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EVENING LlJiDGEll PHILADE:
3NINQ s$isJ LEDGER
PUBLIC lEDGER COMPANY
OTIlttB f. It CtlRTlfl. PBSSICtKI.
ho. TF. OeM. Secretary! John C. Mrtin, Trewr
fie H. Hidlneton, Philip 8. Collins, John 13. wi
lt. Director.
EDITORIATj BOAIlDt
Crags II. K. Crans, Chairman.
. WHAIiBr.i... .BxecutUeiauer
b O. MAriTlN....i...Cenornt Business Manager
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Mmnr.nirnoN TERMS
y carrier. DAlt.T Oslt, ttx cents. By mall, postpa M
TW de. or Philadelphia, except wnere "'' '""-, "
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ons payabU In advance.
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KETSTWE MAW 8000
CT Address all communication to Evening
Ledger. Independence. Square, Philadelphia.
rNTBura it thk rtitt'AOM-r-mA rosTorricn as bicond-
CI.SS MilL SI1TTKB.
niiunrxruiA, fiiiday, octobek 2, 191 1
The anti-moralists' win their victories at
tho registration booths. They maintain
their ascendency, when they do maintain It,
through tho failure of good citizens to qual
ify as voters. Tomorrow Is tho last chance
to register for the November election. Every
saloon and dive In tho city has been pla
carded for weeks' with urgent notices to
their haJiltues to qualify. Men who love do-
nd simple honesty It. civic, Stato and
Rl affairs havo one more chance to
their actions with their professions.
Imust do thoir duty if the Integrity of
nTnsylvanla Is to be vindicated. They
must register tomorrow.
What Villa Has Learned From Europe
GENERAL VILLA'S demand that no man
In military service bo a candidate for the
Presidency of Mexico shows almost states-
rtllko qualities In the ex-outlaw ana
clit." It is remarkable how "Fancno
. has learned the dangers which threaten
Kr. coverumGnt when It Is in the hands of a
nflitnrv cllnue. however good the intentions
tar flint cllnue may be. Villa. It la said, can
"barely read printed script, proceeding by
Byllnbles Hue a child, litit tnero is ono uuuis
which evidently ho has lenrned. It Is tho
truth which Europe Is now realizing to the
tune of cannon and cries of woe. Not only
a backward nation like Mexico, but a great
nation like Germany and a great civinzea
rnntlncnt llko Eurooe are today paying tho
terrible price of governments beset with tho
hden of armaments ann contronea oy
hn niirlniis fnr military glory.
"There can be no 'land and liberty" for the
goplo of Mexico until tho avenues leading
neace and progress aro In the hands or.
Wnen devoid of military instincts and thrilled
with tho. ideals of civic consciousness. Villa's
avowed principles are right. May his acts
bo governed theroby!
Railroad Prosperity-Via Economy
COUPLED with the welcome news that the
Pennsylvania and tho Reading railroads
will not increase thoir passenger rates, as at
first announced, is a significant reason In the
August report of tho former railroad. Tho
net operating income shows a substantial
'increase over last year. It doe3 not mean
unusual prosperity for the road; but it does
mean unusually good management. For tho
Becret of tho Increase is economy. On another
occasion when there wns talk of Increased
rates, Louis Brandeis called forth cheera and
curses by the suggestion that the roads of
tho United States could leave rates where
they were and save an immenso amount each
day by better management. The Pennsyl
vania is putting it into practice. In August
ttho operating Income of tho system fell oft
U'.GOO.OOO, yet the month shows a net gain
aver last year of $331,000. Tho answer Is on
1 conomy of over J2,S00,000. Such manago-
icnt fulfils every duty to both stockholders
and public
What America Escaped
T7-X THE 19th day of tho Battle of tho
J Aisne the losses had been so tremendous,
Paris heard, that tho War Office feared to
announce them. The black dread of appre
hension was better than the facts! Such
word IS terrible In Ito significance. It stupe
fies. 1'ct out of it comes a new thankful
ness for the steady hand that held our troops
nt Vera Cruz. Even a tithe of such destruc
tion were too much.
Labor Making Itself Responsible
STRIKES and wars ore on n par as means
of settling conflicts. Sometimes they ara
recessary, yet always wasteful, nnd the re
sult Is only cmbltterment and mutual dls
Hatlsfactlon. No strikes seem so deplorable
as those over the Jurisdiction of different
unions; men 'Vailed out" boeausu some part
of a building has been given to the wrong
fculon. Six of the blggeM unions jn the build
ing trades have decided such differences
uhould bo adjusted by mutual agreement
instead of by haphazard conflict with the
employer.
The organitatlons of the brlcltlayers and
masons, tho stonscuttars, t'.e carpenters and
joiners, th ersineers, th plasterers and tho
hod carriers, Including 50o,000 mn In the
TnlVsd Statu, wid Canada, have reached an
cgrctvnont that will save thousands of dol
lars and largo lossea of lima in a single
year.
Such sane, progressive step toward the
civilizing of industrial conflict is singularly
auggestlve in thJ face of the Colorado coal
operators' answer to President Wilson last
vreek.
More Land for Settlement
FROM time to .time more or les3 earnest
efforts have been made to revise the pub-Jlc-land
laws so as to bring them into con
formity with new conditions. The acuom
Ilih:nent has been inadequate. By a report
of the Bureau of Corporations it is shown
that lS4 timbrfr owners hold in fee over
one-twentieth of the land area of the United
mates" 105,600,000 acres, or an area two
end one-half times as large as New England;
sixteen owners hold 47,800,090 acres. It can
not be said, of course, that thU land Is
Administered In the Interest of the public
-welfare. The dangers of the concentrated
ownership of land have been exemplified not
only In the Vn ted Slates, but in Mexico and
JSnjElKAsaln th's country there Is lwreaBlng
Pi cf tl'O fa-t that nothing can be
etaci in the way of th develop-
ment of our agricultural resources: and It Is
very plain that when the land barons have
Bocured to themselves the presont and poten
tial prolltB from non-agricultural resources,
like timber, oil, ores and watr.rpower, they
will dispose of largo tracts to settlers at
prices which may or may not bo reasonable.
Sufficient regulation and control should bo
exercised over tho disposal of theso great
holdings to prevent unduo obstruction of
their agricultural utilization.
Penrose on PcnroBciBtn
TUB Penrose reply to Roosovott's denun
ciation Is art delicious nn examplo of
humbuggery ns has appeared In American
political literature In years.
"Mr. Roosevelt," declares the senior Sen
ator and directing head of the Organization,
"has been delivered bodily Into the control
of ono of the most discredited and notorious
municipal bosses who has ovor appeared in
American politics. Ho seems to havo sur
rendered entirely to William l-'llnn, whose
nfflllatlons with crooked political methods
and scandalous municipal contracts consti
tute ono of tho most repugnant chapters in
the annals of corrupt politics."
Mr. Penrose, it appears, is qulto convinced
In IiIb own mind that men who have had
anything to do with corrupt politics and
crooked political methods should be anath
ema. But how apt Ills' excoriation would
be if for "Mr. Roosevelt" tho words "Re
publican party" were substituted and "Roles
Penrose" took the place of "William Flinn."
Philadelphia the "Bookies'" Paradise
ONCE upon a time It was "Take in your
washing, the nctois are coming to town.'
Just now It Is tho "bookies" that steal the
civic linen. Philadelphia has no racecourse;
there is a gambling law on the statute books.
But so long ns railroads run nnd horses, too,
Havre tie Grace will turn Philadelphia Into a
bookmakers' paradise twice a year. Thirty
thousand dollars is an "Inside" estimate of
tho amount bet here dally In the hotels.
What aro wo going to do nbout It? What
can be done? Nothing. It Is Bimply tho old
interstate skin-game. The righteous man
drlvcth evil from his door, and it perches on
his neighbor's gate and thumbs Its nose at
him.
But each year another neighbor casts out
the sport of "sports." And there Is hope.
Reasonableness of Facts
THE ruling class of Germany, which has
always been quoting Scripture for Its pur
pose, is Justifying Its policy of imperialism
in tho nnmo of "culture and civilization."
Why not? What is culture for, nnyhow? Is
it something to be dispensed to the entire
world, or Is It, above all, a license for free and
universal exploitation. "Everything that Is,
Is reasonable." That was the dictum laid
down by Hegel and Interpreted by tho
"better" class of Germany to mean that as
long ns it had tho power to stifle, to tyran
nize, to subjugate, its acts were "reason
ble." But Germany may yet learn the lesson
that only that Is reasonable which has the
factor of necessity and usefulness behind it.
rnt. nnmlA nf fiftFmnmr nnrl of thn wnrlr! at
I large are rapidly losing patience and sym
pathy for arrogance in the nnmc 01 cuuuio
and patriotism. And Just as soon as enough
of them learn the lesson some thlng3 which
seemed perfectly "reasonable" will become
exceedingly "unreasonable."
Hail, Gentle Humor!
HAIL, the books! Gentle Parnassus opens
its groves, and all the springs gush
forth with a new literary output. The sea
son of 1914-15 Is upon us. Wo welcome it,
and greet it with smiles. Only may there be
no war books among the lot. I-et us havo
novels, ye scribblers, novels of love, domestic
good-cheer, amity, peace, wholesome adven
ture. Give us also some books of humor and
let "tho season disclose a fine, new birth of
Mark Twains, Artemua Words, Bret Hnrtc,
George Ades, Dooleys, tho fellows who make
us laugh. Never did the world need laughter
more than now. Hall the books especially
the books of humor.
Preparation and Crisis
CHARACTER cannot be transferred from
one person to another. It is not a coat
to be changed at will, but a moral creation.
It cannot be sold like fruit, but muBt bo won
by effort. The critical hour which some
times decides destiny for the army or tho
individual neither makes nor unmakes, but
reveals.
This is what Wellington meant when he
said that the battle of Wnterloo was won
on tho cricket field of Eton. Preparation rS
the secret of the mastery of the critical hour.
Webster's reply to lluyne was a product of
an emergency in preparation for many years.
In life's small and great things wo must
learn to be resolute and strong. One is
ready to live worthily when prepared to meet
the crisis which Browning calls "tho moment
one and Infinite; the tick of one's lifetime,"
Another rift In the lute of neutrality.
Swedish cooking, discovered by the epicures
of London, is replacing German.
As they say on the street, Mr. Vare has
given tho city a concrete example of con
tractor bosslsm.
There is ntill a chanc for peace in Mexico.
In fact, they have peace down there every
now and then for several days at a time.
Even revolutionists must rest.
Recording the reinforcements that turned
the tide for the Allies, a headline writer an
nounces with unwitting wit: "Some Troops
from Thibet." "Some" indeed.
If something is not done to stay the im
petuous course of the German Crown Prince,
the indications are strong that the throne of
the Hohenzollerns stands a good chance of
having a new heir.
I Doctor urumnaugn naa "no respect for
bosses and no concern for what they do."
The bosses, however, will have a lot of re
spect for Doctor Brumbaugh when he once
gets the reins in his hands.
Of course a man with a name Jik Maran
ville can't object If the summary of one
game abbreviates him to "Mr'nvl" and puts
him down as "Maville" in the other half of
the double-header.
Men who frequent saloons and dives al
wajs register. They are the backbone of
political corruption here rnd everywhere
else. Yet, even so, the dissolute character
who does register and does vote Is a better
citizen than the reputable gettleman who
does' neither.
Of course If that man Ishara called an ad
miral a liar this Government should refuse
to test or accept the Isham torpedo, no mat-
- ...1... ,.n .. .1. T. ... li.l... Uf
lor mo v nuea states ."i cru-osun lan
guage and manner were not objectionable
to the department.
PASSED BY THE CENSOR
EVERY city, town and village In this wide
land of ours has Its so-called characters,
nnd Philadelphia Is no exception. Every
evening, rain or shine, a well-dressed man
may bo seen, sometimes at Tonth'and Market
streets, other times at Arch and Broad, liU
eyes closed, walking slowly to and fro, de
claiming God's word In stentorian tones. He
never asks for a cent, never speaks to any
one. Ho is said to cam his living making
brooms.
But it was In West Philadelphia, In tho
days gone by, that a man and a woman
formed a quaint dual figure. Ho was old and
bent. She was wrinkled and withered. He
walked down, or up, one side of the street,
bellowing:
"Any iimbiellas to mend?"
And his wife would follow on the other
side, Intoning in a shrill voice:
"And he's the boy con do it."
SPEAKING of characters recalls one cre
ated by Alexander Hweot In his paper,
Texas Sittings, at one lime the best-known
humorous weekly In this country. Colonol
Bill Snort, the chavacter in question, lived In
Iho While House, ran the country for the
President nnd advised Its occupant on things
Important and otherwise. So realistically wai
the character drawn that, when .President
McKlnley swung the circle in Texas, the en
thusiastic natives yelled loudly and long for
Bill Snort.
But the worst Is yet to come. Colonol
Sweet Is authority for the story that a man
named McGrath, living in San Antonio, who
expected a son and heir, wa3 so loyal to
Snort that when n daughter arrived he named
her Snortlana McGrath!
THE most interesting of all modern char
acters was the old Leather Man, clad from
head to foot In buckskin, who tramped tho
hills and dales of Westchester County, Now
York, and lived in a cave near Sing Sing. Ho
was found dead there in 1SS9. In his cease
less wanderings he did occasional odd jobs
In plumbing and repairing, but Invariably re
fused money for his work, being contented
with food or tobacco. He slept In barns. It
is said that he was crazed through an unfor
tunate love affair In France in 1SC6. As young
and good looking Jules Bourglay ho had won
the hand ot a wealthy leather merchant's
daughter and had entered the man's employ
to prove his worthiness. Ho speculated In
leather, nnd when a crnsh came in that com
modity his employer as well ns himself was
Impoverished, nnd his hopes blasted. His
mind was unhinged by tne snoci;, nna no
came to this country, resolved to do penance
by always wearing leather.
IT IS STILL a moot question whether
Kaiser William was crowned or not. Ac
cording to current gossip, tho Kaiser, seeking
to be crowned as Emperor of Germany, in
stead of German Emperor, after the manner
of Charlemagne, sought consent of the rulers
of the German homogeny. Several of tho
potty rulers refused to give their acknowl
edgment, being Jealous of Prussian domi
nance. As a result, it is alleged, the Kaiser
grew angry and declined to be crowned. Still
another story has It that he waited for tha
official ceremony until It could take place In
Westminster Abbey, although this is a bit
doubtful, even for so ambitious a ruler as
William.
AN INSTANCE where opportunity knocked
J and was not admitted is related by a
Philodelphian, who in other days lived at a
mining camp. One day a prospector asked
him to visit a diamond mine with a view
to buying. The twain drove to the mine.
"Where Is it?" asked the Philadelphia
viewing only a pond, with a couple ol
weazened ducks on its surface.
"Oh, It's there all right. All you've got te
do Is to drain olf the water," explained tho
minor.
"If that's all. you'd better get some darned
fool to buy It."
And the prospector got a "darned fool,"
who bought it, and is now ranked as one ol
the richest men In England.
STOLID, unimaginative Albion has Just
one pet superstition in which she believes
with considerable lmpliclty Just now, In
view of the destruction of four of her cruis
ers by German submarines. This superstl
.inn .,.n.nt.na iVtft rliiim of Admiral Drake,
l 11UII .w-. J ..." -
! about which Henry Newbolt wrote:
Take my drum to England, hang it by the
hore.
Strike It when your powder's running low;
If the Dons sight Devon, I'll quit the port of
heaven
And drum thorn up the Channel, as we
drummed them long ago.
Whllo Drako's memory was still green. In
other days, the Dutch sought lo wrest the
supremacy of tho seas away from England
and at tho tap of the drum, so the story
goes. Drako's spirit wns reincarnated in
Blake. Agiiin, when Napoleon threatened
invntdon with his legions and tho fate ot
England rested on her navy, the beating of
the drum brought Horatio Nelson to the
fore. Now, perhaps, home one will beat tho
drum which Is In possession of a descendant
of Drake's brother nnd rests In Bucklnnd
Abbey, and cause Admiral Jelllcoe to smash
the German licet.
A LION once escaped from a traveling circus,
somewhere In tho Pennsylvania Dutch
etmntry. and all night searchers scoured the
country for the animal. Finally they came to
a lonely farmhouse, according to the story.
"Did you see a Hon tonight?" they asked
the woman.
"I never seen no Hon, hut a goll darned big
calf etraycil Into tho yard tonight, and I tied
him to tho pump," replied the woman. She
had told the truth, for It was-a calf!
BRADFORD.
CURIOSITY SHOP
The Red Cross was originated In 1862 by
Henry Dunant, a Swiss. In the year men
tioned ho vUlted the principal European
cities in behalf of his plan, and In 1SC3 the
first Red Cross organization was effected in
Geneva. The convention which actually
called tho Red Cross Society, as It exists
today. Into being waH held in Geneva on
August 22, 1564.
The Debatable Land was a strip of terri
tory between Scotland and England between
tho Rivers Esk ami Sark. Jn 1542 it was I11
fefted by criminals, and tn get the better of
them a commiswton divided the tract, the
northern half going to Scotland and the
othir to England.
Ku-Zu was the familiar appellation ap
piled to the Zouao of the Union army. The
name was more or less Immortalized in a
comic song of the rebellion:
My lute is a V.u-'Sm. so gallant and bold:
He's rousb and he's haiuhtome, scarce 19 years
old
Aceldama was the 'den name for a field
of battle where mu-n slaughter had taken
place It was applied .originally to a locajlty
... Ttanln, tlM1t.f Wit tlT. AO
pieces of Oliver for' which Judas betrayed
Jesus.
"Tho Stuarts' Fatal Number" waa 88.
James III was killed in flight near Bannock
burn in 1488. Mary Stuart was beheaded in
1B88. James II of England was dethroned in
1688, Charlos Edward died In 1788. James
Stuart, the Pretender, waa born In 1688, the
year In which his father abdicated,
IN A SPIRIT OF HUMOR
Not in His Line
"So you've been abroad. How did you like
tho Riviera?"
"Oh, I didn't waste any time In the art
galleries. I'm not Interested In paintings.
Cabbage, Hay, ct al.
Of all that hide and masquerade
In other's clothes, I ween,
The worst offender Is that jade
Milady nicotine.
Difficult
"Paw, what's a physical Impossibility?"
"For tho butt of a joke to see Its point,
my sop."
