mmmm rw wofw im EVENING LEDGER-tHlLADELPH!A WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1914. e. -o toS tJnof .flr beef 1, e?S 53 ing, delp in Jimi Fo? lntlf I ! ?n.Fl, 5m 3jjtl.. m JEw.- the o hel I llltlt or ' 'Btho eu -BXntenff Cor, n ; Bnrs.'f, . thAi,W m m I ' I W m $' h ic . . .- Tiir-4.. &; . .uuiiuui rjirsrssp Tiiuiincr I fltinttr'TUnprn rnunimv L& t " -" --"vriiv V.WHH iUl i . ... witt uwnioij , avuii 11 !! mit iirnsuici , vnnn it ummnon, i-ninp a roiiins, jcnn n. wn--$ tlarn. Directors. jfe BDtTOM AI. BOAP.D (,,. CtftM II. K. Ctnii8,,ChalrnMn. ... h. wiiAiitix nxerutive Btutor "i ram , iOjIKC. MAIlTttt Osnenil nunttiMi Munnirer ffi Ti llfri i FuVrted dally at risuo LsMen nulldtntr, ' PS? - Jmlnndenef EfliMirft. PhllAitotnhlii. tA" n? lT.nA rVrnlt. T)tu..1 nhJ rkulntii Bt.-- AtUlMIC Citt rrest-Vnton Building Kil Toi ..1T0-A, Metropolitan Toner j Clifoioo 817 Heme Insurant Building f Loxcox.. 8 Waterloo Piece, Pall Mall, 8. W. M tt. .. v U.vAUo. ..... : ujiwuibcso iii'tiMtr The ralriot nulMlng VyMiixiTON Iiunuu The rost Hulldlnc Nut Tonic nuttmn ..The rimri Hiillrtlng j Br.nM.H nunrtu , no FrMrlchitrnrm flk- J.OJIMV Pnartt' .......... . , .2 Pall Mall Kant. S. W. $P Pw BBKkiu 32 Hue Louis le Grand $i cfTnqltttn frvmia fly rirrtcr. tint r flvtt ! Knli Ti h.II -ii. outelde of I'hlln.letphlH, except where forelrn postaire t In required, Djii.t Ovt.T, one month, twenty-five eentn: It v VAII.T. O.tT, one enr three dollars. All mall eub- , ,, ccnpiiene payame in advance DELL, 3000 TALNUT KEYSTONE, MAIN 3000 OST idilrru oil eommunlcoHon to Evening ' Ltip'T, tmlepenttcnco BQuarr, Philadelphia. y 1 xstmkd iT Tnn ritn.ADti ritu rosTornca s second- I CLASS JIAIt MATTER. ' ' ' . aj, rillLADELriHA, VEDNESUW, OVtSintU 11, 1!14.. f T-, , Union Traction's Opportunity UNION TRACTION atockholdcrs owo aomethltiB to the citizens of Philadelphia. fcf. They aro receiving 17.15 per cent, dividends 1 on their stock, an excellent return. But thcro Is no captious criticism because the yield Is Wr bo Urge. Philadelphia Is not objecting j( Philadelphia, however, does expect that a s company which has prospered so greatly through Its franchises should bo kindly dls i posod toward tho extension of transit facili ties. It asks no sacrifice from tho Union -v Traction Company. On tho contrary, it , merely urges the company to reinvest, for a limited number of years, a half of Us largo r dividends In tho extension of surface lines, v and 6 per cent. Interest on thonioncy so to 1 invested is assured. In addition, it protects the Union Traction Company in Its present lucrative contract with tho Philadelphia Itapld Transit Company, for It insures tho u latter against competition and practically grants it a continuing monopoly of transit ., 4 ...e,.... ... a..... ..u.,..... 4j The union Traction Company, on tho other hand, haa certain vested rights. Its o'.ock , holders cannot bo compelled to Invest their a. money against their will. It is t.icir privilege . to say yes or no. It Is Just as certainly their L! ... duty to mako their answer ono way or tho r other In tho lnimcdlato future. They havo had ample opportunity fo.' consideration. Tho urgency of tho now system is too great to permit Indefinite delay. ! u- - m .1.. . n n F. XL 111D CX.1ES.VC1 lO ililltlllUi.VC, VUUIIUIIB ltlll bind tho city, and tho approbation of tho K Public Service Commission alono will bo a preliminary to actual const uction. If the answer is negative, Councils can go ahead ' none tho less, authorize tho building of tho now lines and mako other arrangements for their operation. A splendid high-speed sys tem, serving all parts of tho city, would not '" havo to wait long for an operator. American ! capital 13 not neglecting opportunities of that T ort. '7'' The best solution, both for the ctty and tho ' Union Traction Company, will bo participa tion by tho letter in tho program. There is some reason to believe t a this view Is mak r lag headway among tho stockholders. " Philadelphia's Great Heart WITH splendid enthusiasm Philadelphia is meeting the demand laid upon her. All little conceptions have been broken up, all selfishness has been abandoned, and the city Is doing more than sho was asked to do, and f doing it Joyously and proudly. Tho hungry aro to bo fed and the naked clothed. "Who la my neighbor?" TVo aro answering tho '" Scriptural question not In words but In " deeds, not with mero sentiments but with sil ver and gold. Loaded to tho gunwale the "- Thelma, symbol of Philadelphia's sympathy, 'will sail forth on her mission of mercy. She Is but a samplo of tho big, fine soul of our T American city, and in her wak-s another and ' perhaps many others will follow. ., ,,,,, "War's Toll of Creative Genius 1 ft- "QROFES80R CRET may or may not He fr JTamong the dead. The distinguished archi tect of the University of Pennsylvania may i otlll be at his provincial post in southern . -France, from which he last wrote to AmerU ; can friends. Or his body may be rotting In shrapnel-swept trenches and 'he genius of , tils mind a thing departed forever. ' If Professor