THE AGE-HERALD
b. » it titKKi I Billtttr
XiitU tu cat i uc UuUUii*UuU», Ai* .
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THE AGE-HER ADD,
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Then have we a prescription to die
when death Is our physician.
—Othello.
BEGINNING THE HAY—O God,
Thou art good to send me tasks
that are too heavy for me. 1 am
in despair when I fare Thy require
ments. Vet I rejoice with Joy un
Hpeakable that Thoil tru.teth me
with ao much. And I am glad that
thux Thou druweth me to Thtaelt
tor help. Amen.—H. M. E.
American Dreadnaughts
At a time when doubts are being ex
pressed as to the efficiency of the
American army and navy, it is com
forting to read an article on United
States dreadnaughts contributed by
a British naval expert to the Navy,
the official organ of the British navy.
The writer, Maurice Prendergrast,
says that with the completion of the
dreadnaughts California, Idaho and
Mississippi, in 1918, the United States
will have the most powerful squadron
in existence, consisting of seven su
per-dreadnaughts.
“With perhaps the exception of the
Japanese Fuso," writes Mr. Prender
grast, “no dreadnaught among the
fleets in active service can compare
with these new American ships in the
matter of size. They will probably be
the largest afloat for many years
after their completion. During the
past ten years the design of Ameri
can battleships has shown a remarka
ble standard of excellence. It was
clearly recognized in the very first
United States dreadnaughts that plain
broadside fire was of more practical
value than heavy end-on fire at odd
angles. After all navies had tried
various methods of mounting big
guns, the American centre-line plan
had to be adopted. . . . For neatness
of design the United States ships are
a striking contrast to some dread
naughts whose minor details seem to
have been shoveled on just where they
will fit. . . . American designs have
not been reared in the stifling at
mosphere of secrecy; straight and
honest criticism has gone far in the
production of some of the finest war
ships afloat.” ^
Praise like this from a man whose
opinion is worth something should
prove soothing to the alarmists. The
United States, like England, must de
pend chiefly for defense on its fleet,
and recently announced plans of the
government indicate that Uncle Sam
will not let the navy deteriorate.
There will doubtless be an increase
also in the size of the United States
army. People who have been having
bad dreams lately, inspired by a dread
of a European invasion sometime in
the future, should banish their fears
and sleep peacefully, sustained by the
thought that they are not entirely un
protected from possible “Germaniza
tion.”
Examples of Efficiency
A great deal has been done in recent
years to increase efficiency in the
commercial and industrial world and
in the work of education. Efficiency,
indeed, has been the note heard in all
departments of human (endeavor. It
has been harped on until one almost
wearies of the word itself and not
long since one of the leading iron and
steel journals of the country, in de
scribing a great machinery exhibit in
Chicago, substituted the good old fash
ioned word practical for efficiency,
which it suggested might be refresh
ing to its readers.
But whether we become tired of it
or not, efficiency is a comprehensive
word—a word that means much. In
the government service efficiency has
been striven for in all branches, civil
and military, and it is noted with sat
isfaction that the regular army, small
in comparison with military establish
ments in other nations, is highly ef
ficient now. Aside from thorough dis
cipline and skill in marksmanship a
striking proof of efficiency is the ex
cellent sanitary condition found ir
barracks and wherever large bodies oi
troops are massed.
In the Spanish-American war there
Was frightful mortality among both
regulars and volunteers rendezvousec
in tropical and semi-tropical territory
But conditions have been vastly im
proved since then. At Vera Cruz Brig
adier General Funston commanded
6000 United States troops for many
months, and the good health of his
men was generally remarked. When
the troops landed sanitary work came
| first. Throughout the American occu
pation of Vera Cruz there was very
little sickness among the soldiers, and
the death rate was remarkably low.
Too much credit cannot be given the
medical department of the army for
improved sanitary conditions. In oth
er countries much attention is paid to
hygiene and sanitation, but with the
Splendid record made by Dr. W. C.
Gorgas of the regular army when he
undertook the sanitary work of Pan
ama which made the building of the
canal possible, the United States is
now looked to for the latest advance
in the conservation of health. Dr.
