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8
EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1914'.
EVENING j&3& LEDGER
PUBLIC LEDGER C.OMPNY
CYIU'S It k. Ct'tlTtfl, PfitMnr.sT.
. John Urlblrtl.VIrePro-lrlont; fleo.W Oclid. Secretary:
John C. Martin. Troiim-cr: Diaries It. t.udlngton,
flilllp . fotllnn, John 11. WtillHitiH. Directors.
IJDITOltlAI. tsoAttU:
Ctni s II. K. Ct'RTis, Chairman.
P. II. WIIAt.BV Ilwtttlve rillter
JOHN C!. MAUTIN .Uencrnl HuMneMi Manager
Publlithnl Hnlly at t'enue tignntm ttiilldlnir,
lnippml(noo Pquare, l'hllnilrlphln.
I.wvin t'F.Tn.kt .tlroftd and Chestnut Street
Ath.mip Citt ,, Vttmi-t'nioii ItulMIng
Kbw York.... 17H-A. Metropolitan Tower
Ciiirino SIT Homo Itijitrnnro IliilWlnif
Lonpon R Waterloo Place, fall Mall. S. V.
NfiWS WltK.UR:
Iljuintftnrrsa IU'rimu The PnlHof ItiilMlnR
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l'inis Ilt'itctu (IS Hue Louis 16 Offlhd
Sltl'r.llll'TIOMtliMS
tly carrier, tmn ostt, si cent, tly mall. tttiatpaM
outside of Philadelphia, except whnr foreign postage
ii requireu, ijaii.1 I'.NI.Y,
I3it.T Only, ono ye.ir. th
tloni panblc In advance.
I reaulrett. Uaim oni.it. one tnnntll. iwentv-tlvp cent:
IJtit.Y Only, ono ye.ir. three dollars. All mall sufaserlp-
HF.t.L, anoo WALNUT
KllYSTUNfi MAIN BlMMI
tT tftitrrt nil ronimmrirnflntt to Evening
i.rrfpfr. tirlrprnilriicf Hiiuarr, PliihidetphUi.
APPLICATION MAPI! AT TIIR Pllll ADEI PIIIA PlHTomCB VCTO
RNTIIt A' "ficlND-i'l A MAIL MTTK1I.
fiuiDi.t.iMiiA, riiLiKiuY, sl:ill.Jiiii:n it, ivu
"Unclcnn! Uncleanl"
THE personality of Woodrow Wilson has
powerfully Impressed the country. Ills
obvious sincerity of purpose nmt his clear
moral vision liave given him strength out of
all proportion to the pecullnr economic thco
rics ho espouses. Put to one side the business
of tho country, and lie has measured tip In a
remarkable degree to tho political ideals of
the nation. He la ut once tho leader and tho
Impetus of the democratic party, which has
followed him wherover he led without regard
to traditional principles or historic purpose.
Tho glamour of the President's morality
makes It Impossible for any party to defeat
him unless It enters the arena with hands
as clean as his. Ills economic theories, If
weighed on nn even scato with Republican
principles, would ho utterly repudiated by
tho national electorate. But Pennsylvania la
asked to manhandle Republicanism, to tic It
up with a cause that Is utterly discredited,
to retain in Us leadership a man whose nnm
Is "used to frighten children with" In many
parts of the Union. "Unclean! Unclean!"
That Is the answer to men who Insist that
tho country can be fooled Into accepting
Penroseism In national affairs. It would be
Just as sensible to ask the nation to send tho
plague to Washington.
i P I
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Stockholders for Rapid Transit
THE greatest corporation In this commu
nity is the municipal corporation. In It
every citizen is a stockholder. Whatever tho
stockholders of the Union Traction Company,
through their directorate, decide to do and
they are well within their rights to do or not
do whatever thoy please the stockholders In
the municipal corporation are overwhelm
ingly for rapid transit. They have at their
command an incomparable credit. They are
able through their own patronage to assure
tho financial success of the project. They, at
least, are willing to dedicate their assets to
the great program. Tho obstructionists are
almost to Gettysburg.
Bonal force and lnlluenco will govern Colo
rado until tho strlko Is settled. It Is not
settled yet, and will not bo settled till reason
and Justice prevail. Tho truco gives all
parties time for sober second thought. It
gives Colorado another opportunity to provo
lis capacity for self-government.
What's the Use?
THE rehabilitation of tho Republican party
Is essential to the prosperity of tho na
tion. It cannot be rehabilitated In ono State:
It must bo rehabilitated In many Stales, tt
rannot he rehabilitated at all until the sore
spots on It are cured. Convalescence assumes
eradication of disease.
No, It is Penroseism that 1ms given tho
country a freo-trado tariff. That tariff will
bo perpetuated If Mr. Penrose Is Indorsed In
November. Tills la so open and obvious a
proposition that politicians in Pennsylvania
are the only ones who do not understand It.
