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THE AGE-HERALD E. YV. BAlUtETT.Editor Entered at the Birmingham, Ala., postoflice as second class matter under act of Congress March J. 1879. Daily and Sunday Age-Herald... $8.0‘> Daily and Sunday, per month.... -,u Daily and Sunday, throe months.. - YVeekly Age-Herald, per annum.. . Sunday Age-Ilerald . J u0 A. J. Eaton, Jr., and O. E. Young »10 the only authorized traveling repre sentatives of The Age-Herald in i s circulation department. No communication will be published without its author’s name. Jicjectcu manuscript will not be returned un ' >s stamps are enclosed for that purpose. Hemlttances can be made at curieM* rale of exenange. The A&e-lleral u not be responsible for money sent through the mails. Address, THE AGE-UERADD, Birmingham, Ala. Washington bu’pau, 201 Hibbs build lr*uropean bureau. H Henrietta street, Covent Garden, London. eastern business otfice. Room* 4* 60, inclusive. Tribune buildinb, New York city; Western business office, Tribune building, Chicago. The “• Jr Beckwith Special Agency, agentB to eign advertising. TELEPHONE Bell (private exchange connecting nil department*). Mnln 41MM). The mailed Mnr* nhnll on hi* nltnr nit. I |i to the enr* In blood. — Henry •' • BEGINNING THE HAY—Thou in vitr.t me when Hie nrm of flesh hn» fnileil. Thou weleonlesl me when my resources me gone. Thou ■"■“‘•I not after my reeord or my nl.llltj. hut in v w IIIIngneHs to reeel,e. <> happiness, that Thou net near me ngnlnst my time of weakness or tle spnlr! Amen.—II. M. E. Healthy Optimism j. p. Morgan’s statement issued yes terday on the American situation as affected by conditions in Europe was strongly optimistic and will have a far-reaching effect for good. lhe noted financier stresses the inherent soundness of financial conditions in the United States. President Wilson is in close touch with financial affairs, and Secretary McAdoo’s statement issued yesterday saying that the treasury department would help as far as it “legitimately may” during the present war situa tion in Europe was timely and reas suring. It was what might be expected, however, for Mr. McAdoo a year ago came forward with an offer to the bankers to loan them large sums of government money to ease the strain in the crop moving season. His policy worked like a charm; and several weeks ago before the war cloud arose in Europe, Mr. McAdoo notified the bankers that they could count upon the government’s aid during this year's crop moving period. In addition to the resources of the United States treasury $500,000,00(1 of currency, which the banks undei the Aldrich-Vreeland act have had printed, is now ready for issue. Such aid on the part of the government •will be quite ample for the emergency, Those critics of the democratic party who thought that the adminis tration would not be able to cope with large and difficult problems in prac tical business life were poor reckoners, The administration is fully equal to any exigency. President Wilson and Secretary McAdoo, like Mr. Morgan, are, op timists, and a reasonable amount of optimism in times of stress anti strain always has a steadying effect. A Daring Ikindon Speculator Several months ago when it was re ported that the Duke of Bedford hat disposed of his vast Covent Carder property situated in the heart of Lon don and valued at many million pounds sterling, to Harry Mallaby-Deely M. P., interest was aroused through out the English speaking world. This transaction involving the dismember ment of the greatest landed estate of London—a city largely controlled by titled landlords whose holdings include an enormous extent of valuable real ‘' estate—was said to have been a direct result of alarm inspired by Lloyd George’s spolitory legislation. Mallaby-Deely, unionist member of the House of Commons, and compara tively unknown, at once emerged from obscurity and became for a time the center of popular and financial inter est; and his modesty of speech and retiring disposition manifested in pub lic statements when interviewed by English reporters were such as tc heighten the importance of the gigan tic real estate deal in the eyes of thi L world. The announcement of the sale hat Bhoen made at the psychologica jj^Loment. Promoters became intensely ii^Lterested, and a syndicate with hug< ||Hj)ds at its command was formed t< HBquire the property, which has ir it is understood, disposed of i large proportion to another comLfna | tion at a considerable profit. A1 ti though much curiosity had been ex pressed as to the terms of the origina trade, strict secrecy concerning thi • particulars of the transaction wa; maintained, and it was only recentl; : that Mallaby-Deely’s true position ii the deal became clear to the public. It ia now learned that the unionis \ M. P. had not a cent invested in the | Covent Garden property, and that he had seized an opportune moment to take advantage of the duke’s fear of confiscation and secure an option. The