Newspaper Page Text
tr SfeC *t^ ffc? sff r"$.' S'e SPXUNGTIHtB. 1 ttKSMr s&'-f -Wk & 6r &d> iw V' f: Sf- v"- 15^-^ 5S PV !$? §:r iv 4.1 life fe $f-r Lg Crtv» Sf& rzvp& Lol already a fern new bom Curls in the hedgerow hln mimic born, And the primrose hourly edges aside Tfc# leafy driftage of wintertide Far in the vale, where the woods are still, Stands a delicate daffodil Hasting brooks In the prime of the year Murmur merrily—April's here, With gentle rains and westerly vanes. Buttercup buds and daisy chains. Between moist meadow and sunlit sky The sad-voiced plover is circling high: Sudden and loud through larch and flr Rings the laugh of the woodpecker And the wagtail flirts his plumage pied In snatches of flight by the waterside Garden voices that late were dumb Whistle and warble—a time will come For shade of leaves and pillage of •heaves And swallows a-twitter in last year's eaves. Lol she comes, In the old sweet ways, The happy April of other days, Bfelden April, merry of mien, Trips afield In the meadow green Blck or sound, or sorry or glad, Ottsr It, eoho It, lass and lad, Lad and lass In the youth of the year H)cho It, utter It—April's here Then comes May, pleasure and play, Holiday-dance and roundelay. —Armine Thomas Kent. Was It a Miracle? "Stranger, do you believe In mira cles?" I looked up from my newspaper, the columns of which I liad been list lessly scanning and encountered the gaze of the speaker. I saw before me a man about 40 years of age. He had a bluff, open face and his hair was streaked with gray. He wore the reg ulation uniform of the railway, and 1 recognized In him the ticket agent, telegraph operator, et cetera, of the station In which I was walling for my train. I had Unlshed my business In llie town some two miles away, and, as I had nothlug to do until the train ar rived, 1 was not at all averse to chat ting with him. "That depends entirely upon what you consider a miracle," I replied, throwing aside my paper. "I don't know that 1 can exactly explain what I mean, but I believe that the event I am thinking of might be called one," Of course 1 expressed a desire to know what he referred to, imagining that he had a story to relate to me. "Well," he remarked by way of an Introduction, "it isn't often I tell this story, but to-night I feel Just like It. Perhaps the fact that the events oc curred exactly seven years ago may account for the inclination. "It was Just such a day as this the air was cold enough to make a fire seem comfortable, while at the same time It was not at all disagreeable out of doors. "At that time I was employed at the lame Job I am now. There was of coarse leBS 41 work to do In those days this region has rapidly Increased lu population during the last few years. "But this does not Interest you so I will Are up and start on my run with a full head of steam. "Six miles west of here lies the town of Bartson ten miles to the east, Daw son. This Is the only station between the two. "It was exactly this time of day, half past Ave, when my sounder com menced clicking away at my call. For some reason I did not respond at once when I did, I received the following startling message: 'Wild engine headed your way—Old Tartar. Ditch her.' "The message was from the operator at Bartson, and In plain English meant that the engine known as the Old Tar tar had by some means or other start ed off without any one on board, and wob headed In this direction. *To ditch an engine Is to open switch', thus allowing It to run on to a siding where It at last leaves the track and prob ably goes over on its side. Of course the engine Is badly smashed If not com pletely ruined, but It Is the only safe course to adopt "There was but one siding suitable for the purpose, the others having more or less cars on them. The switch was about a hundred yards down the track In the direction of Bartson. "It was evident to me that the Old Tartar muBt have passed Bartson when they commenced calling me, and as wild engines generally travel pretty fast, I foresaw that I had not any too much time In which to carry out my Instructions. "I will mention one more fact an accommodation train was due from the East InBlde of half an hour. "You may believe I did not lose much (lme In leaving the depot and heading for the switch. I had not taken half a dozen steps when I heard a dull roar of but momentary duration. That told me as well as words could that the Old Tartar had crossed Mud River bridge, less than quarter of a mile away. "I can get over the ground at a fair rate of speed when necessary, and I considered that one of the occasions. I had traveled considerably more than half of the distance when, glancing up, I saw the Old Tartar shoot around the curve at the top of the grade which ends at this station. It was a race between myself nnd that engine, with the switch as the objective point. "Apparently I was sure of winning, but I realized that I had no time to spare. "I had nearly reached the switch when I stumbled and fell. Not more than Ave seconds were lost, yet I fail ed. I was In the net of scrambling to my feet when the Q11 Tartar rushed past me like a whirlwind. I realized that I had missed her, but I did not bemoan my luck. There was not time for that, as the operator at Dawson must be warned immediately. "I rushed back to