Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, December 22, 1916, Image 12

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Morning Oregonian., December 22, 1916, Page 12, Image 12

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Newspaper Page Text.-- 12 THE MORNING - OREGOXTAN, FHIDAT. DECEMBER 22, 1916. ' POBTLAXD. ' OREGON. Entered at Portland (Oregon) Postofflca as secona-ciass mau maLter. , . Subscription rates Invariably in ' advance. (Bv Mall.) . t raily. Sunday l-.cluded, one year ..... .-.$8.00 J-any, bunday lco tided, six montns ..... I'ally, Bundav lnciilded. three months -25 Dally, Sunday lw luded, one month ..... -3 Bally, without Sunday, one year ........ o.OO TAilv wltV-.Aiit Knnriav , h rA miin ths ... L ' XMlly. without SuDd&v. ftne moath ...... .40 "Weekly, one yeer - J-X Sunday, Due year .. Jf-Jx Sunday and Weekly 8 u0 (By Carrier.) T)n Rnna InrtlnillMl AAA Vctf" ...... 9.00 Ially, Sunday Included, one month' How to Remit Send postoftlce money order, expres order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at studers risk. Give postoffice address In lull, including county and elate. Portage Rates 12 to 6 pages, 1 cent: 18 to 32 pases. S cents; S4 to48 pages. 3 cents 60 to so pages. 4 cents 82 to Ttt pages, a cents: 78 to 62 pages, o cents. Foreign post age, double rates. t Lantern Buxlnees Office Verre & Conk lln, Brunswick building. New York; Verree & Conklln, stenger building, Chicago., ban Kranclsco representative, J. Bldwell, 11 Market etreet. . lOBTUKD, FRIDAT, DECEMBER 82. 1916 ; ARE WE MEDDLING? . .' The first impression on reading the Wilson note' to' the belligerent powers is . one of surprise at the daring of .the Presidential enterprise. Departing from every diplomatic precedent, he has struck out on a. new line in an endeavor to hasten the war to an end before the United States becomes in volved. The action is bold, because he runs grave risk of giving deep of fense to one or both ,gr.oups of bellig erents. Should it, meet with success only to the degree of bringing peace . nearer it will be Justified by the event: its wisdom can be disproved only by total failure and by a train of worse evils than now afflict the United States in common with the rest of the world. The circumstances may perhaps Justify the President In making a pre cedent, even to the extent of so radi cal a departure from customary nego tiation, for they are without prece dent. The war itself is without prece dent, both In Its extent. Its destruc tiveness and its effect : on neutrals. Not. even the Napoleonic war was a precedent. - At that time the United . States . was the. only independent state in America, was small and weak and had foreign communications 1 which did not compare with those which it now has. Then all the smaller nations of Europe were in volved; now many of .them strive to stand aloof. ' Then Bea traffic was slow and- relatively infrequent; now in speed and frequency it is equal to that which then prevailed between Eng land and France. The war also is without precedent in its violation of treaties and in its practical destruc tion of the entire framework of in ternational law, and even of the ele mentary rights ,of humanity, which are above all law. Arfy charge that the President is meddling in a war which is not our war sets at naught the fact that, as a direct result of the war, our citizens 1 have been killed, their property de stroyed, their ships sunk, their rights violated , and that our commerce and industry have been deranged. It sets at naught our interest in the preser vation of Western civilization, which is being wrecked, and in the future of the entire human race, which is im periled. "Even on these broad grounds we may assert that we have - a right to ask for a definite statement 'as to what the nations are fighting about, to form our own conclusions about the justice of their -aims and to base our further action on those conclusions. There is a precedent in our own re cent history. When Spain by vain at tempts to suppress the revolution in Cuba kept up a constant disturbance at our doors, involving many of our citizens, we asserted our right to re store public peace in our neighbor hood, and the great majority of the nations either approved or assented by silence. When during our Revolu tionary War Britain trampled on neu tral rights at sea. Russia formed the Armed Neutrality League of Baltic States, which forced reluctant modi fication of British .methods of sea war fare. By the same right the United States' is justified in doing far more than merely to ask that the issues of the quarrel be clearly-defined. . The ocean highways, swarm' with armed ships, some of which destroy '. our peaceful vessels and kill their crews, while others confiscate chips and car goes and rifle our, mails. When we protest, the-answer "We are at war" is deemed sufficient. - This Nation has a right to safety on those highways, and when that is taken away by bands of. lawless, brawling nations, it has a right to ask "For what are you fighting?" and to pass judgment on the quarrel. . We have suffered from each side wrongs which we should have long since adjudged Intolerable but for the inevitable conclusion that by avenging them we should not only condone those which have been in flicted by the other party, but should give active aid to that other party. This dilemma imposes upon the Pres ident the duty of learning, if he can, from each party its version of the causes of the quarrel, the purpose it has in view, and, with much greater precision