tertian
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' PORTLAND. SATURDAY. JAX. , 1909.
I FRANCOIS AROIXT VOLTAIRE.
. Voltaire is still a subject of con-
. A- .
I controversialists, he la not well under
stood. Several letters about him have
I recently appeared In Trie Oregonlan:
I some of them tlngeo. with the still
surviving Idea that his chief char-i-teristlc
was bitter and malignant op
position to religion, and especially to
Christianity. But what he attempted,
and what he succeeded In, more than
any other man who ever lived, was
to clear religious systems of Intoler
ance. Voltaire Is not classed with
the great thinkers of the world. His
energy and versatility were immense.
One of the most noted of his biog
raphers says: "Not the most elaborate
work of Voltaire Is of much value for
1 matter, but not the very slightest
work of Voltaire Is devoid of value as
form. In literary craftsmanship, at
once versatile and accomplished.- he
has no superior and scarcely a rival."
His prodigies reputation as a man
of letters, during- his lifetime, and for
. long afterwards, was such as no man
. of letters had ever borne before, or
Is likely ever to bear again. But this
was not due to any profundity of
thought; It was due to the unequaled
skill with which he dealt with abuses
of current thought and action. His
; contribution to the sum of human
knowledge was not great, but his con
tribution to the cause of Intellectual
freedom was immense. It is no ex
aggeration to nay that It was greater
than that which ever has flowed from
any other human mind.
During a long period before Vol
taire appeared on the scene of hu
'man life and action, a condition had
prevailed In which the rule of a re
ligious system and the rule of a legal
system were one and Identical. It
iwas & world In which, to use a phrase
of Sir Henry Maine, "the transgres
sors of religious ordinances were
punished by civil penalties." The
rule of the religious or ecclesiastical
system was considered to rise superior
to and to prevail over every temporal
purpose for which the state exists. It
was the highest potentiality of abso
lutism and oppression that has ever
existed among men.
This was the system that was at
tacked by Voltaire, and by him,
chiefly, overthrown. To the attack he
brought the must marvelous resources
of wit. of raillery, of satire, sarcasm
and mockery, ever wielded by man.
Nobody else, with pen - trenchant,
ever has attacked abuses, or turned
absurdities to ridicule. For long this
was Interpreted by ecclesiastics as an
attack on religion Itself, and espe
cially on Christianity; and many even
yet are unable to look upon It In any
other light. Hence there are church
circles even yet In which mention of
the name of Voltaire will produce a
shudder. It Is, however, no paradox
to say that Voltaire, by exposure of
abuses, errors and wrongs committed
in the name of church and religion,
and In the combination of church
and state, rendered a service to re
ligion ar.d to Christianity, to tolerance
and to liberty, exceeding In value that
which can be set down to the credit of
any other mortal.
With the triumph In universal poli
tics of the conception hat spiritual
interests were superior to the tem
poral welfare of men. the authority
representing the former had risen su
preme over the power of the tem
poral state. The conception was in
full course of action throughout Eu
rope, when Voltaire came upon tho
scene His cry became, "Ecrasez
l'lnfame!" What was the Infamous
Thing? It was religion claiming
supernatural authority, and enforcing
that claim by pains and penalties. It
was religion, with the Bastille and
the rack at Its command. It was re
ligion, says Parton. In his Life of
Voltaire, which could put an ugly
tall pot upon the head of a clown, a
brooked stick in his hand, cover him
all over with tawdry raiment, and
then set him squat down like a toad
on the. Intellect of a nation. It was
religion always keeping an ear open
to receive the secrets of women not
told to. parent or husband. It was
religion the mania of the weak, the
cloak of the false, the weapon of the
cruel. It was religion killing religion,
and making virtue Itself contemptible
by jesting its claims on grounds un
tenable and ridiculous. It was re
ligion wielding the whole mass of
Ignorance. Indolence and cowardice,
and placing It solid and entire In the
only path by which the human race
could advance. It was the worst thing
that ever was In the world. It was
l'lnfame:
There has been much misrepresen
tation 'of the meaning of Voltaire In
the use of this opprobrious expres
sion. But. says the writer of the
article on Voltaire in the Britannica,
"no careful student of Voltaire's works
has ever failed to correct this gross
misapprehension." 'L'lnfame" Is
not religion in Itself, nor the Chris
tian religion, nor the Roman Catholic
Church, nor cny form of Protestant
ism, which at the time was often less
tolerant than Catholicism. It was
religion claiming authority by direct
revelation from Heaven, and employ
ing to enforce the claim the power
and resources of a government. This
was what Voltaire attacked; this was
what his work, more than that of all
other men, undermined and over
threw. So it Is. therefore, that In
spite of faults of gravest character,
which every one can point out, almost
the whole educated world now re
gards and long has regarded Voltaire
as one of the greatest benefactors of
mankind.
