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EVENING LEDG3ER PHILADELPHIA, THTTESDAY, SEPTEMBEB 17, 19145.
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115-!
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EVENING SA& LEDGER
PUnLIC LEDGER COMPANY
cvnt'sH k ct'nTis. rRMinisNT.
John (Irlbbel. VlreFeMnt . Oeo. V Oulu, Secretary i
John l Martin. Trcnnm ; t'hiirle It. t.tidlngton,
Philip 8. Collins, John H William. Directors.
i:DITOUtAL DliARU:
Ctm r It. K. Cmtn, Clialrmnn.
P lT.WItAM.V. Exwiitlvc lMHnr
JOHN' C. MAUTIN' Ctfnornl Itmlness Manager
Published ilnllv nt t'cnttc t.finnt-R ItulMliiff,
lmL-r-pnilence frpmro riilln.leHihlrt
I-rnnER CF.vrmr llroad nnJ Chestnut Street
Atlantic Citt I'tfM-rnlon HulMlhK
New TnnK 1 iQ-A, Metropolitan Tower
CmcAno Rl7 Home Insurance Uutldlhg
London S Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, 3. W.
N'nwsumuArst
ITAtmKnrno Ht'REAU The JMfrlnf llulMlns
Waiiioton IHrkiu ...,..., The I'ost itulldlnjr,
New yoiuc HtREiu.... The Ttmtt MulMIng
Biar.tv lit'RPtc , mi Krleilrlrhtra;a
I,aMio.N lit nnu i! Pall Mall lt, S. W.
Paris Ucreau 82 lluo Louis le uraiid
sonal force and Influence will govern Colo
rado Until the strlko Is settled. It Is not
settled yet, and will not bo settled till reason
and Justlco prevail. Tho trueo gives nit
parties time for sober second thought. It
gives Colorado another opportunity to prove
Its capacity for self-government.
PASSED BY THE CENSOR
St lC!llPlU)NTi:ttM3
By carrier, fruit Onm lx cents. Ily tnftll, peMpftl.t
ttutalde of I'hlhiitdphla. ecept whero foreign postnga
it required, Dun ovlt, one month, twenty-live cent:
DAttit Only, one year. threa Joltafs. All mall subscrip
tions pnnble In advance.
DELI, 3000 WAL.MT
KKYSTO.M? MUN 3000
CT" -4rflrM oil comtntiillcrtftorH to Evening
Ledger, Intlriirndrncr Squnrr. Vhlladrlphin
ArPMCAT.ON HI)B AT Till! Plltt tCt,Pttlt roltOfrFICH POtt
hNTRV AX SEenMl-ClASR MAtl MATTKB.
riittnmriiix, Titrittim, M-t'ittMliKit it, iui4
"Unclean! Unclean!"
Tlin personality of Woodrow Wilson has
powerfully impressed the country. Ills
obvious sincerity nf purpose nnd hla clear
moral vision have given him strength out of
all proportion to the peculiar economic theo
ries he espouses. Put to one side the business
of tho country, and he has measured Up In a
remarkable decree to tho political Ideals of
the nation. He Is at once the leader and the
Impetus of thu Democratic party, which has
followed him wherover he led without regard
to traditional principles or historic purpose.
The glamour of tho President's morality
makes it Impossible for any party to defeat
him unless It enters the arena with hands
as clean as his. His economic theories, if
weighed on an even scale with Republican
principles, would be utterly repudiated by
the national electorate. But Pennsylvania Is
asked to manhandle Republicanism, to tie it
up with a cause that Is utterly discredited,
to retain in Its leadership a man whoso name
Is "used to frighten children with" In many
part3 of the Union. "Unclean! Unclean!"
That Is the answer to men who Insist that
tho country can bo fooled Into accepting
Penroseism in national affairs. It would bo
Just as sensible to ask the nation to send tho
plague to Washington.
What's tho Use?
THE rehabilitation of the Republican party
Is essential to tho prosperity of tho na
tion. It cannot be rehabilitated In ono State!
it must bo rehabilitated In many States. It
cannot be rehabilitated at all until tho soro
spots on It aro cured. Convalescence assumes
eradication of disease
No, It Is Penroseism that has given the
country n free-trade tariff. That tarllf will
bo perpetuated If Mr. Penrose Is Indorsed In
November. This Is so open nnd obvious n
proposition thnt politicians In Pennsylvania
aro tho only ones who do not understand It.
The way to get a protective tariff is to get n
Republican President and a Republican Con
gress. Mr. Penrose cannot get It. His Inilu
eneo lit Washington has dwindled to such an
extent that It Is scarcely known whether ho
is In town or out of town. Hven Republicans
who nro close to him are careful not to let
their constituencies know It. What's the uso
of having a Senator who must be apologized
for In nnd out of season?
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 they please tho stockholders In
the municipal corporation aro 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
lrast, are willing to dedicate the!- assets to
the great program. The obstructionists are
almost to Gettysburg
Golden Days of Opportunity
BpPME have come tho vacationists, the
. seashore harvest has been reaped, play
time is past, the thousands who laid down
daily tasks to relieve mind and body aro
again in tho ti .if daily occupation. The
ivy on walls i- ti itched with red, the trees
have taken their fringes of gold, while the
late corn, tho pumpkin and the grape alono
remain to be gathered the very air breathes
of the fall time.
"With bodies Invigorated by rest seasons,
with minds alert, with spirits afresh, let ua
approach this unborn future with a deter
mination nf 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 shapo the destiny of
our fellows; but to all Is given the oppor
tunity to work for self-service, to the con
secration ot idtals, to the fulfillment of de
sires. This is the time for a reconsecration
to definite purposes.
He who labors with bands often wearies of
Injustice, of prejudice, of class 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.
Lnvy for the rich, the powerful, the hetter
ducated, tho fortunate, Is In many hearts.
The longing for another life is universal.
Mtroly that God-given consciousness of self,
unworthlness, of dissatisfaction with condi
tions, Is never more awakened than at this
time 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
tinually strive: that Increased wages, better
roent ot condition and a fuller life aro but
the rewards of honi-st labor, Intelligent ap
plication and sincerity of purpose. This
purely is the moment for thoughtful consid
eration of the future, and for all. the lowly,
th medlocro and the great, to clench fists,
apply brains and buckle down to the work
which alono gives the rewards so fondly
desired.
Goethe caught the spirit of the fall time
when he wrote:
Are you in earnest?
Seize this very mlnuts.
What you con do or dream you can,
Begin It.
Ilnldness has genius, power and magic In H.
Only engage and then th mmd Brows heated.
Begin and then the work will be completed.
Mexicans Entitled to Govern Themselves
TH12 only excuse for keeping American
troops nt Vnia Cruz now would be tho
Intention to keep them there for nil time.
Mexico is ns quiet us 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 Governmcn' when It
took chargo of tho City ot Mexico, con
founded Its critics by preventing nil pillage
and outrage. In fact, considering the peculiar
circumstances under which tho nrmlcs were
recruited nnd the course pursued by them in
the early stages of tho conflict, their restraint
was remarkable. The Mexican1! aro entitled
to another chnnco to prove that they can
govern themselves.
Not Blue But Sane Laws
IK TIIOPI3 Interested in Innocent Sunday
amusements for the masses will present
rational arguments to the next Legislature
that body may consider tho repeal of anti
quated blue laws. The great mass of tho
public, men, women nnd children, who have
not tho means to go to tho shore or country
In summer, should have the legal right to
quiet amusements on the ono dny avail
able. The Christian religion is tho religion of
uplift, of happiness in this world, in prepara
tion for the next. Let tliero be a sane re
vision of the blue laws of mora than a
century ago statutes outworn, outlived and
perchance outclvilized.
A Strong Pull Together for the Port.
THE decision of the majority in Washing
ton to keep the "pork" in tho Rivers and
Harbors appropriation bill and excise appro
priations for such obviously necessary work
as tho 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 the business of tho United States,
but thero 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 tho world. Nature
has been prodigal enough, although requiring
a little coaxing It Is altogether probable
that the next Legislature will take up tin
matter in earnest. Philadelphia harbor la
one of the State's biggest assets. It should
bo treated and developed on this theory. The
Delaware Is the highway from Pennsylvnnlu
to tho world. Both it and the harbor must
be accommodated to the requirnments of
shipping, no matter what those requirements
may be.
A Good Pilot to Drop
MAINE has sounded the warning. The
Republican party must clear for action,
clean tho debris from the decks, sweop over
board Penroseism, Rarnesism, Lorimerism
and all the other "Ims ' which have fastened
themselves on the quarterdi-ck. A pilot who
can only run the craft into an Iceberg Is a
very good pilot to drop
A Truce for Three Years
GOVERNMENT by personality Is some,
thing that we can never get away from
in this country. It Is legitimate ana Inevit
able, but It Is not by any means sufficient
for the 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 was reasonable and
patriotic action, and should be followed by
similar action on the part of tha mine,
owners. Mere peace Is not, of course, a solu
tion of tho problems which underlie the situa
tion in Colorado, but those problems can
never bo solved and settled while both sides
are at swords' points. A truce will gradually
lead the way to calmer judgment.
Without President Wilson's Interposition,
apparently, the t---moH and chaos would
have continued lndeflnitely. The fact that is
plainest Is the fact that the constitutional
and democratic resources of Colorado have
proved Inadequate to their task. So far as
the Issues Involved In the history of the
Emergency Patriotism
THE old Idea of party government has been
given a severe jolt by the war. England
furnishes a case In point. It is worth con
sidering, even after the smoke of battle has
cleared away and peace or armed neutrality
is restored.
Readers of British political news before tho
war broke out remember how it was pre
dicted daily that the Asquith Ministry was
doomed. The Ulster army revolt seemed tho
last straw, but when real war came and in
volved tho Empire, partisan lines vanished;
o party Government became the National
Government by unanimous consent, In fact
as well as in name, and Lord Kitchener, a I
thorough-golne Tory, sits In the Liberal ;
Cabinet and conducts Us War Department.
Of course, the war prer-lpltatpd an unusual
crisis and called forth merBncy measures ;
of heroic national patriotism. It put a strain '
upon all the links in the chain of national
integrity. One result has bef,n to subject tho
theory of purely partisan civil government
to an add test, which shows it not to bo an
absolute necessity.
If tho war shall teach Europe this lesson,
It may be that tho world will discover a new
method In the science of efllclent sovern
ment Proved by a crur-lal test to be neces
sary In war time, why should this new
method b less desirable in the piping tlmea
of peace?
Belgium also Is fighting for home rule.
Sir Lionel Carden will soon talk hlrasslf
out of tho diplomatic class.
The German colors aro being driven out of
France, but American dry goods roanufac
turers can't get enough of them.
Minimi wv '" w iii-m""""" '
Senator La Follette Is said to have "nresl.
dentlal plans," but there are some who doubt
whether he has the speclflcattona.
That youth of ancient days who fired the
temple of Ephesus had nothing on the Ser
vian boy who fired a Bun at the Aus
trlan Grand Duke and Puchess.
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 whose
sentences against reckless automobilists are
said to be too severe. But is auth a thing
WHAT constitutes a successful play?"
asked David Uelasco In reply to a ques
tion. And then the ltttlo 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.
"The success of a play 13 duo to Its love
Btory, its stage pictures and Its underlying
theme. Tnke 7B per cent, stage pictures, a
plot and a good lovo theme and success Is
assured," said Uelasco, and then he added:
"Anybody can write somo sort of a play,
but It takes a genius to sell one."
SOME ton years ago last summer thero
came, wotd across tho wlies that tho
General Slocum had burned In tho East River
and that 1000 human beings, tho vast ma
jority women and children, had lost their
lives. On the staff of a Philadelphia paper
was a young reporter who had given indica
tions of nblllty in tho lino of descriptive
writing, and he was rushed to New York to
limn a pen picture of the horror as ho Baw it.
At S o'clock that night ho returned, went
to tho olllco of tho managing editor and sat
down and cried. , Completely unnerved, ho
could not write a line and so an unemotional
copy reader wroto the pen picture. SInco
then, tho former cub reporter has blossomed
out until now the world of readers knows
him as Reginald Wright Knuffman, whoso
Income from the moving picture rights of
"Tho House of Bondage" runs Into hundreds
a week.
ONLY those familiar with newspaper work
can conceive what a night llko that of
the Slocum disaster or the Titanic tragedy
means. Real newspapermen do not get ex
cited, no mutter whnt tho provocation. A
few hurried orders to reporters and pho
tographers a brief wire to a correspondent
an order on the cashier for necessary funds
and, apparently, tho thing Is done. But tho
collecting of a great news story one, two
or three pages la not accomplished In an
hour or a day. Tho foundation has been laid
months and years before In tho upbuilding
of an organization. Tho 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 4S hours the newspapers had known
intuitively thnt something was wrong with
tho 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. The machinery was
put to work the wires clicked the type
writers buzzed the story was printed and
tho world shuddered!
And yet, simple ns 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 all In the day's work
and as such, done!
FRANCIS B. REEVES, of the Glrard Na
tional Bank, visited Russia In days gone
j by and, as a matter of course, made a flying
I i. tn dm nstnfp nf T.po Tolstov altruist.
materialist, dreamer the beto nolr of tho
Russian reactionaries. The free American
nnd the free Russian struck up a friendship
and 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
I? 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
1 prototj pe in the Kremlin, Moscow, the most
noted of European bells. Roelandt is the
, oldest bell In Belgium, having been cast In
13U, and forms one of -14 chimes. On Its
! face It bears the following Inscription In
i Flemish:
! "My name is Roelandt; when I toll, thero
I is a Are: when I peal, thcrs Is a victory In
j Flanders."
When the Due d'Alva proposed to Charles
i V that ho should destroy the city, tho sover
eign took him atop tho belfry and, pointing
to Roelandt, asked:
"Combien faudrait-11 de peaux d'Espagno
I iinur falre un Gnnt do cetto grandeur?"
(How many Spanish skins are needed to
make a glove of this size?)
The phrase was a play on words, Gand be
ing tho French for Ghent and being pro
nounced as his gant (glove).
strike aw concerned. President Wilson's perv,j jgosible2
A,
-"fc,'i-7-"fal- - - -r
t
APHILADELPHIAN, traveling through
. tho South, camo upon one of the largest
manufactories of smoking tobacco In the
world. Impelled by curiosity he visited tho
place. At the railroad siding stood a freight
car. Curiosity again caused Investigation.
The freight car was loaded to the brim
with alfalfa!
And not so long ago a freight car, filled
with peanut hholls, was wrecked in West
Virginia. The bill of lading showed that It
was consigned to a Western breakfast food
foundry.
A MAORI was arraigned In a police court
la tho Antipodes the other day about
flvo weeks ago, according to the date of the
information. Through his left ear was stuck
a black stick, looking like a slate pencil.
"What Is that in your ear?" asked the
magistrate.
Pynamlto," responded the black. They
led him gently and gingerly into the court
yard and separated him from tho explosive.
Which shows that even on tho other side of
tho world tho "safety first" campaign has
mado headway. BRADFORD.
The Dnm-dum Myth
prom the noston Herald.
The Kaiser's charge that both France and
England have been using dum-dum bullets Is
merely an echo of a elmllar accusation against
the Germans made nt the outset of the war
by the French. Both charges are surely un
founded. They grow out of the hysteria and
vilification which are among war's leaser by
products. No one seriously believes that any
of the combatant nations are officially and de
liberately engaged In violating those principles
Which have Klvn modern warfare the paradoxi
cal qualification ot "civilized."
CURIOSITY SHOP
Aesop's fable about the youth who cried
olf" until no one believed him Is based upon
the etlewe of the AmyclaeanB. So often had
the Inhabitants of Amyclaea been alarmed by
the rumors that the Spartans were coming that
they made a decree that no one should ever
-" L. ,, when tha Hmm...
Uiiiu ineimuu mo oin.- ...-- .-- -.,-. .,a
actually came no ono "mentioned tho matter,"
and so the city was captured.
In June. 1SS9. the schooner L'Amlstad. Balled
from Havana for Principe with a large number
of slaves who had been kidnapped from Africa.
En route, the blacks rose and killed all save
two of the white crew The latter steered th
vessel north. Instead of to the African coast
as directed, od tie schooner was eventually
Aclwd by Lieutenant tledncy, of the' United
States brig Washington, nnd taken to Now
London. Tho Spanish Minister demanded the
delivery of tho slaves, so they might be takon
to Cuba for trial.
President Van Buren was anxious to comply,
for the snkc of comity, but the Anti-Slavery
Society obtained counsel and the United States
District Court decided that oven under Spanish
law slave trado was Illegal nnd that tho
ncaroes wcro free men.
The Circuit Court nfllrmed this decision, nnd
In March, 1811, the Supremo Court followed
suit. In this tribunal, John Qulncy Adams
espoused tho cause of tho slaves without re
muneration. Thoy were sent back to Africa
in an American vessel,
Tho "Appeal to Battle," by which a man
might fight with his nceusor, remained on tho
statuto books of England until 1819.
IN A SPIRIT OF HUMOR
Circular Evolution
"Jim" errand boy.
"James" office boy.
"Brown" clerk,
"Mr, Brown" head clerk.
"Brown" Junior member ot the firm.
"James" son-in-law of head of firm.
"Jim" head of the llrm and power on the
street. St. Louts Mirror.
A Fine Poem
It's tough to dock a Congressman
For work ho hasn't done.
It la a line, and I opine
It iBii't any fun.
If wo taxed all our Congressmen
For work, they didn't do,
A lot would get 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 he doesn't love her?"
"Why, ho says he was convincing when
he merely meant to bo plausible." Judge.
Superfluous
"Will I get everything I pray for, mamma?"
Mother (cautiously): "Everything that's good
for you, dear."
Morjorle (disgustedly): "Oh, what's the uso,
then; I get that, anyway." Life,
The Minister and Others
"Our minister," said Mrs. Oldcastlo, "appears
to be a real altruist."
"Oh, I think you must bo mistaken," replied
Mrs. Gottalottc. "It seems to me by the sound
of his voice that he must be a bass." Judge.
The Retort Juvenile
Mamma Johnny, see that you give Ethel tho
lion's share of that orange.
Johnny Ycs'm.
Ethel Momma, ho hnsn't given mo any.
Johnny Well, that's all right. Lions don't eat
oranges. Kansas City Times.
A Sharp Lad
"What do you expect to be when you grow up
little boy?" I
"A man."
"Very good; very good. And what sort of a
man?"
"Ono that Isn't always asking questions."
Detroit Free Press,
S60
Somebody is with the Boiton Transcript, as
you will notice from the following pair of quo
tations: Hub I've given up drinking, smoking nnd
golf to please you, still you're not satislled.
Now what else do you want me to give up?
Wife Well, you might give up ?C0. I need
a new gown. Bbston Transcript.
Mudge Here's a man figured out that if all
the money In the world were divided equally
carh adult would get nbout $30.
Meek lie's wrong. My wife would get ?C0.
Boston Transcript.
The Sword and the Censor
It Is remarked by tho Boston Transcript
that the blue pencil is mightier than the
pen.
A Kicking Ree
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 he would have been inoro se
verely hurt. Prescott (Ark.) News
At Least
Our ofllce mathematician has It figured
out that if all the war strategists who never
saw Europe, never read a book of military
tactics, never even pulled a trigger, were
chloroformed and laid end to end (as wo
often wish they might be), they would form
a lino long enough to girdle tho earth 11
times at the Equator. St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Equality of Sex
There is a little girl In Springfield. Mats.,
who, like many of hor sex, resents the Imputa
tion that the 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 teach a hen anything," she said.
"They have done more harm to tho garden
than a drove of cattle would. You can teach
a cat, a i.g or a pig something, but a hen
never!"
"H'm!" exclaimed the child, Indignantly. "I
think they know as much ns the roostors!"
Youth's Companion.
"The Battle or the Ballots"
The conflict In Maine Is described as follows
by the New York World:
Tho battle in Maine appears to have been a
great strategic victory. Tho army of tho Crown
Prince of tha Progressives, which occupied tho
extreme left of the line, was forced back upon
the Roosevelt fortlflcutions, and the tirst, sec
ond, third, fourttt and fifth armies nf the old
Nelson Dlngley standpatters, pivoting upon
Portland in an attempt to effect a turning
movement, were cut In two and put to rout.
In spite of the censorship, enough Is known to
moke It clear that the rood to a Woodrow Wil
son majority In the Sixty-fourth Congress Is
open, with nothing likely to Interfere oxcept
a few standpat aeroplanes and an occasional
scouting party of Bull-Moose uhlans.
Forgotten
When the drums begin to rattle nnd tho
legions clash In battle,
Whero Is Wied?
When the cannon do their roaring, and the
airships high are soaring,
Where is Wled. Willie Wied?
Does ho seek an hour nf quiet, free from
wrangle and from riot?
Where Is Wied?
Is he somewhere idly fretting 'cause he had
to stop Mprettlng?
Where is Wled, Willie Wled?
Cleveland Plain Dealer.
THE IMPERIAL COUSINS
Whoso hand has set Europe's great vineyard
aflame?
Who was It laid fire to her rick?
Who trampled her fields In pursuing their
game?
Why7 Willy and Georgia and Nick!
Who changed Into beasts all her peace-loving
sons
And taught them to malm and to kH?
Who gave them as food to the cannibal guns?
Why! Nicky and Georgia and Will!
Whose pathway Is strewn with dire ruin nd
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 tho wick
Of Moloch's fell torch, and our peace be as
sured From Georgia and Willy and Nli-k?
