Nebraska Newspapers

    Seite 5-Täglicho Omaha TribUne-DiettZtag, den V. Januar '1020
1E 0P10N 0F THE SUPREME
' COURT OF NEBRASKA .
ON TOE SO-CALLED BIMAN LAW PERTAINING TO TUE TEACHING OF FOREIGN LANCUACES IN
ELEMENT AR Y SCIIOOLS AND GIVING RELIGIOUS INSTRUKTION IN FOREIGN LANGUAGES.
NO. 21,153
yllE 'TRIBUNE' heroby prcuents the opinion of
I -) the Suprerne Court of Nebraska on the io-called
Siman law, adopted by the last legislature, which
law ptaccd a ban upon the teachin? of soreign lan
guagei in the elcmentary schools, snd girine: religious
and moral instruction in soreign language. The soreign
peaking church congregationi of Nebraska attacked the
law in the District Court of Omaha which up-held the
vaüdity of the law without going into the details of the
am. However, the District Court granted a temporary
injutiction whereby the law becarne inoperative.
The Suprerne Court ha now passed upon the
coriBtituttonality of the law and ha up-held the Barne.
It ha, however, given a broad Interpretation and con
struction of tho law, und practically elirnlnatcd most of
its objertionable features whlch were attacked by the
plaintiffs. The opinion was written by Associate Justine
Cliag. B. Letton, and all of the members of the High
Court, with the exception of Jußtice Albert I. Cornish
coticurred in the opinion. .
Following the opinion of the Suprerne Court, we
present an Interpretation of the opinion, given by
Arthur F. Hüllen and concurred in by Judge John J.
Sullivan, two of the attorneys of the plaintiffa.
This Interpretation gives the interested partles the
exact Status of the law as interpreted " by the court
and shows the litigating parties their right in the
premises. We would suggest that every priest, paator,
church and echool trustee of every soreign speaking
church denomination of the State of Nebraska, place
this opinion in afe keeping in order to protect them
telves against unwarranted attacks of mis-guided
people. As the 'World-Herald' has put it, the Siman
law was Americanized by the Suprerne Court. The
High Court recognizing . .in part at least the in
alienable rights of the parents to choose additional
chool Subjects bcsides the ones described by the
state laws. -
Here follows the opinion of the Suprerne Court:
Nebra8:a District of Evangelical
Nebraska District of Evangelical
Lutheran Synod of Missouri, et al.,
vs. ,
Samuel R. McKelvie, Governor, et al.,
Ari'ELLEES.
1. Statutes pertaining to the sarne Subject matter
should be construed together, and this is, particularly
true if the Statutes were passed at the same Session
of the legislature.
2. The legislature must be presumed to have had
In mind previous legislation upon the Subject, so that
in the construction of a Statute we must cohsider the
pre-existing law and any other acts relating to the
same Subject.
8. Where the general latent of the legislature
tnay readily be discemed, yet the language in which
the law is expressed leaves the application doubtful
or uncertain, the courts may have recourse to historical
facta or general public Information in order t aid
them In interpreting its provisions.
4. Sine it ought never to be presumed that the
legislature intended to violate the constitution, a doubt
ful or ambiguous Statute should be so construed as to
uphold its validity.
5. The court is entitled" to take judicial notice of
the facts disclosed by the föderal selective drast law
with reference to the inability of thousands of men born
In this country to speak the language of their country
or unterstand words of command given in English.
6. The words "school" as used in Ch. 249, Laws
1919, refers . to and means a school which presents a
Course of study such as that prescribed in the com
pulsory education act, and school attendance upon (?)
which would satisfy the requirements of that act.
7. If the law should be construed to mean that
parents or private tutors might teach a soreign lan
guage, but that others could not employ teachers to
give such instruction in a dass or school, it would be
an Invasion of personal liberty, discrirninative and ypid,
there being no reasonable basis of classisication.
' 8. Ch. 249, Laws 19, does not prohibit the
teaching? of a soreign language if taught in addition
to the regulär Course of study in the elernentary
schools, so as not to interfere with the elernentary
education required by law, and outside of regulär
school hourg during the required period of instruction.
