TTTE STTNDAT PREGOXIAX. PORTLAND. DECEMBER 14, 1913. 8 rOKTLAXD, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon. PoetofTlea aa eecond-olaas matter. Subscription Rata Invariably In Advance- (BT MAIL) , Dally. Sunday I neluded. on year ""t DMUJ inCIUUVU, - ... rtailv ftunriav lnlii1-d thn mOlltOI " Dally, Sunday Included, one month . Lally, without Sunday, one year . . Dally, without Sunday, als montbe Iaily. without Sunday, three montha Dally, without Sunday, one month .. i--o .eo Weekly, one year i 7T Sunday, one year " iao Sunday aad weekly, one year (BT CARRIER) Dally. Sunday Included, one year -i Dally, Sunday included, one month - How to Remit Send poetofflra money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stampa. coin or currency are at eendere risk. Give postofflca addreae In full. Including county and state. Footage Kates to tl pagea. 2 cen &A t r r . . A U to IS pages. 1 rent: 1 nts; 84 to el pages. S cents: 4 centa; i to T pagea. a rente-. bs pagea. cents. Foreign post age, double ratea, Easter Business Offices Verrea & Conk In. New Tork. BrucawlcK building, Chi cago, btegcr building. Baa rraaciara Office R. J. Bidwell Co, T2 tarkst street. rORTLAXD, inOAT, DEO. 1. rRENDEKOAST RETiaXS MOJUi. Another Progressive leader has an nounced his abandonment of the new party and his 'readiness to return to the Republican party when tEe latter has been reorganized under advanced leadership. He is William, A. Prender gast, Controller of New York City, and one of those upon whom Colonel Roosevelt heaped high praise when the new party was organized. Mr. Prendergast holds "that the re sult of the Presidential election made It evident that the third party Idea was not acceptable to the American people, and that the continuation of a third-party movement could havo no other effect than the permanent success of the Democratic party." That was not his Intention In becoming- a Progressive. He rejects the vote cast for President In 1912 as Indicat ing; the relative Republican and Pro gressive strength, for he says: t With many othera. I hare alwaya believed that lie tthe progressive partya) vote rep resented, the great popularity of Colonel Roosevelt and the Influence ot bla tremea doua pereonalltr. He considers the vote cast for Con gressional candidates a much safer test and says this undoubtedly shows that "while many Republicans had voted for either the Progressive or Democratic candidate for President, they had maintained their party loyal ty as far as other candidates upon the Republican ticket were concerned." He asserts that he always has been and still is a Progressive, but that Progresslvtsm does not consist "in shouting "Onward. Christian soldiers" and prattling about 'social Justice" "; that it Is "an attitude of mind, po litical modernism": that some "'men in Congress who have done the great est service for progressive legislation have remained In the Republican par ty"; that "no party has a complete monopoly of progressive principles or ideals." Mr. Prendergast condemns the vin dictive policy of many Progressive leaders toward the Republican party, which prompts them to rejoice at Re publican defeat as Progressive vic tory. He says "this vendetta policy is not acceptable to thousands' who voted for Colonel Roosevelt and will gladly do so again. He opposes the plan to nominate straight Progressive candidates for Congress next year on the ground that any such plan will mean another overwhelming Demo cratic majority and because he holds that "the people are best governed when the margins of strength of the two dominant parties are slight." He then says: No one will dispute that the Republican rarty presents today the moat cohesive, effective force with which to combat the Democratic party. The queatlon before ua Is. shall we concentrate our strength upon tbla most effective fighting force and make a real effort to carry the next Congress, or dissipate our strength upon unnecessary can didacies and organisations? I tor one am emphatically In favor of the first course and ehail work to accomplish It. The time has come when there should be less talk of "Armageddon" and more thought of the future of our own United Slates. He believes the Republican and Progressive parties "6hould amalga mate their strength and says the movement should be started now. He trusts that the Republican party in the approaching meetings of the Na tional Committee and of a special Na tional convention "will exhibit a full appreciation of the requirements of the times." Other Progressives say in substance of Mr. Prendergast's desertion: "Good riddance: all that he wanted was of fice." The New Tork Evening Post pointedly comments: But If the third party Is the coming po litical organisation, it is the very one for an ambitious man to stay with, and the last one for such a man to think of leaving. The New York World pronounces Mr. Prendergast's return to the Re publican party symptomatic and says: It Is safe to assort that by the time the 1910 conventions are held the Progressive party will have been liquidate, with all Ita assets. Including the Colonel himself. In the kanda of the Hepublican organization. The Springfield Republican con cedes the correctness ot Mr. Prender gast's "belief that the Democratic party can be expelled from power only by the reunion of the Republicans and Progressives Is correct," but says the problem is to reunite them. It says that even if Colonel Roosevelt could be brought back into the old party fold on his own terms, there would still be a very targe leakage. It estimates that 10 per cent of the Progressive vote came from the Dem ocratic party and