very magnitude of the proposition, combined with skillful manipulation on the part of the English specula i tors, were sufficient to bring the dar ing enterprise to a successful issue. The speculator then gracefully retired from the deal with an estimated gain of $2,000,000. American financiers can but admit that a London real es tate manipulator has achieved success worthy of the most astute of Wall street wizards. Efforts to Avert War While the war situation in Europe is extremely grave there is yet a possibility that hostilities will be con fined to Austria-Hungary and Servia. England and France are both making earnest efforts to avert a general European war, and what was regarded last night as a hopeful factor was the fact that “conversations” were still going on between Vienna and St. Petersburg. In the meantime mobilization in Germany and Russia proceeds on a large warlike scale and on a smaller scale in France and England. The whole civilized world stands appalled at the prospect of a war between Germany and Russia and their allies. Next to Germany, France is the best prepared nation in Europe for a war on land, and it is generally known that the French people are eager to engage Germany. Prussia’s triumph over France in 1870 still rankles, and it is a dream of every patriotic Frenchman that some day France will win back Alsace and Lor raine; but at the present time, the Paris government is for peace, and in conjunction 'with the British for eign office may at the eleventh hour succeed in inducing Russia to change her belligerent attitude. No one believes that a European war could be of long duration; but if it lasted only five or six weeks it would be five or six weeks too long. There is certainly no reason to justify a conflict between Russia and Ger many. Should they fall back on a peace basis civilization would be saved a staggering blow, but warlike prepar ations have advanced to the stage that whatever is to be done will be determined probably within the next 24 hours. Closing of Exchanges The New York Stock exchange man agement acted wisely in closing on account of the European war situa tion. It was plain to see that security values would be conserved by a tem porary suspension of stock exchange transactions. Members of the gov erning committee, in view of European conditions and especially of conditions in London’s financial district, were quick to decide Thursday night that the exchange be not opened on Fri day. Cotton, grain and other exchanges in the principal cities following the action of the New York Stock ex change closed yesterday, some until Tuesday, and others “until further notice.” By this suspension of ex change activities the trading world will soon gain its equilibrium, and when business is resumed next week or at such time as may be thought advisable the securities market will be normal. The Steam Locomotive In spite of the enormous develop ment of railroads throughout the country, with steam as a motive power, the prediction is confidently made that in the near future elec tricity will supplant steam on Amer ican railroads. George Stephenson's invention, which revolutionized traffic when the steam locomotive was per fected in 1814, is now in what is per haps the last stage of its develop ment. The steam locomotive has played a tremendous part in the his tory of civilization and the growth of commerce. The quaint locomotive of Stephenson and the huge locomotives of today 'present a great contrast. The period has been one of advance ment and constant improvement, but we are now in an electrical age and the electrification of the country’s railroads is only a matter of time. Progress has been made, although it has not been rapid enough to jus tify the prediction made some years ago by Chauncey M. Ilepew, who said that in a decade the steam locomo tive would only be found in museums. Some very serious obstacles have been encountered, but the problem! that confront railroad management will be solved. The greatest obstacle is doubtless the expense railroads will be put to in changing from stearr , power to electric power. The ad , vantages of electricity over steam have already been demonstrated in a very convincing manner, and before 100 years have passed away it is safe to predict that the steam locomotive will have beer relegated to the museums. 