The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], April 13, 1914, Image 4

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

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THE AGE-HERALD
K. W. BARRETT Editor
Entered at the Birmingham, Ala.,
poetoffice us second class matter under
act of Congress March 3. 187y.
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t\e only authorized traveling repre
sentative* of The Age-llerald in 'is
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not he responsible for money sent
through the mails. Address,
THE AGE-HERALD,
Birmingham, Ala.
Washington bureau. 207 Hibbs build
ing.
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Covent Garden, London.
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TELEPHONE
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depnrtmcnrs), Main 41M)0. . j
■= i
Lead me (he flourish of all gentle
tongues.
—Loves Labor Lost.
BEGINNING THE DAY—I thank
Thee, O Lord, that all Is weljt that
Thou boldest In leash the uuklad i
forces to move only at Thy will; i
that failure and disease and death |
can work me no lasting harm, since |
I am Thine and they touch me only
at Thy pleasure. Help me to rest In
my Father’s house. For Christ’s
sake. A men.—II. M* E.
The Dead Dowager Empress
Little consideration has been ac
corded the recent death of the Dow
ager Empress of Japan and yet
Haruko was a woman of more than
usual endowments and as a figure
in orientalism the widow of the late
Mikado Mutsuhito was a most notable
character.
She was of noble birth and with
her husband passed through a trou
blesome period in the rehabilitation
and occidentizing of the empire. To
her was due much of the country’s de
parture from old world customs and
its adoption of western civilization.
Final triumph was hers for she saw
the terrible struggles of Japan with '
China and Russia and in the imperial
palace received the proud tidings
which announced the complete evo
lution of her kingdom into a world
power.
She lost her only son in childbirth
but she was devoted to the children
of the Emperor’s other wives. A
stanch supporter of education she
sent five Japanese girls to America
for a collegiate training, and it was
through her direct influence that her
native women were allowed to en
ter the schools of the country.
She urged women to become famil
iar with business life and herself
learned typewriting. She was the
first to adopt the European style of
female dress and only upon purely
native functions did she assume the
costumes of her youth. Simple in
her tastes, the dead dowager was a
poet of no mean ability and in 1907
she was a candidate for the Nobel
prize in literature. She, however,
never learned to speak a foreign lan
guage, but proved, to be a most charm
ing hostess for all that.
Greatly beloved by the court and
her people her death is mourned sin
cerely throughout the entire nation
and in her passing the world has lost
a noble and a notable woman.
Paying the Fiddler
While this country expresses in
tense gratification at the amicable
close of its controversy with Colom
bia relative to the Panama republic,
there is just a tinge of- retribution
in the result of the negotiations suf
ficient to impair the savoriness of
the flavor.
The controversy dates back to 1903
when the Ilay-Herran treaty was for
mulated, ratified by the United
States Senate and rejected by the
Colombian government. By the terms
of that treaty Colombia was to re
ceive $10,000,000 in cash and $250,000
a year after the completion of the
waterway. Later the South Amer
ican government demanded the sum of
$90,000,000 and insisted that the
claim be submitted to the Hague tri
bunal, but the United Slates stoutly
refused to listen to the proposition
and the coup d’etat of President
Roosevelt put a stop to all further ne
gotiations.
The matter has now been closed by
this government agreeing to pay Co
lombia $25,000,000 within a period
of six months, as an indemnity and
to allow the latter country certain
privileges for her commerce by way
of the Panama canal. There is like
wise an agreement as to the basing
of the Gelombian-Panama boundary on
the laws of 1855 demarcating the
former Colombian state of Panama.
The treaty also provides for the resto
ration of friendly relations between
the two contracting countries and
pledges the good offices of the United
States in securing the settlement of
pending questions between Colombia j
i and Panama.
It is hinted that the treaty will
contain, or be accompanied by an ex
pression of regret for the course of
our government upon the isthmus in
1903 and while this, if true, may give
rise to a flood of jingoism in this
country, it cannot be denied that if j
an apology is due there is no surren- |
dering of dignity nor honor in al
lowing such an apology to come for
ward.
He this as it may the conclusion of
the treaty is a distinct victory for
the diplomacy of President Wilson’s
policy. The Colombian republic de
manded and refused even more gen
erous terms from the Taft adminis
tration and the dimunition of a claim
from $90,000,000 to $25,000,000 is a
matter of considerable, congratula
tion, to say nothing of the restoration
of amicable feelings between the^two
governments.
