6 ( EgtaMutherf in 187&) Published b* VHK STAR PRINTING COMPANY, ' Btar-lndepe-ident Building. M-20-22 South Third Street, Harrteburg. Pa» ■vary Evening Except Sunday Officer».- / Virect#rt. BMJAMIN F. METERS, JOHN L. L. KUHN. President. WM. W. WALLOW**, _ „ .. Vice President. Wm k «»**■»■ Wv. K MITERS, Secretary and Treasurer. WM. W WALLOW**. WM 11 WARNER, V. HUMMEL BERQHAUS. JR., Business Manager. Editor, All communications should be addressed to STAR-INDSPKNDENT, fiusinesD. Editorial, Job Printing or Circulation Department according to the subject matter. Entered at the Post Office in Harriiburg as second class matter. Benjamin & Kentnor Company, New York and Chicago Representatives New York Office, Brunswick Building. 225 Fifth Avonue. Chicago Office, People's Gas Building, Michigan Avenue. Delivered by carriers at 6 cent a a week. Mailed io subscriber; tor Three Dollars a /ear in advance. THE STAI«^INDEPENDENT The paper with the largest Home Circulation in Harrisburg and ■earby towns. Circulation Examlneo by THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN APVERTISORS. TELEPHONES- BELL Private Branch Exchange. No. 3280 CUMBERLAND VALLEY Prlveto Branch Exchange. - No L 245-246 Thursday, December 10, 1914. DECEMBER Sun. Moil. Tues. Wed. , Thur. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 MOON S PHASES— Full Moon, 2nd; Last Quarter, 10th; New Moon, 10th; First Quarter, 24th. j pP WEATHER FORECASTS , .rfjHjP Harrisburg and vicinity: Unsettled weather to-night and Friday, probably 0 ra ' n or snow. Not much change ' n temperature. * Eastern Pennsylvania: Unsettled to & night and Friday, probably rain or snow. Moderate variable winds. YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE IN HARRISBURG Highest, 34; lowest, 32; 8 a. m., 33; S p. m., 33. I EDISON FIRE THE WORLD'S LOSS The loss in dollars resulting from the great fire that last night wiped out almost the whole of the huge Edison plant in West Orange, N. J., has been roughly estimated at about seven millions. The loss to the world through the great liandieap that the fire neeessarily places on Mr. Edison's powers of invention will be far greater. It will never be possible to estimate it in money values. The Edison plant constituted in itself a marvel of the great inventor's genius. It was designed and built on unique lines that could not have been planned save in the mind of an Edison. Yet it lacked one great essential in modern building methods; —it was not lire-proof. Along with the loss of the buildings went tre mendously valuable mechanisms, largely the fruit of ilr. Edison 's own brain, and, it is likely, a great amount of valuable data that can be restored only by the wizard himself, —if he lives long enough to replace them. With characteristic Edison enterprise and cour age the aged inventor called together the directors of his company while the flames still were devour ing his handiwork and announced that rebuilding will begin at once, —notwithstanding only $2,000,000 of the !|>7.000,000 loss is covered by insurance. However, even if Mr. Edison, who at liis advanced age can at best have but a comparatively few years of active life left to him, devotes all of his remaining energy to his great inventive work, the gigantic task of replacing the plant destroyed last night must first be accomplished before he can again give his time and strength to making fresh discoveries in the region of science. That necessarily means that the world will lose much in the form of new inven tion that might have been forthcoming had the fire not occurred as a handicap upon the work of this great man. Aside from the purely impersonal loss that the world thus sustains, the great personal disappoint ment that must have come to the "Wizard of the * Oranges" will arouse