than has marked any past declarations, the terms upon which it would make peace. ' With this in formation in his possession, he would be better able to work for peace, and, failing in that, he would have a guide for his course during continued war. This is Secretary Lansing's expla nation of the note when he says: "We are drawing nearer the verge of war." Should our own National interests re quire us to make war on one party, we ought to be assured before going in that the aims of "the party we should thereby assist were such as we could support by force, of arms.l Those aims would be judged by our statesmen from the American conception of jus tice between nations uninfluenced by selfish material interest or by prior bargains among allies. Modification of aims might be made a condition of our aid in such an extremity. Not that any change in our diplo matic relations with either alliance has brought us close to decision on that grave issue. The danger ' is greater only because the wrongs against which we have protested have become more flagrant and more fre quent and because protest seems use less to nations maddened by war. The hope that we may escape it has been brightened by the pacific over tures of the central powers. It is strange that the President did not long ago. perceive the application to Mexico of the. principles which have moved him to this revolutionary step toward Europe; In proportion to the area and population Involved, there has been much greater loss of Ameri can life, property and rights la Mex ico than in Europe, it has been much longer continued and there la even less prospect of reparation and amendment. The brave words which Mr. Wilson has addressed to Europe would have had more weight if thgre were not fresh in every man's mem ory his multiplicity of words and pau city of deeds in that land which also yearns for peace from a strong hand guided by justice. BO'GLED. V If President Wilson's address to the belligerent powers is out of accord with strict diplomatic precedent. Sec retary Lansing's first statement is a distinct diplomatic faux pas. The Secretary appears to have assumed that the President needs ah interpre ter. More clearly the Secretary needs a curb. Secretary Lansing made, the blunt assertion that "we are drawing nearer the verge of war" and that the "situ ation is becoming increasingly criti cal." The President said nothing of that kind, except that our position has become "intolerable." , If Secretary Lansing's purpose was to alarm the American public, he has succeeded; if it was to apprise the for eign public of. the condition of Amer ican sentiment, he has made a mess of it. In any event, the Secretary would have done well to keep still. He would not then have been obliged to issue a second statement explaining his first. WHAT ONE OUGHT TO KNOW. " The New Tork World finds much fault with the bogy-man of decrepi tude and. decay created for actuarial purposes by life-insurance diagnosis. For example, it quotes with marked disapproval a picture of the "typical American," made by somebody named Rittenhouse, wherein it was declared that he (the typical American) is bald at 43 from trying to crowd the ex periences of two lifetimes Into one; muscularly weak and stiff -jointed be cause he never walks when he . can ride; the health of his teeth "and gums Is li pal red from eating too much soft food: his digestive organs are' showing signs of rebellion and "ha Is seriously overstraining his heart, arteries, kidneys, nerves and digestion." The. World denies that this anaemic and disgusting person commonly ex ists, except for purposes of insurance propaganda, and declares that the real American is the average worker in industry and agriculture and that he is far from being in a perpetual condition of physical decline. Someone has " said that the first forty years of the average man's life are spent in acquiring his ills and the remainder in trying to get rid of them. No one ever read a patent- medicine circular without discovering therein sundry symptoms which ex actly fit his case. Shall one go ahead thinking there is nothing the matter and doping himself forever with drugs? Or shall he learn from the professional students of man's ani mal habits just what is likelv to re sult from over-eating, or lack of exer cise, or mental overstrain, or bodily neglect? The perfectly normal and healthy man or woman at 50 is not the rule. A good way to a sane mind In a sound body is to know what to avoid. Let us be just to the doctors and the life- insurance agents. They are telling us much that we ought to know. REFLECTIONS ON HUNTING. The latest bulletin of the permanent Wild Life Protection Fund arouses speculation upon the psychology of sport afield. Bulletin No. 5 is "a demand from civilization to the West ern states to save the sage grouse from extinction." It rehearses the familiar story of the buffalo, which disappeared with a suddenness al most unbelievable; the fate of the passenger pigeon, the Eastern prairie chicken, the antelope, the mountain sheep. It tells us that the automobile has become almost as deadly as the pump and automatic shotgun, and it is es timated that dangers to upland game birds, shore birds, many- interior ducks and all deer have- been in creased 300 per cent over the influ ence formerly exerted ' by horse drawn vehicles. What is the inspiration of a group of hunters, who load an automobile to capacity with the product of their guns? They always pose for the camera. The bulletin presents two pictures which, though doubtless much to be