8 HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH Established ISJI PUBLISHED BY THE TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO. E. J. STACKPOLE President and Editor-in-Chief P. R. OYSTER Secretary GUS M. STEINMETZ Managing Editor Published every evening (except Sun day) at the Telegraph Building, 2l( . Federal Square. Both phones. Member American Newspaper Publish- | ers' Association. Audit Bureau of circulation and Pennsylvania Associ ated Dailies. Eastern Office, Fifth Avenue Building. New York City, Hasbrook, Story A Brooks. Western OfTice, Advertising Building-, Chicago, 111., Robert E. Ward. .-fjaafr.. Delivered by carriers at six cents a week. Mailed to subscribers at $3.00 a year in advance. Entered at the Post Office in Hsrris - Pa., as second class matter. Iwnri dally average circulation (or tho three month* ending Nov. 30, 1818. Average for the year IHI4—SI.SK? Average for the year 1013—1D.9M Average for the year 1812—10.< M» Average for the year ISII—IT,S#U Average for the year 18im-W.'-Hll The above tlgnrea are «et. All re turned. uaaold and damaged copies ae dacted. FRIDAY EVENING, DEC. 21. In the language of Tiny Tim —"God bless us, every one." I,l' KE WROTK THIS FOR YOU IN the many years since the Star first hovered over Bethlehem and the first Christmas came Into being, men have been writing of Christmas. The theme is so rich in possibilities for helpful lessons and loving thoughts that men will con tinue to write of it and to draw new lessons from it until time shall be no more and every day shall know the happiness that now belongs especially o this one fleeting period of the year. And much has been written on the subject that is worth while and well worth reading, but the one great Christmas editorial was penned so long ago that It ante-dates the printing press by hundreds of years and which has come down to us in all the simplicity of construction, the per fection of diction and impressiveness of thought and picture that have t-arried It around the world and have caused it to be read and read again wherever men are looking toward the light, wherever human aims are higher than the material, wherever humanity is seeking for the peace, the hope and the happiness of service of which Christ is the herald. It bears the authorship of one who knew and loved the Master, who followed his teachings, who shared His joys and sorrows on the long road from Bethle hem to Calvary and who was one of His first missionaries in the world. Ills name was Luke and what he wrote of the first Christmas sums up everything that has since been writ r ten, of song and story and poem and sermon—nil the vast literature of the first Christmas morn and the many that have followed. And so we have let Luke write for you our Christmas editorial for to-day, not because you have not read it, hut because you ought to read it always at Christmas time. Here it is: And she brought forth her first born son, and wrapped him in swad dling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the Inn. And there were in the same coun try shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by li i glit. And. 10, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them. Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you Is born this day. in the city of David, a Saviour, which Is Christ the Lord. _ And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a man ger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude' of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another. Let us now go even unto i Bethlehem, and see this thing which Is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it. they mado known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it won dered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them In her heart. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. HIGH SCHOOL AND CIVIC CENTER FORTUNATELY for Harrisburg the disposition throughout the city is to permit the school directors to work out the best pos sible solution of the high school prob lem. Nowhere is there any serious opposition to the new building; It is so manifestly a recognized need that discussion of that phase of the mat ter is useless. All that Is now to be considered is the site and the ways and means. When the new building shall have been provided It to be the most FRIDAY EVENING, HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH DECEMBER 24, 1913. modern structure in any city of the country. There must be no make shift in any feature of the appoint ments. Harrisburg lias a high stand ing among the municipalities of the United States and our school and edu cational