Gorgas is now the surgeon general
of the army and his directions carried
out by subordinate medical officer’s,
at Vera Cruz, and by General
Funston commanding, easily ac
counted for the splendid results
from a health point of view. It ;s
hoped that United States troops will
not again have to be sent into Mexico,
but it is consoling to think that should
the occasion arise our soldiers will be
as free from disease as if they were
quartered in the northern section of
this country.______
The War
After all, Antwerp has been of little
strategic value to the Germans and
the Kaiser’s forces have not made the
use of the Belgian city that was ex
pected and predicted.
When Antwerp fell, it was said that
it would make an admirable base for
air raids against London. The city
was taken six weeks ago and no hos
tile air craft has yet hovered over
the largest city in the world. On the
contrary, the tables have been turned
and British aviators have made daring
raids far into the interior of Germany.
The exploit of three flyers in at
tacking the Zeppelin factory at Fred
erickshafen and previously the sheds
at Dusseldorff has not been answered.
The only accomplishment in the way
of bomb throwing yet displayed by the
Germans is above Paris, which has
not suffered to any appreciable extent.
The general situation is slowly but
steadily growing worse for the Ger
mans. Magnificent as the German
army is, as near perfection as is hu
manly possible to make it, it has beer
met at every hand with an impregna
ble wall of flesh and blood through
which it has been unable to cut its
way.
In Flanders the most superhuman
effort to reach the coast was frus
trated. Along the entire battle front
from the sea to the Swiss border the
invaders have been unable to locate a
weak spot. The force of the German
offensive is gradually spending itsell
and when it is sufficiently worn down
the allied commanders will launch
j their own supreme offensive and Ger
| many will begin to know what wai
j really means, as they have made the
north of France know it—as Belgium
knows it.
In the eastern theatre of war the
outlook is even less favorable than ir
France. General Von Hindenburg, re
garded as unbeatable, has met his
match in Grand Duke Nicholas. Wher
the history of the war comes to b<
written it will be found that by far the
more brilliant strategy was displayet
in the east than in the west. Granc
Duke Nicholas is the wizard of the
war.
A survey of his campaigns in East
Prussia, Russian Poland and Galicis
reveals a master mind. But once
have his forces been decisively beater
and that was in the early days
of the war. It was a deliberate sacri
fice and accomplished its purpose ii
drawing from the German forces in
vading France.
Grand Duke Nicholas has adoptee
the method of forcing the Germans t(
fight on ground of his own choosing
a tremendous advantage. In this man
ner were the Austrians crushed. Ane
in this way has he twice defeated th
Germans.
As yet the Russian army has no
seriously undertaken the invasion o
Germany. The forces which so fa
have invaded East Prussia have bee:
little more than reconnoissances ii
force designed to draw the German
from their position by seemingl;
precipitate retreat. Profiting by th
experience of General Rennekampf
whom he threw forward in the earl;
days of the war, Grand Duke Nichola
has chosen to first destroy the Ger
man field army in East Prussia, i
not in a single fight then in a serie
of battles, before beginning the seri
ous advance on Berlin, which, whe:
once under way, will be well nig
irresistible.
Optimism in Board of Trade
The Birmingham Board of Trad<
which, for several years past, has cor
stituted a section of the Chamber c
Commerce while retaining its dis
tinctive character as representativ
of a certain line of mercantile intei
ests, is a distinct center of optimism;
and the board’s president, Robert W.
Ewing, is a very prince of optimists.
In response to requests to discuss
the present status of business Mr.
Ewing delivered a prepared address,
which he styled a “Heart to Heart
Talk,” at the regular monthly meet
ing yesterday. It was an address il
luminated by statistics and animating
by reason of its buoyant spirit. Mr.
Ewing stressed the value of the “Made
in the United States of America”
movement. He called attention to the
fact that magazines and newspapers
in various sections of the country
were advocating the use of all “U. S.
A.” manufactured products.
“Heretofore,” said Mr. Ewing,
“there seems to have been some fetish
about imported goods, and the public
has been willing to pay a premium
for imported foods and wines pro
duced in England and France; for
manufactured products made in Ger
many and Japan; for dresses and
fashions produced in Paris. Now we
are of necessity creating a demand
for and dignifying our slogan, ‘Made
in U. S. A.,’ and we can make it com
mand a premium.”
