* - - *
, . 1-
OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
A Foolish Custom Abolished ,
} MONG the changes in the details of warfare
( which have been wrought by the long-range
rifle there is one which has been brought into
I especial notice by the casualty statistics of the
Russo-Japanese war. Officers no longer expose
| themselves to the enemy's fire for the purpose
of "encouraging the men. "
This foolish practice , which , through years of custom ,
bad the force of proscription , has evidently been aban
doned. Tims far in the Manchurian campaign only one
general oflicer has .been killed outright and hardly more
than a score have been wounded.
When we compare these figures with the statistics of
our own Civii War we can see how sweeping has been the
change. A recent study of the Confederate archives shows
that of 415 Confederate general officers seventy-four were
killed in action or mortally wounded , while ia the Union
army fifty general officersk twenty-three brevet brigadier
generals and thirty-four colonels commanding brigades
were killed or mortally wounded.
In the Civil War , that is to say , general officers were
still under the stress of a tradition which held that a coni-
Jnander should ride up and down his lines on a white
thorse if possible so that the enemy might have a good
chance of picking him off. In the Mauchnrian campaign
the general officers liave remained in the rear out of
rifle range and dJrected the operations of their men by
telephone or by messenger. Tke casualty statistics show
the advantage of this latter system.
It is no reflection upon the bravery of a general officer
that he does not expose himself to the fire of the enemy.
He is not a fighting man but a director of fighting men.
His services are too valuable to be risked in a foolish and
Spectacular display of personal courage which may be im
pressive but which is absolutely valueless to the cause
which he serves.
In this respect the long-range rifle , which has rendered
such exhibitions too dangerous to be attempted , has accom
plished a distinct reform in an old and senseless custom.
Chicago Chronicle.
Fine Men In States Prison.
iE was a fine man , " said Casslc Chadwlck ,
when she heard that Spear , cashier of the
wrecked Oberlin bank , had got seven years in
the penitentiary for his part in the "frenzied
( finance. "
Yes , Cassie. these bank wreckers are usual
ly fine men. They live in fine houses. They
give fine banquets. They ride in fine automobiles. They
shine in fine society. They dress their families in fine
raiment. They , being financiers , are supposed to be a
little finer breed than the common herd. Some day it
develops that they have taken advantage of fine oppor
tunities to gamble with trust funds belonging to otlier
people , and down comes all their finery.
It is wonderful how many fine men are going to the
penitentiary these days , while the gross ones go right on
\vearing negligee shirts and the sweat of real labor.
It Is even announced that the Ohio penitentiary is so
full of fine men , from banking and other financial circles ,
that it is impossible to find clerical work for Spear in tlyit
popular institution. Spear may have to carry a hod and
Cassie do washing. Sometimes justice , in her game of
blindrnau's buff , grabs the eternal fitness and fineness of
things , in spite of the atmosphere of morbid sympathy ,
and a man morally equipped for hod-carrying really has
to finally carry a liod. Des Moines News.
Music and Men-Making.
ERTAIX members of the National Council of
Women recently struck hard at one of the
supports and inspirations of all Christendom
by deploring the fact that children are allowed
to hear and sing martial songs and therefore
become imbued with the spirit of war.
What do thesewomen want ? Would they
be content with a race of men from whose breasts cour
age had been plucked and who would shine best at pink
teas ? God forbid ! There are enougli of these affected
clods in society now. "Yankee Doodle' fans no spark in
their .breasts , nor does the swelling chorus of that grand
KITCHEN FOR A BACHELOR.
The Modern Architect Launches One
More Blow at Matrimony.
As a concession to the home-mak
ing instinct bachelor apartments are
now built with kitchens. They are not
ordinarily intended for men who em
ploy others to do their cooking , but
for those who cook for themselves.
