THE DAY OF DAYS THROUGHOUT THE LAND.
A ,
x-iS2 feftj 7 > ' / / ,
THE AFTER.
*
O , for n craokerless Fourth of July ,
Tor a moment of shoot I < ssiiess ,
Whc-n mi. 1 Jens of Inys
Would shit off the uose
And silence would foIo\v to bless
A nation whlrh'in otbr ways
Is not nt all 3 < jfct"d ;
In f.irt. is doh.g < ] * . Iti * as well
As could have been exported.
O , for some soundless powder to burn ,
And for voiceless boys to cheer ;
To show to the \vo-ld
That oi.r flag is un.urlcd
And our country 3till is here ,
.And just as yood as It ever was ,
And just as patriotic ,
lAIthouRh its expression may not be
So bangle and boomie and shotic !
O. for a hanpboomCzzlersness
That would bring a jrlad release
To muscle and 1'ing
And nerves unstri'ng.
And covrr the day with peace ;
"When everyl ody In the land
, Might pniise in contemplation
Of that whi * > h. on the quiet , Is
The world's suproniest nation !
O , for a nonoxplosive Fourth ,
Just one for a change of diet ,
When millions of boys ,
Instead of noise.
"Would raise a tremendous quiet.
A Fourth li'je that would show the world ,
Heyond all dubitation.
'The really truly greatness of
This country as a nation.
Afterword.
But you can't mate the spirit of the glori
ous Fourth
Celebrate the nation's day
In a style like that , to save your life ,
Because it ain't bui.t that way.
New York Sun.
T was Hie ir.on-.ing of Independ-
"c I vy n.ay y > : irs ago so many ,
indeed , t'.iiit an old man can just
. remember what L-.ppened when he
'was a boy.
This is the story of a celebration that
"happened in a' little Ohio village that
was small then , and is still just a
speck on the map.
On the edge of tlie town there was
; nn old house hidden behind great trees ,
-as if trying to avoid the pubic eye. It
-was. and is , the oldest house in town ,
and in It lived George Bell , or "Lib
erty" Bell , as some of the villagers
-called him , alone with his dog and
.Memory.
He was very old. Everything about
the place betokened age. There was
moss on the roof cf his home , and the
"burden of years fairly made his bones
creak. He bothered no one , anc he had
.a cheerful "good morning" for every
body. He was a good citizen , but
"queer , " according to those who didn't
understand him.
This Independence Day he came out
of his house with an old musket on his
.shoulder.
The sun shone on his scanty white
locks and face seamed with age. His
hands trembled as he fumbled with his
powder horn , loaded , rested the weap
on on the fence and pulled the trigger.
There fras a mighty report. The rob
ins took wing , and a flock of black-
"birds swept out of the great poplar
iree by the gate and gave voice to their
.surprise at the tumult near their home.
Thirteen times that old gun boomed ,
.nnd then a quavering voice sounded ,
"Hip ! Hip ! Hurrah ! " and a boy who
was peering with saucer eyes through
the fence puzzled , charmed , half
frightened askel : , "Why do you do
that , Mr. Bell , if you please ? "
. "Come in , Billy , lad , " said the old
man. "Come in and help an old fel-
l9\v celebrate. I won't hurt you. Just
lay your little bunch of fireworks on
the chopping block , and I'll tell you a
true story about times way back be
fore your daurly was born. "
Children read hearts quickly , and a
moment Inter tlje beginning and the
end of a century were together yel
low locks airniit white mane , a boy
on a : old man's knee ; the one earnest ,
the other eager.
"Why do I do it , my boy ? Why do I
celebrate ? You want to know all
.about it.
"It is because I love my country , and
I want everybody for miles around
to remember that this is the day dedi
cated to liberty.
"Years a o there was a young man
who had more money than was good
for him , Billy. 'He ' was plum worth-
less. He didn't care for a soul on
earth except himself. He was selfish.
He1 wore good clothes and strutted
about like a turkey gobbler. He was
puffed up. He put in all his time hav
ing fun.
"There was a war on in his coun
try. The people were fighting a bad
King who wanted to take away their
liberty , and there were some terrible
battles. Men went without food. They
walked without shoes till their feet
bled. They froze because they did not
have clothes enough to keep them
warm. But they wouldn't give up.
They said that all men should be free
and equal , Billy ; that God mount that
it should be so , and they wore willing
to die rather than go back to the old
way of doing the things a selfish King
wanted done.
"The idle young man didn't go to the
war. He thought men were fools for
fighting. He said he had all the lib
erty he wanted. Perhaps , Billy , if he
had had a mother he wouldn't have
been such a fool.
