The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], December 17, 1914, Page 4, Image 4

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

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THE AGE-HERALD
E. W. BA HKKTT.Editor
cmtcreu hi cnu «irmmgnam, Ala.,
postoffice us second class matter under
act of Congress March 3, 1879.
Dally a^d Sunday Age-llerald.$8.00
Daily and Sunday, per month....70
Dally and Suxuiay, three months.2.00
Weekly Age-Herald, per annum.50
Sunday Age-Herald .. 2.00
A. J. Eaton. Jr., and O. K. Young are
the only authorized traveling represen
tatives of The Age-lie raid in its cir
culation department.
No communication will be published
without its author’s name. Rejected
manuscript will not be returned unless
stamps are enclosed for that purpose.
Remittances can be made at current
rate of exchange. The Age-llerald will
not be responsible for money sent through
the mails. Address.
THE AGE-HERALD,
Birmingham, Ala.
Washington bureau, 207 Hibbs build
ing.
European bureau, 6 Henrietta street,
Covent Garden, London.
Eastern business office. Rooms 48 to
60, inclusive. Tribune building. New
York city; western business office,
Tribune building, Chicago. The 9. O.
Beckwith Special Agency, agents for
eign advertising.
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connect*** all
departmental Main 4000.
An honeat man, air, la able to apeak
lor himself, when a knave la not.
^ —Henry IV.
BEGINNING THE DAY—Thou art
my winter God. Thou art God for
me all the year around, and in all
time* and plneea. Thou ort my God,
near and dear, when Joy *«ea aklp
ptn* over the hllla. and Thou art my
trlod. warm ami oloae, when heavl
neaa leads me to the *arden. Amen.
H. M. E.
Army and Navy Requirements
High officers of the army and of
the navy iiMfceir annual reports in
variably recommend an increase in ar
mament and an increase in the num
ber of men. This is but natural. An
army commander realizes the fact
that a few thousand men added to the
Tegular establishment would add to
its efficiency, and naval commanders
are apt to thinl* this country shoiild
build up a great navy even more rap
idly than it has been doing.
Ordinarily the House naval commit
tee end the House military commit
tee give little time to hearings when
appropriations are under considera
tion, but at present expert opinion is
invited. Commander Stirling of the
Atlantic fleet’s submarine flotilla, in
answer to questions by the naval com
mittee, said with emphasis that in ad
dition to the navy a “large mobile
army would be required to protect the
canal and keep it open.”
Major General Leonard Wood, for
mer chief of staff, in discussing be
fore the military committee the needs
of the army had in mind a force of
500,000 men which he thought should
be made up largely of short term en
listments and highly trained militia.
He explained and he heartily approved
the college camps which were seen
last year at Gettysburg and Monterey.
General Wood’s views were listened
to With great respect, and some of
them will be carried out ultimately.
In the course of his discussion he
made a good point when he suggested
that business concerns should be
more ready than they have been in
the past to encourage young men in
their employ to enlist in militia or
ganizations for practical training.
While this country should be pre
pared at all times to defend itself
against foreign attack there is no rea
son for any nervous feeling on the
part of the public when experts point
out what they consider our military
unpreparedness. Congress will make
such appropriations for defense from
time to time as will be deemed rea
sonable^ but not for the purposo of
promoting militarism. The lessons
from the European war will be stud
ied, but the time has not come, nor
will it coitie, when the United States
will have to pose as a great military
power.
The Theatrical Situation
The recent failure of one of the
largest theatrical producing firms in
the country has called attention to
what may be called a real crisis in
the theatrical business. For several
years the managers have been voicing
their complaints, hut this year,
through a variety of causes, seems to
mark the climax of what has gone be
fore. If the truth were known, there
arc doubtless many theatrical firms
just now in a shaky condition, and ru
mor says that another manager with
an international reputation is on a
precarious footing.
Naturally, the war in Europe has
hurt the business of theatres to some
extent, but that is not the big factor
in their adversity. The short sighted
policy of the managers themselves in
building too many theatres and in de
bauching the public taste by mere
tricious attractions is blamed no lit
tle for the decrease of patronage in
the so-called “legitimate” houses. Says
one critic: “It might be said that two
thirds of the, trouble with the theatri
cal business is due to the misguided
commercial policy which has ruled it.
