IS
THE SUNDAY OEEGOA'UX, PORTLAND. OCTOBER .28, 1917.
PORTI.AM). OREGON.
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J'OKTLAXD, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28. 1917.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.
If it is true, as it would seem from
the meager news accounts of the
"naval battle of Moon (or Mohn)
Sound, north of the Gulf of Riga,
that the Russian commanders have
been reading their ancient history,
there is still a chance that we shall
liear something to the advantage of
the heretofore despised Russian navy.
The Russians, it must be admitted,
even by their friends, have shown
themselves incompetent as sea-fighters.
Neither the -Dogger Bank inci
dent nor the battle of the Yellow Sea
in the Japanese war can be aid to
Jiave redounded to their credit, and
in this war Muscovite warships have
Vieen employed chiefly in series of cut-and-run
sorties that added no glory
to their' arms. They have distin
guished themselves neither for dogged
pertinacity, nor seamanship, nor
fctrategy.
But in Moon Sound last week they
teem to have taken a leaf from the
book of one Themistocles, the Athe
nian General (and Admiral, by virtue
of the loose military administration
of the day), and to have profited by
t-tudy of the tactics of the battle of
iSalamis, fought in 480 B. C, nearly
twenty-four centuries ago. Those who
have read their Plutarch will recall
the enjoyment they derived from the
description of the guile of the Athe
nian, who saw in a situation! similar
to that which the Russians occupied
oft the Livonian coast an opportunity
to draw the powerful Xerxes into bat
tle and defeat him with an inferior
force by-the simple expedient of de
priving him of the opportunity to
employ his numerical superiority. In
confirmation of the overwhelming su
periority of the Persian forces, Plu
tarch, it will be recalled, quotes the
poet Aeschylus as saying:
"Xerxes, I know, dirt into battle lead
ne thousand ships; of. more than usual
speed
tseven and two hundred. So it is agreed.
The Athenians had a hundred and
eighty ships. The superiority, there
fore, of the Persians was more than
Jive to one. It was probably similar
to that of the Germans over the Rus
sians in the battle of Moon Sound.
The situation of Moon Island is not
unlike that of the Island of Salamis,
the latter being separated from the
coirst of Attica and the former from
the Russian mainland, each by a nar
row strait. In an open sea the Greek
palleys would have had little chance
ftgainst the Persian swarms. Themis
tocles, in effect, reduced his enemy's
strength to the number he was able
to maneuver on a restricted front in
the narrow waters. But the crafty
Athenian had occasion to resort to a
trick that is unlikely to have favored
the Russian Admiral. He had de
cided that the occasion was favorable
for the battle, and he contrived that
word should reach the Persian com
mander that the Greeks were about to
attempt to escape, and that the op
portunity for their destruction lay in
Immediate attack. Xerxes fell into
the trap. Until the history of this
war is written, we shall not know how
the German commander was misled
into a similar misadventure. But the
loss of sixteen German warships, in
cluding two dreadnoughts, and the es
cape of the Russians through the em
ployment of their mines and sub
marines and the great guns of their
ships and land forts would indicate
that history did, indeed, repeat itself.
Another incident of the battle of
Falamis that is of interest to those
who care to reflect upon the parallel
Is referred to by Plutarch. The
prophets had detected an omen in
connection with the preparations for
the customary preliminary sacrifice,
and had demanded the consecration
of three prisoners as an offering to
Bacchus the Devourer. Themistocles
demurred, but the historian goes on:
The common people, who. in any difficult
crisis and great exigency, ever look for Te
ller rather to strange and extravagant than
to reasonable: means, calling upon Bacchus
Vith one voice, led the captives to the altar.
The world has not changed much,
ht least in the respect that many per
sons are fond of relying upon "strange
and extravagant rather than reason
able means." There are a good many
who would commit our fortunes to the
untested genius of unknown inventors,
meanwhile delaying the mobilization
of our men and industries. It is not
very long since we were told that we
could count on a million farmers
springing to arms overnight to per
form what, if they had accomplished
anything, wjuld have been, indeed, a
miracle. And it is undeniable that
there are still a host who are waiting
for Kdison and Garabed T. K. Gara
. Kossian to end the war. They do not
know how it is going to be done, but
they hope, and even believe, that in
t-ome way the "gaseous energy of the
air" or the atomic theory of matter
will be invoked to the utter discom
fiture of our enemies. It may be some
satisfaction to those to know that this
faith of theirs is at least twenty-four
centuries old. which is far enough
back to go for a lawful precedent;
but they will discover also by reading
further that battles were won then,
as they will be won this year and next,
by utilizing the commoner and more
natural forces of strategy and per
sonal bravery and - such weapons as
the men of the day were trained to
use.