admired by the sportsmen who appear therein,, are a disgrace to the name. Obviously edibility of the animals slain does not enter into the motive. More than enough to satiate a small town is shown as the prow ess of three hunters, equipped with automobile, dogs and pumpguns. If it is not a form of pride in marks manship that impels this slaughter, it must be pure love of killing. But why is not such pride or lust devoted to useful purpose? Every body has seen what is known as the game-hog picture. But did anybody ever see a photograph of smirking nimrods in company with the car casses of a dozen coyotes 7. A dozen coyotes -ought to gratify considerable blood lust. They would indicate good marksmanship and huntsman's ability. They cannot be eaten, but, as already remarked, edi bility does not seem to actuate the game hog. But the strangest factor is that in communities where the coyote is scarce it is considered quite the thing toteep a kennel of hounds. There your elegant sportsman in vites his friends to join hrm in chas ing down any measly specimen that may have been painstakingly located in the neighborhood. There it is sport, not bounty earning. The emotions of some hunters are incomprehensible to one who is not a hunter. Perhaps if Eastern Oregon stockmen whose profits are menaced by coyotes would announce that coy otes were becoming scarce "and hard to get, there would be a vrush of sportsmen to the interior. The brief announcement recently that American investors have disposed of- all their interests in the coal measures of Spitzenburgen obviates all possibility of future friction be tween this country and Germany over these remarkable properties and at the same time calls attention to vast supplies of fuel in the world that are as yet practically untouched. Germany is said to have coveted the mines and German capitalists have made ef forts to acquire them in the past. The Spitzenbergen islands are about 700 miles from the North Pole, and there are 'only 100 days of the open season there, but the mines promise to be amonf the most noteworthy in the world.v Investigation by Ameri cans some time ago indicated that there are 100,000,000 tons of coal in one vein, while the entire field covers 176 square miles. In connection with development work, some 200,000 tons already have been shipped. Acquisi tion of the mines by Norwegian in terests gives assurance of almost un limited employment for the rapidly growing merchant marine ' of that country. BOOTBLACKS AND MONEY LORDS. Progressive ideas and plans for the people to gain fuller control of their own affairs are always combated by the money lords and standpatters. The prudent citizen will bear this fact in mind if he ahould happen to read the denunciation In a Portland news paper of The Qregonian's proposal for public ownership of bootblack stands. That newspaper spokesman of vested Interests would distract atten tion from a laudable scheme to give the poor man the same sartorial ele gance as his capitalistic employer, by reciting the supposed superior ad vantages of a municipal lighting plant. Ever it stands as the enemy of labor and the friend of capital. The honest taxpayer is now paying out good money every year to a Com mission whose duty it is to regulate the price .of gas and electricity so that the people may not be gouged. But for the patron of the bootblack stand there Is 'no protection. Who knows but that a soulless trust controls all bootblack stands in Port land, pays its employes starvation wages, uses inferior materials and mulcts the' public that the stockhold ers mfr ride in limousines? Regardless of the influence that this trust will exert through the controlled press, progressive, right minded citizens will look forward in confidence to the day when there shall be a municipally owned pavilion where all, not a favored few, may have their nethermost wants supplied. Then, under proper supervision, super-supervision, inspection and in spection of inspectors, nobody will be in danger of contracting horrible dis ease from deadly whlskbroom or pol luted blacking brush. ITEM-VETO EATAX, TO FORK. Each Chamber of Commerce in the United States will be asked by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States to take a referendum vo'te on an amendment to the Federal Consti tution giving the President power to veto single items in appropriation bills. The single-Item veto Is the surest weapon to destroy the pork barrel. It would enable the President to pick out of a river and harbor bill, a pub lic building bill or an omnibus pen sion bill the Items which were pure pork without blocking needed im provement or depriving worthy vet erans of pensions. If, possessing this power, the President were to approve such bills without discrimination. public reprobation would be centered on him. The omnibus bill Is a device , of the pork-barrel statesmen to escape the Presidential veto. Formerly each pri vate pension was the subject of a separate bill. President Cleveland vetoed whole sheaves of such bills. Congress then took to Including all In an omnibus bill, so that the President could not veto the bad without con demning the good also. The same plan is worked out with regard to rivers and harbors and public- build ings. The amendment would also deal a blow at the pernicious rider in appro priation bills. It would have enabled both President Taft and . President Wilson to kill the rider by which Con gress pretended to exempt labor unions and farmers' associations from prosecution under the antUtrust "law. Rather than