The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], May 03, 1915, Page 4, Image 4

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

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THE AGE-HERALD
F« W. B AH RETT.Edit©!
Entered at the Birmingham. Ala.,
postoffice as second class matter un
der act of Congress March 3, I8*y.
Daily and Sunday Age-llcrald-$S.lO
Daily and Sunday, per month.70
Daily and Sunday, three months.. 2.00
Weekly Age-lierald, per annum.. .60
Sunday Age-Herald . 2.U0
George Me Masters, O. E. Young ai’d
W. D. Brnxnbeloe are the only aulhor
ixed traveling representatives of The
Age-Herald in its circulation depart
ment.
No communication will be published
without its author’s name. Rejected
manuscript Will not be returned un
less stamps are enclosed for that pur
pose.
Remittances can be made at current
late of exchange. The Age-lierald will
Hot be responsible for money sent
through the mails. Address,
THE AGE-HERALD,
Birmingham, Ala.
Washington bureau, 207 Hibba build
ing.
European bureau, 6 Henrietta street.
Covent Garden, Eondon.
Eastern business office, Rooms 48 to
BO, Inclusive, Tribune building. New
York city; western business otiice,
Tribune building, Chicago. The S C.
Beckwith Special Agency, agents Ioi
eign advertising.
TELEPHONE
Bell (private exchange connecting all
departments) Main 41 >00.___
We must every one be n man of hi*
own fancy. ,
_All’* Well That End* Well.
BEGINNING THE DAY—O God.
may this l>y Thy day all II* honra
throngh. May I aponil It In <'«m
mnnlon with Thyy, ami alioul Thy
hiulnyaa. GlTy my a warm Invy lor
Thy houay. May I mlnirly today In
aplrlt with all the redeemed of God,
both here odd (cony. In 1'briar*
name. Amen.
That Copper-Colored Waiter
So they are going to have girl wait
ers on the Wheeling and Lake Lrie
railroad’s dinning cars—at least that
is the news ticked off by telegraph
out of Cleveland.
This means, of course, that when we
travel Wheeling way we shall miss
our old friend the copper-colored
Senegambian, who smirks and smiles
and dances attendance upon us when
•we tip him, and who frowns and spills
lukewarm, canned soup upon us when
•we don’t tip him.
He’s an ambidextrous, versatile,
many sided cuss, is this copper-col
ored necessary evil—that is, he was
considered a requisite of dining car
accommodation until the Wheeling
and Lake Erie road “innovated” by
bringing girls into the service. The
experiment will be watched with in
terest throughout the country, and it
is possible that the idea may be
adopted by other roads.
' In mahy respects the change may
be„ »n 'improvement, but nevertheless
"" the old time, kinky-headed, tip-crav
ing, dusky waiter it an interesting
character whose absence will cause a
pronounced vacancy in the pro
gramme of travel.
He can be the meanest darkey in
the world if occasion demands. On
the other hand, if his itching palm
has been scratched by silver, no oth
er creature in the world can turn
loose a greater flood of urbanity.
Whether he chooses to be very
polite or whether he chooses to be
very surly—it makes no difference
which, he is equiponderant in either
role.
--i.’ra.-j'jJianB
The Hall of Fame
In accordance with the rules gov
erning the admission of names to the
Hall of Fame of the University of New
York five will be selected this year,
fl'here are 160 panels on which the
names of American immortals are to
be inscribed. It was provided that in
the first election, which was held in
October, 1900, 60 names might be
chosen. Only 29 received the requisite
| number of votes. An election is held
•very five years. In 1906 several
names were added and in 1910 11
were chosen, which brought the num
ber up to about 60. Beginning this
year and with every fifth year here
after only five names can be added,
the plan being to have the 160 in
scriptions completed in the year 2000.
The Hall of Fame structure stands
on University Heights, New York
city, and is a very imposing work of
architecture. Only persons who have
been dead 10 or more years are eli
gible for the honor of having their
names inscribed in the panels.
The 100 electors are distinguished
and thoroughly representative Amer
icans. There were 26 vacancies, and
they were filled a few days ago by
notable persons, induling Henry Wat
teison and several other routhernei s.
The first name inscribed in the liali
| of Fame is, as it should have been,
George Washington. Next comcc
■■ Abraham Lincoln, then Daniel Web
. i; Bter, Benjamin Franklin, U. S. Grant,
•’ : John Marshall, Thomas Jefferson,
i | Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry W.