the station and called him up. lie responded immedi ately, and I forwarded to him the mes sage I had received but a moment be fore. Back came the reply: 'Too late the accommodation left five minutes ago.' "Perhaps you can Imagine what my feelings were when I received that an swer! A collision which would surely result In the loss of life seemed Inevit able nothing short of a miracle could avert It. I blamed myself for the whole thing. If I had answered the call Immediately, I should have suc ceeded In ditching the Old Tartar. I seemed to be standing on the verge of a precipice over which I feared every moment to fall. I only came to myself when I heard a rumble, and, looking down the track toward Dawson, saw the headlight of an engine. A moment afterward the accommodation pulled up at the station. "1 lost no time lu approaching the .-."1 *f il- *t.rr tff-' THE SACRED COW OF INDIA. Scene In a Calcutta Street Where the Cow Is Permitted to Best. To tbe Hindus, who make up the great bulk of the population of India, the cow Is a snored auimal, and many of the disturbances which break out between tbe Hindus and Mohammedans are due to tbe fact that the latter utterly disregard this Hindu revcrence for the anlmnl. Recently In Calcutta tbe police authorities, out of deference to this sentiment of tbe Hindus, issued orders forbidding Mohammedans sacrificing cows. As a result, tierce rioting occurred and much difficulty was experienced in restoring order. The Hindus and Molmmmednns are always at variance, nnd were it not for tbe strong arm of British authority, the former, who are submissive nnd peacefully In clined, when their religious sentiments are not interfered with, would be slaughtered by the latter. The Hindu reverence for the cow often leads to peculiar situations. Wherever the cow chooses to rest it is permitted by the Hindus to stay, for they would never think of disturbing it. Our illustration, taken from the Illustrated London News, Bhows a cow at rest In one of the streets of Cal cutta. The pious Hindu would never think of compelling it to find another resting place, even if It blocked traffic a who'e day. conductor for tbe purpose of learning how the collision had been averted. To my surprise, he "had no knowledge of the Old Tartar's being 'wild.' He con sidered me a fit subject for an Insane asylum, and did not hesitate to tell me so. I even began to doubt my own sanity. "A message of inquiry was forward ed to Bartson, and the following reply received: 'Illnes was ordered to ditch the Old Tartar. Did he do it?' "Not one of us could offer any ex planation until suddenly the conductor exclaimed: REM AKKABLE PADDLE WHEEL. New Device Feathers the Water Like an Oonriman'* Blade. An automatic feathering wheel for a paddle-driven steamboat has been in vented and perfected by W. N. Cruch on of Seattle, who has patented the Invention. The new wheel has an au tomatlc tilting contrivance, so that the buckets enter and leave the water without depressing or lifting it in the operation. The new. buckets are shaped corresponding to a spoon oar, which enables them to exert a great er force in propelling the vessel. By means of lateral wings on the outer edge they are able to enter the water with the least resistance, and held by a stop pin while the pressure Is exert- NEW rADDLE WHEEL. od, when an automatic spring releases them and they assume their former in operative position. The concave form of the bucket cre ates greater pressure against the wa ter. The position of the buckets while out of the water and moving concentric with the wheel shaft edgewise through the air diminishes air resistance. The manuer In which the buckets enter the water edgewise avoids the loss of pow er involved In the downward pressure of the water. The automatic tilting of the buckets leaving the water throws off the back wash and eliminates dead weight. All Jar or concussiou frotn the buckets entering and leaving the water is avoided. In starting the wheel without a load the buckets are only thrown Into working position by Its moveraeut either forward or back.—Se attle Times. A woman, who has buried one bus band. separated from a second, and lives unhappily with a third, doesn't usually think very well of the men. If an actress Is called an old stager It's enough to make her fussy. —WW* PARDONS GOEBEL SUSPECTS. Gov. 'She must have jumped the track!' "Such proved to be tbe case. The Old Tartar was found at the foot of an embankment about a mile and a half east of this station. Near by were found several ties, most of them pretty well smashed up. "You doubtless wonder how tills ex traordinary thing happened. It was explained about a year later by Pete Scully, a member of a notorious gang of outlaws who bad infested this re gion. It seems that they had planned to 'hold up' the accommodation train. They had lanterns, et cetera, with which to signal the train but fearful that the engineer would recognize them, they placed several ties on the track, so that if he failed to heed the signal his train would be derailed. "They had Just finished operations when the Old Tartar appeared on the scene. She knocked the ties a-flylng, but they did their work, for she jumped the track and rolled down the embank ment. Fifteen minutes later the ac commodation passed that very spot un molested. The gang had decided that under the circumstances It would be best not to 'hold up' a train, "That was the Old Tartar's last run. And now, stranger, that you have heard tbe story, I want you to answer the question: Was it a miracle?"