The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], February 23, 1915, Page 4, Image 4

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

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THE AGE-HERALD
1C. BARRETT.Editor
Entered at the Birmingham, Ala.,
postoffiee as second class matter under
ttet of Congress March 3, 1879.
ftaiiy and Sunday Age-Herald,... $8.00
^aily and Sunday, per month.... .70
Dally and Sunday, three months.. 2.00
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Sunday Age-Herald.... 2.00
A. J. Eaton, Jr., and O. E. Young are
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sentatives of The Age-Herald in Its cir
culation department.
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Remittances can be made at current
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not be responsible for money sent
through the mails. Address,
THE AGE-HERALD.
Birmingham, Ala.
Washington bureau, 207 liibbs 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 S. C.
Beckwith Special Agency, agents for
eign advertising.
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exenange connecting ull
departments) Main 4000.
That life I* better life, peat fearing
death, (linn (hat which llvea to Mr.
— Measure for .Mensure.
BEGINNING THE DAY—O Lord,
preserve me from trying to do too
much today. Remind me that It la
not how much. I»ut how well, how
sweetly* liow contentedly, thnt avails.
Itcmlnd me that there is another life
in which I shall labor* Give me to
do my work quietly. For .Jesus' sake.
Amen.—II. M. E.
Protecting the Public
There is not as much regulation
of a paternal sort in this country as
there is in Germany, where a pedes
trian may be arrested for carrying
his umbrella the wrong way and thus
endangering the eyes of others, but
a great step toward protecting the
public from unscrupulous advertisers
was taken when the pure food and
drugs act became effective. Scores of
quacks who got millions of dollars an
nually from sick and ailing people
were forced out of business, while
others whose remedies had some
merit, but not half as much as was
claimed for them, had their business
bo curtailed and their power for mis
leading the public by false labels so
badly crippled that they get “slim
pickings” now, compared to the enor
mous profits they used to make.
One of the favorite devices of these
fake advertisers was to use the pic
ture of some person, either a benign
looking old doctor or a clergyman, or
perhaps a motherly looking woman
whose features betrayed no guile, to
lend an air of respectability to their
business. One of the most notorious
of the fake consumptive “cures” ex
ploited all over the country employed
the name and picture of a Catholic
priest and doubtless by that device
thousands of bottles of the stuff were
sold to members of the Catholic
church.
Recently in Philadelphia the United
States government ordered destroyed
more than four thousand bottles of
this “medicine,” which had been seized
in 1912 on the charge that they were
misbranded and misled the public.
The label on each bottle contained a
statement that the contents were a
prompt and efficacious remedy for
consumption.
The mixture was composed princi
pally of cod liver oil, which can be
bought under its right name and with
out any extravagant claims being
made for its curative properties.
Building Activity in the Spring
Many new buildings will be erectec
in and around Birmingham this year
Much activity is promised for the
early spring.
Six months ago local architects re
ported business dull in their line, bul
since the first of the year most ol
them have been working on design:
that will be carried out between now
and summer. Some of them have heel
unusually busy.
The building contractors are now re
ceiving requests for estimates am
other indications point to a great re
viva! of prosperity ,for the buildini
trades.
Now is an exceptionally good tim
to build. A house can be erected dur
ing the next two or three months a
25 per cent less cost than it could b
six months hence, when material wil
be highdV and labor will be scarce.
The music of saw and hammer an
bricklayer’s trowel will soon fill th
air. And it will be music that all Bii
mingham will welcome.
Washington W’idely Remembered
There was a very general observ
ance of Washington’s anniversar
yesterday. The holiday as an institc
tion is the oldest in the American cal
•ndar of patriotic days.
During Washington’s lifetime s
much enthusiasm was aroused ov«
Washington’s splendid achievement
that his friends and admirers bega
to celebrate his birthday even befoi
the Revolutionary war was endei
After Washington had retired froi
•ublic life and become the first ej
f / '
I President the Fourth of July, or In
dependence Day, and Washington’s
birthday were of equal rank, and each
stirred up the same patriotic ardor.
There were many divergent views in
the constitutional convention and no
little wrangling. Had it not been for
Washington’s wisdom, tact and per
sonal influence the republic that was
founded would have been unstable and
probably short lived. Washington’s
compeers included statesmen and men
of exceptional force, but it took a
Washington to harmonize the discord
ant elements.
