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POKTLaKD, Bl'NDAY, JUNE IS. 1909.
THE POOR WORLD'S PEACE.
It Is not too much to say that the
extraordinary energy of Germany In
building battleships is the fact that
contributes most to the unrest of the
world. For what purpose does Ger
many need so powerful a navy? Nat
urally It alarms England, and it fur
nishes the main argrument for con
tinued naval preparations by the
United States. But what nation has
any wish or expectation of war with
Germany? Her great armies make
her position in the center of Europe
secure. No nation wishes to feel the
-weight of her military hand. France
is In fear and dread of another war
with Germany; and Germany does not
need battleships for use against France
nor against Russia, nor against Aus
tria. Britain naturally Is disposed to
think that Germany's great fighting
navy Is nothing short of a menace to
her; for command of the sea is neces
sary to the existence of the historic
Island kingdom and the widespread
British Empire.
Germany declares, however, that her
purpose In creating a mighty battle
fleet is simply and only to be prepared
to keep the peace. But while Ger
many Is not free from danger of at
tack, she Is practically free from dan
ger of attack by a naval power. Her
defense Is In her armies. These it
must be admitted cannot be reduced
without peril. There can be no Just
censure of Germany for maintaining
the greatest and most efficient military
establishment in the world. Her posi
tion requires it. But it is not appar
ent that a great navy also la necessary
for her defense; and her steady per
sistence In creation of a great navy
not only produces concern in England,
but causes America to inquire whether
here may not presently be a formidable
enemy of our American Monroe doc
trine which Indeed official power in
Germany Is known to hold in hostile
contempt.
What nation Is likely to attack Ger
many? None, that could use sea
power against her. Great Britain,
whose power Is sea power, Is in cir
cumstances that compel her to hold
back from an aggressive policy likely
to lead to war with any powerful na
tion. France never will fight Ger
many, except from compulsion and
despair, for the armies of Germany
could again overrun France as rapidly
as before, and the next war would be
decided, as the last one was, -on land,
not on sea. It Is scarcely supposable
that Russia could become an enemy
of Germany, and even If she should,
German Dreadnoughts could not hurt
Russia nor Austria, either. The Brit
ish man, therefore, deems the rapid
nnd extensive construction of German
battleships a menace specially to him
self; and it is useless to ridicule his
apprehensions.
Likewise the activity of Germany is
stimulation to similar activity on the
part of the United States; for though
we have no expectation of war with
Germany at any time, yet the example
of "preparation," set by Germany, has
a certain effect on ourselves, and we
undoubtedly are disposed to go further
in building battleships, as a conse
quence of this example, than we should
be likely to go without It. So, if Ger
many is "preparing to maintain peace,"
so Is England; and to an extent so are
we. For here is our idea, that the
fntted States must protest against the
Intervention of European powers In
mutters relating to the American con
tinents; and such protest, without
preparation to back It, would appear
as ridiculous as futile. Perhaps Ger
many never would Intrude, yet again
. the might. France got her lesson when
she interfered In Mexico, and Canada
Is a hostage against any new enterprise
In America by Great Britain. But Ger
man publicists and o tile i a Is scoff at our
Monroe Doctrine. Somebody, after a
while, will get more lessons. Perhaps
We shall get our share of them.
Against what enemy at sea, or enemy
over or beyond oceans,' is Germany
firming? This is a question that must
give all the world concern. Germany
tiitherto has not been compelled to arm
at sea, that she might protect herself
and to keep the peace. We are hair
Germans ourselves, and we take pride
in German achievement. But what?
We belong also to a larger and wider
world, and In our development we are
parts of it. Of course the world never
will yield to the German war lord, nor
allow him 'to have his own way in
'keeping the peace." So long and so
fast as Germany builds Dreadnoughts,
other nations that feel they mav possi
bly be put in peril, will build Dread
noughts too.
Every nation, undoubtedly, has a
right to do those things which it deems
necessary to Its safety and existence.
But in pushing naval armament Isn't
Germany going beyond this condition
and requirement, and possibly forcing
results which she professes a desire to
avoid? Germany, in the midst of hos
tile nations of Europe, must maintain
a great army, for her protection. That
way safety lies; that way only. The
past has demonstrated it sufficiently
But why Is It necessary that she should
arm so heavily for combat at sea, and
force other nations, friendly to her. to
Increase their armaments also? It Is
ambitions like these that finally force
combinations that crush an aggressive
power. Germany now is in no mood
to listen to the suggestions of peace
conferences. She turns with no little
contempt away from The Hague. Yet
he may sometime And The Hague
necessary to her salvation. She now Is
the principal menace to the poor
world's peace.
