The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], May 07, 1915, Page 4, Image 4

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

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THE AGE-HERALD
E. W. BAKKETT.Editor
Entered at the Birmingham. Ala.,
yostoffice as second class matter un
der act of Congress March 3. 18*51.
Daily and Sund-jy Age-Herald... .|S.GO
Daily and Sunday, per month....
Daily arid Sunday, three months.. 2.MO
Weekly Age-Herald, per annum.. .50
Sunday Age-lierald . 2 00
George McMasters, O. E. Young ai'J
W. D. Brumbeloe are the only author
ized traveling representatives of fl he
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 he made at current
late of exchange. The Age-Herald will
not be responsible for money sent
through the mails. Address.
THE AGE-HERALD,
Birmingham, Ala.
Washington bureau, 207 Hlbbs build
ing.
European bureau. 6 Henrietta street.
Covent Garden. London.
Eastern business office. Rooms 4S^ 10
50. 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 exchange connecting all
department* I Alain 4! >00.
For he today that *heil* hi* liloou
with me
Shall be my brother. —Henry A.
BEtil.NMVti THE DAI—firent
fiod, I rejoice In the *u«*hlne. I
thank Thee for It* warmth ««*>*»
liK|,t. I thunk Thee for the dentil
it ileal* and the life St Invoke*. I
thank Thee for It* revelation *‘f
nhape* anil color*. 1 thank Thee
for the rainbow* anil the heavenly
aky-hue* which *lee|» In It. I thank
Thee for It* nmniJnit eall to n»y
nplrlta. I thank Thee for It* remind
er of the a hid in a mlrnelea and tlie
wonderful love of <•<>«!. Amen.
H. M. K.
Backward Japan
The idea that Japan is a thoroughly
enlightened and modern country is
erroneous, so far as a certain part
of the population is concerned, while
even the most intelligent class of
Japanese still cling to some of the
queer customs of their fathers. Oscar
King Davis, a newspaper correspond
ent, writes an amusing account of the
annoyances to which F. W. Horne,
head of the F. W. Horne company in
Yokohama, one of the largest foreign
enterprises in Japan, was subjected
because of native superstition.
When Mr. Horne decided to build a
home some years ago in the foreign
residential section of Yokohama, he
built it to conform to the architecture
of the far cast. It resembles a Chinese
temple in design. While the house was
being built some of the workmen sug
gested that Mr. Horne protect it from
bad devils by placing good devils on
the gables and in other conspicuous
places. Mr. Horne agreed and entered
into the spirit of the occasion so
thoroughly that a small army of good
devils were put up to keep away
evil spirits. As was proper, all faced
outward.
No misfortune befell the Horne es
tablishment and nothing out of the
ordinary happened until a servant in
the residence of a neighbor got sick
and died. There was soon muttering
among the other servants who believed
that Mr. Horne’s numerous good
devils had* driven all the evil spirits
away from his residence and into
neighboring compounds. A priest was
consulted. There were mystic rites
and contributions soothing to the soul
of the priest. He advised that Mi'.
Horne’s devils lie removed, but Mr.
Horne would not consent to this. The
priest was again consulted. The re
ligious ceremonies-—and the contribu
tions—were kept up for sometime and
Mr. Horne’s neighbor finally lost
patience. He declared that some way
must be found to pacify his servants.
The priest, seeing that further delay
was useless, announced that if a suf
ficient number of cannon, well loaded,
w.ere placed on the neighbor's house
In such a way that they would com
mand the devil on the Horne house
who was causing all the trouble, there
would be nothing more to fear.
This was done and peace was re
stored. The servants have continued
in good health, but let the Horne
devils show any sign of further ac
tivity and it’s all off with them.
Hasty Mr. Saad
Some men are mighty quick to jump
at cor.clur’ons.
The case of Abdolla Saad of Duluth,
Minn., for instance, is a striking ex
t ample of man’s precipitate action in
passing judgment upon his wife.
According to a press dispatch from
Duluth, one day in 1906 Mrs. Saad
announced to her husband that she
was going to call on a neighbor, that
Sahe would return within a few
minutes, in time to complete the de
tails of serving supper, which was
then in the process of cooking.
“Stir the potatoes, turn the ham
over and be sure to keep the coffee
hot," Mrs. Saad is quoted as saying
to her husband, as she skipped scrost
the street to the home of the neigh
bor.
Mr. Saad ebeyed the instructions
and when his wife didn’t return ir
time for supper he ate alone.
