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PORTLAND, SUNDAY. AUGUST JO, 1914
OUR BASIC TROUBLE.
The Oregonian discovers that the
Salem Capital Journal has at last un
riorfaken tr discuss the several ques
tions recently directed by this paper
to Its Salem Democratic neighbor,
And to use them as the text tor a Ions
and learned discussion of the evils of
protective tariff and the benefits of
ftf trade. The oregonian nau
sought to learn why (1) if a made
in-Oregon movement Is entitled t
support, a made-in-America policy i:
not similarly deserving? and (2) 1
utiv nomtirratic Oreeron newspaper
professing non-partisanship, had ever
minnortpd a Republican candidate
aeainst a Democratic candidate?
Our ingenuous contemporary re-k-
savintr that its editor had
"supported Mr. Fulton for practically
the same reasons mat ne tninhs oeu
ator Chamberlain should be re
elected now. viz.. experience In the
National Legislature and faithful
,.-iHs.. tn his i-nnstituents." Let us
hnno thnf nnr Salem friend's inten
tions are better than his memory and
that he will try again. Air. ruuon
was not renominated in the Repub
lican primary for Senator, and was
not a candidate in the election, and
therefore he was opposed by no
Democrat. We are left to conclude
that the Salem editor was indulging
in the favorite Democratic pastime,
in 1908. of instructing the Republi
cans whom they should nominate, re
serving the right, of course, to oppose
the Republican nominee in the elec
tion. A confession that he Indorsed
Senator Fulton In the Republican pri
mary and the fact that he subse
quently supported Senator Chamber
lain in the election tjardly satisfies the
conditions of The Oregonian's inquiry,
or justifies the shallow and insincere
pretense of non-partisanship.
The great part of the Salem paper's
long article is taken up with a gen
eral tariff review and a reaffirmation
of the varying Democratic doctrines
of anti-protection, which have ranged
from free trade to tariff-for-revenue
and a revenue tariff with incidental
protection. Whatever the Democratic
policy is now. it Is not the late Payne
Aldrleh tariff. It appears to be em
bodied in the Wilson-Underwood tar
iff, which is neither fish nor fowl,
nor good red herring, but which,
nevertheless, protects amply seventy
five per cent of the products of the
South and leaves exposed to the ten
der mercies of foreign competition
nearly, seventy per cent of the
products of the Middle West and the
Pacific Coast. No other tariff meas
ure ever placed on the statute books
by an American Congress com
pares with the Wilson-Underwood
act in outright sectionalism and dis
criminative favoritism. The present
act is the product of the vicious and
indefensible system of log-rolling
between interested beneficiaries, op
erating through serviceable Congress
men, that was long most vigorously
attacked by such Democratic voices
as the Salem paper. Now they have
utterly reversed themselves into a
purely partisan attitude of defense for
a strictly partisan measure. The holy
indignation over the wicked political
gystem that produced a protective
tariff is changed to hypocritical
laudation of a mongrel tariff (pro
tection for the manufacturer and free
trade for the farmer) evolved by
Identically the same methods.
Will the Salem newspaper, or any
other, now repeat the expressions it
was uttering a few months ago about
the highly prosperous condition of
the United States under the Demo
cratic tariff? What has become of
those loud protestations that the coun
try was never so well off and its
people so contented? Where, oh,
where, are the ejaculatory denuncia
tions of the Congressional and Journal
istic calamity-howlers who dared say
that factories were closing down, mills
running half time, workmen dis
missed, payrolls reduced, wages de
clining? Where, indeed?
The people of the United States
were confidently assured, a year ago,
that the industrial balances would be
restored and all labor happily em
ployed as soon as the beneficent
Wilson-Underwood tariff got into op
eration. Then that benign day was to
arrive when the currency act should
get safely through Congress. Then
came another postponement and a
longer painful period of waiting, until
the trust bills should be finally en
acted. Meanwhile the patient lingers
while the doctors debate. They will
learn what is the matter, no doubt,
at the autopsy.
A common question addressed to
The Oregonian by Democratic papers
Is as to whether it would repeal the
present tariff and restore the Payne
Aldrich act. The evils of that abhor
rent measure under which, with all
its defects, the country' prospered
are held up to shocked contemplation
and the charge is made that The Ore
gonian would go back to the reaction
ary reign of th wicked trusts and
other protected interests. The Oregon
ian would indeed prefer prosperity
under the Payne-Aldrich tariff to ad
versity under the Wilson-Underwood
act. and so would, or should, every
other Journal and every' other patriot
ic citizen.
But The Oregonian would avert the
hazards, uncertainties and discrim
inations of any political tariff, Demo
cratic or Republican. It believes in,
and has long demanded, a scientific
non-partisan revision of the tariff. It
has said, and it repeats, that a tariff
commission, made up of Informed
men. ought to be appointed, to ap
portion the correct measure of pro
tection or of no protection, to even
American Industry. Because we
have had no such tariff, and
because American producers and
inriran manufacturers are ham
pered by the competition of cheap!
foreign products, and because they
must nevertheless maintain a high
wage scale, and operate under other
conditions peculiar to the United
States, industry languishes, and the
American producer and the American
workmen are not now able to stand
In the sun of prosperity.
