Tim MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, 3IAKCII 9, 1015.
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rORTJLAI. 1XES0AY. MARCH . 11S.
IRE.U.NOlt.lIT VfcRSVS SUBMARINE.
TCuirleta between battleships and
submarines have been fought in Con
press as well as in the North. Sea. The
tMtj! performed by the submarines
have sent ud their stock in the esti
mation of some Congressmen, while the
losses of British battleships have sent
down the Mock of the dreadnought.
The effect has been that, -while Secre
tary Daniels' programme was not
changed as regards new battleship.,
provision was made for twice as manj
t-ubmarincs. as he proposed.
rhamnitin.i of the submarine pro
nounce tho battleship out of date and
useless, holding that it dare not
to sea lest a submarine torpedo it.
Representative Slayden, of Texas,
rited the British losses from this cause
as proof that the Navy Department
has been over-conservative in not ask
ing for more submarines. He quoted
sir Pctcv Scott as saying that "Intro
.i..-rinr. of vessels that swim under
water has entirely dona away with
the utility of the ships that swim on
the top of the water." Sir Percy holds
that warships are useless to defend a
port from bombardment or blockade
or to attack ships convoying a tana
ing party. Thoy cannot attack the
memy's fleet, for "there will be no
fleet to attack, as it will not be safe
lor a fleet to put to sea." As to pro
lection of commerce, he maintains
that Britain can close egress from the
.North Sea and the Mediterranean
with submarines and aeroplanes, and
thus guard against attack by Ger
many. Russia, TurKey. ureecc, ami
and Italv. Fast cruisers ana suo
marines from Plymouth could guard
h gainst attack by France from Brest,
'. His conclusion is that there Is no fur-
' ther use for battleships and little for
fast cruisers.
Since Sir Percy Scott expressed
these opinions German battle cruisers
hv crossed the ocean and won a
r,:.ttl at Coroncl: British battle cruis
ers have also crossed and won a battle
off the Falkland Islands: British bat
tle cruisers have won & running fight
in the North Sea: British and Frencn
battleships have destroyed the forts
"t the Dardanelles and Smyrna. The
North Sea chase was abandoned be
cause of the presence of submarines,
which scores a point for the stingers
from beneath the water, but the Brit
ish ships were not afraid to go to sea.
Danger of submarine attack doubtless
imposed great caution, but the big
ships ventured across the Atlantic,
into the North Sea. across the Bay of
Biscay and up the Mediterranean.
They showed so little fear of Austria
that the allied fleet raised the block
ade of Austria's Adriatic ports and left
The Austrian navy free to bombard
Antivari. Sir Percy Scott's extreme
theory has not been borne out by
events.
It may be replied that distance pre
vented submarines from playing a part
in the battles of Coronel and the Falk
land Islands and that the allied fleet
has been free to work its will with
Turkey because that country has no
submarines. A flotilla of German or
Austrian submarines is reported to
have passed Corfu on its way to the
Dardanelles. If It finds a base of oper
ations, wo may see whether the naval
shark can operate with the same de
gree of impunity in a strait only one
to four miles wide, where an aeroplane
could easily detect its presence and
where a destroyer could ram it. as In
the wider waters around England.
There is a disposition to regard the
Fubmarine as unassailable, but facts
do not bear out that opinion. It is
known that two German submarines
were lost before they began the sys
tematic raid in British waters. We
liave authentic information that at
least two more have been sunk, the
entire crew of one having been cap
tured. Destroyers can trail them and
leave them the choice between staling
under water longer than the crew can
survive and coming to the surface to
be rammed, unless a good shot cuts
off the periscope and blinds them.
They are so lightly built that a mer
chant ship can ram them, one of the
recent losses having occurred in that
manner. Aeroplanes can trail them
when submerged and can signal their
presence to surface shins. Recent re
ports tell of a Fpecial gun designed to
shoot submerged vessels.
Representative Gerry, of Rhode
Island, seems to have taken a more
rational view when he warned Con
gress not to abandon the dreadnought.
He said that British superiority in
dreadnoughts had prevented the Ger
man navy from attempting a battle
and German admirals have admitted
as much. He quoted Commander
Stirling a3 saying the submarine "is a
weapon of the battleship. Just the
tame as the battleship's twelve-inch
turret." He said:
To rely solely upon a submarine attack to
destroy a first-Una of battleshlpa la to put
much to chance, for the submarinea must
succeed In evading tbo aeroplane lookouts
that In clear weather can see them, although
their periscopes are submerged some dis
tance. They must be able to dive under the
aereen of- cruisers and scouts that are ex
tended far out to protect the dreadnoughts.
Once or twice they must come to the eur
face If they are to determine the speed of
their opponent and other quetttona of range,
without which there can be little accuracy
In discharging the torpedo. They mast over
come all these difficulties and get In
striking distance, although under the most
favorable circumstances with new batterlea
mey can only mine 10 knots an hour sub
merged, and that for hut one hour before
their speed ta cut In two by the using up of
the electricity. While they are making 10
Vnota the dreadnoughts can make rO; there
fore auy change away from them In the
direction of the fleet ptarea the submarine
at an irreparable disadvantage.
