6 HARRISBURG TELEGRAPH A t/mVSPAPBR rOR THE HOMS Ptn* itd itsi Published evenings except Bugtfay by THIS TELEGRAPH PRINTING CO„ Telegraph Building, Federal Sqaare. E.J. STACK POLE, PrtJt Sr Bdilor-inCMrf T. R. OTSTER, Busintis Manager. GUS M. STEINMETZ, Managing Editor. Member of the Associated Press —The Associated Press Is exclusively en titled to the use for republication of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited In this paper and also the local newa published herein. All rights of republication of special dispatches herein are also reserved. I. Member American Newspaper Pub- East er n Ifflce, Avenue Building, Entered at the Post Office In Harrls burg, Pa., as second class matter. , grfTTifc _ By carriers, ten cents a week; by mall, >6.00 a year In advance. MONDAY, MAY , 1918 TP® must truly serve those whom we appear to command; we must tear with their imperfections, cor rect them with gentleness and pa tience, and lead them in the way to heaven. —FENELON. OLEO, COW AND MONEY IN opposing the movement in In dustrial centers to either re duce or abolish the State license fee for the retail sale of oleomarga rine, Dairy and Food Commissioner James Foust says that such action would not bring down the cost to •the consumer. The commissioner, who has had years of experience in enforcing the "oleo" law in Penn sylvania and to whose efforts are due in great measure the present ef fective regulation, says that this State's people consume more of the butter substitute than any other State. As this is an industrial and not an agricultural State, this fact is not to be wondered at. But the commissioner also says that adjoin ing States, where there is either no license or a very low fee required to sell "oleo," enjoy the same prices as Pennsylvania, where there is SIOO required before a pound can be sold. If that is correct, someone ought to be arrested. The receipts from the licensing of oleomargerine in Pennsylvania .ire more than sufficient to pat' the ex penses of operating the dairy and food inspection bureau, and certain ly something more tfjan merely see ing that "oleo" is not dosed with so much coloring matter that it cannot be told from butter is required. A great many people do not know the difference between "oleo" and but ter, but as we have said before, they know the price and are not as much Interested In protecting the muley cow in these days of high prices for farm products and efforts to sNI Liberty bonds as twenty years ago. To people in the communities which toll In mill and on railroads and In the coal mines, where many Liberty Bonds and Thrift Stamps have been sold, "gouging" either for butter or "oleo"' is as much a matter for po lice attention as whether a maker of the substitute doctors It so that it looks like that rarity, creamery but ter. We wouldn't like to hear of German people starving to death, but we hope they get hungry enough to kick the Hohenzollerns off the lid of the grain chest. IT'S HERE AGAIN WHEN you go home from work in the evening and find the parlor furniture in the back-, yard, the dining room carpet on a clothesline hard by, your supper scorched and served from a window •lll In the kitchen; when you find your children running about looking like a parcel of singed rabbits after a prairie fire; when your amiable wife substitutes for her usual smack on the lips a verbal smack over the ear—if not worse—and the whole household has the appearance of having been bombed from within and bombarded from without, sus taining at the same time the con centrated attention of a metropoli tan Are department out to make a record: then, if you are an experi enced married man, you will realize that the height of the housecleaning season has been reached. It's an epidemic as contagious as mumps or measles, just as disas trous In Its effects upon family ease and comfort, and worse than either, for Instead of coming once in a life time, may be, it comes twice a year, certainly. Doubtless it is a great and worthy institution, but the man with his right arm sore from having spent the early part of the evening beat ing carpets, hla fingers battered by inadvertent association with the business end of a tack-hammer, his knees worn to a frame rrom kneel ing In anything but a reverent state of mind and his nervous syatem a wreck, la not In a mood to appre ciate the blessings of a spotless and germ less home. Dark thoughts of suicide or divorce flit through his . mind and when he goes to bed— lt ' he's lucky enough to And on* Intact MONDAY EVENING, —he Is cunningly evolving a plot to frame up a business excuse for re maining down town for dinner next day. But even housecleaning—like smallpox and iom< other pests of the kind—ls not the virulent disease It was a few years back, bad though It still Is. There was a time when to the horrors of carpet-beating) and •taok-pulltng and other tortures of the kind, were added the heart and hack-breaking performances of "taking down the heater," "moving back the cookatove' 1 and white washing