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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 8, 1905)
THE SUNDAY OKKGOyiASty PQRTIAyP, JANUARY 5, Zatered at tie Postofflce at Portland, Oxv as second-class matter. BEVIEED SUBSCRIPTION BATES. By mall (postage prepaid In advance) Dally, with Sunday, per month .8S Sally, with Sunday excepted, per Tear-- 7.5 Dally, with Sunday, per year.......... 9.00 Sunday per year ........ 2.06 The Weekly, per year - 1-50 The "Weekly, 3 months... 50 Dally, per week, delivered, Sunday ex cepted .16 Dally, per week, delivered, Sunday In cluded -3 POSTAGE RATES. United States, Canada, and Mexico 10 to 14 -pace paper. ............... ,.lo 16 to 30-page paper........ ....3c ZZ to 44-page paper.. .................. ..So Foreign rates, double. EASTERN BUSINESS OEETCZ. The S. C Beckwith Special Agency New Tork; Room 43-50 Tribune building. Chi cago: Room 510-312 Tribune building. The Oregonlan does sot buy poems or sto ries from Individuals and cannot undertake to returfc any manuscript sent to It without solicitation. 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SUNDAY, JAN. 8, 1005. PROPERLY DISMISSED. It was the right thing that District Attorney Manning: did -when he moved to dismiss the indictments against Mayor Williams and Chief Hunt; aad the promptness of Judge George In granting the motion shows an accord ance of the judicial mind with the gen eral mind of the community. It was especially felt and the sen timent was universal that the indict ment of Mayor Williams was an out rage. It was brought about by men not one of whom is worthy to unloose the latchet of his shoes. Since it was proper to dismiss the charge against the Mayor, so it was also to dismiss It against his subordinate officer, the Chief of Police. The District Attorney will have the commendation of all citi zens, with the exception of a few can tankerous persons who are devoted to a bigoted, carping spirit and to a hate ful malice. What chance could have brought such a grand jury together it boots not to inquire. Bossibly in some ways its censorship may prove to have been useful; but the indictment on such a charge of Mayor Williams the one man more than any other who has shed luster on the name of Oregon these fifty years, and whose life has been as noted for morality and uprightness as his character has been eminent for ability on wider fields than those of any other citizen of Oregon, was a pe culiar outrage. It was narrow, spite ful, malicious, and was dictated by a mock-sentimental insincerity and hy pocrisy that breaks out at Intervals in America as in England. It was Ma caulay who said in his essay on By ron.who Just then was an object of at tackthat nothing is more ridiculous than these periodical fits of spurious virtue and morality. INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS. Eastern trade journals publish elab orate tables of comparative prices in the principal Eastern markets, at the end of the year 1904, and of the year 1903. Iron, copper, lead, wheat, corn, eugar. coffee, are all selling at higher prices than a year ago. The following table win show, at a glance, compara tive prices of certain leading commod ities: Dec 30 1004. 1003. Wheat No. 2 red, per bu...S 1.2374 S 0.S0H Corn. No. 2 mixed, per bu.. .53 .52 Oati. No. 2 mixed, per bu... .30 hi .42 M Flour, Spring pats, per bbL. C.30 4.85 Iron. No. 2 foundry, ton.. 17.25 14.75 Lead, per 100 lbs 4.70 4.23 Pig tin, per lb. 20V4 .2Sv4 "oppcr, Laki Ingot, per lb. .15 .12i Sugar, granulated, per lb... .03 3-5 .04 .Sugar, centrifugal, per lb... .04 .03 "on. No. 7 Rio. spot. lb.. .08 .07U Cotton, Mid. upland, 100 lbs COS 13.30 Print cloths. 04 fcquares ... .02 .05 Rlctf, domestic, per lb 03 .04 U Mutter, West, crcara., lb... .28 .23 Cheese, fancy small, per lb. .32 .12 1-gge. WFt. av. beat, dor,. .27 .35 Tallow, prime city, per lb.. .04& .05 Pork, mesc. per bbl 12.75 13.75 La-d. prime Western ..... 7.05 7.15 Hay No. 1. per 100 lbs.... .82 L20 Qulrlnc, per ox. .23 .25 The heavy fall is Jn cotton, which is worth only one-half the price of one year ago. Southern newspapers ridi cule and denounce the idea of burning a portion of the huge cotton crop as a means of increasing the demand for the remainder. They say it was attempted only in one place, and that on a very small scale. If these persons, says the New Orleans Times-Democrat, "Imag ined that the farmers in the rest of the fiouth were prepared to follow their frenzied example, then they must in deed be wholly simple. It is the most difficult thing in the world to get co operation in any quasi-plausible plan on the part of the farmers; but a scheme to raise the price by destroying property is as far from having any chance of gaining headway as a plan to devastate the foreign competing fields with fire and sword." The low value of cotton disappoints the grow ers, indeed; but many of them made a great deal of money through the high prices of last year, and they are re ported to be able to hold their cotton till it reaches average prices again. The chief rise of prices is in iron and wheat. Good prices for these sta ples, have always been favorable to general business. New capital has not been Invested in railways and other in dustrial undertakings during the past year nearly to the extent of next pre ceding ones. The Railway Age reports that new steam railroad was construct ed oily to the amount of 4168 miles in 1904. compared with 5786 miles in 1903, and e have it from the New Tork Journal of Commerce that the aggregate capitalization of industrial undertak ings and combinations for the year 1904 was only 4185.000,000, against 5430,000,000 la 