Up to the breaking out of the Civil
war the 22d of February was cele
brated with great national fervor in
every part of the union. After the war
the day was still kept, although other
anniversaries, more or less sectional,
aroused more general interest. But
the American people appreciate Wash
ington’s greatness as much today as
they ever did, and the revival of the
patriotic spirit incident to the 22d of
February is wholesome and welcome.
The addresses on Washington yes
terday were more thoughtful and con
structive than usual, and the occasion
served to stimulate and brace genuine
Americanism.
iifi 'll i ■ J!i» ,--T' *
New Waterworks Conlract at Last
Yesterday was a red letter day at
the city hall and a red letter day for
the householders of Birmingham, for
a new waterworks contract, after
much irritating delay, was accepted
by the city commission. There might
have been a satisfactory agreement
on the water rates question several
years ago had both parties been ready
to treat with each other in a friendly
spirit and business-like manner, for
when President A. M. Lynn and Com
missioner James Weatherly, who
handled the problem, did get together
an amicable settlement of a long
standing contention was assured. But
since an agreement is reached all
past brickerings boot nothing, and
will quickly be forgot. It is now
“All’s well that ends well.”
Birmingham’s water supply is pure
and abundant. The waterworks com
pany has invested millions of dollars
in its large filtration plant and in ex
tensions. It has given good service.
But the consumer was paying too
much.
Under the contract the water rates
in Birmingham are greatly reduced,
and the average consumer may use
the city water without stint at a cost
low enough to satisfy every reason
able person. There will be no meter
rents except on the large meters in
mercantile houses and industries. An
important clause in the contract is
that the city at any time after April
1, 1915, shall have the right to buy
the entire plant of the waterworks
company subject to appraisement by
a board to be appointed, in the event
that the water company officials and
the city cannot agree on a price.
In the municipal ownership propo
sition the rights of the people are
fully safeguarded, for if the city au
thorities fail on any ground to buy
the plant after accepting the report ol
the appraisal board it is provided
that there may be a referendum anc
the appraisal placed before the people
It is an excellent contract, certainly
excellent in its general provisions. As
Commissioner Weatherly says, “Th<
city has secured peace on terms thal
are not only honorable, but are profit
able and at the same time secures th<
power to purchase on a friendly basis
without prolonged litigation. At las'
it is in the power of the people o'
Birmingham to own their own water
works plant if they so desire.” Thi
other commissioners speak of the con
tract with a tone of gladness. Thej
feel as if a great burden has beet
lifted. President Lynn pays his high
est compliments to the members o
the city commission. “They have go
everything out of the situation then
was to be had,” said he; but he ex
pressed in cordial terms his thank:
for “the fair and courteous treat
ment” his company had received ii
the negotiations of which the settle
ment is the result, and to show hi
faith Mr. Lynn remarked that h
firmly believed “after today we wil
assume a new and different relatioi
I to the Birmingham public.”
Yesterday was, indeed, a red lette
day in Birmingham’s history, and n
matter what else may be said of th
5 city emphasis can be laid on the fac
that it will never want for cheap, pur
t water.
e
I A mysterious method of curing ski
diseases, said to be simple in applies
tion. but defying nil attempts at expit
^ nation, was described and demonstrate
8 at a recent meeting of the Jefferso
- Clinical society. Philadelphia. The tecl
nleal description of the treatment t
given by a physician is as follows: "
certain quantity of blood Is taken fro
- the patient and the corpuscles separati
f from the liquid by extremely rapid rot:
tion ill a centrifuge. This blood Bern
then Is injected into the patient. Th:
Is all there Is to it; nothing is added
the serum, it is not even sterilized. V
0
simply take blood from the patient's o
r
arm, take the serum from that blood ai
8 reinject it into tile other arm. Tile l
n suits are wonderful in the few cases
e which we have tried it. it seems ii
1. possible that this auto-serum treatme
n should have any effect whatever, b
.- there are the results.’'
President Wilson broke a precedent by
calling on Speaker Clark. However,
President Wilson breaks a precedent with
much less noise and excitement than a
certain strenuous gentleman formerly an
occupant of the White House.
The recent battle between redskins and
palefaces in Utah caused a pleasurable
thrill in the boy who found in news
papers confirmation of tlie stories he
reads on rainy days.
“Puck” criticizes the New York Times
for opposing woman suffrage. Were it
not for lovely woman, it would be im
possible for “Puck** to publish so many
seductive pictures.
