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Tionlf drown,
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THE COL'MKIAN, Hlonmslmrs;, Ta
T1IUHSDAY, DKCKMBKU 23, l!Ki
COOK'S BUBBLE PUNCTURED.
Those who have withheld their
judgment of Dr. Frederick A
Cook, until a competent body
should examine his "proois" of
North Pole discovery, will now ac
cept the decision of the University
of Copenhagen, and unite in be
stowing all praise upon Commander
Robert E. Peary. Cook has been
entirely discredited, and branded as
the most stupendous faker of the
century. His data were found to
lack all scientific details, and to
furnish no grounds for belief that
he had ever reached the North
Pole. Coupled with his inaccura
cies in Antartic reports, and his
questionable ascent of Mount Mc
Kinley, it is safe to say that this
man, who sought the honor which
belongs to Peary, is a humbug.
Now the world will turn to Peary.
He has been much criticised ; not
that there has been any shadow of
doubt as to the authenticity of his
report, but his hot tempered de
nunciation of Cook was deemed un
wise. Take into consideration,
however, the fact that he knew
froiii the beginning that of which
the world has this week been in
formed by the University of Copen
hagen. What man would not be
inclined to lose his head, when,
after striving toward a goal for
twenty-eight years, enduring suff
ering and fatigue and risking life,
he finds that an impostor has
snatched away the laurels ? It is
not difficult to excuse Commander
Peary when one realizes that he
knew he was right, and knew that
the world was giving to Cook un
merited honors.
The Danish scientists, who were
Cook's best friends have, brand
ed him as a monumental liar.
This should settle the matter. The
controversy should be forgotten ;
the criticisms of Commander Peary
should be withdrawn ; and this
American nation should unite in
honoring the man who discovered
the utlimate north, and planted
thereupon the Stars and Stripes,
Democratic Club Banquet.
The officers of the Young Men's
Democratic Club of Williamsport,
are arranging for the annual Jack
son day banquet, which will be
held on the evening of January 10.
The anniversary is J inuary 8, but
as that day falls on Saturday the
club decided to hold the banquet on
the Monday evening following.
The list of speakers for the occas
ion is not complete, but among
them will be C. LaRue Muuson and
Congressman William B. Wilson.
Weak Throat
Lold after cold; cough after cough! Troubled with this
taking-cold habit? Better break it up. We have great
confidence in Ayev's Cherry Pectoral for this work. No i
medicine like it for weak throats and weak lungs. Ask
your doctor for his opinion. He knows all about it.
His approval is valuable. Follow his advice at all times.
io aiconci in this cough medicine. J.C.AlierCo..LowelLMaS.
Alway&kecpagooUlaKjuvc in tilt house. Takeadosewhen yourcolJtirstcomeson
mi: uMnuxunve i jr iius.' flyer s nils.
K R H :
Myron I. Low, Vice President.
Frank I keler, Ciishier
Mvrnn f. T.ow
V.ir.)v r.
Frank 1 keler.
THIS IS HEAVEN.
Hooray, hooray ! At last we
have in'onnation concerning the
real character of the heavenly
ahml's; at least, so cotnes ti:e word
from llo'-ton.
General Augustus B. Martin was
once police comn issioncr ani May
or of that centre of wisdom, but he
died, so lie gave up the job. He
must have been a pious mayor, for
if we mav credit the assurances of
his erst while stenographer, he has
i in en garnered up aiott and is iivn g
I in a Irownstone front on one of the
golden boulevards,
i Now this stenographer is a Chris
jtian Scientist, and she claims to
j have had little spiritual chats with
i the General since his elevation, and
i has published them. This, in part
is what Augustus had to say:
"I felt as though the air was fill
ed with perfume audi was soaring,
rising, rising above my body until
I passed behind a veil.
"And then I was surrounded by
friends, by my intimate friends
whom I knew, members of my fam
ily and all, surrounded by them
welcoming me.
"And then I was taken to an r.c
tual mansion, a palace, and they
said: 'Here is your home. Occupy
it, live in it, have what friends you
choose with you, what relatives
you choose with you, and as those
whom you have left behind follow
you, you may welcome them to this
home as you may see fit.'
"I went in and looked about me.
and they said: 'This is heaven.
This is the spiritual world, and we
gre:t you.' "
Fancy a week-end house. party
in the hereafter ! The idea is one
which we have not hitherto heard
advanced.
Can't Walk On Tracks.
In the future all trespassers on
the Pennsylvania Railroad Co's.
tracks will be arrested. This is an
order that was received by local
railroad men on Saturday.