It has revealed frenzied manipulation
rather than sane management. With
only the number of theatres that each
community needs and with general
managerial appreciation of the fact
that the theatre is concerned with art
as well as with business, there might
come a vast improvement in condi
tions,”
No doubt this indictment of man
agers is true, but the enormous popu
larity of moving pictures must not be
overlooked in considering the situation.
The “movies,” shown to millions of
people daily for an admission charge
of 5 or 10 cents, have seriously hurt
the larger theatres. No other evi
dence of this would be needed than
the fact that managers and players
alike, who were at first inclined to
look down on moving pictures, have
entered the business in competition
with moving picture manufacturers
and moving picture actors.
The Board of Revenue
The public is always prone to criti
cize public officials, and discharged
employes are almost universally
given to this.
The charges made against the
county board of revenue by a dis
charged employe were of the gravest
nature, and there was much gossip in
Birmingham pending the reply of the
members of the county board of rev
enue. Their statement, as published
in yesterday’s Age-Herald, however,
explained the matter and apparently
places the board of revenue in a proper
| light.
As a matter of fact, the present
board of revenue has do^p more for
the building of good roads in Jeffer
son county than any board of revenue
in the history of the county. They
may have suffered some impositions in
minor contracts, as all business men
suffer, but they are doing a magnifi
cent work in road building and, while
it is the duty of the public to keep
watch on public expenditures, this
board of revenue for their general
good work deserve commendation.
It would be w'ell for them to closely
watch and guard their various con
tracts but it is to be hoped that petty
charges against them by disappointed
ones and aspiring politicians will not
interfere with the splendid work they
have been doing in the upbuilding of
the road system of Jefferson county.
Iron and Steel Activity
The iron market continues active,
but the volume of business has not
been so large during the last few days.
This was to be expected after the
enormous .tonnage that had been con
tracted for recently.
The most encouraging feature of the
week is the increased demand for fin
ished steel products. The United
States Steel corporation’s order books
show a very decided gain.
The outlook for January business is
bright and high record prosperity is
close at hand. At least, the signs all
point that way.
The Kaid on England
The experimental raid of German
cruisers on the east coast of England
was more successful than even the
Teutons had hoped. Naval experts
agree that the raid accomplished little
of permanent value, but that the moral
effect on England will be of incal
culable benefit.
The raid is a blessing in disguise
for the British. It will serve to
awaken them to the fact that they
are engaged in a fight to the death
and that the war is a matter vitally
affecting every man in the United
Kingdom. The dash on the east coast
will stimulate recruiting more than
the appeals of Lord Kitchener and all
the members of the cabinet could do,
for it will bring the realization of the
war home to the people as nothing
has yet done.
The raid was the acme^of seaman
ship and for daring and skill will be
surpassed by few operations during
the war. The difficulties the Ger
mans surmounted were enormous. To
begin with the warships were forced
to run the blockade of British ships
in the North sea and then traverse
an area that had been thoroughly
mined. In addition to this, to have
escaped from the home fleet and dis
appeared practically unscathed is a
feat unparalleled in naval history.
As to the meaning of the raid
strategists do not agree. Some be
lieve that it is a forerunner of the
predicted, attack on Great Britain it
self, while others think it only a feint
to draw the fleet away from the point
where the serious demonstration will
be made. *
The belief of the English that they
are invulnerable to attack from the
sea has been rudely shattered and it
is probable that before many day*
have passed this belief will receive
further shocks.
Professor Taft has doubtless found the
years since he left the White House so
mi'clr more pleasant than the time he
spent there that he hue no desire to re
turn.
According to a dispatch from the war
zone. Przasnysz has been made a new
base. It’s almost impossible to pronounce
a name like that without sneezing.
A general offensive movement lias beer
started by the allies, who seem determined
to inajte themselves as offensive as possi
ble.
Director Holme* of the United State*
bureau of mine* announces that his chem
ists have discovered a new and cheaper
method of extracting radium from Its
ore. Heretofore the price of radium has
been lU’O.OOft a gram, with the supply
hardly equal to the demand. The new
method of extraction will, It is predicted,
reduce the price to MO,000 a gram. The
j reduction will be considerable, but rr.dlum
I will still remain among the highest-priced
commodities in the world. It will soon
be within the reach, not of everybody,
but of many institutions that cannot af
ford it now, Kadlum ha* been found of
such greal value in treating certain dis
eases, particularly akin diseases, that any
reduction of price Is a blessing to hu
manity. Nothing yet accomplished by the
bureau of mines is of more Importance
than this discovery.
