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\L*/f EDITORIAL PAGE THE SUNNY SOUTH JULY 9, 1904 study of Hawthorne’s works. While, as stated above, his current vogue is tremendous, many of the present generation have not the acquaintance with him which he merits and they require. It U/>e SUNNY SOUTH Published Weekly by Smith Ththli fhtn<y Cr\ ma >' not bc said of him that hc was preat in a di ~ 'jU’llfiy \3UlLltl fls./lg dactic sense, but where keen dissection of human Susine/s Office THE CONSTITUTION BUILDING nature, brilliant display, of imagination, gentle ness, unalloyed tragedy, pathos, excellence in style and art, and sheer fascination are involved, the direct profits to the reader are proportionately large. He is not like some writers who appeal only to one phase of the individual’s life. One ! never grows too old to enjoy his limpid charm and the young man and woman find especial at traction in the delicacy and bewildering labyrinths [of his fiction. The South and Outdoor Sports ATLANTA, GEORGIA Subscription Terms: To those who subscribe to SKe Sunny South only Six Months, 25c One Year, 50c LESS THAN A PENNY A WEEK Entered at the poatofflee A tlnntn, On.,n» aecond-claaa i9.il matter March 13,1901 ftkr Sunny South la tho oldest weekly paper of Literature, Romance, fart and Vldlion In the South & It now re* Jlored to the original shape and will be pubtlstied as for* Uierly every week & founded In 1814 It grew until 1809, when, as a monthly. Its form was changed as an expert* meat dp It now returns to Its original formation as a weekly with renewed vigor and the Intention of ecllps* ing Its most promising period in the past. The Centenary of a Great American Novelist HE Fourth of July this year was r made luminous by two conspicuous causes; it celebrated the birthday of the world's greatest republic and the lapse of a hundred j'cars since the birth of that republic’s greatest novelist. The quaint town of Con cord, Mass., where Nathaniel Haw thorne spent most of his working years, was on Monday thronged with pilgrims from every section of spent on paraphernalia and enthusiasm roused to the country—men and women to fever heat over the standing of the “home team.” whom the great writer’s name was a In addition to the large leagues, less pretentious synonvm for keen, subtle intellec- interstate leagues have been organized and so tual pleasure and who had grown to j thoroughly has the microbe of the great national love the man as thev saw his gentleness through diversion inoculated the people that combinations Democracy Foregathers at St. Louis MTD much enthusiasm the democratic convention met at Bt, Louis Wednesday of this week. T T nllke the stereotyped republican gathering 1 of tho month previous, the spirit of the convention was one of continual excitement, hinging on the uncertainty of the issue of the con vention and the contingen cies which might arise at any moment by reason of the many booms in existence and the i _ . . , ,, , , . uproarious conduct of the delegates, who : lor an impression of the extent to which he has , heerpd now for 0!eve]and and agtain , influenced present fiction and the popular vernacu- for Fark( , r while but a slight circum- lar one has only- to read, even superficially, his Stance was necessary to turn the en- works, then compare them with much of what is thusiasm in tnV-direction of Bryan, the being produced today. two-times nominee for president. At this hour it is impossible to prophesy anything definite with reference to the final actioh of the convention. The ballot rule, which requires that a two-thirds vote is absolutely necessary to presi dential nomination, was confirmed at a decisive meeting of the resolutions com- CASUAL survev of conditions in the miUep - Tllis d1sp ° sps of thp ^‘ te f pt to - . hi make the nomination of a candidate con- SOllthern states this summer Will be t.ingent on his receipt of a majority vote, sufficient to demonstrate the salu- j tarv degree in which this section 1 lias given itself over to healthful open-air sports. The' fad, it is too J natural to be called a mania, in this: direction will probably reach a maximum with the current season,! although we are justified in express-- ing the hope that following years- will see no perceptible dimunition. In practically every city and town and hamlet baseball nines have been organized, varying sums of money Along' the Highway By FRJfMK L. STANTOM the medium of his printed works. SeveraT years have passed since his death, but they have not served to obliterate the brightness of his fame or the justice of the critical-approval which the world has attached to his literary endeavors. Indeed, it is doubtful if “The Scarlet Letter" does not out rank in popularity the ephemeral literature of to day and yesterday, albeit it was produced several decades ago and treats of an American phase which probablv has no living witnesses, even have been formed between counties and even small villages for the playing of the “game of the dia mond.” The rural as well as the urban populace