OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
A Great Work Begun.
OW that $21,000,000 of tho Federal Govern-
N incut's irrigation fund have l)cen set aside for
8 certain specified projects, It may bo said that
H I. 111... I.. ... .... 1 - 1. lt. 1 ..... I
in juuiy iu jhuvu iu uu liiu Kiuiueni in
ternal improvement work over undertaken by
tho Government of tlie United States 1b well
Htarted. It In dllllcult to appreciate the ulti
mate meaning of theso grout works. Many of the greatest
civilizations of tho piiHt. have flourished in arid countries,
redeemed from the desert by the artlllclal application of
water. The highest state of civilization reached by tho
aborigines of America was among those who practiced irri
gation. Already In our own time, tho richest agricultural
regions in this country are those whore irrigation Is neces
sary and where tho desert comes back to claim what it
once held when the water no longer Hows.
In most of tho arid and semi-arid portions of tho United
States nature atones for tho lack of rainfall by giving to
tho soil great fertility. It Is well known that in years of
extraordinary rainfall tho semi-arid regions produce enor
mous crops. Under Irrigation the crops aro uniformly
large, compared with what con be obtained in humid re
gions without irrigation. Tho fact Is that the arid country
Is fertile because it is without much rain. The fertility
has not been washed out of tho soil by the pounding rains
3f countless ages. Tho result is that it is left for men
to turn on tho water and take from tho arid regions, In the
shape of vegetation, tho fertility that has been lost in
the humid regions. That is why tho fertility of tho irri
gated country seems Inexhaustible. There nature lias stored
her treasures for man to use; elsewhere they have been
largely depleted by natural processes.
All of this explains why an aero under Irrigation is
worth so much more than ono not Irrigated. If tho Gov
ernment shall oventually redeem 100,000,000 acres of land
It will bo equivalent to tho addition of several times as
many acres of humid-region land to the national area.
Think of how much room for population that moans. And
ilroady tho time has come when room for our Increasing
population Is a problem worthy of national attention.
Minneapolis Journal.
Submarine Warfare.
HE frlirhtful destruction which Iihh Intolv ho.
T fallen Kussln on the sea resulted from the use
I of the torpedo or tho subnuirlno boat Only
1 4l.t..W. 1i.ii. Il.wmnl., ...I. I.. I. .1 l. 1
wuiu ui m-i unnu iiiuii lllivu UUUJ1 UUairuyUII
or put out of action wore seriously injured
above the water ilne. This faot has elicited
from Senator Halo, one of our best naval ex
ports, itho declaration that tlio battleship Is obsolete. He
Mils ti halt on the further construction of these travel
ng sea forts, saying that the $150,000,000 which avo have
Uroady expended therefor Is practically so much money
tfirown away. Hudson Maxim, tho renowned inventor of
.nstrumeiits of destruction and defonse, nhows that there
la much roaon In tho position taken by Senator llule. He
vayn, In the Review of Reviews:
"A battleship costs $0,000,000, nnd may have 1,000 mop
3n loard, while the torpedo boat costs not more than one
'lfth as much, and may not Jmve ono-lU'tlcith part us many
nen on board. In other words, llfty torpedo boats may be
built and manned nt no greater expense than a single
battleship; consequently llfty torpedo boats may be de
stroyed with mil on board, dn order to sink u single battle
ship, and tho loss be equal on both Hides; whllo if two
battleships be sunk by tho sacrifice of llflty torpedo boats,
.zho torpedo flotilla luis won n decided victory. But it Is
probable -that not more tlmn ten torpedo boats on nn
ivorago would be destroyed for every boltlcshjp sunk.
This means that the present torpedo system is live times
is efficient ns the battleship."