1903, $1,122,000,000 in 1902. and the pro digious total of J2.SOO.000.000 in 190L It Is plain that the rage for combination has. for the present at least, nearly run its course. Business presents no sign of any serf ous reverse. Our production is on so Vast & scale that -yeneral activity and prosperitycannol be interrupted; Every crop but one (cotton) bears good prices. Doubtless local depression will be noted here and there, during the present year; "but there is likely to be nothing more serious. Railway earnings con tinue, at a satisfactory rate, though in some cases not so high as a year or two aga Orf the whole there is no rea son for -apprehension as to conditions of business and of production. They who have been predicting that another period of depression and hard times was about due now find nothing to sup port their pessimistic forecast. THE PROBLEM. OF THE RAILWAYS. Mr. .Bryan, in his speech at Memphis on Friday night, said that "failure properly to regulate the railroads will compel public ownership of the rail roads." That thought has been in the minds of many persons these many years. But it presents a most difficult problem. The reason Is that regulation of rates and of terms of competition will be almost the same as public own ership. It will cut autonomy out of railroad management. When Govern ment undertakes to eay how much the railroads shall earn, It virtually takes them under its control. President Roosevelt knows 'this and therefore Is extremely cautious. Tet he sees the old conditions cannot continue. Hence, in his recent message to Con gress he said; "The Government must In increasing degree supervise and reg ulate the workings of the railways en gaged in interstate commerce, and such Increased supervision is the' only alter native to an Increase of the present evils on the one hand or a still more radical policy on the other."' Mr. Bry an's statement at- Memphis Is only a repetition of this. In another form. Yet the President Is cautious, and would proceed slowly. He holds that while at present "It would be undesira ble, if it were not impracticable, finally to clothe the commission with general authority to fix railroad rates," It would be a fair security to the shipper if Congress were to vest the Interstate Commerce Commission with the power, "where a given rate has been chal lenged and after full hearing found to be unreasonable, to decide, subject to judicial review, what shall be a rea sonable rate to take its place; the rul ing of the commission to take effect Immediately and to obtain unless and until it is reversed by the court of re view." This would reverse the conditions that exist now. It would compel the railroads to go to court on appeal: whereas now and always heretofore the shipper, who objected to the rate, has been compelled to do so. The Presi dent's view is that the decision of the commission against a rate, as unfair, should give the shipper immediate re lief. Then the railroad may challenge that decision, if it sees fit to do so. In other words, the position of the parties before the law would be shifted. It Is reasonable, and "a square deal." The people are by no means disposed to deal unfairly with the railroads; but the people do want this "square deal." Heretofore and down to this time the railroads have had every advantage. No single individual could fight un reasonable rates or rebates. The rail road would always wear him out. Something like this which President Roosevelt has suggested will be abso lutely necessary to establishment of a check upon the railroads that will sat isfy the people; otherwise the demand for government ownership, or absolute control that would be substantially the same thing which both the Presi dent and Mr. Bryan have spoken of, and which is flying wildly through the mouths of men, will gain irresistible force. This is the present phase of the general railroad question. HINTS TO YOUNG AUTHORS. As Christmas stories are best written In June and Spring poems in the depth of Winter, so novels of today appear to be best written in scenes most unlike those depicted In the stories them selves. It used to be a tradition of the local colonists to use an appropriately hideous expression that novels should be written in the heart of the scenes they described. Publishers once per mitted us to peep into a room over a Bowery saloon where Charles Dickens Smith was writing "Bessie, the Out cast." We had descriptions of Miss Fanny Burney Smythe's boudoir, wherein, attired In rose silk, that gifted woman wrote "The Suffering Duchess." Fashion In these important matters have changed, Today the modish au thor must get as far away as possible from the scenes he depicts. We cannot forget Irving Bacheller deep in the de scription of a pyramid of naked slaves that an ancient Roman had designed, while under the writer's feet the At lantic billows roared and rumbled. A rough stone dwelling built out over the ocean is just th'e place in which to write of Rome. Then we have Frederic S. Isham, who wrote a novel called "Black Friday," a story of Wall street Was this story written in New Tork? Far from it. Like Mrs. Frances Hodg son Burnett, Mr. Isham "can't abear" New Tork. "The actual writing of Black Friday,' " the publishers tell us, "was done in a villa overlooking the sea on the north coast of France. Trailing shadows, waving curtains, strange silences (what does a strange silence sound like?), or stranger noises, combined to create that Ideal atmos phere the artist craves for his work." Perhaps some young Oregon authors have been trying to write In a quiet, well-lighted room. No wonder they have not been more successful, lacking the Ideal