6 Oil* &iar-3nb*jjntimt < BUahiuAnl i% JS7S) PtibH? TUB ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN ADVBRTIB2BS. V TEL CP HONES' BELL Privata Branch Ba.h.a*. - - PHvata Branch Bsebawga. ..... No. 845-246 Monday. April 2«, 1915. APRIL Bun. Mon. Tues. Wed. Thar. Fri. Sat. 1 2 3 •4567 8 9 10 * 'll 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 MOON'S PHASES— \ Last Quarter, 6th; New Moon, 14th; Fiist Quarter, 23nd; Full Moon, 29th. WEATHER FORECASTS f v y Harrisburg and vicinity: Fair, eon tinued warm to-night and Tuesday. , r ,. Eastern Pennsylvania: Fair to-night r and Tuesday, warmer to-night in south east portion. Light variable winds. C YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE IN HARRIBRURQ Highest, 93; lowest, 59; 8 a. m., 62; 8 p. m., 84. UNCLE SAM AS RAILROAD OWNER Now that President WiUon has decided upon a route for the government railroad in Alaska and the Alaskan Engineering Commission is on its way to the territory covered by that route, the actual con struction of the road mv be expected soon to start. As the greatest material achievement of the present administration the building of the railroad, or rather the extension and improvement of an exist ing road taken over by the government, is going to be something worth watcfung. The construction of the Alaska railroad will be a government feat in some respects second only in importance to the digging of the "'big ditch." The entire cost is expected to be about $30,000,000, including the purchase price of the Alaska Northern Railway which is to pass from private to govern ment ownership. The investment promises to be a wise one, since there is vast wealth to be obtained in the interior of Alaska, the land for which the UnHed States paid Russia $7.200,000.—1e5s than one-fourth of the probable cost of the new railroad. This country can well afford to be somewhat ex travagant in its efforts to develop the interior re sources of a rich territory which it got at such a bargain. It has delayed only too long in making needed expenditure to investigate its possession and to find out how really precious a prize Russia per mitted to slip away from her at the time when $7,200,000 looked bigger to her than did Alaska. The extension of the Alaska railroad will be this government's first great undertaking in ownership and operation of railways. There is the Panama line, of course, but it is so much a part of the canal that its management can hardly be considered sep arately from the operation of that waterway. The results of the government's experiment in the north west territory will do much to shape the opinions of government officials, railway officials and the general public at a time when the matter of govern ment ownership is receiving extensive considera tion. BACKYARD GARDENERS BUSY The backyard gardeners are among the busiest of mortals these days. Their industry is not to be 6coffed at. but to be respected. They are making two onions grow where none grew before. All per sons who are thus adding to the wealth of the nation, whether they are producing onions or other hseful food, deserve success in their undertakings. Backyard gardens exist in great numbers in all parts of this city. If they were counted their total would no doubt be surprising as would the aggre gate value, if known, of the food which they will yield. Harrisburg's cultivated backyards will pro duce for the tables of its thrifty gardeners vege tables which will be earlier, fresher and cheaper than those which market stalls will offer. The labor of the gardeners must be considered, it would seem, if fair estimates are to be made of the profits of the business. That labor, however, is largely pleasureable recreation and in itself profit. Gardening provides needed diversion for many of those individuals classed as "tired business men" and for men of various professions and trades who also get tired from time to time. There is healthful exercise for city men in small scale tilling of the soil which puts the value of the labor, if that value*' is to be considered at all, on the side of the assets rather than of the liabilities. The backyard gardener has many advantages over the professional farmer. His acreage is not nearly so great since he is not even attempting to HASFJSBT7RG STAR-INDEPENDENT. MONDAY EVENING. APRIL 26, 1915. supply all the needs of his own family, let alone supplying those of other families. Farming is for him merely a side-line, and he does not engage in it with sweat on his brow, unless he happens to perspire very easily indeed! He labors usually in the twilight, proceeds not too hurriedly, and quits when he feels liks it. The backyard gardener is likely to get much exhilaratiou out of agriculture that the plodding farmer misses. JUNGLELLFE FOR CRIMINALS An explorer who plans to leave Philadelphia in several months for the jungles of South America, where he expacta to find a number of unlisted rivers ■ and much valuable timber land, wants as a com panion in peril a criminal who has served some time in a penitentiary and is about to be discharged. He says he took along a stnrdy eollefe student on . a former expedition, but was forced to confront danger unaided when it came* and to protect the frightened young fellow besides. Consequently he wants a hardened criminal for his partner in his next hazardous undertaking,—one who is afraid of neither man nor beast. There are many different kinds of criminals, how ever. and not all would be fitted for jungle explora tion. The sneak thieves who pick pockets and snatch purses and then run for all they are worth would not be of much account where there are jaguars and boa constrictors to be dealt with. Bank rob bers might be more to the purpose. A very desper ate fellow of this class could no doubt do much to make life miserable for wild animals with which he might come in contact. 'There is no other place where society might rather wish incurable criminals to be than the jungles of South America unless it be the interior of Africa or the other of the polar regions. In civilized lands where wealth is, there is always temptation for the thieves. In the wilds of South Africa there is none. If there is any wealth there to be had, it belongs to whoever is able to take pos session of it and what is more, to get away with it to the centers of popufttion where it is appreciated. The pity is that opportunity is at present offered for but one criminal out of so many to benefit society and himself by going to the Sbuth American jungles to live. The impression would be a mistaken one, of course, that only hardened criminals have the nec essary courage to face the perils of the jungles. There is perhaps no finer example of bravery in South American exploration than that exhibited by Darwin, one of the world's greatest of thinkers. At the time when he was in the Argentina, sur rounded by Indians who had no pity on any whites whom they captured, the author of "The Journal of the Voyage of the Beagle" penetrated into re gions where even the Gauches would not go, and faced perils innumerable. It would be difficult to conceive of a second Darwin coming forth from the cell of a penitentiiary. It require many "separate" peaces to make one general peace. With the mercury in the nineties in April we are pre maturely reminded of the expenses of next summer's vacation. Wilson does remarkably well as President considering the handicap some of his Cabinet officers place on the admin istration. Does t'ntermyer's stepping in as counsel for the Govern ment in the MeAdoo-Williams-Riggs bank controversy fore shadow Brandeis' stepping out! The breaking of the intercollegiate record for hurling the javelin will hardly serve to encourage the revival of that sort of weapon in modern warfare. TOLD IN LIGHTER VEIN SWELL FAMILY "That man made his money in inflated values." "I suppose that is why his family consider themselves so swell."—Exchange. SATISFIES BOTH Women's skirts promise to be almost as wide as the grins of the satisfied cloth manufacturers.—Pittsburgh Gazette-Times. STRATEGY "Why does the Senator keep talking in tha* rambling way? I don't know what he's aiming at; do you?" "Sure I do. He's filibustering to keep his daughter from singing."—Puck. QUITE A PARTY The ladies present were the elite of our town. Supreme ladyship and sparkling refinement was the glowing, soul stirring sentiment of all present. This brilliant entertain ment proved a •charming success.—Prescott (Ont.) Journal. THE WISER WAY The United States still continues to proceed on the wise theory that it is better to be unpopular and neutral than popular and shot-up.—Chicago Herald. POLITICAL WISDOM Mrs. Knicker —"How do you get money out of your husband?" Mrs. Knocker—"Any way except a direct tax levy." —>"ew York Sun. HE KNEW "You are charged with giving assistance to the enemy." "How so?" "They have your automobile." "They took it forcibly. Besides, it won't assist them any."—Pittsburgh Post. JUST LIKE THE SHOW "Why do you call these vaudeville strawberries?" asked the amateur gardener. "They come in two sizes.' replied the salesman; "top 'liners to attraet attention and smaller ones trailing along to provide the actual entertainment."—Washington Star. MODERN SANITATION "That landlord is certainly an enterprising feller." "How now?" "He has installed outside roller towels that »un the full length of a three-story hotel. Gnests on every floor can lean out of the windows and wipe their hands." "But why have the towels outside!" "Oh, that's so the rain can wash '«m."—Kansas City Journal. RASH DISFIGURED i FACEJCCK, ARMS: And Hands.' Would Get Red and ' Sting and. Burn So Could Not < Sleep. Used Cuticura Soap and i Ointment. Healed in 4 Months. 1131 Parrish St.. Philadelphia. Pa.—"My akin brak* out In a rash. The parts affected j I were my faca, neck, arms and hand*. They , . would red and would | atinc and burn so I could not ft sleep nights. Afterwards they Ml <*ek would Itch so I could hardly \L F stand It. The breaking out 1 I disfigured me. "I used Soap and Ointment, Cream of Tartar, \\Va alao Soap and found them unsatisfactory.' I had the trouble four years before I used Cuticura Soap and Ointment. I found relief la three ' weeks. First I would wash with the Soap, | then dry lightly and apply the Ointment, leave It on Are or six minute* and wash it off with the Soap again. I would leave the Ointment on my hands and arms all night with a pair of loose glovte. I was entirely baaled In four months." (Signed) William B. Brooke, October 37, 1014. Sample Each Free by Mall With 33-p. Skin Book on the treatment of the skin and scalp. Addrees post-card "Cuticura, Dept. T, Boston." Sold throughout the world. [Tong End Top ICS || Miss Phipps Crlticiies Government War work for women in England has its official limitations, since the Home Secretary refuses to grant licenses to womeu who have successfully passed the examinations required of drivers of motor vehicles. The reason the Home Secretary gave to the jyplieants was the public's alleged lack of confidence in women drivers. "Could he not leave the public to decide that!" asked Miss Phipps, pres ident of the National Federation of Women Teachers, in an address before that body in London. Miss I'hipps aired other grievances against the gov ernment, in which she had the sympathy of the teachers. The legislation clos ing the liquo r houses to women until 11.30 a. m. and not to the men was based on the lie, she said, that most of the drinking was done by soldiers' wives. This she considered a deadly in sult to the women. Discrimination in the matter of wages existed in the fac tories furnishing munitions of war, she charged, as men received mofe pay than the women for equivalent work. In stead of putting children into the har vest fields next summer, Miss Phipps proposed that the stronger and better nourished boys from Eton and Harrow and the other great schools be set at this work. • * • Women Porters in England The woman baggage porter has made her appearance in tho Marylebone rail way station. For some time women have been employed cleaning the rail way coaches, but now they take their place with the nun to carry bags or roll trunks on hand trucks to and from the tarins and the taxis. Their insignia is a metal arm badge, like the men's. As a rule the women porters look mainly after women travelers. The only privi lege they exact over the men is their afternoon cup of tea. The women are ' now quite as well up on the time tables as the men, and can pocket tips with equal adeptness. • . • Making Sacks Instead of Sock: Bags of ligtit cotton cloth roughly stitched together with fine thread have been received in great numbers by re lief committees in London from wom en who think these flimsy contrivances will answer the purpose of sand-bag protection for the soldiers at the front. Miss M. L. Tyler, head of a committee ■ collecting these disclosed the extent of this wasted effort in a warn ing to women that the sand bags the soldiers need must be made of jute or some heavy material and that the sewing must be done by string instead | of thread. Sand bags arc not only the best bullet stoppers, but the easiest and | quickest means of making protection, j An urgent call for them as life savers has been made by officers at the front. The result is sack making is fast taking the place of muffler and sock knitting among patriotic women. • • * "Suffragette" Resumes Publication The "Suffragette," the weekly or gan of the Woman's Social and Polit ical Union, in London, which was sus pended on the outbreak of the war, is making its reappearance. It is edited by Miss Christabel Pankhurst, who has just returned from the United States. For the present, the journal will deal with the women "a side of the war situ ation. • * • The Depopulation of France Paul Descombes, discussing the pro gressive depopulation of France, gives some statistics to show that the thin ning of the woods and forests is largely responsible. There are thirty-one French departments that are more or less mountainous. These now have 8,094,940 inhabitants. If the old rate of increase had been maintained their population now wonld be 11,596,366. Monsieur Descombes points out that the , mountainous regions of Switzerland, which should not be any legs favorable to repopulation than the mountainous regions of France, show an increase of more than 50 per cent, in population during the last 60 years, and he attrib i utes it to the that forest protec tion in Switzerland is far more rigorous than in France. v * • * Plan to Beiieve the Censors In order to relieve the hard-worked censor, soldiers writing letters home from the front are now being put on their honor as to the content* of their missives. A special envelope haa been issued to the troope in the fighting lThe for this purpose It is green in color anil headed, 'On Vetive Service." On the flap is this declaration, which must be signed by the writer: "I certify on my honor that the con tents of this letter refer to nothing but private aud family matter*." * • * Kaiser Wilhelm'a "Double" Captain Weihe, of the German nnvv, has been arrested in San Reran on charges of espionage. Weihe is said to ' be the absolute double of the German Emperor, and it is reported that he has been charged with impersonating the Emperor in reviewing or addressing troops or civic bodies ou several occa sions. . SAFffI^FIRST (UNDER AN ARRANGEMENT WITH THK DEPARTMENT OK LABOR AND INDUSTRY THE STAR-INDEPENDENT PRINTS EACH MONDAY A PRACTICAL. ARTICLE BEARING ON THK "SAFETY FIRST" MOVEMENT OR KINDRED SUBJECTS. PREPARED BY THAI BRANCH OK THE STATE GOVERN MENT, OK WHICH COMMISSIONER JOHN PRICE JACKSON IS THE HEAD.) DANGERS FROM INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS Inspections made throughout the State by inspectors of the Department of Labor and Industry reveal the fact that persons who use benzine, gasoline or other easily inflammable liquids do not exercise the amount of care neces sary in handling this material. The vapor from material of this nature is readily inflammable, and, under certain conditions, highly explosive. Au opeu flame, a spark or any object heated to incandescence will immediately ignite vapor of this kind. This Hart, however, seems to be lost sight of by many peo ple who constantly handle inflammable liquids. On numerous occasions when inspec tors have visited garages, cleaning es tablishments or factories where these liquids are uned for cleaning or other purposes, they have found open cans of these materials placed in very prom inent positions, on work benches, un der work benches, in corners, and, in fact, anywhere it was convenient to place these receptacle*. In the majority of cases a close examination in the vicinity of these cans will reveal the presence of burnt match sticks, cigar ette or cigar butts, or other evidences that an open flame or tire of some kind lias been iu dangerous proximity to these receptacles. That this material has not become ignited seems to have been due only to an especial act of Providence, and not to any care or at tention on the part of the user. It has often been noted that fires in garages have, in many instances, oc curred a short time after persons have quit work, either for the day, or when they left temporarily for meals. It is common belief that, in some of theie cases, fires may have been started by a match stick with which they\ had lighted their cigar, cigarette or pipe, and which they then had carelessly and hurriedly thrown away, thinking it had been completely extinguished. All establishments that use danger ous and high inflammable material of this kind should keep their supply in safety cans, which would not permit their inflammable and explosive vapors to be given off. They should also al low no appreciable amount of liquids of this kind to be kept on the prem ises. If it is necessary to purchase a large quantity, it should be stored in au underground tauk located outside of the building, and only as much as is necessary for the daily operation should be drawn off into safety cans. All of this material should be removed at night from the building, and again placed iu the storage tank or in some outside storage place. Within the last two months, five men have been killed in this State as a result of explosions caused by the ignition of benzine vapor; so that the danger is one which should be guard ed against at all times. The Department of Labor and In dustry has been endeavoring to safe guard employers and employes from this danger by suggesting the uee of safety cans wherever material of this kind "is used. The department, accord ingly suggests that employes and em ployers give careful attention to this matter, and urges them not to wait until they have had a dangerous fire or explosion before providing these safe containers. It also recommended that only small quantities of gasoline or benzine, sufficient for immediate use, be taken into buildings where em- GERMAN EMBASSY'S NEW HOME NEAR SEA * n SUMMER HOME OF THt GERMAN EMBASSY AT CCOARHURST ~L?T W Here is the new summer home of the German Emoassy at Cedarhurst, L. I. All the pleasures of country am* seashore life have been observed In the new home, where Count von Bernstorff and his staff will pass the summer The house, a large three story dwelling, stands back on a spacious lawn with plenty of shade trees. It is not verv far from the shore and Is only a short distance from the railroad station. On the grounds are a roonjy stable and c a garage. The clerks' house, in which will be transacted the routine business of the Embassy, is situated very near the station and telegraph office. It is a stone's throw from the Ambassador's residence. Four rooms ou the ground floor will be fitted up as office®. ' A CARD The rumor that there has''boon a change in owner ship or management in our firm has no foundation in fact. The business is being conducted just the same a>i it has been for rears. On the advice of his physician, Mr. Jerauld is not devoting quite as much time to business as formerly and this may have given rise to the rumor. Host assured you will got the same style range in high-grade stylish footwear, careful fitting, courteous attention and low prices in the future you have in the past. Signed, Itrauld Shoe Company D. P. JERAULD, Tress, and Gen'l Manager. How to Become Independent A systematic savings plan, safety for ybur money and a liberal rate of interest—these are the features neces sary to assure for YOU success in accumulating a fund that will make you financially independent. We invite small as well as iarge deposits, thereby enabling you to save some amount regularly; as a depositor with us you are afforded unquestioned pro tection for your savings, and we help your account to grow by paying you 3' 0 interest, compounded every FOUR months. Open your account to-day. J, ploves are at work, and that the main 1 supply be kept in underground storage reservoirs located outside the build ings. /* \ RAW FOODS Little Talks on Health and Hygiene By Samuel 0. Dixon, M. D., LL. D., Commissioner of Health * ' This is the season when the amateur gardener's eyes are delighted by the rows of summer vegetables that are poking their green leaves above the warm earth. The season for raw foods has already arrived. Lettuce, water-cress, radishes, par sley, leeks, berries anil many growing things burden the market stalls and tempt the house-wife after the winter menu of canued vegetables. A certain per cent, of raw foods is an excellent stimulant to the appetite and a wholesome change at this season of the year. Care should be exercised, h#wever, that they are properly cleansed before being oaten. Often the laborers in the truck gardens and those who handle the truck before reaching the consumer are careless in the use of dangerous fertilizers and some pick aTd prepare the vegetables for market who are also careless to a degree that is almost criminal. All vegetables to be eaten raw and berries, even at the risk of slightly in juring their.flavor, should be thor oughly washed before being eaten. Gardens should be fertilized with care. No night soihshould be used on truck gardens from which the porduce may be served uncooked. Watercress must not be grown in polluted streams. Watercress from polluted streams often produced epidemics of typhoid fever. Bananas should l>e thoroughly washed as soon as they pome into the hands of the consumer, so that the dirt taken on durig transportation will not be con« veye-J to other edibles. 1 PEOPLTTTOLUMN Tho Star-Independent does not make itself responsible for opinions expressed in this column. v J Thanks for "Mail Clerks" Editorial Editor of the Star-Independent: Dear Sir—Please accept my thanks for the publicity your editorial will give the railway mail clerks. I. certain ly think you have done a great favor for them by taking up the matter in the way you have done in your editorial of Ajiril LM, entitled "Mail Clerks au