1 When that day comes to pass mucl . of the discomfort and doubtless s . great deal of the danger that attachei to railroad travel today will be doni away with. There will be cleanli 1 ness that is now so conspicuously lacking. The ubiquitous cinder will bi . a thing of the past. A big increase in the exports of auto mobiles and automobile parts is shown by statistics for the 11 months ending. May 31 of this year. For this period ex ports were $8,829,000 in excess of exports two years ago and $1,326,000 greater than tin se for the corresponding period a year ago. Government figures recently Issued slmw that 3256 cars were exported in May worth $2,984,625; 662 automobile engines valued at $250,066, tires to the value of $368,756 and other parts and accessories worth $600,000, making in all a total of $4,209,476 for the month. During the 11 months of the fiscal year this country ex ported 27,018 cars valued at $24,583*435, as compared with 23,132 cars valued at $23, 821,782, In the 11 months of the previous year. The imports of automobiles has fallen off more than $1,000,000 for the 11 months period, but the imports of parts has nearly trebled, indicating that many cars are now being imported in a "knocked down” condition and are listed as parts. Hurrah for Mr. Warburg. He has re sponded- to President Wilson's earnest Request to reconsider and appear before the Senate committee. His confirmation as a member of the federal reserve board gees without saying. After keeping a marriage license 24 years, a West Virginia man has returned it to the courthouse where it was issued. He was correct in assuming that it was a waste of time to wait on his charmer any longer. Holland will not take a hand in the trouble between Austria and Servia. She will continue to make cheese and mind her own business. —.---— While autumn is unquestionably near at hand, the “witching waves” continue to do a good business at Coney. Crown him! A Maryland correspondent has discovered a chicken that was hatched l>y the sun. Frank James is now a berry picker out west. Bandits seldom retire with a com petence. With nothing to howl about the calamity howlers of Kansas are in the dickens of a fix. At last there is something started that Uncle Sam won't feel called on to stop. Texas went “wet” by what the topers consider a "comfortable majority.” And The Hague continues to be a fine place in which to take a nap. The inside page for Mexico henceforth and three lines for Huerta. There seems to he a disposition to bloody the beautiful Danube. The Caillaux trial is ended. Now for the duels. Sour notes are detected In the European concert Again tlie dove of peace is on the wing. THB WILSON PERSON A LIT V Edward G. Dowry, in Colliers. The President achieves and holds his preeminence not by being domineering or dictatorial. Quite tlie contrary. In his manner lie is one of the most deferential men that have ever been in the White House, lie is even meek, but his. weak ness is that of one of those of whom it has been said that they shall inherit the earth. He does not lose anything by it. Many of those who have sat under it declare that no despotism is harsher, no tyranny so rigid as that exercised by a college or university president over his faculty. It would seem sometimes that Mr. Wilson had projected his experiences as a member of college faculties and as a university president Into his present re lationships with his cabinet officers. So far as is know n, nobody in bis cabinet has found occasion to stand up against him or to combat him without making ultimate surrender. It Is because of these things, and be cause we cannot find any kinship through the common human failings, that there lias come into being the Washington con ception of Mr. Wilson as a thinking ma chine and not as a warm blooded human being with faults and follies. He is al ways so everlastingly right. So far as anyone knows he never loses his tem per. If he does he goes off and loses It privately, finds it again and then comes back, and everything is “all hunky dory.” The only ostentatious thing about Mr. Wilson is his modesty. It is as conspicu ous as a red necktie with evening clothes. A “SILVER LABOR** FARM From the New York Sun. James G. Craig, who has been traveling engineer for the Panama canal and the government owned Panama railroad for 10 years, sailed for Colon by the United Fruit steamship Zacapa, wondering what the railroad was going to do with $3,000,000 worth of old locomotives after the open ing of the canal. He said that doubt less some of them might be used on the government controlled railroad in Alaska, but most of them would be elephants on tHe government’s hands. Mr. Craig said the most interesting relic of the building of the canal was the farm for unskilled workmen, called "silver la bor." in contradistinction to "gold” or skilled labor, at the isthmus. There are now ino men on this tropical farm who earn their own living and can feed as high as the most luxurious diners in Man hattan. Nearly all the farmers were crip pled. Some had lost an arm and some a leg and others w-ere incapacitated for hard work. The farm grows bananas, oranges, co coanuts and other tropical products and has a lot of cows, chickens, ducks and pigs. It is run under the direction of Lieut. Col. Charles F. Mason, who suc ceeded General Gorgas as head of the health department of the canal zone. Mr. Craig said the farmers would make n life job of it under the care of Uncle Sam. LI KE M'LI KK SAYS From the Cincinnati Enquirer. Almost every man knows the pret tiest girl in the world. And she is al