British railway trains, with their
light cars and diminutive engines and
with a matchless roadbed, make a
much better statistical showing of
safety than can be made by the Amer-
lean roads. The difference Is also
aided by labor conditions, there being
more men than positions In Great
Britain, while in this country the re
verse Is the case, thus making disci
pline more difficult here than in
England. But with the automobile
the two countries seem to be on fairly
even terms, and there is a steady In
crease In the number of accidents 5n
both sides of the water. The secre-
-- r.t iho TiHtish Hiuhwavs Protec-
tion League has Just sent out statls- I
tics showing that during the months
of July, August and teptemoer last
year, 100 people were killed and 376
injured, compared with 88 killed and
307 injured in the same quarter for
1907.
LATEST DEVICE FOB JSOKE TAXES.
The Oregonlan consents to and ac
cepts the largest possible estimate of
tho population of Portland consist
ent with truth; but It is unwilling
that any excessive estimate be made
the bais of official extravagance, by
the Board of Health or other bureau.
Are we to go on In Portland, and
In Multnomah County, Increasing of
ficial expenses and public obligations
on the assumption that the city has a
population of 260,000, and the county
a population of 300.000, when both
figures are greatly exaggerated? The
registration of school population, and
reristration of voters, compared with
those of former times and with census
results, of former years, Indicate a
population much below these figures.
Since the school census of 1900 gave
Multnomah a school population of
24,887; and the United States census
of the same year gave the county a
population of 103.167; and slnco the
school population of Portland District
now is 34.264, and of the county less
than 38,000. what is tho (probable)
present population of the city and
county?
The comparisons of registered vot
ing population are altogether similar.
Next year the census of the United
States will be taken. Wo shall all
see, then. The Oregonian's estimate
is that the city will show a population
of 160.000, and the county of 180,000.
We could wish It twice as much; for
then The Oregonlan would have twice
as many readers and advertisers.
But we believe the public wants
truth and no exaggeration; and that
officialdom already gets enough,
without exaggeration of estimates of
population. In order to get more.
Portland is a fine city, and a rap
Idly growing city. But the 'demands
of officialdom are lar outrunning its
growth, with multiplying calls daily
and hourly for "more."
MEKRT BCT NOT WISE.
The old song says "It is good to be
merry and wise." The revelers on the
streets of Portland New Year's eve
obeyed the first part of the precept
better than the last. Many of them
were merry; if any were wise that
fact iis not apparent. It may be
impossible to celebrate the advent of
the New Year properly without pri
vate debauchery and public uproar.
If it Is impossible the fact is regret
able. The better taste of society has
ceased to approve thu mirth which Is
generated by alcohol. Why is that
species of hilarity any more respect
able on New Year's eve than at other
times? If a "lady" may decently get
drunk on the night of December 31,
why not on every other night of the
year?
But It is the din the revelers kept
up which Interests us most. What Is
the use of it? Can not people be
merry without howling and screech
ing, without blowing discordant horns
and dragging outraged cowbells over
the pavements? Once we thought It
was almost unendurable to listen to
the bedlam of July 4, although that
seemed to be excused by a sort of
barbaric patriotism. Now New Year's
eve Is Just as horrible and there is
no imaginable excuse for it. No
doubt the evil example will spread to
other holidays and we shall have to
go through the dread ordeal many
times every year.
There Is no excuse for It. People
can enjoy . themselves without put
ting others through torture and they
ought to be compelled to do so or el.se
forego their enjoyment. Time was
when men thought they could not
have a good time without tormenting
some bear or bull. Now they are a
little more civilized; they only torment
human beings. It Is the nervous, the
sick, the man who has worked all
day and needs sleep, the timid, who
have to pass the hours in misery
while our rejoicing hoodlums with
their female companions raise bedlam
on the streets. Their tumult Is Inane
and Idiotic. They do not sing carols
like the boys in Germany; they do
not exltlblt a pretty street pageant
like the Italians. They do nothing
but toot horns and' screech. It ought
not to be permitted. Decent citizens
have some rights which even hood
lums are bound to respect.
H-EEUV JUSTICE.
On November 28, in blind, passionate
rage, James A. Finch murdered Ralph
B. Fisher. Thirty days later, Finch was
convicted of murder in the first de
gree, and now stands In the shadow
of the gallows, with only the slightest
possibility of escape from paying the
full penalty for his crime. On De
cember 17, William Burke and Jack
Hayes, able-bodied young men, physi
cally and mentally equipped for easily
earning an honest living, or even a
competence from the world, held up
and robbed an O. R. & N. passenger
train, falling to commit murder only
because It might have embarrassed
them in the accomplishment of their
purpose. Twelve days later they
were convicted and sentenced to long
terms in the penitentiary.
At midnight on December' 30,
Charles Braun and Al Miller, also
physically and mentally able to make
a good living at any honest employ
ment, held up and robbed the crew
of a streetcar. Within 24 hours they
had been captured, convicted and
sentenced to the penitentiary. On
New Year's day, when all decent, re
spectable, honest young men were
looking forward with high hopes to
what the year might bring forth,
these two young men saw the peni
tentiary gates close behind them, not
to swing outward for them until fif
teen and twelve years, respectively,
of the best part of their lives have
gone forever.
