%®
Snail,
Democralic Watch
Bellefonte, Pa., March 26, 1915.
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COMING THRO’ THE RYE.
(Suffrage Version.)
If a lassie wants the ballot
To help to run the town,
And a lassie gets the ballot
Need a laddie frown?
Many a laddie has the ballot
Not so bright as I,
And many a laddie votes his ballot
Overcome with rye.
If a lassie works for wages,
Toiling all the day,
And her work the laddie’s equals,
Give her equal pay.
If a body pays the taxes,
Surely you'll agree
That a body earns the franchise,
Whether he or she.
WHY WE SHOULD NOT INCREASE
OUR ARMAMENTS.
There are various reasons why the
United States should not contract the
disease of large armaments. Itisa con-
tagious disease and one with which the
news of the present day infects certain
classes of our citizens.
These classes are composed of (1)
those who are connected with the army
or navy, who give their time and scien-
tific knowledge to the study of the past
and future of war; (2) those who direct-
ly, or at second-hand, expect to profit
commercially by a war or an armed
peace, and (3) those honest patriots who
really believe the various stories of ex-
pected attacks upon our national integri-
ty or prosperity induced by the hate or
avarice of other nations.
The first class is happily small, due to
our peaceful traditions. Its members
are, however, active and, in proportion
to their numbers, influential. They have
developed their subject into one of con-
siderable interest and scientific expan-
sion. They are intelligent and mostly
sincere and patriotic. The second class
need have little consideration. They are,
as many Americans, after business prof-
its, and if the preaching of the doctrines
of war pays they will use their great in-
fluence upon public opinion, through the
press, to fill their private coffers. There
are more of them in the aggregate than
one generally recognizes.
The third class is made up of men who
are open to conviction and will ultimate-
ly determine the question. The follow-
ing considerations may appeal to some of
them:
It is not likely that any of the nations
now at war in Europe will be ready to
attack the United States for several de-
cades. In the meantime any guns or
gunboats we choose to make will be an-
tiquated and a dead loss. These, nations,
let the war eventuate as it will, will be
burdened with fearful taxes, with crip-
pled industries, with abundant memories
of the horrors of the battlefield and the
suffering of the non-combatant part of
the population. Nothing but the most
flagrant attack by us, or a combination
of conditions which no one can foresee,
could induce one or a group of them to
enter upon the tremendously expensive
and probably uncertain and unprofitable
task of an expedition against the United
States. For a hundred years, except for
the farcical Spanish naval journey to the
West Indias, there has been no attack,
and during the most of this time our
preparations have been far less adequate
than now.
Nor is there any more danger from
Japan. Everyone who has felt the tem-
per of the Japanese government and peo-
ple is sure that neither interest nor de
sire exists for an American war, a war
which would be without prospect of final
success and would break them down
with financial burdens they are in no
condition to stand. If we would bring
half the thought and influence to bear
on our government to make it absolutely
just and generous in our treatment of
other nations, that some of us spend in
fearful anticipations of what will never
come, we will be immune from war for a
generation ahead. These considerations
might induce us at least to postpone our
great expenditures till the lessons and re-
sults of the present war are more clear-
ly seen.
Again if we, as we hope, shall some
time in the near future be able to act as
a mediator and peacemaker among the
warring nations, we must approach the
issue with clean hands and free from the
suspicion of ulterior motives. We must
say to them in a voice which they will
respect, that we have nothing to gain
from them in the way of territory or na-
tional privileges. We have only a little
army for police purposes and a navy not
strong enough for aggression. We have
made no preparations to grasp anything
for ourselves. We should, if they wish,
willingly act as arbiter or simply provide
the machinery for their own negotiations.
We want, for the good of all, peace re-
stored on a satisfactory, permanent ba-
sis, and we hope to gain for ourselves
nothing but our share of the blessings
which will follow this consummation.
Only in this way can we do our duty.
If we begin to arm because we are be-
hind in the race for armaments there is
no end to the process except a great war.
With every increase abroad there will be
a new cry for new appropriations here.
The burden of taxation, now already be-
ing severely felt in certain quarters, will
grow by leaps. Now two-thirds of our
national expenditures go to warlike pur-
poses, including pensions. This vast sum
will be increased much more rapidly than
our resources, and either added taxes or
the withdrawal of aid from internal de-
velopments will follow. How much wiser
to make our potential resources of use
to our people and the world, food and
clothing cheaper, wages better and more
homes happy, than to go into this unpro-
ductive venture, which, as present condi-
tions show, always ends in war!
“Whatsoever a man soweth that shall
he reap,” and beginning on a course of
warlike preparation, with the general
awakening of the military spirit and the
contagious enthusiasm which will follow,
fanned by our increasing army and navy
followers, and the commercial interests,
will put us in such a condition that on
the least provocation we will place our
equipment in action. Armaments mean
war. Dependence upon justice means
peace and we shall reap as we sow.
What then are the duties of American
citizens in this crisis?
To develop a universal feeling, to al-
lay race and national prejudices and sus-
picions which often ripen into war.
To cultivate a judicial attitude which
will take the viewpoint of an alien na-
]
ition and appreciate its reasonable de-
! mands.
To limit commercial ambitions and
methods, both individual and national,
to such an extent as to recognize the just
rights and proper desires of others.
To discourage the military spirit in
tary class, the development of military
and naval equipment in our nation.
To base our moral ideals upon the New
Testament and have faith that they will
clearly see the future way.
To nourish within ourselves and. our
neighbors the Christian spirit, so that as
far as in us lies there can be no war; to
do our tull duty by moral methods and
then trust to the care and providence
of God.
ISAAC SHARPLESS.
Haverford, Pa.
Are the Birds Yet Safe?
The Federal law for the proteetion of
migrating birds has been in operation
since October 1, 1913. What effect this
law has had upon wild 4 bird life in the
short space of fifteen months is well
worth careful consideration. The law
was attacked in its very early stages by
some professional sportsmen and hunters
in Arkansas and a test case was entered
in court. The government lost in the
lower court, which held that Congress
had not the constitutional right to enact
such prohibitory legislation. The case
was carried up to the United States Su-
preme Court where it is now pending,
and probably will be reached in the early
spring.
. Whatever the outcome of this suit it
must be apparent that litigation and de-
lay in judicial procedure has resulted in
great benefit to migratory birds. They
have enjoyed a respite. I'he hand of the
merciless destroyer has been stayed for
over a year. How much their numbers
have been increased thereby no one can
tell, but that there has been improve-
ment in the treatment of them must be
admitted.
Dr. T. S. Palmer, of the geogical sur-
vey, a good authority on game preserva-
tion, is quoted as saying, “The law had a
wonderful effect upon public sentiment
in all parts of the country, and in conse-
quence the States are beginning to adopt
the regulations made under it for bird
protection.”
The department of agriculture and the
Audubon socities also express confidence
that a better sentiment has been created
in behalf of the birds by the hard fight
that was waged and won for them in
Congress, and the period of cessation
from destruction that has followed.
It seems to be too early to believe that
the cause of protection has been won or
that the birds are yet safe. Should fed-
eral protection fail it may rest with the
State Legislatures to decide the fate of
the migratory bird.
Seasickness.
All manner of “cures” have been rec-
ommended for seasickness, and that
means that there is no sure cure. One
can come much nearer preventing it.
To do this it may be necessary. to begin
2 year or at least months in advance. It
consists in getting the digestive organs
into normal condition, by eating only rea-
sonable amount of commonplace, sub-
stantial dishes and by avoiding constipa-
tion. On. shipboard this temperance must
be continued and the feeding adjusted to
the little exercise one can take on the
water. It is said that ships’ companies
make it a business to serve extra metre
meals and attractive viands, knowing
full well that such generosity will lead to
increased seasickness and a consequent
saving in the long run in the ship’s com-
missary department. Be this as it may,
an overfilled and already rebellious
stomach is bound to be more sensitive to
the reflex nervous disturbance set up by
the motion of the ship in our organ of
equilibrium than one which is not so
over-worked.
As a mechanical preventive of seasick-
ness it has been suggested that the wear-
ing of a comfortably tight abdominal sup-
port will help, and there is theoretical
ground for its use in that it would seem
to prevent dragging upon the sensory
nerves of the stomach caused by the
swayed movements of the body.
As for drug treatment, we refer the
sufferer to his physician, who will have a
long list of the “has-been-tried” remedies.
Whether they will benefit the reader re-
mains to be seen.
Planting Hair on Bald Heads.
Planting hair on bald heads is the lat-
est device for relieving the embarrass-
ment of men and women who do notcare
to cover their ill-thatched crowns with
toupees or wigs. A specialist in Buda-
pest has invented a method by which
through almost invisible golden loops he
threads hair of the desired color. It is
claimed that if it were not for the fact
that these hairs naturally are associated
in pairs, on account of the looping, no
one could discover a thoroughly planted
scalp from one which nature had produc-
ed. From 15,000 to 20,000 hairs are said
to be sufficient for a bald crown sur-
rounded by a fringe of natural hair; but
50,000 may be required for a head which
is totally bare. In this extreme case fif-
teen grains of gold are consumed. By
sterilizing the scalp which is to be plant-
ed, and rendering it insensitive by prop-
er treatment, the patient undergoes the
operation without inconvenience, -and
after ten or twelve days is not aware of
any discomfort. The hairs may be plant-
ed at the rate of about 400 in a half hour,
and when the work is finished the hair
can be brushed, combed, washed and oil-
ed to the wearer’s content.
Divorce in Ohio.
There were 7,500 divorces granted in
the State of Ohio in one year. Women
who are unhealthy and unhappy often
look to divorce as the one way of relief
from a life of suffering. There is anoth-
er way, and a better. Dr. Pierce’s Fa.
vorite Prescription removes the diseases
which are commonly behind the irrita-
tion, unrest and misery of so many wom-
en. Ulceration, inflammation, bearing
down pains and other diseases of the del-
icate womanly organs, yield promptly to
this wonderful medicine. It contains no
alcohol, no opium, cocaine or other nar-
cotic and cannot disagree with the weak-
est constitution. ;
Jealously Guarded Privileges.
Here are two privileges the average
man insists upon: First, the right to
do as he pleases, and, second, the right
to abuse a neighbor who doesn’t do
as he wants him to. .
carry us through even when we can not |
FROM INDIA.
By One on Medical Duty in that Far Eastern
| Country. Just a Potpouri of Incidents in Get- |
| ting Ready for the Home Coming.
i
i JHANSI, JANUARY 15th, 1914.
our men and boys, the growth of a mili- Dear Home Folk:
i Here I am, sitting waiting to go to the
station, everything packed up and ready
| to go.
I am writing this little message
iin order that I may leave it to go by to-
| morrow’s post, and that you may not be
! worried about me. Oh such nice things
|
| as people have done aud said to me tru-
‘ly it is worth much to know that such
: nice folks are in the world; but I still
wonder why they do it for surely I have
not been so good to them; I just guess
its the nature of the folks.
The moon is perfect— just to show me
that I must not forget these glorious In-
dian nights—and the air is cool and de-
lightful, so I shall enjoy my train ride to-
night. Ishall stay jast a little over a
day at Cawnpore, and from there I go to
Fatelapur, and then to Allahabad, then
the long ride to Calcutta.
The same old dogs are baying out their
night call to the moon-folk, but I think
it is weaker than usual—poor starving
things; the drums are still beating, tell-
ing of the marriages going on, and star-
vation camps are being opened up every-
where. Oh, what a curious place, always
a feast or a famine—nothing ever goes
along like a song, and so you never ex-
actly know how to act, “if to be surpris-
ed shows ill-breeding,” as you all say at
at home. Good-bye is horrible—it has
such finality init and I am glad I am
getting back to the United States, where
folks won't be so far away when they do
go. Now don’t imagine I am blue, or
even wishing to stay, but was just think-
ing how much more things mean as one
grows older.
My luggage lies in a heap at my side
and imagine, seven packages to watch.
Yes, I have become a veritable English-
woman, when it comes to carrying par-
cels, but in my case I intend to abandon
various portions as my use for them is
over. I have many antiquated garments
which will find a watery grave rather
than a Dhobe’s Ghat, and much writing
paper which will be sent to you or some
friend, and much other stuff to be used
en-route so I do hope you won’t have to
get a van to tote my stuff from the sta-
tion, for it sure won’t be worth the
trouble.