work must comport in evety way with the dignity of the city as a fine expression of civic betterment and improvement. Since the conference between the State and the city authorities on the question of treatment of the Capitol Park zone it has come to be generally accepted that the civic center of Harrisburg will be embraced in the district bounded by Walnut, Third and North streets. Already a con siderable start has been made in the creation of such a center and with the completion of the State program with reference to this district plans of the city will have been matured sufficiently to indicate the further development from the Harrisburg standpoint. It hardly admits of argument that this city should proceed with the working out of the civic center idea. Other cities in this country and abroad are expending millions of dol lars In the creation of their civic cen ters while here in Harrisburg the co operation of the State has made pos sible an Ideal arrangement without cost to the city that will be at once a credit to the Commonwealth and its capital city. Tt would seem that there Is but one location for the new high school under the circumstances and that in the area contiguous to the Capitol. As a final word let us admonish every reader of the Telegraph to exercise personal care in fire prevention grow ing out of the decoration of Christmas trees or the illumination of their homes or places of business. Just a little caie and forethought may prevent loss of life and property. LEST WE FORGET THERE are evidences here and there of a disposition on the < part of the railroad corporations to take advantage of a favorable change in the attitude on the part of the public toward these corporations to ask unreasonable things in the way of increased freight rates. One of the things which brought about the wholesale censure of railroad inter ests was the proneness of the man agers to impose upon the public in the same manner that the express companies had done and which fool ish course precipitated an avalanche of wrath and resentment. Some very flimsy pretexts are given for large increases in transportation charges and the newspapers of the country are gradually changing fiom a friendly attitude to one of open criticism as a result of the resumption of old tactics by the railroad com panies. Our municipal managers—otherwise the City Council —are to be commended for exercising care and economy in the making up of the city budget for 1916. In this matter, however. It would be wise not to pare so closely as to undo in any way what has been so well done in many particulars. No well-managed private business is permitted to de teriorate through failure to provide proper maintenance and upkeep. This same principle applies to our municipal corporation. We have made a large in vestment as a city, and it is the duty of the agents of the people to see to it that there is no impairment anywhere through such false economy as might involve waste or loss. WELL-EARNED REST THE double holiday that marks Christmas this year will be wel come to everybodv, but to none more so than to the clerks and sales? forces iof the stores of the city, where the shopping season has been the heaviest on retard. To be sure, the hours of work have been lessened but the Increased volume of business has made up for that. To be cheerful and attentive under stress is difficult. Yet in what store in Harrisburg did you find any other spirit during the busy days of the past few weeks? That benevolent and thoughtful old fellow, Santa Claus himself, "has nothing" on the sales people of this city either in the way of true Christ mas spirit or in consideration of the wants of those to be served. The shopping public may well Join with the Telegraph In wishing every one of the clerks and store employes the Merry Christmas they so well deserve. Where owners of turnpikes persist in the holdup game they will find High way Commissioner Cunningham, backed by Governor Brumbaugh, a rather hard-headed proposition. These toll roads are going to pass, and In passing the present owners will make no head way in their endeavor to sandbag the State. THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT WORK is plenty, business is good and money Is abundant. Har risburg proposes to dine well to-morrow. But prosperous Harris burg Is not alone to have a bounteous holiday celebration. The Rotary Club, the Sunday Schools, the Elk, the Moose and other organizations, not to mention many such private benefac-, tions as that of Jacob Tausig's Sons, who to-day through the Telegraph and Associated Charities give away 200 Christmas baskets, have Joined