probably know more now concerning hits, two- baggers, home runs, fouls, strike outs, in and out curves, “speed and control,” and errors than at any time in its history. The best phase of the conta- O, WIND OF MORNING! will by listenin’ to ’em talk a whole I. mile!” O, Wind of Morning, over fields of dew. A LIFE TEXT. 1 : I follow fleetly the wide wings of Life gives us toil, you! But toil blesses our bread: II. The seed’s in the soil And the harvest ahead! I know the secrets of the daisies bright. Then, ho; for the tasks, lad! The dreams of lilies, lifted to the The weeds trample down; light: And all that Life asks, lad, 1 III. Life's labor will crown! The crimson mystery of the rose's SOME OLD-TIME PHILOSOPHY. breast, Happiness by the bushel would be The trees where birds build, singing great; but you'll find that you can round the nest. get along gloriously on a pint meas- 1 nre. IV. ' The sun that gives the color to the clod, Where the seeds climb into the sheaves of God; Sometimes a hurricane does good, by showing folks that when you mean business you ean clear up a lot of land in a brief space of time. V. We often meet Joy in the middle of the road, but we’re so afraid he's I know, or dream, such knowledge trouble in disguise we never bid him still is mine. “Good morning!” Under a heaven with its lights di- vine. The sunset of life is only bright to those that met the sunrise with a VI. song. Rut of myself so little do I know— — The tasks to take—the pathway I WHEN JOY PLAYS THE FIDDLE. should go! I. In Life’s dim December— VII. In meadows of June, O, Wind of Morning, over land and When Joy plays the fiddle sea. We’ll dance to the tune! Whisper the secret of Myself to me! Hold Sorrow in tether. Thank God tor all weather. THE PRACTICAL OLD MAN. Hands round all together The poet, newly returned from col lege, said to “the old man;” When Joy strikes the tune! i “Father, I can hear the trees whis- II. pering secrets all day long; they say We need light and laughter— such beautiful things to me!” The dark comes so soon! The “old man” looked thoughtful; So, when Joy plays the fiddle, then he said: Three cheers for the tuner “Here, John! Take this ax an’ chop With Life fleet in flying, ! down a few of 'em, an’ rail ’em With Grief to us crying, through my sawmill, an’ you’ll make We’ll dance down the sighing more money in a minute than you When Joy strikes the tune! Judge Alton B. Par Her Even according to this ruling. Judge Alton B. Parker, of New- York, appears to be the choice of the convention at present- gion is that it has affected every class and age and both sexes. There are almost as many "fans” Several spasmodic booms have been -1 ii i i, - , r .i sprung in the interest of different an- # among the old gray-beards as in t he ranks of the n P unc * d and quiescent candidates, such as among our patriarchs. From start to conclusion ebullient youngster, and the feminine portion of j Gorman, of Maryland; Cleveland, of New the book is filled with artistically subdued drama, - the population is interesting itself vastly, although J Jersey; Gray, of Delaware, and oiney. of Pathos, whicn never becomes strained, vies with j its knowledge and enthusiasm cannot be truthful-. ^ the Ch spon\a n ie^y n and h irpu < iIe oTumt tragedy the more melancholy and somber because , lv said to be as intelligent as the same qualities j pu t forward in favor of judge Parker. when displayed over ruffles, straight-fronts and picture hats. To summarize the situation, the en tire south has gone baseball mad and a very for- recognized traits of prejudice and smug popular tunate lunacy it is, since it encourages a love for dictum are delineated with the touch of a master, j clean, manly contest and takes its devotees out in Wherever the morbid element theatens to become the open air. to fill their lungs with rejuvenating too oppressive, or the intense incidents too stirnu The Cultivation of Sorghum For Syrup and Forage IN TWO PARTS—PART I. veiled in the narrative form. All the passion and folly of human nature; all its infinite psychology in the most evasive and baffling forms; the well iating. there is the delicate, fanciful display of im agination, lighting the gloom with the fireflies of ozone, coax the anemic blood to the surface and give the jaded mind a chance to forget its troubles. of thp men a J & I sen b.id nr The hard work which has been accom plished in his name throughout tho pre ceding six months showed evidence in the steadiness with which the delegates remained loyal to his standard, in the face of studied efforts to stampede them to strange gods. Bryan started off. the first day. with a tribute of nure ffidiffer&nce on the part jture difference xvlub, four and eight years , . . . i f-f-u. had practically bowed in adulation ( A Or is baseball the sole catalogue of sports in to him. On Thursday, however, he ob- phantasy, and relieving the strain with some un- which the south is today interested. In city and tainea his revenge, for at the mention expected turn of his wonderful mind, appearing al- countrv