(Biff Bailg BrnupMtflr
PROSPECTOR PUBLISHING CO.
H. B. HKIjBY, Edits* sad PrSfHstor.
VALDEZ. ALASKA
Published Dally Except Sunday_
Entered as Second-Claas Mall Matter.
July 83. 1*12. at the poetofflce of Valdes
Alaska, under act of March 3. 1871.
~tius«nea8 Office and Editorial Rooms
TEL 188
A.ivertlslna Rates on Application
MONDAY. DKfTCMBKR 10, 1017
MAN'S GRADATION.
LIKE leave* on tree* the ia< e of man I*
found—
Now green In youth, now withering on the
ground;
Another race the following *prlng *up
ptleo;
They fall aucceealve and eucceoalve rise
-Alexander Pope
Kl'HNIA ON A 8PRKK._
Intoxicated with their new-found
liberty, the red-flaggers of Russia be
lieve they are living in a modern Uto
pia; that they are sufficient unto them
selves; that they can win over an
enemy by calling him comrade and
that their treaty obligations to their
allies can be automatically cancelled
by their accession to power.
It is as if some cordiale more vola
tile than vodka had suddenly been
placed before the Russian people and
they had partaken too freely thereof.
Untrained in statecraft, practiced only
in theoretical illusions, the extrem
ists are riding the whirlwind to cer
tain destruction—if not from within
from without, if they are not un
seated by the more sober of the Rus
sian people, they will be led to a preci
pice by their designing foes. In any
case they are doomed to fall.
So far as Russia's participation in
the war is concerned that no longer
can be a consideration. It would take
much time with the utmost unity of
energy and purpose to restore it to a
fighting force. We do not despair
even of that, but at best many months
must intervene between the national
spree and the sobering up.
The Bolshevlki, who are temporar
ily in control of the government are
in dreamland. If they are not actu
ally dominated by Germany willingly
they are the kaiser’s tools unwitting
ly. They have fantastc theories of
government. Their leaders are educat
ed, can speak several languages, are
authors of books, yet they do not
know life; and their followers in most
instances are ignorant muzhiks—for
80 per cent of the people of Russia
are illiterate. Naturally a policy
which calls for the distribution of the
lands among the poor and for parall
el solutions of like problems wins fol
lowers. The simplicity of their appeal,
which is overshadowed only by its im
possibility, is the source of the Bol
shevlki strength.
Vet these radicals do not control
all Russia. The Don Cossacks, the con
servative factor in Russian life, has
enlisted considerable support from
the peasantry, in spite of the specious
program of the extremists. There is
no certainty that the Bolshevik! real
ly represent Russia and we hear sol
emn notes of warning from within
which bode no good for the usurpers.
Perhaps, after all, Russia will
awake to the fact that German au
tocracy, militarism and junkerlSm are
its worst menace. If it recovers from
its debauch before this menace has
overthrown it, there is still hope; if
not. It must again face the evils of
czarism in the guise of kaiserism.
PATRIOTIC OONGRK8H.
The Soldiers 'and Sailors' Fathers’
organizations have gone on record
as protesting against the provision of
the federal income tax law which ex
empts city, state, county and federal
officials from the payment of taxes on
their Incomes. The law is palpably
unjust and should be remedied. There
is no more reason why public ofliclals
should be immune than any other cit
ize.
In connection with the attitude of
congress on this subject, a writer in
Popular Mechanics Magazine made
this appropriate observation following
the adjournment pf the lawmakers:
''Congress has at last adjourned
and Its members are now at tame
’mending fetaes’ whet* ssm «^ber
asprant tor Mbgremloaai honors has
been Ingrktlatlhg himself with the
voters. The voice of congress will be
heard in all placea where men congre
gate in hall and park and picnic
wood. He will wave the ‘Dear Old
Flag’ In a fervor of emotion; he will
thrill hlB hearers as he tells of the
destroyer fighting the deadly subma
rine; he will paint a glowing picture
of great battleships from whose mast
heads fly the Stars and Stripes as they
convoy our soldiers and munitions
through danger zones; he will recount
the assembly of thousands of young
men, the flower of the land, as they
fill the great cantonments created as
by magic; he will fill the heavens with
an Imaginary fleet of air craft, so
great as to darken the very sun; he
will appeal to aged fathers to exhaust
their last dollar in the furtherance of
this holy war; aud exhort mothers,
wives and sweethearts to rejoice in
the sarciflce of their most precious of
all earthly possessions. Tears will
even fill his eyes and his voice will
grow husky and fade away into the
breathless sllhtae. Iftnt in a dying
sunset on a lofty mountain top.