—Waver ley Magazine. WIHnou tilves Clemency to Men liultctert for Old Crime. The lssunuce by Gov. Wlllson of Kentucky of pardons to W. S. Taylor, ex-Governor, Charles Finley, ex-Secre tary of State, and other persons in dicted for complicity In tbe murder of William Goebei writes the final chap ter in the story of a remarkable po litical tragedy. It terminates the ef fort on the part of the State authorities -to solve the mystery of a crime which has left a deep imprint on Kentucky life. The murder of William Goebei took place on Jan. 30, 1900, when Kentucky was on a verge of an Internecine con- FOBMEB QOVEBNOR TAVLOH. flict over the outcome of hotly-con tested election between William Goebei, Democrat, and Wl'Jlbin S. Toylor, Re publican. Taylor was elected by many thousands. Goebei contested the elec tion vigorously. An appeal to a Demo cratic election board proved unavailing. As a last resort, Goebei moved to have the Legislature unseat Taylor and his colleagues. During the eusuing excite ment, while hundreds of mountain men were in Frankfort, Goebei was shot. The next day, by direction of the Legis lature, William Goebei on his death bed was sworn in as Governor and J. C. W. Beckhnui took the oath as Lieu tenant Governor. Then during the In vestigation of the murder that followed W. S. Taylor, Charles Finley, Ills Sec retary of State, and the rest of his ac tive partisans were obliged to flee. Caleb Powers was arrested in con nection with the crime, and was four times convicted for the murder, but Just as often the Judgment was re versed, till he was Anally pardoned lost year by the Governor. Taylor found an asylum In Indiana since his flight. One after another of the Indiana Governors have refused to give him up, and he has been able to ilefy his enemies In Kentucky. Mean while the Democratic majority in Ken tucky chose its own Governor, and Mr. Beckham, who was the candidate for Lieutenant Governor on the ticket with William Goebei, was first chosen by the Legislature, and afterward elected by the people chief magistrate. Beside the pardons Issued to Tay lor and Finley, Gov. Wlllson exercised executive clemency In the enses of John Powers, brother of Caleb Powers, who Is lelleved to be In Honduras, to Holland Wliittaker of Baker County, John Davis of Louisville nnd Seach Steele of Bell County, who did not fleo the State. Fa.t Flnfrer Tulk. A deaf and dumb person who is fair ly expert at linger language can speak about forty-three words per minute. In the same space of time a person In possession of speech will probably speak 130 words. Cunndn. Canada neeils only 237.000 square miles to be as large as the whole con tinent of Europe. It is nearly thirty times as large as Great Britain and Ireland. WoNird Knorjcy. "Nursln' a grouch," Kami I'ncle Bben, "Is like lH'gcli-tln' de tlowers an' veg etables nil' puttlif hi yoli time tendin' de weeds."—Washington Star. «P TP Sirfs His Mother. We alt In one big oharlr, for mother's little, And rock and talk, all in the fire light's glow She pats my hands, perhaps you think it's funny. It's somehow easier to visit bo. She loves to read the very books that I do. That tell of Laucelot, and all the rest She thinks that Charlemagne was such a hero. But maybe Baivard. bravest knight, 'J was best. iV.'-' T1*-1 She knows about the school, and what I study She likes the boys, remembers nick names, too. I tell her everything that I am doing— Why, 'bedtime oomes before we're nearly through! She's glad that I'm a boy, and grow ing taller. She isn't sorry that miy hair does curl. My mother is not like a grown-up lady I'm sure she always seems just like a girl. —(All* Thorn. THE MUMP PARITY. Rutihle was guiding Flora's band as she wrote. Flora could write almost a* well as her little another. She carefully spelled out "Grandma" on one side of the slip of paper, itolded the paper and poked It through the key-hole of grandma's -door. Then Ruthle knocked three times. "Blefcs ime," cried grandma, "there's the postman. I see I have a letter." 'It's an invitation," explained Ruthle, running with the paper to grandma's chair. "It's a mump party for Flora, because she feels so bad ly not to go to her cousin Dorothy's real party this afternoon." Flora's throat was tied up In flannel, so was Ruthle's. ''Mump parties are the best kind for lame old ladles," said grandma, with a kiss as thanks for her Invita tion. Ruthle flow away to get ready. Back she came with Flora dressed In her prettiest gown. Then came tfoe best tea-set used only on state occasions. 'We're going to 'have something very nice because Flora's so disap pointed," Ruthle said as she set out tbe dishes on grandma's table. "There's going to 'be sugar In milk for tea, and animal crackers!" "Then_l shall 'have to put on' my best Mack silk apron," decided gfand ma. Ruthle jumped up.and clapped her hands. "She's, thinking It's time for the animal crackers," she cried. It was queejr they had not guessed sooner. Flora %a4 'been staring at the heaped-up -plite on the taible all the while. Tlhen something (happened. .The door opened, and In caime naamma with a big dish oovered with a nap kin. A card on the top read, "For the mump party." Under the nap kin were little chocolate cakes, maca roons, ana bonbons. "Something for Flora from Dorothy," said mamma. Ruftlhile hipped on one foot with de light, and hugged mamma and grand ma and Flora. 