Conservative * fc *
social position , I should like to know ?
Damn social position ! " And so on.
Then , six years after Trilby , appeared
in the dailies the following , a special
telegram from Paris , as befitted the im
portance of the incident : ' 'A week ago ,
in the forest of Fountaineblean , a youth
ful art student from Boston married a
famous model , known as the 'Samo-
thracian Venus. ' The country people
appealed to the authorities to stop the
disgraceful orgies carried on by the
artist-colony , and guards were sent to
break up the revels. Three days after
the wedding the boy was soundly
thrashed by his Venus. He is still in
bed , and she , now sober , is devotedly
nursing him. "
Then , in the Bee of the 9th of this
month , was noticed a third reminder of
the same peculiar sort , a reminiscence
of "Mon Frere Yves. " It is ill jesting
with the infinite seriousness of Pierre
Loti ; nor is it a harmonious light that
this item of daily news ( also a reputed
special telegram ) throws into the somber
coloring of this thoughtful , almost
mournful , but profoundly attractive
book. The book was written apparently
between 1877 and 1882 ; "My Brother
Yves" is a common sailor , whom Loti
( who is Lieutenant Viaud of the French
navy ) likes ; the story is a narrative of
occurrences by land and by sea , in
which this sailor , Yves Kermadeo ,
largely figures , and much of his private
life and troubles is told. A good
sailor , but refractory and dangerous
when in liquor ; once incurring the
death-penalty , often escaping severe
punishment only through his patron's
intercession ; marrying , still drinking ,
beating his wife and child , deserting
from the navy ; then , his friend stepping
in once more in time , dissolving his
Breton stubbornness in difficult tears ,
and taking "the first solemn oath of his
life on the dear little wounded head" of
his baby son , that he would drink water
thereafter , and returning on board to
face his punishment ; it has the air all
through of a tale from life. Another
picture recurs to memory , of the two
men , returned from another long voy
age , standing together by the grave of
Yves' baby girl whom he had never
seen ; thoughtful , serious , they ponder
the mystery of that little creature , a
part of him , with his eyes , his looks , a
piece of his soul , already gone back , as
an installment of himself , to the eternal
dust
"Yves Kermas , " says the Bee ,
"Breton sailor , the original of Pierre
Loti's Yves , who was already the father
of twelve children , committed suicide at
the moment the thirteenth was born.
Kermas , who was exceedingly poor , had
a hard time rearing his family. * *
He left a letter reproaching his wife. "
"One ought , " says Loti in concluding
his book , "to be able to arrange life-
stories as he can those of his books. "
A. T. E.
SHIP SUBSIDIES UNPRINCIPLED AND
UNNEEDED.
Without questioning the motives of
those who favor the measure , and re
gretting to differ with them in judg
ment , the Journal feels bound to say
that it is opposed to the passage of any
ship-subsidy bill at present. It does not
believe that such a measure is important
or pressing , that its passage at this time
is generally desired by the people , or
that it could be successfully defended
either on grounds of principle or policy.
The payment of money subsidies to
encourage any particular industry
would be a departure from American
usage , if not from correct principles of
government. It is the function and
duty of government to promote the
general welfare by general legislation ,
but the voting of money to encourage a
particular industry cannot rightly be
called general legislation. Ship build
ing is but one industry out of a great
number that go to make general pros
perity , and has no other or better claim
to a money subsidy than any other. If
it be said that other industries are pro
tected by tariff legislation , it can be
replied that the ship-builder gets the
benefit of this legislation in many
directions , and should not ask a money
subsidy in addition. There never was a
time in the history of the country when
money was more plenty , the rate of
interest lower , or when more capital
was seeking profitable investment. If
ship-building offers a field for such in
vestment , capital will enter it without
a subsidy , and every inducement should
be offered for it to do so short of a
donation of money.
It is true that since the civil war
American shipping has greatly declined ;
but there were much more potent causes
for this than the lack of money sup
port by the government. Neither will
any person question the importance of
a restoration of our mercantile marine
to an extent that will enable us to con
trol our ocean carrying trade , and make
it a training school for sailors. These
objects are very desirable of obtainment ,
but it is believed they should and can be
obtained without resort to the unusual
stimulant of a money subsidy. Even
under present conditions , ship-building
is increasing very satisfactorily. From
present indications , and including the
large contracts for naval vessels to be
given out by the government , it is evi
dent that the next year , probably the
next few years , will be the most pros
perous period in American iron and
steel ship-building on record. An in
dustry that shows such signs of healthy
growth is not in pressing need of money
subsidy.
Finally , this is not a time for congress
to embark in expensive new enterprises
of doubtful wisdom or expediency. We
have recently ended a foreign war , and
still have an insurrection on our hands.
The Nicaragua Oanal must be built.
The ordinary expenses of the govern
ment are steadily increasing. The ship
subsidy can wait , and ought to. In , lv > ;
dianapolis Journal ( rep. ) . rr
it >
CHANGES IN THE CABINETS.
It is said that at the first meeing of
the cabinet held after the November
election President MoKinley invited
every member to remain with him dur
ing the next four years. Rumor had
anticipated the retirement , for personal
reasons of several secretaries ; but the
president's thoughtful act at least fore
stalls the formal resignations which
would otherwise be offered at the begin
ning of a new term , and gentlemen who
would gladly lay aside official respon
sibility may be persuaded to yield their
own wishes.
Up to the present time there have
been six changes in the cabinet , Secre
taries Gage , Long and Wilson being the
only ones remaining of those who took
office when the administration began.
In the cabinets of the six presidents who
have served two consecutive terms there
have been sixty changes , an average of
ten to an administration.
In Washington's cabinet there were
but four men , for the postmaster-general
was not counted a member until Jack
son's time. The first secretary of the
navy was appointed by John Adams ;
the office of the secretary of the interior
dates from Taylor's administration , and
that of secretary of agriculture from
Cleveland's first term. But Washing
ton's cabinet of four suffered seven
changes. Not one of his original ap
pointees continued in the office to which
he was first appointed to the end of
Washington's second term.
Jefferson's secretaries of state and of
war served the full eight years , but in
the other three departments there were
six changes. Madison had four secre
taries of the treasury and as many
secretaries of war , and there were
twelve changes in all. Monroe retained
three of his cabinet ministers during
both terms , and made only four changes.
But Jackson who , by the way , had
five different secretaries of the treasury
made thirteen changes , and President
Grant made no less than eighteen.
The Companion recently mentioned
the interesting fact that President Pierce
was the only president whose entire
original cabinet survived through one
administration. The wonder is that
changes are not more frequent than
they are. Yet it is well for us that able
and public-spirited men can always be
found , willing to sacrifice health , com
fort and their private interests in posi
tions that use no measurable reward
save honor. Youth's Companion.