-- -
A baseball writer says the Boston
“Braves” won the championship because
Stallings made them mad. However,
that isn’t the way to win a pugilistic
championship.
A contemporary says some foods are
cheaper than they were before the war.
If that’s the case, a list of such foods
should be posted in every public place.
The old-fashioned gentleman who says,
"Don’t take your flannels off too early,”
is politely referred to the m'an who wears
“athletics” the whole year round.
An authority says a man may dress
moderately yvell on $1500 a year. Of
course he couldn’t hope to do himself
proud on such a modest sum.
Schools at Rheims are being taught in
cellars. Just for the sake of appearances,
it is to be hoped that no wine cellars
are used for that purpose.
A policeman who was nearly crushed
to death by women in a bargain rush
probably went to “work” that, day think
ing he had a snap.
Recent pictures of Ostend have no
bathing beauties in the foreground.
That’s the principal reason why they are
so uninteresting.
It was a mistake to make George
Washington a demigod in the first place.
George had his faults, like other human
beings.
Jack Johnson is said to be homesick
for Chicago. There are a number of
people in Chicago who want him to come
hack.
Of course it’s none of our business,
but have the scene shifters struck in
the western theatre of war?
If Gorman submarines do what is ex
pected of them, “Davy Jones' Locker”
is going to be overcrowded.
General Carranza, it appears, is still on
his way, without any clear Idea of where
lie's going.
GOING TO MARKET
From Woman's World for March.
The question of how to buy lias been
widely discussed, and one is exhorted
on all occasions to visit the market and
to avoid the telephone. Here again hard
and fast rules fail. Many women with
little children must order by telephone,
and it is an open question in the writer’s
mind whether dally visits to the market
are really worth while. It is necessary
to know’ the markets and the men with
wdiom you deal, but that knowledge can
be acquired without a daily visit. Per
haps an expense of 10 cents for car fare,
and an hour and a half of time con
sumed in going and coming and marketing
$1 worth of food, seem an undue propor
tion of the day to be given to that pur
pose. Moreover, one may he tempted to
buy unnecessary articles betuiuse they look
good and “might come handy.’’ This may
be a confession of weakness, but it is
a form quite common to those who fre
quent markets. After a time a reliable
dealer knows the character of the prod
uct you buy quite as well as you do. and
it is to his interest and pleasure to serve
you. It may he necessary to tell the
butcher occasionally to send you a good
piece of steak under any name he
chooses to call it, but such occurrences
add variety to life.
Saturday night buying is mostly prac
ticed In the cities, when it often happens
that perishable goods are secured at a
lower price, it may be true that these
goods have sometimes been exposed al.
- day and are therefore not so desirable
' The woman should go to the marekt ofter
enough to know that it is sanitary ir
its practices and to know on what days
1 she has the best stock to select from. Foi
example, one woman said, “I never have
, company Monday night because there ii
nothing in town to buy except that lef
1 from Friday.” In other words, that towr
• got its perishable foods Tuesday and Fri
f day.
—... ...— —■«.—
- AN IMPROVED LIFEBELT
» From Popular Mechanics.
The ordinary lifebelt is a cumbersome
thing to wear, and in order to provide
5 protection for airmen or others who are
likely to be throw;n into the water. £
j life belt lias been invented that lies fla
about the chest under ordinary condi
tions and becomes inflated when brough
? in contact with the water. This belt con
> sists of a flexible tubular girdle, at on
■ end of which are two receptacles, on
containing water and the other a carbid
1 wfhich becomes a gas and Inflates th
tube wdien mixed with water. A valv
permits the wearer to let the water int
the carbide receptacle, while a wick tha
> passes from the outside of the belt int
5 this receptacle causes the water to ente
j. and inflate the tube automatically in cas
the wearer is unconscious after bein
2 thrown into the water. . Provision 1
made for preventing the entrance o
water after inflation has taken place an
n for preventing overinflation of the tube.
POINTED PARAGRAPHS
- From the Chicago News.
A Prudence is common sense we!
trained.
a There is no idle curiosity. It work
i- overtime.
a A preferred creditor never asks fo
his money.
Men w’ho accomplish most make th
11 least fuss about it.
d Tomorrow’ is the happiest day in th
t_ life of the average man.
Man has all the vices of the other ani
11 mals and a few of his own.
lt A pessimist is a person who is seasic
o during the entire voyage of life.
-e Some men are so reckless with thei
coin that they even use it for payin
,e debts.
id Occasionally the early bird makes
mistake in selecting a worm—and get
stung.
