6
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 31, 1915.
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IDKTI.AM), SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31. 1915.
THE MATTER WITH CALIFORNIA.
There was some strong-, underlying
reason for the emphatic rejection by
California a few days ago of ten
amendments and laws submitted at a
special election under the referen
dum. Governor Johnson has ex
pressed the opinion that the policies
proposed were ahead of the times. He
referred particularly to two referended
laws which obliterated political party
lines in the election of state officers.
These were distinctively administra
tion measures. Quite likely nonparti
sanship In state affairs, imposed di
rectly and definitely, is ahead of the
times quite a long way ahead. But
just as likely the main element that
influenced the election result was the
fact that California's state administra
tion is ahead of the economic times.
"When an electorate finds nothing to
approve In the variety offered by
ten measures that is pretty strong
Indication of a general revolt against
state conditions and state policies.
In the four years that Hiram John
son has been Governor of California
twenty-six new departments, bureaus
end commissions have been created,
according to the Los Angeles Times.
The biennial payroll is now $1,338,870
greater than it was when he took of
fice. California has a greater number
of employes per capita population
than any other state in the Union. It
pays higher salaries than any similar
state. It has three times as many
officials drawing more than $20,000 a
year as any other state of like popula
tion. The state's disbursements for
1914-15 show an increase of nearly
J8, 000, 000 over disbursements of the
preceding year and J18, 500,000 over
disbursements of the fiscal year of
1910-11. One-third of the Progres
sive majority In the last Legislature
Is In state jobs other than that of
lawmaker jobs paying from 3000 to
J5000 a year.
Upon such a showing the California
state administration is certainly ahead
of the times. It is small wonder if
In each of the measures presented the
voters thought they saw efforts to per
petuate or build up a state machine,
or plunder the taxpayers for the ben
efit of Job-seekers. Charges to that
effect, at least, were the mainstay of
those who opposed the measures on
the ballot.
A short review of the laws and
amendments defeated should be of
particular interest to Oregon, where
complicated ballots are the order of
election day. Two laws, passed by the
legislature and subjected to referen
dum by petition, abolished party
designation of candidates in elections
to state office.
No. 3 lengthened the term of Su
perior Court judges from six to twelve
years.
No. 4 corrected a flaw in the con
stitution relating to the terms of
judges. There is now a sixty-day In
terim between election and date of
taking office, for which in the last
election there were many candidates,
carried.
No. 5 authorized the Legislature to
appropriate money for rural credits,
and would have made possible special
appropriations for that purpose not
subject to the referendum power.
No. 6 removed constitutional re
strictions on the deposit of public
moneys, leaving the matter to regu
lation by the Legislature.
No. 7 was a measure which required
a two-thirds vote of the people to
approve a bonded public debt and au
thorized the Legislature to protect in
itiative and referendum petitions from
fraud and misrepresentation. The mix
ture was not only curious, but the
amendment authorized the California
legislature to do what it has never
been questioned the Oregon Legisla
ture has the right to do in safeguard
ing direct legislation.
No. 8 permitted state, counties and
municipalities to condemn for public
use more land than the area specif
Ically required for the proposed im
provement. It would have permitted
the public to profit from the rise in
value of property due to adjacency of
public works.
rso. removed constitutional re
strictions on the segregation of prop
erty for state and county taxation,
and the amount and manner of assess
ment of state taxes.
No. 10 related to the exemption of
church property from taxation, seg
regating profit-making property and
requiring that to be taxed.
No. 11 enlarged the power of
County Supervisors.
Perusal of the foregoing list leaves
a fair presumption that among the
eleven were measures that California
would have been wise to adopt. Tet
all but one were defeated. A dutiful
determination by the voters to analyze
the several issues and vote according
to the merits of each would have
hardly produced that outcome. Obvi
ously the people went to the polls
concerned most in administering a re
buke. It would not bx? strange if that
rebuke was intended for extravagance
In state government and was well
mixed with suspicion.
There is something the matter with
California. For years it was under
railroad and boss domination. Then
It reacted. It adopted not only the
Initiative, referendum and recall and
direct primary, including the Presi
dential form, but accepted the prin
clple of divided legislative sessions.
But if the recent election teaches a
lesson, the Legislature is not yet re
sponsive to public will.
California s population is enlight
ened and educated, but in no other
state is there such diversity of inter
est or variety of thought. It has about
the same number of people as Ala
bama. Iowa, Kentucky. Wisconsin or
New Jersey, but has an area nearly
three times that of the largest of these
states and twenty times that of New
Jersey. Its people are scattered
among mountains, deserts and fertile
valleys, and Its temperatures range
from the temperate to the semi-tropic
In its largest city Industry ,is domi
nated by union labor; in its next. larg
est city the open shop prevails. In
some sections sober, thoughtful senti
ment predominates; others are hot
beds of cults and fantastic Ideas.