Mow, although his wife has onlj
. i
been gone nine years, Mr. Saad has
gone into the courts of Duluth ask
ing divorce.
Perhaps he is not to be blamed for
j missing the society of his wife, but it
does seem that he should allow her a
j reasonable length rtf time in which to
return to him.
Perhaps while calling on her neigh
bor some interesting discussion has
arisen and she may have innocently
overlooked the fact that the supper
she left on the stove nine years ago is
getting a bit stale. Maybe she and
her neighbor are discussing the suf
frage question or they may be talk
ing of the high cost of living problem,
or how little Susie’s graduation dress
should be made—all these and a thou
sand other things may have come up
to prolong the conversation.
But Mr. Saad, unreasonable man,
doesn’t seem to take these things into
consideration. Ia"t us hope that his
divorce petition will be denied.
Definite Military Policy Demanded
There may be a difference of opin
ion among men familiar with naval
affairs as to whether or not this
country’s navy is anything like ade
quate for defense in the event of war
with a strong foreign power, but
there is no question as to the inade
quacy of the United States army.
Secretary of War Garrison, who
has won a high reputation as a
broad-minded statesman and depart
ment chief, had not been long in Presi
dent Wilson’s cabinet when he began
to insist upon a stronger national de
fense. Not only was the regular
army insufficient in numerical
strength, he pointed out, but it was
poorly organized. He asked the Sixty
third Congress to increase the coast
artillery by a few thousand men; this,
however, for temporary betterment
of defense conditions. He made it
plain that the United States army
should be reorganized and consider
ably enlarged and that more attention
should be given to the national guard.
But Congress failed to act in line
with his recommendations.
As Mr. Garrison says, this country
needs a definite military policy.
“There is, in my opinion, no one
subject,” wrote the Secretary recent
ly to Brigadier General Macomb, as
bead of the war college, “of so great
importance before this country at this
time as the proper military policy to
be adopted by it and pursued as occa
sion permits. This policy should not
only be clear, comprehensive and
scientific from a military standpoint,
but it should be presented in such a
way as to secure approval on behalf
of the citizens of the country.
“This country has never had a well
thought out, wrought out and agreed
upon military policy. This is the
first opportunity within the lifetime
of those now active to have this done.
We have the privilege of being called
upon to do it. We should give to it
every ounce of whatever is worth
while in us. We should work as if
assured that we were to succeed. Even
if the details are not all accepted and
made effective, the general plan, if
well prepared, will remain for years
afterwards as a monument to those
whose labor produced it.”
Secretary Garrison has instructed
all commanders of coast defense dis
tricts to make a thorough study of
the fortifications in their charge and
submitted recommendations for their
improvement and for bringing them
! up to date. These reports will be
combined with data originating in
Washington. The newly created gen
eral board of defenses, headed by
Chief of Staff Gen. Hugh L. Scott,
will consider all details and will as
sist in working out a permanent policy.
The Secretary will endeavor to in
duce the Sixty-fourth Congress to act
favorably upon his plan for an in
creased army—not an army that
would suggest a movement toward
militarism, but a mobile army of
150,000 or 200,000 men that would be
able to defend this country with
economy in point of time and money
against invasion.
A Plea for the Practical
Verdant May is the forerunner of
rosy June. All of which brings to mind
that commencement day is near—that
day of all days when the sweet girl
I graduate, garbed in filmy white, and
I just a "bit timid from stage fright,
conveys to us once again that time
honored bit of geographical wisdom,
viz.: “Beyond the Alps lies Italy.”
In some respects it would be a sight
more fetching if she would inform us
that beyond Birmingham lies Talla
dega, but for some unaccountable
reason commencement day orators and
oratoresses have, as a rule, discrimi
nated against local points in favor
of Italy and the Alps.
Just why the little old Alps and
swarthy Italy should thus be immor
talized is not quite clearly under
stood—but do not blame the sweet
girl graduate, for^she is merely fol
lowing tradition.
Incidentally one is reminded that
there is a tendency in the high schools
—not of Alabama but of many cities
in the United States—to dwell upon
educational frills at the expense of the
more simple and more practical sub
jects.
Of late years the “three R’s” haye
/
t
In some sections been sadly neglected
in the public schools. In many schools
practically no attention whatever is
given to spelling. United States his
tory is largely neglected while the
students are crammed on mediaeval
history. Mythology is specialized upon
while civil government is passed by
as a matter of trivial importance. And
so on down the line.
