The Topeka state journal. [volume], January 14, 1909, LAST EDITION, Page 4, Image 4

About The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980

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THE TOPEKA DAILY STATE JOURNALTHURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14, 1CG9.
fFADPn CTITP TAITDV1I
AVI La 1 aiillEi dVUllildL
By FRANK P. MAO LKNTTAN.
Entered July 1. IS75. as cond-clasa
wr ai tne postomce ax iuycui.
under the act of congress.1
VOLUME XXXVI No. 12
Official State Paper.
Official Paper City of Topeka.
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION.
Dally edition, delivered by carrier. W
cents a week to any part or lopeaa- r
suburbs, or at the tama price in any Kan
sas town where the paper has a carrier
stem.
By mall, one year "f
By mail, three months '. , ?
Saturday edition of dally, one year... K
TELEFHOXE&
Business Office Be" VU.
Business Office !"!; 12
Report era" Room 52
ReoortrrV Room J?a J
Frank P. MtcUnnn IndVTCO
PERMANENT HOME.
To pelt a State Journal buildln. J and
32 Kansas avenue, corner of Eighth.
New TnrV nirino- piatlmn building, at
Twentv-thlrd street, comer Fifth avenue
nil Broadway. Paul BlocK. manager.
Chleaao Office: Hartford building. Pa"1
BiocV. mftnasrer.
OF THE A SSOOT A TTP"T PRP"
The State Journal Is n memtv?r of th
Associated Press and receive the full day
teleeraph renort of that great newa or
ganization for the exclusive afternoon
publication In Topeka.
The newa la received In The State Jour
nal bulldlns over wires for this eole pur-
Mr. Harriman's stenographer says
she never knew her chief to tell a lie.
But what, pray tell, does her word
amount to along side that of the dis
tinguished Mr. Roosevelt.
If the rules against smoking in the
halls of the legislative houses during
the sessions is enforced this year "as
usual," and as it has been announced
that they will be. anybody in either
chamber can smoke when it suits his
fancy.
The Chicago News regards with
Complacency the efforts of the New
England farmer in crossing the orange
with the cucumber. It will continue
to pin its faith to the Illinois farmer
who crosses the pike with a water
melon. Knough winter weather has been ex
perienced around these parts to remind
those who have come here from north
ern climes of their old homes, and so
there is really no need for any more of
it. Will the weather man please take
notice?
Reports from the Pacific coast are
to the effect that the members of
twelve of the Chinese societies in San
Francisco have signed a compact to
keep the peace In the Chinese quar
ters of the city. In other cities of the
country where large colonies of China
men have congregated the police see
to It that the Chinks keep the peace
just the same as others are compelled
to do. . But then they always have an
unusual way of doing things in Frisco.
Evidently I. D. Toung of Beloit, a
former state senator, believes In tak
ing time by the forelock. He Is busy
these days booming himself to succeed
Mr. Reeder as congressman from tha
Sixth district. Mr. Toung believes that
his desires to this end will be fulfilled
If there is any such thing as gratitude
In politics. If he is basing his chances
for success merely on this proposition
he will be terribly disappointed for
there Is no such thing as "gratitude In
politics.'"
Mayors of other cities might follow
with advantage to their constituencies
the suggestion of the mayor of Rosefle,
N. J. He has ordered the policemen to
watch the alleys and back yards, rath
er than the principal streets, in their
search for burglars. But maybe It
Would be asking a little too much of
the police of a place like Topeka anfl
during weather such as has prevailed
here lately to pound beats on other but
the principal streets where there are
plenty of stores and other places with
Inviting warmth in them.
- A Wyandotte county farmer placed
the value of his wife's affections at
$50,000 and is suing to recover that
turn from the man he accuses of alien
ating them. A pretty fancv figure that,
for feminine for, isn't it? But then
the fact that the woman in the case
ia a lawyer may explain it. On the
other hand, though, a woman lawyer
might not be looked upon as an over
ly desirable companion for a man.
Think of the possibility of all the femi
nine arguments in a household being
presented In due legal form and ver
biage. -
The United States does not stand
alone among the nations whose in
comes have not equalled expenses of
late. Even Germany Is In the same
boat. The deficit In the German bud
get for this year is estimated at $44,
000,000 even after allowing for an
Increase of $13,750,000 in revenues
through new taxation. The budget
snows an Increase in expenditures of
$118,750,000 over 1908. Business con
ditions in Germany are poorer now
than they have been for some time
and are getting worse right along, and
that country has not experienced a
money panic, either.
Surely Is the new house of repre
sentatives made up of the right sort of
stuff. Just think of ltt It has been de
cided to limit the number of the house
employes to forty. There were seven
ty of them at the last session and not
bo many years ago there used to be
about two employes for every mem
ber. Verily do the times change and
for the better. But angry, indeed,
must be the emotions in the breasts
of many of the "faithful" who use to
fill with distinction such positions as
"superintendent of ventilation," "su
perintendent of -waste paper baskets"
and a variety of other equally sense
less but lucrative positions.