'She poured out the milk tea, and they ate first the ani mal crackers, then the macaroons and chocolate cakes, and snapped the bon bons. "Guess what Flora thinks now, grandma," said Ruthle as ahe tied a pink bonbon cap on^grandma's head. I ,butter •Ton't you -know? Why dhe thinks mirmn numita oi a 'mAnf n. mump parties are "most as good as really ones."—Ethel -S. Yftung, In the Christian Register. A RAINY-DAY JOURNEY. "Why, dearies," said Aunt Bertha, as she came into the nursery and found the three children with solemn little -faces pressed agatnst the rain spattered wlndowpane, -"have you yet to learn that it can ibe sunny with in if It Is rainy outside"?" "If this wa® the last day of .your vacation, and it had rained most ev ery day, I guess you wouldn't *aiy that," said Bobby, the eldest of the trio. "When I was ten y?ars old, I pre sume I wouldn't have Bald so," replied "Aunt -Bertha, ''but ,have learned since that we can (make the sun shltie for us almost always If we are only will ing to try. How would 'you all like to go on a pleasure trtp?" She was smiling brightly. "iKj the rain?" asked the three, In surprise. "Wlhy, Aunt 'Bertha! HoVv could we go olit?" "Oh, the rain won't affect us In the least. We. shall not even need rub bers or umbrellas," she answered, laughing. "You may iput on your rub ber 'boots^ Bobby, .'Ind run over and ask your playmates to come and travel with lyou, if you -yrlsh." Bobby looked rather doubtful, bmt he went, and soon five children were watching aunty- stitch up four long strips of brown paper on the .machine. This She divided into five booklets. Next ahe (brought a pile of old maga zines, several pairs of scissors, and some paste and brushes. "•Now," he said, "you may all trav el Just where you •wish* These mag azines are full of pictures taken In Interesting countries aft over the world. Wherever you decbie to visit, just find all the pictures yau can that have any connection with the place, and paste themi In lyour little books, and you will have much Of the plea sure and excitement of a real jour ney, with none of dts dflvigers and dlwomforU. I will you for A". il Vv ttle while now, and when I come ,ack I shall expect to find you all iome again, safe and happy." How quickly the next two hours assel, and how busy the little brains nd lingers were! Bobby went to California. His first picture was of the "Sunset Limited," the train in which he ohose to cross the continent. There were views of Western cities tih.it he pasied through and when he reached the sunny lan I he filled his booklet with scenes in the great harbor on the Pacific coast, pictures of wonderful flowers and fruits that grow only under southern skies, photographs taken at an ost rich-farm, and many other things of Interest until the last leaf of the journeyJbook was covered. Elsa went to Japan, and she col lected pictures of bamboo houses and Japanese chi dren with dherryiblos soms and butterflies. Everybody journeyed somewhere. When Aunt Bertha came In again, she brought a big plate of sugar jumbles, and the way the cookies disappeared proved that each little traveller had returned in good -health with a good appetite.—Christine Gleason, in the Youth's Companion. SOME ,NEW FRIENDS. Would you like to make some new friends, and meet some pleasant mer ry folks?. Hunt up some bits of cottom Bat ting, pieces of horse hair, string and tow, and little strips of cloth. Fast en these to bushes and limbs of tTees, fence posts and any other handy place. Then wait and see what will appear. As soon as the snow melts away, on the very first warm days of spring, you will see some little feathered folks come hurrying hack from the South. And the very first thing these wise little creature think about is a home for themselves and a nest for the new babies that always oome to them in springtime. Their sharp eyes can peer into every nook and corner, and you may be sure that your little offerings will be seen. You will 'be surprised to find how early they begin their 'building, what a merry time they seem to have and how many kinds of nests they make. Suoh strange taste some of them have! The klngMrd and the golden robin, for example, will want all your cotton battings, and will fight ofT all the other birds that have the same lancy. The chipping s.parrows will carry off every 'horse hair and never seem to have enough. The other birds have, one and all, their own choice of building material, and know just where their nest roust be and all they ask Is to 'be let alone. Do not fail to provide a blrdhouse also, for some of the more helpless ones. Take a starch box, cut a hole In one end for a door and nail the cover on firmly. Set It In a well pro tected crotch of some old, knotted ap ple-tree, and yon will see 'how the birds fight for It They konw what you mean—they understand that you are offering them a home. Mr. and Mrs. House Wren will ihurry into It, and the bluebirds or tree swallows Ruthle gave grandma a little hug and brought the apron. She hod on her own toest dress and iher hair nicely will run a race for its shelter. combed. It began to feel like a real party. "What games does Flora like?" ask ed grandma when Ruthle at last an nounced that the party was ready to begin. "She likes 'What am I thinking of,'" replied Ruthle glancing at grandma's lame foot. She would not be so Im polite as to saiy tag or hlde-and-aeek. So they sat still as mice and guessed what Flora wa3 thinking of for ten minutes, by the clook. "She'll 'have to tell ub," satyi grand ma, when the clook struck four. In a few weeks your building ma terial will have vanished, but all sum mer long the birds will sing pretty songs, will wake you In the morn ing, or serenade you at sunset and thank you for your kindness.—(Phila delphia Record. 'MARY'S SCRAP-BOOK. "Oh, dear," said Mary one day, "it Is so stormy, I cannot go out to play. I don't know what to do." "Why don't you maike a scrap took?" said mother. "I don't know how," said Mary. So mother showed the little girl how to cut out the [pictures from old maga zines. Then she pasted them on some •white muslin. How pretty (hey look ed Mary was delighted. Soon the little girl was working Ibusily. She never noticed how quick ly the time flew by. She was much surprised when mother told her It was supper time. ,, Mary says she is going to wofrk on Iher scrap-book every stormy day un til it Is quite finished. Then she Is going to give it to little Cousin Joe. He Is 'lame and cannot walk. Mary thinks he will enjoy looking at the pictures.—Primary Education. THE ARITHMETIC LESSON. "Put down," the little fellow said, reading from the advertisement, "ten pounds dt sugar at five cents a pound, an' four pounds of coffee at thirty cents a .pound, an' two pounds at twenty'-elght cents a d_ tWo ot at flve cent 'eaell "I've got them down," the grocer said, looking up from his pad. "How much does that come to?" the lad asked. The iman ran up the cohimn. "Two thlrty-slx," he announced. "Hurry up son." •lAn' If I was to give you a five dollar ibill, how much change would I get r: "You get $2.!4—give it to me," the grocer said, Impatiently. "Thanks—that Ib my 'rlthmetic for tomorrow, an' I couldn't work it," the lad said, as he disappeared through the door.—Home Herald. THE BOY MARCONI. It Is a somewhat curious fact, per haps, that as a boy iMr. Marconi, the value of whose system of wireless telegraphy has been so strikingly dem onstrated hiy the saving of tbe pas sengers of the ill-fat$d Republic, show ed little signs of cleverness. One of his teachers, in fact, once said to him that he oould never learn any thing toy heart. Nevertheless, he was only 21 when he began to startle the world with his demonstrations of wireless telegraphy. In spite of bis fame, Marconi Is one of the most unassuming of men, and hates de monstrations. He was once recogniz ed while In Rome. Immediately Cheering crowd assembled. Marconi bolted Into what he thought was an empty carriage. But it contained a lady who was too frightened to expost ulate. The Inventor quickly made his apologies, and the lady allowed him to remain until they were free of the crowd.—Tit-Bits. In Bacon. Mrs. Ryetop—Now, thar's that Jud son Tassel. He's a likely looking chap but he's been calling on Nancy Squires for nine years and he hasn't proposed yet. Mrs. Hardapple (sarcastically)—Oh, give the boy a chance, Cynthia. Maybe he's afraid he'll break the speed laws. —Ghtoago News TBE Tariff fur Incidental Revenue. The country need not be surprised If before Senator Aldrich and his Com mittee on Finance get through with the Payne bill the tariff is made even more thoroughly protective of monopo ly than the outrageous Dlngley act against which even a large portion of the Republican party has, for at least four years, been In open revolt. Senator Rayner, of Maryland, truly depicted the spirit and purpose of tar-N III revision as we see it on the Repub lican side of the Senate when he de clared on Wednesday that the Aldrich bill Is for protection only, that Its pur pose Is not to provide revenue, but to prohibit importations, that it does ev erything to tighten the grasp of mo nopoly upon the commerce of the country and gives nothing to the con suming public. The first Republican national plat form—that of 1856—did not mention the tariff. The tariff plank of the plat form of 1860 was virtually a plea for tariff for revenue with Incidental pro tection, though not in these words, and the same is true ot all the Republican platforms for thirty years after the party put its first presidential candl date Into the field. The policy of the party as it Is now expounded, by Senator Aldrich has been revolutionized to mean tariff for protection with Incidental revenue. Every schedule in the Dlngley act which shelters a monopoly Is scrutin ized for opportunity to make Its rates prohibitive, and In computing the dif ference between the foreign cost of production and the cost in this coun try, every sophistry and false method Is resorted to In order to minimize the foreign cost and exaggerate the do mestic cost. If the provision asserting that the true basis of protective taxation is the difference between the home and the foreign cost was honestly put into the Republican platform ot 1908 its au thors did not