HOPE NOT YET LOST.
Senator Chamberlain and Senator
Lane are reported in a current news
dispatch from Washington as "be
lieving that the river and harbor bill
will pass the Senate after the lopping
off of some of the items, but that the
retention of the Oregon projects is
probable."
The New York Sun, one of the im
portant Eastern newspapers that vig
orously opposed the bill in its present
form, issues an appeal to President
Wilson, Senator Simmons and Repre
sentative Underwood, to protect the
treasury by various economical meas
ures. "The first action," says the Sun,
"will be the amendment of the pend
ing river and harbor bill by the ex
clusion from it of every appropria
tion except those for maintenance,
payments of projects now under con
tract, and for works recommended
for military reasons."
President Wilson nas pointedly de
clined to recommend to Congress that
it pass the pending bill. He does not
appear to be persuaded of its merit
as a whole. Hasn't he heard from
Portland?
But it appears now to be obvious
that sentiment of the country will
support a reasonable measure, ex
cluding the pork. The amendment
of the current bill is practicable.
If Senator Lane and Senator Cham
berlain will shift their support of a
bill, tainted with pork, that cannot
pass, to a modified measure that
ought to pass, they will be com
mended at home.
MODERN DESTRUCTIVENESS.
Reports of artillery fire directed by
aeroplanes bring to attention one of
the most effective wiles of modern
ingenuity. Man, as a fighting ani
mal in 1914, is here seen in an en
tirely new light. His capacity for de
struction is added to many fold. He
is hurling death a mile, or two miles,
or three. In an entirely new way a
way that partakes more of mathe
matics than of gory warfare.
in airman hurtling suddenly aloft,
discovers a hostile column. Through
powerful glasses an artillery oincer
in tvi airshin Is able to approximate
the range. Completing his data with
a few movements of his rangeflnder
and a quick computation on a
scratch pad, he presses a buzzer and
clicks the information to a group of
artillery officers who are hidden, with
thoir imnlements of slaughter, behind
a distant knoll. The men behind the
cannon see nothing except the mil in
ttnt nf them. Yet. reducing the
wireless message from above, they
send a ranging tire over tne niaocit.
Another me.ssatre comes from the
aeroplane. It notes corrections in the
firing data. Presently the range is
secured and then the field rifles belch
forth as rapidly as expert gunners can
operate them.
The men in the aircraft, darting
forward when the action has ceased,
find a field covered with dead and
dying. The men behind the guns con
tinue tn nothinir. What had meant
death to perhaps a thousand men had
been nothing more to their opponents
than a gun drill.
RUM OLD TIME.
What a rum thine time is," re
marks one of Charles Dickens' charac.
ters. This humble - philosopher, a
t,irnirv in a debtors' prison, was con
templating the downfall of one of his
prisoners. "Bless my dear eyes, saia
Mr. Roker, shaking his head slowly
ciha tn eirir, and trazinsr abstract
edly out of the grated window before
him, as if he were fondly recalling
some peaceful scene of his early youth,
it soemt hut vesterday that he
whopped the coal heaver down Fox-
under-the-Hill there. 1 tmnK i can
see him now a-coming up the Strand
between the two street keepers, a lit
tle snhereri' hv the bruising, with a
natnh n' wineear and brown paper
over his right eyelid, and that 'ere
lovely bulldog as pinned the nttie doj
arterwards a-following at his heels.
What a rum thing time is, ain't it,
Neddy?"
What a rum thing time is: it seems
hut vesterday that La Blancne
whopped Jack Dempsey down San
Francisco way, yet the riles or ine
Oregonian say it was twenty-five years
a-wn The rnlumn devoted to extracts
from The Oregonian of that period
the other day mentioned tnat. Dave
amDbell. champion of Oregon, wno
seconded Dempsey, had arranged a
ten-round bout with Jim cometi, tne
oung boxing instructor in the Olym-
-i,,k inH it seems but vesterday
that Dempsey whopped Campbell, over
he Washinrton line in lewis county,
ome hark to Portland and appropri
ated the festooned barouche the fire-
boys had expected to use in welcoming
another victor.
Fame in the pugilistic ring is fleet
ing. La Blanche is utterly forgotten.
fnrho.tt rose to the world s champion
ship, surrendered the crown to an
other, who lost to another, who gave
up to a negro. Dempsey nas lain
Mnnnt falvarv Cemetery for nearly
twenty years, a victim of tuberculosis.
;ut what of Dave Campbell.' ine
"whooDine" over in Lewis County
changed the course of his life. He is
ead, too, but on the bosom or tne
Willamette rests a trim and powerful
flreboat which guards the safety of
Portland's waterfront and it bears the
honored name of David Campbell.