would return thith er. It says men who bolt are "never quite the same again" and "can never again be trusted to 'stand without hitching.' " Also many bolters will have conceived" a virulent hatred of their old party, and the more radical, the Republican predicts, will Join the Socialist party, while others "will be attracted to the Democracy by Presi dent Wilson's progressive policy. While all this may bo true, the Re publican overlooks the other side of the story. There has been In Ameri can politics an increasing percentage of independent voters, who adhere first to one party, then to the other, according to the issues and the candi dates of the time. A reorganized, re generated Republican party, which assumes the attitude of mind common to all forward-looking men. will have a strong attraction for these inde pendents, who are generally by In stinct progressive. It will be apt to draw largely from the progressive ele ments of the Democracy, for four years of supremacy will reveal the In herent weakness of that party's basic " principles. Mr. Prendergast says truly that no party has a monopoly of 'progressive principles, but Republi cans under new leadership can con fidently appeal for support as the best medium through which those princi ples can be put In practice. The leakage which the Springfield paper predicts may easily be compensated by new accessions of strength in a time when men change party allegiance with unprecedented ease and freedom. OXE RAn.ROAD'8 GOOD SHOWTNG. The passing of the New Haven divi dend, after forty years of continuous returns to the stockholders, serves to call attention to the condition of oyher great railroad systems throughout the country, and gives an opportunity to present in striking contrast at least one sound example of careful and suc cessful railroad financiering and man. agement in a Western railroad the Great Northern. For under the sagac ious direction of Mr. Hill the Great Northern has weathered more than one financial storm, and has not failed in any year to yield steady and satisfactory revenues for its stock holders. In all the history of railroad expansion in the West there has been no case like it, and perhaps not more than one other like it anywhere In the whole American continent. ' The New Haven's net loss in earn ings for the month of October, 1913. over October. 1912. was J52O.860. and for the year to date. SZ.10Z.946. The earnings loss of the New York Central system for October was 13,000,000. and of the great Pennsylvania system, K, 000, 000. It Is true that both the Pennsylvania and New York Central made large increases in gross earnings, but the increases in operating and other expenses were more than an off set. In contrast with these figures it is shown that the Great Northern made a net earnings gain in the four months, July 1 to November 1. 1913. of $911. 625. Other Western roads show a loss, though the Burlington, a Hill road. In the same four months emerges with an Increase of 1152,685. The direct reason of this remark able showing by the Great Northern, during a period of falling railroad Income and rising outgo. Is Its sound financial organization, with low capi talization, small bonded debt, and economical operation, all under the wise direction of Mr. H11L It is re called that Mr. Hill on his recent visit to Portland was accompanied by Mr. George F. Baker, a great f lnan. clal figure, who represents the moneyed interests that have long supported Mr. Hill's operations and hitve shown through his entire career their unlimited confidence in him. Mr. Louis W. Hill also has manifested large interest in Oregon and has taken the pains by many visits here to In form himself through personal in vestigation of the state's needs and op portunities. . It is to be hoped that the impres sions Mr. Baker gleaned while in the Northwest will lead to an early de cision to carry forward the work for the extension of the railroad and steamship systems planned by Mr. James J. Hill and the large coloniza tion project fathered by Mr. Louis W. Hill. FO IN DEXTER IXSCBGISG AGAEX. One well mjiy wonder where the ef fervescing Senator Poindexter, of Washington, has been and what he has been doing during the long period of public hearings and discussions of the Alaskan transportation problem. Just now Senator Poindexter has dis covered something secret and sinister In the Wickersham-Chamberlaln Alas, ka railroad bill. All alone, without aid from anybody, he has found an in sidious Joker if large headlines and blackfaced type In newspaper convey truthful tlon. The "joker" Is the a Seattle that after the Government has con structed the contemplated railroad, "the President may cause said road or roads to bo operated by contract or lease, but no contract or lease shall be for a longer period than ten years." The Senator bubbles over In this fash ion: That provision meana simply that the Government shall construct a railroad or railroada and then turn It over to private parties to run under lease at a profit. If the people of the country think they are getting a Government-owned and op crated rallrond for Alaska when thia blU passes If It does pasa then they are being hoodwinked : If they know that thta bill simply Intends to have the Government build a road to turn over to private rapltallsta they are not Being hoodwinked. But I don't think they snow It! That la the most extraordinary proposi tion that I have seen presented to Congress since I hsve been In the Senate. And thia s..rt of Ifuisintiun seems ttkt-iy in pass, unless the people of the country make so atrong a protest that the Senate and Mouse will not dare pass 1U As an admirer of his own perspicac ity Senator Poindexter is indeed a marvel. What he has Just discovered he, of course, supposes that nobody else, except a few arch conspirators, knew anything about. Yet the leasing provision in the bill is in exact accord with- the recommendations made by President Taft in his message trans mitting to Congress the report of the Alaskan Railroad Commission. That message was published throughout the country- In the open hearings on the bill before the committee on territories the "Joker" was openly and frequently discussed and the refer ences to it are In cold type in public documents that report the hearings verbatim. But, Joker or not, the authority to lease the proposed railroads. If he so elects, is but a minor discretionary power conferred on the President by the bill. The President may order $35,000,000 to be spent on railroads wherever he wilts in Alaska. He is bound by no existing surveys or pro jected routes. He might engage In a conspiracy to develop the holdings of private Interests. He might do a dozen things more disastrous than leasing the railroads. But we fancy the people are will ing to rely on the Judgment of the President. As large discretionary powers were given the Chief Execu tive in the building of the Panama Canal 'and they were not abused. If the President can lease Government built railroads In Alaska at such terms that freight and passenger rates will be cheaper than under Government operation the public will endorse the policy. The purpose of the bill is to open Alaska to development, not to provide an object lesson or experi ment in Government ownership. Con ditions peculiar to Alaska, not a mere desire for a Government-owned and operated, railroad, demand the pas sage of the bllL Construction is cost ly and tonnage prospective. Private capital will not invest adequate sums because of precarious returns. The lower Interest rates at which the Gov ernment can obtain the money to build the railroads provides the dif ference in overhead charges that will insure the operation of railroads at a profit on rates that will move traffic and thereby develop the country. . If the routes recommended by the Alaskan Railroad Comtnlsslon are adopted the greater part of the $35,000,000 bond proceeds will be ex pended in constructing railroads con necting interior points with privately owoed railroads already built to tide water. It is readily conceivable that it may be more economical to lease the Government branches to the pri vate roads than to buy the latter, or make arrangements for interchange of - traffic or build new lines to the Coast. The value of the bill, when its real purpose the opening and de velopment of Alaska Is considered, is greatly Improved by the inclusion of the so-called Joker which the nightmare-riding Senator from Wash ington has discovered. It is opportune at this point to sug gest that a get-together movement on projects of urgent necessity to the Northwest requires the interest and backing of the public and that these requisites may best be supplied by sending men to Congress whose wits are applied to 'real study of vital problems and not to casual Inspection and sensation mongering. AXTMAL EXPERIMENTATION. Dr. Harvey Cushlng's address be fore the London medical congress on the value of animal experimentation sharply reminds the world of its debt to a group of men whose work Is more often maligned than fully appre ciated. Experiments on animals have effectually rooted out small pox. as Dr. Cushlng 1 remarks. The disease still lingers here and there and occasional, ly an epidemic of it excites a panic, but it is always quickly brought under control ty hygienic precautions and vaccination prevents its pread be yand a small area. In former times pockmarked faces were so common mat nobody noticed them particularly. Now they are seldom seen. Tne very efficiency of vaccination sometimes works against It. People who owe to it their immunity against smallpox raise a great outcry when it Is required of children by law on the ground that the peril has been re moved by the progress of civilization. The fact is that all the civilization In the world could not eradicate the germ of smallpox without the help of the vaccine virus. But there are many other diseases which have yielded to modern medicine based on animal ex perimentation. Typhoid fever Is one of them. Diph theria Is another. Yellow fever Is a third. To be sure yellow fever is not fought with serum. It has been erad icated by destroying the mosquito that carried It, tout, the cause was only discovered by animal experimentation during which a famous and conse crated physician lost his life. An other remedy discovered by the same means was Dr. Ehrllch's cure for ryphllls. Up to the present time no infalllblo remedy for tuberculosis has been hit upon by the experimenters, but they are hopefully seeking it and no doubt before a great while they will be rewarded with success. The germ of this dread scourge is known to scientists and the serum which will counteract It must follow in due sea son. Dr. Cushlng emphasizes the inter esting fact that social hygiene has kept pace in recent years with the progress of scientific treatment of disease. Great campaigns of cleanli ness are common in cities where years ago it was usual to rely upon provi dence to prevent epidemics. School children are systematically looked after. Their ears are investigated. Their eyes are provided with ' proper spectacles, their thrdats relieved of adenoids. All this makes for their bodily and mental . health. Experi ments upon animals and the benefi cent art of practical hygiene are