Vassar College is typical of other
women's colleges of the country in its
choice of "war preisaredness" courses
which will be added to the curriculum.
These, embrace-: such unwarlike sub
jects as: personal--hygiene and home
economics, but analysis will show
them to be highly important in war
time and closely related to the prob
Jem of National efficiency. It is reC'
ognized that intelligent handling of
such home problems as the conserva
tion of food and the elimination of
waste of other materials may make
the difference between success and
failure, and that women do not need
to go to the front to be soldiers in
the broad sense of the term. Per
sonal hygiene will become more and
more' important as the struggle con
tinues. It is necessary that both men
and women shall conserve health and
strength for the years to come. This
will stand them in good stead whether
peace comes soon or is delayed. We
do not know what the reconstruction
times will bring, and it is best to be
prepared for every emergency.
VICTORIOUS PREJUDICE.
We are a curious people in a way.
Quite likely the earnest commendation
of woman Suffrage as a state principle
by President Wilson will not promote
an extraordinary conversion in New
York state, whereas if his address had
been on some war policy the state
would listen and probably heed.
The reason for doubting the botency
of the President's advice on woman's
suffrage is its lack of effect in Maine
in a recent election, after he had
spoken similarly. The spectacular at
titude of the "pickets" at Washington,
representing no sound thought or ma
terial element in the country, drove
more votes from woman suffrage than
the sensible advice of the President
gained for the principle, backed as his
words were by the National platforms
of the two major parties.
Although the "pickets" were repu
diated by other and more substantial
National and state suffrage organiza
tions, there was no staying the im
pression in Maine that Mrs. Catt could
have called oft the pickets if she had
been so minded. The remark of one
old farmer was used effectively: "If
the Mother Catt can't manage her un
ruly kittens, I'm dummed If I want
her to manage me."
It was neat phraseology that ap
pealed to prejudice, but it contained
no good reason and no sound argu
ment, as did the President's message
to the voters of Maine. A well-turned
phrase has won more than one elec
tion, and it has generally been some
thing that would not bear a calm
analysis. -
The "pickets" are still attempting
to carry on their misguided, campaign.
Al the substantial encouragement that
can be given woman suffrage may not
be able to counteract their evil in
fluence. THE RED STAR.
In presenting its claims for public
support as an important war adjunct,
the American Red Star, organized to
render aid to animals wounded in
battle, makes an impressive statistical
showing.
It is not commonly known that.
although there have been no cavalry
actions of vital importance, there are
4,500,000 horses engaged in the war.
Losses of horses on the western front
alone have averaged 47,000 a month.
The French lost 5011 horses in eight
hours of -fighting on a three-mile front
at Verdun.
It is calculated that the United
States, with an ultimate Army of
2,300,000 men, will require 750.000
horses to begin with, and a constant
supply after that to atone for wast
age. The total need under fighting
conditions may exceed a million a
year.
There are approximately 22,000,000
horses in the United States, but con
siderably less than one-fifth are fit
for war duty. The entente allies have
already purchased a million and a
half. The value of the horse ship
ments from this country to Kurope in
the first seven months of 1917 was
$25,327,333. More than 33,000 have
died in this country while awaiting
shipment, and more than 6000 have
died in transit at sea.
Success of the British, who In nine
weeks captured 3 32 German field guns
and lost none, is believed to have been"
due in large measure to lack of horses
on the German side.
The saving of horses, therefore, is
a work of conservation highly essen
tial to success. That it is practicable
is shown by the efficiency of the Brit
ish and French veterinary corps, who
have been sending 80 per cent of in
jured animals back to the line to fight
again. This is more than a saving of
money, because when the supply in
this country has become exhausted it
cannot be replaced at any price. Sub
stantial economy in shipping is an
other result. It would require fifty
large ships carrying nothing but
horses and employed constantly to
replace the average losses in a cam
paign. The horse is still important in war,
and will never be quite replaced by
motor transportation. Quite apart
from considerations of mercy, which
ought also to be influential, the effort
to save so valuable an animal would
seem worthy of earnest support.
BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT.
A few years ago the men at the
head of big business were regarded at
Washington as public enemies in pas
sive rebejllon against the law. Those
same men have gone to Washington
and without salary have gone into the
service of the Nation for the prosecu
tion of the war, while by thousands
their sons have entered the Army and
Navy to fight, not only as officers, but
in the ranks. Entire industries have
voluntarily accepted reduced prices
dictated by the Government and have
voluntarily organized for co-operation
with Food Director Hoover in regula
tion of their business for the general
good.
As Britain replied to Napoleon's
sneer that it was a nation of shop
keepers by making relentless and suc
cessful war on him and by becoming
the paymaster of the Continental
armies. America replies to Germany's
sneer that we are a Nation of dollar
chasers by the voluntary offer to the
Government of the services of its citi
zens from the richest to the poorest.
