THE MORNING OK EG ONI AN, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1903.
6
PORTLAND, OREGON.
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pOSTUNn. FRm.VY. DEC. J5. 190.
A BlACK CHAPTER.
The case of Judge Milo A. Root,
of the State of Washington, is pitiful.
For he is both a criminal and a vic
tim. His parsing marks the erection
of one more sepulchre on the broad
road that leads to moral death. On
It should be written, for study of the
wayfarer, that line of "The Paradise
Lost," "Remember, and fear to trans
gress." Xet it can hardly be said that
bridge Root is as much sinned against
s sinning. It was his business, as
a judge, as a servant of the public,
to resist the appearance and the first
anproach of evil. He permitted him
self to deal with a man whom he
knew to be the agent, of the great
railroad power of his state. The ex
tent of the favors he received from
that agent are yet unknown. They
never may be wholly divulged.
That agent, a man named Gordon,
had been one . of the Judges of the
Supreme Court of the State. A large
sum of money had been placed in
his hands, obviously for corrupt uses.
It was to be his business to look after
the "interests" of the company that
employed him. for influence of courts
and of legislation. Gordon "went
short" on his money. The railroad
company demanded from him an ac
counting, and return of money still
In his hands. But Gordon believed
himself to be in position to resist the
claim and demand. The money had
been advanced to him for purposes
that wonld not bear investigation,
and he desired it understood and ac
cepted by the company that he had
used it for corrupt purposes. There
fore he refused to be held to account.
Pressure on him for the money in
creased; and -for defense he alleged
he had been dealing with Judge Root.
In support of this allegation he sub
mitted certain letters that had been
written by Judge Root. These letters
are obscure, but clearly are of com
promising character. Gordon had not
been prompt in meeting his prom
ises to Root, and the latter com
plained. He had been "exceedingly
embarrassed by assurances made on
promises received." The obvious
meaning is that Gordon had been
-tardy had not "come through." He
had not kept his agreement. "Prom
ises" were unfulfilled. But the rela
tions between Gordon and Root had
been so familiar and confidential that
Root had permitted Gordon to write
the opinion in a case in which Gor
don's principals were a party an
offense graver than all the rest.
But Gordon, held for the money he
had received from the company,
rated for it, and pressed for return
of such balance of it as might still
exist, told his employers to "go to
blazes." They had given him money
for corrupt or improper purposes, and
had no right to demand how he had
spent it. One account says most of
the money had been squandered in
gambling: another, that part of it
had been blown into a gold mine.
But it suited Gordon to stand on his
privilege. He had been given the
money for purposes of corruption,
and answered that he had so spent
it. To sustain this assertion he pro
duced his transactions with Judge
Root.
Yet Root seems to have got noth
ing, or little. But he had allowed
dishonor to traffic with him as a
judge, and had written compromis
ing letters. These he calls epistolary
Indiscretions. He had, moreover, al
lowed Gordon to write an opinion for
him thereby betraying the most
sacred of trusts. But Gordon was a
gambler; and a gambler's word or
honor is never to be trusted. Gordon
did, indeed, get the service for his
company, but played false with Root;
and the company has been guilty of
the "indiscretion" of wanting the
money back and of trying to make
Gordon return it.
All parties in this transaction are
criminals, but the original criminal
was the railroad company, who put
a large sum of money into Gordon's
hands, for improper purposes. Judge
Root is both a criminal and a victim,
and "probably will be compelled to
suffer alone; but retributive Justice
ought to "send over the road" with
him and with Gordon the originators
of the whole black scheme, who' put
up the money for corruption of the
legislation and of the courts of the
state.
rUGET SOl"XI DRAWS NEARER.
The Northern Pacific transfer boat
Tacoma. which for a quarter of a cen
tury has ferried trains across the Co
lumbia River at Kalama, is today
making her final trips in that service,
and in the future Portland will en
joy a direct through train service to
Puget Sound. The passing of this
old craft, which for so many years
has played uch an important part in
the transportation development of the
Pacific Xorthwest. marks another
epoch in the commercial life of this
city and tributary territory. The ap
pearance of the transfer boat Kalama
original name of the Tacoma), fol
lowing completion of the forty-mile
stretch of railroad between Portland
and Hunter's Point, shortened the
time between Portland and Tacoma
nearly three hours, and eliminated
the exceedingly disagreeable transfer
of baggage and passengers from
steamboat to train at Kalama.
Neither the railroad men nor their
patrons at that time ever expected
to see the traffic of the road grow Into
such magnificent proportions that it
would tax the capacity of the enor
mous ferryboat to keep it moving, nor
could they foresee the approaching
period when the passenger traffic be
tween the two states would demand
something better than the interrup
tion and delay in -th.a.ourneyr which.
could not be eliminated so long as the
ferry was in service. But the de
mands of traffic in this territory have
far outgrown the speed and capacity
of the old ferry, and its abandonment
will vastly improve transportation
facilities between Portland, Puget
Sound and the intervening territory.