Longfellow, Robert Fulton, Washing
ton Irving, Jonathan Edwards, Sum
| uel F. B. ; dorse, David C. Farragut
Mm Hanry Clay. Nathaniel Hawthorne
George Peabody, Robert E. Lee, I’etei
f Cooper, Henry Ward Beecher, John J
flt Audubon, William E. banning, Gil
Itort Stuart, Asa Gray, John Greenleal
• k Whittier, Alexander Hamilton, Emin*
I yjllmrd, Edgar Pae, William Culler
Bryant, Frances E. Willard, Roger
Williams, Janies Madison, Andrew
Jackson, W. T. Sherman, Phillips
Brooks and others. Grover Cleveland
has not been dead 10 years, but it may
be assumed that in '920 his name will
be one of the five.
Among those who are conspicuous
by their absence is the name of Mat
thew Fontaine Maury of Virginia, na
val officer and hydrographer. He told
us more about the gulf stream than
anyone who has yet lived and his “Phy
sical Georgraphy of the Sea and Its
Meteorology,” published in 1855, is
still a standard textbook. In the name
of justice Maury should be inscribed
as one of the immortals.
At this year’s election the name of
George Gordon Meade, one of the
greatest of American generals, and
the hero of Gettysburg, 'will probably
be placed in nomination The rules
of the Hall of Fame provide that only
Americans shall be considered. Meade
was born in Spain of American par
ents and was therefore an Ameri
can. According to some military crit
ics he was the abiest general on the
northern side during the war.
The name of Sidney Lanier, who as
a poet ranks close after Poe, should be
in the Hall of Fame. The board of
electors invite suggestions and nom
ination from the public. Anyone hav
ing a name to propose can forward it
by mail, the only address necessary
being University Heights, New York
city. __
Arousing Interest In Education
State Superintendent of Education
W. F. Feagin is conducting a vigor
ous campaign for the improvement of
school conditions in Alabama and he
is receiving cordial co-operation from
county teachers’ associations and edu
cators in general.
That was a stirring address which
Superintendent Feagin delivered in
Birmingham Saturday before the Jef
ferson County Teachers’ association.
The greater part of it was published
in Sunday’s Age-Herald, and anyone
interested in education who failed to
read it yesterday should procure a
copy of the paper and read and pon
der it today.
Mr. Feagin presents statistics of
Alabama’s illiteracy with which edu
cators are familiar, but the facts can
not be set forth too often, for the
general public has up to a recent time
given little serious consideration to the
appalling number of adults in this
state who can neither write nor read.
In his address Superintendent Feagin
told of visits to rural schools and de
scribed the poor schoolhouses and the
poor equipment which he found. He
told, too, of a woeful lack of interest
on the part of some of the farmers in
the school question.
When the people of each school dis
trict have a right to tax themselves
for school purposes then conditions
will improve at once, but the school
tax amendment will not be submitted
to the people for ratification until
November, 1916. In the meantime an
effort will be made to have better
rural school facilities, even if private
subscriptions have to be taken up.
There is no danger of the amend
ment proposition failing to carry at
the polls, but the educational campaign
now in progress should arouse the
people throughout the state to a high
pitch, so that when the law becomes
effective every county and every dis
trict will readily vote the special tax—
three mills for the county and three
additional mills for such school dis
tricts as desire high-class schools.
The "Pocket” Wireless
When wireless telegraphy was per
fected persons of a humorous bent
looked forward to the time when every
man would have his own pocket wire
less outfit and could keep himself in
formed of a variety of matters which
now escape his attention. That their
whimsical notion was not greatly ex
aggerated is proved by the successful
test made of an eight-pound wireless
device invented by Dr. Otto F. Rein
hold of Newark, N. J.
This little instrument, connected
with the antennae of a wireless sta
tion on Bedloe's island. New York,
sent a message which was received at
Fort Hancock, 21 miles distant. Mes
sages which could be distinctly re
ceived were sent 300 feet without an
tennae. A military man who witnessed
the trial said the instrument could be
used without antennae to send mes
sages a distance of 1000 feet, which
would make it extremely valuable
in the modern form of trench warfare.
| Dr. Reinhold has not disclosed the
{secret of his invention. The case in
closing the mechanism is five by
eight by fourteen inches, making i1
easy to carry'. It is claimed that the
device can be operated with the elec
tricity from , an automobile battery'.
Dr. Reinhold has also perfected i
receiving device the same size as hii
sending apparatus. He claims his in
strument will send messages 301
miles and may be used with * either i
direct or an alternating current. Fo
sending messages a longer distanc
antennae could be strung from bal
loons.
Although a device of this sort woul
perhaps prove of more immediat
value in war, in course of time i
might develop commercial possibilities
which would add one more scientific
achievement to the world’s rapidly
growing list. We are centrainly get
ting on!