Pugilism never brought real ana
lasting fame to anyone. More often
has brought soddenness or in neaitn
, fieetinir nonnlaritv it provides en
courages dissipation. If he who wears
laurels avoius dnnK ne almost in
variably meets a physical conqueror
erected by long periods or idleness aim
luxury followed by frenzied training
for another battle.
The fight that turned David Camp-
bell
from the ring made him ulti
mately a valued city servant. From
semi-volunteer among the cit s nre-
flghters he rose by successive
nrnmntinns throuarh display oi cour
age and executive ability to the high-
nnsiMon in the department, in a
disastrous Are he went in where he
would cot ask his subordinates to go
an
lost his life. He is numDerea
am
one- the oitv's unforsrotten heroes.
xhns does the flight of years play
i-ith the idols of men. Thus does it
change the course of man's endeavor
and its fateful Incidents bring fleeting
popularity or honored memory. Of
four men at a ringside in San Fran
cisco who figured prominently in the
news of twenty-five years ago, one Is
in oblivion, another is a back-number,
a third has long been in an untimely
grave and a fourth has left a record
THE SUNDAY OREGOJiTAN, PORTLAND,
that is an example to the youth of the
land in self-sacrifice and fidelity to
duty.
What a rum thing time is!
THE FASHION FAMINE.
A deplorable effect of the war
which has not received the attention
it deserves is the famine in fashions
that Is likely to fall upon us with its
terrible blight. Anxious souls are al
ready asking "what Is to take the
place of Paris fashions?" French
and German wines we can dispense
with because we can make them our
selves. In fact, we have long been
in the habit of doing so. Nothing is
easier for a real connoisseur of wines
than to manufacture champagne,
burgundy, and nlersteiner in his
workshop. It is as facile and expedi
tious a process as the production of
ancient masters in our art factories.
But fashions are a different matter.
The palate of the wine bibber is
fallible and the eye of the art-loving
millionaire is readily beguiled, but
nothing can blind a woman of fashion
to 'the origin of the structures with
which she crowns her head and be
decks her body. When they breathe
the atmosphere of Paris she knows
it Instantly either by nose or eye or
by some more subtle sense organ.
Perhaps it is by intuition that she
discerns the genuine and condemns
the imitative but it is impossible to
deceive her.
Nor will she be satisfied with hon
est substitutes. Mr. Edward Bok and
other great reformers have spoken
many a timely and earnest ivuru i"
behalf of American fashions but all
in vain. One might as well seek to
put high-toned society off with Amer
ican tenors or American plays. Our
affluent epicures of art and clothing
know what they want and if envious
fate closes the door to it they will go
without rather than accept a substi
tute. "Either the best society or
none at all," was Jefferson's advice
to young lawyers. "Either genuine
Paris fashions or a naked body" is
the heroic cry of our millionaire
dames and dudes.
With people perched on such a sub
lime pinnacle of sacrifice it Is useless
to argue. While the war rages Paris
models are out of the question. Such
gifted artists in silk and feathers as
have not gone to the front are busy
drilling in the reserves. They have
no time for creating new bonnets and
gowns and if they had their triumphs
would probably be lost in crossing the
broad Atlantic. The German cruisers
would particularly relish making
prizes of them to adorn their own
fair dames, who of course are all in
the same boat with our American
fashionables. After a year or two of
warfare a German ballroom will look
as frumpish as any- in America. The
women of both countries will have
"absolutely nothing fit to be seen in.
The rieath of h rea d-winners and the
widowing of impoverished mothers
are of course sad to renect upon dul
it iB the plight of high society in this
fashion famine that draws one's bit
terest tears.
THE REHABILITATION OF ADAM.
An e-n-nerlition sent Ollt and main
tainor! hv the TTniversltv of Pennsyl
vania has been making excavations at
the ruins of Nippur, an ancient city
about 100 miles southeast of Bagdad,
for the last 26 years. A great many
thousand clay tablets Inscribed with
ouneiform nharaoters have been found
there and carefully transported to the
university, where tney are preserveu
in inviolable cabinets. Most of the
tablets are broken. The pieces have
heen ssi.rllv spattered bv time and
chance and all of the precious cunei
form writing is encrusted with the
accumulations of the ages, rney nave
loin in the ruins nf Xinnur ever since
the time of Hammurabi, some 2500
years before Christ, and would per
nor,, have lain there undisturbed until
the day of judgment had it not been
for the enterprise of the university or
Pennsylvania. Assyriologists have
made such progress in the study of
the ancient language of Nippur that
they are able to decipher the tablets
and translate them, although not
mam- have as vet heen taken in hand.
This language is called the bumerian.
