TIIE SUT)AT OltEGOXIAX, PORTLAND. FEirBUARY 26, 1911.
6
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rORTUD. OREOO!.
mre1 at Portland. Oragos, Poetofflea a
Kuml-CM Matter.
ascription Kates Invariably la Aovaaea.
(FT MAIL)
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your l-x-al bank. H'.ampe. coin or curranry
r- at tha s&defa rta. Uiva poetofflea
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footac kaM lu to 14 pna. I cant; 1
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to pagra. 4 casta. roiaiga poataaa
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WK.1T It IJl'E?
' .The question what life is and
whether It survive the dissolution of
the body one that perennially Inter
ests thoughtful men. We are Inclined,
t. ow ever, to believe that it occupies
the mind of young people more than
tt the mature. The problem of Im
mortality Is one that especially appeuls
t i youths of -'0 or !i years. It Is at
bout that time of life that the things
of earth seem to pall and the mind In
stinctively turns to some other world
f r a more satisfactory arrangement of
tSairs.
i tjoethe's Werther. who killed him
self for YVcltsohmerx. was a young
Man. The great Uoethe himself at
I bout the are of SO fell Into a pro
longed tit of the blues and tried his
pest to work out the secrets of the
ether life, lie Imagined that his
health was falling. He spit blood.
Nothing satind him. 'All was dlsll
I axtonment and woe. A little later In
life he found these troublr parsing
away. The worlJ turned out to be an
excellent place to live In after all
and heaven dropped from his thought
It drops from the thoughts of most
formal Individuals when the storm
sn.l stress of Incipient maturity have
p.ed.
As old age approaches, however, the
mind appears to revert naturally to
the speculations of earlier days. The
question what it to become of us after
this mortal coll has been shuffled off
insistently forces Itself upon the mind.
The human be In a; about to set out
upon a Journey whlch he cannot avoid
nd which he cannot even postpone
for a (treat while Inevitably wonders
here h Is going and what sort of
ft country he will find when he ar
rives. We do not look with scorn
Upon the curious experiments of the
spiritists and others who seek by one
device and another to make the dwel
ler in Paradis describe their home.
Nothing; Is more natural and if one
Could only be certain that the knowl
edge thus obtained is reliable surely
Bone would be more precious. But the
doubt always remains that It if
not really celestial vbaitanta who are
ivportlns" facts but some trick of the
Imagination which Is being played
Ufxin the too credulous votary. If we
could only find out what life really Is
and how It originates we should be- In
a position to push our Inquiries beyond
the veil of the future and ask w hat be
comes of it after the body is dis
persed into its atoms. ilenre the
problem of Immertallty finally re
solves Itself Into that of the nature
ml beginning of life.
Mr. Kdlson's theory that life ordi
nate In the molecules of the body is
bnsed on respectable considerations,
tt Is not a mere hypothesis unsup
ported by experimental facts. We
know, for example, that when mole
' files of certain varieties are formed
life appears In them. We know also
that tlfe never shows Itself apart
from these molecules. So that we are
Tar removed from mere Inspiration 01
"transcendentalism" in deal Ins; with
the subject. The statement sometimes
tnade that science occasionally tran
Kendt reason Is nonsense. Heaon 1
the heart and soul of si lence. Anything
which seems to transcend reason may
be act down at once as unscientific
knd probably erroneous. The old
Idea that the dogmas of religion were
uperior to science, or Intelligence, ha
tx'en abandoned bv sensible theolo
gians. A dogma which does not admit
of rational treatment stands on a ter
ribly Insecure bai-l. It has been se
lected by fallible men because It hap
pened to suit their purposes better
than a million others equally probable
could have done, but the fs.-t that
they happened to find It useful does
not make It true.
The molecular theory of life gains
decided prestige from the new experi
ments which have been made with
nieces of tissue severed from the living
body. Placed under proper condi
tions of temperature and In a suitable
medium these pieces of tissue will
grow. Sometimes they enlarge won
derfully so that experimenters have
cr-me to believe It possible that entire
ears os. such as a kidney, may thus be
produced from a small bit of the liv
ing f.esh. Of course. If life should
turn out to be a mere function of a
certain arrangement of atoms In a
molecule then we must conclude that
when the arrangement Is broken up
the function Indefinitely ceases. This
would settle the qurstloo of Immor
tality In the negative.
But we do not know that life Is a
function of the atomic structure. The
word function Is here employed In the
technical sense, as when one saya that
an electrical current Is a function of
a galvanic cell. It means product, re
sult of consequence. Life may exl.t
before the molecule Is organ Ixed. The
organization may be merely the con
dition by virtue of which life become
phenomenal and have nothing what
ever to do with Its absolute reality.
The reasoning of the pragmatic school
cf philosophers makes this supposition
jilghly probable. In their opinion life
Is an indestructible something which
manifests itself through the molecules.
