San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 274, Ed. 1 Monday, September 30, 1912 Page: 4 of 12
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^ ANTONIO EXPRESS i MONDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 30, 191
Antonio €*prcs
n,f The Eipross Publishing Company.
Sr
MONDAY, Stit'TEMBUlt ."0, 1U12.
Entered iu the I'ostoffiee at Sen Autonio* 1'whs,
as Second-class Matter.
IOKLK.N Ul'blNKSS 01 lifts.
The J Aim ttudd Co.
Kusteru office, Bruuswick Bull#i:i». New York
Western offices, Tribune Uuildiu£, Chicago#
111.; Chemical Bulldlug, &t. Louis, Mo.
AlitiM'S AND COKKtSI'ONDKNTS.
Washington, l). C.—Auaiiu t'uuuiugbaui.
Austin, Tex.—M. M. Harris, 11- East SSixib
Slieet, UrlukiU iiotei liuiiUiug. U1U phone lsi>s.
Traveling Agents - C. M. Dever, A. J. UeuneUls.
1''. VV. l'attou, Circulation Muuager.
Austin Business otfuo— ii. ii. i'atteison, 11-
K;.st £>i\th Street, Driskill Hotel liuiiUiug. Ulu
phone li>6S.
iUKM.2* Ol hl'BJjfKll'TlON.
Uy carrier— 15y uiail—
! i luoiitn $ Daily, l month....$ .»«>
Daily, l> months... 4.ou Daily, U uiouths... 4.Jo
Duiiy. l- months.. U.uu Daily, U mouths.. b-0i»
.semi- Weekly, U mos. .oU bemi-Weekly, 1- mos. ->1
fcjunUay KUiiiou, by mail, b mos., *1, 1- mos.,
The postage rates for mailing TUe Kipress arc
as follows;
?> to 14 pages 01 5- to 01 pages VI
10 to oJ, pages 0-' ol to 7- pages w
San AUtonio Jbxpress Special Newspaper l'ram
(service luaugurated December Jo, xUOOj leaves
iuteruationul & Ureal Northern Depot at u;-U
a. m. lor Austin, Taylor, Ueorjetown, Heurue
and intermediate poiuis. This train mates an
railroad connections en route. Arrives Austin
0;-0 a. m.; Taylor, h;35 a. m.; Hearue, 11:20 a. ai
Thig is the longest run of a newspaper apeciai
train in the entire South, being miles, uuu
this train is operated solely tor the oeueiit ui
'llie San Antonio Express.
M(« CITIES Ol TL\AS—CENStS 1U1U.
SAN ANTOMO. .M.614 Houston 7S.80U
Dallas i»J,10i i-'urt Worth oil
CIRCULATION liOOkS
OPEN TO ADVERTISERS
uridcncc of the writers. The Beaumont
Enterprise vent even further than the
Houston Post, however, In i's advocacy of
home industry in connection with the adop-
tion of school books. Commenting 011 the
; Post editorial, the Enterprise says: "We
Aould go further and urge the tc\t-book
board to give preference, also, to school
books printed in Texas."
It is noted that among the bids which
have been made are quite a number of
Texas authors and several by Texas publish-
ing concerns, and it is hoped these books
are of sufficient merit to fully compete
with all rivals, in which case they should
have the preference.
COURT REFORM.
' Money talks. To the prudent man it says:
"Hold me tight"; to the spendthrift: "Good-
bv
Jim Smith probably realizes now that
there are some things that can hurt him
worse than the sting of a New Jersey mos-
quito.
The contest betw een the Big Stick and the
Golf Stick is merely a preliminary bout to
the big knock-out Woodrow Wilson is going
to give both in November.
The contributing editor will doubtless
find out that the Colonel's vocabulary is
just as mighty as the sword as an instru-
ment for committing political hari karl.
Attorneys for the Standard Oil trust ridi-
cule the idea that the federal Government
can dissolve it; but when it comes to niak-
:ng light, that's where Standard Oil shines.
It is really not surprising to hear that
President Taft rooted for the Boston team
when it is remembered that it is time for
him to begin warming up to the "has-beans."
The esteemed Globe-Democrat thinks
that when the Colonel takes the stand he
■ may "tell how he didn't know that he knew
; oi the Standard Oil contribution until aftet
lie knew that he didn't know it."
Anyhow, the stork is entitled to its share
of credit for introducing to the world sev-
eral thousand Woodrow Wilsons, which
leads to the conclusion that the stork must
be supporting the Democratic ticket this
year.
. The St. Louis Globe-Democrat is whistling
to keep its courage up. For example: "Wil-
son's vote for Governor in New Jersey in
1910 was 32,000 below Taft's in 1908. Dix s
poll in New York in 1910 was 180,000 less
than Taft's in New York two years earlier.
The Republicans who express confidence m
their party's ability to carry both those
States in 1912 can give good reasons for the
faith that is in them." A little bragging of
this sort may do the Democrats good by
keeping them from being overconfident,
TEXAS SCHOOL BOOKS.
