,jw.lX'-miiimJiii.iuia
OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
Not Worth the Money.
FTEIt raiding of tho iiiiuiikm' In which the
I Hqultnble Life Assurance Society was conduct
JL I i'd the people arc liardly surprised at the 1I-
H ..I. I ....... Iti 41.. ..4fi... Mir .if, III.
lianli'H. The facts of mismanagement, misap
propriation and downright graft which have
boon already gleaned through (he testimony of
the oflleers (f those big companion allow that the only rem
edy Ilea In national supervision.
With the government exorcising the Hiune control over
iiiHtirance coinpanlcH that It doca over banks, policy-hold-era
would he given the fullest protection and, It la fair to
HHHUine that, with the Kraft cut out, there could he a very
appreclahle reduction In the coat of liiaurance.
The testimony given by John A. MoCuil, the $100,000,-a-year
prcaldent of the New York Life at the New York
Inquiry, would Indicate that he Isn't worth the money.
Either that or he la deliberately throwing' away the money
that rlKhtfnlly Volongs to the polley-holdora. He la, uh he
testified, the aliHolute muster of the llnanceH of the com
pany, and that he ahould pay to one of the legislative
iiKenta of hla company !?ii:ir,00) and never require an ac
counlliiK Ih a moat iiHtonlHliiiiK alatoment.
Loss astonishing la the fact that tin company employa
n professional lobbyist. People have grown ho uaed to
hearliiK about profeHHlonal corriiptlonlsts employed by hlK
corporations, and even of leKlalatora owned by this or that
corporation and whoso Hole duty la to kill lcKlalatlon hostile
to that corporation, that they pay little attention to It.
Under Federal Hupervlalon these things would liardly he
possible. Indianapolis Sun.
frivolous. It seems to me that we have Just pot matters
nicely balanced. This Is an age when we are prepared
to be cranks on the sIlKhtest provocation. People crave
for missions, they wallow In philanthropy, they pounce
with virility on new religions, they will plunge into politics
or write attacka on women, society, the degeneracy of the
age, or anything else that givo them an opportunity of
airing what they call their vIowh. So surely, If desipere
In loco were not occasionally to be permitted to us, It Is
fearrul to think what we should become. Our frivolity is
the antidote to the twentieth-century disposition toward
crankiness. It really keeps us sane. London World.
mRAVELHUS in C
meudous failure
clals who are gl
It produces, so a
I 1 J
Obey in Marriage.
ISOUSSION of the form of the marriage ser
vice Is becoming general. Moth the Presby
terian and the .Methodist Hplscopal churches
I are considering their marriage ritual, and at
the same time the French Parliament through
lone of Its committees Is listening to arguments
on the same subject.
All the recognized American marriage services contain
the word "love," which the French legal ceremony omits
The debate on the American form Is whether to leave out
the word "obey" In the response's given by the woman.
There are advocates of both forms, the "love, honor and
obey" and the "love, honor and keep" or "love, cherish
and honor!"
The word "obey" exists In the old English marriage
service, where the .obedience was not only promised, but
Insisted upon. In modern matrimony, although the worn
mi promises to obey, It Is usually not long before she
shirts the fulfilment of that particular promise upon her
husband and lots him do the obeying.
Marriage is a solemn undertaking and the most Import
ant contract either a man or a woman can enter Into. It
la well that Its phrasing should be seriously discussed, and
it would be a great deal better If people who do not hon
estly and sincerely Intend to carry out their agreement In
both letter and spirit ahould not repeat the words as so
many sounds without meaning. New York World.
The Value of Frivolity.
1 1 1 C 1 1 Is worse to be too serious or too friv
olous? 1 have no doubt about the matter my
self, so far as Individuals are concerned.
though all extremists are bores. The perpet
ually lively, feather-brained, pleasure-crazed
creature is almost, If not quite, as Irritating
as the deadly serious Individual. Hoth types
nro heavily represented Just now in hotels; but, apropos
of the accusation recently lodged against us that as a
nation we are becoming too frivolous, one cannot help say
ing that we are a great deal livelier than wo were a few
years ago, and for this relief assuredly we have cause
.o bo thankful.