Business men "who have much trav
eling to do and freight shippers will
feel no sentimental regret over the
retirement of the old ferry, but all
over the world are tourists and pleasure-seekers
by thousands and tens of
thousands who have taken their first
view of the mighty Columbia from
the deck of the big boat as it was
moving passenger trains across the
river. The ride across the river was
to many a welcome break in the mo
notonous railroad journey, and the
news that this interesting link in the
route will be closed forever will be
received by this class of tourists with
regret.
LIGHT FOR THE CITY;
It is just as well to disregard the
personal controversies between the
Mayor and members of the Common
Council over the public lighting of
the city Those altercations are the
product, chiefly, of the Mayor's dog
matic spirit, whose ebullitions are met
by contemptuous and unseemly per
sonalities levelled at him, by way of
retaliation. But it is not observed
that they throw any light on the prob
lem of lighting the city.
The maggot of public ownership
has found lodgment in the Mayor's
mind, which is not strange; since his
mind has a tendency to exalt the
dogma of public ownership, as one'bf
the tenets of socialistic effort. But
the problem of supplying light for
the city stands on very different foot
ing from that of water supply, be
cause of the vastly greater number of
factors that enter into the operation.
Water delivers itself, through gravi
tation: light is delivered through a
complicated mechanism, requiring at
tention to an infinity of detail, espe
cially costly and troublesome under
public management.
The Oregonian cannot believe or
suppose that the City of Portland
wishes to undertake at this time the
installation of a public lighting sys
tem. Expenditures unavoidable are
already very great, and more are in
sight. That light so supplied would
cost the city far more than the
Mayor's estimate, or any estimate
that may bo furnished by projectors,
is absolutely certain. Moreover, ad
ministration of the system would
overrun immensely all estimates, here
as elsewhere. The public can do
nothing as cheaply as private enter
prise can.
There is only one bidder at .pres
ent, and all the changes are rung on
the word monopoly. But in the
whole matter lies one single and sim
ple question of fact, which ought to
be ascertainable, namely, whether
the offer submitted by this company
Is reasonable, as compared with the
rates paid by other cities.- We be
lieve they are; but if they are not,
it should be easy for those who op
pose the present offer to show it.
In the places where public lighting is
attempted the figures are usually
juggled, for the purpose of making
a good showing. Claims are made
that analysis of the figures disproves;
too much credit is given for exten
sions and improvements, and not
enough allowance is made for ex
haustion of materials or for 'neces
sary supersedure of old by new. In
all caes the actual cost, through a
term of years, will be found greater
than the estimates; and labor em
ployed by the public is always more
costly and commonly less efficient
than that employed under private or
contract direction.
Among the many and great accom
plishments of Mayor Lane, it may
well be doubted whether electrical
engineering is one, or whether the
city, if it were actually going into
the business, would look to him for
guidance His plans and figures
would scarcely be deemed conclu
sive. The only present question, it
would seem, is whether the bid sub
mitted by the Portland General as
compared with the cost in the many
other cities of the country that are
lighted by contract, is reasonable or
not, too high, or not
GOOD FOOD AND GOOD SOCIETY.
A number of preachers of. Portland,
seeking the society of good things,
have been enjoying luncheon lately
as guests of one Ferdinand E. Reed,
who. has been beholden to the liquor
interests, and doubtless is still so be
holden. At one luncheon, the biggest
beer brewer was a guest, along" with
the biggest Methodist preacher of
East Portland. Now at last is the
millennium at hand, that the lion and
the lamb should lie down together,
and that the inscrutable Mr. Reed
should act the role of the prince of
peace?
.It would really be an outrage on
decency if the innocent preachers, un
trained to the snares of the satraps of
Satan, should expose themselves to
his tricks, or, if flattered by his wiles,
should uncover the reform plans of
the righteous. It ought to be worth
the price of many luncheons to find
out whether the cohorts of decency
plan state prohibition or serious
amendment of the local option law in
the Legislature, or whether the min
ions of hell's dark beverage dare try
a new Jayne bill. For any person
who wonders how the impecunious
Mr. Reed can pay the luncheon bills
all these matters have illumination.
The best is none too good for the
preachers, and it is a matter of gen
eral gratification that they have been
feeding on the best. Mr. Reed, lover
of mankind that he Is, is accomplish
ing his highest Ideals, and we trust
the good society of the preachers will
do as much for him as his good food
does for them.
SHALLOW OBJECTIONS.
The news from Washington that
the bill for postal savings banks
seems to interpose delays when a de
positor may wish to withdraw his
money need not worry anybody a
great deal. There are delays now in
many cases, as some. unhappy depos
itors know too well. The main point
is that, in spite of procrastination and
red tape, whoever might put money
into the postal banks would be sure
to get It out in the end, while under
present conditions he is by no means
always sure to do so.