vast sympathy for this won- L derful old man. With characteristic fortitude he already is setting about to rebuild the plant, and a close insight into his unselfish character is given in his statement, made when the fire engines still were pufFing, that he hopes the restoration will provide enough work to prevent his 4,500 employes being thrown out of employment. WHY WE ARE NEUTRAL The more the professors and the poets urge our country to take sides in this war, the more con vinced must we become that our only possible course is neutrality. For when we are being tugged at as persistently on one side as on the other, we can do nothing but remain at a standstill, so far as our prejudices are concerned. The Germans want us to see justification in their actions and the allies are equally eager to have us recognize their virtues. And now, while Herman Kidder is telling us Ave are too much on the side of the English, William Watson comes along and ac cuses us of not being enough so. Ridder wants us to oppose England because we did it in '76 and ought to have no trouble now, he believes, in arousing the enmity anew. Watson, with fourteen lines of rythmic phrases, argues, on the other hand, that we ought to be on the side of jireat Britain because it was our mother country HARRISBURG STAR-INDEPENDENT, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 10, 3914. and we could without difficulty, he holds, rekindle the old love. We learu of these obligations of ours with con flicting emotions; so conflicting in fact that we are just where we were before the rhetoric began to flow, —on the fence, too stunned or, perhaps, too wise to stir. REARRANGEMENT OF SCHOOL GRADES Although the Harrisburg schools have advantages tq gain by an elimination of the "ninth grade, as urged by City Superintendent Downes, even the re sultant arrangement woul(f^aot be an ideal one according to the view of the bureau of education in Washington. j Public schools throughout this country have their courses grouped, as a rule, into eight years of pri mary and grammar school and four years of high school. The bureau advocates a rearrangement into six years of elementary school and six years of high school. The suggestion that so radical a change bp made •n the public schools is not supported by fancy but by logical arguments. The bureau of education gives, apart from minor considerations, two impor tant reasons why boys and girls should enter on a six-year high school course after six years of ele mentary school work. Under the proposed arrangement, in the first place, it is held, the children would get an earlier start in foreign languages, literature, history and elementary science, making their work in tlie|e high school branches more effective. Vocational train ing would likewise be introduced two years earlier. The time spent in the seventh and eighth grades,— and in this city in a ninth grade as well, —is held to be largely a period of marking time. Under present conditions, in the second place, when children finish the eight or nine years of the elementary course, they have reached the end of the compulsory attendance period, and this break be tween grammar school and high school coming at the end of the compulsory period, makes it easy for them to quit school. About three-fourths of them do quit, say statistics, without having received even a taste of high school subjects. The proposed rearrangement of grades would give students two years of high school training before they reach the age when they leave school in such large numbers, and would induce continue in their studies. The time is doubtless approaching when the scheme of education in this country will afford boys and girls, after their first six years with their par ents and teachers, six years of