11 Call them white lies if you want t
i- but sooner or l^ter they will come horr
lt io roost. .
Keep an eye on the man who saj
money will do anything. The chance
are that he will do anything for inone;
\
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Property In Middle Went
"Most of the cities of the middle west are
thriving once more,” said J. B. Galllaid
of Cincinnati. "There was much dull
ness in the Queen City last fall, but in
most branches there has been steady
ret overy.
"In the interior cities of Ohio. Indiana
and Illinois business Is vary brisk, and
pet.pie seem to be expecting unusual pros
perity by next fall.”
From Art uni Experiment
"One of the large charts that is being
used in the crop diversification cam
paign shows from actual experiment in
Kansas the value of alfalfa pasture or
some other legume in building up the
[ Irame of hogs and cattle or even ehick
I ens." said a ’member of the Chamber
of Commerce, who owns a large farm in
! north Alabama.
"This experiment was carried on in
Kansas for 180 days. Fourteen pigs were
divided into two lots. Many of the pigs
were litter mates and weighed 50 pounds
at the beginning of the experiment. The
pigs in lot No. 1 w'ere placed in a dry
lot, and fed on corn and water alone,
while the pigs in lot No. 2 were fed on
corn and allowed to run on alfalfa pas
ture for 80 days.
"At the expiration of 80 days the pas
ture was not good and the pigs in lot
No. 2 wore led alfalfa hay in connection
with the corn for 100 days, the remain
der of the experiment. At the end of
180 days, the pigs in lot No. 1 where
corn alone was fed weighed on an av
erage of 75 pounds each, while ttye pigs
in lot No. 2. having the alfalfa pasture
and thcAalfalfa hay, weighed on an av
erage of 185 pounds.
"Corn is deficient in protein and has an
abundance of starch and sugar. Neither
alfalfa nor corn, when fed alone, will
give the best results, but a combination
of the two makes a perfectly balanced
ration. This experiment shows the abso
lute need of protein for growing ani
mals.” .
Had High Record Crowd
"Mardi Gras in New' Orleans last week
brought the largest crowd of visitors to
that city ever seen there before,” said
J. J. Gilmore.
"The carnival passed off most pleas
antly as all carnivals in New' Orleans
do. Everybody wras making merry, but
there was no disorder or rude behavior
of any sort. Having once lived in New'
Orleans, I belong to one of the organiza
tions that lias a large part in Mardi
Gras festivities. I have been participat
ing in the carnivals for many years, but
I never enjoyed one more than that of
last week. It was a noteworthy fact
that in a float club of 115 members hav
ing a place in the parade there was not a
single absentee. Another noteworthy fact
was that of another club of 300 mem
bers subscribing $100 a piece for carnival
expenses, only one was unable to pay his
subeription. That record certainly speaks
well for New Orleans from the viewpoint
of prosperity. The fact is that business
in New Orleans has been active for some
time. One hears nothing of hard times
there."
Industrial Activity Here
"I trust that among the first things
the newr Chamber of Commerce will do.
under the Craw'ford Johnson administra
tion, will be to publish a fresh list of
the varied industries of the Birmingham
district,” said a .well known upbuilder.
"A full list is prepared, T believe, every
year or two; but t w’ould like to see a
revised tabulation now. Despite the re
cent depression there are about as man®|
industries being operated here today a®
we bad this time last year, probably
more. It is very provoking to have a citi
zen who ought to be well informed say
that ‘the trouble with Birmingham is
that it has few small industries.’ The per
son who talks that way Is grossly ig
norant. There are hundreds of small in
dustries in Jefferson county. I get sick
and tired of hearing Atlanta ptayea up
as the place of small industries to the
disparagement of Birmingham. The fact
is that Birmingham has in number as
many pay roll producing plants as. At
lanta, and a large percentage of them
are much larger than anything Atlanta
has—the rail mill, the wire mill and the
big pipe plants. Industrial business has
not returned to normal, but it is im
proving. There is far more activity now
than there was last fall."
The t otton Situation
A prominent New York cotton broker
age house said in its Saturday review:
“There was very little life to the cot
ton market during the week, trading
being reduced to a minimum. There was
evidence of some evening up on the
part of traders, but no indication .that
the attitude of either consumers or specu
lative buyers of tUe staple bad changed.
The demand for Cotton is such that of
ferings on concession meet with ifeady
absorption, while the selling on hard
spots is scattered and unimportant. A
notable feature was of course the inau
guration of the Lever bill, giving the
government control of cotton contracts.
This is causing some hesitancy, but there
is little doubt that the trade w'ill soon
adjust itself to the new conditions. One
of the uncertain factors, so far as its
effect on the volume of trading is con
cerned, is the complete stoppage of ar
bitrage business with Liverpool. The ex
act effect of this closing of the ..English
market to American traders can only be
ascertained by actual experience. As it
appears now it will to some extent cui
t/ul the activities of local operators.
"The war situation has naturaly come
> in for a good deal of discussion, and
t there is a general feeling that specula
> tive operations had better be deferred un
r til some definite idea may be gainec
* as to the effects of the German block
Z ade and the methods of reprisal to b<
3 adopted by England. The publicity ac
f corded the situation magnifies its rea
1 character and naturally makes for cau
tiousness, but it is hardly probable tha'
the apprehension now existing will b«
long lived. As a matter of fact, whiW
1 the trade is absorbed in these problemi
as affecting the export movement, ship
a ments ary still being made in volume
and from present indications Februafj
r promises to break records in a more de
cided fashion than did January. Export!
e for the week again approximate 600,00
bales, bringing the total shipments fo:
e the season within 2,000,000 bales of tin
amount sent forward up to this sann
time last year. This is practically 7
per cent of last year’s total, as compared
with only 25 per cent in the middle o
r November. So far as a continuation o
g the export movement Is concerned, then
is no indication of any falling off, as th<
a amount on shipboard not yet cleared to
8 tals about half a million bales.
"Trade advices from Lancashire re
’’ port pretty full operations at the leadim
textile centers: whereas about 26,000,00
8 spindles were idle in August, the numbe
8 -of inactive spindles now is placed at le*
\ than 2,000,000,”
I - N
| WAR ECHOES j
Ex-Mayor George B. McClellan. In the
March Scribner; Ever since the be
ginning of the war the English and
Germans have been unceasiflg in
their efforts to influence American
public opinion. Friendly newspapers
have been supplied with carefully edit
ed news, books favorable to one or the
other of the belligerents have beeen put
upon the market, while distinguished i
men have flooded the press with their
arguments and traveled the country in
speech making and lecture tours. Be
cause of her -command of the seas, w’hlch j
permitted her early in the war to cut
the only cable under German control,
Great Britain has possessed a great ad
vantage over her chief opponent in be
ing able to censor and color in her own
interest all the cable news and much
of the mail matter that we have re
ceived. On the other hand, Germany;
lias conducted an extremely able cam
paign, in view of her handicap of having]
no cable and using a language other than j
ours.
Unfortunately, many of us have been |
so influenced by the extremely clever
German and English efforts to capture
our sympathies that we have lost our
sense of proportion and assumed an,
attitude of open belligerency on one side!
or the other entirely inconsistent with |
our national position as neutrals in thej
war. Let us show our heartfelt com
passion to the unhappy Beiges and aid
them to the limit of our means, let us
give our sympathy and our admiration
to either side we please, to the French
and to the British for their dashing valor
and for the magnificent stand they have
made, or to the Germans for their mar
velous efficiency and courage, but in
doing so let us never forget that as
neutrals wre owe our first duty to our
own country.
In tiiese days of intense war partisan
ship it is not only morally and spiritu
ally wholesome, but it is also patriotic,
if we occasionally forget that we are
either German or French sympathizers,
Russian or Austrian advocates, or even
that we were once British colonials, as
some of us have never ceased to be,
and only remember that we are Ameri
cans.
From the Pittsburg Sun: From
the Far East comes a low rumble
of trouble, and the one nation that is
not actively interested In the war of
Europe, this country, is casting anxious
glances tow’ard China and Japan. Tt ap
pears that the demands Japan has made
upon its neighbor are so wide in their
scope that the open door to the celes
tial kingdom is threatened If they be
granted in toto. What gives the subject
additional gravity lies in the statement,
the truth of w'hioh seems pretty well
authenticated, that Japan did not give
the other powers a copy of all the de
mands she made. There were a number
of tilings not mentioned in the generally
distributed diplomatic note and these
impart gravity to the whole situation.
Japan, it is said, under the cover of
the war cloud, has deemed it a suitable
occasion to fasten herself on China for
all time, and to so encompass that na
tion with treaty arrangements that she
will be absolutely powerless except with
the consent of her energetic neighbor.