Tho way to get a protective tariff Is to get a
Republican President and a Republican Con
gress. J!r. Penrose cannot get It. Ills Innu
endo In Washington has dwindled to such an
ostein that tt Is scarcely known whether ho
Is In town or out of town. Even Republicans
who are close to him arc careful not to let
their constituencies know It. What's the uso
of having a Senator who must bo apologized
for In and out of season?
Mexicans Untitled to Govern Themselves
THE only excuse for keeping American
troops at Vera Cruz now would be tho
Intention to keep them there for nil time.
Mexico Is as quiet as it Is likely to bo for
many months. There is a minimum of revo
lution. Tho Constitutionalist armies are
amply strong enough to stamp out Insurrec
tion. Tho Provisional ttovernmrn' when It
took chargo of the City of Mexico, con
founded its critics by preventing all plllago
and outrage. In fact, considering the peculiar
circumstances under which the nrmlcs were
recruited and the course pursued by them In
tho early stages nf the conflict, their restraint
was remarkable. The Mexicans are untitled
to another chance to prove that thoy can
govern themselves.
Not Bine But Sane Laws
IF THOSE Interested In Innocent Sunday
amusements for the masses will present
rational arguments to the next Leglslaturo
that body may consider tho repeal of antl
tiuatcd blue laws. The great mass of tho
public, men, women and children, who have
not tho means to go to tho shore or country
in summer, should have the legal right to
qulot amusements on tho one day avail
able. Tho Christian religion Is the religion of
uplift, of happiness in this world, in prepara
tion for the next. Let there be a sane re
vision of the blue laws of more than a
century ago statutes outworn, outlived and
perchance outcivlllzed.
Golden Days of Opportunity
HOME have come tho vacationists, the
t-eashore harvest has been reaped, play
time is past, the thousands who laid down
dally tasks to rolipve mind and body aro
again In the ti f daily occupation. The
Ivy on walls is touched with red, the trees
have taken their fringes of gold, while the
late corn, the pumpkin and the grape alono
remain to be guthercd the very air breathes
of the fall time.
A Strong Pull Together for the Port.
THE decision of the majority in Washing
ton to keep tho "pork" in the Rivers and
Harbors appropriation bill and excise appro
priations for such obviously necessary work
as the Delaware channel emphasizes the
blunder of depending too much on the Na
tional Government for assistance. Improve
ment of the approaches from the sea Is fun
damentally tho business of the United States,
but there is a very big opportunity for Penn
sylvania and Philadelphia to co-operate on
their own account in putting this port on
a parity with any other In the world. Nature
has been prodigal enough, although requiring
a Httlo coaxing. It Is altogether probable
that the next Legislature will take up the
matter In enrnest. Philadelphia harbor is
one of tho State's biggest assets. It should
be treated and developed on this theory. The
Delaware Is the highway from Pennsylvania
to tho world. Both It and the harbor must
bo accommodated to tho requlr-wents of
PASSED BY THE CENSOR
WHAT constitutes n, successful play?"
asked David Belasco In reply to a ques
tion. And then tho Httlo wizard of tho
American stage tho greatest producer In
captivity delivered an hour's discourse on a
subject In which ho Is concededly a past
master.
"Tho success of a play Is due to its love
story, Its stage pictures and its underlying
theme. Take 5 per cent, stage pictures, a
plot and a good lovo theme and success Is
assured," said Relasco, and then ho added:
"Anybody can write some sort of a play,
but it takes a genius to sell one,"
With bodies Invigorated by rest seasons.
with minds alert, with spirits afresh, let us shipping, no matter what those requirements
approach this unborn future with a deter- I may be.
minatlon of service. To all It is not given to
grapple with mighty problems of the day; to
all it Is not given to move In high spheres, to
mold public opinion, to shape the destiny of
our fellows; but to alt is given the oppor
tunity to work for self-service, to the con
secration of Ideals, to the fulfillment of de
sires. This is the time for a reconsecration
to definite purposes.
Ho who labors with hands often wearies of
Injustice, of prejudice, of cloa hatred; ho
who gains a livelihood behind a counter feels
the sting of station, he who labors at thank
less tasks longs for better days, for higher
wages, for more appreciation of his efforts.
A Good Pilot to Drop
MAINE has bounded this warning. The
Republican party must clear for action,
clean the debris from the decks, sweep over
board Penroseism, Uarnrslsm, Lorimcrlsm
and all the other "Isms" which have fastened
themselves on the quarterdeck. A pilot who
can only run the craft into an iceberg is a
very good pilot to drop.
Emergency Patriotism
THE old idea of party government has been
given a seero Jolt by the war. England
furnishes a case in point. It is worth con-
Envy for the rich, the powerful, the better ' sidering, even after the smoke of battle has
i ducated, the fortunute, Is In many hearts. j cleared away and peace or armed neutrality
SOME ton years ago last summer there
came word across tho wires that tho
Ueneral Slocum had burned In tho East River
and that 1000 human beings, tho vast ma
jority women and children, had lost their
lives. On tho staff of a Philadelphia paper
was a young reporter who had given Indica
tions of ability In tho lino of descriptive
writing, and ho was rushed to New York to
limn a pen picture of the horror as he saw It.
At S o'clock that night he returned, went
to tho offlco of tho managing editor and sat
down and cried, Completely unnerved, ho
could not wrlto a lino and so an unemotional
copy reader wrote tho pen picture. Slnco
then, tho former cub reporter has blossomed
out until now tho world of readers knows
him as Reginald Wright Kauffmnn, whoso
lncomo from the moving picture rights of
"Tho Houso of Bondage" runs Into hundreds
n week.
ONLY those familiar with newspaper work
can conceive what a night like that of
tho Slocum disaster or tho Titanic tragedy
means. Real newspapermen do not get ex
cited, no matter what tho provocation. A
few hurried orders to reporters and pho
tographersa brief wlro to a correspondent
an order on the cashier for necessary funds
and, apparently, the thing Is done. But tho
collecting of a great news story one, two
or threo pages is not accomplished In an
hour or a day. The foundation has been laid
months and years before In tho upbuilding
of an organization. The managing editor,
tho news editor, the city editor know their
men they need simply start tho machine
going. -
Take the Titanic disaster as an example.
For fully IS hours the newspapers had known
intuitively that something was wrong with
the ship that news had been suppressed.
But what?
Then came the bare outline of tragedy
hints of awful things as yet untold whispers
of appalling loss of life. Tho machinery was
put to work tho wires clicked tho type
writers buzzed the story was printed and
the world shuddered!
And yet, simple as this seems, there were
stretches of 4S hours when newspapermen
stuck to their desks when wearied eyes and
strained nerves were on the point of capitu
lation. Still, it was alt in the day's work
and as such, done!
FRANCIS B. REEVES, of the Glrard Na
tional Bank, visited Russia in days gone
by and, as a matter of course, made a flying
trip to the estate of Leo Tolstoy altruist,
materialist, dreamer tho bete noir of tho
Russian reactionaries. Tho free. American
and the free Russian struck up a friendship
nnd discussed themes nearest their respective
hearts. Then came tho day of parting. Tol
stoy asked the banker to defer his departure.
"In America," explained Mr. Reeves, "time
Is money."
"What a low value you put on your time,"
retorted Tolstoy.
EVEN as our own Liberty Bell is cracked,
so has a similar mishap overtaken the
famous Roelandt bell In Ghent, next to Its
prototype in the Kremlin, Moscow, the most
noted of European bells. Roelandt Is tho
oldest bell In Belgium, having been cast In
1314, and forms ono of 41 chimes. On Its
face It bears tho following Inscription In
Flemish:
"My name Is Roelandt; when I toll, thero
is a fire: when I peal, therj Is a victory in
Flanders."
When the Due d'Alva proposed to Charles
V that ho should destroy the city, the sover
eign took him atop the belfry and, pointing
to Roelandt, asked:
"Comblen faudralt-il do peaux d'Espagno
pour fairo un Gant de cetto grandeur?"
(How many Spanish skins are needed to
make a glove of this size?)
Tho phrase was a play on words, Gand be
ing tho French for Ghent and being pro
nounced as his gant (glove).
The longing for another life la universal.
Surely that God-elven consciousness of selt
unworthlness, of dist-atisfactlon with condi
tions, is never more awakened than at this
tlmo of the year.
So let us awake to th opportunity with a
full realization that "fate" and "luck" and
"good fortune" come alone to those who con
tlnually strive; that increased wages, better
ment of condition and a fuller life aro but
the rewards of hontst labor, li.ielligent ap
plication and sincerity of purpose. This
Biirely is the moment for thoughtful eonsid
erntlon of tho future, and for ail, th lowly,
tho mediocre and the ffreat. to ejench flMs.
apply brains and buckle down to the work
which alono gives th reward so fondly
desired-
Coetho caught the spirit of the fall time
when he wrote:
Are you In tamest?
Seise this very minute.
What you can do or dream you can.
Begin U.
Boldness has semus, power and magic In It,
Only engage and then the mind Brows heated.
Begin and then the work will be compltteij,
A Truco for Three Yoars
GOVERNMENT by personality is 6ojna
thing that we can never get away from
in this country. It Is legitimate and incvit.
able, but It is not by any means suBlelent
for tho purposes and requirements of demo
cratic self-government.
The striking miners of Colorado have voted
to accept President Wilson's proposal for a
three-year truce. It wa reasonable and
patriotic action, nnd shouUJ oe followed by
similar action on the part of the mine
owners. Mere peace is not, of course, a eoj
(ion of the problems which underlie the situa
tion in Colorado, but those problems can
never bo solved and settleq- while both sldas
are at swords' points. A truco will gradually
lead the way to calmer Judgment.
Without President Wilson's, interposition,
apparently, the f'moil and chaos would
have continued Indefinitely. The fact that is
plainest is the fact that the constitutional
nnd democratic resources of Colorado have
proved Inadequate to their task. So far as
the Issues involved in tne nistory oi ine
is restored.
Readers of British political news before tho
war broke out remember bow it waa pre
dicted dally that the Ahqulth Ministry was
doomed. Tho Ulster army revolt seemed tho
last straw, but when real war came and In
volved the Empire, partisan lines vanished;
a party Government became the National
Government by unanimous consent, In fact
as well as in name, and Lord Kitchener, a
thorough-going Tory, sits in the Liberal
Cabinet and conducts its War Department,
Of course, the war precipitated an unusual
crisis and called forth emergency measures
of heroio national patriotism. It put a strain
upon all tho links in the chain of national
integrity. One result has been to subject the
theory of purely partisan civil government
to on odd tost, which Bhows it not to be an
absolute necessity.
If the war shall teach Europe this lesson,
tt may ho that tho world wilt discover a new
method in the science of efficient govern- i
ment. Proved by a crucial test to be noees- I
sary in war time, why should this new J
method be lass desirable in the piping times
of peace? I
Belgium also 3 Ashtlng for honwrule. j
Sir Wonel Cnrdon will soon talk hlmsolf
out of tho diplomatic class.
The German colors aro being driven out of
Prance, but American dry goods manufac
turers can't get enough of them-
Senator La I'ollette la Bald to have "preal
flentlal plans," but there aro some who doubt
whether be has tho specifications.
That youth of ancient days who fired the
temple of Ephesus had nothing on the Ser
vlan boy who fired ft gu at the Aus
trian Grand Duke and Puchesg.
The report that the German retreat was
awkward and disorderly is not surprising.
They had not been having much experience
in that particular maneuver.
Some protest has been aroused In Brooklyn
by the action of a Magistrate there whoso
sentences against reckless autumobilists are
said to be too severe. But is such a, thing
APHILA DELPHI AN. traveling through
. the South, camo upon one of tho largest
' manufactories of smoking tobacco In the
world. Impelled by curiosity he visited tho
I place. At the railroad siding stood a freight
car. Curiosity again caused investigation,
! Tho freight car was loaded to the brim
i with alfalfa!
And not ho long ago a freight car, filled
with peanut sholls, was wrecked In West
; Virginia. Tho bill of lading showed that It
I was consigned to n Western breakfast food
i foundry.
A MAORI was arraigned In a police court
In tho Antipodes the other day about
ftvo weeks ago, according to the date of the
' information. Through his left ear was stuck
! a black stick, iooklng like a slate pencil.
"What Is that in your ear?" asked the
magistrate.
"Dynamite," responded the black. They
led him gently nnd gingerly Into the court
yard and separated him from tho explosive.
I Which shows that even on tho other side of
I the world the "safety first" campaign has
' made headway. BRADFORD.
strike are concerned, President Wilson's pervtijoisible?,
The Dum-dum Myth
From the Boton Herald.
The Kaiser's charge that both Franco and
England have been using dum-dum bullets la
merely an echo of a similar accusation against
tho Germans made at the outset of the war
by the French- Both charges are surely un
founded. They grow out of the hysteria and
Vilification which ore among war's lesser by
products. No one seriously believes that any
llberately engaged In violating those principles
which have given 'modern warfare the paradoxi
cal qualification of "civilized."
CUIUOSITY SHOP
Aesop'3 fable about the youth who cried
"wolf" until no ono believed him Is based upon
' the silence of the Amyclaeans. So often had
i tlu- inhabitants of Amycluea been alarmed by
the rumors that the Spartans were coming that
1 they made a decree that no one should ever
i atiuln mention the matter. When the Spartans
! actually came no one "mentioned the matter,"
! and so tho city was captured.
In June, 1SS3. the schooner LAraietad sailed
from Havana for Principe with a large number
' of slaves who had been kidnapped from Africa.
i En route, the blacks rose and Wiled all save
1 two of the white crew The latter steered the
vessel north. Instead of to the African coast
I as directed, and tho schooner was eventually
seised by Lieutenant Gcdney, of the United
States brig Washington, nnd taken to Now
London. Tho Spanish Minister demanded the
dellvory of tho slaves, so they might bo taken
to Cuba for trial. ,
President Van Buren was anxious to comply,
for tho sake of comity, but tho Anti-Slavery
Society obtained counsel and the United States
District Court decided that even under Spanish
law slave trade was Illegal and that tho
negroes wero frco men,
Tho Circuit Court nfilrmcd this decision, nnd
In March, 18-it, tho Supremo Court followed
suit. In this tribunal, John Qulncy Adams
espoused tho cause of the Blaves without re
muneration. They were sent back to Africa
In an American vessel,
Tho "Appeal to Battle," by which a man
might fight with his accuser, remained on the
statute books of England until 1819.
IN A SPIRIT OF HUMOR
Circular Evolution
"Jim" errand boy.
"James" office boy.
"Brown" clerk.
"Mr, Drown" head clerk.
"Brown" Junior member of the firm.
"James" son-in-law of head of firm.
"Jim" head of the llrm and power on tho
street. St. Louis Mirror.
A Fine Poem
It's tough to dock a Congressman
For work ho hasn't done
It Is a fine, and I opine
It Isn't any fun.
If wo taxed all our Congressmen
For work, they didn't do,
A lot would got Into our debt
A million bones or two.
Louisville Courier-Journal.
Too Persuasive
"But how did ho happen to get engaged
to tho girl If ho doesn't lovo her?"
"Why, ho says ho wns convincing when
ho merely meant to bo plausible." Judge,
Superfluous
"Will I get everything I pray for, mamma?"
Mother (cautiously): "Everything that's good
for you, dear."
Marjorle (disgustedly): "Oh, what's tho use,
then; I get that, anyway.-' Life.
The Minister and Others
"Our minister," said Mrs. Oldeastle, "appearn
to bo a real altruist."
"Oh, I think you must be mistaken," replied
Mrs. Gottalotte. "It seems to me by the sound
of his volco that he must bo a baBS." Judge.
The Retort Juvenile
Mamma Johnny, see that you give Ethel tho
lion's share of that orange.
Johnny Yes'm.
Ethel Mamma, he hasn't given me any.
Johnny Well, thnt's all right. Lions don't cat
oranges. Kansas City Times.
A Sharp Lad
"What do you expect to bo when you grow up.
little boy?"
"A man."
"Very good; very good. And what sort of a
man?"
"Ono that Isn't always asking questions."
Detroit Free Tress.
860
Somebody Is with the Boston Transcript, as
you will notice from the following pair of quo
tations: Hub I've given up drinking, smoking and
golf to please you, still you're not satisfied.
Xow what else do you want me to give up?
Wife Well, you might give up ?C0. I need
a new gown. Boston Transcript.
Mudgn Here's a man figured out that If all
tho money In the world were divided equally
each adult would get about $30.
Meek IIo's wrong. My wife would get JCO.
Boston Transcript.
The Sword and the Censor
It is remarked by the Boston Transcript
that the blue pencil is mightier than the
pen.
A Kicking Bco
While. kicking a mule for kicking another
mule. Worn Holloway was severely kicked
by his father's mule, which he was correct
ing. Had ho not received tho kick on tho
arm. no doubt ho would have boon moro se
verely hurt. Prescott (Ark.) News.
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA
At Least
Our olllco mathematician has it figured
out that If all the war strategists who never
saw Europe, never read a book of military I
tactics, never even pulled a trigger, were i
chloroformed and laid end to end (as we I
nften wish thev mlnht hnl. Iliov would form I
a line long enough to girdle tho earth II
times nt tho Equator. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Equality of Sex
There Is a little girl In Springfield, Mass.,
who, like many of her sex, resents the imputa
tion that tho feminine mind Is not so strong as
the masculine.
One day her mother remarked on the apparent
lack of Intelligence in a hen.
"You can't teacli a hen anything," she said.
"They have done more barm to the gurdrn
than a drove of cattle would. You can teach
a cat, a dog or a pig something, but a hen
never!"
"H'm!" exclaimed the child, Indignantly. "I
think they know as much ns the roosters!"
Youth's Companion.
"The Battle of the Ballots"
The conflict In Maine Is described as follows
by the New York World:
The battle In Maine appears to have been a
great strategic victory. Tho army of tho Crown
Brlnce of tho Progressives, which occupied tho
extreme left of the line, was forced back upon
the Roosevelt fortifications, and the first, eec
nnd, third, fourth and fifth armies of the old
Nelson Blngley standpatters, pivoting upon
Portland In an attempt to effect a turning
movement, wero cut In two and put to rout.
In spite of the censorship, enough is known to
make It clear that the rond to a Woodrow Wil
son majority In the Sixty-fourth Congress is
open, with nothing likely to Interfere except
a few standpat aeroplanes and an occasional
scouting party of Bull-Mooso uliians.
Forgotten
When the drums begin to rattle and tho
legions clash in battle,
Where Is Wied?
When the cannon do their roaring, and the
airships high are soaring,
Where Is Wled, Willie Wied?
Does ho seek an hour of quiet, free from
wranglo nnd from riot?
Where Is Wled?
Is he somewhere Idly fretting 'cause ho had
to stop Mpretting?
Where Is Wled, Willie Wled?
Cleveland Plain Dealer,
THE IMPERIAL COUSINS
Whose hand has set Europe's great vineyard
aflame?
Who was It laid fire to her rick?
Who trampled her fields in pursuing their
game?
Why? Willy and Georgle and Nick!
Who changed into beasts all her pcace.lovlns
sons
And taught them to malm and tq kill?
Who gave them as food to the cannibal puns?
Why! Nicky and Georgle and Willi
Whose pathway Is strewn with dire ruin and,
waste?
Who the vultures with carrion gorge?
What vandals have Art and fair Nature de
faced?
Why! Willy and Nicky and George!
How long shall this militant sport be endured?
How long ere Is snuffed out the wh-k
Of Moloch's fell torch, and our peace be as
sured Trom Georgle and Willy and Nick?
N. .W, in the New York Times.
FEW renders were worried when thoy read
n few weeks ago that a strange sect, hold
ing n camp meeting in West Philadelphia, had
announced that tho world waa coming to an
end on tho 29th or the 30th of tho present
month. No excitement followed this weird
proclamation, but what a dlfferenco thero
waa In Philadelphia, In 1844, when tho Mliler
ltes were aroused by a similar belief t
It was Just such strango propheclea which
tho educated regarded with Indifference that
made life worth living 70 years ago. Pcoplo
then wero thirsting for excitement of any
kind, nnd they welcomed Miller's prediction
as a break In tho monotony of life.
Tho story of tho MUlcrltcs nnd their belief
la that of ono of those popular delusions
which scorn to havo made their appearance
In every ngo. Tho present generation docs
not have to be reminded of Dowle, whoso
Ideas, whllo not quite so weird, attll wero
stifllctcntly different to arouse general in
terest. In the past there was a number of
delusions that took the public by storm and
hold them until the true character of tho
belief became npparcnt. Tho tulips that wo
can buy today for a few cents onco wero Bold
for fortunes In Holland during the rago of
the tulip mania. You see, these delusions aro
not always of a religious character. Tho
tulip mania was purely speculative nnd had
been nursed to perfection by unscrupulous
manipulators.
But this la wnndorlng from my subject. I
wanted to say something about William Mil
ler and his delusion that sent dozens of
weak-minded persons Insane, and in Bomo
localities ruined numerous persons.
Miller was born In Massachusetts, hut ho
was a resident of Low Hampton, In tho
northeastern part of Now York, when he an
nounced his calculation of tho date of tho
second coming of Christ. Whllo a young
man he had confessed himself an atheist.
Ho had served ns a captain of Infantry In
tho United States army in the War of 1812,
and It was not until long after that conflict,
or In ISIS, that he suddenly became religious.
Then ho began to study tho Bible, but ho
also began to calculato tho time when Christ
was to appear on earth ngaln, nnd finally ho
declared that he had overcome all difficulties
and had reached the conclusion that the dato
would bo In tho spring of tho year 1S43.
Of course, n great deal of this got Into
printed form, and soon he had convinced
numerous persons who were willing follow
ers. Tho delusion spread rapidly, but, of
course, had Its greatest vogue when the tlmo
Miller had set approached.
Miller's theory of tho second Advent was
founded upon his Interpretation of tho real
meaning of tho terms days, weeks and years
in tho Old Testament. I will not attempt to
bore anybody by repeating his Interpreta
tions, and there would not bo sulllclent space
hero to do It, But I can assure any In
credulous reader that It was much like
Ignatius Donnelly's famous cryptogram In
Shnkespcaro In ono respect: you could not
find tho answer even after you had the rule
to find It. No one ever could work out Don
nelly's cryptogram, and, perhaps, as ho was
a very bright man, ho did not Intend they
should.
Tho first date sot for the second Advent by
Miller was April 14, 1843. Tho disciples
awaited the day with "deepest solicitude,"
but when it arrived nothing happened. But
they wero not discouraged. They were as
sured that ancient chronology was not thor
oughly understood and that a few months
moro or less might elapse before tho wel
come day arrived.
In tho meantime, Miller had a stono wall
built on his farm and there was a good deal
of talk about It. Some prying ones d- dred
to know what he Intended to do with a stono
wall if ho was so soon to leave this world.
It also was charged that Miller had refused
to sell his farm; and tho newspapers were
asking him pointedly what he needed a farm
for. They also took ono of his disciples,
J. V. Himes, of Washington, to task because
he wns engaged In publishing and selling
"moro than 5,000,000 books nnd papers."
They added by way of comment that "He
must be engaged In a speculation," and
thereupon scouted the truthfulness of tho
prophecy.
But, as In the case of all delusions, Miller
had followers in many parts of the Eastern
United States. They were pretty well repre
sented In Philadelphia. When tho first dato
had failed Miller promptly referred to tho
occasional failures of even Biblical prophets,
and announced that very probably his calcu
lations had been wrong. Ho then asserted
that on October 22, 1844, the second Advent
would occur.
This statement was made very positively,
and the Adventlsts became very deeply
interested. As tho tlmo approached some of
tho followers gave away their property.
Storekeepers disposed of their stocks to who
ever desired them for nothing. In one sec
tion of tho country as many as 1C persons
became insane. Some of them wero not even
followers of Miller, but were afraid that ho
might speak tho truth.
When the day arrived the Philadelphia
followers of Miller went to Darby, where they
nwnlted the end of the world. There wero
moro than a thousand of them, nnd thoy
began to pray and sing.
But It rained. Thoy wero very distressed,
and when they found the day was not tho
day, thoy waited till the morrow, Then there
was moro rain, nnd tho majority of the Mll
lorites plodded their weary way back to tho
city along tho Darby road. A few were
willing to give Miller another 24 hours of
grace, but they, too, found his calculations
we'ro inaccurate.
When the excitement was at its height,
thero wero advertisements in the daily news
papers of "ascension robes," and one store
had a placard in Its window to Inform
passers-by that "muslin for ascension robes"
wns gold there.
There Is none of this kind of excitement
now. Few persons havo even remembered
that tho enthusiasts who hold what they called
un "npostollu camp meeting" last month in
West Philadelphia and who are rather Irrev
ently referred to as the "Holy Rollers," have
deckled that tho world is to come to an end
within the next two weeks,
GRANVILLE.
THE IDEALIST
Wise was the man who said, "A punishment
that degrade the punished will degrade the
man who Inflicts it."
Hero is a little story about a man who Is
tho figure of power In a little church not far
from our city. You know the kind of man I
moan Some men. by very reason of their
dominating personalities rather than their
executive ability, naturally gravitate to posi
tions where those about them look up to them
a a matter of course. ,
One evening this man passed a young member
of ii-s church on a. stre t corner In fact the
young man was the organist, and in receipt of
a modest salary for his services. H -a .mt
Inff n nlo-ftr. onion
Forthwith the elder mnn grew angry. He rtM
not smoke, did not believe In smoking nZ
believe In It. At his direction, a meetlnJ -It
the trustee of the church was Immediate!'
calledi nnd the organist was dismissed from Its
Bervlce,
Nnttirally, the young fellow launched Intn
.....uo .. tiiuiunvB una against everybody
In them, Which, of course, wns all wroniT
But how about tho aolf-clalmed Christianity Bf
this church leader? y ol
Suppose he had gono to tho young man In
fatherly way and put tho proposition In thl
fashion "Now, my boy, one of us Is wroni
over and find out which of us Is wrong."
reached. Perhaps the young man would haw
eft his position simply because the elder mil
had convinced him that his example was 5
v, ". .. . . " v"";u ueiuiu ma younger ln
But tho " nnrW l,r.o . ,..". r '-
.... b..uuv .v 1'vnurm nn tin.
christian act! one quite incompatible with ti.
founder's bw nf uniimnn- ,.,. i t. . " !n
the young man before tho other members of
Doesn't your conception of real Christian
TJ1CJ, rk, you bcll6V0 ,hat '' ainM
THE IDEALIST.
OPPOSED TO DOCTOR BRUMBAUGH
To the. KAltn . p..i .. wvi
,Tt , aur supp?" uf Boc'or Brumbaugh and
not of Senator Penrose Is very mystlfytlff ",
niO. 11 not to mnnU ntlior vnleta 41.nitl .
& rM! " ?.-??? .. thut Boctw
L l ,..B . '" uul" icuncss ami noncst. hm
what will that amount to should a I'cnroso Ui.
ISlalUro hn Blrnfiwl? t ,l,. ....... ..""
Brumbaugh be of any service to the people J
bringing about the reforms that the people at
Pennsylvania aro so eagerly waiting for? Tm.
Ihn nlntform Ihnt nnnin. iihi.....j. "
nateel on pledges to us all thoso icforms bul
.... ,,,. ,, tCi,uuucn piauorm8 winch wen
launched by Penrose and his lieutenants done
the same thing? e
.,Has.,.' m4 ,D.oe.t?r Brumbaugh been the head of
tho Philadelphia schools for a great many
years? Has any ono In these many yearn ever
hoard of him In any way urging any ot tho re.
forms which his platform now offers to the
r., i. i , . . . THOMAS HUHLKT.
Philadelphia, September IB, 1014.
PRAISES TRANSIT EDITORIAL
To the Editor of the Evcntnn I.i-dnm
Sir I want to take advantage of your open
iuiuiimi iui- lunula ironi me peopio to say a
-ui vuuutuj-j' wuru iiuout your euuorini in to
nlirllt'n tastm tn tltn frmidlt ctlitnfln., 1i.,,-j..
phla Is a great big rich city, and If anybody
or any corporation expects to keep us taxpayers
iium (ittuiiK mini wo neeu moro win nave to
bo another guess. Thnt's my guess and that ot
most i-iiiiaacipniaris. Jvecp up your good work
along this line.
I am glad to see a paper with two "front"
pages so that one of them can bo devoted to
local news. Mnybo that Idea hns been applied
n nntt'dnnnoii hnfn.n l...t .., ... ... t... , . .
Anyway, It Is a good one, and shows horn Im-
jiunuiit juu tunsmtir me manors pertaining to
viui tiij. j., XJ. IUlll
Philadelphia, September 16, 10H.
OBJECTS TO COMIC PICTURES
To the Editor ot the Evening Lcrloer:
Pormlt me to congratulate tho Evonlns
Ledger, not only for what It represents, but fo!
tho omission of tho alleged comic pictures,
which, to my mind, aro an Insult to the Intel
ligent reading public.
For years wo have been nffllcteu with ire
antics of Impossible "kids," with the buffoonery
of still more Impossible beings, apparently men.
Comic (?) artists havo Inflicted upon a long-
suffering public atrocltlos of pen and ink.
And now, nt last, wo havo a paper which ap
peals to the Intellect rather than to tho evl'
doutly atrophied sense of mora or less humor.
Thnnlt you, and for goodness soke, don t re
lapse into humorous barbarism. We are willing
to stand for a reversion to type but not romlM.
It. J. MUUPHT,
Philadelphia, September 1C, 1914.
A WORD FOR ELLEN ADAIR
To the Editor of tho Evening Ledger:
Sir May I add a line of appreciation for thl
excellent showing your paper has made durlrj
tho first threo days ot Its existence? I hae
been more than pleased with the articles ot
Ellen Adair. Thero Is a tono of sincerity ar.l
truth about her writing which Is frequently
lacking In the conventional articles often founl
on a woman's pnge. I hope she will continue to
wrlto her experiences. READER
Philadelphia, September 16, 1914.
TRAISE FOR WHOLESOME HUMOR
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir I havo been a reader of the Public
LEUanit for 20 years. You havo my consratuli
tlona and best wishes for the success of tht
Evening edger. i have ncen particularly in'
picssed with the high-class and wliolesora
humor which Is found on your editorial past
One of the curses of tho average evening paper
Is tho presenco of slap-stick humor. Why don't
you secure the services of a good cartoonist
M. s. a
Melroso Park, Pa., September 10, 1911.
NOW EVENING LEDGER READER
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir Just a good wish from an old reader t
the Public BGnacn. If you maintain the saml
standard which you have sot for the past three
days I am sure that the people of this city wW
appreciate tho service you render tho cow
munity. R
Norrlstown, Pn September 1G, 1914.
Praise From Up-State
.From tlie Carlisle (Pa.) Evenlns Herald.
Tho new Evening LEDaisn, sister publication
of the Pirnuc Lnnanii, made its debut 1
evening and was cordially received. TM
same vast volume of nows which is char
acteristic of tho morning Bbdquh was
parent in tho latest publication. We in
spected closely both editions nnd each Jjj
marked by a host of fresh news stories. To'
success of the new Journal is assured.
How Warren Views Penrose
From the Warren, Pa., Evening Times.
Tho defeat of Senator Penrose this fall wow
mean a rehabilitated and united IlepublWt
party. It would be a party that could be prom
of Its ability to overthrow the ignorance, po
litical debauchery and uncleanness tai i r
eence nro I'enroselsm.
Railroads and Relief
Frnm the Chattnnooim. Times.
The railroads have been Instructed to I,rff
tariffs for all services thoy now perfwin w'
out charge, tho commission In the meantw
resuming consideration of the petition for '
vanclug rates, this time It is said more unaer
ctnnilltii'K- f unl mnrn Rvmnn t hptlpallv. Wwa
affords a hope that they will provide a tw
and complete measure of relief.
NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW
When we read the statement, "Huenos AW
Is to have another subway," we are Lompeu
to admit that there la a spirit of enterpnr
In the South American capital that we J.
lonuiy tnougnt or as peculiar to uui"'
New York Evening Post.
The war (Ills the newspapers, weeklies,
one magazine has gone so fur as to Prln'.1j
lireiy a wnuie lasuo uevoieu to iiiu .. ,&
vttrlnilH ufllirtR Whpn lilufnrv la beillti '
children aro eager to know about it.
schools must respond to the demand. Balffl
News.
Unless the Itepublicans want to see Tammg
sweep New York by a far blggtr margin w
that of the Democrats in Maine, they win v
Inate a Progressive Pepubllean State tic
headed by Hlnman. New York Tribune-
In Slalne the diversion of even l7'WJ,L:l
from the Republican candidates was sumu (,
to elect the Democratic candidates, but i
positive factor In American politics thbl6j
gresslvo party has ceased to exist. Alu
IN. Y.) Journal.
In opening the sanitary conference in ,
toga, Commissioner Biggs said that 'be,7,,t0f
uepartnient of Health has adopted as i ";
"Public Health Is Purchasable." There i "JJ
not be a better one. Public health is. J fi
yunuaetiuiB, UUIJiauliy SHU (ll ..n;
to buy things of less importance. &
aay we may Do wiser. New Xorit wo"