In consequence wo are accused of having lecome too
w
Wm
Strong Drink and Immorality.
It A VKLKRS in China call attention to the trc-
in morality of Chinese ofll-
I veil over to the use of opium.
.i i.i.... ...... i..
hjI3S?fflof moral Idiocy in Its victims, destroying their
I CaEklGfilli))wer of discrimination between right and
wrong, and leaving them u prey to manifold
forms of corruption.
This criticism of China may well bo turned upon those
ofllclals In the United States who are known to be victims
of alcohol. The moral ravages of strong drink are more
readily avoided than those of opium and Its products anil
declare themselves more slowly and after a greater con
sumption of the poison.
Yet Icohol in the various pleasing forms which it is
made to assume can become quite as deadly a foe of Indi
vidual, social, and public morality, and can operate quite
as certainly to the destruction of the moral sense in the
American puulle servant as opium with the Chinese admin
istrator and functionary.
Every employer of labor knows as much: it remains
for the public, greatest of all employers, to awaken to the
fact. The hard drinker in the public service should be com
pelled to seek other fields for ills idiosyncrasies. Chicago
lourmil.
The Triic Aim of Life.
1 1 HUH ought to be room in every man's life
for something of literature, for religion, for
nature, for some of the higher tilings and for
noble aims. It is true that a huuentnhly great
proportion of the population of all countries are
compelled to spend nearly all their energies and
time in the struggle for the necessaries of life,
for mere existence. There is a discipline for character in
that struggle; but where the conditions are intolerably
hard the unfortunate ones are not to be blamed for not
having the opportunity to seek the higher things. Hut
what shall be said of educated and well-to-do people who
deliberately subject themselves to the lower order of exist
ence, and put aside all the higher and better emotions and
pursuits and aims? When you hear people say: "Well, we
have made great progress In recent years; a few years ago
we could only meet exp .ises, and now we can go to Eu
rope, and run an automobile, and draw a check for a large
amount," ought not the query of the listener to be: "Is
your heart warmer? Have you more love of humanity?
Have you elevated your tastes and pursuits? Do you know
more, and have you grown in character with your bank
account?" Philadelphia Ledger.
The Physical Ills of Temper.
F you would be well, then control your tem
per. Do you know that fits of passion, this
giving way to the worst that is in von. doos
(you not only moral and mental, but actual phy
sical narm.' temper invariably Interferes with
the process of digestion: It carves usrlv linos mi
your faces; It wears upon the tissues, and leaves
us physically and mentally exhausted, as well as morally
weaker after each Indulgence. St. Louis Post-Despatch.
m I
Hill II
:: HOUSE AND TIGER.
; ,,M.,,n.n f
The "man-eater," a name given to a
dangerous horse in Uudyard Kipling's
tale of "The Walking Delegate," re
ceived salutary and deserved treat
ment at the hands, or rather the hoofs,
of his fellow beasts; hut the horse of
which Mr. Knighton writes in "Pri
vate Life of an Hastern King" had
never experienced a superior power,
and therefore his ferocity was untoni
percd by fear.
I was driving In a buggy With a
friend through one of the finest of
Lucknow's streets, on the way to the
jalaco, when we suddenly noticed the
deserted condition of that part of the
city. No inhabitant was to be seen in
any direction. "Some execution," we
whispered.
Just then we came upon the body of
a woman which looked as If It had
been trampled to deatii on the pave
ment. On we went. No citizen was
In sight, and the houses everywhere
were closed. The next thing we saw
was the figure of a youth, lying dead
upon the road. On the top of a neigh
boring Iiouho I spied one of the king's
troopers, Intently looking up the road.
"What Is tho matter?" I called.
"The man-eater Is loose. Wallah! lie
has turned. Look out for your safety,
sahibs. Ho Is wild to-day."
I had heard of the fierce animal
owned by tho troopers.
