The Virginia enterprise. [volume], November 27, 1908, Image 2

About The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
The Enterprise.
Vf. E. HANN4F0RD, Pub.
VIRGINIA. MINNESOTA.
Making Public Libraries.
The most Important-,, question for
the public, library "W^at booksshaU
we
™any towns the reading
committee is a recognized adjunct of
the library, and the librarian has the
verdict of several different minds'for
aid in his task of selecting new books.
Most of the voluntary readers are like­
ly to he women, and the service they
render the community is a real one,:
if their judgment and taste are sound.'
On the other hand, a complaisant
commendation of a book as "very in­
teresting" may do actual harni when*
the book lies in the debatable land be­
tween bad and good—the land of cur­
rent fiction and. trashy juvenilis. A
great jneeting ot English librarians
rec^ptiy gpt,forth Sonne geueral prin­
ciples which should help, determine
the desirability of books, says the
Youth's Companion. First, they de­
clared the notion exploded that a
taste for good reading develops from
reading poor bookB. The very con­
trary is true. The habit of reveling
in cheap fiction is destructive of a
wholesome pleasure in sound read­
ing. The iove of books, like the love
of virtae, feeds in high, clean, sweet
pastures, not in refuse, and not even
on 'lusks. Again, the demand for cer­
tain books does not require the public
library to supply them. It is a specious
^argument that the taxpayers' money
should answer the taxpayers' desire.
More than 60 per cent, of the books
drawn from public libraries are works
of fiction. The thin, tasteless stream
of modern fiction is too often the li­
brary's chief offering to the communi­
ty. Certain libraries adopt the rigorous
measure of buying no fiction until it is
a year old. The librarians agreed that
the rule is an excellent one, If it is
slightly elastic in its actual applica­
tion. At all events, the helpful ad­
visory reader for the public library is
the man or woman who believes that
in proportion as a good book is a
blessing, a poor book is a curse.
It seems incredible that in so civil­
ized a country as Italy a man can have
remained in prison untried for 38
years. Yet the government is about
to dispose of a case which has been
pending since 1870. On September 18
of that year two boys, aged 11 and
eight years, started for a gunsmith's
with their father's pistol to be re­
paired. On the way they quarreled,
and the elder shot the younger, proba­
bly by accident. The elder was ar­
rested by the papal authorities, then
the rulers of Rome but before he
could be brought to trial the temporal
power of the pope was taken away.
13y 1882 the new power in Rome had
reached the case and was ready to try
it but the death penalty was abol­
ished about this time, and this caused
fresh delay. Now, if be is so fortu­
nate, the boy, now a middle-aged man,
will either be discharged from cus
today or be formally punished.
At the present rate of progress in
shipbuilding new terms will have to
be devised to describe adequately the
marine monsters. "Leviathans of the
deep" seems a tame expression when
applied to some of the new craft. Two
now under constructon will be 1,000
feet in length and of 60,000 tons dis­
placement. That means 238 feet longer
that the Lusitania and Mauretania
and nearly double the carrying capac­
ity of those ships. The Spanish ar­
mada ilves in history as one of the
great naval forces. Yet the entire ton­
nage of the armada was 59,120, or con­
siderably less than that of one of the
new steamers. Modern skill in naval
construction, with the improved means
of generating and applying power,
makes these seeming miracles possi
pie.
There is no doubt that most people
ruin their teeth and digestive system
by taking food at too high a tempera­
ture. One cannot get into a hot bath
if it is over 112 degrees 105 degrees
is dangerous, and even 100 degrees is
warm. But from experiments made it
appears that we eat meat at 115 de­
grees temperature, beans at 132 de­
grees, potatoes at 150 degrees. The
average temperature of tea is 135 de­
grees, and it may be sipped, but can­
not be swallowed in large quantities
If it exceeds 142 degrees.
Dr. Cook, who is looking for the
north pole, writes that the boys are
looking well and that he has plenty of
dogs. No wonder the boys are look­
ing well. Dog in that country is such
a pleasant change from a steady diet
of canned goods.
