The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, June 10, 1904, Page 8

TH E SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRiDAY, JUNE 10, 1904. London Literary Chat. Special Correspondence. HEADQUARTERS OF THE CALL, 5 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENT GARDEN, LONDON, May 27.—Jules Verne and H. Wells will have to look to their laurels if Jean Delaire can keep on evolving plots as uncom- mon as that of his new novel, “Around a Distant Star.” Mr. Delaire, who is of French extraction, has published, if one remembers rightly, three other stories, but this is his first attempt at fantastic fiction. Its hero has been profoundly impressed by discovering that the expanse which separates the earth from the nearest of the fixed stars is so great that light from them traveling at the rate of 180,000 miles a second takes over three years to reach us; that, in fact, we do not see a star as it is now, but as it was three vears ago. Hence, if we happened to be on the planet in question and look- ing at the world with a strong enough glass we should see three-year-old events in the act of happening. Go- ing on, he decides that if we were transported to one of the more distant of the heavenly bodies with a speed greatly exceeding the light we should be able to see carried on before our eyes scenes that occurred on the earth hundreds of years ago. Now it hap- pens that Mr. Delaire’s ingenious hero doubts gravely the truth of the Gospel. He figures, however, that, could be get on a sufficiently distant star with a speed exceeding that of light he could, given a telescope some million times more powerful than existing instru- ments, see what went on in Palestine 1900 years ago. These are pretty big “ifs,” but the hero of “Around a Dis- tant Star” eventually surmounts them, and, in company with a valiant friend, he encases himself in a projectile, which also carries his wonderful tele- scope, and so effectually beats light to the planet that he arrives just in time to watch on earth the events of Pas- sion Week and thus convince himself, end, later on, Christendom of the | truth of the Gospel stories. | . American visitors to Stratford-on- | Avon during the last two years seldom | have failed to take a look af, the house | in High street where dwells Miss Marie Corelli. Hereafter they will have all the more reason to do so, for the authoress has just spent $1000 in having her residence, which dates back to a time before the discovery of America, restored to its original condition. In 1459 the house was in- habited by one John Hannys, who held the proud position of master of the Guild of the Holy Cross, and other | fllustrious Stratford folk lived in it afterward. For a good many years, | however, the most striking part of the ancient architecture of the house has been hidden behind a modern front. It is this which Miss Corelli has had removed and now the original black | and white timbers can be seen. They | form designs of the bell, diamond and star, while the so-called story posts are carved with grotesques and with the York and Lancaster roses. > I . Max Pemberton may be able to do some little writing, but will not be able to get to his editorial sanctum off Lad- gate Hill—where he guides the desti- nies of Cassell's Magazine—for some time, as he has just been undergoing @ serious operation. About a month ago Pemberton, who 1s = great golf player, noticed that it hurt him to make certain strokes, and on visiting & doctor discovered that he had an abscess in the groin. The operation by which it was removed took place about & fortnight ago, and was entirely suc- cessful. Mrs. Edith Wharton, who has ar- rived in London, is just in time to see the English edition of her new volume, “The Descent of Man,” through the press. The American authoress, who is accompanied by her husband, has come to London from France and Spain, where the coupte have been planned, their first intention having been to make quite a long tour through Italy. But the roads in Victor Emman- uel's country proved too bad for pleas- ant travelling in a car. g It seems now that the lost score of Wagner's “Rule Britannia” over- ture, whose recent discovery has caused £reat delight in the musical world, has for long years lain hidden among a pile of old and supposedly worthless music in the possession of C. B. Gate ble, a dealer in planos at Leicester. Mr. Gamble bought the manuscripts— a trunkful of them—at the sale of the effects of a Lelcester band- master named Thomas, an ac- complished musician and in his earlier years associated with ‘Weber, Bpohr and other noted composers, but Who in his old age fell on evil days and ended his life in a poorhouse in North Wales. Chancing to look over the pile of music recently Mr. Gamble was astonished to discover, at the end of a long compesition which he had as- sumed was one of Thomas’ own, the signature “Richard Wagner,” with the date and