OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
The Relative Intellectual Power of the Sexes.
OST discussion of the relative intellectual pow
er of the two sexes is based on prejudice , or at
best on cliance observation. It is of exceptional
interest , therefore , to obtain the results of an
elaborate statistical investigation bearing upon
the subject. Such an investigation of the
school work of boys and girls has been made
by I jr. J. de Korosy , who has reported his results in a paper
read nt the recent meeting of Uie British association.
I > r. de Korosy is director of municipal statistics in
Hh.l.r.sft ! , Hungary. To his office have come for tweuty-
sovn-n .years full reports of the progress of the school pupils
of t.V > < ; lry. The total number of cases ho has analyzed
is .s x:550. : They come in part from the elementary schools ,
-vvh-ji : receive pupils of from 0 to 12 years , in part from
tinhigher elementary schools (10 ( to 16 years ) , and in part
from the grammar schools , though the records for the two
hljrii.T kinds of schools do not run back for full twenty-
Kfveu years.
It appears that in the elementary schools out of112.758
boys and 350,382 girls G .4 boys and. 54,391 girls failed to
pass their yearly examinations and were compelled to re
peat their work. This figures out 1G.S per cent of the boys
nnd 15.8 per cent of the girls , giving the girls a distinct ad
vantage. In the .lowest grade of these elementary schools
the girls had but a trifling superiority over the boys , but the
higher the grade considered the more favorably the girls
appeared. In the fourth grade the percentage of those fail-
Ing to pass were 12.2 for the boys and 9.2 for the girls. In
tlie sixth grade , 4.7 for boys and 2.7 for girls.
In the higher elementary school ? the percentage of boys
failing to pass was 0.2 nnd of girls 2.2. In the grammar
schools the girls made a .still more favorable showing.
Another form of test was as to the percentage of hon
or marks , or "high standings. " received by the two sexes.
Here the girls were uniformly ahead. For instance , in the
fourth grade elementary schools the percentage of high
marks for boys and girls respt etively was , in mother tongue ,
25X5 and 32.3 ; in arithmetic. L'S and 37.3 ; In geography , 20.2
and 3G.9. In the higher elementary schools the girls did
still better , and for one gr.ule Dr. de Korosky showed their
percentages of honors to be from three to four times as
great as the percentage for the boys.
It is not necessarily safe ; o argue from Hungary to
America , nor oven from children to adults , but such a show
ing as this cannot fail to shake the convictions of many old-
fashioned believers in the mental superiority of the male
sex. Chicago Record-Herald.
A Common Language.
N an a < vount o ; ' the session of the internation
al congress of jiiinors. at Paris , John Mitchell
| says that Englishmen , Frenchmen and Germans
took part and each spoke his own language.
} The result was that every speech had to be
[ repeated twice in translations nnd the sessions
wore three limes as long as they otherwise
would have bern. Manifestly there is a limit , human en
durance has to be taken into acciimt , and here is where the
universal language may hope to have its chance , but it is
: ho easy question. In diplomatic circles and what might
: be called polite society a knowledge of French is assumed
.and there is little trouble in the medium of communi-
cation. But in recent times the number of congresses has
.grown enormously this miners' congress is an illustration.
Progress points to their increase and iJie lack of a general
language will be felt more and more.
None of the artificial languages has made any head
way. For what reason wise men must say , but probably
because there is back of none of them a party or body or
race that is using the language to begin with , and affording
a .standing example and living school. If this be true it
might indicate that .some living language would finally be
adopted , as French was practically for diplomacy. Wliy
French will not do for UK * purpose in hand is' that it is
not the property of a fasl-growing race , and that it never
was -proselyting language. German is ruled out because ,
of the mysteries of the article the complex declensions
PAY FOR TREE DESTRUCTION.
Important Precedent Kstablislictl by a
Massachusetts Court.
A Springfield , Mass. , jury gave a
property owner a verdict of J2o4 dam
ages against a trolley company for
the loss of a tree cut down by the
employes of the latter. A fine shade
tree is worth more money than that ,
but the principle established by the
verdict is that electric companies
which destroy trees must pay the own-
or their valuation as fixed by a jury.