This spirit has taken the element of
compulsion out of conscription and
has made it a means of deciding which
among millions of willing men shall
be called. The men who still attempt
to use the war as a means of gratify
ing their greed are so sternly frowned
upon by their fellows that they are
promptly marked as exceptions to the
general rule.
The co-operation in a common cause
which is thus established between the
leaders of business and the leaders of
Government cannot fail to improve
their relations in the future. Public
officials realize the great service which
business men can render to the Gov
ernment, while business men have a
quickened sense of duty to the Nation
and of the aid which it can and does
give to them. The spirit of antago
nism which has hitherto marred these
relations should be permanently re
placed by the spirit of co-operation
which is growing up. This does not
imply that there will be any relaxation
of that opposition of law to competition-stifling
monopoly which is "ex
pressed in the anti-trust laws. It does,
however, imply that the Government
will apply to the public benefit the
obvious advantages to be derived from
combinations for large-scale business
within defined limits.
Active participation of business men
in solution of problems of government
which will arise after the war is
necessary because these will be mainly
business problems. They will have to
do with expansion of foreign trade,
with restoration of the merchant ma
rine on a permanent basis, with ex
pansion and organization of industry
to compete with the syndicated indus
tries of other countries, with develop
ment of our unused resources and with
improvement and extension of rail
roads. In order to solve these prob
lems, business men will need the ac
tive aid and support of statesmen, not
mere politicians, and. if assured of
sympathetic instead of antagonistic
action, they will throw open their af
fairs to Government officials. From
this new relation there should develop
a new type of business statesmen like
that which had carried German com
merce into all countries before the
Kaiser wrecked the whole structure by
his mad bid for world empire.
XEW STUDIES IN COLOR VALl'ES.
Development of camouflage on the
battle fronts of the war promises to
contribute much to the education of
our artists in the true values of colors.
For now that camouflage has become
an art, and has been dignified by the
attention of such luminaries as Homer
Saint-Gaudens, son of the great Amer
ican sculptor, and Barry Faulkner.
Sherry E. Fry, Leslie Thrasher and
many others, new opportunities have
been given to study the effects of
pigments upon the eye in all sorts of
varying circumstances.
It is, perhaps, the first time In the
history of the world that men have
been able to look at a painting from
a point of vantage some thousands of
feet up in the air. The artist who is
set at the task of painting, for in
stance, an artificial greensward to con
ceal a roadway from the prying eyes
of enemy observers must do more
than deceive a mere naturalist. There
are greens and still other greens,
which "match" but do not look alike
at "a distance. They do not bear the
test of Nature's own atmospheric
camouflage. The aviator - scout dis
covers that which was indistinguish
able right at hand the difference be
tween real grass and paint that in the
barrel looks precisely like it. It is no
job for a poster designer this new
artistry of the front line but one
calling for all the professional skill
of which the best painters are capable.
"I never saw a sunset like that,"
said a prospective purchaser to the
painter in one of our classic anec
dotes. "But don't you wish you
could?" was the reply. The victim of
this repartee had a defective sense of
color appreciation which it would be
unsafe to rely upon in the case of an
enemy flying overhead. It is neces
sary in painting an object to conceal
it on the battlefield that it shall con
tain every color of the background
the colors we see unconsciously as
well as those that everyone knows are
there. It is fatal to the scheme to
omit one of them. It is for this reason
that the work of our American
camoufieurs is worthy of the talent of
our most eminent men.
It is, too, a fascinating business,
well calculated to develop profes
sional pride of the highest order. Out
witting the enemy, whether with fire
arms or paint brush, is a game for a
real soldier. So it is to be expected
that our camoufieurs will have a high
esprit de corps and perfect their work
with abounding enthusiasm. The lives
of countless of our fighting men de
pend upon them.
A NEW WATERWAY POLICY.
The session of the National Rivers
and Harbors Congress, which is to
open at Washington on December 5,
will have more than usual importance,
because the Government has moved
to make greater use of waterways in
order to relieve the congestion of
traffic on the railroads and because
the railroads have agreed to co-operate
in this use. Waterway transporta
tion has been between two fires. On
the one hand, the pork-grabbers have
diverted public funds from the real
waterways and wasted them on
streams which can never be water
ways, and have thus prejudiced the
public mind against river and harbor
appropriations in general. On the
other hand, opponents of the pork
barrel have used decline of water
transportation as an argument against
further expenditure on watrways
without seeking out the causes for
non-use and without endeavoring to
remove them.
Present emergencies have caused
the inland water transportation com
mittee of the National Defense Coun
cil to seek out these causes and their
remedy. Its secretary. Colonel Charles
Keller, in an article in Power Boating,
thus states these causes with regard
to the Mississippi River and its main
tributaries:
Absence of adequate terminals at the
large cities, a lack of suitably economical
carriers, and a failure of the interests en
gaged in river traffic to realize the necessity
of securing ample capital, accompanied byj
high-grade management.
He finds that the waterway con
necting the Delaware River with New
York harbor is little used because it
is "under a practically perpetual lease
to the Pennsylvania Railroad," and
the use of the new Erie Canal is
liable to be limited by the fact that
"private interests are not yet ready to
begin the construction of larger barges
and towboats whose use will be pos
sible when the entire canal has been
finished."
Although private and community
enterprise is moving to remedy this
condition on the Mississippi River by
organizing corporations with ample
capital. Colonel Keller foreshadows a
new Government policy by saying:
It is hoped to secure the co-operation of
the United States Shipping Board in the
construction of the requisite steel barges
and towboats. "Without such co-operation
in the present state of the market, and in
the absence of any assurance that war con-
Editions will prevail for any great length of
time. It wouiu ue prarutttiij imumme 10
get good business men to interest them
selves in such an enterprise. If, however,
the barges and towboats can be built at
anything like normal prices, and if the
large cities along the route install sdequate
and economical terminals, there is no reason
to doubt that these lines will be able to
handle business at rates considerably below
existing rail rates, although rail rates are
low in the Mississippi Valley.
He sees no remedy for the non-use
of the canal between the Delaware
River and New York "short of the;
construction by the public of a parallel
route," and as to the Erie Canal he
suggests that it may be "advisable for
some Governmental agency to embark
upon a plan for building proper equip
ment." .
What is true of the Mississippi River
and the Erie Canal is true also of the
Columbia River, as The Oregonian has
frequently said. If it is contemplated
to revive water transportation for the
emergencies of war only, private capi
tal will hold aloof, and the Govern
ment must provide the facilities. But
if the waterways are good for war
traffic, they are also good for peace
traffic.
Arrangements should now be made
for continued use of waterways by
protecting water lines against destruc
tive railroad competition, by requiring
close connections between rail and
water lines, by constructing port fa
cilities and by building modern tow
boats and barges. In order that water
craft may be provided promptly
enough for war traffic, it may be nec
essary that the Government build
them, but river ports will more readily
build modern docks if they are assured
that fair play by the railroads will
make water traffic permanent, and
private corporations will then be ready
to take the vessels off the Govern
ment's hands when it no longer needs
them for war.
The Rivers and Harbors Congress
has incurred much criticism by hav
ing been too closely identified with the
pork-barrel schemes. If at the com
ing session it will strike out on a new
line by supporting plans for the actual
use of existing waterways by modern
methods and for the improvement and
use of other waterways on business
rather than pork-barrel principles, it
will win the confidence of many per
sons who have hitherto regarded it
with distrust.
PUT LOYAL LOGGERS AT WORK.
The greatest contribution which can
be made by Oregon and Washington
to American victory over Germany is
abundant production of these states'
greatest resources lumber. They
have the largest sizes of fir for ship
timbers and the most of it. They also
have the largest quantity of the big
gest and most mature spruce timber,
which makes the best airplane stock.
The best and most direct contribution
to the United States and the allies'
success is an abundant supply of fir
and spruce lumber. Every man who
aids in this production is fighting as
effectively against Germany as though
he were fighting in the trenches.
At present the Government needs
spruce more urgently than anything
else, for that is the best material for
aircraft. Neither the allies nor the
Germans have been able to obtain
enough spruce for their great air
fleets, and much of that which they
have is in short lengths apd lacks
strength through beint; immature.
Propeller blades are fashioned of
laminated, thin planks in order to
secure strength and rigidity. The
planks should be clear lumber, and
each thickness should consist of a
single long plank, not two or more
short ones, while all should be of the
same kind of wood. Owing to the
deficiency of spruce, some blades have
been made of four different kinds of
wood, and owing to lack of long,
straight-grained pieces, they have
been made with many splices, which
detract from strength.
Thin beams as long as ninety feet
and of great flexibility and tensile
strength are needed for the planes.
To have the maximum of these quali
ties they should be in a single piece
of sound, clear, ripe timber. A splice
or youns timber is a source of weak
ness, which may mean a broken wing,
a fall, a wrecked airplane and a lost
aviator. Fir answers this purpose and
can be safely used in training and re
connaissance machines, but an airplane
in which it is used is eight or ten miles
an hour slower than one that is built
of spruce. Fir is, therefore, not
adapted for bombing or fighting planes,
in which speed is a prime requisite.
Germany and Austria are at a great
disadvantage in this respect, for they
have little spruce, it is small and cuts
only into short lengths. The allies
and Germans can both get spruce from
Norway, but it is open to the same
objections, though in a smaller de
gree. The Germans have been using
aluminum tubes for beams, but they
are too rigid for the purpose.
The spruce of the Pacific" Northwest
is the best wood in the world for
these purposes, and there is ample to
supply all the needs of the United
States and the allies. The trees are
mature . and large, and can be cut
into clear lengths long enough to
make propeller blades or even ninety
foot beams without a single splice.
Machines built of this material can
outfly and outmaneuver any German
machine, and in a fight can subject
the latter to strains which will cause
their collapse. Spruce occurs in
clumps and single trees among forests
of fir and other timber. As a business
proposition, loggers cannot go after
spruce alone, but they can push their
operations into tracts where it is thick
and can cut it together with fir for
ship timbers and other uses.
With great fleets of airplanes built
of spruce the Americans and their
allies can outbuild, outfly, outmaneu
ver and outfight the Germans. They
can drive the Germans from the air,
thus keeping them in ignorance of the
allied positions and movements. They
can spot the German positions, direct
artillery fire, bomb everything in the
enemy's rear and carry the war into
Germany ahead of the main army.
Pacific Coast loggers and lumDer-
called upon to do their fight-
men are taiieu j T rt
iner at home by producing spruce. The
employers are rising loyally to the
occasion, and they have a large pro
portion of loyal men in their employ,
but the logging camps have been more
strongly infected with the poison. of
sedition and sabotage by the I. W. W.
than any other industry. There are
more alien. Socialist, traitorous men
in the lumber industry than in any
other. They start forest fires, burn
mills, plug oil cups and throw grit in
the bearings of machinery. They dope
or pollute food. They suddenly desert
a camp, leaving it short of men. They
are cunning, and it is next to impos
sible to detect the individuals who
commit these crimes. Their leaders
have been arrested, but others have
stepped into the places of the indicted
men and carry on the evil work.
In order that we may get out logs
tsnd lumber, it is necessary to organize
the loyal Americans among the work
ing forces of the lumber industry, to
rally them to the aid of the Govern
ment and to make them an effective
power in fighting the I. W. W. in its
chosen haunts. The Government has
formed forest regiments and sent them
to France to cut timber. It needs the
same kind of organization in the for
ests of the Pacific Coast. It is not
necessary to form them into a thor
oughly military organization; they
should be volunteers, each of whom
signs a pledge to do his utmost in aid
of the Nation by producing spruce for
aircraft and fir for ships. They would
receive going wage? and work under
the best conditions. An appeal to
their patriotism would make them an
aggressive body which would drive the
alien enemy from the woods by mak
ing things too hot for him.
The Loggers' Loyal Legion would
find many Tecruits among Hie native
Americans and men of allied nations.
The ranks could be swelled by the
many men who, though not loggers,
are skilled with ax and saw. Men
from the old, depleted lumber regions
of Pennsylvania. Michigan, Wisconsin.
Minnesota and other states could be
enrolled for service in Oregon and
Washington. They might be given a
distinctive badge, paid a bonus for in
creasing output above a certain mini
mum and rewarded for detecting the
traitors who commit acts of sabotage.
There are thousands of loyal men who
will readily enter this patriotic service
and stamp the life out of the I. W. W.
snake wherever he shows his ugly
head.
The time is ripe for loyal Oregon
to take the lead once more. This state
has led in every war task which the
Government has imposed upon the
people. The only blot on its record is
the strike in the shipyards. This can
be wiped out if the loyal citizens will
rally to the work of producing logs
and lumber, and If they will treat as
one who shoots our soldiers from the
rear any man who obstructs their
efforts.
ABOUT GOATS' MILK.
High price of cow's milk has started
a boom for goat's milk. Why, asks
some bright citizen, should not every
person have a goat on his back lot
to be milked every morning and even
ing? That suggestion raises visions
in the mind of the suburban Port
lander of a goat doing double duty
by devouring the pesky weeds and
brush from the vacant lots in his
vicinity and also providing milk for
the baby.
But there are drawbacks. It is a
mistake to . suppose that neglected
goats will give milk free from objec
tionable flavor. Under good condi
tions, we are told, the taste is ' not
disagreeable, but these presuppose
care which is only practicable when
goats are kept as a business venture.
A common goat gives only two or
three quarts of milk a day, although
well-bred stock does better than that,
and you must catch your goat before
you can milk her. That takes time,
and milkers' time costs money these
days.
Taking one consideration with an
other, it seems that we must rely on
good old bossy, for our -milk, or. on
the milkman for the stuff which he
slanders bossy by calling it milk.
There was a time when some of us
might have refreshed ourselves with
a more seductive substitute, but that
was in the had old days before prohi
bition. WELLS, BRVCG AND THE CLASSICS.