the old reliable lawn tennis, with its splen- ? f n;,rn "- supported by strenuous ef- r 1TA .. . , 1 1 ° . ■ - - ’ •, forts of the Nebraska clique, the tconven- most preternatural. Healing in the most ele- did exercise, is more popular than ever: the Cana- tion went Bryan-wiid, the delegates, ai- mental emotions, it is no marvel that wherever dian game of lacrosse is coming more into vogue ;■ ternates and gallery gods lending ail the civilization has penetrated, this remarkable book swimming, boating and mountain climbing have fnrcp nf thoir hinss to shouting fo r the lias gamed for its author a large and instant fol- their own enthusiastic devotees, ever increasing in the midst of this ebuiition. Bryan lowing. • jin number; foot and horse racing are more preva-! stood silent, satisfied, noncommittal on Substantially the same mav be said of his other lent than ever; while we muSt not fonret srolf and thp platform, waiting for it to subside, great novel. The House of the Seven Gables, placid croquet, which is such an indispensable ad-1 ness of political fortune and those who Sin, suffering, mysticism, folklore, biting, wonder- junct to the rural wooing. Statements from the direct its queer turns, ful ironv, love and the subtlest possible analysis proprietors of the great metropolitan houses which i *. At lthls I lour i lt is ln l p °t Riblp , tpprophPS , y of the human mainsprings of emotion and sordid supply sporting goods of every description are to though it mey he set down as positive ambition characterize its plot and development, the effect that the demand for equipment and in- that jt wUl censure the trusts severely. Among competent critics there is even a division structions is unprecedentedly heavy and that their j S™ of opinion regarding the respective merits of the j capacity is tested. t south in its present conservative course two books, although it is likely that predominance Especially noticeable is the revival of interest! concernin,sr the neero ’ denounce tJ,e pres ' would be given the first mentioned because of its in the gentle art of fishing, although we never for- Ind “^we^for^uch*torm^SoraV’a" condensed, graphic and incisive style. Notable get old Izaac Walton and bis dreams of piscatorial the precedence of democratic doc- for their beauty and occult power are his short delight to anv alarming extent. Men who nre- ! tr i nPS ” . , XT T , stories 3.nd sketches. His romance is so delight- \ iousl\ satisfied themselves with two or three liams, temporary chairman, in opening fully tinctured with combined imagination and davs’ vacation in the heated term are so thorough- the convention was a masterful arraign- realism, so strikingly marked by the fire of creative ly’infatuated with sport in some one of its innum- tLr* ciTims^He gJiJcieveiand^the genius and so pervaded throughout by carefully enable departments, that thev arc cither extending credit for scotching the panic of 1893 and balanced dramatic episode, as to win a permanent their leaves of absence or arranging their business! fpr esta ' blishins the currenc v system of hold on the taste and memory, once the reader hours so that they may pay more attention to it at ! cuLd°°th^ asaeruons"^') ^fiba Root^to has thoroughly entered into Hawthorne’s mood, regular intervals. ; the effect that the republican party was The element of spontaneous humor is also present All of which is well. The south is in the first l? be °rodited for th e prosperous condi- in his creations, although it was distinctly a minor throes of a commercial, industrial and intellectual holding that it resulted from purely nat- part of his equipment. i development which is going to test every fiber in ural caiises . which would have operated There is one gratifying concomitant of the pres- the nature of the ambitious man, and one of the j mSer^gCTeLuon^of "SluSns °whlch ent celebration and that is the probability that a most commedabie preparations for the frav is the might have been in power at the time, greater impulse will be given to the reading and cultivation of a sound, lusty phvsique. Longevity Prescription Made Up Of Simple Ingredients ^ Th e current convention will, no doubt, j go down into history as one of the most ! enthusiastic and fully attended in the annals of parties in the United States. ■H'B question of the possibln duration of human life, when put to great states men, scientists and others who have almost reached the century mark of life has been answered in va rious ways. Von Moltke. at the age was still possessed fine Intellectual power remarkable vitality. When asked how he man aged to live so long and ich excellent health, he replied, “By moderation In all things and by ar out-of-door exercise.” spl, the famous Italian statesman, “Regularity and abstinence are ecrets of long life “ J Dow, the American apostle of tem- ice reform, replied, when asked the don: “Refrain from fretting.” naro replied: “Extreme temperance ting and drinking.” G. N. Pope, the aged Tamil scholar. “Be sure to have some gr-at life- to do which holds you upon the for the accomplishment of a pur- atid yon will live.” se words from the Ups of eminent who lived te •. wonderful old age f intense interest, but they are not old and judicial advice of the scien- ently T worked out a plan, the rules llch. if followed carefully, will result ie increased longevity of one's life. Irst word of advice to those who I live long is to avoid disease, espe- such diseases as one is disposed to act through Inherited weakness, la to be done by knowing one’s pre- 1 disposition to disease and exercising the : necessary care, in occupation.general hab- ! its and diet that will indefinitely postpone ! the attack to which one is predisposed from birth. I advise such care in diet and general hahits of life- as will defer as long as possible the hardening of the coats of the blood vessels, that generally comes on before its natural time, and other dete riorations of bodily vigor that are the concomitants or equivalents of the physi- ! cal conditions of old age. In old age the tissues dry up and the joints stiffen. Keep your tissues moist and your joints well oiled. EXERCISE IS NEEDFUL. The first thing needed to keep the tl»- 1 sueg healthy and strong and the various organs in good working order is a cer tain amount of exercise taken every day. Regularly taken exercise strengthens the heart, thereby causing that great organ to pump the fluids of the body to the remotest corners and thereby improving i nutrition and causing all the other or gans to do their natural work and .to ' take a dellg-nt, so to speak, in doing their natural worje. This nutrition abundantly supplies the body with power and furnishes material for the combustion which, when suffl- I cientl'y strong, gives the body the ability to resist chills, which are the na.tural en- 1 emies of life. A prerequisite to the sue- I oessful effect of exercise is oxygen. Hence fresh air in plenty is the second useful ! thing. Among other circumstances influencing . the duration of life, heredity is of the : great influence. Those whose ancestors 1 have lived to great ages have a good chance of longevity, while those whose parents tw»d blood relations have died early have mostly inherited a tendency to short lives, yet it is possible by ju dicious arrangement of the manner of living to increase the duration of their lives, especially by counteracting the ten dencies of which their short-lived an cestors have died. There should be moderation of eating and drinking, especially in regard to meat foods. The rule of moderation applies to the whole life, but the necessity for it Is increased in old age, when the organs and tissues are able to take up only a much' smaller amount of nourishing ma terial than in youth. Few people have an idea of the small amount of food re quired in old age, and the fear of many persons that by eating little they may lose strength is entirely unfounded. In the matter of food my recipe for longevity will strike, I am afraid, the American people in a weak spot. The most important advice is to refrain from large quantities of meat and eggs. The latter, when eaten in large quantities or continually every day for the three meals, or even for two meals, are as destructive to length of life as the regular and free consumption of alcohol. In fact, no matter what kind of food is taken, the quantity should he small. The human body can live and thrive and work op a surprisingly small quantity of nourishment. Great moderation in eat ing Is, therefore, one of the' keys that unlock tli£ doors of long living. SAYS FEW NEED ALCOHOL. As to the food accessories, alcohol is quite unnecessary for most persons, and ought to be avoided entirely, excepting in the smallest quantities. , Little jea and coffee will go a long CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE, Theoorie. (With apologies to Edgar Allan Poe in Town Topics.) It was in the Windy City, I was musing full of pity, on the party that the witty, Wise and manly Abraham Lincoln led to victory of yore, When a journalistic Raven, in my cham ber sought a haven. And I cried with spihit craven, “Tell the worst and get it o'er; Tell me whom they've nominated! Tell it quick and get it o'er I” Quoth the Raven, "Theodore.” “Prophet,” cried I, “thing of evil! Proph et still, if bird or devil! By this roof that bends above us, by the chef we both adore! Tell this soul with grief dejected, if he's going to be elected. Will this country be projected to the dogs while we deplore? He has had three years already, will he have another four?” Quoth the Raven, “Nevermore!” "Be that word a happy token,” I ex claimed in accents broken, 71 ’Tis the kindest ever spoken to a fel low feeling sore; To our ranks good men we'll muster, and we’ll rout this bronco-buster; And that cushioned chair whose luster he is fondly gloating o'er— Chair of Washington and Cleveland he is fondly gloating o'er— He shall sit In nevermore.” And that Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, ^till is sitting On a placid bust of Cleveland just above my chamber door; And his eyes have