In view of the high death rate
among trespassers on the railroad
property, officials of the Pennsyl
vania company deem that it has a
moral responsibility in preventing
and breaking up the practice. It
does not wear out its ties for per
sons to walk over them and it suf
fers no pecuniary damage, but the
road does come in for adverse criti
cism whenever an accident occurs.
The company is bound to break up
the paractice and its lines are
thoroughly policed by men who
have instructions to take seemingly
harsh measures if necessary
Game Law Unpopular.
That the present game law is in
bad odor in some parts cf the State
was evidenced in Sunbury last
week, when every case involving a
violation of the game laws was ig
nored and the costs put upon the
game wardens. The sum of the
costs just equaled the amount of
fees allowed the wardens, so that,
while they lost nothing, yet they
did not make anything for all their
work. It made the three wardens
so angry that they sent in their of
ficial badges to the State Game
Commission with their commis
sions, across the face of the latter
being written the one word, "Re
signed." Weak Lungs
1
What
Ask your doctor his opinion
Let him decide.
WASHINGTON
From our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, D. C, Dec. 20, 1909
The Revolution in Central Amer
ica is a subject of much interest in
Washington diplomatic circles, as
it doubtless is in the chancelleries
of all countries, but it especially
concerns the United States and
Mexico. The approaching comple
tion of the Panama Canal makes it
of great moment to this country
that the governments of the coun
tries contiguous to the canal shall
be stable and responsible These
countries have to us a relation siin:
ilar to that of Cuba. It is vital that
they shall be peaceable. ,Ve can
not afford to have a group of polit
ical volcanoes on the Canal route.
Mexico is abo interested in the sta
bility of these countries, perhaps
because she realizes that in a stan
of chronic revolution there will fol
low a suzerainty of the United
States as in Cuba. Mexico does
not care to be more surrounded
with the stars and stripes than she
is at present; hence she has sent
Seller Creel, the leceiit Ambassador
lo the United States from Mexico
on a special mission to Washington
and he only last week presented his
credentials to Secretary Knox and
asked for an interview with the
President. Mexico is in f.tvor of
the Zelayan regime in Nicararagua.
Ir is understood in official circles
here that while Ambassador Ctee!
will be treated with diplomatic po
liteness, he will at the same time be
courteously informed that the
United States government does not
need the assistance of any other
country in settling its disputes or
grievances with the Zalayan gov
ernment. In past times the United
States has been ready to join with
Mexico for the niaintain.,nee of
pea e in Central America. It has
consulted with President Diaz and
lu:s gone so far as to advise him of
such action as this country con
templated. Hut the situation in
Nicaragua at present is regarded as
a matter of concern solely to this
country, inasmuch as American
citizens have beeu killed and an at
titude belligerent to America has
developed under Ztlayau influence
and practice Mexico doubtless
fears that if the United States effac
ei Zelayan government and substi
tutes a stable government in that
country, it may pursue the same
policy with respect to Guatemala.
There are thirty thousand Mexican
citizens in Guatemala and this is
another reason for the auxiety of
the Mexican authorities.
It appears to be the intention of
the present administration, as it
was of Mr. Taft's predecessor, to
obtain younger officers for com
mand in both the army and navy.
This is to be brought about by
some system of elimination which
will dispose, under the retired pay
system, of officers who have attain
ed a certain age, not yet fixed,
leaving vacancies :'or the promotion
of the younger officers. It is hoped
that by this process, the regimeuts,
brigades, and ships will, in time of
war, bi commanded by younger
and better qualified men than was
the case at the beginning of the
Civil War or of the recent Spanish
War. With a view to the earlier
preparation of the naval and mili
tary cadets, it is proposed that the
ages of entrance to the military and
naval academies at West Point and
Annapolis respectively, shall be
from fourteen to eighteen in-tead
of from sixteen to twenty, as under
the present system. By this ar
rangement the younger graduates
from tluse two war schools would
at an earlier age recti ve actual field
and sea practice and be better qual
ified both by theory and experience
for the real work of this profession.
The impetus given hy President
Roosevelt and through FJihu Root
when he was Secretary of War is
still felt in naval and military cir
cles and in the deplorable necessity
for another war, will doubtless re
dound to the benefit of the country.
It is doubtful if any important
legislation will be enacted by Con
gress before the Christmas holidays
although it is probable that the
District of Columbia Appropriation
Bill may be passed. The bill as
presented called for less money than
that of the previous year, but Con
gress has already cut it down near
ly ft million of dollars. Economy
is the watchword on the lips of the
President, his Cabinet and of Con
gress.