ways a different girl. Tell a man that he is level-headed and he will want to buy you a drink. Tell him that he Is flat-headed and he will want to knock your block off. The lad who brags that he is getting paid for what he does and not for w'hat he knows never gets more than $10 per week. A photographer can make a strange woman look pleasant and keep her mouth closed. But lie can't make his wife do it. The world is growing better. But a dog fight will collect the same old crowd it used to attract before wrc had radium and wireless telegraphy. The man who brags that he has strong will power because ho doesn’t 1 believe in going to church is usually the same lad who hasn’t enough will , power* to qultj' smoking. Borne of th/ summer gowns disclose ! | almost evermhing but a woman's inten IN HOTEL LOBBIES \ Philadelphia Visitor Andrew Jackson Reilly of Philadelphia is the guest of his son, A. J. Reilly, Jr., and as he made many friends on a former visit he is busy now in keeping up with his Birmingham circle of ac quaintances. Mr. Reilly is clerk of the court of common pleas No. 2 in Philadel phia and has held that office 47 years. Ills father before him filled the same position 26 years. Mr. Reilly is upwards of SO years of age. but he might easily pass for GO. "Notwithstanding the fact that I have passed the fourscore mile post 1 con tinue to enjoy life," said Mr. Reilly. "I feel young and take as much Interest in my work and find as much pleasure in sight seeing as I did in the years gone by." More About Green Diamonds "The green diamond mentioned in The Age-Uerald as found in Alabama is valu able because of its color," said a former diamond merchant. Quite a number of those stones have been found in Arkansas and the value ranges from $o00 to $Gno per carat, as compared to say, $300 for a first-class, pure white stone. Now, so far the finding of a number of these green stones lias not affected the value. It would probably take some 30,000 or more carats to do that, to an appreciable degree. "I understand that still another of these rare gems has been found near Cook Springs very recently. If one should pick j up a green diamond of any size he would find a fortune, you may be sure.” Mualc and Nature "Those who go to Fairfield Sunday aft ernoon will certainly enjoy It.” said a lover of music, children and nature, j "Memoirs band of 30 pieces will play again in the civic center; there will be the lure of the wading pool for the ‘kids,’ and balmy air and beautiful scenery for the grown-ups. There was no difficulty as to transportation last Sunday and ther$ will he none the coming Sunday. I understand that both the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company and the Tidewater have made special prepara tions for the occasion. A large crowd is anticipated." Mercantile Activities In New York ‘ I found that the average business man in the east has discounted the pessimistic knocker, the tariff, currency and trust legislation at Washington, and is making preparation to take care of a big busi ness this fall," said John T. Yeatman, who returned yesterday morning from a buying trip to New York. Naturally enough certain large inter ests in the east oppose the democratic administration, and seem to think they can most effectively oppose it by preach ing hard times. The average business man, I found, however, is carrying on a very active trade. Buying by merchants all over the country is unusually Heavy, I was told, and this fact is a mighty good sign of active business this fail. I bought heavily and feel confident that Birmingham merchants are going to have a banner trade the coming season." Shelby County's Splendid Ronds "Shelby county will, within the present1 year, have completed about 70 miles of tile ! very best roads in the state," said A. T. Newell of Newell Bros., who has just re turned from an inspection of some of the work. "On the state highway, from the Jef ferson county line at the Cahaba river to the Chilton county line, there remains only some three miles to be completed in Shelby. This will make approximately -5 miles of the line from Birmingham to Montgomery, ami some of I lie finest road in the state. This roadway is 2i> feet wide, with a 12-foot cherted crown. Iron culverts afford drainage, and four steel bridges with concrete approaches make it, all in all, first-class. This road can, wdth proper care, he maintained in good condition for $5*1 per mile per annum for the next five years. "Shelby county is building some 40 miles of east and west road across the county, from the St. Clair line near Vincent, via Harpersville, Wilsonville, Columbiana, Cal era and Montevallo to Wilton on the Bibb county line. We will complete this about December 1. "These roads have cost approximately $3600 per mile, and they run through a fertile agricultural country, by thriving villages and towns, and I believe that the people will be greatly pleased, and that the benefits will stimulate other