have in mind the possi bilities of such tricks as Mr. Aldrich »nd his disciples are resorting to in artier to make that declaration a farce and a sham. They are making the low cost of production in the most modern foreign plants the standard of the foreign cost, while the cost of production In the :lumslest and most out-of-date and worn-out plants is the standard of sost In this country. By this method, always making the output of the most modern European plants the standard of cost abroad and retaining In the estimate the output every antiquated plant In the United States, disregarding costly and extrav agant methods, the gap between the home and foreign cost may be made to go on widening to the heart's content of the most ardent monopoly tariff en thusiast. This could not be done If Che home cost were based on the show ing of an up-to-date and thoroughly modern American plant. The vlciousness of the cardinal principle of the Republican tariff plank it 1908 is seen, also, In the difficulty, In fact the Impossibility, of ascertain ing just what the cost of production In any case really is. There are so nany ways of making the returns that lo committee of Congress can arrive it a uniform basis ot computing the ictual amount. One manufacturer will ascertain the lost by counting what he pays for raw material, labor, coal and admlnls iratlon. Another will add something for wear and tear of machinery. Still Another will count In Interest on bonds outstanding or add expenditures for oetterment and Improvement of plant. It Bhould be remembered, too, that for a strike period the cost of a certain quantity of output Is very much great er than for a period of equal length when all hands are at work and every thing running smoothly. So, also, the cost of making sales can be_made run up cost of production inimitably. The inquiry is bewildering and Im possible of convincing results. But by giving the benefit of every doubt to high cost of domestic production, and holding foreign cost down to the low est ascertainable minimum, the Senate Republicans can use the platform of 1908 to get a margin of protection as much wider than the Dlngley margin as may be necessary to make the new tariff prohibitive of imports.—St. Louis Republic. Crltlclalnff tbe Panama Canal. In his speech at Ilattlesburg Mr. Taft became so vigorous that he apol ogized for the heat he displayed. He Is obviously impntient with the critics of the canal work at Pannma. With, the couditlons there fresh In bis mind and In the satisfaction that the plan is competeut and graft absent, he may be readily pardoned for showing some feeling. However, if there had been no criticism. It Is doubtful If the con ditions with which Mr. Taft was ap parently so well pleased would exist. There is need of the skeptic nnd the Iconoclast. It Is always regrettable that a Congressman should make false charges of any kind, or that citizens should be misled or conjure up tales of corruption. But It is more regrettable when complacent and sutlslied citizen ship, swayed by pride of possession and performance, sits quietly and closes its eyes to realities. The critics of the canal and its meth od of construction fill a useful place. They are a necessary—even an Indis pensable—adjunct to It. During the next six or seven years the Panama Canal will be the source of still great er criticism. Harsher challenges win be issued to those engaged In Its man agement and construction nnd there may come accusations of various kinds. All will have to be met aud refuted. The plans will need continuous defense and the expenditures will need contin uous Justification. It is the way in which progress is made under our sys tem of government. Tbe canal Is a public enterprise aud everybody's busi ness. No Country White Hottae. The proposition to erect a $250,000 summer home for the President of the United Stutes is intolerable. Still less -WW i*r' 4* •T should It be erected on the military res ervation at West Point. This Is not a militarist nation. Tbe Idea of our President hemmed in by sentries, es corted on his dally drive by a body guard, and living In an atmosphere of warfare is distasteful to our people. West Point, as reconstructed, Is a mar vel of beauty, a military post of mag nificence beyond conception. But the President of tbe United States Is neither Kaiser nor Czar, and the Amer ican citizen disapproves any attempt on his part to imitate the military pomp of kings. I vet each President en Joy his summer vacations in his own way, like any other free-born Ameri can. We need no castles for our chief magistrates. And our chief magistrates should be of caliber to command re spect for the dignity of their high offlce wlthout panoply of war. Mr. Rooaevelt'a Great Dee4a To a New York writer, who asked what he considered the notable achievements of his administration, Theodore Roosevelt placed Panama first, the fleet's arouud-the-world-fSO, 000,000 Jaunt next, nnd the Jap-Russ treaty third. The Panama canal Is Just begun. If any one deserves credit for It, that credit belongs to Congress, which had the courage to vote the needed funds. Mr. Roosevelt has been very free In his abuse-of that ssine Congress. The .fleet's costly trip has not impressed upon any foreign power any respect not already acquired through Its pri vate