From this commonwealth of con
glomerate resources and Ideals gather
biennially supposed lawmakers, whose
chief purpose naturally is not to make
laws, but to obtain for their own dis
tricts something from the public in
the way of jobs or appropriations.
There is little unity of purpese, no
possible common knoledge of common
needs. The matter with California is
not wholly political. It would pros
per and progress more rapidly if cut
n two in the middle.
HOLDING THE CLUB OVER MARSHALL
The Washington Star, an unusually
well-informed and careful newspaper,
indicates that the Democratic organi
zationotherwise the Senate bosses
is preparing to deny a renominatlon
to Vice-President Marshall unless he
promises to "be good." The New York
Times accepts the story as probably
true, and gives its version of the Mar
shall recalcitrancy.
When the Democratic machine last
Winter attempted to force cloture
upon the Senate in order to Jam
through the Administration pet ship-
purchase bill, the Vice-President ex
hibited unexpected independence of
thought and action and refused to
construe the Senate rules in any way
except in accordance with his con
science and judgment. If he will yield
next Winter, or will give satisfactory
promises, he will be renominated.
The Democratic machine will have
no , hesitancy about renominating a
President who is pledged by his plat
form to a single term; and similarly,
it will not hesitate to punish his run
ning mate, who is not peldged to any
thing but his duty. If Wilson shall
be renominated, It would appear the
Democrats would have enough to do
in explaining that single-term plank
without being obliged also to tell why
Marshall was put off the ticket.
The great personal fault of Vice-
President Marshall is his loquacity.
But he talks well, always. Is either
felicity or facility in speech a cardinal
offense in a Democrat of presumably
presidential size?
TWO FOREIGN-BORN AMERICANS.
Sixty-three years ago a brilliant
young German named Carl Schurz
came to- the United States, and by his
talent, energy, character and patriot
ism became a great American citizen.
He had a conspicuous part in the con
vention of 1860 which nominated
Abraham Lincoln, and he served with
distinction the cause of the Union in
the rebellion. Later, as United States
Senator, as Cabinet Minister, as edu
cator and writer, as orator and as re
former, he played a great part in af
fairs. Long ago this splendid American
made a speech, In which he said:
American citizens, having- sworn exclusive
allegiance to the United States, not one of
them should ever forget that this republic
has a right to expect of all Its adopted
citizens, as to their attitude toward public
affairs, especially questions of peace or war,
the loyal and complete subordination of the
interests of their 'native countries to the
Interests of the United States.
Less than a decade ago a preacher
came from England to take a pulpit
in 2ew York City. Later he moved
on to San Francisco, where, a year or
so ago, he took out naturalization
papers. Now this man Rev. Charles
F. Aked regards himself as qualified
to instruct Americans in their duty.
At New Haven he said recently:
It "Our country, right or wrong" makes
of God a term of geography. We tolerate
it. We defend it. From this base concep
tion of "our country" the transition is easy
to Kaiser, King, President or Chancellor or
Secretary of State.
The alternative to this doctrine of
"national immorality" is for the citi
zen, when his country is in trouble,
to take the part of its enemy, because
he thinks the enemy right and his
own people wrong.
They have a way in America of
referring to such citizens as traitors
or copperheads.
Patriotism Is more than a sentiment
or even a conviction. It is a duty.
DYNAMITE WHICH MAY EXPLODE.
Although President Wilson professes
to have avoided interference between
Mexican factions since Huerta's flight.
ahd although the great majority of
Americans who have suffered from the
Mexican civil war got no comfort when
they called upon the State Depart
ment to obtain redress, it is charged
that there have been exceptions, which
reveal scandalous discrimination on
behalf of a favored few. An effort will
be made in the Senate to bring the
facts to light.
A Western Senator, says the Chicago
Tribune, will move a resolution call
ing upon the President to submit to
Congress all documents relating to
Mexico. There would be no surprise
if he refused on the ground that "pub
licity would be incompatible with the
public interest," as he did when called
upon for a list of Americans killed In
Mexico. Instead of the "pitiless pub
licity" he promised, he has practiced
unsparing suppression of news, from
Mexico in particular.
According to the Tribune, he has
good reason to suppress many facts,
for they reveal partiality. When the
former embargo on exports of war
munitions to Mexico was in effect, the
Phelps-Dodge Mercantile Company, a
subsidiary of the Phelps-Dodge Com
pany, which operates copper mines in
Mexico and Arizona, and two of its
officers were indicted in Arizona for
"conspiracy to export munitions of
war" in selling 50,000 cartridges to
the agent of a Mexican faction, and
the Winchester Arms Company was
threatened with like indictment.