China, although in no position to combat
the demands by force of arms, still re
fused to accede to Nippon's rather forci
bly offered suggestions.
None of the western nations will calmly
[sanction the blanketing of China by Ja
pan, for that is exactly wiiat would re
sult if the aggressive Japanese policy
were countenanced. It would mean that
no country could deal directly with in
dependent China, that no concessions
could be granted by that nation without
Japan’s consent; that China would have
to buy its goods from Japan, or at
least g*ve the dealers and manufactories
of that country first chance; that Japa
nese would have to be employed in Chi
nese armories and government factories.
In short, that China would be relegated
to a place among the powers analogous
to that of a committee controlled depen
dent among able-bodied men.
Now that the storm of protest has been
started, it is not likely that Japan will
fly in the face of the powers, for even
tlie English papers in the Orient are pro
testing against such high-handed proced
ure. and will no doubt insist on China's
repudiation of such a preposterous treaty.
This country, it is said, has already dis
patched a note to Japan on the subject.
GREAT ENGINEERING FEAT
From the Wide World Magazine.
Arabistan lies at the head of the Per
sian gulf, its western boundary being
the Shatel-Arab, the great river formed
by the combined w’aters of the Tigris
and Euphrates, the right bank of which
is In Persian territory, while the left
is in Turkish Arabia. Forty miles abov«
where it flows into the Persian gulf the
Shatel-Arab is joined by the Ivarun, anc
the town of Mohammerah stands at th«
junction of the two rivers, the formei
a clear green stream, the latter thick anc
red.
In ancient times the Karun flowec
into the gulf, and part of the river stil
runs along the old channel, but the mair
stream has been diverted, three mile:
above Mohammerah, into an artificia
channel known geographically as thi
Haffar canal. It is impossible even tc
make a guess at the date of this won
derful work, not even a tradition re
maining of the ruler whose far sighted
ness realized the enorn^us advantage o
joining up the two waterways. Alexan
der the Great has been suggested, bu
apparently for no other reason than tha
he is a conventiont and likely persoi
to credit with any ambitious enterprise
and that one of his many Alexandria:
was built on the site of the present Mo
hammerah.
HURGEU
Dana Burnet in Harper’s Magazine foi
March.
The Starving Men they w’alk the dusk
With hunger in their eyes.
To them a Lighted House is like
A lamp of Paradise.
* It is the Window in the dusk,
That marks the drifter’s coast;
i It is the thought of love and light
That mocks the drifter most.
* Now I have been a Starving Man
And walked the winter dusk;
’ And I have known how life may be
* A Heaven and a Husk. .
’ The Fainting Hands they pulled m:
sleeve,
And bade me curse the Light.
But I had seen a Rich Man’s face
That looked into the night.
1 A hungry face, a brother face,
t That stared into the gloom,
And starved for life and starved fo
» love *
Within a lighted room,
1 ADRIFT with the times X
A SLIM CHANCE
A submarine Is spotted by
The wake made by Its periscope,
And therein truly seems to He
The battle cruiser's only hope.
DETERIORATING
"Is it true that sailors In the United
States navy are taught to crochet?"
asked the fair girl.
"Not yet," answered the Irate states
man, "but we are developing among our
jackies some first class timber for glee
clubs."
DISPROVED
t
"Doppel says he can read character at
a glance." —
"Nonsense! He's been glancing at him
self In mirrors for 40 years and he doesn t
know yet that he's a fool."
RISQUE
"I see through you,” the young man said
Unto the maiden fair;
Forthwith she cried, a rosy red,
“Good heavens! Tell me where!"
QUITE A BOUQUET
"Why do you call Mr. Blowster a suc
cessful horticulturist?"
"Because he's the father of Daisy, Rose,
Violet and Lily Blowster.”
FORMERLY FAMOUS FOR IT
"Well, how do you feel about the war
in Europe now?”
“The same way I felt several months
ago.”
"And how Is that?"
"I’d like to see the Belgians get on
their feet again and eat as much a
they used to.”
APPEALING TOR SYMPATHY
‘‘Are you sure you can't live wit hoi.
me?”
‘‘Quite.” 1
“But you used to live without me.”
“I was younger then and could stau
more.” :
THE WRONG TIME
“You can t blame people for not taking
good advice. It's so tiresome.” j
“That's true. And It is usually of
fered at a time when the person ad
vised is tired of everything.” t
TO BE EXPECTED
“Chumpson took his wife to all th«
tango parlors and now he says she neg
lects him.” £
“Serves him right. He might hav
known that she would meet some fel
low who can tango better than he can.