Mr. Ewing drew a logical conclu
sion that if the slogan, “Made in the
U. S. A.,” was a good thing the same
principle in practice could be brought
closer home by using the terms,
“Made in Alabama” and “Trade in
Birmingham.”
The retail merchants of this city
who are prominent in the Board of
Trade enjoy a reputation for enter
prise and public spirit. They carry
rich and varied stocks and have con
tributed largely to the upbuilding of
Birmingham by making this a great
shopping center. Those who attended
yesterday’s meeting naturally re
sponded with an amen to President
Ewing’s sentiments.
Donation Day at St. Vincent’s
Tomorrow is “Donation Day” at St.
Vincent’s hospital. On every Thanks
giving Day the friends of this ad
mirably conducted institution, and all
generously disposed persons are its
friends, are expected, if their circum
stances will allow, to make contribu
tions either in money or in food or
clothing.
The Sisters of Charity, who conduct
Hie hospital, have issued in pamphlet
form their annual report and appeal.
It is shown that during the year they
do a great deal of charity work and
that the scope of the hospital is all
the while widening.
The appeal will doubtless meet with
a liberal response.
A dispatch from Amsterdam, via Lon
don, saya, "Reports that the German
crown prince has been wounded are un
founded.” That being the case, we pre
sume that reports of his death are exag
gerated.
The Kaiser is too busy Just now to have
any more photographs taken and if It is
true that he has cut off the ends of his
militant mustache it will be sometime be
fore the world will know just how he
looks.
Carranza is said to be displeased at the
way in which Vera Cruz was turned over
to the Mexicans by General Funston. He
should remember that Americans as a
rule have a profound dislike of red tape.
The Turks made a handsome explana
tion and now everybody knows the mod
ern definition of a "friendly shot.” Here
tofore It has been the kind that Is tired
by a poor marksman.
The war In Europe has helped the au
tomobile business of this country, but un
fortunately the south Is not In the auto
mobile business to any great extent.
An optimist says that “prosperity has
hit the United States.” Here's hoping that
prosperity will keep shooting and never
run out of ammunition.
One reason why so many people go
about wearing puzzled looks is because
they have been trying to “get at the
facta” in the war news.
We hope Chicago's flirtless jury won't
turn out like those armored cupolas in
Belgium and France that were thought to
^ be impregnable.
i -
A pessimist says, "The whole world
has gone to pot.” To make matters worse,
the pot in some parts of the world is
^ empty.
j —-•»
Santa Claus is en route to Belgian chil
dren aboard ship. It doesn't matter how
j he travels, just so he gets there.
r Cold weather will freeze the slush along
1 Europe's battle line, but it may also freeze
t the water pipes in the trenches.
1 Kipling is fortunate in having written
? his tribute to "Bobs" at a time when
S his muse was most responsive.
’ You would think that a nitroglycerin
r mixer would draw a salary of at least
* $10,000 a year, but he doesn’t.
f There was a time when people in this
country thought that Carrie Nation was
a trouble-maker.
, Panclio Villa must be given credit for
, one thing. He has never encouraged a
strict censorship.
PETTICOAT# for highlanders
From the London Chronicle.
To the woman's distributing center came
’ a huge parcel of—what? Xt is an every
* day puzzle. But the contents looked like
f little flannel petticoats for small Belgian
refugee girls. An inquiry postcard wai
sent off,, and the answer came that the
9 garments were designed to supplement
w the dreJe of our gallant highlanders.
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Very Substantiil Improvement
“There has been a very substantial Im
provement in general trade during the
last week or 10 days and the industries
In manufacturing centers are indicating
rapidly returning prosperity,” said W.
W. Thorald of Chicago.
“While there are yet many men out
of employment the number is fewer than
it was even a week ago. If any one is
inclined to be skeptical in the matter
of a revival of prosperity let him keep
an eye on Mr. Schwab. The famous steel
maker rarely has anything to say for
publication, but his recent interviews and
other facts that have come out in con
nection with his trip to England should
be sufficient to make everyone see that
an era of good times is now ahead of us.
“The general talk is that before next
spring this country will be well started
on the greatest boom in its history."
Prosperous Southern States
“Louisiana la enjoying great prosperity
now and New Orleans is today one of
the most prosperous cities in this coun
try,” said L. C. Jennings of Atlanta,
an official of the Southern Bell Tele
phone company.