atmosphere created by trail ing shadows, waving curtains, strange silences and stranger noises! Nor is the ideal atmosphere the only requi site. A pet of some kind Is a necessity. One of the best-selling writers works standing up at a desk with a tame duckling asleep between his feet. Will Irwin had a black cat which afforded much Inspiration. During his writing it always sat by the typewriter and played with the rubber eraser that hung therefrom by a string presuma bly the typewriter was a machine. If the ambitious writer cannot tame a duckling, a cat, a giraffe or any other useful pet, there remain other ways of attaining success. Stewart Edward White spent his honeymoon in climb ing over the Sierras and naming passes after his wife. Anthony Hope married a woman .with "deep blue eyes, long, swan-like throat, and silken, masses of red-fcronze hair." A. E. W. Mason went to work on board a fishing smack. Mrs. Xa tacrine Cecil Thurston, who wrote "The Masqueraders," had her success foretold by a palmist. Henry Harland writes such a fine hand that his stenographer has to use a magnify ing glass in deciphering It. These are a few of the ways taken by authors of the day in gaining public attention! and may he adopted with success by .aspir ing young writers, although the best way at all, probably, is to have, begun writing at the age of foarr or'tbere abouts. Annfi Warner, for instance, the author of "Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop," at the age of nine wrote this story under the title of- "Always TJlvIde": A little chicken found a blr. fat. sice worm. He ran ae last as he could to the chicken -house for fear his brother would see him. His brother did see him. "You are real mean. Mamma. ald always divide. Now divide aad 1 won't tell lw." Just then the "Mamma came up and said: "Give me the worm. There," she said, as ahe ale the worm, "don't let me hear any more ot this." THE STATE'S GREATEST NEED. If the river and harbor bill shall fall to .pass the present Congress, a most serious emergency will confront the commercial and Industrial interests of the Pacific Northwest. The progress in Columbia River improvements has been greatly retarded for several years by want of adequate funds. At the Co lumbia River Bnr the engineers have been barely able to hold their own against the adverse elements that con spire to choke up the channel. In the Columbia River the Government and the Port of Portland Commission have struggled successfully against many difficulties to maintain a clear channel to the sea. In the Lower Willamette the necessity of dredging has been al most constant. On the Upper Colum bia much preliminary work has been donet and there is definite expectation of overcoming the obstructions at the Celllo Raplds"without regard to action by the present Congress. In other words, the state has undertaken to build a portage railroad, and the Gov ernment work at Three-Mile Rapids has besides the benefit of an unexpended balance from former appropriations that are perhaps sufficient for present purposes. But elsewhere there is a dis tinct and alarming difference. When there was failure to enact a river and harbor bill at the last Con gress, an emergency appropriation of -$3,000,000 was attached to the civil sundry bill for expenditure by the TJnlta Slates Engineers in all parts of the country. In the distribution of this meager fund the Columbia and Willam ette Rivers received perhaps one-tenth of what they would have had If Con gress had given them prompt proper attention. By the combination of this small appropriation and the unexpend ed oaiances m tne several river and harbor funds belonging to the Pacific Northwest, the United States Engi neers, by husbanding their resources, have been able to go ahead with. their work. It may be supposed that if the proposed river and harbor bill at the present short session is abandoned, an emergency fund will again be attached to the sundry civil bill. But there is no hope that greater benefit will ac crue to the State of Oregon under this appropriation than to keep the Governr ment apparatus in repair and possibly to maintain all present improvements in their present condition, without seri ous loss or detriment; though the lat ter can be by no means assured. In view of recent serious damage to the bar jetty. But nothing can be" done at the bar; little or nothing can be done In the river, except as it Is done by the Port of Portland. The labor and ex pense are entirely too great for the City of Portland alone to meet; "but It must be met somehow, if a deep-water channel is to be maintained from Port land to the sea. These are the facts presented plainly and without exaggeration. If the State of Oregon at any time In Its history needed to have in Congress a powerful presentment of its needs and deserts, it is at this time. Through circum stances peculiarly uniortunate our delegation is much hampered, though in the present temper of Congress It Is difficult to say what might be accom plished by Senators and Representa tives of the greatest influence. In any event, the delegation Is alive to the paramount Importance to all the Inter ests of the state of favorable Govern ment consideration for appropriations for the Columbia River, and it must not fail to make legislation of that de scription Its first consideration. rnOTECT THE WILD GAME. The annual meeting of the Oregon Fish and Game Association brings up the question whether the whole com munity, represented by the Legislature, can be properly asked to pass laws regulating and repressing the natural "right" of man to go where he pleases, kill out the wild creatures of land and water, and use and dispose of his spoils as he finds most profitable. The average townsman is apt to say: "This concerns not me. I am tied, by need and habit, to the store and the desk and the library. Fishing and hunting do not Interest me. They are merely amusements for Boys, and the Legislature has more serious things to attend to." Such an one turns a deaf ear to the story that the China pheas ants are being exterminated; that the deer are disappearing from the hills, or the trout from the streams. And yet. even in such a man the hunting In stinct Is sometimes there, though hid den. One need not go far to convert the average legislator Into a supporter of efficient game laws, if he stops to weigh for a moment the reasons for his vote. In the first place, wild game and fish are part of Nature's furnishing of the woods and streams for the benefit of all present and future generations. We here now have no right to monop olize all for our present and personal amusement or profit by killing off the breeding stock. Then, If we persist In destruction, one of the great attrac tlons of Oregon to the new settler van lshes. Our deer and pheasants, trout and salmon, If the truth were known. make the boys of the family our strong advocates in gatherings round the fire when the move to the North west is being debated. And for us, the average 'Oregonlans of today, who that has once listened to the call of the wild. has wandered, flshpole in hand, by the river bank, or climbed from rock to rock amid the swirling waters of the mountain creek who that has stood, rifle In hand, on the deer stand, with ear attentive to the woodland whisper lugs, or followed the ranging dog over the wide wheat stubbles who that has watched the evening glow fade out ovtr the swamp when the wild ducks circle round in the darkening sky who of ns Is not the richer in both health and. memory for such outings? If so. the least we can do is to help by In fluence or vote enact laws to restrain the selfish hunter or fisherman, so as to give a fair show to the wild creatures "we call game. . Experts advise us, as represented by the Oregon Fish and Game Aseocla tion, that certain changes, in the game laws "are necessary. They involve no change In the laws fortheroetctIon of trout. But the prohibition of The sale of game Tooth deety pheasants and wild ducks Is thought to be 'necessary If the present progress of destruction is to- be stopped. To some this may be a deprivation; still It should be submit ted to in view of the end to be gained. A more' far-reaching enforcement of the laws Is essential; For this funds must be provided, and it is felt to be right that those who enjoy the pleas tire'bf sport may fairly be required tc contribute by paying- a license fee o 31 each - A NEW PUKTTAXISM. President Henry Churchill King, of Oberlln College, In a recent address be fore the Congregational Club of Bos ton spoke of New Puritanism as America's greatest need, declaring that the Puritan's -sense of responsibility and of the , significance and value of life were essential to the perpetuity of our institutions. "Faith in God, love of freedom, love of country, love of home. devotion to liberty," are Included In this estimate of the heritage which we received from our Puritan forefathers. This estimate must be qualified In the light of history, as love of freedom of the type prescribed by the Puritan spirit since beyond this line no people that ever lived were more intolerant than the Puritan forefathers and as love of liberty within the interpreta tion of the Iron-bound creeds of the Puritan belief. Continuing. President King said: The need ot a new Puritanism Is seen In the general sense of National danger that Is felt by many vt the most thoughtful of the Nation. Just so far t$ the "passion for material comfort." "the fear of poverty" and the spirit of lawlessness prevail, just so far as there Is lack of grip In the moral and religious life, and the easy-going spirit that feels that there Is nothing which Is absolutely Imperative or decisive; Just so long as. even In an age of science, there Is a paradoxical lack ot the sense of law in the moral and spiritual word; Just so far aa this la c merely amiable ace Just so tar Is there great National danger, and crying need of a new Puritanism. This" is specific, and contains little that thoughtful men call In question. Pursuing this line of thought. It is well to ask. How far was Puritanism mistaken? And again. How- far was the reaction from Puritanism mis taken? Can we see both now more clearly, and, correcting and supple menting both,- add to the great posi tives of Puritanism the great posi tives of the modern spirit, and so face a real reconstruction In our living as well as in our thinking? The great positlveness of the Puri tans lay in their convictions and con science. Faith of the unquestioning type underlay all work worth, doing, all true life of any kind. A simple reflect tlon of their spirit is expressed in the stanza of the old-fashioned hymn: To serve the present age ' My calling to fulllll; Oh may It all my powers engage To do my Master's will. The reaction from Puritanism very naturally resulted in a false tolerance that is not Indifference nor sophistica tion, but lack of discrimination, as marked as the narrowness from which It revolted. This reaction has shown Itself further In a false realism which was provoked by Puritan asceticism which ignored .the physical man and his needs, and its close connection with the higher man. A grave charge against Puritanism Is that it made too little of man, especially the non-elect. In the face of the Invincible decrees of God a charge that is not without basis in fact. "But what," asks President King, "is this littleness which a false realism shows? For'here is no real belief at all In man's heroic mold and immeasur able possibilities." In the face of this realism he adds: "One may well share the fear of Jean Ingelow's old fisher- preacher who is more afraid now of man's humility than of man's pride." Summing up his wide presentment of the subject. Dr. King concludes as fol lows: The new Puritanism that must under lie our National life. If It la to be what It ought to be. must keep the great posl Uvea of Puritanism their sense of God and the spiritual world, their consequent sense of commission, aa of divine calling, their sense of responsibility and accountability, add their tremendous sense of the significance and value of life. To this true Puritan spirit it must add the great positives ot the mod ern spirit the convictions equally deep and strong that man is made for personal rela tions, for a genuine, reverent love that he must recognize everywhere the breadth and complexity of life, and that he may never forget the unity of his nature, and the cen tral importance of the will, that give the pos itive basis for a true and Indispensable self denial. If Russia could get all her available naval forces together In Japanese or Chinese waters, she would have some numerical strength over the naval arm ament of Japan, but not much. Rus sia would have more battleships, but Japan more cruisers. The number of smaller craft on each side is uncertain. but perhaps nearly equal. But for the loss of her Port Arthur fleet Russia's preponderance all her naval vessels assembled together would be very considerable. But there is no confi dence that the efficiency of the Russian fleet in action, as compared with the Japanese, would be equal to the Japan ese. But. if the Russian fleet do not turn hack, it will be part of the strat egy of the Japanese to prevent its con centratlon and try to attack It in detail. On such errand many Japanese vessels are now engaged, some of them at con siderable distances from home. The varied resources of Marion County, the beauty of her towns and the enterprise of her people are admir ably presented In the New Tear's edi tion of the Salem Statesmant -the prin cipal feature of which Is a well-chosen collection of pictures, splendidly printed. Wherever a copy of that pa per may be read it will leave a very favorable Impression of the Willam ette Valley and particularly of that por-ton of It to which the Statesman devotes the most of its advertising .ef forts. Well-written descriptive articles and pictures that tell their own story go to make up a very creditable an nual edition. We have been much moved by the eloquent accounts In the Tacoma news papers of the magnificent reception to Senator Foster on his return from his difficult labors at Washington City; and we have been especially stirred by the picturesque speech of welcome made by Senator Link Davis, who is as witty, learned and; graceful as F. W. Cushman is handsome. In paying a glowing tribute to our Western scen ery. Senator Davis beautifully de scribed the wonders of Mount Tacoma by saying that "It is big enough to swallow Mount Hood, Mount Adams and Mount St. Helens ail combined." He might well have added that it has already swallowed. Mount Rainier; but let that pass. Senator Foster 4ouBtIes . deserves all the fine things said.-about him, and only , the envious will her gradge the bestowal of all the. 'praise that is his due- But what we are' really concerned about is to know how, when and where the apple bar'l Is to be tapped. The Legislature cannot be too careful in choosing the desk .clerks who will serve during the session beginning Monday. Only men" of ability and known Integrity should be elected to fill these positions, for the successful management of legislative "business de pends largely upon the qualifications of the chief clerk, journal clerk, read ing clerk and. calendar clerk. If per sonal friendship and political obliga tions must be considered, let'it be in filling some other positions, but not these. The Legislature Is no place for a chief clerk who Is unreliable, for a jour nal clerk or calendar cleric who gets" ex cited or for a reading clerk who has no voice. The members will make work easier for themselves and avoid the dis credit that goes with mistakes if they take special care in voting for candi dates for these important positions. This Is General Jackson's day. That Is to say, the day of the battle of New Orleans. Jackson's success lay in Brit ish folly. The British had- run over the American lines .at Plattsburg, N. T., not long before, and thought they could do it again. A little patience and strategy would have' beaten "Jackson. But the British deceived themselves. Curiously enough, the battle was fought after the treaty of peace the peace of Ghent had been signed. This, 8th of January, is St. Jackson's day. That affair at New Orleans, trifling as it was, made Jackson, and gave his political party control of the country down to the year I860. This day (Jan uary 8) is St. Jackson's &&yl Is there anything in this world but farce and humbug? The four Presidential Electors from the State of Oregon will meet at Salem Monday to cast their ballots for Presi dent and Vice-President. They are: Grant Dlmmlck, of Oregon City; James A. Fee, of Pendleton; J. N. Hart, of Baker City, and A. C. Hough, of Grant's Pass. One of their number will be selected to carry the returns back to Washington, and since this is not only an honor, but entitles the elector to .25 cents per mile as compensatlou, the duty Is one eagerly sought for. It was formerly -thought that the bearer of the electoral vote secured some polit ical Influence with" the President, but this idea has been abandoned. The "Sabbath" people want their way with the Fair. Now let this matter be understood. The persons who, more than any others, are Interested In bav ins' an open Fair on Sundays are the street-railway people. And the street railways of Portland are under control of men who profess to have "respect for the Sabbath," yet who want to run the roads "on Sundays, because Sunday will be their best day. The Oregonlan could write an essay on this subject and name a lot of. names. Perhaps It will, some day. But only for the rea son that It detests hypocrisy. It is of importance to the State of Washington to be well represented at the Lewis and Clark Fair; it is ot no great importance to the Fair itself. The success of the enterprise is so- fully as sured that the failure of any one state even a Western state to make an exhibit will not be noticeable. But Washington, which has much to show to the world and depends, much on the world's favor, cannot afford to be ab sent from Portland in 1905. The sum of 575,000 Is little enough for a great state; but perhaps it will do. M. Bunau-Varilla, who was the en gineer of the Panama Canal for Its French owners during a number of years past, holds that It would be bet ter to build the canal In the manner now planned, with locks, and later on. as the result of experiment, construct the sea-level waterway when It was found that the demands of commerce made such a method of transit desira ble. If not necessary. This may be sound judgment. The "middle way" usually Is best that is, safest. There was a learned essay In the local columns of The Oregonlan yester day xm "The Epiphany." Readers of The Oregonian were told by the learned theologian that "Epiphany is literally the birthday of the church." that the term Is "made up of two Latin words meaning 'to shine,' " and more to the .same effect. All this laborious learn ing, when any dictionary would have told the real meaning and given the history of the word. Russia, never in- the march of prog ress, celebrated yesterday the great holiday of Christendom. Christmas eve, so the press dispatches tell us, witnessed the customary Joyous crowds, shopping and merry-making, as 1f there were no Port Arthur and no war. This is well. The plain people of that empirg,are entitled to one day. in common with the civilized world, when care Is thrown to the winds. Bishop John L. Spalding, who was stricken with paralysis Friday, Is one of the very able men, not only in the Roman Catholic Church, but In the commonwealth of Illinois. He has stood for higher education, civic re form, social betterment and public and private righteousness. Men as useful as Bishop Spalding can ill be spared from the country's ethical activities. We are deploring the fact that we cannot get a river and harbor bill, be cause the Government's finances will not permit it. But the Government would have had money If it had not undertaken to build the Panama Canal. Everybody wanted the canal, but there are things many think we need more. It was magnanimous in Mj. Bryan to call on Democrats to support the Pres ident In his proposed reforms. No harm can come to any Democrat who shouts the praises of a President serv ing his last term. The belief that Mrs. Chadwlck. after the manner of women, carried her val uables In her bag has been dispelled. The bag. upon careful investigation, was found to contain nothing. Bryan has been speaking on "Watch man, What of the Night?" He should wake up; the day has long since dawned. Perhaps Mr. Kay and Mr. Mills can fix it up In the good old Colorado style two speakers on one platform. y , . - . NOTE AXH S0XMENT. A brand, ef whisky is advertised as "a sweet; breath from sun-kissed, fields of goide grain," but it's safe .to bet. that the man drinking it gives his wife a to tally different Idea when he gets home late. - The Seattle Argus remarks that the editor of thevTacotna News says that thous&ads of people think themselves to death, and adds that the editor of the News will apt be aaaong the number. A writer in the Independent has been roasting bachelors, saying that every man owes it to the Nation to marry. As the census shows that there are more women than men in the country, it Is evident that foreign assistance will be required In tome Instances, unless the tariff can bo called in to aid this particular infant Industry. Lloyd's has raised the insurance rates on the Czar's life from 5 to 15 guineas per cent within' the past week. This straw should., hardly prove comforting to the bead that wears the Russian crown. "Finnish Society. Holds New Tear's Wake," says the" Ilwaco Journal. That was appropriate enough. A New Jersey man went to a show in Trenton recently, and when he heard a Joke on the stage he began, to laugh so loudly that he was thrown out of the theater and clubbed Into insensibility by a special poclleman, who took, tho man's hysterical laughter as an indication of in toxication. What a pity the papers don't tell us what the joke was. Laborers employed on a subway station in New Tork were observed to rush off for beer when the dinner hour came round, so some kind persons nowhring them coffee, despite the well-known fact that beer and coffee do not mix well. From Astoria comes the report that frozen eggnog was sent to a church social in mistake for ice cream, and that the choir boys felt unusually frisky as the result. What the feeling was at the house where- the eggnog should have ar rived, but didn't, who' can tell? Wireless Jocularity. Mikado, Japan: I hope Tour Majesty is