ALL ARB FOR "PROTECTION."
Senator Aldrich maintains stiffly that
neither an Income tax nor a corpora
tion tax will be necessary, but that the
reconstructed tariff w411 give sufficient
Increase of revenue. He expects from
the committee's bill an Increase of
$14,500,000 a year, making estimates
on the basis of the actual imports of
the year -1907.
Of the estimates, the increases are
$11,540,000 on what they term luxuries
and $3,032,000 on so-called necessaries.
The finance committee regards as
"luxuries" articles that are used vol
untarily, and may be omitted from
consumption without real inconveni
ence, and classes as "necessary" such
articles as people could not go without
except with Inconvenience or positive
distress. But it Is apparent that classi
fications will differ and Jangle here.
It is noticeable that all who talk on
the subject, whether Republicans or
Democrats, declare that their guiding
star is "protection." They differ only in
the application of the principle, or in
variations of it.
GREEN CAPS AND CLAWMAMMERS.
Green caps for freshmen at the
State University are not inappropri
ate. They would befit the verdant
youth in his first college year at al
most any seat of learning in the land.
One can hardly find fault with the
students at Eugene for adopting this
regulation, even if it does seem to in
fringe somewhat upon the liberty of
the citizen. But suppose some stiff
necked young man should decide to
wear a gray cap or a brown hat, what
would be the consequence? Would he
be expelled or hazed? Is it not Just as
well to permit young men within the
limits of decency to select their own
atiiie? Does the state law grant to
the student body or to any one else
the authority to make the wearing of
any particular garment a condition
precedent to attendance at the univer
sity? Suppose the socialist students
should some time or other grow into
a majority and prescribe a red cap,
would not the obligation to wear it be
as binding as it now is to wear the
green one? Even if a freshman Is
somewhat less wise than a sophomore,
why should he be compelled to ac
knowledge and proclaim the fact as
often as he covers his head?
But it is not the green caps which
especially interest us. It is the rule
adopted at the same time with the
caps, which forbids students to wear
tuxedos and clawhammers at college
functions. One imagines that the rea
son for this regulation is a laudable
wish to prevent any student from out
shining his companions in respect to
raiment. Moreover, the youth who
cannot afford a clawhammer will not
be put to shame by his more fashion
able fellow-students. This is well
enough, but is there not another side
to the matter? Where shall these
young men become habituated to ar
raying themselves in the habiliments
of goo society and learn to deport
themselves becomingly therein If not
during their college years? A man
who has not worn evening clothes in
his younger days seldom feels at home
In them when age has seared, his
brow. The trick must toe learned
early, or it Is never learned well. A
student may be embarrassed to find
himself at a party where he has ona
short coat, while everybody else wears
the solemn regalia of fashion, but his
pain In a similar predicament when
he had become a social luminary
would be Incomparably worse. Let
him have his suffering over with while
he Is young. The clawhammer is a
necessary part of life as the world
goes. Its use must be acquired sooner
or later, and the sooner the better.
Most young men -can rake up the
money to buy one somehow or other,
and the effort to, do it will stimulate
their energies. Upon the whole, it Is
better to let the young men at the
university attend to their own rai
ment without much Interference.
CKAS. XKLSOX, SAILOR.
Charles Nelson, a millionaire ship
ping man of San Francisco, died in
that city last week. Millionaires are
so plentiful in San Francisco and
elsewhere along the Pacific Coast that
an occasional death in their ranks is
not unusual. But there was some
thing in the life of Charles Nelson
that made his passing of more than
ordinary Interest. Mr. Nelson came
to the Pacific Coast, s many another
foreign-born citizen has come before
the mast, as a sailor. He brought
with him to this land of the free no
other capital than a good constitution,
a willingness to work and a determi
nation to succeed. These proved to
be all that was necessary, although
the opportunities for Investment of
that kind of capital were, open to all.
When Nelson abandoned the hard life
of a sailor for the still more precarious
existence as a miner without capital,
he could look all around him and see
plenty of men who had thousands,
even millions.
It never occurred to the young Dan
ish sailor, however, that the thousands
and millions which other men had
earned, and were In possession of, was
"unearned Increment," or that they
should share it with him. Instead, he
seems to have discovered at an early
age that the proper method for secur
ing a fortune was by working hard and
saving his earnings. There were
drunkards and gamblers, idlers and
socialists, some of them perhaps sail
ing under other names, when Mr. Nel
son reached California, but the boast
ed "equality of man" never bothered
hlm. His mining experience was dis
astrous, and he returned to his call
ing and laid the foundation for his
fortune by operating a small schooner
on the Sacramento River. Hard work
and careful management brought the
inevitable result, and in the years that
passed the Charles Nelson house flag
waved over scores of vessels, and the
erstwhile penniless sailor was known
In lumbering, banking and shipping
circles all over the Pacific Coast.