"All this will he do. And the band
will play ‘My Country, tls of Thee.’
"But when the war tax Is pain next
June he will not pay his part, for he
has voted to exempt HIMSELF.
“Oh, patriotic Congressman!”
A VERY remarkable war prophecy,
credited to a German monk of Hack
lenburg and written In 1701, was pub
lished In Wednesday’s Herald. It pre
dicted that a prince whose slogan
would be "Onward With God” would
be encompassed by a “wall of ene
mies” and that the "country of seven
stars”—America—would fall upon
the “bearded nation and rend it in
twain” while the “whole lower Rhine
will tremble.” The war to begin when
the grain was ripend (it began about
August 1, 1814) and was to reach its
height “when the cherries bloom for
the third time”—which would bring
the climax in the spring of 1917. As
the war was to last three years and
five months and peace was to be con
summated in “time for the Christ
mas mass," peace, if this prophecy
holds good, must come within less
than a month from now.
What the British reduce to four let
ters in describing their new engine
of war the Germans honor with thirty
five. The German equivalent of the
word “tanks” is "Schutezengraben
vernichtungautomobile” which means
“trench destroyed automobile." One
wonders what the German equiva
lent of “Byng” would be.
A man who once was a peanut ven
dor has Just been appointed to a po
sition on the supreme court of the
Philippnes. It need not be inferred
from that, however, that the peanut
politicans are coming into favor.
HOUSEWIVES are asked to donate
their old sewing machines to be used
in hemming in the Germans.
THE hardest thing about skating
is the ice.
field Weather Predicted
IOWA CITY, la.. Dec. 10.—The gas
hawk has appeared in the State, and
Iowa is preparing for a hard, cold
winter. Professor Homer R. Dill of
the State University here declares the
presence of this bird invariably
means a seige of bad weather, and
he Is urging the farmers and all oth
ers interested to prepare for it.
The gas hawk, Prof. Dill explains
is a bird of the extremene northern
regions, and thrives best where the
weather is blustery and the tempera
ture low.
A 1*1*01 NTMENT8 ARE
MARK BY HOIiZHKlMKH
NOME, Dec. 10.—Judge William A.
Holzheimer has appointed former
Territorial Senator Tom McGanu
clerk of the court and Hugh O'Neill,
a local attorney, United States Court
Commissioner. Clerk McGann suc
ceeds Gilbert A. Adams and Judge
O’Neill succeeds James Frawley. Both
McGan and O’Neill are prominent and
active Democrats.
It Is understood that Deputy Clerk
W. C. McGuire will retain his pres
ent position, as chief deputy in the
clerk’s office.
FISH
Fresh black cod, silver salmon,
halibut and kippered cod Just re
ceived on this boat. Love-Whitley Co.
tf
BTKAM HEAT JfBWLI PORMBTO
SEATTLE HOTEL
MBS. ft HILL, Trapr.
VALDEZ _ALASKA
NOTABLE GATH EKING OF 1787
—i ■■■- ? *
Convent! erTThat Formed Constitution
of OffTted State* Assembled at
FbllsdelpMa May 25.
The convention that formed the con
stitution of the United States met at
Philadelphia on the 2.1th of May. 1787.