On the one hand tt appears as instinct,
on the other aa Intelligence. Instinct
belongs to plants and the lower ani
mals. Intelligence to man. who dis
plays It primarily by the construction
and use of tools. No being on earth
except man ever usea tools unless they
form a part of lis own body. The
beaver works with his tall, but he
never Invents an Implement to Im
prove on his tail. It U not correct to
speak of the Intelligence of plants,
but they certainly have Instinct as we
plainly see In their efforts to move
spirally around a support and In many
other Instance.
Airy, iatuisac' man,
both manifestations of life they nat
urally merge Into each other, but In
their higher evolution they are clearly
distinct. If life Is not a function of
matter there is no reason why the dis
solution of the molecules should an
nihilate It. In fact, the better opinion
Is that life organizes the molecules in
order to accomplish Its ends. exL-ts in
them aa long as they are suitable and
constructs new ones when the old onea
perish. The notion that matter is tht
fundamental verity of the universe has
become so untenable that it sa
vors of superstition. Xo doubt life Is
far more basic than the machine in
which It temporarily works. It was
here before there was any matter and
it will be here when the pompous ar
ray of worlds has vanished with not a
wrack left to tell that they ever existed.
0 t'RfTlcis.w?
"When the men who now oppose
the people's system cease their at
tacks on it and recognize the fact thut
it is here to stay, then will It be time
for the Legislature to seek to Improve
lt. This is the language of Governor
West in vetoing the Rusk second
choice measure. It Is wretched petti
fogging. It has no bearing on the
merits or demerits of the measure he
was called on to sign or disapprove.
It had no place either In any veto
message or in the mind of an execu
tive approaching the consideration of
a measure of high Importance to the
people. It is In substance a confes
sion of a revengeful and improper mo
tive in defeating a proposed law solely
because the law which It sought to
amend had bnen criticised.
If criticism of the Oregon system
by its friends or its enemies, shall
cease, what then? Perfection. Per
fect because it la not criticised; and It
Is not criticised because there Is noth
ing to criticLte. When that peaceful
and harmonious era. so much longed
for by the Governor, arrives, no law
proposing second choice or rotation
of names on the ballot or majority
nominations or exclusive participation
In a primary by members of the party
need be considered, for no complaint
is made by anyone, and therefore
there is no demand for any modifica
tion or change or amendment. Every
body must be satisfied. So we shall
expect to hear then from Governor
West.
Criticism is wholesome and necessary-
If Us absence implies perfec
tion. Its suppression means stagnation,
reaction and death. No friend of the
Oregon system could wish ,it worse
fortune than the enforcement of the
imperial decree from Salem that Its
critics shall be dumb.
FRmg hHIKT SLEEVES TO MI1KT
fLJtKVEs. The retirement of George Gould
from the presidency of the Missouri
Pacific Railroad system under morn or
less pressure from his enemies does
not necessarily Imply that his private
fortune Is ruined. The chances are
that he has enough money left to live
on comfortably. His father. Jay
Gould, left about S90.000.000 at his
death to be divided among six chil
dren. George received 15.000.000 for
valuable ervicea rendered to his
father, and tha rest was put in trust
so that the heirs could touch nothing
but tha Income. This was fortunate
because eome of the Gould children
have not shown much financial abil
ity. The law of heredity seems to
have been suspended for all of them
but George and one of his sisters.
George Gould was SO years old when
his father eland, and to him passed (he
management of the Gould railroads.
He has ftUltlled his trust under seri
ous difficulties and against opposing
financial powers. His prestige has
uniformly decreased until finally he
has found It expedient to retire.
Throughout hi career he has exhib
ited the qualities of a manipulator of
railroad securities rather than those
of an able executive.
The properties under his control
were employed mainly as a basis for
securing others. They were not looked
upon by him as means of transporta
tion so much as Implements for gam
bling operations. The lines of the sys
tem were allowed to fall Into neglect.
The equipment became, antiquated.
The roadbeds were not properly at
tended to. The' money earned by the
prosperous sections was spent, not in
repairs, as It should have been, but In
Improvident extensions. Ambitious
projects were preferred to the safe and
honorable management of a conserva
tive busines.
It Is really the fate of the prodigal
which has overtaken George Gould
though It must be said for him that
he was a prodigal on a magnificent
scale and nobody seems to accuse him
of thoso questionable practices by
which his father gained his wealth.
He lacks Judgment rather than moral
sense. If he were as wasteful of his
private means aa he has been of the
resource of the railroad he con
trolled, no dout within a few years he
would he obliged to forsake the lux
urious surroundings In which he has
always lived and go to work. But his
wealth seema to be safely Invested and
will last aa long as he needs It. How
his children will fare Is another ques
tion. George may fairly claim exemp
tion from the old decre of fate which
fixes three generations as the complete
cycle from shirt sleeves to shirt
sleeves, for ru belongs to the second
generation of his tribe. It Is upon his
children that the curse may be expect
ed to light with all Its force, though
some of Jay Gould's daughters have
felt it already, one might suppose.