Every once in a great while an
arthquake wreaks a terrible devas
tation In some corner of the globe.
Numerous lives are lost In Its destruc
tive path and the people of the whole
-world stand aghast In horror. But
every day or two, it would almost ap
pear, come tales of diseasters in mines
in this country In which many, many
lives are snuffed out. These occur
rences are happening with such fre-
quency nowadays, however, that a sin
gle one of them does not even attract
much space In the newspapers. But
as a matter of fact they are alarming
and ewery effort should be made to
wards hastening the solution of the
problems that will make mines reas
onably safe places to work In, which
they most assuredly are not under
present conditions.
THE COPELAND DISASTER.
Even In the real grief that will be
expressed because of the destruction
of the Copeland hotel, one of the land
marks of Kansas, by fire this morning
and the sympthay that will be extended
to the injured guests and those who
were so fortunate as to escape with a
loss of nothing more than their belong
ings, there is a chance for an exchange
of felicitations among the guests of
the hotel and everyone else interested
bcause the disaster did not develop
into a catastrophe of momentous pro
portions. At this writing there is the
likelihood of one life having been lost:
Poor Ike Lambert of Emporia, a be
loved gentleman, an able attorney, of
wide acquaintance. He was a guest
of the Copeland and is missing. That
there was not a score of persons suf
focated or burned to death Is little less
than miraculous.
To the hotel employes who discovered
the fire and then without losing their
heads made trips through the hotel
rousing the guests to their danger, the
great credit is due for the aversion of
a horrible disaster that would have shed
a deep gloom over the entire state of
Kansas, and particularly over the state
legislature. As it is there is opportunity
for rejoicing that more irremediable
damage to life and property was not
done.
As to the destruction of the hotel. It
is something to be deeply regretted.
The Copeland, or "Copeland County"
as it was affectionately called by the
politicians, has been a living part of
the political history of Kansas for
many years. It will undoubtedly be re
built but no new structure can be
looked upon with the fondness that has
been extended to this hostelry. The
sentiments and reminiscences of the
mighty political struggles that have
been fought and won and lost In the
halls and rooms of this old building
have gone up in smoke, and more's the
pity.
Hit, DOLLEY'S GOOD POINT.
From the address made by Joseph
N. Dolley on his assuming the chair of
speaker of the house of representatives
it is quite apparent that no mistake
was made by the members of the ma
jority of the lower branch of the Kan
sas legislature in elevating him to the
position of its presiding officer. As
chairman of the Republican state com.
mittee during the recent campaign Mr.
Dolley exhibited those qualities of tem
perament which are so requisite for the
proper discharge of the onerous and
delicate duties of a ruler of a legis
lative assemblage. He is a man who
invites trust and confidence. He is a
harmonlzer, not of the "steam roller"
sort, but of the diplomatic and better
variety.
He made it clear to his colleagues
that he is not to be speaker for what
ever uses the majority of the house.
the Republicans, might wish to make
of him. He is to be the speaker of the
entire body and he proposes to see that
the members of the minority, the Dem
ocrats, who have quite a respectable
sized quota at this session, are accord
ed their full rights and privileges as
members of the lower house of the leg
islature. His appeal to the Republi
cans and the Democrats to forget their
political affiliations in the handling of
legislation was in the proper spirit and
should be heeded as it is most timely.
Of the many Important questions
that will come before the legislature
for consideration at this session there is
hardly one which can be construed as
a purely political proposition. Most of
them are of the constructive sort, of
the kind -that mean for the develop
ment of the state and the proper ad
ministration of its affairs. There is
room for honest differences of opinion
over many of them, but there Is no
necessity that these differences should
dra,w an alignment of the political sort
among the members of the house or of
the senate, either, for that matter.
Political parties of the good, healthy
sort are needed in a democratic gov
ernment such as maintains In the
United States and Its subdivisions.
Their activity during campaigns is of
immeasureable benefit. But after these
campaigns are over, especially In a
state like Kansas, the members of these
parties Republicans and Democrats
alike who are sent to the legislature,
should forget their political affiliations
on questions of general moment to the
state. They should remember that first
and all the time they are representa
tive Kansans whose interests and those
of their constituents are in common,
and they should work over legislation
accordingly. This sort of a spirit pre
vailed to a certain extent during the
regular session of the legislature two
years ago and at the more recent spe
cial session. It should develop in
strength during the present session and
the chances are that it win do so un
der the stimulus and encouragement
given to it In the salutatory of Speaker
Dolley.
A PROHIBITION NOVELTY.
Something decidedly new In the
way of placing the ban on the sale
of liquor in a community without en
acting a straight out and out prohibitory
law is in the making in Tennessee. A
bill accomplishing this end has Just
been passed by the senate of that
state and the chances are It will go
through the other branch of the legis
lature. It forbids the sale of liquor at
any place In the state within four
miles of a school house.
Surely no better plan for the ac
complishment " of the prohibition of
the general sale of liquor could be de
vised. In a thickly populated terri
tory In this day of public educational
grace this Is a most adequate meas
ure to put a stop to the sale of liquor.
It would certainly prohibit it in any
city and in any town or village of any
size In any state in the country, and it
is where people are segregated that
the saloons flourish when they are
permitted to exist. A person can
travel for miles and miles on main
roads through states that legalize the
selling of rum and outside of the
spheres of cities and towns -without
finding a place where he can get any
thing stronger than buttermilk. A
saloon In a country district, a sparsely
settled locality, can hardly be run
profitably. This is where saloons
would have to be established if they
are not permitted to do business with
in four miles of a public school house.
In some heavily populated states the
saloon keeper would certainly have to
get In an out of the way place to get
beyond four miles of a school house.
In reality this measure which is be
ing enacted Into law In Tennessee Is a
prohibition measure of the most pro
nounced type. If it is made a law and
is enforced the promiscuous sale of
liquor will be stopped In that state.
The method that it Is proposed to em
ploy will be but a beating around the
bush to attain the real end prohibi
tion. Of course, any measure that
will materially prohibit the sale of
liquor Is a step In the right direction
but the legislators of Tennessee would
have come in for more commendation
if they had met the issue squarely and
passed a direct prohibitory measure.
JOURNAL ENTRIES
It's the wise man who never com
ments or guesses on a woman's age.
a
Many persons are more certain to
get a ride In a hearse than they are
in automobiles.
-Among
the relics of barbarism
which are struggling to get into style
again are earrings.
Maybe there .is such a thing as
Platonic love but it surely never pre
vails in the love of money.
No matter how much snow falls or
how cold the weather may get the
baseball fan remains serene enough
to dream of next summer's pennant
winners.
JAYHAWKER JOTS
They're getting so good at Pratt
that the proprietor of the billiard and
pool parlor there is arrested now if
he keeps open after 11 o'clock at
night.
What will Mr. Roosevelt's country
life commission have to suggest to
such farmers as J. F. Henderson who
lives near Dexter? He has Just let a
contract for a hot water heating plant,
two bath rooms, an automatic pump
and a pressure tank for his home.
The Winfleld Free Press prints a
prose editorial broken up In the form
of verse. The editor explains that he
has just as much right to make prose
look like poetry as the Emporia Ga
zette has to print poetry in the form
of prose.
Several Kansas papers have extend
ed an Invitation to Professor Dyche
to accompany President Roosevelt on
his hunting trip, but the invitation
from the president has someway or
other been delayed In transit, says the
Hutchinson News.
There's some protest because the
game warden is trying to acclimate
flocks of Chinese an-d Hungarian phea
sants in Kansas. Why not start an
ostrich colony somewhere among the
sandhills south of Garden City? sug
gests Charlie Blakesley.
Nate Reece knocks on the resusci
tation of that old, worm-eaten joke
about the Congressional Record and
wants that publication to be given a
rest, which is about the first kind
thing Editor Reece has had to - gay
about things congressional in many
many years, comments the Hutchin
son News.
Referring to the dangerous Illness
of Bennett Shaw of Beloit the Con
cordia Kansan says: "Old time band
men will heave a sigh of sadness at
the thought that 'Old Ben' will never
again march in the front rank of
Andy Manifold s band because of an
accident that caused an amputation of
one of his feet. Ben was one of the
best double B flat bass players in
Kan Fas. With Ben at the bass end
marking the time for all, and th
Governor' in the rear rank making
the air ring with the melody of his
cornet, the other forty men in the
middle couldn't get away If they
wanted to, and to see them marching
down the street playing as only Man
ifold's band can play, it was worth go
ing miles to see and hear."
It seems that those who compile the
spelling books don't know how to
spell. The Brown County World says:
"In preparing for the coming spelling
contests. Superintendent Good has
found and adopted spelling book at
variance with the latest International
dictionary, and is sending out lists
asking the teachers to correct all the
books In their schools about 5,000
of them. On page 52 'base viol'
should be ' bass viol; 54, 'glazier, a
correct word in its place, is mislead
ing by being placed in a geographical
list where 'glacier' should be: 63. toll
gate, nightgown, washstand and tooth
brush should have hyphen omitted;
69, bayrum and bowknot should have
no hyphen; 69, 'curlecue' chould be
no hyphen; 69, 'curlecue' should be
pomegranate; 112, sword-fish should
be swordfish; 113, orang outang should
be orang-outang; 71, criticised should
be criticized; 92, sience should be
science: 104, harrassing sha'uld be
harassing."
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.
From the New Tork Press.
The only thing that can try a
woman's patience more than being
married is not being.
Most people are more concerned
with keeping out of hell than with
getting into heaven.
A woman Is always proud to say she
has a fashionable dressmaker, es
pecially if she hasn't.
The first time a man makes love
he's afraid the girl won't believe him;
evr afterward that she will.
Practically every man has a sneak
ing suspicion that there is something
disgraceful in being useful. ;
I KANSAS COMMENT
tot a farm?
Some time ago the Lawrence papers
began denouncing, in clarion tones,
the iniquities which made the poor
farm of Douglas county an undesir
able retreat, and this led the papers
in other towns to Investigate the care
?C i .1 loca,1 PaPers, with the result
that there is now in Kansas a general
protest against the poor farm system.
Wherever investigation has been
made, the disclosures were discour
aging, and sometimes startling; the
average poorhouse, secluded as It Is,
and usually free from the scrutiny
of critical eyes, is a noisome and
squalid den, lacking the most neces
sary conveniences, and usually over
run with vermin. To herd unfortun
ate old people and sick people in such
a place is something abominable; an-d
it seems more so when one remem
bers how careful the people are in
housing the criminals. The average
Jail is more comfortable than many a
laboring man's home, but the aged
unfortunates, who have nothing worse
written against their names than a
charge of poverty, are denied the
things essential to decent existence.
There is such a strong protest be
ing made, that a reform will doubt
less follow soon; and while the work
of reformation is in progress, why not
abolish the poor farm, as an institu
tion, altogether. What is gained by
paying a man a slary to neglect a
county farm, that might be productive
and profitable, if operated by a man
who had to make his living from it.
So long as this system prevails,
abuses are bound to creep In. The
paupers being Isolated, are forgotten,
and the perfunctory visits of county
supervisors are not apt to bring
relief from such impositions or abuses
as they may suffer from.
They should be given a decent
home in the town that is the county
seat, where people might take some
interest in them, and investigate their
condition at will. .
If tho county must have a farm, it
should have a wall around it, and the
jail prisoners should be kept there
and made to work; they are usually
able bodied, and capable of hewing
wood and drawing water. While the
paupers are usually aged and feeble,
and the superstition that their labor
may be of value is absurd. Emporia
Gazette.
SUBSTITUTESFOR PROFANITY.
The words "Piffle" or "Pshaw" or nnv
other words will answer every call for
proianiiy, lr tne user simply accustoms
himself to their use. There seems to be
a demand for some form of expression
as a vent to one's feelings or passions.
Christ in condemning the sinful did not
say, "Gentlemen, I fear you have done
wrong in breaking . the law." but It
words that stung he said, "Ye genera
tion or .vipers." Some years ago the
pastor of a leading church in Lawrence
caught his hand between two doors at
the postofflce. Catching the injured
hand In the other he said in angry
tones, "The miserable thing." It gave
vent to his feelings, but any sort of an
exclamation would have done the work.
Don t try to suppress your feelings, but
try to choose words that are neither
m-ofane nor indecent, and in their uka
you will obtain all the relief that could
possibly come with a string of oaths.
Lawrence World.
Tl
FROM OTHER PENS
THE DANGEROUS JUROR.
The dangerous juror Is the man who
is not intelligent enough to consider the
broader aspects of a criminal case
who is without mental breadth to un
derstand that the- case is not one
against John Doe or Richard Roe, but
a case of organized society versus
crime and who is not sufficiently hon
est to abide by his oath, regardless of
the sympathy he may feel for the de
fendant or his family, when the proof
of guilt is plain, and it Is his plain duty
to fix the penalty provided. The weak
kneed, not consciously dishonest, but
not thoroughly honest juror, the juror
who can be "reached" by an attorney
not with money, but through the
medium of personal acquaintance or
friendship or admiration for brilliant
attainments, and . who forgets the
solemnity of his oath and his heavy re
sponsibility as the final arbiter be
tween society and the defendant, the
ignorant Juror whose qualification for
service is that he never reads the
newspapers and knows nothing about
the case and little about anything else,
constitute the curse of the jury sys
tem. If they did not make the failure
of criminal prosecutions so common it
would be much less difficult to discover
and prosecute the juror who takes
bribes and to discover and prosecute
the jury "fixer" within the bar or out
side of the bar. Louisville Courier
Journal. RAILROADS AND THE SOUTH.
The great problem of securing capital
for the construction and equipment of
railroads in the south heretofore has
been the attitude of so many states in
that region toward corporations. There
was a time not long ago when many
investors could not be induced to buy a
bond in a southern railroad. This has
passed away, and now, as confidence
is being restored, it is comparatively
easy to float a bond issue for the de
velopment of railroads south of the Po
tomac. So great is the confidence felt
In the future of the south that within
the last few months it has been possi
ble to place in the financial centers of
the north bonds of the street railway
companies of several southern cities.