Every dollar he made was an hon
est one, and the prosperity which re
warded his efforts as the years passed
lightened not hla regard for the duties
he owed to the country which had
adopted him. The lesson of Charles
Nelson's life is of special interest in
San Francisco, for its contrast with
that of some other sailors who have
reached that city before the mast.
Some of the worst anarchists and agi
tators in the United States today land
ed in San Francisco as sailors, and
began damning the country as soon as
they arrived, and have kept it up
since that time. To them the "equal
ity of man" appeals so powerfully
that thev rteitATA tn lahnr lMt hi, en
doing they amass money which would
disturb that equality.
They had the same opportunities as
Nelson, the Danish sailor, grasped, but
preferred a life of complaining shift
lessness and to place the blame for
their poverty on a social system which
they seek . to overturn. Fortunately
for the stability' of society, there are
Charles Nelsons still coming over, and
working for a living. They are to be
found among our great financiers,
statesmen, diplomats and captains of
industry, and in still larger numbers
among that class that can best be de
scribed Just as good citizens.
' ONE BCSS PORTLAND. WEEK.
Portland has JuBt passed through the
busiest, most successful and Withal
one of the most pleasant weeks In Its
history. First came the election, the
results of which give promise of a
careful business administration of
municipal affairs for the term covered.
"Business before pleasure." The city
election out of the way, and roses, as
if by magic, sprung by millions into
full bloom, the Rose Show was fairly
on by Tuesday afternoon (following
the . brilliant electrical pageant) with
such wearth of color, ferns and frag
rance as caused thousands of specta
tors transports of delight. The suc
ceeding festal days each had a setting
of its own In beauty and good cheer.
Midway in the week, came the Indian
War veterans, grizzled and worn with
time, yet cheerful, responding to the
gratitude that was expressed for their
early endeavors in the interest of civil
ization with grateful acknowledgment
for the bounty of the Government
which insures each and every one of
them against want during the closing
years of life, and appreciative of the
hospitality that meets and greets them
year after year when they reach this
city.
Then the Pioneers, aged men and
women, whose yearly dwindling numb
ers are recruited from tha ranks of
their sons and daughters, born in the
primitive homes half a century ago. A
living, moving history of the reclama
tion of a beautiful wilderness from
savagery to civilization, these men and
women go in and out among us, the
life and endeavor of each a chapter
which goes to make .up the still un
completed story. Feted and fed, these
men and women passed a day with us,
the memory of which will beguile
many a lonely hour of the coming
year.
And so with t:.e discharge of civic
duty, with holiday festivities, with a
grand symphony of color and frag
rance and beauty, with a rush of busi
ness in our great emporiums of trade,
"ith kind greeting and open-handed
hospitality, the records written and
unwritten of a busy week are made up.
The fatigues of the week will soon be
forgotten; the memory of its pleasures
will abide.
A NEW LIGHT OX DIVORCE.
The National League for the Pro
tection of the Family is not properly
named. It ought to call itself a league
for protecting the- family against one
particular danger, since It has nothing
to say about anything except divorce.
Students of society who are unham
pered by prejudice and unwarped by
superstition know that divorce is not
the only nor yet the worst" evil to
which the family is exposed. Theolo
gians harp upon it as if it were the
sum of all iniquities, but that is only
because they have an inveterate habit
of Judging the affairs of this world by
other world standards; that Is to say,
by standards which are not always ap
plicable. Many, perhaps most, divorces
are so far from being in any way evil
that they are a positive spiritual boon
to both spouses and they strengthen
Instead of weakening the family as an
Institution.
The United States Government is
the most stable in the world, because
upon the whole its citizens are the
freest. Any Institution founded in un
coerced volition and which is left to
stand or fall according to the benefits
it confers will be a great deal more
stable than one maintained by compul
sion, provided, of course, that It reallv
does give people something worth
while. Nobody is foolish enough to
argue that marriage and family life fail
to Justify themselves by positive
benefits from every point of view. It
follows that the common sense of
mankind may be trusted to take care
of an institution which serves the race
so well. Laws may help more or less,
hut they are not the essential factor.
The fact that thoss who shun marriage
are necessarily eliminated by natural
selection ought to dispel all doubts
about permanence of the family rela
tion. The fact that perhaps one .marriage
out of every ten in the United Sta-.es
is dissolved by the divorce courts doea
not frighten Professor George Elliott
Howard, to Judge from quotations of
his opinions in a recent number of the
New York Times. He looks upon fa
cile divorce as "an incident In the
nighty process of spiritual liberation
Mhich is rapidly changing the relative
positions or men and 'women-in the
family and in society." Economic de
velopment has destroyed the old-time
domestic industries like weaving, brew
ing, baking and sewing, which once
kept women busy. Emancipated from
household drudgery, they have sought
money-making employment and made
themselves independent of their hus
bands financially. As in every other
case, so In this one, economic freedom
has raised aspirations for intellectual
and political equality. The woman
claims equality with the man in the
home as well as in Industry. This
forces a readjustment of the old home
relations, and readjustment, as Profes
sor Howard sensibly remarks. Implies
friction. While the family is adapting
Itself to the new status of women, we
must look for a great many more di
vorces .than there will be later on,
when things have settled down again!
Naturally women, being but lately
emancipated from an inferior condi
tion, are more touchy about their
rights and wrongs than men. and we
see nothing surprising therefore in the
fact that 60 per cent of all our di
vorces are granted to wives. This dis
integrating factor is bound to disap
pear when the new relations have be
come an old story.
The Times quotes statistics " from
Professor Howard which show how lit
tle effect upon the flood of divorces the
reform of the scandalous laws of
North Dakota, Utah and the other
loose communities of the West would
have. Of course these states ought to
enact decent statutes for the sake of
their reputation, but the truth Is that
four divorces out of five in the last
twenty years have been granted in the
state where the parties were married
Tha remaining fifth barely exceeds the
proportion to be expected from normal
removals. lience. If North Dakota had
laws as resDectable as Orprnn'a tri
number of divorces would remain
about the same. It is no less vain to
think of checking them by assigning
some particular ground for which di
vorces may be granted and allowing no
others. We may feel perfectly certain
that the parties will provide whatever
ground the law may require of them.
Ecclesiastical persons whose educa
tion has been studiously directed t
chimeras and who never have- been
trained to weigh the affairs of practi
cal life are excusable for fancying that
frequent divorces serlonalv th
destroy the family, but enlightened ob
servers like Dr. Edward T. Devlne per
ceive the real menace to the family to
be something quite different. Men -svho
work twelve hours a day seven days in
the week, as some of the beneficiaries
of high protection do in Pittsburg, are
not likely to find their family condi
tions much flmpllnrntaH Kv lacf.lalfi.n
upon divorce; neither is the wife whoso
nusuana has Deen killed at his work
and whose only compensation is a
linked lawsuit long drawn out. The
first effective step toward making the
family what it ousrht to be Is to flnri
some way to give every man who wants
to worK steady employment at living
wages under decent conditions. The
next step is to invent a plan to shield
his wife and children from beggary If
he happens to lose his life prematurely.
THE CBOLDREJi'S STRIKE.
It Is not in the least degTee sur
prising that the little band of Cali
fornia school children at Santa Rosa
Rancho have gone on a strike because
one of their number got a spanking.
Children often do very foolish things.
What surprises one Is that their fath
ers and mothers did not give the
youthful rebels a sound switching and
send them back to school. Family
life In that district must be some
thing to admire. Evidently the boys
and girls run the concern, and the
parents are their obedient servants.
It is not pleasant to think of the kind
of men and women who will be de
veloped by this sort of home training.
If they do not all become law-breakers
and end their careers in Jail, It
will be by a special act of Providence.
It appears that not pne of the urchins
has remained at his books. Every
child has left school In order to ex
press his resentment at the teacher,
but it is agreeable to learn that the
rebellion causes her no grief. She sim
ply passes the day sewing or reading
some entertaining book, and at 4
o'clock locks up and goes home.
The sentimental mania which once
bid fair to banish the hickory wythe
from the schoolroom is happily pass
ing away. If its vigor could be re
tained and directed against some of the
real evils of modern education, -one
would rejoice, but probably that Is im
possible. Perhaps nobody did more
to cause teachers to see how absurd
It was to make so much ado over
switching a bad boy than that Milwau
kee pedagogue who avowed his opin
ion at the National Teachers' Associa
tion that it was better to make a boy's
skin tingle than to lose his soul. The
obvious soundness of his position could
not be disputed. A book which also
helped the good cause was entitled
"The Education of Dodd." It may be
that this excellent work has done its
duty and passed into ohllvinn i
I Its day It was a power for common
"i training cniiaren. We do
not hear so much as formerly about
the "cowardice of striking a child."
The cowardice 1b found In those who
dare not make him smart for his own
good.
1 THE LIVDrO AST THE DEAD.
E. Katherlne Bates, the author of
"Seen and Unseen," has published an
other book on supernormal phenom
ena, which she calls "Do the Dead De
part?" From the title, one might
suppose that the volume was contro
versial, but it Is not. It Is strictly a
work of edification, Intended to
strengthen the faith of those who al
ready believe in the fact of commu
nication between the living and the
dead. The author herself says that, as
a presentation of evidence, it Is un
convincing, and, to make It more in
teresting and comfortable to the elect,
she has Intentionally omitted details
of the wonders she narrates, although
their absence may make the skeptic
smile with derision. To those who
wish to believe, details are not only
unnecessary, but even annoying. What
they want is to swallow the story of
the prodigy whole. On the other
hand, the skeptic will not be con
verted, no matter how minutely you
particularize about the marvels you
have seen. Miss Bates truly remarks
that only what happens to yourself
can help convert you, and that will
not always avail.
To illustrate this statement, she re
calls a seance she once held in the
wilds of far Australia, in the dwelling
of an English sheepraiser. The man
and his wife were people of culture,
and their house was furnished with
Inlaid furniture and other luxuries Im
ported with great difficulty. Two
other sheepmen were present at the
seance, and had their hands on the
table with Miss Bates and their hosts
In the mystic circle through which
the ghosts were Invoked. The spirits
answered to the call so effectually that
they raised the sumptuous table in
the air and then smashed it. The
elegant chairs were also broken, and
the room in general wrecked. At
bedtime, when the seance was over,
the participants all admitted that they
could not explain what had happened.
It must be the work of spirits. But,
continues the author sadly, the next
morning their faith had vanished, and
they were disposed to laugh at her
for thinking anything marvelous had
happened. Thus It Is always. In the
presence of the miracle we are dumb
founded and cannot doubt, but in a
few hours the world intrudes with Its
humdrum, and faith dies before it
Conversions are wrought by inner ex
perience, not by anything we see and
hear.
Jesus Christ seems to have realized
this deeply. He was reluctant to work
miracles to gratify those who sought
after prodigies. To heal the sick and
cure the blind, he was willing enough
and he expected the miracle to gen
erate faith in the person who was
benefited, but as for the crowd . of
sightseers he knew that they would
not be convinced. For that reason,
he often asked persons whom he had
healed to say nothing about it. Faith,
he told his followers, must grow up in
the mind, like a grain of mustard
seed. It Is not to be produced by see
ing marvels. Still, faith of the most
robust kind has been born from mar
vels, only they are those which the
person hag experienced, not those he
has witnessed. Paul's conversion was
sudden enough and sufficiently won
derful to satisfy the most avid of
prodigies, but after all it came from
an Inner experience. His companions
saw nothing of the adventures that
befell him on the way down to Da
mascus. So It was with John Banyan.
The work of grace In his heart had
no outward marvels to correspond.
Miss Bates confesses frankly that
the kind of evidence which makes a
Dersnn nrtlTir,ifillsit anrtnt Via noi.
twice over. It is like the water that
has passed the mill. You can never
grina witn it again. Most of the
churches are well ennnerh Awnm rr
this truth. They do not seek to make
converts Dy argument. There is some
semblance of logic, of course, in revi
val sermons. Some vague appeals
to history appear, and now and then
a syllogism Is ventured upon, but
VOllT SUCrPSflfHl AVnrtP-AHet vallaa i.nnn
something else than history and logic.
c o.ppt:itia to Lne win xo Deiieve, set
ting forth faith as a duty, and appeal
ing to the deep passion for abnega
tion and submission. It is foolish to
seek to confute any creed by saying
it Is Irrational.- Reason has nothing
to do with such matters. Creeds are
in the long run confuted by experi
ence, .but not one of them ever per
ished because of its absurdity. Since
spiritualists are not made by logic, it
is Idle to expect to unmake them by
it. Like other men who cherish a
faith, their minds are overpowered by
something which has happened within
them, and which is far more certain
than any mathematical demonstration
can be, though it is certain only to
the person who has felt it.
G. K. Chesterton says In his lively
book on "Heretics" that the scientific
age is apparently passing away. For
a little while during the nineteenth
century It seemed as if reason would
actually gain control of the world.
But now things look very different.
Credulity seems to be usurping the
throne where the calm spirit of In
vestigation once sat. Miss Bates' book
is but one out of a multitude, all enor
mously popular, which address a di
rect appeal to the spirit of blind be
lief, to the gross taste for prodigies.
She is so Bure of credence that she
does not think it worth while even to
invite belief by giving names and
dates. Her book is a mere hash of
what look amazingly like sewing-bee
stories told by irresponsible gossips to
excite the wonder of the Ignorant.
And yet she is a person of standing
In the world, who enjoys the friend
ship of men like W. T. Stead and Sir
Oliver Lodge. Her book Is no worse
than dozens of others. Professor W.
G. Sumner, of Yale, declares his be
lief that we may be on the verge of
another outbreak of the witchcraft
mania. All our creeds, he says, con
tain the seeds of witchcraft, and
heaven alone knows when they may
begin, to germinate in good earnest.
The eagerness with which we run
after prodigies and swallow incredible
tales does not lead one to think he is
badly mistaken.
" THE AEROPLANE.
President Taft was unquestionably
right in predicting that the aeroplane
"will be the basis of all successful
flights," but, in attributing the inven
tion of that form of flying machine to
the Wright brothers, as he seems to
have done in his address when pre
senting their gold medal at Washing
ton, he was unjust to the memory of
a great man, now dead. The Inventor
of the aeroplane was S. P. Langley,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institu
tion at that time. He not only con
structed an aeroplane before any other
human being had thought of It, but
he went so far as to try to make It
fly with a passenger. His efforts were
thwarted by one accident after an,
other, and all the reward he ever ob
tained for his genius and perseverance
was ridicule. It would be singularly
ironical on the part of fate to turn
the glory which is Langley's meed over
to the Wright brothers when they have
so much which Justly belongs to them.
It would be another case of giving to
him that hath and taking away from
him that hath not.
Langley was a scientist of the first
rank whom his countrymen knew lit
tle and honored less. Like Rowland
Henry, Willard Glbbs and many an
other of our truly great men, he is
mentioned in the universities of Eu
rope a hundred times to once at home.
In his lifetime he was ridiculed as the
Inventor of the aeroplane. If now
any glory has accrued from his work,
let us not hand It over to another.
There is no danger that the Wright
brothers will not be praised enougn,
but there, is great danger that Langley
will be praised too little.
FEEDING THE BABIES.
Comparatively few women know
how to take care of their babies. The
idea that such knowledge comes by na
ture or through some Instinctive pro
cess Is a mistake. Nature teaches us
nothing of the sort. For all that
mothers learn from her, every child
born Into the world might perish. The
woman who proudly boasted that she
had borne fourteen children and buried
thirteen of them and that for this rea
son she ought to be looked upon as a
high authority for their food and med
icine Is a pretty fair type of some
mothers. Many of them think the
best they can do for their infants Is
to stuff them with everything there is
In the l ouse to eat. No matter how
indigestible a substance Is, no matter
how unfit even for the stomachs of
adults, down baby's defenseless gullet
it goes. Mince pies, green gooseber
ries, fried pork and saleratus biscuits,
if baby cries for them he sjrets them
and then death gets the baby. When
that happens the mother piously says
that the grim Reaper has gathered
her flower to transplant it In a more
beautiful world. The truth Is that
she has sacrificed the poor little thing.
The Chicago health department has
begun a crusade against feeding babies
on dill pickles and sausages, at least
in Summer. Food of this kind un
doubtedly slays its thousands, but
contaminated milk slays its tens of
thousands. The hot weather diseases
which a mysterious providence visits
so abundantly upon the child are in
nine cases out of ten caused, not by
any miracle designed to chasten the
hearts of the parents and try their
faith, but by poison in the milk it
drinks. It is open to serious question
whether it is possible in Portland to
obtain hygienic milk. The dwsellers
within the city who keep their own
cows are wise in their generation.
When a person reads of all the ene
mies which assail the apple he won
ders how it comes to pass that any
fruit matures. Babies are a still
greater marvel. Considering the dan
gers that beset their early years, some
arising: from neglect, more from Ignor
ance, It is a wonder of wonders that
any of them survive. A discourag
ing proportion do not.
Mr. Wittenberg is about to retire
as school director for Portland district,
after twelve years' service. Mr. Wit
tenberg declines to be a candidate for
re-election for the reason that he
thinks he has given gratuitously to the
public service as much time as he can
reasonably be asked to give. No fault
can be found with his attitude, but re
gret may be expressed that the School
Board is to lose so active and efficient
a memDer. Much is expected or the
School Board in Portland, and little is
offered in the way of comnensaJinn m-
reward. Its tasks are difficult, tire
some and vexatious, and it is small
wonder that good men hesitate to
undertake them. Yet it is not lav
difficult to persuade such men to
place their time and talents at the pub
lic's disposal. Here Is R. L. Sabin, for
example, who has been inducer! to h
a candidate to succeed Director Wit
tenberg. Mr. Sabin is altogether a fit
man for such a place, and his choice
should be made unanimous, as Indeed
It will be, In all likelihood.
A difference of opinion seems to exist
between young Spreckels and Miss
Case in regard to their engagement
to be married. She takes the affirma
tive he the negative side In the con
troversy, to the manifest embarrass
ment of both especially the young
lady. Practical, hard-headed Spreckels
pere Insists that the young man
learn something about money-getting
and cut the song-bird business out, or
words to that effect; Spreckels fils,
having evidently been brought up to
respect his father's Judgment In serious
matters, seems to have yielded a
ready, and, indeed, a cheerful assent
to the proposition that he come home
and go to work. This leaves Miss Case
to the mortifying reflection that she
was somewhat previous In announcing,
even to her mother, that she was "ei
gaged," and to the mother regret at
having divulged the contents of a con
fidential letter from her daughter. All
or which proves that it Is unwise to
take the public into family confidences.
The Rose Festival Is over, and ordi
nary tasks and duties have been again
resumed by Portland. It was a great
week, and will dwell long In memory
at least until next vear. when -wo ,hn
hope to enjoy an event even finer and
greater, 'mere is reasonable prospect
that such, expectations may be real
ized ir Ralph W. Hoyt can be induced
to remain at the head or the Festival
Association. What is needed there is
a man of affairs who has artistic and
musical instincts and experience, and
knowledge of the public's tastes and
humors; and these qualities Mr. Hoyt
has. To him a great measure of the
success of the Festival for 1909 is due;
and on him the public would be glad
to repose much of the responsibility of
future festivals.
You noticed, perhaps, that the new
officers of the Oregon Pioneer AssnHn.
tion are citizens who have been here
tofore regarded as "young" men. But
the young man gets along in years, and
mere comes a time when he is no
longer young. These remarks apply to
Frederick V. Holman, president, and
Peter H. D'Arcy, vice-president, of the
Oregon Pioneer Association. Both are
sons of worthy Oregon Pioneers; but
where, alas! shall we look for presi
dents and vice-presidents of the Pio
neer Association when they have
passed on? For both are bachelors,
and, according to the most authentic
reports, always have been.
The man Ross who was indicted for
forging names for the Excise Board
petition, has pleaded guilty. This shows
forth one of the beauties of the initia
tive. Ross was hired to get signatures
at so much for each name. Signatures
were hard to get, and forgery of names
became the readiest resource. Ross
and his coparceners seem to have pre
sented more "signatures" than the pro
posal got votes In the election. This is
the perfection of the Initiative system
on one side, and of its counterpart,
bogus moral reform, on the other.
Considering all sides of the proposi
tion, Portland should omit a public
celebration of the Fourth of July this
year. The Rose Carnival has been the
means of bringing many people from
nearby towns to the metropolis, where
they have been royally entertained.
Why not reciprocate by boarding train
or boat for any point that looks best
for a quiet or a strenuous day? Port
land owes this much to its neighbors.
Children are great imitators. Arouse
their pride and encourage In them the
holiday spirit, and they are painstak
ing and eager workers. If these things
were not true, the parade and drill of
school children as presented on the
East Side Friday evening would have
been Impossible; being true, this
parade was far and away the most
interesting feature of the Rose Festi
val. Jonathan Bourne and his group will
oppose all "advisory" Republican con
ventions. For no advisory Republican
convention ever will advise renomlna
tion and re-election of Jonathan
Bourne. Which fact will go very far
towards vindication of the advisory
convention and making it party law.
We hear- by way of Paris and other
foreign cities that it is a mixture of
heart and liver complaint that trou
bles Mr. Harrlman. Too stale. They
have tried that kind of fable for years
In New York, but the Harrlman stocks
keep right on their upward way.
, Mrs. Howard Gould, when drunk,
would sometimes swear a little and
spend her money freely; otherwise she
was a perfect lady. Howard ought to
have overlooked her little peculiari
ties in view of the circumstances.
Harry Lane, retiring Mayor, writes
a courtly letter to Joseph Simon, In
coming Mayor. Fine words are used
which, however, butter no parsnips.
But, indeed, what an art it is to make
court sweetmeats of latent gall!
"O for a return of those good old
days, when one could buy strawberries
for a nickel a box sometimes two
boxes for a nickel." Thus the sighing
"reformer." But the strawberry grow
er has different views.
Although pure patriotism prompted
Washington physicians to urge the
health certificate marriage law. It
doesn't prompt them, to be moderate
In their fees.
TOPICAL VERSE
Afrtcanltla.
Some snapshots of rhlnoceri,
A page about the tsetse fly,
A group of hippopotami,
And also of giraffes.
That awful pest the Jungle ant.
Some Africans In clothing scant.
The hunting of the elephant.
All shown in photographs.
A fUTl P. V rtasre H ovntnH trt
That mighty, modern Nimrod who
as wonting io increase our zoo.
As well an eathpr fnniA-
Some stories of son Kermlt and
A comic verse on Jungle land.
An article from Teddy's hand
-n ' How to Track Big Game."
Some poses ere they sighted shore.
. iew more roses tnen some more;
The dally page is sprinkled o'er
With T. Tt Wx f.
Moved: That che suffering public find
A man that to fair play's inclined.
An editor of generous mind.
w no 11 give soma space to Taft.
Chicago News.
The British Boary.
It has a dachshund body
And wheels like pretzels fine;
It hisses through the heavens
Like beer upon a stein.
John Bull is filled with boding
And thinks beyond a doubt
The scareshlp's bound to get him
Ef he don't
Watch
Out.
His children stop their crying;
If but Its name they hear;
.Beside its nightly vision
Pink rats are naught to fear.
John Bull Is filled with terror.
His calm is put to rout
The scareshlp's boundto get him
Ef he don't
Watch
Out,
New York Sun.
An Open Letter.
Dear John, I should have answered you
before.
But I've been busy every minute here:
It hardly seems that Winter's really o'er
And that, since your last letter. It's a
year.
I should write oftener, but it seems to me
That as a letter-writer I'm a fool.
I trust that all your crops will splendid
be ,
The children, now, will soon be out of
. school.
How I should ifke to see your dear old
farm.
At time when I am shrouded In despair.
And wish, somehow, that I maght Jour
ney there.
The little river, and the mill race too.
And, oh, the old familiar swimming
pool
Are- scenes of boyhood I should like to
view
The children, John, will soon be out ot
school.
My wife sends love with' me to you and
yours.
She wants to know the health of dear
Aunt Kate;
Just now It must be lovely out of doors.
And I suppose that you are feeling
great.
You lucky dog! When we are sweltering
here.
You loll upon a porch that's wide and
cool;
Breathing a perfume-laden atmosphere
Say, John, the kid3 will soon be out of
school.
Detroit Free Press.
The Graduates.
SHE.
Now comes the gentle graduate
To make her gracious bow,
To point our highest duties out "
And tell us why and how.
She clears all knotty points away
Concerning state affairs
Her pa is wondering how he'll pay
For the costly gown Bhe wears.
HE.
The graduate in glory stands.
His college course complete.
His brilliant thesis in his hands.
The whole world at his feet.
He little guesses as he lets
Those words of wisdom fall.
He'll never see the time again
When he will know it all.
New York Times.
A LtmouMlne.
The neighbors never pass us by unnoticed
any more;
They've ceased to tilt their noses high
the way they did before.
We're not looked down on by the Browns
or snubbed by Mrs. Green
There's been a sudden change since pa
has bought a Limousine.
Ma gets Invited out to tea or something
And boys that used to hoot at me have
. picauiiL Lujugs 10 say;
The callers come in style and show an
" . ...... . ' ..... o IVCCU
In us and our affairs since pa has bought
a j.imousme.
Sis used to sit. here lookln' glum, because
no beau would call.
But now you ought to see them come!
they line up in the hall;
Ma used to often fret, but she has learned.
to be serene.
Although we're deep In debt since pa ha
bought a Limousine.
Chicago Record-Herald.
Sonar of the Men of Fifty.
We are the men of fifty,
Twoscore years and ten.
Employers keen and nifty
Call us poor old men.
We are the have-beens grizzled.
We are the failures gray,
. We are the boys that fizzled.
Wrecks of yesterday.
We are the Osier brothers.
Here's to the doctor's health!
Here's to our. wives and mothers!
Here's to the Nation's wealth!
So, stand to your glasses ready
Ready to win the prize;
Death Is the Job that's steady
Hurrah! for the next that dies.
Exchange.
The Rivals.
Dere ees a man dat's from Milan,
An' wan from Napoll,
An' both ees tryin' all dey can
For marry weetha me;
An' I? I treat dem fair an' square.
Because, you see, I don'ta care
Wheech wan it gona be.
De Milanese ees hard to pleass;
He com' mos' evra night.
An' w'en dees othra man he sees
He justa wanta fight!
But wheech wan stan an' wheech" wan go,
Ees make no odds, because, you know,
I don'ta care a mite.
Ee's funny man. N'apolltan;
He laughed, an' den he said:
"T ain't gon' fight baycause I might
Be Justa keela dead!
An' how you go'n' be happy wife
Weeth ghost for husban" all your life?"
I Justa shak' my head.
So, steel dis man dat's from Milan,
An' Joe, from Napoll,
Dey both is tryin' all dey can
. For marry weetha me;
An' I? I don'ta care so long
He gona keep alive an' strong
Wheech wan eet gona be.
Catholic: Standard and Times.