"lie Is coming! Take care!" shout
ed tho man.
Fiir ahead wo could see the brute,
a large bay horse, coining toward us.
He caught sight of the vehicle, and
rushed forward to attack. We turned
rapidly round, aud our horse, almost
unmanageable from terror, How over
the road.
Away we went in a bad gallop to
ward an enclosure with iron gates. As
we sped we could hoar the furious
clatter of hoofs growing nearer and
nearer. We gained the gates; my com
panion leaped from the buggy and
closed them. The monster rushed up
and stood looking savagely, his nos
trils distended, ills glaring eyeballs as
ferocious as any wild beast's.
He saw that he was foiled, turned,
kicked the Iron liars, and made for an
archway, where a party of troopers
was awaiting hint. They skillfully
noosed the brute, muzzled him, and
led him away.
That evening J mentioned the Inci
dent to the king.
"I have often heard of the man-eater.
He must be a furious beast."
"More savage than a tiger, your
majesty."
"A tiger! Good! He shall fight a
tiger. We will see what Impression
Hurrhea will make on him.
Uurrhoa was a favorite tiger, and
had never boon allowed to enter a con
test lit which he could not conquer.
The next day we all assembled In a
courtyard to see the light. The man
eater was standing In a great enclos
ure made by bamboo rails. Burrhoa'a
cage was brought, and the beautiful
creature was let loose.
The man-eater fixed Ids eyes on tho
tiger, lowered his head, and waited.
Tho tiger bounded with rapidity, and
landed on the horse's haunches. Up
went the Iron heels, and Burrheu lay
sprawling.
After this tho tiger was more cau
tious. Hound and round the enclosure
ho went with catlike tread. For fully
ten minutes he kept up tho march,
then, quick ua lightning, sprang. The
man-eater was ready, and ducked his
head low. Hurrhea loupe! to his
back, aud in an instant those terrible
Iron heels were lashing up and down.
The tiger was thrown helplessly to
the ground, and lay with broken jaw,
crying out with pain. The king gave
a signal, the door of the cage was open
ed, and the poor, defeated Hurrhea
rushed In and burled himself in the
farthest corner. The man-eater stood,
erect and triumphant.
Funeral Cnkee.
There Is a grimly humorous anec
dote of the dying Yorkshirenian who
asked Ills daughter for a slice of the
ham she had Just removed from the
stove, and was refused on the ground
that "Ham's not for thou; ham's for V
funeral." it may he capped by one
found In "Pages from a Country
Diary," a book of sketches of English
country life.
A curate went one day to visit an
aged parishioner, a small farmer,
whose end was daily expected. Finding
him rather better on this occasion, and
propped up in bed, he proposed to read
a chapter of the Hlble to him. The sick
man gratefully agreed, but paid scant
attention to the discourse, because he
was constantly fumbling under his
pillow for some form of edible which
ho mumbled with evident scatisfactlon
between his toothless gums. At last
the curate stopped reading, and asked
hint what he was doing.
Tho old man smiled shyly.
"Why," he said, in a triumphant
whisper, "they bak't some spoonge
blsculta agean moy vuneral, an' hid
'em In the coopboard, but they don't
know as 'ow I vouiul 'em, and '
with a senile chuckle of delight
"when I he gone, an' they come to
hike for 'em, they wuu't valnd uono
ou 'em left!"
5 KJJUiLJ ftj
LpaVoriteSl
xjrRimn . E'.'Mi'.jJ
Thompson of AiikcI'h.
It Is tli o story of Thompson of Thomp
son, the hero of Angel's.
Frequently drank was Thompson, but
always polite to the stranger;
Light and freo was the touch of Thomp
son upon his revolver;
Groat the mortality incident on that
lightness and freedom.
Yet not happy or gay was Thompson, the
hero of Angel's;
Often spoko to himself la accents of
anguish and sorrow:
"Why do I make the graves of the friv
olous youth who In folly
Thoughtlessly puss my revolver, forget
ting its lightness and freedom?