F'or example, a young woman from
Illinois who had “cum laude” en
graved in beautiful old English type
on the face of her diploma from a
fashionable seminary in the east and
who prior to that had graduated with
honors from a metropolitan high
school, recently visited friends in
Texas, and while there, according to
n Texas newspaper, her host showed
her a life sized portrait of Sam Hous
ton.
The young woman looked at the
portrait, admired the massive frame
encircling it, and then astonished her
host by asking:
“And who was this man Houston?”
The old fashioned “deestrik” school
has been the butt of many a jest in
funny columns and on the stage, but,
after all, its persistent devotion to the
rudiments of education has estab
lished it as an institution in this coun
try which can hardly be spared.
Hugh Daly, now a resident of Pitts
burg. helped to connect Europe $md Asia
with the first submarine cable ever laid in
oriental waters. The party left Liverpool
‘•'tptemher 25. 1858, on their voyage to the
Dardanelles. Their vessel was a three
masted barkentine rigged steamer of the
screw propeller type. Steam and sail
were both used in those days for propul
sion. The name of the ship was the Elba.
Her master was Captain Hamilton. The
Medina, a sloop of war belonging to the
English navy, acted as convoy. She was
equipped with sidewheels and sails. The
f able w as stored in the hold of the Elba.
Ft was made at Liverpool and Birken
head. England, under the direction of
Newhall & Gordon, who also made the
Atlantic cable in the same year, and was
laid under the personal supervision of,
Mr. Gordon, who accompanied the party.
It extends from a point a few miles inside
the European line of forts. Killid Bahr,
to a point near Chanak in Asia. The dis
tance across the Dardanelles here is only!
about tw'o miles, so that the undertaking
was not stupendous from an engineering
point of view’. Now that one of the great
est naval battles of history is being
fought in the Dardanelles, the fate of this
j« able is problematical.
Another advantage Of traveling in a
special train is that if you happen to
have a birthday while en route the train
can be stopped and the day fittingly cele
brated, as in the case of Mr. Schwab and
his party, who were bound for the San
Francisco fair.
There is a difference of opinion about it.
Some people think that the man who
can't wear knee length underwear because
his trousers rub his knees belongs in the
mollycoddle class.
An opera singer will receive approxi
mately $2 a minute for posing in moving
pictures. No wonder a horny-handed son
of toil hates to work for a paltry 70 cents
an hour.
Chicago looks forward to a population
of 5,000,000 in 1940. Still, a great many peo
ple look forward to a simple thing like a
trip to Europe, without ever getting there.
it must be discouraging for a board of
arbitration to hear a prolonged howl from
one side or tlie other practically every
time an award is made.
The war In Europe is being fought in
shifts, which is merely another evidence
of the way the slaughter of men has been
systematised.
France has given a Pennsylvania fac
tory an order for 130.000 dozen pairs of
stockings. Another breach of neutrality
seems imminent.
A new Austrian army is reported ready
to hit Servia. However, it begins to look
as if Servia refuses to be knocked out.
It is to be hoped that the reckless en
thusiasm of the early fly swatter will not
wane before the fly season is over.
An increase in the size of the water
wagon hat? become imperative. Might
make it a "double deck" affair.
A noted dramatic critic has called an
other noted critic a "literary snob." To
your typewriters, gentlemen!
California hopes to do away with party
lines in state elections, which is a long
look toward the millenium.
According to some accounts, the Demon
Rum looks more wobbly than some of his
staunchest followers.
Mr. Barnes seems to have overlooked or
ignored the fact that the colonel is a
glutton for punishment.
Jim Ham Lewis aspires to the vice pres
idency. It is every man s privilege in this
country to aspire.
If General Villa's officers keep shooting
at him they will eventually end his ca
reer as a patriot.
Still, T. R. can hardly claim that his
efforts to reform politics were entirely
disinterested.
Birmingham has learned the lesson of
dangerous walls, but how long will it be
remembered ?
'1*0 MISTER M’liUKE
From the Newark Advocate.
Dear Luke:
We regretted moat deeply to hear
That your physical self is somewhat out
of gear; ,
That you’d made an exchange of your
gay cap and bells
For a series of torturing, miniature
hells.
We hope you get out for we’ve missed
your bright chaff
, And we fear If you don’t, we’ll forget
how to laugh.
But there's nothing so bad but it might
be much worse,
So cheer up for you may fall in love
I with your nursa.