"His brothers , three of them , l.'id ,
went to the war , and two were killed.
Jacob was shot down in sight of Gen
eral Washington , God bless him , and
Robert came home with both legs gone.
"What do you suppose he told the
'stay-at-home , ' who cared most for the
ruffles in his shirt and the coins that
ingled in his pockets ? The crippled
brother said he wished he could fight
for his country on his stumps of legs ,
because he loved it.
"And then , one day. they carried the
father into the old home. It would
have made you cry. boy. to have seen
him. lie was nigged , scarred , and in
his breast there was a great wound
that made * those who saw it slnuldor ,
and just before he died he called his
worthless son to him : ind whispered ,
'Don't be a coward ! No man can over
pay the debt he owes to his country.
It should be more to him than father
or mother. Hoist your colors , my boy !
Don't shed a tear for me. Take my old
musket and fight for the cause.
"Billy , that young man promised. He
got down on his knees and buried his
face in the bedclothes , and as he cried
the life went out of a brave , gentle
man , and there was a smile on a dead
face , and a cold hand rested on the
head of one who had been a coward
and was trying to be a man.
"He fought , Billy , and he learned to
love the flag. He got a bullet in the
hip at Monmouth and a bayonet wound
at Guildford Courthouse. He found out
what hunger meant. He spent his lit
tle fortune to help better men , and in
his heart grew a great love for his
flag , and he wondered how any man
could ever forget his duty.
"One day it was all over.
"The enemy inarched away , and the
sun shone on a broken but happy people
ple , and the young man praised God
because he had found himself and
been allowed to live to know the glory
of freedom.
"Every year after that he celebrated
Independence Day. He took that old
musket given to him by his father and
fired a salute to the 13 original States
and cheered the President of the
United States.
"And when this man moved away tea
a far place , and kept on celebrating ,
the people called him 'Liberty' Bell.
"Why , that is you , Mr. Bell , " said
the boy.
"Yes , Billy , that is me. Now get
your firecrackers off the horse block ;
I'll load the old musket , and we'll fire
an extra salute to let the world know
that the cause is a"s great to-day as it
was in the beginning. "
And they did. And they cheered the
President of the United States and ( he
flag , in the cracked voice of an old
man and the piping treble of the yel
low-haired boy.
Ard it was all on Independence Day.
Cincinnati Tost.
THE FOURTH ON THE FARM.
Arrangements Should Ue Made for the
Holiday's Observance.
Once each year the question conies
to all of us how we are to spend the
Fourth of July. The farmer and fam
ily are unlike the business man who
can lock the door of his office or store
and hie away on some excursion to the
mountains or some other place. In
stead , a holiday brings morework. .
The hired man must be excused from
one or two milkings , or there is a
declaration of war. To the wife comes
the question of caring for the poultry
for chickens must eat and drink , July
4 the same as othcadays. .
There are too many who feel that
they cannot get away. . .These include
the men who become so absorbed in
the pursuit of wealth that they often
forget the object of their pursuit and
become mere machines , grinding away
at tlie duties of life , so absorbed in
the work of the day that they forget
the blessings and privileges we claim
as peculiar to our nation. Not alone !
upon the farm is this to be seen , but
instead of making our nation's birth
day a time of glorious memories , no
ble thoughts and joyous demonstration ,
our city brother hires a speaker to
think and speak the words of patriot
ism and he spends the day in dealing
out his wares to his fellows at exorbit
ant prices.
In the morning the average business
man is too busy to think of patriotism
and at night he is too tired. He lo'oks
upon this day as the opportunity to
get back two , three or four times the
amount donated to the celebration com
mittee. The clink of dimes and the
thump of silver dollars wear out'what
little patriotism he had at the rising
sun and by ten o'clock he is so ab
sorbed in the business of the hour that
it is hard for him to live that one day
and not adulterate his lemonade or
cheat in making change as it is for the
camel to pass through the needle's
eye. Sometimes we a Ho find fanners |
so engrossed by the prosperous crops '
and tlr ( [ nlrc for gold that they forget - j
get the importance of th" day and only
remember it at' all by the request of
the boys or hired man for a day off.
How much more pleasing is it to
have a picnic in some shady grove ,
spread a long table and all dine together -
gother ? Most any community can find
material for a good program , being
sure to mix in plenty of music , the
material for which can be found in
the neighborhood and we can celebrate
the Fourth with as much enjoyment
as if We had imported speakers and
music. Of course : we. will want the
Declaration of Independence read by
the best reader in the locality. The
minister caft be orator of the day. Go
in together and buy fireworks and
crackers , for they will bo essential to
the small boys and we can have a
first class celebration in the country.