If the south restrain itself in the mat
ter of hostile legislation against cor
porations it Is quite certain that it
soon will see a remarkable era of new
railroad and street railway construc
tion, and that it will see, also, plenty
of capital available for the betterment
of Its present extensive railroad sys
tems. Washington Post.
NEW RAILROADS BUILT.
Fewer miles of railroad track were
laid down in the United States this
year than In any preceding year since
1897. More than three-quarters of all
new trackage this year lies west of the
Mississippi. Railroad construction In
this country reached Its maximum In
1902. when 6,000 miles were built. Only
53 per cent of that amount has been
laid this year. It is unnecessary to go
into details to show why such a large
decrease should occur in 1908. The rea
sons are patent to all.
But even a severe trade depression
could not halt the keen competition
that is evident in the far west. More
miles of new road were built in Mon
tana than any other state, and nearly
all of It wai paid for by three big sys
tems which are under the domination
of two rival groups of men. Competi
tive railroad building In the east has
not been seen on any very important
scale, barring one exception, for a long
time, but on the Pacific slope the case
is just the reverse. The Hill-Morgan
faction on the one side and the Harri-man-Rockefeller
faction on the other,
are reaching with vigorous hand for
new conquests. Philadelphia Press.-
HIS BANNER OVER ME.
Surrounded by unnumbered foes.
Against my soul the battle goes! ' -Yet
though I weary sore distress '
I know that I shall reach my rest;
I lift by tearful eyes above
Hia banner over me is love.
Its sword of battle will not yield.
Though flesh may faint upon the field;
He waves before my fading sight
The branch of palm the crown of light;
I lift my brightening eyes above
His banner over me is love.
Mv cloud of battle dust may dim.
His veil of splendor curtain Him;
And in the midnie-ht of my fear
I mav not feel Him standing near;
But. as I lift my eyes above.
His banner over me is love.
Gerald Masey, in New Orleans Picayune.
Kins Edward Cane Connoisseur.
King Edward's present of a gold
mounted malacca cane to Winston
Churchill reminds a writer in the
Dundee Advertiser that his majesty la
a great connoisseur in walking sticks,
and possesses a fine collection both at
Buckingham palace and Windsor.
Among them is one especially made
for him by the late Sir George Dibbs,
who acquired unusual - skill In the
construction of sticks, pipes, and dolls,
and other things while serving a per
iod of detention in Australia for con
tempt of court. This particular stick
is made from rare wood found in the
"Never-Never" region known as
Ringijji. Perhaps, however, the most
historic stick In the royal collection
is one fashioned out of a branch of
the Boscobel oak into which Charles
II climbed to escape Cromwell's men
at the close of the battle of Worcester.
Queen .Victoria, during the later years
of her life, always made use of this
stick, and in place of the round nob,
she had a small Indian Idol from
Serlngagatam mounted as a handle.
New York Tribune.
Peril of the Collar Button.
A few days ago the news columns
carried the story of a man who was
stricken with a serious case of vertigo
while groping under the bed for his
elusive collar button. Still later ap
peared the story of an eastern man
who was overcome by heart failure
after a violent struggle with a re
fractory button that refused to connect
a tight collar. In each of these In
stances the victim was a stout man of
full habit and presumably of apopletio
tendency.
The collar button has been the play
thing of the flippant writers for a long
time. Its amusing pranks, Its almost
human perverseness, its power of ef
facing itself when most wanted, have
united in a striking illustration of the
moral obliquity of inanimate things.
But when the button forgets its harm
less mission and becomes an adjunct
to tragedy, it can no longer hope to be
regarded in an amusing light.- Cleve
land Plain Dealer.
Comradicity of Hotel Men.
A rare feeling of comradicity exists
among the hotel men of the United
States. The recent startling suicide of
Frank V. Barnett, one of the best known
hotel men in the country, and former
proprietor of the Gqtham, in New York
city, brought out such a volume of mes
sages of condolence and sympathy as
might have followed the death of a
leading statesman. An Incident grow
ing out of Mr. Bennett's untimely death
was the suicide of Mr. George Crouch,
at one time a power in Wall street. Mr.
Crouch had lived at the Hoffman House
in New York for many years. Happening
to hear its veteran managing clerk.
Major A. R. Peacock, comment on the
unfortunate death of Mr. Bennett, Mr.
Crouch. -without a moment's hesitation,
hastened into a brokerage office at
the hotel, locked himself into an inner
room, and fired a bullet into his brain.
On the table by the side of the dead body
was found a pack or cards, on top or
which the seven of spades, known by
fortune-tellers as "the sign of death."
Leslie's Weekly.
Finds Menace in School Life.
There Is little doubt that much of
modern school life is unhygienic. Seats
and desks are often constructed
rather with a view to their convenient
place In the school building than with
any recognition of the fact that they
may make the scholar round
shouldered. The type In some of the
textbooks is far too small even for
strong young eyes.