The article* of confederation under
which the revolutionary war was
fought were not .satisfactory, and it
was proposed to ameud them. Most
of the delegates to the convention
were so instructed. The states of Vir
ginia. Pennsylvania and New Jersey
appointed their delegates "for the pur
pose of revising the federal constitu
tion"; North Carolina. • New Hamp
shire. Itelaware and Georgia, “to de
ride upon the most effectual means to
remove the defects of the federal
Union"; New York. Massachusetts
and Connecticut, "for the sole and ex
press purpose of revising the articles
of eonfedi ration”; South Carolina and
Maryland, "to render the federal con
stitution entirely adequate to the actual
situation." Hut when the convention
met discussion of the situation let! the
delegates to decide upon framing an
entirely new constitution instead of
patching up the old articles of con
federation.
ilir convention hiii iimrij ioui
months, mill on the 17th of September.
1787. the completed constitution was
signed by the prealdent of the conven
tion. Ueorge Washington, and by all
the members except three. It pro
vided that “the ratifications of the
conventions of nine states shall tie
sufficient for the establishment of this
constitution between the state* so rati
fying the same." The first state to
ratify it was Delaware, on December
7, 1787, ami the ninth was New Hamp
shire, on June 21, 1788. This made It
the coustlt lit Ion of the MIUI that had
ratified It. they const 1 tutlng the union,
but New York did not ratlty until July
26, 1788, North Carolina until Novem
ber, 17811, and llhode Island until June.
1780.
NEW AX OLD LADY’S CHOICE
Tired of Chopping With Dull Tools,
She Is Easily Satisfied, Despite
Newly Acquired Wealth.
tin a clear cool evening In the early
spring a matt on a horse crossed the
ridge of a mountain, and. seeing a
In in the valley, turned his horse
In that direction. The cabin was white
washed and clean. The mountaineer
and Ids family sat on the porch. Sev
eral children played In the yard. The
stranger arrlvisi at the gate and was
Invited In and sat down on the porch
with the family.
"Stranger.” asked the mountaineer,
“are you Interested in our oil up here?”
“Well, no." said the stranger. "I
haven’t much faith In oil. I hear of
these |M>op1p who suddenly strike It
rich, hnt I never find them."
The old man chuckled and said: "I
am one. Yesterday 1 was poor: todu.v
I am rleli. I was just psklng my fam
ily. now that we could have things,
what they would rather have. Now.
John here, he wants n horse, and Mol
ly wants a new dress, and Susie says
she’ll take hooks. Ity the way. wife,
what would you rather have?"
The old Indy never hesitated a min
ute. “Well." she said. ‘Tin pretty tired
cutting wood with a dull ax; I’ll have
a new ax.”—Harpers Mngnxlne.
Romance Hat Vision.
The young gentleiimn who wrote his
I name on nn egg shipped from hla fn
! ther’« farm together with the state
ment tlist he wanted a “nice little
wife.'* notes the Bartow (Fla.) Cour
ier-Informant. has received a blow In
the answer from a woman who replied
briefly and effectively. “Ton poor
hooh!’*
“Has Romance Died?” Is the cap
tion put on the story by hii editor who
prints It. That question Is easy to an
swer. Romance I* deathless. But the
woman who got the inscribed egg had
sense enough to know that the type of
romance Indicated was a flimsy sort ou
which to build a life work.
Love may he blind, but the true ro
mance has viRlon. And It requires a
more substantial foundation than an
eggshell.
May the sentimental youth And a
sensible happiness around the corner.
One doesn’t need to wish romance for
the Iconoclastic yonng woman. She’ll
get her’s all right.
The Delirium of Arab*.
Observation hy travelers and others
who have visited In Palestine show
that the Arabs of the Syrian Desert
base an extraordinary fondness for
tobacco. A few whiffs make them
giddy and give them a headache. Even
a cigarette is too much for them. A
common smoke among Arabs consists
of the dry leaves of a plant belonging
to the genus Hyoscyamus, and called
hy the Arabs “Hekharan.” It has
fleshy leaves and purple flowers. The
smoking of these leaves produces n
sort of Intoxication or delirium, which
the Arabs prefer to the “white man’s,
smoke.”