Still, there Is no way to make sure
that the genius of the mighty Jay may
not have descended to one of George's
children, and we may some day heat
of the Goulds as financial magnates
again. The passage from shirt sleeves
to shirt sleeves In three generations
used to be much more common than It
la now. Formerly American fortunes
were not nearly so large as those pos
sessed by our Harrlmana and Morgans.
They were lightly won. grossly enjoyed
while they lasted, and lightly lost.
Now conditions have changed some
what. The dead re to found a family In
the European sense 'began to take hold
of our moneyed princes a quarter of a
century ago. and they directed their
genius to securing their property from
the wastefulness of their heirs. The
family trust or corporation was Invent
ed. The millions left by-the sire when
he departed for heaven were eannily
intrusted to the management of some
Impersonal Institution. The children
of the magnata might have the Inter
est, but the principal was placed be
yond their grasp.
One of the. most conspicuous exam
ples of this sort of an arrangement
was that which Marshall Field made.
His heirs, berth young- boys when he
died, are btdrrjr reared in princely lux
ry In Eunopo. Aroertcaa surround
ings are not sufficiently magnificent to
suit the prospects of these fortunate
youths. They are being educated in
the companionship of hereditary aris
tocrats, and at the proper time- wives
of noble descent will be chosen foi
them. No doubt they will live in tute
lage all their days, much vs if they
were heirs to a throne. Indeed, there
are few Kings on earth who wield
anything" like the power Inherent in
the hundreds of millions of the Field
eetnte.
.The tendency In the United States at
present la to consolidate the great for
tunes, make them family possessions
and Insure their permanency. The As
tor millions, to cite another examplei
show no signs of diminishing. The
enormous fortune of that family grows
greater every year. It is safely in
vested and the possessors show great
good sense in managing it. One may
say the same of the Vanderbllt for
tune. Shirt sleeves are a long, long
way from the sons of that dynasty.
Their wealth Is vastly greater now
than It was when the old Commodore
died. It must continue to Increase
by the force of Its own Inertia., unles
some unexpected catastrophe alters
the trend of events. The Morgan for
tune grows constantly greater. It
would increase even without the gen
ius of the man who controls It for the
time being. There Is no chance what
ever that It will be dissipated by his
heirs, nor will the Rockefeller mtlllont
be impaired In the second generation,
or the third
THE HEAL TAX 8TOKV.
Tho Oregonlun 1 not a little Inter
ested in an elaborate argument for
larger legislative appropriations that
appear In a Kouthern Oregon news
paper politically close to the Went ad
ministration. "Oregon." says this pa
per, "has been extremely parsimonious
with her public Institutions. . . .
The buildings of the State Unlversity
are a disgrace to the state. . .
Not a state in the Tnlon la so far be
hind the needs of hor people. . . .
It Is to be hoped that the Governor
will not veto any of the appropria
tions." There Is more like it; and
then these remarkable figure, presum
ably furnished from official headquar
ters at Sttlem:
Tha awad valuation of the atata In 1X
was 1117. MM. 874. It haa srown steadily
alnra until In lt10 It reached M4.I7.708.
Tha total tax levied for atata purpoaea In
IKOl waa SC71.4S7. In lull It waa Sl -15-Htate
revenue from other aourc-ea than di
rect taxation In 10O1 waa 1mi.U1'. In lt10.
.:ii.1.'Ji'l. The average rale of levy for atate
purvoaea In Iwd wa. 6.7 mllla; In 1IWJ, 9
and 1-8 mllla; In luos. 4 mllla: In 104. T
mllla; In lo5. J.4 mllla; In 1WH1. X mllla;
In 1KOT. S.4 mllla; In !. l.KS mllla: In
luot. 2.13 mllla; In IttlO. 2.3 mllla: In 1611.
1.H4 mllla. Ho. despite the Increaaed appro
priatlnna. the ratio of taxation haa steadily
decreased.
The purpose of this pleasing statis
tical presentment is. of course, to
make the poor taxpayer easy In mind,
for, haa not the "ratio of taxation
steadily decreased?" The taxpayer
who Is not perfectly satisfied to pay
more taxes from year to year, provid
ed only that ominous and alarming
ratio decreases. Is hard to please in
deed. But If the ratio has decreased,
everything; else has increased. If the
totaj valuation of property In Oregon
In 1910 was eight times greater than
In 1900, It la because the County As
sessors hnve sought to realize an Im-pon.-dble
Ideal by establishing the sys
tem of par valuations, and doubling
and trebling their assessments. There
fore, we are not so much richer than
we were ten years ao. except that we
are richer picking for the Assessor
and for the taxeater, whose shadow
never grows less.
But how has fared the Individual
taxpayer in 10 years? According to
these Inspired and luminous Southern
Oregon figures, the direct per capita
tax for state purposes In 1900 was
SI. 62. What 1 it now. though we
have grewn in population from 413.
000 to 6T2.000 and we have eight
times as much property as we had
then. If the Assessors' records are
worth anything? Each and every eit
Ixen of Oregon now pays directly to
the state as his little tribute the sum
of S2. an increase of S8 cents. All this
when that precious ratio has easily
and gracefully declined, and the citi
zen Is 800 per cent wealthier and tho
indirect state taxes havo grown from
S106.991 to $393,201.