That only merit shall be the considera-
tion which shall influence the State Text-
book Board in its selection of school books
from the great number of bids which have
been opened in connection with the adop-
tion of text-books for the Texas public
schools was expected, and the announcement
that this was to be the rule was scarcely
necessary, yet the board deserves credit for
resisting influences which were brought to '
bear to induce a different policy.
Discussing the question of court reform
in Texas, Chief Justice Thomas J. Brown
of the State Supreme Court told a reporter
the other day that the court system should
be revolutionized, but he did not suggest a
plan of revision.
Justice Brown is one of the pioneer law-
'ycrs'of Texas, has for many years been on
the bench, and is, perhaps, as familiar with
-tiro merits and demerits of the court system
as is any other man in the State, therefore,
suggestions from him regarding the nature
of the changes which are needed wouid be
not only interesting, but entitled to consid-
eration. After so long a career as lawyer
and as judge, having abundant opportuni-
ties during all these years to study the
laws, he should be able to give the public
a pretty accurate idea of what is needed to
improve the methods of procedure.
In the course of the interview, Justice
Brown said:
There are ton ninny eOUrts, and the courts nil
have too mivh time Were It not for tbe lawyers
the Legislature would go ahead and ennet a law
that would fit the need* <>f the cusp. The Su-
preme Court should not have to pass on any of
the minor questions that arise In tho trial of a
ease in tho District Court, but under the present
laws and rules the court of last resort has to
pass on all of the minor questions, or any ques-
tion where n bill of exception has been made by
a lawyer trying a on so. For Instance, if a lawyer
objects to a juror and Is overruled l»,\ tho Judge
011 the bench and the lawyer excepts that ques-
tion eventually has to be passed <01 by the Su-
preme Court; or, if the question of whether evi-
dence is hearsay or not arises, that likewise is
objected to and finally comes to the higher court
to be decided again.
Justice Brown also declared that instead
of creating more courts, those we have
should work more. This, with the criticism
that some of the questions appealed to the
higher courts should be settled in the dis-
trict courts, constituted the only suggestion
made by the justice for the improvement
of the court system. This is alt right as
far as it goes, but does not go far enough.
Manifestly, there is too much of what is
called "red tape" in our court procedure;
two much hair-splitting and too much time
consumed in determining points which do
not vitally affect the merits Of the cases
on trial. But it is not enough to condemn
a system, imperfect though it may be, with-
out suggesting a remedy, and although Jus-
tice Brown holds the lawyers responsible
for failure to improve the system—provided
he has been correctly quoted—it is difficult
to see how a remedy is to be applied w ith-
out the aid of lawyers. Should laymen take
into their own hands the reformation of the
courts, the higher courts would probably
be occupied during the next several years
to come in declaring unconstitutional a great
many laws enacted and in unraveling the
many tangles which would be created by
untrained and unskilled hands.
The State unquestionably needs relief
from the present methods of court proce-
dure, but it needs the advice and assistance
of its ablest lawyers and judges, and to
these it must look for aid in accomplishing
the needed reforms. Justice Brown is capa-
ble of outlining a more efficient court sys-
tem and suggestions from him would com-
mand attention.
A Republican spellbinder who has been
on Roosevelt's trail in the West said to a
Topeka audience: "A party that seeks to
build itself on treachery, deceit and dis-
honesty cannot hope to live. It repels
honest men. Roosevelt's third party is a
lie, and it died a-horning." The Bull Moose
party may be decadent, but it is not yet
moribund. The Colonel will certainly be
able to keep it alive until the November
election, after which it may be put in cold
storage or consigned to the lumber room
of other so-called third parties.
race so close between Wilson and Taft that
the diversion of even a half hundred "flee-
toral votes to Roosevelt would prevent either
of them from having a majority in the elec-
toral college. As a majority is essential to
an election, the contest would be thrown
into the House of Representatives, in case
of failure in the college, and with the two
old parties a tic there—having each the same
number of votes by States—there might be
no election. The Senate, being Republican,
would naturally elect Mr. Sherman Vice
President—the choice being restricted to
Sherman and Alarshall—and if no successor
to Mr. Taft -should be chosen, the Vice Presi-
dent would succeed.
Such an outcome is highly improbable, of
ccurse, but such a thing might be possible.
V |J
THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS.
There appears to be almost perfect una-
j niniity of sentiment throughout the State in
i favor of the adoption of the four constitu-
{ tional amendments, and despite the usual
inclination of voters to blue-pencil sug-
t gested changes in the organic law, it seems
reasonable to conclude that this year the
propositions will fare better.