William Watson seems quite peevish be
cause the United States doesn't come to
the aid of Great Britain. Vf nothing but
that will quiet his nerves, we fear that
William Is in for a nervous breakdown.
Except for the fact that a number of
more or less prominent citizens are ex
ecuted every day in Mexico City, the sit
uation might be described as quite en
couraging.
The German cruiser Dresden Is reported
to have left Punta Arenas Sunday and
the British cruiser Bristol is reported to
have arrived there Monday. That’s close
trailing.
Henceforth real coffee will be served to
the Inmates of Sing Sing. Reformers
Hhouid not overlook tile fact that real
coffee calls insistently for Imported
cheese.
The Cormorant will And that being In
terned is much more comfortable in the
long run than being sunk by British ships.
An Alabama Boy Scout who saved his
little brother from being burned to death
Is evidently in line for promotion.
The Panama canal hasn't been opened
long, but it Is already presenting some
ticklish problems in diplomacy.
Instead of spending Christmas In Paris,
the unlucky Kaiser may even be compelled
to spend it in bed.
Mr. Edison says he's not growling. Why
should he growl? The Are didn't affect his
patents any.
Warsaw seems to be an optimistic town.
War hasn't dampened the holiday spirit
there
Coloned Goethals believes that a "big
stick" in the canal zone is the right or
I der.
THE AWAKENING
From the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Do you remember when you were told
the. first time that there wasn't any San
ta Claus? Of course you couldn’t believe
it—not at tlrst. Yet It staggered you.
It was the boys at school, some of the
blggor boys, who told you. Those big
boys at school were terrible Idol wreck
ers.
When you stood up for your old friend
they sneered at you, and called you
"sissy” and went away laughing—wliloh
hurt worse than the sneering and the
bad, name.
You didn't tell your mother what you
had heard. She was In the plot. She was
part of the deception. You would un
mask her later. For the present, you
would watch and wait—principally watch.
When the coast was clear you hunted—
hunted high and low—for those presents
that Santa Claus didn't bring. You found
one closet that was locked. Here was
corroborative evidence of the most con.
demnatory sort. Behind that locked door
was hitter proof of years of studied (In
ception.
You didn't give up Santa wlthouf a
mental struggle. No, no. You hoped
against hope. You clung to straws. And
you were too much of a man to poison
your younger brother’s faith. Let him
go on being happy In Ills silly delusion.
His awakening would come soon enough.
You were a little hitter, you remember.
On Christmas eve you went to bed as
usual. You were very calm. There was
nothing to stir your blood any more—no
tinkling bells, no pattering hoofs, no
scratching among the aahes in the big
fireplace. Wliat a precious little silly you
had been.
It is true that the Christian joys, and
the gifts and the tree, and the lights
and the love, shattered your phllosojlhl
eal calm—but something had gone out of
your young life, something that could
never return.
LIKE M'LiKE SAYS
B’rom the Cincinnati Enquirer.
The quickest wa> to go broke is to try
to get rich quick.
What has become of the old-fashioned
man who used to play "cats” and do
"dogs” In poker?
The III Cost of Living was only a pup
In the days when a household was awak
ened every morning by the music of a
coffee grinder.
Every woman dresses to please, othei
men and to displease other women.
A man can have a face like a cubist
puzzle and yet the woman he is good tc
will think he is handsome.
Marriage may be a lottery to the girll
under 25. But to the older girls It is s
grab bag.
The trouble with the man who Is al
ways talking about his own achievements
Is (hat he Isn’t talking about ours.
Y’ou never realize how dangerous i
thing a little learning is until you heal
some girls trying to play the piano.
, Another pretty Bafe bet Is that yot
will not get Into much trouble If you lei
the other man do all the talking.
What has become of the old-fashlonec
umbrella that used to have a tag on th<
1 Inside with the Inscription: "Stoles
From John Jones?”
A grouch Is a man who can cat heartll]
when a pretty girl Is watching him.
Daughter gets the backache If she lsai
to peel a few potatoes for mother. Bu
she can dance the chicken flip for flv<
hours and holler for more.
Some women nag and some womet
weep when they want anything fion
their husbands. And one method Is ai
disgusting as the other.
A barrel of potatoes will do a poor fam
Uy more good than 10 barrels of sersuom
on charity.
You may think that molasses In wlntei
Is slow. But just watch a woman In i
street car making room for another
woman.