elementary studies, followed by six years of high school work, and some educators go so far as to advise on top of that, six years of really thorough college training. But whether the suggestion for a six-year high school course is accepted or rejected, there are abundant reasons why Harrisburg should cut down the period of schooling by one year; that is, make it twelve years instead of thirteen, as now. We are promised a green Christmas this year. Do your shopping early. « The American people agree with President Wilson in his declaration that this country will take core of itself when the time conies for any action. In the midst of sending things across the water for the relief of starving people, do not forget that we have some of the same kind right here at home! It is reported that the Zeppelins are getting reatlv to drop a few bombs and other souvenirs of regard on London, and Piccadilly and Leister Square are crying "Blawst the bloody things!" After the Pennsylvania Public Service Commission has had its wrestle with the proposed increase in railroad pas senger rates, the Interstate Commerce Commission will take a hand, and if it is as long adjusting matters as it was at arriving at a decision on freight rates, commuters may ex pect to hear something along about A. D. 2,000. TOLD IN LIGHTER VEIN PUZZLED Old Lady—"l've brought back this war map you scjd me yesterday, Mr. Brown. It's not up to date. I've been looking all the morning for Armageddon, and can't find it marked anywhere."—Punch. OVER THE HORIZON Friend —"This is a nice studio you have. Is the rent high?" Artist—"l don't remember."—Cleveland Leader. QUALIFIED "Well, well! did you ever milk before?" "Not exactly, but I've had a good deal of practice with .a fountain pen."—Scribner's. WHAT JONES DID Jones rambled into the village cigar store one evening and in response to a question as to what made him look so wild-ey6d, told of an adventure he had just had. "I was coming through that deep, dark woods down be low Taylor's farm," said Jones in a voice that still pal pitated, "when I saw the dusky forms of two men stealthily crawling through the woods toward me. One of them had a pistol in his hand and the other had—" "Gee whiz!" interjected one of the cigar store crowd. "What in the deuce did you do?" "What did I do?" responded Jones, with some emphasis. "Why I did three miles in just about four minutes!"— Exchange. THEIR RECOMMENDATION Little Bobby Beatem went with his mother to buy a pair of knickerbockers. W r hen he had looked at all the varieties in the store, he was still dissatisfied. "I want that pair in the window," he protested. "These are just exactly like them," assured the clerk; "but if you want that particular pair, I'll get them for you." And he produced them, much to Bobby's satisfaction. They bore a sign which read: "These knickerbockers cannot be beat."—Judge. Hostess (at party)—" Does your mother allow you to have two pieces of pie when you are at home, Willie?" Willie (who has asked for a second piece)—"No, ma'am." "Well, do you think she'd like you to have two pieces heref" "Oh," confidently, "she wouldn't care. This isn't her pie!"— Louisville Times. Hundreds Upon Hundreds of Worthy Gift Articles That WiH Appeal to Your Taste and Your Purse VA:J a store merited the public's consideration of its wares by reason of variety, Yyp, quality and economy-pricing, this store deserves it at this Christmas season. Counters in ever y department fairly groan with their burdens of serviceable and joy-bringing gift suggestions. Come and see, if only to wander through the store and feast your eyes upon the wonderful collection of attractions that has been provided. Gift Articles in Holiday Handkerchiefs Box Stationery, Keady to Wear « T „ ' v . i.adien* Fi«n n sncque-. 