walls and ceilings. Those were the halcyon days when men who had been In Llbby prison won dered, as they laid their weary backs to rest at night, why they had ever allowed themselves to be lured from that comparatively pleasant abode. Some day, perhaps, a poet will write an epic of the gallantry of the hus band who put away the "self-feed ing heater" In the spring without the aid of profanity ' and another about the skillful warrior who ex ecuted a successful whitewash of fensive in the spare bedroom with out getting lime In his eyes, streak ing the walls or spotting the counter pane that grandma made for her wedding cheat. They are deserving aouls who have never had proper recognition. But nobody will ever write anything In praise of the hus band who could conscientiously agree with his wife that the benefits of housecleaning are In proportion to its agonies, for there never was, is or will be such a man. , The Kaiser Is finding that the Pope does not mean to pull the German chestnut* out of the fire. We can imagine what sort of benedictions Wilhelm is calling down on the Vati can. WHO WILL VOLUNTEER? A YEAR ago the country called for volunteers to conquer the Hun and so save the world from the lash of the tyrant's whip— and hundreds of Harrisburg's young men heard, and enswered; so many, indeed, 'that the first levies of th*e draft call left the city untouched. And now, with these brave lads In far oft France, daring death In a thousand horrid forms, there comes another call—this time for older men, for equally patriotic, though not so dangerous, service. What will the answer be ? Every day trainload after train load of soldiers slip quietly across the country from training camp to point of embarkation. , Every night the transports drop silently down the rivess and out to sea. By the close of summer our armed forces in France may number a million and a half of men. To care for the creature comforts of these, to provide them with those surroundings they find in the Y. M. C. A. "hut" as nowhere else becomes a task of gigantic and rap- Idly growing proportions. Last year we were asked to give our dollars, and we gave more than we were asked. To-day we are asked to fol low our dollars with our men, and It is for our men themselves to say whether or not they will go. It has been said that America would not have needed the draft to pro cure an army, that volunteers would have responded In numbers suffi ciently to have filled the ranks. The older men—men beyond the possi bility of the draft —have now the opportunity of proving this willing ness of the American to volunteer at the country's call. The war activities of the Y. M. C. A. resemble more than anything else those of a great business concern. Millions of dollars are to be expend ed. Not a cent must be wasted. Every penny must be made to count. Experienced and successful business men are needed above all others, but there are places for men of all kinds —bookkeepers, stenographers, store keepers, organizers, managers, su perintendents. The services of men who can afford to pay their own way are in particular demand, but provision can be made for those who must care for the families they leave behind. v Who in Harrlsburg will enlist in the Y. M. C. A. Corps for six months or a year in the uniform of the "Y" in France ? Who among the older men of the community will stand behind the boys who have gone away and say, "Here, lads, am I, with you to. the last in body as well as spirit." It 1| not only sacrifice that is asked; It is an opportunity that Is offered. After the war It will be far easier for those who could go to explain why they went than why they did not go. Clean up week; but Harrlsburg housewlvea need no spur to the work of the seaaon. When the ship yarda can turn out a big steamer In twenty-seven days It begins to look as though it is easier to build ahlpa than alrplanea. At all eventa the ex-Czar la discov ering that the chaps to whom he en trusted the building of his prisons made a good Job of it. The Germans have executed a French Boy Scout, and every Ameri can Boy .Scout will help do the same for the Kaiser by Belling an increased number of Thrift Stamps and Liberty Bonds. • foictSc* CK The second really active week oj the primary campaign will open to day with Senator William C. Sproul In the midst of a tour of western Pennsylvania which will close at Al toona on Saturday and Highway i Commissioner J. Denny O'Nell, fresh from a tour of the anthracite re glon, working In Philadelphia and vicinity. The other Republican can didate* are sitting on the bleachers. On the Democratic side, State Chair man Joseph P. GufTey, having helped put Pittsburgh "over the top" for the Liberty Loan, will come here to start machinery moving for the Democratic honors and then start out to overcome the activities of his rival. Eugene C. Bonatwell. Both O'Nell and Sproul have been getting some results, but find It har.d to get people interested in politics m a year of war. Not even presence of high state