There are more ways of destroying
trees than by cutting them down. An
electric company which places its
wires through or close above the
branches of a tree does them an in
jury , checks their growth and in the
end destroys them. An electric cur
rent , such as a trolley line or an arc
light wire carries , is not favorable to
the health of trees with which it
comes into frequent contact. Ditches
dug for underground wires close to
the trunks of trees usually injure and
often kill the trees. It is doubtless
necessary to sacrifice trees in order to
extend electric wires. This is inevit-
'able , but the principle which ought
to be understood and enforced is that
the electric company should pay for
their 'destruction and not sacrifice
private property for their own bene
fit without making full compensation.
The rights of tree owners in their
trees are imperfectly understood and
inadequately enforced. A corporation
given the use of a street for any pur
pose usually regards trees as an ob
struction to be removed as soon as
possible. If they are made to pay in
every case they will avoid tree de
struction when they can and the own-
or will get some compensation if the
tree is destroyed in the construction
or operation of their work. Phila-
delphia Press.
Pirate Among Plants.
Among all the forms of vegetable
life in the Mexican tropics the wild
fig trees are the most remarkable ,
says the Geographic Magazine. Some
of them show such apparent intelli
gence In their readiness to meet emer
gencies that it is difficult not to credit
them with powers of volition.
In the tropicswhore the wild figa
flourish there is a constant struggle
the obscure verbs and complicated sentence structure. En
glish might seem to have many of the elements necessary
in its widespread use to begin with , its simple grammar
and its direct construction : but its spelling is the despair of
foreigners , being so largely arbitrary. Perhaps a reform
in English spelling , like that in Spanish , might solve the
problem.
In this connection it is worthy of note that the German
Government has decided that English is the most useful
language that Germans can study. The decision was based
on a petition from the Dresden Teachers' Association. This
document recited that
"English is the most widely used civilized language in
the world ; that it is the most important for Germany's in
ternational trade relations ; that English literature is supe
rior to French on artistic and moral grounds , and that it is
not inferior to French in educative value as an exercise ,
and that it is easier to learn to speak and write the En
glish language than the French , because the French gram
mar is very difficult. "
The Government's decision was rendered so quickly
that it is plain the subject had already been carefully con
sidered. It has been ordered that the study of the English
language and literature should be optional in all the schools
of the Empire. Incidentally this will be of benefit to the
Germans who , in their pursuit of world trade , will be great
ly helped LV a knowledge of English. And in course of
time it may be a help toward something nearer a common
language than any that the world yet has. Indianapolis
News.
Respect for Old Age.
E are on the rush in this country , and we are
inclined to 'brush the old to one side. It has
been said that old age does not make a foolish
man reverend , nor do gray hairs entitle the
frivolous to respect ; but there is , nevertheless ,
a respect and a deference which all right-think
ing people will pay to the aged. The mere fact
that they are aged will excite in the breast of the right
kind of man a feeling of thoughtfulness for their comfort
Deference for the aged is the mark of good breeding the
world over , and contemptuous or rude or flippant behavior
toward the old is the sure sign of the blackguard where it
is studied and deliberate , and of a light mind and bad
training where it proceeds from thoughtlessness.
The fact that a man or woman Juis lived long in the
world raises a. presumption , at least , that he or she knows
more of life than the stripling and so should command some
respect : and how much greater are the respect and rever
ence which are due as sacred obligations to parents. One
of the most inspiring and beautiful aspects of American
life is the wonderful devotion of parents for their children.
Xo foreign observer who has Avrititen of American life has
failed to note that wonderful self-abnegation of the father
and the mother in this country ; how they give up every
thing to their children ; how they plot and plan that the
young shall be happy and fortunate ; how they step into the
background , and deny themselves of not only luxuries and
comforts , but of the necessaries ; of life , in order that their
children shall be blessed with all tilie opportunities and
advantages which perhaps were denied to them in their
youth.
It has been said that , in general , tihose "parents have
the most reverence who most deserve it ; " but that inajwell
be doubted. The total sacrifice which parents make often
inculcates an absorbing selfishness in the children , who
take the homage and love and devotion of their .parents .
quite as a matter of course , forgetting or omitting to ren
der the slight return which would bring comfort and joy to
those whose happiness is centered in the happiness of their
children. Often , through mere forgetfillness or procrastina
tion , the young wlio are sound at heart defer too late the
rendering of that affection findhomage - which the parents
have a right to expect ,
"And that which should accompany old age ,
As honor , love obedience. "
Philadelphia Ledger.
THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES.
I" s M IB ft BUS utnrv
The wounded Russian soldier , as shown in the picture , made from a pho
tograph , has fallen into the hands of good Samaritans. The intelligent
young Japanese surgeon and his assistant are as tender and painstaking in
making the diagnosis as though the sufferer were of their own race , and
the gentle and sympathetic looking nurses are ready to bogin their ministra
tions. The stricken moujik , who had been led to believe that to fall into
the .hands of the yellow heatihen was equivalent to worse than death , will
learn more of the inherent humanity which actuates his little enemies than
he could have been taught in any other way.
for life among numberless species of
plants. Certain of the wild figs ap
pear to have learned this and provide
a fruit which is a favorite food for
many birds ; then an occasional seed
is dropped by a bird where it finds
lodgment in the axil of a palm frond
high in the air.
There the seed takes root and is
nourished by the little accumulation
of dust and vegetable matter. It sends
forth an aerial root , which creeps
down the palm , sometimes coiling
about the trunk on its way. AVhen
this slender , cornlike rootlet reaches
the ground it secures foothold and be
comes the future trunk of the fig
tree.
tree.After
After the descending rootlet has so-
cured itself in the ground a branch
bearing a few leaves springs from the
seed in the palm top and a vigorous
growth begins. Then the fig gradual
ly enlarges and incloses the support
ing palm trunk until the latter is com
pletely shut in the heart of its foster-
child and eventually strangled.
Asked and Aiisvrerctl.
"Say , pa , " queried small Tommy
Toddles , "why do cows give milk ? "
"Why er because they can't sell
it , I suppose , " replied the old man.
After a man has readied a certain
age , a severe sickness Will leave him
looking like some wounded animal to
tihe end of his days.
A SONG OF PATIENCE.
Only for a little while
Sunny days consent to smile
All their charms must fade away
In the midsts of wintry gray.
Flowers must wither ; leaves must
fall ;
Hushed must be the robin's call.
Summer's blooms but to beguile
Only for a little while.
But the snows will melt at last ,
Days of storms are quickly past ;
Just the same as days so gay
Sun and shadows shift and play.
Quaff the pleasures while you can ;
Bear the sorrows like a man.
For the tear is , like the smile ,
Only for a little while.
Washington Star.
DAYSAND6
DOLLARS.
BT OAKROLD WATSON RA.NKIN.
Telka , who was seventeen years old ,
felt very important indeed , for a sur
prising thing had happened. It was
only five days since she had been
graduated from the high school , and
here she was with a working knowl-
eJge of real estate business already
at her finger-tips literally , because
her business was principally con
cerned with the typewriting-machine
in the office of Armstrong & Wolfe.
The knowledge , perhaps , did not ex
tend far beyond her finger-tips , be
cause most of the letters she wrote
at the dictation of her employers con
veyed absolutely no meaning to her
mind ; but this did not trouble Tekla
or anybody else.
Her copy was neat as well as ac
curate , and there was nothing about
the completed letters to indicate that
the typewriting young person was as
innocent as the typewriter itself of
the difference between the east half
of lot fifty-seven and the northwest
forty in Skandia township.
"You're wonderfully fortunate , " said
Geraldine Pease , who was four years
older than Tekla. "I've always wish
ed 1 could work for Armstrong &
Wolfe it's uch a good place. How
did you ever happen to get it ? "
"Oh , " returned Tekla , overlooking
Geraldine's somewhat uncomplimen
tary emphasis"Mr. . AYolfe and father
used to be friends. He knew I'd have
to do something to help mother out ,
and so when Miss Dodd's sick father
telegraphed for her to go East , Mr.
Wolfe came to me. ' desk."O
. "
dollars a month.
Mr. AVolfe , who was almost sixty
but looked younger , was a large man ,
so well-proportioned in every way that
his great height did not impress one
until he stood looking down upon
some ordinary six-footer. " His shoul
ders were broad , his hands and feet
huge , his good-natured mouth was
wide , his mild eyes stood wide apart.
