4
THE BEE: OMAHA, MONDAY, OCTOBER 15, 1917.
The Omaha Bee
DAILY (MORNING) EVENING SUNDAY
FOUNDED BY EDWARD ROSEWATER
VICTOR ROSEWATER, EDITOR
THE BEE PUBLISHING COMPANY, PROPRIETOR.
Intend at Omaha potoffic as eeeond-elasa matter.
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CORRESPONDENCE
f Addreat eoatanmleiMon relating to news and editorial (nttter
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SEPTEMBER CIRCULATION
59,022 Daily Sunday, 52,158
A reran elrenletlm far the month rubecrlbed and iwom to bt D wight
William. Clrcolatloa Mauaier.
Subscribers leaving tha city ahould have The Baa mailed
to than. Address changed aa often aa requested.
The mobilization of the Missouri mule ought
I to put on the finishing: touch.
Liberty bonds bridge the stream of patriotism
for the stay-at-homes. Come' across.
So far as the real world's series is concerned,
. the Hohenzollern team is not in the running.
Incidentally, a Liberty bond would make a fine
. Christmas present. Do your shopping now.
With 3-cent letter postage coming back, the
1-cent postage program must go into the discard.
Just the same, it's a shame to blow $20,000 of
public money in a junket to Vicksburg at a time
like this. '
; Cardinal Gibbons' talent as a booster of
lAmericanism glows with undiminished vigor,
despite his years.
It is not a question whether Germany will con
sent to giving up "a foot of imperial soil." The
imain source of worry is to prevent taking with
lout asking.
Swelling ranks of Liberty loan subscribers
'effectively clamp the lid on the familiar jeers
hurled at "bloated bondholders." Dig up and get
in the ranks. Don't be a lonesome!
$ The Aero club of New York rolls $10,000 into
' the comfort pot of American aviators abroad.
Messages from home carrying the golden
make flight and fight inseparable pals.
pep
1 Culinary experts say the qualities of meat are
reflected in many ways in traits of consumer. If
to, the jackrabbit feeds for the Sammies fore
. shadow record 'speed on tne run to Berlin.
$ Medical and scientific faddists' seek opportun
i ities to try out their theories on cantonment sol-'-.
diers. A society for the-protection of soldiers
against faddists appears a growing necessity. ,
- jOn sober second thought, the South Dakota
. paciftV.abandoned the public meeting scheduled
at Sioux Palls. Governor Norbeck's proclamation
impressed upon the promoters the value of safety
hrst
j Herr Eallin, the master mariner of Germany,
grows more pessimistic as the enemy takes over
his interned ships, The ravages of war carry no
keener thrust into commercial vitals of the saber
rattlers. - 5-.-,
! Iowa votes this week on making its statutory
prohibition a part of the constitution. As no
Very active campaign has been waged, the chances
are it will be a light vote, but at that, it ought to
register the present attitude of the people on
'wet" and "dry." '. ,
A few years ago easy-going Americans stood
in awe of a billion dollars. The spendthrift, rec
ord constituted a campaign slogan.' Now three
billions in the pot is the minimum goal of a
patriotic national hustle. Familiarity robs a bil
lion of its fearsome size.
) The federal swatter has not yet reached the
hide and leather trust, but the blows felt in other
directions Induced restraint and shortening of
each. Commercial reports reflect wholesome
ear in that quarter and a discreet tendency to let
Krn'and heart nff a well.rarnpii tannine
The steps by' which the kaiser forced 'the
Inked States into, the war are plain enough.
Ifhe chief offense was committed at the outset
jvhen his chancellor declared a solemn treaty to
be nothing but a scrap of paper" if it stood m
the way of his world-conquest plans. Kaiserism
in this country was as inexcusable during the
early years of the war as it is today.
American Unity
-New York World-
Nebraska's Wonderful Corn Crop.
Nebraska has a corn trop for this year of at
least 225,000,000 bushels. Our minds have come
to be fixed on the billion point so much of late
that they do not work well in millions, but for
ordinary purposes the figures for our corn ought
to be really impressive. In the first place, the
cornfields of Nebraska this year have provided
two bushels for every man, woman and child
in the United States and some over. Allowing
two pounds a day for the ration, which is far
from stinting any, it would feed the entire popu
lation of the country for two months. To haul
this crop to market it will take 22S.00O can
loaded to a capacity of 56,000 pounds each.
Coupled into a single train and moving steadily
every minute of the time night and day at the
speed of ten miles per hour, it would require four
weeks for this train to cross the Union Pacific
bridge at Omaha. As only half of the crop will
be exported from the state, it will afford employ
ment for 112,500 big box cars during the next few
months. Finally, at prevailing prices, the crop is
worth $250,000,000 in the fields, or more than
$200 for each inhabitant of the state. And corn
is only one of Nebraska's great crops.
"Smartness" in the Army.
One of the best lessons a soldier learns, com
ing close to those of discipline and orderly ac
tion, is that of "smartness." Indeed this may be
set down as part of discipline and for that rea
son in all the great training camps the young
men, newly from civil life, are getting advice and
instruction on the point. It means that the sol
dier must be careful of his personal appearance,
avoiding slouchiness in dress or- demeanor as
he would the plague. The moral effect of this is
direct and easily recognized. The "smart" sol
dier is a good soldier, and reflects in his bearing
and attitude the lessons of his training. He is
alert, resourceful, and in all ways dependable and
efficient. The American army does not stress
this beyond reason, for it is traditional to retain
as much of the individual qualities of the men as
is compatible with need for concerted action.
This policy has been of immense value in devel
oping self-reliance and initiative, the chief char
acteristic of the American soldier. Proper relax
ation essential to personal comfort is always per
mitted, and the combination of this element with
that of disciplinary routine produces the best
fighting organization the world has ever known.
European experts have stood aghast at some
things permitted in our army, but they admire
excessively results achieved.
Receding Prices Presage Relief.
Some signs are noted in the market reports of
appreciable relief from sky-rocketting cost of
living. In spite of government efforts at control
of supply and fixation of prices, the cost level
has mounted steadily, till the first week of .Oc
tober showed an index number the highest ever
attained. Within the last week a , considerable
reaction has taken place. Quotations on cured
and cold storage meats, have generally been low
er, and these in turn have been attended by a
sharp break in live stock prices. Grains also
have shown a downward tendency, final figures
for the season's crops discouraging whatever of
speculative interest had survived. All manipu
lation is not yet eradicated, "nor has the general
market been entirely divested of features that
have turned public need to private greed. The
change noted in the priee of staples, however,
should find some reflection in the general' situa
tion, and with plans for distribution properly car
ried out, people may reasonably look for a check
to the rising cost of living.
i If the Frankfurter Zeitung were as closely cen
jored as some other newspapers in Germany it
iiever would have published the discoveries and
confessions of Rudolf Kommer. Hen Kommer
resided long in the United States, where he must
. have been saturated with the spirit of German
propaganda. Writing now with information be
tore him of American war preparations, he mar
pels at conditions so much at variance with all his
;ormer conclusions.
"The first half-year of war," he says,' "has
brought a tremendous and wonderful solidarity in
v ihe enormous crucible, and the uniform domestic
Front must be recognized as the greatest triumph
of Americanism." In plain English this means
:hat a shrewd observer knows and is able to say
in one of the most important of German news
' papers that the people of the United States are
with one accord bringing their vast resources into
the conflict against autocracy.
I No more eloauent tribute has ever been paid
o the substantial unity of the American people
pr to the well-recognized loyalty of the very im
oorunt element among them having Germanic
TiritriiL. All the hopes of Prussianism in this war.
so far as we are concerned, were based upon the
.belief that through preoccupation with money
fretting, political and racial jealousies and, above
fill. h defection of citizens of German blood, the
United States never could become an important
" trtnr in nnnoution to the ambitions of Kaiserism.
Every German dollar spent and every German
committed in this country had that inspira-
wim Hrr Knmmer sneaks of our tremen
iltlVlla V W -aa we, ar )
, Hons and wonderful solidarity he admits the fail
tore of German intrigue and forecasts the collapse
tof the militarism tnat supporw iu
Taking Over the Toll Bridge.