The man who acts as though It was :
felony to treat ills ,own wife with com
mon politeness when they are on tin
street 1b the saipne lad who will fall al
over himself arid run a mile to get t
' smile from a strange woman.
i • \v *1 -• !
' ' • ■■ . I -> •
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
After an Absence of Three Years
*‘I am glad to be in Birmingham once
more,” said C. D. Wayne of Atlanta, for
mer assistant general passenger agent of
the Seaboard Air Line, but now superin
tendent of traffic of the Southeastern
Passenger association.
“I used to come to Birmingham fre
quently, but it had been three years since
my last visit until I came this week to
attend the passenger meeting. Birming
ham has made wonderful strides In these
three years. I always thought that tnls
was going to be a great city, and now
there is no question about It. The fact
is that it is already fn the big cdty class.
It has not only the population, but it is
handsomely built and has practically
everything that goes to make up a great
city.”
Duty of a Railroad
“It. is manifestly the duty of a railroad
company, when a wreck obstructs its
tracks, to notify passengers that the train
they are about to take will be delayed by
such wreck,” said a citizen who Is a
patron of all the lines in this part of the
country.
“A lady writing from Atlanta, gave her
experience in traveling from Birmingham
over the Seaboard Monday. There was
a Wreck near Borden Springs which
caused her train to be delayed many
hours. Had she been Informed at the Ter
minal station of the wreck situation she
would have taken a train over
the Southern. At any rate, railroads
should give their patrons as 1^1 infor
mation as possible.”
Good Bond Market
"There is now a good demand for bonds,
especially county issues,” said J. M. Le
vine, bond salesman for Steiner Bros.
"There was a fairly active ^aarket w hen
the European war started. After that
there was almost nothing doing until re
cently. Now money is easy and plenti
ful for investment in high-class securi
ties.”
Death of DlatJiiffulmhed Southerner
"L>r. Charles Trueheart, who died in
Texas this week, was for many years
health officer for the state of Texas and
of the city of Galveston,” said one who
knew him. ‘‘He was a Confederate soldier
and was at Appomatox at the surrender.
He was born in Louisa county, Virginia,
and was a nephew of John B. Minor of
the University of Virginia. He was a
surgeon in the German army and wrent
all through the Franco-Prussian war.
“Dr. Trueheart was probably the first
doctor to bring to America the thermome
ter to be used in case of illness. He was
probably the first doctor in America who
reduced fever by cold baths. Pie wrote
the first article that ever appeared in
print hinting that there was some con
nection between yellow' fever and the
mosquito.
“He was the father of Mrs. George
P. Bondurant and Mrs. W. W. Clayton
of Birmingham.”
Alabama'* Amateur Field Trial*
"The Alabama Amateur Field Trials
club is growing in membership and en
thusiasm," said Secretary Jack Biddle,
"and we hope to put on the best exhibi
tion of shooting dogs the last week in
January since the days when such an
organization here In Alabama stood top
notch.' We have adopted practically the
rules of the old organization. Only own
ers may participate, and winners at pro
‘i'csslonal field trials' are barred.
"There are twro places under considera
tion, ldutaw und Oneonta. Oneonta seems
to have the call. The mayor came here
to invite our club, and assurances are
given of good territory and plenty of
birds; (also that the care of both dogs
and men will be well provided for.
"The club meets Thursday night (to
night) to complete arrangements for the
trials. Tt is probable that plans will bo
laid for a game supper the first night I
out.” .
Protest Against Adulteration*
"I desire to register a kick all down
the line,” said the head of a household,
"against, adulteration of sweets and
delicacies, and some necessities.
"Has anybody else noticed that a bit
of salt has been sneaked into ills sugar?
Well, I have, not only once, but two
or three times. I caled the attentldn
of tho proprietor of a quick
lunch counter to the salt. He
thought 'twas carelessness of someone
about the place. I have purchased pack
ages of sugar at one or more places, and
have detected just a trace of salt. Sugar
is about 7 cents—was 1C cents—salt is
less than 1 cent, at wholesale, and there
you see the trick.
"I purchased one pound of so-called
‘home-made candy.’ At home, we found
it so adulterated with starch or some
other substance as to be distasteful.
"Sunday night I bought a smail pack
age of ice cream—a good thing for some
forms of indigestion. It was overloaded
with spermicetti or other Impalatable sub
stances.
“Wednesday morning 1 found by bottle
of milk frozen sn the top, and with joyous
anticipation poured from It onto a dish
of Ice-cold oatmeal. The lump of sup
posed frozen cream was charged with
Icicles! I picked up The Age-Herald and
found that my dairyman was away down
the list."
Optimist ob Cotton situation
W. W. Morrison of New Orleans, who
represents a large cotton brokerage con
cern of that city, spent yesterday in Bir
mingham.
VI -am an optimist on the cotton situa
tion.” said Mr. Morrison. "I have been
traveling through the cotton belt for the
purpose of learning about conditions at
first hand, and my observation has en
couraged me greatly. I have found many
cotton farmers in good circumstances—
able 'to hold their crop indefinitely. The
consensus of conservative opinion was
that the acreage reduction next spring
would be from 3d to 40 per cent. The
cotton farmers are certainly giving more
attention to grain crops now than hereto
fore. i
"it seems that the spinners a! a rule are
disposed to hold off when the price of cot
ton is above 7t4 cents, and that the farm
ers are disposed to quit selling when
the price is below 7 cents. Between these
figures the volume of business is fair, and
is fairly well sustained. Cotton mer
chants everywhere report that tho export
business is on an expanding basis. 1
think we have likely seen the lowest price,
1 and altogether the future steadily bright
ens.”
KILLS MM LIONS IN SEVEN YEARS
From tile t>an Francisco Chronicle.
Sacramento, Cal.—Two thousand and
ninety-nine mountain lions have been
killed in California since 1307, according
, to a statement by the state fish and
game c; nimlsslon. Of this number 119
■ have hebn killed In the state for the six
. months elided June 30. The state pay*
u bouniy of $30 for each lion killed. The
total cost of killing lion* has been $41,830,
Humboldt .► the banner county for this
year, ami foi every year. In tile «ix
i months ending with June Mendoslno.
I Trinity and SiiklyoU are next In ordji
i named. Lor Angeles county claimed
bounty on 16 Hons Ih seven years.
Ijondon Cable to the New York Times:
Writing In the Observer on the failure of
the German fleets to aid in creating a
v.orld empire and on the German colonial
losses, J. L. Garvin saj's:
“There is already a heavy and bitter
price to pay in territorial loss alone for
the violation and seizure of little Belgium.
Nor is it within any human probability
that Germany will again possess one foot
of ground overseas until she has first
evacuated every foot of what she holds
in Belgium and North France and beyond
that has made final forfeits.
“That is why the main German fleet
may resolve at any moment on a desper
ate contest of the main Issue. It Is in
a dilemma, exposed to peril In any event,
divided between the huge risks of act
ing too soon and the equal but more dis
couraging risks of waiting too long. The
destruction o the Scharnhorst and
Gr.elsenau, with all the recent activity
and force of tire British na\'al policy on
the coast of Flanders, may help hasten
a decision in a more prompt and daring
sense. Otherwise the relative energy and
resources of the British nary, keyed up
by the Fisher spirit, are more likely to
keep on increasing.”
Cincinnati Times-Star: A pen picture of
Sir John French describes how the Brit
ish general smokes cigarettes throughout
his busy day. Accounts and pictures of
Tommy Atkins represent him with a ci
garette between his teeth instead of the
traditional pipe. A Red Cross society
| has shipped 10,000,000 cigarettes to the al
j lied troops as “a measure of relief.” Ger
man soldiers have been depicted with the
inevitable cigarette even while executing
the gymnastic goosestep. Robert Dunn,
war correspondent of the New York Even
ing Post, tells of an interesting incident
within the Austrian lines whej\ Russian
prisoners were willing to trade their but
tons for the coveted cigarette.
The cigarette, long symbol of the molly
coddle, is now part of the kit of the
soldier, manliest of men. Instead of an
accompaniment of the swagger stick It
has become the comrade of the sword.
Thero is an expansion. The cigarette is
not smoked for the aroma and the dream
Qk>ud. of rising incense which are much
of the charm of pipe or cigar. There is
nothing meditative about it. <It appeals
direct to the nerves and without ado re
lieves the tension of the smoker. The
devotee of the cigarette is as a whisky
drinker who does not bother about the
bouquet. He desire^the effect and noth
ing else. And it Is the neurotic effect
4hat the fighter craves in his bloody work.
The old argument as to the relative mer
its of pipe, cigar and cigarette will never
be settled. But it is undeniable that the
cigarette has the preference during these
parlous times abroad. In our own coun
try the number of cigarette smokers has
greatly increased. In that particular, at
least, we are in a state of preparedness
for war.