The Offense
"What are you In for7" asked his cellmate,
"Smashing a chair."
"What?"
"Suie somebody's head was under It.
Disgraced
From early youth ho closely scanned
And studied late nnd long and hard
The works of masters, for he planned
To he a bard.
And after many years his song
Became a strong and graceful blend;
But ere he had been singing long
He met his end.
As If unto tho dangor blind,
Tho greatest sin ot all ho sinned;
He wrote some verse about the wind
And called It wind!
A Notable Exception
Mrs. Camden It is said that great batttes
nre always followed by a rain.
Mr. Camden Waterloo was an exception.
"I don't remember reading about that."
"Don't you? Well, Waterloo ended Napo
leon's reign."
A Professional
"Queer-looking character I saw you talk
ing to. One of your employes?"
"No; he'a In business for himself."
"What does he do?"
"Ho's a panhandler."
The Kctort Western
Said n visitor up In Dakota,
"For this clime I care not an lota;
It Is colder than blazes."
Said his friend, "It nmazos,
But you don't have to stay you can gota."
The Source
"Where do the Inventors get their Ideas
for all these queer modern dances?"
"By watching novices trying to learn the
old ones."
Why Should He?
Discerning observers may note a pau
city of mother-in-law, coal, hay fever, foot
ball and equally seasonable and time-honored
jokes. Their place is being token by pleas
antries on Przcmysl and similar sneezes.
Which gives rise to curiosity aa to how a
man with tho hay fever would pronounce
Przcmysl. in all probability lie wouldn't.
There's a Reason
"I wish wo had more literary people like
Blank."
"Great Scott! ho's never had anything
published."
"That's just why." Chicago Inter Ocean.
Pesneful
There was a young man from Duquesne.
Whose family name wan Lcsnc.
'Twaa a terrible pity!
He tried to be witty,
Although unencumbered with bresne.
Christian Register.
Identified
An English recruit was stopped in the
street recently by an officer for failing to
salute. The young fellow confessed his ig
norance of the regulations (having only Just
enlisted) und received an Impromptu lesson.
The dialogue concluded, tho recruit saluted
correctly.
"By the way," said tho officer, "to what
company do you belong?"
"Please, sir, to tho Wlgan Coal and Iron
Company," was tho reply. Manchester
Guardian.
Counting on Father
She I'm afraid poor papa will miss me
when we nre married.
He Why, Is your father going away?
Boston Tratibcrlpt.
Reforms
"I shall not use tobacco."
Said lltle Robert Reed,
"I shall not shock my system
With what I do not need,
I shall not use tobacco.
Because It is a curse;
I'll eat a largo green apple
Which will make me feel much worse."
Washington Star.
At the Beach
Maude My long suit Is bathing.
Aunt Anne I'mph I'd hate to seo your
short one. Jacksonville Times-Union.
Dcucribeil
"Pa, what's a sU-go gnu?"
"It's a mechanical device used for altering
maps, my son." Boston Transcript. -
Paid in Their Own Coin
When S. R. Crockett offered his first book
to a certain firm of publishers they returneJ
It with a curt noie Informing him that there
was "no market for this sort of work." In the
corner of the note was the Index mark "No.
306C."
Some time later, when Mr. Crockett had be
come famous, this same firm wrote asking him
to allow them to publish I1I3 next book. Mr.
Crockett, who had rnrefully presered their
former rwie letter, poiueiy replied by asking
them to refer to their own litter book under
the sign "No. S9CC." That closed the corre
spondence. Pittsburgh Press,
THE INDIAN ARMY
Into Hip West they are marching! This is their
longed-for day
Whan that which England gave them they
may at Inst repay;
When for the faith she dealt them, peasants
and priests and lords.
When for the love they bear her, they shall
unsheathe their swords!
Men of the plains and hillmen, men born to
warrior rolen.
Tall men of matchless ardor, small men with
mighty souls.
Rulers alike and subjects; splendid the rollcall
lings
Rajah and Miharjjahs, Kings and the soni
of Kings,
Hinant'. Patlala, Ratlam and Kishangarh,
Jodhpur. who rides the leopard down, Sachln
and Cooch-Behar,
From lands where skies are molten and uns
strike down and parch.
Out of the East they're marching, into the
West they march
Oh, little nimble Gurkhas, who've won a hun
dred lights,
Oh. Slkhs-the Sikhs who failed not upon the
Dargal heights,
Rajputs, against whose valor once la a younger
world
Ruthless, unceasing, vainly, the Mogul's hosts
were hurled.
Gray are our Western daybreaks and gray our
Western aktes.
And vary cold the night watch unbroke by
jackal' cries;
Hard, too. will be the waiting you do not love
to wilt?
Aye, but the charge with bayonet they'll
sound It soon or latel
-B. g. Yn04e, la Iho London IUa,
DONE IN PHILi
WITH the exit of the Nows-Post the other
day, Philadelphia, for tho third time In
less than a year, stood dry-eyed at tho bier
of on evening newspaper. For tho Item and
the Evening Times had at decent Intervals
preceded tho News-Post Into oblivion. The
fatality In each tnstanco might bo said to
havo been the Biimc falluro to recognize tho
peculiar field newspapers have to cover In
Philadelphia. In each instance the end came
suddenly, but as all of the Journals men
tioned had shown Blgns of falling health, the
demise was not unexpected.
THOSE who know the Item only In Us last
stages of debility can havo no adequate
Idea of tho Immense success that paper once
had here. It was started by Colonel Thomns
FltzGerald In 1847 ns a weekly. It was a
lively sheet, and as the Colonol look a deep
Interest In literature, art nnd music, the item
stood for something. Colonel FltzGerald
wrote several popular songs and a few suc
cessful plays that had a good run nt tho
Chestnut Street Theatre In Laura Kcene'a
time.
Afterward he Issued a Sunday Item, which
contained the social gossip of alt who would
send It In, and sometimes the sheet had men
out to gather theso news Items. There wan
no mysterious lino of social demarcation; no
north or south of Market street to test the
social validity of the parties. But the dances,
balls, "sociables" nnd other entertainments
were reported ns fully as their members could
write of them. ,
IT WASN'T high artln Journalism, but It
made business, and' that was what the
Colonel wanted. Then, tho Item was pro
gressive in Its stand on Improvements, and
Its local news wns always told In the fullest
detail If the caso reported happened to be
sensational. A good murder was likely to fill
three columns, and a first-class suicide waa
always good for a column, with nlco little,
halr-ralslng, breath-stopping subheads that
seemed to spring from their appointed place
In the article to becomo a kind of field mar
shal for the typo that followed.
In those days the Item used to receive Its
general news from the morning papers. It
did not have much to pay for telegraph tolls
or cablegrams. I remember hearing that the
Colonel had rccolved permission from Georgo
W. Chllda to got two Public Ledgers
from the Lrdoeh cellar as ho passed every
morning at 5 o'clock on his way to the Item
ofllce. By 7 o'clock, when tho first of the
printers arrived, the Colonel had columns of
news, with alluring headlines over them,
ready to bo set Into type. At times he took
a. fancy to tho editorials In tho morning
papers and these also were introduced ob the
editorial opinions of tho Item the same day.
The Colonel did not believe in disturbing
credit lines.
Tho Colonol was "strong" on local happen
ings, nnd these, ns I have indicated, were
treated in a manner that was original with
the Item. The paper was regarded ns so
sensational that even its daily readers did
not always place implicit confidence in what
they read in its columns. In this they prob
ably were unjust, for excepting details of
harrowing accidents, murders or other excit
ing matters, I bellevo that an attempt at
truth was always made.
IN THOSE days, say 25 or 30 years ago, the
Item, even if It did not havo the circula
tion figures painted on its many wagons, did
exceed that of all the other evening papers
combined, and this In spl'e of tho fact that
the Item was by no means so good as tho
others. What was tho reason?
It was the Himplcst thing in the world, but
it took years for the other evening papers
to discover and appreclato It at its true value.
The reason for this immense circulation of
the old Item was that In the remote parts of
the city the Item was the only afternoon pa
per that could bo bought. It was also dis
tributed regularly at all points within a
radius of 35 or 40 miles from Philadelphia.
And It was the only Philadelphia afternoon
sheet that you could buy when away from
the city. If a traveler wanted a Philadelphia
afternoon paper at South Bethlehem he had
to buy the Item. And he did buy it.
But progressive as the Item was In those
days, when Its distribution required probably
more than BO wagons every day, it neglected
to spend money on the improvement of the
sheet Itself. The newspaper businoss was
moving at a fast pace, but the Colonol did
not seo It. He had borrowed his general
news for so long that he did not realize that
the time had come to change.
THE story of the -ther two evening papers
that have recently left us Is in some re
spects a very different one. While the Fltz
Geralds did not recognize the demands that
were being made upon newspapers of the
better tpe, the owners of the Evening Times
nnd of tho News-Post did not realize that In
the Quaker City they had a peculiar problem
to solve if they expected a conquest of the
field.
It must have beendlsturblng to the Scrlpps
McRae Syndicate to learn that their publica
tion would not go in Philadelphia. They had
done the same sort of thing In other parts
of the country, and had made good. The
West had taken their Idea to their satisfac
tion, and, of course, they very naturally did
not believe that Philadelphia would behave
differently. But It did. It is not too much to
say that Philadelphia has always behaved
differeutly from any other American city.
BECAUSE Philadelphia Is so very different,
promoters of various kinds of enterprises
fall here while they have mnde fortunes else
where. They then go forth and tell the rest
of the country that Philadelphia Is a back
number. But we are not angered or oven
hurt. We forgive them and return to our la
bors as if nothing had happened.
GRANVILLE.
THE IDEALIST
Thousands of young men and young
women are forced to give up school or college
before the copipletion of their courses. It Is
safe to say that only a small percentage of
these plan out a course of self-education
and adhere to It.
A fallacy exists In the minds of many
whose educational work Is cut short to the
effect that one cannot possibly obtain any
where else the knowledge which a school or
college course offers.
A young man or young woman intent upon
continuing ht6 or her education work has the
problem nlne-tenths solved when he or she
refus.es to believe in this fallacy. It is only
necessary to look around In order to learn
that the opportunities for self-education are
well-nigh unlimited: that the opportunities
are almost free of cost.
There are free lecture course In all sorts
of Institutions and upon all sorts of topics;
there are libraries with thousands upon thou
sands of valuable books. At umall cost there
&re trcVeiOgUCti IIlUailiM CIUCI IUI1III4CU19, 411-
' dustrial exhibitions and what not.
1 x .,r.,,,.rr naniAn rah claim. If he Is worth
his salt, that the material is not easy of ac
cess, Ufi PX & Pa UaI Justly. -friUclse a
tn learn.
dies a lot of fun And
enthusiasm. ILitW'Atton, you win nnoi
furnishes equally as lliuch, If you will only!
persist long cnougn in it. xnis is uio ituj
happiness of achievement.
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 Xvenlno Lttaert
Sir I have read with Interest In the Issue of
the EVENiNd Ledoer on September 26 the edi
torial, "Calm of Germany."
The following sentences seemed to mo par
tlcularly Interesting:
"It Is only now that sober second thought Is
beginning to draw from our minds the animus
that was natural to the first news of war. Wo
are beginning to contrast the differing spirits In
which the combatants have undertaken tho
titruRglfl. Wo are learning more and more of
the petty hysteria that flooded England and
France with confusion worse confounded. We
arc discovering from returned tourists that It
did not extond to Germany. It does much to
bring back sanity whon we learn that Berlin
proceeds on almost its normal course, with
theatres open, trams running, ready money for
all and no moratorium, We must at least ro
npect such signs of civilization In the faeo ot
world-wldo vituperation and hysteria "
Permit mo to lemlnd you of an editorial pub ,
llshed some days ago, entitled "True to Their
Convention :
"Through tho hideous red war mist two ifaCts
stand out plainly. One fact Is that Great dlrlt
aln, with sincerity that must bo conceded,, car
ried out her written promise, her trcaty
pllghted wotd lo Belgium. She knew there
would be a fearful price to pay; she didn't fal
ter; that future nBreemciits wilt mean
what they say, and shall not bo 'scraps of
paper, to bo torn nnd tossed to the winds at
the cynical caprice of any ruler."
Can It be that this "sober second thought" of
the Evening Lkdoek owes Its conception to
German Influence?
I3LBANOR CUYLER PATTERSON.
Chestnut Hill, Pa., September 26, 11)14.
MORE WAR TALK
To the Editor of the Evening Ledger:
Sir We are looking at this war as Americans;
It Is a formative period of our nationality. Wo
do not want to be Russian-Americans ori
French or Italian, German or English, theroroirej
anything which tends to excite and keep altvel
lace antagonisms Is a crime against our nation
ality, our fatherland. As Americans we cannotj
but note the arrogance and overweening disre
gard of the feelings nnd rlchts of others whlchj
Is being displayed by thoso Americans whoso
origin Is In one cf the tribes now at war, Wcj
can sympathize with the Idea of "Tho Father
land," but we do not want to have it crammed
down our throats as if no other nation had thtl
same feeling, perhaps not expressed In sucll
uncouth gutturals, but Just as real Among
thoso who voluntarily left their native land andl
declared their Intention of becoming Amerlcara
citizens, and who now nre not to any groat oxl
tent offering their blood for that name Father!
land, tho tendency to flaunt the cry in the fac
of their fcllow-cltlzcns Is not only ueplornDli
had manners, but a. positive wrong. If nns
doubt this let them read a publication recentll
started called "Tho Fatherland.'
AN AMERICAN.
Philadelphia, October 1, 1914.
PENROSE AND LIQUOR
To the Editor 0 the Evening Ledger:
Sir On the last page of to-day's EvnNir
LEDQEn I note two attacks on Penrose aimed
the direction. of the barroom. Roosevelt llnlj
up crooked politics with liquor support, a
your enterprising photographer shows tho wj
dow ot a bottling establishment with the Sc
ntor'a face prominently displayed. The Inf
ence In both cases Is, of courso, that Pcnnj
must bo evil because of his connection wj
the liquor interesta, and should, therefore,
defeated.
I. myself, am thoroughly in sympathy w
the effort to annihilate Penrose; he Is a blotpn
the State map. But I am sorry thut any thine in
the campaign ngjlnst him should seem to miko
capital for the already strong prohibition move
ment which Is sweeping tho South and thifeat
ens even Pennsylvania. Prohibition Is not the
right way to deal with the liquor question. There
are many evils In the trado, just as there aro
old gang politicians In the Republican puty.
Both need purging. Strict Government rcl.ula
tlon, ultimate ownership. Is what the whisky
trado needs. Meanwhile, let us not lonfuso Is
suer. B. B. K.
Philadelphia, September 29. 1914.
COMPLAINS OF MOTORMEN
To the Editor 0 the Euening Ledger;
Sir I desire to call your attention to the fla
grant disregard of the "safety first" principles
on tho part ot motormen on our street cars.
Time and ngnln I havo nitlccd their hands oft
starters and brakes. Time and again I have
seen them talking with the conductor, or some
passenger, their head turned backward
Some conductors havo a habit not only of
talking to women of their acquaint m e, who
may be passengeis. but of iorcing their more or
less welcome attentions on young girls
I trust that tho Philadelphia Rapid Transit
Company will take cognizance of this, com
plaint. GCORGE V. YAHNALL.
Philadelphia. October I.
SEARCHING FOR THE "BUREAU"
To the Editor 0 the Evening Ledger:
Sir-Can any reader Ull me when It was that
Philadelphia adopted its present habit of de
bcriblng the custodians o'f our peace .is "The
Bureau of Police." and In general of oiibsti
tutlng "bureau" for ' department" ' Hit e;v
pression Is novel to most American iiiim. ami
yet has a certain sense of clllcltiuy ai..i .lenity
about It. J ''; l-
Uermantown, October 1.
OUT FOR THE I'LOORAl ALKLR
To the Editor 0 the Evening Lrdgt r:
airWhy worry over tho thopcirlf, inatten
tion? The lofty floor-walker m -Is p tittle
chastening. Have you ever tried to find out
anything from one of tliee inoroe and ab
utrarted gentlemen? W A. 1L
I'hlladelphia, jFeptembcr 10.
The Three Twin!
Krom th Savannah Morning New
Three of a kind George Fn d illiums,
Sir Lionel Cardeu ami A. Rustcin Be
NATIONAL POINT OV VIEW
MotorUts hae fiood reason to levo. ag
the proposal of Co.igicss to Include m its war
revenue bill a t ' '' ,e,s l,er ,lor cr.ower
on motor vehicles Horton Transiiipt
Nobody in the standpat camp is finding any
comfort tn the announcement that I'naideat
Wilson Is to make his campaign lor the Pemo
crats this year b mean of letters. A A lUon
letter In politic, rebembles a Herman hovuuer
In war. New York JVorld
It will be hard for Poctor .MuenMerberg to
persuade us that such a war un Una is ju
lined by a desire to increase the number uf
Germans under the German (lag. It wt.uW he
much better to keep up the plea of a defense e
war. Springfield Republican.
The difficulties which oui iioxeinme t 0'
Washington is having with tiieat Hniur . e
A... sf inmiMr If. Ililllaii.l 3ii & .-ii,t tn
Bnipii.cino v. ,-- . -.....-... ... -1. -..-.-i...
natural incliientH of anv v.Ar b k o; 3 I
in,, ...... - - , , 1
' the UOCllllie Uf 11,1111 niMtiiii iiriiiaii h v. a.
I enca dispute Is unavoidable. -New i.il. 1
1 That the 63d Conircs has done .1 sitrw n-a
I nt work vWll not be denied. The iiualii. i its
OIJIPUI 9 WH'Jvv v. ....,,...- . ,.. ..9 IDE
ber$ are entitled to 3. test, the cuumr; i iv
i.,i U rat nnH nit iiMlinii.il intrn t . .f
...... i i n : 11I1 luiit nt illfirtllt0 Tlitf it. v .--.
UUfU iw .v. -..-- .---. . . ,.
ponance wuum omici 1 . .w JT 4k
totifty. rew iwitv .sun vjj
T'i..rA riiulil liardh bt hi-Hc reaiiir fn.
those looking ahftd thai me v u- ric'v
for 110.060 barrels ot flout I o IV focfi
use, ana u we wp.i tvc' ' J l h-
f-Ant hainfr llir- nnlv t e iCn K ' "J -1 r--. .
has Jut snipped in
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Greece, being tne d
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buying here tv
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