forces in an effort to make the day merry for everybody In the city. It is a good sign when men look be yond their own needs and desires to those of others. It Is natural to find evidences of this spirit at Christmas time, and Harrisburg has never been lacking In that respect, but it is safe to say that never in the history of. the city has there been such a spontaneous or genoreus manifestation of It as to day. After all there is no happiness quite like that which unstinted, unre stricted giving yields, and if the beneficiaries get half the enjoyment from receiving that the donors do from giving, then the effort has been worth while. Indeed. Joy to the world is the dominant note throughout the universe to-day and while a large part of the world is In the midst of war there is still an un dercurrent of peace. TELEGRAPH'S PERISCOPE"] —This is going to be a very empty Christmas for some—especially the Purse family. —Every rose has its thorn—so does every holly leaf. —Santa Claus Is the man who put the Miss Into mistletoe. —The Altoona Tribune will celebrate its i'l.vty-flfth anniversary January 15. Merry Christmas, dear Tribune, AND Merry Christmas. —"Christmas comes but once a year" —lf It came oftener our boss would re fuse to be interviewed on the subject of A CERTAIN BOY When breakfast is broucht to me lie delights to pour my coffee while we sit face to face, each at the head of the small table; and he lias long regarded his good offices as a substitute lor the sugar I once declined. So now pre liminarily he will often ask me with bewitching smile, "Well, do you want fweet coffee this morning?" And he knows in advance that 1 shall surely get it without offending his odd con ceit or my palate. To his little { jet's soul the wet wood in the lire sings to him, the rumbling flame over the dry wood there is his drum; the snow is getting its drink in the melting; the sky with its loud, thundering noises is angry and wicked, and happy and good again with smiling sunshine; the blueberries he hunts for but does not tind are hiding from him. and he has not needed Shelley to tell him that It is for the thirsting flowers the Cloud brings fresh showers. Rarely is there a talk between us without some addi tion to the long roll of these quaint accom plish ments. And then his questions—No, I for bear, for the answers which follow on the heels of his interrogation points are altogether too meager for my vanity. What an unfailing source of Interest also It is to hear him give a medley of his many dreams—now through jungle land and waste places, but oftener through inviting surround ings, at one time with us all, and at another with strangers to him and to all human kind —compounded about equally of fact and fancy, and for the hidden meanings of which neither I nor any dream book can ever have a solution. How the pendulum of his alternate work and play—for he is an expert at each—swings to the ex tremes, only to come to a state of well earned rest and solemn quiet! But even then at times while wide awake and looking off abstracted Into space, he will ask us not to interrupt him for a moment, because "I am thinking." We never fail to humor him in this, for long ago he persuaded us of his inability to collect his big thoughts while we chatter. North American Review. KILLS AMERICAN DYE INDUSTRY The dye business is strategic because it implicates other businesses. It is strategic because it Implicates the ex plosives which are peculiarly essential to modern warfare. It is strategic, above all. because it furnishes, as Ger many has found, a uniquely powerful stimulus to chemical endeavor and in vention and progress in general. The soldiers of Germany are fighting Ger many s battles in France and in Rus sia and in Serbia, on alien soil, largely because they carry with them prodigi ous supplies of the Products of that German industrial chemical activity which has always had its most inspir ing centers in the great coal-tar color works on the German Rhine and the German Main. The master science of the future is chemistry; the typical fortress of in dustrial chemistry is the coal-tar chemical industry: the key to the coal tar chemical industry is dyes. Just as the German forte was chem istry. so the American forte was me chanics. We shine in the sort of ma chinery one sees In cotton mills. Further, we had protected our textile industry for -sixty years against the old historic superiority of the textile in dustry of England. We had protected it so effectively that all importations of the cheaper grades of textiles had vir tually ceased. The textile industry was an adult. What, then, did Congress do? It