pro longing the life of mankind and great ly enhancing our common health and happiness. It Is worth while, there fore, to continue this work even at the cost of some little. Inconvenience to the lower animals. Dr. Cushlng well remarks that some of the very people who object most bitterly to animal experimentation wear hats adorned with plumes plucked from living birds. They drive horses which have . been tor tured and mutilated in various hid eous ways. And they eat meat which Is obtained from maltreated animals. Fashion and appetite are accepted as perfectly valid excuses for abusing the lower animals, but when the common good of the whole human race is sought by methods somewhat similar perhaps, but far more merciful, then there Is an outcry loud enough to wake the dead. What fools some of these mortals be. - NEW YORK. ritOGRESSrvE. New York has entered the ranks of the progressive, but not the radical. Republican states.' The Republican state conference, by declaring for a direct primary on all offices and for a short ballot, freed Itself from Chair man Barnes' domination and assured the end of boss rule. The conces sions to progress offered by Mr. Barnes showed that he was fighting only for his political life and that no regard for principle had actuated him in opposing the direct primary. If that mode of nomination Is good for Representatives in Congress, legisla tors, county and municipal-officers, it Is difficult to comprehend why it is not good also for state officers. The explanation of Mr. Barnes' proposal is that he was making a last-ditch fight for control of state offices, for a remnant of political power. . The Republican party Has out grown men of the Barnes type. It will hereafter rule itself, notbe ruled by them. That Is not radicalism. No man can truly call men like Senator Root and Henry L. Stimson radicals in their political opinions. But they do maintain that If the majority of the party favor radical measures, the will of that majority shall prevail and the minority shall choose between bowing to that will and withdrawal from the party. When next the Re publican party comes to adopt a plat form, Mr. Root is more likely to be found among the conservatives than among the radicals, but he will not attempt to use any position the party may give him to silence the majority or to force it to accept the will of the minority. That is the striking difference be tween such men as Mr. Root and such men as Mr. Barnes. The latter assume that they are wiser than the people, and that they must thwart the people for the people's own good. In practice, they use their power to help their political and financial sup porters. In order to perpetuate that power. Thence has resulted the fla grant misrule .of New York state and city. The pretensions of the men who base their claim to rule on their su perior ability are there proved false by results. The victory of progress would have been Incomplete had not the defeat of Charles F. Murphy been followed by that of William Barnes. The pro gressive forties of all parties in New York can now proceed to enact-a pri mary law which will bring about real trials of strength between the parties In place of the sham battles between bosses who are In secret alliance to control alternately the spoils. HIS PERSONAL, "ML" The Oregonlan has been furnished by a friend with a copy of a public letter written by L. M. Lepper. presi dent of the Greater East Side Im provement Clubs Association, in pur ported explanation of his action in addressing. In the name of the organ ization but without its authority, a rambling and "insulting letter to the City Commission. Mr. Lepper makes the remarkable statement that when he signed the original contribution as "president" (It was on the stationery of the Association) it was a personal letter and nothing more. Doubtless the pronoun "we," In the Lepper doc ument, was used In the personal or editorial sense, though repeated cita tions to the attitude and purposes of the Association are made. Of course, this Lepper explanation Is an afterthought, worth somewhat less than the paper used for recording It. But The Oregonian's purpose herewith Is not so much to call atten tion to the pompous and trifling na ture of 'both the first and second Lep per letters as to say that the state ment he makes that The Oregonlan refused to print his second letter, giv ing his reasons for writing officially to the City Commission, though he meant to speak privately, is essentially false. It declined to print the ramb ling and irrelevant letter he submitted, because it contained a resume or repe tition of the first letter, already printed. But It distinctly notified Mr. Lepper that it would print any per sonal explanation or reply to the criticisms directed toward him he had to make; but he must confine himself to the question. Doubtless it Is too much to demand that any one of Lepper"s discursive literary and forensic habits stick to the point; but that is Leppers fault and the public's misfortune. OUR FAULTY COLLEGES. That the time Is at hand for a thor ough searching of heart as far as our colleges are concerned is conceded by our best educational men. Some concede it Joyfully, some sadly, but with few exceptions they are agreed about It. As long ago as April, 1910. Woodrow Wilson said at Pittsburg that "he knew the colleges of this country must bo reconstructed from top to bottom and that he knew America was going to demand it." The impression so general over the country that current college education Is a good deal of a sham finds coun tenance among the best thinkers we have. They speak of the influence im parted at