approve the rider. Mr. Taft vetoed the bill; rather than veto the bill. Mr. Wilson accepted the rider. Neither alternative should have been put to them. The chief difficulty about securing adoption of the amendment will be encountered in Congress, for the members will be unwilling to give up their perquisites. There would prob ably be small difficulty about procur ing its ratification by the states, for thirty-five of them have already given their Governors the item-veto power and only thirty-six states are needed to ratify. ' WHAT IS A "PORTION"? Fortunate are those of us who do not dwell in the regions where grasp ing commercialism pervades the lunch-rooms of the men . who eat downtown, and where.'it is said that the "portion" has been reduced one half in size, in many instances, to meet the higher cost of raw material and labor and other things. For it seems that this is one thing that the investigators of the high cost of. living have overlooked. Bureaus of weights and measures have been unusually vigilant lately: housewives have been buying scales and using them; in spectors of this and that and the other thing have been rilshing hither and yon, until the middleman, beset on every side," hardly knows where to turn. But wherever the intoxica tion of war profits is observed there also it will be noted that the spirit of "passing it along" is rife, and the restaurants have their full share of it. The trouble seems to be, accord ing to the reverberations of protest that are beginning to be heard even at this distance, that every time the increase is passed along something is gratuitously added to it. It is con tended that, even under present con ditions, there is no justification for cutting so deeply into the food allow ance as has become the practice. Out here in the West there is less complaint on this score. The res taurant men have an argument in their favor, to be sure, but there seems not to have developed quite so marked a tendency to exact the pound of flesh or the ounce, as the case may be. The nourishing cereal, the staple ";ham and ." the steam ing mutton stew and indigestible pie appear not to have undergone much, if any, change either in dimensions or in price. It is true that some of the "fancier dishes" have had a nickel added in ink to the old printed figures on the bill of fare, but one who really desires to be economical need not eat them. He still has the good old standbys to select from, and they remain at or near the same levels. So that, as a matter of fact, the man who dines away from home really has the better of it, for the present. Back East they are complaining that the bread Is thinner than it used to be; also the coffee. A man whose mathematical ability and whose probity are vouched for by the New York , Commercial recently took a census of the beans served to him as a '"portion," and found that they numbered twelve. By an operation in triangulation, he also determined that a cut of pie is now either a sixth or a seventh of the circle, in stead of a fourth or a fifth, as for merly. And so on down the line. It seems inhospitable, to say the least. War-bride prosperity certainly does have its drawbacks for the worker at a fixed salary. This presents another opportunity for action by Federal, state and mu nicipal authorities. We have legis lated as to the size of a quart and the weight of a pound and the length of a yard, but we have omitted action as to the size of a portion, which is still as indeterminate as the length of a piece of string. Something should be done about it, and the pro gressive West, though It has not. as yet begun to suffer as keenly as the East, should not on that account withhold Its aid. We are brothers In the cause of union and progress, and it is a good time to begin to bridge the chasm created by the late Na tional election. An account . In the Medical Record by an American physician at Canton of the way medicine is practiced in China by the Chinese Inclines one to wonder how that country maintains its population. Books on medicine supposed to be based on the re searches of the Emperor, Chen Long, about 2737 B. C, are still held in high regard, while the respect of the Chinese for his ancestors has logically had the effect of limiting dissection and similar means of correcting an cient errors as to the human anatomy. Practically no progress has been made in 1000 years. The "eleven or gans" of the body are supposed to be ruled by as many planets. It is worthy of observation that Mars dominates the heart and not the head, while Saturn rules the stomach, in which respect the Chinese seem to agree with the Romans who made their saturnalia what It was. The Chinese have the better of . our own doctors in the respect that they prac tice a dozen different ways of feeling the pulse, and perhaps they are bet ter students- of human - nature, for somehow In spite of their antiquated ways they manage to keep enough of their own people on earth to have the most populous nation on the globe. Opponents of universal training ad mit the breakdown of the voluntary system as now practiced, but they have nothing better to offer than the doubling of the soldier's pay in order to raise a regular Army of 600,000 men, as proposed by Walter L. Fisher. The cost of such an Army would be exorbitant, yet In the opinion of Gen eral Scott it would have only one third of the men necessary for our first line and would be only one-sixth of what we should need within three months after the outbreak of war. An Army of 600,000 men would be about the same size as