A brother of the "King of Kurdistan"
has applied Tor naturalization papers
in this country. Being a brother of
the "King of Kurdistan" isn't a very
good job, evidently.
Wright aeroplanes will soon be on
the market at $4,000 apiece, which
shows that high flying is going to be
as expensive a game as eevr.
Good Health says that nuts "bought
in the shell are also absolutely clean."
Yes, even the fat, round worms in the
chestnuts are very white.
English woman suffragists think
their magna charta is a long time in
being handed to them
WASHINGTON—When
THOUSANDS
IF
Soo.ooo
worid'S
__ F?i-.
THE
At the National Capital
Gossip of People and Events
Gathered in Washington
Next [distress of the White House
Mrs. Roose­
velt leaves Washington next
March her place as "first lady of the
land" and mistress of the White House
will be taken by a woman gracious
and tactful, of broad culture and in­
tellectual strength, a fit hostess for
the presidential mansion and a fit help­
meet for the president.
Mrs. William Howard Taft is no
stranger to the White House. During
her husband's term of secretary of
war she was a frequent guest of Mrs.
Roosevelt's and almost invariably held
her place in the receiving line at the
large presidential receptions.
In her girlhood days Mrs. Taft, then
Helen Herron, was the house guest for
several weeks of President and Mrs.
Hayes. This visit is said to be one
of Mrs. Taft's most highly-prized
recollections, but it may be that in the
earlier day in the White House no
thought entered the head of the young
girl guest that one day she would be
mistress of the mansion.
Great Problem for Country Life Body
of the half million farm­
ers, teachers, physicians, business
men and others who were invited to
co-operate with the commission on
country life have already sent in re­
plies to the list of questions asked
them, although the ink is hardly dry
on the printed sheets rushed out to
them.
The members of the commission
which was appointed by President
Roosevelt to conduct this extensive in­
quiry into the conditions of farm life
the country over, have a problem of
perhaps greater magnitude to work
out than ever came before a similar
commission. Not only is the subject
of the inquiry one of great import­
ance, but the breadth of its scope is
such as to require the varied condi­
tions of the whole country to be taken
into account. The amount of work
involved will hardly be realized by
the casual reader. The mere reading
of the letters which are flooding in
each day in answer to the questions
is a difficult, though most interesting,
task, for the commission's incoming
mail is running from 3,000 to 5,000
pieces a day.
And this is not all. There is vastly
more ahead for the commission's in­
terest is by no means confined to
those who happened to be on the list
of 500,000 to whom the questions have
The new cares and social duties
which Mrs. Taft will have to take on
may tax her strength to the utmost,
but it is probably true that there could
not be found a woman better fitted for
the place than the wife of the next
president. She has individuality,
strength of character and an inde­
pendence of belief, added to a mind
of rare cultivation, the result of years
of study and travel. She has devoted
herself to the care of her home and
children and the seconding of her hus­
band's public career, and in the latter
capacity she has familiarized herself
with the great questions of the day.
So well equipped educationally is
Mrs. Taft that she will not only be
able to converse intelligently on sub­
jects of public interest with her own
countrymen, but being a linguist, she
will be able to discourse familiarly
with foreign statesmen and diplomats
in their own tongues. It is said that
Mrs. Taft has devoted a part of each
day for years to the study of languages
and music, and in both has attained a
proficiency reached only by the few.
just been mailed. Only a comparative­
ly few of the farmers and their fam­
ilies could be reached in that way, and
hence the newspapers have been en­
listed to bring the inquiry to the at­
tention of the widest circle of readers
it is possible to reach. The field cov­
ered is so broad that it touches the
interest of every one familiar with
country-life conditions. This is shown
by the list of questions which are
being asked the people of the country.
Under each question an explanation
for the reason of the condition is
asked, and suggestions as to what
should be done are invited. The pith
of the whole matter is contained in
the concluding question: What, in
your judgment, is the most important
single thing to be done for the gen­
eral betterment of country life?