lowered the duty on dyes, ruinously, while at the same time it Increased the duty on those finer grades of textiles which were still threatened by importa tions from abroad. Why? Because dyes are "raw matei ials" to textiles; I because the manufacturers of textiles j demanded their "raw materials" "cheap;" because the manufacturers of textilas were numerous and strong: be cause the manufacturers of dyes were few and feeble. In that hour we lost the coal-tar chemical industry for America. The duty on dyes had been fifty cents on each pound and an additional 35 per cent, on value. The 35 per cent, was i left. The fiftv cents on each pound was swept away. Five of the nine dye-plants of America went immediately out of business. The rest continued to breathe —faintly.—William Hard In the Janu ary Metropolitan. « MORE RAILROADS GOING "DRY" [Literary Digest.l The maintenance of top-notch effi ciency and the desire to keep abreast of a public sentiment which is grow ing more and more averse to the liquor business are the chief reasons, ac cording to the Indianapolis News, why American railroads are giving up the practice of serving alcoholic liquors on dining and buffet cars. After the first of the year the Denver and Rio Grande is to go "dry." And several important lines of the Middle West, The News hears, have decided to do likewise at an early date. Among these are the Michigan Central, the Missouri Pacific, and the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul. The rea sons given by several of the roads running out of Chicago are quoted as follows by the Indianapolis paper: "It is too hard to keep track of 'wet' and 'dry' counties through which trains are running, and to conform to the local laws. "The increase in prohibition senti ment has made the sale of intoxi cants an economic loss. "The sale of intoxicants on trains is inconsistent with the railroad's orders prohibiting employes drinking." "Ohio, Pennsylvania, some of the New England States, and all of the prohibition States of the country have passed laws prohibiting the sale of Intoxicants on railroad trains. In some States where local option laws are In force, as in this State, the presence in the statute books of a law permitting the sale of liquor on rail road trains really creates a class dis tinction. Those who have the money may ride from one station to another for the sole purpose of procuring the liquor which they can not legally pro curo In 'dry' territory. In this re spect there is a conflict which Is seri ously in need of elimination, if not by the voluntary action of the railroads, then by the legislature." DO IT! My Wing Dinger Yes. the gifts have all been purchased— All the names upon your list Have by yon been taken care of, Not a single one you've missed. But don't get the false Idea That your duty you have done— ' Cording to the Christmas spirit, Brother, you have just begun. [Christmas Day you'll meet with many Whom, no gifts from you, will cheer, But whose path will be made brighter If from your lips they but hear "Merry Christmas"—not said coldly— But as though you mean it—and Don't forget 'twill seem much warmer With a friendly clasp of hand. [foUUct Ck | tKKO iflcanZa By the Ex-Oonmlttaemu William Flinn was yesterday notified from Atlantic City that Colonel Theo dore Roosevelt, if he decides to enter the presidential nomination race, will have the New Jersey Progressive State Committee with him. This word came from Joseph Marvel, member of the State committee from Atlantic. Mar vel was elected a Second district dele gate to the Chicago convention when i Roosevelt swept Atlantic county in I 1912. The Pennsylvania Bull Mooser I is on record as expressing the belief I that Roosevelt will not be a candidate. I What he replied to the ardent New (Jerseylte is not reported. The Pro ■ gressive signs are not very encourag ing in Pennsylvania this year. Judge William C. Ryan, of the Bucks county court ,has handed down a decision in which he declares that« the election or Isaac Bennett and Rob ert H. Engart as Justices of the peace of Warminster township is invalid be cause the name of the other Repub lican candidate. James M. Knight, was omitted from the ballot by a mistake. Only the names of Engart, Repub. lican, and Bennett, Democrat, ap peared on the ballot. Voters testified that they feared to write Knight's name on the ballot lest it be tnrown out. The new city commission have as signed departments and agreed upon city officials to be chosen on inaugu ration. January 3. The officials se lected are: T. C. Hare, city solicitor; J. W. Shields, city engineer; W. M. C. Craine, city treasurer; John