address added, “das 15 Marz, 1837, Konigsberg in Prussen.” The piano dealer lost little time in sub- mitting the score to experts, who pro- nounced the work genuine and ‘worthy ©f the genlus of ite author. How it I | culture has discovered some intimate, came into Thomas' possession is 2 mystery. It was composed as a trib- ute to the British people and sent to the London Philharmonic Society in 1840, but was supposed to have been lost in transition. . The number of American novels pub- lished in this country 1s steadily in- creasing and 1 am told there is keen competition among English publishers for the best of them. The latest to be announced are Hamlin Garland’s “The Light of the Star,” Robert W. Cham- bers, “In Searth of the Unknown,” Van' Tassel Sutphen's “The Gates of Chance” and James Barnes' “The Son of Light Horse Harry.” Samuel Mer- win’s adventure story, “The Merry Anne,” is being especially well re- viewed. HAYDEN CHURCH. Rough on Dog Tourists. Bpecial Corre!ponden‘ HEADQUARTERS OF THE CALL, 5 HENRIETTA STREET, COVENTi GARDEN, LONDON, May 27.—Not for | a long while has any more absurd| mandate been issued from & Govem-l‘ ment department than the British Board of Agriculture’s new regulation, | which has just gone into effect, requir- ing all dogs reaching these shores from abroad to wear for six months there- after a sort of harness of a most extra- ordinary pattern. People who are in the habit of taking their canine pets with them on their travels are in a| huff over the measure, and as it will| be enforced with undiscriminating | stringency against dogs brought over by American visitors the matter is one that will interest many readers in the United States. The official reason given for this or- der is the necessity of protecting Brit-| ish stay-at-home dogs from the dan- ger of being infected with rabies by | foreign dogs, though how the Board of | Agriculture’s canary-colored harness is | to have the slightest effect one way or | the other on the spread of hydropho- bia is one of those inscrutable govern- mental mysteries which hopelessly baf- | fles the ordinary understanding. But| the edict has gone forth and must be obeyed or divers severe pains and pen- | alties will be incurred by the offend- ing dog or its owner. With that mi-| nute attention to petty and superflu-| ous details which characterizes most acts of British officialdom microscopic | directions are given as to how the de-| vice is to be constructed. This is the| specification which accompanies the| Board of Agriculture’s mandate: The harness must be made of canary- colored hide. | It must be lined with red felt, pinked | at edge and stitched throughout with | vellow thread. There must be a girth strap, two shoulder straps, chest strap, martin- gale and saddle. The girth strap shall be fastened by means of staples and ratchet plates, | the staple to turn freely and to have a smali hole to admit of the string of | official leaden seal. | The stapie plates and side loops must be made of aluminum. The plate on the saddle is to bear the following words, deeply engraved, and | filled with black lac: BOARD OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIE: IN QUARAN FOR RABIES L P s These directions must be strictly ad- hered to. No latitude is allowed for| the display of individual taste. The | substitution of yellow felt for red felt, or red thread for yellow thread, will| constitute a violation of the law which | may be sternly dealt with. It would | seem that the British Board of Agri- though occult, connection between can- | ary-colored hide, red felt and yellow| thread "and the suppression of rabies. | The cost of the harness will be $3 78 and upward, according to the size re-| quired. | ‘When a dog lands it must be sub- jected w an examination by a veter- inary surgeon appointed by the board. | Whether or no the animal shows any | signs of rabies makes no difference. | After pocketing his fee he will proceed to invest it with the weird arrange- ment of straps, buckles, ratchet plates, martingale and saddle, and affix the| Board of Agriculture’s seal, which it | will be a punishable misdemeanor for any one but the authorized official to break. And for six months thereafter, sieeping or waking, in the privacy of its owner’s back yard or curled up on its mistress’ lap, the dog must wear that harness with the accompanying | quarantine badge. And in addition, for | the same period, it will not be allowed | on a public thoroughfare without be- ing muzzled. The Iceman’s Dream. in far northern fiords, writes P. T. McGrath, in “The Perils of the Icebergs,” in June Mc- Clure’s. As the glaciers sweep into the sea they “calve,” or throw off mighty blocks, and these are what we know as jcebergs. Some are of stupendous dimensions. Dr. Kane's Arctic expedi- tion saw one two and one-half miles long and two and one-half miles wide aground in half a mile of water in Mel- ville Bay. This, of course, broke