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appeared in the columns of the Atlanta Journal, and that its publication passed unchallenged by Gov. Smith. The speaker, with marked vehemence, de nied that he had made the remark or that any such article ever appeared in the Journal. Whatever else may be said of him, the unbiased observer is bound to admit that Gov. Smith showed himself Tuesday evening pre-eminent in the line art of holding the attention of a large audience, a majority of which were intensely opposed to his election, and quite a number strongly inclined, in the beginning, to demonstrate their disapproval of his course as Governor of the State. To what ex tent, if any, his speech was effective in changing the political views of his hearers, of course cannot be gauged, but it was markedly evident before the Governor had concluded his speech that if personal animosity controlled a part of his audience at the outset, it gradually subsided until it endured but in the form of political antagonism. Perhaps the factor which figured most conspicu ously in the Governor’s conquest over his audience, that is, his success in winning the courteous atten tion of practically all of his opponents, was the courage he evinced in forcefully emphasizing be fore a Savannah crowd his adherence to the very views which are chiefly responsible for the local hostility toward his candidacy for re-election. The Georgian, whatever his political affiliations, strongly admires courage of whatever species, wherever found; whether it be in the main tenance of political convictions or in the physical upholding of personal rights. It is sale to state that had the Governor endeavored on Tuesday evening to craftily evade the issues, his attitude upon which rendered him unpopular in this community, affairs in the Theater would have been controlled, not from the stage, but from the front of the house. Mr. Smith is physically such a big man and so strong looking and his chin and mouth stamp his countenance with such a pronounced impress of ag gressiveness and belligerency, the lover of the “manly art of self defence” cannot help but re mark upon what infinite possibilities might have been open to him had his early talents led him into the realm adorned by John L. Sullivan and James J. Jefferies. This is the first impression upon the mind of the stranger. Unmistakably, that jaw was mold ed by nature to 'withstand impact from the five ounce glove of the prize-ring. On further acquaint ance, when Mr. Smith begins to talk, the stern lines of mouth and chin display a marvelous capacity for modification into those of the persuasive speaker, and the stranger soon decides that perhaps, after all, Hoke Smith made no mistake when he played a joke on nature by taking up oratory and politico, to the irreparable loss of the “squared circle.” DAVID P. DYER. Gospel Truths. It is masculine to be large; feminine to be small. A law of nature was, at some time, violated or all men would be large. God did not give up the job of making men large until he saw there was no use to complete it. Therefore, small men are not the equal of large men. Women, we are told, are superior to men. But, were they not made from ribs, the cheapest meat in the market? Brought to this country in THE REASON 1620, they fetched but 140 pounds of tobacco, and today they are worth only $1.50 in most of the States. In South Carolina, nothing at all. Under <>ur laws they cannot vote, but a negro can. Pericles said that his son's dog, Azor, ruled his boy, that his boy ruled his mother, that his mother ruled him and that he ruled Athens and Athens ruled Greece and Greece ruled the world, —that, therefore, Azor was the rider of the world. Same rule applies to the people's dog, Sentiment. Yet, there are some simple and foolish enough to believe any law, no matter whether the dog Sentiment is behind it or not, can be enforced. Savannah Electric Company versus The City of Savannah. There are indications of an awakening in the public mind of this city to the importance of the a.mendant to the tax ordinance now pending in Council. which proposes to materially reduce the amount of the assessment against the Savannah Electric Company, in compliance with a petition sent to Council by that corporation, asking that this action be taken. Investigation of the financial operations of the Savannah Electric Company, as set forth in its own printed pamphlet, reveals the reason, or one of the reasons, why it desires a reduction in its taxes, but such investigation discloses nothing to which Council might point as justification for favorable action upon the petition. It is necessary to give some figures to facilitate a clear understanding, but they will be presented in such form as not to fatigue the reader. The Savannah Electric Company, which is a part of the Stone and Webster interests, is capitalized, all told, at $6,500,000. Os this amount, $3,000,000 is in bonds and sl,- 000,001) in preferred stock, the remaining $2,500,000 being represented by common stock. This may be said to convey to the minds of pros pective investors and speculators in stocks and bonds throughout the country the valuation which the Savannah Electric Company places upon its Savannah property. The valuation which the company returned to the office of the Comptroller-General of Georgia, as a basis upon which an assessment of taxes should be fixed, was $973,000, approximately. This return it is said reflects a willingness on the part of the com pany to pay to the city this year in taxes in the neighborhood of $11,500. Eliminating altogether from consideration the $2,500,000 common stock of the Electric Company in its capitalization, there yet remains four millions in bonds and preferred stock, upon which dividends were paid last year. Accepting this $4,000,000 as the prospectus value of the company's holdings, between this amount and the amount returned to the Comptroller- General there is a discrepancy of some $3,027,000. Last year the Savannah Electric Company paid in dividends on its preferred stock, $60,000, or 6 7