Every one loved and respected him ,
and because of his kindly eyes , he
had few enemies. No unfortunate per
son ever appealed to him in vain ,
yet in spite o his amiability , he was
seldom imposed upon.
Tekla was conscious of no desire
to impose on him ; but she was young ,
it was summer time , often there were
no letters to be answered , and she
found idleness irksome.
The baseball match between the
teams of her own town and of Iron-
wood was the beginning of her fall
from grace. The office closed at four
on Saturday afternoons and at half
past five on other days , and work was
supposed to begin at half past eight
each morning. It seemed to the rest
less girl that two hours' playtime on
Saturday afternoons ought not to
make much difference to the firm , and
she asked if she might be excused.
It is probable that she would not
have enjoyed the game so well if she
had suspected that Mr. AA'olfe , whose
large , blunt fingers did not lend them
selves gracefully to typewriting , had
been compelled to answer at consider
able length and with much discomfort
two important letters that had arrived
in the 3 o'clock mail.
Mr. Armstrong , the other partner ,
had not learned to use a typewriter ,
and always had enough to do , besides ,
in his own special department.
The ball game , however , was only
the opening wedge. Tekla was popu
lar , and her friends and classmates
were having a glorious time that
summer.
At first , indeed , the girl stood out
bravely , refusing all daytime amuse
ments ; but after that first baseball
game Tekla found it so easy to ask
and to obtain leave of absence for
part of Monday morning , all of Tues
day afternoon , or every bit of AVed-
nesday , that Mr. Armstrong , an iras
cible , wiry man with nervous dyspep
sia , feared Mr. AVolfe was in danger
of being compelled to do all the type
writing.
One forenoon Mr. Armstrong ob
served Tekla , who had arrived three-
quarters of an hour late , looking at
her watch with more than her usual
irritating frequency. AVhen she was
not occupied with this futile employ
ment , she was casting impatient
glances at a visitor who had , in her
opinion , already stayed far too long.
Mr. Armstrong knew what her impa
tience portended. The door had bare
ly closed behind the visitor before
Tekla had taken the intruder's place
beside Mr. Wolfe's big desk.
"O Mr. AArolfe , " she said , in her
bright , pretty , pleading way , "should
you mind very much it I were to go
home a little earlier ? It's most
eleven , you know. I'm going to a par
ty tonight , and I want to try on the
new gown mother's ma ting for me.
It's just the prettiest drnss "
Mr. AVolfe glanced from the papers
in his big hand to the office clock.
"This letter " he began.
"Couldn't I do it the first thing
this afternoon ? " pleaded Tekla , eager
ly. "You see , mother can't do a thing
more to that waist until I've tried it
on. "
"Well , if that's the case , I sup
1- "
pose
"Oh , thank you ! " cried Tekla , . hur
riedly darting away.
Mr. Armstrong , who had suffered in
silence for six weeks , rose and slam-
jned the door.
"That girl's the limit ! " he snapped.
"If I had my way , I'd fire her so quick
she wouldn't know what had happen
ed. "
"In that case , " said Mr. Wolfe , "she
probably wouldn't realize why she was
fired , and the experience wouldn't do
her any good. "
"I would do me good ! " declared Mr.
Armstrong. "She's utterly impossi
ble. "
"No , " said Mr. AArolfe , "there's good
stuff in that girl. It means some
thing in this business where figures
count for so much , to have a girl
who is absolutely accurate "
"And absolutely ignorant ! " sneered
Mr. Armstrong , whose love for the old
er partner made him quick to resent
anything that seemed like an imposi
tion.
"Well , " returned Mr. Wolfe , mildly ,
"as long as typewriting is all I ex
pect of her , I don't mind that. So far ,
those quick little fingers of her's
haven't made a mistake. Miss Dodd ,
as you know , got us into hot water
about eighteen times last year by her
inability to stick to straight copy.
