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THE SCRANTON TRIBUNE-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1901.
3
WEATHER MAN
ON HIS WORK
CHIEF MOORE TELLS PLAINLY
HOW IT IS DONE.
Xhotlgh Not Reduced to nn Exact
Science Forecasting Has Become
Sufficiently Accurate to Save the
Country Millions of Dollars Annu
ally n.nd Every Year the Wji-Jc of
the Weather Bureau Gains In In
terest and Efficiency.
Hon. Willi I.. Moore In tho t'hlciso Union!'
tlrrald.
AHOIJT the only UnowleilRc that
most people Ikivp of the work
ings of the United Slates Weiith
r nurenu o tlio Department ot Agri
culture Is withered from the dully
prediction of ruin or snow that they
encounter at the breakfast table as
they Rliince over the morning paper.
They base their uHtlluate ot the Utility
.if tlio weather service on the accuracy
if the predictions thus hastily scanned,
itid many are prone to Inquire whether
,t Is true that this service has really
made n place for .Itself In the ptrcat in
luslrlal economy of our country:
A-hethcr or not tut adequate return Is
made for the expenditure ot over $1,
300,000 annually; whether the science of
-weather forecast Ins- has reached Its
highest degree of accuracy, and
.vhether It holds out possibilities of fu
ture Improvement. They would, doubt
less, be amazed If they knew the
thousand nnd one ramifications
through which it readies, daily, prob
ably more than one-half of our adult
population.
The United States government
spends more for scientific research
than any other country in the world.
Today every wheel turns with scien
tific precision, and tlio arts, the man
ufactures, and the commerce of this
wonderful country arc, by the aid of
systematic knowledge, being developed
far beyond the dreams of the most op
timistic person ot a quarter of a cen
tury ago. The Ingenuity of the Yan
kee nnd the skill of the American me
chanic are only physical nnd outward
manifestations of the inward spirit
whose life has been called Into exis
tence by the many schools, colleges,
nnd polytechnic institutions with which
our broad land is dotted and which,
through the knowledge that they reveal
of the forces of nature, enable man
to harness the invisible powers nnd
make them obedient to his will. Prob
ably in no way have we shown our ap
titude in divining from apparent con
fusion some fundamental principles,
nnd in applying those principles to the
commerce and the industry of our
country more than In the development
of the present meteorological service.
Where but a few years ago man
thought that chaos reigned supreme
we are now, by the aid of simultan
eous dally meteorological observations,
able to trace out the harmonious rela
tions of many physical laws that were
.previously but little understood.
ni;vi:i.0PiMKNT oi' metkoroi.og-
JCAL SC'IKNCK.
It will be Interesting to note that,
it the time or the founding of the first
if the Thirteen Colonies, at Jamestown,
Vii, In 1G07, practically nothing was
known of the properties of the air, or
of methods for measuring Its phen
omena. It was not until lG-lIi, twenty
three years after the landing of the
Pilgrims on Plymouth nock, that Tor
ilcelli discovered that principle ot the
barometer, and rendered it possible to
measure the weight of the superincum
bent air at any spot where the wonder
ful, yet simple, little instrument might
be placed. TorrlrolH's groat teacher,
Galileo, died without knowing why
nature, under certain conditions, ab
hors a vacuum; but he had discovered
the principle of the thermometer. The
data from the readings of those two
Instruments form the foundation ot all
meteorological science. Their inven
tors as little appreciated the value of
their discoveries as they dreamed of
the great western empire which should
first use their instruments to measure
the inception and development of
storms.
About one hundred years after the
Invention of tile barometer, namely, in
1747, Heujaniln Franklin, patriot,
statesman, diplomat, and scientist, di
vined that certain storms had a rotary
motion and that they progressed In a
northeasterly direction. It was pro
phetic that those Ideas should have
come to him long before anyone lind
ever prepared charts showing observa
tions simultaneously taken at many
stations. Rut, although his ideas in
this respect were more important than
Ills net of drawing the lightning from
tho clouds and identifying it with the
electricity of the laboratory, his con
temporaries thought little of his phil
osophy of storms. It remained for
Itedlleld, Kspy, Maury, Loonils, and
Abbe, one hundred years later, to gath
er the data and completely establish
tho truth of that which the great
Franklin had dimly yet wonderfully
outlined. Although American scien
tists were the pneers In discovering
tlio rotary and Progressive character
of storms and in demonstrating tho
practicability ot weather services, tho
United States was the fourth country
to give iPgal autonomy to a weather
service; but no one of the other coun
tries had nn area ot such extent as to
vender it possible to construct sucli a
broad synoptic picture of nlr condl
ions as Is necessary In tlio making ot
:ho most useful forecasts. It would
'vqulro nn International service, em
irnclng all tho countries of Europe,
;o equnl ours In tho rxtent of area
lovcrcd.
Congress authorized the first appro
priation of $20,000 to Inaugurate a ten
tative weather service in 1870. General
Albert J. Myer, to whom was usslgned
tho chlcfshlp of tho now meteorological
service, doubtless had no conception of
the future wonderful extension of tho
system that ho was then authorized to
begin. It Is comparatively easy, with
tho great Byatom now nt our command,
nnd with scientists who have had
twenty years' experience In watching
tho development and progression of
storms, to herald to the shipping and
other Industries of tho United States
forowarnlngs of coming atmospheric
changes that may bo destructive to
either life or property. Former Secre
tary of Agriculture J, Sterling Morton,
did much to place tho meteorological
service of tho government on a sultablo
foundation by having nil of Its em
ployes and higher otllclals classified
nnd placed within tho civil service,
ThlB was essential to tho proper per
formance of tho then existing duties
of tho service. The present Secretary
of Agriculture, James Wilson, bus con
tinued tho merit system In tho Weath
er liurcuu, and has greatly improved
and extended its operations. Thanks
lo hi itollcy ot iK'VfJpDincnt, the
Weather Service has had a phenomenal
growth during the past four years.
KXt'ANHK OF TltH ATMOBPMEIUC
FIRM) SUItVKYEt) FY THE FOR
CAHTEtl. tt Is n wonderful picture of atmos
pheric conditions that Is presented
twice dally to tho trained rye of tho
weather forecaster. It embraces nn
nrca extending fiom tho Atlantic to
the Pacific, from tlio north const ot
South America over Mexico, tho Isl
ands ot the West Indies nnd tho Hn
hamns, northward to the uttermost
confines of Canadian habitation, It is
a panoramic picture of the exact nlr
conditions over this broad area that
Is twice dally presented to tho study
of our experts. Hurricanes, cold
waves, hot waves, or rainstorms nro
shown wherever present In this broad
area. Their development since Inst re
port Is noted, and from tho knowledge
thus gained tliclr future course and In
tensity Is quite successfully forcenst.
Every twelve hours the kaleidoscope
changes, and n now graphic picture ot
weather conditions Is shown. Nowhere
else In the world cun meteorologists
Dud such an opportunity to study
storms and atmospheric changes.
TANGIBLE RESULTS OF WEATHER
BUREAU WORK.
Has the Weather Uureau won Its
way Into the hearts and contldenco of
the American people, und do wo feel
that the expenditures made for Its sup
port are wisely made? Let us an
swer tills question by giving some facts
relative to the number of people and
Industries that are dally In communi
cation with the rilironu. In our At
lantic nnd Gulf ports, alone, there are
floating over $110,000,000 worth ot craft
on any day ot tho year; nnd at every
port, whether on tho Atlantic, on the
Pacific, or on tho Lakes, there is either
a full meteorological observatory or
else a storm-warning dlsplayman who
attends to the lighting of tho danger
lights on tho storm-warning towers
at night, to the display of danger Hags
by day, and to the distribution of
storm-warning messages among vessel
masters. This system is so perfect that
the chief of tile Weather Uureau. or
the forecaster on duty at the central
office, can dictate a storm warning
and feel certain that Inside of one hour
a coVy of tlie warning will be in the
hands of every vessel master lu every
port of material size In the United
States, provided that It Is his desire
that a complete distribution or the
warning be made. As a matter of fact
the storm warnings usually go only
to a limited portion of the coast at one
time. While the daily predictions of
rain or snow, by which, as previously
stated, the public measures the value
of the weather service, are subject to
a considerable element of error, name
ly about one failure in five predictions,
the marine warnings of the service
have been so well made that In over
six years no protracted storm has
reached any point of the United States
without the danger warnings being dis
played yell In advance. As a result of
these warnings the loss of life and
properly lias been reduced to a mini
mum, being doubtless not more than
23 per cent, of what it would have been
without tills extensive system, which
comes dally, and almost hourly, into
communication with mariners. The
public does not appreciate this part of
the service that, as a rule, these
warnings do not appear in the news
papers because it is not desirable to
publish them so fur In advance as to
unnecessarily hold shipping In port.
We only aim to place warnings twelve
to sixteen hours in advance of the
coming of the storm, and then we com
municate by telegraph, by messenger,
and by warning lights and flags di
rectly with the masters of vessels. It
Is a notable example of the utility of
the new West Indian weather service,
and of the wisdom of Congress in con
tinuing as a perpetual instrument of
peace the service organized to meet an
emergency of war, that the Galveston
hurricane was detected on September
1, at the time of Its inception, In the
ocean south of Porto Rico, and that
the new system of West Indian reports
gave us such complete simultaneous
data that at no time did we lose track
of the storm, and everywhere, as it
progressed northward, such full Infor
mation was given that, notwithstand
ing the extensive commerce of tho Gulf
of Mexico, little or no loss of life or
property occurred upon the open wat
ers of the Guir, and the destruction at
Galveston was many times less than
it would have been without the pre
monition that was given and the ac
tivity or the Bureau's officers in urg
ing people to move from the low ground
of the city to Its more secure portions.