There Is no doubt that the Russian and Japanese war
Iras disclosed a now problem for tho navy to Holvo, but
nevertheless Lt has not yet proved the worthleasness of bat
tleships. None of tho Japanese big and heavy armored ves
sols have turned turtle or been put out of action. Russia
has about fifty-four torpedo lxmts nnd at least four sub
marines, but sho lias done nothing with them. The Jap
oncao aro bravo and daring. The Russians are timorous
and sluggish. So n test under decisive dreumsifcancea lias
not yet been made. It would bo highly rash and indis
creet to reconstruct the navies of the world along tho lines
demanded by Senator Ilulo before tho effectiveness of tor
pedo nnd submarine fighting is given a thorough trial.
Kansas City Journal.
School Music.
BW persons of adult age who have any real
musical knowledge or ability can recall their
school music with Interest or pleasure. Thoy
remember that thoy sang sappy little songs
about moonlight and dreams, but tho airs, if
they aro remembered at all, are recalled- only
to be laughed at.
Mr. Daniel Gregory Mason, whoso grandfather was
really the founder of tho study of mush! in the American
public schools, and who has himself been closely Identi
fied with tho teaching of music, has lately suggested, in the
Outlook, both tiie virtues and the defects of the modern
school music. Ills deductions and recommendations de
serve careful study and thought
The time is past when the utility of music In tho schools
can bo questioned. Physically, mentally and spiritually lt
refreshes and enriches. It Is both the most sclf-sufllclent
and the most general of tho arts. Few persons aro wholly
lacking In knowledge or appreciation of it, and to those
who havo no other culture, music speaks Intelligibly and
sympathetically.
The trouble In the schools and It Is worth noting that
lt is also tho trouble in the church hymnals Is the tendency
to pay too much attention to the words, too little to the
melody. If a song be about birds, animals, domestic life
or patriotism, says Mr. Mason, it Is considered good. The
result is tiie adoption of a lot of silly, vapid music, because
lt happens to be set to edifying words.
Tiie remedy lies In giving the children an opportunity
to become familiar with music which Is good enough to
stand on Its own feet. The folk-songs of many different
nations, much church music and tiie simpler productions
of the great composers productions In which the melody
Is clear and dominating might all be placed within reach
of children in thepubllcschools.to tho displacement of much
musical pap and the lasting happiness of several millions
of young people. Rut tills, in Its particular aspects, Is a
matter for the supervisors of music, before whom it will be
brought this summer by a committee of tiie National Edu
cational Association. Youth's Companion.
Demand for Farm Laborers.
HERE is no damrer of the farmer nnsslntr from
TP 8 existence. He knows a good thing as well as
I I his urban brother, and so does his boy. Im-
diminish the number of farm hands, but not
even that fact will Avork to n discontinuance
of tho necessity for tho farm laborer nor for
tho laboror hi the harvest fields. The fact that Kansas
farmers this early In the season are Inviting farm hands
to their corn and rye and wheat and alfalfa fields, with
promise of good wages and board, is u strong argument
against tho bluoness which so often attacks tho American
citizen when he imagines he sees an inpourlng of tho farm
er and tho farmer's boy to the cities. Cincinnati Commercial-Tribune.
AGUINALDO IN SECLUSION.,
IIIh Retirement Sulci to He Due to Vcar
Of AHSUHHllllttioil.
Agulnnldo, the leader of tho revolu
tion In the Philippines, leads a life of
practical retirement in Manila, writes
William 13. Curtis. He seldom leaves
his home and is never seen upon the
streets. If lt is necessary for him to
go to any other part of the town he
always takes a closed carriage, and
strangers who call upon him are very
carefully Inspected before thoy are al
lowed to see him. Occasionally he
visits tho old town of Cavlte, about 18
miles from Manila, where his family
huvo a plantation, and where his
mother is living. Sho Is said to be a
woman of remarkable traits and
strength of character and was his in
spiration and chief adviser during tiie
rovohitiom
' Agulnaldo's seclusion Is attributed to
fear of assassination. Dining tho In
surrection he was guilty of acts of
atrocious cruelty upon persons whoso
friends still survive and ordered sever
al assassinations, particularly that of
Gen. Luna, one of his rivals, who was
a great favorite with tho public and
hod many loyal and devoted admirers.
There Is also an Impression among
many of Agulnaldo's former associates
that he profited financially during tho
insurrection, while they lost and for
felted everything they had. Tiie Fill
plno Is a revengeful and vindictive
creature, and does not hesitate to take
vengeanco Into his own hands. Hence
Agulnnldo Is supposed to be continual
ly on his guard, and tho police author!
ties would not be surprised any mo
ment, even at tills day, to learn of his
assassination. When ho was released
from prison he was exceedingly nerv
ous and apprehensive, and would have
preferred to remain under the protee
tlon of the military. Since that time
no notice lias been taken of him. He
has been treated like an ordinary nn
tlve, and everything that might excite
sympathy for or attract attention to
him has been avoided. He has been in
vited to public functions like other
prominent Filipinos, and when Gov.
Tuft gave a reception to the natives
Agulnoldo was never overlooked. He
seldom availed himself of these cour
tesies, however, nnd has avoided
crowds and publle demonstrations for
the reasons I have given.
The police have kept him under
KMii.io AauiNAr.no.
1 ,
semi-surveillance that is, thoy have
observed ills movements and have
known his whereabouts at all times.
As long ns lie remains In the city he
Is not watched, but when ho leaves
Manila they make lt a point to learn
whore ho goes and who ho communi
cates with. For a while after his ro
leoso they watched him closely, but
ills conduct has been most exemplary,
lie has been tempted on several occa
sions. Conspirators have endeavored
to Interest him in their plots; San
Miguel, Pilar, Rlcarto and other "In
surrectos" have tried to secure his
sympathy and co-operation, but he has
never responded to their advances, and
the secret sorvico people say that lie
has allowed their letters to remain un
answered. Ho lias scrupulously avoid
ed doing anything that could excite
suspicion, and is practically cut off
from all ids old friends and associates.
Suspend nnd SuspoiiBO.
A certain Congressman from a
mountain district, says the New York
Sun, Is troubled with n weak, squeaky
little voice which sometimes fails in
tho midst of whnt might otherwise be
an eloquent peroration.
Recently, In addressing the nouse
on a matter connected with the tariff,
he exclaimed:
"Why, tariffs are like a pair of sus
penders, sometimes tight and some
times loose; hut Uncle Sam needs them
just the same, to keep up his "
Here the Congressman's volco struck
a high treble note, flared and stopped.
The House held Its breath whllo ho
cleared his throat. Tho suspense,
which seemed to last for fully a min
ute, was more painful to the uuditorsi
than to tho orator, for everyone was
wondering whether he would say
"trousers" or "pants," nnd some were
even hoping that ho might say "panta
loons." Even "overalls" would bo bet
ter than "pants," for "pants" is most
unparliamentary.
Rut all fears wero without founda
tion. Ho cleared ids throat with tho
greatest care, and in a deathlike still
ness resumed his oration where ho had
dropped lt: "to keep up Ills running ex
penses "
Tho words which followed were lost
forever In a gale of laughter.
A Saintly Sontlinont.
"And It's a law-abiding settlement
is It?"
"You bet! Ain't been a lynchin'
'roun' here since a hurricane blowed
the trees down, an' rope rlz in price!"
Atlanta Constitution.
TOPICS OF THE TIMES.
t CHOICE SELECTION OF INTER
ESTING ITEMS.
romiuentft nnd Crltlclnnm linned Upon
the HnppcnliiKB of the I)ny llliitori
oal and News NoteH,
Credit Is all well enough until tho
)ill collector begins to como around.
The most magnificent thing Jay
Dould ever did was to become tho
father of Helen.
Tho Japs aro said to bo using "hu
mane" bullets. This Is ono of tho few
humors of "civilized warfare."
Never strike a man until you aro
mtislled that he deserves lt and don't
Ho lt then unless you outclass him.