The punishments are often absurd;
to keep a child In after school hours
Is to deprive it of fresh air and play,
possibly of a meal, for no useful pur
pose; corporal punishment, be
wailed by some faddists as "degrad
ing," Is far more effectual and less
harmful. London Globe.
Tight Corsets Ruin Girls' Voices.
'The voices of some women speak
ers" often make those possessed of a
musical ear wish for death," said
Mme. -Von Klenner, discussing "The
Vox Humana" before the Rainy
Daisies the other afternoon at the
Hotel Astor.
"Voices," said she "have become
worse and worse with civilization till
at the present time, as a nation,
Americans are known for their bad
voices. The responsibility for this
chiefly rests on the strain and effort
used in speaking in subway and on
elevated trains and on the crowded
streets. It is also due to a lack of
control of the vocal organs due to too
tight clothing and undue pressure on
any part of the body or the lack of
knowledge of the formation and
molding of tones. New Yortc World.
GLOBE SIGHTS.
From the Atchison Globe.l
We have noticed that when a farmer
travels, he carries less baggage than a
town man.
In a small town, when a young man
freezes his ears his friends say he froze
them going to see his girl.
It is considered a breach of manners
to answer a friend's letter under a week.
A business letter should be answered by
the next mall; a love letter never.
We have often wondered that the
lawyer of some noted murderer does
not allege, at the trial, that his client
became bad because of a stepmother.
People hate stepmothers so that this
claim would probably clear the mur
derer. You hear a great deal of your "duty."
One man says you should do this, 'and
another says you should do that, but it
all resolves Itself into this: Avoid be
ing a fool. While fools are doing things
the long way, and making a failure of
life, wise men do things the short way,
and succeed. ,
When a man wants to wear a belt,
instead of suspenders, he buys one,
and puts it on. But, if a woman wants
to try a new thing, she gets up a club,
and lectures and writes about it until
she is sure of a following. Dr. Mary
Walker is the only woman who ever
had real courage in the matter of wear
ing apparel, and she isn't right In her
head.
We heard an old gentleman say late
ly: "When I was young, I worked very
hard, and didn't take any care of my
self. And now look at me!" And he
did look pretty tough, being bald, and
toothless, and sick. But exposure dur
ing his youth never hurt him; hard
work, when young, never hurt him.
Nothing the matter with that man ex
cept bis age.
THE EVENING STORY.
Arietta In Paris.
By F. A. Collins.)
The ormolu clock on the mantel in
the pretty drawing room at Auteuil,
near Paris, with windows overlooking
the garden, never slept, although Its
mistress, Mrs. Marion Bennlngs, did
regularly every evening that her son
and herself spent alone.
She was nodding now over a ribbon
decorated basket containing ' some
silken hose she had been mending.
The ormolu clock struck eleven, and
Otto, turning .around, pushed a book
off to the floor. The noise awoke Mrs.
Bennings, who sat up with a start and
remarked:
"I am off to bed. What a stupid
evening! I haven't heard you speak
for an hour."
"You couldn't," said Otto; but as she
stared at him Indignantly, he made
haste to add, "Because I haven't
spoken for an hour."
Mrs. Bennings got up slowly and a
letter fell from her lap. Otto hastened
to pick it up.
"You'd better read it," said his
mother. "My cousin, Harry Jones,
who is tremendously rich, writes that
he is bringing his motherless daughter
to Paris. Her name is Arietta, and I
have heard she is pretty and accom
plished. We must be very nice to
them, particularly to the daughter. She
is an only chiM."
"Then I congratulate her, I'm an
only child, too," remarked Otto.
"Her husband will be very fortunate.'
Don't you agree with me?"
"I'll withhold judgment till I see tha
young lady," said her son.
Left alone. Otto resumed the writ
ing of his letter which he was to ad
dress to a certain Celeste, and reflect
ed that probably his mother was al
ready planning to marry him to Ariet
ta, the daughter of the wealthy Mr.
Jones. But he made a bet with him
self that it wouldn't come off.
Suddenly a woman's voice to the
accompaniment of a guitar came
through the open window. It was soft,
rich, yet penetrating:
. "La nulte ecoute et se pench sur
l'oreille," etc.
"Hullo," said Otto, "a .strolling
singer, and a good voice, too." He
went to the window and called out
"Qui vive?"
"Oh, dear," answered a woman's
voice outside, "they told me you spoke
ungiisn."
"So I do, after a fashion," said Otto
leaning out of the window. "Do you ?"
Why. or course I do," said the voice
"I'm English, at least I'm American."
"The deuce you are. What are you
doing in our garden?"
"I wish you would let me come In
and tell you. will you 7 '
"Come in at once. Here, give me
your hand it's only a step.
A pretty girl dressed In a Spanish
costume, as if for a fancy ball, follow
ed the hand. Her costume waa rich
and looked fresh, but she sank into a
chair by the window exclaiming:
"Oh, how good it seems to be able to
sit down again in a chair."