Cleveland H. Dodge, who -with Arthur
Curtis James owns &. controlling inter
est in the Phelps-Dodge Company, is
said by the Tribune to be a close per
sonal friend of President Wilson and
to have contributed to his campaign
fund. His nephew, M. H. Dodge, is a
director of the Remington Arms &
Ammunition Company, which is affili
ated with the Winchester Arms Com
pany. The Department of Justice tele
graphed the District Attorney that
there would be grave doubt of the pro
priety of indicting the Winchester
Arms Company, and it was not in
dicted. A demurrer to the indictment
of the Phelps-Dodge Company was
sustained and the Department of Jus
tice refused to appeal, though warned
that, if the ruling were permitted to
stand, the embargo would become a
dead letter.
The action in this case contrasts
with that in the case of Arthur Chavez,
who was indicted by the Taft Admin
istration for violating the embargo.
A demurrer was sustained both in the
lower court and in the Court of Ap
peals, but the Wilson Administration
appealed to the United States Supreme
Court and obtained a reversal of the
decision. Chavez and about fifty oth
ers were then convicted.
An explanation will also be sought
for the successful intercession of the
Administration in behalf of certain
American mining interests In Chihua
hua which were being robbed by Villa,
while nothing was done In behalf of
many others which were likewise de
spoiled. The Administration's secretiveness
about Mexico is explained by the
Tribune's Washington correspondent
with the statement that "the Mexico
files are loaded with enough political
dynamite to shatter the staunchest ad
ministration." The effect of an ex
plosion would be the more disastrous
because many American refugees from
Mexico who appealed to Cabinet mem
bers for redress were as good as told
that they were lucky to escape with
their lives. 'This most righteous Ad
ministration may well hesitate to re
veal what it has done to succor the
favored few.
PORK AND SELF-DEPENCE.
Is the great and pressing problem
of adequate National defence to be
subjected to pork-barrel methods, re
strictions and intrigues? Is sectional
greed to restrict and interfere with
the development of our puny right
arm of self-defence? Are National
security and National honor to be
tossed in the Congressional pork bar
rel and fought over along with the
rest cf the spoils? There are symp
toms of this already. With their ears
close to the ground, National legis
lators hear the public demand for a
greater security of country. But why
not two birds with one stone? Why
not a fine fat garrison or a new set of
fortifications for this section or that
regardless of strategical considera
tions? The subject is one which calls for
the most unselfish consideration. Sec
tionalism must be setvaside. Faction
alism must be put behind. National
defence plans should be fashioned and
set In motion with the good of the
J whole country in mind. The public
servant who permits any element of
selfishness to creep into his activities
for better defence is an enemy of the
country and a traitor to the cause.
The millions proposed for deferfce
provide an attractive bait for sectional
division, but the Congressional patriot
who Is inspired by greed in this direc
tion should be flouted hardest by his
own constituents, whose best interests
are being defeated In common with
the best interests of the whole coun
try by his course.
NAPOLEON AT ST HELENA
Is there any one man in the world
today whose imprisonment would in
sure the peace of Europe? Is there
any one man who is so universally
feared that a whole army and navy
would be set aside to guard him in
his isolation could he be removed from
Europe? The nearest approach to
such a man is the Kaiser, and he Is
little more than a figurehead, for it Is
his generals who furnish the brains
for Prussian successes. It is doubt
ful if elimination of any dozen men
would serve to alter the course of con
flict in Europe at the present time. In
the greatest war the world has ever
known there is no one dominating
figure that looms above the millions
of fighting men. Some there are who
have gained fame in a limited area of
the battle zone but that is the ex
tent of it.
One hundred years ago there was
a man who held the key to war or
peace in his hand. The peace of Eu
rope depended upon isolating him and
when this was effected he was locked
away on a remote little island under
guard of a whole brigade of soldiers.
His prison was kept under the sur
veillance of a powerful fleet. Europe
trembled lest he escape. Guards
watched him day and night. Confi
dential agents did not let him evade
their eyes for an instant. A resource
ful commander was kept in charge of
the garrison; only trusted soldiers
were left on duty at this remote post
the countersign was changed fre
quently and no expense or pains
spared to prevent plot or coup which
might result in his escape.
Some anonymous jester once sent a
report to the British Admiralty that
the dangerous prisoner was at large
Troops were mobilized Immediately and
preparations made for possible war.
Once before this menace to the peace
of Europe had escaped from isolation
and set himself immediately at the
head of a powerful nation. Who could
gauge his possibilities once he had
gained his freedom? Europe heaved
a sigh of relief when it was learned
that the story was a hoax. The Brit
ish government spent thousands of
dollars without avail in an attempt to
run the practical joker to earth and
punish him for throwing the Admiralty
to the verge of nervous prostration.
Nor was this prisoner some tower
ing giant of Herculean strength. In
fact, he was almost small enough to
qualify for the part of midget in the
side show. Five feet three was the
total stature he could boast and his
strength was in proportion to his size.
But his brain was mightier than the
brawn of all the giants In the world.