Yes , there's good stuff in that little
girl , but she certainly lacks a realiz
ing sense. "
"Or any other kind of sense ! She
isn't giving you three solid days' worl
a week. "
"She's giving me more , " said AVolfc
smiling whimsically , and casting
rueful glance at his outspread fingers
as he sat down at Tekla's typewriter
"If they weren't built so like sausages
I wouldn't mind , but it seems to me
that I hit everything within six inche
every time I aim for a key. Look al
that ! Figure 2 for 'A' every time
But bad as it is , it's more legible than
my handwriting. "
"Why don't you give the girl a good
talking to , if she's worth taking pains
with ? "
"Well , " confessed Mr. AArolfe , insert
ing a fresh sheet , and with one htavy
forefinger laborously ticking off the
date , "to tell the truth , I have. I went
around there one night about three
weeks ago and Balked to her like a
grandfather. You know you ca'i't be
right down hard on a little light-heart
ed thing like that. Her mothei
doesn't seem much older than she
is , and they certainly do need the
money. I talked to them both. They
they seemed pleased. "
"Humph ! " exploded Mr. Armstrong ,
indignantly. "I'll talk to her. "
"No , you won't , " said Mr. AVolfe ,
resting his large , calm eyes for a long
moment on his partner's perturbed
countenance. "Talk just rolls oft' that
girl like salad dressing from an iced
tomato. Some sort of a kindergar
ten method might work bettor. I'm
willing to take a little pains with her
because of her father. Mighty nice
chap was old Samuel Bliss. Now
don't worry , Armstrong. She'll be
trying to work thirteen hours a day ,
the way you do , before I'm done with
her. I haven't quite figured the way
out yet , but I think I see light. "
Nothing on paper had ever looked
quite so beautiful to Tekla as the
check she had received at the end of
her first month's sadly neglected
work. The envelope , addressed to
Miss Tekla Bliss , and placed on her
table , had greeted her the morning
she was so disgracefully late from
oversleeping after Mildred Hull's
coming-out party. For three clays aft
erward Tekla had experienced , at
breakfast-time , something surprising
ly like a sense of duty. It hurried her
to the office and kept her there until
closing time. But the glamour of the
check and the unprecedented sense of
duty flickered out together by the aft'
ernoon of the fourth day , when Tekla
succumbed , at half-past two , to temp
tation in the form of a naphtha-launch
picnic.
Mr. Armstrong noticed that his
partner frequently paused in his work
to lean back and regard Tekla with
puzzled , almost remorseful eyes.
Sometimes , while so engaged , he scirb-
bled something in a little book that
he carried in his waistcoat pocket.
Toward the end of the month the puz
zled expression departed , but the sor
row remained. Mr. Armstrong could ,
see that although the kind-hearted
old man had made up his mind to deal
with Tekla , he was far from happy
over the prospect. She herself had no
misgivings. She contiuuod to arrive
late , to go home early , and to absent
herself whenever she happened to feel
like it.
"You do have an easy time in that
office , don't you ? " said Geraldine
Pease , meeting Tekla one noon in holi
day attire. "I don't dare ask Tor a
day off once in six weeks. "
"Oh , I'm not afraid ! " retorted Tekla ,
airily. "Mr. Wolfe isn't the scoiding
kind. He says I'm the neatest type
writer he'd had when I'm there. Mr.
Armstrong looks like a thunder-cloud
all the time , but Mr. Wolfe lets me
go any time I ask. "
"But , " asked Geraldine , curiously , ;
* ? * -
"haven't you any conscience In tha
-matter ? "
"Not a scrap , " laughed Tekla.
"I should think , " said Geraldine ,
"that you'd like to feel suro you were
earning your salary. "
"As long as I'm getting it , " returned
Tekla , "I'm satisfied. "
Pay-day was approaching and Tekla
was glad. Just before that important
date Air. Wolfe said , one morning ,
"Never mind Miss Bliss's check , Arm
strong. I'll attend to it myself. "
It was the thirty-first of August , and
for the first morning in two weeks
Tekla was not late. After hanging
up her hat , she turned expectantly
toward her table ; but no white en
velope greeted her. A moment later
Mr. Wolfe rose from his chair and laid
a large , oddly lumpy envelope before
her. As Tekla picked it up , Mr. Wolfe
turned suddenly to his partner.