GET THE HOSE, HE1NIE!
Wanted—German, Engllsh-speakin.
woman, suitable for washing and Iron
ins and cleaning.—Cleveland Plain Dealer
AS TO THE TURK ]
The Turk, it seems, is not as “ter
lible” as we have been led to believe
His chief failing is laziness, and it mus
be confessed in justice to the Turk tha!
he has no monopoly of that.
PAUL COOK.
WASHINGTON BORN FEB. 11 1
From the Washington Star.
THE birthday of George Washing
ton, celebrated February 22, and
for more than a century the
memorable event has been observed on
that date, though the date on which the
great American was born was February
11, 1732. Until he was 20 years old
George Washington always observed
February 11 as his birthday, and even
after Washington had become the great
est and most famous American, Febru
ary 11 was observed as his birthday,
which sometimes was celebrated in dif
ferent places both on the 11th and 22d
of February.
Washington's diary for 1789 contains
this note:
• “February 12 went with the family to
a ball in Alexandria given by the citi
zens of it and its vicinity in commem
oration of my birthday/’
That birthday ball in Alexandria was
held February 12, which wbb Monday,
because the 11th of February fell on
Sunday.
Washington's diary for 1799. the year
of his death, contains this birthday ref
erence: s
"February 11 went up to Alexandria
to the celebration of my birthday. Many
maneuvers wrere performed by uniform
corps, and an elegant ball .and supper
at night. February 12, returned home/’
Washington's early birthday anni
versaries were spent on tlie farm where
he was born on the Potomac river, close
to tlie mouth of Popes creek, in West
moreland county, later at the new home
of his mother and father in Stafford
county, on the Rappahannock river
across from Fredericksburg, also at the
Popes creek farm when, after his fath
er's death, it came into possession of
his l George's) brother, Augustine, and
still later at his half brother’s honi€-,
Mount Vernon. Washington’s twentieth
"birthday was spent on the island of Bar
bados. where he contracted smallpox,
which pockmarked him for life, and
on his birthday he was just recovering
from the disease, lie had gone to Bar
bardos with ills half-brother. Law’rence,
who ivas then dying from consumption.
The climates did not work any change
for the better in the condition of Law -
rence, and. returning to Mount Vernon,
lie died there and bequeathed the prop
erty to George.
There is a record of George's birth
day in 1760, and in his journal under
the date of February 11, in that year
you may read this:
“Went out myself and continued with
my people till 1 o’clock, in w’hich time
we got the house about 250 yards. Was
informed then that Mr. Diggs was at
my house, upon w’hieh 1 returned, find
ing him and Dr. Laurie there. The
ground being soft and deep, we found
it to be no easy matter w’ith 20 hands,
eight horses and six oxen to get this
house along.”
The business W’hich Washington had
then in hand and to w’hich he makes
reference in his journal was the w’ork
of moving one of the tenant houses to
another site on the farm.
Washington’s journal shows that his
birthday in 1768 was spent by him in
overseeing the work of the farm and in
fox hunting. Under the head of Feb
ruary 11, 1769, you will find this note:
1 “Went duck hunting till dinner. Mr.
Piper dined here and Betsey Dandridge
1 came in the evening/’
It would appear that there was no
observance of Washington’s birthday In
the continental army until 1781, and it
is likely that that was the first observ
ance of the day by any other persons
than Washington and his family. On
that occasion Rochambeau and a num
ber of French and American officers
1 celebrated the day with a dinner, though
Washington was not present, being ab
1 sent from headquarters of the army. On
February 12 Rochambeau sent to Wash
ington the following letter:
“Yesterday (Sunday) was the anniver
sary of your excellency’s birthday. We
have put off celebrating that holiday un
til today by reason of the Lord’s day,
and we will celebrate it with the sole rs
gret that your excellency be not a wit
ness of the effusion and gladness of our
hearts.”
To that letter Washington sent the
following reply:
‘‘The flattering distinction paid to the
anniversary of my birthday is an honor
for which I dare not attempt to express
my gratitude. I confide in your excel
lency’s sensibility to interpret my feel
ings for this, and for the obliging man
ner in which you are pleased to an
nounce it.”
The first popular observance of Feb
ruary 22 as Washington's birthday was at
Newport, R. T., in 1784. The chronicles
of that event say that the bells of the
. tow’n were rung, that the houses were
decorated with flags and other bunting
and that a brilliant entertainment was
given in the evening on board a big East
India merchant ship anchored in the
harbor. J
The Tammany society of New York
city early in the year 1790 adopted the
resolution which follows: j
“That February 22 from this day an»l
ever afterward commemorateu by tnif
society as the birthday of the illustroui
George Washngton, president of the
United States of America." j
Washington birthday celebrations by
that time were becoming popular in
many parts of the country and som.i-l
times they were celebrated on February®
il and sometimes on February 22. ||
One of the earliest of these 22d ob-B
servances was at Philadelphia in 1791 and®
the Philadelphia Gazette of February 23®
of that year contained the following r» -I
port; I
"Yesterday being the anniversary of®
the birthday of the President of the®
United States when he attained the®
fifty-ninth year of his age, the same wn*
celebrated here with every demonstra®
tion of public joy. The artillery and light®
Infantry corps of this city were paraded®
and at 12 o’clock a federal salute was®
fired. The congratulatory compliments®
of the members of the legislatures of®
the union, the heads of the departments®
foreign ministers, officers, civil and mlli^B
tary, of the state, the reverend clergj®
and strangers and citizens of distinctic^H
were presented to the President on th^H
auspicious occasion."
The birthday celebrations at Philadel-I
phia while that city remained the seat®
of the government were imposing and im-B
pressive. ®
The change in Washingtons blrthda®
date was brought about by the chang®
in the calendar. England in 1752 adopted®
the Gregorian. or reformed calends**®
which corrected the error of the Julian®
calendar. Though this calendar was no®
adopted by England until 1752, it hapl
been in use in Spain. Switzerland. Ger-l
many and the Netherlands since 1583. ini
Poland since 1586 and in Hungary sineel
1587. The new calendar dropped lo days!
so that that event, which took placel
February 11, old style, was deemed tol
have taken place February 22, the days!
12th to 21st, inclusive, being omitted. I
The history of the calendar presents!
many changes, many errors sought to!
be corrected, some of which corrections!
proved to be errors. Difficulty was!
found in making the calendar year agree!
with the solar year. The present ealen-l
dar, which bears the name “Gregorian,"!
was the work of Pope Gregory XIIT.I
assisted by learned astronomers and!
mathematicians. The calendar of record!
from which our measure of the seasons!
has descended was the calendar of the!
Romans, which divided the year Into lol
months of 304 days. This was corrected!
in 713 B. O., and the year was given!
356 days, divided among 12 rhonths. The!
year under this calendar w*as 10 days tool
short, and the error accumulated until!
the calendar seasons were out of joint;!
with the actual seasons. Spring in thel
calendar was autumn In the field, and!
midwinter in the country was midsum-l
mer on the calendar.
Under Julius Caesar this condition was!
corrected and he allowed 365 1-4 days tol
be the year, giving three years 1n suc-|
cession 365 days and allotting to every!
fourth year 366. He declared that Janu-|
ary should be the first month, so that!
September, October, November and DM
cember, which had been the seventh,
eighth, ninth and tenth months from
March, which had been the first month
of the year, lost the significance of their
names. Caesar gave to one of the
months his name, Julius, or July. His
nephew succeeded him after his assas
sination, and taking the title Caesar Au
gustus. decreed that one month should
be named also in his honor, and that
month was called Augustus, or August.
Seeing that July had 31 days In it and
August only 30, he arbitrarily added an
other day to August, making It also con
tain 31 days, and taking that day out
of February, which under Caesar had 29
days, thus reducing February to 28 days.
He made certain other changes, such, for
example, as taking one day each off Sep
tember and November and adding them
to October and December.
In the Julian calendar there was a
mistake of 11 minutes a year. The error!
amounted to one day in each 130 years.
The cause of the trouble was pointed
out by Aloysius Liltus, an Italian, and
Pope Gregory, submitted the matter to a
council of ledrned men, with the result
that the calendar called the Gregorian
calendar was instituted and adopted at
various times by the different countries.
This calendar has not yet been adopted
by Russia, which adheres to the Julian
calendar.
A mu TKinB
From the Memphis News-Scimitar.
By legislative enactment the Alabama
citlsen is prohibited from having more
than one quart of liquor per month shipped
fn to him from another state. This Is In
direct violation of the interstate com
merce lew, but the Alabama legislature
cares nothing for that
t
a