The purpose of the state to take over the toll
bridge at Ashland or to build a free bridge over
the Platte river there will meet with general ap
proval, assuming it is on a fair basis of cost. This
is with all due regard to the enterprise of the men
who constructed and maintained the structure
that now serves the traffic along the main high
way between Omaha and Lincoln. The public
highways are for the use of all the people, and we
have always maintained that they should be kept
at the expense of the people. Taxpayers of Saund
ers county have felt a natural disinclination to
provide so expensive a bit of roadway for the use
of outsiders, but since the state is going into the
highway construction business on a comprehen
sive scale, it can well begin by removing such bars
to free passage. Owned by the state, the upkeep
will be borne proportionally by all, and private
profit will not be served by needs of general traf
fic Agreement between the owners of the bridge
and the state authorities ought to be reached with
out much trouble, and a great step taken on the
way to a better road system for Nebraska.
Consolidating Food Control.
The food administrator's plan to license mid
dlemen dealing in staple food supplies, Just an
nounced, undoubtedly is intended to secure closer
control' of the distribution of, supplies. Nothing
is said about prices, although room is left for the
inference that in some way the cost of living will
be lessened. The tendency of the markets today
is downward on grains, live stock and packed
meats, and this may soon have its reflex on the
prices charged the consumer. i '
One of the greatest obstacles to be overcome is
the variations in ways of doing business in differ
ent communities. Retail traffic in foods is neither
stabilized nor standardized. , On one day recently
prices were obtained from a number of widely
separated centers of population, which showed a
surprising range, to a great extent unaccountable
on the basis of natural conditions. For example,
sirloin steaks sold in Denver at from y to 25
cents per pound, in New Orleans at from 55 to 60
and in Los Angeles from 25 to 28. On that same
day pork chops were retailed in Washington at 45
cents per pound and in Aurora, 111., at 34. Other
articles showed similar variations, which justifies
the conclusion that natural conditions are not
wholly responsible for the cost of living every
where.
The food administrator may effect considerable
improvement through control of distribution un
der license, but the task of standardizing prices is
too great to be finished in a short time, and there
fore it is not probable it will be undertaken, furth
er than what may be achieved through establish'
ing the stability afforded by oversight of supply.
Responding to the spirit of the times the pa
triotic American hen collectively put 20,000,000
dozen more eggs into cold storage warehouses
than were sequestered a year ago. Still, record
prices prevail "High living in the henneries," ex
plain the speculators in public Whereat they
cackle privately.
Teaching the Cities to Play
By Frederic J. Ha&kin
Pardons for a few of the White House pickets
thrilled the free militant suffs, says the report,
and hats were flung into the air "in an ecstacy of
Reckless extravagance? Hardly. Lids of
joy.
Washington, Oct 4. American cities are be
ginning to solve the problem of play. It is only
in the last few years that the United States has
become a country predominantly urban instead
of rural in its population, and this urban popu
lation has had a hard time getting the outdoor
air and exercise it needs. The solution of the
problem seems to lie in the municipal playground
and athletic field, which has come to be a fea
ture of the parks of almost every progressive city
in the last few years. The federal census bureau
has just completed an investigation of the parks
and playgrounds of every city in the United
States, which contains some interesting facts.
For the purpose of this work the census
bureau take3 account ot all cities or M,VW inhab
itants or more. There are 213 such cities in the
United States a measure of the rapidity with
which the balance of population is moving from
the country to the city. Neither the country boy
nor the country-dwelling man needs any outdoor
recreation facilities; he has only to step across
his threshold to be in an out-of-doors that af
fords the sports for which games are only a sub
stitute. Much attention has been given to the
problem of furnishing country dwellers with in
tellectual and artistic recreation in an attempt to
keep them from moving to the city in too great
numbers: but there has so far been little atten
tion paid to providing them with outdoor sports
within average means after they arrive in the city.
But the movement is under way and it is growing
steadily.
City parks are increasing in numbers and size,
and the idea of the city park is changing com
pletely. Not so long ago it comprised a green,
shaded by stately trees and traversed by winding
walks and drives which lived under, the rule of
"Keep off the grass." Nowadays the tendency
is to urge the public to stay on the crass as much
as possible and to play everything from foot ball
to croquet thereon.
The census bureau classifies the facilities for
outdoor games maintained by American cities into
playgrounds and athletic fields, acording as they
are intended for children to use or for adults.
The 213 cities included in the investigation main
tain from their municipal funds 2,200 playgrounds.
In the case of the children something more than
a mere outdoor space marked off for games is re
quired. The children need a leader, when what
may be called the "tradition of play" is broken
as it is among many city children.
In the small town and the country the small
boys pick up their knowledge of the national
games from the boys a little older and an un
broken tradition of the seasons and rules for all
games from marbles to base ball is passed un
broken from generation to generation. In the
big city this is not the case. As the president of
the Playground and Recreation Association of
America puts it, "Children inherit an instinct of
play, but they do not inherit a knowledge of base
ball."
Out of this need for leadership in children's
games has grown a new field of opportunity and a
new profession that of recreation supervisor and
leader of games. American cities today employ
3,800 men and women of this new profession and
the demand is greater than the supply.' The task
of the play leader is to put himself at the head
of the group of children to teach them the rules
of the games and the underlying spirit of fair play
and sportsmanship that is the foundation of the
best American athletics. here is no teacher who
has a greater opportunity to form children's char
acter than this leader of play.
Some interesting light is thrown on the popu
larity of various games by the figures collected
by the census bureau. Tennis would seem to
be the game that is coming forward most rapidly.
There are 3,368 public tennis court maintained by
the cities of America. Ihe tacts that the game
can be quickly learned, that it furnishes an ex
cellent outdoor exercise not too violent, that it
can be played by people of any age and of either
sex, seem to guarantee that tennis will always
stand' near the top among municipal games. Its
popularity is unaouoteaiy growing rapiaiy.
Equipment is not expensive, which is a point of
first importance, for the municipal athletic field
is intended for people who do not belong to
country clubs. I
The question of the expense of equipment
accounts partly for the relatively small place oc
cupied by golf in municipal athletic fields. An
other point which tends to keep golf down in the
large space required in proportion to the number
of people who can enjoy the sport at a given time.
Especially in the east, where park room is at a
premium, the municipal golf course occupies a dis
proportionately large part of the park space.
There are only sixty-six municipal golf courses
among the American cities. Polo, the rich man's
game par excellence, is represented by only nine
grounds in the 213 cities.
... , . , i . f a ;
case Dan, iraaiuonai icaaer or mcrican
sports, is represented by 1,334 municipal dia
monds. Considering that eighteen men can play
on a single diamond, while a tennis court takes
care of four at most, the facilities for base ball
may be said to be greater than for any other
. V . 1 1 a! .1
sport, n is a question, oowever, wucmcr uic
tennis courts are not in more continuous use.. The
213 cities also maintain 331 foot ball gridirons.
Besides these major sports, there are a host
of others whose devotees are provided for in the
municipal parks of the nation. Outdoor basket
ball fields are numerous and the two popular
Young Men's Christian association; games, hand
ball and volley ball, are beginning to be recog
nized on municipal athletic fields, A few aristo
cratic cities provide cricket fields for those who
would emulate our English allies and cousins.
Northern cities provide toboggan slides, skating
rinks and hockey rinks. Here and there some
city turns up with an advantage peculiar to itself.
Cleveland boasts the only municipal la crosse
field and Des Moines the only municipal rifle
range. .
. Another municipal recreation facility which is
probably the most popular of all, judging by the
number of people who patronize it, is the swim
ming pool or bathing beach. There are 237 such
maintained by the cities, and the attendance last
vear was' over 26,000,000. In the hot waves of
the east and middle west they are godsends and
life savers. f
The whole playground movement, which
brought with it the athletic field for adults, is of
very recent growth. The last decade has prac
tically seen its development. Boston is generally
credited with being the pioneer in this field,
since the first organized outdoor playground was
established in that city in 1886. Bostonians are,
fond of tracing their tradition in this matter back
to colonial days, when a party of Boston boys
playing on the common were chased off by a group
of British soldiers. The boys with true Pilgrim
spirit carried their case to Governor Gage, who
gave orders that the children of the town should
be protected in their play.
All in all, the results of the census bureau's
investigation are illuminating. They show great
progress in the municipal recreation movement
They show, too, that there is room for much
greater progress in- the future. The aggregate of
tennis courts and base ball diamonds and other
facilities is not unimposing, but, compared with
population of the 213 cities of the richest nation
m the world, it is clearly only a beginning. The
entire value of the municipal park property of
these American cities all the parlc property, not
the athletic fields and playgrounds alone is
$1,212,000,000. This is only about 6 per cent of
what the United States will appropriate for war
nnroosei in one vear. Considering the wealth of
the communities interested it is a safe prophecy
that this figure will be increased many times as
the movement for municipal play takes wider root
Henrv Ford's only son failed to make good
his draft exemption claim and must go into serv
ice like the rest of the boys. The appeal board
at Detroit denied his claim and certified him as
idiutant central of the Michigan National Guard
already in active service. Young Ford was ad
jutant generat of the state guard before it was
miiatrri in
Right in the Spotlight.