Tour procured statistician can do a
lot of fooling and Juggling with fig
ures; but the tax receipt Is the thing
that tells the real story.
TUB POLICE COI RT. .
The Poiico Court of this city and
the building In which it is held. In
cluding the City Jail. In all of its
appointments came In for a vivid de
scription and the city for a scathing
rebuke for tolerating the conditions
described by Rabbi Jrfnah B. Wie at
the Temple Beth Israel Friday even
ing. The picture presented by Dr.
Wise- of the City Jail and Its environ
ment. Including the Municipal' Court
room, waa literally drawn from life.
Every detail from the "ugly, dirty and
decrepit-looking stairway that leads
from the Oak-street side to the court
room, to the unclean Interior, foul
with tobacco smoke and devoid of
ventilation, is given of this noisome
building; which reeks with the accu
mulated foulness of years.
It Is manifest from this present
ment that tha only way that it Is
possible to clean up this wretched pile
of antiquated brick and mortar, rusty
Iron and reeking wood Is to raze it to
the ground, burn everything of the
wreckage that is combustible and let
the sunlight and the air in upon the
unhallowed ground that It has defaced
and polluted for so many years.
We are not in sympathy with the
modern tendency, pushed to an ex
treme, that makes heroes or poor,
pitiful irresponsible of robust crim
inals. Nor do we believe that crimin
als of any class should be coddled and
luxuriously housed. We do believe,
however, that no human being should,
under any circumstances within con
trol, be deprived of fresh air, and that
all quarters in which criminals, dere
licts and delinquents of any class are
restrained should be kept as cloan and
wholesome as hot water and soap, the
plentiful use of chloride of lime and
other vdlalnfectanu and a frequent
coat of whitewash can make them.
For the test the very plainest and the
most substantial construction should
suffice for such buildings. A Jail
should not be a disgrace to the city;
neither should It be an ornament.. It
should be a good place to keep out of.
rather than an attractive place In
which to lodge.
As to the Municipal Courtroom, that
hould be clean and airy, with accom
modations sultal. for the work for
which It stands It should not be
large enough to fnvite Idle spectators.
Accommodations for an audleuce In
the Police Courtroom are not only
OQlfcbiliiblo; tfcej ar.. absplute-v Jf(f-
, ... - - T
nicious since tney invite, me -...
dregs of society to come In and hear
how the thing was done." Aa at
present conducted the Police Court Is
little better than a criminal iactor
or recruiting station.
"I hold," said Dr. Wise, " that It is
impossible to mete out Justice or up
hold the dignified calm of a real
court In such environment." And
when he adds: "It is high time we
arise to an appreciation of the vital
Importance of this Institution and de
mand that It be conducted in a man
ner more calculated to effect correc
tion, ' promote Justice and impress
upon petty offenders the good inten
tion of tho law," he concludes a pre
sentment of bold facts that discredit
the city and belittle Its Jurisprudence.
in. MANE Kl"CATION.
The movement to introduce hu
mane education into the public
schools deserves sympathetic consider
ation. The phrase "humane educa
tion" means systematic cultivation of
the kindlier feel ngs or j
urally little bos and girls are cruel
to such animals as fall into their
clutches. The bad boy not far from
T-ortland who put out a robin s eyes
out of pure wantonness tne otner aa
merely carried to a shocking extreme
a tendency which ' '"'I1 vlr
hlbit more or less Kindness is a vir-
tuo which nature Implants in us per-
hapi, but t does not thrive without
careful training.
lows we may read In the n story or
ageThi h" various" reous" sects
have inflicted upon each other. The
boy who put out the robin's eye, was
merciful compared wnn sucn uiam-
Y-r. ,be nke of Alva or John Cal-
vln. Oftentimes our inborn cruelty,
the teaching, of sectarian creeds. It
would bo well indeed to adopt a
wouia uo -vit.il " ...V.1..W
Perhaps sometime it may ne eraai-
"on. woTd fke to see children made
toItUVuane feelings not only
toward birds, dog, ana cats
which would prevent tne mature man
7 worwini. his emnloves twelve
-
hours a day tor seven unj a m m
fe ior v him the
right to do it. It ought to be possible
t devise a. course of instruction which
would make employers shudder with
horror at the thought of ruining the
lives of young children with overwork
In their mills. In all humane teach
ing It Is our opinion that the benefit
of mankind ought to be held superior
to that of the lower animals, and If
it seems necessary to sacrifice either
the human being should not be chosen
for the victim.
We should deeply regret to see bo
called humane education directed to
ward hampering the experiments of
scientific physicians, for this would
not be truly humane. On the con
trary, It would be the deepest cruelty.
Nor would it be desirable to teach
children that It Is wrong to slaughter
anlmuls for food. It would seem aa
If the purpose of humane education
ought to be to prevent cruelty, but
not to interfere with those acts which,
repulsive a, they often appear to sen
sitive souls, are still essential to the
welfare of society.
HIGH M.VKKS AI Sl t ESS.
In his annual report, which has
Just come out. President Lowell, ot
Harvard, undertakes what appears to
us to be a formidable task. He tries
to prove that excellence In college
studies is a forerunner of distinction,
or success. In life. He was led to In
vestigate the subject by noticing that
most undergraduates care little for
their studies and do not gTeatly re
spect those students who work for
high marks. Of course, if he could
prove that high marks mean auccena
later on, he would be In a position to
preach with admirable effectiveness,
but one would not naturally expect
him to demonstrate his thesis very
easily. There is so little relation be
tween the ordlnnry college studies and
the business of life that It is hard to
see how distinction 'in the former
should in any way Indicate what Is to
happen In the latter. A man may be
an extraordinarily skillful acrobat
without being much of a statesman.
In the .same way he may attain great
skill In Latin syntax or algebra with
out showing the qualities which adorn
the railroad magnate. It Is a species
of intellectual acrobatlsm. In fact,
which the colleges like best to culti
vate and the common opinion that It
Is largely sterile so far as results In
after years are concerned seems to be
pretty well grounded.
In pursuit of his purpose President
Lowell wrote to a large number of
Harvard graduates asking them what
they thought of the matter. Do high
marks in college predict great suc
cess? Nearly every graduate answered
"No. One cannot draw any Infer
ences from the marks. But when he
questioned the graduate of the law
school he obtained different replies.
They told him that high marks In the
college course usually Indicated dis
tinction In the law school.
1 nis no luiuui Kao iiiiu Bvum i-uiu-
fort, but we do not see that it
amounts to much In the way of proof
. . . . . . -
ror nia tneory. i tie real question . oisease una v " ----
pertains to after life. What happens since the beginning of historic times
to the men after they leave the law and that the common belief of the ln
school? Do those who get the high- creasing occurrence of certain mala
est marks make the best lawyers? We dies Is an error. There is no more
- . . . . . . . v. f.mn.l.- rirt mnrf
should not suppose mm iney wouiu.i
Certainly the practice of law as It It
IA I. a .rl of Ttrest A I iH tS 1 1 nil
not dissimilar to translating Latin
i V. ... If o 1..,. enntolni elo. I
ments which are of another nature I
entirely. A good lawyer .must have a I
fund or common sense, anowieage oi aians no "
life and human nature and facility In warns to civilized schools die in large
adapting means to ends In emergen- numbers of tuberculosis, a disease ai
des of which the college gives him most unknown in their native state.
..... . . . , 1 1 . A ln n-1 rrrnn a.V!lffDS r-AllCht tWO OT
little ana tne law kuuui ic-k. ah 1 " .
ouiry among our lawyers of rank
would soon leu wneiner tne Desi ot
them had the highest marks in their
vrr- .nmchnv i-iii nmh
the investigation. The results would
be most Interesting. 1
Ollver wenaeii noimes, wno was w
famous Harvard man, has a passage
In the Autocrat ot tne creaKiasi
Table" which bears on this topic. He
represents a little group of fresh grad-
uates by a band of ponies ready for a
race There Is the mettlesome black
. . . .
pony, all lire and spring, me oeaumui
bay with hi, arched neck and flowing
. . i I
mane, and so on. inese are tne ooy i
who gave their professors Immense
... ... . . . , I
delight oy getting nign mams. dui i
when the race came off It was won
, ... i.i .1
by a soDer sorrei con wnicn ueiiuei
Si&smi. Bait ar.6r.f'n ftrg S&ta&'l
tl-iil(i nhnfulAnr of D1&H& II O WHS
.
of course the ugly duck ing of the
. w - - -
ftfhhon. found that he
could make better use of his time than
to follow the college studies.
PBOPLE8 LAWMAKING NOT EAST.
From Mount Vernon, Washington,
an Oregonian reader of inquiring
mind writes to ask why the "con
servatives" in. Oregon do not make
more use of the Initiative and referen
dum to counteract or set aside some
of the measures already adopted. He
also compliments the Legislature and
suggests that it might have gone fur
ther "in the endeavor to reform
backward."
There are two important reasons
why the "conservatives" do not ini
tiate more laws to undo things done.
One is found in the fact that in this
busy, every day world, the conserva
tive citizen or -business man does not
show a very strong interest in matters
of legislation until he realizes that his
pocketbook is touched. Thla is human
natur6 and well 1Uustrated by the
of he avera(Ee clt,zen to
lnttlatlve petition without in-
th merlta of the measure
Q ring tat-tne u
- - - - passing interest in
"c ltai. oi his
fellow man he soon discovers that $
initiative,
cos . 8iature8 cost from 5 to 10
' the procurlng and about
reauired. Enthusi-
of nard.earned money.