The longest street in the British Isles
is In Glasgow, Scotland, where the house
numbers run considerably past 1300. The
longest street in London is Forest road,
which extends from Tottenham to the
margin of Epping forest. The last num
ber in it is 1050. Garrett lane, at Wand
i worth, has a number as high as 908, but
j Fulham roud. a much more Important
I thoroughfare than either of these two,
lias for its highest number 931. The
shortest street In the kingdom of Great
Britain is Mansion House street, which
has only on eaddress In It and is only
a few yards long. Vehicles pass through
it at the rate of 2000 an hour for 12
hours a day, so this remarkably short
street Is probably the busiest thorough
fare in the world. Princes street in
Edinburg is one of the most peaceful
thoroughfares in the British empire. No
collection of views about Edinburg is
complete without a picture of Princes
street. Whitechapel road and Mile End
road, in Fast London, are famous for
their breadth. Hull has the levelest
streets of any town In England. The
finest street from an architectural point
of view is High street, Oxford. Probably
the oldest existing street in England is
Watling street, which was used under
another name by the Romans when they
built their famous road from Dover to
London.
-- -
iNorwav is me coumry 01 quiei voices,
gentle manners and no noise,” says a
writer in Scribner s. There Is no uproar
when steamers arrive and depart. Peo
ple wave farewell, but they do not shout
and those whose business keeps them on
the docks move about deliberately, vie
Ing with the travelers in calm. Un
wrinklod cheeks and unfurrowed brows
are characteristics of the Norwegians and
result naturally from their placid lives.
The same statement applies to Sweden.
The people of these fortunate countries
seem to be free from the restlessness that
afflicts Americans. They do not believe
in trying to live all of life in one day.
Although the population of Norway is 2,
391,782, it Is said that all of these people
< ould meet in a given area with less ex
citement and less noise than one hears
every five minutes at certain street cross
ings in New York or Chicago.
The Polish relief fund has lost some
donations it would otherwise have re
ceived because the petition for relief re
flects somewhat on Russian methods of
making war. The Poles should remem
ber that war is never strictly humane.
A young Russian woman who fought
in her father’s regiment has been award
ed the St. George cross for valor in bat
tle. That would seem to prove that “the
female of the species Is more deadly than
the male.”
-- ■ ■■n—
"Uncle John” Donnely, for 46 years pres
ident of the Kansas City Are and water
board, has quit, saying he Is "all worn
out ” Forty-six years' struggle wtth Are
and water would wear anyone out.
Form doesn’t seem to count for much
in war, either. The hitherto “demoral
ized" Turks are giving the allies a warm
reception. However, the Germans taught
the Turks how to fight.
The Queen of Greece, according to re
port, has threatened to leave the King
if he declares war. The King is merely
human, after all. No wonder he hesi
tates.
A New York woman has asked the su
preme court to compel her husband to
take out $65,000 life insurance. And yet
they say women never look to the fu
ture.
A Boston Jeweler has been sent to jail
for selling “lucky stones.” Must have
sold out his entire stock. He should 1
have kept one "for luck.”
The pink boll worm threatens the cot
ton crop, according to the department of
agriculture. That’s enough to turn pink
hopes into the blues.
- - —--—
ALABAMA PRESS
Talladega Daily Home: Activity in the
iron market and advancing prices no
doubt sounds good to Birmingham and
the echo will be heard around the state.
Opelika Daily News: Business condi
tions throughout the United States are
improving every day. Many of the lead
ing business men and financiers of the
country assert that we are just now en
tering upon the greatest era of prosperity
this country has ever experienced.
Columbia Weekly News: The young
fellow who starts out with the idea that
he must work even though he doesn’t
feel like it. is the one most likely to
reach the point where he need work only
when he does feel like it.
St. Clair County Nws: Hard times have
no business in this beautiful southland.
Get out and tickle the bosom of Mother
Earth in the right way and you will be
showered with prosperity.
COMPLIMENTARY
From the Philadelphia Ledger.
In one of his animated and delightful
essays Simeon Strunsky describes night
as the time of the innocent industries,
which are carried on by the people of
the true underworld, by the “great host
of market men, grocers, butchers, milk
men, pushcart engineers and news ven
ders who have been engaged since soon
after midnight on the enormous tasic of
preparing the city’s breakfast.”
The upper world of the daylight hours
is grounded on the true underworld: “The
foundations of society run down into the
n*j;ht where the city’s food, the city’s
ways of communication and the city’s
’ news are being made ready for the full
; roar of the day’s life.”
The army of this laborious underworld
creates 10.WM) times the wealth which It is
| in the power of the jailbird to destroy.
And if you should strike a balance be
i tween the good and evil that are done
. In the night and the good and evil that
don.* in tht day, you would find that the
i night had made the larger net contribu
tion to the welfare of humanity. “Greater
harm to ih*' fiber of the race may be
wrought during the day by the intrigues
of unscrupulous men, by factory fire
i traps of sweatshop*, by the manipulators
e of our political machines, than by all
the gambling houses and dives In the
t tenderloin/'
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Lament Over Ferrell** Death
Dr. C. C. Ferrell, who was shot and
killed in an encounter with burglars
Saturday night at Praco, in this coun
ty, where he operated a coal mine, was
widely known in the south, and his
friends were devoted to him. Although
he had been engaged in the coal min
ing business for several years, h* was
by profession an educator and a man
of letters.
He was a Ph. D. of Leipslc and was
recognized throughout the educational
and literary world as one of the most
eminent scholars In this country. He was
one of the few Americans honored with
enrollment in the Authors’ club of Lon
don, distinguished for the scholarly
rank of its members.
But with all his fine culture Dr. Fer
rell was singularly modest. He was one
of the bravest of men, morally and phy
sically, and with It all he was as gentle
as a woman. His death will be deeply
mourned and his good wife and his aged
mother will have the profound sympa
thy of a multitude of friends.
Fifth Avenue Presbyterians
“We have excellent gatherings at the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Sunday
school,” remarked J. O. Taylor.
“The different classes have large en
rollment, and the attendance Is re
markably good during the warmer
months. There Is, of course, a natu
ral tendency among some of the pupils
to relax somewhat during the good old
summer time, but the teachers and en
thusiastic Sunday school students are
working strenuously in behalf of their
classes, and no opportunity Is lost to
arouse the interest of those disposed to
lag. These efforts, I understand, are
meeting with success. There is a pic
nic each summer which gives every
body a good time, and at the same time
serves to stimulate interest and en
liven things.
“My own class, the Presbyterian
clan, as It Is called, has a good at
tendance, and is composed altogether
of men and boys, and we have a jolly
gathering each Sunday. Class socials
tire held at Intervals by way of enter
tainment, and in this manner greater
impetus is given to the work.”
new rnymcai inrfnor trnvrn
“J. G. Hoffer, who has received the
appointment as physical director of the
Birmingham Young Men’s Christian
association, haR reached the city from
Des Moines,” said H. R. Howell, so
cial secretary.
“The new physical director has an
excellent reputation and has served fer
a number of years as director for in
stitutions of the larger northern cit
ies. He comes to Birmingham highly
recommended for accomplishment in
his special profession. This city's
Y. M. C. A. now has the largest mem
bership of any other southern asso
ciation, and the best is none too good
lor Birmingham.
"Mr. Hoffer tvlll have his hands full
in handling the athletic situation here
for the enrollment in the various gym
nasium classes is being rapidly swelled
to large proportions. Especial Inter
est has been aroused in the business
men’s class, and the boys’ department
will require the undivided attention of
special athletic Instructor. Mr. W. W.
Abel will now specialize in this de
partment. Mr. Hoffer, it is understood,
will take the other departments in
charge Monday, and great things are
expected of the new physical director.”
fliialnc** Continue* to Improve
“I have gone through several pe
riods of business depression, and have
watched the signs of business recovery,
and I feel sure that we are now on
approaching an era of great prosper
lty,” said M. M. Whitson of St. Bouls.
“Birmingham began to improve early
in the year. It was slow’ improvement
at first, but with March came a decided
briskness and in April the movement
toward business recovery became
rapid. May is starting off well, and
It is generally predicted that the coun
try will be on a solid boom before mid
summer.
“The railroads are all picking up.
In the W’est traffic is very heavy, and
in the south it will get back to normal
within the next few wreeks, or at least
that it is the way it looks to many
people.
“General trade has certainly a better
outlook now than at any time within
a year. Prosperity has come to stay.'
The Drama League
“I notice with interest the organization
of a center of the Drama league in Bir
mingham,” said a visitor In the city yes
terday, “and that now there is a mem
bernhip of nearly 200 here. Atlanta has
660 in its league, but it is several years
old. The people there are very enthusi
astic over the league.
“The movement must be democratic am
large if the work is to progress.
“I hear that delightful programme
meetings will be held in the fall at thi
Tutwiler. and that these will be free tc
Drama league members. I predict then
will be 500 members before that time.
"In riding over Birmingham yesterdaj
and passing that beauty spot, Rhodei
park, the thought occurred to me wha
an ideal spot for the production of ama
teur plays this summer. Really the slopi
of the ground is better than at Ravlnii
park. Just outside of Chicago, where thesi
things are such a feature.
“The special field of amateurs, one the:
have only just begun to cultivate, is thi
one-act play, itself a new dramatic form
Here qualities of taste, freshness and gen
eralJ Intelligence show best. Amateur
can Sften do single scenes well, but can
not sustain a long part. Their long play
are likelV* to drag because of poor tech
nique. Programmes of short plays may b
made up which have various kinds of in
terest—serious, amusing, picturesque. Th
general use of such programmes woul
lighten materially the burden of the or
i dinary club. For one thing, larger num
* ber of people could have good parts.
“One circle of amateurs in a Chicag
suburb has given over 40 short plays with
in a few years on a small and slmpl;
equipped stage. Work of this sort ma:
easily lead to more elaborate adapta
tlons of the numberless old English play
and plays In foreign languages unknow
to the professional stage of today, and t
original work, especially the compositio
of outdoor plays and pageants represent
ing the life ant history of the commun
tty.” _
IN THE REAL UNDERWORLD
F.rom the Dundee People's Journal.
| Masieltt fat the House (to complain
ing sfci^anti—Dea'r,*, dear, Sanies, l’i
tired fat theiie* continual kitchen squab
bles.
Servant—Well, sir, ’ow would yo
like to be called a addle headed ol
idiot, supposin’ you wasn't one, sii
sm.:._.-Arfs,aH
Louisville Courier-Journal: If it is true,
as reported by an Athens newspaper, that
the British used an "auxiliary fleet of
donkeys" which were driven into the
Turkish trenches laden with ignited tins
of petrol the horrible annals of this most
horrible of wars contain nothing more
sickening than the record of this atrocity
perpetrated upon the most patient of
beasts by the brutality of men.
Throughout human history the innocent
bystander has received the larger num
ber of hard knocks. The bloodiest wars
have not inflicted upon soldiers such hard
ships as have been inflicted upon unof
fending. helpless noncombatants and up
on animals. The war horse, his "brav
ery in battle" mere excitement plus dis
ciplinary training and Inability to under
stand the nature of the dangers awaiting
him; the draft mule, who has been made
to draw the cannon into exposed positions
and otherwise brought under fire, have
been a part of the machinery of war. They
have been sacrificed under the lash of
necessity. Incinerating donkeys by setting
fire to their burdens of petrol is an act
of irredeemable savagery. It is by no
means warranted by the probable military
value of the use of the “auxiliary fleet"
spoken of by the Athens Times. Neither
International law nor usage considers the
rights of animals, but no "German atroci
ty" so far reported is more sickening than
this. The reports as to the use to which
the donkeys were put differ. Possibly
the Lemnos correspondent of the Athens
Times is in error.
Pittsburg Sun: The coming of spring
has had a tremendous effect on the man
agement of the contending forces In the
great European conflict—it could not be
otherwise. The advance of vegetation has
brought a complete change to the land
scape, as some of the correspondents
have pointed out, and officers find them
selves quite unfamiliar with places they
knew perfectly in the days of no foliage
and no grass. Now many of them have
to become acquainted once more with
their surroundings. The men in the
ranks also find that spring has altered
materially the methods that prevailed in
the days of snow and frosi.
But one of the marked changes con
cerns the tiller of the soli. All the fight
ing men, regardless of the side they are
on, realize that If the war is to be kept
up there must be crops to harvest when
the fall comes and that during the spring
and summer opportunity must he given
the farmer to do his work. The impor
tance of husbandry Is being impressed on
the men, and plowed land and growing
crops are treated with consideration, and
only where it is unavoidable are they dis
turbed. Even in such cases the farmer
is repaid for the damage done, and he
at once sets to work repairing the In
jury.
Naturally the greater part of the field
work will fall on the women, but that
will not be a physical hardship for they
are used to it. - In times of peace the
women work in the fields alongside the
men, and in the majority of Instances
they can do their snare of the labor.
They are vigorous, muscular creatures
who when they are transplanted to the
villages as house servants bemoan the
fate that has taken them from the open
air and the health-sustaining labor. The
methods of the continental farmer differ
entirely from our own. due in a measure
to the small acreage of land tilled by the
individual. Bift they are thorough and
produce results. In spite of the war and
Its horrors farming will go on in Eu
rope, even up to the firing line, and crops
will be harvested as in the past. It is al
most impossible to crush the Indomitable
spirit of tho continental peasant.
GOSSIP IN LONDON
From the Philadelphia Evening Tele
graph.
"Wake up! Your King and country
need you." A huge placard bearing this
inscription ha* been erected in a coun
try churchyard between Eastbourne and
Maidstone, near London. So far, how
ever, this appeal to the occupants haB
been in vain.
Company officers are required to keep
a list, for church parade purposes,
showing what religion each of their men
professes. A captain In the Cheshire
regiment was compiling a list of this
kind, and one man was absent at th"
time. "Does anyone know Private
Thompson's religion?" Inquired tile of
ficer. "Yes. sir,’ promptly answered a
lance-corporal. "He's one of them there
Plymouth RockB.”
Here is the latest from the camps. A
private of the Buffs was brought be
fore his commanding officer an 1
charged with swearing. "He's been up
for a similar offence before," com
mented the commanding officer to the
witness In the case, adding. "I suppose
he's Incorrigible." "Yes, sir," assented
' the witness. "He's got the horful 'abit
1 of hopenlng 'is mouth and letting it say
what It likes."
London boys will soon be holding pro
test meetings in Hyde Park, If their
1 sphere of labor is Invaded any more by
the feminine sex.
The latest Industry to be invaded by
1 girls is that of messenger, and no fewer
' than seven messenger girls are at pres
' ent employed by the District Messenger
and Theatre Ticket company.
Yesterday the Dally Mirror arranged
a test—a race, unknown to the com
petitors, between a girl and a boy mes
senger from the Sioane square messen
ger office to the Dally Mirror office, in
Boitverle street. The times taken were:
Boy messenger, 27 minutes. Under
ground railway to the Temple station.
Walked rest of journey.
Girl messenger, 35 minutes. Motor
| omnibus from Sioane square to the
Temple. Walked from there to Bouverle
street.
Tlie race was, therefore, won by the
boy by eight minutes.
Things are not always what they
seem, nor are men. There was one, t
soldier home from the front, in a rail
way carriage on the Midland railway
yesterday morning who was being very
patient with a fussy and Inquisitive oh
gentleman who wanted to know al
about it. At last he said: "And what wil
you do when you leave the army?" “G<
back to the prison,” said Tommy mourn
fully. The old gentleman "froze up.” Bu
there was something wrong. "Tommy'
looked the jolllest kind of gaolbird ever
Also his companions seemed to be suf
i faring from suppressed mirth. And whei
- at last he did get out he stopped a mo
ment at the door and smiled at hts lat
i inquisitor, ”1 might add I was a wardei
1 till we were called up," he said blandly
l and disappeared into the crowd.
NATURE’S CURIOSITIES
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
ONE of the most curious and mys
terious of phenomena associated
with what we call the “five
senses’’ is that each has been a develop
ment and not a part of the primal birth.
In many of the creatures that have been
more or less exhaustively studied by delv
ers who for ages have been atempting
rather unsuccessfully to expalin all the
mysteries of creation one or the other or
several of these senses is lacking. Even
in the highest condition of development
it is impressed on the most ordinary mind
that there might be something better.
Some of the lower orders of things that
move and have being havp not the sense
of vision, of hearing, oil taste, of smell;
and it is even asserted that there are
creatures which have the power of ac
tion, and which can move from one place
to another, but do not have the sensa
tion of “feeling.” That is a problem. We
can't put ourselves in their place. It is
an old fiction that a fish does not feel
pain from the hook. However that may
be, it has been well established that none
of the marine creatures, piscatorial or
mammal, is endowed with a real sense of
hearing. They have a nerve sense, how
ever, which is so acute that they realize
the least vibration of water or air in
their neighborhood.
Next to the nerves of the eye the audi
tory nerves are the most wonderful and
speak most eloquently to the brain. Ai
we would have no vision were it not for
conveyance of light rays of varied wave
lengths to the brain by the w*onderful
highway of the optic nerve, so we would
not have the sensation of sound were it
not for the vibration of the machinery of
the ear which is carried to the brain. If
the organs of transmission are partially
or wholly deadened there is Just so much
diminuatlon of what is called sound, as
there is diminuatlon of sight with the
least defect of the eye.
Sound to the ear is vibration of that
mysterious element called afr, composed
of various gases receptive to the least dis
turbance. The quality of sound, whether
«•••••••••«•■••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••<
it be the roar of thunder or of cannory
in battle, or that of the most' melodlouff
notes of musical instruments, depends en
tirely on the rapidity of atmospheric vi
brations. These beat upon the tympani /
of the ears, almost as sensitive to impres- f
sions as the retina or the eyes to light.
Vibrations reach this marvelous mem
brane through tubes traced and charted
by Bartolommeo Eustachio, more than 400
years ago and are to tnis day known by
the name of eustachian tubes. Through
these tubes also air is admitted from the ^
throat and nostrils and thus the pressure
on both sides of the tympani is equalized.
Beyond the tympani and these tubes is a
maze of delicate bone and cartilage and
fluids which are well called a labyrinth,
and from this grosser creation the sound
waves are conveyed to a network of the
finest of nerves and thence to the audi
tory center of the train. Without this
brain impression there would be no sense (
of sound and that one of the grand five
senses would be missing and four only
left.
Deprivation of sight has been said to be
the most distressing or calamities to the
sensitory being. Next to that has been
classed deprivation of hearing. Both may
result from accident or disease of grosser
parts of the physical creature. In Light
and hearing repose the finest of acquisi
tions since the condition of protoplasm,
is the verdict of scientists who, with all
their splendid w’ork, daylight agonies and
nocturnal lucubrations leave so much to
be known, and tell »so much that the
earlier scientist did not Know.
These meager articles, necessarily 11m- j
tted by limitations of space, are merely *
suggestions to those who may like tef
know things as far as things can be
known, to take up the larger phases of
ail that is called terrestrial and celestial
that may be found in books treating of
each topic. Those inferior senses of smell
ing and tasting, bo closely and curiously
related, will be mentioned in another note
under this head, and then will come the .
greatest, consideration of all, the nerve J
system "without which none of these so- ^
called senses would have cognition.
THE SWORD OR THE PEN
From the Baltimore News.
IT would be a revelation beyond seri
ous doubt if the world could know to
what extent, now and for many
weeks past, diplomacy has been conduct
ing the most important operations of the
war. The censors have allowed a little
news to filter out to the public concerning
the military operations. To the extent
that these facts have been reported, the
information may be set down as reason
ably accurate. Long experience now has
enabled expert students of the different
general staff methods of announcing mil
itary results, to piece together the data
from Paris, Berlin and London, and make
a fair guess as to what has been happen
ing.
But the censors have not had to deal
much with the diplomatic exchanges that
have been going on, it might be said,
behind the screen of military opera
tions. The war, it becomes evident, is
going to last a long time if it is to be
, fought out with the present alignment,
and with both sides willing to fight to the
bitter end, making the sacrifices neces
sary to that purpose. A war of attrition
such as was glibly talked and writter
about in the early months, before the
meaning of twentieth century war wat
understood or admitted by even the gen
eral staffs—say nothing of the publicists
—is proving so slow, expensive and fear
fully destructive of life, that there can
not but be dread in every cabinet ol
pressing national sentiment to the point ol
acquiescence in all its horrors.
The alternative to this is to play the
game out on the diplomatic chessboard
j to line up the powers on one side in suet
overwhelming and convincing array tha1
the other will be forced to realize th€
hopelessness of the oontest. Thus far
there has been no great advantage tc
either side from this effort. Germany,
at the beginning, did not expect that Brit
ain would participate, and her declaration
of war was a shock to Berlin. But, then,
the allies did not expect Turkey could
come in. By doing so she vastly extended
the scope of operations. Turkey by no
means provided a counterpoise for the
Germanic alliance against the British
participation; but it helped. We may
only guess at the extent to which, by
the closing of the Dardanelles, it has
hampered Russia in the matter of war
supplies.
Nobody doubts that the allies have been
long trying to move some more figures
out into the playing area of the board—
to bring in Italy, Roumania, Greece, at
least; perhaps Portugal and Holland.
They have brought none of these into the
European field as yet. If they succeed at
length, it Is likely that they will bring
in their reinforcements In spectacular
fashion, making as big a smash as pos
sible. Thus it is announced that Italy
and Roumania will act together; which
means new enemies on two sides of Aus
tria Bulgaria, it now seems apparent, e*
is the Kaiser's check, so long as it can
be played, against this combination.
It can safely be assumed that Sir Ed
ward Grey is working quite as hard on
the diplomatic campaign as Kitchener is
on the military; and so long as there is
reasonable hope of a diplomatic achieve
ment of the first order, the “spring drive”
in all its bigness and costliness may
reasonably be expected to wait. There
will be nothing like a cessation of ac
tivities; that is not to be expected. But
yet it must be doubted whether the full
force of desperate determination will be
put back of the allies’ offensive so long
as there is yet hope of diplomacy demon
strating the hopelessness of the German
cause. The difficulty seems to be that
as yet neutral nations prefer seeing the
results of the spring drive first.
SOLDIERS WANT ONIONS
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
STATEMENT was made a day or
|wo ago in a cable from Europe
that the soldiers of all armies, as
well as the physicians and nurses, were
anxious tor the advent of spring onions,
I as those which were gathered of the erops
I 0( last year were almost exhausted. The
effect of eating onions. It was said, would
be Incalculable for the prevention of any
and all of the diseases and affections to
which soldiers In active service are liable,
and in making for the general health of
| the men In the field and in the trenches.
II has been recognized from the ancient
days that the onion, its milder cousin,
the leek, and all their near relations, gar
lic and the rest of them, have a salub
rious effect on the human system when
taken In proper quantities, and excellent
for soups, tilling and all culinary purposes.
They are stimulating in every way, ac
cording to the doctors and other students
of the means for health, and, as every
old-fashioned housewife knows, they are
an excellent poultice, the results from
them being even better than those from
mustard and much less irritating.
Both the onion and the leek are diu
retic, which broadly means that they have
an excellent influence on the operation of
the liver and kidneys. Their wholesome
effect Is better felt when they are eaten
raw, but the boiled onion is strongly rec
ommended also, and with a proper dress
ing is counted one of the most pklatable
of "side dishes,” to say nothing of a
I "smothering” tor beefsteak and liver.
Objection to the use of raw onions Is made
on account of the odor Imparted to the
breath, but of course this will count
for nothing with the soldiers; and the old
slander that "its offense Is rank and
smells to heaven" has been much dis
counted in later years when such odor
on the breath has been called an evidence
of commonsense in diet.
The tender shoots of the young spring
onions will soon appear in great quanti
ties In all the countries that are at war.
The growth of the esculent Is rapid and
prodigious, there is no partiality on ac
count of temperature. It flourishes even
in tfopieal soils, and if not affected by
cold even as low as 10 or 15 degrees un
i der freezing, Fahrenheit.
The onion and leek were considered
among the most wholesome of foods by
' the ancient Egyptians. Pliny Is authority
for the statement that they were elo
quently commended by emperors of Rome,
: even Nero being melted to tears at times
- when he wax shewing his affection for
■ raw onions. They are mentioned in the
i old Hebrew scriptures. They have beer
celebrated in the poetry and drama of all
countries. One of the mediaeval British
v
poets has the verse: “Leek to the Welsh,
to Dutchmen butter’s dear.” And that is
a reminder that the leek is the national
insigna of Wales, made so by order of St.
David for some rather obscure reason
connected with the victory of King Arthur
over the Saxons.
The leek Is somewhat less pungent than
the onion, but the milder species of the
latter have been cultivated in immense
quantities in Italy, Spain, Bermuda, Flor
ida. Mexico and In California, and are
being extensively grown as far north as
Canada in North America, the industry
here being somewhat retarded, however,
by importation at low prices from the
other countries mentioned. It is an old
and a very poor pun that "in onion there
is strength,” but it is really no pun, for
the word is derived from roots which
mean oneness, union and so forth.
A SPLENDID CHANCE
From the Washington Star.
“Turkey raising is an arduous busi
ress,” said a wholesale poultry dealer
of Baltimore. “Day and night you must
look after your birds the same as you
look after horses.
“California turkeys are vet* y fine.
They are very well taken care of. Jt
is no snap to work on a California
j turkey farm, I* tell you.
“I was visiting a California turkey
farm last month when a boy applied
for a job.
“‘Your references are good. I’ll try
you,’ said the farmer.
“ ‘Will I have a chance to rise, atrY
the boy asked.
“ ’Yes,’ said the farmer, 'a grand
chance. I’ll want you to have the feed
mixed by 4 o’clock every morning.* ”
ODE TO PEACE
By William Collins.
O thou! who badest thy turtles bear
Swift from his grasp thy golden hair.
And sought’st thy native skies;
When war, by vultures drawn from far*
To Britain bent his iron car,
And bade his storms arise!
i
Tired of his rude tyrannic sway,
Our youth shall fix some festive day.
His sullen shrines to burn;
I But thou, who bear'st. the tw ining
sphere,
What sounds may charm thy partial
ears,
And gain thy bleat return*
O peace! thy injured robes upbind!
O rise, and leave not one behind
Of all thy beamy train;
The British lion, goddess sweet.
Lies stretched on earth to kiss thy feet.
And own thy holier reign.
Let others court thy transient smile.
But come to grace thy western Isle,
By warlike honor led! *
And while arourid her ports rejoice.
While all her sons adore thy choice.
With him forever wed;