The kitchens , indeed , in the small
est bachelor apartments intended for
men of modest means are about the
smallest things of the kind ashore or
afloat. There is just room enough for
a small gas stove , a little sink , a tiny
refrigerator and the necessary floor
space to enable the bachelor to turn
'
around.
All the permanent appointments are
provided by the landlord. The tiny
refrigerator will hold a moderate sup
ply of milk , butter and the meat of
Rt least three meals.
Some of the bachelor cooks are con
tent to get breakfast merely , but oth
ers also prepare dinner. The gas
stove will do either.
Forty minutes will ordinarily suf
fice to prepare , cook and serve the
Bachelor cook's dinner , and if the
housekeeping is done in partnership
the meal can be made ready In less
time.
Bachelor apartments with tiny
kitchens are on the whole an economy
for men who cannot endure the ordi
nary boarding house. The kitchen
does hot add greatly to the rent of an
apartment , and the cost of meals is
astonishingly small.
The breakfast of coffee , rolls and
eggs the year around need not average
more than 8 to 10 cents a head , and
with fruit included It is hardly more
than ? 1 a week. Dinners , including an
occasional night off at a restaurant ,
need not average more than from $2.r 0
to § 3 a week , so that the weekly cost
Of two meals a day is below the price
charged by a pretty cheap boarding
house.
.The man who must restrict him
self to a hall bedroom and a cheap
bearding house table cannot afford
TtB the smallest of bachelor apart-
harmony , "The Star Spangled Banner , " moisten their
eyes.
eyes.Music
Music , all kinds of music , plays and has played for
the ages a grand part in the building of men. It makes for
strength. It helps men to perform heroic deeds , and , if
needs be , to die. It is the language of humanity and the
notes echo around the world. They are caught up by
the savage who fights , , perhaps , for his thatched home ,
nerved by the rude notes of tomtons. Again you will find
it in "A Hot Time in the Old Town To-night , " when a
Dewcy smiles grimly and says , "You may fire when you
are ready , Gridley , " and the shots of his cannon help break
the shackles of an enslaved nation.
Old Cromwell's men , grim and stern , fought well ,
chanting hymns , and the Boers carried the name of God
on their lips , In song , Into battle , as they fought for their
doomed cause.
The time may come when wars are gone foreverwhen
blessed peace shall abide in every corner of the globe.
Until then , let us have" music more music the kind that
strikes fire in the eye , and makes the pulse beat and drives
out fear. Feed music to babes , to old men , to all of us ,
for it is good for humanity. Kansas City World.
Missouri's Exoeriment.
HE Legislature that met in .January , 1903 , ap-
[ propriated $35,000 for a binding twine plant to
be maintained In the penitentiary. In accord
ance with that law the Legislature just ad
journed appropriated $125,000 more to be
known as a "revolving fund , " to be used only
to purchase raw material required in the man
ufacture , handling and marketing of twine. All moneys
derived from the sale of twine are to be collected and paid
into the State treasury by the penitentiary warden , and
kept In a separate account. The warden is empowered
to sell the twine to the farmers of the State for cash , free
on board the cars at Jefferson City , "and at a price per
pound sufficient only to Indemnify the State against loss. "
State twine in bulk may also be sold for cash by the war
den to persons in each county who shall be required to sign
an agreement to sell the twine to actual consumers at a
price not greater than 1 cent per pound over its cost , with
transportation from the State capital added.
Manufacturing of the twine has begun , and the price
has been fixed at 10 cents a pound. The trusts , it Is said ,
sell the same article for from 12 cents to 14 cents a
pound. It will be some time before the working results
of this special branch of State industry can be ascertained.
So far the appropriations have amounted to $160,000. The
farmers who get the twine at a reduced price also pay
taxes , and the money that has established the plant , and
Is set apart for the "revolving fund , " all comes from gen
eral taxation. Public ownership rests on public taxation.
What it jnay return in public revenue is an open question.
It remains for actual practical "experience to strike the bal
ance. St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Treating Tuberculosis.