It is true of the submarine as of
other new implements of war that,
when first invented, their importance
is exaggerated. The torpedo was ex
pected to destroy all warships, but the
torpedo net and the destroyer are an
tidotes. Armored ships caused heavy
guns to be Invented, capable of pene
trating armor. The aeroplane and the
destroyer are already rartial defenses
u gainst submarines, and others may
jet be found. The present war will
try out ail new weapons, and it would
b rash to abandon the old until we
are .better able to judge how far they
will be supplanted by the new.
ANOTHER IXTOIATCM.
Secretary Bryan has sent to First
Chief Carranza a peremptory notice
that he will be held responsible for
the acts of General Obregon In Mex
ico City. It appears to mark a radical
departure from the policy declared by
President Wilson, in his Indianapolis
address, when he proclaimed Mexico s
sovereign right to spill its own blood
without let or hindrance from any
other nation.
It is no new thing for Secretary
Bryan to fulminate an ultimatum; but
we shall hope, or assume, that in this
instance Mexico will be made to know
that behind it la the full power of the
United States. Else why an ulti
matum? The solemn truth is that in Mexico
the United States finds a heavy, but
imperative, duty before the world. The
President has sought to evade it, and
even to deny it, as witness his unfor
tunate assertion of Mexico's right to
suicide; but it is there, nevertheless.
We acknowledge it in every effort,
availing or unavailing, to hold one or
all the procession of Mexican Presi
dents and Generals to their account
ability. Every warning to Mexico, sent by
Wilson or Bryan, is a repudiation of
the President's rhetorical pronounce
ment that Mexico '1s not our business.
It is our duty. We have not done it.
But we shall, sooner or later.
IMJMJITOLVTB PARENTS.
Discoursing on "illegitimate chil
dren," the Reverend Mabel Irwin al
ludes to an interesting measure which
has Just been put in force in France.
The customs of that country among
the lower classes permit "trial mar
riages" to be practiced. A man and
woman live together for a year or so
without a wedding ceremony. After
that, if they are mutually pleased the
union is blessed by the church and
legalized by the state. In most Euro
pean countries something of the same
sort is common. We learn from
Washington Irving that it prevailed
formerly in Connecticut under the sin
gular name of "bundling."
The war has disarranged these trial
marriages, as It has everything eise
The incipient husband is at the front
The woman is left at home with her
child, a mother but not a wife. To
remedy the inconvenience of her sit
uation the French government, ac
cording to the Reverend Mabel Irwin,
has Introduced marriage by proxy
Some man in the neighborhood weds
the woman for his absent comrade
and her status is thus legitimized. This
custom of marriage by proxy is per
fectly well known as far as kings are
concerned, but this is the first time
that its conveniences have been ex
tended to the lower classes.
Bv this measure France has to some
degree lessened the problem of illegit
imacy, which is a growing one in Eu
rope us it is In America. Public Fen-
timent In this country would not tol
erate trial marriages or weddings by
proxy, but there is a notable tendency
to show more mercy than formerly to
unmarried mothers. The time has
gone by when all tho sin and shame
were heaped on the mothers head.
while, the guilty man was petted by
high society for his misdeed.
Poor Hetty in George Eliot's "Adam
Bede" was the victim of a barbarous
crueltv which the modern world is
learning to abhor. It especially ab
hors any tendency to blame "illegiti
mate" children for their parents
fault. Frances Willard used to say
that while there might be illegitimate
parents there could be no such thing
as an illegitimate child, and we are all
nclined to sympathize with her view.
The up-to-date world wishes to give
every child a fair chance in life with
out regard to the sins of its parents.
VISIBLE -MUSIC.
There is nothing absolutely new in
Dr. Dayton C. Miller's device for mak
ing sound waves visible. It has long
been known that grains of sand
strewn on a vibrating plate would as
sume perfectly definite forms differ
ent for each note of the scale. The
figures thus obtained are commonly
printed in the textbooks on physics
and may be used to determine abso
lute pitch.
Dr. Miller, who is professor of phys
ics in the Case School of Applied Sci
ence at Cleveland, has used a revolv
ing mirror in somewhat the same
manner. With great ingenuity he
causes the rapidly rotating mirror to
reflect a ray of light on a screen. As
the mirror vibrates in response to
musical or other sounds the light is
affected, the image on the screen is
deformed and thus, in a way, the
sound becomes visible to the specta
tors. Since each tone deforms the
luminous image after a manner of its
own it might be possible to construct
a species of musical notation from Dr.
Miller's experiment and thus enable
the deaf to hear with their eyes. The
projection of Beethoven's symphonies
on a screen is entirely possible.