that Rou manian army which has been smashed to bits by Von Mackensen's battering ram. , It it could stand the first on slaught of such armies as are now in the field, it would soon weanydown to just such a remnant as Roumania Is now reorganizing behind the Rus sian lines. The scale on which na tions now arm and carry on war puts the voluntary system out of the ques tion; it leaves no alternative to uni versal service. Guaranty of district Irrigation bonds, as proposed In the Chamberlain-Smith bill, is an easy way for Congress to promote Irrigation with out actually spending any Govern ment money. The Government would but lend its credit to the district in order to make the bonds salable at moderate interest. The proviso that the" project must be approved by the Secretary of the Interior as a condi tion of guaranty would protect the Government against loss through at tempts . to carry out unfeasible schemes, and the forfeiture and sale of land on which payments default ed would recoup it for any loss from that cause. The bill extends the principle of the rural credit law to communities of farmers on irrigated land,' The representatives of the Eugene Chamber of Commerce- have taken hold of the flax industry in the right way to win the broadest and most lasting success. A good beginning has been made at growing flax in the Wil lamette Valley. The next thing to do is to increase the acreage and to im prove the quality. When these have' reached proportions which warrant establishment of a linen factory, it will be obtainable, will succeed and will grow and will attract others. To seek the factory before we are sure of growing enough flax and good enough flax to keep it employed would be to court failure and to give the Industry a bad name from which it would not soon recover. Ratification of the treaty for sale of the Danish West Indies by the Danish Parliament adds a few more to Uncle Sam's string of Caribbean islands. Possibly by the. time the war ends the European nations which hold the others extending to the coast of Venezuela will be so short of cash that they will be glad to sell.- Even John Bull's purse is growing so thin that he might think twice before re fusing a few millions. After the experience the belligerents have been having with their Cabinets and commanders, the old adage about swapping horses in the middle of the stream has hardly a leg to stand on. - A ' China practices the same kind of neutrality as Greece lets the bellig erents fight on its soil because it can not prevent and they take what they want. Anybody who drives faster than po licemen responding to an emergency call need not consult the speedometer to get the rate. Somebody Is having another dream of freedom for Ireland at the hands of Germany. It is a hope with slen der base. Des Moines has the kind of Mayor who acts first and explains afterwards. That is the kind which busts a eoal corner. . It is possible that letters to Santa Claus may Indicate homes in which the Christmas cheer will be lacking. Ordinary people will feel in dan ger when the National capital is moved to Denver. How does the employe who gets a Christmas bonus keep the fact from his wife? All to be done 'now is to pay the money and take the Danish .West Indies. At 25 degrees below in Nebraska they will be' harvesting the ice crop soon. If the powers cannot give any bet ter terms, suppose they make it ninety days. ' " How to Keep Well. By Dr. W. A. Evan. Questions pertinent to hygiene, sanitation and prevention of disease. If matter of gen eral interest, will be answered in this col umn. Where space wlU not permit or the subject la not suitable, letter will be per sonally answered, subject to proper Umlta tlons and where stamped addressed envelope la Inclosed. Dr. Evans will Dot make diagnosis or prescribe for Individual diseases. Re Quests ttfr such, services cannot be answered. iCopyrlght. 11, by Dr. W. A. Bvana. Published by arrangement with the Chicago Tribuno.) . THE PUBLICS INTEREST. Copyright. 191 6 fey Dr. W. A Evans.) HERE is- an analysis of 200 letters received at this desk, mostly with in the last week. They were taken from the. basket for letters not accom panied by stamps for reply. They do not Include letters answered as public letters and sent, with their anwera, to the editorial rooms. The 200 letters asked questions re lating to - 210 subjects. Classified as well as they could be, they fall Into the following heads: Menstruation, 12; other questions relating to female sex organs, four; rheumatism, 11; rheuma toid arthritis, two: neuritis, two; neu ralgia, two; ' high blood pressure. nine; low blood pressure, two; consti pation, nine; -stomach trouble, five; In testinal trouble, four; liver trouble, one; appendicitis, one; biliousness, one; gallstones, one; worms, one; colitis, one; bad breath, two; piles, four; poor circulation, - eight (this Includes Ray nauJ's disease as well as cold hands, etc); questions about babies, six; about the ears, seven; about the eyes, four; questions based on vanity, rather than health, were, pimples, three; hair, six; red nose, one. A lot of questions con cerning skin conditions were grouped as follows- Corns, one; bunions, one; perspiring feet, one; shingles, " three; hives, one; ltoh, one; bath Itch, pne; Winter Itch, four; eozema, two; psoria sis, two.' A group relating to the nerve in cluded emotionalism, four; hysteria, two; sleep, three; paresis, two; paraly sis agltans, three; Infantile paralysis, two; locomotor ataxia, one; epilepsy, two; headache, one; cramps In the legs, three. Questions