This Is good work, and it is In the
speed with which Justice has moved
that its greatest merit lies. All three
of these crimes were absolutely inex
cusable. Finch, with his aimless, un
organized, disreputable methods of
life, had brought disgrace on his pro
fession. On Fisher, as the repre
sentative of clean lawyers like him
self, had fallen the unpleasant duty
of administering the punishment de
cided on by the Bar Association.
Fisher died a martyr to the cause of
decency In his profession. In giving
TIIE MORXI.VO QltEOOXIAX. SATURDAY. JANUARY 2, 1909-
up his worthless life, Finch can make
but scant atonement for his crime.
The hold-up men were animated by
a different purpose than that which"
caused Finch to fortify himself with
false courage In the shape of bad
whisky, and then proceed to do mur
der, but their act was In its way
equally offensive and dangerous to
society. These criminals took a long
chance. Had Justice been slow and
halting in any of these cases, the ef
fect which laws are made for the pur
pose of producing would have been
minimized or lost. As it Is, the ex
ample of these four young men
spending the best part of their lives
in the penitentiary And of Finch suf
fering the maximum, although Inade
quate, penalty for his crime, will have
a wholesome effect on hundreds of
other young men who may be In
clined to waver at the unmistakable
line between crime and decency.
RECORD OF A CSEFIL LIFE.
Life was kind to Jacob Mayer.
Through commercial ability, honesty
and Industry he laid, in his early
manhood the foundation of a for
tune which grew with the growth of
Portland and the Northwest slowly
at first, but rapidly In later years
removing him. In the cheerful Autumn
and early Winter of his years from all
distractions of business. Nature had
endowed him with a genial disposition,
which developed as time ripened his
powers into love for his fellow-men,
which found expression in practical
philanthropy and fraternal associa
tions. Opportunity came to him early
In life and he rose to meet It. His
domestic ties were tender and he was
faithful to them, and at the last, at
the age of four score and three years,
he answered the sudden call of
Nature quietly, and without suffering
went to his final rest life being kind
to him even in death.
A useful citizen, a kind and provi
dent husband and father, a Mason high
In the councils of that ancient and
honorable order, he lived his life and
passed on, mourned by those who
knew and loved him best, and leaving
an honorablo record In the com
munity. THE CAI.KNDAB, SO-CALLED.
Our divisions of time, for the
greater part, are artificial and absurd.
But the method has come down to
us from ages when astronomical sci
ence was still unknown. Rome, which
didn't know how to make the calen
dar, still dominates our calendar. The
word calendar itself is a product of
the ignorance that prevailed at Rome,
when the divisions of time, which we
still preserve, began.
The natural divisions of time are
the day, the lunar month and the
solar year. There could not have
been In the early time sufficient
knowledge for computation' by the
movements of the other members of
our solar system. Recurrence of the
day soon made a measure of the day.
Changing phases of the moon later
gave another idea for division of time
periods. Later still the solar year
change and recurrence of seasons
would supply data for computation of
longer periods of time.
But the errors of the computation
that were made in Rome, twenty-five
hundred years ago, form the basis of
our present calendar. They have
since been corrected by astronomical
knowledge, but the nomenclature re
mains. The Roman year was based
on lunar observation. It consisted of
ten months. It was of course, repeat
edly at variance with the solar year.
Before the Julian reformation of the
calendar, the Roman was a lunar
year, which was brought or sought to
be brought. Into harmony with the
solar by insertion of an Intercalary
month. The original system of the
computation was to intercalate a
month, alternately of 22 and 23 days,
every other year during period's of
twenty-two years. But the method
was so imperfect that Caesar found
the year much In advance of the time,
and was obliged to borrow his refor
mation of the calendar from foreign
science. The Etruscans had pos
sessed excellent astronomical knowl
edge, but the Romans, their conquer
ors, had disdained to borrow it from
them, and it had been lost. They
who made the Julian calendar had
recourse, therefore, to Egyptian
knowledge, which had close approxi
mation to correctness.
The month of July was therefore
Inserted In the Roman calendar, to
fill tho gap. It was much the longest
month in the year, and was a cor
rected substitute for the fifth month.
It took its name from the great
Julius; but Octavius, his nephew and
successor, believed the next following
month (Sextllls) should be readjusted
also, and renamed, so that he might
have equal honor with his predecessor.
Octavius had become Augustus, and
the sixth month became the month
of August. But the new and august
ruler, Octavius, master of the Roman
world, could not afford to have a
shorter month than his uncle and
adoptive father; so he" robbed the
month of February of two (or three)
days and transferred them to the
month of August. Afterwards Febru
ary was given the odd leap year day.
