OPINIONS OF GREAT PAPERS ON IMPORTANTSUBJECTS
SECRET SOCIETIES IN SCHOOLS.
EGRET societies in high schools and other
secondary schools are scathingly criticised in
a report to the National Educational Associa
tion by a committee appointed to investigate
their effects. "Factional , and stir up strife
and contention , " "snobbish , " "dissipate energy
and proper ambition , " "foster a feeling of self-
importance , " "expensive and foster habits of extrava
gance , " ' 'weaken the efficiency of the school , " "detract in
terest from study , " are some of the grave charges made
against these organizations.
The indictment is severe , but not too severe. Children
from 13 to 14 to 17 or IS years of age are not mature
enough to derive benefit from organizations of any kind
which are not supervised by older persons , but are mature
enough to receive from them much harm. They are then
at the age when they are prone to imitate all that is bad or
foolish in the conduct of adults , and the only way they
dm be kept from following this tendency is by restricting
their * opportunity. School secret societies enlarge the op
portunity. This is the main reason why pupils fight so
stoutly to prevent their suppression. The teachers , who
should know their effects best , are practically unanimous
in condemning secret societies , and there is no reason to
doubt that in doing so they aim at the good of the schools.
Tho National Educational Association will not abolish
school "fraternities" by hearing reports or adopting reso
lutions. Children are persevering. They are especially
persevering when wrong. They arc most persevering when
they think they are spiting the teacher. Nothing gives the
average boy so much unqualified satisfaction as to think he
Is making the schoolmaster sit up nights and rack his
brain over the subject of school government. As long as
boys" fathers have clubs and college young men have
"frats , " high school boys will want "frats , " and probably
they will usually have them , no matter how often they
may be put down. If teachers could enSst the hearty sup
port of parents in the contest the result might be different
The remedy for secret societies and other follies in second
ary schools is for parents to tell children to obey their
teachers , and , if they disobey , to punish them. Chicago
Tribune.
SUGGESTIONS ON LIFE INSURANCE.
IFE insurance in Nov.England has for many
years been managed with exceptional efficiency
and honesty. In New York that kind of man
agement has too often been lacking. Many
persons now far advanced in years can recall
the time , some thirty years ago , when a num
ber of New York life insurance companies went
to tho wall. Some of these had many policies outstanding
in all parts of the country , and their failure Avas so com
plete that the policy holders did not receive a cent And
the well-founded report that the receivers of the defunct
companies fattened on the spoils wrung from widows and
orphans did not mitigate the anger with which outsiders
looked on that carnival of diabolism in the Empire State.
It is because the record of New England is in happy con
trast with all this that advice from that quarter on the
trouble in the Equitable Life of New York has a special
interest. A committee of New England policy holders in
the Equitable has spoken words of truth and soberness.
This committee declares that no matter what may be the
result of the various investigations now in process , the
policy of the company should be transformed in the fu
ture. It believes and who will deny ? that the company
belongs to the policy holders , and should be managed by
tlicm ; that the surplus should not accumulate beyond the
just needs of the society , but should go to the policy hold
ers in the form of reduced premiums or otherwise ; that
provision should be made by law , if necessary , to prevent a
needless surplus ; that the funds of the Equitable should
be regarded as those of savings banks , and their invest
ment should be surrounded by the samo legal safeguards ;
SKILLFUL HUNTING.
Five minutes of thorough , systemat
ic search for a lost object is often more
effectual than half an hour of desul
tory hunting , which , in its excited
flurry , often passes in plain sight the
article which it seeks. An example
of this principle is often seen in the
case of the small boy , who , when the
iamily have scrambled vainly about
for the dropped thimble , announces
that he will look for it "Indian fash
ion. " lie lies quietly down on the
floor , and bringing his eye on a level
with the carpet , soon spies the missing
object In "AGirl in the Karpa-
Ihians , " Miss/Dowic gives another in
stance of letting brains do the work
of the muscles.
The party was riding up a stoop
mountainside when suddenly the au
thor discovered that she had lost her
gold watch. It was an heirloom and
much valued ; there was nothing to do
but to turn back on the trail. About
two miles before she had made the
discovery her horse had slipped , and
she had rolled off. It must have been
then that her watch was dropped.
The little party returned on the path ,
wildly searching here and there. When
they reached the place of the tumble
there was a grand hunt , which lasted
a long time.
Then , tired out and heated , the
searchers returned to where the horses
were tethered and acknowledged them
selves beaten. "I've turned up every
fern leaf and grass blade , " said one.
"It's no use , " exclaimed the author ;
and she declared she would not look
again for all the watches in the world.
A young artist in the party had
stayed with the horses while the rest
were hunting. Now he announced
that it was his turn to try. The oth
ers laughed , but they willingly sat
down to rest while the young man
went off down the hillside.x It was
tot long before they heard a "Hur
rah ! " and the artist appeared , holding
up the watch in triumph.
"I almost always find things , " he
said. "I "search like a dog. I lay
clown on my face and listened , and I
heard the licking when the watch was
a meter away. Then I crawled on my
hands and laices until I found it"
that the officials should be prevented from engaging In
other business and from using the company's funds to fur
ther their private interests.
All of those propositions arc manifestly just and unde
niably expedient. Washington Tost.
THE POST CARD NUISANCE.
UNITED STATES Judge at Trenton let us
give his name Judge William M. Lanning , has
charged the United States grand jury to look
up the matter of sending "flashy" post cards
through the mails.
It is high time that some official took notice
of this growing evil. Any Chicagoan who
walks State street or other avenues of trade must notice
that week by week the mailing cards exposed for sale in
shop windows are progressing from mere vulgarity to abso
lute indecency. Some are of a sort that should promptly
bring their seller or the man who sends them through the
mails before a criminal court. The matter is one of more
than ordinary importance. A society exists for the purpose
of stopping the sale of indecent books and pictures. But
the purchaser of such articles is usually a dege'nerate seek
ing them for the gratification of his own vulgar and de
praved taste.
Against the evil of the indecent or vulgar post card
there is to-day no defense. The purest-minded maiden , the
most refined wife , may at any time have delivered to her
by the government of the United States a card carrying an
indecent suggestion , or a vulgar innuendo , open to ail to
read , exposing her to the ridicule of all who see it in pass
ing. The Postofiice Department is now doing something
to stop this. Let the ceusorshp be rigid. Chicago
aminer.
THE DECADENCE OF THE DANCE.
jANCING , it seems , is not what it once was
and even the waltz has deteriorated. People
romp and call it dancing , to the disgust of
those whose memories recall the grace and
stately dignity of the movements of former
times. "To-day , " says "Professor" BOAVCH at
the convention of the American Professors of
Dancing , "dancing consists mainly of jumps and jerks.
Grace and dignity have vanished from it and the two-step
is responsible. " It is proposed to abolish the odious two-
step and bring back the minuet ; but this we fear , is as im
practicable as it is to bring back the "grace and dignity"
that characterized the manners of serious people 100 years
ago. The present age is averse to many things that pleased
the fathers and grandfathers. It takes life in a hurry and
takes its amusements in a touch-and-go spirit. The drama ,
the poem , the novel all are said to be decadent. Like
manners , they have been abbreviated. The two-step may
be sad enough , but it has the merit of being in accord with
present tendencies. Baltimore Sun.
THE HELLO GIRL.
E have all felt at times that the telephone still
lacks a great deal to be a perfect machine , that
there is inattention , poor connection , needless
delay and sometimes almost impudence in the
telephone service , but how few'ever feel that
it is not an automatic machine that they are
using , that the A-oice they hear answering their
impatience is not a part of the machine , that there is a
personal equation to be considered , a woman : nvay off
somcAvhere in the unidentified "central , " Avho has feelings
and self-respect , just as other Avomcn have ; \voman Avho
will recognize a cross tone just as quickly as if she Avere
A'isibly present , and a Avoman entitled to respectful treat
ment , just as much as if she were in her own home. The
fact that you can stand miles aAvay and talk into her car
does not detract from the right to the kind word and
treatment Jonsov City Journal.
ELEVATED RAILWAY.
AnjRate of Speed Can Be Attained
with Perfect Safety.
Several of the larger cities in the
United States are in need of an ele
vated raihvay to accommodate the
heavy raihvay traffic in the more
densely populated sections Avhich the
surface lines are unable to handle.
Because of the uusightliness of ele
vated railways at present in use , their
further use has been discontinued in
favor of the underground road. An
Ohio engineer has invented an ele
vated raihvay built on entirely neAV
ideas. This structure is made of a
series of individual posts , firmly set
r
ELEA'ATED ROAD AND CAR.
in the ground and imbedded in cement
to make them permanently rigid.
These posts are formed of a number
of tubular sections united at the joints
by collars , the latter made with sock
ets Avhich receive the supporting
braces. Upper and lower tracks are
supported by these braces , the whole
being further braced and supported
by a span mechanism. All of the
braces , arms and other parts arc made
of tubes or pipes. The rails are car
ried on the outer extremities of the
horizontal crossarms , and are arranged
in parallel pairs one above the other ,
so that an upper and a lower rail con
stitute a track for a car. All the cen
tral posts are equipped with lateral
arms for one or raore lines of cars at
each side.Tt ir claimed that by this
Construction it is possible to build an
eleA'ated structure which will stand
perfectly rigid and Avhieh needs no
special provision for expansion or con
traction In its frame work and track
and has tight joints in all tempera
tures. Furthermore , it occupies the
minimum ot surtace room possible la
an elevated road , and being tubular
throughout , obscures light less and is
-loss objectionable to the eye than any
other IIOAV in use. Any speed can be
atained Avith perfect safety. '
CALLS IT A GOOD LIKENESS.
Faithful Employe Not Forgotten at
End of n. Quarter Contrary.
Jacob Riis , the sociologist , in an ad
dress to a Avorkiugmeii's club , praise ; !
generosity.
"I see a handful of children here , "
he said. "May they grow up generous.
May none of them grow up into such
a man as an old banker Avhom I know
"He is a millionaire , and he Ih-es
in a palace , but his heart is as hard as
steel and as cold as ice.
"One of his men completed the other
day his tAventy-fifth year of service.
For tAventy-five years this honest man
had worked for the banker faithfully ,
lie and his chief Avere both poolat
the beginning , but Avherc. in the quar- {
ter century , the banker had accumu- !
lated millions , the faithful , middle- |
aged bookkeeper had only saved a few '
hundreds. His salary , you see , was
only $23 a Aveek.
"He didn't think the banker would
remember the tAventy-fifth anniversary
of his engagement , but the old man
did. That morning he handed the
bookkeeper a sealed envelope.
" 'George , ' he said , 'to-day ends the
twenty-fifth year of your work for me ,
and you haAe worked steadily and
well. In this em'elope is a memento
of the occasion. '
"The bookkeeper opened the envel
ope , trembling and eager. Within lay
his employer's photograph. That was
all.
"In the face of a disappointment so
bitter the poor felloAv could say noth
ing.
' 'Well , ' asked the banker , 'what do
you think of it ? '
" 'It's just like yousaid the book
keeper , simply. " NOAV York Tribune.
: < l It.
" did ' for mother-
"What j'ou get your -
in-law joke ? "
"A dollar from the editor and a six
Aveeks' visit from my mother-in-laAV. "
Meggendorfer Blaetler.
When a woman entertains with an'
afternoon card party , it is inelegant to
call her function a "card party ; " tho
latest is to say she entertained with a
"card flgat"
Hoc Attachment.
American agricultural implements
are known the world over as the best
procurable , especially for saving time.
This is true both as to the large appli
ances used on farms and the smaller
garden implements. A Texas farmer
is the inventor of a hoe attachment
\
applicable to hand weeding or garden
hoes of various forms and sizes. The
f attachment consists of a cutting blade ,
AA'hich is designed to be used in detach
ing clinging vines and runners from
the growing plants. The improved de
vice comprises a weeding blade of the
usual form , and connected to the han
dle by a shank which curves upward.
Extending from the shank is a cutting
blade , curved away from the handle
and shank.
In using the implement the cutting
blade is forced forward or awajfrom
the operator by a pushing motion , ,
and by its peculiar form and position
is very convenient for severing vines ,
runners , creepers and similar plant
life from the stalks of the growing and
valuable plants. The implement will
also be found very convenient for
chopping corn , or thinning cotton raid
other plants , and will also be found
CUTS DOAA'N THE WEEDS.
very useful in working corn and sim
ilar crops , upon which vines and creep
ers are liable to be found , and whose
removal is generally attended with
much labor and annoyance. The cut
ting blade being made integral with
the shank will not be a cumbersome
or objectionable addition to the hoe.
Protecting ? tlie IIariie.su.
Every farmer appreciates that the
expense for harnesses and for harness
repairs is considerable during the
year , hence should be pleased at the
suggestion of some plan which will
enable him to keep the harness in good
condition. A harnessshould always
be hung up. Here is a simple plan.
Make three letter T's of strong but
light lumber and especially making
the cross bar strong. Fasten these to
a joint in a convenient place with the
cross bar at the bottom. Simply use
the arms on which to hang the differ
ent parts of the harness. If this ar
rangement is not easy to put in opera
tion , then use hooks fastened to the
ends of stout ropes , but arranging
some way so that the ropes may be
looped back over a hook or nail during
the time they are not in use , so there
will be no danger of any one being
D
TOR HANGING THE IIAJIXESS.
Injured by them. The illustration '
shows both plans plainly. * They are
entirely practical and the use of either
of them will add greatly to the long
life of the harness. Exchange.
Care of Poultry.
The domestic fowl is very prolific ,
and a flock can be made to increase
rapidly it care is given. To begin
with , 500 or 1,000 hens require large
capital at the start , as the fowls must
be purchased and suitable buildings
prepared , but it is not difficult to se
cure large flockson limited capital if
the beginning is made with a few and
the number gradually increased , as
the increase of the flock is also an in
crease of capital. A flock of hens re
turns an income dally , thus assisting
+ o provide capital at the start.
Boiled Timber.
* A new process has been discovered
for warring against white ants , the
pests of the tropical regions. These
termites as they are called destroy
the woodwork of the finest buildings
within six months. Their action is in
sidious , says the London Mail , inas
much as the outward appearance of
the wood does not betray the rotten
ness within , and their ravages. If not
discovered in time , lead to the total
collapse of the buildings. Some time
it was suggested experiments
should be carried out by-a London
wood-process syndicate. Specimens
were prepared and sent out to a num
ber of tropical countries. After a
somewhat protracted trial news has
been received from the Madras presi
dency that tho specimens sent there
have successfully resisted the attacks
of the white ants. The process im
proves , toughens and strengthens the
wood. This is accomplished by boiling
the timber in saccharine solution , and
afterward drying it at a high tempera
ture. A revolution in the export tim
ber trade to tropical countries is prob
able , as In places where termites
abound soft wood will be used instead
of the more expensive varieties.
An Ideal Stall.
When one is financially able to have
the stalls which combine all the con-
3TE
V.
STALL AND FEED RACK.
veniences they are very desirable , but
the average farmer must put up with \
much less. The ideal stall has a space '
between feed rack and gutter of eight
feet and is five feet wide. A feed rack
is arranged so that the animal may
get at the hay or roughage easily , yet
not waste a great deal of it At one
end of the feed rack is a feed box
sufficiently large so that the cow can
get her mouth to it without striking
her horns. The sides of this stall con
sist of a fence with three wide boards
and runs up four or five feet high , ac
cording to the ideas of the owner. At
the rear" there is stapled to the floor
a piece of 2x4 material to keep the
bedding in place and the animal from
stepping back into the gutter. The
idea of the fencelike sides is to insure
ventilation , and if any two animals are
inclined to quarrel they can be separ
ated by having an empty stall be
tween or by building up higher the
dividing fence. The illustration shows
the idea perfectly.
A Simple Saw Clamp.
This simple saw clamp can be made
by anyone , and does not need any
bolts or screws. The two clamps are
made of 1-inch boards , 5 or G inches
wide , beveled on top and then dressed
down to nearly an edge at the bottom.
The saw is placed in the clamps in
your hands , and then inserted in the
beveled slot , and the hammer makes
it perfect ' firm and rigid. The frame
can be made to stand on the ground
SAW
or floor , or can be made low to place
on work bench.
Care of Farm Machinery.
Many farmers are very careless qf
their farm machinery. It is a common
thing to see plows , harrows , culti
vators , mowing machines and even
binders standing in the field for
months "without any protection from
the elements. The direct loss from
such exposure is very great It
amounts to more than the use in al
most every instance.
The greatest item perhaps is in loss
of time when the machine is required
for use next time. Farmers Avho arc
careless enough to leave implements
In the field are almost invariably care
less about the belongings of such im-
pldmeuts. Furthermore , such men are
surrounded with help that pattern
after the master in this respect. There
are always shiftless characters in the
neighborhood , and they seldom hesi
tate to appropriate any loose article
belonging to these neglected machines ,
and it is only natural that they should
neglect to return these things.
The loss from rust and decay , al
though considerable , is less than the
annoyance and time required to get
the different implements back into
condition the following season. Farm
and Fireside.
Fierhilnpr Weed * .
There is nothing which hold to the
soil with such pertinacity as weeds.
It is probable that the Egyptians are
, to-day fighting the same weeds which
they were trying to exterminate by
the aid of the Israelites when they
were in bondage. We must always
bear this in mind , that we manure and
cultivate all the weeds we do not de
stroy. Eternal vigilance is the price
we pay for the extermination of
weeds ;
Tilingto Remember.
Poor roads are the unhappiest type
of extravagance.
When a wagon Is worn out from use
on a good road its owner usually has
money enough to buy a new one.
Good roads suggest action , and mud
means sloth andlaziness. .
Some of the winter resorts of the
South are advertising good roads as a
special attraction.
A lie * on In the Art.
The Complete Angler Yes , the bas
fa the wiliest of the finny tribe , all
right , as this little Incident will show.
One day whileengaged In my favorite
pursuit , I dropped a valuable diamond
ring in the water. The following day
I cast my line near the spot where the
ring disappeared and soon landed a
five-pound bass. Now. what do you
suppose the camp cook found inside
that fish ?
The Chorus of Novices Haw ! Haw !
Haw ! The missing jewelry , of course !
The Complete Angler Ah , boys , you
seem to forget about the wiliness of
the bass. What the cook really found
was a pawn ticket for the ring !
Puck.
Words of Windom.
Westfield , 111. , Dec. ISth ( Special )
All who are suffering with Bright's
Disease , should read carefully the fol
lowing letter from the Rev. G. I * .
Good of this place. He says :
"I feel it is my duty to tell you of
the wonderful benefit I have received
from the use of Dodd's Kidney Pills.
I am a Minister of the Gospel , and In
I frequently exposed to
my work , am
all weathers. Six years ago , I was
laid up sick. I doctored with a num
ber of physicians , and finally consult
ed a specialist , but without success.
They all told me I had Bright's Dis
ease. I was in a bad way and al
most helpless when , thank God , I
heard of Dodd's Kidney Pills. They
saved my life. I took sixteen box 3
and now I am cured. The first day I
took them I felt relief. When I began
I weighed only one hundred and five
pounds , now I weigh one hundred and
sixty-five and I am the picture of
health. I recommend Dodd's Kidney ,
Pills to all my friends who have Kid
ney Trouble and I pray to God that
other sufferers will read these word *
and be helped by them. "
Those Girls. . r
"I hate him ! "
"Gracious , Jeanette. "
"And when he calls on me I neve *
fail to let him know it"
"Really ? "
"Yes , and I tell him a dozen time *
I could never love him. "
"Goodness ! When is the wedding
going to be , dear ? "
Have used Piso's Cure for Consump
tion nearly txo years , and find nothing
'Co comparewith it. Mrs. Morgan , Berke
ley , Gal. , Sept. 2 , 1901.
What's in a
Gaussip That's Skinner's wife.
They say she didn't have a very good
name when he married her.
Wisewell , he seems to think it'i
very good now.
Gaussip Yes ?
Wise Yes , he's put all his property.
in it Philadelphia Press.
YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO
SUFFER
From Constipation , Bowel and Stom
ach Trouble.
Q. What is the beginning of sick
ness ?
A. Constipation.
Q. What is Constipation ?
A. Failure of the bowels to carry off
the tvaste matter which lies in the ali
mentary canal where it decays and poi
sons the entire .system. Eventually
the results are death under the name of
some other disease. Note the deaths
from typhoid fever and appendicitis ,
stomach and bowel trouble at the pres
ent tune.
Q. What causes Constipation ?
A. Neglect to respond to the call of
nature promptly. Lack of exercise. Ex
cessive brain work. Mental emotion
and improper diet
Q. What are the results of neglected
Constipation ?
A. Constipation causes more suffer
ing than any other disease. It causes
rheumatism , colds , fevers , stomach , bow
el , kidney , lung and heart troubles , ere.
It is the one disease that starts all oth
ers. Indigestion , dyspepsia , diarrhoea ,
loss of sleep and strength are its symp
toms piles , appendicitis and fistula , are
caused by Constipation. Its conse
quences are known to all physicians ,
but fevr sufferers realize their condition
nntil it is too late. Women become
confirmed invalids as a result of Consti
pation.
Q. Do physicians recognize this ?
A. Yes. The first question yoar doc
tor asks you is "Are you constipated ? "
That is the secret
Q. Can it be cured ?
A. Yes , with proper treatment. The
common error is to resort to physics ,
such as pills , salts , mineral water , cas
tor oil , injections , etc. , every one of
Tvhich is injurious. They weaken and
increase the malady. You know this
by your own experience.
Q. What , then , should be done to cure
it ?
A. Get a bottle of Mull's > Grape
Tonic at once. Mull's Grape Tonic will
positively cure Constipation and Stom
ach Trouble in the shortest space ol
time. No other remedy has before been
known to cure Constipation positively
and pcrmauentlv.
Q. What is Mull's Grape Tonic ?
A. It is a Compound with 40 per
cent of the juice of Concord Grapes. It
exerts a peculiar strengthening , healing
influence upon the intestines , so that
they can do theirwork unaided. The
process is gradual , but sure. It is not
a physic , but it cares Constipation ,
Dysentery , Stomach and Bowel Trouble.
Having a rich , fruity grape flavor , it is
pleasant to take. As
a tonic it is un
equalled , insuring the system against
disease. It strengthens and builds no
waste tissue.
Q. Where can Mull's Grape Tonic be
had ?
A. Your druggist sells it Tlfe dollar
bottle contains nearly three times the 50-
cent size.
Good for ailing children and fiursine
mothers. *
A free bottle to all who ha-vti never
used it because we know it will cure
.vou.
l. > 8 FREE BOTTLE E23-5
FREE. S n-l this
coupon with
. yoar n ma n3
jour drosrf.fs name nd lOc to p.y
§ end roa
Pirchue of DOr. T.rilc
MULL'S GKAPB Tosic Co. , 21 TMrd Ave.
Rock Island , m
Give Full Address and Write Plainly
° * ' 0cn"1'1 tl' ° ° * O" tiilldrt , r U. Th ,
tlmo1 " * * th.33
,
Is a jreat * nlns In bujlnr th $1.
The genuine has a date and number
stamped un the
label-take no other
fromyour druggist. \ ,