ALABAMA SANCTUMS
Gadsden Journal: Northern France and
Belgium will see a celebration of Christ
mas on a liuge scale, so far as fireworks
are concerned. I
Dothan News: A farmer at Samson sold
a hog and a bale of cotton for exactly the
same prices, and the chances are that
the cost of making the hog was not one
hall that of the bale of cotton.
Anniston Star: Dr. Felix Adler pre
dicts a world-wide war in the future, but
we havo enough to addle our brains over
at present.
Decaturs Dally: Armor plate manufac
turers no doubt are thoroughly convinced
of the "unpreparedness” of the nation for
war, so far as tho naval arm of the ser
vice Is concerned.
Mobile Register: When retrenching, the
next legislature might as well do away
with the office of the state prison Inspec
tor. This work could easily b< done by
the county and city health officers of the
statdl and they could be compelled to
do It, if a law was on the books to that
effect.—Haynevllle Citizen-Examiner. Yes,
we know how a local inspector would en
force the law In the face of the county
commissioners who elect him. The Citi
zen-Examiner should, In self-respect, re
frain from so poor an argument.
SLEEPS ON AMID A BEDLAM
From the Chicago Dally News.
This Is tho story of a sound sleeper.
He lives in Woodlawn and he would
rather sleep than go to entertainments
with his wife. His better half last night
went out with four other persons living
in the same building. It was late when
they returned, and she had forgotten her
key.
"Oh. that's all right, she said. ‘Til ring
the bell and awaken Al.”
So she rang the bell. But Al did not
awaken. Then one of the men went to
his own apartment and called up the
neighbor on the telephone while the o^ier
neighbor went to the back door and put
his finger on the bell push. But the three
bells had no effect.
Thoroughly alarmed, tho wife of the
stay-at-home insisted, after 15 minutes,
that the door he opened. A hatchet, cold
chisel and various other tools were pro
cured and the two amateur housebreakers
proceeded to "Jimmy" the front door.
This feat was accomplished with much
1 noise after 40 minutes of hard work. Then
it wae discovered that the chain bolt
was on. A blow from the hatchet broke
this.
Al was found lying asleep in a room,
1 the door of which was not 10 feet from
1 where all the racket occurred. A vigorous
shaking aroused him.
“Of course the bell didn't waken me.
1 Why didn’t you knock?” he said.
COINS FROM EAR TO EAR
■ From the New York Times.
Count Karolyi. according to the Vos
slsche Zeltung, returning to Ills castle In
, Hungary, met one of his old servants who
1 had just been sent back wounded from
■ the war.
J "My good man, I heard you fought so
valiantly at the front,” said the count. "1
1 would like to give you some reward.
What shall It be?"
TJie old servant replied:
"Well. If you Insist upon It, sir, just
I give me enough kronen coins to react
from one ear to the other.”
"That seems to be a very little re
l ward," replied the count, smiling at the
, odd request.
"It's enough for me, air." answered th«
, servant modestly.
, As the count was beginning to comply
with the strange request he noticed that
i the eervant had only one ear, and re
: marked upon the fact.
; "Yes, sir. I left the other ear on tin
I battlefield at Shabats," answered the
modest man.
ADRIFT WITH TH
A CLEAN HAUL.
"A shrewd rascal skipped town the
other day, after being in society here
for several years."
"I think I understand his method.”
"Yes?”
"He got into society for the purpose
of going through it."
SUFFICIENTLY URGED.
"When I started out in the wor'd all
I had was my father's blessing.” said
the first self-made man.
"Even at that you had more than I
did." said the second self-made man.
"When 1 started out in the world my
father dared me to come back."
IRRESPONSIBLE.
I
“No matter how hard misfortunes |
t-trike some men, they never lose their!
poise.”
“I dare say that's true.’’
“I know a man whose favorite order
used to be, 'Waiter, a bottle of wine.’
Nowadays he puts on just as many airs
when he says, 'Heinie, a bucket of
suds/ ”
APPRECIATION.
A painter wrought with flaming soul
Upon a canvas wide,
A millionaire who had a ”roir'
The finished picture eyed.
Then said he to the artist there.
Who thirsted so for fame,
“I think it would look pretty fair
With the right sort of frame.”
^ SHOULD TARRY.
“The Cllmblys tell me they are going ,
to move Into a better neighborhood."
"That's queer."
"Why so?”
“They haven’t made good yet ill the
neighborhood they're leaving.”
EXTREME DEVOTION.
"Mrs. Gadders is all wrought up over
the plight of the Belgians.”
"Indeed she is! Why, she even neg
lects her poodle to attend meetings of
relief commfttees."
HARD LUCK FOR SANTA.
“We’ll have the bulk of our Christ
mas shopping to do over again," said
Mrs. Twobble, with tears in her eyes.
“What’s happened?” asked Mrs. Gad
son. sympathetically.
"Mr. Twobble was slipping Into the
house with his arms full of toys for the
children, which we intended to bide. He
tripped on a rug in the hall and fell with
a tremendous crash, breaking every
thing he carried but a football."
PITT HER.
Poor Mrs. Dot
Is on the run;
She hasn't got
Her shopping done.
CLOSE.
There is one type^of man who is de
servedly unpopular. He's always prom
ising himself a treat, but expects some
body else to pay for it. PAUL COOK."
THE CATTLE PLAGUE
I Richard Washburn Child, in the Jan
uary Metropolitan.
HE story of the closing of the Union
Stockyards in Chicago for 10 days
from November 16 is not only a
story illustrating the contagious charac
teristic of foot and mouth disease, but
will serve to show the typical methods
used by the federal government and the
infected states for suppression.
The Union yards have an area of 500
acres, 300 miles of railroad track, 13,000
pens and a dally capacity of 75,00*3 cat
tle,* 300,000 hogs, 126,000 sheep and 6000
horses. The average daily receipts of
cattle there are valued at more than'
$1,000,000.
The American and English method of j
suppression—that of slaughter and disin
fection—was put into effect in the many
states to which the disease had sprea^l
from the Chicago center and in the Chi
cago yards, which had been closed.
Nine hundred cattle were slaughtered
at the Union 8tockyards alone. A steam
shovel in transit was halted and dug a i
great grave—wide and deep. The dead!
animals were dumped in, covered with
lime and burned. For the first time in
the half century of the yard’s history the
pens were cleared; not a hoof stood with
in the .500 acres. For 10 days this con
tinued. Under government supervision
the disinfecting began. It cost in labor,
materials and loss of business to the
yards, shippers and consignees, proba
bly over $250,000. The cost of the work
was estimated at over $60,000. The water
sj^stem of the yards was converted into
a conduit system for hyper-chloride of
lime, and $25,000 worth of this disinfec
tant was used in washing out the pens.
Following this bath, cresol was sprayed
over an din the yards, pens, hog and
sheep houses, by pressure from the air
compressor plant. Roofs, floor, ceilings,
were wet down: lime was spread upon
the floors of all passageways. It took
a force of nearly 1800 men nine days to
do the work, and at last, on November
16, the yards were opened for business
again, subject to the order that no live
cattle should be shipped out.
England required nearly 50 years to rid
herself of this plague. Th elast epizootic
form of the hoof and mouth disease on
the continent came from Russia in 1886.
Four years later statistics collected In
the German empire showed that yearly
500,000 head of cattle, more than 250,000 of
sheep and goats, and more than one
sixtli of a million of swine were victims
of the disease. In 1871 th? infection cost
France over $7,000,000; in 1883 England
stood a loss of $5,000,000. The greatest
losses, it must be remembered, are not
in animal mortality, but In loss of weight,
diminished milk supply, aborted preg
nancy and permanent after-effects re
maining when the active disease itself
has gone.
Dr. Cope of the British board of agri
culture, said at the International con
gress of veterinary surgeons at Baden
Baden: “It is true that the foot and
mouth disease rarely assumes a fatal
character, but the fact that nearly all
classes of animals on the farms are sus
ceptible readers the indirect losses much
greater in the case of foot and mouth
disease than in rinderpest or pleuro
pneumonia, which only affect cattle. In
my country, where It existed for at least
50 years, it caused enormous loss
greater than that of all the contagious
diseases of animals combined.”
Dr. Loeffler, an authority, says: "Foot
and mouth disease is spreading more and
more every year, and every year it costs
the German empire enormous sums.
Necessary measures had been taken with
the greatest care; suspected grounds had
been closely quarantined; this measure
had been extended to whole communes
and even to entire districts; disinfection
had been carried out carefully, and. not
withstanding all this, the disease kept
spreading."
For eight years England barred the im
portation. of all cattle from countries
where the disease was known to have a
foothold.
In the United States there are many
times the number of cattle, a much
larger animal investment to protect, than
in the countries on the continent where
the disease has caused such ravages.