relating to the respiratory apparatus were classified, as follows: Consumption, four; croup, one; bron chitis, three; catarrh, three; colds, one; nose trouble, one; asthma, one; atrophic rhinitis, one; hoarseness, one; glands in neck, two. There were two questions about the heart; food questions, six; mineral water, one; accidents and emergencies, five. Information wanted about books. five. The four questions on eugenics Inquired especially as to the advisa bility of certain marriages. There were five inquiries about drugs. Two fat peo ple asked about reducing; cancer, three; goiter, three; bed wetting, one; ques tl6ns about urine, 11; diabetes, two; sex subjects (males), three; gonor rhoea, one: syphilis, two; hernia, two; cystitis, one; diphtheria, two; scarlet fever, two. A frequent criticism of a health col umn is that It stimulates neurasthenia. Reading the letters here does not lead me to think the criticism well founded. I have sat in physicians' consultation rooms and I have been to Wednesday night experience meetings at Christian Science churches and I have read the letters received here. Of the three we are least open to criticism of offering a forum for the neurasthenic. This analysis shows very clearly that the Interest In public health Is not comparable with the Interest in per sonal health. The interest in devel oped conditions is far greater than that in the habits and customs which produce those conditions. It is evi dent that symptoms form the basis of the major part of the inquiries. The symptom which stimulates the largest number of people to write is pain. The largest number of inquiries came from women inquiring about female disor ders. The principal reason for that Is the few sources of Information on questions- which Intimately concern one-half the populace. Food for Baby. Mrs. C. F. writes: "Is the following food proper for a 9-months-old baby? The food is equal parts of pasteurized milk and boiled water to which a tea spoonful of sugar of milk and one of milk of magnesia has been added. The baby Is fed six ounces five times a day. "1. Is she getting enough nourish ment? "2. How many pounds does the aver age 9-months-old baby weigh? "3. How many hours should she sleep dally? REPLY. 1. Tour baby is not getting enough nourishment. A baby months old can take a mixture of three-fourtha milk and one fourth water. In addition, she can begin to get a little gruel and meat broth: 2. About IS pounds. 3. About four hours during the day and 11 at night. Change of Life. M. A. M. writes: "I am passing through the change of life and suffer greatly with flashes of heat, followed by profuse perspiration. During the last few weeks 1 haye had a contin uous cold, caused, I consider, by this overheating. Will you advise something to correct this? How long Is the con dition likely to continue? I am unmar ried; 47 years old." REPLY. Have your physician give you an occa sional hypodermic of lutein. ' Frunze. I had hoped that when you gave the humble prune Its Just deserts you would say that, as a cure for constipation. It is without a serious rival. The follow ing is the modus operandi: First morn ing, one-half hour before breakfast, six raw prunes and glass of water; second morning and every succeeding morning, reduce prunes by one until three Is 'the number to be taken. Con tinue on three until you feel as though It is too much. After a .month "one every other morning will suffice. - A. C. F. Sodden Shock. M. S. writes: "During the first month of pregnancy my wife suffered a sud den Bhock which caused her to faint several times during the following week, loss of sleep and worry. Would this cause Injury to the child In any way V s REPLY. Ko. - 7 batarday. PORTLAND.. Dec 21 (To the Edi tor.) To settle the date of a marriage kindly Btate what day of the week was New Year's day, 1870. , MAC. SIMPLE WAY TO REAR CHILDREN Mother Inralrstrs Faith. 1b Father ( Bo Uvea U to 'it. PORTLAND. Dec 21. (To the Edi tor.) Fathers neglect moral instruc tion eto "chase the bag of gold. says Agnew, a contemporary. And therein lurkes a little taie. a tale of a wife and mother's loyalty and devotion to the father of their children. It had been a most trying, and on the whole, disappointing day at the of fice, and in utter dejection I had. come home earlier than was usual for me. With the hope that my thoughts might be diverted into different channels I entered the basement for the garden and lawn tools. Scarcely had I closed the basement door than the sound of a voice reached my ears. It was . the voice of my wife. Evidently she was talking to the children, for she was saying: "And you must always listen with respect to what your papa has to say. and obey his every wish, for he is the best papa In all the world. It would grieve him beyond any words I can now say, if ever any' one of you did anything he might not wish you to do." Just as quietly as I had entered. I retreated through the same basement door and entered my home In the usual manner. My thoughts had been diverted and strange emotions were clutching my throat. Some (astonishment was manifested by all at my early arrival home that afternoon Joy from the children and anxious inquiries regarding my health from the children's mother, an anxiety that was soon allayed. "Betsy." I said, as soon as we were alone. "What was the occasion for my eulogy to the children when I entered the house today?" "Why." she replied, a little startled. I thought. "Did you overhear it?" "Yes." I replied. "I first entered the basement. then thought better