all the seem ing of a politician’s dreaming. And the sunset, o’er him streaming, casts a shade from shore to shore; And Teddy’s soul from out the shadow that extends from shore to shore, Shall be lifted nevermore. —Town Topics. By HELEN HARCOURT. Written for Sjhe Sunny South OMB time ago the writer re ceived a letter from a lady in Alabama referring to the subject of this article, as follows; "Will you please, for the benefit of the readers of The Sunny South, write an article on the Chinese su gar cane? I remember that in I860 my father planted a package of the seed sent from the agri cultural department at | Washington, and in the fall of that year he had iron rollers .made to crush the cane. From the juice obtained he suc- | ceeded in obtaining a gallon or two of j very dark sirup. By the time the war j was in full swing, people had cultivated j the Chinese sugar cane to such an ex- j tent that the sirup made from it was the I principal chance for sweetening the bitter j cup of rye coffee. Finally the sirup was known as ‘sorghum,’ though why or how j I do not know. j "A few days ago, watching the amber I Sirup flowing into a howl, my thoughts j flew hack to those dark days, i recalled : how the old men, the women and chil- | dren, worked, with the aid of a decrepit horse or blind mule to pull the lever I that was attached to the wooden rollers i of the cane mill. Wooden rollers had to ;be used in those days, as the foundries i were closed that made the iron rollers, and the creaking sound of this wooden i machinery could be heard a mile away. “In the fall of each of those dark days this creaking sound and the hum of the spinning wheel made the music that we ! at home marched by while the boys at (he front stepped to ‘Dixie.’ I have often thought that if the Daughters nf the | Confederacy (of today! knew how this same sorghum had helped to keep the I wolf from the door, they would emblazon a stalk of this graceful cane on their banners. “With appreciation for your helpful papers in The Sunny South. I am truly yours. MRS. R. M. C.” It is pleasant to receive such a letter as t'his—pleasant to read these reminis- censes of dark days gone forever, blotted out by the sunshine of the present, and pleasant, too, to learn just what our le- I gions of readers would like to know j about. So here is the story of that val- I liable cane that was first known as the i Chinese, because the seeds came to us i from China, but was really entitled to I the name it now bears—eorphum. Its story is identified with the latest im provements by scientific men. in the search of the best methods of utilizing to the full this graceful, long-leaved cane of many names and many nations. ITS VARIOUS NAMES. For the sorghum vulgare, or panieled millet, has as mwiy names as there are countries in which it grows. In India it is called javaree; in Egypt and Nubia, dhourra. and in the West Indies it js known as Guinea corn. This latter name is either due to the fact that the plant was introduced into the islands direct from the western or Guinea coast of Af rica. or else to its general use in the feeding of the African negroes in the West Indian colonies. Sorghum was once upon a time so rare a plant and was deemed so wonderful that the seeds were worth almost their weight in gold. A Swiss scientist de ceived as a precious gift from a brother scientist a spoonful of sorghum seeds, and in d«e time published an account of the methods of culture and its results in the "Transactions of the Berne So ciety.’’ It is one of the many advant ages possessed by the sorghum family; that tt flourished in all sorts of soils, requires but a small quantity of manure, but little labor to take- care of it. and, finally, that it takes but little away from the soil in return for the large yield it gives in sirup, forage and seed. In Eng land it was so rare a plant in the year 1596 as to be found in but one garden in the whole kingdom. Sorghum saccharatum was introduced into Jamaica in the year 1759, starting theye also from a few experimental plants in one garden, that of Phillip Miller. From this one little patch “it grew and it grew.” not. till it reached the church spirt, hut ail the rest of the West India islands. The golden colored seeds of this sorghum or millet are sometimes sold by the grocers and are used like rice in the J making of puddings. This variety 01 I sorghum is a native of India and is not i only extensively cultivated there, but [also in China and Cochin Cntns.. in Nu bia, where the stalks often grow to a (height of 16 to 20 feet, they are used, af- jter being stripped of the leaves for fod der, in the building of temporary Luxe 0. j shelters. There are many varieties of sorghum, [divided into two main groups. One oi 'these is the sweet or saccharine sorgum, [which contains a considerable amount of 'sugar; the other is non-saccharine, con taining hut a small amount of the sweet ! principle. The nrst group is raised chief ly for the production of sugar and sirup; [the other for that of forage and grain [and silage. Broom corn, which is a va riety of sorghum, is valued for the man- lufacture of brooms and brushes. Sorghum is believed to have started on Its travels around the world from equa torial Africa, finding a congenial resting place in all the warmer countries of the globe. In Asia and Africa it is today one of the principal food supplies for man and 1 beast. It was introduced into the United States in 1855. and these plants were grown from seeds brought from China. Hence its earlier popular name of Chinese sugar cane Ten years later fifteen other varieties were brought into the United 'States from South Africa, and since then ■ many other varieties have been intro duced. Sorghum filled a "long felt want, and its cultivation has spread very rapidly. Forty years ago it was almost unknown, but once it got well started on its tour among the farmers they quickly recog- i nized its value and f§lt that it had come to stay and to grow. I At the outset of its career in the United States sorghum was raised entirely for the making of sirup and sugar. It was not long, however, before its great field of usefulness as a crop for fo/age and silage became generally understood, and then the second group of sorghums that devoted all their energies to the produc tion of leaves, stalks and seeds came rapidly into favor. Today sorghum is recognized as one of the most valuable forage crops for the south, and especial ly for the drier portions, and for a large part of the semi-arid lands of the west and southwest. In 1895 in Kansas \!one 283.137 acres of the saccharine sorghum, 232,498 acres of the non-saccharine kinds were raised for grain and forage. ! The manufacture at sorghum sirup is still in its experimental stage, but even with the imperfect and crude handling it | has usually had thus far, save in some |few instances, its value has been abun dantly proven. The sirup from this cane, when properly made, is clear and attrac tive in appearance, and has a peculiar flavor that is -generally liked. Its quality, 1 moreover, is being constantly improved by experiments, not only by private manufacturers, hut by government ex perts, under the auspices of the agricul tural department. HELPING THE GROWER. The greatest difficulty hitherto experi enced lay in removing the impurities from the sirup so as to eliminate its usual 1 ■cloudy appearance. By far the larger : part of the 25300.000 of gallons of sorg- ( hum sirup made in this country each year is produced by horse power and sim ple and inexpensive apparatus. It is the ■ smail sirup makers that the agricultural department is especially seeking to serve by showing them how they may make a good thing better. There are tens of thousands of these primitive sorghum 1 sirup makers, and they are worthy of all the assistance that the government can afford them. Sorghum sirup is usually made by sim ply grinding the cane and boiling and 1 skimming the juice, but there are better ways than this, although it may bo that , those who make the sirup only lor home ! use will consider fhe improved methods as "too troublesome to bother with,” for there are many men who will take more pains to *0 the best for strangers, rather than for those who ought to be the first objects of their best efforts. “Anything is good enough for home use.” is their : motto, when it should he "nothing is too , good for those who are nearest and | dearest.” Cloudy sirup, that no stranger would buy because of its unattractive looks, can hardly he more attractive to lone's family, especially as when so much impurity Is left in the sirup, it is liable 1 to ferment. It is a good old saying that “whatever Ms worth the doing is worth the doing well.” It will be impossible in the space of CONTINUED ON LAST PAGE. i Uhe Btisy World Interest in tho Far Eastern situation now revolves arounrj the rumors exten sively circulated to the effect that Russ'n has decided to surrender Port Arthur to the Japanese. Reports substantially state that the czar sees the futility of attempting to hold the beleaguered stronghold, knowing that protracted ef fort in this direction merely means sacrificing an enormous number of men and spending a small fortune in arms and ammunition. The argument is furth er advanced that there will he less dam age to the prestige of Russian arms in an action of this nature than an outright defeat. The plan, as tentatively outlined, contemplates surrendering the fortress; acid all appurtenances, the troops and officers, however, being allowed to re treat honorably, with no clause relating to parole. If such an arrangement js effected, it is presumed that the soldiers thus relieved will he uspd in supporting Kuropatkln’s army, which now stands so badly in need of reinforcements. Another interesting rumor is one which claims that the czar and his counselors, despairing of an early successful issue to the war, and seeing only further disaster ahead for both navy and army, contemplates making peace, advances to lapan through a third friendly power. If an understanding can be reached with out serious loss of dignity and without seriously sacrificing the point? for which Russia has all along contended, an en tente may he reached. All is uncertainty in this direction, however, since Japan” will probably hold out. stubbornly for all tlie concessions which were denied her ten years ago as well as those involved directly in the present war. The czar also realizes that any sudden change of front, even i:i the face of the existing unsatisfactory situation, would cause him much domestic trouble and possibly seriously affect, international relations. In the absence of actual fighting, both Russians and Japanese are devoting themselves toward blackguarding each other. Reports are given to the press of Russian atrocities toward captured Jap anese soldiers, while the Russians re taliate with harrowing tales of the bar baric manner in which irresponsible and ill-oommandered Japanese infantry and cavalry are harrying Korean villages, ravaging women and committing other outrages, backing definite confirmation, little reliance is placed in these sensa tional reports, observers generally being of the opinion that both combatants have ulterior motive- in setting them on foot. It is said that dissatisfaction and open criticism of the authorities is. rife m Russia, while Japan still offers solid and uncarping support to the administration of the war. EAR ADMIRAL AL BERT SMITH BAR KER. who, with his -taff, was shown dis tinguished honors at Lisbon, is a veteran of two wars. He served with distinc tion in the rebellion, being present at the capture of the New Orleans forts and at the siege of Port Hudson, in the Span- Jldmi-at Barhpr ish war he first serv- ! ed on the strategy board, next was as signed to the protected cruiser Newark, later commanded the Oregon, and relieved j Dewey at Manila bay as commander in : chief in 1899. Admiral Barker was born In Massachusetts, and was graduated from the naval academy in 1861. He was made a captain in 1892, and was promoted to liis present position in 1899. He has been commander of the navy yard at Norfolk and also at New York, and it* now chief of the Atlantic squadron. OHX SHARP WIL LI A MB, who was chosen temporary chairman of the dem_ ocratic national con vention, is the demo cratic leader in con gress. He is now serving his sixth term in the house from the eighth Mis sissippi district and is an eloquent speak er and a keen debat- J S William* er. Mr. Williams was born at Memphis, Tenn., July 30, 1854. and after the battle of Shiloh, where his father, a confederate vaptain, was killed, the family moved to Yazoo City. Miss, Young Williams was educated jn the Kentucky Military institute, the Uni versity nf the South, the University of Virginia, and at Heidelberg, Germany, and filter studying law was admitted to the bar in 1877. He also has extensive In terests as a cotton planter. He was a delegate to the convention that nominated Cleveland and Stevenson, and favors Judge Parker's nomination. TT.AS C. SWALLOW, who was nominated r or president by the prohibitionists, is a noted advocate of lotal abstinence from strong drink. He.is editor of The Penn sylvania Methodist and also superin tendent of the Meth odist book rooms at Harrisburg, Pa. Dr. Swallow was born at s c j wallow Plains, Pa., March 5. 1839, and was educated at Wyoming sem inary, being made a D.D. a few years later by Taylor university of Fort Wayne, Ind. In 1897 he created a great sensa tion by an expose of Pennsylvania poll- ticians, was indicted for libel, but was acquitted. The same year Dr. Swallow ran for state treasurer on tLe prohibition ticket, receiving 118.000 votes. He ran for governor the following year, receiv ing another large vote, and again was a candidate for the same office in 1902 Four years ago. at the Chicago conven tion, he was a candidate for the presi dential nomination, but was defeated by John G. Woolley. Dr. Swallow's home lo in Harrisburg. OUR OWN LANGUAGE. (From Vogue.) A newspaper scribe has been drawing attention to the nouns of multitude in the English language and to their con fusing effect upon foreigners. A small boy having erroneously referred to a “flock " of tigers, tne critic asks why should it be considered incorrect to sneak of a flock in connection with tigers? Why should we say any of the following: A host of angels, a shoal of porpoises, a herd of buffaloes, a troop of soldiers, a covey of partridges, a galaxy of beauties, a gang of ruffians^ a heap of rubbish, a drove of oxen, a school of whales, a congregation of wor shippers, a corps of engineers, a bamd of robbers, a swarm of locusts or 1 crowd of people? "A foreigner having referred to a number of vessels as a flock of ships was informed by The Philadelphia Press that a flock of ships was called a fleet; a flock of girls is called a bevy; a flock of wolves is cailed a pack and a pack of thieves a gang. Probably few natives ever reflect upon bow maddening English is in many re spects to the foreigner who undertakes to acquire conversational use of it. Such a paragraph as this helps him to realize the alien's linguistic woeg.