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
'' *«r and 4 often
“The threatening Ohino-Japanese sit
uation naturally has a tendency to d**
press the cotton market somewhat In
this country,” remarked a Birmingham
cotton broker.
“Indeed there in now a grave pos
sibility of war betweeir these two fur
t astern countries. Japan has already
presented her ultimatum at Peking and
should the Chinese government fail to
n ake a satisfactory reply war in my
opinion would be inevitable. In that
event the American cotton market in
the far east would, of course, be rath
er limited for awhile, especially along
the coast of China, which would be
blockaded. But the war would prob
ably be of short duration and while
it lasted would at no time have any
where near so depressing an effect on
the cotton situation as did the Euro
pean war. In fact, I understand tnat
China now raises a large part of the
cotton used by her people. But there
Is nevertheless a heavy importation
each year of cotton goods manufac
tured in the United States and tills
would be somewhat curtailed for a
tune. Cotton men, however, need not
become alarmed until there are war
like developments, for hostilities may
be averted. China is certainly not in
position to contest Japan's demands.
There was a slight improvement in the
Thursday cotton market."
’rui r niurr . .r> —
“While on my trip to eastern markets 1
came In contact with many business men
from different parts of the United States,
and there was a wide divergence of opin
ion on the state of the country, but all
spoke hopfefiilly of the near future,” said
J. D. Collins.
“I dhl not find any marked difference
in prices for shoes over those prevailing
last year before tfie European war start
ed It is true that there has been a
steady falling off in the world's produc
tion of hides and ultimately the wearer of
real leather shoes will feel it, yet owing
to the large increase in the use of cloth—
canvass—for all kinds of light wear shoes,
and even for athletics and outdoor life,
the shortness of leather has been in
part discounted and provided for.
“You ask me if scarcity of hides had
anything to do with the use of leather;
no, for cloth has for some years been
coming more and more into use for certain
parts of shoes. Take the matter of the
dress of women, the cloth shoe has been
in vogue off and on for years, partic
ularly in white. Canvas shoes appear
cooler, are ‘natty’ for summer wear and
can be had at prices within the reach of
every purse. Then, too, canvas shoes
are made in higher priced goods, up to $6
and $6 per pair.
"As to low-priced shoes, anybody can
sell them; we handle some grades as low
as $1.96 per pair for fresh goods at that."
Inlereat In Good MunIi?
“One of the best evidences that there
is a wider interest in high-class music
in this country at the present time than
there was 10 or 15 years ago is found
in the larger and more eager audiences
that attend concerts given by symphony
orchestras,” said an old music lover.
“When Birmingham was a much small
er town than it is now we got together
large audiences on festival occasions,
but I remember when Damrosch gave a
concert at the Jefferson theatre eight or
nine years ago not half the seats were
occupied. At the same theatre recently
Damrosch rendered a symphony pro
gramme and the house was packed.
“Another very significant and encour*
| uging fact is that Damrosch on this
spring’s tour has played to large audiences
everywhere, even in “towns of less than
10,000 population. Montgomery turned out
well and Tuscaloosa did likewise. Dam
j roach played to a crowded house at Me
ridian, and as far west as Oklahoma
there was not a single town where he ap
peared that did/not supply a large audi
ence.
“Some musical organizations such as
brass and reed bands and grand opera
draw crowdas a result of hippodrome
methods. They are advertised extensively
and the crowds are drummed up from re
mote corners, but there Is no hippodrom
mg in the case of Dami'osch. His concerts
have been advertised in the usual way
People have gone to hear him because
they like good orchestra music."
Trolley or Jiluey
“The married man reminds nie of a
street car.” said D. R. Grace, “for he
runs on a certain track on schedule time,
£oing to the barn at midnight and stay
ing there till morning and is subject to
ihe rules and regulations of the powers
that be.
1 he bachelor is a jitney, running
when and where he pleases regardless of
the speed limit, subject to no rules but
his own will; out at all hours of the
nitslit. running on high gear in shady
places, spurning the appeals of the up
lift, disregarding sociological congresses,
contemptuous of scientific housing con
dltlons. making light of the woes of the
suffragettes, artfully dodging the corners
on tag da\. and Is not liable for any dam
ages he may cause to the domestic rela
tions of the community. Be a Jitney"’
Playground Day at Bast Bake
"Wc are planning for the greatest
athletic meet and playground day at
Bast lgikr Saturday that has over been
held in Birmingham," said Z. Nespor,
city superintendent of Playgrounds.
‘Manager Black has turned over East
Bake park and all of Its concessions
lo us for a ’benefit day’ and a Mayday
festival. We have planned an elabor
ate programme of swimming, diving
and other water stunts of a highly
amusing character. There will be re
lay races of different kinds. One of
the star features will be folk dunces
1 y classes from several schools.
The general purpose Is to inform
the public by demonstration of the
Practical workings of the playground
department; then, too, we need money
to carry on the work. Owing to ;ho
city s financial condition this must be
raised by popular contributions in a
smull way and, therefore, we have
inaugurated the ‘buy-a-button’ plan,
and the proposed Mayday festival. This
plan enables thousands to contribute
to aid in the practical work of devel
oping future citizens, healthy In body
and in thought, a great moral force in
Itself. There are thousands who do not
pay anything whatsoever to the main
tenance of the city. With the ‘buy-a
button plan they may all become spe
cifically contributors to the support of
a practical work for the good of all
citizens. It is hoped that the people
of Birmingham will turn out Saturday
I lo make a great Mayday festival and
picnic day Saturday at East Bake
park."
The Iron kUuutlua
Rogers. Brown & Co.’s Cincinnati report
says in raft:
i “Without any special features, the pig
iron market at ill point* during th* week
has developed more activity. Sales locally
have included northern, southern, high
silicon, Virginia and charcoal iron, indi
cating a broader use of various grades
and kinds. Deliveries have ranged from
spot through last half and prices, while
unchanged, are being held stronger at
present figures for tne more extended de
liveries.
“In the south, due to recent activity
and large buying, prices have become
stronger, and In some instances advanced
for last half business. Owing to this
improvement in southern iron, buying ot
northern iron at existing figures for last
half appears to be more general.
“April was a distinctly satisfactory
month in the iron and ateel trade, largely
due to business placed in all lines for
future delivery rather than output rec
ords for the month. An ever increasing
rate of shipment on existing contracts is
indicative of increase in melt and produc
tion of foundries during the last few
months.”
WAR ECHOES
Pittsburg Sun: With the commercial
and industries skies clearing as they are
now and an internal demand for all kinds
of goods made by our manufactories,
there is every reason for wage earners to
feel that the period of pinching has
passed and for merchants and others in
commercial life cheerfully to look the fu
ture in the face. Naturally, the one
query in all quarters that arises from
time to time Is "What after the war?”
What, indeed?
In an address before an association of
bankers in Newark recently John E. Gar
din of the National City bank of 'New
Vork sounded a warning to the United
States as he sketched the readjustment
of affairs in the old world after the war.
The amount of damage, in money, that
had been done in Europe up to this time,
he said, was estimated to be not less than
$46,000,000,000, and the war has just
started. When it comes to replacing and
repairing and restoring all this tremen
dous waste the reul tasks of humanity
will begin. To re-establish the equi
librium will take many, many years, and
credit will be the one great essential.
The rehabilitation of industrial affairs
is only one phase of the economic question
that will confront the makers of the new
Europe. The industries wlH resume with
feverish anxiety to recoup for the loss
of months of idleness. The workmen will
lie needing work, and as the consumptive
powers of the present belligerents will
have decreased fully fiO per cent, wages
will he lower than before the war. Our
markets and others will be flooded with
the output of the continental shops ano
the prices will be disastrous to our com
petition. He cautions the American peo
ple not to be overconfident commercially,
for the aftermath of the war is sure to
hit us, and in tlie most vulnerable spot
of trade and finance.
He pointed out that from December to
April our excess of exports over Imports
was $600,000,000, and prophesied that within
a year the balance of trade in favor of
this country would be a billion and a half
dollars. It- will not be able to remit in
gold; there will not be a sufficient ex
change of commodities to reduce it ma
terially. This condition can be adjusted
only In time. Europe, he points out.
holds $3,600,000,000 in gold against a bank
note issue of $7,600,000,000, so the metal
will be retained at home. He does not an
| tlcipate that any of the American secur
ities held abroad will be sold in this mar
ket after the war. The tenor of the
speech was moderation and a warning
against over confidence.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch: While the
taste of the attack on his successor made
by George von L. Meyer, ex-Secretary of
the Navy, is questionable, there seems
to be some basis in fact for his criticism
of our lack of fast battle cruisers.
But if many such craft are now avail
able for service in foreign navies, where
they are demonstrated a largp utility, they
must have oeen laid down several years
ago, during a period, for instance, when
Mr. Von Meyer was in charge of the des
tinies of our navy. He cannot place cen
sure on his successor for this deficiency
without attaching some of it to himself.
If we had had a war at any time this
past two years and our navy had been
handicapped by lack of ships of the high
est speed, Mr. Von Meyer's regime could
not escape responsibility.
The same point applies to his strictures
! on the insufficiency of men. 'Hie navy
may be short-handed, but at least it is not
as short-handed by a matter of some 5000
men as it was in Von Meyer's time. He
was only one of the conventional, com
monplace types in the long succession of
navy secretaries, without any such bril
liant record as would justify, him in pass
ing judgment on others of the same or
other types.
"Naval policy leads nowhere," he com
plains. Where did it lead when Von
Meyer was In office? Under his successor
it has at least led away from robber
prices for armor plate, projectile and other
contracts awarded on straw bids.
Alexander Ctty Outlook: The commence
ment ceason Is almost at hand and "Bweet
girl graduate" and the young Demos
thenes wilt soon be with us again.
Anniston Evening Star: Since the new
definition came Into vogue, the expression
"chicken-hearted" has taken on a new
meaning.
Marlon County News: All the manufac
turers of liquor and beer ought to favor
the prohibition laws of Alabama. Under
prohibition mqre liquor is consumed by
people, and dealers do not pay any license
or tax on the traffic. Prohibition does
not promote temperance, and this fact
can be seen on the streetB of any Alabama
town seven days in the week.
Gadsden Evening Journal: The colonel
says he wasn’t mad when he njade those
speeches against Barnes. No wonder the
speeches were so mild In tone.
Gadsden Tlmes-News: A New York man
wants a divorce because his wife fed him
veal stew four days In succession. Well,
stews have been known to cause divorce
since time began.
Andalusia Star: Tfte Star favors all
harmless amusements on Sunday. Many
folk work six days In the week. Sunday
Is their only opportunity for relaxa
tion We wouldn’t object to ball games,
golf games, moving picture shows, etc.,
observing -church hours, of course. We
ought to carry out religion around with
us during the six working days. Too many
folk put on their church clothes. Of
course, you can do as you like and we'll
do the same. You don't have to accept
our doctrine and we're not compelled tc
Indorse yours. We're all headed for the
same place. There's, a probability that
: we'U meet where prohibition ne'er break)
: in and suffrage is at an en<L
maumm
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES
NO WONDER SHE POUTED.
Alas, alack, fair Geraldine
Doth wear a look of woe.
She traveled In her limousine
To see a naughty show—.
Ar so ’twas called. The curtain rose,
The play was tame and flat;
Not one at which to hold the nose,
Or quiver where one sat.
No scarlet scenes enlivened it,
Nor passion's hectic sway.
And not a line that would admit
A double meaning. Nay.
Twas cruel disappointment and
I’m sure that you’ll agree.
Poor "Jerry” left, we understand,
As mad as mad could be.
CAN’T SEE TT THAT WAY.
"Fatherly pride is a great thing. There’s
Dubson’s boy. Just because the youngster
Is making good marks at school Dubson
is as proud as if he were doing it him
self.’’
"Ah, yes. Poor Dubson! He was always
at the foot of the class when he was
in school, yet if you tell him the boy
takes after his mother he Is grievously
offended."
SOON SETTLED.
"We must stop to consider ways and
means," said Mr. Dibbles, with a judicial
air. "Now, my dear, you want a new hat,
but I haven't the money with which to pay
for a new hat. The next question is,
What are we to do?”
"Why, charge it, of course," snapped
Mrs. Dibbles. "Any fool would knowr
that!”
ONE SHE’S OVERLOOKED.
"Mrs. Prebscomb is engaged in ail kinds
of charitable work.”
"A busy woman, I dare say.”
"Yes, indeed. She’s so busy finding
homes for the homeless that Mr.
Prebscomb, one of the most conspicuous
examples of the sort I ever saw, spends
most of the time at his club.”
FINISHING THE FINNS.
A council of minifilers at Petrograd has
decided that Finland must pay its share
of tho war expenses. Finland has so far \
Mi
contributed neither men nor money. The
Finns, whose love for Russia Is, to %ay .
the least, negligible, will doubtless dig up
their little 1.8 of the total. expenditures
with a look that signiffes, "Oh, if we
dared!"
, •
STIL.D WAITING.
“There's nothing like optimism," said
the cheerful person. "There is almost
I nothing it cannot do.”
"I fear you are mistaken," said the man
who seemed to have met with disappoint
ment. F*t>r instance, I used to be an op
timist myself—so much so that I put a
large sum of money in mining stock, but
all the optimism I have been able to scare
up hasn't he*ued me to realise on the in- ^
vestment yet."
DOMESTIC CRITICISM.
After arduous toil the poet had perfect
ed a sonnet.
"Ah!” he exclaimed. "This will surely
make me famous!”
A few minutes later he read it to his
wife and waited for'eomment.
"It’s r pretty piece,” she said. "I like to
see the lines all about the same length, '
instead of raggedy, as they are in some
of your longer poems, dear.”
NONE.
There are no depths so vast a stricken soul
May not regain the heights from whence
he fell.
And see life's leaden curtains backward
roll
And hear Hope’s inward whisper, “All
is well.” ^
WHEN APPEARANCES COUNT.
"A man is not always to he judged by
exterior appearances." ^
"Only in certain cases.”
"You mean?" 1
"I would never choose a man with arms
like pipe stems, legs ditto and a flat chest
to carry off any honors in an athletic con
test.”
WESTINGHOUSE AIRBRAKE
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
ONLY the railroad man knows and
understands the great advantage
of the airbrake now universally
used on our railroads for the stopping of
trains and the preventing of accidents.
The greatly Increased size of engines, cars
and trains is only possible through the air
brake, which controls them like magic.
The inventor of the airbrake was George
Westinghouse, and it was first tried on
a railroad in 1S09, when it was placed on
a Panhandle train. From the beginning
of railroads the necessity for brakes was
apparent, and in 1833 Robert Stephenson
patented a steam brake for the driving
wheels. That same brake, with com
pressed air substituted for steam, Is essen
tially the Westinghouse device of today.
But Westinghouse made the air do the
work of steam. After he had developed
the idea he offered it to leading eastern
railways, but they one and all declined it.
Finally Westinghouse was permitted to
place it on a Panhandle train, full as-1
suranee having been given to the railroad
officials that he would be personally re
sponsible for any injury done to their
equipment. Four cars and an engine were
fitted with the new device and the train
started forth from Pittsburg to Steuben
ville. On the way its progress was halted
by a farm wagon which was caught in the
rail at a highway crossing. The engi
neer whistled for the hand brakes in the
good old-fashioned way, hut he knew that
he was too late. Then lie thought of the
airbrake. He had little faith in the con
traption. but be gave its handle a wrench
and the train stopped 10 feet from the'
wagon. Several lives were saved and the
airbrake was proven. From that day forth
It. was simply a question of developing the
device to its fullest capacity, and Mr
Westinghouse proved himself to be able;
to do that very thing.
The airbrake was one of the most valu
able of all the inventions by which the
improvement of the transportation service
has been brought about. Introduced in1
1868, in 1887 the airbrake had been devel
ops so that it was practicable to use it
on freight trains, and at the present
GAKVS LUNCH BILLY SUNDAY'S
From the New York Sun.
Billy Sunday, Ma Sunday and Rilly
Junior and Paulliad lunch with Judge and
Mra. Elbert H. Gary Monday at the Gary
home. 856 Fifth avenue. The revivalist mo
tored over from Paterson just for the
luncheon and hied straight back after it
was over. Billy said it was “a fine house,
a fine company and fine eats,” and this
favorable opinion of the occasion was
shared by the others present.
Nathan Straus, emerging from the
house, said of Sunday: “He’s a wonder.”
Charles H. Hayden of Hayden. Stone A
Co., said that Billy w'as “mighty interest
ing.” Arthur Brisbane sat at the far end
of the long table and said that as the con
versation was mostly between neighbors
he didn't hear much of what Billy said;
however, he subscribed to a general be
lief that Billy was “Immense.”
Judge Gary himself remarked that
“after all, it's a man's sincerity that mat
ters” and expressed a thorough belief in
Billy's sincerity. Some of the others at
the luncheon were Mr. and Mrs. W. E.
Benjamin, Mrs. Alexander Brown and Mr.
And Mrs. F. B. Frazier.
Judge Gary explained that after Mrs.
Gary had invited the Sundays to lunch
eon friends, hearing of the affair, ex
pressed an eagerness to meet Billy, so a
small party was formed,
"They've all declared they are going
over to hear him preach now,” said the
chairman of the United States Steel cor
poration, as he waved farewell to the
Sundays. Judge Gary visited the Paterson
taberin&cle a short while ago. On his way
home his motor was in a slight collision.