some of our fashlouablo ed ucational resorts as a sort of flunkey ism. It alms at superficial and orna mental accomplishments. As one man puts it, the modern curriculum gives instruction in "how to keep a dance programme straight, eating in all its branches, how to live on credit, fra ternity house construction, the science of making the hair stand up straight." and much more of the same kind. Slurs of this kind may be read, not In periodicals of the underworld, but in magazines like the Forum, where grave subjects are seriously discussed. The fundamental fault found with the colleges is that they have ceased to be schools with a serious purpose. The heads chosen preferably for them are men of business noted for their capacity to raise money. The facul ties have been reared under fraternity Influence. Their minds are fixed on the Joys of hazing, the delights of fraternity house life, the incalculable benefits of athletics, and so on. Schol arship is contemned from the top of the institution downward. If It Is not openly ridiculed as a thing old-fash ioned and tasteless it is used merely as an advertisement. No doubt such views as these are somewhat too radi cal, but If there were no grounds for them they would not' have gained the currency they possess. Some of the popular definitions of the modern col lege are quoted by a writer in the December Forum. One says "it is a factory for turning raw material Into case-hardened athletes and kid-finished society leaders. Its work is marvelous. It can take an 18-year-old youth, with premature trousers and haystack hair and in four years can work him over into a calm-eyed football champion." Truly a splendid transformation. However exaggerated strictures like the above may be, it is undeniable that there is something wrong with the modern college. In the finer sense of the word many of these institu tions have ceased to be scats of schol arship. They are training schools for society, they provide entrance tickets to gilded drawing rooms, they impart a kind of culture which has often proved useful to political bosses, but Uo many of them have lost the Ideals which make great men. When Wood row Wilson was in the heat of the struggle to make Princeton a genuine educational institution he declared roundly that "he did not wish to be president of a country club parading under the title of a college." Many another college president must have shared his feeling, even If they had not the courage to speak out as he did. Very likely we have como to the point when a scientific study of the merits and defects of our colleges will be de manded by the public. The doctrine of efficiency Is terribly dreaded by the easy-going occupants of profes sorial chairs, but we fear they cannot escape from it. Their work, and espe cially their personal Influence upon the young, will be appraised, and, if we may believe tlw writer In the Forum to whom we have referred, it will be found wanting. One of the main complaints seems to be that the college instructor of our day has ceased to exert a moral influence upon his students. His classes come and go from day to day and he pours out upon them the allotted amount of lec turing and questioning, but there the matter ends. The football coach se lects his material with judicious care. The professor, who usually gets about half the coach's salary, takes what ever comes to him and is thankful. The coach rigorously rejects the In efficient and makes his work difficult in order to test his men to the utmost. The professor has to make "soft snaps" of his courses or they will be shunned by our young sybarites. The critics focus their attention upon two outstanding defects of col lege management. One pertains to the motives which are held out to youths for entering, the other per tains to admission requirements. It is said, somewhat sweeplngly no doubt, that the ordinary young man goes to college because his comrades "from the best families" do It. The colleges hold out as an Inducement to come that "their students belong to the best families." One of the princi pal benefits of a college education Is said to be "the friendships which it enables a young man to form with our best families." All this flows In the same stream with the flunkeylsm we spoke of a moment ago. Some severe observers have said that Americans are the most shameless flunkeys on earth. It would be a pity Indeed if this alleged National trait were found to have invaded our colleges, which ought to be democratic in heart and head. The appraisement which is bound" to be made before long will determine how much truth there Is in these criticisms. Fault is also found with the usual entrance requirements. The examina tion system does not produce satis factory results. Neither does the cer tificate system which the state univer sities have made so popular. Some new standard for college entrance will probably be devised as discussion pro ceeds. Perhaps a youth's general common sense and the motives he cherishes will count for more in the future than they have in the past. Mechanical requirements are logically Indefensible and they have proved dis appointing almost everywhere. No doubt the college of the future will be something radically different from anything we now have. It will be a school attended by people of all ages and both sexes. The lectures will be open to the whole public, but degrees will be granted only to a few persons who come up to high standards. Reed College is advancing toward some such enlargement with its numerous extension courses. Reading the an nouncements of them, it seems as if all Portland were going to school. One sees in this work something finer and saner than intercollegiate ath letics and the clamor for a huge en rollment In "the regular freshman class." THE BROWNING LOVE UTTTKRS. The love letters which passed be tween Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett, whom he presently married, are of world-wide Interest, both for their literary excellence and for their passionate affection as well. The let ters were mainly written in the years 1845 and 1846 and were published, with Judicious omissions, by the Har pers in - 1899.' The manuscript has been floating about the world for some seventy years, falling now into proper hands, now into clutches where the poetic authors would have shud dered to see them. Last Spring the letters were sold at public auction in London. To such base uses do the most precious things come in the course of time. Filled with the inner most heart secrets of two of the most sensitive beings who ever lived, both shrinking morbidly from public curi osity, this manuscript Is now hawked about as if it were a bale of drygoods. At the London sale it brought $32,000 and went to a dealer in curiosities. No doubt he thought the purchase a good speculation, believing that some millionaire or some unwholesome sensation seeker would give htm more than he paid for it sooner or later. Nobody who cares for delicacy of feeling or the sacredness of human In timacy has ever experienced much pride over the spectacle of these letters passing through so many soiled hands. When they were auctioned off last Spring an outcry was raised, but noth ing came of It at the moment. Ulti mately a project was set going to raise money enough by subscription to buy the manuscript. Up to the present it has yielded $ 1 5,000. but this Is not near ly enough. The dealer who holds the letters offers to turn them over to some public Institution at an advance of 10 per cent upon what they cost him. This means $35. ZOO, which is a tidy sum not growing on every bush in these dear times. One would natur ally suppose that the British Parlia ment would vote the necessary sum without delay for the sake of rescu ing two great National poets from dis. piteous treatment, but Parliament has other uses for its revenues. There are battleships to be built and favorite politicians to be rewarded with fat salaries. The British government, like most others, never has troubled Itself much over the welfare of living poets or the fame of dead ones. The love affair of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Is one of the most charming episodes in the history of literature. Elizabeth was a great scholar almost from childhood, re minding us of George Eliot and some of the women of earlier English his tory, such as Lady Jane Grey and Francis Bacon's mother. She knew both Greek and Latin well and had pursued her readings to an acquaint ance with Greek Christian Fathers. Among her younger poetic efforts was a translation of the Prometheus Bound of Aeschylus. When she was 27 years old and still heart hole the family moved to London. The cir cumstances of the city did not agree with Elizabeth's delicate constitution. She pined In the noise and bad air and finally broke a blood vessel. This accident, combined with a lasting af fection of the spine, rendered her a lifelong Invalid, and, until the time of her marriage, made her almost a re cluse, though she was able to go about when she wished. Mr. Barrett, her father, was a tyrant of the good, old romantic species. He had made up his mind, perhaps for eugenic reasons, that none of his three daughters ought to marry, and when Elizabeth showed a preference for Robert Browning his Ire was furiously excited. The first mention of Browning In her letters occurs in 1842. In 1844 she received a note from him. though it was of purely literary moment. "I had a letter from Browning the poet," she wrote to a friend, "which threw me Into testacies. Browning, the author of Paracelsus, the king of the mys tics." Once begun, their acquaintance had no intermission until it reached its beautiful climax. Browning visited Elizabeth constantly and surrounded her with flowers. His attentions were tireless. And day by day, even when they were in the same city, they ex changed letters, so that we know the history of their loves almost from hour to hour. It Is the manuscript of these letters which is now being hawked about in the London market begging for some morbid purchaser. Browning's courtship was necessarily kept secret, since Elizabeth lived In fear of - her father, whose affection was quite capable of cruelty. Her health improved under the stimulus of romantic love, and In the Fall of 1S4 a secret wedding was resolved upon. They were married in the sec ond week of September in St. Maryle bone Parish Church. Whenever in after years Browning visited England he went to this church to give thanks for the. blessing of his marriage with the woman he loved. Nothing more beautiful than their story has ever happened In the world. They went to economical Italy to keep house, thus making the most of slender re sources, and nothing marred their perfect happiness as long as Elizabeth lived except her father's unforgiving resentment. He never pardoned her disobedience. Her letters to him, full of passionate grief, were returned un opened, even the one she had written, when. In peril of death, she was ex pecting the birth of her child. Such Is parental affection when It takes the form of tyranny, as It so often did in those blessed Victorian years. It sometimes seems surprising that Elizabeth, who was as fragile as a flower, should have mustered up the courage to defy her father, but love works marvelous transformations. "I am as wholly yours as if you held me In your hand," she wrote to Robert in the June before their wedding, "and I nculd do for you any extravagance cs if it were a common thing." Nor was this mere fine writing. She meant what she said, and when the moment came for action she did not falter. But with all her courage she lived as a girl in an atmosphere of parental des potism which forbade her to inquire into her own personal affairs. When the preparations were making for the wedding Robert naturally wanted to know how much money she had, for they were both poor and must econo mize. Elizabeth could only tell him vaguely. She thought she had some thing like eight thousand pounds, but her father managed It for her and she was afraid to ask him for the par ticulars. "He would wonder how I should take a fancy to touch such matters even with the end of my fin ger." That was In the time when women were deemed too ethereal to meddle with cash. The Brownings dared destiny when they married upon their slender income, but they were good economizers In spite of their poetic genius, and it all came right in the end. A correspondent of the New York Herald explains tUe popularity of the "movies" by the absolute democracy which rules In them. The Herald agrees with him, but adds to the causes the absence of the "ticket spec ulator, the offensive usher and the supercilious box office attendant." We are not troubled with these nuisances in Portland, but we can add to the list of causes the opportunity to "drop in" at any time for a short period of entertainment at email cost. The "movie" is to the regular theater what a quick lunch Is to a full meal. Time was when some people simply gorged themselves with theatrical amusement by seeing first an operetta, then a farce and finally a three or five-act drama or comedy from 7 to 11 in the evening. Now they want their amusement often and a little at a time. Gifford PInchot declares absurd the statement that George W. Perkins would leave the Progressive party. If he did Mr. PInchot would be almost the only remaining angel, for Frank Munsey, Dan Hanna and the only "BUI" Fllnn have deserted one after another. But so hng as Mr. Perkins stands pat on his Progresslvlsm, the good people can be sure of the sinews of political war. A San Francisco girl has discovered a chemical which preserves clothing indefinitely. Now If someone will de vise a system to keep the styles from changing over night we may be able to put by a few shekels to buy new auto tires with in the Spring. All foreigners at Chihuahua, except Spaniards, will be respected by rebels. Spain lost Its voice by an ancient pol icy of naval and military unprepared ness which culminated In Inglorious disaster back In '98. Kaiser WUhelm Intends to sell some of his castles In order to economize. Lots 6f people would fare better by disposing of some of their castles even if they are, of the atmospheric variety. So far we are running sunny Call forala a neck-and-neck race for the warm Winter record. But there's no telling when the frost will hit the citrus belt. Toklo women have gone mad over the tango Introduced from America. We trust this unfortunate Incident will not lead to a renewal of strained relations. Now a distinguished doctor says tea and coffee are as bad as tobacco and liquor. Some of these ethical docs choose queer ways to advertise. If Murderer Lopez has escaped from the Utah mine we may next hear of him as a rebel General or aspirant for President of Mexico. Who knows? Why all this hubbub about the brutality of boxing? The kind we've been having hereabouts of late is about as brutal as ping pong. After Christmas we shall hear of a few score patriots who are willing to sacrifice themselves' on the altar of duty and.riin for Governor. We can see our way now to meet the expenditures peculiar to Christ mas, but look ahead with grim ap prehension to Easter eggs. General Villa again boasts that he will eat Christmas dinner in Mexico City. Does he intend going over to the Federal service? Now it Is claimed by a European authority that Imbeciles can be taught to write. That accounts for some poets we know of. Yes, Mildred. In writing of a social affair It Is quite permissible to refer to the section foreman as a leading railroad builder. Cuba apologized for Insult to three Americans. Cuba learned that les son In days of a stauncher American patriotism. A Chicago bishop w!U marry no couple unless the man (hows a clean bill of health. ' But why not,' also, the bride?, About time we were trying an ulti matum on Villa, since no one else pays any attention to them. Northwest stockmen would make theirs the leading industry. Nature Is with them In that plan. About time to grind the family ax and go In search of the annual Christ mas tree. But don't let some little chap find only a hole In his Christmas stocking. Portugal is talking of Canoes or row boats? a new navy. How good all the children have be come of latel Gleams Through the Mist Br Dean Colli aa. Way Is Fpus; I saw a kid by the window atandlng Where Chrlstmaa trlnketa were on display. His eyes with wonder and wish expanding. Watching a toy train whirr aaay. A ragged youngster: the type was plain; But how he arned for that little trainl 'There are things called Spugs la this world." aaid 1, -But I'll be hanged If I know Just why!" And there In the crowd, a little maiden Oaxed and her aoul was In her eyea Up at a tree, mith a riot laden Of amlTlng dollies of every l ie; she blinked end sighed as she turned away W'lil she get a do.l on the Christmas day 7 'There are thlnss called Spugs In tha world." said I, "But Til be hanged If I know Just whyl" I met a man In the clothing aectlon, l hrlitmas shopping, so he toid me, "I'll get my toy. after close Inspection. A good, stout, wearable suit." said he. nd Just downstairs was a fishing pole And skates and toys that would thrill tha soul. '"here are thlncs called Spugs In this ; world." said I, "But ril be hanged If I know Just why!" .1 1 aw friend In the bookstore, buying- ' A fine thesaurus that rhl-mit..', hn.m - 1 I know it's for me. but I can t hep sighing-' j '.., n a loy nanoon. When will men to the truth awake, lhat foolish gifts are the gifts that "take V -There are things called t-cugs la the world." said I, -But I'll be hanged It I know Just why." And Christmas morning, when everr present Was tlven at last, 'mid laugh and fun. I looked about me. and found It pieasantr-e ilgh every E1ft waa a foolish one. The hrlstmas feature that Dest csn rift The clouds of life. Is the dippy gift. "There are things called pugs In this world," said I. "But I'll be banged If I know Just whrt" "And now abldeth Faith, Hope and Charity, these three; and the greatest of these Is Charity." But even at that, why bang a benefit tango tea on hert Solemn Thought. Ho who sretidt a chrlstmaa gay isy pay the bills on New Year a day. It's some stunt to develop the real Christmas madness In a climate where cotton batting and Isinglass is as near as one can get to the "merry snow and beautiful slelghbells." e e e "Sir," said tha courteous officeboy, 1 have clipped this pome from an Easts ern paper and thought you might Ilk.) to use it." I read: j "Will llcht Sol ride." Tha new charities department will Include An antl-aulclde bureau. A relief and prison branch. Inquiry division for tracing loet aad missing persons. A woodvard where homeless men caq earn board and lodging. A lega: and e.enral advisory board. A medical dispensary for the needy. "How did you know that this was poetry, my son," I asked in a hushed voice. "By Its shape," he replied. . "My son," I replied with a tear In my, eye, "you are foreordained to be a lead-i lng critic in this fair land of ours." e e Passing It On. I'm fond of "Annie Laurie": To bear It la a boon. Nohody In that aong declares That he'a a Zulu coon. Washington BarsJd. And I Ilka "Highland Mary." j The rhymea are only fair. i But no one in that song asserta j Uis loved one is a bear. i Cleveland plain Deals. , I Ilka -The Mlller-a Daughter." ' I do; I alwaya did. , Yet no one In that lyrlo aaya; j Believe him. she's soma kid! New Tork Hall. And I tike "Suwanee River. j When uttered sweet and low. For no one la that song confides That xnothera got a beau. Judge. i J like "last Hose of Pmnmer." , llecause It's sweet and clean. And ail the llnea and all the words -Are there for what they mean. Chicago Kecord-Heraid. I like ""Kathleen Mavourneen." It haa a atately rhyme. And alngers cannot tear it oft In syncopated t:me. e a And yet they sometimes do modern ise old things, and we should never be surprised to find them wearing "Old Kentucky Home" In such styles and shades as this: Oh the ragtime aun am ahlnlng on my eld Kentucky home; TIs Summer time and darktea alt are gay Thev are ahnfflln", buck-and-wlngln. Meadowa bloomln. birdies slncln'. And the syncopated banjs rlngln' Jduslc all the day. Oh It's dandy; It's the candy: There Is Andy. Eph and Mandy Kollln' on the cabin floor. It's sure a sight. Let the Joy. birds keep a-flockin' Until hard times cornea a-knockln" Then ta-ta. Kentucky Home Good night Chorus We are leavln'; cease your grlevln"; I.Iow your nose my lady shady For awsy Into tha cold world wa must roam. Snap your flngera; Hear the singers; , tine more song Then come along From our ragtlma Kentucky Home. Approximate Hlatoxr S5,i81 B. C. Brlgham S. Shlnbone succeeds In knocking out five of his neighbors and kidnaps their wives. Polygamy established s a divine insti tution. 465 B. C. Themistocles, prominent and well-known Athenian Jingo, haa recall successfully Invoked against Arlstidos, who favored a "naval holi day" and seemed Inclined toward a pol icy of disarmament. 149 B. C. Cato. the Censor, declares) that "Carthajre must be destroyed." Later historians have ascertained that the Carthage mentioned was not a problem play nor a questionable reeL and furthermore that Cato was hardly hlirh-nrowed enough to pay much at tention to the morality of the drama or the movies. 178 A. D. Advisors of Louis XVL of France, after careful snrvy announce that the high cost of ... 11? of which the populace has I-en complaining- Is largely duo to tariff comlitlona. In elastic currency and extravagance among the masses. 19:0 A D. Lat Oregon wool-bearing sheep captur-d anl sent to the mu seum of the Smithsonian Institution. Every time I hear someone sing "The Curse of an Achinir Heart," I feel like wiring collect to the author: "Cheer up. oM man! Even at that, God reigns in the Government at Washington t I lives." e e e I wish Huerta would stay In the pal ace to tank up. Every time he slips out around the corner to hoist a few, some reporter pets the rumor started again that he has "fled the country." e e e If Pankhurst had caused me as much annoyance as she has John Bull, would I pinch her when she started to go Into exile in France? I'd buy her ticket without any return coupon. Still, perhaps John doesn't like the Idea of a real, bomb-throwing, window smashing suffragette being at large among the art treasures of that dear Paris. TaaaaaaBy'a I'ollllral Krssuaiy. New York Tribune. Teacher Now, who can tell me what political economy ls?- Mlke (embryo Tammany statesman) Glttln the most votes for the least money.