P. Cop persmith, city assessor; Walter J. Hamor, city clerk. The city depart ments were assigned as Shelly, finance and accounts: Frank E. Rooney, streets and public improve ments: W. C. Myton, public safety; John P. Stouch, parks and public I prpperty. Mayor C. E. Rhodes, by ] virtue of Ills office, is the director ol' the department of public affairs. Asserting that the Philadelphia mu nicipal court thus far has proven itself to be the most extravagant judicial institution that he has ever known. Mayor Blankenburg announced his readiness yesterday to testify to that effect in the suit in equity brought by Calvin B. Jones, a taxpayer, to prevent the expenditure of an additional SIOO,OOO for fitting up additional quar ters for the court, according to Charles S. Wood, the attorney representing Jones. DIRECT TAX ON IRON AND STEEL [From the Iron Age.] Manufacturers of pig iron and of "fabricated" iron and steel may well wonder why their products are se lected by the President for the im position of direct taxes calculated* according to his message to Congress, to yield a $20,000,000 stop-gap In these times of deficits. Having strip ped the pig-iron and steel industries of protection against the dumping of the Canadian and European product, .and having actually started foreign pig iron and steel this way last year, it was certainly not to be expected that the administration would give its "unshackling" program this par ticular turn. A good many pig-iron producers and some steel companies were writing their balances in red before the war broke out. Seeing that they produce that ft-om which shells are made, they promptly come to mind now when Washington needs (to capitalize politically some section of the country's war prosperity. Two and a half years ago a special session of Congress was working overtime to relieve the people of high living costs, falsely said to be due to customs house tolls. Now the sugar tax is to go back. Income taxes are to be increased and in imposing new burdens iron is picked on, a commo dity in commonest use, apart from food and clothing. When demand is greater than supply, as at present, and prices are above the average, the iron and steel taxes would be passed along to the consumer. In time of close competition, as in 1918 and 1914, these taxes would only make the home producer's situation worse and aid the foreign producer in placing his surplus here. Iron and steel manufacturers should bear their share of the taxation levied for national defense. But to Impose a direct tax of $20,000,000 on an in dustry which was especially the tar get for attack in the'tariff of 1913 is an injustice which It will not be easy to carry through. WE HAVE WITH US— [Kansas City Star.] A sensational reporter announces that Christmas trees are here. Cer tainly. certainly. And a little later, when there is a foot of snow on the ground, he will apprise us that winter has arrived. Yes, and when he sees the pretty blue violets peeping out of the ground he is the sensationist who will announce that Spring has come. VILLA ON THE MOVE " Two wives await Villa: Los Angeles spouse flays he won't go to Cuba with No. 2. —Newspaper headline. Life is Just one civil war after an other for this Mexican York Sun. , INVOCATION. CHRISTMAS Ten thousand homes are steeped In tears. A million men lined up to slay; Our hearts grow cold with rage and fears — The world's at war this Christmas Day. Sweet carols that wc sing make mock Of all the words that in them lay. For. list! we hear the battle shock— The world's at war this Christmas Day. Bright berries of the holly tree Seem drops of blood, to our dismay; Mistletoe pearls a rosary— The world's at war this Christmas Day. Sweet mangec child, lead us again, For we have wandered far astray; Send peace and liapoiness to men— The world's at war this Christmas Day. Kneel we together at Thy door. And offer hearts that plead and pray For love and brotherhood once more— The world's at war this Christmas Day. —D. E. WHEELER Our Daily Laugh ! "The sign brings ' fWv *^§7? customer.." -La J- L(J U jJK Fontaine. (E V AA THE EXPEN sive t>BRIOIX She: They say JL, 1 « Btwo can live M (MH?m as one. WK Ho: Not dur l\ \ ins the engage f th ° UKh THE CARTOON OF THE DAY j Can They Induce Her to Remain Until We All Can See Her? WM.tWMOOttT *><*«('. 1 j NONJW.se'. VOW , CAM ONCC STOW » *" CO.NG lb HAKt (T —From Ike Columbus Dispatch. I CANDLE-LIGHTING | £: TX the peasant's quiet cottage i>' ; ® I Years ago, on Christmas night, |k •jjt Candles white like snow were lighted, ;W "K- That their star-flame shining bright. JK n The dear Christ Child, earthward wending A fc To each home would bring aright, 11 -ff Bearing gifts of love and blessing *v, •r Heart and spirit to delight. m" Centurie« of candle-lighting £; On the holy Christinas Eve Jf! H Caused the warm heart's sacred tapers A .fc Heav'n's pure love-flre to receive; w w. Gentle lights kept kindly burning ft' Led the thoughtful to perceive, 5 .That the Christ Child's flame shone brighter ,ff When theirs helped the dark relieve. „ 'jj 0 Candle-light, the friend and stranger « A As of yore, this Christmas tide, ;wf From our homes with gracious gleaming JB; B Through the night, will softly guide. 1 1 While their thoughts with joy are turning « ST From these stressful years aside •», m : To the light through ages burning V Wherein men their steps confide. A By LOIS KAMERLIN BOOKER, for the Telegraph. - ( \ SCIENCE BEGINS Getting Your Money's Worth By Frederic J. Haskin THE American kitchen is sadly be hind the times. Almost all our Institutions are being run on a basis of scientific efficiency, but many household ways have apparently come down to us unchanged from the days of Moses. Wherefore, the United States Bureau of Standards has Just complet ed a study to determine how scientific methods may be applied at home. In her varied activities and expendi tures, the average housewife proceeds too much on faith and guesswork. It may be well enough, in cooking, to measure salt by the pinch and rice by the handful. Fine dishes have been produced without scientific measure ment; cooking may be an art rather than a science. But it is obviously a mistake to buy potatoes by the bushel when you do not know how much a bushel of potatoes should weigh. For 'instance, fiftv-slx pounds is the bushel weight in Virginia. In North Carolina, just over the line, or in the citv of Washington, it is sixty pounds. Caro lina or Washington women who buy the the Virginia tubers without due thought, may get cheap bushels and ex pensive potatoes. This is the sort of lit tle fact on which every housewlie should be posted, yet relatively few of them are. The experts of the Bureau of Stan dards recommend that every kitchen have a complete set of weights and measures. They' are really as Indis pensable as the kitchen stove. A recent investigation of 10,000 scales In all sorts of retail shops showed that 45 per cent, of them were inaccurate, some by as much as 12 per cent., or almost two ounces to the pound. It Is not enough to purchase food of good qual ity at the right price per pound. You must see that you are really getting the pounds. Groceries should be weighed occa sionally. when delivered, and liquids measured often enough to keep a check on the grocer and the delicatessen stand. Such a practice would be hailed enthusiastically by all careful and honest dealers, since their less scrupu lous rivals can undersell them by mak ing a little extra profit on weight and measures. In her daily marketing, the average woman displays a touching confidence In the honesty of human nature that Is a continual temptation to sharp prac tice. She rarely or never convinces THE STATE FROM DAf TO DW Although a mere Infant, being only three days old, according to the well established belief that winter begins on the 21st of December, the shortest day of the year, nevertheless It has managed to accomplish a great deal in that time. The death rate in Phila delphia lias doubled this week and all your friends are laid up with grip or sore throat. a • » An Allentown man was arrested the other day for throwing hot soup over his wife and baby, but was exonerated because no one appeared against him. It has always been our belief that soup is an extremely annoying vegetable, taken externally. » « • An editorial in a Lancaster contem porary tells of an "unhyphenated friend of Uncle Sam" who wrote a sen sible letter to the New York Sun urg ing the use of Spanish In all our public I Forgot— Tills Is the day when the men tal check up brings home the {act that:— While we* may have tried to do Christmas shopping early— we did not do it all. Some are forgotten and must be provided for RIGHT NOW. That means some rush shop ping. And In an emergency like this information as to men and things such as will find In the ad vertising in the.Telegraph will be mighty helpful. I herself that the merchant's scale is in i > hi al ? < i e ' yet V l '" is a Precaution that should never be omitted, since if it is !l?ii s ? , rel| can be placed in the indicated weight. When buying liquids, caie should be taken that the proper "leasure Is ftlled to the brim, and, es pecially important, that every drop of the contents is poured out. £°!