From a discussion of the place to
which the study of the classics is
entitled in modern education, lately
in progress in England, and to which
H. G. Wells has contributed an illu
minating chapter in the pages of the
Fortnightly Review, we are able to
derive some interesting information
as to the reasons for the views of
British opponents of "classicism."
Mr. Wells takes as his text a par
ticular work written in defense of
classical education, and proceeds to
remove the hide of the author thereof
and hang it on the fence to use a
somewhat unclasslcal trope but in
doing so he makes the reader aware
that he Is himself not unacquainted
with the subtleties of the ancient lan
guages which he affects somewhat to
despise. For although he is at pains
to say that "the attack upon the
classical education, it must be remem
bered, does not involve a denial of
the high value of that education,"
and adds that "It Is an attack merely
upon its exclusive predominance," he
declares also that philosophy and his
tory can be studied as well, and more
thoroughly and surely, in the mother
tongue as the medium of statement
and discussion. He has little patience
with the notion that adequate trans
lations are not available, or that com
prehension of the niceties of the elder
languages is very much worth while.
The earnestness of the British oppo
nents of the classics, however, is, per
haps, explained, and their, situation
shown to be different from that of
Americans, by Mr. Wells' statement
that one of the bases of the quarrel
is the preference given to the ancient
languages in British civil service ex
aminatiojis, which hampers the col
lateral systems of higher education
and produces a stereotyped class of
public servant, "frequently very igno
rant beyond his special range." Of
course, in America the mistake has
not been made of going to this ex
treme. We do not insist upon famil
iarity with Latin and Greek as a pre
requisite to holding a Government
job, nor are Government jobs so at
tractive that our colleges are com
pelled to adjust their curricula to
meet the wants of those to whom edu
cation is chiefly a means and the
Government payroll an end. That, in
the United States, is more likely to be
left to the correspondence schools.
Nor do our higher institutions of
learning, upon the whole, permit the
classics so to predominate as to
"swamp the timetable of our schools
. . . to an extent that cripples any
successful attempt at an alternative
education." With Mr. Wells' demand
for such a revision of the civil serv
Ice examination as will "deprive
Greek and Latin scholarship of their
present excessive value In the career
of an ambitious public servant," most
American educators would be heartily
In accord if such a situation existed
in this country.
"Viscount Bryce. however, in an ar
ticle in the same medium, clears the
atmosphere somewhat by making it
plain that a defense of ancient litera
ture does not imply insistence that
every student shall be required to
study it, no matter what his -life's
ambition may be, or even that it shall
be insisted upon at all. "We shall
effect a saving," he says, "if we drop
that study of the ancient languages
in the case of those who, after a trial,
show no aptitude for them." But the
classics must be protected against the
onslaughts of thdse who would pack
them off. bag and baggage, with no
consideration at all. which is a danger
we run in going from one extreme to
another. The practical problem in the
opinion of Viscount Bryce. is for unl
versities (and he is speaking of English
universities in particular) to find
means by which the study, "while
dropped for those who never make
much of it, may be retained, and for
ever securely maintained, for that per
centage of our youth, be it 20 or 30
per cent, or be it more, who will draw
sufficient mental nourishment and
stimulus from the study to make it
an effective factor in their mental
growth and an unceasing spring of en
joyment through the rest of life."
This- is again a recognition of the
duty of the Nation to cultivate its
best minds, for it is upon these, as
Viscount Bryce says, that he strength
of the Nation really depends. We
gain certain unmistakable advantages
from the education of all thp people.
and no one desires to close the door
to any pupil or to make education any
less general, or less nearly universal.
But there must be provision for our
men and women of special fitness for
intellectual leadership for the gen
iuses, if need be. In addition to the
security and the comfort we derive
from all education, we ;-ut ourselves
In the way of progressing most when
we nurture our special intellects. Our
John Hays and our Thomas A. Edi
sons and our Bryces are needed as
well as the millions too have the
ordinary advantages of our common
schools.
Mr. Wells and Lord Bryce are not
quite on the same ground, as will be
observed from Mr. Wells' definition of
education. He declares that it is first
a training in expression, and cites the
beginnings of speech made by the
child at its mother's knee. Under this
general heading pf methods of inter
course he places drawing, mathe
matics, language and logic. As the
individual grows up he receives also
training in understanding, which
Mr. Wells holds to be comprehended
in philosophy and history. But he
excludes dogmatically all else. Esthetic
and emotional experience he concedes
to be part of the making of the com
plete man, but no more necessary to
his education than "the society of
wise friends and pretty women."