One of the greatest oumenan
scholars in the world is Professor
Stephen Langdon, of the University
of rwforrl He is an American by
birth and his Oxford chair, which
goes by the curious title of tne &ninito
phair -ivas founded bv a Cincinnati
merchant of that name. Naturally
Professor Langdon's intellectual cu
riosity was attracted to the great mass
of clay tablets which had been accu
mulating for so many years at the
University of Pennsylvania, and last
October he made a visit to Philadel
phia to examine them. In the course
of his explorations through the inter
minable collection he at length light
ed upon a triangular fragment which
instantly aroused his attention. Like
all the rest, it was obscured by In
crustations, but such is his vast eru
dition that he was able to glimpse the
meaning. He saw that he had in his
hand an account of the Flood much
more ancient than the one given in
the Hebrew Bible and differing from
it In strange particulars. Making an
accurate copy of the tablet, he set
himself to translate it as soon as he
returned to Oxford.
This ancient account of the Deluge
Informs us that it was sent by the
goddess Ea to destroy the race of men
who had offended her in some way
which either the tablet or Professor
Langdon's translation does not make
clear. The "waters of Ea began to
possess the fields on the first day of
the first month and did not abate
until the ninth day of the ninth
month." Evidently this is a mere
ritualistic expression not to be taken
literally. Indeed, another account of
the flood from the Nippur tablets safrs
that it rained only seven days and
seven nights, which seems far more
likely, if one may speak of likelihood
in these grave matters. Professor
Langdon finds that only one man with
his belongings was saved from Ea's
flood. His name was Tagtug. mean
ing, "gardener," and he naturally cor
responds with our Hebrew Noah, the
husbandman. But this Tagtug is in
comparably more interesting than
Noah because in the Nippur tablet he
also plays the traditional part of
Adam. It was he who committed the
great original sin and brought death
upon all his descendants.
Professor Langdon has deciphered
this fact from two other fragments of
the Flood tablet which were photo
graphed for him at the University of
Pennsylvania after he had translated
his first excerpt. The Flood story in
terested him so deeply, being the old
est account in existence, that he de
sired to piece the broken tablet to
gether and read the whole of it. Be
fore this could be done the missing
pieces must be found. They lay some
where among the thousands In the
university stores, but nobody knew
where to lav hands upon them. A
young woman in the employ of the
university, who has become an adept
at piecing together these puzzling bits
of broken clay, was set at work upon
the task and in an amazingly short
time she had done what was wanted.
Two pieces were fished out which ex
actly fitted each other and Professor
Langdon's triangular piece as well.
More than that, they were Inscribed
in the same Sumerlan cuneiform
characters by the same individual
hand. Miss Connorton, the young
woman we have mentioned, is so
great an expert that she can settle
questions of this sort beyond all dis
pute. So there was no doubt at all
that the right pieces had been found
and photographs of them were forth
with sent to Professor Langdon.
He has found by deciphering the
complete tablet that Tagtug, the Su
merian Noah, committed the sin of all
sins by eating of the tree of life, not
by eating an apple. Hood River ought
to breathe a sigh of relief upon learn
ing of this discovery. The ancient
obloquy of the apple must have
weighed heavily upon those who cul
tivate it and the common account of
the Fall becomes all the more exas
perating now that we find it to have
been pure misapprehension. In the
Sumerian account, which goes back
to the very beginning of time, the ap
ple is not even mentioned. The tree
of life is referred to passingly in Gen
esis, but it plays no particular part
in the sad drama. The Sumerlan ac
count brings it squarely before the
footlights. Tagtug partook of the tree
of life, contrary to the command of
his god, and thus brought death into
the world.
Professor Langdon has gone farther
in his investigations. He has de
ciphered, with fair .probability, what
"the tree of life was." It was a medi
cinal plant, the cassia or cinnamon
tree. Tagtug was tempted to eat of
it by the serpent with whom we are
familiar, so that after all the Sumer
ian account of the Fall is enough like
our own to prevent any rude shock to
the faith of those who deem such
matters Important.
WORLD MAKING.
Speculations about the origin of the
universe are harmless and sometimes
diverting. They offer an inviting
field for the activities of restless in
tellects, and, since they affect no
great financial Interest, they are not
likely to lead to war and bloodshed.
To be sure, when the theologians have
fixed their affections upon any par
ticular fheory they are apt to defend
It somewhat violently, but since their
efforts are confined to language, at
least in modern times, no dire mis
chief results. Would that all wars
might be reduced to logomachies.
The gain to mankind would be great.
Another heantv nf these speculations
about the creative process Is their
limitless variety. xnere are enuue"
of them and diversity enough to sat
isfy all tastes, even the most exacting,
and since one theory- is as likely to be
tr,,e a another there is no lust ground
for complaint or Invidious compari
sons among their votaries. j.nuc
.ho litre to helieve that the Almighty
called the universe into being by his
word of command are as near me
truth, no doubt, as those who main
tain that it originated by a tedious
process of evolution.