There is one difficulty in the way of
the commercial exploitation of this
new wonder in a picture show. Tho
deformations of tho image on the
screen are too rapid, perhaps, for the
eye to follow. The tone known as
high C has 1500 vibrations to the sec
ond. For other notes in the scale the
number is smaller, down to the A
above middle C. which has but 440
vibrations to the second. The eye is
extremely agile, but we fear it might
experience some little difficulty in fol
lowing movements so rapid as these.
Perhaps the " enjoyment of classical
music must still be left to the ear.
THE HELLESPONT.
The Dardanelles, which used to be
the Hellespont. Is about as classical a
spot as there is on the face of the
earth. A little to the southward of it
are the plains of Troy, where the
Greeks and Trojans fought the battles
which are celebrated m the Iliad. Over
their battling hosts hovered the gods
and goddesses of mythology who have
been amply replaced by modern air
ships. We dare say a thoroughly
equipped aeroplane is more wonderful
and far more effective in warfare than
either Mars or Neptune of the old
school.
Not far from the strait is the tomb
of Achilles, where Alexander paused
to weep on his way to conquer Persia
because he had no Homer to sing his
victories. At a temple on the south
shore dwelt the beautiful Hero whom
Leander loved. He swam the Helles
pont to clasp her In his arms and
Lord Byron imitated him from love of
fame, not woman. When Xerxes came
to the Hellespont on his way to invade
Greece he built & bridge of boats
across it for easier passage. His first
bridge was destroyed by a storm, but
after reducing the waters to obedience
by a scourging he built another which
lasted until his fugitive return.
Xerxes' troops marched across the
bridge under constant lashings, but it
was five days before they were all
over. After the battle of Salamis,
while the Great King was in the first
confusion of his monstrous defeat,
Themtstocles sent him word by night
that the Athenians were going to
break down his bridge of boats at the
Hellespont. This fixed wings to the
tyrant's heels and he fled inconti
nently homeward. Jason sailed
through the Hellespont on his way to
the end of the Black Sea to find the
golden fleece. It was somewhere near
there that Iphigenia was sacrificed to
propitiate the gods and bring a favor
able wind to the Grecian ships.
Every rood of ground at the Helles
pont and all along the Aegean coast
bristles with myth and poetry. Human
history centered around those waters
for countless thousands of years and
more history is making there now
than ever before. The Hellespont
ought to be a free highway for the
nations and perhaps it will be when
peace comes again, if it ever does.
FIRING UWSOX,
Colonel Lawson tendered last week
his resignation of the superintendency
of the Oregon State Prison, to take
effect a month hence; but through the
grace of Governor Withycombe the
time was extended to May 1. It is
true mouth, doubtless, that the super
intendent resigned under political
pressure. He was me personam ay
noint.ee ol in in.ee wu.,..
he could not reasonably expect that
his tenure would long outlast the term
of his patron. The State Board of
Control, during the Lawson incum
bency, took over direction of tho Peni.
tentiary, but the position of the late
superintendent and his obligation to
Governor West were not in any way
affected.
Governor Withycombe expressed to
Superintendent Lawson his desire to
have Joseph Keller appointed parole
officer. The suggestion had the sanc
tion of the Board of Control, and Su
nerintendent Lawson expressed his
compliance. But when the superin
tendent left the presence of the Board
of Control he suffered a sudden attack
of offensive self-assertiveness, and he
cave out to the newspapers a state
ment that he would not appoint Kel
ler, who, ho intimated, was not fit, and
besides, there was no such position in
the prison as parole officer. Why
Colonel Lawson changed 'his mind is
open to the natural surmise that he
was persuaded to his new course by
some nne or other not friendly to
Governor Withycombe.
Now the Board of Control, uponjhe
insistence Of Governor Withycombe,
has peremptorily dismissed Superin
tendent Lawson for gross insubordina
tion. The question is not one of Kel
ler's fitness, but it has resolved itself
wholly into one of reasonable loyalty
and decent conduct by a minor official
of the state toward the governing
power. The action of Lawson in giv
ing out an interview in the Keller mat
ter, in effect defying the Governor,
after his open and ready compliance
with the Governor s request, was lra
nudent and insubordinate and was in
tended to embarrass and humiliate
the state administration. It could not
be overlooked.
It is well enough for all the state
employes to understand that the state
has in Governor W ithycombe an exec
utive who has a proper sense of his
own dignity. A strong Governor who
makes occasional mistakes 'is vastly to
be preferred to a weak Governor who
permits his subordinates to aery mm
by open criticisms and by secret in
trigues with his enemies.
SHYSTER TACTICS.
The nameless but not forgotten
shvster lawyer who asked a witness
the tricky question, "Have you quit
beating your grandmother yet?" has
had many cheap imitators, but none
cheaper nor more persistent than the
Portland Journal. Just now it is ex
cretelng its talents in framing shyster
questions concerning- the Moser Din.
These questions seem to be directed to
Tho Oregonian. And The Oregonlan
is perfectly willing to answer them
solely because the answers expose an
attempt on the part of the Journal to
make capital out of dishonest assump
tions. The questions and answers fol
low:
First. Why did the Senate atand ready to
beat the compensation bill If the House re
fused to pass the spoilsmen bill 7
There was no "spoilsmen's bill."
Only because the Journal has fre
quently and specifically referred to
the Moser bill as the "spoilsmen's
bill" does anyone know what is meant
by the appellation.
The Senate passed the compensation
bill before the Moser bill was intro
duced. It was the House that stood
ready to defeat the compensation bill
because the Senate had attached an
amendment dispensing with two use
less officials created by the original
compensation act. The only open
threats of adjournment without finally
agreeing on the compensation bill
came from tho House.
second. Why was the spoilsmen bill kept
out of reach of the people by attaching the
emergency clause to itf
Because a real emergency existed.
Spoilsmen in office who were likely to
lose positions by honest keeping of
legislative pledges to consolidate com
missions and dispense with useless of
fices sncerlngly challenged tho Senate
to pass its consolidation measures and
boasted that they had the House or
ganized to defeat them. They did
have the House in a frame of mind
to ignore its consolidation pledges.
When the state is burdened with of
ficeholders who encourage bad faith
among other officers and block the
road to economy, a means to dispense
with their services at the earliest pos
sible moment Is an urgent necessity.
Third. Why did the Senate bosses demand
this measure even at the personal sacrifice
by the Governor of signing the bill after
be had promised the Grange that he would
veto emergency clause bills not necessary
for the Immediate preservation of the pub
lic peace, health and safety?
There were no men in the Senate
who could be truthfully termed
"bosses." Representations that there
were are rank falsehoods. No mem
bers of the Senate exerted pressure on
Governor Withycombe to sign the
Moser bill, nor were any of them In po
sition to do so were they so inclined.
The Legislature was on the point of
adjournment when the bill was passed.
No retaliation for failure to sign or
favors for signing were possible at
such a late hour. Governor Withy
combe did not violate his pledge be
cause an emergency in fact existed.
Four. If the spoilsmen bill la such a mil.
tcrplece of legislation, why Is every clvlliieij
government In the world. Oregon excepted,
extending and perfecttng civil service as a
means of getting rid of spoilsmen and spoils?
The tendency of civil service exten
sion is not toward inclusion of heads
of state departments, who solely are
afrected by the Moser law. The
tendency In other states is in line
with the policy of that law. It is rep
resented by the short-ballot move
ment, of which President Wilson is
the head, which seeks to centralize
and enlarge the authority of the ap
pointing; power.
IrP'addition let it be understood that
the Moser bill is an answer to a con
spiracy of the Portland Journal and
certain appointees and followers of ex
Governor AVest to bring discredit upon
the Legislature. This conspiracy
brought forth the false cry' of "boss
ism" and machine rule concerning the
Senate; it preyed upon the suspicions
of the inexperfonced members of the
House and gathered within its em
brace members who were experienced
but cared naught for their campaign
promises to sheer off the useless in
officialdom.
It created a sentiment in the House
favorable to adjournment without
passing absolutely essential amend
ments to the compensation law- If un
necessary members of the commission
would not be otherwise retained. It
took advantage of the lack of leader
shin and the absence of co-operation
and team work in the lower body to
create disorder in the closing hours.
Nothing would have pleased these
schemers better than the failure of
such vital legislation as the compen
sation law. That is what they hoped
and prayed for.
The conspiracy was defeated at the
last moment by Representatives
Forbes and Olson, who appealed to
the better Judgment of a majority and
effected an organization which was
willing to negotiate with the Senate
over honest differences of opinion, in
stead of standing in obstinate and
haughty aloof. The result was an
agreement that the Senate would con
cede the retention of the three mem
bers on the Compensation Commission
if the House would pass two consoli
dation bills cutting out other officials
and assist in enacting a law that would
promptly rid the state of the lobbying
jobholders who had almost brought
dishonor upon the Legislature.
The main issue, however, was suc
cessful. The disreputable attempt in
the interest of pork and politics failed.
That failure is the inspiration of the
Journal's talk of spoils and spoilsmen's
bills. That Is why it imitates the
shyster lawyer and plagiarizes his
question.
Since January 1, 1915, state appro
priations amounting to 1200,000,000
have been spent on "better roads."
Pretty nearly 31,000 miles have been
surfaced. Such are the visible fruits
of the good roads agitation. The
booby list of states without highway
departments includes seven, Georgia,
Florida, Indiana, Mississippi, South
Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
American manufacturers who use
dyes have been almost totally deprived
of this material by the war, since it is
largely imported. In the nick of time
a chemist in the Federal Bureau of
Mines has discovered a way to make
dyes from raw petroleum which are
as good as the best from Europe. In
cidentally he has also discovered how
to make cheap gasoline.
It is not every day that one has the
opportunity to hear good music and
aid a good cause at the same time.
But precisely such an opportunity is
offered tonight at the concert for the
benefit of the Salvation Army under J
Mrs. Burkes direction. we ao not.
believe that many except the sick and
the deaf will stay away.
Judge Catena emphasized some
truths in his address on "Boys." The
lad who trots around with his father
is not in danger of going wrong if the
parent is the right kind of man, and
if he is not he has no right to parent
hood.
The Austrian fleet turned and fled
from an allied flotilla it had steamed
forth to meet. Which goes to prove
that tho Austrian navy is similar in
morale to the Austrian army.
A total of 821.000 prisoners Is
claimed by the Germans. Present
conditions of supplies considered, it
should be more of a problem to feed
than to fight such a force.
The lads who climbed the steeple
are of the fiber that leads the charge
in battle, and wiso officials will not
be harsh with them. -
As we view present conditions in
Mexico, who can escape the conclusion
that our course has been anything
short of criminal!
The early fly is making his appear
ance around the bread plate in the
restaurants and now is the time to
swat him.
Greece is bitterly divided over enter
ing the war. May take an internal
war to decide the issue, judging by
reports.
One more week of this weather and
the gay and frisky groundhog, gam-
bollntr on the green, will say: "I told
you so.
Europe having stood pat in the mat
ter of commerce, outLwn State De
partment has cilmbed off its high
horse.
That prospective American wheat
crop will reacn o,uuo,uuu ouaneia.
Tho world will need every grain.
The British are reported to have
learned to respect their Teuton enemy.
On good ground, it may be added.
Get ready for Spring work by sharp
ening the hoe, but do it on the right
side of the blade.
Be It known to carping critics and
maligners, James Withycombe is Gov
ernor of Oregon.
Colonel Lawson can now sympathize
with the former Copperfield saloon
keepers. And by the
American flag
Tampico.?
way
get
when does the
that salute at
It is now safe to boast that we've
had a snowless Wniter.
This is the weather that rouses the
hookworm to action.
Mobilize the lawnmower and garden
implements.
The Albany Marchers are all cock
pheasants. .
Mexico City in chaos,
ing worse.
And becom-
Eack to Vera Cruz!
SOAGS AS OF THE CRIMEAN WAR
"Annie Laurie" Then Favorite of
Trenches as It Is Now la Flanders.
PORTLAND, March 8. To the Ed
itor.) Will Irwin,- in The Oregonian,
describes the conditions, sentiments
and eccentricities of the British troops
in the trenches in Flanders, and reports
that all sentimental songs are subor
dinated to "Annie Laurie."
It was my fortune while in the Uni
versity of Michigan in the '70s to hear
Bavard Taylor recite his "Song of tha
Camp," which I ak you to publish in
connection with Mr. Irwin's report as
from the sons of the Crimean soldiers
who filled the trenches before Sebasto
pol in 1854.
There are men now in our city wear
ing scars inflicted by Russian bayonets
in the Crimean struggle of 1854. Among
them is John Donahue, of the Ennls
killen Dragoons, now of tile Interna
tional Hotel, who joined in singing
"Annie Laurie" while watching the
charge of the" Light Brigade.
M. J. M'MAHON.
Songr of the Camp.
By Bayard Taylor.
'Give us a song!" the soldiers cried.
The outer trenches guarding.
While the heated guns of the camps
allied
Grew weary of bombarding.
"Give us a song!" the guardsmen say,
"We storm the forts tomorrow:
Sing while we may; another day
Will bring enough of sorrow."
They lay along the batteries side.
Below the slumbering cannon.
Brave hearts from Severn and from
Clyde.
And from the banks of Shannon.
They sang of love and not of fame.
Forgot was Britain's glory:
Each heart recalled a different name.
But all e&ng "Annie Laurie."
Voice after voice caught up the song,
Until its tender passion
Swelled like an anthem rich and
strong
Their battle eve's confession.
Dear giri; Her name hs dared not
speak.
But as the song grew louder.
Something on the soldier's cheek
Washed off the stain of powder.
And once again a fire of hell
Rained on the Russian quarters.
'Midst scream of shot and burst of shell
And bellowing of the mortars.
And Irish Nora's eyes are dim
For a singer dumb and gory.
And English Mary mourns for him
Who sang of "Annie Laurie."
Beyond the dark'ning ocean burned
The bloody sunset's embers.
While the Crimean valleys learned
How Epglish love remembers.
Ah! soldiers, to your honored rest,
Tour truth and valor bearing;
The bravest are the tenderest.
The loving are the daring.
OL' AB-VEIt JONES, THE FIDDLER
JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
Ol' Abner Jones, the fiddler, made us
think our feet was wings.
As he would jerk the frisky bow across
the tremblin' strings.
In them ol'-fashioned dancin' tunes so
dear to every heart
Of young an' old that in the country
dances took a part.
His cowhide boot 'd beat the time, his
or gray head d sway
From side to side in measure to the
tune that he would play;
An' when he'd throw the elbow grease
into that flyin bow
We'd feel the music ticklin" us like fun
from head to toe:
"My father an' mother was Irish,
My father an' mothei was Irjsh,
My father an mother was Irish,
An' I am Irish, too."
At huskin' bees we'd shuck all day, an'
when a gal 'd strip
A red ear's husky jacket off, her purty
poutin' lip
'D never have no tiresome wait to git
its just reward
From him a-settin" by her side, her
chosen huskin" pard.
An' then we'd clear the ol' barn floor
an' Ab 'd take his seat.
An' with that good ol' fiddle start the
action in our feet;
Between the hosshair an" the strings
the trouble d commence.
In music that you might describe
bcin' most intense:
"Johnny git yer gun.
There's a nigger in the corraflcld,
Nigger in the cornfield
Htealin' corn."
From early candle lightin', full
frolic
to the core.
We'd pound the dust from out
the
cracks of that ol' barn floor;
We'd swing the gals an' hug 'em tight
sashay an' balance all.
An' double shuffle till you'd think the
roof d surely fall.
The blood o' fun got into heat in every
dancer s veins
When Ab 'd shake the cobwebs with
that fiddle's lightnin' strains
An' not an eye "d coax fur sleep until
the break o day
'D come a squintin' through the cracks
an' we'dhcar Abner play:
"Good night, ladies.
Goodnight, ladies.
Goodnight, ladles.
We're gwine to leave you now."
When 't come ol' Abner's time to go to
his eternal rest
He died with that ol' fiddle hugged agin
his sunken breast.
An" when we laid him in the grave, so
lonesome, dark an deep,
The fiddle went along to keep him
comp ny in his sleep.
He was a righteous man. was Ab. an'
I'm belicvin' that
Lp yonder in the land o' pure delight
wnere no is at.
If he has learned to play the harp the
strings he II often strike
An' play tha only tunes he knows the
dance tunes somethin' like:
"Fire down below.
Fire down below.
Don't you see the smoke arisin'.
Fire down below."
THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL.
Our baby, dear, has grown to be a live
ly little girl.
Who starts to school this morning, her
brain all In a whirl
Of excitement and happiness the mys
teries to find,
That fill the average busy little school
girl s mind.
She stands before the mirror and
smooths her dress with care.
And looks with admiration at the rib
bon In her hair;
Then turns and opes the drawer where
her 'kerchiefs, clean, are piled.
And asks her mother for some perfume
(who bowed her head and
smiled.)
She passes out, we close the door and
everything is still;
No sound of voice or footsteps our
eyes with tears are filled.
For the babe that plied the cushions
ana placed the chairs all In a row
Has grown to be "a little girl," and
we're sorry that it's so.
She docs not know that real life for
her is just begun.
And that trials will beset her before
the day is done.
But mothar'a eyes will watch the clock
to know when she can can meet
her
With wide-open arms and a mother's
love to greet her.
OniELIA J. BEARDS-LEI",
FATHERLAND REVERED BY SCHl'RZ
Yet He Acknowledged Full Duty and
Undivided Loyalty to AmerU-a.
PORTLAND. March S. (To the Edi
tor.) Every admirer of Carl Jichurz,
especially all German-Americans- who
accepted him as their guide and ad
viser, will agree with you when you
say of him: "His cureer stands as an
eternal example to those who come
from other lands to take upon them
selves -the obligations of American
citizenship. He realised fully that no
man can serve two masters."
Bit your assertion: "Either he Is
an American or he is not" may be mis.
understood. If it means that a man
can be a loyal citizen to one country
only, every honest adopted citizen will
subscribe to it. If in addition to b
an American is to break with the past
altogether, to renounce with the oath
of allegiance all affection and grati
tude for the country to which he owes
birth and education, then Carl Schurz,
with all his merits, was only a hyphen
ated. American.
In a speech exhorting his countrymen
to do their full duty as citizens, to
learn English, study the political ques
tions and then vote to promote the gen
eral welfare regardless of party tyr
anny, instead of Impotent fault-finding,
he continued: "The old fatherland
certainly may and ought to remain
dear to us, although we are separated
from it. I have often eald and I like
to Tepoat It: He who forgets tho love
of his old mother will not truly love
his young bride. But let us never for
get that to our young bride, tho Amer
ican republic, we owe our full duty and
undivided loyalty."
Such expressions recur in his speeches
and writings repeatedly and It Is safe
to assume, were he alive today, he
would take the same position as Con
gressman Bartholdt, of Missouri, in the
firm belief that he was serving his
adopted country better than by encour
aging the exportation of arms, which
prolongs the war to the detriment of
the whole civilised world.
Notwithstanding the great services
he rendered the country of his choice
he was more than once told by those
who felt the stings of his fearless criti
cism, to go back whence he came if
America was not to his liking. Cut
such insults did not discourage him in
his fight for free labor, civil service re
form, honest money and independence
in party politics. We shall endeavor
to follow his example and advice to re
main faithful to our young bride the
American Republic and the fair-minded
of our fellow citizens of English
descent will pardon us for feeling and
even showing more affection for our
own than their old etepmother.
GERMAN-AMERICAN.
Kaiser's Telesram to Krueaer.
PORTLAND, March 8. (To the Ed
itor.) In baiting Emperor Wilhelm I
a favorite theme among a certain class
of Britishers is "that telegram he
sent to Taul Krueger, then President
of the Transvaal Republic, trying to
prove thereby that Emperor Wilhelm
did an unfriendly act toward England
because England was at war with the
Boers. If my memory serves me right
"that telegram" was sent at the time
when General Gaubert captured a gang
of adventurers led by Dr. Jameson,
trying to steal the Boer government
for Cecil Rhodes and before official
Ensland had made war against the
Transvaal Republic.
Please state date when "that tele
gram" was sent by Emperor Wilhelm
to President Krueger and if possible
Its wording or its meaning and the
date when England sent her last ulti
matum to the Transvaal Republic.
SUBSCRIBER.
Emperor William's famous open tel
egram to President Krueger was sent
on January 3, 1S96. the day following
Dr. Jameson's surrender. It congrat
ulated President Krueger that "with
out appealing to the help of friendly
powers" he had repelled tho Invaders.
The ultimatum of the British gov
ernment to tho two Boer republics was
delivered October 9. 1899. and expired
on October 11. The war opened tho
following day. or more than three
years after the date of the telegram.
How Problem Is SolTrd.
GRANTS PASS, Or.. March ". (To tlie
Editor.) In Tho Oregonian, March o,
appeared the following "Painter's Prob
lem :
"A man was engaged in painting a
surface with two coats of paint, one
light and one heavy. Of the firm coat
he found that ho could paint lo sijuaro
feet per hour and of the second coat
93 square feet per hour. Mow many
square feet can he double-coat in ono
hour?"
This is solved as follows:
The time required to cover one square
foot with the first coat la 1-134 hour,
with the second coat 1-93 hour; there
fore, the time required to cover one
square foot with two coats Is 1-13 plus
1-93. or 229-12648 hour. Tho number
of square feet double-coated In one hour
would be 1 divided by 229-126 IS, or
D5 and 63-229 squire feet.
To cover this surface with tiie first
coat would require 93-229 hour, with
the second coat 136-229 hour.
S. U. GORBL'TT.
Alaaka'a w Railroad.
ASHLAND, Or., March ".(To the
Editor.) Can you give me any infor
mation In regard to the Government
railroad in Alaska?
At what time will work commence
Where does it leave coast? What Is its
destination? What is the character of
the soil and climate along its route?
Also, what of the timber and coal
mines? I am a "tenderfoot" seeking
information and, noticing The Orcero-
nian Is the only Portland paper on file
in the city library and other public
places, is my excuse for writing.
, J. KUStKU
The location of the proposed railroad
has not yet been announced but Is
likely to bo soon. For matter descrip
tive of the general section of Alaska to
be traversed write to tho Chamber of
Commerce, Cordova, Alaska.
Forelarn Repreacatatlvea la L. S.
RAINIER, Or.. March 7. (To the
Editor.) Please give me the names
and addresses (Washington. D. C, I
mean) of the Ambassadors of these
countries: Mexico, Canada, England,
France. Belgium. Russia, Germany,
Austria-Hungary and Italy.
I wish to obtain information, lours
truly, . JOHN JERZYK.
Unless letters concern purely per
sonal matters, they should not be ad
dressed to the Minister or Ambassa
dor by name. For example, address
Secretary German Legation, Wash
ington, D. C." Canada has no consular
representative In America, being a
British colony.
Pamphlet Ha I.lt of Officers.
RAINIER. Or., March 1. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) Please print a list of the
present Congressional and state offi
cers in Oregon. (2) What is the Tu-
malo project? M. u.
1. The list of all officers, boards
and commissions is too long for pub
lication. Write to the Secretary of
State for a copy of the Oregon Blue
Book.
, Tho Tumalo project is an irrlga
ion enterprise in ecmrai urcson u-
anced by a state appropriation of
150,000.
l'ilinur of a Suit.
Buffalo (N. T.) Express.
"A suit has been (lied against the
cantaloupe trust." "Cutting too many
melon, eh?"
Twenty-five Year Ago
From The Oregonlan March , 10.
A warranty deed 3S years old ni
filud for record iu tho Recorder's of
fice yesterday. The document a.
acknowledged before Lewis Hurst,
notary public, nt 3 Johns btrret, New
York, on the lStlt day of May. 1S3N.
The property transferred was part or
tho original donation land claim of
James V. Story, then deceased, and was
deeded from James A. Story to William
B. Story. The land was desrribtd a
a part of the Territory of OrrKon anil
the consideration for the transfer
was Ji.
Goldcndalo, Wash. An Indian medi
cine, woman residing on Rock Creek,
cast of this place, failing to cure on
of her patient, wsa taken out by
somo of tho nohlc braves of that lcin
ity, a ropo put around her neck ;n!
Flie was dracs'ed to death. The Indian
of that locality belong to no reserva
tion and are not disposed lo abandon
their ancient customs.
There promise to he crecle.l m
Woodlawn this Spring more buildlns .
than in any other section.
Sonio of the state papers have pl.f I
Rev. J. R. lX. I'ell. of Rosrbut u, .!
nomination for State Superintcudcnt f
Tublic Instruction.
Captain Whltclaw, the well-knnwn
wrecking engineer, arrived from San
Francisco on the Santa Rosa and Is ree
ntered at tho Merchants.
Tho remaining shipments of the elec
tric, cars for the YVaHiinetoii-atrert
line left Chicago on t lie Mil InMant
over the Chicago. Milwaukee R. Si
Paul. The first lot was delMed ru
etal days at I'oeatelio by the tildes on
the Union Pacific
The friends of Mit-s Jennie Gray ate
endeavoring to eerurr her appointment
as postmistress of East Portland.
Secretary K. W. Allen, of tho Impo
sition Association. Is daily evpe.-tiiic
to cloFe up a deal for the music for
the fair next Full. Many application"
are cominir in from the East for fpac.
In the exposition.
Mayor Pe l.nshiiiiitt yc!terdy ap
pointed William Showers. Richard
lloyt and Sylvester l arrell a commit -teo
to mipervise the building of the
proposed new City Hall.
Half a Century Ago
From The Orecenlan, March l, ISA."'.
Washington. The following are. some
of the features of tho new tax lw a.
passed by Congress:
On all Incomes exceeding J600 a tax
of 5 per cent.
On all incomes over J5nP0 a tx of 1"
per cent.
Tho tax on cigars is Used at Jlft per
1000 regardless of prico or quality.
A tax of 40 cents a pound on all
smoking tobacco made from the stem.
There is to bo levied a tax of 10 pet
cent on all state bank circulation after
May 1; the savings banks one-half of
1 per cent on all tlielr deposit".
There ore many other details which
cover all kinds of manufactures, etc.
San Francisco. Samuel H. Henry was
tried yesterday here for embezzling
from the Sunday Mercury, Shaffer
Kord, proprietor. Henry was book
keeper nd had niado an entry of il
less than he actually received. It li
stated.
The London Times acknowledges the
receipt of a letter from Sllg" Iron
Works. Pittsburg, written on sheet of
iron not weighing more than double tho
same size of ordinary letler paper. It
was the 100th part of an inch In thick
ness, being the thinnest iron ever rolled.
We arc informed by E. Kclley. man
ager for the popular levies given in
this city by tho alass blower.- a few
months since, that they hae recently
returned from a vol y successful trip
through the valley.
Wells. Psrgo A Co. yesterday ehippd
$60,000 by steamship to San Francisco.
The second largest monitor yet built
has been launched nt I'lttshiir;. and
another smaller vessel of tho eanie els mi
is on the stocks intended for liarhoi
defense. It if named the I nipqua. W
would sugcest Multnomah as an appro,
prlate name for some vessel of war.
Wc understand from S. Knlcht. at
prcr,cnt eoniieeteil with Tho Statesman,
that he Intends to cut sdrlft from Jour
nalism and take to tho ministry. Mr.
Knight Is a man of loinu cont-ldcrable
attainments.
IT hi-; Willi-: oiti,i Kim 'lin;
l'OIITI.Ml hum;."
"The wide world knows the Portland
lose."
1 read It on the liner.
And instantly it brought to me -Instead
of endless sky and sen.
Instead of briny, choppy foam
vision of my Portland home.
The wide world knows the rortlaiol
rose."
I read It on thp diner.
And while I caii on sleet and ano
My heart grows warm becauso I
know
Instead of this I soon will see
The land of roses, dear to inc.
,"The wide world knows the rorllaii'l
rose."
The German soldier sobbed It.
"Before a cottage, boys. It crows.
V here wife must hope, allhousu she
knows
That many here may meet their doom.
Whose hearts are vhrre. the lose
bloom."
"Tho wide world knows the Portland
rose."
The mother softly crooned t.
tier lot was east on I'.nelii'h shore.
Her eyes wei o fixed on English flo
rs :
Put .o the banc upon her breast
She sang tlfi? flower she loved the brM.
"The wide world knows tho Portland
rose."
In lOsypt's land he sislis It.
Ilis lease of life is almost gone.
No more his eyes will gaze upon
The only flower his hesrt now knows
The queen of flowers, lh. Portland
rose.
"The w ide world knows the Portland
rose."
For In our hearts it blooms and
grows.
The bride upon . foreign shore,
The soldier where the bullets pour.
The child whose life has just begun.
The man whose race is nearly run.
"Tho wide world knows the Portland
rose."
For In our hearts It blooms and crows.
HORACE WILLIAM M'NKAL
Make Your Windows Say
"Come In."
A retailer's show windows are
his invitation.
They often give the "reason why"
customors desire to enter his store.
Their pulling possibilities are
limited only to conditions of loca
tions and the dealers skill.
It pays the dealer, to dress these
windows with yoods Unit arc being
advertised iu tl.e daily newspapers.
It pays because the public mind
Is on these goods. 1'eople will want
to see them.
They will go into the store that
Invites them to enter.