sources of Information regarding our navy. The Portsmouth negotia tions edified this free republic by the spectacle of its president meddling In a war which did not concern him. These three achievements Indicate the Roosevelt pride of war, and nothing else. The working West voted for him In full belief that such a loud champion of fair play would put a stop to taxa tion of the West for- the enormous profit of Eastern tariff barons. Yet, during seven years in tbe White House, the same Roosevelt who demnnded free trade In 1884 did not raise a finger to help us. The golden tide flowed wider aud deeper than ever from the pockets of the tolling West to the coffers of money kings who dwell in the shadow of the White House Itself. Roosevelt, the war lord of America, broke faith with the West. Our cry for relief from tariff bondage has fallen on ears deaf to all but wars and rumors of wars. War has been the Roosevelt obsession. War. Always war. Our tariff laws, like our currency laws, are a legacy of war. Born of.exigency, they have fastened upon this country a system by which the private revenue of a lim ited number of Eastern trust mag nates Is made enormous at the ex pense of the general average of Indi vidual prosperity. The West for years has been plun dered under this antique tariff system for the benefit of the East, and Mr. Roosevelt did nothing to put a stop to It. He may be proud of his record, but the West Is not. Its Idol of four years ago has feet of clay.—Chicago Journal. HOLDING COURT UNDER EDWARD Function Par Leaa Ceremonial Than In Queen Vtctorla'a Time. A word about the court, as there are to be several during May and June. It Is In a way far less ceremonial than in the days of the late Queen Victoria, and, being held at night, It assumes the guise of a royal reception. There Id music, and after the presentation there Is a supper—unfortunately, of the -buffet variety. Men now attend and have a view of their "women folk," as we say In this country,"making their courtesies to royalty. After the pre sentations the men may Join the women and escort them around the ballroom, listen to the music and see that they are served with refreshments, says Vogue. Women wear the tome long trains, but they do not have to back out as they used to. They advance sideways to the throne, curtsey to the king and queen, retreat a few steps sideways from her majesty, catch their train from the attendants and go out, frank ly turning their backs on the throne aud another lady has absorbed the at tention of the king before the first has really retired from the presence. King Edward wants the ceremonial through rapidly, and It is done In thor ough twentieth century style. Men can get several points of vantage In the side corridors. From there they can see their ladles enter the presence, and can meet them as they come out. And by the way, "kisBlng hands" only ap plies to Englishmen or subjects on an appointment, generally to diplomatic cabinet or political poBt. Ills Question. A party of young men were enmpiug, and to uvert annoying questions they made it a rule that the one who asked a question that he could not answer himself had to do the cooking. One evening, while sitting round the fire, one of the boys asked, "Why Is il that a ground squirrel never leaves any,dirt at the mouth of Its burrow?" They all guessed aud missed. So he was asked to answer It himself. "Why," he said, "because they always begin to dig at the other end of tbe hole." "But," one asked, "how does he get to the other end of the hole?" "Well," was the reply, "that's your question." Hla Poller. "My brother," said the good man, you should always keep your debts In mind. Experience has taught us all that our debts are our enemies." "But they don't worry me, my dear sir," laughed the unvarnished beat. "And why not?" "Because I have always been taught to forget my enemies." As Serajevo, Bosnia, has equal num bers of Christians, Jews and Moham medans, it rests every Friday, Satur day and Bunday. "Didn't I see him kiss you?" "Oh, that was only a trial kiss."—Life. "What did she get first when ih* Inherited lier billion?". "Furs and chauffeurs."—The Bellman. Hoax—Here comes Borlelgh. Do you know him to speak to? Joax— Not If I see him first.—Philadelphia Record. "I am looking for a fashionable overcoat.'1 "All right, sir, will you have It too short or too long?"—File gende Blaetter. Mrs. Illcks—My husband has been just lovely to me all day. Mrs. Wicks —Il'm! What was it you caught him doing?—Boston Transcript. She (at the piano)—I presume you are a true lover of music, are you not? He—Yes, I am but pray don't stop playing on my account.—Judge. Hawkins—So you sent for a doctor? Does he think you will be out soon? Robblns—I Imagine so. He said he wished I had sent for him sooner.—* Puck. Little Girl—What's au Intelligence office, mamma? Mother—It's a place where oue goes to And out what wages cooks are charging.—New York Herald. She—'Frotl, do you believe that the pen Is mightier than the sword? He— Well, you never saw anybody sign a check with a sword, did you?—IUut* trated Bits, Husband (getting ready for the the ater)—Sly dear, what In the world are you taking (hat newspaper along for? Wife (coldly)—To read betweea acts.—Life. Mrs. Youngwife—What to the first question you ask of a maid whom you think of employing? Mrs. Oldone—I always say first, "Have you ever lived with me before?"—Life. "Uncle Jack, mother says you're ill, so I thought I'd like to come and talk to you a bit," "That's klud, of- you." "will there be a baud to play the Dead March at your funeral 7*—Ally Sloper, Indulgent Papa—Why, my dear, you bad a party last month. How-often do you wish to entertain your friends? She—This one is uot to entertain* my friends papa, but to snub my enemies. —Life. "For goodness' sake, Harriet, why so sad?" "The cook's left, but that isn't the worst of it she took with her the recipe-book for all the things John's mother used to make."—Brook lyn Life. Fond Mother—Tommy, darling, this is your birthday! What would you like to do? Tommy, Darling (after a moment's reflection)—I think I should enjoy seeing the baby spanked Paris Figaro. He„ (calling)—I'm here promptly, Miss Fannie. She—Yes, Mr. Staylate. He—I uever like to keep people wait ing. She (significantly)—Waiting for you to come, you mean, of course.— Washington Post "If I went out in a small boat," said the teacher, "and the owner knew It was leakiiig, and I got drowned, what would that be?" After a few minutes^ silence a little boy stood up and said: "A holiday, sir!"—Catholic News. "Ma," said a newspaper man's son, kuow why editors call themselves 'we/" "Why?" "So's the man that doesn't like the article will think there are too many people for him to tackle."—Christian Work aud Evange» list. Englishman—You—aw—live in Cali fornia, I believe? Amerlcau—Yes, sir Sau Francisco is my home. English man—Quite so. Ah, 1 presume you frequently come in contact with my friends, the Courtneys, in Arizonah—* au adjoining State, I believe?—Har per's Bazar. Citlzeu—What'il you charge me, Un cle Rnstus, to cart away that pile of btone? Uucle Itastus—About two dol lahs, sab. Citizen—Isn't that very high? Uncle Hastus—Yes. sab, Jes' fo' cahtlu' away the stone, but I got ter hire a man to h'ep me bahness de mule.—Harper's Bazar. "I hope you were a good little boy fv'hlle at your aunt's and didn't tell any stories," said his mother. "Only the one you put me up to, ma," re plied her youug hopeful. "Why, what do you mean, child?'' "When she ask ed me if I'd like to have a second piece of cake I said, 'So, thank you Vve had enough'." "That Is what 1 call an ideal mar lage," Hardy declared to his wife as ihey weiv walking homeward after an evening with some friends. "Actually believe both think absolutely alike." •Yes, they certainly are charming," \es3nted Mrs. Hardy "but about the 'hinkiug. Jre. if you will notice, Bhe fenerally thinks first." Merchant—Swaumigum, your face gokB as if it had gone through a corn fcheller. What's the matter? Swanna gum—Mr. Phlppa, did you sell this razor to my wife the day before Christmas. Merchant—I presume I did. Swannagum (with a dangerous gleam in his eye)—I have come, sir, to request you to take it back and give me the worth of it lu court plaster.—Chicago Tribune. 7* tfs No Such People. The automobile Industry has en rlched the English language by a varie ty of terms which cannot be found In dictionaries published only a few years ago, but which are to-day household words. With one of tbe most common, however, a certain Massachusetts post master is apparently unfamiliar. An enthusiastic automoblllst who lives in Philadelphia bad it in mind to tour through southern New England, and wished to make a stay of several days In one of the most Interesting of the old towns along the Massachusetts coast. He was not certain that the town contained accommodations for storing his car. and accordingly he wrote the postmaster to ask whether there were any garages there. In a few days he received this reply: "Dear Sir: Vour favor of the 12th Inst Is at hand, and In reply I have to say that no person of that name gets any mail at this office. The nearest to It Is a family of Gammages who live out on the Neck Iioad. Respectfully yours, POSTMASTER." When It comes to doing practical housework a carpenter may have hla wife beaten to a frazzle. Hon sorVlce linstruc 1 tlio goi [the na I court Mast ev pmhig Iblmlh Ineccssi •sources •the mo •lowed •Interest Jiuperfli iiade |tion of "parent 1 fea Inert (the effc "Tama cbot, ci Tho -li tlio-ben Adlroiu 1 spent: ii ties" a: jienlly thQ: tor work "I ai asembli neiglibc Jesteem shall pur p] Ve to lattei "It Jrhaps Jtmell Income brtuni tre •ork at my kti jorn les nlll an 'rom, ai ny fat! indln hey, we :lons ipare'f hey wc less, idlrond he big Jew Yi he mil iccoinpi orests tlies fo •lay gr ould 0 look ler am yen. & inswer. nd a nd son Ih que ay an Drest utl wit tan I ,vlng th .the that owe ti the 1 ie Into peak Rcai 'Whe a (If, an a Ick of 1 the cky h: Ork ither 1 ldfou ng th ugar ge wer uy the rore restlec oods-J was iday, can hi er yai pine rqcessf 'j sm id nex le spent ur cou pta are liiit wi ent pe ion In ractlua •III be ractics "The re. noi say lew th ut Jud hatsa' stan ands inest I ess for itrlppej if In ai han ot tnd th ir thi lay lores in wi [(tieth ^stroj iere irest. ie lar If tlml ind t1 ime 1 do Beeds reach where you pi any ot the tu own lo gro membi I havi ,some arhetei white that This must 1 my yo not squall follow dwell lustra dencc action posslb plied been pepplt tlgjeb lesaly ttmbe was 1 Pralrl Uraln