9. The act in question is not strictly a penal
Statute, but is. rnostly remedial in its nature. It is
not broader than its title, and not an unreasonable
interference with the liberty or property of the
plaintiffs and intervenors.
LETTON, J.,
This is an action to restrain the enforcement of
Chapter 249, Laws 1919, on the ground that it violates
eevcral of the provisions of the constitution of this
state, and of the 14th amendment to the constitution
of the United States. Joining with the plaintiffs and
asking for the arne relief are certain local church
corporation s conducting parochial schools, certain
private schools - and several soreign language speak
ing parents.
In substance, the cornplainta of the plaintiffs and
Intervenors are that, since the ofllcers and members
of the respective churches are largely made up of
soreign speaking people, if the act is enforced their
children will be unable to obtain instruction in religion
end morals in aecordance with the doctrines of the
religious denominations to which the parents belong in
the language of their parents; that many of the chil
dren cannot understand English, and cannot understand
such instruction in that language; that in the parochial
schools below the seventh grade, the fenguage of the
parents is used in order to teach English, and that the
children. cannot learn English if they do not reeeive
rudimentary education in the tongue the parents use;
that property rights in the school buildings and grounds
and in the good will of the schools will be destroyed; that
the defendants, McKelvie, as governor, Davis as Attorney
General, and Shotwell as County Attorney of Douglas
Conuty, are severally threatening an enforcement of the
act by causing the arrest and prosecution of the plain
tüTs officers and teachers.
. The enrolled act complained of is as follows, the
copy in the pubüshed laws being slightly inaccurate:
"An act relating to the teaching of soreign languages
In the State of Nebraska: " ,
Section 1. No person, individually or as a teacher,
(hall in any private, denominational, parochial or public
chool, teach any Subject to any person In any other
language than the English language.
Eection 2. Languages, other than the English lan
guage may ,be taught as languages only after a pupll
Ehalt have attained and successfully passed the eighth
grade as evidenced by a certisicate of graduation issued
M the county Superintendent of the county in which
the child resides.
Section 3. Any person who violates any of the
provisions of this act shall be deemed guilty of a mis
aemeanor, and upon eonvictlon shall be Subject to a sine
of not less than Twen ty-sive ($25) dollars, nor more than
one Hundred ($100) dollars, or be confined in the
county Jail for any period not exceednig thirty days
for each offense.
Section 4. Whereas, an emergency exists, this act
shall be in force fron, and after lts passage and
approval." v
A general demurrer to the Petition was sustalned
and the action dismissed. Plaintiffs and inter
venors appeal.
Tho sppellants assert that the act is not regulatory,
that it is an unwarranted interference with purely
domestic affairs and an Invasion of the Inherent dis-
eretion of parents in prescnmng tne course or in
struction best adapted to the epiritual and material
needs of children of their respective faiths. That the
demurrer admits that many parents have reached an
aS where it is impossible for them to acquirs st
susllcient Knowledge of English to enable them to
counsel and admonish their children in matten of
falth and moral s in the English language, and that
the teaching of soreign languages is largely to enable
them to participate in the same religious Services and
exercises in the home and in the church; that the
schools are private institutions and having discharged
their duty to the state by providlng instruction equal
to that of the public schools, they may not be penalized
for giving additional instruction, whether religious or
secular; .that the understanding of other languages and
literature is not harmful to the individual or to the
state itsclf; that so far as the act imposes a penalty
upon teachers for giving of instruction in other lan-,
guages, it is violative of their constitutional right to
engage In the practice of their profession or calllng;
they complain that the act discrimlnates against teach
ers who teach soreign languages in schools and leaves
the teacher who gives such lessons in ' private
free to pursue bis calling; that if any teacher should
open a night school to instruct those who could not
understand Engliah in arta or sciences he would violate
the act, whereas another could form private elasses
and give instruction in a soreign language without
offense. '
Previous to 1919 there was no Provision In the
Statute expressly svecifying the branches of study to
be taught in the common schools. The Operation of the
Selective draft law disclosed a condition in the body
politic which theretosore had been appreciated to some
extent, but the evil consequences of which had not
been fully comprehended. It is a matter of general
pubic Information, of which the court is entitled to
take judicial knowledge, that it was disclosed that
thousands of men born in this country of soreign lan
guage speaking parents and educated in schools taught
in a soreign language, were unable to read, write or
speak the language of their country or understand
words of command given in English. It was also
demonstrated that there were local faci of allen enemy
sentiment, and that where such instances occurrad, the
education given by private or parochial schools in that
Community was usualy found to be that which had been
given mainly in a soreign language.