“My business requires me to travel a
great deal, and my range is from the
Potomac to the gulf. For a time New
Orleans was very much depressed on ac
count of free sugar, but sugar is in
such active demand that the Louisiana
product is once more an important fac
tor in the business of the Crescent City.
There is an active trade in rice, too,
and that of course helps New Orleans.
On the whole, New Orleans seems to be
busier now than It has ever been.
“Louisiana is one of the best states
in the south. Another state that is noted
for its prosperity is Florida. All the
Florida to *vns seem to be booming at
the present time. In most of the Ala
bama and Georgia cities business is com
paratively quiet, but great activity is
looked for early in next year.”
Judge Banka Will Remain Here
Judge J. J. Banks, who was for sev
eral years a prominent member of the
Birmingham bar, and for a time an hon
ored member of the judiciary, will resume
professional practice here after an ab
sence of 10 years In the west. Judge
Banks is a native Alabamian and he was
an early comer to Birmingham. He has
never lost, his affection for the people
of this community and it was not sur
prising when he made up his mind to re
turn to Birmingham to live.
“Judge Banks’ many friends will be de
lighted to know that he is going to settle
down here again,” said a^well-known law
yer yesterday. “He went from Birming
ham to Denver and after practicing there
successfully for several years he went to
Los Angeles and became associated with
Delphin M. Delmas, one of the foremost
lawyers et America; was of the firm of
Delmas, Imel & Banks. Judge Banks was
doing w'ell in Los Angeles, but his good
wife longed to return to Alabama and
on that account especially he concluded
to make this his home again. Since com
ing on a visit about, three weeks ago he
has met with such a cordial reception
that he found he could never like any
community as he had liked this.”
The Sunday Concerts
“Much Interest is being shown in the
concert to be given at the Tutwller next
Sunday afternoon by Enrico Aresoni, the
distinguished dramatic tenor of the Chl
cago-Philadelphia Grand Opera company,”
said Oliver Ch&lifoux. “Before coming to
America Aresoni was the principal dra
matic tenor of the Grand Opera at Nice,
where he sang in ‘Otello* and ‘Samson et
Delilah’ with remarkable success. Prior to
his engagement with the Chicago-Phila
delphia Grand Opera company, he was
one of the principal tenors of the Boston
Opera House, his great success being
achieved in ‘Aida’ and ‘Otello.’
“Aresoni has chosen a programme for
his recital in this city which will con
tain several of the great arias from
operas In which he has made his most
emphatic triumphs and also songs of a
lighter character which will furnish an
opportunity to judge his art from another
angle.”
Thrift la Northern Georgia
“I find no evidences of business de
pression in northern Georgia, especially In
towns like Gainesville and Dahlonega,”
said Charles Sumner of Birmingham, who
has an Interest in a gold mine In Lump
kin eounty, of which Dahlonega is the
county seat and business center.
“Dahlonega is 26 miles from Gainesville
and the macadamized road that connects
the two cities is one of the best I have
ever traveled over anywhere. All along
the highway one may see little farms
| highly cultivated. There is not much
cotton raised in Lumpkin county, but all
the other crops are cultivated to perfec
tion. Some of the truckers are mak
ing fortunes on cabbage. Although Dah
lonega is isolated as far as railroads are
concerned, it has a population of about
3000 and is one of the most flourishing
towns in Georgia. It has excellent edu
cational institutions, several fine churches
and a number of manufacturing plants.
“Gold mining In Georgia as in Ala
bama is attracting much more attention
now than in years past. As is generally
known, there are rich gold deposits in
the south, but it is the modern scientific
method of extracting the precious metal
that has made southern gold fields so
commercially attractive at present.”
President Wilson’s Popularity Increases
“President Wilson is making one of
the most popular presidents that we have
ever had,” said James F. Edgefield of
St. Louis.
“He was elected by a united democratic
party after it had been sadly split. He
began his administration with an ex
ceptionally harmonious party back of
him and he made good from the start.
He was highly esteemed by the public
of all parties and now that he has al
most completed his second year in the
executive office he is stronger with the
people than ever. His popularity Will
increase right along, and I believe tnal
he will be re-elected in 1916. I visit many
sections of the country, and everywhere
I go I hear people discussing Mr. Wilson
in terms of praise.”