Chamber of Commerce Activity
The Birmingham Chamber of Com
merce has come to be recognized as
the center of civic spirit. Within the
past few years it has done much for
the city’s advancement. What public
spirit is found here today is the re
sult of the get-together movement
which the chamber has been foster
ing; but notwithstanding the excellent
work that has been done, even greater
things may be expected in the future.
The membership of the Chamber of
Commerce should be doubled this
year. The membership campaign of
a year or more ago had large net ,
results, but the chamber’s numerical ,
strength today is not what it should ,
be. The membership committee has
wisely concluded that “owing to the (
great number of soliciting campaigns ,
that have been conducted in Birming
ham in recent months, a direct ap- ,
peal to each member to help in in- j
creasing the membership would ac- '
complish the desired result without ,
calling on a limited number to do ex
tensive committee duty.”
Each merpber of the chamber is 1
isked to secure one new member. 1
rh's plan should work well. Many 1
nembers will be able to secure two .
>r three applications, and he will be ,
i drone who does not secure the mini- |
num of one. i
President P. G. Shook will devote c
nuch of his time to the work of the '
•hamber during the present year, and a
le can count upon active support from c
lis brother officers and the entire 1
ward of directors; but ‘n order that '
l
the Chamber of Commerce may ex
tend its efficiency in the upbuilding of ,
this community increased revenue is
needed, and the best way to obtain
that revenue is by swelling the mem- 1
bership roll. The dues are small, $1 *
i month, and there is no reason why
the Birmingham Chamber of Com
merce should not have a membership t
>f 5000 before the end of the year. |
With such a membership, yielding an
innual revenue from dues of $60,000,
wonderful good could be accomplished,
lust now, then, the work of greatest
importance is a quiet canvass' for ,
nembers. There is no better way t
to promote the get-together spirit; ■
for every member constituting him
self a committee of one would have
steadily in mind the value of co-op
?ration and Birmingham’s need for
:he strengthening of the pull-together
labit.
The Teaching of English
While most of the colleges in this 1
■ountry have always had competent
nstructors in English, it is only in
•ecent years that this branch of edu
cation has received the attention that
ts importance demands. English
iterature has a distinct appeal to in- 1
elligent young men and young '
women; but in many cases results 1
lave not been satisfactory, due pos
sibly to a lack of practical method
n teaching. High schools in certain 1
arge cities have long been noted for i
heir efficient work in the English ‘
ourse. It is seldom that one finds ’
i Birmingham graduate who does not
write grammatical English, and in .
many cases there is style in the mat- 1
ter of expression that would do credit 1
o a person of the literary profession;
iut educators in general are now more ;
than ever stressing the value of good j
English and the demand for improved i
pedagogy in this branch of culture.
A recent bulletin of the Polytechnic
institute at Auburn is devoted entirely
co the Alabama Association of Teach
ers of English. This association is
roung; but it has already accom
plished much good by stimulating an
interest in the new movement for
•the better teaching of English.” Tho
aim of the organization as set forth
by Prof. J. R. Rutland is to encour
age “better instruction in oral and
written English and in the apprecia
tion of literature.” Article 1, part 2
of the proposed constitution of the
association says:
“The specific alms of this association
shall he five fold: To organize the Eng
lish teaching interests of the state; to
conduct investigations relative to teach
ing English; to publish iindings; to co
operate in all possible ways with other
similar organizations throughout the
country; to promote acquaintance and
?ood fellowship among the English
teachers of the state."
Professor Rutland adds that “after i
\ -
reading such a jjjeamble one must
! tak« a long breath, because the ful
' I'illment of so great an ambition will
require a deal of faithful, persistent,
hard work;” but, as he is led to be
lieve, the teachers of English do not
expect or desire any other kind of
work.
The Alabama Association of Teach
j ers of English is now' actively en
I gaged in organizing the pedagogical
interests of the state so that the
teachers' of English may serve each
other by interchange of views. Pro
fessor Rutland says that the new or
ganization should* do the work which
the ‘‘English division” of the Ala
bama High School association has
done so well for a number of years;
but co-operation of college instructor'
and normal school instructors is
greatly desired.