HE tendency to deal with a case of pulmonary
tuberculosis In Its early stages by means of
drugs solely , is held to be as harmful as It
Is helpful , not so much tnat drugs do harm , bu
that weeks of priceless time are wasted trying
to check a cough and quiet a fever while the
patient is allowed to continue work. Rational
home treatment will effect much in the early stages of the
disease , and the following things are mentioned as essen
tial in this home treatment in small towns , suburbs and
country places.
(1) ( ) The confidence of the patient , since confidence
breeds hope ; (2) ( ) a masterful management on the part of
the doctor ; (3) ( ) persistence benefit is usually a matter of
years , absolute cure a matter of many years ; (4) ( ) sunshine
by day , fresh air by night and day ; (5) ( ) rest while there is
fever ; ( G ) breadstuffs and milk , meat and eggs.
It is held that the question of extirpating the disease
is a municipal one , and that a necessary feature of It is
the compulsory provision of sanitary dwelling for the
poor and for all that are crowded closely , while at the
same time States must have sanatoria where such , people
can be treated. These two broad Hues of attack on the
disease meanwhile heralded by a wise home treatment it
is urged will crown the end with the extirpation of the
disease. Indianapolis News.
ments witn the tiniest of kitchens ,
but two bachelors who are able to pay
a fair price for board and lodging and
who do not mind bping their own
cooks can be exceedingly comfortable
in an apartment with kitchen.
As things are now going in New
York the bachelor apartment , which is
really a home , begins to compete with
the club as a deterent to matrimony.
New York Sun.
BREAKING IT GENTLY.
Boy Tells Wife of Accident that Had
Befallen Her Husband.
"What do you want , little boy ? "
'Us this where Mr. Upjohn lives ,
ma'am ? "
"Yes. "
"The Mr. Upjohn that runs the
bank ? "
"He is an officer in a bank. "
"The Mr. Upjohn that went down
town on a trolley car this morning ? "
"I presume he went on a trolley
car. What "
"Is he the Mr. Upjohn that was In
that horrible street car accident ? "
"I haven't heard of his being in any
street car accident. "
"Didn't hear 'at he'd sprained his
ankle jumpin' out o' the car when the
train run into it ? "
"No. Little boy , you frighten me.
What has "
"Didn't you hear how he'd run to a
drug store fur a piece of court plas
ter to stick on a little cut he'd got
over one eye ? "
"Not at all. For mercy's sake "
"He Isn't in , is he , ma'am ? "
"No , he's "
"Name's John P. Upjohn , Isn't it ? "
"Yes , that Is his name. "
"Then he's the same man. He won't
be here for an hour or two , I guess ,
'cause he's stoppin' to have one of his
teeth tightened that got knocked a lit
tle bit loose when he was jumpin' out
o' danger , y' know. "
"Little boy , tell me the whole story.
I think I can bear It now. "
"Well , ma'am , he's In the hogpittle
with four ribs broke , an' one leg's in a
, an * his nose is knocked kind o'
sideways , but he's glttin' along all
right , an' he'll be out again in about
a month , an' here's a letter f'm the
doctor , tellin * ye all about -ma'am. . "
Fails to Lie am One Thing.
A retired Irish major sold his horses
and carriages and bought a motor car ,
but Instead of engaging a chauffeur
he determined to send his faithful old
coachman to a Dublin firm of engin
eers for a course of lessons in small
repairs.
"You will go through a two months'
training , " he explained to Pat , as he
handed him a check for his expenses ,
"during which time youwill make
yourself thoroughly familiar with the
engine and all Its works. "
"Yes , sor , " was Pat's reply.
"You will note every wheel and
crank and learn what they are for and
what th'ey have to do , so that when
you return you will be equal to any
emergency. "
"I will , sor , " said Pat , and , having
stowed the check away down in his
trousers pocket , he took his departure.
In two months' time he returned
with the conqueror's look In his eye.
"Well , Pat , have you succeeded ? "
"I have , sor. "
"And you know everything about
the motor ? "
"I know all , sor , from the big lamp
in front to the little numbers behind
except one thing , " the new chauffeur
added , as he nervously plucked a few
hairs from his new bearskin coat
"And what is it you don't know ? "
demanded the major.
"Well , I don't quite understand yet
what makes the blessed thing move
without horses. " Tit-Bits.
Certain of It.
"Well , I sent away a poem to-daj
that I am very sure will not be re
turned to me. "
-So good ? "
"No. I gave the editor a false ad
dress. " Cleveland Plain Dealer.
It I * all rght to select the lesser of
two ? & * , if you know which oat It 1 * .
TJ
fTHE OLD-FASHIONED FOURTH.
The tantalizing third we beat the birds to
bed at night
And raced the roosters on The Day to greet
the morning light.
The cannon , loaded weeks before , was
ready to salute ;
Our "captain" touched her off and shouted
"HI there , fellers , scoot ! "
But we , who scorned discretion , stood
around the piece of scrap.
Each hoping , If-the captain fell , to fill the
glorious gap.
Nay , not a whit more cheerfully the fathers
faced the powder ;
Nor could their blunderbusses raise a racket
any louder.
And what more reckless hero ever drew a
sword from shpath
Than he who flred his crackers while he
held them in his teeth ?
And , since nobody dared to "take a stump , "
I've often prayed
A blessing on the boy who cried , "Let's go
to the per-rude ! "
And then we heard the orator ( though much
against our will )
Who said , "The blood our fathers bled ,
thank God ! Is bleeding still. "
He bled so long we greatly feared he never
would run dry.
And some one read "the grand old words , "
we vainly wondered why ,
But , heaven be praised ! a monster gun was
there to make a noise
And a gallant flfe-and-drum corps under
stood the needs of boys.
All day the crimson lemonade gushed gayly
forth at us ,
Till aniline enamel lined each boys' esopha
gus.
All day , as long as all our wealth could
syndicate the price ,
We chilled our ardent stomachs with can
ary-colored ice.
How could that coal-tar dye compel the
flavor of a dream ?
How could that starch of corn produce so
heavenly a cream ?
I wonder why The Day is never celebrated
now.
They try to celebrate it , but they plainly
don't know how.
And would I do it in the way we used to , If
I could ?
Of course , I well , no. coine to think , I
don't believe I would !
You see , I'm Just a human man and lack a
boy's endurance ,
Nor do I want the company to pay my life
insurance !
Edmund Vance Cook , in Puck.
BY ADA MELVILLE SHAW
CEAN MEREDITH had always
lived in a large city. She was a
patriotic lassie , and every year on
the Fourth of July she used to decorate
the house with flags , play "Yankee Doo
dle" and all manner of patriotic tunes
on the old piano , and then , dressed in
patriotic colors , with a flag in her bat ,
one pinned to her dseae and oae in her
hand , go to some of the several celelmi-
tions of the day.
This year Ocean was away from the
city , in a little town where it was quiet
er at noon that it used to be at midnight
in her city home. Ocean rather liked it.
She thought that when the procession
went by on the Fourth of July she could
see the whole of it , and not be crowded
by so many hurrying people.
As Ocean became acquainted with the
boys and girls in the little town she ask
ed them what they did on the Fourth ;
but they were shy of the city girl , and
she could not find out much about it.
The day before the-holiday Ocean was
very busy all day.
"What are you up to , lassie ? " asked
her mother.