PROHIBITION ITEMS
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
A fotir-beaded rabbit with green eyes
whipped a hunter and killed two dogs in
West Virginia.
A red, whits and blue coyote walked
into a Kansas drug store and bit the bar
tender on the leg.
A purple snolllgo8ter with long, pink
> hair wandered into a Maine lumber camp
and ate the cook.
A scarlet giraffe, with cerise wings,
chased an Arkansas man and stole a pint
of wood alcohol from him.
Petrograd Correspondent of the London
News: The conference of representatives
of the Balkan states here has demon
strated that they are much more favor
ably inclined toward giving their active
support to the triple entente since the
entrance of Turkey into the war.
Reports have reached Bucharest that
many arrests are made daily at Constan
tinople in consequence of an attempt on
the life of the Sultan. One group which
was arrested belonged to an association
organized by Burhan Eddtne, son of the
deposed Sultan Abdul Hamid. It is sus
pected that the present Multan's heir,
Yussuf Iseddine, participated In the plot.
A dispatch received from a Bulgarian
news agency at Sofia and telegraphed to
London, says the advance of the Austro
Hungarian troops into Servia has greatly
Impressed political and parliamentary
circles in Bulgaria, where the conviction
exists that the defeat of Servia might
profoundly change the situation in the
Balkans.
The Sobranje (Bulgarian Parliament) is
now in session, and its members are much
impressed by the defeat of the Servians at
Valjevo. There is great exasperation in
Bulgaria because of the recent attitude
of the Servian press toward Bulgaria.
Newf York World: The war power of
the British purse was impressively ex
hibited when men stood in line in Lon
don to take up the unprecedented new
loan of $1,760,000,000; when one house sub
scribed $500,000,000, and when the entire
sum was subscribed without waiting for
the “provinces”—which are, however, to
have their allotment. This recital will
be scanned with especial interest in Ber
lin, where a smaller loan at higher in
terest was taken promptly, but at the
expense of savings bank hoards and for
eign mercantile accounts.
Willingly borne as it is, the new war
burden is heavy. Consols once bore in
terest at 2U4 per cent, subject to income
tax. The new bonds, with d’soount and
maturity percentages, yield 4 per cent.
For the last full financial year Great
Britain set aside $4,720,000 for debt inter- j
est and $87,780,000 for principal, a total ca.*- j
rying cost of $122,600,000. To Interest alone j
the new bonds add $66,250,000. Not less
than the same sum must be issued next j
year if the war continues. Probably the1
government would not meet the entire is-1
sue at maturity, but if the sinking fund!
were increased only to $60,000,000 the end of
an 18-months’ war might rind the country
saddled with a debt-carrying charge of
$-65,000,000 a year, almost $30 for every
family.
Neither in Great Britain nor in France
or Germany is it possible to curtail do
mestic public expenditure greatly. There
is but one cost item that can be cut to
lighten taxation. The military budget of
Great Britain before the war was close
to $366,000,000—$1,000,000 a day. Only by
Bharp decrease of war expenditure can
the new burdens of debt rest endurably
upon industry. This is why the war must
be fought to a finish. No belligerent na
tion cares to face its new debt in addi
tion to the ever-mounting present cost of
competitive militarism. Without partial
disarmament, peace will not be peace.
ALABAMA SANCTUMS
Troy Messenger: Troj( has had only
one business failure since the panic be
gan, and that was a whisky house.
Anniston Star: Mexico evidently be
lieves that there's glory enough to go
round and is passing it.
Huntsville Mercury-Banner: The Bir
mingham Age-Herald says now is the
time to build, as materials are cheap and
so much labor out of employment. That
Is what we are doing here in Huntsville—
building. We are not only building new
public and quasi public buildings, but
new residences, and more and better good
roads and building up our farm lands, and
school interests and church extension,
and, best of all, building character.
Scottsboro Age: Why not call the Press
association to meet In Montgomery dur
ing the session of the legislature, and
ask the lawmakers to give us the right
to exchange advertising space with the
railroads for mileage, the same as we
do for bacon or any other commodity?