"Have you walked all the way from
Pans?" asked Otto.
"From Paris and ever so much far
ther. My shoes are worn to shreds
see?"
She stretched out a tiny foot slipper
and silken hose were in shreds.
"I've been singing for two days," said
she, "and see. that Is all I took in-
showing him a few sous "and I'm eo
hungry?' - ;
"Hungry," cried Otto, dragging for
ward a little table with some cakes and
wine. The girl looked at it longingly,
remarking:
"Cakethat's what everybody offers
me and I'm dying for a ham sand
wich." "I'll forage for something more sub
stantial," cried Otto, starting toward
the door.
"Not till I explain wait, please," said
the girl. "Are you an American?"
"You bet I am."
"Thank God," said she, "then you'll
believe me. I'm not a beggar. I'm In
hard luck. These are all the clothes
this Is all the money I have. I'm a
stranger In Paris. Day before yester
day I arrived here, and went to the
Grand hotel to wait for my father. I
had a maid, half a dozen trunks, and a
letter of credit. On the way from
Gare du Nord my maid ran away with
the trunks and my letter. At the hotel
they wouldn't believe me when I told
them who I was. I hadn't a friend in
Paris, except some relatives of my
father, whose address Is in my van
ished trunks. This masquerade suit
hung in the closet of the hotel. I bor
rowed it and rented a guitar and start
ed out to see if I could support my
self. I had read of students in dis
tress doing such things. I thought it
would be a lark, but it has been awful.
And I kept thinking I'd come up with
some nice Americans. I was doing my
very best, you see.
Otto agreed with her. He cof.ldn't
help it, she was se pretty. When he
told her this, she permitted him to go
for a sandwich, m a minute he came
back with some cold chicken and little
biscuits, a small cheese and a. pot of
Jelly.
"Will these things do?" he queried
doubtfully.
"Do? Do?" she cried with delight,
"Watch me!"
She perched before the tray and be
gan to eat ravenously. "This chicken
is divine," she exclaimed. "What a
nice fellow you are but I can't eat
much I'm too worried."
"Worried?" said Otto. "What
about?"
"I guess you'd be worried If you
didn't know where you were going to
sleep tonight."
"So I might." said he. "but where
did you sleep last night?'
"In the Pare Monceau."
"In the park? All night?"
"All night, and there was such a
wretch near me."
"I'm sure there was," said Otto,
hunting through his pockets. "Here
take this money. At least you won't
have to sleep in the park."
"Then I can't sleep here?" pouted
the girl. "'You believe me, of course,
but you have your few little doubts.
My story is so absurd."
"I believe every word," said Otto,
"but this hotel is expensive."
"I'll take the money,' said the girl,
"and as soon as my father comes he
will repay you. You'll tell me your
name how he will thank you. Oh,
if only the shops were open so I might
buy some shoes and stockings these
are holes."
Otto ran to his mother's work bas
ket, which she had left behind her,
and drew forth a pair of stockings. He
offered them- to the stranger, who re
ceived them with a shriek of Joy.
"Could I borrow these?" she cried.
"Your wife's ?"
"My mother's," said he. "Via not
married."
"Not married?" cried the girl, hold
ing the silk hosiery aloft. "I .thought
This was the scene that Mrs. Ben
nings witnessed as she opened the
door in her drawing room to inquire .
whv her son was still up. She pauo
a moment, then strode in, exclaiming J
"Otto!" i
Otto Jumped around guiltily and the .
stranger screamed. I
"So It Is thus," said his mother 1
sternly, "it is thus you betray the con
fidence I repose In you. As soon as
you think I am safely In bed, you
nave in to a uauiusu -
"Mother, let me explain,' saia utto,
"this lady "
"Lady!" Interrupted Mrs. Bennings.
What is this lady doing la my house,
unknown to me?"
"I'd better tell her," saia tne gin,
rising to her feet, but the outraged
matron, motioning her to be silent.
said:
'I will deal only with my son as ior
you. begone." . ,.
Are tne siocicinss nr .- mto
girl of Otto. "Then I'll not wear them a
single instant. I'd rather go barefoot
I would, indeed, I would. I'm very sorry,
madam, that I intruded, but I was In
great trouble. Until my father, who is j
to arrive this week" she stamped her.
feet into the ruined slippers and rose, half
crying: "I'm going I'm sorry I came in."
Otto was at her side. "I'll take you to a
hotel let mother think what suits her
come."
He offered her his nana, tne gin put
hers in it and they turned toward the
window. But Mrs. ' Bennings cried:
"The door if you please."
The Htraneer went to the door and.
turning, said with dignity:
"I know that appearances are isnnn
me but when my father reaches Paris,
wo wil call and explain. Won't you please
tell me your name?"
Mrs. Bennings shook her head but Otto
answered promptly:
My motner is jurs. manun cenninsi.
The girl stared, then began to laugh
hysterically.
"Papa's cousin," she cried, "I'm Ar
ietta Jones, your cousin Henry's daugh
ter. You are papa's relatives whose ad
dress is in my trunk."
Mrs. Bennings looked at her closely:
"It is I see it is true. There's a re
semblance. You played this prank to
test us naughty child."
"Prank!" cried Arietta, "Ia that what
you call it? Why. I haven't washed my
face for two days."
Mrs. Bennings threw up her hands in
horror.
"I'll have a bath and bed prepared for
you at once. Then you shall tell me all
that has happened."
She left the room and Arietta turned
to the son.
"So you're my cousin Otto how nice."
"Well," replied Otto thoughtfully we'll
let it go as cousin for a day or two."
(Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated Literary
Press.)
humor or the day
Kind Lady (at children's party) Well,
mv little man. what are you going to be
when you grow up? Little Man (tugging
at uncomfortable neckwear) Somefln'
what don't wear a collar: Punch.
"What is the size of your large men's
handkerchiefs?" asks the shopper. "They
are lust the same size as the small men's
handkerchiefs, madam." explains the af
fable salesperson. "The size of the man
doesn't make any difference in his hand
kerchief." Judge.
Stella Do you do your Christmas shop
ping early? Bella Of course, but I never
buy till the last minute. New York Sun.
Gyer Lightning recently struck a man
in Kansas and cured him of dyspepsia.
Myer Mow do you know that? Gyer His
widow told me. Chicago News.
Lady (with some hesitation) I er wish
to look at some false fringes. Tactful
Salesman Certainly, madam. What shade
docs your friend wish? Punch.
Father Do you mean to tell me you
didn't say a word when that young man
kissed you? Daughter Why, dad, how
could I? Plck-Me-Up.
Visitor Is this lake in your garden arti
ficial? Child of the House No, sir-ee.
It's real. I fell in and got as wet as any
thing. St. Louis Republic.
"Did' your ancestors have a family tree,
Mr. Maguire?" "Family tree. It is,
ma'am? One of the ancestors controlled
th' intire privilege of the Garden of Eden."
Tit-Bits.
"How does Santa Claus manage to
reach the people who live In flats? He
can't take the presents down -the chim
ney." "Well, he can send 'em up in the
dumb waiter, can't he?" Pittsburg Post.
"Why didn't he wait until New Year's to
swear oft?'' "The last time he came home
swizzled his wife painted a snapping turtle
red, white and blue and turned it loose in
his room." Houston Post.
Young Mother-I'm sorry, Mr. Topfloor,
If baby's crying arnoyed you. He's been
cutting his teeth. Topfloor (a crusty
bachelor) That's It! The idea of letting a
young child have a knife to play with!
Boston Transcript.
"Suppose," hissed the villain, "suppose
our plot should leak out?" "That's all
right." said his accomplice, consolingly.
"It can't. Don't you remember telling me
five minutes ago that it had thickened?"
Philadelphia Inquirer.
"Going to the North Pole is no pleasure
trip," said the sympathetic friend. "Well,"
answered the Arctic explorer, "it reminds
me somewhat or the average pleasure trip.
Everybody is so anxious to start and so
glad to get home." Washington Star.
QUAKER MEDITATIONS.
From the Philadelphia Record.
The coal man says things are coming
his weiah.
Fresh children, unlike fresh paint,
should be sat upon.
A fellow may turn as red as a lob
ster without being one.
Some fellows haven't enough push to
master a wheelbarrow.
w nen you uuuersiauu a jiiixiucji khj (
Is she Miss-understood?
Even a very tall man Is under two
feet when he stands on his head.
Every man regrets his past mistakes
and goes on making more.
Even the girl who wears clocks on
her stockings isn't always on time.
You can't expect to keep your house
warm unless you keep your cellar
coaled.
Some mighty big men have been
known to crawl out of some mighty
small holes.
A winning smile is all right, but any
poker player will tell you that it isn't
in it with a winning hand.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS.
From the Chicago News.
He's an active candidate who runs
ahead of his ticket.
Silence may be golden, but it
doesn't always get the coin.
Laugh at yourself and the world
will Join In the laugh.
Anyway, the rolling stone doesn't
break Into the mossback class.
A man and a woman can never
agree as to the charms of another
woman.
A man seldom tries to belittle other
men unless they are bigger than him
self. A woman always wants her children
to have their father's wisdom and her
beauty.
Instead of speaking his mind, many
a married man speaks pieces of his
wife's mind.
Don't try to judge a woman's sense
of humor by her laughs at her hus
band's Jokes.
We have more respect for women
"Hlio want to vote than we have for
men who try to break into society.
There Is no good and sufficient rea
son why you should mind your own
business if other people will pay you
more for minding theirs.