Cret's fate Is death, he Is only ' added to the list hardly guessed at as yet of ' the men of exceptional genius from whom this war takes Us toll. Early In the conflict the - composer Magnartl died defending his little garden from the first a-r ep of the Germans v upon Paris. Rumor has laid low the bari tone Marcoux and many another singer. "War Is no respecter of persons t is not satisfied with mere "cannon fodder." It takes the greatest that atand In its path as quickly as the least. The waste of creative genius, blown out of the world on the winds of these battlefields, will be one of the blackest para- graphs in the indictment of the war. China vs. South America as a Borrower THIS question of a Chinese loan seems to be up to Washington again. Tuan Bhlh JCal needs mpney to keep his new Govern ment alive, and the United States U the only hanker left, r From the point of view or the Administra tes, however, things are no Better off than they were when America's share In the "six Power loan" was turned down. Indeed, they are worse, Tuan Shin-Sal, according to ru mors' brought by dissatisfied Chinese, and youched for by Professor Beard, of Colum bia, hi threatened by more revolutionary dis content. And the European war baa vastly altered the epmmercial and financial rela tive of toe whole world. Jftven It President Wilson does not Inter ve, American capital la more than likely keitate at the risks In China, whw South lea now 114 open to investment. Buenos , opening its first Americas bank, holds & brighter prwawe jtau Feion. Wa v U Not Abate MMpQUI to not iS t tft? step that augers JLm rty fKHHHiywt. C war, Wi tfe rwpamtut Ml i th BtilUfc Cov. ,xnt&t uaH te 4UUag tjtat t4 very i nssiurcue at h Milled iMtlMM smm Wil no muKiesa bem tee existence. Perhaps tho conclusion Is wrong; It is conceivable that tho war might end without tho obliteration of any nation as ft nation, but with limited armaments for the future and a territorial adjustment that would lessen tho racial problem of Europe. But not one of the participants would nccede to such nn arrangement at the present time. Each combatant Is Invoking the aid of tho Almighty, each believes tha.. his case rests squarely upon Immutable Justice, each U willing to stake everything opon the out come. Months of desperalo strife He ahead; how many no one can nzard. Supremacy in the Making NOTHING but n chronic grouch can keep an American citizen from Joining in tho jubilation Justified by tho Government crop report. A country blessed with such n boun tiful yield of corn and wheat and potatoes, nnd other products of a kindly soil, has reason for thanksgiving, for the time has not gono by, even in an age of widespread indus trial development, when agriculture has lost its Important function of protecting the national welfare. Agriculture not only furnishes food sup plies; In many cases manufacturing Itself depends upon It for raw material. The prin cipal grain crops this year wore greater In altio than tho predictions Indicated, and more valuable than over before grown In tho United States; In quantity many of them wero record breakers, alul In yield per aero somo exceeded nil previous marks. All this In good news. It comes when the feeling In businoss circles Is increasingly op timistic; when manufacturers and trnders nre casting off their lethargy and their gloomy faces and making good their declaration of 'commercial and Industrial Independence; when tho financial skies are clearing; when courage nnd confidence havo joined forces for now conquests; when activity has taken tho plnco of moro or less watchful waiting, and when prosperity Is not only in the air but In the factory and tho market place This is tho ono great nation whose re sources of wealth creation ato virtually unimpaired; tho ono great nation which Is actually accumulating wealth. It Is entering upon tho greatest era of prosperity In Its his tory, perhaps in tho history of tho world. Tho opportunity Is hero nnd now; wo are Just beginning to take advantage of it, and when tha war is over tho nations of Europe will need our products both of field nnd factory. Their industries will bo prostrated; ours will bo supreme. Labor Federation anil Peace EVERY lover of peace will welcome tho firm and statesmanlike uttcranco concerning tho futility and immorality of war given out by the American Federation of Labor, now deliberating In this city. War is unnecessary, and whatever good may accrue from It Is ob tained at far too high a price. If tho work ingmen of all nations were to set themselves deliberately against warfaro thoy could un doubtedly establish an era of peace. Vast as such a project may seem It is not impossible. Tho movement must bo universal in order to bo effective. Perhaps it has been left for laboring men to accomplish what kings, statesmen, churches nnd multl-milllonalres have failed to bring about. The Paradise of Brigands THE situation in Mexico has grown Into a disreputable squabble of Jealous generals. All tho fine patriotism of tho men who called themselves Constitutionalists Is bedraggled and befouled, if it ever existed. Not one of the leaders of tho antl-Hucrta revolution, upon which President Wilson pinned such high hopes, is willing to subordinate himself to tho welfare of tho nation. , Everything is patent now; indeed, it might have been guessed, for it Is nothing but tho threadbare story of Mexico's past the ex ploiting of tho gjvomment for the benoflt of tho governor. The country Is sick of it. There is never a thought for the sufferings of tho millions of peoplo who have no part In tho imbroglio, and never a care for tho future of a land naturally rich and productive. Nothing matters except that Villa, or Car ranza, or Zapata, or somo other semi-outlaw or habitual brigand shall hold the reins of power at the expense of tho rost. And the ones who nre Bhut out will form an alllanco to fight the one who gets in; then another chapter of blood, rapine and anarchy. "Teacher's Chcatin'l" WHAT Is the youth of America coming to? Over in Illinois a student who edits the dally paper of Chicago University Is hav ing a scrap with the faculty over cheating In a course. Oh, they did that in the old days, did they? Boys will be tax-dodgers when It comes to lessons? But the trouble over the present situation is that the boy In the case is the prosecutor. He accuses the teacher of cheating, not vice versa. There have been plenty of professors who were ready to give good marks for no work at all, if it meant a little ease for them selves and plenty of pupils to take them. But here la a boy who objects strenuously to getting cheated out of work. He has made the astounding dlsoovery that he wants his money's worth. He went to college to learn something, and he won't have a mere pro fessor preventing it. What it is the only question worthy of the occasion what U the youth of America coming to? The first thing we know, some college fellow will be reporting a cash balance in his expense account. The boy who broke his ankle trying to put his toe In his mouth la evidently a crying sub ject for the cattle quarantine. Ten thousand dollars an hour for the re lief of the Belgians. One shin ready to sail and another to be chartered. Who say Philadelphia is siowr The high cost xof living has not been ma terially decreased by the announcement of the Massachusetts prison, executioner that, on account of hard times, he will reduce his prlee for electrocutions. Today dqea not seem likely to descend to the atmospheric depths of yesterday, which registered two degrees below freezing. All the same. It le cold enough for violent exer cise like football or catelilng cars. The English manufacturer who presented M90 alarm sleeks tp his employes has at least shown bis mental superiority to the Ameri can factory owner who still thinks U his bueine&e to wake up the whole neighborhood every moretag with his ateam whistle. Tto? 0finan ship India, 10 days out from CfclH, nd net he eeatMt with the ro bulbUo tale of it escape frem the eruUers qf th AittM. Its earge f Mtmtes, which Mt fimm AMift wottlt wly 1136,649, WIi W Yoark with a vafaae of ttwi- I $MKMCf pttn ftftfw Another wteftde FOOD FOR INNOCENTS Random Thoughts Concerning War and Its Toll Belgians, Being Without Guilt, Challenge the Sympathy of Mankind Tho German's Love for Germany Possible Future of the Belgian People. DOWN in Georgia tho farmer whom you casualty meet on the roadside will tell you that Sherman's army waa composed of thousands of barbarians, who wero happy only when burning houses or ravaging fields. "Ilannlbnl will get you If you don't watch out," was a set phrase used by Roman nurses to frighten patrician children years and yenrs after tho great Carthaginian general had died. So, too, tho Persians for genera tions handed down tales of the atrocities committed by Alexander's Greeks, and the outrages of British troops during our own Revolution havo passed Into tho folklore of America. Possibly tlnsre was never a coun try Invaded that the inhabitants did not con sider tho Invaders tho most ruthless and merciless soldiers in tho history of tho world. THE horrors in Belgium arc the greater, of course, on account of tho high civilization of tho people. When Caesar sent his Roman legions through Germany they found a peoplo used to living In tho open. If their villages wero destroyed they could move on nnd build others. They wero accustomed to cxposuro and they know how to enduro tho bitterness of famlno and cold. But tho Belgians of today aro a peoplo nccustomed to tho sub stantial living that comes from thrift and energy. They nro as skilled In manufac turing as in farming and dairying. The revo cation of tho Edict of Nantes drove from Franco the flower of its productive popula tion, many of whom cvontunlly cumc to tho United States and took a foremost part In tho upbuilding of tho nation. But that was tho case of a Government driving out Its own citizens and deliberately pauperizing itself. In Belgium, on the contrary, a wholo nation Is being expelled from Its soil. Tho sceno Is being laid for another Acadia nnd an other Evangeline. In fact, the only good that possibly can como from tho catastrophe in Belgium is a great poem, a tragedy, a paint ing or some majestic sculpture, as that carved In tho side of tho mountain at Lu cerne In honor of tho Swiss Guards, vic tims of tho bullets of tho Marseillaise and tho pikes of the mob that August day in 1792. "The Lion of Lucerne," of course, was not carved by Thorwaldacn himself. It was the Swiss Ahorn who actually changed tho rugged mountalnsldo Into tho majestic beauty of Thorwaldsen's model. If out of tho suffering, tho turmoil nnd tho grief of Belgium should como tho inspiration for now Immortalities in art, they may In part rcconcllo the world to the loss of Its oldor treasures. But thcro is nothing, naturally, that can rccompenso civilization for tho tragedy of Belgium. THE wells of human sympathy nover run dry. Thcro was a kind mistress in tho South who used to smuggle slaves into her own house, after thoy had been whipped by tho overseer, and apply balm to their wounds. Tho unique claim which tho Belgians havo on tho charity of tho world is their utter guiltlessness of any offense. They are not starving as tho result of a malicious attempt to gain territory. Tholr sole crlmo was that the territory thoy inhabited lay in tho route of a giant enemy who wished to got to France and get there quick. Tho Belgians did what any self-respecting people would do they tried to protect tholr homes. How well they tried will bo the subjeot of song and story for ages to come, but Just now the Important thing is the prlco they are called on to pay immediately. THERE are degrees of want in tho world. A family with an Income of $5000 in a big city may bo in very desperate straits. But the refinement of suffering 'is when men, women and children, who aro accustomed to plenty, find It almost Impossible to obtain oven dry bread. Want is then real, tho only real thing in the world. It throws caste aside, confuses ordinary conventions, brings humanity down through universal .sorrow to an absolute level. When Clara Barton vis ited the Atlantic sea Islands on her errand of mercy, after one of the great storms, she found scores of destitute Negroes being cared CURIOSITY SHOP Argan was a miserly hypochondriac, who reduced himself to this dilemma: If his apothecary would not charge less, he could not afford to be Hi; but if he swallowed fewer drugs, he would suffer In health. In former days the owl was known as "Billy Wlx." "Billy" was a word-play upon the beak or bill and "Wlx" Is the German "week" or wig, In allusion to the Judge-like appearance of the wise bird. Thomas Topham, son of a London car penter (1710-1753), was known as the British Samson. He lifted three hogsheads of water weighing 1836 pounds In the presence of thousands of spectators assembled in Bath Rtreet, Cold Bath Fields, London, on May 28, 1741. He committed suicide for a faithless woman. The Roman general Qutntus Fablus Maxl mus Verrucosus (died 203 B. C.) was nick named the "Delayer" because of his cautious but effective tactics In opposing the progress of Hannibal. The phrase, "don't care a fig." probably was originally "don't care a flco," the latter word meaning a contemptuous snapping of the fingers. Shakespeare uses the expression, "A flco for the phrase." The word "dun," when used In the sense of entreating a person for the payment of a debt, is said to refer to one Joe Dun, a famous bailiff of Lincoln in the reign of Henry VII. The "British Apollo" says he was so active and dexterous In collecting bad debts that when any one became "slow to pay," the neighbors used to say to creditors, "Dun him," meaning send Dun after him. "To be In the dumps." According to ety mological fable this expression la derived from Dumops, a king of Egypt. He was a very unhappy, sullen person. After building a pyramid he died of melancholy, I Went to Pluck a Flow'r I went to pluck a flowr, To Send it to my love, But no bloom could I find Perfect enough and fair To tet among her hair, Or where the laces bind Her bosom, or above Her heart to lie an hour. And so my choice prefers An unpretentious bloern, A simple meadow weed, A humble, blue-eyad thing: Like the weak praise I sing. It is to intercede For one whose sighs preounw Ta beauties sueb. as here. And when my offering She setts, and rsd my rim She'll gently put it by. SUe'll ponder far a wnltai Then as-ie a UtUe statu. And gf k a M-te atelfc A4 Mr that rfd Ttew Hm riu a toPn wis. Wtttr t4fMr. -- Wu.lw GrMU. for In tho houses' of tho almost equally des titute white planters. Barriers dissolve In tho presenco of universal destruction. A picture recently published showed tho wlfo and daughter of ono of tho richest of Belgians rich three mottths ago huddled together In a ditch, weary and hungry, snatching what rest they could during tho long walk to Hol land and food. It Is not the peasants only who havo been stricken. Tho devotion of Belgium Is tho devotion of nil classes. Troop ers and guns havo spread over tho ontlro countryside, llko an Invasion of the army worm, which last summer occasioned so much destruction In tho vicinity of Phila delphia, IN ONE of tho German restaurants Satur day a former Berliner glanced at tho full pago advertisement for Belgian jollef, throw tho pnper down on tho table nnd exclaimed: "It's nil a He. That shipload of goods Is go ing to tho English. " That was a natural view. A German, In fact. Is a human being, Just as filled with soul ns any of tho rost of us, nnd it was Hale, In "Tho Man Without a Country," who so eloquently pictured tho utter desolation of tho nationless human being. "My country, right or wrong," has been a toast theso many years. Spain felt that American Interference In Cuba was not only unjustified, but was an actual Impertinence. Somo Americans felt tho same way, but that did not prevent them from volunteering to tun n raco with yellow fovor. A German who did not sympathize with tho millions of other Germans who, whether thoy wished It or not, aro in fact engaged in a deat't strugglo, would not bo much of a German; and tho Fatherland, It Is safe to say, would be rather glad of his absence. No, militarism or no militarism, the Rhine still Hows, tho Germans still lovo It, ns they ought to lovo it and ns thoy must lovo It if tho romanco of childhood nnd the dreams of early manhood mean any thing. AMERICANS who consider only the grim . vlsogo of tho military machine, denounce militarism and expect Germans in this coun try to seo tho strugglo Just ns thoy sco It nro really Inconsiderate Ame.lcans. History Is a point of view, nothing much moro than that. Thcro are a thousand different histories of tho Civil War, with a thousand facts stated In a thousand different ways Until recently, for instance. It was a common fallacy that Massachusetts won tho Revolution and that tho announcement of tho Declaration in Bos ton was of vastly moro Importance than tho adoption nnd signing of it In Philadelphia. But tho vehement German In the restaurant, whoso heart is probably "back homo" in a cottago by tho Rhine, need not worry. Tho cargo of tho Thclma is not going to tho Eng lish troops, or to tho French troops. It Is going Into tho hungry mouths of inno cents, Innocent children and Innocent adults, to non-combatantn who have been thrust upon tho charity of tho world which means, in this awful moment, tho charity of the United States. I MIGRATION laws aro excellent things. Tho protection which our factories In somo cases require, labor also finds neces sary. A trip from Philadelphia to Washing ton, howover, is sufficient evidence of tho vast acreage In this country yet uncultivated. If tho Thclma could bring back a cargo of Belgians, families skilled in dairying nnd in tensive farming, there would bo a place for them in this nation, and they would not intorfere with tho living of a slnglo family. They would bo likely, on the other hand, to prove a leaven to increase greatly tho agri cultural values of the United States. So excellent a citizenship, in bulk or otherwise, would be worth moro to tho United States than the direct importation of millions In gold. Gold Itself is valueless unless there is population to mako use of it. It may be tho part of wisdom, beforo many months have passed, to bring tho Belgians to the food after taking the food to the Belgians. S. HUM OF HUMAN CITIES The Cleveland Foundation, a new depart ure in community welfare, has been organ ized and is ready to begin its activities. It is a sort of community trust designed to se cure efficiency in philanthropic public wel fare work that will Invite the Bupport of men and women who wish to seo their money UBed to the best advantage. The central Idea of the foundation Is that it shall be an organization such that men of means will leave bequests in their wills for the genernl welfare of Cleveland. There is to be a central fund, administered by five trustees, two chosen by tho Cleveland Trust Company and one each by the Mayor of the city, tho Probato Judge and the United States District Judge. It Is said that already $30,000,000 has been written into wills, the income from theso bequests to te used by the foundation. Cleveland is starting the work In compre hensive manner. There aro to be painstak ing surveys of social conditions and agencies both private and public. Everything having relation to the city's philanthropic neeis Is to be carefully studied, the purpose being to arrive at the people's necessities before or ganizing the work that will come later. There has been complaint in Cleveland and other cities that efficiency was lacking In charitable and philanthropic work. Ontf charge Is that too much money is spent in overhead charges, due largely to duplication of effort by many similar organizations. The Cleveland Foundation Is designed to cure many of the dafects of present-day efforts by organized charity. The Ohio city's effort to make charity and philanthropy more efficient, comments the Portland (Ore.) Journal, will bo watched with keen Interest by other cities. Com munity welfare will be promoted as it should be when the people who furnish the money ore assured that none of it Is -'asted. CRISES IN GREAT LIVES Hannibal is the most pathetic