£? r , bad F actlc<s to be frowned ? IS J S t . ay method and exactness, |® 'J\? hab't of asking- for ten cents' worth pf this, anil a quarter's worth of that. One should always first inquire the price by the pound, and then see that the dime or the quarter buys ttie proper fraction. n recently enacted amend ment to the famous pure food law. known as the "net-weight amendment." The net-weight amendment was intend ed to protect the purchaser of package goods of all sorts, but the Bureau of Standards finds that the thoughtless ness of the housewife robs it of much effect. According to this law. the net weight of the contents of each pack age of food must be printed on the sur face The apparent size of a package is often deceiving, but by this means the purchaser can tell exactly what she is grettingr. Not enough attention is paid to the Inconspicuous line of fine print that tells net weight of contents." A glass olives, or beef, or fruit, may look liberal, and really be largely glass jar and not contents. The printed net weigh) tells the story. You should al ways look for this little indicator, and calculate the net cost of the commo dity per pound, to be compared with the fn ""huYk C<s ° f the Snmf! artic,e sold Package goods have, of course, cer tain advantages of their own. The purchaser knows that thev come to l.er untouched by hand, fot they are often even packed bv machinery. She knows that the package article, especially of a standard brand, is usually of high quality, under such circumstances, sdie may be willing to pay a dime for a ten-ounce box of crackers, when crack ers are selling in bulk for ten Cents a pound. That in a mutter for individual decision; but the evil in the present practice lies- the fact that few wo men realize that they are making a choice between quality and quantity. They never stoo to figure out what their purchases really cost schools and colleges. Good as the idea may have been, and effectively as this Lancaster paper may have sup ported it, the last paragraph sounded Its death knell when It spoke of sub stituting Spanish for the "petty" Latin course. Years of experience and the testimony of some of the world's greatest thinkers may be quoted to argue that no Latin course, however poor, could ever be "petty." ♦ * * Wilkes-Barre, resting from the ex citement that has been prevalent there over its never-ending street car strike, is now incensed, in some political cir cles, with reference to the postmaster situation. They say President Wilson has Instructed the Postmaster-General to favor a boyhood friend as post master of Wilkes-Barre In preference to the choice of Congressman Casey's brother Lawrence. * » * The engagement of Carleton Schwab Wagner, nephew to the steel magnate, C. M. Schwab, to Miss Margaret Wil liams. of Easton, has been announced. ,The young man is vice-president of the Danville Tubing Company, having graduated from Lehigh University last June. * * * William B. Wilson. Secretary of La bor, and Congressman J. Thomas Hef lin, of Alabama, will be the speakers at the annual banquet of the Lycom ing Young Men's Democratic Club in January. » » • Fifteen hundred employes of the Dupla Silk Company, of llazleton, will receive free attendance from a trained nurse after January 1. TO JIIOSK AFAR AM) >IGH For he is our peace, who hath made both'one. and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, and came and preached peace to you which were far off. and to them that ware niirii.—Kphesians 11,14 and 17. Stoning Gllfat Apparently the State authorities are not going to allow the organizations of the National Guard to suffer froit lack of information about the federaa Inspection which is to he held th' " e . x ' „ th ™ e months. This inspection rfu t !,,<?. cl, ' c »lai-. will have di tivc to mm?? °" aU legislation rela shown ," , a afr alrs. Organizations Mn'l Sh f Properly equipped will the mTiiH toward appropriations for development and It is urg ed that special attention be given to shm/lT h U ' , sa5S the circular, frequently. n ° w anU ins l>ected * * ♦ riv«!' e , probl . em of whether or not the £k?H.2 a .h. 18 « oln «.'o produce good "w'iriou- winter is being discussed ai r on « the city's younger ele mit h.Mi now ' 11 I,as been figured h«L i ? current of the river has . Wed down entl «K'i to permit e to freeze 'f slush can be l\V usllillK down through and ?£? B things. This is a problem that practically defies solution, so that ; Na !' e ,°. n , ly can fix things up and she »"V sen<lln K a good old twen i , ®ree Jielow streak without any wind. ..