satisfied with my work. Nogi. General Nogi, Port Arthur: I am satis fied that no guy could have done, better. MiKaao. The Colorado Legislature is a sort of double-jointed affair. - Dr. Heber Newton says that he knows a womanjsvho can tell all about the writer or a letter by merely touching the en velope. If sho ever got a job as mail carrier there would be some anxious per sons along her route. Spot-light on Salem, please. The Russian government Is not-making the best use of Its opportunities. The na tion was successfully kept in the dark about the condition of Port Arthur, and did "not learn 'of Its fall until some time after the rest of the world had been dls cussing it. In view of their ability to control all avenues of publicity, why don't the aristocrats come to terras with Japan, and then conduct in the newspapers glorious campaign in Manchuria? They could cheer up the people-with wholesale victories and finally reach an honorable peace. It would be much safer and far less expensive to string the people in this manner than to keep on fighting in tho East and then letting tho nation hear of reverses days after they have befallen the army. It is to he hoped that Oregon will not become known as "tho state where the land frauds are." A Tacoma paper has called Senator Fos tcr a statesman, but no libel action has yet been begun. The Argus notes that the Seattle Times and the Post-Intelligencer agree that P. A. has fallen. There must be a newspa per trust in Seattle. So far as we have observed, not a sin gle paper said "Port Arthur has fell." The Water Wagon. A week it jolted its way along. Xoaded down with a. glum-faccd throng. But now the wagon Jumps Into a run. Having shaken Its passengers one by one. A publication called Science asks, "How largo is an atom?" About the size of Russell Sage's heart, wc should judge. It is better to be born Republican than rich, says the St Joe Gazette. It might have added that it Is better to be bom poor than Democratic. The United States paid $373.05 last year to collect 70 cents at Galena, 111. Money comes high, but the Government must have It- One of those statistical nightmares so dear to some people was recently worked .off by a scientist addressing a natural history society in Belfast He told the society that there are 2.000,000 gulls in tha "United Kingdom, and that during the herring season each consumes 200 fry daily. If all tho fry reached maturity they would be worth more than 5100,000, 000. The scientific gent should have gono on to show that if the sum were expended in buying blankets, in ten years every person on earth would have a pile of them 900 feet in height An exchango says that a gambling- house In Knoxville, Tenn., was recently raided by the police and a number of well-known young men were arrested. The girls of tho city are demanding that the police make public the names of the men. threatening to cut the offenders' ac quaintance. The men treat the matter as a Joke and have asked tho hairdressers of the city to publish the names of all tha girls who wear "switches." Tho Lincoln County Leader says that a recent dance at Waldport "was to have been a ragged one. but several of our young ladles appeared dressed in the very height of fashion with evening ball dresses." It would be inhuman to expect a girl with a new dress to leave It at home and appear in an old one. How could she enjoy herself when thinking all the time of the way in which she would have outshone all others had she but worn the creation she neglected for a ragged costume? WEK. J Chinese Gambling. New Tork Sun. "Chlnene will gamble." said a detective of the Elizabeth-Street Station. "They've 'got to ave their game; if not one way. then another. Since the clamps were put on the gambling-houses- I've caught Chinks at various times cutting up or ar.ges as though they were doing Bome thinz to be ashamed of- Whenever 1 would get near them they'd be doing something else in an ostentatious way, "A Chinatown baa put me wise. They were betting odd or even on the number of seeds in the o ranger' A; ALADDIN OFJlGRlCULTORlv. A. remarkable discovery 'in" scientific agriculture has been recently- heralded.! to the world, first from, Grumyv and later by report from' the De partment ot Agriculture at Washing-. ton. to the effect that nitrogen- fixing bacteria, artificially produced, may ae used to render even tho poorest soils prolific yielders of all leguminous- plants.. The story of this discovery by Prof. Nobbe, of Germany, and its practical ap plication in American agriculture 'by the inventive genius of Dr. Georgo T. Moore, In charge of the laboratory of plant phy siology in the Department of Agriculture at Washington, is told in in teresting de tail, Dy uuoert a. Grosvenor, son: of; Professor Grosvenor, of Amherst. In -a. recent number of the Century magazine." The nitrogen-fixing power of the bac teria developed by Dr. Moore Is so extra ordinary, writes Mr. Grosvenor. that seeds soaked In the solution will sprout and produce luxurious plants In sterilized quartz sand. The next step was to obtain a simple means of distributing the .bac teria to persons who desired to inocu late their land. Experiments showed s that bacteria, when grown upon nitrogen- free media will retain their high activity for a long time If carefully dried and revived In a liquid medium. Dr. Moore also discovered that by using some ab sorbent, like cotton, a small piece . of which will soak up millions of tho organ- Isms, and then by allowing these cul tures to become dry, the bacteria can be sent anywhere and yet arrive In perfect condition. A simple method of distribut ing the germs that bring fertility having