95c Never Have We Shown Such a Pretty Lot at Such Amas Cards, Ladle*' Percale Walata, 25c T „ Ladiea' Mercerised Sntln Skirt* In J-lUW xlltcS I n Kpln 17 f Color*. Special price* dUCiai > Ladle*' Flannelette Skirt*, 25c uajllea Handkerchief*: plain and em- Children'* Handkerchief*: plain mid I.miles' Gaiter*, 2T»o . A r , I? or \° . embroidered i each 3e, 2 for 5c Fancy Ho* Stationery: *pecial value. Knitted Scarf*. 25c Ladle* l Handkerchief*s apeclal aa- Children** Box Handkerchief*, 10c 10c, 15c and 25c Faadnatora. 25c _ ""ftmentj each. 10c t 3 for 25c nnd 15c ■»i fl i»» wi.i* u «■ 1(k . Children'* Wool Toque*, 25e Ladle** Fine Hnndkerchlefa with Men'* White and Colored llordcr PI "J» Bo* Stationery, 10c an«l Children'* l?rea*ea. 25c _ embroidered corner*, 12He Handkcrchlcfas each sc, 0 for 25c k Children'* Uompera. 25c Ladiea' Handkerchlefa: high cln** Men'* White and Colored llorder Celebrated Pineapple Linen Box Sta llo.v*' Wool Pant*, 25c noveltle*. hand embroidered cor- Handkerchief", each 10c. 3 for 25c tlonery In white, blue, lavender and Hoy** Walata, 25c ner*i beautiful ahowing, 25c tlen'a All Linen Handkerchief*, 12Vic, plnki box, 25c . , ' ".'lJrr' A" ''' nrn Handkerchief*. IBe. I»c nnd 25c Pineapple Mnen Correspondence GIoVCS thp I H •' .. ""f.,.?' .. „ Men'* Initial Handkerchief*. all In- Onlx, hm 2.1r VJIUVCB IIIC lUUSI l.adle*' Crepe dp thine Hnndkcr- Itlal*. !2U r und 2Bc .. „,, „ „ chief*, two apeclal qualltle*, all All Silk Handkerchief* In „i„i n i,„- * B "° s White Holly Rons, So, ,ic, Sr. serviceable Gift letter. i 2 %c n n,i y... ~e ~ d i.m.r " or - ,o - »*<• "SIT** B Gift Articles in the Useful Gifts in the ' T ""' Household De- Dry Goods De- =£££=;=_ »-* Wool Glove* and Mitten* for the Dartllieilt DartlTlent Red and Green Cord Hall, Be Children nnd Baby, all color*, 10c , D ... seu""w"t7r Beautiful Neckwear Christmas Ribbons PH\.i!,7«* m i;«. JtJ' < he.**, per<«ie*. tWht Umi . . Galore «<»«■*»«' ' ?."i k „' 'o^ 4 >'*,%ir, ln whi"e for Gift Giving: VJaiUIC Cut Cilnx* Vlncvnr C ruets. Cren.n w JI, „j « ' I ~"' ~1 Sntln and Tnlfcta Ribbon*, all Set*, etc., at apeclal price*. ette*. Mercerised T»hU nnmn«lT in PvplllQllfo "NTmrnl+i'ae width*. In all c«»lora to match fancy Chlnnware la Salad HlNbe*. Spoon Linen Tnl»le Umii iNk IHIInw r JIIXCIUSIV6 JNOV6IOIGS, work | complete anNortuient in five Tray*. Smoking Set*, Sugar* and P|M , Rolater Cna'e* ' n»«i all bnYpH wi+llAllf ovfrQ different qtialltle*. Cream*. Va*e*. Cup* and Saucer*. „„" k a > WlinOUt eXTTa Fancy Rlbhoaa In different dealgn* Celery Dl*lie*. Berry Seta. Aah Traya, etc.. * Neta. pjioro'p and widfha for hair howa and fan-S Etc. Prlcea atart at 5c *"■ ■ *» r n . „ pnn , i ... Ulal^C, cy work. 20c and 25c Roaating Pana. Berlin Kettle*. u WI IU OPn.AH I RICES Taffeta Hnlr Row Hlbbona, all col- Jelly Moulda, Coffee Pot*, and other r> 1 e A Ifl . Holiday Neckwear la all the aeweat orn, 25c utenNll* needed for the orcparatlon OOOKS TOT J\ I I \ ~n . '"teat atylea; n beautiful a*- Molre Kibbou*. all color*, for beau- of the ClylMtma* fca*t. Prlcea atart "ft „ s !! r 1 nu '" '" r purpoaca. 25c tlfnl hair howa. 20<- nnd 25c at 10c * The re'a ««„d reading ..rovldd t™ Holiday \ e ckwear In collar nnd cuff Raby Ribbon, all colora; yard, le Nut Plcka and Cracker: aet, 25c nil ajrea, voiinz and <»lil (»r H n * *l>celal nricea. Fane, Holly H1.,1,on. 5-yard piece*. Jardiniere* ~,,. l«e and B .V, the "flde*i ll 'ii.nde ™o r"i„"red m'Jw "an 7 r"om" 10c Bread Box. large al*e; apeclal price* voung f«»lka I«\»r Iw.vn „| r , u , , V. .1 ' ttoae 1 om- Fln" Specliil Tnft'ctn Hlbbon, all col- Xmna Crepe Paper Napkin*. «10jr.., 5c children we have nrovliled nil ,"M,,,onN »'"• X,nn* C repe .-..per, ea.h. .