counties to take up road building on a modern, practical basis. "Chilton county has not yet done any work on the state highway, but the pre liminaries arousing interest in it have been taken, and the splendid roads of Shelby will doubtless hasten the work of building, at least the state highway sec tion in Chilton. And once the people get a practical demonstration or the joy and profit of real good roads, the work goes on until it embraces the whole county.” SPENDING WHEAT CROP MONEY From the Washington Post. "Almost everyone who meets a Kansan in the east wants to know’ w’liat the farm ers are going to do with the $100,000,000 or more that they will receive for their wheat crop this year,” said H. A. Selden of Topeka, at the Raleigh. "They will find plenty of ways to spend it. In the first place, the farmers will pay out more than $25,000,000 in taking up notes at the banks. Most farmers have had to bor row money for harvest expenses, and it is estimated that it will cost $15,000,000 for this item alone. A conservative esti mate will place the amount of other notes due by the farmers at $10,000,000. The farmers have stretched their credit to the limit in most instances. "Then they will have to pay out an other $25,000,000 to square accounts with their local merchants. This money will not remain in the hands of the merchants, but in turn will be paid out to the whole salers, who will transfer it to the man ufacturers, to be paid later to the bunk ers. All this exchange will relieve the situation. "Perhaps another $25,000,000 will be used in lifting mortgages due and undue, for farmers, when they get money, like to pay their obligations. Ten million dollars will be expended in the purchase of auto mobiles. There are probably 40,000 auto mobiles In Kansas. Last year there were not more than 30,000. If the farmers have purchased 10,000 machines in the off year, it is reasonable to expect that-they will buy more wnen they are prosperous. Of the $100,000,000, perhaps $15,000,000 will go Into the banks as a fund for the future.” « THE GAME OF QUOITS From the Columbus (O.) State Journal. There is no game quite so interesting and wholesome as pitching horseshoes. Some call them quoits, or discs, but we prefer horseshoes, for that is so farm like and pastoral that it gives a sort of purity and Innocence to the noble game, it is a nobler game than baseball, football. golf or tennis. It requires strength, nerve, skill, patience and a good eye. and It abounds with crises that make the jubilance exhilarating and exalting, far nobler than the physical effects of a three base hit in baseball. One of these crises is the ringer, and event that creates in finite wonder and applause. We made one at the Grand Army pic nic. The boys gathered down on the field, near a shady slope, while the women clustered about the benches where the Teast was. talking tatting and current jelly. The score was 9 to 9 in a 10-point game. Captain Cope, our adversary, had just planted a shoe close to the peg, and everybody said "that settled it.” Just then HP sent a gleaming horseshoe through the blue air, and it sang a song of triumph as it flew, for it ringed the peg as beau tifully as a bumlile bee perches on a clover blossom. There was a shout of ap plause, which w<* took in with becoming modesty and then wandered over to the ladies to tell them what the shouting was about. Pitching quoits was one of the popular games of primitive mankind. It embodied ail the gentle excitements of true sport, could be played without expense or a 10 acre field, and when it was all over, it left the combatants with serene and con tented minds. WAR ECHOES Ex-Attache in Chicago Tribune: A most important point in the situation is the influence which an international con flagration of this kind in Europe will have upon the United Slates. From an eco nomic point of view it cannot be denied that a titanic struggle of this nature, while a curse to the old world, will be of incalculable economic benefit to this 'country. The suspension of huge exports of grain from Russia, especially from the southern portions of the Czar's do minions, and of Russian oil, would mean a corresponding increase in the demand upon the United States for these two com modities. Capital from almost all the principal na tions in Europe would seek refuge in this country, where foreign gold for the de velopment of American industries would abound. Moreover, the suspension of so many European manufacturing industries through the absorption of labor for mili tary purposes, as w’ell as through cessa tion of credit, would result in a propor tionate growth in the demand upon Amer ican industries, which would thus have the opportunity, not only to benefit tem porarily by the war, but likewise to se cure a lusting hold upon the great mar kets of the world. Chicago Herald: Bouemians who for merly were subjects of Austria climbed to the rafters of Pilsen hall, 3060 West Twenty-sixth street, Tuesday