officials has served to arouse voters to what happened last year In the Legislature. It IN becoming more and more ap parent that the candidates and the politicians are the ones chiefly In terested In the campaign this year and that people are keeping eyes and thoughts on ways to win the war and more concerned In Liberty Bonds and the draft than the pri mary. —Detail arrangements were com pleted during the past few days by members of the Sproul Republican Club of Blair county to Join with Altoona voters in presenting to Sen ator William C. Sproul, of Chester, their favorite candidate for Gov ernor, a rousing reception upon his visit Wednesday. According to plans made, he will arrive at Tyrone that morning and after being given an opportunity of meeting the voters will be taken in an automobile to Bellwood and Williamsburg during the forenoon. The afternoon will be spent in a tour to Martinsburg, Roaring Springs and Hollidaysburg. A number of prominent local Re publicans will accompany Senator Sproul. He Is alreatly personally ac quainted with many Blair county Republicans and it promises to be a continual ovation over the whole route. The entire evening will be spent In a great rally at the Logan House here. In the contest for Lieu tenant Governor the candidacy of Senator Beidleman has taken on Impetus. Edwin M. Amies, who suc cessfully managed the campaign for Congressman Rose and changed this district from Democratic to Repub lican representation, has also con sented to look after the interests of the Dauphin county candidate. It is believed that he will, along with Senator Sproul, carry Blair county. —The Philadelphia Press, which yesterday declared editorially for Sproul in no uncertain terms, con-' tains an extremely interesting four column interview with the Senator in which he sets forth many of his ideas and is about as emphatic as he could well be In declaring that he would albide by the decision of the Republican primary, come what may. The Senator, writes J. O. Hauser, who got the interview, said he was "distinctly progressive," fa vored old-age pensions and various other things which have been more or less pre-empted by the Senator's opponents. —Attention is given in newspapers of Sunday to the light i"egistration. It seems to be generally agreed that people are not much interested this year and that O'Neil and Sproul will divide the church vote. —According to Philadelphia. Led ger dispatches, "wet* Democrats in Chester and Allentown are making drives In behalf of Judge Bonnlwell. The Judge Is highly pleased at the result of his visit to Lackawanna county. —The Watson campaign commit tee is out with the charge in Mont gomery county that Representative F. W. Hites is a Vare man. Hites voted with the Vare men. —Reviewing the week's develop ments In state politics. "The In sider," writing in the Philadelphia Press says: "The thing that leads to the belief that the Vares will take the middle course of having the city organization divide its support be tween Sproul and O'Nell is that there is a distinct Sproul sentiment on the part of half a dozen of the most powerful ward leaders who make up the Vare forces. It is reported that one of these men had a careful can vass made of his ward and found that the Sproul sentiment was over whelming among the voters. With this feeling in mind, •cqupied with the fact that the record primary registration may mean they have a hard fight on their hands to elect their legislative and congressional candidates, the Vare men may well pause before they go into a fight against Sproul's candidacy." —Charges that the State High way department has $19,136,292.71 to its credit and has not engaged in any extensive road building are con tained in a statement Issued by the Sproul campaign Committee in this city. The committee recent ly issued a statement showing that contracts for over a million and a half dollars had been let this year and over a million dollars in the lat ter part of 1917 for sections of high way that were more or less isolat ed. Charges of "patchwork" con struction were made and to-day at tention is called to advertising for bids and rejection without many awards being made. Trimmed to Suit Belgians German wounded*are being sent to Belgium, so that the people at home won't know how many of them there are. Also, it ought to be quite a treat for the Belgians— From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. OUR SOLDIER BOYS The soldier boys are marching. And aA they march along. Let not your hearts be saddened, Try to sing a cheery song. They are going forth to battle, While we must stay at home, Thinking, fraying for them always, While they fight afar, alone. * •Tls hard to see them leave us, But 'tis harder'still I know, For this aged, weary mothers, To see their dear sons go. Then brighten up and cheer them, Smile upon them on their way. If your heart must be heavy, Save It for some other day. Then shout and shout for gladness, The day must surely come, When Old Glory shall win the vic tory, At the setting of the sun. —V. E. H. . Harrlsburg, Pa., May. , 1#1. < HAHRISBURG TEUEGR3tPH THE DAYS OF REAL SPORT BYBRIGGS spangled " <s BANNER.- owr tfa t)v 'pfcKTUU —> "First of all, he's got brains and nerve. By that 1 mean that the aver age intelligence of the American fighter is higher than that of any other nationality, while he won't take oft his hat even to the French or British when it comes to the dis play of nerve. "I know what I'm talking about when I say that our boys will out guess the Huns every time. They have a certain mental Independence that the Hun does not possess, and this is a big factor in real fighting." • Harrisburg police decline to obey the state order to shoot on sight all unlicensed dogs running loose. One cop was nearly mobbed for doing it. But up in Johnsonburg they are not so touch£ aibout it, the weekly paper telling that: "Officers McClintock and Werner had a very busy day, but rather successful, in filling their duties, warring on the dogs. McClln tock disposed of seven and Chief Werner of five. The latter has in vented a new way of conveying them to the disposal point, by attaching a rope to the auto and training them along in the rear. Mr. McClintock killed two on the hillside this morn ing that were chasing rabbits." • • • Coat of tar and feathers applied by workmen of the American Plate Glass Company plant at James City, induced Matt Pokier, Austrian, to become a subscriber for a SIOO bond of the Third Libefty Loan. Ire of the workers was aroused when Pokier refused appeal of solicitors to sub scribe for a bond. When request to buy a t>ond was pressed, the Aus trian stated, "No, the kaiser might 'find it out and give me thai devil." • • • A Pennsylvania editor cautions that now is the time for printers to prime up on how to spell "baccalau reate." Piffle, we say; a good printer can nob only spell that word right off the bat, but he can handle "hemorrhage" without batting an eye. "GRAPEVINES" During the Civil war the "grape vine telegraph" was the under ground railroad of rumor. That Is why Sherman Coates of Philadelphia, a member of the 109 th Machine Oun Battalion, at Camp Hancock, calls his poem "Grape vines." "The air's as full of rumors as our dinner is of Band ; , We hear four new ones dally and they spread to beat the band; And every one is said to be the very latest dope As Issued by the President—or Pershing—or the pope. "Some brilliant thinker says that Pershing wants a few more boys, And fifteen minutes later wo be gin to hear the noise— "The regiment is ordered to report in France today, It's absolutely true, {because I heard the sergeant say t " 'That thirty shirts, four overcoats and thirteen pairs of pants' Were ordered for the army; so of course We're oft to France. I'll bet a canteen check, three poker chips, a three-cent staihp We'll soon be closing portholes to keep out the briny damp ! "We're going to the Philllpines to train the drafted men; We're going down to Panama and coming back again; We're going to be busted up and sent back to the farm; We'll still be here three years from now—the war's a false alarm. "We're going to the border or back up-State on guard; We're needed up in Philly to police the old Fifth ward; Our pay is going to be raised a half a cent a day So we can send a little more to home folks far away ! "We hear the wildest talk* of all the eats we're going to get. Of sugar in our coffee, and per haps we'll get it yet; 'Tis even said they're going to give us firewood for our stoves. And red-hot water shower baths and maybfe white kid gloves. r "There's such a lot of guessing (and a lot of gassing too) That we've not the least idea what in heck we're going to do. So wo just keep <u> believing every thing that hits our ear. And we'll stick by Uncle Sam no here," 1 1 ' I 1,1 THE PEOPLE'S GIRLS' HIGH PRINCIPAL To the Editor of the Telegraph: As the position of principal of the Central High school is declared va cant by the board accepting Pro fessor Dibble's resignation, why not elect a. woman as his successor? In selecting a woman instead of a man as _principal, there is a far bettor chance of getting what is necessary. The desirable women teachers far outnumber of men and what a chance we have now to get, instead of a man of ordinary caliber, a broad-minded, earnest, businesslike woman who could deal with the girls without irritation. This school, I be lieve. is to become a girl's high school, which will compel the board to secure a woman principal. There are very few men who would have the assurance to claim that they could successfully All the. position. On rare occasions it has been done. The chances of doing a world of good to the girls are all on the wo man principal's side. This plan has been successfully tried in other cities and it could succeed in Harris burg. I can't say anything of a wo man principal's relationship to the politician who bosses the board, but I can say the people are going to wake up and get rid of that whole organization. When you think of the