It is taken for granted that Old Glory
will be in evielence , while bunting can
decorate the stand , horses and bug
gies. American Cultivator.
IVIorninjj of the Fourth.
1 - - . , rVc3iE : ± nilr2 &sO : < *
Uncle Rastus conies to town early to
be on hand for the celebration.
The celebration begins.
The family of a dead Japanese sol
dier gets as a pension about one-third
of a pay of his rank. This would give
the widow of a private $1.25 a month ;
of a irrst lieutenant , $0.23 ; of a cap
tain , $8.33 , and to the widow of a
colonel , $20 a month.
The earth's population doubles every
two hundred and sixty years.
iiinmaiiiiiil ih m m ! y
OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
The Practical Joker.
HE practical joker , the person who laughs at
the discomfiture of others , who gets fun out of
his neighbor's predicaments , who lays awake
night planning some piece of devilty that will
cause sorrow or at least chagrin , always has
been with us , is now and probably always will
be. *
Last week a girl in a/Scranton squib factory threw a
squib into a stove , just TO scare her companions. Result ,
six dead , as many more seriously hurt , and factory
wrecked. It was in Pennsylvania also that a small boy
lighted the escaping gas from the exhaust pipe of a natural
gas line , to furnish light for a wedding serenade. Result ,
one life lost and valuable property destroyed.
These are only two of many cases taken at random
from the news columns. Neither of the young people in
tended harm. The girl wanted to see her companions jump
when the squib exploded. The boy purposed to surprise
the serenaders by furnishing an impromptu bonfire. They
were simply heedless. If everyone who is about to play a
practical joke would stop to think about it , to study out
the possible consequences , there would be fewer ekes of
this sort perpetrated. It is ludicrous to see a ntnii who is
comfortably seated in a chair suddenly find himself sprawl
ing on the floor , through the dexterity of the practical
joker , but the odds are that the victim's spine has been
injured and tnat the effects of his fall will cling to him
through life. Play the same trick on the practical joker ,
and he would be furious. Strange as it may seem , the
practical joker is the most ill-natured target on earth. He
doesn't like his own medicine.
Thy fault lies largely with parents. They don't teach
their children to respect age , to respect others' rights , to be
thoughtfal and considerate. There is innocent fun that
hurts no one and causes no damage , but it is not strenuous
enough to suit some people. They want to break a leg
or burn buildings. Such as these are criminal in instinct
and should be placed under restraint The practical joker
ought not to be tolerated in any community. Toledo Blade.
Eating Into the Western Forests.
HE reports of the lumber cut in the West show
that the paper-making concerns of the country
are turning their attention to Wisconsin and
Minnesota as a source of supply of spruce
timber. There are hundreds of thousands of
acres tributary to Duluth , not reached by rail
way lines , which are covered by spruce tim
ber suitable for pulp. Unquestionably there is enough
spruce in this country , notwithstanding the enormous quan
tity used by the paper mills , to maintain a pulp supply
indefinitely , provided proper re-forestation is carried on.
Heite , however , is the rub. The customary method of the
pulp-mill owner who is seeking a supply of spruce is to
buy the sturapage and cut off the timber indiscriminately ,
allowing the denuded land to grow up with any species of
wood that happens to be left. Hard woods commonly sur-
ceed soft woods on deforested areas , and vice versa , and.
therefore , a spruce forest once cut down is not naturally
renewed for many years. The experience of the Eastern
paper mills , which have cut over most of the available
area of spruce forest , is likely to be that of the Central
West. The systematic attempt at reforestation has been
insignificant compared with the tremendous slaughter of
the forests.
The West should take time by the forelock and insist ,
by legislation if necessary , upon proper methods of cutting
and reforestation. The State has an interest in the preser
vation of its forests which is paramount to the right of the
private landholder. Here in the East what is being done
is largely in the way of locking the stable door after the
horse hns been stolen. With the great forest areas in
Minnesota and Wisconsin yet untouched these States
JUST V/ORN OUT.
Story that Wanted a Rest After a Very
Hard Worlccd Life.
The worn-out story collapsed at-the
feet of the Father of Fictions.
"What's wanted " inquired his Sa
tanic majesty with his usual warmth.
"Oblivion , please , " gasped the
wretched creature. "I never pretend
ed to be a good story , but that doesn't
justify the way I've been treated on
earth. You will remember me if you
happened to see a copy of last Sun
day's Behind-The-Times. I was among
the Gossip of the Stage , dressed this
way :
" 'Blanche Walsh has a country home
on Long Island and is occasionally
bothered by tramps. One day a small ,
thin specimen of hobo honored her
with a call. He told a hard luck
story that would have brought tears
to the eyes of a Japanese idol.
" ' "And do you call yourself a
man ? " demanded Miss Walsh.
" ' "No , ma'am , not entirely. Just
now I'm only an outline * . All I need
is a little fillin' in. '
" 'And he got it , too , after that ad
mission of his incompleteness. '
"When you turned to the Literary
Chat , there I was again :
" 'Irving Bacheller , the author , has
a country home at Sound Beach , and
is occasionally bothered by tramps.
One day a small , thin specimen of ho
bo honored the novelist with a call.
He told a hard luck story that would
have brought tears to the eyes of a
Japanese idol. '
" ' "And do you call yourself a
man ? " demanded the writer.
" ' "No , sir , not entirely. Just now
I'm only an outl&e. All I need is a
little fillin' in. "
" 'And he got it , too , after that ad
mission of his incompleteness. '
The Woman's Page had me served
in this style :
" 'Mrs. Roosevelt , when spending the
summer at their simple country home
at Oyster Bay , is occasionally bother
ed by tramps , etc. '
"I also posed among Anecdotes of
the War :
" 'Owing to the scarcity of provis
ions at Port Arthur , begging is dis
couraged ; but , having eluded the vigi
lance of the guards , a small , thin speci
men of hobo the other day accosted
Viceroy Alexieff , etc. '
"One page further on , the Tokio
correspondent had his little say :
" 'Notwithstanding the splendid dis
cipline of "the Japanese tiavy , a small ,
should adopt a forest policy before it Is too late to make It
of any value. Denudation should be made impossible with
out some reforestation. The greatest benefit , however , will
be derived from a control of the cutting in such a manner
as to make denudation impossible , and the State can do this
now better than later. Boston Transcript.
Asia for the Asiatics.
E look upon it as a war between Japan and
Russia not so the Chinese , the Burmese , the
Persians or the Siamese. To them this is a
conflict between white and yellow , between the
forces of the West against those of the East ,
between Europe and Asia. A Japanese victory
would send a mighty wave of Independence
and pride throughout the populations of Asia , a wave of
self-confidence , of contempt for their European rulenj 'i
which would bear fruits of which no one can foretell thf
exact consequences. " * *
Furthermore , Japan would receive a great prestige , her
influence over the Chinese Empire would become supreme ,
and no obstacle would lie in the way of the realization of
her racial aspirations.
To any person who ha ? even slightly followed the course
of Japanese feeling and policy , there can be no doubt that
these ambitions can be summed up In the phrase : "Asia
for the Asiatics , under Japanese hegemony. " For several
years past Japan has been flooding with her agents the
remotest parts of Asia , to rouse the sleeping patriotism of
the people and prepare the way for liberation. Asiatic
princes and statesmen have been flocking to Tokio ; among
them we might name besides several Chinese and Korean
dignitaries , a deputation from Lhasa , the Siamese Prime
Minister , the Persian grand vizier , a high priest from Af
ghanistan , and several Indian maharajas under British
rule. t
These men have had long conferences with the Ministers
1
of the Mikado , and the object of these visits , In spite of all
official denials , is well known to and in full sympathy with
public opinion in Japan. Westminster Review.
The Black Man's Burden.
HERE has been a good deal said and written
about the "white man's burden , " and not a
little of it has been pure cant. But there is an
other side to the picture , and this reveals that
the dark man also has a burden , and a most
grievous one.
In the Congo Free State he has been robbed ,
mutilated and murdered in a wholesale way that has
shocked civilization. In German Southwest Africa nisi
property has been seized , he has been flogged , imprisoned !
and shot , his wife has been made a beast of burden and his
children have been tortured.
In China he has been robbed of his territory until his
integrity as a nation is threatened. In America he has been ,
enslaved , whipped , burned at the stake and lynched. In1
the Philippines he has been introduced to the "water cure"
and other "civilized" inventions.
Look where you will on the native herfth of the man
of dark skin , or in foreign countries where he has sought
asylum , and you will find the black man and the brown
man carrying a burden compared with which the "white
man's burden" is a featherweight If the dark man has
been the white man's burden , the white man has been and
is the dark man's curse.
And if the dark man finds his burden greater than he
can bear , and attempts to turn on his barbarous task
master , it is called a "native uprising , " and soldiers are sent
to show him his proper place in the white man's scheme of
civilization and progress.