Lord Bryce, on the other hand, sees
In the historical and literary studies
a very definite mental stimulus and
training which make them an essen
tial part of the education of those
who are fitted to profit by them. This
is because of the bearing they have
upon the knowledge of human nature
which is so essential to dealing with
men in the various walks of life, and
it is this .which distinguishes the
sciences from the humanities. As Lord
Bryce says:
Pericles and Julius Caesar would have
been no fitter for the work they had. to do
If they had been physiologists or chemists.
No one at a supreme crisis in his li'e can
nerve himself to action, or comfort himself
under a stroke of fate, by reflecting that
the angle at the base of an isosceles trian
gle are equal. It. is to poetry and philoso
phy, and to the examples ot conduct history
supplies, that we must go for stimulus or
consolation.
Mr. Wells is concerned principally
with the teaching of the classical lan
guages themselves, after having re
jected esthetic experience as a part of
education. In a nutshell, he does not
value them bectuse he believes that
translations are adequate. Lord Bryce
holds that "the real value and the full
delight which the best ancient authors
can be made to yield can be gained
only by reading them in the very
words they used." Mr. Wells does
not, however, insist upon banishing
the classics from the schools, and
Lord Bryce is willing that they should
be restricted to the more promising
students. But as to their educational
value, it would seem that Lord Bryce
had made out the better case. This
will seem particularly true in America,
where .only an insignificant part of the
people measure "education" by its
capacity to fit them for Government
employment.
The Dairy and Hog Show given at
Hermiston serves as a practical reminded-
of the close association of two
important agricultural industries. In
any plan of dairying In which the
separator is employed, swine are the
natural adjunct, because in no other
way can the skim milk be utilized to
better advantage. It is advisable, how
ever, that the modern, dairyman's or
ganization should be so adjusted that
he can supplement this ration so far
as possible without buying feed, and
some of the land can profitably be de
voted to raising crops for consump
tion by hogs as well as by the cows
which constitute the principal end of
the business. Too much attention is
paid in some quarters to mere size in
swine, without reference to the cost of
attaining it. The future of the swine
industry probably lies largely in the
development of early maturing strains,
and prizes should be offered to en
courage breeders to .produce strains
which can be "turned off" in minimum
time.
The British government, being con
fronted with numerous cases of juve
nile delinquency. Is only now awaken
ing to the desirability of actual, rather
than nominal compulsory education,
and is considering a plan to apply
this compulsion to all children up to
the age of fourteen, while the prin
ciple is to be extended under certain
conditions, as when the youth is un
able to give a good account of him
self, to the age of eighteen. The last
four years, however, may be devoted
to vocational training of some kind.
A report on the subject has been made
by a special committee appolntedsby
the Board of Education, which finds
that the British secondary schoolsare
far from satisfactory, and should be
improved, while at the same time the
nation should redouble its efforts,
without waiting for the end of the
war, to give the young every oppor
tunity to equip themselves for their
future responsibility.
Those who have bought liberty
bonds on the installment plan are
taking a first lesson in saving. It will
be a good thing for the country if the
habit grows. It is worth while to
learn at the receiving end that inter
est keeps on accumulating, nights,
Sundays and holidays.
The ex-Czar has been transferred to
a monastery in obedience to his re
quest to be permitted to keep a gar
den. The back-to-the-land movement
has been exceedingly popular in high
Russian circles recently.
The slacker hen is still good for a
potpie, as Professor Dryden suggests,
and in that respect she is worth more
than some other slackers who might
be mentioned.
It was a fortunate thing for New
York that its new aqueduct was com
pleted just as a thousand saloons were
put out of business by the revenue
laws.
With the war-spirit everywhere in
the air, we dread contemplation of
the list of casualties of the football
season, now about to open.
Discovery of a drug plot in an Army
cantonment shows that eternal vigi
lance is the price of liberty in more
ways than one.
The Kaiser having handed Chancel
lor Michaells his hat, does not need to
ask him the conventional question in
plain words.
The last-minute-men also acquitted
themselves with credit in the finish of
the bond campaign.
The Peripterous.
Perlpterous A Structure Having Rows
of Columns on All Sides Dictionary.
Although three mysteries are on the
regular docket, the great hat rack
problem is occupying the entire atten
tion of the Department of Scientific In
vestigations. This problem is how to
construct a home -hall rack so the Old
Man will have a place to hang his hat.
The Department offers the following;
preliminary report of its researches:
Case No. 1 Reports that Mr. A., liv
ins in Rose City Park, consistently
found a place to hang his hat were In
vestigated with care. It was learned
that Mr. A.'s family had been Jn Cali
fornia for three weeks and that his
successful solution of the problem dated
from the day of their departure.