-,e and IQo ,v„rk„ of *t!lndar,? " ' "Jik i'-Tea """ "° n,!,n """" « J . T . ""i: pr "' ,er " or< '""•••eKCIi.K Wlndxor Tie*. plHln color* and Gift Suggestions in Jewelry v;:; saj? , a«!t:rsis.;*!Ksr* Tie I'ln*. SSc Hat Pin*, as.- f rom ,0c t„ ric s „ k Mou**ellne Scarf* nil col",. 25c Tie C ln*p*. ar.c ItlnK* for Women nnd Children in ——' - "■ Bracelet*. He plain, hand, Mlicnet. cnineo and 'D 1441 ,. A . .. "1 * f M. . , c c: l Tvu"i:\ n xr* veciau I'ure Candies for Christmas l.ace l'lnn, ale Party Bo*e* at Npeclal iirice*. ~ I.liiritlc C'ln*p*. 2.-, c Headed Hi.r*, 25c * M xture*. C lear Toy* and Hard Candle*; *«veet kl*se., rinlntv Bar Pin*. 25c Jewel Ca*e«, Ssc Ribbon Candle*, lb., 10c .. . . ' , I Beauty Pin*, 25c Gold l<"lni*h Bend*. 25c I ni'Ke A**ortuient of Plain nnd etc 11, 2,.,i in- . nl ... M ' -'J' Shoe Tree*, ribbon trimmed, 25c cake*. 2lte nnc Soap Boxe*. lOf und 25c Sateen CiiMhlon*. all color*. 25c rfpttv /\ nrnne t/vf Haml Mirror*. 25c Toilet Article* In Old Ivory Flnl*h. Crochet 11«... , . rreiiy rvpiuils> lUI Military llr U *bc*. 25c Including tray*. 25c ' price* Slipper., .pedal . . - Buffer*. 25c I IT Vina Nnll File* and Cuticle*. 25c , Buttonera, 25c Throw*: apeclal prlcea. l.adle*' Hound and Square Apron*, WlllllllCl y !y rv I'!",'"!' h '"' Horns. Crochet Hnnil Horn and Kmbroldery ..f line .Hivn trl-nme.l with Ivory Flnl*h Soap lloxe*, 25c Sample*; one-third oir. broidery and' lace I lar K c a**ort- H U Heductlon on I.ad le*'. M!*«e.' Ivory Flnl.b Powder Box and Hair Drawn Work Scarf* Pillow Sham* meat 25c Children** Hat* Receiver, Aic nnd Stand ( overa, 50c value. 25c l.adle*''Souarc Vpron* for Waltre**- Trlmmlnß at Ki'catly reduced Ivory Flnl*h Hand Mirror*. 25c Hand Crochet nnd IlatlenburK dol | £r. ; l" 5 - " ;:r "" ii™ "r,:::,- «• - Glngliaui Aprona, large variety of —»<• PfilPf'i 1 fl H atylea, 12V.1C, 15c. I»c and 25c _ m 1 _ x laLllLai "11U Bungalow A proa*, 25c Toys—Dolls—Games—More Than Ever Dainty Gifts for Hosiery—the Gift This Year and No Advance in Bab y t Knitted Bootee*, 10c, 1.5 c, 10c and au Appreciate the Prices—Second Floor Front l.adle** Black Ufle Ho*e. 12V 2 c Flanaelette Sklrt* 25c Ladle*' Silk Boot lloxe; black, while TOYS ANI) GAMES of other* too uumerou* to mention. shoe* and Moccaaln*. 25c and tan, 25c There'* hardly a game, old or new, at price* rungtng from 10c to 25c Rattle*. lOc aad 25c' l.adle*' Wool and Fleece l.lned llone, that'* not to be found In our ahow- Teeth lag Ring*. 5c nnd 10c 25c Ing of toy*. From the checker board Comb and BruMh Set*. 25c I !;, I !J"'".''' "''" V'" 1 ' rnn to tl "' ''r" l - 1 ~° "vl ,he " ,nK . e iH »"r line of Doll* 1* enpecinlly Special lot of Noveltle* for baby, 25c Children* Black, lau nnd White complete. Including Rope To**. Lot- .. .... Rnhv lllrtli licit.Ls Ho*e, 12V,c to. Soldier Nine I'ln*. Paint*, Horn*. " orth > ot There are Dre**- ««o^*- t hlldren'* I'laln aad Silk LIMIC Hone, Dominoe*. Block*. Mechanical Toy*, Doll*, liid Body Doll*. Rag Doll* Hahy I'latca, 25c ' Black, Tan and White, 2r»c Stovea, t'aah Rcglater*, nn d C elluloid Holl* iu wide variety Baby Spoon*, 25c Infant*' Hoae, 10c to 25c I'lanoa, Picture PaillM and hundred* n t 25c or lea*. Baby Knife and Fork Set*, 25c A Practical Gift 1c to 25c Department Store f Framed I Mew Lot of Cor*et Cover*, lace and T)I g~\ 4- 1 f 4*/~y Complete »tock of BraaNier«'*, Where Every Day Is Bargain Day lUreS Combination MUt-, Prince** Slip., A complete line of framed plc- GownNi etc., all n*eful article* at our turc*. H ll new subject.. Special, 25c popular price*. 215 Market Street opp. Court House — f "» | Tongue-End Topics j Ben. Focht's Batting Average Ben. K. Focht, of Lewisburg, Con gressman-elect from the Seventeenth or Shoestring district, was in the city this week attending a meeting of the State Water Supply Commission. There are eight counties in Mr. Foc.ht's district, and he traveled all of them during his campaign, doing some of his traveling on foot. He wore out three pairs of shoes and reduced his weight consider ably, but he is none the less jolly for that. '' I believe my 'batting average in the political game is about as good, if not better, than that of any other candi date for office in the State," said Mr. Focht. "I have been a candidate twenty-one times and have nineteen wins to my credit—twenty-one times at bat and nineteen hits." This is an average of .949, or far greater even than Ty Cobb or Hans Wagner. Having signed up to play in the Congressional League for the next two years, Mr. Focht has already an nounced his intention of going to the bat again iu 1916. * * * Maurer Wants Short Session James H. Maurer, State Representa tive-elect from Heading, the First Berks district, is the only Socialist ever elected to the Pennsylvania Legis lature. He served in «thc session of 1911 and then met with defeat, but he went after the place again this year and landed it. Mr. Maurer was here this week as president of the Federa tion of Labor, presiding over the dis trict conference on legislation. He says he will be delighted with a short ses sion of the Legislature, provided it carries out the legislation demanded by the labor interests. He is dead set against the long-winded oratory that characterized the session of 1913. New Lawmaker Wants Front Seat Much amusement was created at the Capitol the other day over the actions of a new member of the House, who had never before been in legislative halls. He came here, he said, to select the seat he wishes to occupy during the session, and he told I>ale Meals, the as sistant to Resident Clerk Leib, that he thought a front seat would be about his size. "You see," said he, "i propose to make a number of speeches on ques tions that will come up, and 1 want a seat where I can be seeto and heard— a conspicuous seat, in fact, for I •will be very active.'' He was told that the Resident Clerk would assign the seats, under the pres ent rules, just us soon as the Repre sentatives had handed in their names. The chances are that he will be in the back row among the "rail birds." But a great deal of eloquence will go to seed. • * • One of the Fighting McCalls Lieutenant William McCall, of Lew isburg, a veteran of the Spanish- American war, serving with a Pennsyl vania regiment, was in Harrisburg this week. Lieutensnt McCall comes from the family of fighting Mo Calls, the most eminent of whom was General William F. McCall, who went into the Union army as a private of the Fifth Pennsylvania reserves anil served dur ing the entire war, coming out of the army as a brevet brigadier general. General McCall afterward joined the regular army and was one of the famous band of one hundred under Lieutenant Beecher who stood off a thousand Nez Perces Indians under Chief Roman Nose on a small island in the Snake river in the far West. The story of that fight, as told by General Alexan der Forsyth, is one of the most thrilling narratives of border Indian warfare. Affable Folks * ''Boston people are mig'hty nice to Gladly Make It So SjT IIAT * s our s * an d' u f? offer on whatever you WSBIMMr us - warrant, every article to be mijW exactly as represented, if it proves otherwise we'll gladly " make-it good," either in exchange of goods or the cash. A reputation of almost half a century stands back of every statement we make. Can you think of a safer basis on which you can make your holiday purchases in Diamonds, Jewelry, Watches, Clocks, Silverwarej>nd Cut Glass? Special Values During Fare Refunding Week *75 DIAMOND RISiOS, with white diamonds of richest brilliancy—l-1 karat gold mountings —either ladies' or Rents'; special at xuo *SO I.ADIKN* OK