N. yf. In tha New Xork Time
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA
171DW readers wero worried when they read
. a few weeks ngo that a strange sect, hold
ing a camp meeting In West Philadelphia, had
announced thnt tho world was coming to an
end on tho 29th or tho 80th of tho present
month. No excitement followed this weird
proclamation, but what a difference thero
was In Philadelphia, In 1S44, when tho Mlller
ltea wore aroused by a similar belief I
It was Just Buch stranco prophecies which
tho cdticutcd regarded with Indlfforenco that
mado llfo worth living 70 years ago. Peoplo
then wero thirsting for excitement of any
kind, nnd they welcomed Miller's prediction
ns a break In tho monotony of life.
Tho story of tho Mlllerltcs and their belief
Is that of ono of thoso popular delusions
which seem to havo mado their appearance
In every age. Tho present generation does
not havo to bo reminded of Dowlc, whoso
Ideas, whllo not quite so weird, still wcro
sufliclently different to arouso general in
terest. In tho past thero was a number of
delusions that took tho public by storm and
hold them until the truo character of tho
belief became apparent. The tulips that wo
can buy today for a few cents onco wero sold
for fortunes In Holland during the rngo of
tho tulip mania. You sco, these doluslons aro
not always of a religious character. Tho
tulip mania was purely speculative and had
been nursed to perfection by unscrupulous
manipulators.
But this Is wandering from my subject. I
wnntcd to say something about William Mil
ler nnd his delusion that sent dozens of
weak-minded persons Insane, nnd In somo
localities ruined numerous persons.
Miller was born in Massachusetts, but ho
was a resident of Low Hampton, In tho
northeastern part of New York, when ho an
nounced his calculation of tho dato of tho
second coming of Christ. Whllo a young
mnn ho had confessed himself an atheist
Ho had served ns n captain of Infantry In
the United States army In tho War of 1812,
and It was not until long after that conflict,
or In ISIS, that ho suddenly became religious.
Then ho began to study tho Bible, but ho
also began to calculate the time when Christ
was to appear on earth again, nnd finally ho
declared that ho had overcome all difficulties
and had reached tho conclusion that tho dato
would be in the spring of tho year 1S43,
Of course, a great deal of this got lnio
printed form, and soon ho had convinced
numerous persons who wero willing follow
ers. The delusion spread rapidly, but, of
course, had Its greatest vogue when tho tlmo
Miller had set approached.
Miller's theory of tho second Advent was
founded upon his Interpretation of tho real
meaning of the terms days, weeks and years
In the Old Testament. I will not attempt to
bore anybody by repeating his Interpreta
tions, and thero would not bo sufficient spaco
hero to do It, But I can assure any In
credulous reader that It was much like
Ignatius Donnelly's fnmous cryptogram In
Shakespearo In ono respect: you could not
And the answer even after you had tho rule
to find it. No ono ever could work out Don
nelly's cryptogram, and, perhaps, as ho was
n very bright man, ho did not Intend they
should.
,Tho first date set for tho second Advent by
Miller was April 14, 1S43. Tho disciples
awaited the day with "deepest solicitude,"
but when It arrived nothing happened. But
they wero not discouraged. They wero as
sured that ancient chronology was not thor
oughly understood and that a few months
more or less might elapso beforo the wel
come day arrived.
In tho meantime, Miller had a stone wall
built on his farm and thero wns a good deal
of talk about It. Somo prying ones d ilred
to know what he intended to do with a stone
wall If ho was so soon to leave this world.
It also wus charged that Miller had refused
to sell his farm; and the newspapers wero
asking him pointedly what ho needed a farm
for. They also took ono of his disciples,
J. V. llimes, of Washington, to task because
he was engaged In publishing and selling
"more than 5,000,000 books and papers."
They added by way of comment that "Ho
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 date
had failed Sillier promptly referred to tho
occasional failures of even Biblical prophets,
and announced that very probably his calcu
lations had been wrong. He then asserted
that on October 22, IS 14, tho second Advent
would occur.
This statement was made very positively,
and tho Adventlsts became very deeply
Interested. As tho timo approached some of
the followers gnvo 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 15 persons
became insane. Somo of them wero not even
followers of Miller, but wero afraid that ho
might speak tho truth.
When tho day arrived the Philadelphia
followers of Miller went to Darby, whero they
awaited tho end of tho world. Thero were
moro than a thousand of them, nnd they
began to pray and sing.
But It rained. Thoy were very distressed,
and when they found the day was not the
day. thoy waited till tho morrow. Then there
was more rain, and tho majority of the Mll
lerltcs plodded their weary way hack to tho
city nlong tho Darby road. A few were
willing to give Miller another 21 hours of
graco, but thoy, too, found his calculations
were inaccurate.
When the excitement was at its height,
thero wero advertisements In tho dally news
papers of "ascension robes," and one store
had n placard in Its window to inform
passors-by that "muslin for ascension robes"
wns sold theje.
Thero Is none of thi3 kind of excitement
now. Few persons have even remembered
that tho enthusiasts who held what they called
an "npostolle camp meeting" last month in
West Philadelphia and who are rather Irrev
eutly referred to ns the "Holy Rollers," have
decided that tho world Is to come to an end
within the next two weeks.
GRANVILLE,
THE IDEALIST
Wie was the man who said, "A punishment
that degrades the punished will degrade the
man who Inflicts it."
Hero Is a little story about a man who Is
the figure of power in a little church not far
from our city. You know the kind of man I
mean Somo men. by very reason of their
dominating personalities rather than their
executive abll.ty, naturally gravitate to posi
tlons where those about them look up to them
as a matter of course.
One evening this man passed a young member
of hi ihur.h on u tlu t corntr In fa. t the
young man was the organist, and In receipt of
ft modest salary for his services. He wax m..
ing a cigar. was Bmk
Forthwith the elder man grow angry ir .,.,
not smoke, did not believe In smoW . 'J
failed to understand how any one else rii
believe In It. At his dlrtotlon, Cl7
the trustees of tho church wns ImtnedlxiM
called, and tho organist was dismissed from i,!
service " "
Naturally, the young fellow launched lntn .
tirade against churches nnd against evervhJ
In them, Which, of course, was oil wrT'
But how about the self-clalmed Chrl.UanltTS
this church leador? " w
Suppose he had gone to the young man In .
fatherly way and put the proposition in tlu
fashion: "Now, my boy, one of us Is w ' .'
nbout this matter of smoking. Let lis tim? !
over and find out which of us Is wrong
Perhaps no agreement would have' ,..
ranched. pfr'iaPB, "" y"s mnn would hat.
ett his position simply because the elder inl
had convinced him that his example was w
a good one to placo before tho younger W.
Bt ,th0 "'for" chose to perform n
christian act; one qulto Incompatible with it
founder's Idea of uplifting service. Ho dcgradM
the Sell.'"1"1 Ct0r U, th0r momb '
Doesn't your conception of real Chrlsll.,
service make you believe that ho deeS
himself, too7 uesraaM
THE IDEALIST.
OPPOSED TO DOCTOR BRUMBAUGH
fo the Editor of the Kventnp Ledper:
Slr-Your support of Do6tor Brumbaugh an
not of Senator Penroso is very mystlfylL t
me If not to many other voters throughout ti!
State. I wll grant, as you say, that Doclo!
Brumbaugh Is both fearless and honest h!
what will that amount to should a Penroso tJ!'
islaturo be elected? In what way can ME
Brumbaugh be of any service to tho peonK
bringing about tho reforms that tho 3
Pennsylvania aro so eagerly waiting for? Tru.
the platform that Doctor Brumbaugh was nT
noted on pledges to us all thoso reforms iS
have not all Republican platforms which we?
launched by Penroso and his lieutenants Z
tho same thing? '
Has not Doctor Brumbaugh been the hen,i
the Philadelphia schools for a great man
years? Has any one In these many years
heard of him In any way urging any ot the r.
forms which his platform now olfers to th.
peoplo? ""
THOMAS IIUP.LEY.
Philadelphia, September 1G, 1914.
PRAISES TRANSIT EDITORIAL
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir I want to take advantngo of your own
column for letters from the people to say i
commendatory word about your editorial n to
night's lssuo on tho tron-slt situation, l'hlladel.
phla Is a great big rich city, and If anybody
or any corporation expects to keep us taxpayer,
from getting what we need thero will have tn
be another guess. That's my guess and that of
most Phllodclphions. Keep up your good work
along this lino.
I am glad to see a paper with two "front"
pages so that ono of them can be devoted to
local news. Maybe that Idea has been applied
to newspapers before, but not to my knowledge
Anyway, it is a good one, and shows horn Im
portant you consider tho mntters pnrtalnlnj? to
our city. T. B. HILDItETH.
iiuiaueipiim, aepiemoer iu, mi.
OBJECTS TO COMIC PICTURES
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Permit me to congratulate the Eventej
Ledger, not only for what It represents, but for
tho omission of tho alleged comic pictures,
which, to my mind, are an insult to the Intel
ligent reading public.
For years we have been afflicted with l s
antics of impossible "kids," with the buffoonery
of still more Impossible beings, apparently men.
Comic (?) artists havo Inflicted upon a long
suffering public atrocities of pen and ink.
And now, at Inst, wo have a paper which ap
peals to the intellect rather than to tho evi
dently atrophied sense of moro or less humor.
Thank you, and for goodness sake, don't re
lapse into humorous barbarism. We are willing
to stand for a reversion to typo but not comlci
B. J. MURPHY.
Philadelphia, September 10, 1014.
A WORD FOR ELLEN ADAIR
To the Editor o; the Evening Ledger:
Kir May I add a lino of appreciation for the
excellent showing your paper has made during
tho first three days of Its existence? I hue
been more than pleased with tho articles ol
Ellen Adair. Thero is a tone of sincerity and
truth about her writing which is frequently
lacking In tho conventional articles often founl
on a woman's page. I hope she will continue to
write her experiences. HEADER.
Philadelphia, September 1G, 1914.
PRAISE FOR WHOLESOME HUMOR
To the Editor o the Evening Ledger:
Sir I havo been a reader of tho Public
Ledoeii for 20 yeais. You have my congratula
tions and beat wishes for tho success of the
Evening Ledger. I have been particularly lm
ptesred with the hlgh-clnss and wholesom)
humor which Is found on your editorial page.
Ono of tho curses of tho nveinge evening paper
Is tho presence of slop-stick humor Whs don't
you secure tho services or a good cartoonist'
M. S. B.
Melroso Park, Pa., September 16, 19H.
NOW EVENING LEDGER READER
To the Editor ot tho Evening Ledger:
Sir Just a good wish from an old reader ol
tho Public LcnoEn. If you maintain the saml
standard which you have set for the past three
days I am sure that the people of this city ni"
appreciate tho service you render tho com
munity. K.
Norristown, Pa., September 16, 1911.
Praise From Up-Stale
From the Carlisle tra.) Evening H ia'd.
Tho new Evening Lcnann, slbter publication
of tho Pnnuc Lunaiui, made it-, ibbut u
evening nnd was cordially reeied. J-1
same vast volume of news whit h is char
acteristic of tho morning U:i.hi was ap
parent In the latest publication. U' ln'
spected closely both editions and cai-h via'
marked by a host of frtsh news stories TM
bucccss of tho now Journal Is assunJ.
How Warren Views Penrose
From tha Warren, Ta., Evenlne Times
The defeat of Senator I'enroa ti-! fall woa
mean a rehabilitated and united ltepublican
party. It would be a party that cuuld be prw
of Its ability to overthrow the Ign. rame, po
litical debauchery und uiicleaiiness tiiat in w
senco aro Penroseism.
Railroads and Relief
Prom the Chattanooga Times.
Tho railroads have been instructed to prepii'
tariffs for all services they now pirfi-nn '
out charge, tho commission In the n-unu
resuming consideration of the petitlun fur j
anclng rates, this time It Is said n r """
Btandlngly, If not more sympnth.-tua I. ''J
affords a hope that they will pruwde a nu
and complete measuro of relief.
NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW
When wo read the statement. "BUi-IOS Alt''
Is to have another subway." ive uie CjJ 1
to admit that thero Is a spirit ot -nltrp7j H
l .!. f...l. A .1 .,!.., I il.nl 111 CM
fondly thought of as pecullur to uurs"
New York livening Post.
The war fills the newspapers, weeklies,
one magazine, has gono su far as to r,r,".
tirely a whole Issue devoted to th. ar ? ',,
various aspects. When history is i"J "Ly
children aro eager to know uuout it n
schools mubt rtspond to the demand Bait""
News.
Unless the Bepubllcans want to fee T'inlI"jS
sweep New York by a far bigger ma'S l
that of the Democrats In Maine, th MrZ
Inate a Progressive Itepubliiun State tii'
headed by Illnnian. Now York Tribune.
In Maine the diversion of even l7000,!
from the Itepubllcan candidates was suiw j
to elect the Democratic candidaU-3. but "
poeltlvo factor In American polities '"J.Mtf
gresslve party has ceased to exlst.-AiJ
(N. Y.) Journal.
In opening the sanitary conference Jn S
toga, Commissioner Biggs said that tne o
Department of Health bus adopted as )11iJ
"Public Health Is Purchasable" W'Setl
not bo a better one Public hcalti is. 'CV,
purchasable. Humanity still generally P" ,
to buy things of less importance. tut
day we may bo wiser. New York Won
.,iii '--in Ji ii'L,f-