The scientists encaged in the work
pronounce this but a casual remedy for
a long-standing abuse and hold it Im
practical for family men. as a general
rule, to provide themselves with hat
rack conveniences by the same means
Case No. 2 Unusual effort was taken
to investigate the experience of Mr. B.,
of Sellwood. It was learned that Mr.
B. had no children, that his wife is very
short and also a confirmed Invalid. He
U very tall and the hook for his hat
is seven feet eight inches from the
floor.
The Department rules that the case
offers a solution only in isolated cases.
The Department will continue its ef
forts to solve the Great Hat Rack Prob
lem in a manner satisfactory and use
ful to all persons.
Senator ;latrn on Fork.
Proposed curtailment of pork is caus-4
Ing deep concern among members of
Congress. Senator Gluten writes a long
letter of protest. He points out that
pork Is the staff of life to many, many
members of both Houses.
"I have spent thirty of the best years
of my life," says Senator Uluten, "in
enhancing the prestige and popularity
of the National legislative body. Next
to the Common People, I revere it more
highly than anything on .earth. While
I yield to no man a greater interest
in the welfare of our Allies, who are
said to need pork more than we do.
when it comes to a decision between
the armies of Europe and the Congress
ot the United States on the pork ques
tion. 1 am for Congress, first, last and
all the time."
Father's Troubles,
Senator Gluten announces his readi
ness to debate the pork question with
Mr. Hoover at any time or at any place.
Eugene. Oct. -'. (To the Architects
Please advise me through your valuable col
umns why God made veilow jacket!. T Iihvm
an urgent call for this information and if
I do not soon receive it I fear my ftve-ye.-ir-olj
son, who haa been having trouble with
a yellowjacket, wUl become a free thinker.
Tours for conservation of religious faith
in the young. u. O. J.
Portland. Or.. Oct. L'7. (To the Architect.)
Please prepare plans and specification,
with sketches of front, side and rear eleva
tions, of a system for explaining to a five-year-old
how they make the pictures move
in the movies.
Tours in both haste and distress.
IX A. r.
G. O. G., meet up with D. A. D.
D. A .D., pump arms with G. O. G.
It's up to you two fellows to settle
each other's troubles.
The Architect has his own difficulties
convincing another five-year-old that
the Sunday school teacher did NOT say
that heaven is hominy.
Why Accident f
Louie McKay met with a painful ac
cident one day last week while chop
ping wood. He cut a deep gash in
his scalp. Mayfield Courier.
For Lovers of Household Pets.
WANTED Someone to live in house
and take care of colt and calf for
several months. Inquire Eva Hall,
Edenbower, Or. Roseburg News.
Where Workers Get Justice.
T met an old acquaintance on ths
street one day last week. He has a
good job, and is proud of it. " He la
working for Skinner & Eddy.
It seems that the men have been com
plaining that while they are at work
somebody has been stealing their auto
mobiles from in front of the works.
So it has been necessary to employ
watchmen to protect the machines,
spare tires, etc. My friend is on the
job.
This Is an excellent idea. How In
the world can men work at the pre
vailing wages if they lose an automo
bile every few days Seattle Argus.
War Garden Note No. 5.
R. E. G. writes to say that in re
sponse to patriotic demands, last Spring
he planted his first war garden.
The onions produced just a smell.
Canned Music Note.
J. A. G. writes to the canned musio
department for a compensating sugges
tion in an hour of trouble.
While making himself at home in the.
house of a friend he opened the Vic
trola to get a record and a bottle oH
"hootch" fell out and broke.
The impresario of the canned musio
department suggests that the "hootch"
be replaced with "Brown October Ale."
which is about the best that can ba
done in a dry state.
Very Terra Firms.
A critic writes of the film,
to Earth," that the realty of
Down
every
scene Is very marked.
That's what comes of letting the real
estate editor write up the movies.
One of the most untrammeled poets
in town is a barber, who has submitted
a swinging little rhyme. He might have
Improved It by calling on the bootblack
or the chiropodist or somebody else
who knows something about 'feet, but
the sentiment is good:
Just a Shave,
If you want to hear the barber rave.
Greet him weekly with, "Just a shave.
We're thankful for the scrapes, that's
true.
But when rent ds comes, we must
kick through.
So don't always get just a shave alone.
And don't have your wife cut your hair
at home.
Remember, barbers sometimes eat.
So loosen up and give your face a treat.
You'd look better if your blackheada
were gone.
And your hair wasn't quite so long,
you say "It's war times." Yes, that's-
true:
But the soldiers look neat, so why can't
you?
So next time you go to the barber shop
Just make up your mind to get rid of
that crop
Of wool you've been saving since 49.
And let the barber fix you all up fine.
Then, lo and behold, you'll look so
strange,"
You'll tell the barber, "Just keep the
change."
Then the barber will wear a big, broad
grin.
And always treat you fine when Trou
come again.