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About Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 20, 1900)
o I- f THE ORIGINAL FxnioM * The bill Introduced by Congressman Slmfroth providing that on and after Jannnry 1 , 1903 , tlio weights nntl measures In the metric system shall bo the legal standard weights and measures In the United States is sim ply another in a long line of attempts to supplant the present awkward sys tem by the easy and simple- metric or decimal system. Though the bill has been reported favorably by the com mittee on weights and measures It has Ktlll a hard fight before it. The chances for its adoption nro not the brightest. In one sense the United States may be said to have been even bcforo Franco in the adoption of at least a portion of the metric system. In 1785 congress adopted the decimal system of money , with the dollar as the unit , whereas the metric system proper was not adopted by Franco until 1795. The basis of the metric system , the motor , was determined by two French as tronomers and mathematicians and is exactly onc-forty-mllllonth part of the circumference of the earth on the merl- Icllnn of Paris. The meter Is 3.37 inches longer than the American yard. It is the standard of the measures of length and all other measures are bnscd upon It. Thus the metric unit of surface measure is the couture , which is one square motor. The unit of ca pacity is nno liter , which Is the cttbo JOHN QUINCY ADAMS. ( First Defender of the Metric System. ) of one-tenth of a meter. The unit of weight is the gram which Is the weight of a cubic centimeter of water. A standard motor was constructed in 1799 by an international commission representing France , Holland , Sweden , Switzerland , Denmark , Spain , Savoy , and the Roman , Glsalplno , and Llgur- ian republics , it was made of platin um and was deposited in the palace of archives in Paris and was declared to bo the definitive- basis of the metric system forever. General Chaf-fcc in "PcKjn. The Pokln correspondents of the London newspapers do not approve of General Chaffeo and hla American methods. They complain of the guard that lie posted to prevent looting. They report that the ministers arc of fended by General Ghaffco's individual assumption of authority In Issuing orders to prevent looting , and that Field Marshal Count von Wnldorsco is not pleased with the independent tone of General Clmffoo'q communica tions to headquarters. They report also that General Chaffeo has created dissatisfaction by his refusal to Join the other governments In giving In creased salaries to olllccrs assigned to duty In the provisional government at at Tientsin. This is a British view. The corre spondent of the Chicago Inter Ocean at Pokln takes a different view. Ho reports that the provisional govern ment at Tientsin is cumbersome , expensive - > pensive , and unsatisfactory that its chief object seems to bo to supply sine cures for military ollleora ; that the high salaries paid condemn western government In the eyes of the Chinese , and' that the provisional government has made a demand for unlimited pow er regarding public works , the levying of taxes , contributions , Import duties , etc. etc.To To all this General Chaffeo , com manding the American troops , objected , lie opposed tlio proposition to glvo the Tientsin provisional government un limited control of the territory. Ho declined to approve the proposition to Inaugurate now public works oxcop such as wore- temporarily necessary and he instructed Captain Footc , tin American representative In the government ornment , not to accept any remunorn tlon beyond his army pay. Americanizing England. Tlio Britisher is in a plight about thu Introduction into London of the whiz zing , whistling American trolley. Tlio work of the trolley car in the develop- 'fnent of American towns and in reliev ing the congestion of the big cities is one of the marvels of the time. It goes tearing through the country , linking towns and cities and spilling the deni zens of the crowded and smoky cities over woodland and prairie , As an evangel of progress it is a ripper. But It does not follow from all this that , 0 ,1' , The use of the metric system was declared obligatory In France on No vember : . ' , 1801. but the French people wore not prepared for so sudden a change , and In 18112 a compromise was adopted which lasted until 1837. In that year a lnw was passed making the use of the metric system obligatory and ordering its enforcement after .January , 1810. At present it Is uni versally used by France , aa well as by nil European nations , except Great Britain , where It Is allowed , but not compulsory. Russia was the last of great powers to make the change , hav ing put the metric system Into force only a few weeks ago. On the contin ent the metric system has been adopt ed by Mexico. Brazil , Chile. Peru , and other of the South and Central American republics. As early as 1817 the subject of adopting the metric system In the United States was agitated. John Qttlncy Adams was appointed to Inves tigate the weights and measures of the United States and ho found that the standards of weight , measure , and ca pacity differed considerably In the dif ferent states and even in the same state. Ho reported fully on the result of his Investigation and did not favor tlio adoption of the French or metric system because of the popular repug nance to a change and the Inconven ience which would follow the adoption of a new system. At the same tlmo ho declared his belief that the metric sys tem was almost Ideal and reflected the greatest credit on the men and on the age which had devised It. In 1830 another Investigation was made and it again was found that a pound or a yard In one state or city was often more or less than in another. As a result the treasury department was authorized and Instructed to have made copies of the standards of weight and measure then In Its possession , a set of which copies wore to bo dellv- cd to tlio governor of each state in the union. In 18CG It was made by an act of congress lawful to employ the weights and measures of the metric system throughout the United States and the secretary of the treasury was Instruct ed to furnish the governor of each state a sot of standard weights and measures of the metric system for the use of the respective states. Under the regulations of the Inter national postal convention the metric system was adopteu as the standard in all transactions between the nations which are members of the postal un ion , and accordingly the mail matter transported between the United ritates London is going to permit the trolley to Invade the densely crowded streets In the heart of that great metropolis. It fs announced that bills for the intro duction of electric tram service of the trolley pattern on such thoroughfares as the Embankment , Victoria street , Buckingham Palace Road , and King's Road , Chclsea.wlll be strongly opposed and will never bo enacted while the conservative ! government Is in power. It Is asserted that the development of an electric surface system is possible In the East Side * and In the suburbs , and that the Introduction of trolleys on such broad thorougfarcs as White * chapel will bo favored by both paitles In the London county council. Sent to "Demand Indemnify , The British sloop-of-war learns Is on her way to Panama to inquire- Into the seizure of a British steamer by the Columbian government , The rebels were gaining ground and a city threat ened by them had to bo relieved. A transport was wanted and the govern ment took the first vessel at hand. This proved to bo a Britisher , and John Bull now wants to know the reason THE ICARUS. why. The Icarus Is not a modern ves sel , but still she should bo equal to bringing the Columbians to time. The late Marcus Daly Invested sev eral hundred thousand dollars In valu able copper property In Mexico during the past year. It Is reported that these mines will now bo disposed of and that they may bo acquired by W. A. Clark of Montana , who already has mining Interests in Mexico. Represen tatives of Mr.-Clark are now in Mexico ice Investigating certain copper prop erties. ind fifty other countries , Inclmlinfl oven the mail sent between the United States and England , is 'Weighed and laid for entirely in terms of the met- ic system. In IS7ii a convention was hold by ropi-scntativcH of practically all the inxul nations , except England , at which "a scientific and permanent > urt M of weights and measures" was established at Paris , the expenses of tvhich are paid by all the powers party o the convention. Great Britain has since become a party to this confer ence and now pays its share of the expenses of the bureau. One duty of the International bureau of weights and measures Is to furnish exact and correct copies or duplicates of the standards of weight and meas- ire to the several countries which con tribute to its support. These i : vv standards wore mipplled to the United States and were received by the presi dent and his cabinet with considerable ceremony on January 2 , 1890 , and are now deposited In a fireproof room in the coast survey building at Washing- QHIn In 1893 the secretary of the treasury ordered that thereafter the standard motor and kilogram , deposited in the coast survey building , should bo re cognized ns the fundamental standards from which the customary units of the yard and the pound should be de- IION. JOHN F. SHAFROTII. ( Colorado Congressman , Who Is Au thor of the Present Bill. ) rived. It is therefore true that at present the United States is using a system of weights and measures which Is based on the units of the metric system. The metric system proper Is now ex clusively used by the United States marine hospital service , by the for eign department of the postofllco , by the United States coast and geodetic survey , to some extent in the mint , United States signal service , and United States census department. "Degree of ' "Doctor of Arts. " The proposal of President Tlnving of Western Reserve University that anew now degree of doctor of arts bo estab lished docs not meet with the approval of the majority of the heads of the more important colleges. The degree for men distinguished in technical and 'ndustrlal pursuits for whom the de cree for men distinguished In technical and industrial pursuits for whom the degree of doctor of laws seems inap propriate. Tlio plan is opposed by , Presidents Angell of Michigan , Eliot of Harvard , Butler of Colby , Carter o ! Williams , Iladley of Yale , Harris of Amhl-rst , Jordan of Stanford , Low of Columbia , Northrop of Minnesota , Raymond of Union and Sehurman of Cornell. It is approved by Presidents Strykcr of Hamilton , Wheeler of California , and Faunco of Uiown in n modified way. Hard 'CUorK.for JY. Louis Fair. Mho appropriation made by congress to aid the St. Louis fair of I'JOIl provid ed that the money should not become available unless the city of St. Louis should raise $10,000,000 for the same purpose. The congressional appropria tion was $5,000.000. Tlio city of St. Louis will ismo bonds for $5,000,000 and is making a vigorous effort to raise $5.000,000 by private snl)3criptlon. ) The subscription list drags. The St. Loulb papers are full of energetic ap peals for help. From their earnestness it must bo that the difllcuHlcs are great. It would bo unfortunate If the appropriation of congress should fall through the Inability of tho'people of St. Louis to raise the amount of $10- 000.000 , which Is a condition on which the national appropriation rests. Sallitan''t Jctauh "Blood. The late Sir Arthur Sullivan was said to have Jewish blood In his veins , but this Is wrong. His mother was an Italian named Rlghl , and his father , of course , was pure Irish. His grand parents was an Impoverished Kerry squire , who served under Wellington and was a member of the garrison at St. Helena. Dr. Charles P. II. Wllgohs of Akron , O. , has Just celebrated his ninety-sev - enth birthday. Ho still attends to hla practice as a physician , and even visit j his patients at night when called upon ' to do sr- . Forsaking all Others 'By AMELIA DUCHEMIN CHAPTER X. Nearly half an hour passed before the married pair , looking formidable determined and united , presented themselves nt her door , and in tho" Interval she had forced herself Into a cold calmness that enabled her tb meet them composedly. Almost before they were seated Harvey , wjio seemed much excited , opened the subject up permost in thu minds of all. "So you threaten to ohut up the house and go to New York ? " ho an grily asked. "It is an intention , Harvey , not n threat. " "And do you think I will submit to such n courao , merely because you have chosen to quarrel with my wife , whoso only oiTonue has been her care for us both ? You do not know mo , madam. " "I am afraid 1 have never known you , Harvey. " "Perhaps not ; you hadn't applied to rny character the test of injustice and the mosi. monstrous selfishness ever shown by mother to son ! " he hotly retorted. Helen had made- good use of her half hour. "You roared mo with the expectation of sharing your prop erty ; but for that I should not have married. And now you coolly say that henceforth I must depend upon myself I , who hnvo been accustomed to every luxury ! " "I think you would have married in any case , " said Gladys , In a tone that made his eyes waver for a moment.lt la as well ; I do not fear for your fu ture. You certainly have not suffered from my selfishness in the past. " "Don't you think the less you say about your past the better ? " ho asked , carried beyond all prudence , all kind ness , by a burning sense of his wrongs. For a full minute they looKed stead ily at each other ; her womanly In tuition enabled her to load the thoughts that owed their , existence to llulc-.i , and her weakened affection for him seemed to fall dead. "If I live to bo a hundred , " she said slowly , her face hard with scorn , "I will never forgive you for thatinsult , oven though I know it orginated with the woman who has so strangely per verted your moral nature. Your- wick edness and covelousness deserve pun ishment , and it has overtaken you in the way you will feel moat ; for though you have no legal claim upon my money , I always Intended to provide for you when you came of age , and should have carried out the intention , in spite of the fact that you married against my wish , had not your wife's character so soon revealed itself. Re cent events have shown me that you are equally unworthy , and not a dollar lar of mine shall over pass into your possession and hers unless you come to actual want. " A dead silence ensued. Both listen ers saw that Mrs. Atherton was in earnest , and had been pushed too far , though righteously pushed ; for they had so blinded themselves by specious reasoning that even now they would 1 not admit they were wrong. It was Helen who brtffco the dreary pause. "Vnn hntnil mo fivmi tlip first " she said in a voice uneven with rage , "and have well calculated your revenge. You know I would die for Harvey , and by making mo the apparent medium of his downfall , you try to inflict upon me the most narrowing of punish ments. But hero you fall , Gladys Atherton , for it is you who have been his ruin. You have scorned mo , not in words , perhaps , but with meaning looks , for having decoyed him into marriage bcforo your appointed tlmo. I know how you regard my people that , too , your looks have told. And what are you , pray , with all your pride ? In the beginning a bold , pam pered girl following .tho first man who though it worth his while to beckon her to shame , for aught she knew or cared , so that her fancy was grati- lled " "Harvey , " cried Gladys , deadly pale , "bid this impious woman , be silent. She Is speaking of your mother. " "A mother to be proud of. truly ! " exclaimed Helen , her eye.i Imperative ly demanding Harvey's silence , though she spoke so fast and loud that ho had no.opportunity to Interrupt her , oven "had he wished. "The wife of a drunk ard and gambler , the widow of a crim inal ! I despise you , and so shall your BOH. Bo very sure of that. But we'll have our right if we claim them in a court of law. I doubt if you have power to withhold what you call your money. How do we know your story is true ? You were not squeamish in the past , when you hafl a purpose to serve , it appears. Why should you be over particular at this late day ? " Gladys , still pale , but with her former look of pcorn intensified , turned to Harvey. "You have hoard your wife , sir. have no claim upon her affection , as on yours , and care nothing for her opinion unless you uphold her In It Do you ? " "This is not the time for heroic speeches and professions of belief In virtues that never existed , " he salt sulkily , his eyes on Helen's prompting face. "Wo must recognize tlio fac that the person who marries unwisely entails certain consequences upon th children of the marriage for which her or she owes thorn compensation Through you I am my grandfather' : natural heir , and should not be robbed . of my birthright. If I am covetous in urging a just claim , what then are you ? In keeping control of your prop- orty you may bo right by law , but you are acting dishonestly none the IOSH. So far I fully agruu with my wife. " With n low cry Gladys fell back in her chair. As if waiting for the sig ] nal , Pliobo entered the room , a terrible old woman in her wrath. "I am going to toll them , the truth , Miss Gladys , whether you forbid it or not , " she defiantly announced. "As Mr. Harvey says , this isn't the tlmd pretending , and I guess wo can ie ! the matter out of court. " Gladys up a protesting hand , but she lid not heed. "I'll make short k of it. You're wrong in thinking i have any sort of share In tlio mls- 33' property , Mr. Harvey , because ; . . father. Joseph Stirling , your Grandfaire , didn't own a dollar in it. Ho married twice first a poor girl \vio ! died when her baby was born ; then a rich young heiress , who also died early in life leaving her money lo her only child , Gladys , your aunt or half aunt ; for you arc the son of ' ! ; daughter of the first marriage. " "My God ! The mater is not my mother ? " cried Harvey , after a stupe fied pause. He snrang to his feet and Citzcd wildly from one face to the other , with tl\e \ look of a man pierced to the heart. "Madam , madam , is tills true. ? " ho imploringly asked. Then , meeting Gladys' compassionate yet strangely cold look , with a half sob ho throw himself into chair and buried his face in his hands , never moving until Phebe had finally ceased spunking. Helen said nothing : her burning eyes were fixed on the housekeeper ; she knew she told the truth , and that from the fair domain which had prom ised to be her garden of Eden , she was banished forever. "You know how your mother mar ried. Mr. Stirling swore he would never forgive her ; but lie was a just man , and sent her the money she would have had when she came of age. It didn't last long. Twenty thousand dollars isn't much in the hands of a gambler. And wiicn it was gone ho went too. " "Miss Gladys was at school when your poor mother begged her way to New York , her baby in her arms. She did not seek her father ; she knew his unforgiving spirit , but she sent for me I was In ills service from the hospital where she lay djing , and by her deathbed I promised never to for sake her child , and to hide him from her husband , Matthew Harvey , who would try to make use of the boy to got money from his young aunt , Gladys. He was bad enough for any thing , she said. I had a little money saved , and put you to board with a woman I know. I always had it in my mind to tell the master some day ; but he had a heart trouble and I daresn't do it. "I hadn't a chance to worry long , for In a few months after your motner died he fell dead in the street , without a moment's warning. Miss Glady came home for the funeral , and after the first shock was over I told her everything. She had a tender heart my lamb , and wouldn't rest till she had seen her poor sister's baby. " CHAPTER XI. Phebo paused , overcome by sad memories. Gladys , unnerved by all that had passed , was crying , but not as the wholly desolate weep ; she no longer strove to prevent her old friend from speaking. "Your mother's sorrows had left their mark on you , Mr. Harvey ; you were a sad little tot"with mournful eyes and atlmorous manner. You ran to my dear young lady , attracted by her sweet voice , and hid your face in her gown , and when wo left they had to drag you away ; wo hoard your screams as the carriage drove off , and Miss Gladys sobbed all the way hoji < 3. After that , the idea of your growaig up among strangers , with no one to love you just considered for the money you brought , mayhap was ter rible to her. Wo must take you far away to a corner in tlio west , where none would know us , and you'd bo sale from your father. I begged her on my knees not to spoil her life ; but she coaxed and argued and cried till she got the better of me , and we loft Now York unhindered , her having no rela tions. "Sho put on widow's mourning , to make her look older and prevent ex planations , and took your grandmoth er's family name. Your mother had given'it you for a first name ; it was easy to change it round. , "Rockvillo was ? only a village then ; people hadn't taken to coming hero for their healths , and what are now streets were farms. It was just the plnce to bo lost in. and until Mrs. Leonard's doctor sent hero hero last year , nobody but the family lawyer Mrs. Leonard is his daughter knew what had become of the pretty Miss Stirling. How mucii she has been to you , Mr. Harvey , you well know. She was only eighteen when she left New York , a light-hearted girl. Now she's turned thirty-six , with a great sorrow en her of your browing. She'll get over it , for she's young yet. But you've made a strungo return to her for wasted years ! " Not i\ word was spoken by cither of the other three. Helen stole over to her husband and timidly laid her hand on his shoulder. All solf-confl- dcnce was gone from her bearing ; she Feomed cowed and beaten ; and for the first tlmo her loving touch was un heeded. Phebo looked at her frown- ingly. "Ay. comfort him if you can ; he'll have need of It , " she said In. a hard one. "If ho conies to ruin ho may .hank you ; but for your avarice and noddling he'd have had a good bit of money a hundred thousand dol- ars , no less. Ho'll never have it now. - [ 'crimps he'll not reproach you just ' yet for his loss , since ho helped you out with the deviltry you called your : luty. But he'll know It's to you ho owes it lie wasn't full grown when you tool : him in hand , and easily led and the thought will grow and grow mill one day he'll despise you in his lieart , and turn from the love that Iragged him down. " As if that day had come , Helen moved nearer to her husband , the rich : olor ebbing even from her lips. Gladys half rose. "Be merciful , Phebe , " she gently re monstrated. "You are too hard. Go now , dear old friend ; enough has been said. " Muttering still , Phebo lumbered away , furtively wiping her eyes ; under icr bristling exterior beat a warm heart , and , despite her anger , she felt for Harvey in his hour of darkness. As the door closed behind her ho raised liis head , revealing a white , wild face. "I must speak to my my aunt alone , Ilolon , " he said hoarsely. "Leave us together. " ( To bo Continued. ) MORE PLAY NEEDED. lucre-lining ; Number of Poorly Developed Men. and AVoiniMi. It used to bo that boys and men who ivorked had shorter working hours and less work to do in the same time than do the men and boys of today. Con sequently they had better opportuni ties and greater inclination for recrea tion of the healthiest kind. They felt able to rise in the morning early enough for gymnastics , their work the day before not being so irksome as to make them feel they needed ev ery moment of sleep possible , as is often the case nowadays , and in the late afternoons and evenings they could could enjoy an athletic game. The girls some years ago exerted much less than they do now , their course of study usually being mild in comparison to the average of to day , and few of them were in business or the professions. Therefore their need was less for strengthening exer cises. Although the mental and physical work that the men and wo men of this generation do has greatly increased they do not seem to have I realized that a counteracting force is absolutely necessary for the number is i growing larger every day. We cannot help observing it on the streets and ' everywhere of men and women who slouch along with drooping figure and dragging steps , the picture of undevel oped physical manhood and woman- , hood. There is nothing more pleasant to look upon than a strong , gracfub- ] happy young man or woman and the t last two qualities depend on the first j and all three on physical exercise and development. Therefore , you know , what you must do to be happy and attractive - tractive , and it is your duty to bo all three. You can , of course , In varying degree and you ought to add much to the beauty of this old world whose line y men and women are its most splendid ' features. CAME KILLING. Denver Tliiio * Sees U.ingar in Allowing Indians Latitude. the people to make sport of Gov. Thomas' crusade against the Indians who are said to bo killing game out side their reservation and within the boundaries of this state. That it has a comic side is probably not to be de nied. But it may also have a very serious side. The border country has not had any Indian experiences of late , and the American people show an astonishing facility in forgetting unpleasant things. Those who know anything about the Indian know that the kind of movement now begun may very easily incite him to acts which will have a very serious significance to outlying settlers and possibly small villages. The Indians know as well an Gov. Thomas docs that the federal power is not behind this movement. They rarely forego a chance for Im mediate revenge because of the pos sibility of a remote reprisal. That the state can prevail in the end nobody doubts , perhaps , but aside from the harvest of trouble and loss of life wo may have to reap , citizens are jilso looking to the harvest of debt that must follow , though we are now at our wits' end to devise means for paying what we already owe. Some of them are inclined to suspect the governor of a kind of "after us , the deluge" policy. Denver Times. Aiiicrlrun Hooks In "Muilcn , Mexico buys more American books than does Franco , and nearly as many as Germany , Much of this trade Is duo to the large resident American population to be found in Mexican cities and to the demand from mining camps , where Americans are living , and not a little Is due to the growing spread of English among the Mexican people. There is a strong tendency hero In favor of popularizing the Eng lish language , and the learners of that tongue comprise professional men in middle life as well as thousands cf youth. Some large institutions of learning have put English ahead ot French. Mexican Herald. Quarantine AgnlnNt Tuhorculosln. Tuberculosis has boon placed among the diseases which are subject to quar antine , The commissioner of immi gration has eo decided in the case of a Japanese who arrived at San Fran cisco from Japan III with this luns trouble. It was decided that the pa tient could not land , but must retura j , to the port from which ho sailed.