Again, as this storm recurved and
passed over the Lake region, tlio storm
warnings were so well distributed Hint,
notwithstanding that the energy of the
storm was so great that few vessels
were stanch enough to live through its
fury, shipping remained safely In har
bor and there was not a life lost. These
are some of tho utilities ot which the
general public Is not thoroughly in
formed. COLD WAVE WARNINGS.
When n marked cold wave develops
In the north plateau of the Rocky
Mountains and, by its broad area anil
great barometric pressure, threatens
to sweep southward and eastward with
its icy blasts, the meteorological sta
tions ot tho Bureau are ordered to take
observations every few hours in tlio re
gion immeulately in advance of the
cold area and to telegraph the same to
headquarters. By tills means every
phnso of the development of tho cold
area is carefully watched, and when
tho danger is great each observatory
In tho threatened region becomes a
distributing center, from which warn
ings are sent to those who have pro
duce or perlsliablo articles of manufac
ture that need protection itgainst low
temperatures, In such cases the sys
tem of distribution Is so perfect that
it is not uncommon for the Bureau to
distribute- 100,000 telegrams and mes
sages insldo of the space of one or two
hours, so that nearly every city, village,
and hamlot receives tho information
in tlniV to profit thereby. What this
means to the farmer anil shipper Is
well illustrated by the fact that wo
gathered from those personally Inter
ested statements relatlvo to tho swoop
of ono cold wave, which showed that
over $3,400,000 worth of property that
would have been destroyed by the low
temperatures wus saved. To he sure,
sometimes tho surging of tho great ulr
eddies which constitute our rainstorms
nnd colli wnves one tho low-pressiiro
eddy and tho other tho hlgh-prcssuro
eddy deflects the course of tho storm
or minimizes tho degree of cold, and
the warnings may partially or wholly
fall of verification; hut In these im
portant atmospheric disturbances tho
warnings are Justified in such a largo
proportion of cases that thoso whoso
property is at stuko do not longer
question tho utility ot tho government
service. That no other couutry brings
Its citizens into such close touch with
It weather conditions is shown by
the fact that even when severe storms
are not imminent thoro is, lu addition
to tho printing of the forecasts Ju the
dally press, a dally distribution of RO,
ooo telegrams, mops, and bulletins, that
place tho Information In the hands of
millions whoso personal Interests nro
mntnrlally affected by tho weather.
There nro over 2,000 dally papers In
tho United States, and each one of
these prints in n conspicuous place tho
dally weather predictions. Did It ever
occur to you that thoro Is no other In
formation that receives publication
nnd attention by readers each day of
the year In every dally paper of tho
couutry? Thoro nro 47 trl-wcokly pa
pers In the United States, 4HI soml
weekly, and 14,734 weekly publications,
tlio greater number of which publish
the weekly weather crop bulletins of
tho Bureau for their respective states.
Each state forms a section of tho na
tional service, and from a central office
issues monthly reports on the mlnuto
cllmntology ot the state. This cllnia
tologlcal data Is gathered from stand
ard thermometers and rain gages that
are placed In each country. The Infor
mation finds extensive publication also
In the weekly nnd monthly periodicals.
VALUE OF THE WEATHER SER
VICE TO RURAL INDUSTRIES.
Few people realize what a complete
system the Weather nurenu forms for
tlio accurate and rapid collection and
dissemination of crop information. It
has 1,200 paid and skilfully trained
olllclnls, outside of Washington, who
are quite evenly distributed over the
continent nnd its island possessions
and who nro available to report on any
matters concerning weather, crops,
climate, or statistics. It lias 200 offi
cials and employes nt tho central office
nt Washington. It has 1S0 fully
equipped meteorological stations quite
oqul-dlstnntly scattered over tlio Uni
ted States and Its dependencies, each
maimed by from one to ton trained offi
cials, which stations are not only
weather observatories, but arc centers
for the gathering ot statistical and
climate crop reports. It has a central
observatory In each state and territory
to which all subordinate offices In tho
state report, and to which all volun
tary weather and crop observers report.
These central observatories are
equipped with printers, printing plants,
trained meteorologists and crop writ
ers, clerks, and messengers. During
the past fifteen years the work of the
substations and voluntary crop and
weather observers has been so system
atized under the state central offices
that these centers constitute the most
efficient means for the accurate and
nipid gathering, collation, and dissem
ination 'of statistical and climate nnd
crop information. The state central
offices are under the systematic direc
tion of the central office in Washing
ton. The central office at Washington
Is equipped with cartographers, print
ers, pressmen, lithographers, and ela
borate addressing and mailing ap
pliances for tho printing and mailing
of large quantities of national weekly,
monthly, quarterly, or annual reports
and bulletins. The telegraph circuits
of the Weather Bureau are ingeniously
.devised for the rapid collection, twice
dally, of meteorological reports; they
are also used to collect the weekly na
tional crop bulletins. The Weather
Bureau has 315 paid temperature and
rainfall reporters who are now dally
telegraphing their data from tho grow
ing fields to certain cotton, corn, and
wheat centers. The Bureau has 250
storm-warning displaymen distributed
among the ports along the Atlantic,
Gulf, and Pacific coasts and in the
Lake region. The Bureau has an ob
server serving each morning on the
floor of each important board of trade,
commercial association, or cotton or
maritime exchange in the country, who
displays weather and crop information
and each day charts the weather re
ports on a largo map. The Weather
Bureau has ;:000 voluntary observers
nearly one for each county in the Inl
tod States equipped with standard
thermometers, instrument shelters,
and rain gages, who have for years in
telligently served the government by
taking daily weather observations and
rendering weekly crop reports to state
central offices. There are 14,000 persons
reporting weekly to tho climate and
crop centers on the effect of weather
upon the crops in their respective lo
calities. These voluntary crop cor
respondents could quickly be Increased
in number to several hundred thousand
if occasion required. In one month of
four weeks there are printed and dis
tributed 10S different state crop bulle
tins, four national crop bulletins, and
42 monthly eight-page state climate
and crop bulletins. The weekly state
crop bulletins nro written by the di
rectors of the different state sections,
and the weekly national crop bulletin
by Sir. .Tames Berry, chief of tho cli
mate and crop division of the Weather
Bureau, a man who has had many
years experience as a writer on crop
conditions In the United States.
BENEFITS TO FRUIT AND SUGAR
GROWERS.
Tlu utilities of the weather service
are well Illustrated by the benefits that
tlio fruit Interests of California derive
from the rain warnings, which, on ac
count of the peculiar topography of
that region, are made with a high de
gree of accuracy but it few hours be
fore the coining of the rain, yet far
enough in advance to enable the own
ers ot vineyards, most of which are
conifeoted by telephones, to gather and
stack their trays, nnd thus save tho
drying raisins from destruction. Along
the Rocky Mountain plateau nnd the
eastern slope our stations are so nu
merous nnd our system of distribution
so perfect that the sweep of every cold
wave is heralded to every ranch that
has telegraphic communication, lu
tin' cranberry marshes of Wisconsin
the flood gates are regulated by tho
frost warnings of the Bureau, and
whore formerly a profitable crop was
secured only once in several years. It Is
now a rare exception that dainago oc
curs. As we go fnrther south and enst
Into tho Clulf and South Atlantic
states, our frost warnings are miido
with n greater degree of nccuracy than
in any othor part of tlio country. We
Dud tho growers of sugar cano In
Louisiana, the truck growers from Nor
folk south to Jacksonville, and tho
orange growers of Florida timing their
operations by tho frost wn wrings of
tho Bureau. From the estimates of
these people, it Is Indicated that tho
amount nnnunlly saved to them Is far
greater than that expended for the sup
port of tlm entire department,
FLOOD WARNINGS.
No loss valuable )s the flood-warning
service which Is in operation along
our lurgo river courses, So much ad
vance hus been made lu forecasting
flood stages that It is now possible to
foretell three to five duyB lu advanco
tho height of nnylgublo rivers at a
given point to within a few Inches.
Tho danger Hue at every city has been
accurately determined and charted, so
that when a flood Is likely to exceed tho
danger limit residents of low districts
and merchuntB having goods stored lu
cellars nro notified to move their prop
erty out of reach of thu rising waters.
An Illustration of tho efficiency of this
system wus shown during tho great
flood of 1897. Throughout nearly the
whole area, that was submerged tho
warning bulletins preceded the flood
by several days, nnd the statisticians
of the government estimate that $15,
000,000 worth ot llvo stock and movable
property was removed to high ground
ns tho result of tho forewarning!.
These warnings are distributed from
fifteen river centers, at each of which
a trained forecaster Is located who
dolly Is In possession ot such measure
ments of precipitation nn watersheds
nnd such up-river water stages ns nro
necessary to enable hint to make nn
Intelligent prediction for his own dis
trict. On account ot the recent dis
asters from floods In the rivers of
Texas steps nro now being taken to es
tablish a Hood warning service, espe
cially for that state.
Measurements of snowfall In the high
mountain ridges of Montana, Wyom
ing, Idaho, Utah, Arizona, nnd New
Mexico during the past several years
have given us Information that now
enables us to make a very accurate cs
tlmnto In tho spring ns to tlio supply
of water from this source thnt can bo
expected during the growing season.
In tills way the weather service linn
been brought into close contact with
thoso Interested In irrigation, und has
become a vnlunble aid to them.
The heavy responsibility that rests
upon the Weather Bureau In the mak
ing of storm warnings Is gathered from
tlie statement that M52S transatlantic
steamers and BSI2 transatlantic sailing
craft outer and leave ports on the At
lantic seaboard during u single year.
Tho value of their cargoes Is more
than $1,000,000,000. Our coastwise traffic
is also enormous. In one year more
tlinn 17,000 sailing vessels and 4,000
steamers enter nnd leave port between
Maine and Florida. Their cargoes are
estimated to be worth $7,000,000. From
these facts one can readily measure the
value of tho marine property that the
Department of Agriculture, through
the Weather Bureau, alms to protect
by giving warning of approaching
storms.
The climatology of each state is now
so well determined and the Information
is so systematically collated as to be
drawn upon dally by thousands ot
tljoso engaged in public enterprise,
such ns the building of waterworks,
where it is essential to know tho pre
cipitation on given watersheds; the
building of culverts, whore the ex
tremes of rainfall within short periods
must be known; the building of groat
iron or steel structures, where the ex
pansion and contraction of metal with
changes of temperature must be ac
counted for; tho speculation in land In
regions that nro not known to the
purchaser, and the selection of resi
dences for health and pleasure.
It is not generally known that tlio
meteorological records daily appear In
numerous of the courts ot tlie land, and
that many Important cases at law are
settled or greatly influenced by them.
INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION.
Under the direction of Secretary Wil
son, we have recently arranged with
Europe and the Azure Islands for tho
receipt of nieteorogical reports that, In
connection with our present extensive
system, enable us to forecast wind di
rection and wind force for transatlan
tic steamers for a period of three days
out from eacli continent. This is an
extension of the meteorological service
that has long been sought by marin
ers. The now German cable from Lis
bon to New York enables us to get di
rect communication with several isl
ands, fhe reports from which are ne
cessary in the taking up of tills new
and important work.
Recently the postolllco department,
through its rural mail delivery, has
placed nt the disposal of the AVoather
Service one of tlie most efficient means
of bringing Its daily forecasts, frost
and cold-wave warnings to the very
doors of those who can make tlio most
profitable use of them. The latest fore
cast of the weather is printed on small
slips of paper and each carrier is giv
en a number equal to the number of
houses on his rural route. Thus does
tlie meteorological service Insinuate
itself into every avenue that promises
efficient dissemination of its reports.
To be forewarned is to bo forearmed.
The last appropriation for tlie support
of the Weather Bureau was $1,0:S,"20.
It is the opinion of many insurance and
other experts that the meteorological
service of the United States govern
ment is worth over $20,000,001) annually
to the agriculture, the commerce, nnd
tho Industry of tho country; and this
notwithstanding the large element ot
error that must for a long time to come
enter Into Its predictions.
PROSPECTS.
It may be asked what are the pros-
poets for an improvement in the nc
curacy of the weather forecasts dur
ing the coming century. To tills it may
bo answered that when our extensive
system of daily observations has been
continued for another generation or
two u Kepler or a Newton may dis
cover such fundamental principles un
derlying weather changes as will make
It possible to foretell tho character of
coming seasons. If this discovery be
ever made It will doubtless bo ncroni
plishod as the result of a comprehen
sive study of meteorological data of
long periods covering soiuo great area
like tlio United States, While we can
not make such prediction today, wo
feel that we nre laying tho foundation
of n system that will adorn tho civil
ization of future generations. At tlio
present time r know of no scientific
man who essays to make long rango
predictions, and In closing tills paper
1 would especially caution tho public
against tho Imposturo of charlatans
and nstrologlsts who simply prey upon
the credulity of the people. I behove
It to bo iinposslblo for any ono to uiako
a forecast based upon any prlnclpos of
physics or upon any empiric rule In
meteorology for weeks nnd months In
advance. Tlio Weather Bureau takes
tho public Into confidence- in this mut
ter, and does not clnlin to ho able to
do moro than It Is posslblo to accom
plish. It Is to bo regretted that tho Ameri
can press, tho ablest and tho most ho
roleully honest of any In tho world,
does in many cases not only print tho
twaddlo of long rango weather fore
casting frauds, but actually pays for
tho privilege. A largo number of our
rural press is imposed upon by theso
forecasts, and in publishing them ba
como the disseminators of gross error
Instead of enlightenment,
DURYEV.
Frank Lauo has returned home, after
attending tho funeral of his brother-in-law-,
Christopher lllller.at Orange, N, J,
Mrs. I'uge, of Georgetown, Is visiting
at the homo of Mrs. Anunerniun, of this
place.
Miss Nettle Shales Is slowly recover
ing, after a few weeks' illness.
Mrs. Burleigh has returned to her
homo In Tunkhannock, after spending
sojiio t lino with her daughter, Mrs.
.Wlllluui Shales, of this place,
j HER POINT OF VIBW Jj
I HAVE always thought that Is wo
men ran tho politics ot tho nation
and tho community there would bo
a great deal of uncertainty at ev
ery election time, nnd thnt tho
people In whom the gambling In
stinct rises highest would have tho
best time, but It Is now evident
that even the women could not run
things with nny more wobbly uncer
tainty ot the ulllinnlo result than can
tho men. Now, Just look at this elec
tion, will you? AVitHii't It a mess?
And could women nt a pink ten. have
told any more polite lies to each other
than the men have boon doing tho past
few weeks? There was probably a
wider assortment ot real feelings folt
yesterday In Lackawanna county than
have been collected In ninny a moon.
And there you go again. You couldn't
tell from the look of a man how ho
really felt. If ho looked as If he had
been attending u lodge nt sorrow, ten
to ono that ho wnsn't simply having
an Inner convulsion of mirth because
In some occult way ho considered that
ho had "got even" with somebody. The
ones who smiled wanted to go out
somewhere and die, and the others who
said "I told you so" und " 'Twns good
enough for 'em" were very likely
thinking of n rather Immediate here
after lu which they would be taking
lending and painful roles.
Of course, I'm talking about the Re
publicans. The Democrats did what
our people should have done stick to
gether. It's something we shall learn
maybe, when we get translated to
another sphere, but lu Lackawanna
county, never. If there is nny queer,
Ism, ology, Willy-boy fad or other ab
surdity to fellow, you can lay odds on
tlie Republicans of this county follow
ing It. We buy more gold bricks, net
as chorus for more bogus reform solo
ists and do more contortion nets In the
shortest possible space of time than
any other people on tho face of tho
earth, T do verily believe.
AW were the only collection of Idiots
who gave Swallow a big majority that
time. If we all nttnln to the age of
one hundred and twenty-five years,
we can never live down that ludicrous
blunder which, as everybody knows, Is
worse than a crime. AW are one of
tlio few prize combinations that may
bo set down as reasonably sure to go
off at a tangent after some strange god
ono year out of four. In that year we
consider ourselves foreordained by
Providence to save the country by do
ing more fool things in three weeks
than tlio other people in tlio world
think of attempting in a decade. That
Is the date we selected this season for
voting for Corny and electing a whole
Democratic ticket and doing other
weird stunts.
Now, if we had put up a candidate
for judge who was the brigand that
stole Miss Stone, or had a record as
being a robber, a ravening wolf and
other awful tilings, It might not liavo
been surprising if some of our people
should protest. But our candidate was
a decent man, able, honorable and
good. Wo couldn't have treated him
any worse it he had been in the habit
of beating his mother-in-law at fre
quent Intervals and getting violently
drunk at other times. The same can
bo said of tlio remainder of tho ticket.
Why must we do so. and what is tlie
good? A little spite against one or
two men, a little jealousy of a few
others can scarcely be held as ade
quate motives for putting tlio parly in
power which lias never stood for prog
ress, or reform or improvement.
T wonder if our people have ever
thought of tho possibilities in tills
town during the past l'e.w weeks if
something besides good stalwart Re
publicanism held the city hall today
ar 1 controlled tho mob element which
lurks in every city ready to spring up
if a weak hand is at the helm. I won
der what scenes would bo daily re
counted if mugwumps "wunipcd" down
there.
Dear mc, when 1 think of tho lunacy
which seems to afflict our party in this
county at election time every now and
then, T am moro than over thankful
that wo women have never mndo any
dangerously determined attomp t to
vote. If wo had been responsible for
some of the fool-things the men have
done In tho last few days they would
havo had us exterminated from the
face of tlio earth. Aren't you glad,
dears, that wo aren't to blame the
least bit In tlie world? Lot's talk
about something pleasant. Let's talk
about clothes.
Tho newspapers have boon printing
a lot nbout Mrs. Roosevelt's standards
of dress. (Between us, you really
can't believe quite all you read In the
newspapers.) I shouldn't be surprised
if slio never said anything about the
liiatter. She is a young woman who Is
rather disposed to keep an Intense si
lence on tho subject of her personal al'
rairs. They do not sound like my lady
of tho sweet eyes and tender mouth,
theso dogmatic statements we read.
Well. If she did say that $300 a year
Is enough for a woman to expend on
her own clothes, there need bo no urg
ent disclaimer. It is enough for any
number of women with whom T havo
discussed tlio subject and who are
willing to give their hearty assent to
tlio statement. Some of them are so
ciety leaders, too, and all are those
whom wo nro certain to consider ns
handsomely dressed. To be sure, Mrs,
Roosevelt cannot hitherto, before she
became the chntelalno of tlio AVhlto
House, bo regarded ns a society wo
man lu tho sense that many apply to
that term. It must bo remembered
that her time hns been rather com
pletely occupied Willi llttlo children.
She is ono who Is essentially tho soul
of tho homo ami tho companion of her
babies. Slio has not boon wearing her
youth and beauty away by constant
nttemlanco upon balls, receptions nnd
dinners. AVlrilo slio hns always he
longed to tho most excluslvo society
slio has not murio It tho aim of her
life, nnd thcrcforo lias not had tho ne
cessity, fancied or real, of lavish ex
penditure on personal adornment.
A lady ot this city who probably
would bo said to ho tho most hand
somely dressed In her sot, says that
tho amount named practically covers
her expenditure. Ot course, slio does
not include in that sum tho Jewels
which may bo added to her collection
by her husband, nor perhaps tho rich
laces which slio may pick up as a
treasure to last all her llfo and long
afterward; but tho actual outlay of
money for now costumes and for the
alterations hi old ones will not much
exceed $300.
Hero nro some of tho Items she gave;
Tillor row ii $12.-i no
Hals Mm
Hoots 8.1 CO
IUI1 dic-9 M00
liown in i.lo oicr ,,, 50 IX)
TvLl , J0OTO
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Your Winter Overcoat!
mMmm
In looking
we ask you
closely also the finish and style imparted
to every garment.
Men's and Boys' Clothing
What we have said regarding our
overcoat stock can also truthfully be
said of our Men's and Boys' Cloth
ing. It always gives satisfaction. It's
the right kind or it wouldn't be allowed
to come in this store, that is one of the
reasons why our business is continually
on the increase.
Call and Permit Us to Prove What
We Say is the Trutlh
RICHARDS & WIRTH
326 Lackawanna Ave.
4 "A 'A 1 A "A A "A "A "A "A 'A AAA AAA
There is a good and a-definitetrcason wiry we
sold ioyooo,oocrpacl:ages-of the-traly. named
ra ANiffiv MB)9i
i m& wfiwW'ft
B J11H JLT.VUU.:3.JL
rsr MINCEMEAT
I ' . i
MERREL.L-SOULE
'J'ii tils'! ums :iililcil Himh'ii
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"1 iId not sot a nmv tailor row a ev
it.v year," wild Klio. "Neither do I
havo a now ball ilrews. I have much
ilroMsumkliiK' louo at home, anil my
Kowim are niailo over to do service
suasion after season. Often my liatH do
not cost $.0 a yenv."
Another lady who is always remark
ed for her lovely frockn, said: "My
clothes lmvo not cost $200 this year.
My host tnllor kowii Is two yearn old,
and hasn't needed ono hit of altera
tion, 1 always sot Rood materials and
havo expert tailors. My hats have been
alnioht no expense during tho wholo
year, as they wero In stylo and J'vo
continued to wear them. My last din
ner kowii was rather costly, hut I had
It nuido moro than n year ubo after a
very up-to-date model. It Is the last
touch of stylo yet. My summer frocks
wore inexpensive and wero nuido In tho
house. So you sco 1 am not nn ex
traviifiaiit person," und sho hurried
awny to do tho kindly deeds which
tako much of her tlnio and largo sums
of money. I think If tho truth were
known tho costumes on which slio be
stows most thouKht nnd expense nnd
prldo are flannels nnd warm coats
worn by tho destitute ones who touch
thu Heinle clrclo of her life,
yauey Hess,
BROOKLYN.
Sjk'cmI to die Scranton Tribune.
lliouMju, Nov. S. Tlio com nipper kivoii by
Mia, W. I.. Knit )jt evening wjj as iiijopbla
as it w.u novel. Corn u served in tlirco old.
fusliioneil w.iyi, liullel coin, s.iinp and nuiih.
During the ruiiini; Mm. U. M. Tilfany and Miss
l.llll.iu ll.yr.im, ot l'oitcr, fjvorcil tlie company
with Mi. a I btleclioiu,
The I'iib,vlerijii Ladle' Aid society met tltti
.Mru. V, It. Bailey Wednesday,
The I.adUV Aid society cf Hie MrthoilUt Tpls
copjl diurcli uaa entertained by Mm. ('.. b. (Icio
Thuuday,
W, 1 1. Kent has idaicd a nev Coil laud Howe
ventilator in hU liou'.e,
Mhd Margaret Halmon lias returned lo Halton,
Iter biting her M.tcr and fricmln here.
Tlio rntcitiloment lu tlio 1ulvcraalUt clmrcli
last I'llJay ocaiu;,' ghcu by MIm Cora M. Ciillm,
We honestly believe
we can sell you the very
best Overcoat to be had in
Scranton for the money.
We made unusually large
purchases for the Fall
Trade this year with the
idea of selling them all at
a small profit, believing
it better for our own in
terest as well as yours,
to sell a large number on
small profits, than an or
dinary amount at large
profits. And we arc selling
a large number,
over our Overcoat Stock
to examine the tailoring
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A A A A A AAA A A A AAA AAA
iiimnrii-iiwmi'ifll
'&.,
lis
List year. Because, it is
an honest product, and
"better than most people
can make at home. It
also saves lots of work
and much money. Good
things to save.
Kranm
H D m.wB Hi
Mmm taeb " CoatfraaMI Rise meat 1. to
Mi.byo.ctr rood(ltlafWUllll MMi t XOCk
pactogfc Snipe m nay vmt kv&r, VtlaAtm pwriMg
ltitc-ilH7Rcj;CTnr,,Mlin nocUU H..i
uflcJtiorhr Hood tt Willi i rtfcilMli ittewm&.
tula. lt kmxrtf Tmto-iitr vr6am1wiij y.
Wo 01 MB ynim flatvlll.
CO.. Syracuse,- N.Y
EC93S3C
of Scranton, vfis much enjoyed, llev, K I,. I.rv
y, ot XichoUon, kindly agisted in inn entertain
ment with vocal solos, nnd Professor Cohen cam
his unique, performance uitli his Oiw-M.mli.iii'l.
Tlie Brooklyn band Ecicnadcd the newly nun I 'd
rouplei, Mr. nnd Mrs. ltalpli Sterling and Mr, nnd
Mrs, (J, If, Teny, last Katuiday cvenins.
1). U. l'erry will toon have an operation pel',
formed upon bis eye for cataract.
Ill's. O, St. Dclavan and daujlitera havo roiu
to llingliauiton to spend the winter.
(ieorgu Caswell, of Scranton, lias been the fnico
of Ills parents tlild week,
Mr. and Mrs. A. 0, Stirling liavn returned fiuin
a trip to Ithaca, X, V., where they visited their
eon, Kiiirst, who is attending Cornell untvcridty.
Mrs. II. W, llepcr will entertain tlio Ladies'
Aid society of the Universalis church next Thura.
iliy at dinner,
A number of young pcoplu will attend a iluien
at tlio homo of Mather Tilfany tonight.
Jlrs. J, Adauu went to Ilinchaintou early
In the week. Mr. Adams will toon join tin.
when tfiey will go to JlasJicliusett3 to visit hit
brother and other rclathes,
Willla Cilcs nnd tleorso Slonc, ef Waverly,
Visited Brooklyn last Saturday.
Misa llattio McMillan is U'illn;; at Becli
take.
Slightly Confused,
llefoie imrrlnsa sball Invo iMiojril llairj
Lehl'd nice &cnQ nf ilfiiLi-iintn.iLWm nnii R.!f.
judgment It might bo writ lu put on record ona
or air. J.enrs past iiiatiistics in cxprjcwiou,
A few weeks befnio Mi. I.elu's wedding a le
porter called rU I ., ,. n, Waldorf in tlio
repgrtorlat line, ami all pioper apology w.n
msde I the icpoiur tuf liilng. This wai
luci-c. . ily dono thiongli ihe rlik on tho occa
sion oi ill" 'ii.i tall, oiiiio Mr, Mt sent word
' ha v "faking a luili."' Tim billowing
lay tlio repoiter lalled again, und Mr. l.elir wai
tt ill taking a luili, Tills ublutionary continuous
performance was booked for four days appaicntb,
and only tcimiiiaied on tho llftli day after tlm
reporter had waited upon tho iuuch-wa..lied Mi,
Lehr for three hours by tho Waldoif clock.
Mr, belir then appeared resplendent in l.iw.'i.
dor netl; fhiicx and u pink thlrt- ficit, lu i
stentorian voko he imputed: "Wli.a i wani.
ingl" Tho u porter Hand the puipo-o of thi
Intcnlew, and to please Mr. belir wound up by
najlng: "l liavu couio to you upon the matter
b-'causo my paper desires iligiilllci iitterantc,
and-"
"Stop!" thoulid Mr. I.ihr, stafSng glawllv at
tho gilt piano. "Moid 1 wilT not tpeaW. I
will net tpeak! Nothing I could jy would In
dignified." Tho Intervir thus terminated. ,
Mr. l.elir hid not f.ii.l pudsily what 1") hi I
meant, but what he had tald wat Interoting. -.
New Vcr1, Times,
S
nr.