"I'm getting all ready for to-morrow ,
mother. "
"It will not be the same here , dear ,
that it was at home. "
"But we're Americans , aren't we ,
mother ? They'll celebrate , won't they ? "
"I suppose they will , child. "
Ocean's home was on the principal
street of the sleepy little town. When
the people woke up on the morning of
the Fourth , what should they see but
flags waving from the four front windows
of the Merediths' little cottage , the posts
of the porch twined with bunting , and
the red , white and blue wound about the
trunks of the trees just within the pal
ing fence. Before the morning dew was
off the grass , there on the porch was
Ocean herself , a sweet little vision in
white , with red and blue ribbons in her
hair and around her waist , and wee flags
floating from either shoulder. Some pass
ing children stared at her and at the
house. She ran out to the gate several
times , and peered eagerly up and down
the street. There was not a flag in sight ,
nor a sound of fife and drum. Then
Ocean found her way tearfully to her
busy mother's side.
"Don't you think , mother , if their
grandfathers had been soldiers , and their
brothers had belonged to the Volunteers ,
they'd celebrate ? "
"I think they would , Ocean , dear. "
"Mother , may I celebrate ? "
Ocean's bmother always let her little
girl do anything that was right , so she
said "Yes , " and thought no more about
it. In half an hour there stood before
her a little soldier lassie , with a cap
perched on her curls and a drum slung
over her shoulders. "I'm going to cele
brate , mother ; I just can't stand it ! "
"All right , sweetheart. Have as good
a time as you an. Perhapi we can have
a little picnic ia the woods this after-
noon. "
The people of the town heard the
sound of a drum , and peered out their
doors. There , marching all alone through
the dusty street , beating her drum as her
brother had taught her , and singing
"Rally 'Round the Flag , Boys , " was a
little girl in white.
"For gracious sake ! " cried Tom Peter
son , an old member of the Grand Army ,
coming out of his house to see. "What
are you doing , little one ? "
Ocean saluted gravely. "I'm celebrat
ing. Don't you know about the Fourth
here ? My grandfather was a soldier.
My brother is one , too. I was watching
for the procession , but it didn't come. "
"So you thought you'd celebrate ?
Well , I vow ! See here , wife ! "
Ocean waited while a woman iu a
sunbonnet came out. Then the man wint
into the house and came back with nn
old fife and a tattered flag.
"I reckon your grandfather and me
were comrades , little one. Suppose we
go see your mother a bit. Then we'll
celebrate some more. "
Ocean's heart beat high as she walked
by the old soldier's side back to her
mother's gate.
"If you will let us have your little girl
for a wkhile , ma'am , we'll take care of
her. Actually we've forgotten how to be
patriotic in this town. There isn't a flag
in town besides yours. It's a shamt. "
next thing Ocean knew ahe was
Celebrate
I
here , son. Let's talk.
You smell of powder and burning punk. That rag on your finger
COME a burn. It is possible you will set fire to the house before the
day is done. The one thing that seems good to you is noise NOISE
in big letters , with an explosion every second and joyous whoops In between.
Do you know what It is all about ?
Do 3011 know why thousands of tons of gunpowder are burned ? Why
80,000,000 of people take a holiday ? Why flags ore flying , bands play "The
Star Spangled Banner , " and from the Florida Keys to the coast of Maine the
foJks feel a splendid burst of patriotism , and are glad that they belong to this
beautiful country ?
You ( knit just understand , and you are not to blame. We have a few
men tn the country who couldn't tell the President's name , and other men
who have been so busy making money that they have forgotten the birth of
freedom and the devotion , heroism and self-sacnfice that made it possible
for the United States to become the first nation in the world.
Your great-granddaddy was a lad like jou when the people decided to
be free. They were governed by a king. He ruled a country he had never
seen. He was not a good king. He oppressed the people. He would not
read their petitions for justice. The Americans were no more to him than
cattle. He was rich and big and powerful. He claimed , as kings do , that
his right to rule came from God.
There were no millionaires in the United States then. Nearly everybody
was poor and had to work. Very often many of them Tvere hungry. Some
times they were shot down by Indians while tilling their fields. Life in the
country was hard , and cities were few and far between. The people didn't
care about hardships. They were walling to go hungry , wear homespun
and go without hundreds of things that we think we must have , but they
would not be slaves.
They wanted to be free ; to govern themselves ; to make their own laws.
They thought about it , they prayed about It , and one day they defied the
king.
Then came war and suffering. It would make you cry to even think
about it. There wasn't much money , powder , medicine , clothing. There was
a world of courage. History has never known braver men than those Con
tinental soldiers , who loved George Washington as you love your father , and
left bloody footprints as they marched.
Sometimes they won battles ; sometimes they lost them. Mothers
mourned for dead husbands and sons. There were graves everywhere. There
were traitors , too ; and It took stout hearts to keep on fighting , when the
odds were so great. "Liberty or death" was the cry. They meant it. They
really were willing to die for their country. They were unselfish. They wore
rags. They fought for love. They saw their homes burned and their pos
sessions destroyed. And yet in the breasts of these men was a fire that
couldn't be quenched. They fought with scythes and clubs and axes , as
well as guns. When there were no cannon balls they shot stones , and they
did not think that their homes , their money , their possessions , legs , arms ,
even their lives were too big a price to pay for liberty.
One day it was all over , because right was stronger than wrong. A
nation was bleeding from a thousand wounds , but it was free.
The people were no longer slaves of
an unjust king , and America was
what God intended men should make it the laud of the free , the home of
the brave.
And that , son , is why we celebrate Independence Day. It is to mark
the birth of liberty , to arouse love for the finest flag that was ever lifted by a
breeze , to make you and millions more care more for your country ; to make
you remember the grandness of the men who died that you , too , might be
free and share in the glories of a republic.
When you and the other millions of boys who are shooting firecrackers
grow up to be men , pray that you will not forget ; that you will be as true and
loyal and brave and as unselfish as was that grand race of oaks that burst
the shackles forged by a king over a centurjago. .
Get your firecrackers : Start the pin wheels , shout as loud as you can
Let's celebrate hard , and when the smell of gunpowder is in the air and
fiery stars are gleaming , and the boom of cannon almost drowns the music
of the band , we'll salute the flag that we love that George Washington
loved because of the things that happened when your great-granddaddy
was
a little boy. Cincinnati Post.
seated in state in a tiny bit of a carriage
drawn by two ponies. In this , with her
new friend beside her , she was taken
from house to house. She hardly under
stood what was going on , but in a few
hours her carriage , decorated with flags ,
led a good-sized procession of men and
boys. There were nine old soldiers and
their flags , fifes and drums. They were
Ocean's bodyguard. The procession
marched up and down the quiet streets ,
singing , drumming , cheering. People got
out old flags and streamers. It was a
splendid Fourth of Jf ly.
When the parade was hot and tired
and thirsty , they stopped nt Ocean's
door , and there stood her mother with
great pails of lemonade and a heaping
tray of cookies. You ought to have heard
them cheer. They cheered the flag and
George Washington , Abraham Lincoln ,
the President , the Grand Army of the
Republic and last , but not least , they
cheered dear little Ocean Meredith , whose
patriotism waked them all up on the
Fourth of July. Farm and Fireside.
Pjrrotechnicology.
"They're off in a bunch , " said the
sporty Red Light , as he saw a little
fellow light a pack of firecrackers at
once.
"Go chase yourself ! " said the Pistol to
the Nigger-Chaser.
"Shoot the cap ! " said a Piece of Punk
to the Pistol.
That' * what I call light work , " re
marked a Torpedo ,
commenting on tin
boy who was setting off the fireworks.
Hes no match for me , " whistled tho
1 lece of Punk as he noticed the boy hope
lessly searching through his pockets for a
sulphur stick.
"You're full of hot air , " slangily said
some one to the Balloon. Sunday Maga-
zme.
HOW IT HAPPENED.
"I'll tell you how it happened : Aaotfcr
er kid swiped all my fireworksl" '
r