At least, it can be said that there is now
no apparent antagonism to any of the
amendments which are to be voted on in
November. There was an effort to start a
fight upon the proposal to allow small cities
to change their charters without asking per-
mission of a Legislature, but prompt action
i by the press in showing the fallacy of the
objection made to it appears to have*
silenced the attack, if it has not convinced
those who made it that they were making
a serious mistake. Commenting on a re-
cent editorial in The Express the Galveston
News says:
The San Antonio Express, referring to the
pending Constitutional amendment to permit
cities of 5,000 and more population to ninke and
amend their charters without having to get the
consent of tlie Legislature, voices the opinion
that It will be adopted if understood. AVe our-
selves believe tint to misunderstand it would be
a font beyond the ability of the champion
dullard, so that if the Express' opinion is cor-
rect. we should seem to be assured of its
adoption. "It will be observed," the Express
says, ";iiat the intention of this proposed
amendment is to give to cities of the class re-
ferred to local self-government, which feature
•bould make it popular with a majority of the
people, but it seems that this is the feature
which is objected to by some of the pro-
hibitionists who have been led to believe that it
will give cities a right to regulate their own
saloon affairs without reference to State laws.
A careful rending of the proposed amendment
will correct this erroneous conclusion." A care-
ful reading of the amendment will show that
there was no basis even for the suspicion.
Certainly there was no basis for the sus-
picion, but to assert that the provisions of
the proposed amendment could not be mis-
understood is to challenge the sincerity of
some very intelligent persons who actually
did profess to believe it contained a "joker."
The reading is so plain that it would seem
that any schoolboy in the lower grades
could easily understand it, so it may be
concluded that those who assailed the pro-
vision were influenced by some ulterior mo-
tive, in which case it is not safe to assume
the fight is yet over. It may be that the
present apparent lull is only a change from
artillery to small arms and to the use of
smokeless powder. At any rate, the people
should be kept advised of the merits of the
proposed amendment.
Squire Squiggles expresses the opinion
that it should not be necessary for a girl to
take a course in domestic science to qualify
her for a position as lighthouse keeper.
HADLEY'S I LTIMATl M.
SL'NM JIM'S ( HANCE,
Friend- of Texas authors have been in-
sistent that the board should discriminate
in favor of home authors and that idea is j
commcndablc to a degree, hut merit .--liould
not be overlooked in the interest of home
author . Home indtistp. including author-
* ship, should be encouraged in every reason-
able way, but the welfare of more than a
million school clii'dren should not be sub- |
sidiary to such a consideration, though when
a Texas writer or publisher produces a
school book equal to others of similar ihar- j
acter, it should, of course, be given the
preference.
In a recent editorial the Houston Post
went further than this, however, in support
of the claims of Texas writers. The Post
declares:
Texas authors have produced text-books cov-
ering a number of subjects required to be taught
iu our public schools, and their merits should be
carefully compared with those of other publica-
tions on the same subjects and where merit Is
anything like equal the award should be made
to Texas authors.
With the exception of the words, "any-
thing like," this is very good advice. If
merit is equal, the award should be tn^Jc
to Texas authors, but nothing should be
done by the School Board to deprive Texas
school children of the best books written,
regardless of authorship or the place of
It would.be a bit funny if the outcome of
the mix-up in politics should be the election
of Mr. Sherman, the gentleman sometimes
referred to as "Sunny Jim," as President of
the United States.
Such a thing, while highly improbable, is
by no means impossible. It is conceivable
that the Bull Moose party might draw from
the two old parties enough voters to prevent
either Mr. Taft or Governor Wilson from
having a majority of the electoral votes.
There is no way of foretelling what
strength the Bull Moose ticket may develop
in the West or how strong the regular Re-
publican ticket may prove to be in the East
and in the normally Republican States.
There are favorable indications that the
Democrats will carry more than two-thirds
of the States of the Union—that is, all that
they carried in 1908, with the addition of
such as may be won from the Republicans
through the split in that party, which will
take so many votes from Mr. Taft. But, it
is possible, also, that the Bull Moose ticket
may secure a small number of electoral votes
fron, the Pacific Coa^t and Rockv Mountain
States, and because of the anti-Tammany
crusade, that Mr. Wilson may lose New York
Complications that may arise before the j
ides of November might possibly make the j
Governor Hadley of Missouri, one of the
seven little Governors who stayed with the
Colonel until he bolted the Chicago conven-
tion, but refused to follow him after that,
has now issued an ultimatum whereof the
purport is that he will support President
Taft only on condition that Mr. Taft will
declare immediately for presidential prima-
ries.
It is now up to Mr. Taft to get in line
for the progressive idea which the Demo-
crats were advancing long before Governor
Hadley and the Colonel had .seriously
thought of it, or he may lose the support
of the Missourian who accidentally slipped
into the office of Governor of Missouri
when the Democratic voters were off their
guard.
The support of Governor Hadley may be
worth something to Mr. Taft in Missouri,
where Roosevelt is supposed to be pushing
him for second place in the November elec-
tion returns.
A Bull Moo.
I"or tv'se iof \ ef familiar
With the brilliant fight I'm making,
The things | have accomplished
And the things I'm undertaking,
I've just compiled a little list,
Mr rather mi addendum,
To show that I'm the guy that put
The rend in referendum.
M 'St every man that's worth his silt,
Krorn ''ape Town to (Jlengarriff.
Will promptly t"II yott I'm the guy
That put the if In tariff.
I put the pry in primaries.
By which 1 hope to strike nil
Corruption from the ballot box.
I've changed recall to wreck-all.
I helped to put IS. in trusts
Before trusts grew oppressive;
I'd kick real hard If Arehbohl
i'ut the prog into progressive.
Malicious men and women say,
With wickedness satanle,
I put the rage In suffrage,
When I put the pan in panic.
1 put night in rnjted
Just before I left the states;
I showed Europe how I rope
In both kfturs and potentates.
I out a dent in President,
That sounded knell In Colonel,
When I sought how In White House
To put T. It. in eternal.
James W. Mcfiee.
.— ; >
Hi* Opinion Correct.
Tl British cycling authority who says that
inoi>ir''_vi !{• speed mania is - Misatioiialism and
not sport is entirely correct in his opinion.—
New York World
TEXAS PRESS PICKINGS
\ POINTED EXPLANATION.
Be. inont In! rprise; Newspapers are often
called to t i k by the reading public for the
main • and method of displaying news. Tt is
hard for the prejudiced reader to understand
how s favorite paper can give space and dis-
play t news unfavorable t > his views and un-
fa v or ide to the views heretofore voiced by the
pap. in a measure newspapers gather news
bean upon subjects iu which they are es-
pecla y interested, but tlie well conducted news-
pa pe carries all the news, regardless of whether
it conforms to the leanings of tlie paper or
not. News editors are rarely possessed of a
prejudice. They know only news and their
instinct and training is to display news upon
its merits.
Nothing better has ever been written on this
subject than is the New York Sun's answer to
the question propounded by a critic. The Sun
is vigorously opposing the election of Roose-
velt nd the critic asks why the Sun played up
Roox-velt's speech on the front page and put
Wilson's speech on the inside. Listen to the
Sun's answc, :
"The 'rumblings' in question were the Wan-
derer- pr-Tarnation of his personal belief in the
rec.-. ! of presidents; an extension of his doc-
trine of the recall.
"This w.ts great news. Governor Wilson can
afford to be kept in the background on days
who,i the colonel pours such new wine into the
old bottles.
"Sudden almost to sublimity, and revealing
even in the colonel a deeper depth of capacity
for the dangerous and the demagogic, a new
wildness in that wilderness of political am-
bitions and passions, the colonel's Denver au-
ditorium speech was worthy of the place and
space The Sun gave it. The Sun 'plays no
favorites' in the reporting and selection of the
news; it alms to be Impartial, just to all
parties and candidates, letting each puppet have
nis due hour of strut and wooden dagger.
"Our Newark friend forgets that a lit lie boy
who amuses himself with a stick of dynamite
will get more momentary glory that a hundred
good little lads at a Sunday school picnic."
TEXAS' ( OKN ( KOP.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Advance calcu-
lations and estimates encourage the belief that
Texas has increased Its corn crop full 40 per
cent over last year's production. That is good
news, but unless Texas does even better next
year The Star-Telegram will be considerably
disappointed. Forty per cent increase over Inst
year's crop is a first-class showing, to he sure,
.but last year was not notable for any particular
favors in the way of corn growing weather,
while this year was rather propitious. In ad
ditiou to this, allowance must be made for head-
way in the general movement for better corn
from seed selection and cultural methods, so,
while 1 ex a s goes intOpthe new crop year with «
full corn crib there is still room for expansion
in production.
< IIA KIT Y IN ALL THINGS.
I'el Rio Herald; It never hurt any individual
to act charitable. You don't necessarily have to
give up a great amount of money to practice
this virtue. Of course if you hnveu't the money
you are unable to give it, and it is never re-
quired under such circumstances. But can't you
be kind to your neighbor? Can't you be con-
siderate of other people's feelings? Can't you
respect their religion and their politics and
their ideas, even though you hold to something
different t To be human, intensely human, re-
membering that the fellow who lives across trie
street Is human, and should be treated as such,
Is to bo intensely charitable.
PLAY SEASON OPENS.
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Pretty soon the
big bass fiddle will be fetched down from the
garret, dusted off, tuned up, Its saw buck chug
will be heard in the orchestra pit, and the
theatrical season for lOli'-UUa will be off. let us
hope, to a packed house everywhere. Cynical
folks never are much impressed with announced
preparations for a new theatrical season. They
boll down press declarations of painting and
decorating and new curtains to the purchase of
a stout broom ami four bits worth of extra
Janitor service: reserve their favorite seats, and
show up on the opening night with an out want
display of bored Indifference and an inward
suspicion that the show is sine to be a fright.
Speaking for Texas, the new season ought to
pan out well. Crops are good, people are in
prosperous mood, ami bookings are rather
tempting. Last year was a bit discouraging for
opera house managers over the State because of
several Incidents that reduced business and dis-
arranged bookings. However, the present out-
look Is full of promise and some capacity
houses Texas managers are a goodish lot. May
they prosper accordingly.
PHE.II DICE AM) REASON.
Corpus Christ 1 Caller: As a general thing,
people are governed more often by their pre-
judices than they are by reason ami a clear
understanding of the case. Moreover, It seems
people often prefer to base their opinions on
mere prejudice and to tightly close their cars
to the appeal of reason. Argue with them and
cite Indisputable facts until the cows have
wandered home from the pasture and you have
made no impression whatever; in the end they
will believe only what they choose to be-
lieve because of some preconceived prejudice
In the matter and. notwithstanding its merit,
will absolutely disregard any and all presenta-
tion of fact. While this Is. in part, only human
nature and in this respect i« common to all
men. people vary in the extent to which pre
judice rules their opinions and molds their con-
clusions To find yourself drifting Into certain
channels of thought because of some Inherent,
unconscious, mental force, but ever and always
trying to got at the light, is one thing: but to
wilfully remain in the old way of thinking,
blinding your c.tes to fact and closing your
ears t" all recitals of truth, is a very different
proposition.
SAFETY IN CITY STREETS.
Beaumont Journal: A meeting is to be held
In Milwaukee September .10 to October o, under
the name of the "Co-operative Safety Congress,"
where the subjects to be discussed Include under
the heads Mines. Transportation and Manufac-
tories. As matters coming under /hose heads
have been receiving the attention of the public
for some years it appears that while further
advancement can and should be made toward
protecting life in these vocations, one of. if
not the most Important subject, has been
omitted from the programme. No mention ap-
pears to be made of one of the most prolific
causes of accidents in the country the speed
mania of the drivers of vehicles on public
streets and highways. T lie records show that
inoiv than one do/.en deaths are caused by
rapidly moving vehicles in the streets of the
cities of the l niled States every day of each
year a greater number than those caused bv
accidents on all of tin transportation lines, both
rail and water. The figures are published by |
the dally press lime am] time again, but no
adequate action has ever been taken or even
seriously considered by the authorities for re-
ducing this death rate, nlthou'gh great rejoic-
ing is Indulged in when, by the expenditure of
tens of thousands of dollars, the death rate from
typhoid fever or oilier contagious diseases in
a given city are reduced by t»"n or twenty lives
a year. Is it not about time serious atentlon
was given to the greater loss of life which Is
taking place on the streets or public highways,
due to either inadequate laws, their Inadequate
enforcement, or a failure to properly Understand
and regulate the heterogeneous traffic of a mod-
ern city street so as to eliminate a large part
of the existing danger?
A RAINY SUNDAY
• \ I RANK CONDON.
Uneamed Increment.
The unearned increment Iu real estate values
Ik a thing that has bothered economists from
Adam Smith to Ely. In most American cities the
unearned Increment keeps fur ahead of taxation.
We have never learned Just how to deal with It.
According to William Dudley Foulke, who ad-
dressed the American Civic Association on the
subject, Frankfort on-tlio Main, Germany, hts
come very near solving the problem. The solu-
tion 1* a system of transfer taxation. Every
transfer not due to inheritance Is subject to a
tax of *j per cent of the value of the property,
and If since the last transfer, there has been an
increase of ;i,r> per cent «•» more iu value, there
is an additional tax ranging from H per cent to
per cent. The system. Just as it Is, might not
work satisfactorily in American cities, but it
contains h suggestion that is well worth pou-
a or I n u —N'uuhvllU Uunnar
It was a rainy Sunday afternoon. Muriel Mor-
ris sat alone in her room—a tiny ballroom in
Mrs. Dean's rooming house in llarlem. tm
Muriel's lap was a copy of a Sunday newspaper.
She had looked at the funny pictures twelve
times. She bad pored over the "how-to-be-
beauttful" page for an hour. She had wandered
through the want advertisements, seeking an in-
teresting four lines; she had ga/.ed at. the pi<"
ture of the giant scorpion that held up the
motor car; at the prehistoric man sinolung'a
gas house boiler 'nstead of a cigar; at the Euro-
pean uctress whose waist was smaller than a
bottle of wine. She 1 id been through the news-
paper thoroughly, and finally she laid it down
with a sigli a long, weary sigh that almost
dragged itself out into a sob.
Then she looked out at the rain-—the slow, dis-
mal. sodden, hopeless, unending rain and sighed
again.
Muriel had come from the conventional small
town. She had left a home, a mother and three
sisters. She was employed in a large office in
Chambers Street, where she received $10 a week
for typwriting letters. She was a very recent
acquisition to the city's marching army, and
her acquaintances were the office boy, a dellcat
essen clerk in the next block, who occasionally
sliced cheese fr>r her. and Mrs. Dean.
The day before Mr. Wallace bad said to her
suddenly:
"What are you going to do tomorrow night.
Miss Morris?"
To which she replied, after recovering from
the shock and chinking quickly:
"I have an engagement, Mr. Wallace."
"I'm sorry," he. answered. "I thought you
might like to ru.i around town with ni«» and see
some of the bright lights. They're rather inter-
esting to a girl who has Just come to New York.
Mr. Wallace had walked away, and Muriel had
drawn in her breath sharply. Mr. Wallace U:|S
the sort of a nun a girl fears. He was short
and dark and pale. His eyes were small anil his
lips were thick, and whenever Muriel looked
at him she thought of the terrible things her
mother had told her of New' York and Its wicked-
ness. Besides that, ohe of the other stenog
rapliers had told her:
"If that Wallace asks you any place, look out.
He's a wolf!"
Muriel was very glad she had thought of the
quick excuse. Engagement! She laughed dis-
mally. If she had had anv sort of an engage-
ment for the dreary evening, life might seem
slightly endurable.
At 4 o'clock she combed her hair for the fourth
time, and stared out into the rear court. It
reminded her of a wet sepuleher. If It would
only stop raining! She could put on her hat
and walk for miles aim miles, and finally come
back In a state of satisfied weariness and g« to
bed.
Hopelessly, she peered under the window and
up at the gloomy sky. There was no promise
of better weather. The rain was likely to con-
tinue all afternoon and evening. Muriel sat
down and wept silently.
Suddenly she remembered the boy she had seen
111 the hall of Mrs. Dean's house. Where was he?
Who was he? He was tall, and had large, cheer-
ful eves a round face, and n good-natured
mouth that had threatened to smile at Muriel
more than once. She had not seen him for a
week. Perhaps he had left Mrs. Dean's for an-
other rooming house. The occupants were con-
tinually changing.
It would be nice to know the boy with the
pleasant eyes, Muriel reflected; but no doubt lie
had gone away. 1 ink was against her. There
was nothing to do but sit and stare at the dirty
white, wet walls of the opposite court until
night; and thou nothing but a restless, unrc-
freshing sleep.
Mrs. Dean knocked on the door, and Muriel
opened it.
"I Just come in to change the towels, Miss
Morris," she said. "Ain't it a bad day, though?
It's a pity. A rainy Sunday spoils the pleasure
of people who have to work the other six days.
Mrs. Dean went away with the towels. The
rain continued steadily.
A wild thought flew Into Muriel's mind. She
started up. shocked at the notion. Then she
considered It calmly. Finally she said, pressing
her lips together tightly:
"I'll do it
Very gently she opened her door and crept
downstairs. The halls were deserted, but she
tiptoed along like a desperate criminal at the
door of a bank vault. She took the telephone
book from its hook, and by the dim light of the
lone gas jet she hurried through the pages
"I'll find a name," she murmured. "It doesn't
matter whose name it is. as long as it Is a man.
I mustn't phone to a business office, because
there will be nobody there on Sunday. I'll try t"
pick out a name that looks as if it might belong
to a nice man in a nice part of town."
Foolish, you say'.' of course. Have you evf
b n cooped up alone in a ballroom, on a rainy
Sunday, in a city where you were a stranger
aud friendless? \
Ai\ i a long, heart -throbbing hunt, she found
a fairlv nice name Randolph P. Turner. The
book Jive Mr Turner's address, but not his
'1 co ii pa t i o ii . Muriel lifted the receiver and asked
for the number, breathing with great rapidity
and fearing the appearance of somebody—any-
body,
A voice replied, after a long wait.
"Is this Mr. Randolph l». Turner?" Muriel
asked, her voice scarcely above a whisper.
The man said he was Mr. T urner.
"Will you do me a favor?" Muriel continued.
"A terribly lonely girl is talking to you. You
don't know* me. i am not playing a joke on you.
1 don't kno.v anybody In New York. I picked
your name out of the telephone book at random.
Will you please come here alter supper and take
me to a church >r a concert or a moving picture
show anywhere that's respectable? If you don't,
I'll die of homesickness!"
There was a long silence. Muriel was listen-
ing to what the voice said. She added a few
more hasty, frightened sentences, and gave her
address,
"I'll come for you at 7 o'clock," the voice said
in conclusion.
Having replaced the receiver with a trembling
hand, Muriel da - lied upstairs to her little white
bed. and flung herself upon it in a tumult of
excitement.
"My goodness!" she gasped. "I'm the boldest
girl that ever lived!"
After a time she began to comb her hair again.
Ai (i o'clock Mrs, Dean knocked on her door.
"There's a gentieman t > see you. Miss Morris,'
she said with a grin. "He's waiting Iu the re-
ception room."
Muriel flew Into her things.
"Ib 's an hour ahead of time." she said to her-
self 'but that's all right. My, but I'm fright-
ened !"
At the door of the reception room Muriel paused
and patied her heart, which was galloping wick-
edly. When she went in. a figure arose, crossed
tlie room, and rdiook her by the hand.
"Fin glad to meet you, Miss Morris," he said.
Muriel stared at him in silent astonishment.
She was gazing at the tall boy with the cheerful
eyes a mi the good-natured mouth.
"Why. how in the world how did you did
you get my telephone call?" she said haltingly.
"Are you Mr. Turner?"
"We're going to a perfectly good moving pic-
ture show," lie replied, smiling. "I'm sorry
you've been lonely, and I'll do my best to pre-
vent It in future. The rain's stopped, us it al-
ways does for good people. Come along!"
Muriel reflected that his smile was engaging.
He took her by the arm masterfully, and they
walked down the steps.
"Isn't It perfectly wonderful that I should
have stumbled upon your name in the telephone
book?" said Muriel. "I've seen you In the halls,
you know : but you've moved away, haven't you?"
"Not I." replied her companion contentedly.
"I'm still one of the Dean unfortunates."
'Then how was It that I telephoned you?" she
insisted.
"You didn't.''
"Aren't you Mr. Turner?"
"1 am not. I'm Bob Weeks, and I occupy the
room in Mrs. Dean's house directly opposite the
place where the telephone hangs. I happened to
lie sitting tlii #■. wondering whether to go ntil
shoot myself through sheer loneliness or merely
to jump Into the river, when I heard you at
the phone. I heard everything you said to Mr.
Turner. Realizing that you were In as bad a fix
as myself, and were adopting somewhat dan-
gerous methods, 1 leaped into tlie breach, offered
myself as your companion, an hour before the
strange gentleman was due, and here I am
walking beside the girl I've wanted to knon
for a month. Isn't it lucky?"
(Copyright by the Frank A. Munsqy Company.)
Sartorial Phrase-building
In an age when there is so much good review-
ing done in the newspapers, and books both
good ami bad multiply themselves with startling
ease, we wonder that more serious reviewers do
not turn their attention to the matter appeal-
ing iu the periodicals devoted to men's clothes.
We feel sure that this field of light literature
has been neglected and that more tune could
be spent upon It to the profit of every one.
Among other things, we think that the diction
employed in these brochures might be improv-
ed, although it has a color aud quality ail its
own. For Instance, the reader is bound to get
a confused impression when he reads rwiii.tly
that "trousers should be made without cuffs. '
Trousers, of course, are not worn on llie arms,
but the earnest reader, when he sees that tlie.v
must not be worn with cuffs, is to be forgiven
if lie reflects that he at. least never purposes
to do It anyhow, but to give trousers their
ordinary commercial distance from cuffs. On the
other hand, the votary of fashion must be
treated leniently if. after reading the above
ultimatum, he sticks to his collars but leaves
off cuffs as an accompaniment, to trousers. We
can easily see how a literal devotee of sartorial
periodicals might be very niurh perplexed. If
this matter of style were approached by the re-
viewers in the right mood, we are sure that
inuelt good might be dou<
Again we are told that "there Is remarkable
gayety of colorings in linings supplied to the
better class of trade." Tills tragi,..a,; is full of
pitfalls. Who lines the better class trade, that
is. the gentlemen composing It'.' Would 't
safe to deal with a gayly lined tailor and would
It not be more practical «s well as wiser to
select one not thus decorated? But supposing
that one has misread this passage, as is pos-
sible, and its words refer to what the tailors
make, what practical use is there In gaily colored
linings? We must understand doubtless that the
linings are to be displayed, otherwise their
sweetness is quite wasted. We take it, therefore,
that coats will be worn turned Inside out of a
good deal more than before, while younger men
will carrtf them on their arms, folded back. In
this way much needed color can be added to
modern costume and a certain romantic opulence
given to modern throngs.
We are told that the fancy waistcoat is -ill
light, "but it JUUi4 be dressy without b.'ing
loud." Here is a counsel of perfection; oi,e
must not be dressy and also loud. "Dressy
without being loud'' is the despairing aspira-
tion of modest men with color in their hearts.
They never wish to be loud but on the »i-
tniry to outdo the pansy or the violet, y t too
often the best of them wear waistcoats wi;b
purple eonvolvuli Intertwined on a background
of sea green. What N a waistcoat and what isv
a vest? Here. Is a chance for the reviewers;
in a later passage wo read, "many beautiful
vciings are provided " Is the vest the chry-
salis from wfiich springs the butterfly waist
co.it / De vestings develop into walst«*oats?
What, the critics have done for history mm
belles-lettres, they must do for sartoriography.
Christian Science Monitor.
Dr. Wiley's Stand.
There are something more than 1)0,000,000 peo-
ple iu the United States and the most of them eat
three meals a day. The Democratic party Is
offering a programme which will jnake those
meals cheaper and better. That Is the reason
that Dr. Harvey W. Wiley, the most forceful,
best informed and fearless champion of pure food
iu this country, is actively engaged in the sup-
port of Woodrow Wilson for President. Against
the opposition of interested manufacturers and
the indifference of higher officials lie stood his
ground for years and fought the battle against
fraud In the food supply. His position was that
the label upon a package of food should not lie,
that the appearance of food imparted by coloring
matter aud preservatives should not lie and
that the food handled in the Interstate commerce
of this country should not be poisoned. To pre-
vent him from vigorously enforcing these aim
similar principles the Remsen board was put
over lilin In Colonel Roosevelt's administration
at the request of interested manufacturers. That
board consisted of a number of worthy gentle-
men who poked around iu laboratories and an-
swered abstract questions In a manner which
bulwarked the strongholds of fraud. Roosevelt
went and Taft came. Under our amiable Presi-
dent Dr. Wiley was forced out of office. He is
in the Democratic party now, asking no office
and no favors for himself, but counseling the
voters to declare themselves in favor of a dinner
pail "*hleh not full of benzoatc of soda, for-
maldehyde aiol nut line dye. <»overnor VViisou Una
made it clear that he is in full sympathy with
Dr. Wiley's alms. A vote for him Is a vote for
the suppression of fraud In the food supply.—
St. Louis Republic
About Land Taxation
One of the hardest problems that tllfc tax
assessors and boards of equalization have to
contend with is arriving at the true value of
land for taxation. That the land owners have
two values, one for taxes and the other to sell
by, is the cause of these difficulties. The two
values are generally very wide apart, aud are
so general as to make the distinction within
the range of common custom. The law re-
quires that all property shall be rendered at iu
lull value, aud "there Is where the dog fight
took place." .lust what Is the full value of a
piece of land is hard to say; but as no man
can be forced to part with the ownership of
his lands, it occurs to us that the real value
should be placed on it by the owner for sale
and not for taxation. The logical value is what
it will require to cause the owner to part wltn
the title.
Land •speculation is the cause of many sec-
tions of the country not being dotted with the
homes of the tillers of the soil and will con-
tinue to be until a change takes place. Every
man with a family should have a home, but it
Is getting harder every day to procure them
on account of the purchases made for future
profit by men of ample means who do not care
to invest their surplus funds in more hazardous
enterprises. We do not believe that any man
should hold land other than for a home ac a
higher price than ho renders it for taxes, ami
that any man who does not own a home and
who wants land for that purpose, should ha\e
the right to take any land owned by another,
not being a homestead, at the price for which
it is rendered for taxes. This plan would be
equitable and would force the full rendition of
lands for taxation and at the same time give
homeless families an opportunity to get. a home
at what It is worth. It is well known that
those who own their homes render their prop-
erty for a greater value than do those who own
land for merely speculative or investment pur-
poses.V
ThlgN ig a great question and many fine
points are involved. That it would Increase our
population to more than 10,000,000 souls in the
next decade is very probable. It would be a
greater question than any other, if it could be
made au Issue, and the lawmaking machinery
invoked.
There are millions of acres of bind in Texas,
many being in Atascosa County, which would be
converted from a wilderness into happy home-,
by the tillers of the soil, if it could be forced
from the bauds of those who are holding It for
a value greatly in excess of what it is rendered
for taxes. That lands, fanning lands, are held
greatly in excess of their real value In the
hands of land speculators cannot be success-
fully contradicted, and that these lands should
be ly cultivation ami an opportunity given
those who follow the plow to get .them at
reasonable prices Is also a fact.
Boiled down, let the speculators own all the
land they want as Investments just so long
and no longer than any other man without ♦'
home does not want them, and then let the ~
price be fixed at the price for which it is ren-
dered for taxes, liery man is entitled to a
home and if this Idea was carried Into a legal
enactment, the question of what land Is worth
for purposes of taxation would be settled by the
land owners themselves and not by, as It ts
often the case, a board or officer who Is quite
often hostile to or entirely too friendly with
the big land owners. What do you tlilnk of
it? Atascosa Monitor.
Building a Home.
A famous preaehtr wa» emphatic In his state-
ment that the man v.ho departed this life with-
out leaving his family a hit of land wuS nu
absconder.
Ill these days of easy terms any energetic Man
cau Ret n homo. If he has not enough money
to paj In full, building and loan association*
will help to establish the home.
At the present time the building and loan
societies of the United States have 2,332,829 mem-
bers. The total assets of the associations are
fl.OHO.OST.Wil. Mora than half a million .liomes
are being paid for through the agency of these
co-operative institutions of thrift.
Building associations have been in use in tills
country for eighty years. Their power for good
cannot be computed. Men who would have paid
rent throughout their lives have paid for homes
on the easy-term system.
There never was a better time to purchase a
home than now. Prices of lots will not be lower.
It 111 Id I ii g materials arc reasonable. The man who
is paying rent should make application to a
building association and learn how easy it is
to acquire a home of ills own.
The community with the most homes is the
hest community. The localltle* which arc popu
lated by renters who never feel settled don't
progress. Buy a home with a small Initial pay-
ment and become a permanent resident.-
Oklahoma"
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San Antonio Express. (San Antonio, Tex.), Vol. 47, No. 274, Ed. 1 Monday, September 30, 1912, newspaper, September 30, 1912; San Antonio, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth432405/m1/4/: accessed June 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Library Consortium.