Smoking Backwards.
The* peculiarities Of the aucieut
smokers are themselves a study as
wen as an education. The negrltos
smoke with the lighted end of the
eigar In their mouth—let the reader
picture In his tniud a man smoking
with the lighted end of a cigar or
cigarette stuck calmly In hts month;
no tear of burning the tongue or other
possible barm; Just smoking and en
joying tin weed aa would the most
unconcerned among white men, who
prefer the lighted end the dfbnr way
around.
Halt Schaffner
&
Marx Clothes.
The Famous
Styleplus Clothes
Make It a Sensible Gift
this Xmas and you will find
them at this store in great
profusion. Gifts for any mem
ber of the family will be here.
Come in and look them over.
FLORSHE1M AND CROSSETT
SHOES
LEATHER GOODS—
Traveling Bags, Fitted Bags, Suit
Cases, Purses, Strops, Etc.
CHINA—
Hand painted china in very pretty
patterns in Plates, Cups & Saucers,
Salts & Peppers, Sugar and Cream
ers, Chocolate Pots, Painted Bowls,
and other pieces too numerous to
mention.
FURNISHINGS^
Suspenders, Shirts, Handkerchiefs,
Bath Robes, Gloves, Etc.
STETSON AND MALLOR Y
HATS
HOSIERY—
For Men, Women and Children in
Silk and Silk Lisle, Cashmere and
Cotton.
ELECTRICAL GOODS—
Chafing dishes, Grills, Percolators,
Warming Pads, Coiling Iron Heat
ers, Electric Irons, Etc.
NECKWEAR—
In Xmas boxes. A very fine line to
choose from.
The store where you have a choice
S. BLUM AND COMPANY
GOOD GOODS ' ”
PROFESSIONAL CARDS.
DR. S. WICKES MERRITT
Offices In Flab Building, adjoining
Tilllkum Club.
Phone 00. McKinley Street.
Contract Surgeon, 0. 8. Army
A. > Hurgeoo, U S Public Health Herv
(Marine Hospital)
DR. H. COCKERILLE
Otslmn National Dshneti
DENTIST
In Valdes Since 1808
PHONE 110
O0ee Roe—a In Whaling Batkttn*
DONOHOE & DIMOND
vrroamnaAT-uw
Ogct OfSMltf Oeart lianas
rrnmmm as UUM1 ALASKA
1 ■ —' — ■ - ■ .. - ' ■
/ohm iron m k it itch
LYONS & RITCHIE
UhM Ip PWltof lilMtac
Pkopp Ml I1UHL «« *«««
ROBERT SIMPSON Opt. D.
JUNKAU, ALASKA
OImmm Fitted IjMMi Ground
VALDEZ HOSPITAL
Prfeete Rooms
Terms ReosonaiMo
jos. a. aammm. Ph. c.. a a. fm».
Jos. A. SiWermss Pi G. M. D.
PHYSICIAN AND 8URGBON
Office boan-1 U 4 p. m —7 toSys.
Sunday by Appointment
Rea. Tel. 17« Office T#L IS
Boyle Block Valdes
Announcement
Christmas silts now on display at
the residence ot Mrs. Graham. All
are Invited to call. Give your orders
early. Hours 10 a. m. to t p. m.
Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Depue.
k-dee-IS
'«■1 1 • ‘ " ■ J
fresh hslk chocolates had a new
Uae of hox caadles at Haat’a. tf
HTKAMF.R SAILINGS
Steamship Admiral Evans- -Sailed
south from Valdez. Sunday.
Steamship Victoria—Sailed south
from Valdez, Friday December 6.
Alameda—Sailed south from Val
dez, Monday, Dec. 10.
Steamship Alaska—Sailed for Valdez
from Seattle. Saturday. December
• 8.
' DONALDSON SCHEDULE
The following schedule for the har
bor boat “LL C. V. Donaldson** will
taka effect today. All orders to the
contrary are revoked.
Monday, Wednesdays, Thursdays,
and Fridays:
Lve. