The Sunday Oregonian., December 27, 1908, SECTION THREE, Page 6, Image 26

TIIE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, DECEMBER 5S7, 190S.
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PORTLAND. SCTAY. DEC. 27, 1908.
THE JIOVENO WOBXD.
It Is pleasant sometimes to sit down
and think how many of the marvels
we used to read of in fairy tales have
come true. One of the most entertaining-
philosophers of our time, a
man who loves to speculate a little
rwildly perhaps, says that the world,
when science and invention have done
with it, will be a sort of "wishing-cap
country," a place where we all shall
have to do when we want a thing will
be to wish for it and there it will be
ready for us. He goes on to specify
some of the advances we have already
made toward this delightful state of
things. When the cook in the city
kitchen wants water, she has only to
turn a spigot and it runs. Xo more
of the old traipsing to the well and
drawing it ponderously from the
depths as poor Rebecca had to do in
Bible times. When the same cook
wants a steak or a squash, she does
not need to put on her bonnet and
make an expedition to the market.
She has only to put the telephone to
her mouth and speak the word. The
Bteak appears thereupon as if by
maglc. But what is all this to the
wonder of the magician who makes a
vast array of men and machinery do
his will by pressing buttons? Did Al
addin perform anything more marvel
ous by rubbing his lamp? What did
the weird genii In the Arabian tales
achieve by supernatural power which
the modern millionaire cannot dupli
cate and better with his money and
his machinery?
Take the old story of the carpet
upon which the wizard seated himself
and made a wish. The carpet rose into
the air and transported him over
land and sea to his destination. The
modern wizard gets into his train and
goes Just as swiftly and far more cer
tainly than did the Oriental wonder
worker. Or if one cites the magician
vho made a horse which would sweep
through space when a peg was turned,
does not the automobile do the same
thing? All the old tales of flying are
coming true, impossible as they
seemed to our fathers some forty
years ago. In those days, almost as
ancient as Babylon to us so far have
we moved In a generation, boys read
In school a witty poem entitled, "Da
rius Green and His Flying Machine"
Poor Darius went to the peak of the
barn roof with his machine and bold
ly launched himself upward. The re
sult was a battered head and a broken
leg. The flying machine was the very
acme of the absurd to the schoolboy
of forty years ago. Now it is a com
monplace fact and will soon be in
everyday use. Some observers say
that the world has moved ahead far
Iher and faster during the last cen
tury than in all the previous cycles of
recorded time. Wonders have accu
mulated so fast upon us that they have
ceased to be wonders. We live In a
World where magic rules, but it has
become trivial to us. There is an ac
tual danger that we may cease to rec
ognize marvels when we see them and
so lose the sense of wonder which lies
at the bottom of poetry and religion.
Lord Bacon foresaw all of this when
he wrote his Novum Organon. That
was indeed what he wrote the book
for, to produce in the world exactly
what It has produced; to sweep away
the cobwebs of word-mongerlng and
bring mankind face to face with real
things. He felt confident that when
once we confronted reality we could
master it, and the result has thus far
justified his farsighted faith. Les
ser men have also predicted the com
ing triumphs of invention long before
they were realized. Jules Verne was
one '.-f these prophets, a humble one,
to be sure, but not uninteresting. In
his little book called "A Journey to
the Center of the Karth," which was
published some 40 years ago, Jules
Verne narrates among other marvels
how his hero made himself heard
a. mile away by using a ledge of rock
to conduct the sound. Everybody
who read the book wondered and
doubted. Science certainly averred
that sound might travel thus, but the
difficulties were obviously insurmount
able. Then came the telephone and
Jules Verne's miracle hid Its dimin
ished head. Talking through a mile
of rock is not much of a stunt com
pared with talking through a thou
sand miles of copper wire.
Of all modern magic wireless tel
egraphy strikes the Imagination as the
most wonderful. To sit at a little in
strument and project thought far and
wide through the universe in waves
which can be caught and transmitted
back into thought again certainly ex
ceeds anything that the old story
makers ever dreamed of in their wild
est visions. The beauty of it Is, too,
that these waves are set up in the
ther, which extends as far as Imag
ination -can travel, and once started
on their Journey nothing can ever
stop them. If the people on Jupiter
have invented wireless telegraphy they
are extremely likely to catch some of
these waves as they flit past and thus
learn what we are about on earth.
Why should not the people of Jupiter
be as bright as we are? It is insuffer
able conceit in us to fancy that we
are the only intelligent beings In the
olar system. Very likely some of our
planetary neighbors are a great deal
brighter if the truth were known. We
may catch wandering waves from
their Instruments one of these days
and thus communication will be estab
lished across the void inane.
One more thought about these
waves. They never stop traveling, no
matter how far they go or how long
they have been on the way. The vi
bratory ether thus forms an eternal
library where all that has been said
did done on earth is recorded. The
rjluva nf Shjtkejnear are written there
In Imperishable language and every
symphony of Beethoven eternally re
sounds In the Illimitable gulfs. How
idle, then, is the speculation of Ana-
tole France that some time all our tri
umphs will have perished and the uni
verse be as if the earth had never
been the home of man. Nothing that
we have thought or said can ever per
lsh. for it Is written In a deathless lan
guage in the medium which pervades
all space.
THE BRIDGE QUESTION1, NORTH.
Proposal to build a double bridge
from Glisan street on the West Side
to Oregon street on the East .Side ap
pears to commend itself to those who
are studying the problem of move
ment between the two divisions of
Portland. The plan is one high bridge
for general traffic and one low bridge
for the use of the railroads. They
would be separate In operation, but
built In conjunction and connec
tion. Sustained by double, yet
connected, piers, the two bridges
would take but a few feet more
than the space of one, leaving
the river free from the obstruction
of an additional bridge. Built along
side each other, their width would not
be--more than 100 feet, and the rail
road bridge below, known as the
Steel Bridge, would be removed. Of
the new double bridge, the part used
bv the railroads (the O. R. & N. and
the S. P.) would be open at all
times except when trains were to
cross. The general highway bridge
would seldom be opened, for it would
stand above all general traffic on the
river. Only high topmasts of sail
ing vessels would touch It, and for the
few of these the bridge could be
opened, or topmasts might- be low
ered. Traffic for years, between the
two divisions of the city below the
Burnslde Bridge would be well accom
modated by this arrangement. Later
a very high bridge might be built
lower down.
While not committing Itself fully to
this plan. The Oregonian desires to
say that the- pran looks feasible, and
Is well worth consideration. Joint
construction of these bridges would
save money for both. The piers would
be established on a common base; the
distance between the banks would be
shorter at this point than below the
present railroad bridge; easy connec
tion could be made by the streetcar
lines between their present tracks on
the two sides of the river, and the
steam railroads could readily adjust
their tracks for movement between
their West Side and East Side depots.
On the West Side the grade approach
to the bridge would be no greater
than that now of the railroad bridge;
and it could be reduced if the bridge
at Glisan street were placed 50 feet.
Instead of 60 feet, above high water
mark. Streetcar connections between
the West Side and the East Side, on
down to Albina and the Lower Penin
sula, would be as direct by this route
as by any other, as study of the street
plans will show. Ultimately, a very
high bridge will be necessary, much
further down.
Very few interruptions to highway
traffic would occur upon a bridge
placed at Glisan and Oregon streets,
sixty feet above high water. The rail
road bridge would stand open, except
when closed for passage of trains, and
there would be little interruption of
river traffic. All vessels except those
havlitg tallest masts -would pass under
the high bridge, which probably would
not be opened once a week, since very
few vessels of this kind rass above
that point in the river. The double
bridge would save valuable river and
harbor space, which also Is a great
matter. While The Oregonian does
not commit Itself positively to this
plan for it confesses it doesn't know
all about the subject It would like
to see the details of the plan worked
out and given to the public, with
suitable estimates of the cost to the
city. Of coarse the streetcar system
would bear some part of the cost.
All The Oregonian desires to say
now is this, namely, that the plan of
a double bridge at Glisan and Oregon
streets la worth consideration. Con
sidering all the circumstances, it
looks like the most feasible of pres
ent plans for a .bridge for the lower
part of the city. It is not to be over
looked that the river and harbor are
to be conserved, as far as possible
while the movement of population and
traffic between the two divisions of the
city should be subject to fewest pos
sible Interruptions. Moreover, It is
a study In economics; since the city
should take the course that will cause
least Increase of Its bonded debt.
HOME I J fK FOR DEPINDISI
CHXLDKEN.
The idea that home life for depen
dent children is preferable to life In
orphan asylums and other charitable
institutions, conducted for the benefit
of this helpless class, has lately been
emphatically indorsed by President
Roosevelt. It is not, however, in any
sense Rooseveltian, since It Is shared,
and has been to a large extent acted
upon for many years by workers In this
tenderest of all charities that which
seeks to provide for this pitifully de
pendent class, children who, by death,
dissipation or desertion, are left a
care and a. burden upon society.
With approximately 150,000 such
children in ,the United States, the
problem of caring for them so that
their childhood will not be drained of
all joy, and that later they may become
useful, self-sustaining, self-respecting
members of the body politic,
is Indeed a serious one. The
best efforts of practical philan
thropists and humanitarians have
for some years been devoted to
the work of providing proper en
vironment, training and care for de
pendent and neglected, but not yet
delinquent children. Latterly that
Is to say in relatively recent years a
sense of justice has been aroused
upon this matter and through the
ministrations and under the direction
of Juvenile Courts hundreds of delin
quent children have been given the
chance and the supervision needed to
turn them into the ways that lead to
honorable lives.
The President earnestly believes that
the best way to care for dependent
children is in the family home and so
expresses himself. This belief Is gen
eral and, indeed, universal among men
and women who have had experience
in the work. It Is the basis of prac
tically all the work being done In
this state at present for this aptly
designated "dependent class." The
Boys' and Girls' Aid Society directs
Its best efforts toward that end, giv
ing shelter, food, raiment and edu
cational opportunities In the mean
time to a large numher of children of
both sexes. Its officers exercise the
greatest care In the selection of homes
for the wards of the society and fol
low them Into their new homes with
kindly oversight as long as necessary
to Insure that no mistake has been
made in placing them. The managers
of the Baby Home and the -Children's
Home exercise like vigilance and
care In placing children who have
come temporarily Into these Institu
tions, and whose parents have forfeit
ed or relinquished all legal claim
upon them. No child Is kept In any
one of these- Institutions who Is a
legal subject for adoption any longer
than a suitable home can be procured
for him. Hundreds of children thus
placed have come up through sunny
childhood to maturity a blessing to
their otherwise childless foster-parents,
and have In due time gone out
into useful, honorable lives.
OCR NEW CHAMPION BRUISER.
If we must have a world's champion
bruiser, let him by all means be a
black man. It is well enough to
learn occasionally that the so-called
physical superiority of the white race
Is all a white man's delusion. Here
Is a great black brute who is stronger
and quicker and altogether abler In the
prizering "than the opposing white
brute, and the laurel wreath is pressed
on his brow, and he Is hailed by uni
versal acclaim as the greatest fighter
with his fists In the world. This Is
the first time, we are told, that a
negro has ever been the world's cham
pion, since all previous prize pugilists
have "drawn the color line" and re
fused to fight with any aspiring cham
pion from the blacg race. All of which
goes to expose the Immense egotism
of the white man who thinks that be
cause he is the best two-legged white
fighting animal he is the greatest of all
animals. Of course everybody knows
that - It Is not so, and has always
known it. Our ablest white pugilists
have heretofore admitted it by refus
ing to put the contention to the only
test that would prove it. "
Why shouldn't a colored man, or a
red man, or a yellow man, set himself
up on the proud eminence of a world's
champion, and, drawing the color line,
refuse to fight a white man? Why
not? Why shouldn't this wonderful
fellow Johnson now say that there Is
no further call on him to degrade him
self . by fighting any white man, since
the black .man has demonstrated hl3
superiority over the acknowledged
white champion, and Insist hereafter
on meeting only his own chosen peo
ple? He Is the world's champion, and
it is generally agreed that it Is the
proud prerogative of all champions to
choose their antagonists.'
John L. Sullivan was not only the
greatest white pugilist that ever lived,
but he was one of our wisest men.
He would never fight a colored man.
It ,1s perfectly clear now that If he
had ever consented to meet the col
ored fighter Peter Jackson, there
would then have been a new, albeit
very dark, sun In the pugilistic uni
verse. THEIR VIGIL.
A bitter vigil, not the less pitiful
because of the blind and unreasoning
faith of those who keep it, is being
held by a band of simple-minded, de
vout followers of Dr Cyrus W. Teed,
over the dead body of their leader, in
the little town of Estero, Fla. Taught
to believe and fully believing in Dr.
Teed a3 their Messiah, these "Koresh
ans" will not admit his death, and
have watched, dry-eyed and desolate,
but still full of hope, since last Tues
day, the day of his death, In expec
tation of the miracle of his resurrec
tion. These people believed that Dr. Teed
would live forever. He had himself
proclaimed this belief, both in his
speech and his writings. His boldness
and audacity they mistook for truth;
his promises to them were alluring;
his influence over them was unbound
ed. It is not difficult, therefore, to
conceive of the dumb astonishment,
deepening day by day Into terror, as
they are brought face to face with
the simple fact of his mortality and
watch in vain for his triumph over
universal law.
Whatever feeling of righteous indig
nation may Justly be held toward this
Impostor, this trafficker in the faith of
an earnest, simple-minded people,
who sought eagerly, as men and
women of this type have ever sought,
for a visible sign attesting their im
mortality, there Is naught but pity Jne
to his deluded followers as they watch
day and night, expecting to see the
vital' spark return to the inanimate
day of their self-proclaimed Messiah.
The wreck of cherished hope, of fond
belief, of child-like faith, is not the
less a tragedy because those who clung
to the unstable craft in delusive
waters were not able to give an In
telligent reason for having embarked
with their all upon It. Pity is the
meed of these simple, faithful watch
ers at the bier of their deceiver,
since
To be deceived In the true heart's desire
Were bitterer than a thousand years of fire.
MOVABLE SCHOOLS OF AGRICULTURE.
The Department of Agriculture
suggests, through a recent bulletin.
plan to bring farmers together
during the "slack season" in farm
work for the purpose of mutual In
struction and the study of subjects
pertaining to thir vocation. The
plan is to establish what are termed
Movable Schools of Agriculture, In
which farmers may be gathered for a
time, at stated Intervals, to learn of
things of special Interest In their sev
eral departments. In almost any
rural community classes of from 10
to 16 farmers who are past what Is
known as the school age," can be
found who will bring to the themes
presented an earnest desire for the
acquirement of agricultural knowl
edge and mature Judgment In apply
ing the Information gained to their
special needs. The place of meeting
Is to be provided and all expenses
are to be borne by those who attend
the schools; the teaching force) is to
consist of an expert and whatever
assistants he may require, by the or
ganized agricultural forces of the
state.
The subjects of study Included in
the plan are extremely practical.
These are animal husbandry, grain
growing, farm mechanics, farm econ
omics, forestry, horticulture, etc., and
are to be presented acoordlng to the
circumstances and needs of the com
munity In which the school is con
ducted. The method of study is to be
carried out by Instruction, followed
by open and free discussion, the
school to "keep" from two weeks to
two months, according to the impor
tance of the subjects studied.
There are obstacles In the way of
carrying out this plan that will read
ily suggest themselves, but these are
by no means Insurmountable. The
underlying purpose of the movement
Is to Interest every man In the prob
lems of his own farm and furnish
suoh Instruction In special lines as
will hasten his success as a farmer by
enabling him to take advantage of the
experience of others as gained
through Government experiment sta
tions and state agricultural schools.
Knowledge gained by personal ex
periment with soils, seeds, stock, or
chards, etc., comes very slowly and
only at the expense of much pains
taking effort and the loss of valuable
time. Suggestions and Instruction
leading to hornet -Study and .farm -prao-.
tlce are specific features of the pro
posed movement, since here, as else
where, there Is no royal road to
learning. The purpose of the mov
able school is to treat fewer subjects
than those taken up In the farmers'
short courses and institutes, . but to
bring out thoroughly the points In
each, the understanding of which Is
necessary to the best, quickest and
most uniform results.
The purpose of the Movable School
of Agriculture Is not dissimilar from
that of other movements that have
in recent years been .inaugurated and
carried forward for the education of
farmers In things that are of the
greatest Importance to them In the
successful prosecution of their work.
It Is regarded as the first step in a
system of Instruction that will in time
take over the work now being done
In Farmers' Clubs and similar or
ganizations for the betterment of
farm conditions, products and profits.
AS OTHERS SEE VS.
The Outlook for December 19 con
tains 4 neat little article on what It
calls "Our National Bragging," though
the piece has a more discreet formal
title. The occasion of the homily is
John Graham Brooks' compilation of
what European travelers have said
about us. He has gathered there
mainly unflattering, comments lntb a
book, with the caption "As Others See
Us." The Outlook soothingly observes
that we do not brag as much as we
used to. In the palmy days when
Dickens visited the United States, we
seemed to foreigners to be floating
around in tobacco Juice and perpetu
ally yelling that we were the wisest,
greatest and freest Nation on earth.
The "freedom" we boasted of struck
foreigners as being particularly funny,
In view of our four million slaves.
Subsequent experience of one sort and
another has driven home the suspi
cion that possibly we are not quite so
wise as we have sometimes supposed.
An English cynic has said that we are
like the astronomer who walked Into
a quagmire while he was gazing at
the Milky Way. Certainly our prob
lems have accumulated, distressingly
while we have spent our time brag
ging that we had none, and none
could ever arise under our perfect
constitutions. The truth Is that our
most serious difficulties arise from
these very constitutions so seemingly
perfect in theory, so Inflexible In prac
tice, and so refractory to the spirit of
progress. Carlyle spattered a good
deal of caustic hilarity over the "paper
constitutions" the French made in the
heyday of the Revolution. Will the'
time ever come when some later satir
ist will see similar reasons to bespat
ter ours?' We got ours from the same
sources as the French. The super
human wisdom of the famous conven
tion resolves Itself on close analysis
into an admiration for Plutarch and
a disposition to compromise. Perhaps
after all its work was fallible and
temporary.
TAKIIT TRICKERY.
The apprehension that the Senate
may play sly tricks with tho tariff
after the House has revised it Is not
without grounds. The grave and rev
erend signors are . old hands at the
game of slipping in little imperceptible
commas and fly-specks which after
ward show up as huge boulders of
difficulty and change the meaning
completely. It was thus that the im
pecunious Standard Oil Company ob
tained "protection" when the DIngley
schedules were perfected by the Sen
ate. The prestidigitation was wrought
so deftly that for a long time nobody
outside the elect few suspected that
the feeble Infant had been cared for.
But it had. The fine Italian hand of
Mr. Aldrich was ready for Its task at
that time, nor has it lost Its cunning
now.
If the schedules are slyly made over
in the Senate to give clandestine fa
vors to the "interests," it is to be
hoped that Mr. Tart will have the
courage to veto the bill. The country
has waited a long time for revision,
but It can wait a while longer for
honest revision. If we must be robbed,
let it be . done after the good old
fashion we are familiar with. Custom
dulls the sting of injustice a little,
while novelty redoubles the smart.
BRAZIL'S COFIXE CORPSE.
When Joseph Leiter emerged from
beneath the avalanche of wheat
which Mr. Armour delivered to him at
prices far above figures obtainable
anywhere else in the world, and Lei
ter pere saved the family credit at a
cost of approximately $10,000,000, a
Chicago reporter Interviewed a griz
zled veteran of the wheat pit as to the
reason for the failure.- "Joe's corner
would have been all right," said the
veteran, "if he'd onlx been able to
dispose of the corpse." The term
"corpse," as applied to the unwieldy
accumulation of wheat or any other
commodity on which a corner is at
tempted, was first used by "Old
Hutch," the most successful and
spectacular Chicago Board of Trade
operator who ever died in penury.
The disposal of the "corpse" has been
the means of ruining, most of the
men who have attempted corners in
any commodity.
The fancy prices that are the nat
ural accompaniment of a corner draw
out abnormal supplies, the disposal of
which cannot be effected except at a
loss. If this loss can be offset by se
cret selling and profit-taking as the
work of building the corner pro
gresses, the operation may succeed.
even though the corpse must bbe dis
posed of at a sacrifice. If, on the
other hand, the watchful' "bears" pre
vent any attempt at profit-taking, the
"corpse" accumulates and the corner
fails. The entire financial world is at
the present time watching the forma
tion in Brazil of a coffee "corpse"
whose proportions are startling in
their Immensity. Frequent mention
has been made of the attempt of the
government of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
advance the price of coffee by with
holding stocks, the growers securing
loans from the government In suffi
cient quantities to enable them to live
without disposing of the crop. By
this system practically all of the crop
for three seasons has been held, and
the accumulation amounts to several
million bags.
. The "corner" "became so unwieldy
that a few weeks ago it was necessary
to provide for carrying it by securing
In Europe a loan of $75,000,000. To
repay this loan It Is stipulated that a
certain amount of coffee must be sold
each year, the terms of the contract
reading as follows:
The government of Sao Paulo hereby
undertake to offer the coffee for sale
through the medium of the committee
either by public auction or by sealed ten
ders at tha price of the day, distributing
them preferentially over the last six months
of the coffee periods, that is to say, from
January to the 30th of June, namely.
600.000 bags in 1909-10 : 600,000 bags In
1910-11. 700,000 bags In 1011-12, 800.000 bags
In 1912-13, etc., and 700,000 bags there
after. The original cause of this coffee
being held off the market was over
production, and, as soon as the gov
ernment Kindly stepped in mu -moved
it from the market the grow
ers proceeded to take advantage of
the Improved market by growing more
coffee than ever Having undertaken
these artificial means of supporting a
weak market, the government was
practically forced to absorb a steadily
increasing amount of coffee. The pro
cess must now be continued indefinite
ly, at least until a series of poor crops
shortens the supply and enables some
of the enormous accumulations to be
worked off. With the knowledge that
the government must protect its
"corpse," growers will make the most
of the opportunity and It will be sur
prising Indeed if the government does
not have on hand In 1913 more coffee
than at the present time.
"Corners" which set aside the nat
ural laws of supply and demand,
whether they are conducted by pri
vate individuals, firms or governments,
are precarious ventures, and there Is
no reason for believing that the Bra
zilian coffee corner has any better
chance for ultimate success than Mr.
Leiter had with his wiheat corner.
Both were dependent for success on
poor crops which would force buyers
to pay extravagant figures for the
"corpse."
PERNICIOUS READING.
A protest has come to The Orego
nian several times of late against
books which, pretending to 'exploit
the hidden depths and so-called prin
ciples underlying human life, are read
with avidity by young 'people, espe
cially young girls. Of these readers
It may be said at least it has been
said that they peruse these books in
the spirit of mingled curiosity and
self-consciousness.. . . Following the
trend of the story, they completely
lose sight of the alleged purpose of
the book, its so-called sociological
value, and are, indeed, wholly unable
to understand this feature.
Books of this character, it is al
leged, are readily accessible through
the public library and even through
school libraries, and, while they may
be read with impunity by persons of
mature .minds and settled habits of
thought, they are in common parlance
not fit for young people to read.
To mention these books by name is
but to advertise them, yet not to name
them is to make a statement so vague
that It fails to gain standing in the
open court of public opinion. Of the
books especially criticised in this con
nection is a story by Elinor Glyn
under the title "Three Weeks." which
is said to have a great vogu6 among
high-school girls in this city and else
where, a book which mothers of the
old-fashioned sort declare that no
young girl should read. "The Firing
Line," by Robert W. Chambers, and
the "Fighting Chance," by the same
author, are condemned as only less
objectionable in a moral sense than
the book first named, while Margaret
De Land is arraigned Tipon the charge
of writing and publishing a book,
"The Awakening of Helena Ritchie,"
which it were much better for the
morals of her reader had it remained
unwritten.
There is something in this protest
and arraignment, no doubt. Without
discriminating against the books
named", since at most they are but a
few erratic craft that have In recent
years been launched upon the broad
sea of literature, it is a fact well
known that the market is gorged with
books upon social topics which their
authors are wholly Incompetent to
present. Young girls pore over these
books on the streetcars, going to and
from school, and discuss them with
men older than themselves some
times their teachers with crimson
cheeks and eyes kindled with thoughts
that, though innocent, become un
maidenly through the subtleties of
suggestion.
"It is perfectly dreadful that young
girls should be allowed, still less en
couraged, to read many of the books
that are now found in their hands,",
said a thoughtful matron, prominent
in the social life of the city at a recent
gathering of women of intelligence
and experience in educational mat
ters at the home of one of their num
ber. This view was indorsed by all
who were present, with an amend
ment by one of the number which
Included boys in the list of those for
whom such reading was wholly unfit.
Without going farther into this ques
tion at this time it may be well to
commend the old-fashioned parental
virtue that kept a sharp eye out for
what children were reading. Of the
young of both sexes at the present
time it may be said that they literally
"devour books." By the permission
of their parents they especially the
girls read "everything they can lay
their hands upon," and since each and
every girl carries a library card that
enables her to "lay. hands upon" any
book that Bhe chooses to read, it is
manifest that there is a lack of super
vision here which exposes parents to
Just and severe censure. Perhaps it
is because of being gorged, so to
speak, with unsuitable and unprofit
able not to say pernicious reading
that many pupils In the higher grades
of the public schools are literally car
ried along and over the course of
study by anxious, earnest, over.
worked teachers, in the attempt,
forced upon the latter by conditions
beyond their control, to construct that
impossible highway known as the
"royal road to learning."
L.IQUOR ISSUE IN" GREAT BRITAIN.
. Liquor interests that lament the
wide crusade against their business
will find little consolation in British
politics Just now. The liquor issue
was .chief during the special session
of Parliament -hlch ended Monday.
The Asquith licensing bill, to diminish
gradually the number of public
houses, was passed by the Commons
by a vote of 3 to 1 and was defeated
by the Lords by 3 to 1. This haf set
British politics on edge, and Asquith
comes back with a threat to present
at the next session a more radical
licensing bill and measures for heavy
taxation of landed Interests which
are allied with the brewing Interests
in many ancient and aristocratic con
nections and for reform of Income
taxes. On the licensing bill the Liberal
Asquith government threatens to go
before the people and the result may
be another routing of the House of
Lords compelling that body either "to
mend or end." In this matter the
Lords have issued a direct defiance to
the Commons.
Liquor Interests in Great Britain
have many old privileges and are con
nected with the most powerful con
servative forces. The Lords and their
affiliations have large Investments in
brewing companies. Earnings of the
breweries would be curtailed by re
ducing the number of the public
houses. With the breweries are close
ly allied the landed Interests.
If the British liquor men should
dwell for a time in America, they
would not think Che Aaqulth bill tooJL
radical. In this country its restric
tions would be welcomed by tne
liquor forces, in exchange for the se
vere laws in many of the states. The
liquor men in America who think they
will get back to the old order of
things will not find much reassurance
In the spectacle of the Conservative
British set agog by this issue.
At the session of the State Dairy
Association recently it was asserted
by an authority upon the subject
that light is the most powerful de
stroyer of tuberculosis germs. His
statement is quite likely true, for it is
capable . of demonstration. But
whether light is the most powerful
agent for the destruction of these
germs or not, it is unquestionably the
cheapest and most easily procured.
But ever since stables wese built it
has been the practice to make them
without windows. As a consequence
they are dark and unhealthful. In
the effort to secure better sanitary
conditions the first thing every
dairyman should do Is to see that his
barn is well lighted, for by this means
he will not only destroy disease germs,
but will disclose the need for a gen
eral cleaning up. The campaign for
clean milk is on, and the wise dairy
man will, not wait for compulsory
measures.
The" old and dangerous custom of
lighting Christmas trees with candles
has been supplanted to a large extent
by the safe custom of lighting them
by electricity. Even In homes still
lighted by lamps, candles upon the
tree are not allowed by prudent par
ents, hanging lamps and mantel
lights being so disposed as to make
the tinsel-trimmed trees glow and
sparkle In the light. There are excep
tions to this rule, of course, since all
parents are not prudent, and the
Christmas tree Are still occurs occa
sionally. But in thousands of in
stances all danger from this source is
averted by modern methods of light
ing, and Christmas eve fires are cor
respondingly rare.
The 1909 Legislature will not be
judged so much by the way it organ
izes as by what it does after organ
izing. If all the energy expended in
an organization fight were centered
upon an effort to secure good legisla
tion, there would be a more promis
ing outlook than there is. As a mat
ter of fact, not one of the candidates
in the organization fight bases his
aspirations upon any principle or pol
icy of legislation. It would be inter
esting to have each of the would-be
leaders inform the public in what di
rection he desires to lead. Perhaps
this is something that had not oc
curred to them.
Among the thousands fed by char
ity in this city Christmas day there
were no doubt some who were un
worthy of Its dole. Upon the princi
ple, however, that it is better to feed
two unworthy applicants for free food
than to let one deserving person suffer
from hunger on this day of good will,
no one will grudge his small share
of Christmas bounty because it might
have fed or helped to feed the thrift
less do-naught or the man whose
earnings go to feed his vices. The
Christmas spirit is gracious enough to
forget the sins while it ministers to
the needs of the hungry.
It is a sorry fact that we haven't
any such knowledge and skill avail
able Just now for settlement of the
matter of bridges over the Willamette
at Portland, as we have in our ver
satile Mayor on the electric light and
power question. But one of these
days the Mayor's genius may take
the direction of pontifical energy and
omniscience; and we shall be told
what to do in the matter of bridges.
For of course he would prove as emi
nent a pontifical as an electrical engi
neer. The truth of the declaration that
"no man lives to himself alono" i3
never more strikingly verified than
when an aged mother, wrinkled and
wan, appears in the corridor of a Jail,
or at the door of a prison, bearing a
Christmas gift to an erring son in
whose innocence of a grave crime she
alone of all the world believes. Suf
fering, wistful mothers of criminals
the world over God pity them!
If Oregon and Washington are to
get together on fishery legislation,
they should do so early in tho session,
so that harmonious laws may be
passed and signed by the Governors
of both states before the time for ad
journment arrives. Those who have
Hhe matter in charge should not pro
crastinate if they hope to accomplish
anything.
Oregon rejoices with Washington
over the prospect that Governor-elect
Cosgrove will be able to come North
to Olympia' for his inauguration in
January. His condition shows im
provement each day and his bodily
health is reinforced by a cheerful de
termination to take the position to
which he was elected several months
ago.
It begins to look as though the spi
ders will have a discouraging time
spinning their webs across the gallows
in the state prison at Salem in the
next few months. But they have
been free from molestation for so long
they .should not complain at a few in
terruptions. The Hains brothers killed Annls
that the world might, know a "wrong
had been righted." Now they are
under the necessity of lying about
why they did it, so as to escape the
gallows. The opinion of the world
does not now seem important.
It is difficult now to comprehend
the condition of public opinion which
permitted the election of such men
as Depew and Piatt to the Senate. But
such men as Roosevelt and Hughes
have changed public opinion in the
last few years.
With the defeat of Champion Burns
comes the humiliating news that his
real name is Noah Brusso. Served
him right. We don't believe any ono
named Johnson can whip any man
whose real name is Burns.
The death of an intoxicated prisoner
in our overcrowded City Jail again
emphasizes the truth of the old axiom
that jail is a good place to keep out of.
James Hamilton Lewis is going to
the Orient "on a secret mission." No
body knows anything about it but him
and all the reporters.
Don't give up yet. That Christmas
present is very likely in those 200
sacks of registered mail that have not
yet been, opened.
BITS OF TOPICAL VERSE
What She nidn't Tell.
Exchange.
Bhe never told her lov
'Twas time to g".
But father, from above.
Soon let him know.
Serenade.
Puck.
0 come -with me and be my rook.
And you may have my pockethoou:
For you the parlor door's ajar.
And you may use my motor car.
My wife has gems' that you may wear,
And you may use her Sunday hair.
And If these things enticing look.
Then come with mo and be my cook.
Because He Loved Her 6o.
Chicago Record-Herald.
"Because I love you so." he said era they
were wed.
"1 shall have strength to lead where
weaker men are led;
Because 1 love you so the world shall give
me praise.
And you shall fare with me alonj rose
bordered ways."
Because he loved her so he tolled with
all his mlsht
So that she might regard her new clothes
with delight;
Because he loved her so and strove so
hard to please.
The trousers that he wore were baggy
at the knees.
Beacuse he loved her so and wished to
make her glad.
They lived beyond his means and spent
more than he had;
Because he loved ber so he speculated,
too.
With other people's cash, expecting to get
- through.
Because he loved her so he occupies a
cell.
And people pity her because he weakly
fell;
Because he lover her so he took the down
ward course.
And she is busy now securing her di
vorce. Back to Nature.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
1 love the rural life, b'gosh!
I love the corn, the festive squash.
And yet the town I cannot quit.
So ajer me to the latest hit.
Give me a front-row seat. I say.
And let me watch a barnyard play.
Operatic Chun gee.
Brooklyn Eagle.
(The Metropolitan management has signed
contracts with Gattl-Gasuzza for the neat
two years, but may let Herr Dlppel go.
News. )
A tabula rasa for Gattl-Casazza
The opera programme shall be;
While bold Toscanlnl leads fierce ContadrsJ
From whom simple Teutons must flee.
A management triple must end as Herr
IMppel
His papers hands, In with a sigh;
Yet art will not Hug nor will thunderous
Wagner
Be yanked from his pedestal high.
For Gattl-Oasnzza proclaims from the plaza
Or forum of Harmony's cult.
That Wagner forever will silr his endeavor;
No slump from this change can result.
And bold Toscanlnl. It's easily seen he
Must cater to Bayreuth a bit:
Though quite loath to do so, since Slgnor
Caruso
With trivtallsts makes a hit.
A tabula rasa for Gattl-Casazza
The opera programme shall be:
But he must determine to scribble some
Uerman
On wax that from plppcl Is free!
Not Chronic.
Houston Post.
Each lover swears his lovo is as
The sun is. and as durable.
But marriage lias proved every case
Discovered yet was curable.
That Cold WW" Coming.
Indianapolis News.
It sets the howling wind to blowing
Through vast Aeolian herns
When once it's really got to gotns
By heartless weather sharps.
The mercury Is quick in shrinking.
And taking with It coal.
To leave us. willy nllly. sinking
Still deeper in the hole.
Tho furnace probably" competing.
No doubt, its best It's tried.
But It can't seem to do much heating
Upon the windward side.
We go to bed at night with shivers
From cold and also doubt;
The wave that thus Its goods delivers
May blow the furuaco out.
Perverse Its manner of behaving.
One's very heart it wrings;
The cold wave's ne'er so fiercely waving
As when th' alarm clock rings.
When Eggs Are Fgg.
Indianapolis News.
At this time eggs are eggs, or well.
Ono might say they are more or less wo.
For sometimes when they're in the shell
It seems to be a cane of guess so.
However, eggs are eggs, we'll say.
Just for the S3lte or uiusiraiinn.
And take no heed of what they rray
Become from too long preservation.
Well, eggs are eggs, a pleasant form
Of most nutritious human forage.
Unless, perchance, they get too warm
While they are waiting In cold storage.
So eggs are eggs, and we delight
To have them served to us some mornings
When they are Just exactly right.
And not passed out with wel.-meant
warnings.
But eggs as eggs at thirty-five
Per doi, ail guaranteed not shady.
Do not appeal unto our thriv
ing, first-class table boarding lady.
There Are Other.
Chicago News.
My darling wlfo Js pretty Arm.
Beneath ln-r sway 1 sometimes squirm.
But there's one thing that I must gajr
She doesn't always have her way.
She puts her foot down mighty flat
There's not a bit ft doubt of that.
She's not one that 1 love to cross.
But. all the same, she's not the boss
.She often orders me around. ,
It's best to humor her. I've found.
Still there are times, no doubt of 11
When she must gracefully submit.
I am by nature mild and meek
Ai:d she's strong-minded, so to speak.
Yet she has not been slow to find
That others have Eomo strength of mind.
That she must tremble at a frown
And humbly take a calling down.
On such occasions I am free
To sal' It rather tickles me.
Tt does me good to see her shrink.
She needs the discipline, I think.
She's pretty often brought to book.
By me? Good rracious. no! Our Cook.
Song of the Gridiron.
H. Bedford Jones. In the Independent.
Hoi for the steam of tho crouching team,
and the scent of the battered leatharl
There's never a Joy like the Joy of fight.
In the glint of sun and the flashing
light!
Sweet Is the sight of the pigskin's flight on
the air like a wind-borno feather;
And tho long, full cheer that the players
hear when tho half Is done!
Chorus:
For it's "Ilah!" for the way we work, my
lads;
Ixise or win, tho roofing's the same;
And there's never a man to shirk, my lads,
When it's "Kvcry ono Into tho gams'."
Ho' for the crish and the short, sharp dash
as the weight of our full line smiles
them! '
61ov.ly the stubborn fiphters yield .and
show us the long, brown while-lined
Held;
Quick and high comes the rooters' cry, as
the swift end run delights them;
But the bleachers ring to the songs they
sing when the game is won!
Chorus:
For It's "Rah!" when the end is near, my
lads;
Lose, or win. the cheerlng'n the same;
But there's never a cheer that's so rich
and clear
MM .tne gongs at the end of he game!