"Why in my daily walks does the sur
geon drop his left eyelid,
The undertaker smile and the sculptor
of gravestone marbles
Lean oa his chisel and gaze? I care
not o'eraiueh for attention;
Simple am I in my ways, save for this
lightness of freedom."
So spake that pensive man this Thomp
son, tho hero of Angel's;
Hltterly smiled to himself as he strode
through tho chaparral musing.
"Why, oh, why?" echoed the pines in
tho dark olive depth far resound
ing. "Why, indeed?" whispered tho snge
bnish that bent 'ncath his feet,
non-elastic.
Pleasant indeed was that mora that
dawned o'er tho barroom at An
gers. Where hi their manhood's prime was
gathered the pride of tho hamlet.
Six "took sugar in theirs," and nine lo
the barkeeper lightly
Smiled as they said, "Well, Jim, you
can give us oar regular fusel."
Suddenly as the gray hawk swoops down
oa the barnyard, alighting
Where, pensively picking their corn, the
favorite pullets arc gathered,
So la that festive barroom dropped
Thompson, the hero of Angel's,
Grasping Ids weapon dread with his
pristine lightness and freedom.
Never a word he spoke; divesting himself
of his garments,
Danced the war dance of the playful yet
truculent Modoc,
Uttered a single whoop, and then in the
accents of challenge
Spake, "Oh, behold In mo a Crested Jay
Hawk of the mountain!"
Then rose a pallid mnn a man sick with
fever and ague;
Small was he, and his step was tremu
lous, weak and uncertain;
Slowly a Derringer drew and covered
the person of Thompson;
Said hi his feeblest pipe, "I'm a Bald
headed Snipe of tho Valley."
As on its native plains tho kangaroo,
startled by hunters,
Leaps with successive hounds aud hur
ries away to the thickets,
So leaped the Crested Hawk and, quiet
ly hopping behind him,
Haa and occasionally shot that Bald
headed Snipe of the Valley.
Vain at tho festive bar still lingered the
people of Angel's,
Healing afar in the woods the petulant
pop of the pistol:
Never again returned the Crested Hawk
of the mountains;
Never again was seen tho Haldheaded
Snipe of the Valley.
Yet in tho hamlet of Angel's, when truc
ulent speeches are littered,
When bloodshed and life alone will atone
for some trilling misstatement,
Maidens aud men in their prime recall
the last hero of Angel's,
Think of and vainly regret tho Hald
headed Snipe of the Valley!
Hret Ilnrte.
WIZARD OF PINE STREET.
View of the Personality of U. II. Har
rliuait and Hitt Ambition.
E. II. Ilarrlinan's recent acquisition
of control of the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe, discloses his tremendous
ambition to control the entire com
merce of tho West. In "A 'Corner' In
the Pacific Railroads," in the World's
Work, C. M. Keys gives the following
Intimate account of htm:
In his olllce at 120 Hroadway, New
York, he worked as few of the wealthy
men of the country have ever worked.
Day after day, week after week,
month after month, he labored at his
task. At his desk In the big inside
ofllce lie was to be found at almost any
working hour. He Is a small man,
very slightly built, narrow-cliested,
delicate In appearance.
At his desk he Is a regular whirl
wind for energy. He goes through his
correspondence and through tho hun
dred reports that reach him at a pace
that Is not rivaled In any ofllce on Wall
street the region of speed. Ills sten
ographers must keep tho pace. lie
has a small army of them, and, report
says, they work lu relays. Ho can
keep them all busy. Ho la one of the
most rapid thinkers In the street, and
his action is as quick as his thought.
Hetween 1807 and 1000 Mr. HurrU
man mastered the detail of uIb rail-
roads, No one who does not know
the detail of a railroad can understand
what tills means. Through those years
he watched the growth of tho trafllc
of hla ror.ds and all of their competi
tors. He learned to Judge of the com
parative advantages of declaring war
nnd of declnring peace with Ids rivals
In the Western markets. Ho measur
ed with a careful eye the chances of
successful war and .profitable peace i
the rich valleys of the coast, wheWi
his Oregon lines mot the lines of J. J.
Hill, and out. on the plains of Nebras
ka, where ids tralllc agents met tho
ngents of tho Burlington, the North
western and the St. Paul. He ni!M
tered the rate problem.
lie followed close upon tho heels of
J. J. II111, that master of cheap trans
portation. He imitated Mr. Hill's meth
ods, and it is said that he improved
upon them. .Sometimes, by cutting
rates, he fought ills great antagonist
on the north, oometlmcs, by a tralllc
truce, by a Joint schedule, even by
the surrender of a market, he placated
htm. Always, say the Western rail
road men, for every yard lie yielded
he gained two.
Quiet, persistent, aggressive, BUbtle,
ho spread his empire into the north,
pushing In the outposts of the Burling
ton, the Northern Pacific and tho
Great Northern. He gathered trafllc
from all fields, competitive and non
competitive; made markets where no
markets had been before; helped tho
great desert develop; nursed Portland,
and San Francisco Into great power.
He made the Union Pacific and tho
Union Pacific made him.
NOVEL BUTTON FASTENER.
Can
Secures the Iluttons So that They
Ho Quickly Detached.
One of the latest novelties patented
Is a novel button fastener, shown in
the Illustration below, and which is
designed to boused
to secure tho but
tons to tho garment
so that they can
be qulcklydetached
whenever desired.
The buttons used
on wasli vests and
similar garments
are generally sew
ed on in the usual
De. manner, but when
the garment is
buttons are usually
Button Keaally
tached.
washed the
damaged in
some way.
To ef
fectually wash and Iron a wash vest
the buttons should be removed before
the cleaning process. This entails con
siderable work, which Is overcome In
the novel button fastener shown here.
The button must lie of special design, k
having an eye which is inserted J
through a buttonhole or eyelet hole on.
one side of the garment, and the fas
tener secured to tho button eye on tho
other side. The fastener is very small,
being a little longer In length than tho
diameter of the button, and Is made
of spring wire to insure elasticity. Tho
base is perfectly straight, terminating
In a coll spring at one end, tho freo
ends of the wire meeting equidistant'
from tho coll. In the center of the
tipper portion the wire Is bent into a
half loop, which engages with the eye
of tho button, the end of the wire be
ing dellected to prevent the sharp
edges from catching in and injuring
the garment. As well understood, the
fastener is used by passing tho eye of
the button through a buttonhole or
eyelet hole In the garment and clasped
to the fastener on the other side, tho
colls serving to keep the fastener stiff
and preserve its resilience for indefi
nite use without Impairment.
The Streets of Now York.
New York is as easy a city to learn
as . any In America until you get
down on the lower end of Manhat
tan. Above Eighth street you deal
almost exclusively with numbers; tho
streets crossing and the avenues par
alleling the Island. Below Eighth
street right angles are at a premium.
Pearl street is semi-circular, picking
you up and leaving you at Broadway,
despite the fact that you travel right
ahead on Pearl street. William
street apparently tries to see how
crooked a street can be and stay on
the mnp, and the fact of many streets
changing their names for no better rea
son than that they cross another street
makes old New York a maze of mys
teries. Cortlandt street Is the wesi
end of Maiden lane; Dey street be
comes John street when it crosses
Broadway, and many other thorough'
fares mix one up until ho is never
sure whether lie Is where ho is ot
somewhere else. But, after all, this
helps to make tho New York of tho
seventeenth century Intensely interest'
ing, peculiarly entertaining and won
derfully different from the New York
of the twentieth century. Four-Track
News.
A Good Plaoo.
"I got n haircut to-day."
"What! In cold weather like this?"
"Yes."
"Well, I wouldn't toll anybody."
"No, I'm keeping it under my hat"
Cleveland Plain Dealor.
What has become of tho old-fash,
ioned farmer who linaginod ho earned
a living for three or four town pooplel