Ella Wholer Wilcox's latest poem
says: "Whatever you do, keep sweet."
rids would be a nice motto for u 1cm
mi, wouldn't it?
The men say they have no deslro to
organize a fathers' congress. They
get their innings while tho mothers'
congress Is In session.
It would be like tho beef trust to
explain that the worry and expense
of being investigated will necessitate
mother increase of prices.
The Rev. M. J. Savage In n recent
sermon undertakes to tell "why more
people do not go to church." Ho finds
the principal reason to bo that "they
1on't hnvo to."
We would like to learn tho Mormon
methods of making a living. A man
who can provide for live wives and 100
children under present prices is a fi
nancial wonder.
John D. Rockefeller began his busi
ness career by learning to milk a cow.
A. good many people would like to
know whether that was when ho learn
Hi to water things.
Doctors now assert that bedrooms
iro filled to the doors with murderous
microbes aild baleful bacilli. That's
another excuse for your not going to
bod until very late.
When Dr. Rnlnsford says to us lay
men, "We ministers are no better mo
rally than you," wo laymen, Instead of
feeling elated, are liable, knowing each
others' infirmities, to be decidedly depressed.
Somebody says that, the Parisians
furnish the gowns and the American
women furnish the figures. When It
takes throe figures for a gown the
American father at once becomes nn
active factor in the little epigram.
Wash a baby clean and dress him up
real pretty and he will resist all ad
vances with the most superlative cross
ness, but let him eat molasses, ginger
bread and fool around the coal hod for
half an hour, and he will nestle his
dear little curly head close up to your
clean shirt bosom and be just the cun
ulngest little rascal in all the world.
The Victory, which bore Nelson's
flag at Trafalgar, has been thorough
ly repaired, nnd towed to her former
moorings at Portsmouth, whore she
will be tho ling ship of the naval commander-in-chief.
The prediction Is
made that she will float for another
half-century at least. It Is 1-10 years
since the Victory was launched nt
Chatham.
To exclude immigrants for Illiteracy
fs unjust Most of those people are
Illiterate because they locked oppor
tunity. Hero they soon learn, and their
children become ns bright as any in
our public schools. An illiterate man
who Is Industrious and honest, makes
a far better voter and citizen than
some native born citizen who has edu
cation and a keen desire for grafts.
A dog In England has lntcly been
honored by the receipt of nn Illumi
nated address, In which he is informed
that ho Is tho most successful collec
tor for tho Victoria Infirmary at Nor
wich, and is thanked by the board of
oin lingers. The dog Is a 5-year-old fox
terrier, named Prince. He does not
wear a cup or basket or carry one In
his mouth, as do most mcndfcnnt dogs.
When he receives a coin ho goes un
bidden and deposits it in a box kept
for the purpose. During 1003 lie col
ected more than 2,000 coins. One
topes that If illness or accident over
ivortakc Prince tbero may bo a warm
led for him at the Infirmary, with
ilcnty of good sirloin steak nnd dog
jlscult r
Cuba has entered the third year of
her independence and self-government
und sho has every reason to bo proud
of tho record sho has made. Apart
from a rumor or two of rural riots that
wero greatly exaggerated and an ex
ceptionally large amount of noise from
the defeated party at tho last elec
tions, she has nothing to her discredit
and if such tilings are really dis
credits, what has our own country to
say for itself? The best of it is that
the Cubans appear to bo' In every way
contented nnd happy. Undoubtedly
this could iot bo said had the United
States seen fit to retain a closer hold
over their government. With or with
out reason, suspicion and dislike would
have taken root. Moreover, tho last
two years havo taught tho Cubans a
vnst deal more about tho benefits of
quiet and peaceful government than
they could ever have learned In any
other way. If they havo been on extra
good behavior for the sake of showing
us whnt thoy could do, that does not
detract at all from tho value of tho
training they have gained. It is too
early as yet to show by facts and fig
ures what material benefit Cuba has
gained from tho reciprocity act wlilcs
went Into effect last December.
fact that the law was pending caused
the Cuban sugar ready for exportation
last fall to bo held back in order to
secure the benefit of tho lower duties.
