LINCOLN COUNTY LEADER
CHA8. F. ti ADA E. SOCLE, Pnbi.
TOLEDO OREGON
Who ran away with the century
question?
Emperor William's play, "The Iron
Tooth," is reported to be a failure. It
must be decent.
Evidently it Is the desire of Mr. Frick
to get Mr. Carnegie's surplus library
fuHd Into a circulating form.
An oyster combine is typical of the
trust Idea because the shelling out is
one of Its primary principles.
Silk handkerchiefs are now being
made up into shirt waists. Last year's
Bhlrt waists can be ripped up into
handkerchiefs.
That the flour trust should be among
the first to go under Is signiiicaut. It
typifies the people between the upper
and the uetlier millstone.
"With coal at $125 a ton in Alaska the
man who discovers a mine of the
"black diamonds" can laugh at the ef
forts of the gold miners to acquire
wealth.
Connu Doyle claims to have Invented
a gunslght that will enable an English:
man to shoot as straight as a Hoer.
This Action has less color of plausibil
ity than any tale the noted novelist
ever concocted.
A man who rescued a widow from
death was married to her three days
after his heroic net. When they have
their first quarrel there will be an op
portunity for him to say things that
will cut her to the quick.
In England the sexes seem to be
changing places. While women are
going Into the professions a London pa
per reports hundreds of young men
from France, Austria, Switzerland and
other continental countries seeking
housework. The young men, It Is said,
are both faithful and competent.
A girl who wns married to a man
niter nn acquaintance of three days
complains because he turns out to be a
convict and not 1 lie naval captain lie
represented himself to be. While she
undoubtedly lias cause to mourn, it is
hardly right that she should receive all
the sympathy. The man, on his part,
ran some risk. He was probably led to
Wlleve that he was getting a wife who
possessed reasoning powers.
The frugality which Impels million
aires to perjure themselves In order to
avoid the payment of taxes Is not con
fined to any one locality nor to any
country. In tills land of freedom we
see gentlemen reputed to be habitual
coupon (Uppers appearing before the
Hoard of Itevlew and swearing that
they are upon the verge of starvation.
In Germany tax-dodging is more risky
business, but even there it is declared
that the tax-gatherer Is evaded to a
very considerable extent by the ex
tremely rich men. In England we have
Keen the late Duke of Westminster's
estate declared at 50l.22!, though It is
notorious t ha t Its real value Is nearer
14,000,000. The object, of course, is to
dodge the Inheritance tax. All this per
jury Is confined to personal property
taxes, because real estate can't be hid
den from the assessor.
It is said that the ever-Increasing lec
ture habit and the growing number of
people who feel called upou to reveal
the "whimsies" In their brains has
caused the commonplace, listening soul
to develop Into a mere sponge, the
clammy recipient of the unliltered
waters of knowledge. As a reaction
against this attitude some socialists,
with the tires of real genius In their
brains, refuse to spread the tlames, or
to contribute one more bee to the bon
nets already tilled with the hum of
these insects. These protesters go so
far as to disapprove of the university
extension movement, and to look upon
It as nn unwise method of distributing
crumbs of culture that are calculated
to create dangerous cravings. There Is
no doubt that people are being lectured
to death and that the minds of versa
tile listeners resemble a Junk shop, or
the ragbag that Is filled with hand
some but useless scraps. Yet there Is
something to be said for the sponge. It
Is a responsive thing, and. If It takes
In with greediness. It gives out as free
ly. Hut here the analogy falls. Too
many people are occupied solely with
taking In and are too little concerned
with the thought that It Is their duty
to give out at least a part of that which
they have taken In.
The care of the aged and the Infirm
whose poverty prevents them from pro
viding for themselves is a matter of
Importance to every taxpayer. While
the support of our almshouses and pub
lic homes Is nn expensive item In our
system of charities, many of them fur
nish provision for their Inmates that
orders upon the barbarous, and at
Lent the sys'.eui seems something !lke
consigning people to Imprisonment for
the crime of being old and poor. Ger
many and Denmark pay old age pen
sions. In Germany there Is a system
of compulsory insurance against o'.d
age, and that would seem to be the
proper method. Dependent old age Is
very largely the result of improvident
living. The average man could save
enough between the ages of 18 and 05
to enable him to live better for the bal
ance of his life than he could live in
the average almshouse, if he would. In
1808 Germany paid to 400,000 pension
ers $13,750,000. The pension fund, to
which compulsory contribution had
been mnde, amounted to $8,3(K),000. The
deficit was furnished by the govern
ment. But a system that embodied the
principles of life Insurance and was
also based upon incomes would sup
ply the whole amount, and prevent the
irritation which the taxpayer often
feels when thinking that he Is com
pelled to support nn old man who has
been wasting his means during his
whole life.
In n State Supreme Court recently
we shield the State from the disgrace
by not giving Its name a Judge said:
"If a railroad company kills a child, its
parents should be satisfied with a dol
lar's damages. Children are a source ol
expense to their parents and are of no
pecuniary benefit." An expression like
that seems like an echo from the de
luded mother on the banks of the Gan
ges, though her mistaken sentiment
thnt lenda her to t!ie sacrifice cf Lei
babe clothes her with a nobility in com
parison to which the heart of this civ
ilized American Judge, in this nine
teenth century, is a hive of barbarism
and heathenism. There is n widespread
undervaluation of the worth of human
life. The lives of men are crystalized
Into wealth which others than they en
joy and when death closes the scene
of the individual's exhaustive activity,
the eveut Is as unimportant as was the
slaughter of captives that were lashed
to the wheels of Alexander's chariot.
There is a brutal contempt for sanctity
of life abroad, and as the spirit of greed
develops, drying up human sympathies
and benumbing the nobility of man
hood, tills contempt becomes more and
more flu grant. But there are few men,
even among the most, hardened and de
graded, to whom the life of a child Is
not beautiful and does not appeal for
protection. It is a warped manhood
and anything but a nineteenth century
heart that can give birth to a thought
like that which this judge expressed
upon the bench. It Is treason to hu
manity and an insult to our civiliza
tion. In Great Britain the ministers of the
crown have larger war-making powers
than nu American President employs
at the opening of hostiltles. They can
give the signal for war without consult
ing Parliament although Parliament
must be summoned within ten days
after the reserves are called out
whereas the President cannot enter
upon a military campaign without the
consent of Congress. In 1S57 the House
of Commons expressed disapproval of
Lord Palinci'stoo's war measures
against China, lie did not retire from
otllco, but dissolved Parliament, ap
pealed to the country, and after a gen
eral election was able to command a
majority In the new House of Com
mons. Parliament can withhold the
money required for the expenses of
war, but this Is seldom done, since the
ministers can almost always enlist the
support of the Commons when a cam
paign is considered necessary. The
ministers of the crown are responsible
for the declaration of war, and at the
close of hostilities they can negotiate
peace without the consent of Parlia
ment. They have, therefore, supreme
authority iu the opening mid closing
stages of war with a foreign state.
Parliament can pass votes of censure,
move addresses o the crown, and with
hold the mouey required for the mili
tary aud naval services, but each of
these acts can be made a challenge to
a general election, in which the coun
try will stand by the government. Un
der the American Constitution Con
gress alone Is empowered to declare
war, and at the close of a campaign
the treaty of peace must be sanctioned
by two-thirds of the Senate. The Presi
dent does not have so free a hand In
war-time as the British premier. War
Is. however, so terrible a calamity that
the resposlblllty for It ought to be
shared with the national legislature
and not carried by any group of cabi
net ministers. The American method
may not offer any additional safeguard
against unjust or unnecessary warfare,
but it Is In closer accord than the Eng
lish system with the genius of represen
tative government.
The Kcw Gardens.
The finest gardens In the world are
the Royal Gardens, at Kew, England.
They cover nn area of about 270 acres,
and are visited by about 1,500.000 per
sons n year. The gardens contain the
finest collection of exotic plants in the
world, a palm house, a winter garden,
a museum, nn observatory, and n school
for gardeners.
When a school teacher is found who
Is a good cook, the Impression Is cre
ated that the general superintendent of
destinies somehow got things badly
mixed.
NATURE.
As a fond mother, when the day is o'er,
Leads by the hand her little child to
bed,
Half willing, half reluctant to be led,
Aud leave his broken playthings on the
floor,
Still gazing at them through the open
door,
Nor wholly reassured and comforted
By promises of others in their stead,
Which, though more splendid, may not
please him more
So Nature deals with us and takes away
Our playthings, one by one, and by the
hand
Leads us to rest so gently that we go
Scarce knowing if we wished to go or
stay,
Being too full of sleep to understand
How far the unknown transcends the
what we know.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
8
ECO
o
Aunt Phebe's Story.
1 1 1
EAM willing to confess thnt I would
have married Gus Waters at a
word. He was the sort of young
man a girl Instinctively likes and
trusts. Terhnps this is not the kind of
feeling the story books call love, but 1
fancy it Is just as good.
Gus was good-looking, with strongly
marked features, rather tall, and well
built, and when Via otmse to be we!!
dressed mnde a good appearance, and
never looked ill, however old his
clothes might be, when about his or
dinary work. lie did not depend upon
his clothes to command respect.
He had a calm, confident air, and
could express himself concisely when
he needed to assert authority. That
is what a woman likes to have a man
able to deal with men and not be
turned aside from his purpose or make
a mistake. He was a good talker, with
a fine, coy humor, not putting himself
forwnrd to be amusing, but easily hold
ing his own. Like most strong men,
Gus was hard to provoke to a quarrel,
though in his school days he had his
allowance of fisticuff encounters.
Yes, I will admit I would have mar
ried Gus had he asked me, though I did
not think he was In love with me nor
I with him. I did not believe he would
fall deeply In love with anyone.
Perhaps I was too reserved, or feared
to show a decided preference unless it
was shown first, though other girls said
I threw myself at his head, and was
greatly chagrined when he devoted
himself to Hattie Trude. I had other
admirers, and if I was not as handsome
as Hattie, mere beauty is not every
thing. There Is no denying that Hattie
was the prettiest girl of our set, and
she wns pretty without having to care
for her complexion or wear becoming
clothes. We girls, all kuew she was In
tolerably selfish, and wondered that
the young men did not find her out.
But beauty hides a great many defects
of character, and If a girl only pretends
to be kind aud sympathetic she is sup
posed to possess all the angelic qual
ities. Oue diiy Robert Carpenter asked me
to marry him. He proposed in a blun
dering, roundabout way, so clumsily
that I did not know at first what he
meant. He made me almost as confused
as himself, and whether I said yes or
no I do not now recollect, but he went
away smiling, so I conclude he thought
himself an accepted lover, and I had a
ring which I put aw'ay In a box, unde
cided whether to wear It or give it
back.
I don't think I expected thnt Gus
would hear of this and come forward
ns Bobert's rival. He did not, at any
rate. When I met blm he simply said:
"Well, little girl, so you are engaged
to Carpenter. He Is a good fellow, but
you are young. Y'ou should have wait
ed a little longer."
"An engagement does not mean mar
riage," I replied, somewhat sharply.
"No, but I think It ought. It keeps
many young men straight to be en
gaged, but they ought to feel confident
that the girl's heart Is fixed upon
them."
"Perhaps the girl's heart has little to
do with the matter nowadays. She has
to consider other things."
"Yes, I suppose so. But the heart is
not to be Ignored."
Tills was about all that was said
nothing to suggest that Gus wns Jeal
ous or likely to enter the list for my
band. Nor did I expect it, though gos
sips reported the contrary.
Kobert was Impatient to be married,
but I was not. He accused me of being
cold, and of not reciprocating his pas
sion. Possibly all men In love are apt
to act childishly. I found Robert's at
tentions wearisome. It might be said
that be would be cured of them by
marriage, but this Is a painful experi
ence to look forward to.
Oue evening we had n quarrel. He
accused me of a secret admiration for
Mr. Hayes that I held him off hoping
Gus would come forwnrd as a suitor,
and added, as a final rebuke, thnt he
and Hattie Trude had been mnrrled
the day ttefore. He showed me a paper
with the marriage notice printed In It.
I wns so angry at the accusation thnt
nt first I told him the engagement be
tween us wns broken. Then he began
to plead for himself, expressing such
sorrow nt his hasty words that gradu
ally 1 relented. After all, had I treated
him rightly? At last I agreed to mar
ry him at once. It was becoming the
fashion to plan a half elopement and
save the expenses and publicity of a
regular wedding at home. I consented
to marry him the next day.
After Robert departed I looked for
the newspaper containing the notice,
but could not find it. He had had sev
eral in his hand, but the special copy
he had taken with him. I do not know
what prompted me to write a note of
congratulation to Gus and dispatch it
by my brother Ned, a lad of 12. I
mentioned having seen the notice in
the paper, and said I was sorry he had
not confided In me.
It was after 10 o'clock, and I retired
to my room. Half an hour later I heard
Ned coming upstairs. He stopped at
my door.
"Did you see Gus?" I asked from
within.
"Yes. He's downstairs. He came
back with me."
"What does he want?"
"He wants to see you, I guess."
"What for?"
"He didn't say. Probably wants to
borrow your overshoes. Better go
down and ask him."
I went down. He didn't want to bor
row anything. On the contrary, he
wanted me to give him something to
keep my hand, my heart. He said the
notice of his being married was a con
founded fraud that Robert must have
had It inserted in a few copies of the
paper by special agreement It could be
Mosquito
JL Bank.
f A .
COSTA JtlCV
TERRITORY INVOLVED IN
done If one was willing to pay for It.
He wns in quite nn excited frame of
mind, and 1 hardly knew my usual
plncld Gus.
"Of course, when you were engaged
to Robert, it was not for me to make
any attempt to win you. I thought you
knew your own mind, and had decided
that I was not the sort of fellow you
cared to marry. But this trick gives
me a right to speak. Am I too late?"
Naturally, I told hi in he wns. That
if he had cared for me In that way he
ought to have come forward long be
fore. Now that my word was plighted
to Robert, and I could not think of
breaking it, though he had acted In a
most despicable manner, In a manner
to make me ashamed to think he was
my plighted lover and so on.
To which Gus replied :
"All right, little girl. If you think so,
I had bettor go aud give him the worst
licking .he ever had In his life, even
though they do send me to Jail or It.
But you won't care."
"I 'shall care."
"Then we'd better get married nt
once, enrly to-morrow morning. How
early cau you be ready?"
I ought to have resisted longer, but I
didn't. I consented to be ready at any
hour thnt he should name and I was
and we were mnrrled.
And thnt Is nil there Is to the story.
Blind People.
So far ns the most recent statistics
go, the kuowu proportion of blind peo
ple Is about one lu fifteen hundred,
which would give a total of oue million
blind In the world. The largest propor
tion is found In Russia, which has lu
Europe 200,000 blind lu n population
of IHI.000.1HK), or one in 4S0. Most of
these are found In the northern prov
inces of Finland, aud the principal
cause is ophthalmia, due to bad ventila
tion of the huts of the peasantry and
the Inadequate facilities for treatment.
There Is a great deal of blindness lu
Egypt, due to glowing sand.
Largest Geyer in the World.
The largest geyser In the world is the
Excelsior geyser in Yellowstone Park.
Its basin Is 200 feet across and 330
feet deep. The basin Is full of boiling
water, from which clouds of steam are
constantly asceudlng. At long Inter
vals water Is spouted Into the air to a
height of from fifty to 300 feet.
B:'itnin In America.
British landlords are said to own 20,
POO acres of laud in the Uuited States,
an area larger than that of Ireland.
CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY.
History of the Compact Between United
States and Great Britaiu.
The 'Clayton-Bulwer treaty" derives
its name from the diplomatists who
negotiated it on the part of the United
States, Hon. John M. Clayton, Secre
tary of State In President Taylor's ad
ministration; and on the part of Eng
land, Sir Henry Bulwer, British minis
ter at Washington. The "treaty" to
to use proper diplomatic language it
was a "convention," and not a treaty
was concluded in 1850. Its purpose
was to promote the building of an
isthmian canal, to connect the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans. In 1849 the United
States had made a convention with
Nicaragua for constructing such a
canal, starting at Greytown, on the At
lantic. But Greytown was occupied
by British settlers, and Great Britain
claimed a protectorate over the Mos
quito Indians, who held the easteru
coast of Nicaragua. The United States
desired Great Britaiu to waive its
claims, but as the request was denied
the next best thing seemed to be the
establishment of a joint protectorate
over the proposed canal. This was done
by the "Clayton-Buhver treaty," oue
condition of which was that nelthct
power should secure exclusive privil
eges In the canal, and another that
neither power should occupy or exer
cise dominion over any part of Central
America.
Since the convention was madt. til
CLAYTON-BULWER TREATY
especially during the last few years,
the building of an isthmian canal has
become increasingly important to the
United States; but it is important also
that the canal should be under the sole
control of the United States. This could
not be while the convention was in
force. It has been sometimes suggested,
but never formally insisted up.m in
diplomatic correspondence, that Great
Britain has violated the convention by
continuing to exercise dominion over
British Houduras. So long as Great
Britaiu did not take this view of the
matter, awkward questions might arise
after the cannl should be constructed.
The recent Hay-Pauucefote pact,
abrogating the Clayton-Bulwer treaty,
provides for a neutral channel. This
Instrument leaves the United States
free to build and control a cannl. which
is not to be fortified, but to be kept al
ways open aud neutral, under the rules
which govern the management of the
Suez Cannl. Opponents of the measure
claim thnt it admits all the dangerous
features of the Clayton-Bulwer trenty
without compensating advantages, and
thnt, ns usual, England concedes what
she does not hold to obtain what she
wants, but cannot get.
Snake Bite in India.
Fully twenty thousand of the popu-.
lation of India are annually killed by
snake bites. The most deadly of ail
Indian reptiles appears to be the cobra,
di capello, which Is greatly dreaded by
the bare-legged Hindoos. With a view
to reducing the mortality, the govern
ment tried the effect of offering a re
ward for sunkes' heads; but, instead of
diminishing the number of these rep
tiles, it only Increased it, as it was dis
covered that the natives were breeding
the snakes In order to secure the re
ward. High Priced.
The most expensive material worked
Into a garment was the gold brocade
purchased in 10.70 for a robe for King
Louis XIV., at a cost of about $85 a
yard. Not long ago, however, the Ger
man Empress had a coverlet woven In
white silk upon a flat background, on
which flowers, leaves and birds project
ed in relief. The design wns not em
broidered, but woven in a unique way.
The Empress was bo pleased with it
that she employed It ns a tnpestry for
her boudoir. The cost of this material
was $112 a yard, of which the weaver
got one-sixth.
Gratitude Is a sublime passion, but
like all other sublime things it it rare