Gadsden Journal: The United States
Is going In for military dirigibles. This
probably will put some of the peace lov
ing brethren “up In the air."
Montgomery Journal: If we could only
move Belgians into Mexico and move
the Mexicans over Into Belgians, wouldn't
the United States^iave something to be
really thankful for?
WHAT COUNTS
From the Florida Ttmes-Union.
The Birmingham Age-Herald gays:
"Germany was probably not expecting the
Emdon to be put out of business by an
Australian warship any more than she
expected Belgium to check her advance to
Paris. ’ But It’s the size of the battleship
and the guns on it—not the population of
the country it comes from, that counts,
LUKE M'lXKE SAYS
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
If a man has a shabby spot on his coat
he dodges people because he knows they
will notice It. But If a girl knows that
she Is wearing a pair of silk stockings
she can looked the world straight in the
eye and dare it to criticize her clothe*.
There never was any villain In any
book or play who wasn't a Mew-born babe
compared with what Friend Wife thinks
Friend Husband Is when she finds a hair
pin in his vest pocket.
When he is courting her he love* to
kiss her hair and he thinks It Is the
finest thing In the world when a strand
happens to cling to his Ups. And, after
he gets her, if he finds one of her hair*
in the comb he slams the comb on the
floor and want* a divorce.
A woman won't let you abuse her hus
band when she is around. 8hc regard*
that as her special privilege.
It does make a difference. A man could
demonstrate union aults In a show win
dow for a year, and nobody would pauae
to glance at him. But if a girl did the
demonstrating for a minute, traffic would
be blocked for eight hours.
About 40 of the girls who entered
Luke's guessing contest held that Luke
was a woman because he knew so much
about women's clothes. Shux! What li
there to know about women’* cloth** to
day? There was a time In Luke's knowl
edge when a girl wore a dingus and a
whatchacollem and a whaialalt and a
rinkadorua and a red flannel petticoat
trimmed with wool lace and a black
sateen petticoat and a whits cotton petti
coat with rick rack on the bottom and
a—but space i* limited. But nowadays a
girl wear* so little that ah* could carr]
a change of underwear in a vanity box.
If some other woman la wearing a strlni
of pearl*, the othar women know that thi
pearl* came from tha 10-cent store.
The girl* are using *o much paint and
powder that, after a man gets married
and the bride washes her face, the grooir
Is surprised to discover that her map li
covered with freckles.
No, Rollo. When a corn-fed looks dowr
at her feet and gathers up her sklrti
with both hands, she Isn't going wadlni
| In a creek. She Is goln% to board a street
car.
I ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
AA APOSTROPHE.
Farewell, farewell, O turkey bird!
Today tby last complaint is heard.
Tomorrow on the platter seen,
Well stuffed, with garnishments of green,
Thou'lt rest In state, a pleasing sight
And one to whet the appetite
Of those who, with emotions rife.
Observe the lifted carving knife!
TO BE AVOIDED.
“I’ll have nothing to do with that fel
low."
“Why not?"
“He’s pig-headed, Intolerant and ty
rannical.’’
“Anything else?"
I “Yes. He always thinks the Lord is on
his side.’’
BEFORE THE PANIC.
“I suppose you are looking forward to
Thanksgiving.’’ said the cheerful person.
“No," answered the man with a gloomy
; brow, “I'm looking back to it."
“I don’t understand."
“Last year I had a turkey.”
DOING HIS DUTY.
“Look here," said the agitator to the
policeman, “do you realize that you are
interfering with free Bpeech?"
“No, I don’t," answered the policeman,
taking him in tow, “but what I do realise
i« that I’m suppressing unnecessary
noise.”
HAPPY.
He iiugged her tight
Broke two cigars,
But, oh, that night
Her eyes were
• •
ONE EXCEPTION.
“I notice that your friend Bonesby goes
to the musical comedies and sits in the
front row.”
“Yes, Bonsby has all the attributes of a
tired business man except business.”
HARD TO EXPLAIN.
“There's one thing I've never been a*-.e
to understand.'' , ,
“And what is that?"
"The reason why a man who dresses
quietly enough In all other respects often
wears a watch fob that would please the
fancy of a Fiji Islander."
PATERNAL WISDOM.
Pa, what is meant by the saving grace
of humor?"