“In the sermon that night Mr. Sun*
day spoke of the Scriptural prediction
that ‘one shall be taken and the other
left,’ ” Judge Gary continued. “Pointing
at some of us, he shouted; ‘You million*
aires! When that day comes your chauf
fers will be taken and you'll be left—to
drive your own cars!’ On ths way home
came that little gump. So the first thing
1 Arthur Bhisbane said to me today was:
“Was your chauffeur taken and were you
i left?* ” ,
When the Judge had finished chuckling
^ ./
time the law requires all trains in the s
l nited States to be equipped with air
brakes by which the train can be con
trolled by the engineer. The days of the
hand brake are past. The power brake
has greatly lessened the risks to which
employes are exposed, lias decreased the
danger of travel, and has made possible
much greater speed for freight as well
as passenger trains.
In 1873 Mr. A\ estinghouse made the first
of his improvements on the original (
straight airbrake by the invention of the
automatic airbrake. In this brake each
car was equipped with an auxiliary reser
voir and a triple valve in addition to the
train pipe and brake cylinder. Its chief
objection was that in an emergency appli- ^
cation on a long train the forward brakes
were applied so much sooner than those
in the rear that the slack of the train ran
ahead and often did great damage. To
remedy this objection, Mr. Westinghouse j
invented in 1887, the quick action triple
valve, by which the application was so
much hastened at the rear of the train
that the slack had no chance to run *
ahead.
The very high passenger train speed of
recent years led Mr. Westinghouse in 1887
to place on the market n high-speed brake.
Several forms of airbrake besides the
Westinghouse have been employed to
some extent in America, but they are
exactly similar in their principles of op
eration
George Westinghouse was of German
descent and was born in New York state
in 181H. His father was an inventor and it
was in the shops of his parent that he laid
the foundation of his successful career.
W hen he was only 15 years old he Invented
and built a rotary engine.
Westinghouse’s first invention was a de- J
vice for replacing railroad cars upon the
tracks, and in the same year it was that
a collision between two freight trains
near Troy, N. Y., suggested to him the
idea of a brake that w’ould work under
the control of the engineer. He first ex*
perimented with steam, but a newspaper
article upon the use of compressed air in
boring the Mount Oenis tunnel directed
his attention to that as an agent.
. . I
he went on to say that Billy's acrobatic
preaching, which sounded so unattractive
in descriptions, seem natural and graceful
when you behold hint on the platform.
“What would he ridiculous In one man
is simple and effective In another," the
judge explained. And he spoke with a
touch of admiration of the way In which
Billy, describing the eager rush of thirst
tom wayfarers to a cooling stream, threw
himself prone on the platform, just as
they threw themselves flat on the ground
at the water’s edge.
Roast beef, of which Billy is fond,
i formed the staple of the luncheon, and
the liquids were tea and cold water.
There were a few questions asked Billy
about His work, but in general the com
pany didn't talk shop.
WALKING IS GOOD, BROTHER
From the Franklin County Times.
It is nine miles from Florence to
Museel .Shoals. On May 10, no boat can
run; there is no railroad. There re
mains the dirt road and the horseback,
horse and buggy and tlie auto as means
of conveyance. The visiting committee
and distinguished persons will' use all
the cars available. Now what 1* a
poor, common editor to do,?
THE SPRINGTIME PLAINS.
Badger Clark in Scribner's Magazine.
Heart of me, are you bearing
The drum of hoofs In the rains?
Over the Springtime plains I ride
Knee to knee with Spring
And glad as the summering sun that
comes
Galloping north through the zodiac!
Iicart of me, let’s forget
The plains death-white and still,
When lonely love through the stillness
called
Like a smothered stream that sings of
Summer
Under the snow on a Winter night.
Now the frost is blown from the sky
And the plains are living again.
Lari: lovers sing on sunrise trail.
Wild horses call to me out of the moon.
Watching me pass with impish eyes, 1
Gray coyotes laugh In the quiet dusk
And the plains are glad all day with me.
Heart, of me. all the way
My heart snd the hoofB keep time,
And the wide, sweet winds from tfra
greening world
Shout In my ears a glory song.
For nettrer. nearer, mile and mile.
Over the quivering rim of the plains;
Is a valley that Spring and X love bait
'And the waiting ayew of you I
j
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