa
tion are reported in The Sun
day Oregonian each week. Illus
trations of new homes and bui
nefis buildings accompany these
articles.
NEWSPAPER WAIFS.
"Poor Miss Sere! she spent fifty cents
yesterday for a dry old scientific book cnll'-d
:Bcst Method of Filtration. The loea:
What did whe want with that?" '-Siie-thouKnt
it was 'Flirtation.' " Philadelphia
IJreB.
Patience In Bohemia courtp'nipfi are ab
normally lonn. In that country enRnK'--njents
frequently lat from fifteen to twenty
years. I'airice A love bLory in print over
there must look like a Carnegio library.
yonkers Statesman.
"Well, well!" exclaimed the firjt passen
ger at the shlp'8 railing. "Isn't that, a
brlpantine that'a just coming up?" "I don't
think so." replied the seasick man nearby.
"I don't remember having eaten a brlgun
tinc." Philadelphia Press.
Jones (to next-door neighbor) I don't
like to mention it. but I fear your daughter
is taking c-locutio lessons. Smith (hotly
Certainty she Is. What of It? Jones;
(hurriedly) Oh. nothing; only T thought I
would break the news as gently as possible,
in case you were Ignorant of the fact,
Town and Country.