The other objection, that "the bill
would make postal banks purely sav
ings institutions," sounds very singu
lar. That Is what they are intended
to be. Nobody has ever thought of
making .them anything else but sav
ings banks. If the regulations make
It difficult to draw out money, so
much the better. It ought not to be
too easy for a person to withdraw his
savings. Delay encourages reflection
and" reflection may inspire thrift.
There .aeyer. yet Jivjea. .aa object
tion made to postal savings banks
which could face candid investigation
an instant.
TRI E AND FALSE FREEDOM."
When Mr. Gompers protests to the
world that the sacred right of free
speech and free press Is violated, in
that he and his coadjutors are re
strained from uttering matter to in
jure and destroy a business with
which they are at variance because
it does not yield to their demands, he
and they are pushing the claim for
free speech and free press to a limit
which it is Impossible to allow.
And i'hen injunction Is issued to
prevent them from doing this, and
nevertheless they disregard the in
junction and persist in speech and
publication, with intent to destroy a
business that refuses to submit to
their terms, they are to be taught
and they must learn that the prin
ciple of free speech and of free
press, sacred as it is, must be used
under the same limitations as any
other right; so used, that is to say,
as not to injure others.
The right to do a lawful business is
a natural right and a personal fight
and a property 'right; and it is a
proper business of society or govern
ment to see that the right shall be
protected and not aestroyea.
The right of free speech and of free
press are indeed sacred rights; and so
is the right to carry a shot-gun. But
you are not to injure or destroy
your neighbor with the one or with
the other.
AS LITTLE CHILDREN.
Of course the reader has noticed
what a very different thing the Christ
mas smile is from the smile of other
seasons. Men are capable of smiling
when they are angry. There is even
such a thing as a cruel smile evoked
by the sight of suffering or the
thought of revenge, but it is not to be
seen on Christmas. On that day of
days, when we forget our envy and
regret and see nothing in the future
but Its brightness, who could be
angry, who could cherish cruelty in
his heart? On Christmas day we
all become children again with noth
ing to remember but the clear joy
of childhood and nothing to expect
from a benignant world but inno
eent happiness. So we smile as chil
dren do without malice, regret or
fear, radiating pure kindliness and
evoking It from our fellow men. For
it is the wonderful nature of that
flame in the heart which we call love
that wherever Its rays fall they
kindle new flames. Thus it spreads
from morning till night on Christmas,
and before the sun goes down on the
Savior's birthday the whole world is
ablaze and aglow with it. Love in
the millionairess mansion, love in the
workman's cottage; on the street, on
the farm and afar on the wind-swept
ocean the fires are kindled and all the
blessed glory of it shines in the
Christmas smile.
It Is worth while to practice the
Christmas smile, for it does not eome
by nature to everybody. There was
old Scrooge in the Christmas Carol,
for example, who managed to put It
on only after the most distressing
lessons; but he finally achieved it and
so can everybody who is willing to
try hard enough. If there is any
body who will not try, why the rest
of us must smile all the more to
make up for his obstinacy. On
Christmas the world simply must be
filled to overflowing with happiness,
and, if here and there some can
tankerous curmudgeon will not do his
part, somebody else must work over
time. But working overtime to gen
erate happiness Is not a job to be
shunned. It is the only job under
the sun that pays for itself as it goes
along. The workman not only sup
plies everybody around him with a
share of his product but, miraculous
to tell, he keeps the whole of it for
himself at the same time. The more
Joy we give away the more we have.
If we only valued it as we ought, how
rich we might all become. If wealth
were only measured In terms of hap
piness, need there be any poor on
earth?
Nobody who cannot put on a genu
ine Christmas smile and set his heart
in tune with it ought ever to thrust
his head into a Christmas home. The
place is too blithe for such a wretch.
Say what you will about how sacred
the every-day home is and how the
children liven it and the dear mother
blesses it and the' father protects it,
still on Christmas day it is a little
more sacred than on any other day
and a great deal -more jolly. The
father adds to his protection an un
accustomed tenderness, the children
are merrier and the mother's eyes are
alight with some sweet, mysterious
peace. It is as if she had bent over
the manger as the dawn broke and
kissed the new-born babe. Beautiful
mother, the Savior is ever at her side,
an invisible presence, but on Christ
mas we can almost see him. We can
touch his hand, half incarnate again
as he yearns with infinite tenderness
toward his earth. We can read the
everlasting surety of his loving kind
ness in the light of tho mother's eyes.
Home is a good place to go back to
on any day of the year, but best of
all on Christmas day. Then we can
find again what all of us are seeking,
the lost illusions of childhood, the
glory and the dream which made the
world a miracle of joy. For most of
us the dream has vanished In what
we call reality and the glory has
faded to a dismal gray, but on Christ
mas morning it all comes back when
we awaken in the old home, in the
kindly old home where memory takes
the place of ambition and the heart
softens in the mild air of far-off
Summers. Nothing is so good for a
man as to open his eyes under the
rafters where he heard the rain patter
when he was a boy and wish he were
that same boy again. Perhaps he will
be sometime. That may be what
heaven is, to get back all the lost
illusions and dream for ever the
dreams of childhood.
