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VOLUME ONE.
NO. FOETY-SE VEN.
WHAT WE THINK OF WHAT WE SEE
We know the paragraphs on this page will in
crease the sum total of human wisdom; but if we
could only know that it "would make our readers
happier, we -would be, oh! so glad; so here is the
best recipe from the prescription book of our
friend, Josh Billings: “I hav made up mi mind
that human happiness konsists in having a good
deal to do and then keep doing it.”
Something must be done about this divorce
question. Up in Michigan, recently, a bride of
eighty years secured a divorce from her bride
groom of eighty-two, just because he chewed and
smoked. When she gets older she will realize
that there are many, very many, worse things in
the world than using tobacco. Now, there is an ar
gument in favor of our position that too youthful
marriages should be prohibited.
Years ago it was announced by a great American
that the need of the country was institutions of
higher learning, and it was urged, further, that edu
cation had away of filtering down through the
strata until it reached even the lowest levels.
Proof has come in the form of a news item that a
hen on the campus of Cornell University has laid
two hundred and twenty-five eggs in ten months.
Even exposure to education counts for much. What
a revolution will be worked by the new agricultural
schools!
The atrocities which have been occurring in
the Congo Free 'State are attracting the attention
of the civilized world. It is a matter of pride to
every American that the people of our country
are taking a real and heartfelt interest in all the
steps being made to protect the natives. Owing
to the location of that territory, so far removed
from our shores, and, at the same lime, entirely
within the jurisdiction, on the doorstep it might
be said, of other countries, the United States cannot
directly interfere. But the heart of humanity has
been touched and the cruelties now being practic
ed by the underlings of King Leopold will not con
tinue much longer. Isn’t it a pity (whisper) that
Uncle Sam can’t benevolently restrain those fiends
with the Krag?
There is no danger of “race suicide” in this
country except in one way. Child-labor is the real
race suicide. Georgia’s child labor law, which
goes into effect this year, marks a splendid step
in the right direction in the matter of protecting
the young of this commonwealth. The law is good,
but it is not yet strong enough. The time is com
ing when public sentiment will not permit young
bodies to be dwarfed and young lives to be clouded
by confinement in unhealthy factories for six whole
days a week. Some day the state will not only
forbid such things to happen; it will, in addition,
see to it that the children of the poor are educat
ed up to a certain point, and that the classes who
now grow up into-a diseased and ignorant maturity,
will be equipped for citizenship and usefulness.
ATLANTA, GA., JANUARY 10, 1907.
There is a Roosevelt Third Term Club in full
fledged existence now. As the name would indi
cate, the club is formed for the purpose of thrust
ing upon President Roosevelt a third term. In
the announcement of the reasons for the formation
of the club it is stated in substance that it has been
rumored that Mr. Roosevelt would decline a third
term, but that the promoters of the club are much
better informed as to the needs of the country than
is he, and it being well known that he is the
man for the place, it is the duty of every good cit
izen to assist in electing him anyhow—and then in
making him serve. The country just at this time
seems to be suffering in spots from a violent form
of acute clubitis. There would be some measure
of sense in the formation of a Platt and Depew
Resignation Club. Let’s agitate that for a time.
The Life of Mrs. Mary Baker G. Eddy, the found
er and present head of Christian Science, has begun
in the January number of McClure’s Magazine.
This installment deals with Mrs. Eddy’s childhood,
with some of her family history, and with an ac
count of the succession of husbands belonging to
her. Mrs. Eddy gives out an article to the press
in which she says that the history so far is all right,
save in one respect; namely, that it is all wrong.
Sometimes she seems to directly deny certain state
ments made in the* magazine article; on other
points, however, her denials are in the nature of
lawyer-like avoidance of the fact in question. As a
matter of fact, the Life has not yet proceeded far
enough to touch upon any of the issues which, to
the public, are of real consequence. What we
want to know is, just how much there is to Mrs.
Eddy now as head of the Christian Science faith.
Her honesty and not her health is what concerns
us most.
The free pass has passed. So sad! There is
a comfort afforded by a ride on a free pass that
is equalled by but few things in this cruel world.
Then there is such a swelling dignity attached
to the handing out of a pass when other wayfarers
around you are having to cough up three cents
per. We hope every one will be reconciled and
not suffer as did the dyspeptic and pessimistic
man who was once making a long railway journey.
He was sitting beside the window, looking out
very intently and scowling. His fellow passengers
noticed him, and as his anger was very apparently
increasing, and the cause of it seemingly being in
the landscape swiftly whirling past the windows,
one made bold to approach and inquire what trou
bled and annoyed him so. “Stranger,” said the
disgruntled one, “do you see them mile-posts?
Well, I can’t help thinking that every time one
of them goes a-whoopin’ by these windows, I have
spent three good cents of my money!”
Elsewhere in this paper we mention the gift
made by Mr. Rockefeller to Chicago University
of three million dollars as a New Year’s gift. About
the same time it was announced that Mrs. Rocke
feller had said to some guests that she liked oysters
but they could not afford to have them. Now, think
of that! We have never heard of a man who
ground his poor wife and family like Mr. Rocke
feller does. He denies them oysters in order that
he may save enough during the year to make a
present to Chicago University. Think of the num
bers of times that- good woman could have had a
half-fry, or a stew or a dozen on the half, out of
that three million dollars. No doubt she likes
oysters. They may be her pet dish, yet she can’t
have them on her table. Why, even working peo
ple in this town have oysters to eat. We should
certainly be thankful that we are what we are.
It may be depended upon that most of the folks
who put their money in big colleges have to live
hard at home and wear a wig to make up for it.
It is even rumored that Mr. Rockefeller adopted
that wig habit after he had foreseen the advance
in the price of a haircut. We, for one, do not hesi
tate to condemn him.
Atlanta, Georgia, U. S. A., is a thriving and re- •
markable town. There are many ways in which
she sets the pace. Notable among the joyful and
useful customs of the town is the manner regular
ly adopted by members of public boards in settling
questions involving the interests of citizens and
of the city. Let a matter arise in which there is
a division of opinion among the members of the
council, say, for instance. The question is stated
and sides taken. Then some prominent man on
one side rises to remark, and an opponent also
arises and remarks. The first remarker then as
serts that he is able to prove that second ditto
is a liar, and that years ago he did a terrible, oh,
a most disgraceful thing. Second ditto takes an
inning and declares, frankly, that all said charges
are lies of the purest ray serene, but that the
douJble-distilled and clarified fact is that first ditto
has sold his honor and traded his influence on
occasion, and that, moreover, in his young days,
he did a most unspeakable l thing back in Kansas,
or somewhere else. So it keeps on, charges and
countercharges of a personal nature piling up
higher and higher until, if everybody didn’t know
much better, they would be trembling in expecta
tion of bloodshed. After a while the geysers of
billingsgate and vituperation have boiled them
selves dry and subside. Nothing has been accom
plished, not even a fight. And meantime the pub
lic business stands still, the dignity of the pub
lic’s servants is lost forever, as well as public
confidence in the men having charge of affairs.
There should be some method of taking such rag
chewers by the scruff of the neck and casting them
into some confined area where they could fight out
their differences out of the hearing of the public,
who really don’t care one little continental about
the whole thing. What the public wants from
its representatives is honest atention to duty,
and a dignity in keeping with the situation.
TWO DOLL AES A YEAE.
FIVE CENTS A COPY.