Duncan U. Fletcher, who is to tare
aide over the sessions of the Southern
Commercial congress, which Is to meet
in New York City today, is the senior
United States senator from Florida.
Senator Fletcher has long; been prom
inent in various movements aiming at
the commercial development of the
south. In addition to his activities in
connection with the Southern Com
mercial congress he is president of the
Atlantic Deeper Waterways associa
tion. He is a native of Georgia, but
has resided at Jacksonville, Fla., since
his graduation from Vanderbilt uni
versity in 1881. In his early public
career he served in the Florida legis
lature and aa mayor of Jacksonville.
In 1908 he was sent to the United
States senate and is now serving his
second term.
One Year Ago Today in the War.
Germans prepared to attack Russian
lines southeast of Lemberg.
Allied forces occupied Athens, seized
entire Greek navy and took over rail
roads, forts and other military works.
In Omaha Thirty Years Ago.
Henry Yates took out a building
permit for his new residence, to be
erected on Davenport street between
Thirtieth and Thirty-first.
The Omaha City mission is maturing
arrangements to secure a home for
the homeless newsboys and bootblacks.
An amusement hall will be provided
in the home and still later a night
school started.
Heyman & Delches will open their
cloak and ladles' furnishing emporium
at 1518 and 1520 Farnam street in the
new Paxton block next Wednesday.
The old veterans of the Omaha Are
department have called a meeting at
the office of Chief Galligan for the
purpose of organizing an old veterans'
association.
A mass meetin, of the republicans
of this city is to be held at exposition
hall Tuesday evening. Addresses will
be made by General Manderson and
Charles J. Greene. '
Rev. J. k. Reld has moved into his
new residence just north of Dr. Mer
cer's. Mr. and Mrs. George White Knight
have returned from their wedding
journey and are now at home at 224
North Nineteenth street
Mr. and Mrs. Fred Metz have re
turned from their wedding journey.
The county commissioners opened
bids for grading the Cannon hill road
yesterday afternoon.
The attractions at Boyd's this week
are "Romeo and Juliet" "Maggie, the
Midget" and "Turned Up."
This Day In History.
1812 Theodore Cehon waa conse
crated Protestant Episcopal bishop
of South Carolina. 1
1832 John Clarke, a llteutenant in
the continental army at the age ot 16,
and afterward governor of Georgia,
died. Born in North Carolina in 1766.
1840 Attempted assassination of
of Louis Philippe of France by Dar
mes. 1862 Governor Vance of North
Carolina appealed for shoes and cloth
ing for confederate troops. r
1889 First state legislature , oi
South Dakota convened at Pierre.
1897 Edward Langtry, husband of
Lily Langtry, the actress, died in Eng
land. '
190S Swedish Parliament passed a
bill repealing the act of union with
Norway.
1914 The allies advanced between
Lens and Arras.
1915 Great Britain officially de
clared war on Bulgaria.
The Day We Celebrate.
John O. Yelaer Is celebrating his
fifty-seventh birthday. He was admit
ted to the bar at age of 17 and
came here from sbuthern Nebraska.
William H. Lawery was born in
Iowa City, October 16, 1885. A grad
uate of Iowa university, he has since
1909 practiced law in Omaha.
Victor D. Reynolds, local sales man
ager of the Dalton Adding Machine
company, is 52 today.
Vice Admiral William S. Sims, U. S.
N., who is in charge of American
naval forces in European waters, born
in Canada, fifty-nine years ago today.
Brigadier General P. E. Traub, U.
& A., In command of the Fifty-flrst
Infantry brigade, born in New York
fifty-three years ago today.
General Robert NIvelle, field com
mander of tha French armies, born at
Tulle, France, fifty-nine years ago to-.
day.
Helen Ware, popular actress and
motion picture star, born in San Fran
cisco forty years ago today.
Dr. William W. Guth, president of
Goucher college, born at Nashville,
Tenn., forty-six years ago today.
John L. Sullivan, former champion
pugilist of the world, born in Boston
fifty-nine years ago today.
Timely Jottings and Reminders.
Iowa votes today on the question of
constitutional prohibition.
The supreme council of the Ancient
and Accepted Scottish Rite for the
southern jurisdiction begins its bien
nial session today In Washington,
D. C.
The trial of former Chief of Police
Healey, under Indictment on charges
of protecting criminals, is scheduled
to begin today in Chicago.
Many men and women active m the
work of humane education and en
deavor throughout the country are ex-,
pected at Providence, R. I., today for
the annual convention of the Amer
ican Humane association.
More than 1,000,000 pelts, embrac
ing fifty-five varieties and coming
from practically every fur-producing
country In the world, will be offered
for sale at the annual fur auction to
be opened today in New York City.
Serious housing shortages, especial
ly in industrial centers of the country,
eo emphasized by the war as to cause
the government to consider stepping
into the breach, will lend added inter
est to the proceedings of the sixth Na
tional Conference on Housing in
America, which is to open today In
Chicago. -
Storyette of the Day.
Scotch cannlness and thrift were
illustrated recently by an ' incident
which occurred "somewhere in
France." Sandy had been out on a
foraging expedition and had returned
with a good fat hen under his arm.
He was about to decapitate it for
roasting when another Scotchman in
terfered. "Will ye no bide a wee. Sandy? ne
suggested cautiously. "Leave that bit
bird till the morning. She micht lay an
egg," Boston .Transcript
HERE AND THERE.
At the preaant rate of conanmptloii. Great
Britain' mine axe eatimated to hold enough
eoal to last about 175 years.
That there ia more food alue in one acre
of beeta than to four of wheat t the con
tention of German MTieulturml aeientista.
. i Each time the top of new rrbajr can
is dropped it ahakea dUtnfecting and do
odoriiing preparation on the content.
0 xaisiv
Howell's Profit on Coal.
Lincoln, Oct 11. To the Editor of
The Bee: There is nothing like keep
ing the records straight, hence this
communication:
Several newspapers have; erron
eously printed the statement that the
board of control awarded to E. E.
Howell & Son, Omaha, a contract for
supplying coal to nine state institu
tions, from date to June 1, 1918, on
the basis of 5 per cent of the cost of
the coal. The facts are that the board
let the contract to Howell & Son for
a fixed price of 5 cents per ton com
mission, and not 6 per cent of the
price paid for the coal. This makes a
material difference. In other 'words,
the board has contracted to give
Howell & Son 5 cents for each ton of
coal purchased by them for state use,
the state taking care of the cost at the
mines, freight etc. The bid of the
Omaha firm was one-half the price
bid at Lincoln. E. O. MAYFIELD.
Member Board of Commissioners of
State Institutions.
Some Miracles of Healing.
Omaha, Oct. 9. To the Editor of
The Bee: Apropos the "Power of
Healing" recently discussed in your
columns:
Mark Twain relates of a farme's
wife near his boyhood home who h.-id
great fame as faith-doctor; that suf
ferers came to her from all around,
and they went away well of their ail
ments. "Faith" was all that was
necessary, she said. He also relates of
a peasant in Austria who had a great
trade in that sort of industry, who had
patients high and low in society. That
in Bavaria was a man who performed
so many great cures that he had to re
tire from his profession as carpenter
and became rich by his miracles. He
pretended to have no religious helps,
no supernatural aids, but thought
there is something in his make-up
which inspired the confidence of his
patients, and that it was that confi
dence which did the work and not
some mysterious power Issuing from
himself.
Mark Twain also tells of a "miracu
lous" cure of a paralytic whom all the
best .medical science of New York
failed to help. A traveling quack (so
they called him) came on two succes
sive mornings and lifted the patient
out of bed and said, "walk!" and he
walked thereafter for forty-one years.
I have an old friend, a pioneer of
Nebraska, who tells me of the cure of
a man crippled with rheumatism. They
proceeded in a biblical manner by
pouring oil on him and praying so
fervently that as his limbs were
straightened out, crackling in the
bones could be heard.
, In the city of Karlstad, Sweden,
some twenty-eight years ago, I saw
what purported to be evidences of
healing of all sorts of cripples, as re
sults of the activities of a preacher and
healer named Boltsius. In a corner of
the large hall in which tfie held his
meetings were shelves about eight feet
long, and on those shelves, laid all sorts
of bandages and against them leaned
crutches by the score, all left by
former cripples who had been healed
and had gone away rejoicing. This
man Boltsius had attained national
fame, even having been called on for
help by members of the royal house
hold of King Oscar II for absent treat
ment -
In Chapter 6, II Kings, we find the
story of how the Syrian captain,
Naaman, was healed of his leprosy by
dipping himself in the river Jordan on
advice of the prophet Elisha; and in
Psalm 103 we find David says: "Bless
the Lord, O my soul who healeth, all
thy diseases." From this we discover
that the curing of cripples and healing
of diseases by other means than medi
cine has been in practice for thou
sands of years. It did not originate
with Jesus and was no discovery of
Mrs. Eddy. Even Mark Twain admits
"they all achieve some cures, there is
no question about it"
In view of all this, and more tfould
be added, he that belie veth might re
move a mountain without subscribing
to the Christian Science faith or believ
ing in the non-existence of souls, mat
ter, evil, pain, diseases, etc.
DAVID OLSON.
Many Dogs Are Useful.
Omaha, Oct 1L To the Editor of
The Bee: Replying to the letter of A.
T. Heist of Shenandoah, la., I will say
that, of course, I will admit that there
are measly curs among dogs and there
are also measly curs among men. But
because there are some kinds of worth
less dogs is no reason for condemning
all of them as being worthless.
Mr. Heist may hold hto hands up In
holy horror at my saying it but I
have had dogs that I would rather as
sociate with than with some men I
have seen, for at least one of them
exhibited more than human intelli
gence many times. I had one dog for
more than ten years and he was more
valuable than some men, for in his
time he caught at least 600 rats as well
as skunks, moles, cats and other var
mints. Then, besides being an ex
tremely handsome dog, he was Intel
ligent smart and affectionate. He al
ways knew when I was coming home
and would come two blocks many
times to meet me and would always
hold up his right paw to shake hands
with me. Scores of men. womenjind
children would stop on the streetund
shake hands with him, for he would
hold up his paw to shake their hands
and they did not consider they were
lowering themselves to shake hands
with a dog that Was so smart. He was
smarter than men I have seen In my
time. I saw men vote here last fall
when I was inspector of elections, that
did not have any more conception of
what they were voting on or for, than
that dog had, if a ballot had been
placed in his paws. My old dog on
two different occasions barked furious
ly when he say houses on fire, even be
fore the fires were discovered by the
owners of the houses. There are num
erous Instances of dogs saving the lives
of people and of their value in many
other ways. Any man who says they
should be exterminated, is simply
showing his Ignorance of what they
are worth.
It Is probable that tens of thou
sands of men who have been sorely
wounded on the fields of battle in
Europe, owe their lives to theid of
the numberless dogs all the armies
have with them. Thousands of dogs
have been trained to rescue and to dis
cover the sorely wounded men. They
must be considered of much value or
they would not be allowed with the
armies. Many of our American troops
may be saved by dogs.
The talk about dogs carrying disease
has been Indulged in so much that it
has grown whiskers. I do not believe
in such rot at all. Any one who will
practically approve of poisoning dogs,
simply a proves of what Is a criminal
offense, for that is just what it is.
Those who poison dogs, do not pick
out curs to kill. They always pick out
valuable dogs that do not harm any
body. Those who have measly curs
never lose them. They are not worth
the effort of the poisoners to kill.
Property owners seldom poison dogs.
There is nothing in existence so val
uable as a good dog. Then a dog is
always steadfast and true to his mas
ter. He Is a friend who never falls
nil other friends desert We
could all learn the lessons of kindness
and steadfastness from the dog. Mucn
as some people claim to despise them,
they would be the better to follow the
instincts of a faithful and true old dog.
The world is not advancing very
rapidly, when the most ruthless and
inhuman war of the -history of the
world has involved all nations of the
earth. I favor exterminating the
kaiser but not all dogs by a good deaL
Dog poisoners as a general things are
those who own no property and have
no interest in the community where
they live. FRANK A. AG NEW.
Democratize Ak-Sar-Ben.
Omaha, Oct 12. To the Editor ot
The Bee: I wish to suggest an idea
which I have had in mind for several
years to the Board of Governors of
Ak-Sar-Ben. Why should we, the fore
most advocates of democracy in all
the world, continue to perpetuate, even
in mimic form, the old, decrepit and
tyrranical form of government known
as a monarchy? Why not at this op
portune time, have a peaceful revolu
tion in Quivera and elect a president
by vote of the Ak-Sar-Ben member
ship? This could be done at the close
of the present king's reign, and in all
probability without bloodshed. Let
the present kingdom of Quivera be
divided into states and let us have an
annual inaugural ball, at which the
president would take the oath of of- '
flee, administered by the chief justice
of the supreme court. The same
Board of Governors could easily be
changed Into a cabinet for the man
agement of the affairs of Ak-Sar-Ben.
The inaugural ball could easily be
made even more brilliant and enjoy
able than our so-called coronation
balls. Diplomats from all the leading
nations and countries of the earth
could be selected, army and navy offi
cers of high rank could be invited or
appointed for the occasion; all the
various branches of our own govern
ment could be represented, the su
preme court, the senate, the house of
representatives, the Red Cross, etc.
The scheme Is susceptible of wonder
ful possibilities, and I believe it would
arouse a great deal more enthusiasm
and more hearty co-operation than
the present scheme of goin" through
with a mock ceremony of a system,
that the American people look upon
with disapproval.
The thing that prompted me to
make this long-contemplated sugges
tion was the spectacle of a group of
men on one of the beautiful floats In
the parade of this year, imitating the
revolutionary fathers in pulling down
the statue of King George, and at the
end of the parade came another beau
tiful float upon which we had King
Ak-Sar-Ben triumphantly and gorge
ously exalted. I was impressed with
the inconsistency of the ground plan
of Ak-Sar-Ben more than ever and for
this reason I submit the foregoing.
The people of Omaha and Nebraska
should wake up and show more en
thusiastic appreciation of the magnifi
cent electrical pageants provided by
the Ak-Sar-Ben each year. Generous
and well-timed applause from the
great concourse of people watching
these wonderfully beautiful parades
Would lend zest and spirit to the occa- '
sion and would certainly be Inspiring
to the men who assist so loyally in
the preparation and presentation of
these splendid spectacles every year.
I doubt whether one can witness in
any other city In the country so mag
nificent a pageant as we saw here in
Omaha last week with so little ap
plause. It will do everybody good to
loosen up and express enthusiastic ap
preciation of the Ak-Sar-Ben paradeC
J. M. GILLAN,
OCTOBER SMILES.
- "De you conalder It a rood ldaa for a
bank to aend every depositor a, atatemenr
once a month?"
"Well, aome might ba glad to aee It.
Others might not Ilka to be reminded ae
constantly ot how little money they hare,"
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Jones A man'a luck la never ao bad that -It
couldn't be wo-se.
Brown For example t
Jonas He might be married to a White
House picket Judge.
Wyse My dear, there's no use for you to
look at those hats, for I have only S3 in
my pocket.
Mrs. Wyse Ton might have known when
we came out that I would want to buy a
few things.'
Wya I did. Boston Transcript.
' SSc Per Gallon
A Heavy, VUcout, Filtered Motor '
ae
The L V. Ificholas Oil Company
GRAIN EXCHANGE BLDG. PrnlaW
Hotel Dyckman
t Minneapolis '
FIREPROOF
Opened 1910
Location Moat Central.
300 Rooms with 300 Private Baths.
Ratei $1.75 to $3.50 Per Day.
H. J. TREMAIN,
' Pres. and Manager.
Stop Itching Eczema
Never mind how often you have tried
and failed, you can stop burning, itching
eczema quickly by applying a little zemo
furnished by any druggist for 35c Extra
large bottle, $1.00. Healing begins the
moment zemo is applied. In a short time
usually every trace of eczema, tetter,
pimples, rash, blackheads and similar
skin diseases will be removed.
For clearing the skin and making it
vigorously healthy, always use zemo, the
penetrating, antiseptic liquid. It is not a
greasy salve end it does not stain. When
others fail it is the one dependable treat
ment for skin troubles of ell kinds.
The E.W. Rose Co., Cleveland, O. '
THE OMAHA BEE INFORMATION BUREAU
Washington, D. C.
Enclosed find a 2-cent stamp, for which you will please send me,
entirely free, a copy of "Storing Vegetables."
Name.
:errirors
Street Address. . . . v.
City ......a...... ...State. . i -, .wv
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