What have we gained that can pay
for them? Let us not be too sure
that we are right now and were
wrong when we were children. The
illusions may be the realities after
all. Perhaps the barefoot boy was
awake andthe hard-hearted old man
is dreaming, and when the Son of
God holds out his hand to him on
the other side of the dark river the
new life may be only a return to the
one he began on earth and failed to
finish. Christmas makes us all chil
dren again. Though it be but for
a day, still that day Is precious above
all the rest of the harassed, toilsome
year. "Except ye become as little
children," said Jesus, "ye cannot
enter the Kingdom." On Christmas
day we, do become as little children
and feel for a little while the. infinite
wonder of his promise. The gates of
the beautiful city open, swinging on
their golden hinges with music
sweeter than the poets ever imagined,
ami we throng wii&la tvhera the
angels are and the tree of life sheds
its healing for the nations. If at
nightfall the gates swing to and we
are shut out again into the hard
world of strife, still the songs we
heard are not forgotten, some linger
ing touch of balm from the tree by
the crystal river makes our wounds
less cruel, and the glimpse we had of
the Savior's face softens and human
izes us for another year.
New Torkers will not be "broke"
very long, no matter how strong they
plunge on Christmas presents, for the
January dividend disbursements of
trust companies, railroads and other
corporations in the metropolis will
exceed J 210,000,000, an increase of
$17,000,000 over the disbursements of
January, 1908. In this .financial item
an accurate comparison with that of
a year ago is of value, for, unlike
bank clearings, customs receipts and
other trade features affected by the
panic, these dividend disbursements
were practically all fixed long before
the panic appeared, and were in no
way involved in the troupe which
played havoc in other lines. It was
release of an enormous sum last Jan
uary that materially aided in restor
ing the equilibrium of the financial
situation. Much good can be accom
plished with $210,000,000 if it is
placed in the proper channels, and in
dications are favorable for increased
activity after the turn of the year.
To the Eastern fruitgrowers who
are unfamiliar with the wonderful
productive qualities of Oregon, or
chards, some of the prices paid in
this state are puzzling. A thirty-five-acre
orchard near Grants Pass, with
an additional fifty acres of land not
in fruit, sold this week for $34,000,
the orchard part of the land being
worth about $800 per acre. This
seems a large sum until it is explained
that the crop from this orchard sold
in 1906 for $17,000, and that it had
already made a fortune for the owner
before he disposed of it to retire and
enjoy the fruits 6f his labors in a land
where fortunes are so easily made.
The sale of this Southern Oregon
ranch was not an exceptional one, as
much higher prices have been paid,
but never yet has the price mounted
high enough to preclude a handsome
annual return on the money invested.
The City Council is entitled to the
thanks of a grateful' public for its re
fusal to take action against the rule
of the streetcar company which for
bids smoking on Its cars. Talk of the
"hardship" inflicted upon smokers by
this rule is the sheerest nonsense.
Any man "who cannot, without griev
ous hardship, refrain from smoking
on his way to and from his place of
business or employment on the
streetcars is a slave whom it is the
part of humanity to emancipate. If
this rule irks him, he has a simple
and effective remedy; he can walk at
least part of the way, or until he fin
ishes his pipe or cigar. With so easy
and healthful a remedy at hand, it is
foolish to talk of "hardship" in con
nection with a rule of the streetcar
company, made in the interest of a
majority of its patrons.
Castro, firm In the belief that a live
private citizen has quite an advan
tage over a dead president, sensibly
says: "I shall place no difficulties in
the way of the present administration
of Venezuela in settling pending con
troversies with foreign governments,
even if this involves my own with
drawal from activity in the affairs of
the nation." No individual could
part with something he did not pos
sess with a better grace than is here
exhibited. Castro will place no diffi
culties in the way of the present ad
ministration, because it is beyond his
power to do so. A revolution always
lands some faction on top, and that
faction seldom fails to strengthen its
position by making the land unattrac
tive and unhealthy for the opposi
tion. The appraiser of customs at Chi
cago is complaining because foreign
ers have sent in by mail more than
200 pounds of English plum pudding,
necessitating an examination to de
termine whether it contains diamonds
or any other dutiable articles. The
customs officer has experienced diffi
culty in determining whether the in
gredients used in the manufacture of
this Christmas delicacy are subject to
duty. As the English plum pudding
in the materials used in its construc
tion has many features of similarity
to the mince pie, it is not to be won
dered that the customs officer had
difficulty in determining what it con
tained, or, having found out, was still
at sea as to the liability for duty.