tnus.Deen found, the announcement was made that the Department of Agricul ture was prepared to send applicants, free of charge, enough Inoculating' mate rial for several acres. The package can be carried in your pocket, we arc told, and yet does more work than several cartloads of fertilizers. It costs the Gov ernment less than 4 cents a cake; or-less-than a cent an acre, and saves tho. farmer $30 or $10, which he would have to expend for an equal amount' of ferti lizer. Different cultures are sent for dif ferent crops. As it' is only plants of a leguminous naturo, like peas, beans, clover and alfalfa, that are capable of absorbing nitrogen from the air and storing It in the nodules that form on their roots, so It is only by a system ot yotation that the land Is enriched for crops of a more varied character. Thus cotton, planted after an Inoculated crop ot red clover, say3 Mr. Grosvenor, gavo an increased yield of 40 per cent; pota toes yielded an increase of 50 per cent; wheat increased by 46 per cent; oats 300 per cent and rye 400 per cent. Of course there are soils that contain all the nitrogen requisite for fertility, and Dr. Moore's bacterial fertilization will prove of most value to the thin soils and wornout farm lands so prevalent In New England and all along the Atlantic seaboard, southward. Tho possibilities, are Incalculable, and if that man is a public benefactor who makesf two blades of grass grow whero one grew before, how colossal a philanthropist must "be one who Insures a hundred-fold Increase by the exercise of his scientific genius. That Dr. Moore is a philanthropist of the first water is proved by the fact that, instead of enriching himself by tho sale of his discovery, he has deeded his pat ent on It to tho Department of Agricul ture, In trust for the American people. Now let Congress drop tho annual seed distribution, and substitute packages of condensed soil fertility Instead. "Was He Crazy, or Only a D d Fool?" From Puck. "And row," continued the attorney for the prosecution, "what reason have you for stating that the prisoner was suffer ing from acute mental abberatlon?" The witness used her handkerchief. "He took me to the theater twice In one week, insisting each time that wc rido In a cab Instead of tho cars. Each time ho bought me flowers, and once a box of" candy. He even sat with me between' acts." "But surely," observed the attorney, in bewilderment, "these actions do not prove lnsan " "You forget," interrupted the counsel for defense, "you forget that the prisoner Is this lady's husband." Pays Her Jilted Lover $400. Goshen (Ind.) Dispatch. For the first time in the history of ths .state a woman today was forced to pay tor navmg jiitea a wooer, iirs. Susannah, Alt land compromised by the payment o $400 the suit for breach of promlso brought against her by Ephraim Bickel. Bickel, a native of Arkansas, won tha promise of Mrs. Altland's hand in mar riage, but a New Tork traveling man kon Mrs. Altland, hand and all. Then Blckel's ardent lovo turned to hate that sizzled, and he filed the suit. Mrs. Alt land lives In Elkhart County, this state. She evidently feared the man or the out come of the suit, for sba preferred that It should not come to trial and paid the cash. OUT OF THE GINGER JAR. Cholly Let's- elope In your father's big tour ing car. Jarest! Dolly Prrlsh the thought, darling; he might make ua support it ever atterward! Town Topics. lira. Fneubride spoke sharply to tha cook. "Kathleen." sho said, "my husband can't -at; that hominy. The next time you buy any I want you to get tho seedless kind." Chicago Tribune. "So you were sent to bed without your sup per?" "Tea." answered the boy with & tena cious disposition. "But I don't like what -they had for supper, and I was slepy anyhow." "Washington Star. "Good-night," said Mr. Staylite. finally breaking away, "rve enjoyed myself im mensely. Now. next Sunday night I er ex pect to pass your house, and" 'That will ba nice. Goodnlghtl" eald he. and ehutthe door. Philadelphia Ledger. Amicus "Why are you so irate at having your poem reproduced In that paper? Great Poet Because the editor has appended a. note to It paying that he reproduces it not on account of its merit, but to show the kind of rot a. man with an established reputation can get ac cepted. Lon don .Tlt-BI ts." "Wat's all dls talk about revlsin de tar iff. Weary?" "Why de fellers dat's Inter ested in perfectin' certain lines o goods Is goln to cut down da perfection on de goods of de odder fellers, an1' wlcy wersy." Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Say. Winston, how would you like to wit ness a conflict between the powers?" "Wit nessed one the other day." "Between the powera?" "Sure! My wife, the cook and the Iceman began a three-cornered squabble in the yard." Chicago News. Mr. Spoonamore Does your papa object to my coming to se you. Castella? SIIs Da Train Oh I no: but he was so dreadfully care less as to tell mamma he approved of your coming, and now. of course, she thinks It's a conspiracy. Chicago Tribune. Tommy f thought your big brother waa go ing to play on the 'varsity football team. Willie No. he couldn't. The faculty wouldn't let blm on account of his condition. Tommy Why, I didn't know ha got that way. it wouldn't let my pa In the bouse 'lection nlgbt on account o' his condition. Philadelphia Press. Miss Screech He said something to you about my singing last nlgbt, didn't he? Miss Pepprey Well, he did remark how funny the corners of your mouth looked when yoq sang. Miso Screech The Idea! How could he have seen them? Miss Pepprey Why not? He was sitting directly behind you- while you sang. Catholic Standard and Times.