The month of February itself was
a humble month. It was the month
of purification, or Lent, In which
there were no feasts. It was the
month of expiation, which the people
were willing should be shortened; It
was the month therefore from which
Octavius (Augustus) could best steal
the days necessary to equalize his
fame with that of the great and
original Caesar. Rome was built in
a fever and ague country. Terrible
diseases have been prevalent In it
down to our own time. Modern sci
ence makes the country more healthy
by draining the marshes, by destruc
tion of mosquitoes and protection
against them, and by cultivation of
the eucalyptus tree, Introduced from
Australia. Our words fever, febrile
and February are the same.
Insertion of the months of July and
August in the calendar makes the
misnomers of the following months
of the year. The Roman year began
with the beginning of Spring; the first
month In it, and the only one, March
(Martlus, Mars) which bears the
name of a god. The three following
(April, May, June) came from ideas
of sprouting, growing, thriving. Then
the old order of arrangement was
interrupted by Insertion of the names
of Jdlius and Augustus. Following Is
September, which means seventh, but
now is ninth month: and so on. An
Indeterminate quantity still remained
In the solar year, which was corrected
much later, to a close difference, by
the so-called Gregorian calendar;
but the year by this computation is
too long by about 26 seconds.
With all these things we are so en
tangled In our divisions of time that
we probably never shall get a strictly
scientific method. By such method
the year ought to begin and end with
the Winter solstice, December a I.
Th A,xr then la shortest, in our North
ern hemisphere; the old year ends,
the new year begins. But we arbi
trarily make the period December
31 ten days after the day has begun
to lengthen.
The day is- a natural division of
time; but our artificial subdivisions of
it, in hours and minutes and seconds
may not be the best that could be
devised. However, It may be good as
anv, and certainly cannot be changed.
The week, another artificial subdi
vision. Is supported by an historical
custom of very high antiquity a cus
tom that appears to have had its
origin in Egypt, from worship of the
seven then known planets, including
the sun and moon. The Israelites re
ceived it in Egypt, and accepted it, as
the Book of Deuteronomy expressly
tells us as a memorial of their delivery
out of bondage; and the seventh day,
therefore, was to be a day of rest and
worship.
All this, of course, is very familiar
to scholars; but The Oregonian Is not
written wholly for scholars, and If It
were doubtless It would fall far short
of requirements.
Mr. James J. Hill seema determined
to make one final effort to prevent the
Canadian Pacific from monopolizing
the through traffic with the Orient.
The Interstate commerce law as Inter
preted by the Commission compels the
railroads to file publicly the rates
.which they secure for the rail end of
the haul to the Orient. Necessarily,
in order to meet the competition of
the Suez, and get cars to the Pacific
Coast to load back with lumber, these
rates are far below the regular rates
charged to the Pacific Coast. As a re
sult, dissatisfaction and probably liti
gation would follow the publication of
the low through rate, although Its
advantages to the Pacific Coast indus
tries are unquestioned. To avoid these
complications and still do business,
Mr. Hill has expended $1,000,000 in
securing terminals at Vancouver, B.
C, and Is reported to have plans for
making that his Pacific Coast head
quarters for all ocean business. It is
regrettable In the extreme that the
Interstate Commerce Commission
failed to wind the alarm clock when
It fell asleep over this most import
ant matter.
"Pure Food" Wiley, of the Bureau
of Chemistry, has announced that he
will not resign, and that the Presi
dent will not force him to vacate the
position. The Minneapolis millers,
however, are putting up a pretty hot
fight against Mr. Wiley, and, if they
are successful in the courts with their
case against his bleached flour deci
sion, his position will be anything
but secure. The flour bleaching pro
cess which Dr. Wiley declared "adul
teration" involves no substitution of
materials, permits nothing in the way
of the use of cheaper materials, and
adds no new material to the product.
It actually increases Its cost over that
of the "unbleached" flour, so that the
usual object of adulteration is miss
ing. Minneapolis millers are out
spoken in their belief that crusade
against bleached flour Is being made
in the Interest of some of the breakfast-food
makers, and they have
raised a large fund to fight the Wiley
decision.
Judge Hargis, of Kentucky, Is dead,
but the evil which he wrought, lives
on. The town of Jackson, which the
ruffianly Judge made famous in ils
Infamy, is in the hands of two bands
of armed men who have assembled
to attend the trial of a member of
one of the factions. The charge is
murder and the Judge who was to
preside at the trial Is hiding in the
woods and refuses to come out until
he is assured of protection with the
state troops. Breathitt County, Ken
tucky, has for years been a disgrace
to the Blue Grass State and to the
Nation, and the outlaw element seems
to be so overwhelmingly in the ma
jority that it is difficult to understand
why any decent individual can remain
within Its confines.
New Mexico and Arizona will make
a strenuous effort to secure statehood
when Congress convenes after the
close of the holiday recess. Some of
the former citizens of these terri
tories gave them rather a bad name
among other states, but if the pro
moters of the statehood plan will only
call the attention of Congress to
Night-Riding Tennessee and Breathitt
County Kentucky, our National law
makers might devise a plan by which
they could throw out Kentucky and
Tennessee, and admit New Mexico and
Arizona. They do not flog defenseless
women nor shoot men in the back in
either of the territories
Reciting from memory yesterday,
The Oregonian incorrectly quoted one
of the quatrains of Fitz Gerald's
"Omar." Following is the correct
version:
Ami that inverted bowl wo call the sky,
Whereunder crawling, cooped, we live and
die.
Lift not your hands to It for help for it
As Impotently moves as you or I. I
It seems that Finch's conviction is
"unconstitutional." Of course it fol
lows that to enter a man's office and
shoot him down In cold blood is
strictly constitutional. If this Is true,
what a pity it is that we have not less
constitution and more sense in our
criminal procedure.
Based on an estimated population
of 250,000, the Portland health of
fice finds we had the remarkably low
death rate of 7.04 per thousand in
1908. We anxiously await news of
the death rate for Seattle, based on
an estimated population of, say, 350,
000. ;
A civil engineer named Smith shot
and fatally wounded a hold-up man
at Spokane Thursday night. New
honor for the great name of Smith.
Who wouldn't be proud to bear It?
The country will endeavor to recon
cile itself to the Idea of Brother
Charlie remaining in private life for
two more years, with leave to make
the period Indefinite.
Those humorous Individuals who
blew the whistles yesterday morning
from 12 to 1 o'clock ought to have
ten days each In solitary confinement
with the whistles.
"Of course," says the airy fairy
Lillian Russell, "there are some of
my love letters I cannot publish."
Now we really wonder why.
There seems to be no way to get
away from the New Year revelry.
Even the water wagon Is well loaded.
The new year Is safely here; but
there seems to be no way to escape
Bryan's great "mystery of 1908."
Begin your letters today '09.
DR.' FOHL OTX CITY'S HEALTH
Ascribes Low Deatb Hate to Service of
City Functionaries.
PORTLAND, Dec 31. (To the Edi
tor.) Criticisms of the Health Depart
ment, which have appeared in your
editorial columns of late would lead
the public to believe that the expendi
tures of this department had been un
warrantably increased during the past
year. As a matter of fact, my report
of 19"7 showed the lowest death rate
and the lowest expense per capita that
has been rendered this city for years.
During the year 1908 better work
was done than during preceding years
at a per capita cost far below the aver
age which the city has paid for such
service In the past, and as a result the
death rate is the lowest on record for
this city, and probably the lowest for
any city the size of Portland In the
United States.
These aro the facts, as may be as
certained by any person interested, and
statements which lead the public to
believe that the expenses of this de
partment are being increased and the
standard of its work lowered are, to
say the least, unfair.
ESTHER C. POHL.
Dr. Pohl's Invitation to look Into the
facts The Oregonian cheerfully accepts.
This paper finds the quest even better
rewarded than It expected.
Last year Dr. Pohl's Health Depart
ment spent, of city funds, $19,846.37.
That was more than 3 times as much
as her department spent In 1904 the
year before she became one of its offi
cers and more than three' times as
much as It spent in 1900. In 1904 the
expense was ,7958. and in 1900, $5921.
For 1909, her department has asked
the city for $28,658.
In 1900 tho Federal census showed
Portland's death rate to be 9 persons
for every 1000 population. That low
death rate has not been equalled since.
In spiSe of the extravagance and pre
tensions' of Health Officers. Efforts to
derive as low a mortality rate for last
year or the year before, out of Inflated
population statistics, will be futile.
Last year the City Health Depart
ment cost $6426 more than In 1907,
$10,935 more than in 1906 and $9922 more
than in 1905, yet there- was no corres
ponding decrease In mortality. On the
contrary, there was more death increase
In 1907 than in any other year in the his
tory of the city. The deaths tai 1906 num
bered 14S6, and in 1907, JS60.
Portland is one of the healthiest
cities of the world. In 190 the Federal
census showed St. Joseph, Mo., the only
Important city in tho UiJted States
with a lower death rate. The causes
of the low mortality In Portland, as
most persons know, are pure " water,
good drainage and healthful cJLmate.
These three factors do more to keep peo
ple alive than all the doctors, pillmlxers,
health officers, deputies, inspectors, of
ficial physicians, clerks and stenographers
put together.
These are some of the facts contained
In the city records. If the search shall
be continued, others even more inter
esting may be ascrtained.
A lot of functionaries are drawing
pay from the public treasury and try
ing to make jobs for others. In Port
land are three separate Health Boards
and state and National pure food of
fices, all striving to make a living out
of the public. The city supports one
board, the county another and the
state a third. The thrifty officers of
the Cfty Board, not content with their
city emoluments, take extra fees from
the county. It might be healthier for
the public to be spared this burden of
officialdom.
Kermlt Roosevelt's Opinion of "Dad."
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Members of the general council of
the National Civil Service Reform
League got away for their homes on
late trains after a brief closing ses
sion of the council, at which they
wound up the business of the three
days' convention. But the members
took home with them some good stor
ies that will not appear in the pub
lished proceedings.
Charles H. Brooks, of Massachusetts,
during a committee session, gave tho
reform leaguers the benefit of young
Kermlt Roosevelt's personal sizeup of
his distinguished dad. Young Kermlt,
who is a student at Harvard, one day
last month, according to Mr. Brooks,
told one of his chums:
"The .whole trouble with dad Is that
when he goes to a wedding he wants
to be the bride, and when he goes to a
funeral he wants to be the corpse."
Mr. Brooks just passed the younger
Roosevlt's opoinion along without com
mitting himself.
It Was Horrible.
Chicago Tribune.
Society Leader (with a steely glitter
In her eye) Are you the editor of this
paper?
The Mere Man Yes, ma'am; what
can I do for you?
Society Leader In response to a
question by your society editor yester
day, I said that at the hard-times party
we are going to have, I would appear In
negligee costume. In your paper this
morning, sir. It was printed "negligible
costume"!
Nat Goodwin to Dabble la Stock.
New York Dispatch.
Gossips In New York say that Nat
Goodwin, the actor, will open a broker
age office In that city early next
month. The price of Rawhide Coali
tion stock, in which Goodwin Is said
to be heavily Interested, recently broke
from, $1.40 to 75 cents and sold later
down to 65 cents. Recently it was re
ported that Goodwin was worth $1,
000,000. It Will Be Easy.
Chicago Evening Post.
The House of Representatives asks
the President for "facts" concerning the
need of watching Congressmen with
secret service agents. Mr. Roosevelt
will now turn back to page 1, column 1,
of the Western laud frauds testimony
and proceed to deliver the goods.
Marshall Field Block, f7,000,000.
New York Dispatch.
Heirs of Marshall Field are plan
ning a Fifth avenue 16-story building,
to represent a $7,000,000 investment.
The house will cover the block front
on the east side of Fifth avenue, from
Thirtieth to Thirty-first street.
Rich Yield From 35-Foot Whale.
Baltimore News.
A whale 35 feet long, caught by Cap
tain Joseph Edwards and crew In Long
Island Sound, will produce from 15 to
20 barrels of oil and 400 or 500 pounds
of bone. This will bring the men from
$1000 to $1500 each.
Jewels Lured Away.
Clara Marshall In New York Journal.
"Behold, here, my Jewels, my rare price
less gems!"
Cried boastful but artless Cornelia.
As. hard at their work in her orderly flat.
. she pointed out Gretchen and Celia,
But If she was guileless her callers had
guile
More deep than the wisdom of sages.
And. lo, on the morrow, those Jewels were
Lured by promlsa of extra good wages 1
UNIFY OREGON HIGH SCHOOLS.
Call for Uniform Examinations Under
State Supervision.
BROWNSVILLE, Or.. Dec 30. (To
.. 4 ,. Trftrlslature Is
Tile EiUllur.i mo ,
about to convene, I desire to call atten- j
tlon to a state-wide matter of prl-
mary importance the unracanuu
the free High Schools, and the estab
lishment of aa Impartial and uniform
standard of prbflciency.
On the first of December I presented
at the Linn County Teachers' Institute.
In the High School section thereof, a
a Te-ialatlve
resolution caums v . j
committee to foster a state sy8tem j
examination questions iu
School subjects, said questions to
emanate from the State Board of Edu
cation or State Superintendent, and to
be uniform for all schools desiring
them, and a system of passcards and
diplomas issued by the state on the
successful passing of examinations.
State Superintendent Aekerman was
present and explained that he would
like to issue questions for the ninth
grade, as now for the eigth, and that,
owing to small allowance of appropri
ations for his department of state af
fairs, such a plan could not be carried
out. .
Now, there Is something so abso
lutely Incongruous and ridiculous in
the situation that If pointed out the
people of Oregon will not hesitate
through their legislative body to make
ample financial provision for more ef
fective High School work and for state
supervision of High Schools.
This is the absurdity. The state has
assumed and exercised at great ex
pense the right to adopt a state series
of text books and has made their use
compulsory. It has, further, at great
expense, prepared and published a
course of study setting forth how these
books shall be used and even from
page to page In some Instances pre
scribed the work to be done In each
grade.
Here the state stops short. It never
visits the schools to witness the degree
of compliance, it Issues no certificates
of proficiency or diplomas. It requires
no maximum of attainment. It con
demns no minimum of failure. Hav
ing established the plant at great ex
pense. It never goes near it to see that
the money already expended Is wisely
used. As a result It Is a free-for-all,
,. i-ni,.nlona In the HiSTll Schools
themselves, .with no uniformity of
standards with nothing for a pupil
to show who may have completed ever
so much, but who stopped short of the
whole course.
Under a proper system of school or
ganization any pupil who has pursued
and finished a study should have been
given an impartial examination, uni
form to all pupils in the state in that
study and should have been furnished
on successful passing a passcard or
certificate that would be recognized
in every High School of the state and
In the university pro tanto.
The examinations need not be com
pulsory in the larger cities, but should
be offered, and in a short time their
stimulating effect would be felt and
they would be universally adopted on
their merits
I insist that there is need of serious
attention to this topic, and nothing of
more Importance to the state. I in
tend to bring this matter to the per
sonal notice of every member of the
Legislature and I ask leave to begin
with the public through your columns.
I believe the people can be trusted to
direct the right thing when their at
tention Is called to tho facts.
WIN-FIELD S. SMITH.
Prlnciral Brownsville High School.
EXTER FIRiLD NOT OVERFILLED
Farming the One Vocation That Haa
Too Little Competition.
PORTLAND. Jen. 1. (To the Edi
tor.) I read with a frreat deal of inter
est your editorial "The Carloads and
Trainloads," and with your permission,
desire to add a few suggestions:
Farming is today tiie only business
not overdone. All men have a desire
to make a success in life. This desire
is strongest in young men about to
leave the parental roof. They specu
late most at this time, in choosing an
occupation to follow for a competency.
There are many things to take Into
consideration; one thing he should
weigh carefully. If the field frr which
he believes himself best adaptoA' is full
or overdone. Rather than enter a field
full of competitors with a nveager
knowledge, though it is a business he
may desire, he had better prepare Vim
self for a field for future competeh.cy
that is not so full of competitors.
In looking over our great state, we
find thousands upon thousands of acres
of land yet uncultivated. We also find
that a large percentage of our inhabi
tants till the soil In a way that does
not give the best results, or results
that should be expected.
Now, taking into consideration the
comparative cheapness of lands and
the broad acres yet untouched, and
the demand for the products of the
farm, as well as its being the most
independent means of obtaining a com
petency and chances to enter a field
underdone. It seems, though many de
sire a profession, to prepare for intelli
gent farming affords exceptional op
portunities to the young man.
A great deal of waste of fertility Is
going on now, and will not stop until
economic requirements bring about a
change. In other words, quantitative
farming, which is careless and Ineffi
cient, must give Way to intelligent
Intensive and conservative farming.
Considering the superior advantages
of Oregon's soil and climate, ft is hard
to conceive why great sums which go
out of the state annually to buy so
many things which our farms could
supply should not remain within the
state, to enhance our prosperity.
Periodical displays of the products
of the field, the garden, the stock, the
dairy, the pantry, the kitchen, the
smokehouse of the farm, and also of
the products of the Industries of the
neighboring towns, will furnish object
lessons which will result in a dissemi
nation and consequent increase of these
various productions.
From year to year these exhibitions
would demonstrate the progress made
in the localities where they are held,
and the effect of this progress toward
augmenting the value of property,
aside from the educational advantages,
may be readily Imagined. Under the
able guidance of the Oregon Develop
ment League, a general plan for the
agricultural progress of our beloved
state by means of local, district and
State Fairs should be mapped out.
Such fairs should present to view in
as abundant quantities as may be ob
tainable the best specimens of the agri
cultural and even Industrial produc
tions of the locality, district or state.
All other Ideas of fairs such as the
offering of prizes, etc., should be Incor
porated. FRED MULLER,
Secretary Portland Board of Trade.
After Effect From Baaeboll-Bat Blow.
Indianapolis (Ind.) Dispatch.
Roy Mellott, aged 15, of Attica, Ohio,
Is suddenly stricken deaf and dumb
and remains in that condition, al
though in other respects his health Is
good A year ago he was struck on
the head with a baseball-bat and made
unconscious for a short time.
An Ounce of Prevention.
Puck.
Jtmmie How did you know I was go-
HeVlJttle Sister I saw Nell taking the
pins out of her belt"
RICH IX CENTENNIAL BIRTHDAYS
The Year 10O9 Will Be Distinguished
for Important Anniversaries.
Distinguished beyond any previous
year within the memory of man for the
number and Importance of centennial
anniversaries of the birthdays of famous
persons is the year of 1909. The new
year also marks the tercentenary cele
bration of some historic events. The
year 1S09 brought into the world a re
markable array of men whose achieve
ments will be glorified as long as civiliza
tion lasts. In that year Abraham Lin
coln first saw tho light of day In Hardin
County. Ky., and on tho same day,
February 12, though under a far different
environment, Charles Darwin, destined
to become one of the world's most il
lustrious biologists, was born at
Shrewsbury, England.
The field of literature and poetry' was
vastly enriched that same remarkablo
year by the birth of Oliver Wendell
Holmes, Edgar Allan Poe, Mrs. Elizabeth
Barrett Browning and Alfred Tennyson.
The year 1S09 also gave to the world of
music one of lis finest exponents, Felix
Mendelssohn.
In 1S09 Robert Fulton, whose efforts to
establish steam navigation on the Hud
son River had been fully demonstrated
to be successful, took out his first pat
ents. Two hundred years earlier Henry
Hudson sailed up the same river In
search of a paseage to India, whilo
Samuel de Champlain was exploring
from the north and discovered the great
lake which bears his name and which
is intimately connected with the colonial
and Revolutionary wars.
All of these historic birthdays and
events will be magnificently celebrated
during the year 1909.
e
Naturally the greatest and most far
reaching centennial celebration will be
that of the birthday of Abraham Lin
coln. In every part of the United States,
In England. France and other foreign
lands, the birth of the sreat emancipator
will be observed. Elaborate arranR'?
ments are under way at Springfield, III.,
the resting place of tho immortal Presi
dent's ashes, for a monster memorial in
which such distinguished representatives
of other nations as Ambassador Jami'S
P. Bryce. of England, and Ambassador
J. J. Jusserand. of France, will add
their tributes to those of noted Ameri
can orators' and statesmen. Chicago.
New York and every large city will hold
splendid memorial celebrations, and every
town and village throughout the land will
add their humliler but none the less
sincere and patriotic meed of homage
to the memory of the man who saved
the Union.
A benefactor to his country and the
civilized world, born In 1S09. stands Cy
rus Hail McCormlck. He gave to tho
world the grain-cutting machine which
revolutionized the wheat Industry and
served, perhaps, more than any other
one thing In building up the great West
and caused an increase in America's
production of wheat, within half a cen
tury, from less thun 50,01)0,000 bushels to
over 700,000,000 bushels.
.
That same month of February In 1S09
which gave to America the illustrious
Lincoln and the genius McCormlck en
dowed England with the eminent nat
uralist, Charles Robert Darwin, born
February 12, and bestowed upon tier
many and the world Felix Mendelssohn,
whose musical compositions have touched
and thrilled the hearts of untold mil
lions. Crowned with high honors and
recognized as foremost among the mas
ters of music in an age which counted
such artists as Liszt and Chopin, Men
delssohn's brilliant career was cut short
at the very zenith of his fame. He was
born in Hamburg February 6, 1SM9, and
died November 4. 1M7.
Darwin died in 1S82. having devoted
the 50 years of his life after his gradu
ation from Christ College. Cambridge,
to the study and research Into the
science of nature.
Of the four luminaries in the field of
literature whose lives dawned in lsoil
and whose centennial anniversaries will
be celebrated during tho coming year,
two were born in England and two in the
United States. Oliver Wendell Holmes
and Edgar Allan Poe were both born In
Massachusetts, the latter In January
and the former in August. In England
Alfred Tennyson was born August 6 and
Elizabeth Barrett Browning March 6.
The Hudson-Fulton memorial celebra
tion will be held in New York next Fall
on a magnificent scale and will continue
for a week. One of the features will b-
a pageant which, it is claimed, will
eclipse anything of the kind in tho
world's history.
!lr. Taft and Federalism.
Columbus (O.) State Journal.
In his speech at the American CIvia
Federation Judge Taft said this:
"I think now that we can depend
upon the acumen, the patriotism and
the ability of the members of the Su
preme Court of the United States t
recognize tho necessities that from
time to time arise in our progress, to
so cruistrue the constitution as M
enable us to carry out the reform
that are needed as the Nation ad
vancesl' Here are the words of Republican
statesmaiVihlp. which mean that th.
constitutiirn grows in cor: sponrtenru
with the progress and aspiration of thu
American pnople. It means that every
year as civilization advances ami
reaches hlgluW grounds, tl. constitu
tion must be .given a wider outlook.
Former preced.wits become antlquate.l
and obstruct t.e National evolution.
That Is the Idea Judge Taft expresses.
He relicB upon te patriotism of tho
Supreme Court "W so construe ih
constitution as to enable us to earn
out the reforms that are needed as the
Nation advances." The "acumen, tho
patriotism, the ability" of the Supreme
Court are relied upon to see that noth
ing interferes with the National evo
lution. This is Federalism, which fig
ures in every forward step the Repub
lic makes.
Sunday Evening Newspaper Isn't New.
Aitchison Globe.
Frank A Munsey is being generally
credited by the newspapers of the
country with being tho first man to
nrlnt a Sunday evening paper, which
fs the present schedule of his Welli
ngton (P. C.) Times. But tho Spring
field (Mass.) Republican, tells of a
nancr at Trovldence, R. L. which has
been issuing a Sunday evening paper
for about 15 years, and another paper
at New Orleans which issues seven
afternoon papers a week. Mr. Mun
Bey's latest venture, therefore, seems
to be nothing new under the sun, al
though the Times is the first daily of
National reputation to occupy the Sun
day evening field.
Bryan and Gomncrs.
Kansas City Star.
It is no more than fair that Mr. Bry
an should "stand by Gompers," Inas
much as Gompers stood by Bryan right
valiantly when Bryan was not much
nearer right than Gompers is now.
One Fly In the Ointment.
Kansas City Star.
Andrew Carnegie Insisted upon issuing
a "Christmas greeting" to bis country
men. Otherwise It was a singularly merry
Christmas.
Sables or Pearla.
Philadelphia Bulletin.
She looked at the little man arcnly.
"Hubby," she said, "do you know you
are beginning to grow rather handsome?"