As n result Cuba sent us during tho
first three months of this year goods
to tho value of $23,000,000, as against
$12,000,000 In tho corresponding
months of 1003. At the same time our.
exports to Cuba Increased from $5,200,-.
000 to $0,500,000, the moro important'
increases being in Hour, cotton cloth.J
sowing machines, locomotives, lumber,
leather nnd furniture. Beyond ques
tion our merchants can secure enlarged
markets in Cuba if they but exert
themselves to take advantage of tho
preference In their favor, while lt Is to
bo anticipated that Cuba's Industrial
nnd agricultural development will fur
nish proof that it has been greatly
stimulated, oven beforo tho present
year Is out.
If any ono thinks that the United
States has a monopoly of all the en
ergy and enterprise lie should revlso
his opinions forthwith. The wliolo
world is wide-awake, and every peo- .
pie Is alert for opportunities for ad
vancement. There nro tho Russians,
for instance, whom we hnvo been ac
customed to regard as somewhat slow ,
and behind the times. Thoy have re- A
cently secured tho services of Hornco
G. Hurt, formerly president of tho
Union Pacific Railroad Company, to
assist them in ninking the Siberian
railroad as elllclent as tho transconti
nental roads in tho United States,,
where the problems of carrying trains
across wide plains and over snow
capped mountains have been solved.
Then there are tho Spaniards, who aro k i
planning for closer trade relations with
the Spanish-speaking peoples of South
America. And tho Germans are seek
ing outlets for, their surplus popula
tion in countries which will buy tho
products of the German factories. Tho
British are considering plans for a
commercial federation of their colonies
for the development of their resources,
and tho preservation of the trade of
the mother country. The French nro'
developing their possessions In Northi
ern Africa and undertaking the re- fcL
clamation of the Sahara, as well as1 JJ'
pushing their railroads across the Py-t
renees into Northern Spain. And all
these people are studying the Ameri
cans, that they mny avoid our mis
takes und profit by our successes.
Within a few weeks the 'reports of
two Independent British commissions
to this country have been made pub
lic. An official of the railway depart
ment of India, after n tour of tho
United States, reports that "tho ono r
idea in the minds of the American rail- f
way men Is to 'get there.' " He thinks
that this is the secret of American
railway success. One of the members
of n private commission to study tho
relation of the schools to American
commercial success says that "Tho
schools have not made the people what
they are, but the people, being what "V
they are, have made tho schools." Tho
"American peril," of which wo hear
much, is that tho Americans shall
grow complacent nnd satisfied with
themselves, instead of keeping their
place In the company of the other
wide-awake peoples.
Health Up in tlio Arotlo.
The advantages offered by the tnreo
months of arctic summer are so nu
merous that there havo appeared re
cently several announcements of float
ing und permanent hospitals for pa
tients suffering from incipient pulmon
ary affections and neurasthenic states,
says American Medicine. It Is pro
posed to erect a sanitarium on tho
shores of Lake Torne, In Lapland, a
long and beautiful sheet of water at
Wassijauve, near tho end of the Ofoto
railroad. That railroad, lt mny bo
mentioned, has only ono station in a
distance of 121 miles. There Is no hu
man dwelling near the station, which
Is on tho lino between Sweden nnd
Norway, and was erected solely for tho
requirements of the customs office. Ex
cept for a small settlement nt Wassi
jauve, tho only sign of human exist
once in the district is tho occasional
passage of a few Laplanders wlu. their V
herds of reindeer. Already there has '
been Installed at this spot a scientific
station in a solidly built blockhouse
containing seven rooms, and lt is pro
posal to build tho sanitarium In tho
same way. British ModteU JouniaL
It's a smart babv that mulnrstniwia
tho baby talk Its mother indulges hi.
The wise man who has anything to
say to a mule says it to his face.