THE AGE-HERALD
E. YV. BAlUtETT.Editor
Entered at the Birmingham, Ala.,
postoflice as second class matter under
act of Congress March J. 1879.
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THE AGE-UERADD,
Birmingham, Ala.
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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