up into small pieces in time, which sun and sea and tide molded into the beau- | tiful and fantastic forms familiar to the Arctic voyager. As they drift| south and the sun plays on the facade it meits them into shimmering cas- cades which leap into the sea, while be- low the tide frets them into delicate traceries. Then the berg gets top- heavy, turns over, and exhibits an ab- solutely new contour, and so the pro- cess continues until they disappear in the Guif Stream. The Labrador cur- rent which carried them on its bosom extends from the Polar Sea to the south of Newfoundland, an oceanic river 2000 miles long and 100 miles wide and generously bejeweled with these gorgeous creations; and, as an irrev- erent tourist remarked last summer, they represent enough cold storage to put the Ice Trust out of business and give every American citizen a refrig- erator stock of his own. THE, SAN FRANCISCO JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor » « « o « + « « . . Address All Commhmications to JOHN McNAUGHT, Manager CALL TPUDUORION JOMIOD .- oo sssvioebys v 408 bsoasssnnatonss oeis sivaossohanimessss s Third and Maskes Streets, S. P, FRIDAY _JUNE 10, 1004 ROOSEVELT AND WALL STREET. HE Wall Street Journal, the organ of the great financial combines, in an estimate of election re- sults predicts the defeat of President Roosevelt, because New York will vote against him. After as- scribing other reasons, including the power of Tammany, the Journal says: “Moreover this State is the headquadr- ters of those great financial interests which are opposed to President Roosevelt on account of his action in the Northern Securities case and the anthracite coal strike.” Perhaps it is true that the alliance between the Demo- cracy and the trusts is strong enough to make an im- pression on the vote of New York. Tu 1900 McKinley and Roosevelt carried 29 States with 296 electoral votes, and Bryan carried 16 with 151 electoral votes. To be eclected now President Roosevelt must carry 224 electoral votes. McKinley carried Cali- fornia, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indi- ana, lowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Penn- sylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. Give Maryland, West Virginia and New York to the Democratic-trust alliance and add to it Byran’s votes in 1900 and the trust candidate will have only 203 electoral | votes to Roosevelt’s 244. While no one concedes New York to the trusts Roosevelt can be elected without it. The reason given by those who hope to take his own State from him is the reason that will give him 244 electoral votes in States that are not only naturally as Republican as Ore- gon, but in which the people are not lost in admiration of the kind of high finance of which Wall street has been the center for the last three years. These voters have no prejudice against financiers nor the fair and lawful use of wealth. But they object to such operations as have characterized many of the combinations which have lured the public to invest in securities that had no as- sets or insufficient assets behind them. The industrial combinations which have created new wealth by the ex- pansion of production and economy of processes are en- titled to their share of what they create, and the public who bought their stocks are fairly entitled to the divi- dends. We see no evidence that such organizations have any grudge against the President. But jthe other sort that use combination to take unfair advantage. of investors and make their profits by promoting the sale of unsup- ported securities naturally oppose him and he expects them to do so. His course in the Northern Securities case, while it brings upon him the wrath of Mr. J. J. Hill, has been affirmed by the Supreme Court of the United States. No good citizen. no one fit to have a voice in the election of a President, can find any fault with an action which is backed by that court and demon- strated to be only an enforcement of the law of the land. The President has laid it down -as the rule of his ad- ministration that no man is above the law and no man is below it. All must obey it. This rule he has rigidly and bravely enforced, and it will be a sorry day for the republic when a President is -defeated by asserting the principle that some men may be above the law andvsome below it. Personally Mr. J. J. Hill is probably a very estimable man, but even he has no virtues which entitle him to be held above the law. The man on horseback comes only when a free government finds it impossible to protect life and property by enforcing its laws. When such a situation as the existing lawlessness in Colorado and the rights claimed by Mr. Hill becomes general then 'men have no protection against assassination from one side and spoliation from the other. The law leaves their lives and property defenseless, and the man on horse- back comes to enforce, by arbitrary power, rights that had no protection by the law. We do not hesitate to say that the defeat of the Presi- dent for the reasons given by the Wall Street Journal would be the beginning of the end in this country. The issue presented is not partisan. It is the issue involv- ing the survival of civil liberty. 1f the voters can be lured into rebuking a President for being mindful of his great oath and enforcing the law against all who violate it it will be a vote of want of confidence in free institutions. In that aspect the cam- paign is more threatening than anything in our history, even than the Civil War. In that great struggle it is our habit to believe that civil liberty would have been preserved, even in a divided country, by perpetuating the institutions upon which freedom depends. But for the people of the whole Union, of the united country, to rise up and say that they will not have a President who enforces the law is a deliberate act of suicide, the hara- kiri of a republic. In the face of such an issue all old party differences disappear. Questions of finance and tariff are retired to the rear, and the only question to be decided is, Are any men to be declared above the law or below /it? It is a stupendous issue and the President is to be the objegtive of this sinister attack. He becomes the representative of the lawful rights of his countrymen and stands for something greater than the policies of a party, for he represents the essential principles of a free society ruled by law. A Paris the presence of Admiral Chadwick’s fleet at Tangier upon its mission of hope for Perdicaris, the American citizen now being held for ransom by a Moorish long sword, has set the diplomatic hive of Europe to humming. Spain is credited with a very un- easy apprehension concerning the ultimate purpose of the American fleet and it is said that she has even ex- changed notes with the powers anent the subject of her disquieting fears. The belief that Uncle Sam wants a port on the west coast of Morocco seems to be the nightmare that is disturbing the tranquil sleep of ‘Al- fonso’s kingdom; but with all diplomatic finesse his min- isters disclaim any distrust oftheir great and good friend—the United States. How delicately adjusted are the scales of modern diplomatic activity has never been so aptly demonstrated as in the present instance. A dirty Bedouin, who proba- bly rides a flea-bitten camel and daubs his hair with goose grease in true oriental luxuriande, pounces upon a United States citizen and with an English citizen as his other prize hurries off the twain into some desert fastness, there calmly to swoke his narghile until some- body “comes through” with a good round ransom. Im- mediately the springs' of action are set in play. An American fleet moves, a British fleet moves, France SERIO-COMEDY IN MOROCCO. CCORDING to press reports from London and ; ! sends a ship or two to protect ;ler interests, much coal is burned and large quantities of powder popped off in the courtesy of salutes. The Bedouin, meanwhile, smokes his narghile and waits. Then comes the news of uneasiness on the part of the peaceful citizens of Morocco. The report is spread that the foreign pigs have come to root out the Mohamme- dan religion and the cry of “Din, Din Mohammed” be- gins to swell along the Afric shore with unmusical energy. The Suitan protests his innocence of any intent to do aught but bring the Bedouin to justice and then calls for' his narghile that he may smoke—and wait. From the center of this puddle the ripples roll back to France, to Spain and across the Atlantic to the United States and ~what was the merry prank of a merry Bedouin has grown to the dignity of an international episode. Were it not that the life of Perdicaris is at stake in this game we could give ourselves over to enjoyment of this opera bouffe. Aside from its comedy features, how- ever, the incident has some very wholesome significance. It has demonstrated that the old Roman boast has its strong reflection in the code of the American nation. An American citizen in distress can command the battle- ships of his country though he be in another hemi- sphere. Another very gratifying development of the incident is that made manifest by the very fears of Europe. Where our ships are, there are centered the keen speculations of the nations. The flag flying from their forepeaks represents something which is daily be- coming more and more a matter for respectful consid- eration and cautious courtesy on the part of all the powers of the world. —————— The pleading of various municipal departments for more money with which to conduct public business for the next fiscal year has ceased and the pleaders have retired from the contest beaten, chagrined and pouting. Let the disgruntled ones now attempt an experiment in economy. It will be something new for them and a sen- sation for the public. W life and in that respect we say with St. Paul we are ““a debtor both to the wise and the unwise, both to the Greek and to the barbarian.” By this time we are well accustomed to all the vagaries of the critic tribe, and know how to smile when they try to be witty at our expense and how to be indifferent when they un- dertake to flatter us. We are interested now only when one of them presents us with something of a novelty in the way of theory. Such critics are rare, but occasion- ally they show themselves, and one of the best is a cer- tain Emil Reich, who, after “five unbroken years of so- journ in the United States,” contributes the result of his studies and his observations to the London National Review. He says at the outset: “Peschel and many other eminent geographers have long ago proved that the Northern American continent is, physiographically speaking, very much inferior to Europe.” He adds: “Geopolitically it is certain that America is placed in both a new and inferior position. If there is one thing which follows with absolute and indubitable clearness from European history it is the fact that each nation in moderri Europe was made infinitely less by its own spontaneous efforts than by the necessity of averting the hostility and aggression, military and otherwise, of its immediate neighbors. * * * The geopolitical neces- sity of fighting for every rood of land has never existed in America. * * * The reader, remembering the im- portance necessarily to be attached to fight and struggle against enemies as the formative agent of historical pro- A FOREIGN OBSERVER. E have had many foreign critics of American gress, will ask whence there comes the undeniable energy so characteristic of the people of the United | States. In reality the question is answered by a consid- eration of th€ foreigner as one of the richest types of history. The Americans so far as the majority is con- cerned are still what in every European country would be considered foreigners.” Having thus stated that our country is physiographi- cally and geopolitically inferior to Europe and that as a race we suffer so much under those disadvantages that we are sustained only by an influx of foreigners, oun critic goes on to say that the third great difference be- tween America and Europe is the American woman. Upon that point he says: “The American woman, es- pecially in the course of the last fifty years, has assumed an outward tone and an_internal attitude diametrically opposed to what it is customary to esteem as feminine in Europe.”” Conceding that the American woman is bright, energetic and ambitious, the critic asserts that none the less she is the source of greatest danger to the republic. The “incredible host of boarding-houses with which the land is eaten up” he attributes to the disin- clination of American women to keep house. He adds: “One of the most serious questions which clouds the already threatening future of America is the breakdown of American maternity. * * * Statistics reveal that the United States can in no wise depend for its future prosperity upon the offspring of its own women.” He concludes that phase of his review by saying: “It is hopeless to attempt to offer any solution of this grave and immense problem. Many a state has been brought to ruin by its women.” The American man is credited with many good quali- ties, but he, too, is found to be seriously defective. Our critic puts it this way: “The American man is lacking in natural completeness. We may say that each nation has the women it merits. The Americans have been unable to create that form of womanhood which in Europe is esteemed best. The American consequently lacks many of the influences which such women alone ¢an bring to bear.” " Such being the conditions of our country, our poli-| tics, our women and our men, there remains the ques- tion: Can anything save us? Our critic says that sal- vation is not impossible, provided we get into war with all Europe and thus obtain the discipline which war against heavy odds always imposes upon heroic souls. Such a war he deems to be quite probable as a result of the world-wide commercial antagonisms sure to re- sult from the construction of the Panama canal and the opening of the Orient to twentieth century energies. He_ concludes by saying: “Should the Americans give up the Monroe doctrine, should they enter on secular conflicts with Europe, then, and then alone, will they be able, in case of success, to aggrandize themselves to a power of the first rank, or eventually of unique great- ness.” Here certainly is a theory so interesting it can be fairly classed among the things described as “im- portant, if true.” | mission from the superintendent TALK OF No Safe Abiding Place. Little Willle Bride is a bright boy, aged about 11 years. His father and mother live in Arkansas; his grand- father and grandmother live in Los Angeles. The old folks thought it would be real nice to have Willie come out here and spend a few months with them, so they sent for him. Willie ar- rived in due time, properly tagged, and he delighted the hearts of the old folks by his brightness and cheerfulness. All went well for about six weeks, when grandpa and grandma noticed that Willle was not apparently enjoying himself as much as he did during the first weeks after his arrival - They said nothing to him, however, believ- ing that he was suffering from a slight attack of homesickness and that he would soon get over it. But Willle did not regain his cheer- fulness and one day he disappeared. The old people searched high and low for him without success and finally re- ported the disappearance to the police. So one day a week later when Willie stepped out of a freight car at the Oakland mole he was promptly grabbed by a police officer. He appeared before Judge Murasky during a session of the Juvenile Court. . “Well, Willie,” said the Judge, who was acquainted with the boy's his- tory. “Don’t you like Los Angeles?” # “Pretty well, sir,” said the boy. “You think Arkansas is a pretty nice State, don’t you?"” said the Judge. “Yes, sir,” replied the boy, “and I am going back there.” “That’s very fine,” the Judge replied. “How do you expect to travel?” “Freight, sir,” was Willie’s reply. “I came up from Los Angeles in three days.” “Well, well,” was the jmnext remark of the Judge, followed by the query: “Don’t you think you would like to stay in San Francisco for a little while?"” “Not much,” retorted little Willie, quick as a flash. “A kid gets pinched too quick In this burg.” Maybe Not. Indicative of the fact that a touch of the humorous is sometimes found even during the ceremonies attendant upon the last rites over the dead, an amusing incident occurred several weeks ago at a local crematorium. An aged gentleman of Swedish ex- traction for whom the appellation “Ole Olsen” will serve all purposes answered the final summons after a brief illness. In deference to a re- quest embodied in his last will and testament, arrangements were com- pleted for the incineration of the re- mains. Upon the day of the funeral among those who followed all that was earthly of Olsen to the sleeping city of the dead were two boyhood companiors, Jans and Hans. After the last hymn had been sung those pres- ent filed mournfully around the cas- ket for a last look at the face of the departed. Jan and Hans secured per- to watch the final disposition of the body. The attendants courteously explain- ed the system of cremation and al- lowed Olsen’s two old friends to look into the retort, wheré roared the white flames. The old fellows shud- dered. At last the body was prepared and as the inanimate form in its snow white shroud was consigned to the fire Hans in a voice trembling with emotion was heard to say to his friend: “I tell you, Yan, if poor Ole bain alive now he wouldn't stand for dose.” As the two old cronies with tear-be- dimmed eyes walked armein arm from the chamber it was with difficulty that the black gowned attendants re- pressed their smiles. The Patient Toiler. Dunno whar I'll be At de jedgmint day, But I know I hoe de cotton, En I bring de grass ter hay, En de Lawd 'll sho’ fergive me Et I only work my way— Long row to hoe yet, believers! Dunne whar I'll be W'en de worl’ is blazin' red, But I toil ter make de shelter Dat is kiverin' my head; En de Lawd 'll sho’ fergive me Ef I give his chillun bread—+ Long row to hoe yet, bellevers! —Atlanta Constitution. Where the Money Goes. The Prince of Monaco has graclous- ly consented to let the mystery of his finances be unveiled in the Figaro. He would have done this before if he had thought that the world took any in- terest in the matter, according to the London Chronicle. But he has been brodght to see that it is injurious to his reputation to have it generally be- lieved that he lives out of the tribute of the gaming tables at Monte Carlo. The Monaco budget is duly presented in the Figaro, and it appears that the principality has an ample revenue quite apart from the gamblers. Why, a thousand a year is raised upon matches alone! The company which provides the refreshing sea baths of Monaco, to say nothing of the theater and sports, pays a handsome contribu- tion. So modest are the Prince’s per- sonal wants that his Minister of Finance has not given him a half penny for three years. The total in- come from the Casino is devoted to the cause of charity and the advancement of science. “If you have lost all your money at the tables, be consoled by the thought that it is healing some poor creature in the hospital, or other- wise ‘spreading the arts of peace.” | This should be inscribed in letters of gold over the portals of the Casino. Costly Bugs. 1 , It is estimated that about a dozen insects destroy every year in the United States products that if allowed to mature would be worth $350,000,000. The worst are the chinchbug ($100,000,- 000), the grasshopper ($90,000,000) and the Hessian fly (350,000,000). The ene- mies of the cotton-crop cost the plant- : ) ® THE TOWN ers $60,000,000 and the ravages of the potato bug are set down at $9,000,000. The boll weevil and the boll worm, both of which attack cotton, destroy, each, $20,000,000 worth of plants. Experimenters, scientific men In gen- eral, are working industriously to off- set the ravages of these enemies of crops. It was announced the other day that an ant had been found near the isthmug which feeds on the boll weevil, but does not attack the cotton, and the Agricultural Department will take steps at once to introduce this ant into the cotton beit. War is being made every year on the chinchbug, the grasshopper and the Hessian fly, but the reproductive power of these pests seems to be so great that they cannot be exterminated. The grasshopper pest is one of the worst, as is also the army worm, which is not a regular yearly visitor. When it is considered that the crops have not only to run risks of $350,000,- 000 damage a year from insects, but that bad seasons, too much or too lit- tle rain, may greatly reduce the out- put, it can thus be understood that farming is not a perfectly safe busi- ness. However, the United States is such a large country that rarely does a failure in crops injure all sections. Damage from insects, however, is al- ways found on the loss side of the farmer’s ledger.—Baltimore Herald. Tattooing the Eye. That the color of a person's eye can be changed by the use of tattoo needlea has been shown by an operation per- formed at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Mass., by Dr. Henry H. Haskell, a specialist, and Dr. Hefferman, the house surgeon. The patient was a young man who had been suffering some time with an affection which partly destroyed the color of his eye, but affected the sight of that eye only slightly, says the Jeweler’s Circular. The eye contained a white streak, extending almost entireiy around the pupil. The instrument used consisted of five ordinary cambric needles, placed side by side, with the eye ends inserted in a handle. The needle points were then inserted into the sclerotic coating to a depth of not more than one-sixty- fourth of an inch, each insertion mak- ing five tiny holes. This was repeated several times, requiring the greatest care. To pierce the cornea would mean an irreparable injury to the sight. # A solution of India ink, previousiy shaded to match the eyes as nearly as possible, was rubbed in with a finger, and worked into éach of the holes made by the needle points. The patient felt no ill effects. Answers to Queries. CHINA'S WALL—S., City. The length of the great wall of China is given as from 1200 to 1500 miles. SANDERSON—A. S, City. Sybil Sanderson, the famous singer, died of pneumonia in Paris, France, May 135, 1903. THE LICK SCHOOL—Boys desir- ing to be admitted to the California School of Mechanical Arts, founded by James Lick, will be received upon recommendation of their former prin- cipal or school superintendent. All applicants accepted on recommenda- tion must present or mail teo the school, not later than July 25, a cer- tificate of promotion from the gram- mar school. ST. ELMO'S LIGHT — Subscriber, Livermore, Cal. St. Elmo's light or fire is the popular name for an appear- ance, sometimes seen, especially in southern climates, during thunder- storms, of a brush or star of light at the tops of the masts of vessels, at the end of ship's yards, or on spires or other pointed objects. It is occasion- ally* accompanied by a hissing noise, and is evidently of the same naturs as light caused by electricity from points connected with an electrical machine. It is said in Grecian myth- ology that Castor and Pollux, who were esteemed mighty helpers of men, appeared as the light flames on ship's masts as described.. The ancient mariners looked upon the appearance of these balls of light on their vessels as a sign that they had nothing to fear from a storm. BURNT OFFERINGS—R. C.. El- mira, Cal. Sacrifice, including burnt offerings, is mentioned in a number of places in the Bible. Every, sacrifica was assumed to be vitally conmected with the spirit of the worshiper. Un- less the heart accompanied the sacri- fice, God rejected the gift (Isa. 1, 111-13). Corban included that which was given to the’ Lord's service, whether first fruits, tithes (Lev. #, 12; xxvil, 30), and gifts for maintaining the priests and endowing the sanc- tuary (Num. vii, 3; xxxvi, 50), or offerings for the altar. The latter were: 1—Animal—(1) burnt offerings; (2) peace offerings; (3) sin offerings. 2—Vegetables—(1) meat and drink offerings for the altar outside; (2) in- cense and meat offerings for the holy place within. For Abraham’ i~ fice see Genesis xv, 2. e ——— ‘Townsend's California Glace fruits 'n artistic fire-etched boxes. 715 Market st.* —_——— Special Information supplied daily to business houses and public -.’: the Press Bureau (Allen’s), Cal~ Telephone Main 1043, &