The 'second important reason u .that
the c"Utv
- ., , n
enemy of popular government or as
the agent of moneyed interests or ma-
Ject f contumelious critic sm ii.t
eeks to change the people s laws,
Tho rnr1ira.ls aoDarently seek to pro-
- It-mafters
not If the author Is a soap-advertising
t ar
thev devIae and
- ,
"people's laws" must not be changed
oithee throueh the initiative or dj'
legislative enactment. He who pro-
poses such a change or a . loo o
the machinery of the initiative and
..onrinm from imnroDer use is
branded as an enemy of the public.
COMMON PKNSK IN CHINA.
Nothing speaks so emphatically of
the progress of the new civilization in
China as the adoption of sanitary
measures against the plague. The last
and rarest triumph of rational educa
tion is accomplished when a man is
persuaded to entrust his health to
strictly scientific measures. Compar
atively few persons have attained to
this stage of culture even in the
western world. To behold Chinamen
approaching it is therefore doubly en
couraging. It supplies ground for the
hope that in some far future the
Caucasian will lay aside his trust in
quacks and superstitious medical im
positions and pin his faith to common
sense backed by exact knowledge. We
smile at the helpless panic which the
plague causes in China and look
scornfully upon the prayers and ritu
alistic practices by which the people
hope to stay its ravages, but it is not
a great many years since our fore
fathers were doing the same thing.
Their prayers were directed to a deity
with another name and the proces
sions were In honor of other celestial
magnates, but the principle was the
same.
At about the time of the flowering
of the renaissance In Italy the plague
was as common as financial panics are
tn the United States, and for much
the same reason. At any rate, both
may be attributed to ignorance and
shiftlessness. Just before an unusually
virulent outbreak of the plague in
Milan, a poor creature was seen rub
bing his fingers on a wall as he
walked along the street. He was a
public writer and had some ink on
his fingers which he was trying to get
rid of. But the mob imagined that
he was smearing the wall with magic
ointment to Infect tho city with the
plague. Accordingly he was arrested,
tortured to make him disclose the
names of his accomplices and finally
executed. .
This is the mental state from which
science has rescued the nations of the
western world. No doubt in process
of time it will do as much for China.
Buddhism. Confucianism and the
other supernatural cults havo had
their whack at conditions for a good
many centuries without accomplishing
much, it is about time to introduce
a little common sense with exact
knowledge for an auxiliary and see if
It cannot do better.
CIVIUZATTOS AND ITS PISEAHE8.
Dr. Woods Hutchinson, who Is the
most determined optimist we know
anything about, declares In Hampton's
Magazine that civilization causes no
diseases. Those which are prevalent
among us, he avers, "are the results
of the old 'diseases and condtions of
barbarism." Civilization may bring
them out, but It does not originate
lutein vuv, " " - '-
them. Dr. Hutchinson goes on to make
the astonishing statement that no new
. . I. .. nnnAOVO4 In ttlA World
cancer now uwu r"f
tuberculosis or cases of Brlghfs d!s-
of thO It I fl n e VS.
This Is soothing intelligence. The
nnlv r? r OrtV ha C If Hf-PITIH tO he tllO haUnt-
ing possibility that it Is not true. One
cannot help recalling tne iact mat m-
i oo w . w r. - - -
three new diseases from the white
men wno mi. ""ii ........
perished in regions where they had
ni..-a.-a hcfnrn that time been robust.
The natives of Hawaii have lost
their vigor from contact witn wnite
civilization, .mo
land have become just about extinct
irom tne
to be difficult today to find a healthy
specimen of the native black tribes
of Australia. Facts like these seem
to indicate that there are some dis-
un tn ..fiHIWotlon from
eases
which savages in their wild conditions
. X? . . f I, alar, aeoma to he
are exeuiyi- j-u.
true that when a wild savage is at-
... i f lvillrntlon he
tacnea uy n '' " -
succumbs to it a great deal more
, . . . v. u-VittA man rinPR.
easily iu "
jplyj.Uaa'afla brings new, maladies,
it also establishes immunity In the
course of time. Thus we are xairiy
Immune to alcoholic effects, to tuber
culosis germs, and to the malevolent
influence of bad air. H. G. Wells
makes interesting use of this fact in
his "War of the Worlds." The men
from Mars who attack the earth and
almost conquer it finally perish from
germs to which mankind has become
Immune.
' One. can agree with Dr. Hutchinsor
that civilization is in a way the cure
for the ills It causes. He says the
remedy for the diseases of our culti
vated life is more life of the same
kind. Just as Thomas Jefferson be
lieved that the cure for the disorders
of liberty is more liberty. There is
much to justify both opinions. One
by one the resources of science, which
is the essence of civilization, are over
coming the maladies from which we
die. It Is astonishing to peruse the
long list which have een definitively
conquered. Diphtheria, smallpox, the
cholera, yellow fever, the black
plague which literally depopulated
large territories in medieval Europe,
tvphold fever and a dozen others must
be included. Certainly if civilization
tries Its best to kill us it finally re
pents of its fell purpose and works
In the opposite direction. If anybody
seems to be ill of civilization, the
chances are that he has not taken ai
big a dose as ho needs. That may be
the trouble with our American cities.
They have drunk of the Pierian
spring, but not deep enough.