"Armstrong , " said he , "you remem
ber that appointment with Johnson
at the bank ? "
Thus considerately left alone , Tekla
opened her large envelope. Inside
were twenty-seven smaller envelopes ,
on the outside of each of which was
printed " $1.11. Please count immedi
ately. " Besides this , each small en
velope bore a date , one ror every day
in August , the Sundays excepted.
Tekla , wondering what this meant ,
opened one of the envelopes , spread
the enclosed coin on her table , and
counted.
"Why , " exclaimed Tekla , "I muz > t
have made a mistake ! I'm eighteen
cents short.
But the second count brought no
better result. Ninety-three cents was
all the packet contained. Laying it
aside for future consideration , Tekla
opened the next tiny envelope. Some
thing was wrong with that that , too.
It contained only seventy-eight cents.
Three packets contained the full
amount , one dollar and eleven cents.
These , however , were offset by two
others , holding respectivelv nineteen
and fourteen cents , while a third en
closed absolutely nothing but a large
Canadian penny. Tekla gasped , and
looked at the date. It was August
tenth.
"Xow what , " mused Tekla , begin
ning to see light , "was I doing on
Oh , yes , that was Elizabetth Button's
birthday. I telephoned Mr. Wolfe that
1 wouldn't be down because I was in
vited to help Elizabeth celebrate. "
Tekla , with a Hush creeping into
her cheeks , counted her money. It
amounted to fifteen dollars and sev
enty-five cents. A slip of paper at
tached to the newest of the dollar
bills caught her attention. She read
the words : "An honest day deserves
an honest dollar. "
"And honest day an honest day , "
repeated Tekla , regarding with misty
eyes the heap of silver and copper
coin. "Does he mean that the other
days weren't honest ? "
An hour later , when Mr. Wolfe and
Mr. Armstrong returned , Tekla's
cheeks were red , her eyes were reso
lute , the machine was giving forth
short , sharp , metallic clicks , and all
round the industrious girl were neat
ly typewritten pages , for Tekla was
doing an honest day's work.
She did not have a relapse to her
old. easy-going habits. Nothing was
said , but when pay-day came again ,
Tekla received two checks , Mr. Arm
strong's for thirty dollai'S' and Mr.
Wolfe's for fourteen dollars and twen
ty-five cents. Choosing a moment
when Mr. Armstrong was absent , Tek
la laid the second check on Mr.
Wolfe's desk.
"I didn't earn it , " said she , briefly.
"Not last month , perhaps , " said Mr.
Wolfe , pushing the slip toward Tekla
and smiling , "but you've more than
made up for it since. Mr. Armstrong
says you're worth two Miss Dodds.
That's a good deal 'from Mr. Arm
strong , you know. "
"Oh , I'm glad ! " breathed Tekla , fer
vently. "That's worth all the picnics
t've missed. " Youth's Companion.
Indians' Nose Breathing.
Sir James Crichton Browne thinks it
unnecessary that children should be
taught to breathe through the nos
trils only , and maintains that they
cannot do so under the stress of act
ive exertion. London Hospital thinks
Dtherwise. Among the North Ameri
can aborigines , at a time when they
were capable of extraordinary physi
cal exertion , the precept to "shut your
mouth" was enforced upon the young
by the most severe discipline.
Catlin founded upon his experiences
imong the American tribes a curious
jook upon the subject. After depict-
ng open-mouthed men and boys in
jvery variety of ugliness and stupid-
ty , he says that he refrains from giv-
ng illustrations of tne fairer sex , and
, vould only remind them , while coun
selling them to be careful about clos-
ire of the mouth at night , that "idiots
isleep cannot be angels awake. "
Sir James declares that not all nos-
rils are sufficiently wide to permit of
> reathing being conducted through
hem to the exclusion of the mouth ;
nit it is certain that nothing would
end more than breathing through
hea to promote their development.
A Prince's One Fish.
I read recently that Prince Arthur
f Connaught had had a day's salmon
shing in Scotland and had caught
nly one fish. An admission of this
ort is quite contrary to piscatorial
thics. A mere commoner would not
iave been expected to make so bold
n announcement. He would have
ailed it ten at least , or if he had
een tied down to a single capture by
he presence of eye witnesses his fish
'oiild certainly have assumed noble
roo'ortions. Black and White.