The damage done in 15 days between Oc
tober %\ and November 15 • in this coun
try, impossible to estimate accuiately,
amounts to many millions. Both in
France end Germany the average loss
for each Infected animal which recovers
Is set at $20.
“MADE IN AMERICA”
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
‘ Made In America” is not a new slogan
by at least n century and a quarter.
When messengers of Congress were scur
rying off to inform George Washington
that he had been elected President of the
United States and to summon forth John
Adams as the first vice president, “made
in America” was the issue of chief im
portance.
There was then much more of r.n or
ganized campaign than is witnessed today.
In every large town there was a society
to encourage home-made goods. *“
That was when Philadelphia began to
spin Its first cotton. The people felt so
bitterly against England that they re
fused to wear British fabrics. Beaus
drank beer of local brew and were clad
in homespuns, while the belles of town
learned to run a spinning wheel.
A political candidate stood little show of
election unless he appeared In American
made clothee. Even Washington him
self was Inaugurated President clad In
garments every one of which had been
the product of our native land. Admir
ing friends of Vice President Adams could
find no other gift so appropriate as rolls
of home-made cloth.
It was America's first notification to
Europe that In wearing apparel as well
as in government it was able to walk
without the aid of foreign crutch.
WHOLE TRAIN OF PIG IRON
From the Mobile Register.
One of the substantial signs of busi
ness Improvement la mentioned in a tele
gram from Birmingham, under date of
December 11. eaying:
"A double header freight train passing
through Brighton Friday morning over
the Louisville and Nashville railroad, en
tirely loaded with pig. iron, coming from
the furnace plant of the Woodward Iron
company, elicited great enthusiasm. Re
ports are current that company has sold
200,000 tons of pig Iron delivery between
now and the first half of the coming year,
and shipments of the product from Wood
ward wlil be lively right along. It la
announced, though not officially veri
fied, that in two days the company sold
0,000 tons of iron. The shipment today
of nearly SO cars of pig Iron was an Item
that has not been noted for sometime."
We are not Informed further, but pre
sume these are all-rail shipments. v> a
would like to be able to record their
movement via Mobile, Alabama’s seaport
Regardless of the route taken, however,
they are a cause of encouragement foi
Alabama, being the proof of the rapid!)
returning good times In the mineral dis
trict.
DECOY PERISCOPES USED
From The Independent.
Such things exist as decoy periscopes—
short lengths of pipe held upright on a
float and looking exactly like the real
periscope. The submarines sets them
adrift for you to And—sometimes scatters
several of them. V
When one Is sighted you cannot stop to
consider whether the little object dancing
on the sea half a mile or so distant does
or does not mean 250 pounds of high ex
plosive coming straight at you. Maybe you
will see an aeroplane maneuvering over
It In a way that carries conviction that
It does. Yqu don't dare to tak. any
chances, and so you train all the guns
at It.
Then the real submarine slinks up on
the other side of the ship, and with the
swift rush of Its torpedo the latest of
sea tragedies comet to an end
THE ATHABASCA TRAll,
By A. Conan Doyle.
My life Is gilding downwards; It speeds
swifter to the day
When It shoots the last dark canon to the
Plains of Far-Away,
But while Its Btrcam Jp running through
the years that ore to be.
The mighty voice of Canada will ever
call to me.
I shall hear the roar of river, where the
rapids foam anil tear,
I shall smell the virgin upland with Its
balsam-laden air. e"
And shall dream that 1 am riding down
the winding woody vale.
With the packer and the packhorse on
the Athabasca Trail.
I have passed the warden cities at the
-Eastern water gate,
Where the hero and the martyr laid the
corner-stone of state,
The habitant, coureur-des-bols and hardy
voyageur;
Where lives a breed more st—>ng »*
to venture or endure?
I have seen the gorge of
the roaring waters run.
I have crossed the Inland
golden In the aun.
But the last and beat and aw
ride by hill and dale,
With the paeker and packhi
Athabasca Trail,
y
Til dream again of fields of
stretch from sky to sky
And the little prairie hamlets,
cars go roaring by,
Wooden hamlets as I saw t
cltfes atltl to be,
To girdle stately Canada with
sea to' sea;
Mother of a mighty manhood
glamor and of hope,
From the eastward sea-swept
the sunny western slope,
Ever mote my heart Is with
more till life shall fall,
I’U be out with pack and pack
Athabasca Trail. '