It was only yesterday that I was trying
to learn the Hindustani language, but I
never got very far and now I will very
soon be clear away from it all and in
another section; this Hindustani will be
of no true use, so methinks the next to-
morrows that come along I'll just accept
gracefully and not try to improve, what's
the use if in such a short time it’s all of
no avail. ;
Last week’s mail was very nice, so
many nice letters from you all and also
several nice little things from Europe,
use; the letters I am toting along to read
once more before destroying them.
I am going to say good night, I have
nothing more to say, and don’t worry
about me, please. I don’t just know
when I will get the next letter written
but will try to have one each week; but
if one fails, don’t worry, as I may miss a
mail in my going.
(Continued next week.)
Foundation’s Gifts Set at $6,400,000.
.The gifts and pledges made from the
resources of the Rockefeller Foundation
since its organization up to January 1 last
approximate $6,400,000 according to a
statement given by the foundation to
the United States Commission on Indus-
trial Relations at the request of the com-
mission.
More than $1,000,000 was given for
war relief in Europe, about $142,000 was
extended for the investigation of the
hook-worm disease in tropical countries.
$5292 in the investigation of industrial
relations in this country, $39,276 for med-
ical work in China, and $223,574 for the
purchase of a bird refuge in Louisiana.
These expenditures, totaling $1,420,218,
are listed under disbursements for activ-
ities under the immediate supervision of
the foundation.
A list of other gifts and pledges, total-
ing $1,763,640, includes $100,000 to the
American Red Cross, toward the erection
of headquarters in Washington; $100,000
to the American Academy at Rome;
$450,000 for the American Foreign Mis-
sion Boards; $200,000 to the New York
association for Improving the Condition
of the Poor in its widows’ pensions work,
and $45,000 to charity organizations in
New York city, to relieve distress due to
the war and the industrial depression.
Listed as personal gifts of John D.
Rockefeller out of $2,000,000 of the an-
nual income of the foundation reserved
for his individual charities are $32,500 to
the Young Men’s Christian Association
for its foreign work, $50,000 to the Amer-
ican Baptist Union of Western Canada,
with the stipulation that none of it be
used in the foreign field; $5,000 to the
Boy Scouts of America; $60,000 to
the Y. M. C. A. of the Univer-
sity of Michigan to erect a building;
$300,000 to Brooklyn Y. M. C. A, for the
same purpose; $10,000 to the Salem Fire
Relief Fund, and 2,500,000 to the Rocke-
feller Institute for Medical Research.
These personal gifts, described as “foun-
der’s requisitions,” number 56 and total
$3,214,000.
Test of Spiritual Life.
If we may take one test or sign by
which to judge of advance in the spir-
{tual life, it would be this—whether
more and more calmness is being
maintained in the midst of all the
disturbances and troubles which are
wont to come, which may ever be
looked for in some form or other—
whether there be peacefulness of mind,
and order of thought in the midst of
all that once too much distracted and
agitated the soul.—T. T. Carter.
so I can pack them all for my homeward |
| caUSES OF PENNSYLVANIA INDUS-
| TRIAL ACCIDENT.
}
{
Sometime ago the Bureau of Statistics
of the Department of Labor and Industry
completed its statistics of industrial acci-
i dents for 1914 according to industries, a
{ resume of which has been widely publish-
'ed. The Bureau has now finished the
tabulation of these accidents by causes
i and injuries, from which the following
interesting data and useful suggestions
‘ are culled. Mr. A. R. Houck is Chief of
| this Bureau.
The total number of accidents reported
to the Department of Labor and Indus-
! try during the year 1914 is 38,126. Add-
ing the number of accidents reported to
the Mining Department and to the Pub-
lic Service Commission, the grand total
is 53,113. This number, though large,
cannot be considered the sum of all acci-
dents that occur in our State, since the
accidents reported to the Department of
Labor and Industry are only those occur-
ring in industrial establishments. There
is also a law in the latter Department
that accidents occasioning a loss of less
than two days work need not be report-
ed. Therefore, 53,113 represents only a
part of the total number of accidents for
the past year.
The causes from which the greatest
number of accidents occur are; first, in
hand labor, chiefly from being caught be-
tween, or struck by, material, or hurt
with tools, a total of 20,339 accidents:
second, from faliing from ladders or scaf-
folds into unprotected holes, or slipping
or tripping, a total of 4,178 accidents;
third, from coming into contact with
moving machinery, a total of 2,836 acci-
dents; fourth, from burns of various
kinds, a total of 2,444 accidents.
Figures of such size, representing ac-
cidents from being caught or struck by
material, or from coming into contact
with moving machinery, would seem to
show carelessness on the part of work-
men, or lack of sufficient guards. If the
proper machine guards were installed
and used in the proper manner, the ma-
jority of such accidents could surely be
avoided.
The Inspectors of the Department of
Labor and Industry have found in their
visits to industrial plants that the great-
est force towards the elimination of ac-
cidents and the maintenance of personal
safety is the establishment of Safety
Organizations. The education of work-
men in the avoidance of careless meth-
ods, and in the thought of individual re-
sponsibility, is the greatest force in the
furtherance of the Safety movement.
The following is a summary of the re-
ported accidents by nature of the injury:
NATURE OF INJURY.
Burns and scalds............... ana 3,018
Crushes and bruises............... ....cc.cverennne 12,599
Cuts and lacerations....................ccoeuen..n.n 11,536
Fractures, sprains and dislocations.......... 6.130
Hernia.... 73
Puncture.
Blood poi
Unclassified ...
Loss of part;
Eyes,
25
2
Hands,
Lossof one. ...................ccciniinneens 7
Lossofiboth..........................0.
Fingers,
Lossofone............cocciii niin, 129
Loss of more than one.................. 40
Legs, .
Lossofone....................... 3
Lossof- both... .
Feet,
Lossofone. i... niin. 4
X,088 OF BO Naess ioiiiiiiiicine sassvstonsnne I
Toes,
Lossofore............c....... 7
Loss of more than one.. 4
Improvident Zulu,
The Zulu is absolutely without prop-
erty except the hut wherein he lives.
He is a strict apostle of the teach-
ing of take no thought of the mor-
row. He never lays in any store and
if he has plenty one day he eats un-
til he can hold no more. The next
day he may find nothing to eat and
he gets along the best he can like a
bird. Birds never store up for the
future. The Zulu is the bird of man-
kind. H. decorates his head with
plumage and fine colored feathers,
but he has not clothing for his body
except coarse woven clot.
Might Get It That Way.
An absent-minded husband was
asked by his wife to stop in a store
on his way downtown and buy her
three articles of feminine wear. Of
course when he reached the store he
had forgotten what they were. So the
young clerk behind the first counter
was amazed to hear: “Excuse me; my
wife told me to come in here and get
her some things to wear and I've for-
gotten what they are. Would you
mind naming over a few things?”
; The Change.
“It used to be,” declared old Broth-
er Bombershay, “dat when Brudder
Mauley and his wife was uh-squabblin’
dey had it up and down like a see-
saw, sometimes one of ’em gittin’ de
best of it and den de yudder. But
now, bless goodness, dey dess goes
round and ’round like a merry-go-
round, and nobody kin prognosticate
which is ahead.”—Puck.
Love thas Beautifisr.
Love is always building up. It puts
some line of beauty on every life it
touches. It makes life seem more
worth while to every one into whose
eyes ii looks. Its words are benedic-
tions. Its every breath is full of inspi-
ration.—Westminster Teacher.
Valuable Gum.
A gum has been discovered in large
quantities in the Malay peninsula that
yields from 10 to 20 per cent pure
rubber.
His Specialty.
“Did you hear about Muggins taking
up settlement work?” “Yes; he usu-
ally works his creditors for 50 cents
on the dollar.”—Town Topics.
LINKING RUSSIA WITH PARIS!
Wireless Station on the Eiffel Tower
to Be Used to Communicate
With Czar’s Empire.
The wireless station at the Eiffel
tower may be utilized to communicate
with Russia from Paris, via British
stations to the Mediterranean, instead
of by way of German stations. But
the Eiffel tower, however, could easily
get its messages to Petrograd direct,
for it is the most powerful station on
the continent. The terrific “sparking”
from its antennae, nearly a thousand
feet .above the ground, is so distinct
that those conversant with the Morse
code can read its time and weather
reports in the streets of Paris without
any instruments. But there is no pow-
erful wireless station in Russia, and
the roundabout route will be neces-
sary. The British government is build-
ing a station more than five hundred
feet above sea level in a remote part
of Oxfordshire, which will have a
dozen masts, each as high as St. Paul’s
cathedral This station will be able,
it is anticipated, to get into direct
communication with Egypt in the day-
time, and possibly with India at night,
when the ether is always a better
carrier,
USED THE ENEMY’S BULLETS |
Shrewd Maori Warriors Played Neat
Trick on British Soldiers Whom
They Were Fighting.
An amusing Maori story is told of
the period when these natives were
at war with Great Britain. All sorts
of tricks went on, such as are not
only fair but commendable in war.
When the Maoris were in want of
bullets they used to show a dummy
from behind a tree, and, of course,
it was immediately fired at. A man
in the background at once pulled it
down by a string.
“Oh,” thought the British soldiers,
“we’ve done for him!”
Up came the dummy again, cautious-
ly. . Bang! bang! went the British
rifles. Down fell the dummy; and
this went on until some worse marks-
man than usual cut the dummy’s rope.
No Maori had the courage to expose
himself to splice it, for that meant
certain death.
The bullets were all taken out of
a little earth-bank which the Maoris
had made behind the tree where the
dummy appeared, and were used
again,
It was long before this artifice was
discovered.
Welsh Songs Promised.
A Cardiff correspondent of an Eng:
lish newspaper says:
“Cymric ardor on the battlefield is
going to be inspired and sustained by
Cymric music. Not the least impres-
sive sight today, and during the past
week, among the Welsh units training
at Porthcawl has been the gathering
of the soldiers for choral singing.
When the new Welsh army of 40,000
men take the field it will go to battle
to the sound of a Cymric war chorus,
which experts have described as the
finest martial music in the world.
“The organization just formed is
known as the Welsh Army Male Voice
chorus, and as the recruits include
some of the finest singers in the
Welsh valleys, men who have com-
1*eted in scores of Eisteddfods, the sol-
diers’ practice sings at Porthcawl par-
take of the character of first-class
concerts, which attract to the vicinity
of the hall large numbers of residents
of the town and visitors.
“Miss Gee of Denbigh, an ardent
patriot, is distributing a fine selection
of Welsh war songs, with a request
for the rendering of these and less
singing of ‘Tipperary. ”
Naval Construction for Siam.
A navy league has been formed in
Siam, its present object being to col-
lect funds to the amount of $1,110,000
to build or buy a scout cruiser of
3,000 or 3,400 tons, drawing 13 feet,
steaming 28 knots, and armed with
7.4-inch and smaller guns, and torpedo
tubes.
A committee composed of Siam’s
leading navy officers and nobles has
already been appointed, and an ap-
peal to the people issued calling for
subscriptions, and stating that, though
Siam has no intention of attacking
any other country, it is deemed advis-
able to prepare for defense against
the contingency of invasion.
Egypt’s New Flag.
The new Egyptian flag, which was
hoisted on the government building
at Cairo for the first time with the
announcement of Egypt's divorce from
Turkish suzerainty, bears three white
crescents with their backs to the staff,
each with a five-pointed white star be-
tween the horns of a red field. This
flag was formerly the personal stand-
ard of the khedive, and now takes the
place of the former national flag, which
was distinguished from the Turkish
flag by a star of five instead of six
points,
Aiding Wounded Soldiers.
A fleet of radioscopic and radio-
graphic automobiles, organized and
fitted out by Mme. Curie, has been
added to France's war equipment. The
automobiles ply between base hos-
pitals, finding bullets in wounded sol-
diers, thus saving hundreds of lives
by expediting and facilitating the ex-
traction of missiles.
What They Are Not.
The Baltimore American says the
names figuring in the war news are a
pronounced nuisance; but that is ex-
actly the kind of nuisance they are
not.—South Bend News-Times.
YUKON RIVER LITTLE KNOWN
Average American Unfamiliar With
the Characteristics of the Great
Alaskan Waterway.
The Yukon means so much as a wa-
terway to Alaska that a report by the
United States geological survey on its
discharge at Eagle and on some of the
great river's characteristics have espe-
cial interest. The Yukon is the fifth
river in size in North America It
drains an area of 330,000 square miles
and its length, including the Lewes
and Teslin rivers, is 2,700 miles. The
{ Mississippi-Missouri rivers are 6,000
miles long; the Mackenzie, 2,868; Col
orado-Green, 2,000, and Ohio-Allegheny,
1,300.
The discharge of the Yukon varies
from a maximum of 254,000 cubic feet
a second to 10,100 cubic feet, average
of 73,200. This discharge is relatively
small compared with the average flow
of the Mississippi, 695,000; Ohio, 300,
000, and Colorado, 23,300. The Nile,
with a drainage area of 1,262,000
square miles has an average flow of
116,000 cubic feet a second.
The comparatively small flow in re-
lation to its drainage area is attrib-
uted to the fact that the interior of
Alaska has the small rainfall charac-
teristic of that portion of the United
States that lies between the Rocky
mountains and the Sierra Nevada
north of the latitude of Salt Lake
City.
The Yukon means so much to
Alaska and the territory means so
much to the United States in gold
production and in other latent mineral
and other development that the lack
of general knowledge regarding its
characteristic must be surprising to
the sojourner in this country who
comes from its banks.—New York
Commercial.
IS WORLD'S RAREST PLANT
This Is the Silversword, Which Grows
in Profusion on Hawaiian
Volcano Slopes.
The rarest plant in the world grows
in Hawaii, a fact which is unknown to
all but very few of the thousands of
tourists annually visiting the paradise
of the Pagific. It is the silversword.
Its very name is odd and unusual, at
once arousing the curiosity and the in.
terest of the stranger who chances to
hear it. It is a cactuslike growth, the
long, silky, gray leaves of which give it
its peculiar name. The reason for its
rarity is that it is found only on the
most inaccessible slopes of the vol
canoes of this group of islands.
From the earliest times it has been
appreciated and greatly admired by
the native Hawaiians, who called it
“ahinahina” (gray-headed), because
they had never, before the coming of
the white man, seen silver, and there
fore could not apply to the plant the
cognomen which so well describes it.
All who have found it prize it more
jealously than do Alpine climbers
treasure the edelweiss; it is far more
beautiful a thing and more difficult to
obtain than the famous flower of Swit:
zerland.
Catamount Robs Farmer.
Adam Sterner, an Augustaville,
Northumberland county (Pa.) farmer,
had an experience with a huge cata
mount that almost turned his hair
gray. He was driving to the Sunbury
markets with a load of produce, and
was passing through dense woods
when he felt a heavy body land on his
wagon, followed by spitting and
“meowing” that were hideous.
Looking back, he saw two big balls
of fire, the eyes of the largest cata
mount he had ever seen. It was paw
ing at the canvas cover he had over
his load. With a revolver, the fright
ened farmer fired twice. At the dis
charge of the weapon the cat jumped
and escaped in the darkness. When
he arrived at the market two fat
dressed chickens were missing.
War Booms Home Brewing.
The new beer tax in England has
had the effect of reviving the obsolete
art of home brewing in the country
districts. If home brewing becomes
widespread, one of the main sources
to whica Lloyd George has been look-
ing to raise funds for the war will
be cut off. The brewing industry
will suffer. Ale can be brewed at
home at 1% cents a pint, or 41% cents
cheaper than it can be bought at a
public bar. Small householders pay-
ing less than $50 a year in taxes are
allowed to brew for home use free
from any excise tax. Empty casks
are bough! up to store the home
brews, and brewing coppers are lent
among neighbors.
French Physician in Demand.
Doctor” Doyen, the French surgeon,
is generally considered to be the
wealthiest medical man in the world.
He is also one of the busiest, and it
is proverbial in Paris that no healthy
man can ever get a talk with him. Pa-
tients come from every part of the
world to his private hospital in the
Rue Duret, and in recent years he has
had all his more important surgical op-
erations cinematographed, with the ob-
ject of leaving exact records of his
work for the aid of other surgeons.
Children’s Bureau.
The children’s bureau at Washing-
ton has appointed a social service ex-
pert. to make sure of having a gen-
erally equipped person to take up ef-
fectively such topics as juvenile
courts, broken family relations, feeble-
minded children, with an understand-
ing of the importance of their indus-
trial. civic and social inter-relations.
All of these topics are touched upun
in the act establishing the bureau.