Now that Portland has been saddled
with a S2, 500,000 public dock debt, for
which we will receive no benefits
whatever, it would seem advisable to
make an effort to secure some of the
valuable Alaska trade. One-half the
sum which will be wasted in providing
docks for which there is no demand
would permanently establish a firpt
class line to Alaska. The trade which
would follow would quickly prove of
real, tangible value to the port. Since
the beginning of the Alaska mining
development the exports to that coun
try, to an overwhelming extent, have
been products for which Portland Is
the headquarters in the Pacific North
west. Dairy produce, poultry, eggs
and packing-house products, find a
ready market in the Far North. There
is nothing of which Alaska is in need
that cannot be secured in this city to
better advantage than at any other
port on the Pacific Coast. If some of
our prominent citizens who have be
come famous for rainbow-chasing
would take up this matter they might
accomplish something worth whUe.
Senator Bourne affirms his right to
name that is, make the President
name Federal officers in Oregon
friendly to him and therefore un
friendly to Taft. He would put out of
office men who are friendly to Taft
and unfriendly to Bourne. He ia
greatly outraged that the President
should have the -slightest concern
about the political status and affilia
tions of his own appointees; and he Is
similarly outraged because the Presi
dent should not at once displace in
cumbent officials his own appointees
who do not stand with Bourne.
Thus Bourne wants Taft to act against
fhe Federal officials who don't like
Bourne and do like Taft and put In
their places appointees who don't like
Taft and do like Bourne. Wre can
fancy what would be the response of
Bourne to such a demand if he were
President and Taft were Senator.
And now we have it that Dr. Aked,
. r tha viffh-Avenue Baptist
aniui v. ...w -
I Church of New York, has been called
to the pastorate of the t lrst Congrega
tional Church of San Francisco. As to
what has become of the noted preach
er's convictions upon baptism by
immersion, close communion and other
distinctive features of salvation ac
cording to the accepted Baptist pro
gramme we aro not informed. Perhaps
the transfer is in accordance with th
theory indulged by optimistic Chris
tians that denominationalism is in pro
cess of dissolution.
A unique oolor combination Is re
ported from Seattle, where a white
woman and a Chinaman were united
In marriage by a negro preacher. The
woman, as might bo expected, was a
young, enthusiastic and emotional
worker In a Chinese mission school;
the bridegroom was formerly a pupil
In one of these schools in this city.
The minister was, of course, opposed
to drawing, the color line.
A familiar figure In humble garb,
with the placid serenity of one who
goes about in the discharge of duty
as It appeals to her, has passed from
the religious and charitable activities
of the older portion of the community
served by Centenary Church, in the
death of Mrs. Hannah Exon. The sim
ple eulogy "She hath done what she
could," may well be passed upon her
life and endeavor.
The fair day warm and bright
Is a fine thing in February only when
the season of the year Is taken Into
consideration. It Is a lure to pneu
monia for those impatient to discard
their Winter clothing for that of
Spring, and of death to the adventur
ous prospector who follows its lead
into the mountains, only to perish in
a quickly improvised February bliz
zard. If anything else were needed to
spur Oregon growers to organization
for selling their fruit, the banner ad
vertising by California orange men
should be enough. Those people
think nothing of spending S50.000 for
publicity. Of the three essentials,
Oregonians need but two organiza
tion and optimism; we have not the
oranges, but other fruit in plenty.
President Lovett says development
work cannot stop. Of course it will
not, since railroads are built for busi
ness only, and where business Is to
be found, there the roads will be built.
Ten thousand women of Canada are
opposed to reciprocity. This is natural.
All the bright boys come across the
border now and conditions are bad
enough without addition of more.
It will be noted the latest white wo
man to marry a Chinaman has had
previous matrimonial experience. So,
too, had the woman who preferred
to kiss the cow. .
President Baer, of Reading, an
anthracite carrier, says "the public
will suffer." The public paying trib
ute to Mr. Baer already suffers.
There will be no bee inspector this
year, by' grace of the veto. Someone's
ambition is stung.
Now let us see how Japan prevents
undue emigration oi undesirables.
Scraps and Jingles
By Leone Case Baer.
Suggested motto for the Sisterhood oi
Fat Dames Who Starve to Suppress
Obeeity: "Grace before meat."
a a a
Old King Coal
Is a merry old soul
And a merry old soul is he.
But wait; in a trice
The man with the ice
The cock-of-the-walk will be.
a a a
A most unpardonable mlsusas of the
English language Is the average after
dinner speech.
a a a
Paper yesterday tells of an esthetic
damsel who went to law and had her
name changed from Wurm to Wynn. An
other case of the turning of the worm,
a a a
Debtors are we. every one.
To a couple of big creditors.
One, All Present Science is.
The other is the Editors;
The first takes us al! apart
With Principals and Prtrticles.
T'other probes our morals
With Laws and Leading Articles,
a a a
As Lil Arthuh Jonsing raid to Misler
Corbett "The nose has It and so has the
eyes."
a a a
A woman I know says she likes to buy
her bonnets early in the season and have
them off her mind. Which explains whj
she puts 'era on her head.
a a a
To Virginia, Aged Three.