"It means quite often, my son, that
when a rascal gets caught In some devil
ment he can escape punishment by mak
ing a joke out of it.” .
REFERRED TO THE GERMANS.
To fight some chaps
Would not begin, '
Unless they thought
That they could win *
LIKES AND DISLIKES.
According to a Kansas editor the paw*
paw is "a cluster of seeds surrounded
by a decayed banana,” and the nat-wal in
ference Is that he dislikes the pawpaw.
The "favorite aversion" of some people
is grapefruit, without which breakfast Is
a hollow mockery. Others can’t eat pork
who dote on sausage. It is almost Im
possible to find two people whose Ideas
of good things to eat are identical. We
once knew a man who couldnt abide
chicken, no matter how It was served. As
such cases are rare, particularly In the
south, he became an object of suspicion
at the table. In the course of time thle *
craven wretch was forced to make a pre
tense of eating chicken simply to keep
people from thinking that there was some
thing radically wrong with Ills digestive
apparatus, if not with hts mind.
PAUL COOK.
THE COOK’S BASKET
From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
THE Augusta Chronicle Introduces a
subject which, It asserts, has been
taken up for discussion all over the
country, by quoting a widely known plan
tation song which Is in part:
" ’Taint no use to work so hard;
I got a gal in de white folks yard.'’
A symposium gleaned from newspapers
in various parts of the country, but chief
ly of the south, is presented by the Chron
icle to show that critical opinion Is strong
ly against the cook’s basket as an Insti
tution tolerated by easy-going employers.
The Florida Times-Unlon asserts that If
cooks knew what they were about they
would stop carrying baskets of food from
kitchens and give up providing for hus
bands and sons too Indolent to work as
long as so good a source of supply ex
ists. “Break up the unauthorized ‘toting’
of supplies from the kitchen,” says an
other authority upon southern customs,
"and you will go far toward solving the
problem of tho unemployed. In a week
you will flush enough cotton pickers to
get all of the cotton to the gins before
another rain.”
The cook's basket was more generally
recognized, and more generally carried, in
Kentucky a generation ago than it is now
adays. Prices of commodities have ad
vanced so greatly that only a thriftless
household could look tolerantly upon the
old-fashioned custom of winking at the
cook's removal of quantities of supplies.
But it Is because the pay of domestic
servants has advanced, and because the
relations of employer and employe are
no longer those of servant and master
in the ante-belum, or early post-bellum,
period that stealing Is far less common
than it formerly Was.
African slavery was in some respects
patriarchal. Petty pilfering is a natural
result of the lack of a sense of dignity
upon the part of the servant that Is a
part of servitude, voluntary or involun
tary, where the patriarchal relationship
is recognized and there is no cash pay
SAVES HOUSE FROM FIRE
From Pouular Mechanics.
In case of fire in a stable where
there is a large number of horses, it
Is usually a difficult as well as pre
carious matter to release and drive the
animals from the burning building. In
many Instances they are burned to
death because of the Inability of their
keepers to drag them from their stalls.
In an attempt to overcome this trou
ble a releasing devise which also
frightens an animal from the stable has
been Invented. It consists of a water
pipe which extends along the side of
tho building and baa a noxale connec
tion In each stall. A ring fastened to
the halter drops over the inverted noz
7le and holds the horat fast. When
there is a fire the pipe may be turned
by a lever from a position outside of
the building, bringing the nozzles to
a horizontal position, and sen ling
streams of water Into the faces of the
animals.
The same action allows the rings to
fall from their fastenings, freeing tho
horses. Besides having the effect of
driving the animals Into the gangway,
the sprays of water assist in extin
guishing the fire. __
NEPTUNE NOT SUBDUED
H. H. Windsor, In the December Popular
Mechanics Magazine. ^
The year now drawing to a close was
full of promise of many things which
have been laid aside or hidden beneath
the black cloud of war. Among them
all none was more attractive than the plan
to croaa the Atlantic ocean In an airship.