The commission is anxious to hear
from everyone who is acquainted with
or interested in conditions surround­
ing the farm, and letters will reach
their destination safely if simply ad­
dressed to the Commission on Coun­
try Life, Washington, D. C. The ques­
tions may be replied to by number, or
any special phase of the subject dis­
cussed.
The rich experience of men who
have spent their lives on the farm
should prove most helpful, and out of
it should come a wide expression of
opinion and practical suggestions for
the consideration of the commission.
Never before in this country or any
other has such an opportunity been
offered to the farmers to present their
views and their needs, and the ulti­
mate success of the inquiry will de­
pend in large measure on their co­
operation.
Widow May Sell Valuable Art Treasures
IT is true that Baron Speck von
Sternburg left all his fine old silver
and art treasures to his widow and
that she prefers to convert the curios
into cash American collectors will
have a rare opportunity to obtain an­
tiques.
Von Sternburg spent a good part of
his big income in gathering silver, Ori­
ental bronzes and tapestry. It is said
that he carried $100,000 insurance on
his collection, and that his bronzes
and ivories surpassed many public
museum collections.
Washington gossipers say the baron
could leave his widow, who was Lil­
lian Langham of Louisville, only his
private possessions, as his father is
still living and none of the ancestral
nine hundred thousandth patent
from the United States patent of­
fice has been issued, and to it was at­
tached the name of Patent Commis­
sioner Moore.
The patent was an improvement on
traveling stairs, such as are used in
hotels and other large buildings, and
while Mr. Moore ordinarily attaches
only his last name, with his initials,
he signalized the attainment of the
nine hundred thousandth by using his
full name of Edward Bruce Moore.
In the early history of the nation
the law required that patents should
be signed by the president, and as the
first one was issued during the first
presidential administration it was
signed by President Washington. It
covered a device for making pearl
ashes, and the document itself is said
to be now owned by a Chicago collec­
tor. Mr. Moore estimates that the
one millionth patent will be reached in
the year 1911.
As going to show the inventive ten­
dency of the American mind, as com­
pared with other countries, Mr. Moore
calls attention to the fact that not­
withstanding this is among the newest
wealth had come down to Speck.
From his mother, however, he received
rich salt mines in Galicia, and from
these he derived his wealth.
The state dining hall and the draw­
ing rooms of the Von Sternburg home
are filled with silver sconces and
carved pieces that represent the old­
est signed work of workers at Nurem­
berg and Bruges.
Certain sconces were part of the
booty obtained by the baron's ances­
tor, Gen. Baron von Sternburg, who
took a conspicuous part in the Thirty
Years' war. The sconces belonged to
an abbey near Dresden and bore mor­
tuary tablets of dead abbots. When
the sconces came to adorn Castle
Sternburg the records of the Benedic­
tines were removed and glass placed
instead.
The great swan that was a conspicu­
ous ornament on the Sternburg buffet
attracted the attention of J. Pierpont
Morgan when he was entertained in
the embassy. This piece, it is be­
lieved, will go to the Morgan collec­
tion.
American Patents Reach 900,000 Mark
of nations the total of patents issued
by the United States is not very far
below the total for all other countries
for all time. The issuance erf foreign
patents up to the date of last reports
was 1,135,000, or only 235,000 in excess
of the total for this country.
About the Ball Player.
What becomes of all the baseball
players after the season closes? Where
do these heroes of the diamond hiber­
nate? Do they go to their homes or
do they pass the winter months in the
cities in which their teams are?
There are thousands of players, and
many of them never are heard of after
the ball and bat are laid away. It's
only the "stars"
whose
names get in
print between seasons. These play­
ers, who give the fans so much enter­
tainment from April to October, I un­
derstand, come from all parts of the
country. Often they make a reputa­
tion in little country towns and vil­
lages, and are "discovered" by big
league scouts and developed into stars.
When a player is "brought out" in the
big leagues and he does not "make
good" at once he is sent to the minor
leagues for more "seasoning." Then
sometimes he comes back and fills
the bill satisfactorily. The baseball
business from a humble beginning
has grown enormously, and the
passing
Tschaikovsky
rivalry
is so keen that the clubs are forced
to invest heally every year in new
material to keep the teams keyed up
for the pennant races.—New York
Press.
THE LIME-LIGHT
NEXT INDIANA GOVERNOR
Thomas R. Marshall, Democratic governor
elect of Indiana, was an attorney of Columbia
City, before hia nomination for the highest office
in the state by his party.
Mr. Marshall poked his head up above the
level of comparative obscurity several months
ago, and captured the Democratic nomination
for governor of Hoosierdom. It was not so much
of a capture, for the Democratic nomination for
governor of Indiana has been a sort of honorary
position for the past dozen or so years. Almost
anybody who was serious in asking for it could
get it. John W. Kern has had it once or twice
Up to that moment, Mr. Marshall was an un­
known quantity outside his immediate neighbor­
hood. He had not been an important factor in
Democratic affairs—even Democratic affairs in
Indiana, where, as has been intimated, the Democracy didn't have many af­
fairs. The Republicans with glad acclaim nominated James E. Watson, con­
gressman, spellbinder par excellence, G. O. P. whip in congress, protege and
favorite of Uncle Joe Cannon and second lieutenant in the Hoosier favorite
son brigade, ft seemed as if everybody wanted that sure-fire Republican nomi­
nation this year, and Watson won after a stiff fight. The party papers hailed
him as practically already elected, and Watson himself began to pick out the
grocery where the family trading would be done for four years.
There has been a good deal of a change since then. The saloon question
made some of it, the present Hanly administration in Indiana made consider­
ably more of it, the national campaign did the rest. The Democrats took heart
and put up a fight. The Republicans began to fight among themselves and
split up. Marshall stock shot skyward, while Watson stock tumbled* and the
result of the recent election was not entirely unexpected.
DEFEATED FOR GOVERNORSHIP
James E. Watson, ex-congressman and de­
feated Republican candidate for governor of In­
diana, is one of the Hoosier state's "young men
eloquent."
"Jim" Watson, as he is almost universally
known in
Indiana,
is
one
of
lative focus during the campaign.
Gov. Hanly, a strong enemy to the saloon, was in control of the legislature
which met in January last, and kept it busy most of its constitutional life of
61 days in
the
his pet measures. But the liquor question was not out of
the way when the time came for adjournment and the governor, whose term
expires before the next regular session, contented himself with warning the
departing lawmakers that he expected them to finish the work at their next
session.
In some manner the retiring executive received the impression that his
successor might not be as earnest in his war on the demon rum as the present
administration. He accordingly called the legislature back in special session
and succeeded after a lively fight in crowding his local option bill through
that body with a slender majority of two or three votes. The measure was
promptly signed and is now a law. It provides for a vote by counties oc the
question of license or no license. The Democrats had agreed to vote for a
bill providing for ward and township option. But party lines were not strictly
followed in the vote.
In both parties are influences of more or less strength politically which
are opposed to drastic legislation on the liquor question. That the Republican
party lost its share of these elements is believed to have been the cause of
Watson's defeat.
BREAKER BOY TO CONGRESS
premiere spell­
binders of a state that ranks second only to Ken­
tucky in the matter of eloquent political orators.
Starting without family or financial aids, Wat­
son's mellifluous tongue has carried him along
to notable political successes
at an
Born in Shenandoah, Pa., 38 years ago, Mr.
Conry was put to work as "a breaker boy when he
reached the age of eight years. For five years
he worked in the mines, studying evenings as much
as he could. At 13 he quit work and with the
assistance of friends went to school. He studied
so hard and progressed so rapidly that at the age
of 16 he was given a position as teacher of a primary grade. While doing this
he himself continued to study, and at the age of 20 had advanced so
he was given the position of principal of the local high school in his town.
He held this post for three years, acting at the same time as correspondent
for several newspapers.
In that way he managed to get together enough money to pay his way
through college, where he took up the study of law. After graduating he set­
tled at Scranton, Pa., where after a few years he entered politics, and with
such success that he was given the nomjpation for congress from that district.
His opponent at this time was William Connell, who was a multi-millionaire
coal operator. Although practically without funds, the young lawyer waged
a strenuous battle, going into the coal region and making more than a hun­
dred speeches during the campaign. Connell was elected by a slight margin,
and Conry decided then to go to New York to continue his fight for fame.
He located in the Twelfth congressional district and immediately became
a member of the Tammany hall organization. In a short time he was recog
hized as a bright young lawyer and was given several important duties by
Mr. Murphy. He was appointed to the office of assistant corporation counsel
and held this position until two years ago, when he resigned and engaged in
four-cornered fight for the leadership of the Sixteenth assembly district,
which post was held at that time by Fire Commissioner Lantry.
NOTED RUSSIAN PATRIOT
Nicholas Tschaikovsky, the aged Russian
patriot, who has been imprisoned in St. Peters­
burg for nearly a year, has finally been released
through a fund subscribed in England to cover
the bail demanded by the Russian government.
Tschakoivsky was arrested about a year ago
in St. Petersburg carefully disguised, having
sacrificed his venerable beard among other
things.. The arrest came just at a time when
the police were most fearful of plots that caused
consternation. He had been picked up on gen­
eral principles and was held several days before
his identity became known.
He was immediately clapped into a darkest
dungeon and the dragnet set to work, for it was
feared his presence meant some great plot.
Tschaikovsky founded the first revolutionary
circle in Russia. Now there are thousands. His activity caused him to
change his residence to London, from where he directed affairs' in his native
land. He left there and entered Russia on a forged passport by way of Fin­
land. The path then led to the prison.
For some time the patriot's wife has been endeavoring to obtain his pa­
role, fearing the confinement would kill him. Finally bail was fixed at $25,000
and relatives given»a short time to collect the amount. Strenuous work was
necessary.
American Women's Garden in Tokyo.
The things that can grow in the lim­
ited space of a Japanese garden are
unbelieveable. There is a clump of
bamboo a persimmon tree, magnolia,
camellias, cherries, plums and fine
leaved red maple. Under these grow
bushes of azalea, the nanten with its
scarlet berries and the yamabuki with
its brilliant yellow flowers. As if this
were not enough, on a bench of
gnarled wood, in Japanese pots of old
blue and gray, some of the large trees
are repeated in miniature—pines, firs,
and an icho tree which look centuries
was in America two years seeking revolutionary funds.
old though only a foot or two high.
Perhaps the most treasured spot in
the garden is a bed of cowslips which
made a long journey from a certain
home bed in California. There are
other reminders of home in the climb­
ing roses and wistaria which trail
over a bamboo trellis.—From the
Craftsman.
Peculiar Taste in Tattooing.
Tattooed portraits of the last six
French presidents were found on the
skin of a burglar named Bertin
rested tn Paris.
RETURN*
NEW
unusually
early age. In the house he was for some time
the G. O. P. whip, and was counted among the
favorites of "Uncle Joe" Cannon.
One thing generally conceded to have been
a big factor in his defeat was the action of Gov.
Hanly in bringing the saloon question to a legis­
"From the coal mines to congress" is sug­
gested as the title for an interesting story of the
life of Michael F. Conry of New York, who has
been elected on the Democratic ticket for the
seat in congress that up to this year has been
held by W. Bourke Cockran. The rapid rise
of Mr. Conry, who began life as a breaker boy
in the coal mines of Pennsylvania, and the hard
fight that he made to get to the top of the lad­
der, is one that is seldom equaled.
I
of
far
that
GEORGE
TALK OF NEW YORK
Gossip of People and Events Told
In Interesting Manner.
Election Night a Wild One on Broadway
YORK.—Never in history did
Broadway, center of New York's
celebrating crowds, hold such a mass
of people as slowly moved up and
down its sidewalks from early evening
on election night until dawn the next
day. Between the flatirons, from Mad­
ison square to Longacre square, the
walks and the street itself were filled
with a densely packed election throng.
•The police, who lined the curbs,
worked the crowd into some sort of
order. Those bound uptown were
herded on the east side of the street,
while the west side was reserved for
those going in the opposite direction.
Noise was the most prominent char­
acteristic of the crowd, but this was
almost equaled by the people's good
N social circles there is much dis­
cussion these days of the question
of Mrs. Astor's successor as society's
leader. Among the names mentioned
are Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, Mrs. Cor­
nelius Vanderbilt, Mrs. Clarence
Mackay and Mrs. Ogden Goelet. All
of these matrons are leaders of their
especial coteries, and have taken prom­
inent parts in social affairs here and
abroad. There is a prevailing belief,
however, that the "400" of old has
ceased to exist as a unit, and that it
will henceforth be in many divisions,
with leaders for each.
Frederick Townsend Martin, suc­
cessor to the late Ward McAllister as
leader of New York society, said there
will be no successor to Mrs. Astor as
New York's society queen.
"I do not think there will be a suc­
cessor to Mrs. Astor as the ruler of
New York society," he said. "Her ill­
ness was so protracted that for some
years society has gone ahead without
RENTS
flats are falling. People
did not rush back from their sum­
mer vacations to crowd into dingy
homes as usual.
Vacant
flats
are
seen everywhere in the old centers.
Prices are down ten per cent, in many
sections.
Owners held their rentals firm this
fall. Although their vacancies during
the summer had been larger than in
any other year, they thought that the
rush back to town would fill their
houses.
But the October moving day startled
them. There was less moving than in
any of the last five yeai%?. And per­
sons who moved wept away from the
old districts, as a rule, to make their
homes in new buildings such as those
on Washington Heights.
Registration figures show that more
than 100,000 persons have moved out
of Manhattan during the past two
years. Aside from this big shift,
50,000 more have moved into the
Washington Heights districts.
Nor does the movement away from
BURROUGHS TORREY,
the American portrait painter,
whose portrait of President Roosevelt
has become famous, has brought suit
against Mrs. John H. Hanan, the
beautiful society woman of New York
and Narragansett Pier, for $4,000, al­
leging breach of contract.
In speaking of the case, Mr. Torrey
said.
"More than a year ago Mrs. Hanan
sat for me a number of times, then
seemed to lose interest in the matter.
Several months ago the portrait was
practically finished, but I could not
persuade Mrs. Hanan to sit again.
"She was traveling a great deal,
and, while she seemed immensely
pleased with the painting, and all of
her friends who saw it were enthusi­
astic, it was impossible for me to get
her to come to my studio or to take
the painting as it was. The very fact
that she had posed so often, however,
constituted a contract.
"Finally, I had to place the matter
in the hands of my lawyer. I have
painted some of the best-known and
greatest people in the world, including
the queen of England, the king of
Greece, Andrew Carnegie, Purdon
Clarke and many others, and I con­
sider the portrait of Mrs. Hanan one
of the best I have ever done."
Mrs. Hanan was Edith Evelyn
Brig-gs of Narragansett before she mar­
ried the wealthy Charles Talbot
Smfth of Newport. Mr. Smith died in
$
nature. The carnival spirit "was high.
Men and women laughed when enor­
mous tin horns were blown in their
ears, when they were showered with
confetti, when "ticklers" were thrust
into their faces, and even when hats
were broken and plumes were torn off.
The greatest crowds gathered in
front of the uptown newspaper offices,
where bulletins of the election were
flashed on gigantic screens. If there
was any noise-making device that was
not present on the street it was be­
cause enterprising fakers failed to
know of it.
Tin horns, old-fashioned police rat­
tles, shrill whistles,- enormous, cow­
bells, automobile horns, and 1,000
other ear-cracking inventions were on
every hand, while the skies rained
confetti.
Thousands of people visited the
theaters, in practically all of which
election returns, most of them invent­
ed for the occasion, were read be­
tween and during acts. When the per­
formances were over the theater at­
tendants joined the crowds on the
sidewalks.
No New Ruler of Gotham Society Likely
her. It is true her influence was very
marked at all times, but she did not
participate actively in affairs, and
marked changes have occurred since
her reign ceased to be absolute.
"Society is no longer a unit. When
it was dominated by Mrs. Astor there
was perfect unanimity and harmony.
Now it is divided iyto many cliques,
and I do not believe any one person
will ever succeed in bringing these to­
gether again."
Mrs. Astor came by birth of old
Knickerbocker stock. Before her mar­
riage to the late William Astor, sec­
ond son of William B. Astor, and
grandson of the original John Jacob
Astor, she was Caroline Schermerhorn.
Her family name was among those
honored in the old New York and the
original Shermerhorn homestead was
in the borough of Brooklyn. It was in
1853 that Caroline Webster Schermer­
horn and William Astor were married.
The bridegroom was 23. He died in
1893.
Mrs. Astor's townhouse at 824 Fifth
avenue, has long been one of the more
notable of the avenue's objects of in­
terest to the sightseer visiting New
York, and seeking out the abodes of
the social mighty as feasts for the
eves. Her establishment, Beechwood,
at Newport, has ever been the place
of magnificent entertainments.
Heavy Exodus Makes Flat Rents Fall
old crowded city home districts show
the entire two-year loss in flat-house
tenantry. Over 200,000 immigrants
a year, or 400,000 for the past two
years, would have sought homes in
New York if conditions had been like
those of the four preceding years.
Most of them would have crowded into
immigrant sections, thus causing an
overflow that would have driven older
residents from other neighborhoods.
But, instead of gaining 200,000 immi­
grants a year. New York has lost
nearly 100,000 immigrants since the
panic. They flocked home, carrying
over $50,000,000 in savings.
From the immigrant movement
alone New York has 300,000 less peo­
ple than would have been here if con­
ditions had been normal. Nearly all
would have been crowded into the
older tenement districts, for immi­
grants are clannish, and keep to­
gether in spite of the higher rents
which they are forced to pay because
they do not spread out. And the
movement of older families away from
congested centers, as is shown by the
registrations of schools and voters,
has taken another 100,000.
This loss of 400,000 persons is the
direct cause of the mass of vacant
flats, because owners were calculating
on a continuance of the crowded con­
ditions and rapid growth which had
prevailed during the preciding decade.
Portrait Painter Sues Rich Woman
1894, just as his wife was about to be
divorced rrom him.
A few years later, just after she had
married Joseph H. Thompson, Jr., she
was followed to Newport by the mil­
lionaire shoe manufacturer, Hanan of
Brooklyn, who had lavished presents
upon her and who. demanded them
back. Mrs. Thompson went to Europe
with her husband. There was a di­
vorce later however, and, after Mr.
Hanan's wife had also obtained a di­
vorce, he married Mrs. Thompson.
Consumption and the Telephone.
The panic recently created on the
subject of the assumed danger lurk­
ing in the transmitter of the telephone
is not precisely new. It is but the de­
velopment of a fear which has caused
misgiving for some years, as is point­
ed out by the British Medical Jour­
nal. On the supposition, it says, that
various germs of disease probably col­
lect in the receiver and transmitter of
the instrument, at any rate in public
telephone stations,
some medical
alarmists have thrown out suggestions
that antiseptics, both in a dry s'ate
and in solution, should be applied for
the safety of the telephone user. The
recent dictum goes one step further,
inasmuch as it is now an established
fact that tubercle bacilli, the casual
micro-organisms of consumption, have
been found—alive and in robust con­
dition—in the instrument. It is quite
natural, in view of such a find, that a
feeling of alarm might seize hold of
the more nervous.—Current litera­
ture.
Lighthouse of Bamboo.
A lighthouse of bamboo which is in
use in Japan, is said to have great
power of resisting the waves, and
does not rot like ordinary wood.