relationship of teacher and vour boy or girl, the chance of mak ing or marring their character, then you will grant that the teacher should not be selected because of in fluence and special pull but solely because he can produce the goods. Think of our teachers in comparison with Poose, Miss Woodward, Burns, Edwards, the Tomkinson sisters, Miss Hartman, Miss BlnsKimtn, Miss Gill, Miss Jane Mowry, Gausey whose boy scholars were the envy of all other boys in town and others that you can recall. Does it mean that we haven't that stripe of men and women teachers, or does it mean that that class of people doesn't care to teach in Harrisburg? What did a young lady mean when being asked if she intended to teach in Harris burg, replied: Not in Harrisburg or Pennsylvania if possible to teach any other place. I think it is generally understood that graduates of our Harrisburg training 1 school always have the preference In being select ed to fill a vacancy over any grad-J SPROUL AT HOME [Philadelphia Press] Senator Sproul as a public man is well known to the people of Penn sylvania. He has been in the lime light for many years and his opin ions and convictions on the impor tant questions that have Interested and divided the people of the state are the most part on public record. And he is well worthy of their support. A strong, clean man of independent leanings, a national Re publican by strong conviction, he has made an honorable recard in his public career and will make an excellent Governor of his native state if the Republicans of Penn sylvania have the wisdom to place him in nomination at the coming primary. We have had some rather poor Governess lately but should Senator Sproul be noVninated and chosen to that station, there will be nothing to explain or cover up or apologize for. • That he is a man of high in tegrity and keen sense of honor, no one has ever questioned. It will be a relief to have such a man as Chief Executive of the state and all Re publicans should come out at the next primary and make his nomi nation sure. A Remarkable Jewel. It is announced that one of the most remarkable jewels in existence has been given by Lady Byron, D. B. E., for the Red Cross Fund. It is a beautiful cat's eye, four inches in circumference, set round with twelve large square diamonds of the fliiest quality, and there are ear rings to match. Lady Byron, who was one of the first five ladles to be honored by being made a Dame Commander of the new order of the British Empire, was the donor and administratrix of the first Rest Home for War Nurses. Profit and Loss Our mathematical artist has fig ured out that every discharge of the 75-mile gun at a cost of $5,000, kills on an average one French mother and child by shell fire and a dozen German mothers and children -by starvation.—From the New York Evening Post, uate from other schools and colleges. This means in the judgment of our school officials the products of one feminine brain is far better than the broad culturo acquired in com ing in contact with thirty to fifty teachers In the different training schools. That condition, combined with the school system bossed by George Mcllhenny is enough to give our schools the reputation they en joy. Wouldn't it be fine if the men and women of Harrisburg would take the bit in their teeth and run oft with the idea of a capable woman for principal of the girls' high school —for there are capable women to be gotten for the seeking. J. H. FAGER. HIGH RENT COMPLAINTS To the Editor of the Telegraph: In reference to the recent agitation of the raising of rents throughout Harrisburg, which is in the course of thorough investigation by this board, may I not write your paper with a view of receiving your co operation in explaining to the general public just what methods they should pursue in the matter of filing com plaints for investigation. During the past few days innumer able telephone calls have come to my office on this subject and while it is my purpose to cheerfully ad vance any information which might be of benefit to all parties concern ed, I am constrained to suggest that all complaints hereafter be put in writing form in order that each and every one may be duly considered by the board, as well as by the co-opera tive committee to be appointed by Mayor Kelster. Another reason why I request this procedure is owing to the confusion involved in talking over the telephone. In this connection, all tenants should bear In mind the necessity of duly signing the letters they file as the board has taken the stand that anonymous communications—as well as those signed "Dissatisfied Tenant," etc., will not be recognized. As the next regular meeting of the board will take place next Monday evening, the 13th., it would be well for all complaints to be forwarded before that time. Sincerely yours, STANLEY G. BACKENSTOSS, Secretary of the Board. THE SUPREME COURT [Philadelphia Inquirer] With two vacancies on the Su preme Court bench to be filled this fall, due to the deaths of Associ ate Justices