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, JJTHE EVEIwlGnTELEGIlAPH
&, 3 PUBLIC LEDGER COMPANY
BSEl.lUV CYRUS It. K. CURTIS. Piidnt
KS ii,WMI H. Ludlncton. Vice President. John C
ffl44Wt,n. Secretary nd Treaurn Philips. Colllni.
Ivn Jwi B, WlllUmi, John J 8puron. Dlrctor.
EV.V EDITORIAL HOARD:
t'. Choi 11. K. Cuttis, Chairman
rj'UAVlD B. SlIlLEr
.Editor
inawm n. matitin
MS.7. , ,
.Oaneral llutlntDs Jtananer
te-f 3UbIlahel dally at Pi-sue I.MU Pulldlnr.
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sivelv entitled to the use for republication
Of all news ilispatches credited to it or nnt
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patches herein arc also reserved.
rhiMtiphia, ruf.ir. Much la. 1"p
A POLL ON THE LIvVGUE
THE President proffSf.es to Know what
the public thinks of the league of
nations, and so does Senator Uorah. The
Reductions of the two statesmen, how
ever, are flatly contradictory. I'opular
opinion is u most elusiw: current and
sometimes an alleged stream of it proes
','. on investigation to be only a mirage,
ik" It is the earnest desire to dispel some
of the mist and tu ieurn something at
' i least of the sentiment of this city on an
issue of transcendent import which has
prompted the Evknini; Public Ledums
to undertake a poll of Philadelphia.
Tho "referendum" will he begun to
'morrow and will continue throughout
the remainder of the week. Uepresenta
tfves of this new.spaper will hi' pot-teil
Jm busy street curiifr?, in industrial
plants, theatres, churches and wherever
tho tide of typical humanity flow the
strongest.
The general issue is basically clear
cut, and so will be the questions asked.
It is a "yes" or "no" verdict which will
be solicited. Complete statistical ac
curacy will, of course, be unattainable
under the conditions, but with the co
operation of the public highly interesting
pendencies will certainly be revealed, and
tendencies are of the utmost significance
nowadays. '
The man in the street, the woman in
tho shop is naturally anxious to know
what the. rest of the citizenry is think
ing about a subject upon which he very
.probably has made up his own mind.
He. can pet an informative and suiires-
5 "live insicht into the situation if he will
help In yns newspapers plan.
tpOK. OLT FOR THE VETERANS
"CTOLLOWING the report from Paris
- that COO members of the American
.expeditionary force had met in that city
to consider the organization of a world
vyar veterans' association. Lieutenant
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt announces
""Ihat a similar meeting will be arranged
n this country in the latter part of
'April for the same purpose.
Tho Paris meeting was the outcome of
a conference of veterans on February 15.
The, movement is apparently well under
way for organizing the nonprofessional
soldiers, as Colonel Koosevelt suggests,
for, the purpose of "serving the nation
by keeping alive the spirit which caused
American citizens lo make such great
sacrifices."
No suggestion has yet been made as
to the method by which the spirit is to
be kept alive, but the politicians, who
llfeep their cars to the ground, are already
forming theories on the subject and arc
preparing to adjust themselves to meet
'the demands of the veteran vote.
STILL TALKING
THE grandfather of the oldest inhabi
tant discussed with his friends the
need of sanitary regulations for barber
shops after his first shave.
( His descendants are still talking on
the subject, and the sanitary regulations
ij remain iu uu muue um enioreeu.
P .'r Doctor Krusen, of the Department of
K . 'Public Health, has iust drawn un a set
,pV ot regulations which he suggests be
yHaaopteu voiuniuruy uy me oaroers.
jU Some barbers already observe the prc-
,1 VU.UUO YHH-1 11V MVIOl.3. IIICJ UUIU
.observe them nny way, whether they
'were required by law or not. It is not
- it,l.Tt linlioi-c l,iil tniA rarrnl.ilinn
k It is about time that we stopped talk-
ins wu uegun 10 uci.
EOOD "QUIZZES"
IN JANUARY of this year sirloin steak
cost twcnty-eighi cents a pound in
m v Minneapolis and forty-five in Philadel-
:ys piuu. i.ne iupurviiiuiit vl jjuuui una it-
Ki ye&ieu mis iuci in inu report ui inc
Ti " crpss-country food price "quiz."
lH' In Harrisburg a bill has been revived
w ,'providinz for an inquiry into food
jC' v charges in this state. If tho proposed
,V 'tA.H.n.l.slnn ruff 4.. tfn rlr tlltiCA itrlll i,i
.J -lVIIUUlOOIUll DVW I.U .,!.. V.1WI. ..... W.
Lw i aiipiner uisciosuru ui jrriiuiiug ngures,
SfcnCjmr!' tha uublic will be much in the nosi-
,t Hio'ri of tho man who seeks comfort in
k.VrJ .. . ... ..i n.. .,.,
" uteinermomeicr on an uunorinuuy com
4r'ai excessively hot dny.
'Orfq.Jearna the truth, of course, but that
f. makes Him tho more angry- nee
iiating, the exports tell us, is bad
oims. It was avoided wherever pos-
durimr the war: it is hence all tho
B. unlikely to be applied to food con
i'na at the present time.
evdrtheless, the publicatioii of the
truth may bo valuable us a tip
fobat an evil by avoiding it. The
Wdgo that certain foods are ex-
wy niB1 s luu " pm.ini iumwuji
un the iranB mercury js lor
fe-- .-?' J :Mtikr(i
controvertible fact may provo a spur to
ingenuity and resourcefulness. The pub
lie can often do u little price regulating
on its own account.
With respect lo coal, the need for
which is llxed nnd rigid, this is impossi
ble, but extending the scope of tho house
hold menu may exert a very consider
able elTect on extortionists. The gougcr,
of course, relies on convention. House
wives can embarrass him considerably if,
for instance, they can think of, some
thing else for dinner besides beef or
lamb. Mr. Hoover persistently urged
amplification of the American diet, but
his instructions were only partly heeded.
The need for following them is more
than ever exigent now whan the probing
of the prices of certain food products
results in .little more than the announce
ment that they are outrageously high.
Americans are amateurs in the use of
sea foods. That succulent delicacy mus
sels is virtually unknown in this coun
try, although the Italians here make
frequent and incxpeiibhc nicnls of them.
Catholicity of taste may help a whole
lot in remedying the food situation, even
though the most earnest investigators
submit nothing save dismal statistics.
IS LIE)', PKOl'EKTY?
IS HEALTH A.N
ASSET?
ihe lVntiylmiia Legislature Will Answer
"No" lo The?e Uuelitm If It Defeats
the Women's Light-Hour Bill
riY'LM upon grounds of practical elli-'-
ciency the eight-hour day for women
has been mmo than justified by every
experiment in intensive production or
ganized in America and in Great Britain
sini'i' the beginning ot the war.
lor counties- miliums of women and
children in every great industry upon
the Allies' side the war was the begin
ning of deliverance from unfair bur
dens. It proved,, that long hours under
:i driving system actually resulted in an
output less than is ordinarily attainable
with an eight -hour day.
Overdriven workers arc never efficient.
They learned this first in Kugland, when
the life of the empire was dependent on
maximum production in the industries.
Until then no such extensive scientific
survey had been made to determine, the
effects of continuous exhaustion on the
productive capacities of men, women and
children.
Industrial organizations grew and were
administered according to accident and
opportunity. Experts and army boards
appointed to get all producing1 organi
zations to concert pitch found that long
hours made maximum production impos
sihle. British industries helped to win the
war with an eight-hour day. And any
one who opposes that principle will find
himself confronted with the voluminous
reports, prepared by the most compe
tent set of observers ever organized,
which prove that overstrain, besides
being disastrous to the worker, is costl
to industry itself.
11 is upon grounds of efficiency that
the representatives of the women work
ers of Pennsylvania will argue for an
eight-hour law before the Judiciary
Committee of the Senate at Haxrisburg
today. There are intimations of unhappy
irony and of disillusionment in their re
fusal to base their appeal upon the fun
damental human needs which their case
involves. It would be far more credit
able to society and to the administrators
of government if an eight-hour day for
women were to be considered not as an
efficiency measure alone, but as a means
for the protection of life nnd the race
itself.
What women seek when they demand
a shorter working day is merely the
right to live. Best and time to think
and relax arc essentials of normal exist
ence, especially for women. The bleak
records of unregulated industry in many
states provo tho validity of this state
ment. The variety of diseases now desig
nated as occupational is increasing daily.
In many of the southern states heart
affections and diseases of the lungs are
blandly listed by the insurance com
panies as industrial diseases because
they are being traced with increasing
frequency to overwork and nervous ex
haustion, in mills and factories.
The review presented in this news
paper yesterday by Miss Florence San
ville. legislative secretary of the Na
tional Consumers' League, carries con
viction equally tragic. The reorganiza
tion of the working dny in many indus
tries which employ women has been fol
lowed by a slow but steady decrease in
the number of deathb from tuberculosis
and like causes.
Opponents of an eight-hour day usu
ally argue the rights of property and
the necessity for protecting invested
capital, ine nine nas come wnon it is
necessary to inquire whether the health
and the lives of women and children
the only property and the only assets
that most of them have are not worthy
of protection by the commonwealth?
In the final. analysis, however, the case
does not rest upon the rights of the indi
vidual, whether that individual be an
employer or a worker. It concerns so
ciety and the community and tho future.
If there is any test that may be applied
to a civilzation it is suggested by the
condition in which a civilization leaves
the race.
A growing army of women arc finding
their way into industries, driven by so-
.cial and economic pressure that cannot
bo controlled. And if they are to be
broken and dispirited under a backwards
minded industrial system that isn't even
profitable in money, this particular gen
eration will leave to the future endless
proof of criminal stupidity and destruc
tive ignorance.
The dismal aftermath of long periods
of unregulated industrialism confronted
England when the war began. The
Bacredness of tho factory system was
implied Jjy every prior act of the gov
ernment. The old delusion that workers
could produce the maximum in long days
of grinding application was universally
prevalent. Sweating had been tho rule
for generations. And Vhen the new
armies were organized it was shown that
a given number of inches had been
- ' - jL - m ..fcj.MiaafcJ,. w.w'ff
EVENIf PUBLIC IEDClER--PHnll)ELPHlA TUESDAY, MA&dH &
of tho avcrago British worker. There arc,
patriotic Englishmen who havo these
revelations in mind when they say that
tho war didn't como too Boon, because it
brought enlightenment.
Massachusetts and New York have
better laws for the regulation of women's
working hours than those which prevail
in Pennsylvania. Years ago when the
eight-hour law was proposed in these
states the manufacturing interests ar
gued that they would be subjected to
unfair competition in neighboring terri
tories where the archaic driving system
prevailedand still prevails. Yet they
have not ceased to prosper. Their out
put wasn't lessened.
Their experience was much like that of
tho Observation boards nppointed in
America and in England to study war
production. They found that workers
who were rested in mind and body could
produce as much, if not more, in eight
hours than it ;is possible to produce in
ten or twelve with a working force suf
fering unconsciously from fatigue during
all the working day.
In this stnte the eight-hour day for
women is rapidly becoming the rule be
cause of voluntary action by manufac
turers and agreements with labor unions.
These agencies of progress have been
more far.sighted than previous Legisla
tures, which refused to enact laws such
as arc presented again at this session.
Only isolated groups of industries havo
refused so far to accept the inevitable.
There cannot he discrimination in such
a law, because it will apply equally,
placing every industry included on the
same basis.
Opponents will argue that the law will
cause dislocations in industry. If there
are businesses that will be thrown out of
ydjustment by such a law, then they will
have to be reorganized and put upon a
modern basis. Those who oppose an
eight-hour day for women in these times
will win for themselves a curious dis
tinction. They will make it plain that
they aren't even good business men. And
they will be self-elected to a place among
those who are directly responsible for
a sort of social unrest that in tho end
merely represents great and silent criti
cism of obvious rongs.
I'RAIS'lv UL MOIST
f ''KAY and thin is the line of 'Ameri--
can minstrelsy, from which Frank
Dumotit has dropped so soon after his
even more venerable colleague, Hughey
Dougherty. Like the latter, Mr. Dumont
clung with all the force of affectionate
footlight tradition to virtually a single
stage role. He was the mock pompous
interlocutor, "Hughey' the irreverent
and irrepressible "end man." The pair
perpetuated burnt-cork types long after
minstrelsy had ceased to pluy a promi
nent part in the native theatre.
The influence of the indefatigable
"middle-man," however, was in some
ways broader than that of his hilarious
partner. Mr. Dumont was a true pro
tagonist in his performances, for he
wrote the skits, hundreds and hundreds
of them, in which he appeared. They
were crude, extravagant affairs, but the
keynotes of their blunt satiie were hon
esty and good humor. No to fie was too
formidable for tho "classic" interlocutor
to tackle, and there were times when his
burlesques and playlets drove refresh
ingly straight to the heart of a political
or social problem in a way that would
have delighted Aristophanes himself.
The disappearance of the racy, yet
ever cleanly, flavor of minstrelsy is a
distinct loss to a public never more in
need of hearty, uncompromising frank
ness limn toduy. If llio conventional
form of minstrelsy has become almost
archaic, its essential spirit is always well
worth heeding, especially in times of
complex issues and much mental fog.
Philadelphians have a right to be glad
that Mr. Dumont preserved a wholesome
tradition so long and so merrily in this
city.
It was a Kunny Uay for tho Irish.
"President standing pat," declares a
headline. Score another recognition of
Ilibcrnla'ti .March I".
"With tho Bolshevik! lining up 00,000
Chinamen in their rani;?, tho yellow peril
seems to be turning red.
In theso alleged enlightened daya
Jerspyltes have naturally little patlenco
with "narrow gunge" trolley lines.
' It seems virtually eertain that the ini
tial terms which Germany will write under
dictation at Versailles will be I. O. U.
Tho first sign of peace: The Yankee
soldierH in Cobleiiz have been allowed to
discard their tin helmets and gas masks.
The lawmakers at Harrisburg are seek
ing new sources of revenue. But what
has the federal government left untaxed?
Don't worry, fieraldino; it was only a
jealous New Yorker who mild that Phila
delphians are immune, so far as bleeping
sickness ia eonrerned.
All Saf Mr. Ilohenzollern's wood chop,
ping on the nentinck place Is nothing com
pared with what tho revolution did in
cutting down his family tree.
Pity tho sorrows of the coal operators.
They say they aro losing money on what
they mine, while tho consumer has to pay
nearly ?12 a ton for what he burns.
The former kaiser has had his picture
taken while he was sawing wood at
Amerongen. "What wo should really llko
to see Is a picture of him breaking stone.
It is really no news that plans aro
afoot to "mako Holland dry." That process
haB been going on slnco she was a nation
and particularly slnco the reclamation of
tho Zuyder Zee. was begun.
The hotel manager wljp says that tho
patron easiest to pleaso Is tho inllllonalro
who never asks the price of anything ex
plained why so many of us aro dissatis
fied. Now If wo wero all millionaires
aaMammmmmmmmmmmmaammma
It may be that Lent Is responsible
for the marked decrease In the number
of arresta for drunkenness, but wo seem
to remember that Just about tho time
1 '.. .JaL '-..-.k.'"r ., 'iilBMBJHiMliiiitiiii
SOCIALISM IN THE WEST
Farmers Favored in Taxation and
the Educational System of
North Dakota Changed in
the Interest of iVort-
partisan League
fly GEORGE E. AKEI&ON
Following is the final Insinllmetif of the
exposition of the work of the Nonpartisan
League (ti North Dakota written by the pollli
cal editor of the Minneapolis THbune.
11
T
bom In
North Dakota as the result of agitation
for a state-owned terminal elevator. It wns
nntural, therefore, that after tho measures
providing for the Industrial commission and
the bank had been passed,' that an elevator
system should be provided. The North Da
kota Mill and Elevator Association, to be
operated by the Industrial commission, wlll
have charge of the state's warehouse, ele
vator and mill system. By tho terms of this
net North Dakota goes into tho buslncso of
marketing grain and making flour.
This Is really the one big social experi
ment the farmers of tho Fllckertall state
have wanted to make. They have never
directly expressed themselves on the bank
proposition. l)ut thero has been no mistaking
their desire to operate an elevator of their
own.
AHATIinn. fantastic scheme which has tor
Its purpose the erection ot homes for
citizens of North Dakota makes up the fourth
big measuro in the so-called industrial group.
This bill wns drawn by Walter Thomas Mills,
Socialist lecturer, now under the pay of the
Townley league.
Tho law provides for a home-building as
sociation of North Dakota, to be controlled
by the Industrial commission. Persons In
tending to purchase homes aro permitted to
open "home-buying" accounts. Once they
have oaved 20 per cent of the value of a
home the state will finance them for the
other 80 per cent, providing for repayment
of principal and interest by a system ot
monthly Installments. This home-building
measure Is looked upon as one of tho chief
"tnlklng points" of tho league Opponents
have not looked upon it nB serious.
CHANGES in North Dakota's tax laws form
otio of the Important features of the work
of the Tonnley-controlled Legislature. Kvery
one, even tho followers of the Nonpartisan
League, admits that North Dakota Is facing
greatly Increased taxes. Prof "W. P. Ttoy
lancc, of the Unherslly of Utah, wns paid
by tho Townley organisation to spend the
winter In Bismarck advising tho Legislature
on tax bills. Ho drafted many of tho meas
ures. Perhaps tho most important changca'in
tho. administration of tho tax' laws of tho
blate Is In tho change from u board of tax
commissioners to one man. Tlio Governor
Is to appuint tho commissioner, in lino with
the policy of the league to eentrallzo all con
trol in tin hands of the Governor.
Tho legislature reclassified property for
taxation purposes. Tho property of all utili
ties, all real estate, Including farm lands,
bank stocks, etc., are to bo assessed at 100
per cent. All residences, business structures,
Btoeks of goods, etc., arc to bo assessed at
Cn per cent. All structures and improvements
on agricultural lands are exempt from tax
ation. This Ir the adoption ot tho single tax
for the benefit of one class the farming
class. Structures and improvements used
as homes In tho cities aro to bo exempt up
to Jl'100 value.
A new Incomo tax law was passed. A dis
tinction Is made between "earnnd" and "un
earned" income, with u tax ot one-half of
1 per rent on each $1000 on "unearned," and
one-quarter of 1 per cent on each J1000 on
tho "earned" Income.
CONTROL of public sentiment is important
if extremely radical social experiments
are to bo made. Tho Townley leaders con
cluded that it wan ncressary to control the
f-nnntrv nress of tho state, If possible. Tho
Nonpartisan League now owns and oporateo
at least ono paper In each county of tho
state.
A series of ills were passed which give
a printing commission the power to designate
the ofllclal papers in each county. Such
papers aro to get all of tho ofilctal printing,
state and county.
It means that about 200 weeklies will be
put out of business. Thero was much oppo
sition to this bill, even among some of the
Nonpartisan League members, and they In
sisted that It should bo voted on by tho peo
ple before going Into effect.
The league decided that the state really
needed a commltteo on public Information.
The Legislature appropriated $200,000 to be
spent in advertising the state. A commis
sioner of immigration, who will bo North'
Dakota's George freel, will expend tho funds.
Tho law expressly provides that tho money
can bo spent In meeting arguments against
North Dakota's government and industries.
In other words, tho J200.000, besides being
used to attract farmers to the state, can bo
used In out and out propaganda work.
rONTP.OL of tho educational system is an-
i . ,, ...,.!!. .1.- T",....-.