night and tore down a shield upon which was em blazoned the arms of their native land. Meanwhile 3000 men and women stood on their chairs and shouted: "Down with the Austrian eagle!” The mass meet ing of the Bohemians also was attended by Uroatians and Servians. Then they passed resolutions, which were forwarded yesterday to the Austrian embassy at Washington, denouncing the action of the Austrian government in de claring war against Servia, "as the act of a brutal monster impelled solely by greed and desire for conquest." They pledged their money to aid the Servian Red Cross society, established a fund to pay for the transportation of those who would return to fight, and pii-ned red, blue and white ribbons on their coat lapels bearing this inscription: "To Hell With Austria.” George A. Horsey, Curator of Ethnology, Field Museum, in Chicago Record: An orphan mongrel cur having for the first time iu 500 years got enough spunk up to take his tall from between his legs be gins to wag it and feel growing pains. Along comes a great big dog and says: "Put that tail down, and gimme that bone.” We see this sort of thing nearly every day. Once upon a time little old Servia was an empire and very nearly overcame the Byzantine empire, which probably would have changed the whole of European his tory. There might have been no Turkey in Europe. That was in the fourteenth century un der the mighty Dushan. Servia is now a poor, wretched little peasant kingdom—not half as big as Il linois iu size, with less people than the city of New York. Of the Aryan tongues there are three gieat general divisions in Europe—Ro mance, Teutonic, Slavic. We are interest ed only in the latter two. And of the Teutonic German is spoken by 80,000,000, of which 10,000,000 arc in Austria and 2, 000.000 in Hungary. There are 14,000.000 Slavs in Europe. Russia is a veritable hodepodge of tot.gues. but of her Slav population alone we have at least two distinct elements today bitterly opposed to each other, with the possibility, if not the probability, of a third, which will seek recognition. As against Russians proper there are over 10,010,000 Poles, and of the remaining Slavs there are 8.000,000 Ruthenlans, or Little or While Russians as they are sometimes called. Of the general Polish situation I shall speaker later. In Germany there are over 3,000,000 Slavs, chiefly Polish. Of Austria’s 30.000,000 population only about a third is German, the remainder being Slav, of which there are over 6, 000,000 Czechs or Bohemians, 6,00*),000 Poles, 3,500,W0 Ruth m ans and l,250,t)00 Slovenes. Hungary is even more diversified in tongue. The Magyar element (10,000,000) is equaled by the non-Magyar made up roughly of 2,000,000 Germans, 2.000,000 Slo vaks 500,00*). Ruthenes, 3,000,00 Serbo CroatH, all of the Slavic tongue and about 3.000. 000 Roumanians who do not speak Slav at all. but a Romance language. We need not here consider the lin guistic: affinities ot the Balkan states. It is enough to sav that Servia is purely Servian and Slav, Bulgaria Is Bulgar and Slav (though the basis of blood of Bul gurs Is like that of the Magyar, Asiatic). The population off Montenegro, about 600.000, are Slavs of the Servian branch, Roumanians are of mixed origin, but the Roumanian tongue is spoken by 12,000,000 people, of which 5,500,00*) are in Roumania (92 per cent of its total population), the remaining millions are found in the dual monarchy, Ssrvia. Bulgaria and Russia. THE WAY From the Washington Star. Mayor Wallace G. Nye of Minneapolis, whose ordinance establishing "Low Shoe Day” made the country laugh last month, has often made Minneapolis laugh before. At a recent banquet a detective was re lrting his strange adventures to Mayoi Nye. "That typewriter.” said the detective "was f. hummer. She pulled a gun out ol her muff, shot the poor old banker ir the abdomen, and then she says to him •Do you love me now? There, Mr. Mayor what do you think of that?” “Quite right,’" Mayor Nye replied “Quite right. The way to a man’s hear is always through his stomach.” ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES J FATHER EXPLAINS. “Pa, what does 'comme il faut' mean? ' “Well, my boy, if your mother gives a party and after it's all over doesn't flop j down on the bed and cry, it's a sign that her little blow-out was comme il faut." THE USUAL THING. "Hobbs is a fool. For years he has been saving money to buy a home and yes terday he invested it in an automobile.” Hon t be too hard on him. He’s not the first in an to follow a precedent." LIKE OTHER TRAINS. How about the train to Spotswpod?” asked the anxious old lady. I haven t a thing to say against It, madam." answered the affable fetation agent, “except that it’s two hours late." A CHANCE' TO HELP. This life is full of ups and downs That fills us with dismay; For one whom fickle fortune crowns A thousand pass away Unhonored and unsung, without Regard for years of toll They spend amid the rabble rout, • \ In heartache and turmoil. And yet, despite these odds so great, We know this much is so: A man, no matter what his fate, If high, foHsooth, or low, Can make some other mortal glad And shed a ray of cheer. And prove this world is not so bad As often doth appear. A DREADFUL FATE. “How did this poor, unfortunate happen to lose his mind?" asked the visitor at an insane asylum, as she pointed to a man who was crawling about on all-fours anfl peering into the corners of his cell. “Ohfl him?” replied the attendant. “He tried to keep his lawn from getting ragged around the edges." DOESN’T SUSPECT. The chap who thinks the world can’t get ‘ Along without his aid, j Reeks not how little it will fret 1 \N lien in the ground he's laid. A POSER. Don’t you think the average woman would rather be stylish than happy?” I irst tell me how the average woman can be stylish and unhappy.” A CAREFUL DRINKER. "He takes his liquor neat?” “Yes. Neat and sanitary. He uses an individual glass.” - f NOT HE. The jury let niadame go free— She wears a smile again; Poor Chalmette’s dead as dead can be And surely won’t complain. IDLE OPINIONS. Tin* man with an ax to grind can easily get the job done by posing as a reformer. The person who indulges in a groat many honied phrases is the sort who doesn't mind swallowing Ids words. And greatness, also, is a relative mat ter. The small town mogul Is great as \ far as lie can see. Staying on the level is the surest way to rise in this world. The girl with innocent stare can al ways make her parents think it's gen uine. If uplifters would lift up humanity more and their voices less they would do more good. Occasionally it is tlie sporting instinct that prompts a maji to bet. A woman just wants to w*in. When a man has nothing else to stand on lie can always stand on his dignity, and some men do it so well they n$ver have any trouble in borrowing money. P. C. GREAT TRIALS OF HISTORY _\ TRIAL OF MRS. BOTKIN WOMAN against woman. That is the Cordelia Botkin poisoning case in a nutshell. Women were always in evidence. They ranged in ages from 18 to 82. They were young and old. grave and gay, wise and otherwise; plain, pretty, passe, good, bad. indifferent, but in one thing only were they identical, they were all part and parcel of a poison ing case which is without a parallel in the number of petticoats involved. Never before or since has there been such a wealth of gossip, backbiting, hairpulling, tears and angry protestations. Injured innocence wept its heart out at unwel come notoriety and above the confusing chorus the chief sounds discernible were: “You did!” . “X didn’t!” “You did so!” On August 12, 1898. Mrs. Dunning arid her children, together with her sister, Mrs. J-. D. Deane, ate of some candy sent to Mrs. Dunning from California with the following message: “With love to yourself and baby. Mrs. C.” Mrs. Dunning and Mrs. Deane both (iicd, but the children recovered. The candy box bore a San Francisco post mark, and immediately a search was made for the identity of p "Mrs. C.,” upon whom could be fixed the charge of having mailed the candy. Mrs. Corbaley, an intimate friend, was first entangled rn tlie rase to her very natural distress. Later it was found that ‘‘.lack” Dun* ring, the husband of the murdered wom an. was living there with a Mrs. Botkin, who had formerly lived in Dover, Del., where the women resided that had eaten of the candy and since died. A motive for the crime was quickly found in the statement made by Mrs. Botkin after her arrest in .San Francisco | to the effect that she regarded the hus band of the murdered woman as her par ticular “affinity.” Mrs. Botkin was eventually put on trial in California charged with having mur dered Mrs. Dmming and Mrs. Deane of Dover, Del., daughters of former Con gressman Pennington, by sending them poisoned candy. The cause alleged was her infatuation for Mr. Dunning. In September of 1898, the same year the death of Mrs. Dunning occurred. Mrs. Botkin was convicted and senten< ed to imprisonment for life. J-.ater she carried the case to the United States supreme court, which, after four years, granted a new trial on a legal technicality. The new trial began on March 10. 1902, when Mrs. Botkin was more than hopeful as to her acquittal, as some of the most important witnesses had died since the first trial. Tho second trial was nothing imt a long series of contradictions. Two ) of the nurses who had attended the pris oner testified that before the murder Mrs. Botkin had often asked about the effects of arsenic poisoning. Frank Gray, a druggist, testified that lie had sold sunie arsenic to a woman he believed was Mrs. Botkin. The following day Mrs. Botkin took the stand and branded all the testi mony given as false. She denied abso lutely what half a dozen witnesses had sworn to in much detail. She was ex cited, but delivered her many telling points with much dramatic effect. She denied that she ever wrote thq note in the poison candy box.' One of the salesgirls from Haas’ store, where the candy was k alleged to have been bought, testified that the prisoner often bought there. On her part Mrs. Botkin denied pur chasing a handkerchief found in the box of poisoned candy, and said she had J never in her life been in the store of Haas (SL- Son. On April 4 a strong alibi was set up for the defense. The main testimony was that of Sheriff J-achman. Superin tendent Walkington or the dry goods store said there was no record of the sale of the handkerchief, and Mr. Ford, post master of the Ferry Post, cast doubt on the identification of Mrs. Botkins hand writing on the bpx. On April 7 the jury retired and late that night returned with a sentence of guilty of murder in the first degree and fixed the penalty at imprisonment for life. A / second charge was brought against the I prisoner by the husband of Mrs. Deane, ? but upon this charge Mrs. Botkin put up no defense. Throughout the trial in many instances it was charged that the jury was being tampered with, and sev eral of the men said beforehand that they did not want to see a woman hanged. On August 22, 1904, expressing regret that he could not sentence Cordelia Botkin to death, because the jury’s verdict had fixed the punishment. Judge Carrol Cook sentenced her to life imprisonment in the state prison at San Quentin for the murder of Mrs. Dunning. The charge l concerning the murder of Ida He inetta 1 Deane was dismissed on the grounds of J lack of prosecution. ^ So Cordelia Botkin lost everything, in- ^ eluding the man she loved and for whom she committed the murder. Her husband received a divorce, in 1902, and later died from a broken heart upon her conviction, and most of the women who passed under ! the calcium light of the case are dead. TOMORROW—TRIAL OF JOHN OF BARNEVELDT REPLY TO A KNOCKER From the Louisville Courier-Journal. A son-of-a-skunk from Skunk Hollow, high-up and north-side, writes the Cour ier-Journal to say that “if Louisville does not get in line with the rest of the state grass will grow in Main street.” We cannot divine just what it is our corre spondent is driving at; but we hope it is not catching. What line must Louisville toe to be one with Kentucky? Mean while, It must be a low-down cuss or a degenerate and no Kentuckian at all who does not lov* Louisville and her people and take a pride in her enterprise and prosperity, not merely as the metropolis j of a great commonwealth and the gate- i way to the south, but as the most hospita ble and the loveliest of American cities. We have observed that every time a pro hibitionist wants to get drunk ho comes to Louisville. That is why the station houses are sometimes so full. THE SLEUTH AND THE SNAKE From the Indianapolis Star. As Detective Frank Duncan was passing a second-hand furniture slore on East Washington street he saw a four-foot rattlesnake, which had been on exhibi tion in the show window, leave its cage. Duncan aid not even wait to see into which part of tlH store the snake was headed. He went to police headquarters and tleephoned the proprietors of the store. Clarence Baker answered the summons, turned on the lights in the store, and. with the aid of a wire loop, finally cap tured the reptile In a rear room. The detective did not assist in the capture. The snake escaped from its cage through a hole which had been broken in the glass. THE C RITIC AL MOMENT From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. The critical moment was drawing near. I All his Itfe he had dreaded critical mo ments. He drove «his finger nails into his nalms. He clenched hla teeth until they seemed about to crumble. Jle held his eyes staringly open and set his jaw. He meant to defy the inevitable. He meant to show that his courage was there intact and with both feet. » Why did they delay? Why did they prolong the agony? Why-7” Bang! The flashlight had flashed. The vic tim's face was embalmed in a photo graphic grojtp of 50 fraternal associates. And when he found it he discovered his eyes were shut tightly and his face looked as if it had been smashed by a warm poultice. THK WIND’S SONtt Ma/.ie V*. Caruther* in New York Times, in tlie gray of the dawn Whcu the shadows lie deep, A truant, I fled from the cave in the sea Where Aeolus guarded with strong bolt and key— A wary old warder wrhose watch must not sleep, But I murmured a song, so subtle it seemed That his hoary head drooped on hi* breast and he dreamed. Cue momeiu he nodded—1 opened the great door. It creaked! Quick, he waked and fol lowed close after! What heard he? A ripple of shrill elfin laughter. Which echo repeated—again—and once more. Then 1 vanished from sight iri^ the thick shrouding mist— Free. free.evermore, to do as * ** So I whistle and blow till surges wild, And the fisher folk crossing der with dread; Tn varying mood, crooning so child, 1 summon the spring with I ers from the dead. There’s a tear In my voice, a a sigh, tV ' The echo of world** Joy and am