On both sides of the Atlantia large sums
of money were spent, and many trained
minds were working on the problem. That
the crossing will be made some day there
is little doubt; that ultimately the jour
ney will be acoompllshed with the earns
precision as by our present ocean liners
Is also probable. However, the prediction
made In these pages early la the year that
1914 would not bo the historical year oi
ocean mastery has coma true, and there
are some who will view the first croeelnl
with lees enthusiasm and satisfaction now
than six months ago. Tha air la ao much
vaster than the ocean and corresponding
ly harder to patrol, that our feelini
of security will In no measure be Increase)!
when a Heat of airships can leave th<
other side and hover overhead betweet
two sunsets.
| ment for labor. It is encouraged by the
I non-paying employer’s failure to exact of
Ills acknowledged inferiors the honesty he
expects of his equals. For many years
after the war in Kentucky the survival
of the old-fashioned relationship, especial- \
ly where former slaves were employed
i by their “white folks’’ permitted the serv
I ant a good deal of latitude In the mat
I ter of deciding where his rights stopped
| and his employers’ began. “We must ex
[ pect the negroes to live off of us,” was
a familiar expression which proclaimed
the former slave owner, and sometimes
revealed the fatuous who liked to have
it understood that they were of the slave
holding aristocracy before the war. Now
adays the relationship of employer and
employe is reduced to a business basis.
Speaking generally, employers of domes
tic servants do not tolerate a disappear
ance of supplies which indicates their di
version to another table, and domestic
servants do not expect pilfering to be con
nived at. The change has been wrought
not oi^y by the increase of the cost of
commodities, but also by the increase of
self-respect and independence which re- 1
fleets a half-century of freedom. Nowa
days neither employer nor employe makes
a moral distinction between looting the
pantry and looting the corn crib. There
are, of course, thieves in all walks of
life, and shiftless, thfiftless persons who
permit thieving. But the domestic serv
ant who makes inroads upon family sup
plies to support idlers is nowadays, in
Kentucky, the exception rather than the *
rule, whereas the reverse was true when
some of the customs of slavery still ob
tained.
When the question of wages and waste
are considered it is no more defensible
for a housekeeper to permit a domestic
employe to steal than it would be for the
head of a mercantile establishment to al
low clerks to help themselves from
“stock.” If there is still wide tolerance
of the cook’s basket in the cotton belt
those who continue to tolerate the basket
are as blameworthy as those who con
tinue to carry it.
SOFT FOR CARUSO
Girard In the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
When -George Westlnghouse invented
his air brake, he said to a railroad of
ficial who helped make the original tests;
"I've got something that will work for
me while I sleep.”
Just so with Caruso when he walks
Into a small, unfurnished room and sings
into a hole in the wail. I am Informed
on what I accept as good authority that
royalties on his phonograph records this
year will reach $60,000.
His voice to the tune of $1000 a week
works for him while waking or sleeping.
No other human being has been able to
capitalize his or her voice to such good
purpose.
The phonograph has put the voice upon
a sound commercial plane along with the
hand that points a fine picture or the
brain that conceives a great poem, a
novel or a history. Book royalties go
beyond the grace, and the heirs of
Raphael, had they continued to keep
his paintings, would now have a fine
lncomo.
Blit until a few years ago the human
voice, whether of the statesman, lawyer,
preacher, singer or actor, perished at the
moment of death. For the heirs of the
singer the phonograph goes on earning
money long after he has ceased to sing.
THE LAWLESS HEART
By Berton Braley.
Dull trade hath bound me in its grip.
And never shall I be free.
Yet I dream of the decks of a pirate ship
In the roll of the open sea;
I dream of the pennant dread and black
That flies at the mast alway.
As we swoop along on a merchant's track
In the sting of the flying spray!
Oh, I am a law-abiding chap.
Yet deep In my heart I’d be
A buccaneer with a scarlet cap
And a Terror of the Sea;
As lawless and ruthless a bandit brute
As history ever knew,
Roaming the aeas In search of loot
At the head of an evil crew!
Oh, here at home I am meek and mild,
A man with a family.
Yet I dream of deeds that are dark and
wild
And of red. red Aghts at eea;
And under my breath I softly hum
A stave from a pirate song.
And my throat grows parched for ptrat^
rum,
For I hava been dry so long!
My Ilfs Is ordered and shaped and bound
And kept to Its rule and line, •
But my thoughts can wander the whela
world round
And my dreams—my dreams are mine!
And I hungrily long to be
A pirate chief on a low. black ship
In the roll of the open sea!