The Sunday Oregonian., October 18, 1908, Magazine Section, Page 3, Image 47

THE SUNDAY OREGOMAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 18, 190S.
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(Copyright, 1908. by W. G. Chapman.)
r X a modest little brick cottage on i
r quiet aide rtreet of one of the larger
r cities lives an elderly gentleman
whom I met through my newspaper
work. Our acquaintance soon ripened
Into a close friendship, and X have
spent many pleasant evenings with
him In his cozy library smoking and
talking. The old gentleman, whom I
will call Captain Dickson, ! real
name being too well known, had epent
his life In the service of his country
the service which upholds the Integ
rity of our money and postage stamps
and bonds and securities and safe
guards our puhlic officials. Worn gray
In the service, he had retired, seeking
out this q:ifet corner In which to
spend hi declining years; he had sur
rounded himsr.f by his bonks and the
curious collection of souvenirs h had
gathered In his long service of detect
ive work for railroad and express
companies and for the National Gov
ernment. In the first months of our
acquaintance Captain Iickon studi
ously avoided talking of his adven
tures, but as our friendship ripened he
would lay aside his reserve, and. over
a pipe and a glass of rare old sherry.
h wuuld spin yarns of the things he
had experienced in his long and Intr
- sting career. As nearly as possible I
have followed his exatt language in
recounting ;hese adventures, neither
commenting thereon, expurgating, nor
editing their..
"I wae" never a senti'nonial man.
ventured Captain Dickson one evening,
settling bark In his chair and display
ing his Kentucky ancestry by hoisting
his feet upon the table, a characteris
tic attitude with him when in full re
pose, "hut or. one occasion I fear I lot
a love affair prevent me from doing
the full measure of my duty. It Is
not a long story, and I will relate It. so
you may Judge for yourself if my ac
tion was not for the best. That be
lief M halm to my conscience when it
;rlcks me for this dereliction.
"A few years ago. as you will te
membrr, there was quite a scandal
over the discovery of a gigantic swin
dle worked on the Federal Government
through bogus cigar stamps. The trick
was turned by a large cigar factory
in a certain Eastern city. I worked
on this case from start to finish, and
it was a pretty feather in the cap of
tne secret service department. The
printing plant of the counterfeiters
wa captured, together with all of the
operatives, and a large quantity of tax
paid stamps for boxes of 50 and 100
( igars. The president of the factory,
a highly respected banker, was In
volved and sent up for a term of years
along with the other criminals.
"Only one person escaped who was
known to have been connected with
the scheme. This was the engraver of
the plates from which the stamps were
printed. The engraving was excellent
ly executed and denoted skill and what
the artists call 'feeling. There is an
Individuality about the work of every
artist. Just a there is a distinctive
quality to every person's handwriting.
Perhaps you have noticed this in the
pictures In the funny papers and in the
romic sections of the dailies. One fa
miliar with these drawings can name
!he artist every time without seeing
.he signature. This rule holds good
quite a much in engraving as in any
of the other drafting arts.
"In the files of my library are sam
ples of the work of every engraver
ever employed by the Bureau of .En
graving and Printing, as well as of
every employe of the large printing
SOME FREAKS AMONG PUBLICATIONS
Curious Periodicals of Which the General Public Never Hears.
IN THESE progressive days every
profession, trade, calling, avocation,
interest, fsd. cult what not has
Its organ, more or less reputable and
authoritative, but nearly always inter
esting to the curious. It would appear
that the publication of "freak" periodi
cals, magazines and journals rinds a
p-ofitaMe field throughout the world,
Inasmuch as a goodly number of them
have their birth tn foreign countries,
though the United State furnishes Its
due quota.
The first of the old aheets devoted to
tne "interest" of engaged couples ap
peared a few years ago in Paris, and
while at first thought it might be sup
posed that Its neld would be quite lim
ited. H nevertheless prospers. Agents
In the service of this Journal are em
ployed at various points In France col
lecting Items of Interest to folka who
have contracted to marry. In each issue
there are art forth In the paper the
names, addresses and other Informa
tion concerning engaged couples. Kach
maiden mentioned receives a free sub
scription for a limited period. The real
beneficiaries of this publication are the
tradesmen taking the paper, inasmuch
as they are able to approach the girl
intending to marry with more or less
alluring Inducements In the way of ma
terials for trousseaux, etc.
There are one or two periodicals of
this nature published In this country,
the principal one being put out from a
town In the .Middle West, and their
policy differs little from that of the
French paper.
A Journal for Bachelors.
Again the papers for the engaged
t'.iere may be cited, as an offset, a
journal for bachelors, printed In the
United States. This periodical was the
idea of members of a bachelors' club
in an Kastern city, and its columns
are given over to articles from the pens
of gentlemen fond of argument in sup
port of the blessedness of "The Single
Life." which is. In fact, the name of
the paper. A standing caption In this
paper is a quotation from Rudyard
Kipling, who. as a bachelor, declared
that "he travels fastest who travels
alone."
The original sheet devoted exclusive
ly to the "interests" of beggars was
horn in Paris. This paer. entitled "l,e
Bon Guide." affords daily a complete
list of the baptisms, weddings and fu
nerals to take place In Paris on that
day. in onler that its patrons may be
we'll posted as to favorable localities
wherein to pursue the day's "work."
For begging letter writers "Le Bon
companies which make postage stamps
and bank notes for foreign govern
ments. These samples are labeled and
filed away with data regarding the en
graver and a photograph, if that is ob
tainable. The Government has to keep
a constant watch upon theae men, for
from their ranks come the most dan
gerous and troublesome counterfeiters
with whom we have to contend.
The bogus cigar stamps were en
larged by photography and compared
with the work of every engraver in the
files. It was evident to the experi
enced eye that none of these had turned
the trick.
"Among the captured plates was one
which had never been used. It was for
a stamp of email denomination. It was
found in the safe where the other plates
were kept, still oiled and Inclosed in
the wrapper that had doubtiess been put
on it by the engraver when he finished
the job. Plainly marked on the wrap
per, with the vaseline that coated the
plate, were the prints of four fingers
and a thumb. They were long, tapering,
shapely fingers unquestionably those of
an artist. Here was undisputablo proof
of the Identity of the engraver or of
the perwn who had tied up the die af
ter its completion.
"One of the members of the gang
had said that this plate had never been
unwrapped. but that It had been
placed in the safe Just as !t came from
the engraver. None of the prisoners,
however, gave the slightest clew to the
tdent'ty of that Individual. In fact. It
seemed that no one but the bank presi
dent knew who had made the plates,
and while he- made a complete confes
sion on all other points, he was as mute
as an oyster on this subject.
"Some years had passed since the
stamp case was closed, when I accepted
an invitation to visit a college mate in
one of the cities which lie on the Mis
sissippi River. I was determined to
have a complete rest and did not even
let the department know my where
abouts. I did not want to be disturbed
with professional matters during this
vacation. It was a delightful place to
.visit, a rare old southern household
where every member of the family made
the visitor feel that each was individ
ually honored by his presence, and I
soon forgot my work, the department,
and everything connected with it. In
the real pleasure of my vacation.
"One afternoon I strolled down to the
river front to watch the negro rousters
unload the rampart of cotton bales from
a big river packet. A pretty house
boat was tied up near by, and while I
smoked contentedly, seated on a recum
bent bale of cotton, a carriage drove
down the steep, rock-faced surface of
the levee and stopped at the gang-plank,
scarcely 20 feet from my position.
"A man and woman alighted from
the carriage. It was evident they were
very much in love and small was the
wonder. The man was a handsome fel
lowyoung. Intelligent and every inch
of him a gentleman; but I took small
notice of him. forgetting his presence in
the marvelous beauty of the woman. She
was slender, graceful and beautiful.. Ev
ery movement was bewitching. They
were lovers, but not the kind that arouse
amusement, and, too often, disgust in
the minds of the spectator. They were
Interesting and appealed to every spark
of sentfment In one's nature. They
were the kind of lovers the poet had
in mind when he said 'all the world
loves a lover.' I watched them In rapt
fascination, a feeling of tenderness
sweeping over me as I compared their
blissful companionship with my own
lonely outcast life.
"The boat bore the simple name Owl,
wrought In glittering letters at Its
bow. I studied It with renewed In
terest after the charming couple had
gone aboard. It waa the pleasure craft
of a wealthy man. It bore an air of
ease and comfort and culture and af
fluence from its steel hull to the dainty
pennant flying from Its flagstaff. The
wharfmaster told me the boat belonged
to a wealthy Chicago manufacturer, a
man whose name was known In finan-
Guide" publishes a list of the addresses,
arrivals and departures of travelers
known to be of charitable dispositions.
Tlie beggars of Loudon, too, have
their organ, but It is not of so "high
class" a nature as the Parisian publica
tion. The English Beggars' Journal is
a weekly and prides Itself on tlie ex
clusive character of its Information. It
is unique in that it is written, not
printed, by m mimeograph, tlie paper
employed being the coarse brown vari
ety commonly used by butchers and
grocers in which to wrap their wares.
There are lots of other papers for
beggars, published In various foreign
countries, and In the United States, too.
but the French and English sheets are
remarkable by reason of their enor
mous subscription lists and for the un
questioned Influence they exert.
Another queer French journal, which
died not long ago. was I Bien Btre,
whose sole reason for existence seemed
to be an old-age pension scheme. To
subscribers who should die at the ex
piration of 40 years, Le Bien Eire of
fered a free burial.
To Head In tlie Waves.
VLe Courier des Baigneurs (Bathers'
Courier) is the product of a well
known French seaside resort. It Is
printed on waterproof paper, the In
ducement to buy being predicted evi
dently on the Idea that the bather may
take his journal into the ocean with
hitn and so enjoy Its perusal while
bathing.
On the other side of the Pyrenees the
Madrilenes have their freak paper In
the shape of the "Lumlnaria," which,
it Is claimed, is printed in Ink contain
ing an amount of phospnorus which
enables the reader to peruse it In the
dark.
There are any number of medical
journals in the world, but perhaps the
only paper devoted exclusively to the
dissemination of Information touching
a particular disease is that published
In a German city. This publication
carries as title the German equivalent
for "rheumatism." and it is claimed
that onyl specially qualified experts are
permitted to contribute to Its columns.
Devoted to Mouse Breeding.
The National Mouse Club, of London,
puts out what is stated to be the only
organ in the world devoted to mouse
hreeding. In this sheet Is to be found
a mass of curious information concern
ing our friend the mouse: and no effort
is spared to afford the readers with
up-to-date news touching the sales of
valuable mice, with prices, etc., to
gether with accounts of the latest mice
ON TNE PA PEP
clal circles throughout the country.
For that reason I will call him Mr.
Cameron. He and his bride were spend
ing their honeymoon on the boat, making-
a cruise down the Mississippi and
around tlie coast to his Winter home
on the gulf. They had Btopped over
at this point to visit with friends.
"That very night I met the couple
at a reception given by my chum's
sister. Although receptions, as a rule,
are a weariness of the flesh to me, I
frankly enjoyed this one. I was hon
est enough to admit to myself the rea
son. I had spent a great portion of
the evening chatting with Mrs. Cam
eron. She was a talented woman and
shows everywhere. It is not to be sup
posed that "The National Mouse Jour
nal" will ever affiliate with "The Cat
Journal" of the same city.
London Is also the home of "The
Money-Lenders' Gazette." the title of
which sufficiently indicates Its raison
d'etre. Similar publications are to be
had In Vienna, Paris and Rotterdam.
Publications obviously not of a par
tlculaly cheerful nature are "Tho Un
dertakers' Journal" and "The Hang
man's Record." both published in the
British capital. It is difficult to assign
a reason for the latter, but as It Is of
respectable age. there must, of course,
be a demand for the grim sort of news
it dispenses. V
Written by Lunatic.
"The New Moon." most appropriately
named. Is a paper published in the
United States by a certain Instltulton
for the Insane. If any one supposes
that Its columns are devoid of interest
for a sane Individual, then he Is much
mistaken, for contributions from the
pens of Inmates of the asylum fre
quently evince literary abiltiy of no
mean order.
In the matter of mere utility, the
palm must be awarded a newspaper
published in a fishing town of Norway.
This Journal points with pride to the
fact that It is printed upon paper of so
tough a quality that, when read, it may
be cut Into strips and twisted into a
most' serviceable rope, which is no
small inducement when the calling of
the villagers -is taken into considera
tion. An odd periodical in this country is
"The Waiters' Friend." which presents
the unl'ifle appearance of being printed
in five languages English. French.
German. Italian and Swedish arranged
in alternate columns.
Printed on Wallpaper.