figure among the great generals of the world's history, and It is not surprising that the great crisis of bis life should have come while he was unconscious of It and that it should havo ended disastrously for him. It was In the year S07 B. C, when he haa spent eight years away from Carthage, rav ishing the Roman countryside, striking ter ror into all Rome. Consul after consul had ggne down to defeat before him, army alter army bad been destroyed, and now, braving the same Alps he had crossed, his brother Hasdrubal was coming from Spain to Join is &' last desperate attack on Rome, Hasdrubal entered Italy and encamped by the Metaurus River, faced by tho Consul Maroua Llvlus. To effect a Junction with his brother, Hasdrubal sent word that be would join Wra lo lower Umbrta, but the letter fell Int? the hands of the other Roman consul CUudliw Nero. Without hesitation. Nero st oft a attachment to engage Hannibal, and tar the greatest march of Roman history JeteMt Uvtw a4 otttred battle to HaadruboL SH-nbal retrwaed, was betrayed at the IMaarus and laft wandering through the MiM. Tb nt dj the Rosuwas att.ckad tu t mo iuvi trisumti ttutlu ul Carthaginian wars. Then they turned to Hannibal. In all this tlmo Hannibal know nothing of tho battle which had been fought? ho still confidently awaited word that his brother had como to meet him. Suddenly tho Romans came upon htm. With a refinement of cruelty tho consuls had preserved tho head of Hasdrubal, and as they advanced to tho conflict they flung tno liorrfblo trophy, with its glazed eyes, info the tent of Hannibal, In that momont the commander who had weathered tho perils of years of warfaro wilted and collapsed. It was tho real crisis of his career, because, although he fought and won many battles thereafter, tho spirit was brokon, and tho future of tho world lay with Rome. VIEWS OF READERS ON TIMELY TOPICS Contributions That Reflect Public Opin ion on Subjects Important to City, State and Nation. To the lidllar of the Evening Ledger! Sir Philadelphia beats any city I've ever bcon In. This nftcrnoon I gyrated for a full hour try ing to get out of Falrmount Park Into tho sub urbs. There were statues and monuments as thick as sea gulls in a harbor, but never n sign post to tell n stranger how to get out of tho maze. I took threo months of wenr out of the gears asking ono policeman how to guldo mo to tho next policeman. At Inst, b following a car that looked as If It had an objective, be cnupc It had a box at tho back full of tools and was not likely to mako Itself dizzy cutting cir cles for fun through shrubbery, I got by the last cop and over a bridge onto tho City line. Then I ran on Into tho suburbs, whero the houses looked llko pages from tho flossy maga zines that tell you how to turn the country Into the city or the city Into tho country. They looked all right, too, and made n fellow think either of honeymooning or retiring from business. But what put tho kink Into my lino of thought was tho toll-gato hold-up. I meandered ahead for n few miles and only got mad. It seemed as If they had ono coining and going. I paid to get onto a road and then paid to get off, nnd they havo It systematized so that they vqucczc you every fow hundred yards, whether you detour down dinky little lanes or not. It didn't mattor which sldo of tho railroad you went they nab bed jou. And most of tho tlmo I would run past tho seat of custom nnd have to back up and rIioII out. It wnsn't really much at any plnco; 2 cents, 7 cents, 12 cents, but I must havo Invested a couplo of dollars beforo I got onto tho game. I'd always heard, of course, that fcnnsshnnla Is tho most corrunt State, nolltl- cally, In the Union, but I didn't know that any fellow who couldn't got a regular office by elec tion or appointment could haul a sentry box out onto tho highway nnd mako the public cash In for tho prlvllego of using It. It may seem nil right to peoplo who haven't known nnythlng ox cept Pennsylvania, but It's tho funniest thing I've run Into In theso parts, except that string of gilmy pergolas that aro on tho city sldo of tho park. But that Isn't rcnlly funny; it's too grotesque. NELSON BURKE. Philadelphia, Novombcr 10. REAL CAUSE OF THE WAK To the Vdltor of the Evening Ledger: Sir What Is the real cause of the warT Well, we all have our Ideas upon that, prob ably, but tho writer's, for certain reasons, may bo a little different from tho ordinary view be canso of a little out of tho ordinary view of somo factors of the matter. Tho autoc racy of Germany felt themselves confronted with some very matter-of-fact facts: First, Germany could hardly ever be better prepared fiom a military or naval point of view; sec ondly, the opening of the Panama Canal must cortnlnly change trade routes throughout the world; thirdly, within tho Germanic peoples was a stir and unrest and discontent with an archaic form of government every line of human effort was modernizing but the line of government. "Let us throw down the gauntlot to our neighbors, seize tho control of the Pan ama routes throueh our victorious navy, as a fruit of our last victories, make this an object lesson to the masses that autocracy has proved Its superiority over democracy, and thereby save for ourselves our position." That Is my Interpretation of the matter, yet I do not wish to appear dogmatic about it. SHON REA. Philadelphia, November 0. WOMEN WILL GET BUSY To the Editor of the Evening Ledger: Sir Thank God, at last we havo a Philadel phia paper not afraid to print th truth about the Inhabitants of our City Hall. The Ignorance of actual conditions there is appalling. "Why la Councils?" Is a question I have thought many times since spending a morning sitting among them when thoy were fighting an attempt to make them appropriate money for the Division of Housing and Sanitation. Al though Judge Sulzberger told them "to do their duty," I came home that day nnd called up the chief worker for woman suffrage in this part of Germantown, saying, "Put me to work. If a whole city full of men have to fold their hands and let a set of men like that run this city it's time tho women got busy." Educate the people through your paper, and at leaBt the women will wake up. G. B. M. Germantown, November 6. A TAX ON CHAIIITY To the Editor of the Evening Ledger: Str With an excuse that hardly seems to Justify their action, the Germans have Imposed another heavy tax upon tho Belgian people. Brussels must pay a fine of (1,250,000. While Germany continues to Impoverish Belgium and reduce the people to the point of starvation, America, great In charity. Is sending relief ships, laden with food. But the situation Is sug gestive of the bottomless barrel. We are sup plying necessities while Germany Is continually creating need. There Is no doubt of our duty to Belgium In her dire distress. But how can we fall to take Into account the conduct which leaves to a stricken people nothing moro than the charity of a neutral world? F. O, It. Philadelphia, November 10. LIKES McGILLIGAN To the Editor of the Evening Ledger: Sir I have just finished the delightful essay, "McQIlllgan on the Middle Class," published In today's Evening Ledobr. In Its humor, In its truth and in its stylo It Is literature. I llko IXcGllllgan himself. G. H. BRENNAN, Philadelphia, November 9. NATIONAL POINT OF VIEW Perhaps there have been no worse hindrances to the sane study and use of eugenics in this country than some of those who have been Its most vociferous champions. A great task of sensible eugenlsts today Is to protect the prop aganda from fool friends. Detroit Free Press. Taking the greed and graft out of the tariff and financial absolutism out of Wall street has not necessarily closed a single factory, It has not necessarily deprived a single man of work. It haa Interfered with the business otfno one whose trade has not been bottomed on extor tion and plunder. We have not been flooded with "pauper goods" from abroad. We are disturbed only as all civilisation la disturbed. Such com mercial and industrial difficulties as appear aro due to war, and nothing but war, Plutocraoy, showing some symptoms of recovery, cannot belle the facts. St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The country has not yet made up it mind to be fully pleased with the new banking sys temnot yet put In operation. It begins to look like a cumbersome piece of machinery wholly unnecessary. It was gotten up to de naturixo Wall street, but when the country was In distress the President was compelled to tall the bankers In for a consultation Des Moines Capital, "" The reason that the Republicans are making so much of their gains In the recent elections is that they are laying a foundation for their campaign In 1318, They are trying to get the voters to thinking that they ere pretty M 0f winning the Presidency then. If they can ret that Impression abroad they believe that they will get the bulk of the independent voter barannab New. White American exporter hesitate, Arfentlaa eomw urging u to supply it need. There shovld be no more, htaltatien, ns more dilly dallying. The footoriea theuld. be worklna full Mae, the YeJU should he teadad, Aug same aluM be e their way U th4 ftwth-a ConU nwu T rte lit. ithould fee ttW. secured. u-fcL-Jpy Tv Matt, "" SCRAPPLI? World Scries Football (Second rerlod.) Without waiting for tho whistle the boys Jumped Into tho game, and It was clear to tho spectators that a great gamo was going to bo put up. The Knlser took out some of his best players to send them in ngainst Russia In tho other match ho was play ing. This weakened the team considerably. At the same tlmo French, tho plucky Httlo captain of tho Allies, took out somo of his men and sent fresh substitutes. In a series of clover formations, engineered by Joffre, quarterback for the Allies, tho toam ad vanced slowly but surely to tho mlddlo of tho field. Thero tho Teuton lino braced, and It seemed for a moment an If tho Allies would buckle. Instead of trying another plunge, Joffre called for a punt. French lifted a long spiral, which was caught by von Kluk at Antwerp, tho Ger mans' 48-ynrd lino. Tho Allies tried to send Italy, tho fullback, Into tho game, but ho was protested. Both sides took tlmo out to band ago up, and tho next formation was a fako kick to Dunkirk on tho Allies' 40-yard lino. Instead of kicking, Kluk tried tho doublo pass, but only got nwny with tho first part, as ho was tackled at Ostend and thrown heavily, keeping possession of tho ball. Tha Knlser protested that tho refcreo was coach ing from tho sidelines, and that tho Allies weren't playing fair, spilling buckets of wator all over tho field. Protest overruled. The half ended with Germany's ball on tho Allies 40-yard line. Score, 0-0. Third period still on. No scoro yet. Juit a Suggestion Now that a bigger warship's blast Has finished up tho Emdon scrappy, Now that her wondrous deeds nro past And every Englishman is happy; Tho Germans, cro thoy start to raise A statuo of enduring granlto To keep their names allvo nnd praiso Tho daring sailor men who ran it, Should find, in that sho found the rango, A good and qulto BUfllcIont omen, And mnko a certain Httlo chango Of letters in tho ship's cognomen. Full many ships tho Emdcn fought And to tho bottom sho did send 'emj Wo really think the Germans ought To chango tho vessel's namo to Endem. Ono Tiling After Another Tho Crown Prince of Germany, who was killed last week, has been seriously wounded. Dated Ahead Shopper Arc theso eggs frCsh7 Grocer Fresh? Why, thoy wouldn't havo been laid until tomorrow If I hadn't torn a pngo too many off tho calendar by mis take. Very Singular It seems odd that scats on tho Now York Stock Exchange should be selling at tho low est prlco in years. Just nt tho tlmo whon brokers havo moro leisure for sitting in them than they over had before. Prohibition Spreads Scientists discover moisture on Mars. News Item. Now prohibition spacoward takes its way. And comets nil surrender to its rush; Tho movement spreads nnd gains, and soon tho day Shall bo no moro of him who loves to lush. For, having found this world of ours too small, It has Invaded space and o'on tho stars; Lo, comes tho news our senses to appal, Thoy'vo found there's molsturo, somo of it, on Mars. Proof Positive "They say a criminal always returns to tho sceno of his crlmo." s "Yes, I've noticed our best authors hanging around tho bookstores." Theatrical Definitions "The Silent Drama." Tho life of tho Oya- ter. "Opera-Bouffe." "Supe." "Wardrobe." "Chorus." "Chickens." The stage luncheon. One who needs it. Obsolete seo die tlonary. See chickens. Seo chorus. Horrors of Peace Wo'd really like to trounso ' That man, and make him lame Who thinks ho can pronounce Each European name. He says it makes us sore It fills him full of bliss To read about tho war As it Is fought at Lys. At that, ho may be right, But we believe he lies, When talking of the fight Reported as at Lys. But that wo could endure; We would not wish to brawl; Wo'd hope for tlmo to cure The breach if that were all. O'erlook our salty tjara. Our woe will not behave, He says the Kaiser fears The onrush of the Slav. No Failure 'Tm glad to see that grafter caught with the goods. He's a failure at everything he ever tried." "You're premature. His fine may not ba more than half what he grafted." nardly "I saw no evidence of refinement at that house." "Did you expect to?" "Well, relations there are somewhat strained." " Scissors Cake IFrom KamWng Recipes for Robuit Ru-uIom. Take the Juice of four fair to middling alsecj scissors, making sure that they are ripe, and let stand in the open air. If the air la not open enough, pry it This will give a rich brown taste to the cake. Fry over a slow oven, while you discuss the causes of tho downfall of the Roman Empire with your neighbor. When you have arrived at tho assassination of Julius Caesar, add in quick: J succession one cake of Bonehead Soap and a When cold, heat. Lay the frosting on gently and open the window wide when you throw it ou. t Encouraged, as It Were Havo you ever noticed that the man who tells a funny story never laughs at yours? It isn't that he's jealous; he's simply trytm? to think up another ono as you talk. The Babbling Fool Thero are .till places in New England where it Is a high crime and misdemeanor to suggest, ever so mildly, that Ralph Waldo Emerson was not quite the greatest thinker who ever lived. This same Emerson was. a few generations back, the stock argument for everything slipshod and foolish that came into the minds of men If one ventured to protest the answer was always, "Well, what does Emerson say?" ' ' And Just what did he say? .iIn hUs nwt celebrated essay, "Self-Reliance." he said two words of the greatest iroportancei Trust thyself. In thwe two words are concentrated more of the essenee ? SLtaX2,t,?aff ,n a"y othe'- two known to thl cheerful human race, "" Truetlng yourself Is giving credit to a tankrupt-or to a charlatan. It U bulldln- on the flimsiest foundation because that foundation happens to he thr n . v V Tmst thy8elf,PFndeed uJt'ot'E wouldt expect any one else to trust ua. Amii!?il othose who trust oure. "nVerr. wT-a-1. 5i Uv la. - &3&mgtem klH$ftBi llMS'siS T-fig MM' i"ll""Miip mBaiirnrTri'wrai .