William P. Potter and S. Leslie Mestrezat, in addition to the naming of a successor to Judge William D. Porter of the Superior Court, the bar and the judiciary tf Pennsylvania will have an unusual interest in the November election. Under the provisions of the Con stitution when there are two candi dates for the Supreme Court to be chosen at any election each voter is entitled to vote for but one candi date. Under the old form of nomina tions, by state conventions, this would mean that there would be one Republican and one Demo crat elected. With the abolition of the state conventions in the adoption'of the uniform primary system and the creation of the non partisan ballot for the nomination and election of judges, party repre sentation on the bench became a thing of the past in Pennsylvania. Governor Brumbaugh has power to fill both vacancies on the Supreme bench by appointment, his appoin tees holding office until January next when the candidates elected in November will be sworn in as th9lr successors. Unofficial interpreta tions of the Constitutional provi sions and legislative enactments are to the effect that It i 3 too late for names to be put upon the ballot for the primary election on May 21 n9xt, but that as many candidates as may care to enter the race can have their names printed upon the non-parti san ballot for the November elec tion. This may be done by peti tion to the Secretary of the Com monwealth as nominations are made for the primary ballot. There may be a ruling by the Attorney Gener al, which may have to be passed upon by the Supreme Court before any nominations shall be received, however. A Doubtful Enterprise Those big pugilists who are con templating staging an alleged fight on July 4 may find themselves be fore that time included In the gov ernment's classification of those en gaged In useless or harmful occupa tions.—From tbe Louisville Post. MAY 6, 1918. LET US HAVE FACTS It has long been recognized that nothing upsets business so much as uncertainty. While this princi ple has generally been repeated in reference to manufacturing and com merce it is also true with regard to agriculture, and never was thore a period of greater uncertainty than now. We have no wish to accentu ate that feeling now, but we do wish to protest against a continuation of unwise rulings and the publication of misinforming opinion and mis leading figures. There is altogeth er too much being given out that is not founded upon facts. Fore casts, estimates and reports too of ten prove to be the result of poor guesses rather than ascertained facts. We feel sure that it would be possible to gather more correct information in relation to agricul ture than much that is afloat, but if not, then none at all would be preferable to error. At this time, when so much depends upon con serving every particle of material and very ounce of enerjjy, the nation cannot afford to depend upon guess work and speculation as a basis for its activities. —Pennsylvania Farmer. Bonds or Fine A Chicago judge has struck a new note of patriotic duty. There were a number of men before him charged with speeding and other violation of the traffic law, so he gave the ac cused the choice of buying a Liberty bond or paying heavy fines. The prisoners in nearly 6very case chose the bond route of escape from their tolls. The bailiff who had charge of the sales booth in the Judge's an te-chamber reported $3,000 bonds sold that day. The state's attorney remarked, "it's the first good I've known to result from speeding." It does seem a very proper use of the judicial prerogative. Let the good work go on. —From Ohio State Journal. OUR DAILY LAUGH A WOMAN'S M < Hubby—l was K. in six different i I^^ sales rooms to- ~J~I — day looking at Wifey Did >* s= r™7 \* 1 you get I \_Zj A—H ramplas? Hwm | POOR THING. Baseball—Ha, ha, Mr. Football tl'll get a good rest now while you get kicked aroundl * SHARP AND I* TO THE W A g? PPINT. S /A, Yf Hammer —Mr. i Jjp Tack Is a witt* Screwdriver— Yes, his re- \jk marks are so vory pointed. FINH. AlfVi Of all AM) 0t mo<ler ' T^lt ' finest Etentng (Mptl Estimate* made by man inter ested In the food consecration move ment "'in Harrisburg are that there are between 2,600 and i,OOO "war gardens" In this city and lta Imme diate environs, without oonntlnr In Steelton: which has hundreds of Its own. Donald McCormlck, the fed eral food administrator for Dauphin county, made a recent tour of In spection of the public plots and was , surprised at the number of gardens on vacant lots, while reports made by wards have shown many gardens in backyards and even some in front yards. Last year people in Harris burg were astonished at the manner In which the "war garden" flour ished, but this year there has been a notable increase in interest and In plots. Shirley B. Watts, who is In ■*) charge of the supervision of the gar dens on ground donated through the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce, which did the plowing and fertiliz ing, has about 650 lots on his