The purpose of the new legislation was to remedy
this very apparent fteed, and by amendment. to the
school laws make it compulsory that every child in the
State should reeeive its fundamental and primary edu
cation. in the English language. In other States the
same condition existed, and steps have been taken to
correct the evil. In 1913 the legislatures ' of Iowa,
Kansas, Maine, Arkansas, Indiana, Washington, Wis-f
consin and New Hampshire passed tneasures more or
less drastic with regard to compulsory education in
English, and the prohibition of the use of soreign
languages in elernentary-schools.
It is a general rule that Statutes pertaining to the
same Subject matter should be construed together, and
this is particularly so if the Statutes were passed at
the same Session of the legislature. The generaK.
principle is that the legislature must be presumed to
have in mind all previous legislation upon the Subject,
including Statutes closely related, so that in the con
struction of this Statute, we must consider the pre
existing law, and any other acts relating to education,
or Subjects of instruction, passed at the 1919 Session,
which may tend to elucidate the Intention of the
legislature. ,
The compulsory education act of Nebraska, as
amended in 1919, ch. 155, Laws' 1919, requires that
every child, or youth, not less than seven pr more
than sixteen years of age shall, during each school
year, attend public, private, denominational or
parochial day schools for not less than twelve
weeks, and in city and tnetropolitan city school
districts attend the füll period of each public
school year in which the public day schools are in
session with certain exceptions.
, All . private, denominational and parochial schools,
and all teachers, employed or giving instruct! ons
therein shall be subject to and governed by the
provisions of the school laws of the State as
to grades, qualißcations of teachers. v ' They are
required to have adequate equipment and eupplies
required to have adequate equipment and supplies,
and shall have grades and Courses of study
substantially the same as the public schools
where the children will attend in the absence of
private, denominational or parochial schools. Nothing
in the act is to be construed as interfering With the 1
religious instruction in such schools.
Instruction is required to be given in American
history and in civil govemment, both state and
national, as will give the pupils a thorough knowledge
of the history of our country, its constitution and our
form of government, and shall conduct such patriotic
exercises as may be prescribed by the state super
intmIent. It is also provided that nothing in the act
contained shall be so construed as to interfere with
religious instruction in any private, denominational
or parochial school.
It is also settled law that where the general intent
of the legislature may be readily discerned, and yet the
language in which a law is expressed leaves the
application of it in specine instances obscure, doubt
ful, ambiguous or uncertain, the courts may have
recourse to historical facts or general public Informa
tion, or the condition of the country at and im
mediately prior to th passage of the law in order
to aid them in interpreting its provisions. Ths language
may be so indefinite that if construed in one way, it
may violate-the constitution while if construed in an
other equally permissible manner its passage would not
be inhibited. Since it ought never to be presumed that
the legislature intended to violate the constitution, the
obvious and necessary construction to be given is that
which will uphold the Statute.
Frorn a consideration of both of these Statutes, as
well as of chapter 248 and 250, laws 1919. it is clear
that the purpose of the legislatures was tö abolish the
teaching of soreign languages in elernentary schools,
when such schools are used, or csing such languages,
as the medium of instruction; to provide that the
standartd of education prescribed for the elernentary
public schools should apply to all other schools; that
the ordinary times and attention devoted to euch in
struction should not be diverted to other Subjects,
except as specified in the act, and that the same
character of education should be had by all . children,
whether of soreign born parents or of native citizens.
The ultimate object and end of the State in thus
assuming control of the education of its people
is the upbuilding of an intelligent American
citizenship, '
familiär with the princiAles and Ideals upon which this
government was founded, to imbue the allen child with
the traditions of our past, to give him the knowledge
of the lives of Washington, Franklin Adams, Lincoln,
and other men who lived in aecordance with such Ideals,
and to teach him love for his country, and hatred of
dictatorship, whether by autoerats, by the Proletariat
or by any man or dass of men.
Philosophers long ago pointed out that the safety
of a demoeraey, or republic, rests upon the intelligence
and virtue of its citizens. "The safety of the people
is the suprerne law." The concept that the State is
everything, and the indivdual merely one of its
eomponent parts, is repugnant to the ideal of demoe
raey, individual Jndrpendence und liberty expressed in
the Deklaration of Rights, and afterwards established
and carried out in the American constitution.
The State should control the education of its
; citizens far enough to see that it is given in the
language of the country and that they .understand
the nature of the , government under which they
live, and are kompetent to take part in it. Further
than this, education should be lest to the füllest
freedom of th individual.
The act as thus construed merely carrles out ths
purpose of regulation to greater extent than specified
in the compulsory act. The term -school" as sed
therein, evidently means a school which presents
Course of study such as those prescribed for th, publie
schools, and attendance upon which would satisfy ths
requirements of tho compulsory law. Th intent
evidently is that none of th tim necessarily employed
in teaching th elernentary branches formin th public
school curriculurn shall be consurned in teaching th
child a soreign language, sine whatever Um is devoted
to such teaching in school hours, must necessarily b
taken away frorn th tim which the State requirei
i to be devoted to education carried on in the
English language. v
Furthermore, ther Is nothing in th act to
prevent parents, teachers or pastors from convey
ing religious or moral instruction in the language
of the parents, or in any , ther language, or in
' teaching any other brauch of learning or accompllsh- ,
nient, provided that such instruction is given at ,
such Urne that it will not Interfere with the
required studies. '
Th law only requires compulsory education for
children not less than seven nor mors than ixteen
years of age, for a period of not less than twelv weeks
in certain districts, and a longer period in others. If a
child has attended ei ther th public or private school
for the required tim' it could not have been th
Intention of the legislature to bar its parents either
in person or through the medium of tutors or teach
ers employed from teaching other studies as their
wisdom might dictate.
There can be no question of the culturai effect
of the knowledge of a soreign language.
There is nothing in this Statute to interfere with
teaching the Bohemian language on Saturday or Sun
day, as is done by the intervening Boheraian schools
of Omaha and South Omaha.
The assertion that it is necessary to teach Polish
in order to teach English does not seem well founded.
It is Baid several times in the briefs, and it was aid
in the oral argument, that tt number of Statements in
the petitions are admitted by th demurrer and must
be taken as true. - In a general sense a demurrer
admits the allegations of the petition, but it does not
admit conclusions drawn from the facts stated. We
think wo are not bound to draw the conclusion that
because children, when they first attend school, cannot
understand or speak English, they must be taught th
language of their parents, whether Polish or Bohemian,
in order that they may learn English, otherwise no
children of soreign speaking parents attending the public
schools,, wherein no other language than English iS
spoken, could ever learn the language. It is common
knowledge that the easiest way to learn a soreign
language is to associate only with those who speak
and use' it. Of course the occasional use of a few
words of the language of the home in order to explain
the meaning of English words would not, if good faith
is used, violate the act as seems to be feared.
The further objection is made by some of the
intervenors that while they can understand and speak
English to some extent, they arg not Bufficiently familiär
with the language to give religious or moral instruction
to thfcir children in that language. There is no
necessity that religious or moral teaching be given in
English, and a parent who can speak and understand
Gcrman, Polish, Bohemian, or any other language,
can assuredly convey lessons of truth, morality und
righteousnesB in that language. So with respect to the
complaint that the pastor or the teachers in private
or parochial schools qannot give moral and religious
instruction in English, it is not the medium through
which such ideas are conveyed that is material, it is
the lessons themselves which are essential to right
conduct and good citizenship, and, as we construe it,
there is no prohibition in the act to interfere with
such teaching in a soreign language. The contention
made that by virtue of section 2 of the act no for
eigner may be taught in any other language than
English unless the pupil has successfully passed the
eighth- grade, as evidenced by a certisicate issued by
the county Superintendent, must be taken as apply
ing only to pupils attending public or private schools,
and in the sense that a pupil in such schools may not
there be taught any language other than English un
less he has attained and passed the eighth grade. If
the act should be construed to mean that no person
could at any time be taught any other language than
English unless possessed of a certisicate of graduation
issued by th county Superintendent, it would be dis
criminatory as being an unreasonable exercise of the
Police power, and interfering with individual liberty.
If the law means that parents can teach a soreign
language or private tutors employed by men of means,
may do so, but that poorer men may not employ teach
ers to give such instruction in a dass or school, it
would be an Invasion of personal liberty, discrirninative
and void, there being no reasonable basis of classisication,
but if such instruction can be given in addition
to the regulär course, and not so as to interfere
with it, then equality and uniformity results, and
no one can complain.
. As to the allegations with respects to the Invasion
of property rights by depriving certain intervenors of
the value of the "good will" in their schools, no facts
are alleged, but mere conclusions which,.are not admitted
by the demurrer.
It has been said that this is a penal Statut, and
must be strictly construed. In a limited and restricted
sense the Statute may be penal, but in our opinion it
is remedial in its nature. It is designed to remove a
condition seriously inimical to the public weif are. It
must be reasonably construed, not alone by taking into
aecount the words of the particular measure, but by
considering the mischief which the legislature was
endeavoring to remedy. If construed as plaintiffs and
intervenors contend, it jcould not be applied. If
experience shows that the prZctical working of the act
is harsh or inconvenient, even though valid and
constitutional, the legislature will no doubt remedy its
defects, and if thq. legislation is unwise, those who are
injured have an incentive to see that their views are
represented in another legislature.
As to the contentions that the act is broader than
its title and that the Subject of the first section is not
embraced therein, it must be said, that the title is
exceedingly broad, "An act relating to the teaching
of soreign languages in the State of Nebraska". The
prohibition of the teaching of any other language than
English in the first section clearly has relation to the
teaching of soreign languages, and is within the title.
The other sections also "reiste" to such teaching.
It has also been urged that the Statute is unreason
able and is therefore void. An unreasonable law is not
necessarily nnconstitutional, and the remedy for such
an enaetment is with the legislature by way of amend
ment or repeal.
It has been said by the United States Suprerne Court
in Gundling case, 177 U. S. 183, 20, Sup. Ct. Rep. 633,
that the courts will not interfere with the Operation of
a regulative Statute, "unless the regulations are so
utterly unreasonable and extravagant in their nature
and purposes that the property and personal rights of .
the citizens are unnecessarily, and in a manner wholly
arbitrary, interfered with or destroyed without due
process of law, they do not extend beyond the power
of the State to pass, and they form no Subject for
federal interference". Giozza f. Tieman, 148 U. S.
657, 13 Sup. Ct Rep. 721.
Neither the constitution es the State nor the 14th
amendment takes away the power of the, State to
nact a law that may fair!? be said to protect the
lives, liberty and property of its citizens, and to promote
their health, morals, education and good order. "If the '
State may compel th solvent bank to helfl pay losses
sustained by depositors in insolvent banks; if it may
enact workmen's compensation laws in order that th
workmen shall have no strained relations with his
employer, nor become embittered towards society be
cause, though an industry has crippled him, it has paid
him nothing; if acts aiming to make better citizens by -diminishing
th chances of pauperisrn are sustalned; if
it is competent for the Stat to protect th rninor from
impoverishing himself by contract it surely is not an
arbitrary exercise of the functions of the State to insist
"that the fundamental basis of the education of its
citizens shall be a knowledge of the language, history
and nature of the government of the United States,
and to prohibit anythlng which way interfere with such
an education. Law, th purpose of which are, with
respect to soreign language speaking children, to give
them such training that they may know and under
stand their privilpge, dutios, powers and responsi
bilitles as American citizens, which scek to prevent a
soreign language from being used as th medium of
instruction in other branches, and as th basis of their
education, are certalnly conducive to the public welfarj
and are not obnoxious to any provision of either Um
Stat or Federal constitution.
, - , AFFIRMED ,
Cornish J. R. Dissents.
.
In aecordance with the request of the Tribune',
Attorneys Arthur F. Müllen and John I. Sullivan, two
of the attorneys of th plaintiffs, have interpreted the
opinion of th Suprerne Court in the Siman law as
follows:
"Answering the questions which you propound
regarding the effect of the decision of the Suprerne
Court in the case of Nebraska Distnet of Evangelical
Lutheran Synod, et al., vs. McKelvie, et al., I beg
to advise:
QUESTION 1. Assuming that the parochial schools
maintain a course of study substantially the same as
that given in the public schools, where the children
"attending would attend" in the absence of such
parochial schools, may those in Charge of the parochial
schools lawfullv give instruction in religion and morals
for a period of fprty-five minutes, commencing at 9:00
A. M. on each school day, and employing whatever
language may be necessary or convenient?
ANSWER: Yes. This is, I think, clearly permlssable.
QUESTION 2. Under these same circumstances
may those conducting parochial schools employ a part
f the noon intermission, say from 1:00 to 1:30, in
giving Instruction in optional studies, such as soreign
languages ?
ANSWER: Yes. The Judgment of the court plainly
sanctions that practice.
QUESTION 3. Can a soreign language be used
as a means of instruction during school hours?
ANSWER: The court has answered this question
as follows:
"It is common knowledge that the easiest way
to learn a soreign language is to associate only
with those who speak and use it. Of course, th
occasional use of a few words of the language
of the home, in order to explain the meaning of
English words, would not, if good faith was used,
violate the act as seems to be feared."
Only to the extent thus indicated in the opinion of
tho court a soreign language may be so used."
Eine Auslegung der Entscheidung
öes Gbergerichts von AebrasKa
über öas sogenannte
Siman-Gesetz.
Auf Wunsch der Täglichen ' Omaha Tribüne ha.
Den die Nechtsanwälte Arthur F. Müllen und Richter
John I. Sullivan die folgende Auslegung der Ent
fcheidung des Nebraska Obergerichts über das foge.
nannte Simangesetz abgegeben:
In Beantwortung der Fragen, welche Sie hin
sichtlich der Wirkung der obergerichtlichm Entschei.
dung im Fall des Nebraska-Tistrikts der Ev. Luth.
Synode, et al., gegen McKelvie, et al., vorlegen, er
foubc ich mir, Ihnen folgendes mitzuteilen: ;
1. Frage: Angenommen, daß die Parochial.
Schulen im wesentlichen denselben Unterrichtsplan
verfolgen, als die öffentlichen Schulen, welche ' die
schulpflichtigen Kinder im Falle des Fehlens einer
solchen Parochialschule besuchen würden, können dann
die Aufsichtführenden solcher Parochialschulen 'in
Ucbcrcmstimmung mit, dem, Gesetz Unterricht in der
Religion und Sittenlchre während eines Zeitraumes
von 45 Minuten, von S.Uhr jeden Vormittags an
gerechnet, erteilen, und sich dabei der Sprache bedie
nett, welche notwendig oder dienlich sein mag?
Antwort: DieZ ist, meiner Meinung nach deut
lich stattheft.
2. Frage: Können unter denselben Verhältnissen
diejenigen, welche eine Parochialschule leiten, einen
Teil der Mittagspause, sagen wir von 1:00 bis 1:30,
zum Erteilen des Unterrichts in Spezialfachern, z. B.
des fremdsprachlichen Unterrichts, benutzen?
Antwort: Fa. Das Urteil des Gerichts geneh.
migt ausdrücklich diese Praxis.
3. Frage: Kann eine frcnt&e Sprache als Un
terrichsmittel während der Schlußstunden gebraucht
werden?
Antwort: Der Gerichtshof hat, diese Frage fol
gendermaßen beantlvortet:
Es ist allgemein bekannt, daß die leichteste
Weise, eine fremde Sprache zu lernen, im
Umgang mit denjenigen besteht, welche diese
sprechen und gebrauchen. Natürlich würde
der gelegentliche Gebrauch eines Wortes in
' - der Sprache des Hauses, um dadurch die Ve
deutung englischer Wörter zu erklären, wenn
in gutem Glauben angewandt, das Gesetz nicht
verletzen, wie man zu befürchten scheint."
Nur soweit, wie hier angedeutet, darf nach der
Ansicht des Gerichtshofs eine fremde Sprache ge
braucht werden.
. Ihr ergebener
:K . Arthur Müllen.
Zlus Eoluinbus, Aebr.
Columbus, Nebr., 5. Januar 1S20. In der
deutschen evang. protestantischen Kirche fand am Sonn,
tag, den 4. Januar, an Stelle der Predigt die jährliche
Gemeinde.Versammlung statt. Die alten Veaniten
wurden per Akklamation wiedererwählt mit Ausnahme
deö Vize-Präsidenten. Dr. B. Thierney, welcher das
Amt wegen Mangel an Zeit nicht wieder annehmen
wollte. . An seine Stelle wurde Herr Paul, Gau
erwählt. ,
Aus dem Bericht des Schatzmeisters geht hervor,
das; die Gemeinde schuldenfrei ist, und das; sie gute
Fortschritte in finanzieller Beziehung macht. Eine
Anzahl neuer Mitglieder wurden aufgenommen. Herr '
Pastor Neumächer konnte berichten, dak im der
gangenen Jahre die Todesfälle in der Gemeinde nur
ganz wentge waren, so daß z. B. m den letzten sechs
Monaten kein einziges Mitglied zu beerdigen gewesen.!
DaS Vegrabniß von Mehlon E. Clotten, langjah.
riger County Commissioner von Platte County, wel
cher letzten Samstag Nacht in Platte Center gestorben,
würde am Dienstag daselbst von der katholischen St.
Joseph's Kirche aus, auf dem St. Patrick's Friedhof
begraben
Die .New Jears Neception" im I. M. C. A. am
Neujahrstage war dieses Jahr besonders erfolgreich.
Nach einem hübschen musikalischen Programm f.ind ein
sehr lebhafter Volley Ball Contcst statt zwischen Mit
gliedern der Methodistcn.Kirche und der Federated Ge
meinde, welche sich so ziemlich die Stange hielten. Er!
frischungen wurden herumgereicht. ,
CchwlodsschtSopskk.
Ein bor kurzem von der Natio
nnlen Tuberculosis Association hcr
ausgegebener Bericht, der sicher dazu
beitragen wird, den Bcrkauf von
G,ÜW,W0 Note jlreuMarken zu
einem Erfolge zu machen, zeigt, daz
die Influenza, trotzdem sie in eini
acrt Monaten des Jahres epidemi
jchen Charakter annahm, in dem er
sten halben Jahre im Staate New
Zjork nicht soviele Leute tötete, wie
die Tuberculofis.
Die Zahlen, die nach dem Bericht
des Gesundheitsamtes des Staates
zusammengestellt sind, geben jüe
Influenza 7670 und für Tnberculo
siö 358 Todesopfer im ersten Halb
jähre 1919 an. Die Todcörate dce
ersten Krankheit betragt 141.1 auf
100,000, die TuberculoZiS aber ist
153.7. '
TaS allgemeine Publikum er
kennt die Gefahr der TuberculosiS
nicht fährt der, Bericht fort, .weil
die Krankheit nicht mit so offensicht
licher Plötzlichkeit auftritt wie die
epidemische Influenza. Während deS,
Erscheinens der letzteren fanden die
Feitungslesce in ihren Blättern
spaltcnlange Artikel, die sie auf die
Gefahr aufmerksam machten, sodaß
sie dett Anforderungen der Gesund
heitsbehörde willig folgten. Bei de?