The hundreds of thousands who
have used them, will be glad to
know that the combined pocket di
ary 1910 memorandum book and
calendar for 1910 and 191 1 with
other handy information issued by
C. A. Snow & Co., of Washington,
D. C, is ready and will be seut to
any address on receipt of two cents
postage. Write to C. A. Snow &
Co., Washington, D. C.
MOVE FOR OLD AGE PENSIONS.
Pennsylvania Member Introduces Bill
With Novel Features.
An old aire pension plan for the
United .States was proposed to Con
gress in a bill introduced by Rep
resentative Wilson of Pennsylvania,
last week. The bill establishes the
old age home guard of the army.
The Secretary of War is directed to
enlist into this guard every person
in the United States who has reach
ed the age of 65, and is not pos
sessed of property without incum
brance valued at S1500 or of an in
come of at least $240 a year.
Pensions to be eligible lor the
guard must have been residents of
the United States for 25 consecutive
years and citizens of the United
States 15 consecutive years. Hus
bands and wives are to be enrolled
as one member.
Reading Will Lay 100 Pound Rails.
The Reading railroad company is
receiving a large consignment of
j rails.
They are intend. d for the
line between l'ottsville and
main
Philadelphia, a distance of about 9,1
miles. A portion of the road has
already been equipped with them.
They take the place of the 90 pound
rails
It is announced setni-officially
that the entire road between Phila
delphia and Pottsville will be equipp
ed with heavi t rails. These im
provements are made necessary by
the rapidlv increasing traffic on the
road occasioned by the additional j
business brought to .Newberry j
Junction by the new freight routes 1
to the west, both by way of Corn-1
' ing and Clear.'ield. ;
While little work will be done j
dining the winter, the material will
all be ready by spring. The Read
ing has never done a heavier busi
ness than
further
it is doing now a':d a
increase, especially in
freight trade, is looked for
I he company is no longer de
pendent entirely upon iis co.l
traffic. While this is an important
item, the freight business has more
than doubled within the past few
years The new route to and from
the west via Newberry will open
up another channel that is promis
ing of profitable results.
Judging from the plans now be
ing mapped out by the Reading of
ficials, the year 1910 will be a bau
ner one. Great improvements are
to he made in the shape of third
and fourth tracks, Hall signals,
modem yards and switch towers.
No money will be spared in placing
all the lines in the very best shape.
Tuesday the Shortest Day.
The wiu'.er solstice occured last
Tuesday. On that clay the sun
reached the point furthest south
on the ecliptic, being about twenty
three and one half degrees below
the celestial equator. It will now
travel north until next June twenty-first,
when it will be twenty
three and one half degrees north
of the equator.
It may not be a well known fact
that we are now much nearer the
sun than we were in the summer.
In the northern hemisphere this is
always true. Owing to the slaut
of the earth's axis, the rays of the
sun fall upon in diagonally at this
time of year, and we receive less
heat. In the southern hemisphere
the sun is shining almost vertically
overhead, and they are having sum
mer there. This, combined with
the fact that the earth is near peri
helion, or nearest distance to the
sun, makes the summer in the
southern hemisphere hotter than
ours, and for the same reasons the
winter is colder.
Useiul Folding Bed.
Mrs. De Flat Can you show me
anything new in folding beds ?
Dealer Only this, madam, and
it really is quite a success. On aris
ing in the morniug you touch a
spring and it turns into a washstand
aud bath tub. After your bath you
touch another spring, and it be
comes a dressing case with a French
plate mirror, If you breakfast 111
your room, a slight pressure will
transform it into an extension table.
After breakfast, you press these
buttons once, and you will have
an upright piano. That's all it
will do, except that when you die
it can be exchanged for a rosewood
coffin. Tit-BUs.
Nearly 15,000,000 Fighters.
There are 14,974,448 meu in this
country who are available for mili
tary duty but "not organized," ac
cording to a report transmitted to
the House by the War Department.
The report shows that the aggre
gate strength of the militia in all
the States is 120,658.
Chlldran Cry
FOR FLETCHER'S
CASTOR! A
CHRISTMAS
Shopping is Under Way!
Foresighted people are doing
their Christmas shopping NOW
before the rush begins and when
the best selections are to be had.
You will benefit by following their
example. Make out your list TO
DAYbring it here, and later on
you'll be thankful that you acted
on this suggestion.
We are ready to solve each of
your gift-problems with rare sat
isfaction and economy. This
store has become a veritable won
derland of toys, dolls and beauti
ful gift things for folk of all ages.
Our Christmas displays this year
surpass anything ever attempted
in this city before.
F. P. PURSEL,
BlLOMSBl URK, PA.
1
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