Dear haby girl, who at the matinee
Sat so demurely, daintily arrayed.
Like fairy sprite In mortal land astray.
How could you guess, oh little maid.
Tour soft dark eyes, wherein the shad
ows play,
Tour wee warm hands, your laugh St
unafraid,
Mado me forget my world of work-a-day.
To- earth your baby chatter softly laid
The memories that ever on me weigh.
And life was sweeter, gladder, not so
staid;
I treasure yet the fragrance, of that day
And you, dear little maid.
a a a
A Portland Mrs. Malaprop says she
uses automatio vinegar.
a
The maiden who makes sunshiny every
where she goes isn't my ideal of a hot
weather Joy.
a a a
Miss Calamity Step-and-fetch-it. the
sweet lyric slinger of KaLarna, writes
that she is busy on a sequel to her "Sow
ing the Wind." "A Stitch in the Bide"
she calls it.
a a a
When gardens flaunt their newest green.
And shrubs with leaves are all a-tog,
And all the signs of Spring are seen.
And the back yard is veiled In fog.
Nail up the windows, pull the shades.
Load all the pistols, let dogs run.
Look to the phone, the bolts and bars.
The burglar season has begun.
a a a
There Is many a slip between the house
and the office on. a wet morning.
a a a
A nickel saved by avoiding a stretcar
is several dollars lost by taking a taxi,
a a a
Headline says "Jilted Fiancee Refuses
to Return Ring." A sort of loveless fu
ture stooping to keep the present of the
past, as It were.
a a a
The afTection of calf love
Is held up to scorn
By thoao who have finished
With love and its morn.
But there's one veal passion
Too common by half.
It's the free love we hold
For the Golden Calf.
a a a .
It's the early guest that doesn't get
the warmcd-overs.
a a a
Man at Salem, granted a reprieve from
the gallows, was heard to say: "Well, no
noose is good news.
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonian, Feb. 26, 1861.
The late heavy rains have set a good
deai of street planking afloat and loos
ened the mud In other places until mud
puddles and man-traps are very abun
dant. The condition of First street at this
time is very bad. At the cistern at the
corner of First and Alder there Is a
hole that renders the street almost Im
passable. The insane man who has been wan
dering around town for two or three
days presents a pitiable sight. His
thoughts appear to be all on religion.
The heavy wind night before last had
its effects on the seagulls. These birds
made their appearanoe In great num
bers during the morning yesterday.
This is looked on as a proof there has
been a heavy gale outside.
The Farmor.
Kinui City 8tar.
The farmer Is a man of wit,
There'a almply no denying It!
He leads a life of pampered ee,
And Is aa happy aa you pleaae.
At nine o'clock he's ready for
His morning rolls and cafe nolr:
And when tha (rourmet thua ia fed,
Hie valet helps htm out of bed.
From ten to one he reads the newa.
The market tipa and trade reviews;
To corn ind wheal hia heed he give.
For 'tis by theae the farmer Uvea.
Po having figured for the day
Which wav the market ha will play,
Hia hatch ef dally bread la made.
By dealings on the board of trade.
Hia dally labors being through.
The farmer takea hia lunch at two;
Then, donning riding garb, he 11 call
Hia favorite motor from the stall.
He ridca about to view his farm.
And feela the reatful country' charm
Hia wife, with painta and sketching pad.
And all the trinkets of her fad,
Her eaael aeta beneath a tree.
And painta the view from two to three.
At ix o'clock they dine In atate
The farming life la limply great!
The products of the earth and air
Are on the table groaning there.
Sweet milk ia always at their hand.
Bought by the case all neatly canned.
The trolley line that rattles down.
It brings them butter freah from town.
And eggs and luacioua chicken fries,
The beat the city's mart supplies;
Green truck and fruit all crisp and nioa
Jut taken from cold storage Ice,
And Juicy, luscious ham, O myt
The boat the packera can aupply.
Xo wonder life upon the farm
Has always held so rare a charm!
The cry of "Rube- which townfolks shoot
la only envy, inside out!
Girls WM Change.
Catholic Standard and Times.
They say the girl they're raisin' here
Has very takin ways.
Mayhap 'tis true, but. dear, oh! dear,
Tls not tholr likes I oralse.
There's not a wan of all the lot
I've ever chanced to see
Not wan o' them that ever got
A heart-throb out o' me.
An", sure. I'm not so hard to pl'aae;
'TIB I that used to know
A score o' maids deservin' c raise
But that was long ago.
Although the times an' styles may Changs
A maid is still a maid:
But here she looks and acts so strange
She's different. I'm afraid.
Mayhap the climate here's to blama
Tor all the faults I see:
At any rate, they're not the same
As maidens used to be.
Brut Irish maids! Och. over there
The girls 1 used to Know
Were always sweet an' trua an
SV'as that so 1011 ano.T, -
1
J 1