In the bulletin is presented a letter,
full of helpful advice, from Dr.
Charles W. Kent, professor of Eng
Iish^at the University of Virginia.
This distinguished educator points out
that the first-thing a pupil of Eng
lish should acquire is ‘‘the ability to
read, especially the ability to read
aloud,”_ Among other things that Pro
fessor Kent would develop is the abil
ity to talk, that is, the ability “to
carry on an intelligent conversation
in ordinary colloquial but ^orrect
English.” He says that he dws not
mean that the conversation should be
bookish, but on the other hand it
should not be slangy. He would in
sist that every class in a high school
should contribute to English training, j
“One of the very serious things that j
is happening in the American high
schools,” said Professor Kent, “is that
many of the teachers in the other
classrooms cannot themselves use
English correctly and effectively, and
therefore undo some of the specific
work done in the English room.”
The Alabama Association of Teach
ers of English is sure to become a
potential factor in cultural progress.
The bulletin is full of interest and
should have a general reading.
As a result of an Influx of Hindus in
British Columbia, tile British state de
partment lias warned Canadian women
that if they mayry Hindus and the latter
return to their native land there is noth
ing to prevent the Christian wives from
being repudiated. The marriage would
he valid so long as the Hindus remained
In Canada, but a ceremony performed ac
cording to English law is not necessarily
recognized as valid by Mohammedan law
and a Hindu may, if he wishes, take
other wives without consulting his Chris
tian wife. Even when a marriage rela
tionship Is recognized as legal in a Mo
hammedan country, the husband can
divorce his wife at will without any for
mality other Ilian that of repudiating her.
Merchants of an eastern city complain
that the music furnished by the band of
a theatre near their places of business
is so ‘‘fierce” they can't estimnte what
is a reasonable profit! The average per
son doesn’t know what discord means un
til he hears an amateur trombonist try
ing to play a little tango niUBic.
What is believed to be the world's record
for eating buckwheat cakes was estab
lished by a Pennsylvania man who con
sumed 33. averaging eight Indies in diam
eter. Henceforth there will be no need
to apologize for eating 16 or 16 buck
wheat cakes for one's breakfast.
A Minnesota Judge, in denying a w oman
a divorce, said that a man has a right
to lounge about his bungalow half dressed,
to compel his wife to stay at home at
night and to refuse her a latchkey. A
gentleman of tlie old school, evidently.
•
Cyril Maude, the English actor, says
he once slept on a barroom floor in Butte,
Mont. A great many men go to sleep
on barroom floors, but they are not per
mitted to stay there long enough to get
any rest.
Thirty-eight aviators were killed during
the first three months of this year. Car
toon of death standing with a scythe in
his hand and gazing expectantly up in
the air at a birdman is still applicable.
“Some of the most honest men we ever
knew were always ready to rob a bee
hive,” says the Washington Herald. And
some of the kindest-hearted men in the
world are adepts at killing time.
A Chicago woman received $50,000 be
cause a young widow fascinated her hus
band. Competition of that sort in affairs
of the heart is always hard to beat.
Tagore, the famous petet of India, some
times cooks his own meals, but in so do
ing contrives to be utterly prosaic by
using an “economic cooker."
A woman temperance worker claims
that she was struck by the governor of
Kansas. This equality idea seems to be
spreading more and more.
A man has to wear smoked glasses to
look at some of the fashionable colors
women are wearing without hurting his
eyes.
Teaching left-handed people to use
their right hands as a cure for stam
mering seems to be a roundabout
method, but it gets results.
A physician says frequent bathing is
unnecessary, but fails to offer a substi
tute that will get equally desirable re
sults. I
A surgeon says bad cooking causes can
cer. There is no doubt that it spoils many
a lovely disposition.
The town without at least one moving
picture Bhow know's what it means to
stagnate.
The busiest people tui earth are the peo
ple who keep ufc with baseball atatisilci.
V
1
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
The South's Thrift
"It is a noteworthy fact that one hears
less talk of business depression in the
south than in the north. ' said P. M. El
lery of Philadelphia. “We Have been
bearing much of hard times in my part
of the country for months past and im
provement is not expected until the rail
roads are allowed to advance their freight
rates. With the railroads the situation
is said to bo really acute. If the inter
state commerce commission grants the
petition of. the carriers then business will
revive at once. When the railroads are
feeling and talking hard . times busi
ness generally is dull. On the other hand. ,
when traffic is moving in large volume#
trade in most lines is apt to be brisk.
"Here in the south prosperity is the rule.
I hear no pessimistic talk. The south
has a great future and It is A* safe pre- |
diction that millions of new capital will ^
flow into southern states just as soon as j
confidence in the financial world is fully
restored. Tf we have big crops this sum-(
mer and if the railroads are granted re
lief then lookout for a boom."
Two Public Huil<lini>N Needed
"I feel confident that tlie Chamber of
Commerce, which started the agitation for
a big auditorium and which looked after
the campaign resulting in an overwhelm
ing vote of the people for a $200,000 audi
torium bond issue, will see ground broken
for the needed building within tlie next
few months," said an old citizen. "The
city commission lias held back, but public
sentiment is now so insistent on having
the auditorium that all obstacles should
be speedily removed.
"As to a new postoffice, that is a differ
ent matter so far as the time when Uncle
Sam may be expected to start work is
concerned. A large, excellent site has
been acquired by the government and
$800,000 has been appropriated by Congress
for the building. The delay is caused by,
or said to be caused by, the congested
condition of the architect’s office where
plans are supposed to be drawn.
"Mr. Underwood will be able no doubt
to hurry up the postoffice plans, even if
an outside architect has to be employed
to make a design and work out specifica
tions.
"The auditorium can be built within a
year. It will take three years to build
the postoffice, and it is sincerely hoped
that work on it will be started before
1914 is gone."
City Beautiful
‘ The city beautiful movement i£ being
pushed In the public prints and I trust
that we will have good results,” said a
large taxpayer.
"The more attractive Birmingham be
comes the more realty values are
strengthened. And the best way to make
a city attractive is to keep it. clean
an i make it beautiful. Many individuals
wiil do their part, but. much depends
upon the city government. Will it do its
full share?"
The Music Festival
"Birmingham has now a splendid fes
tival chorus of about 170 voices under
the direction of Mr. Rionzi Thomas, and
if we have a festival this spring on a
me derate scale, say three performances—
two nights and a matinee—we should be k
able to have a monster affair next year,
when we build a great auditorium." said
a music lover. "By a monster festival
I mean one that would have a grand
mass chorus of fully a thousand or more
made up of the smaller choruses In the
different cities of the state, augmenting
the local chorus. We could then have a
festival of three or four days and draw
people from all parts of the south." *
From Mall Street Point of View
Henry Clews in his Saturday review
points out the fact that the stock mar
ket was el ided by unexpected develop
ments; chief of which was the arbitrary
order for reduction' in Canadian Pacific
rates, which caused a break of over 7
points in that stock and had an unfavor
able effect upon the securities market.
Another shock came via Mexico and was
due to harsh treatment of Spaniards by
the revolutionists. The Henry Clews let
ter then says, in part:
"There was one more unfavorable de
velopment, and that was the extreme
dullness of the iron trade, it being esti
mated tha* the Industry is only running
at about 70 to 80 per cent of capacity.
New orders are scarce, prices are un
settled and it is^trared Uiat some sort of
adjustment will have to he made In
wages, unless;, the industry shows prompt
and marked improvement. The latter, of
course, depends very largely upon the
railroad situation. There is a confident
feeling prevailing that the interstate com
merce commissioners are going to grant
an increase in freight rates, but from
such information as I can obtain I hardly
think It will he the 5 per cent rate asked
for by tlie railroads, and as the commis
sioners themselves do not originate
freight rate advances. they will
intimate that a fresh application, naming
a lower rate will he considered. There
can be no doubt whatever that President
W ilson favors an increased rate, hut ne
cannot even suggest what rate should be
named. The 5 per cent rate asked, there
fore, is not unlikely to be turned down;
at the same time encouragement will he
given to make a new application at a
lower rate, and. this will probably take
place at an early date. Of course the
decision against the roads will be at
tended with some disappointment, but the
Intimation that a lower rate will be
granted will carry with it a mfral in
fluence that will be very effective and
lead to the impression that should the
lower rate not prove ample, an additional
one ma| be granted later to make It 6
per cent, i? absolutely needed by the
railroads. ‘Sufficient unto the day is
the evil thereof.’ It is iioped the com
missioners will hasten their decision as
rapidly as possible. The commissioners,
being appointed by/the President, are
comparatively free from political in
fluences; and should be guided more by,
judicial than political or class consid
erations."
Clews concludes by saying that while
the outlook *s still one that demands more
or less caution, conditions are gener
ally sound.
THE ALABAMA ELECTION
From the Buffalo Evening News. ®
The Alabama election for senator re
calls the old story of the man of whom
it was said when he died that there was
no complaint; everybody was perfectly
satisfied.
It would have been an Immense mistake
if Congressman Underwood were rejected
in favor of Congressman Hobson, for Mr.
Hobson, fearless as he proved to be In
his younger days, has developed Into a
man of an almost hysterically fannatical
disposition. He Is rabid in the last de
gree and whatever doctrine he maintains
or policy he supports, he seems to regard
those who differ from him almost In the
light of personal enemies. *
But wholly apart from that, Mr. Hob
son’s position on public questions is often
I wholly indefensible. He has devoted him
Lself. for instance, for several years to
stirring up the Idea tliat we must neces
sarily have war with Japan, and, there
fore, need to spend fabulous sums of
money on a great navy in order to get
ready for a fight with the little brown
man.
Mr. Underwod. on the other hand, is no
doubt one of the best balanced, level
headed, strong men in Congress on the
democratic side for many a year.
Mr. Underwod has given his time dur
ing the winter to Ills duty in Congress
and spent but a few days during Christ
mas holidays in canvassing his state.
On the other hand. Congressman Hob
son, whose duty to be in Washington is
just as imperative as that of Mr. Under
wood. lias so nearly neglected his duty
that In the last year he has been in ills
scat in Congress but 22 days, although.
Congress has been in session constantly
since the middle of last April.
But Hobson does not deserve defeat so
much because of his absenteeism and neg
lect of public duty for private advantage,
As he does because his ideas are so hope
lessly and violently radical. He seems
not to care wfTat he says, so that lie
catches some applause and not only in the
Uutopian theories that he advocates, but
in the violent way in which he deals with
all who are not on his mind he shows
a temper that is hopelessly bad for a
statesman, though he might be a great
success as a duelist.
It is for the good of the union itself
that men like Mr. Underwood shall coin©
to the front, since it must be a democrat
anyway who comes from Alabama, and|
the better the man the better for the
country. Of course, the same is true of
every other state, but It is very seldom
indeed that the state is wise enough to
send its best, and strongest men to rep
resent it in the national legislature.
MR. 1. \DDK WOOD'S VICTORY
From the New York Sun.
Throughout the primary campaign
which ended on Monday In the nomina
tion of Oscar W. Underwood as demo
cratic candidate for United States senator
from Alabama. Mr. Underwood attended
strictly to his business as a representa*
tive in Congress, while his opponent,
Representative Hobson, stumped the state,
industriously assailing the leader of toe
majority as a tool of the “liquor inter
ests" and a creature of the "money
kings." That his wild and demagogic
charges were Ineffective is gratifying
vindication of the good sense of the ma
jority of the Alabama electorate.
President Wilson’s contribution to Mr.
Underwood’s campaign took the form «»f
inducing Representative Clayton to with
draw from the contest and remain in
Lhe House. This brought the fight down
to a clear cut issue between Hobson and
Underwood. Had Clayton remained in
the field the returns of Monday’s ballot
ing might have told a different story.
Transplanting Mr. Underwood to the
Senate leaves the House democrats wifn
i serious problem to solve in selecting
his successor. Mr. Underwood has been
notably successful7 in managing an un
wieldy majority. The man who takes nis
nlace in the Sixty-fourth Congress may
lot have so many followers, but they
will be not less difficult to keep in good
humor. Yet the democracy cannot be s>
poor in personnel as to be unable to fill
the vacancy satisfactorily, if it is that
fact is worth knowing.
, WHAT ALABAMA DID
From the (’liicago Dally News.
In a recent campaign speech Rich
mond Pearson Hobson, fearless baiter
pf the Japanese, hero of Santiago bay,
representative in Congress and lately
ispirant for the United States Senate,
laid that if made him humble to think
)f the thousands and thousands of good
men and women throughout the United
States who were praying that he would
iefeat Oscar W. Underwood in the prl
nary election.
Anything that makes Mr. Hobson
nimble is worthy of respect. In this
nstance, however, it appears that his
lumility was wasted upon the unap
ireciaiive multitude. lie might just as
veil have been his fiery and bumptious
lelf, for he did not get the nomination
hat in Alabama is equivalent to an
•lection.
Mr. Underwood lias been called a re
tetionary. Ills friends insist, however,
hat lie is a progressive whKvwatclies
lis step. Be that as it may, lie is a
lower in Congress. He stayed on the
iob, sawing wood In ills efficient way,
while ills rival traipsed over the state
lbnsing him. Mr. Hobson is an interest
ng young man who talks too much and
akes his own talk too seriously.
The country agrees with Alabama’s
verdict.
THE ALABAMA PRIMARY
from the Kalamazoo Gazette.
’^ie belated returns from the Alabama
primary continue to indicate that Oscui
I'nderwood has defeated Capt. Richmond
Hobson for the nomination as United
States senator on the democratic ticket.
Df course, in Alabama such a nomination
is as good as an election. We shall be
very much mistaken if the general public
s not very much pleased with the outcome
of one of the most bitter personal fights
it politics.
So far as ability is concerned, there
never has bee nanv question in the minds
[)f most people. Underwood is a thinker
and a man of constructive ability. Hob
son is a good talker, a man who once did
his country a great service and who nas
ever since considered that act entitled
him to the best things the country has
Lo give. The campaign has been filled
with mud slinging, Hobson resorting most
frequently to this practice. It Is refresh
ing to see that mud-slinging in politics is
no longer productive of results beneficial
Lo the user.
Th eresult in Alabama is a genuine vic
tory for the intelligence and morality of
the people. They have chosen the Abler
man; they have refused to be misled or
to stand for such practices as moonshin
ing.
UNKNOWN IN LONDON
Charles R. Brentwood, writing from
Baltimore to the New York Sun.
It appears to be a common practice
among well advertised American rich
women to pose as members of society in
London, “well known in London so
ciety,** they phrase it, and also to claim
friendship with the titled families of
Great Britain.
Now I want to say this, that in al
most every case within the last five
years where these claims have been
made it has been proved false. They are
utterly unknown in Lorfdon. American
women Imagine that to possess money
and newspaper notoriety nothing more
is necessary; it probably is sufficient
in this country, but nowhere else.
I myself have frequently heard the
boastful claims (it is evidently a na
tional trait) of these women to be
recognized as prominent, and It has
afTorded a great deal’ of amusement to
my friends and myself.^
I
ON KILLING COCKROACHES
By BIM, VRIES
'T'WT'j April (Special.
\X/ When we pause to consider th€
| • expense the United States gov
ernment goes to in order that the people
may be furnished with all kinds of in
formation upon all kinds of subjects, we
are indeed glad that we live in a free
country, which is becoming freer and freer
every day.
It comes under the special province of
the department of agriculture to set us
right upon many problems we face in the
ordinary occupation of working for a
living. If we will take the time to care
fully peruse all the public documents sent
to us by the department of agriculture
there can be no excuse for a failure in
thifc life of toil and conflict, because of
j the lack of information: the only trolihle
is. that if we should read all of them
we would not have time to do anything
else.
The latest bulletin of the department is
now before us. With a political fare
sight that does him credit, fully realising
that tlie administration must appeal to
all classes if it is to be retained in power,
Secretary Houston, in this bulletin shows
no partiality. Secretary Daniels appealed
to the prohibitionists by banishing rum
from the navy. Secretary Houston with
rare judgment grabs both sides and hooks
’em going and coming.
This bulletin is entitled, "Methods of
Exterminating Cockroaches.”
We call especial attention to the plural
in this heading—it is not method, but
methods. The question of how to suc
cessfully exterminate cockroaches has
has agitated this country long enough.
It is as old a problem as the one
of "How to remove a republican office
holder serving under the civil service?”
That the department of agriculture has
solved it, is to the credit of that de
partment—not only have they solved it,
hut they have diplomatically solved it; in
this we submit that the Secretary of Agri
culture has something on the Secretary of
the Navy. That, however, is, we take
it, an unnecessary observation; Missouri
got two regional hanks, North Carolina
got no hank at all.
But to get hack to the bulletin entitled.
"Methods of Exterminating Cockroaches.”
Method No. 1 is as follows:
"Mix one part of plaster of paris and
three* or four parts of flour. Place this
in a dry place in a saucer, where roaches
are numerous. Nearby place another flat,
plate containing pure water. The in
sects readily oat the plaster mixture, be- ;
come thirsty and drink. The water makes
the plaster set in the intestines and kills
the roach.”
We hereby submit to the general pub
lic wherever this inflamed question of
exterminating cockroaches has become an
issue, that If cockroaches are to be ex- ^
terminated this seems to be a perfectly
fatal manner of doing so. A gentleman
or a lady cockroach traveling around in
society with* their systems entirely
wrapped around a paving block is apt
to become nervous and distraught to such
an extent that they will commit hari
kari. No self-respecting cockroach would
< are to live longer if he felt that he must ,
all his life be thus burdened. This meth
od appeals to the National Association of
Distillers, too. because it only illustrates
how fatal results ofttimes follow the
habit of drinking water after meals.
Another method in which Politician
Houston corrals the ••dry” vote is men
tioned. It is as follows:
‘A deep vessel or jar is partially filled
with stale beer, for which roaches secin
to have a special fondness.” Roaches
at times, we may inject at this point, in - '
press us with possessing strangely human
tastes and fancies, but we’ll let that pass.
A number of flat-strips of rough wood,”
says the bulletin, ‘are placed at an in
cline against the vessel and bent over
so they project into the interior a few
incites. The roaches^climb up the inclined
sticks to get the beer and slip off into
the vessel.”
It is of course necessary to carefully
conceal this trap in order to prevent the
hired girl, or a near relative, from drink
ing up the bait.
This^ method furnishes a fine object les
son to tlie prohibitionists. Of course, the
cockroach becomes intoxicated before lie
slips to his doom. The bulletin does not
say so, and leaves that entirely to the
imagination of its readers, but it is pei
feetly obvious that no cockroach in the
I world, realizing fully that he is not an
[amphibious animal, would dive off into
a can of stale btfer unless he was Intox
icated. That’s tlie whole answer—he first
becomes drunk, the beer and the grfrm of
tlie^ great destroyer it contains goes to
the brain of the cockroach, and reason
totters on its throne. When a cockroach’s
reason begins to totter on its throne, lie
would just as soon plunge headlong into
a can of stale beer as not. 1
To communities where tlie festive cock
roach has become a burden Secretary
Houston’s bulletin will confer a great i
boon. It aboliabjes the old method of sluim
ping a flat board down on a whole colony
of cockroaches and mixing their remains
up in such a fashion that identification
is impossible. It also does away with
the method of impaling a cockroach on
a fish hook and offering him as an in
ducement to a black bass or a hard shell
turtle to nibble at. It is also diplomatic
and offends neither the prohibition nor
the anti vote. Secretary Daniels should
study the methods of the Secretary of '
Agriculture. He could do so with profit.
GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY.
TRIAL OF DOUGLAS CASE
THE Douglas case is undoubtedly
the greatest civil trial that was
ever held in Scotland. The case
arose through the death without issue
of Archibald, Duke of Douglas,, on July
21. 17*1. The nearest heir was sup
posed to be Archibald Stewart or
Douglas, who it was claimed, was the
only surviving son of the deceased
Eady Jane Douglas, tile duke's only sis
ter. It was slated that Archibald's
birth had taken place in Paris on July
10, 1748. To confirm tills several wit
nesses who were presented, gave tes
timony, and he was placed in full pos
session as heir of the duke.
This position as heir was not long
unchallenged. First of all actions were
raised against him by the tutors of the
Duke of Hamilton and the Earl of Sel
kirk. both of tlie Douglas family and
next heirs male to the late duke. The
court of sessions decided against these
latter claimants. On December 7. 1762,
a new action was commenced against
Archibald Douglas by three belts of
the late duke.
The summons narrated that “the said
Archibald Stewart and the other, pre
tended male child, of which the'said
I,ndy Jane Douglas was said to have
been delivered, were spurious and were
not tile children of Lady Jane, as would
appear by a variety of proofs."
The first step in the process was that
a petition was presented to the court
on December 6. and answers to litis
petition were ordered, and another pe
tition was also presented praying for
an immediate examination of Sir John
Stewart, tlie late ijady Jane Douglas’
husband, on tlie ground that lie was
going abroad. He made a solemn dec
laration that Archibald was tlie only
surviving son of his lale wife.
During the following year, after an
investigation in Paris, it was supposed
that it had been found that Sir John,
Lady Jane and Mrs. Helen llewlt, a
witness, had gotten together supposi
titious children. All the evidence on
both sides was gathered together and
the trial rvaa begun on July 1, 1766.
The many conflicting stories had cre
ated immense popular excitement all
over Scotland, where, it Is said, bets
to the amount of |500,000 depended
upon the outcome oT Die trlfl. The
betting inclined toward young Archi
bald Douglas.
The first few days of the trial Sir
Adam Ferguson, Andrew Crosbie, Wil
liam Nairne and John Dairvmple spoke
for the pursuers, and the attorneys
for the defender were Alexander Mur
ray. Henry DuAdas, Robert Sinclair and
David llae. The pleadings were then
tlie longest ever heard in a court of
justice, lasting in all 21 days, and
PER PACEM AD LUCEM ~
——-—— /
By Adelaide A. Proctor. ,
I#DO not ask, t> Lord, that life should not always be
A pleasant road;
I do not ask that Thou shouldst take from me
Aught of its load.
I do not ask that flowers should always spring
Beneath my feet—
Too well I know the poison and the sting
Of things too sweet.
Fof one thing only, Lord, dear Lord, I plead—
Lead me aright.
Though strength should falter an<L though heart should bleed
. Through peace to light.
I do not ask my cross to understand.
My way to see;
I Better In darkness just to feel Thy hand
And follow Thee.
I do not ask that Thou shouldst always shed
Full radiance here;
Give but a ray of peace that I may walk
Without a fear.
Joy is like restless day, but Peace divine
Like quiet night,.
Lead me, O Lord, till perfect day shall sMae
Through Peace to Llgli^
tile speeches were each often two and
sometimes/three hours long.
Then the evidence on botii sides was
begun and the case dragged on through *
the entire winter and spring, un Juno
23 and 2 1. Isabel Walker, Lady Jane
Douglas’ maid was examined. On July
7, the advising of this great caus* be- ^
gan, and the Douglas case w as carried
in fav.or of tli# Duke of Hamilton. The
decision was so unpopular that the win
dows of tlie judges favorable to the
Hamiiyuis were broken and the Pres- * ’
ident received letters threatening him
with death. Douglas was undoubtedly
the popular favorite.
The case was then taken before the
House of Lords, who did not take it
up until the session of J768-69. On
January 19, it was begun; for the ap
pellant there appealed the lord advo
cate, Sir Janies Montgomery, uml Sir
Fletcher Morton, and for the respond
ent, thre4 well known legal lights.
The lord advocate opened the rase
which was continued daily before the •
House of Lords until February 27, when
the verdict of the court of sessions
was revised, and the lords affirmed
that Archibald Stewart or Douglus was
the lawful heir. When this was known
in Scotland, wild joy was shown, and
the Douglas adherents made it danger
ous for their opponents lb reside in
Scotland until the military was called
out to restore order.
Horace Walpole gives the following
account of tin* lords' speeches and tin* »
end of the trial: “The Duke of Bed
ford. Lord Sandwich ami Lord Gower,
were the most zealous for the Hamp
tons. Lord Mansfield, it had long been
discovered, favor the Douglas; hut the
Chancellor Camden, with dignity and
decency, had concealed his opinion to
tin* very day of the decision.” This
ended the remarkable trial as to whom
was heir to the Douglas estate.
Actions of reduction, however, con-*
tinued to harass Mr. Dougtas until
when these were filially settled in
favor by the House of Lords, upon
which Douglas wrote to his brother:
“The House of Lords yesterday gave
me a full and free liberation from all
further disputes in law, and the Ham
ilton family have now not the small
est pretensions to the smallest part of
my estate. ‘
Tomorrow: Trial of assasin of Can eras.
Not to Blame
From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
“What do you mean by coming in hero
with that tire all cut to ribbons?'* shout
ed the enraged owner of the 60 horse
power racing car.
“1 ran over a milk bottle, sir,” said thot
trembling chauffeur.
“A milk bottle, eh? Seems to me you
could see a thing as big as that.”
“The boy had it hid under his coat, sir.”