Some teach, that the worlds were
made by a gradual collection of little
nartinies whioh once floated freely
through space, enjoying a lawless lib
erty which did tnemseives nu guuu
jnri marie them worthless for all prac
tical purposes. Once brought together
In the shape or a pianet. mese duuuk
Korliris wore found caDable of produc
ing trees, animals, human beings and
Kaisers as time untolded tneir possi
hiiities This is Professor See's ac
count of the creation and nobody can
deny that it possesses a serene oeauu
quite unlike the violent surmises of
La Place, Kant and sweoenDorg em
bodied in their Nebular Hypothesis.
It mav surprise some readers to learn
that the great theologian Swedenborg
nroo tho true inventor of the Nebular
Hypothesis, as he was of a number of
other scientific doctrines now as
cribed to other men. The Philosopher
Kant worked it out inuepeiiueiuij
some years later than Swedenborg
and La Place finally amassed the
glory of It.
This theory teaches that the worlds
were formed from nebulas, or clouds
of star dust, which condensed under
the mutual attraction of their parti
cles and in the course of time formed
solid spheres. With condensation their
substance heated to a temperaure
which melted the Igneous rocks, while
subsequent contraction upon cooling
folded the earth's surface, like those
of other planets, into depressions and
mountain chains. This hypothesis
runs along so smoothly that it has
always been suspected of deceit. It
is like a plausible politician or a
dealer in gold bricks or any other
merchant of false pretenses. La
Place's nebular theory gained much
of its fashionable hold on college pro
fessors and unorthodox preachers by
Ignoring difficulties. For instance, It
never has been able to throw a ray
of light upon the retrograde motion
of the planet Neptune, but It met the
emergency by closing Its saintly eyes
and saying nothing, a course of con
duct whose success highly recom
mends it.
Nobody knows what the nebulas
really are. These cloudy heavenly
phenomena may be collections of star
dust and they may not. They may be
star gas, a substance by no means so
poetical as dust, but quite as big with
possibilities. Recent astronomy un
der the inspiration of the spectroscope
has verged noticeably toward the con
viction that the nebulas must be gas
and that Swedenborg, therefore, and
those who robbed him of his fame
were wrong in their assumptions.
The French chemist, Dr. J. Meunier,
taking it for granted that the nebulas
are gaseous masses, has devised a
new theory of creation. It is a prop
erty of some gases to explode when
tho,- oro io-nited Dr. Meunier as
sumes that the nebulas are richly sup
plied with material ot mis sort, me
spark may have been applied by a
wandering meteor, or by a comet.
We can think of dozens of possioie
wave to start the conflagration. Once
set going, it burns faster and faster
until all the gas is consumed; in net,
it burns explosively, if Dr. Meunier
can be relied upon.
The explosion in this case lasts tor
hundreds of years, but that makes no
difference. The principle is the sa,me.
t-o are ant to think of every explo
sion as an instantaneous affair. It
begins and ends in tne winn oi an e e
as far as common experience goes,
but such experience is deceptive. If
the earth had a core of dynamite to
within a hundred miles of the surface
we should all be Just as safe as we
are now because the superincumbent
weight of the crust would make an(
AUGUST 30,
1914.
explosion impossible. The force of
the dynamite would be less tnan urni
of the pressure from above. But that
circumstance is merely curious. It is
neither here nor there in our present
discussion. More to the point is the
fact which we are going to relate.
Suppose the earth's orbit were paral
leled from beginning to end with a
ring of dynamite. And suppose that
as you read these words the ring were
exploded by a detonating cap Just be
hind the earth. No harm would be
done. None whatever. Whoever
wishes to try the experiment may do
so without any fear of consequences,
because the earth travels faster in its
orbit than the explosion would in the
dynamite and we should therefore al
ways keep ahead of the danger. But
be careful to attach your fuse behind
the earth, not ahead of it. A mistake
tn this particular would be very
unpleasant.
F,rom facts of this kind we easily
understand how it may require cen
turies for the explosion of a nebula to
be consummated. When it is all over
a great variety of combustion prod
ucts are left throughout the volume
of the new world. They are hot to
begin with, as one would naturally
suppose after such an experience, but
they cool off In time and thus the
conditions become suitable for life.
Dr. Meunier holds that all worlds
have originated after this fashion and
so passes on to the conclusion that all
of them are substantially similar,
with inhabitants as nearly like hu
man beings as circumstances permit.
On a huge planet like Jupiter only
dwarfs could dwell, while Mars may
very probably be populated with
giants. Gravitation would crush a
John L. Sullivan on Jupiter, but on
little Mars he could frisk about like
a Spring lamb.
THE DRY SFBLL.
Oregonians now know by experi
ence what a "dry spell" really means.
Never before have we had such a
drouth, or at any rate hardly ever.
Tne oldest Inhabitant racks his mem
ory in vain to find the like. The rec
ords of the Weather Bureau blush for
their inability to produce a parallel.
Since early in June it has not rained.
A few miserable drops have fallen
now and then. Just enough to make
us want more, but nothing like rain.
The ground is dry deep beneath tne
surface. Usually by digging a few
feet moisture is reached, but not this
Summer. The farther you go toward
the center of the earth the dryer the
soil is. Trees with long taproots, like
the oak, ash and walnut, keep their
leaves fresh, so there must be damp
ness somewhere in the depths, but no
common explorer can hope to find It.
Walnuts only nine or ten years old,
whose taproots are not yet fully ex
tended downward, feel the drouth and
long since ceased to make new growth
except in favored localities. Acorns
and hazelnuts have ripened weeks be
fore their due time. Filbert trees
matured their crop In Jul-, and a
very good crop it was, considering the
season.
Apple trees standing in a dust
mulch continue to grow a little and
their fruit is maturing normally, but
those in grain fields and pastures suf
fer terribly. The leaves are falling
prematurely and some of the new
twigs have positively withered up as
if they had been scorched. Let the
orchardist learn a lesson and attend
to his cultivation hereafter.
But there Is a bright side to the
picture. When the parching wind is
still for a day or two the attentive
ohservcr ran detect new shoots put
ting forth on apple trees and walnuts.
Their fresh, cool green contrasts
sharply with the somber foliage that
has stood the heat and Duraen ot tne
d-outh. Well-watered gardens thrive
bounteously in the warm days and
fresh nights. There is some mois
ture in the air after sunset wnicn tne
.roos ohoorh thrnneh their leaves, and
If a little more is wisely provided by
the husbandman all goes wen. me.
encashes tomatoes and corn are
full of promise wherever they are
irrigated Judiciously.
THE GREATER DICKENS.
It is wonderful how Dickens' fame
is growing. Not many years ago we
were told by extremely wise people
that he would soon be forgotten. Tre
mendous geniuses like Kipling were
to put out his light forever. But it Is
Kipling's light that is failing, while
matrons1 hnrns briehter than ever.
His fame Is not only Increasing; it Is
assuming a steady splendor wnicn re
minris one of the stars of the first
magnitude. The world is. ransacked
for scraps of his manuscript. His
letters are sacred, his most trivial
paragraphs are treasured.
It was once supposed that Dickens'
views upon the condition of the poor
were mere sentimentality. They
grew out of his emotional nature,
we were told. Some even questioned
thni. sinoerltv .tfistirina: us that they
were part and parcel of the "Dickens
stagecraft," Or the "Dickens pose," as
oomo oaiieri it Now a manuscript has
come to light which -proves that the
great novelist had made a serious
study of economics. There is no trace
of socialistic philosophy in this short
production, but it leaves no doubt that
Dickens was perfectly conversant with
the conventional economics of his
time. If that phase of the science
was transitory and mischievous, he
could not be blamed for it, any more
than Dante could for working the
Ptolemaic astronomy into his poem.
A collection of Dickens' letters as
yet unpublished has just been ac
quired by Charles J. Sawyer, a London
collector. It contains, among the rest,
one written not long before the final
breakdown which closed the novelist's
marvelous career. He was then giv
ing his "Farewell Readings." The let
ter was written in April. It says, "I
am in a different place every day and
shall have no rest until after the 12th
of June, when I finish for good ana
all." Rest came sooner than he ex
pected. The messenger called him on
June 9 and he read no more in this
world. What is he doing over yon
der? Has all that wonderful light
gone out and all that beautiful power
failed forever and evermore?
OIR CALL TO COLORS.
'There is a call to colors in Amer
ica, but it Is In the ways of peace.
The war in Europe haa opened the
door to commerce with South Amer
ica and an enormous trade is ours if
we will but meet the several condi
tions that are necessarily imposed.
R. G. Dun & Co. present figures
showing that one-third of exports of
manufactured articles from the coun
tries at war goes to South America.
This one-third amounts to nearly $1,
000,000,000 annually. Of the total ex
ports and imports of the South Amer
ican countries the United States has
had not more than 10 per cent.
The conditions that must be met
Include the organization of a credit
system on lines different from those
pursued in the United States, the
erection of branch banks to take care
of the financial business, the estab
lishment of a merchant marine and
the introduction of goods by agents
who speak Portuguese and Spanish.
Perhaps the most serious obstacle
to acquisition of the South American
trade Is the lack of ocean carriers,
but the Government Is devising means
to fill this want. The Government. It
Is to be presumed, will rise to the
occasion.
In South America payments at
ninety to 120 days are considered
cash. The Electric Railway Journal
tells of a Brazilian paper dealer who
recently attempted to place an order
for 10,000 tons of paper in New York.
He had been importing from Ger
many at ninety days' draft, but could
buy in New York only on confirmed
banker's credit or a gold basis. He
did not buy. If American manufac
turers or Jobbers had had an estab
lished agency in Rio de Janeiro to
look up this man's credit a valued
customer might have been acquired.
Personal representation is said to
be essential. It would seem likely
that numerous agents who heretofore
ronresented KuroDean houses would
! now bo at liberty to acquire new con
nections. These are men familiar
with the ways and languages of the
country In which they are established.
They would be invaluable if their
services could be obtained. Suitable
representation is not a serious prob
lem to the large manufacturer, while
several small concerns, each of which
could not alone afford to employ
traveling salesmen, could combine in
that particular. Indifferent packing
has been one serious complaint
against American shipments, but It la
a fault that is readily remedied.
There is no factor In this Hat of
conditions that cannot be met. Amer
ican enterprise and ingenuity are
broad and big enough to dispose of
them all. The prlge is an immense
one. Once all trade obstacles were
overcome the United States would
have practically its own way in South
America so long as the war lasted.
Thereafter friendly relations thus es
tablished and the favorable introduc
tion of American goods ought to In
sure the retention by this country of
at least one-half the trade.
No more toys from Germany until
this cruel war Is over. The last cargo
reached New York last week. Toy
making Is a great industry in some
German cities. It keeps the peasants
of the Black Forest busy on Winter
nights, ekes out many a scanty income
and gladdens the heart of childhood
everywhere. But war cares no more
for childhood's Joys than for men's
lives. It "cares for nothing, all must
go."
If thunderstorms sound like artil
lery at Coos Bay and floating trees
suggest wrecked battleships at Sea
side, how must even the passing
clouds affect the people within strik
ing distance of the fracas?
Swiss children will harvest the
crops while the men lie about in
military camps on the frontier. The
Swiss army gets all the bounties of
war without having to fight for them.
An aggregation of New York women
in deep mourning will have a peace
parade. How the spinsters ao nate
to see the already Inadequate suppu
of men reduced!
American expatriates in London ap
peal to the United States to save them
from English drafting officers. uj
all means send them to the rront,
our verdict.
Park board engineers subtract 241
feet from the reputr-.' ru-lght of Mult
nomuh Falls. The beauty of the falls,
however, still remains Intact.
Colonel Osnoblchln says the Rus
slan armv will march on to Berlin.
Of course, if dear old Osnoblchln aays
so it must be true.
A fine Philadelphia cow brought
$5010. Why, that's enough money to
keep a family in milk and butter a
whole year.
Adiournment of Congress is now
susreested for October 1. Regular
will o' the wisp is this 1914 adjourn
ment date.
T h Japanese cruiser Is unable to
get any clew to the whereabouts of
the Leipzig. Perhaps tne i-reipzig a
her first.
It Is charged that some of the com
batants are using dum-dum bullets
But the censors remain dumb on the
subject.
The British army Is sending no
news to London. And this Is one
case where no news is not good news
By the by, what has become of that
reduced cost of living tne Democrats
were promising us some time ago 7
In these exciting times, every man
who looks like a foreigner in a Euro
pean country is a suspected spy.
And not a word for nearly a week
now as to whether Jack Johnson haa
been diapatched to the front.
Dearth of imported toys In conse
quence of the war will start a boom
for the American toy industry.
About time for Villa to show his
hand with that mysterious mobiliza
tion of 40,000 fighting men.
There is a strong moral in the story
of the man who put $3000 in a box
and withdrew a flatiron.
However, the word "peace" will be
gin to sound mighty good in Europe
before a great while.
Incidentally the war correspond
ents have fallen back on covering po
sitions at London.
The Germans threaten to surround
all English soldiers in France. All
four of them?
It Is reported that forest fires really
have done little damage. Except to
our eyes.
Tourists are cured of their wander
lust and return, singing "Home, Sweet
Home."
County fair time looms on the hori
zon. Italy watched the cat jump.
And stiU no rain.
Gleams Through the Mist
Br Deaa Colllna.
The AeKenturew.
Sins aU your songs of Livingstone.
Of Gordon or of Drak.
Of fame that Marco Polo won.
Or Pear)' sought to raaka;
Sing all your bold advanturars
Upon tha Seven Seaa
I will advanture, gentla sirs.
I've out-advantured these.
Though one the Orient might know.
And one mlglii " to Mexico.
And one where langled Jungles srow.
And one through polar sleet;
Sing helsh: Sing ho: And be it ao!
I care not what they find, for lo,
I have discovered more, I know
Upon an evening street.
Then sing your gallant buccaneers.
Who found the Indes Isles!
I found a man who shared his beer.
And one who always smiles.
Then sing your daring captain's dash
Tu find the polo In snow!
I found a man who gave me cash.
Although his cash was lo.
1 found a beggar with a smile
As bright as gold of lnd;
1 found fresh laughter, free from gull.
On lips men said had tin lie J.
I found a friendship, burgeoning
In calls where felons He,
I saw the flitting fire of gprlug
In a painted woman's ye.
So men the distant lands may know.
And high and low o'er earth may go,
Their lots in distant realms to throw
In all the Seven Seas.
I let them go and laugh: Ho-no!"
Adventurers? Well, be It so:
Beneath the evening street lamp's glow.
I out-adventure these.
e e e
"Sir," said tha courteous office bur.
"it la hard, la It not, to figure out soma
of the Naitonal peculiarities In the
present conflict?"
"How ao?" I aaked. preparing to ba
Instructive.
"Well," said tha C. O. B. "when tha
Kalaer'a aon left Uerlln ha waa a Ger
man, wasn't ho?"
"Yea, my aon, go on!"
"And yet dispatches comliisT later tell
ua that ha went through Uelgium with
hta army, a-ruhin' "
And thereupon tha 0. -. IS executed
a turning movement and harged iluwn
the hall with flxad purpoae, bef r 1
could mobllUe a battny of I'apar
weights.
e
It la with aome hesitancy thnt we ra
vert to a MW forgotten Incident, but
regarding that Noah conrovaray of last
week. It haa occurred to us that,
if Father Nosh lived tods).
The ark ivouid hard!) pass.
With experts in the naval pla.
As one ot dreadnought class
a a a
Intrrrmting Mnllallra.
In I'ortlaml yesterday Tl'SS peraong
constructed indif fereutly poor Jest on
the foundation of tian. Shannon's Justly-celebrated
remark about the usseu
lial nature of war.
If tha 72tS persons MMstlotiod wera
standing on on another's shoulders
their combined atature would be equal
to the height of tha rlillculoua aud
would upproxlmata the depth of ban
ality. Furthermore, It la computed that tha
originality of their wita combined
would bo equal to .UU3 of the length nt
a chickudee'a upper leftliaiul inciaor.
e
At this Juncture wr move that tha
colyum rulea be suspended Mild that wa
return to the previous motion long
enough to note that:
If Father Noah lived today.
Out few miles coulii lie float.
Until ome cruiser crossed his ay.
And got poor NoaJi'a goat.
Forecast for September.
t'rofeaaur O. rythaairns Uinielark.
the prominent rag-tlrm astrologer and
aeer, submit the following disserta
tion and foiecaat for Se it ember;
The Sign of the dual rulea MM be
ginning of the month and ociiin tha
deatlniea of a large portion of tha hu
man race, eapeclaily that of the peo
ple of Belgium, which la at present be
ing used aa a back alley In wlih li ill
the other power of Europo can llnt
out their dlsputea.
Aquarius, the Wateroarrltr. NMI
Into prominence In the first week and
th prohibitionists will llitieuse the ac
tivity of their campaign. The Sign f
the Flshos following at MsM indicates
a strong comeback from the "weta."
Tha Sign of Taurua In mid -September
will probably Inflluenc the activities
of many of tho war correspondents who
are down near tha scene of action In
London or the Bermuda.
The month cloaea again under tha
dominance of the Goat, who etlll coti
trola the war situation and the deatlny
of the Ultimate Conaumer ft Importod
goods in the Knit'd Statea.
September was named by the Komana
from the word "aeptem." which means
"seven." and probably haa aome occult
connection with th aavan-up same
that the earlier patrician sport a uaed
to pull off In the Etruscan hopyarda
In thla month. Tha cuatom haa baen
tranaplanted and flourlahea today In
Oregon.
see s
We are really aahamed to rafer to th
matter again, but th Crawfiah Editor
auggeata tlxat:
If rather Noah lived today.
It Is my firm bIIf.
His cargo of wild beasts would pay
Much la than canned chipped beet
THE COST OF W AR.
There la grief lu many a hamlet
All along the German Rhine;
There la aorrow in brave Belgium.
Where the aceaa ut vaioi .run.,
There la weeping in old Austria,
Where aons and alrea have died,
That tho glory of the Hapsburga
May bo upheld In lrld;
There le weeping in the Ruaalan homea.
In Scrvla aa wen.
O'er the carnage of the demon
Who escaped the Jawa of hell;
By many a Frenchman's fireside
eaSke Hitter te.ira are aheil.
Since In the claalt of nation
Gallant aona have fallen dead
And Britona. too, have suffered
As they re added to tne iiooa
n the toll that war haa taken
Of tho Britona' braveat blood.
Rule Britannia" rends the heavens.
im .itl. er-kia Wncht am Rheill."
.Mingiiue -- r
While the "Marectllalae Is ringing
With a meioay nmne.
But all military glamor
Never, never can atone
For the mlaery war engenders
In a million siricr.cn i
Charles K. Sawyer.
Thouund-lVot I.lncr Next.
Indianapolis Nwa.
- r wtt a.nlrtr directors of th
erne 1 - --
Hamburg-American Lin aald re'ently
hat although the Valeriana is p ii
ong. another ten year waa likely to
lapaa before a thouaand-foot llnar
vould ft hullt.
First Kmlly Acroaa.
Judge.
n.-.moton IHnwlddow told m hl
tamlly 1 a very old on. Thy war
on of the first to corns acroaa. Rhodas
Not at tha grocer's.