His was the master mind, the con
summate genius of the battlefield. He
had no more difficulty in maneuver
ing nations than the drill sergeant
has in moving squadrons. Not only
had he unequalled skill in organizing
armies from apparent nothingness, but
in matching these troops against su
perior force he was without equal In
the annals of warfare.
One of the most dramatic incidents
of world romance is found in the last
days of Napoleon Bonaparte at St.
Helena. His ignoble Isolation began
just 100 years ago this month and it
is a peculiar commentary on the
frailty of man's eternal plans that the
centenary of this event which was to
insure the peace of Europe finds that
unhappy continent aflame with
greater war than even Napoleon might
have dreamed or.
Napoleon had attempted the impos
sible before his fall and subsequent
imprisonment Brilliant success in
every field of conquest had turned his
mind to dreams of world empire and
it was in the mazes of this prodigious
game that he became enmeshed. His
dreams were practical, perhaps, and
his plans were well laid, but that they
failed was due less to the shortcom
ings of his own mind than to the limi
tations of those mere humans upon
whom he must depend for co-ordination
and support in putting such gi
gantic tasks into execution. After his
disastrous campaign on Moscow, at
tempted while he had the war with
Spain on his hands, Europe saw that
his genius was not supernatural and
was emboldened to make a concerted
rise against the dominion of this
master mind. Russia joined forces
with Prussia and later Austria threw
its armies against the French. With
the world opposing him. Napoleon dis
played h former consummate skill.
but was slowly beaten down and
finally compelled to abdicate follow
ing his fateful campaigns of 1814 in
his own France. His sun was counted
as set when he went a prisoner to
Elba and the world was "seeking to
forget him when he burst .from se
clusion, marshalled an army almost in
a twinkling and set out to retrieve
his fallen estate. But Waterloo shortly
thereafter sealed his fate and when
once more he stood a captive, the deso
late St. Helena was chosen for his
prison.
Here the mind that had directed the
rise and fall of empires was kept in
Isolation much as some malignant pes
tilence might be safeguarded from con
tact with the world. His genius was
unequal to the task of liberating him
self from this little dot in a far away
nook of the world and he wasNeft to
a dismal reflection.of what might have
been. . From dreams of world empire
he had fallen to captivity on a deso
late rock. But even in this low es
tate he must have gained a transient
satisfaction in the homage which the
English paid to his genius by main
taining an army and a fleet as his
guardian.
PERPETUATING THE INI VERS K.
The ancient and honorable notion
of astronomers and geologists that the
solar system is in continual danger of
Invasion by burned-out bodies and
that the universe may eventually
perish is flouted by a new observer of
heavenly phenomena, Professor Will
iam J. Spillman, of the Department
of Agriculture. Besides setting our
minds entirely at ease concerning the
uninterrupted continuation of the uni
verse. Professor Spillman incidentally
puts the finishing touches on the mat
ter of what constitutes and regulates
gravitation and solves minor other
scientific problems in a pamphlet just
off the press on "Gravitation and Re
lated Phenomena."
In- devising a hypothesis for ex
plaining the existence of gravity the
writer ascribes ether pressure to cir
culation, of electric currents in the
atom. These .atoms are made up of
Saturnlan systems which proceed in
rapid orbital motion. Electrons mov
ing at a speed approximating 14,000
miles per second set up a store of
energy w'hich could produce the phe
nomena of gravitation without suffi
cient loss to be appreciable. It is his
theory that electrons freed from
atoms are subjected to gravitational
attraction without exerting that same
influence which remains as the func
tion of the atom alone. Hence gravl
tation Is not a reciprocal force, and
one body may attract without in turn
being attracted.
While admitting that the older stars
fall asunder, the observer finds no
permanent loss to the universe. Par
ticles from the disrupted stars fall
upon the younger growing bodies in
the universe and their pristine energy
is communicated to the new worlds
which are continually finding origin
through the Junction of great flocks
of meteorites in space. Some 20,000,-
000 of these visitors are accredited to
our own earth in every twenty-four-
hour period, with their bounteous
contributions of energy. The uni
verse is thus shown to be self-perpetu
ating. While science had already as
sured us that the present seat of our
mortal existence would continue for
a period of years long enough to occa
sion no alarm to the present ge'nera
tion, we are now assured that our
progeny will not be deprived of an
abiding place throughout the eternal
hereafter.
REGULATING SEX.
It has been some time since a plan
to regulate either the universe or the
sex of our progeny has been laid be
fore us. Both these phenomena are
subjugated at stated intervals by sci
ence, although with results that are
never exactly satisfactory nor lasting
However, with that persistence which
is characteristic of the scientific crea
ture, the matter has been assailed
anew, and while the universe has es
caped in this particular instance, the
matter of regulating sex is even now
in the final stages of adjustment,
thanks to the Wisiar Institute of An
atomy of the University of Pennsyl
vania.
Guinea pigs and white rats have
been human benefactors in the domain
of anatomy, surgery and laboratory
experimentation for so many years
that we experience no surprise in
learning that they are the medium
through which the mysteries of sex
are to be revealed. For this prodig
ious experiment a colony of some
50,000 white rats has been required,
and, while details of the scientific work
are omitted, the assurance is given us
that the solution of the sex problem
is bo near at hand that Europe need
have no further fear over the dimin
ishing supply of male citizens.
Of course, until the experiment had
been carried to a full conclusion, we
shall continue to entertain some mild
doubts in the matter. For one thing.
the natural laws of white mice are not
wholly the natural laws of white men
While there are many anatomical sim
ilarities, and a peculiar likeness of
susceptibility to poisons, pains and
stimuli of an external character, yet
mice, in common with other lower
animals, are not burdened with the
intricate mechanisms of human brains.
Methods of propagation that may sue
ceed in white rats might end most
disastrously when applied to men. It
is not the body alone,, but the mind
that must be taken into account, since
the finest physical specimen is of little
account to the human family when
berert of reasoning processes. Right
here is where our scientific propaga-
tionlsts have run athwart Nature in
attempting to apply to men those les
sons culled in the reproduction of
lower animals.
Nevertheless it is inexpedient to dis
count the Wisiar Institute's well-intended
offices, for while the "best laid
plans of mice and men gang aft aglev.
yet the success of this particular plan
would be cf such Immense value to the
hpman family that we cannot fail to
pray for its attainment. Already acute
tne old maid problem bids fair to be
come desperate in the world at large
before a great while. Polygamy is
being predicted as the one solution by
some European sociologists and
would seem that science must bestir
Itself in the direction of sex regulations
if Europe would escape the leadership
or tsrignam Young. If the Wisiar Insti
tute succeeds, the balance as between
the sexes can be nicely adjusted. Nat
urally there will be a total falling
away in the advent of girl babies. Not
only necessity would dictate such a
course, but the matter of choice would
contribute heavily. What fond par
ents out rejoice doubly In the arrival
of a son? In the Balkan States arriva
of a daughter is attended by a corre
sponding sense of grief. With thit
aspect oi tne matter in view, it is uol
difficult to foresee a day when the old
maid problem would be wholly re
placed by an old bachelor problem.
Governmental regulation of sex regu
lation would be required io maintain
the supply of that female species which
is currently held to be more deadly
than the male, even If not more desir
able from the standpoint of expectant
parents.
IE RISE AND FALL OF A VILLAIN.
From that ruthless land of glamour.
gloom and gore across the murky Rio
Grande comes word that the flashing
meteor of the Mexican martial firma
ment is waning. The picturesque
peon-bandit who rose from grasp of
butcher knife to that of scepter is
being rapidly reduced to his allotted
plane of red-handed plunderer with
a price upon his head. Villa the bul
let-headed. Villa the Iron-handed and
stone-hearted, is losing his grasp upon
the destinies of Mexico after having
dominated the land of manyana and
malignance these manv months.
There is no stranger story than that
which Villa might set down in his
memoirs were he possessed of ability
to set pen to paper. Nineteen years
ago, the record runs, he bolted from
Chihuahua, smoking pistol in hanl,
his first victim behind him. There-1
after he became a fugitive, living by
brigandage in company with convivial
souls who terrorized the countryside
and kept the hard-riding rurales for
ever in the saddle. Unable to run him
down, the authorities tried to forget
him and Villa remained an obscure
outlaw until the period of revolution
ary activity set in. Whereupon he
slowly forced his way to the fore with
daring perseverance and a certain
talent for organization, strategy and
tactics.
Just where Villa acquired his abil
ity as a military leader has never been
satisfactorily explained. It has been
charged that before his bold, bad ex
ploit at Chihuahua, he deserted from
an American cavalry regiment at a
border garrison, but this has never
been confirmed. It is more probable
that he had a native cunning whi?!i
was developed in dodging rurales dur
ing bandit days, and that he merely
applied bandit tactics on a large scale
in employing those tens of thousands
of Mexican irregulars with which he
all but reduced Mexico before his star
began to fade.
Villa has been back to Chihuahua
since that eventful night when he rode
out to the tune of. whizzing bullets
aimed at his skulking carcass. At the
head of a victorious army he returned
to have the people bow before him
and hail him as conqueror, deliverer
and all the other encomiums
which Mexican populaces bestow on
each succeeding chieftain who chances
to hold the upper hand in their midst.
For a time he had the refusal of the
Mexican presidency, but he wisely de
clined the tempting bait. Military
domination offered a field more allur
ing to his unlettered nature. Mere
presidential pursuits were too pacific
and tranquil for his fiery kind.
ith the odds against him. he is
making desperate efforts to hold his
diminishing power. Loyalty is being
rewarded and treason to his cause
punished with that red thoroughness
which has always marked his course
in handling troops. But Mexican loy
alty is never altruistic. It ebbs and
flows with the balance of power, and
now that Villa s enemies appear to be
gaining the upper hand, the rush of
Villa adherents to board the Carranza
band wagon promises to restore Villa
once more to his ancient profession
JOHN KEATS.
hen the name of John Keats is
brought to mind one is inclined to
find his sentiments divided between
pity and admiration. The memory re
vives a vague depression as the widely
heralded woes of that unhappy young
man are recalled, but pity is certain
to give place to exhilaration as one
visualizes those scintillating gems of
pure lyric poetry which were uncov
ered by his fantastic muse. There is
no sadder tale than that of the fragile
young Keats, whose birth anniversary
falls today; nor is there a brighter
story than that of his flashing genius.
which Illuminated the world of poetry
almost before he had escaped swad
dling clothes.
We seriously doubt much of the
tragedy that has been written into
Keats' life. A highly organized and
sensitive young man, it was quite in
the natural order of things that he
should sounj the depths as well as
reach the heights. The very quality of
his genius insured him more than or
dinary suffering from the thorn-pricks
of existence. But that he succumbed
to persecution, that, he was "killed
off by one critique," as Lord Byron
once put it, is very doubtful. Those
annoyances may have lowered his
powers of resistance and contributed
to the untimely end of this most prom
ising of poets, but his life shows
so many sturdy traits that the charge
of homicide directed against his ro
bust critics should be withdrawn in
Justice 'to all concerned, including
young Keats.
Keats was born October 31, 1795.
and his life was snuffed out by the
encroachments of an incurable dis
ease Just as he was blossoming into
manhood. Dead at twenty-four, what
rich heritage might not Keats have
left to the world had the normal lease
of life been given to his lot? In that
short span of years' he earned the
right to rank with Shelley and Coler
idge. Another twenty years must
have placed him close to Shakespeare
and Milton.
Keats' death came hard upon his
successes and the attendant criticism
of that day of acrid critical observa
tions. It was a prevalent-Idea in his
day that he became the victim of per
ennial abuse and lack of power to bear
it. Many romances of sensitive young
poets stung to death by wanton abuse
find their inspiration in the sad story
of Keats. That he Suffered acutely
from the flings of his critics cannot
be denied. The assaults on his "En
dymion" were particularly bitter.
Keats was set down as a sentimental
sensuous maker of over-ripe verse.
Blackwood's critic even accused him
of being crazy and urged him to re
turn to his apprenticeship in an
apothecary shop.
Lashed by these cruel cuts, he was
inconsolable for a time and sought
surcease in prolonged dissipations, yet
criticism probably affected him less
deeply than his unhappy love for Fan
nfe Gawne. upon whom he lavished
a furious devotion which was never
reciprocated. Nevertheless, he contin
ued to write that exquisitely wrought
verse which gave him immortality,
and it was not until the end came
from the ravages of consumption that
he dropped his inspired pen. In a re
vulsion of feeling against Keats' caus
tic critics, contemporary writers were
prompt to charge them with a share
in his end: but had they taken into
account the real Keats much or this
maudlin sentiment might never have
been written concerning him, and
many a sympathetic tear might not
have been wrung from credulous hear
ers. Keats' personal as well as moral
courage, which, together with a fiery
temper that led him into actual phys
ical encounters, does not fit well with
the sobbing tale of "a tender petal
soul trodden in the dust."
"Endymion." which drew the first
sharp fire, had its faults. It may have
been mawkish In result. It may be
charged with having little tangible sig
nificance. But it was true to the spirit
of Greek pastoral poetry and it gave
us our first glimpse of that genius
which was possessed of the beautiful
mythology of Greece and which bore
richer fruit In the fragment of "Hy
perion." In the latter Keats may be
said to have carried English to the
epical heights attained by the Greeks.
Much of what little Keats wrote
could be thrown out of his works
without loss. Particularly in his ear
lier writings he Is little more than
florid and barren, with a style that
reveals a weak mixture of Spencer and
Wordsworth. His love letters, which
should have been burned rather than
hawked, are wayward, profuse and
unbalanced. But he rose quickly to
the heights of poetic attainment, and
his better works show a matchless
quality of imagination, an exquisite
sense of harmony and a considerable
familiarity with the finest diction of
English poetry.
Keats carries us away on the winds
of imaginative creation, unburdened
by such weight of thought as marks
Dryden and Browning. He is never
obscure or polemic. He casts a spell
which is intangible, and his necro
mancy of words, as in the glamor of
l ne Eve of St. Agnes," means lit
tle but expresses much. In his Odes
he breathes the glow of life into Greek
mythology, reaching to the most splen
did attainments in the lyric line.
Faultless unity, melody and tone are
combined With effects luscious and
luxuriant: sensuous, yet not marred
by sensuality.
While he was taken away before his
harp was fairly in tune, before he had
thrown off the fetters of immaturity,
he left an influence which has ex
erted itself upon the works of others.
Tennyson. Arnold. Rosetti. Lowell,
Yeats. Lanier, all reveal the Influence
of yeats, and so it may be said he
lived many years beyond his few on
earth and contributed greater riches
to the world than are set down in
the few printed pages which bear his
name.
Those occult observers who see in
the position of the sun or moon and in
the seasons of the year influences
upon the temperament more powerful
than prenatal agencies will find small
satisfaction in comparing his delicate
genius with that other man of letters
whose birth anniversary occurs almost
simultaneously with that of Keats.
Thomas Babington Macaulay's birth
day passed last Monday, and while he
wrote his name in heavy letters on
the pages of literary fame, the story
of his life and of his works bears no
line of similarity to that of Keats.
Macaulay, had he died at twenty-four,
would have left little to the world be
yond his splendid essay on Milton. He.
too. tasted of criticism, but he met it
with utter indifference and unconcern.
Ha went bravely through the world,
boldly pushing aside the obstacles and
riding down opposition by sheer force
of character. His nature was such
that he escaped the sorrows which are
so common to men of letters. His was
a sustaining confidence in himself,
which caused a contemporary to re
mark. "I wish I were as cocksure of
any one thing as Macaulay is of every
thing." Eventually, no doubt, germs will be
found -the root of all evil. Most hu
man ills of a serious character have
been traced to the doors of bugdom
already. New cocci and other dimin
utive destroyers are isolated under the
microscope almost daily. But the lat
est discovery in the germ world preys
not on human tissue, but upon lead
pipe. A Santa Barbara experimenter
has captured a cluster of the vora
cious bugs, which he contends pro
duce those results on pipe that we
have been attributing to electrolysis.
In due course of time volcanic erup
tions', wars and all the curses of hu
man existence may be traced to the
germ world if the list of bug atroci
ties continues to multiply.
The British army is reported to be
in fine health. Meaning, we take it.
such portions of the army as were not
employed in the recent allied offensive
movements.
New York suffragists will hold a
twenty-four-hour talkfest. Why not
make it twenty-four days and let "em
say all they have to say?
We haven't the slightest doubt that
Germany is willing to have peace
provided the terms are based on the
results attained to date.
According to a British statesman.
Germany is flying peace kites. Berlin
might reply that Britain is smoking
peace pipes.
That municipal bureau of employ
ment may be needed to find jobs for
city workers discharged under budget
pruning.
Mexico will not ask for a foreign
loan. Which will insure Mexico against
the humiliation of being turned down.
King George has learned that it
takes a finer ability to sit a horse
than to sit a throne.
Because of war stress food prices
are being regulated at Berlin. Almost
makes us want war.
tne xieaitn jnureau is having an
unhealthy season with the budget
pruning germ.
It's a poor specimen that hasn't
gone to the Land Show or isn't plan
ning to go.
The blood-letting carnival seems to
have shifted to the Balkans for the
Winter.
Mexico
same old
way.
continues to present the
troubles in the same old
Christmas looms on the horizon, and
the provident shopper is busy already.
Enjoy life now while you may. Con
gress is about to convene.
Something to be thankful for: Hal
loween falls on Sunday.
That German bomb plot appears to
have blown up.
Peace rumors persist
wiir zone.
outside the
Gleams Through the Mit
By Deaa Col Una.
Halloween Fantasia.
'Twas early and early on yestere'en
(The witches down through the night
come slipping. )
That I stood by the bar "IBIS."
tThe elves on the rays of the moon ara
tripping.)
I stood by that bar In tha even-glow
And pawed the rail with Impatient toe.
And ordered, a horse's neclt or so
I Dew from the daisies the brownies are
sipping.)
And Crane was mixing a malted milk.
t noo: ana -wnoo:- are the night
wlnri d.Kln.k
Thicker than cruam and soft as silk.
Jna goouns creep mid the pumpkins
lying.)
And lo. Judge Cameron wandered in
And paused at the bar with a genial grin.
And ordered. "Straight loganberry--thln!-
(The banshees go through the hop-vines
flying.)
We took our glasses and gathered near.
(Mad o'er the moors the wild wisp
dances.)
Aand sang. "Hall, hall! the gang's all here!"
The frost on the sod uprears its lances.)
And the judge, as he stood there by my
side.
And his horn of loganberry plied.
Told me of Tam o'Shantera ride.
(The dell's at wurrrk as the nlcht ad
vances. )
Of Tam and his srooky ride he told.
(The kelpies cry from among the grasses.)
Till my hair stood up and my spina turned.
(The ghosts peep in through the window
glusses.)
I bolstered my courage with lemonade.
And winked at Crane and Judge Cameron
paid.
And homeward my reeling course I laid.
(The voice of the dead through the trea
tops passes. )
I shuddered sore aa I crept to bed.
I The black cat's prowl and the night owl
screeches.)
Under the pillow I hid my head.
(Imps to the mare's flanks cling like
leeches.)
And struggled to sleep with all my might.
But visions filled me with sore affright.
And 1 tumbled and tossed throughout tha
night.
(The Jackal howls in the desert's reaches.)
"Sir," said the Courteous Office Boy,
and pclsed above my bed. the while a
grin, sedtte and coy, his features over
spread. "Forgive me if I linger here
but may I use your chandelier?"
And with no more ado. his chin be
tween the rods he poked, and grinning
still his friendly grin, he wriggled
there and choked.
"Excuse me." said his parting breath,
"the cops will think you caused my
death."
I t6ok a razor from the stand and
carved him small and thin. and
dragged a trunk ip close at hand and
neatly packed him in.
But as I quickly turned the lock. lo.
there he stood beside the clock and
bowed to me with grace and charm
and held his head beneath his arm.
"Begone!" 1 cried and hurled a book.
The C. O. B.. with injured look, re
plied: "Ah. no! What I would do is just to
stick around with you and stay, for
aye, in your employ a good and cour
teous office boy."
Just to escape, and nothing more.
Became my ono desire:
Out of the window did I soar
And mount a trolley wire.
And off I skidded In the night
Kar swifter than a ray of light.
While F. T. Griffith from below
Supplied the Juice to make me go.
Faint and far upon the breeze as onward
did I scoot
I heurd the C. O. B.'s loud cries as ha
took up pursuit.
But fast and faster my retreat
Went o'er the lines above the street
And sparks of power flew in a shower
From off the wire beneath my feet.
As I sped by the City Hall
I heard, inside. - spirit call.
And. leaping frorr the wire. I flew
The city Hall's high portals through.
And swiftly cleft the clustering gloom
Until (I leached the Council Room.
And there I staggered in amaze. The
Council-room seemed all ablaze, for in
Jtoe brackets on the wal 1. Mayors of
the past stood stiff and tall. Rush
light and Lane on left and right, each
in his cauld hand held a light, and
other Mayors about the room held
torches to dispel the gloom and light
in every cranny make like candles
round a birthday cake.
And in the midst with gleaming eyes,
I saw the whole Commission rise
And whet their snickersnees, while they
Glared on The Budget where it lay.
And each one said, with demon leer:
"Wo'd better cut it here and here!"
It was a Budget, swollen and fat
But active still in spite of that
And evey time the slashing knife
Seemed almost like to 'take Its life.
It wriggled out, with doleful hollers.
And only lost a few small dollars.
Amazed, I watched each getaway it
made from 'neath their scalpel play,
while in the balconies great hosts of
hones,, and tax-paying ghosts did
squeak and gibber, yelp and roar:
"That Budget must be carved still
more!"
And fiercer yet. with grim mouths'
shut, did the Commission lunge and
cut. but ever when their move was o'er
it seemed as bloated as before.
Till I in "ston'shment immense, to
see the Budget's slick defense, shouted:
"Well done!"
And I did mark that in an instant all
was dark.
Scarce from the window had I soared
When out the whole commission poured.
With dripping hands and bloody knives
As though they'd ta'en a thousand Uvea.
And goblin newsboys in the street
Kan up and down with hasty feet.
And hollered: "Extray!" as they dashed;
"About the way The Budget's slashed!"
I tore a Benson fountain from its
stand and forth I wandered 'neath the
pallid moon blowing its mouthpiece
like a full brass band, and for The
Budget played a doleful tune.
"Alas, alas!" I cried, "must I alone
bewail The Budget, whittled to the
bone?"
And as I turned on Salmon street
Lo, there The Budget sat.
And it looked prosperous and aweet
And likewise plump and fat.
And on Its frame I well could see
The knife scars healing rapidly.
"Alack," I said, "I thought that you
Were carved past recognition."
Said It: "I may nave seemed, 'tis true.
In rather tight position.
With all that knife play, but, behold.
I still am fatter than of old.
As to the death wounds you've heard stated.
They were a bit exaggerated.
I raised my eyes nnto the skies that hung
the city o'er.
And there to my Intense surprise I saw an
object soar.
"Is It a Zeppiln. flying free?"
'No. no," The Budget said to me.
'TIs no balloon, you'll find eftsoou
That is the taxes that you see!"
Ralae In Ills Salary.
Boston Transcript.
Elevator Boy I told de boss today
I wanted a raise.
His Chum What did he say?
Elevator Boy He told me to get in
an' pull de lever.
(Inratlon of Marriage.
New York Wekly.
She I am afraid there is no hope.
He Eh? What did your father say
when you told him I wanted to marry
you?
ihc He said he couldn't afford it-