The return of the $2.50 gold piece
to circulation will not be hailed by
the public. The coin, though a little
beauty, Is hard to distinguish from
the 10-cent piece by the sense of
touch, and in the hurry of passing out
fare on crowded streetcars is likely
to create both confusion and loss.
Since it is to come into circulation
again, however, it behooves those
who handle It in exchange to be care
ful a necessity abhorred by Ameri
cans. In the Municipal Councils of Pitts
burg there were six men whom the
purchasing agent could not deal with.
He reported thera to his principals as
" fools"; and to emphasize their
folly and infamy he gave out their
names. And the men have no rem
edy. Of course those detectives who in
sist that they have been in the city's
pay for the past two years or more
are prepared to turn over to the city
all they have otherwise earned mean
while. A moving picture of those Pitts
burg Councllmen on the way to the
Penitentiary would be a handsome
and appropriate supplement to that
justly celebrated bribery flashlight.
What did Mr. Gompers expect the
court to do when he insolently, open
ly and continuously defied its injunc
tion? It didn't seem as great an event in
Bethlehem 1908 years ago as it does
in Portland today.
"Why not put on Jim Crow street
cars for the smokers, if their stench
must ride with them?
If you begin saving your Christmas
money early, you won't feel the cost
so hard next year.
Finch is sane enough when he
pleads for his neck.
Same to you, Governor-elect Cos-
grove,
CHRISTMAS I" THE! OLDE.V DAYS
Observed With Feasting and Revelry)
Slow With Excessive Giving.
In the child-like faith of the middle
ages all things were In sympathy with
the Nativity. Birds sang with clearer
notes, bees In thir hives made a more
melodious humming and cattle in their
stalls went down upon their knees,
while as a sign that gracious influen
ces were abroad In all animated na
ture the "bird of dawning" crowed all
night long on the eve of Christmas.
In the Western part of Devonshire the
story that at 12 o'clock on Christmas
eve, the oxen in their stalls were al
ways found on their knees as in an at
titude of devotion, and making "a
cruel moan like Christian creatures,"
was unquestionably believed.
Going back of this era Christmas
was a time of crude revelry and ex
cesses that would shame and astonish
the civilization of the present day, but
at this period it was a "gracious
time." When we read of the simpler
revels and fond, foolish beliefs of
Christmas in the 15th and 16th cen
turies, we might regret that we have
lost in this more enlightened age this
child-like faith in holy miracles, but
for the fact that the spirit of Christ
mas is manifest in ways more In ac
cord with generosity and gracious
sympathy than ever before in the
world's history.
As noted by Charles Dudley Warner,
in an article a quarter of a century
old; "we have dropped a good many
rude, and some pretty customs, but
we have gained a broadening spirit of
almost universal charity, a feeling of
new brotherhood, that is perhaps none
the less real because it is held a 'good
deal in check during the rest of the
year."
In the old time Christmas began on
December 16, described in the prayer
book calendar as O Sapientia, and
ended January 6 with Twelfth Night.
It is related of the learned Dr. Parr,
that when he was asked on what day
in December it was proper to begin
eating mince pie, he replied: "Begin
on O Sapientia, but please to say
Christmas pie not mince pie mince
Pie Is Puritanical." If there is any
merit in eating mince pie, as this as
sociation of it with the holy season
seems to imply, we have a conclusive
test of the piety of Tjhjrims, for they
did not hesitate to eat mince pie any
day in the year, when they could get
it, a habit that abides with their de
scendants to the present day. They
even combined gastronomy and piety
to such an extent that they could take
hot mince pie for breakfast on a Sum
mer morning with impunity.
In the ISth and lfith centuries the
whole season included between the
riatoo o-lAK -'
ci-,, wuj, given up to rude rev
els in which eating and drinking
were the chief elements. A great deal
has come down to us in regard to the
excesses of this time. Gormandizing,
drunkenness and the more boisterous
revelry incident to the latter state be
longed to the season. During the fes
tival days the tables were constantly
spread; the sirloin of beef, the mince
pie, the plum porridge, turkeys, geese,
and plum puddings were all brought
upon the board at once and every one
ate his fill, and all were welcome. The
men went early to church and re
turned to breakfast on brawn and
mustard. Brawn was a dish of great
antiquity. It was made from the
flesh of large boars which lived In a
half wild state and when put to fatten,
were strapped and belted tight around
the body in order to make the flesh
become dense and brawny. It came to
market in rolls two feet long, by ten
inches In diameter and was fit meat
for the half savage revelers who
washed It down with strong beer. The
boar's head fantastically dressed was
first served and the feast ended, if it
could be said to end during the season,
with peacock or pheasant pie. Briefly
the requisites for a good Christmas
celebration In the old days were plenty
of drink, a blazing fire in the hall,
brawn, pudding souse, beef, mutton
and pork, shred or mince pies of the
best pig, veal goose and capon;
cheese, nuts, and accompanying all
quaint and lively carols.
m
The object of this brief presentment
of Christmas past Is simply to contrast
ft with Christmas present. The gen
erosity, the good fellowship, the good
cheer of the former have been retained
while with advancing civilization the
crude and rude customs have dropped
away, bringing us to the Christmas
of the present, in chastened If some
what extravagant mood. "It is not
so picturesque" is the verdict of the
author above quoted, as rendered a
quarter of a century ago, "but ic is
fuller of brotherly love and nearer to
the divine intent." Pursuing his sub
ject with prophetic insight, Mr. War
ner added: "It is the tendency of all
holidays, the Christian no less than the
others, to go to excess, and the Chris
mas may soon become as burdensome
as it formerly was by reason of ex
cessive gifts and artificial social ob
servances. Progress is sometimes
likened to the swinging of a pendu
lum and Christmas will probably os
cillate to and fro In the fervor of ics
celebration throughout the ages." The
burden is being felt; the giving of
gifts Is being pushed beyond reason
able bounds; the reaction will come
within a shorter or longer period, de
pendent largely upon the continuance
of National prosperity or the recur
rence of a period of Industrial and
financial depression. But as before,
all that is best In the Christmas festi
val will remain and the spirit of good
will will survive. To doubt this would
be disloyalty to the best that is in
human nature brotherly love, good
will, good fellowship. C. A. C.
Difficult to Live on $2,0O0,0OO.
Boston Dispatch to the New York
World.
Letters In which Mrs. Caroline E.
Johnson complained of being obliged
to live on such a meager sum as the
Interest from $2,000,000 were a feature
of the contest of her will in the Suf
folk County Court. Although Mrs.
Johnson lives in New York, a large
part of her estate is in Massachussetts.
The will is being foueht by the daugh
ter, Mrs. Josephine W. Taylor.
Mrs. Johnson maintained a fashion
able residence at Newport, R. I., and
her letters contain satirical remarks
on the society there. In one she wrote:
"Belmont did the square thing' by
marrying Mrs. Sloan."
A letter from Mrs. Taylor, the daugh
ter, answering a suggestion that she
marry a rich man also is on file, in
which she says:
"I could do so tomorrow if I wished,
but a large fortune with a 'vulgarian'
does not attract me. I prefer a small
Income And independence,"
VERSE FROM
FATHER CHRISTMAS
A Song.
Maria Hematreet In the Outlook.
The Christmas Angel sang to me
(And It was Christmas morn),
"If Christ dwells not within thy soul.
For thee he Is not born:
If thou hast not his life In thine.
Then must thou Eo forlorn."
A fear for my imierfectness
Upon my spirit lay,
"But Peace on Earth. Goodwill to Men,
O Angel, I can say!"
"That Is the Song of Songs," he cried.
And smiling went his way.
A Question.
Washington (D. C.) Star.
If there Isn't any Santa Claus, who is It
turns your feet
Toward the shop where gifts are smiling as
you walk along the street?
Who is it sots you thinking, though you're
busy as can be.
About the songs and laughter 'round the
children's Christmas tree?
Though you vow "this Christmas business is
a nuifance, anyhow."
There's an Influence at work that clears the
frowning from your brow:
The small tin trumpet sounds a blast that
wakes your soul serene
To homage for the doll who is a lady and a
queen.
And the once prosaic world where it has
been your lot to dwell
Is a realm of fascination 'neath some mystlo
fairy spell!
If there Isn't any Santa Claus. who Is It,
day by day.
That turns our thoughts to Christmas, strive
to shun It as we may?
Who comes at this bleak season armed with
telepathic arts
And by generous suggestion dominates our
minds and hearts?
The Month, of Good Feeling.
Chicago Evening Post.
The mall Is heavy nowadays; Tve heard
from I'ncle Frank,
Who says he'd write more often, but he's
busy at his bank;
And here is one from Henry Jones, who
used to be my chum
He mentions how,- long years ago, I broke
his Christmas drum:
And here's a cordial missive from my
thoughtful cousin Joe,
It's strange I haven't heard from them
since Just a year ago.
The elevator boy is mild in manner and in
speech.
He knows without the asking just what
floor I want to reach;
The office boy is blithe and clean, comes
early to his work.
And never seems to want to find a time
that he can shirk
He even offers to come down an extra hour
or so
Of evenings. I remember now he- did a year
ago.
The man who tends my furnace sifts the
ashes every day;
He says he'll see we burn all the coal for
which we pay.
The postman six blocks from my house
will dig into his pack
And get a letter for me. Just to save my
walking back;
The world is growing better, Just as it be
gan to grow.
If I recall correctly, something like a year
ago.
The cook doesn't talk of leaving, there's a
twinkle In her eye;
She missed her half-day oft this week to
make my favored pie!
And I why, I feel kinder toward all the
folks and friends,
I've been to see the Sunday school my little
boy attends.
I've got a pleasant greeting for each fellow
that I know
Just as I had for all of them about a year
ago.
- Christmas City.
Baltimore Sun.
Ho! for the city of Christmastime;
Ho! for the beautiful dreamland place;
A dancing pearl In a gleam of rhyme.
Filled with the lilies of laughing face.
Ho! for the Christmas city, dears.
Purple palace and castles tall;
A wide domain where the pine tree rears
Its spangled boughs in the ftrellt hall;
Flashing splendor of lane and street.
Whirling spirits and dancing feet;
Ho! for the Christmas city, love.
With three gold stars in the dome above!
I
Spangled pageants in windows fair,
Toyful glories In shops of shine;
Rosy lassie, with golden hair,
Under the lights where the trinkets twine;
Dancing dreamers on feet of dew,
Lightheart singers and dreams of song.
Up and down where the blossoms strew
The purple paths of the pulsing throng;
Gossamer glitter and dust of light,
Fairy town in a kingdom bright;
Ho! for the Christmas city, we.
With its tinsel twined in the greenwood
tree!
Windows glowing and markets piled
With dainties tempting from far away.
Fruits still sweet with the sun that smiled
In Orient islands of yesterday;
Rippling laughter of young, sweet life.
Marvels many from stranger skies.
Love's lips laid on the wounds of strife,
And good-will beaming from gentle eyes;
Airy amulets, beautiful blooms.
Pungent spices and quaint perfumes;
Ho! for the Christmas city, all.
With Its purple spires and Its castles tall!
Under the spell of the evenglow.
Starry beauty of shop and street.
Gleaming windows In airy row.
Magic moving in mazes sweet;
Round and round with the rippling tide,
To and fro with the merry throng.
Laughter holding its aching side.
Music tripping in mirthful song;
Trumpets blowing and little drums
Beatlngthe march of the kingdom comes;
Ho! for the Christmas city, sweet.
With its old enchantment of little feet.
Gingerbread men in an icing suit.
Candy canes, and the old-time toys
Elephants, engines and birds and fruit
We sucked together when we were boys;
Splritful, wonderful city of gleam,
Magic and marvel of glow and light;
Down, down, down through the gates of
dream,
Let us go dancing, beloved, tonight!
Oranges, raisins, figs and dates.
Oh, for the city that ever waits; i
Ho! for the Christmas city, dear,
Where the gray heart dreams of an April
year!
A Christmas Lullaby.
Blanche E. Wade in Lippincott's.
Bethlehem town Is fast asleep,
(One. two sheep, and a star and a hill)
There where the shepherds watch their
sheep.
Out in the night, the shadows creep
Over the hill so high and steep.
(Three, four sheep, and a hill and a star.)
Over the plain comes three wise kings,
(One, two camels, a star, and a hill.)
Out of the east, lo each one brings
Beautiful gifts and precious things.
Loudly the chorus of angels sings.
(Three, 'four camels, a hill, and a star.)
i
Down in the town is a lowly shed.
(One. two cows, and a star and a hill.)
There, to the Christ-child's manger bed
Shepherds and three wise Kings are led.
Brightly the star shines overhead.
(Three, four cows, and a hill and a star.)
Over the hill go one, two sheep.
(One, two sheep, and a camel, and cow.)
Over the hill more camels creep;
There goes a Iamb with a joyous leap;
Here but the baby is fast asleep!
(Three, four sheep, and a hill, and a star.)
Called by Spirit Summons to Twin.
New York Herald.
In obedience to a psychic communi
cation, the first she had ever received,
Miss Catherine Bruce, a student in the
University of Michigan, came to New
York from Ann Arbor, Mich., to find
her twin sister, Mrs. Charles J. Rich,
of 400 West One hundred and eigh
teenth street, ill of pneumonia. Miss
Bruce said that while in a sorority
house in Ann Arbor, late at night, a
voice which she thought was that of
her twin sister had said to her:
"Come to me; I need you."
Mrs Rich had been ill for several
days, but the physician In attendance
had said that the illness was not grave.
After March 4 T. R. President Dewsger
Pittsburg Dispatch.
The New York Evening Post unbends
from its usual ponderous dignity to
indulge in this bit of levity: "After
March 4. he will be T. R., President
tCowaaer,'
SEATTLE 9FMCIPAL LIGHT PLAXT
It Has 5ev Paid Kxpenses and Biovr
ANks tor 9 SOO.OOO More.
Seattl Sptclal to Tacoma News.
Seattle Will on December 29 vote an
extra bork issue of $800,000. J500.000
of which fa to be used to finish work
now undeAvvay on the light plant, and
$300,000 ofWhtch is to refund money
that the Apartment has borrowed
from the giieral fund.
In spie W the fact that Seattle's
light rates Ire higher than the rates
charged in acoma. and Seattle owns
its own povr plant, the department
has never pap expenses. If tho bonds
carry It is conceded it will be because
the city is s far in-to the business
that to quit nw would be to lose all
that It has Invested.