of it and retreated to come in the front way. In this way, fortunately, I overheard you" "Well. Charley," she said, placing a gentle band on my arm, "Ever since the children have been old enough to understand. I have encouraged their belief, both by word and action, that their father is an example for their conduct, and that he could do no real wroner. And Charley. sne aaaea, "rather reproachfully, "you must be careful, because their eyes are very sharp, and their little ears are very, very acute, and you know. Charlie, some times when you come home from the club, lodge or other gatherings, reany vou 'smelt' Now don't you?" True, true Indeed, and all this gentle wisdom. I thouarht. from the petite lit tie figure a schoolma'am first ob served 1! years since awaiting a train on a lonely depot platform -ot a west ern state. Bewildered at the abruptness with which the responsibility for the chil dren's future conduct was thrust upon me, I rubbed my eyes to assure my lr that this was indeed the same little girl who so timidly and fearfully, after a few weeks' campaign, promised iu. 'and really did change her name, to mfmA thrA (nnntli!i later. Today those children, a daughter (19). a boy (15) and anotner nine girt- i 8. thanks to the loyalty, love and de votion of a good wife and mother, re spond to the mere wisn ot tne tamer. t n tar-t h wish is actually antici pated, leaving the father free to chase the mystic "bag of gold" to his heart s a w a TlJL'lJ content. 1 Facta About Columbia Xllgnway. nAnTf x-r- Ttf n 1 f Tn the Ed itor.) Kindly inform me the length of the Columbia Highway, the cost and when it will be finished; also lf it runs to 1 iLo Armies. WILLIAM PHILIPS. The Columbia River Highway Is un derstood generally as exfendlng from Astoria to Portland, a distance of about 100 miles, and from Portland to The Dalles, a distance of some 90 miles, according to the permanent sur vey. Ultimately the highway probably will extend from Seaside to Pendleton. Thus far the highway Is by no means completed. In Multnomah County a total of about 1.650,000 bas been spent, and providing $240,000 is spent next year for paving from Llnnton to the Columbia County line below Holbrook the highway will be paved from one tip of Multnomah County to the other. A total of about $1,000,000 has been spent on the highway in Columbia and Clatsop counties by the counties and the state and approximately $125.- 000 spent in Hood River County, mak ing the grand total to date about $3,780,000. Skimokswi all "Ilet Vp." 6KAMOKAWA, Wash., Dec. 20. (To the Editor.) I have got an awful ar gument . started and want you to help me out on it. I have, asked almost all the people In town and there seems to be as many on my side as the other, so I have decided to leave it to you for settlement. I want you to look this up very closely and give me the answer. This is the problem: 0x6 equals what? 6x0 equals what? A SUBSCRIBER. Probably the controversy arises over the fact that If one has six apples and does not multiply them he still has six apples. But 0x6 does not mean that. An arithmetical expression In multi plication denotes how many times a thing is taken. It makes no difference whether six is taken no times or noth ing taken eix times, the answer Is the same nothing. Partnership In Animal. SANDY, Or., Dec. 20. (To the Edi tor.) A buys a registered bull, paying $65. and about a year later sells a fourth interest in it to a neighbor. B, with the understanding that B shall have free service for his herd of cows. A year later A dies and an adminis trator is appointed for the estate. B notifies him that he owns one-fourth Intercbt In the bull, for which he para $16.25. The administrator then, with out B's consent or knowledge, sells the bull to a butcher for $20 and refuses to settle with B for his share of the prop erty. What redress has B? Can he col lect the full $16,25 that he first paid or only $5? H. H. W. B could institute an action for dam ages against the administrator, or could demand an accounting for the partnership property in the County Court. Ein by the Kilowatt. KELSO. Wash., Dec. 20. (To the Ed itor.) A housewife at Kelso has placed electric lights In her chicken roost, lighting- It from early morning until late night. This enterprising woman figures that she can furnish electricity at 12 cents a kilowatt, lighting the way for a longer day for her chickens, get more eggs and avoid paying her grocer the prices he is asking for esrirs. What next! UNSIGNED. Meaning of Q. V. PORTLAND. Dec. 21. (To the Edi tor.) Pleaee explain the meaning of the abbreviation Q. V. (quod vide) which see. I cannot understand the meaning of "which see." AN OLD SUBSCRIBER. Q: V. Is used as a cross reference. When It follows an incidental reference to some subject it informs the reader that' that subject is more fully treated under Its own title In the same work, In Other Days. Twenty-flT-o Yearn Agio. From The Oregonlan of December 22, 1SS1. Mrs Pftrnlln. T,.bl. T-- i . . ...... a at 111 (3 , wiiV VI Sam Tarns, of San Francisco, and the ursi wnite girl baby born la California of American parents, is dead. Seattle Vandals entered" th art- room of Blake, Cole & Co. Saturday night and despoiled several fino and ui igixmi paintings. T. C. Shaw is a candidate for super intendent of the Indian Training School at Chemawa, Rev. a. M. Irwin having resigned. Dr. Anrimw 4" Cmftt. X- 1 n alcian, has been sick for several days. George Otto. the florist, corner Eighteenth and B streets, opposite the Exposition building, bas Imported a large lot of mistletoe for Christmas decorations. Mrs. P. H. Cowan, 913 Fifth street. East Portland rw-.i.. - 1 j . -1- and chain at Cordrays Theater. Half a Century Ago, From The Oregonlan of December 22, IS 60. .,n,,t ii, m Cincinnati Commercial has Just written an inter- us onei.cn or jonn Morrisey. the Democratic rnnrr.