list, which have sust been assigned and which will be industriously culti vated, while John P. Guyer, who is in charge of such work for the Har risburg Benevolent Association, has about 340 on his list. There are many plots which are handled by men who go direct from their work to the garden and have their evening meals brought to them, while the number of persons who have lots su Paxtang or up in the Fourteenth ward and even in Cumberland county and go to them in automobiles is in teresting to those who are encourag ing the garden work.' • • • Some experiments in checking loss of soil on hillside farms In Dau phin county, some of them near Harrisburg, are to b© undertaken by state experts. There are a num ber of farms In the section where the soil Is full of shale which have been badly washed and gullies have been formed which have caused much loss of valuable soil. Plans suggested at the Capitol will foe tried out and reports made on the various systems. The loss of soil la reported by farm agents, to be grow ing in many counties because of lack of care. • • ■ One thing that the "war garden ers" and truck patch owners can be thankful for this spring is that there is an unusual number of Insect-eat ing birds such as robins and blue birds about. The late spring prob ably caused more than usual to lin ger in the Susquehanna valley, but the fact remains that not for years have as many robins been seen atbout the city. The parks have numerous redbreasts and in tha suburbs and outlying districts, where the "war garden' is being developed there are many of the bug-eating variety to be seen. At first many feared that the late April snow would cause heavy loss of life among the valu able birds, but the city seems to have taken good care of Its feathered friends although in the country many were lost through inability to get food. As a result there is no lack and they will prove their worth this summer. On probably a dozen farms within a few miles of Harris burg there are coveys of quail which farmers have watched with jealous eyes and have even protected from sportsmen (because of the work they do in ridding potato patches of the bug which is peculiar to them. • • • One woman lives In Harrisburg who believes she has solved the problem arising out of the* Harris burg railways order to make a charge of a nickel for more than one market basket. This woman has been going with two baskets and when she ran afoul of the extra nickel order she announced that she was going to market with the clothes basket. "How are you going to carry that?" asked a conductor. "One big broad strap and you will wish you had never seen me come along," she replied. "And I hope I don't," was the answer of the conductor. • • • The fact that within the next forty days additional draft calls may be made which will send the number of men summoned under the draft from Pennsylvania over 100,000 has caused considerable speculation what tho population of the state will be shown to be If the war continues into the census year. This state has furnished over 28,000 men through the National Guard and thousands to the regular Army and Navy, ambu lance and other services in war until it Is believed that by July 1 there will be a material drop In number of male residents. State health offi cials some time ago called attention to the increase in marriages during 1917, directly attributed to the war, while the birth rate last year was 27 7 per thousand, a higher rate than for some time. In 1917 the number of living births was almost 2 25,000. The normal increase In population in Pennsylvania in recent years has been aroUnd 135,000. This has been due to labor coming Into the state, immigration, removals to Pennsyl vania and natural causes. The next census •Will be taken within two years. |_ WELL KNOWN PEOPLE —Congressman M. Clyde Kelly, of Allegheny county, wants a commit tee of congressmen to visit the war zone. —Alderman D. J. Lambord, oC Johnstown, has Just sent his five thousandth application for a mar riage license to the Cambria re corder. —Bishop Luther B. Wilson, who* spoke here recently, suffers from a wound he received while observing among soldiers on the, Italian front —The Rev. Dr. Arthur D. Hilton, prominent Pittsburgh clergyman, is home from a tour of the camps. —Dr. Henry VanDyke, minister to the Netherlands, will speak in Pittsburgh colleges this week. —The Rev. Prank E. Jenson Is tha president of the first Rotary Cluh organized In Washington county. —Judge Robert B. McCormick, o< Look Haven, has been holding court at Erie. | DO YOU KNOW —That Harrisburg steel produc tion will be materially incrcnacd in the next month? HISTORIC HARRISBURG Early evangelists used to come tq Harris Ferry to hold services for In-, dians. To Fit the Monarchy Emperor Charles is a Dual Mon arch. all right—From the Brooklyn Eagle. Second the Motion * After pro-Germans hare >in i made to klas the flag, tt ahoM b sent to the laundry.—From. Bfti j ledo Blade
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers