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- EVENING ft&SllJ LEDGER
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(f-.ah. W.Ochn. Beerrtarv: John C Martin. Treasurer I
' Cnsrlti JI I.tnllnston, I'hlllp 8. Collins, John B. Wll
iiitii viirriorp
t.. r.unuiiiAij uuaiiui
Ctics It. K C'cixTH, Chairman.
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, Pirn Oklt, on year, three dollars. All mall subscrip
tions payable In advance.
IB ELL, SOOO WAWluT KCIsrO.NK MAIN 3000
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tT Addrrtt nil cottununlrnMo'H lo Evening
Ldort Independence ftqunrr, Philadelphia
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E.VTftT t tc-Q1b-cl. Mali. MATirll.
riltLAOCLrillA, T5-.ULMJA, M.ITLMIIKII 2.1, 1'JI
Pcnroscism is Democracy's Chief Asset
THERE will be no weeping In the White
House If Penroseism Is Indorsed In Penn
sylvania. The Democracy Is quite ready to
do without one vote In the Semite In return
for the continued use of Pcnroscism as cam
paign material It has a majority anyhow.
The President knows, and his advisers know,
that Palmer victorious will not be worth half
bo much to the party as Palmer defeated. If
ihe Republicans in this State wish to deal the
Administration a mighty blow, they can do
It by eliminating Pcnroscism as an issue in
American politics.
Intoxication of the Pauoelu' Pilaccus
NO, THIS Is not a new cocktail nor a cor
dial of monastic manufacture, for tho
devotee of the ' glass that cheers" many and
various have been the substitutes devised,
but It has remained for modern science to
discover a stimulant more potent than alco
hol and, If reports are correct, with no after-
depresslon.
The panoolus pllaceus is said to confer
upon tho partaker thereof visions as radiant,
ns exhilarating, as finely hallucinatory as
those of hasheesh, as subliminal as the men
tal vaporlngs of opium and a. sense of super-well-being
and flt-feellng transcending that
Afforded by tho vintages of Burgundy or
John Barleycorn.
The panoelus pllaceus Is a mushroom. Its
discovery Is announced by no less a savant
than Dr. A. E. Verrlll. of Yale University.
In the current number of Science he de
scribes the "case of Mr. W.," a middle-aged
man, vigorous, strictly temperate and a bot
anist, who experimented with the hilarious
fungus. According to the description, the
panoelus pllaceus is delicate, umbrella-shaped
and will grow In any garden.
Possibly with fields, gardens and flower
beds given over to a fond and assiduous cul
tivation of the newly discovered fungus, tho
reign of Bacchus may bo over!
Imagination Lifts Up Posterity
""JCTE, TIJE people, need to have eyes of
n Imagination in order that we may be
1 good citizens. A voter with sufficient ability
to see tho rest of mankind and the genera
tions yet unborn will sacrifice his conven
ience, and even much more, to go to the polls.
The better we come to know mankind
the actual character and lives of people whom
i perhaps we have never seen or never will
i ee the stronger grows our altruism, which
la a normal quality of human nature. The
I literature of the magazines Is rendering an
, Invaluable service. It i3 forwarding a grad
ual reconciliation of clashes and races by us
i vivid portrayal of what people really are.
' It Is bringing our conception of "the rest
i fit humanity" nearer to the human reality.
The psychology that tells us clearly how
we are separated by time, rather than space.
from those who will be affected by our acts.
Is Important In the development of civic
: imagination. For every ton of coal that wo
inline, for every beautiful hillside that we rob
! of Its forests, for every law put on tho stat-
: tite books by the Legislators that wo elect,
i for every vote that is cast at the polls, we
I ere answerable to future generations.
Without Imagination It Is Impossible to
; comprehend our civic responsibilities.
Young Men Will Not Be Tricked
TIME was when men voted as they wor
shiped, as their fathers did before them.
.Example was everything. Party lines wero
' rigid and men voted blindly, as they were
told, for the parties' candidates!. Irrespective
: of the merits of the other side.
Time's are changed That's trite, but true.
We live In a different day and generation.
: Today tho intelligent man who Is not tied
down by paid party service owns his own
vote. He and his fellows have begun to
welsh men, methods and policies. They are
.thinking for themselves. Their ranks are In
'creasing dally. You see it in the revolt of the
Progl esslves, In their return to tho Repub
lican fold when they found themselves tricked
by their leaders and deluded by false prom
ises. These are the men who count, tho men who
think for themselves. Through them the
hope of scotching tho snake of Penroseism
comes.
Worth the Purchase
WHILE Congressmen are busying them
selves over a liill for emergency taxa
tion, It may interest others to take a little
historical excursion back to February 10,
J78J, On that day Pelatluh Webster published
in Philadelphia, at (he very doors of the.
CongTess of the Confederation, nn entirely
new plan of Federal tjuvernrnent. (ins of
'tho basic principles involved was the inde
pendent authority of tho Federal Unvernmont
to levy taxes. No Federal system that had
ever existed had been armed with the power
to tax. and Pelatloh's proposal was without
a. precedent In history. In the Constitutional
Convention of 1TS7 it was adopted, though
writers of text-books have been In the habit
of giving the credit to other men.
'The power of taxation," Webster said, "la
a, dreadful engine of oppression, tyranny and
Injury, when Ill-used, yet ... I do con
tend that our Union Is worth this purchase."
Socialists Flirt With War
ACCORDING to the reports of American
.correspondents, the Socialist movement In
Germany has disappeared In these times of
war. Vorwaerts, the famous Socialist paper,
h turned patriotic and for the first time
In Sta history may be aold on Government
property and even In the army A few weeks
tgo the Socialist deputies in the Hekhstag
toted unanimously for the war credits. In
EVENING LEDGER-PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 1014
France, Marcel Sembat and Jules ducsde
joined the Cabinet, abandoning their part In
petty political quarrels. Gustavo Herve.
called by somebody "antl-mllltarlst. anti-parliamentarian,
nnll-patrlot," asked tho French
Minister of War to send lilm to the front
with tho first regiment of Infantry.
In tho minds of these men there Is no
Issue now, If there ever was, between so
cialism and patriotism. Only tho weakest
thinkers among the socialistic groups see nn
nntngonlsm between the two. Patriotism,
moreover, is rooted far deeper In human na
ture than socialism, with a possible exception
In tho case of the Inferior socialism of tho
very smallest men. Patriotism Is .ne oi the
highest expressions of tho human trait of
loyalty. It Is loyalty to "all wo have and
are." It Is really conservatism.
Usinn Childhood to Muddy the Waters
THE massed cohorts of the Organization
wero ablo by the slender margin of one
vote to override tho Mayor's veto of the
Municipal Court grab. In explanation of this
action, John P. Connelly, commander-in-chief
of Peliroxelsm In Councils, declared, so the
report runs, that "It comes with exceedingly
bad grace fiom the gentleman on the second
floor (the Mayor) to obstruct the efforts tho
Municipal Court Is making to help the delin
quent child."
The Municipal Court has been chiefly noted
up to this time for helping Itself to the funds
of the municipality. The solicitude of Mr.
Connelly for rhlldhood might have aroused
tho sympathy and support of all good citi
zens hHd they not reml elsewhere. In the same
Issue of the ijve.si.vo Unvur.n, the declaration
of Paul N. Furman, secretary of tho Child
Labor Association of Pennsylvania, that cer
tain deplorable conditions in tho matter of
ihlld labor In Pennsylvania are "due entirely
to the Influence of the Penrosc-controlled
political machine." It is bad enough to have
such a grab ns this Municipal Court adven
ture will be. If achieved, put through, but
p. Is positively nauseattni? to have tho re
sponsibility for It placed on cbildten who
annot speak for themselves
Things That Abide In a Changing Order
TIME never halls. War or no war, the
seasons come and go. The rose withers
on the stem, and already tho pencils of
autumn begin to tint the leaves. The guns
of Europe do not Mop the sun, though they
may smash the clock. Time moves on like
a river.
It Is a satisfaction to know that some
things are above the might of man. Tho
imperishable forces of life abide above tho
danger lino of rust and moth and gunpowder.
Tho Rhelms Cathedral may be laid in ruins,
but the devotion that built It Is everlasting.
In tho world clash between materialism and
idealism it Is well to lay hold of the best
things the indestructible forces of truth,
true love, friendship and every reality of life.
These realities are llko blocks of granite In
a sea of changing conditions. The fact that
others have gone mad Is only another reason
why the rest of us should remain sane.
In Reply to Gcrhardt Ilatiptmann
NO ONE will dispute Hauptmann's conten
tions that Uerinany, the Germany of
"Kant and Schopenhauer," Is the great bea
con light of civilization. No one will dispute
that slid has brought immortal contributions
upon the altar of art, science. Industry and
literature. Hut all, all who think In the light
of inexorable historical facts, will dispute the
brazen claims of tho ruling class of Germany
that German industry and tho feudal ideas
of government and administration should
dominate tho rest of the world. This Is not
a tight for the "preservation of German
culture." It is rather a battle for the libera
tion of German culture and all culture from
military and iln.uici.il i'russlanism. Tho
defeat of Germany will be tho victory of
Germany and thu victory of tho entire world.
iS'efarioiib Political Brokerage
POPULAR government consists in the con
trol of political atfairs by public opinion,
bossism and popular government are Incon
sistent. "The boss," says President Lowell, ol
Harvard, "does not act mainly as an expo
nent of public opinion or frame tho issues
then-fur. Ho caies little for public policy or
legislation relating to tho geneial welfare
so long as ho Is allowed to pursue his trudo
in peace. Ho is a political broker, hut ono
whoso business relates far less to subjects of
a genuine public opinion than to private
benefits."
Tho reason why tho boss has been allowed
to continue at his nefarious trade Is public
Indifference. So declares Jnmes Bryce, whose.
Judgment comes of long and close observa
tion of American politics. How long ti this
Indifference to continue? How long are the
voters to overlook the weapon which lies at
hand? Unless nil signs fall they are going to
uso It In Pennsylvania on next election day.
Indifferenco to public welfare is a crime
of citizenship.
The "safety first" program Is not making
much headway in Europe.
Everybody except the Interstate Commerce
Commission thinks the railways are entitled
to relief.
Doctor Brumbaugh Is confounding his
critics and ho will confound Penroseism be
fore he gets through.
New Jersey has a habit of standing by tho
President. Tho Democracy gets the credit
for Woodrow Wilson's personal victories.
Herman niddor explains that the war la
"an expression of the ncuto neurasthenia
from which tho nations nro suffering " This,
of course, makes It entirely plain; but isn't It
tneallng Mr. Wil.on's psychological theory?
New York's 1100.000,000 loan oversubscribed
three times by private Investors and a tidy
bit of the money from Philadelphia! Wo still
have a fow pennies to rub toguther In aplte
of tho pessimists-
It would have been a fine thing for Penn
sylvanla If Mr- Knox hail offered for the
Senate last spring. It would be a finer thing
If Mr Penrose would retire In his favor now.
Out such things, do not happen In Penroseism-
The world does move. It seems but yeer
day that universal excitement was caused by
a suqcefrtful aeroplane flight across the Chan
nel from France to England. Just a few days
ago 36 Hrltmh army 'planes were reported to
be making the passage from England to
France at one time
Thlrty-slx thousand tons of British ar
mored cruisers are at the bottom of the North
Sua. as the result of a submarine attack
Measured In dulUr there Is no comparison
between cruisers and submarines measured
in results, the little feiluws have nlthlng to
be ashamed of.
PASSED BY THE CENSOR
THAT Joseph Hlri, the nrtlst, married a
Philadelphia girl nhowa his good Bcnset
thnt he was chased a couple of thousand
miles by an earthquake Is Indicative of his
ability to dodgo trouble. It began In San
Francisco, where Hlrt was moro or less busy
drawing cartoons for a dally paper. It so
happened that ho was not busy on the night
In question, that Is, not until the earthqtiuko
started then he became extraordinarily so.
In fact, he never stopped being busy until
he reached Oakland In safety, minus cloth
ing and money. For threo weeks ho lived In
the refugeo enmp, awaiting a remittance,
from his family in this- city. Then, dis
gusted, he became a passenger de luxo on a.
freight train for Los Angeles. Hut work and
money were even scarcer there, nnd bo ho
continued In haphazard fashion until Chi
cago was reached.
There ho boenme chef In a quick lunch
room for a week, but, having higher aspira
tions, ho started onco again, this time for
Buffalo. There, too, work was unobtainable.
For two weeks he managed to eke out a de
cidedly precarious living. Ono day, Just by
rhatice, he sauntered Into tho postofllcc and
Inquired at the general delivery whether any
mall had been forwarded to him via Los
Angeles, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago,
etc. There wus, said the man. In the Icttor,
which was from homo, was nn express order
for $200.
Hlrt says that he dined that night and the
after effects of thnt dinner will bo his death
sorno day, but he doesn't care now, for he
Is wed to that Philadelphia girl nnd has
nmrc orders than he can (lit.
June of tho following year, winning In addi
tion to the money( tho sobriquet of "Jeru
salem." "Fleet marriages'' were so common In Eng
land at one time that between October 19,
1701, and February 12, 1705, there were con
tracted 2951 marriages In Fleet prison, Lon
don, from which the ceremonies derived their
nnme. Twenty to thirty couples were wedded
In a day, their names being concealed by pri
vate marks upon payment of nn extra fee.
The flrst marriage act of 1753 stopped this
abuse.
The English word "lullaby" Is thought to
have a strange origin. It Is said that Llllth
or Llllls, the first wlfo of Adam, according to
the legend, haunted the abodes of men, seek
ing to kill their children. So when mothers
lulled their babies to sleep they exclaimed,
"Lllla, abl!" ("Uegono llllth"), this being con
verted Into "lullaby."
I HAVE no dc.Mrc to claim credit for
the discovery, but I have found tho
rhamplon fisherman, nnd ho hails from To
ledo. His name Is Howard Wolglo and ho
dates his fish story from Frankfort, Mich.
According to this modern Izaak Walton, he
.went fishing near Frankfort during Ills va
cation In 1913. In tho course of time he
hooked a huge pickerel, which, after a long
struggle, got nwny. This summer Wolglo
went to tho same stream and dropped his
line Into the hole left In the water by the
dropping of the escaping fish. A cast was
made, n bite and Wclgle had caught tho
same llsh, so ho says, in Its gill was fast
ened the selfsame bait which Welglo had
lost the previous summer. Which proves
that, after all, some (ish arc honest enough
to return things which do not belong to
them.
TAKING breakfast with a real, live Presi
dent Is undoubtedly an honor, but some
times there are drawbacks, as In this In
stance. I had been In Johannesburg, South
Africa, for well nigh a year, when William J.
Loyds. Secretary of Slate, invited me to pnr
tuko of a frugal morning meal with Presi
dent Kruger. So to Pretoria, tho capital, I
went by stage couch, 3." miles In six hours,
and called upon the Staats-Sekrotner.
"I suppose 8 o'clock Is the breakfast hour?"
I nsked.
"The President has a Cabinet meeting at
4 In the morning, m you'd better come half
un hour before that," replied Doctor Loyds.
Regretfully I retired, sleepily I arose,
drcsficd and went to tho little cottage which
borved frir the Hocr Whltn House. It was
still dark, but the President, surrounded by
Generals Jnubert, De Wet, liotha and Doctor
Leyds, was awaiting my coming. For ten
minutes Oom Paul cross-examined mo on
America; then Vrow Kruger brought huge
bowls of .steaming coffee and black bread,
covered with real creamery butter. And nt
4 a. m. sharp tho Hoer Cabinet went into
session with prayer.
DO YOU recall that wiien you went to
sehool you were induced to learn some
thing about Peter the Great and Catherine
and how wicked and cruel Catherine was?
Well, she wasn't so bad as you Imagine,
for Diderot, tho encyclopedist, says she was
not, and he know. Desiring to provldo a
dowry for his daughter and not having the
means, Diderot decided to sell his magnifi
cent library. It came to Catherine's ears
ami she sent for Diderot.
Then she showed how cruel she could
really be when the occasion offered itself.
She bought tho library nt Diderot's own
price, made him tho librarian of her new
puniiaso anil
Paid him 60 years' salary In advance!
IT IS a considerable step from Presidents
and Empresses to a mere Mayor, but
thete was one Mayor who wo as nutocratio
In his way as was Oom Paul or Catherine
the Into William J. Gaynor, who.se last offl
clal words were, "I have been Mayor." In
contradistinction to some of his predecessors,
who wore moro tools of Tammany, Mr. Gay
nor was recklessly fearless In I Is outspoken
opinions. Mo caied not whom ho hit nor
what tho ronpequem es might be. fine inci
dent shows this clearly. Ho had been In
oflli'o two days when a friend called on him.
After tho ubuuI preliminaries, Mr. Gaynor
commented upon previous administrations
and their lack of common sense.
"My predecessor In this office was tho
smallest man who over sat In tho Mayor's
chnlr!" thundered Mr. Gaynor, bringing his
first down on his desk. That predecessor
was George H. MeCIellan, son of the Little
General, who fought Tammany furiously
and was rrushrd beneath tho daws of the
tiger. Not that there was ever a breath of
suspUion of wrong against Mr. Mi.Clellan,
but ho played politics instead of governing
the city and paid the price.
0NCB upon a time there wnH a political
boss In Philadelphia, and there are more
of thern now. A reporter asked him ono day
whether Jones, which wasn't his name, would
bo nominated for Congress,
"If WE think our opponents will win.
Jones will be nominated; If WE think WE
will win, then 1 will ho named."
Jones was nominated. If this were a short
story or a play, Jones would havo won, Just
to make a dramatic climax. Rut this being
a true tale, Jones was everlastingly licked.
HRADFORD.
CURIOSITY SHOP
The famous Salic Law is a chapter In the
Ballan code regarding the succession to Salic
land, which were limited to male heirs,
chletty because certain military duties were
connected with the holding of those lands. In
the fourteenth century female, wero excluded
from the throne of France by the application
of the Salic law.
"Jerusalem" Whalley walked from Dublin
to the Holy Land and back in one year, on a
wager of nearly J100.000, a lurgw sum In tho
days of 178S-i9 Ring asked in Jest where
he was going, he replied "To Jerusalem" and
then and there the wager was undertaken,
the condition being that the Journey be made
on foot, sase where It wu necessary to take
a ship. He started a 1783 and finished in
IN A SPIRIT OF HUMOR
Why Exchange Editors Die
With a daring worthy of a better cause, tho
editor grasped his shears, adjusted his eye
glasses, nnd from the heap of newspapers
before him extracted the following gems:
Adclncrt Fuller Is back at homo from Pltts
llold, where he nttends school on account of
illness.
Miss Vern Castner returned to the hospital
In Grand Rapids after nearly two months'
vncatlon.
G. R. Clifton, Third, and Lowell Boncwell
have gone to Grand Rapids, Minn., for a visit
with those who havo gone before.
But Not Tor Father
LOTT-HARDER
Caption of Iluffalj uMlng report.
Fair Warning
Muld nt Country Hotel "Please, sir, will
j'ou use the hot water soon, as there's an 'olo
In the can?" London Punch.
Internal Strategy
For Idiotic strategy why not have the
French name ono of their towns Ipecac and
lot the Germans take It? It would be all up
with them. Chicago Tribune.
A Burning Question
Parke is your house Insured against fjro?
Lane I don't know. I've Just been reading
over tho Insurance policy. Life.
For Home Industries
"What is your opinion of our foreign rela
tions?" asked the patriotic citizen.
"They don't do you any good," replied tho
local politician. "What you want Is a lot of
relations right here in your own country
that'll vote the way you tell 'cm to. osh
Ington Star.
Wedded Persiflage
Miss Fluff Mr. Decpthought, do you think
marriage Is a failure?
Mr. Deepthought Well, tho bride never
gets tho beat man. Judge.
International Diet
It Is reported that the animals of the Ber
lin zoo havo boen killed for food, whlcb
may explain why tho Germans have latclj
taken to eating crow.
War Fever
I used to think that Jones was strong
Within tho law's domain,
Rut now I know that I was wrong
His forte's Alsace-Lorraine!
And Smith (another sudden blow)
Ills hobbles I was sure.
Were golf and cigarettes, but no'.
They're Brussels and Nuraur.
And Brown, so reticent before,
Now keeps waylaying mo
To mobilize whole army corps
Of words on strategy!
And Green, who thought the one best bet
Was peace. Is now alas!
Continually storming Metz
Armed with a demi-tasse.
And Johnson but enough of spite!
The worst of all I am.
For on a tablecloth last night
I dtew a diagram!
New York Times.
The Inquiry Courteous
Exasperated telephone subscriber (having
found six different numbers engaged
"Well, what numbers HAVE you got?"
London Punch.
The Horrors of War
Ethel (In apprehensive whisper which
cnslly reaches her German governess, to
whom she Is deeply attached) Mother, shall
we hne to kill Frauloln? London Punch.
To Cover the Ground
The great American novel that
Tho nation still expects
Will have to be, experts ngree.
In 40 dialects,
Louisville Courier-Journal.
A Man and His Money
A Scot of PeblM! aald to his friend MacAn
drew: "Mac, I hear yo have fallen In love wl'
bonny Kato McAllister."
"Weel, Sanders." Mac replied, "I wis near
verra ni-ar daeln' It: but the bit lassie had nae
siller, so I eald to inasolf, 'Mac, be a mon.' And
I wis a mon, and noo I Jlst pass her by." Ar
gonaut, The Retort Frosty
"I suppose, aptaln," said the Inquisitive
ocean voyager, "that the passengers make
you dreadfully tired with the questions they
ask."
"Yes, Indeed," replied the captain. "What
elso Is It you want to know?"
Funny
Turkey protests against the Jests In
American newspapers at her expense. If
Tuikey will stay out of the war she will not
be a joke. Washington Post.
Super-Optimiit
"What a cheerful woman Mrs. Smiley Is."
"Isn't she? Why, do you know, that wo
man can have a good time thinking what a
good time she would have If she wero hav
ing It." Boston Transcript.
STAIN NOT THE SKY
Ye gods of battle, lords of fear.
Who work your iron will as well
As once ye did with sword and spear.
With rifled gun and rending- fthell
Masters of !ea and land, forbear
Tho fierce lnvalon of the Inviolate air!
With patient daring man hath wrought
A hundred ynars for power to fly,
And shall wo mak bis winged thought
A hovering horror In the sky,
Where flocks of human eagles sail.
Dropping their bolts of death on hill and dale?
Ah, no, the sunset is too pure.
The dawn too fair, the noon too bright!