-m.. . : ago was famous as a pugilist, and be- w. iui as a poKer player. Outstand ing characteristics are his long hair and beard and his $20,000 diamond pin. He gives comparatively freely to char- Fr?n!ialr' "the Blair. ex Chief of Cavalry, ex-candldate for Sen ator, ex-candidate for Secretary of War and member of the Blair family is beaten for the Missouri Legislature. ow 'J"0"'' farm has grown a beet 334 inches in circumference that bas been presented to the editor of the Vancouver Register. Algernon Charles Swinburne has. like Byron, replied to his critics. He has done so In prose in "Notes on Poems and Reviews." ALL CLASSES SHOULD ATOM) IT Thrift Conference at O. A. c. Offers Benefits to Everyone. MONMOUTH, Or.. Dec. 20. (To the Editor.) I feel that soeeial emphasis should be given the thrift conference scheduled for January 3 a the Agricul tural College at C.orvallis. under the direction of the School of Commerce and Dean J. A. Bexall. assisted by the bankers, which will be a part of the programmes during Farmers' and Homemakers' week. This is an open meeting for the gen eral public and the topics assigned the several speakers will be of wide range. Including the importance of thrift teaching in relation to ihe home and local community affairs as well as the conservation of finances for National prosperity and emergencies. The idea of what we call a thrift campaign has been promoted during this year, as the centennial of savings bank hist,ory. by the National Bankers' Association first, and then throutth the various state associations, and is the effort to bring to the mass of the peo ple the Importance of economy anf thrift as a necessary element to both individual and National prosperity, is contrast to the evident disregard' o saving by a large per cent of our peo ple during the prosperous periods. This conference will deal with th practical applications to all of us. as well as the best means of teaching thrift through the schools to the youth who should know how to be savers of both time and money, and not mere spenders of handouts. a hope to see at this meeting farm ers, business mtn in all lines, laborers and clerks, to Join with the educators and bankers in the promotion of the thrift idea, IRA C. POWELL. Foreclosure of Mortarage. PORTLAND. Dec 21. (To the Edi tor.)' A mortgage Is placed on a house for two years. Interest is payable quarterly. At the end of the two years nothing had been paid on principal, but Interest has been paid promptly, as has been all special assessments, insurance and taxes. By verbal agreement the status was continued indefinitely, and has continued ae before, for two more years. It will be another year before payments can begin on principal. (1) Can mortgagee reftse to accept Interest and begin foreclosure proceed ings? How long could mortgagor con tinue present conditions, all charges being properly kept up? What are the parties' respective rights? HOUSEHOLDER. If the mortgagor had not paid the mortgagee anything for the two-year extension, any equitable tribunal would consider that he had granted sufficient extension and would permit him to foreclose. Property When Owners Are Divorced. PORTLAND. fec. 21. (To the Ed itor.) A man and wife were divorced. Since the man has married. That was 14 months ago. but former wife and husband still have property in which each has an undivided half Interest. Since first of the year the man has contracted bills for rent, groceries, etc., that his former wife knew nothing of. He has not refused to pay his bills, and when he has had money bas paid what he could on each bill. His former wife desires to know If a lien can be put on her property or she sued for his bills. READER. The property of a divorced wife Is not responsible for the debts contracted by the husband subsequent to the di vorce. Yule Song. The long, long night Is past And morning comes at last -To throw his gage of progress at the day; The work we've left undone Awaits the rising sun; 'Tls time again to watch, and fight, and pray. Through all the rolling years The flow of song and tears Can never cease until the fall of doom Or till their opened eyes Salute the conquering skies. When hope no longer dies And mortals smile superior to the tomb. GEORGE WINSLOW PIERCE. G. A. R. Appreciates Commendation. DALLAS. Or.. Dec. 20. (To the Ed itor.) At a regular meeting of U. S. Grant Post. No. 17. Grand Army of the Kepubliu, the following resolution was unanimously adopted: Resolved, That we hereby tender our sincere thanks to the editor of The Oregonlan far the words of commenda tion of the Grand Army In an editorial of December 9, last: and that we feel highly gratified to be still counted of value to this glorious country of ours, by such eminent authority as .ue Port land Oregotiian. ' P. S. GK KENWOOD, Commander. By B. LOVELACE. Adjutant. First Chnrch tn Far West. OREGON CITY. Or.. Dec. 20. (To the Editor.) Yes, Mr. Blossom is right about the organization of a church at Walla Walla in 1838. and a year before that. July, 183", a church was organized at the Willsmette Mission, but the first church edifice built and dedicated was at Oregon City In 1844. Before that the groves were God's first temples" ar.d pioneer cabins. EVA EMERY DYE.