Another product of American Ingenu
ity In the way of freak papers is one
published in a Southern city in the in
terest of paper-hangers. This odd or
gan is of excellent typographical ap
pearance, but the paper whereon it is
printed is no other than wall paper, or
rather the cuttings remaining of wall
paper used for the usual purpose.
Trade pride, presumably, is to be as
signed as the reason for this strange
notion.
One enterprising owner in an Ohio
town conceived the laudable desire to
provide persons with weak eyes with a.
journal that would incur no injury or
fatigue to them. This was to he done
by means of green paper and white ink.
The scheme was. however, unsuccess
mepe rE ppnes
OE EOUP fftf&fjMILAJEtiUMa.
as engaging in her conversation as' in
her appearance, which is saying a
good deal for her conversation. She
and her husband invited me to visit
them oh the houseboat, an Invitation
which I accepted the very next after
noon, for they had quite captivated me.
"They had been married only two
months, and there was that ingenuous
manner about them so charming in the
newly married if not overdone. The
boat was a floating palace In minia
ture, and yet there was the home at
mosphere about it. I have always been
an admirer of the artlstip. and the
interior of the cabin was in perfect
taste. The walls were hung with
ful, and the paper died an early death.
Among other American papers of the
freak kind the following, whose titles
afford a sufficient hint as to their pur
pose, there my be mentioned the fol
lowing: "The Divorce-Seekers' News"; "How
to Get a Government Office": "How
Mother. Used to Cook It"; "Help for
Those in Hard Luck," and "The Lov
ers' Friend."
WHISTLING
PIGEONS
ONF2 of the most curious expressions
of emotional life is the application of
whistles to a flock of pigeons. These
whistles, very light, weighing but a few
grams, are attached to the tails of young
pigeons soon After their birth by means
of fine copper wire, so that when tlie
birds fly the wind blowing through the
whistles sets them vibrating and thus
produces an open-air concert, for the in
struments in one and the same flock are
tuned differently. On a serene" day in
Pekin, where these instruments are
manufactured with great cleverness and
Ingenuity, it Is possible to enjoy this
aerial music while sitting in one's room,
says the Scientific American.
There are two distinct types of whis
tles those consisting of bamboo tubes
placed side by side, and a type based
on the principle of tubes attached to a
gourd body or wind-chest. They are
lacquered in yellow, brown, red and
black, to protect the material from the
destructive influences of the atmosphere.
Tlie tube whistles have either two, three
or five tubes.
The gourd-whistles are furnished with
a mouthpiece and small apertures to the
number of two. three, six, ten and even
IS. Certain among them have, besides, a
number of bamboo tubes, some on the
principal mouthpiece, some arranged
around it. These varieties are distin
guished by different names. Thus, a
whfstle with one -mouthpiece and ten
tubes Is called "the 11-eyed one."
The explanation of the practice of this
quaint custom which the. Chinese offer is
not very satisfactory. According to them,
ttiese whistles are intended to keep the
flock together end to protect the pigeons
from attacks of birds of prey. There
seems, however, little reason to believe
that a hungry hawk could be Induced by
this Innocent music to keep aloof from
satisfying his appetite: and this doubt
less savors of an afterthought which
came up long after the Introduction of
this usage, through the attempt to give
a rational end practical interpretation
of something that has no rational origin
whatever, for it is not the pigeon that
profits from this practice, but merely
the human ear. which feasts on the wind
blown tubes and derives esthetic pleasure
from this muslo.
rare paintings and original drawings
of the best artists. Mrs. Cameron, I
learned, was an artist herself, and she
pointed out to me several of her pic
tures, all of which denoted a high
degree of skill.
"Our friendship progressed with
amazing swiftness and before many
days I was on a footing of charming
intimacy with the owners of the house
boat. -Never did Ienjoy a friendship
more, and I spent many pleasant hours
with Mr. and airs. Cameron. One af
ternooon Mrs. Cameron was making
fudges in the dainty kitchen, which
opened, through a butler's pantry, into
the rear cabin, where Cameron and I
PHYSIOLOGY
Prominent Educator, Who
By I. N. Hyde. Professor of Physiology
University of Kansas.
S TEACHER residing in the
southern part of Kansas, whose
duty It Is to teach all the ologies
besides many other subjects, was very
much perplexed by the receipt of a
letter from the mother of two of her
pupils, which was worded as follows:
"I don't want you to waste any more
time to teach my children all about
their inners. You were hired to learn
them to read and write and not to tell
them stuff and nonsense about their
lnsides. I don't want them ever to
know about themselves."
Not only are some anxious mothers
Ignorant of what physiology and hy
giene really are, and unaware of their
importance as a part of the instruction
In all grades of school work, but raany
college graduates are wholly Incapable
of appreciating the educational value
and far-reaching effects that a knowl
edge of the subjects brings with them.
The Idea that diseases were due to
the entrance of evil spirits into the
body is well illustrated in the Apocry
pha by the story of Tobias. It is there
related that Tobias, wishing before his
marriage to exorcise a demon which
had taken possession of his bride,
fumigated her with the burning heart
of a fish. The fumes thus arising
drove the demon away to the farthest
parts of Egypt. The demonological
view of disease can be traced in many
parts of tlie biblical narrative and has
survived up to the present date among
the ignorant in all countries.
On the other hand, it must be said
that it is impossible for one who un
derstands the chemical and physical
laws that govern the activities of every
cell In the body as well as in plants to
spend much of his earnings for patent
medicines, or be a prey to quacks who
profess to perform miracles.
The urgent need long has been felt
of giving more attention to the sub
jects pertaining to life, those that may
be a guide to thrift, health and happi
ness. The convictions seem to have
been shared by the lawmakers of most
of the states. The enactments making
physiology a part of the course of in
struction in the public schools is an
evidence of their convictions, and from
every point of view the measure ap
pears wise and beneficent. If wisely
carried out. this law must "be produc
tive of great good. The attention of
students will be directed to laws which
govern their own being. The truths
set forth will find lodgment in the
brain, in time they will find expres
sion in daiLv practice. Ae a result we
zsser&urr
were playing seven-up on the dining
room table. Tiring of the game, Cam
eron brought out a decanter of wine,
and. as we sipped at our glasses and
blew smoke wreaths toward the cell
ing, he began to speak of his wife's
work as an artist.
"He told me she had made quite a
success of It before their marriage.
She had not followed It alone for pas
time, but. imbued with that spirit of
Independence which is becoming so
general Among our American women,
she had wished to demonstrate that,
with her own hands, she could make a
living independent of the resources
she possessed. She had branched out
in commercial work, he said, and had
made quite a snug sum In this way.
"He left me for a moment and returned
with a portfolio of drawings which he
spread upon the table and displayed with
apparent pride. The first picture in the
collection was a copy of the White House
portrait of President Washington, done
in pen and Ink. As I looked at the Intri
cate network of lines something about it
seemed familiar, seemed to suggest a pic
ture 1 had seen somewhere, and I scru
tinized it closely, a vague sensation of
uneasiness dawning in my mind. There
were a number of pen sketches of heads
and figures and landscapes, a few pastels
and water colors, and. toward the back
of the portfolio. I came upon some sam
ples of commercial work letter heads,
cards, pamphlet covers, and the like,
and, to my utter amazement, a delicate
piece of steel engraving, a coupon for a
breakfast food company. In one corner of
which was a bust of the Goddess of Lib
erty which immediately suggested the
head of Henry Clay on the counterfeit
cigar stamps used by the factory in the
Eastern city.
"Every instinct of my professional
training was aroused. My hand shook so
perceptibly I had to rest it upon the table
to avoid attracting Cameron's attention.
A strong suspicion flashed ov?r me which
made me thoroughly ashp.med. and I
cursed my insistent professional Instinct
and the base suspicions it was always
arousing. 1 was disgusted with myself
for doubting these new-made friends who
had g'ven me so generous a hospitality.
Yet I could not master the distrust that
had teined me. There could, of course, be
no connection between the engraving
which 1 still held in my hand and tne
bogus cigar stamps, and yet my Instinct
urged that there was. I sat for a moment
in a trance as the incidents of the cigar
stamp case surged through my mind.
Foigetting Cameron and my surround
ings. I recalled every dot and line and
curve of the gigantic pn'urement of
the false tax-paid stamp"
"I was brought back to earth with a
start.
" 'You seem to admire that piece of
work.' interposed Cameron. I think it one
of the best engravings I have ever seen.
It was the last commercial assignment
my wife accepted before she gave up her
career as an artist. I was a bit jealous
of it, for she labored over it with an ardor
that entirely shut me out of her world,
although I was about her studio a good
deal in those days. She gave up her work
ail of a sudden and went abroad, where
she remained until her return for our
marriage. I believe my jealousy of the
time she gave to it had something to do
with her decision, although she has never
admitted that to me.
"I -could not help asking when his wife
had abandoned her artistic work. He said
it had been three years since. I re
turned the engraving to the portfolio and
Cameron restored it to the cabinet where
it was kept. I couldn't entirely recover
my equilibrium. The Incident had upset
me completely and I could not shake off
the suspicion which had come to me upon
seeing the engraving. I felt like a crim
inal, heartily ashamed of my doubts, but
I could not get rid of them.
"Mrs. Cameron came into the room a I
this point, her face full of rich color. Slui
had finished her fudge-making and want
ed her husband and me to pass judgment
upon it. We went out on the deck,
where,, on a dainty table, the plates of
candy were cooling. I forgot my mis
givings in the pretty pride which Mrs
Cameron exhibited over her handiwork.
IN THE SCHOOL COURSE
Says the Importance of the Subject Cannot Be Overestimated.
may look for improvements in food,
in dress, in ventilation, in habits, in
hours of work and recreation and in
everything pertaining to living.
' It Is gratifying to know that most
of the states in America require that
their children in the common schools
be taught physiology and hygiene, and
that part of this instruction shall deal
with the nature of alcohol, other nar
cotics and nicotine, and their effects
upon the human body. The object is
to shape the habits of the child, hence
the study runs through the course in
stead of being massed in the advanced
years where it might come after the
formation of wrong hahits had begun
and many pupils had left school. It is
evident that proper instruction in this
subject In the public schools to 22 mil
lions of children is resulting in better
obedience to the laws of health, in a
growing sentiment In favor of public
sanitation and total abstinence, despite
our enormous foreign immigration. By
educating the masses to control them
selves and to realize the importance of
obeying the laws of health, the country
will be prptected from devastating epi
demics and be saved millions of dollars
spent in the care of the insane and
criminals, whose anoestors knowingly
and ignorantly transgressed some of
the most sacred rules of right living.
The compulsory study of physiology
in the schools in this country Is al
ready resulting in increased sobriety,
strength and efficiency of the Ameri
can people. These results have attract
ed the attention of students of social
and National problems In other nations
and these are now urgently recom
mending that this American system of
education be extended to their own
countries. In 1903 public attention in
England was called to the popular ig
norance of the laws of health, and tlie
nature and effects of alcoholic drinks,
as a cause of the evil of Intemperance.
Then came the report of the Royal
Commission of Inquiry concerning the
causes of degeneracy, which main
tained that more may be done to cheek
the degeneration resulting from drink
by bringing home to men and women
thi fatal effects on physical efficiency
than by expatiating on tlie moral wick
edness of drinking.
As a result in J904 a committee of 31
leading British physicians was formed
that issued a petition for the compul
sory public school study of physiology
and hygiene. This was signed by up
wards of 15.000 physicians, practically
the entire medical profession of Eng
land. Scotland. Ireland and Wales. A
London paper says of this petition,
that the response was most remarka
SOB J3 w3 cs&mwr
She was more charming than ever in the
simple house gown she wore, her face
pink with the bending over the stove. I
thought I had never seen so beautiful
a woman. If she had not been married
I am sure I would have fallen In love
with her. I admired her extravagantly,
but I did not love her. for I have never
been a man who could love another's
wife.
"This was to be our last evening with
them. On the morrow I was to return
to Washington and the houseboat. Owl,
was to resume its Journey down the Mis
sissippi. My vacation was at an end.
"Cameron stepped Into the cabin to get
a fresh cigar and Mrs. Cameron went into
the kitchen about the same time, leaving
me alone on tne deck by the table with
the candy. Underneath the plates, to
protect the table top. were several sheets
of newspaper. My glance fell upon these
papers and my eyes became riveted upon
the corner nearest to me. On the margin
of the topmost paper were the prints of
four fingers and a thumb, made with the
butter with which the plates had been
greased before the canny was poured
Into them. They were long, tapering,
shapely fingers, undoubtedly those of an
artist.
"The training of years asserted it
self. I tore away the corner of the
paper with the finger prints upon it
and slipped It into my pocket. I could
no more help doing this than water
can help flowing down hill, for the
prints seemed a duplicate of those I
so well remembered upon the wrapper
of the unused plate we had captured
in the .ciar stamp case. I was dis
gusted with myself, but instinct is
stronger than will sometimes, and this
was -such -a case.
"I left the boat as soon as I could
conveniently get away. The desire was
strong upon me to destroy the paper
which nestled guiltily and accusingly
in my side pocket, but I could not.
"On my return to Washington I se
cured trie wrapper with the finger
prints and crinpared them with the
grease marks on the bit of newspaper.
A glance at the two side by side was
sufficient. The same hand had made
both. I was staggered, sick at heart,
and disgusted with the world and life
and people, more especially with my
self. "My first Impulse was to make
clean breast of it all to the chief, but,
on second thought, I decided not to
do so until 1 had made an investiga
tion on my own account. I secured a
leave of absence and went to the city
where the. cigar stamp rraud had been
perpetrated. Here I learned much that
disconcerted me. Mrs. Cameron, whose
maiden name I had not heard, had
lived there and had had her studio
there. The banker's trust company had
been her guardian. Jhe executor of her
father's will. She had lived In a state
ly old mansion, near the home of the
bank president, with a maiden aunt.
The aunt had died while the niece was
abroad, and I found that the time of
tne departure of the niece had been
consonant with the exposure and ar
rest of the counterfeiters.
"There was no doubt that Mrs. Cam
eron had executed the plates from
which the bogus cigar stamps had
been printed. Whether she had known
the criminality of her act I have never
learned. I have always hoped that
she did not, and finally I have come
to believe It. What representation the
hanker made to her when he had her
execute the plates will never be known.
He died in prison of heart failure just,
about the time I made these discover
ies. "This is the only time I have ever
broken faith with the service. I could
not deliver Mrs. Cameron to the merci
less law courts, guilty or Innocent.
My sentimentality would not let me.
It may have been wrong, but I have
never regretted my action in this case.
If it were to do over again, I should
follow the same course. What do you
think of it? What would you have done
tinder the circumstances?"
(Next week Captain Dickson will re
late the story of "The Clew of the
Liquor Bottle.")
ble. Eight thousand signatures were
received by return of post and ha.l to
be conveyed to the recording office by
a special staff of postmen. Thus
equipped, this -body of experts began
the study of the different methods of
instruction in this subject employed
in America and other countries. In
November. 1905. they Issue-'', and sent
to every local school board in Great Brit
ain and Ireland a circular entitled "Sug
gested Courses for Teaching Physiol
ogy and Hygiene to Boys and Girls In
Public Schools of the United Kingdom."
These courses are based upon the
schemo used in the schools in the
United States.
It is true that the health and effi
ciency of the human body has rarely,
if ever, been more highly esteemed
than they are today, and yet no sub
ject of similar importance is so gener
ally neglected in the schools or where
taught, taught less effectively.
Several causes have contributed to
this curious state of things, but un
doubtedly one of the most important
is that the teaching has been too re
motely connected with the activities
and problems of daily life. Moreover,
few students who intend 'to teach the
sciences have equipped themselves with
a knowledge of physiology.
' That point of view which regards tlie
human body as a living mechanism is
today not only the sure foundation of
physiology, hygiene and sanitation, but
is also surprisingly helpful in the solu
tion of many questions concerned with
Intellectual and moral behavior. To
teach the right conduct of the physical
life based upon the scientific knowl
edge of subjects related to physiology
should be the principal aim and end of
all elementary teaching of physiology,
hygiene and sanitation.
The importance of this subject in all
education for good citizenship cannot
be overestimated. Sanitary .science
and the public health can be advanced
only as they are supported by an In
telligent public opinion which appre
ciates the nature of the problems in
volved; and appreciates the frequent
duty of subordinating personal liberty
to public good.
Out of the Vim Past.
i
. Chicago Tribune.
Nebuchadnezzar was eating grass.
"But I'm not yelling 'Ee-yah!' and pre
tending to like it." he said.
Regardless of what the fans in the
grandstand and on the bleachers might
think of him, he continued to tear up
handfuls and chew it because he hadn't
anything else to eat.
ET1 104.0