For wings of terror to obscure
Their beauty, and betray tho nlrht
That keeps for man, above his wars,
Thu tran'iuil vision of untroubled stars.
Pats on. pass on, ye lords of fear!
Your footsteps in the sea are red,
And black on earth your paths appear
With ruined homes and heaps of desd.
Pars on, and end your transient reign.
And leave tho blue of heaven without a stain.
The wrong ye wrought will fsll to dust,
The rlKbl ye shielded will ablds;
The world at last will learn lo trust
In taw to guard, and love to guide,
The peace of God that answers prayer
Will fall like dew from ths Inviolate air.
-Henry Van Dyke, In the Nw York Independent.
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA
AN INSTITUTION that enters upon Its
91st year of activity, It seems to me,
might very well he called venerable,
but knowing the enterprising character of the
Franklin Institute as I do, the term vener
able does not exactly fit. It Implies weakness
along with respectability: It seems to echo
tho past. But, while 90 years ngo tho Instl
tuto was the most progressive organization in
Its own field In this country, so It Is tho very
last word In modernity In science applied to
mechanics today.
And I write this Just because I had my at
tention called to tho reopening of tho school
of the Institute Inst week,
I BELIEVE that probably half tho popula
tion of Philadelphia, If asked, would con
fess to a belief that tho lnstltuto was founded
by Benjamin Franklin, I do' not know liovv
this Idea got abroad, but I find thoro Is a
strong Inclination to attribute to Franklin
even more numerous achievements than ho
claimed for himself. But when It Is realized
thnt tho institute Is only now entering upon
Its 91st year It will be needless to nsstiro nny
ono that the Immortal Ben had no hand In
Its organization.
However, I feel sure that It wns out of
compliment to the valuable contributions to
science made by Franklin that tho group of
young men who formed the Institute took
prldo In associating his namo with their
movement.
IN 1824, when tho lnstltuto was farmed, an
Inspiring movement nmong young mo
chnnlcs sprend over tho eastern part of tho
country. It led to tho formation i f mechanics'
Institutes. I believe there wero several of
them In this city at the time. But It was
rather exclusive. Becauso of tho stringency In
their qualifications for membership, the very
nnmes of these organizations arc forgotton,
but tho nnme of tho Franklin Institute Is
held In high rcputo by scientists all over tho
world.
Samuel Vnughan Merrick, nftorwnrd one of
Philadelphia's most noted Ironmasters, found
himself, ns he once mentioned, tho owner of
a workshop nt 21 years, but without a me
chanical education or with scarcely n me
chanical Idea. Ho bcllove1 ho could Itnprovo
himself In order to properly superintend his
foundry If ho could become a member of a
mechanics' Institute. Ho applied for admis
sion to one of them. Hut Mr. Merrick was
promptly blackballed, because he was not a
mechanic. He was nn employer.
HE COULD not say In 1S24 what a man In
n similar position today could say; ho
could not tnko his rejection lightly nnd turn
his steps to a technical school. If ho could
not share the Information with these young
mechanics, ho must settle himself to learn
his trade and Its secrets by tho slow process
of observation In his own foundry. Mr.
Merrlok did not choose to do that, but deter
mined to Interest others In the establishment
of an lnstltuto that would bo founded not
only upon more democratic principles, but
also would considerably expand the original
Idea of mechanical Institutes,
THERE are not many young men of 21
with tho forco of character or tho neces
sary lnltlatlvo for organizing such nn asso
ciation. But young Merrick managed to
interest such men as Matthias W. Baldwin,
who, It must be remembered, had not yet
built his first locomotive; James Ronaldson,
the type founder; Dr. James Rush, who
founded tho Rldgway Library; William II.
Kncass and Samuel R. Wood, among others,
In his plan.
Consider the method by which theso
orgnnlzers obtained an nudlcnco for their
meeting. They held It In what we now allude
to as Old Congress Hall, at Sixth and Chest
nut streets. They selected nnd sent invita
tions to a list of 1500 nnmes taken from the
directory. Unless you rcnllzo that In 1824
there was no postal service such as we now
enjoy, you cannot appreciate tho magnltudo
of this attempt.
The meeting was attended by a large num
ber of young men. and within two weeks
there were enrolled between 400 and 500
members.
IN ITS declared object to promote and en
courage the mechanic arts the Institute
even In Its Infant days was true. It hold tho
first Industrial exhibitions In this country.
Small as these were at the start, they grad
ually became moro Important, and for many
years were continued annually, attracting
manufacturers and Inventors from all parts
of the United States, Tho exhibition tho In
stitute held In 1874 In the old Pennsylvania
Railroad freight depot, on the slto of Walla
maker's, Is remembered with pleasure by
many Phlladolphlans. Tho Electrical Exposi
tion which the lnstltuto held nt 32d nnd Mar
ket streets In 1881 was tho flrst universal
showing of tho mysterious new forco that
the world had seen.
THERE are half a dozen medals and pre
miums at the Rorvlce of the Institute to
bestow upon Inventors and discoverers, nnd I
need not tell you that they ara prized far
above their monetary value by their winners,
who aro not always Americans. Thoy are
not bestowed until n committee thoroughly
examines the claims for the Invention or dis
covery entered for the prize, and the award
In Itself Is proof everywhere of the valuo of
the Idea that la accepted.
In the weekly lertures and meetings of tho
various sections of tho lnstltuto finch winter
the visitors will hear the last word on tho
latest contributions to tho mechanic arts.
I know of no Institution that Is so young
and modern In spirit and feels so llttln tho
effects of age when passing Its 00th hlrthday
as the Franklin Institute.
GRANVILLE.
Ethics and Politics
From the New York IlaraM.
Statesmen of past generations always sought
to conceal the hand of the tax gatherer, hut
our Washington solons of today, having cut
down the levy concealed In the tariff schedules,
seem determined to let every citizen know and
feel where the Federal Govrnment pinches him.
It's good thlcs. Rut Is it good politics?
THE IDEALIST
Every display of valor, from football to
warfare, brings out a curious trait In the
human make-up. Shortly, the feeling, the
discussion, the enthusiasm Incident to the
present conflict will resolve themselves Into
a very definite human desire a deslro as
old as time.
The mob wants a herol
A contest proves listless unless It un
covers an Individual star. A battlo Is only
a free-for-all unless a hero emerges.
Few folks realize the tremendous part this
Instinctive mob-craving has played In the
eruptions of history. The Individual, calm
and cool, away from the crbwd, well knows
that Just so long as the laurel wreath Is
placed upon the brow of those that mulm
and kill, Just so long will blood be spilled In
war. And he abhors the reflection.
But the mob spirit ultera him. He be
comes a weakling.
We have succeeded In educating the lndl-
vidua! at tho hearth of his home to the nro.
found wisdom of peace. We still have on
our hands tho taste of educating a collection
of Individuals, tho mob. '
Europe's deluge of blood and pain will
develop only ono truo hero. He will be the
man who changes It to peace.
THE1 IDEALIST.
VIEWS OF READERS
ON TIMELY TOPICS
Contributions That Reflect Public Opin
ion on Subjects Important to City,
State nnd Nation.
To the Editor of the Evening Ledoerl
Blr--EnRlnnd did not envy Germany her well
earned commerce, nor was she Jealous of Ger
many's army for defense, nor of Germany's
smnll but cfllclont navy.
But Germany violated the neutrality of Bel
glum, nnd England, all nt once, beenme horri
fied nt such a breach of International faith,
and declared war on Germany or rather on
Germany's cAmmerce and navy, primarily, nnd
on her nrmy, but with less alacrity nbout
facing It. Why couldn't France, Russia and
her (England's) numerous other allies face the
(lormnn caution? Slio would rather they
would, for Englishmen would rather play
cricket and football than face ennnnn In any
cause.
Docs England forget tho world does not her
own crime at Copenhagen, In Nnpoleon's time,
which the Jnpnneso nation used ns a precedent
to excuse Its attack on' tho Russian fleot with
out a declaration of war or other warlnng?
Has England forgotten, loo, her part In the
Paoll, the Cherry Valley nnd tho Wyoming
Valley massacres, nnd In tho battle of the
Cowpens, where no qunrtor was given the
wounded Americans, still brave, but too weak
to resist their slaughter In cold blood?
And linn England further forgotten her
prison ships In which many bravo American
patriots wero doomed to starvation and death?
And Is It, ns a memorial to England's own
past good fnlth with othor nations, that the
Hollander, tho Belgian and tho Frenchman
her nearest neighbors nro nllko always ready
to exclaim, with feeling of contempt, "Oh,
thou perfidious Albion I"
READER.
Philadelphia, September 21, 1014.
ENTITLED TO APPROVAL
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir Hlnco tho first Issuo of jour paper I
havo taken It each evening and studied It with
Interest. Tho opposition that is mado In your
columns to Ponroho and all that ho represents
Is of ltnolf enough to earn tho npproval of
every right-thinking citizen In this boas-ridden
State. GEORGE 55. 1LLINGTON.
Philadelphia, September 21, 1914.
STATE IS TIRED OF BOSSES
To (7ie Editor of the Eienlng Ledger:
Sir In my view tho State of Pennsylvania Is
tired of Roles Penrose as Its representative
In the United States Senate, and more tired
of a corrupt State Government known as
"Penroseism." Patriotic citizens want to de
feat both. Tho Evknino Leooeii will bo a
powerful aid In that righteous work.
T. KITTKRA VAN DYKE.
Ilarrlsburg, August 31, 13H.
WILL NOT VOTE FOR PENROSE
To tho Editor of tho Evening Ltdntr:
Sir I have been a lifelong Republican, but I
won't voto for Penrose! And thoro are a lot of
us who feel tho same way. It riles mo when I
got out of tho State to hear the choice slurs
that are cast nt tho quality of Pennsylvania
Republicanism which will nomlnato Holes
Pcnroso for United States Senator. But I have
to swallow tho pill and leply, "He 3 not elected
yet." I C. DENISE.
New Kensington. Pa., September 21, 1914.
An International Police Force
From the rtlchmnml Tlmes-Dlopatch.
The war of nations In Euiope has revived
tho talk of a combination of the forces of the
nations to pollen both land and &ca, and keep
tho peace nmong nations just as our present
pollco forces keep the peace among Individuals.
The Idea Is an old one, but has never made
much progress until recently. Now oven so
conservative a writer as Henry Clews accept
It, saying In his latest report that Its adoption
Is necessary to permanent peace. It Is hardly
to he supposed thut so radical a. change In cus
toms nnd tho point of view will be brought
about soon, If at all, but It is certain that
without practical disarmament there can never
bo a permanent peace In Europe, If the war
result In that consummation, It will have been
worth while. It the Powers that win Insist
upon It ns a precedent necessary to the end
of the war, those Powers will have Justified
their entrance Into It. If they do not, they will
have to fight nnothcr war at some future time.
Let the President Alone j
Frnm the New York World.
This war Is not our war. We did not make It
and wo cannot end It. If we mind our own busi
ness, however, we may be able to smooth the
pathway to peace when blood and Iron havo
determined tho main Issues. If wo do not mind
our own business, we shall bo regarded as
Impertinent meddlers and shall havo no Influ
ence for good whatever.
The President has been petitioned enough and
nagged enough. Ho knows the situation better
than any of his self-appointed counselors. His
motives nro uulto ns exalted as those of his
volunteer advisors. Let him alone.
Looking Toward Peace Sunday
From the New Haven (Conn.) Journal-Courier.
Wo may well bo thinking during the coming
days how we aro going to make of "Peace Sun
day" something bettor than a perfunctory per
formance, something Infinitely finer than mere
llp-servico. To add to our supplications for
happier days an offering for the relief of
afflicted nations will put our religion to a
practical and blessed use.
Asking Too Much
From the HI. I,oula Poat-Dtapatch.
Apropos the Incident of tho steamship nobert
Dollar, It may bo remarked that, with all due
respect and regal d for Englund ns the land of
Shakespeare, we roally cawn't, you know, old
chap, admit that tho Atlantic Ocean, or any
other, Is an English lake.
NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW
Mr. Roosevelt Is correct In announcing that
tin Isn't a candidate. Dut wait until 1316.
Springfield Republican.
The railroads can hardly be so bad as they
have been painted. If PteBldent Wilson be
comes ono of thtlr advocates. Baltimore Even
ing Sun.
In comparison with the present European
war, Caesar, Alexander nnd Hannibal were
guilty of nothing more xerlnus than disorderly
conduct. Kansas City Star.
The Government ought to show Its appre
ciation of what Ambassador Derrick has demo
and avail Iteelf of his capacity for further
service of tho same generul kind. Charleston
News and Courier.
Reports of the flrst football Injuries, broken
collar bones and tho like, cause srimll thrill or
protest this year. There ure too mnny worse
tilings going on behind the veil of the Euro
pean censorship. Springfield Republican.
One small. Imagined sigh from sweet Cor
delia, one fancied smlla upon the Upa of
Imogen, one fleeting drcum of Juliet from her
window leaning, brings England closer to this
land of ours, than Kipling, Plnero, Doyle,
Bridges and all that list of authors ever cuuld
Chicago Herald.
The President's remark upon the activities
of certain professional Jingoes who are now
crazy for peace that their program Is "un
practical and silly" Is mildly true. What he
might have said If he had been In ill-humor
would have been much more to the point New
York World.
Senator Burton's brilliant struggle has been
amply repaid, and the admirable rules and cus
toms of the Senate which made his stand for
Justice to tho taxpayers possible have been
abundantly justified New York Sun.
The British navy has done nothing so dar
ing as the exploit of the German submarines.
One of the oldest lessons of human history
Is the folly of despising your enemy N
York World.
ItfLssten. itj)isLAustf, ultra r n i
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