The white man's burden is largely a myth ; but the /
dark man's burden is terribly real , oppressively heai *
grossly cruel and unjust. In a word , it is the white man's
selfishness and avarice. Chicago Post.
thin specimen of stowaway was lately >
discovered aboard the flagship , and
brought before Admiral Togo , etc. '
" 'But the climax came , your majes
ty , when I found myself in the clutch
of the Babbler of the Boulevard , who
said : 'At the dinner given to Carnegie
on the eve of his departure , a story
told by Chaunce '
There was silence. The Father of
Fibs summoned a minion , and , indi
cating the miserable wreck , said in
pitying tones : "Put him In the hottest
fire you have. Nothing can hurt him
now. " New York Sun.
TRADE IN THE WAR ZONE.
American Commerce Now Amounts to
Large Part of the Trade.
. In his article in the World's Work
on "Our Trade in the War Zone , " O.
P. Austin , chief of the bureau of sta
tistics of the Department of Commerce
and Labor , presents some striking
facts and figures. He says : Japan's
total commerce now amounts , in round
terms , to $230,000,000 a year , about
equally divided between imports and
exports , and that of China to a Mttle
over $300,000,000 a year , of which im
ports considerably exceed exports. Ko
rean commerce amounts to $15,000,000
a year.
From 1SS3 to 1003 our imports from
the countries named doubled , while
our exports from China , Japan and
Hongkong amounted to $37,000,000 ; in
1003. to' $72,000,000. The amount
from Korea and Asiatic Russia was a
mere trifle. In 1SS3 our exports to
these countries , including Korea and
Asiatic Russia , amounted to $50-
000,000.
This makes clear that our trade in
terest in these quarters is very great.
We buy a very large proportion of the
unmanufactured silk and practically
all of the tea exported by Japan and
we also buy large quantities of raw
silk and tea from China , as well as
many other articles , such as opium ,
matting , rice , wool and manufactured
silks. Of the exports of $30,000,000
value in 1903 , $21,000,000 went to Ja
pan , $19,000,000 to China , nearly
$9,000,000 to Hongkong , and $1,500,000
to Asiatic Russia. As regards our
trade with the two countries now at
war our exports to Japan in 1S73 were
$8,000,000 , in 1903 $21,000,000 ; to Rus
sia , our exports in 1S73 were $12,000-
000. in 1903 $15,000,000. Thus in thir
ty years our exports to Russia In
creased 25 per cent and to Japan 150
per cen >
Commerce of the United States with ,
Japan , Korea , China , Hongkong and
Asiatic Russia , 1S43-1903 , was as fol
lows : Imports into the United States
from the countries named : In 1S43 ,
$4,383,000 ; 1833 , $10,573,000 ; 1SG3 , $11-
034,000 ; 1873 , $30,445,000 ; 1SS3 , $37-
139,000 ; 1893 , $49,349,000 ; 1903 , $72-
294,000.
Exports from the United States to
the countries named : In 18-13 , $2,419-
000 ; 1833 , $3,730,000 ; 1803 , $0,355,000 ;
1873 , $17,770,000 ; 1SS3 , $ n , ,000 ;
1893 , $11,401,000 ; 1903 , $49,904,000. 4
Next to the United States cornea
Great Britain , yet its commerce with
the territory in question has only
grown from $30,000,000 In 1833 to
$100,000,000 in 1903 that is , doubled.
STORY MAY BE QUESTIONED.
Diner and Dined-Upon Crawled Swiftly
to a Creek. ;
\
Near the Canaucta Creek a water-
snake met a blacksnake. The reptiles
did not immediately clinch , but hissed
fiercely and circled around each other ,
as if seeking for an opening. The
blacksnake pressed the argument , and
in a few seconds succeeded in getting
the tail of his opponent into his mouth ,
and , to preclude all possibility of es
cape , began to eat toward the head.
This was exactly what the water-
snake wanted. It started on a straight
line for the stream , and his consumer
following him and dining upon him
simultaneously , was , of course , obliged
to travel a little faster in the same di
rection. The watersnake was a rapid
mover and the blacksnake a quick eat
er , and for a short time it seemed
doubtful whether one reptile or two
would be visible when the stream was
gained.
About half of the leading snake had
been devoured , and the edge of th $
water was only a few feet away ,
the blacksnake suddenly realized
a shabby trick was being played on
him at meal time.
He hastily attempted to disgorge his
repast , but -ihe effort was made too
late. Not more than five inches of
watersnake had been yielded up when
both reptiles plunged into the stream
and sank at once. A hundred bubbles
rose , and the only spectator of the con
test is inclined to believe that , the
blacksnake's life floated to the surface
hi one of them. New York World ,
Selfrmade men and eggs are too full
of themselves to hold anything else.
F
e\