The department's complete report
for this year i;fc not been made pub
lic. An incompte statement that is
being circulated ,y 1 city shows a
paper profit forthe ten months of
J13.000. It says Vnliing of tho many
times greater subs that have been
spent from the gtterul fund to keep
the department gohg.
According to 'thecontrollor's report
of last year, the den'rtment sold J192.
000 worth of current of which JtiT.OOrt
worth was sold to tV,. city for street
lighting. The operatit expenses were
S308.6S9. Interest p,l by general
taxation amounted to ?3.".S7.". Other
expenses paid out of tlV, jreneral fund
amounted to $lii,ono. y
Seattle's plant, whirh ariginally was
to have cost about $1,0(0,000, has al
ready cost $l,7.r)8,S45, nn if the bond
Issue soon to be voted on carries,
$800,000 must be added tohe amount.
The average residence consumer pays
2 cents a kilowatt hour moth than the
average Tacoma consumer. )
Seattle's rates are graded (own from
8Mi cents to 4 Vi cents. Tac.na rates
are graded down from G ccts to 3
cents.
A consumer in Tacoma who ises ?0
kilowatt hours of current in ft month
pays $1.20. In Seattle ho would pay
$1.70.
A Tacoma consumer using 40' kilo
watts would pay $2.40, and In Seattle
he would pay $3.20.
A Tacoma consumer using 60 hl
watts would pay $3.50, and in Seattle
he would pay $4. B0.
In addition, patrons are obliged to
put up with a wretched service. Fre
quently there are no lights at all for
two or three hurs at a stretch, and at
other times tho current is so weak
that it Is almost impossible to rend
with the lamps.
The much-boasted low rates of Se
attle are not the rates going to the
common people. They are rales made
only to big consumers, and rumor says
that the small consumers are paying
for the loss of current furnished to
the big consumers. Ono of the men In
the department admitted that some
sales of current to big consumers were
as low ns four-tr iths of 1 cent a kilo
watt hour an admitted loss to tho
city and a drain on tho small consum
ers. In view of these facts and figures it
Is no wonder that Auditor Young, of
the municipal plant, said tho other
day:
"The most dangerous thing a city
can take hold of is an electric power
plant. It is all a matter of manafrc
ment. Unless all politics are cut out.
unless your department is admirably
systematized and organized and unless
you have the proper men to head it.
It can never pay."
Clever I'nrrot Scares Fool pad.
Mont Clair (M. J.) Correspondent Phila
delphia Record.
"Polly," a parrot, who has been In
the family of Felix Yerdman for 20
years, is fond of ridinft with Yerdman
to market at I'aterson. Yerdman was
driving homo after dark and "Polly"
was a-horsehark. Yerdman says that
when the wagon reached a long hill
about a milo from the farm a negro
ran from the side of the road. Jumped
over the wagon's tailboard and said:
"Give me your money."
The farmer struck the robber In the
face, but the negro dragged him from
the wagon, threw him, bent htm badly
and started searching his pockets.
"Polly," seeing her master's plight,
shouted: "Hold him. Pop. I'm coming!"
At the words the highwayman ran as
if spooks were on his trail.
Wrathy After Mnjtlne Strikes Him.
Brooklyn (N. Y.) Dispatch.
When an express train on tho Dong
Island railroad struck a man, the en
gineer stopped, expecting to find only
pieces of a man's body. When ho
reached the man, who gave his name
as William O'Hara, he was asked if
he was much hurt. 'Yis." replied O'
Hara, "me feelin's are hotted. To think
a man can't walk along in a decent,
quiet, respectable way without bein'
hit by an engine."
l'.lk's hm1 Ne-klle Angers Steer,
Pittsburg Leader.
A steer made angry by a red necktie
worn by Charles Keller in the lilks'
parade in the streets' of Altoona.
chased the elk a block until Keller
found a low place In a fence over which
he Jumped and escaped.
IN THE MAGAZINE
SECTION OF THE
SUNDAY
OREGONIAN
LINCOLN'S THREE
LOVE AFFAIRS
Second of T.lii M. TarlieU's noted
articles dealing with the human
side of the great President, illus
trated with rare photographs.
Few sketches are more pathetic
than the death of beautiful Ann
Kulledge, Lincoln's first love.
MONUMENT TO THE FATHER
OF "MOTHER GOOSE"
Paris has so honored the might
iest writer for children. How
many parents know who he is,
when he lived and how he came
to write these immortal stories ?
LIVING FOUNDERS OF
FAMED COLLEGES
Romantic figure of Mary (iwen
dolin Caldwell, who founded the
Catholic University of America;
Stephen A. Douglas' unfinished
work.
"IN SOME WAYS 1908 WAS
A PERFECTLY GOOD YEAR"
Says the Hotel Clerk, and then re
views in his own way what he
considers the notable events in
the twelvemonth.
ORDER FROM YOUR NEWS
DEALER TODAY!