VJ otner lniporium inaurr wiiiuii mu uu
ley followers did not overlook. Tho board
of regents of tho State University, tho board
of control for all penal and charlltable insti
tutions and the Board of Education were all
abolished. Complete eontrol of all penal,
education and charitable institutions, Includ
ing the common-school system of the state,
was placed In the hands of a single board
of administration to bo appointed by the
Governor.
By somo this measuro Is looked upon as
one of tho most pernicious passed by the
Legislature. It will bo referred to the peo
ple. It virtually shears tho otlice of super
intendent of public instruction of power, tho
only omco not conirouea oy me league.
A RESUME of the work of the Legislature
would bo incompleto without mentioning
some of the measures which failed of pas
sage. The league leaders decided that it was not
necessary to pass an antl-saDoiage act,
aimed at tho 1. AV. "W. Such an act was
effectlvo In North Dakota during the war
as a war measure by action of tho State
Council of Defense. The act was proposed
In the Legislature, but tho caucus decided
against it. Several of tho leaguo leaders
havo been closely associated with heads of
the I. W. "vV. That may be only significant
in connection with the failure to pass pro
posed legislation aimed at the I. W. W.
While many states of tho Union were
passing laws aimed nt suppression of the
"red flag," the Townley bccrel caucus de
elded that no such uct Bhould. bo passed In
North Dakota.
Several laws affecting labor, Including ono
providing for the administration of a work
men's compensation insurance fund by the
Htate, were- passed. A new mining code was
aUo enacted into law. Control of all public
utilities in the state was placed under the
Ilailroad ana wnrenouse v-omimnsiou.
WILLIAM HOWARD TAPT recently
pointed out that the people of North
Dakota were attempting to lift themselveB
up "by their own bootstraps." Ho said that
he felt sorry for North Dakota, but was
thankful that the "dangerous Boolal experi
mentations" wero going to bo confined to
""With the necessary legislation, the bonds
authorized, propaganda plans laid, the Non
nartlsan League government of North
Dakota Is ready to make these "social ex-
i mlii fii'i.t'alffeAliiViilifflffifilMllkaia-iBi , Ti-nr m i
t JJjty' '& l.'tli'W5:"rr:..WsP' r j!" S ...:::r-v'i-i-
THE ELECTRIC CHAIR
An Interview
SOMETHING in his aspect as lie leaned
over tho railing near me drew mo on to
speak to him. I don't know Just how to
dcscrlbo it except by saying that ho had
an understanding look. Ho gavo mo tho
impression of a man who had spent his
life In thinking and would understand me,
whatever I might say. lie looked llko the
kind ot man to whom ono would mid
oneself saying wiso and thoughtful things.
Thero aro somo people, you know, to whom
it is lmposslblo to apeak wisdom oven if
,you should wish to. No spirit of kindly
philosophy speaks out of their eyes. You
find yourself automatically saying peevish
or futilo things that you do not In the
least beliove.
Tho mood and the place wero irresistible
for communion. Tho sun was warm along
tho riverfront and my pipo was trailing a
thin whiff of blue vapor out over tho gently
fluctuating water, which clucked and
sagged along tho slimy pilings. Behind
us tho crash and banging of heavy trafllc
died away into a dreamy undertone in tho
mild golden shimmer of the noon hour.
T
reverv. looking out over the river
toward Camden. Ho was plainly dressed
in coat and trousers of somo coarso weave.
His shirt, partly unbuttoned under tho
great white aweep of his beard, was of
gray flannel. His boots wero those of a
man much accustomed to walking. A
weather-stained sombrero wns on his head.
Beneath It his thick white hair and
whiskers wavered In tho soft breeze. Just
then a boy camo out from tho nearby ferry
houso carrying a big crate of daffodils,
perhaps on their way from soma Jersey
farm to an uptown florist. Wo watchcd
them shining and trembling across the
street, where he loaded them onto a truck.
Tho old gentleman's eyes, which wero a
keen gray blue, caught mino as wo both
turned from admiring tho llowers.
I don't know just why I said it, but they
wero tho first words that popped into my
head. "And then my heart with pleasure,
fills and dances with tho daffodils," I
quoted. '
Ho looked at mo a little quizzically.
"You Imported those words on a ship,"
he said. "Why don't you use tomo of your
own Instead?"
I was considerably taken aback. "Why,
I don't know," I hesitated. "They just
camo into my head."
"Well, I call that bad luck," ho said,
"when somo ono elbo's words como into a
man's head Instead of words of his own."
HIS LOOKED about hhn, watching tho
sceno with rich satisfaction. "It's good
to see all this again," ho said. "I haven't
loafed around hero for going n thirty
years."
"You'vo been out of town?" I asked.
Ho looked at mo with a steady blue eyo
in wheh thero was somothlng of humor and
something of sadness,
"Yes. a long way out. I've Just coma
back to seo how tho Great Idea is getting
along. I thought maybo J could help, a
llttlo."
"Tho Great Idea?" I queried, puzzled.
"Tho valuo of tho individual," ho said.
"Tho necessity for every human b,elng to
bo ablo to 'live, think, act, dream, pray for
himself. Nowadays I bellevo you call it
tho Leaguo qf Nations. It's tho same thing.
Aro men to bo free to decide their fato for
themselves or aire they to bo in the grasp
ot Irresponsible tyrants, tho hell of war,
the cruelties of creeds, executive deeds
Just or UnJUBt, mo power oi jjereunuiuy
n ifi i fflffilMi 'iitln lainni r Iff. tifiriiAiMtlMitBIM
jLQlfc
)
r
SOME JOB
,"
young Llbertads, doing to bring about tho
Great Idea ot perfect and frco individuals?"
I WAS rather at a loss, but happily ho
did not btay for an answer. Abovo us
an American flag was fluttering on a staff,
showing its bright ribs"of scarlet clear and
vivid against tho sky.
"You seo that flag of stars," ho said,
"that thick-sprinkled bunting? I havo
seen that flag stagger in tho agony of
threatened dissolution, in years that
trembled and reeled beneath us. You havo
only seen it in tho days of its easy, sure
triumphs. I tell you, now is tho day for
America to show herself, to provo her
dreams for tho race. But who Is chanting,
tho poem that comes from tho soul of
America, the carol of victory? Who strikes
up tho marches of Libcrtad that shall free
this tortured ship of earth? Democracy
is tho destined conqueror, yet I seo treach
erous llp-bmlles every whero and death and
Infidelity at every step. I tell you, now is
the tlmo of battle, now tho time of btrlvlng.
I nm he who tauntingly compels men.
women, nations, crying, 'Leap from your
seats and contend for your lives!' I toll
you, produco great Persons, tho rest fol
lows." '
"W0L
'HAT do you think about tho covenant
f tho Leaguo of Nations?" I asked.
Ho looked out over tho river for some mo
ments before replying and then spoke
slowly, with halting utterance that seemed
to suffer anguish in putting itself into
words.
"America will bo great only if sho builds
for all mankind," he snld. "Tills, plan of
tho great Llbertad leads the present with
friendly hand "toward tho future. But to
hold men together by paper and seal or by
compulsion is no account. That only holds
men together .which aggregates all in a
living principle, as tho hold of the limbs
of tho body or tho fibers of plants. Does
this plan answer universal needs7 Can it
faco tho open fields and tho seasido? Will
It absorb Into mo as I absorb food, air, to
appear again in my strength, gait, faco?
Havo real employments contributed to it
original makers, not mere amanuenses'? I
think so, and therefore I say to you, now
is tho day to fight for It."
(iVXTEhU" ho said,
checking himsolt,
' "there's the forry coming it.
I'm
going over to Camden to havo a look
around on my way back to Harlclgh."
"I'm nfraUl. you'H And Mlcklo street
somewhat changed," I said, for by this tlmo
I knew.hlm.
'T love hhanges," ho said.
"Your centennial comes on May 31," I
said. "I hopo you won't bo annoyed if
Philadelphia doesn't pay much attention to
it. Y'ou know how things aro (around
here." " .
"My dear boy," he said, "I am "patient.
Tho proof of a poet shall bo sternly de
ferred till his country absorbs him as af
fectionately as ho has absorbed it. I havo
sung the songs of tho Great Idea and t,hat
Is reward in itsolf. I havo loved the earth,
sun, animals, I havo despised riches, I havo
given alms to every ono that asked, s.tood
up for tho stupid nnd crazy, devoted my in
como and labor to others, hated tyrants,
argued not concerning God, had patience
and lndulgencb toward tho people, taken
off my hat to nothing known or unknown,
gone freely with powerful uneducated per
sons and I swear I begin to see tho mean
ing of these things"
"AH .aboard!" cried the man at the gate
of tho ferry house.
Ho waved his hand with a benign
,patrlarchal gesture apd was gone.
-:
SERVICE CHEVRONS
YOU can strip him of his chovrons,
Y'ou can tako his stripes away,
And tho badge of his division,
Which produces your dismay;
You can mako him scrap his medal,
But, no matter how you try,
Y'ou can never, never legislate
That glitter from his eye.
He has seen a summer day
That you liavo never dreamed,
lie has seen flesh turn to clay,
While affronted Heaven screamed;
Ho has seen tho shattered trench,
Ho has seen tho twisted wire,
Ho has seen strong, living men
Charred and black In molten Are; .
Ho has seen beneath his feet .
Flesh of comrades turn to clay,
As you never could havo dreamed
Ho has seen a summer day.
i
You can ban the golden arrow
That is stitched on his right sleev),
And "eradicate distinction"
With a simple by your leave,
Promulgate your resolutions,
Hurl tho ink until you die,
But you can't esponge his mem'ry
Nor tho glitter from his eye.
He has seen' an autumn night
That you could never bear,
With hell's ffro his only light,
Pointing out hell's angel there;
He has known a slnglo hour
When cold steel, red hall and gas
Ceased and loft a.hfcly calm
Such as como when angels pass,
He has seen his comrades stand,, ,
Half transfigured fi) release,
Knighted, spurred and panoplied
By their liege, the Prlnc-s of Peace.
Artillerist, In the Stars and Stripes.
Wluit Do You Know?
QUIZ
1. Which was the first stato outside of the
.original thirteen to enter the American
union?
2. Distinguish between euphemism and
euphuism?
3. What was the surnamo of St. Patrick?
4. What Is nacre?
B. Which Is the "City of Manlllcent Dis
tances"? 6. How many men have served as Chief
Justice of tho United States and who
wero they? '
7. What Is tho meaning of' the word Ingle,
now used mainly jn tho combination
Inglenook?
8. What famous English writer wan de
scribed by a noted statesman of his
time as an "inspired Idiot"?
9. AVhat king In Greek mythology had the,'
gift of turning everything he touched
Into gold?
10. AVhat animal is sometimes called Bruin f
Answers to Yesterday's Quiz
Senator Lodge Is to engage In a publio
debate upon the league of nations with
President Lowel), of Harvard.
Andre Chenler was a gifted young French
poet guillotined during the Itelgn of
Terror in 1794.
"St. John" Is the gospel least concerned
..with the narrative of the life of Jesus
I.
3.
and more than the other three gospels
With his sayings and discourses.
4, The Bank of England Is called "The
Little .Old Lady of Threadneedle Street."
5. The esophagus Is tho canal from tbs
mouth, to the stomach.
0. The trlforlum; gallery, usually lo the
form of an 'arcade above arches of nave
and choir (and transepts) of a church.
7. North Carolina. Is "The Old North State,"
8. The word shilly-shally Is derived from
"shall I, shall I." .
9. Latakla. tobacco gets its name from the
Turkish province of Latakla in Asia
Minor.
10, Eigl(t , furlongs make 'a" m!e.
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