Fahr für Jahr und Tag für, .Tag
.vftrctendcl TuberculosiS aber
schlägt ein großer Teil deS Publi
kums noch immer alle WarnuNgett
leicht fertig w den Wind."
Die Nationale TuberculosiS Vss
eiation plant eine landesweite C
ziehungs'Kampagne, um daS ganz
Publikum - aufzuklären und es zu
überzeugen, daß diese gefährliche
Kran.eit verhindert und geheilt
werden kann. '
T In den Tod getanzt,
- ,
Eine deutsche Zeitung brachte so!-
gende Natiz:Totgetanzt hat sich äs
einem Vergnügungsabend des Wer
einS Kelivs" in Hohenmölsen ein
LLjähriger Kontorist infolge eines
Herzschlags. Den Leichnam brachte
man sogleich um das-Vergüngen
nicht zu stören, in einen Nebenraum,
unauffällig, um nicht den Genuß des
Tanzes zu unterbrechen." Wir
dürfen, schreibt die Gartenlaube",
annehmen, daß das betreffende Blatt
keinen satirischen Gcißelschlag gegen
unsere Zeit hat führen wollen, als
cS diese, Notiz brachte. Aber ist die
jer Kontorist nicht wert, der Genius
des neuen Deutschlands" zu hei
ßen Ist nicht auch dieses neue
Deutschland dabei, sich totzutanzen
Und werden nicht alle Tage und
Abende Leichname möglichst uiiauf.
fällig in einen Nebenraum gebracht,
i'.m das Vergnügen nicht zu stören
und den Genuß des Tanzes nicht zu
unterbrechen?
Wer ist der größte Esel?
Zur Zeit des Großen Kurfürsten
wirkte in Berlin ein Probst Andreas
Müller an der Nikolaikirche. ' Von
ihm erzählt man, daß er 'in einer
Bredigt sich also geäußert habe: Wir
find x&e ohne Ausnahme unseres
Herrgottes lastbare Esel. Die Bürger
sind rechte Esel, denn sie haben an
ihrer Bürde zu tragen. Unsere Rats
Herren swd große Esel, denn es liegt
tljn.cn noch mehr auf. Wir Irediger
sind noch größere, denn wir haben sehr
große Sorgen. Unser gnädiger Herr,
der Kurfürst, aber ist der größte
Esel, denn er muß unser aller 'Last
tragen!" . ' '
Kein LiebliaLer dadoa.
Er: Frl. Marn r-ntlBert 1
auch an die Wahrheit des Spra'
ches: Ein Kuß obne Bart ist wie
ein Brot ohne Schmalz"?"
Sie (zögernd): Das kann ich Jh
nen wirklich nicht sagen, Herr Feu'
rig, denn ich habe in meinem ganzen
Leben"
Er? Na, na. Frl. Marie,, rmi;
keine Ausflüchte!" ;
Sie: noch kein
Schmalzbrot gegessen." ' j
Ein Ahnungslose!?
Kn der Zeitung wird ein echter
Gobelin zum Verkauf, angezeigt. ES
meldet sich ein fetter Herr mit rotem
Besicht und dicken brillantgeschmückten
Fingern.
Der Verkäufer führt ihn zu dem
Aobelin. einer französischen Arbeit
zus der Zeit Ludwig XIV. Ent
täuscht wendet sich der Beschauer ab:
.Ich denke. Gobelin iS 'n Bilk.
Hauer l" bemerkt er.
Ein Unterschied. Hri.
ratsvermittlerin: Ich taun Il?,?en
einen wirklich vorziigliä'rn Mann
empfehlen, den Dr. Schimiinler."
Kundin: Ach. den kenne ick), den
Schwindler."
- Heiratsvermittlerin: Bitte (clir,
dann kennen Sie ihn gar nicht, er
ist ein so "
Kundin: Ach. seien Sie ' doch
still, das ist ja mein geschiedener
Mann." ' s
Schließlich bezahlen wir für
solche Sachen immer am meisten,
um die wie uns lange beiuüh,
sie recht billig zu bekommen, . .