-ft * * * CHArley Fleck, the desk officer at J, p Police station, has been Riven a < hrlstmhs tree all his own. The tree is a six foot pine and was erected as a tribute from the policemen. The decorations are unique, as was to be expected, and the members of the rorce are preparing some stunts to make the day memorable. • • • Here is one that is vouched for by the youngest member of the Tele graph staff. "Superstition is far from being dead." said he. "The other day 1 saw a black cat and a woman of colored race going down the street. Pussy took it into her head to cross the street. The colored girl stopped as If she had been shot, turned around and walked back to a cross street. No farther on that highway for her. Now what's the answer?" • • • Lemoyne's young men have advanc ed in municipal affairs by taking the annual community Christmas stunt in to their own hands and It is believed that in the course of a few weeks the town will have an organization com posed of young men to look into the welfare of the thriving 'cross river borough. This club will be known as the Lemoyne Welfare Club and will give its assistance to the borough council, school board and tire com pany, organizations which need help in channels of work that cannot be attended to by members of that or ganization oil account of the time re quired. One of the Lemoyne folks said: "The young men have been a great help in several of the latest mu nicipal movements b.nd are 'up and doing' in the things they hope to ac complish in the near future. The persons heading this plan will prob ably wake up the town council and 'officials. They are at a stage, that they deem necessary to start, in the munici pal atfairs of life so that when they are called to take hold of such work they will be better qualified. The progressive businessmen of the town are encouraging the boys and many have offered their help." • * * Ad Gumbert, county commissioner elect of Allegheny, who was here yes terday, was for years one of the star players on the Pittsburgh baseball team and was a great friend of John K. Tener in the old days. He was corinected with the Public Service Commission for some time, but has resigned to take up his new officu which pays SB,OOO a year. ♦ ♦ * Out on Allison Hill lives a little old lady, now passed her eightieth mile stone, who Is a firm believer in the efficacy of prayer. She lives with a daughter who is blind and the in come of the little home is very, very small. But somehow or other, the grandmotherly old lady manages to get along, and she insists that prayer brings her everything she needs. Just, the other day a Sunday school class sent word by messenger that if was sending a load of coal to her as a Christmas gift. "I knew it! I knew it!" exclaimed the silver-haired reci pient, "I've been praying for a week that the Lord would put some coal in the cellar, and here it comes!" WHISKV ACI KSK [Manufacturers Record.] The National Bulletin, which seems to be published wholly in the interest of the whisky industry of the country, quotes a recent editorial from the Manufacturers Record headed "Too Many Reformers," apparently with <t view to creating the impression that, the Manufacturers Record and Bishop Warren A. Chandler, upon whose state ment the editorial was based, might be in favor of the whisky industry, or at least that these statements might be used to that effect because of the suggestion that there are too many reformers in these days. If this was the intention of the Na tional Bulletin, the Manufacturers Record wants to disabuse the mind of the editor of that publication and to state that we are absolutely, teetotally and in every way possible opposed to the whisky industry, not only from Its immoral influence, but from the eco nomic standpoint. It is a curse to the country of such gigantic proportions that the sooner it is blotted out the better it will be for mankind. The bil lions of dollars tfiat are annually spent in this country/ for alcoholic drinks constitute one 'of the most fearful curses ever brought upon the land, and every dollar thus expended is an eco nomic waste and a drain upon the physical, mental, moral and financial stamina of the country. Moreover, the alliance of the saloon interests with the politics of the coun try is another curse, and to this in fluence is due much of the rottenness in American politics. II •Llj / Burn a Candle on Christmas Eve Tou will want to observe this city's latest custom for her alding the Coming of the King. Burn a candle in your front window on Christmas Eve. v The custom that is centuries old, but it has lately been re vived and will be observed in this city this year. Be sure that your window has a burning candle.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers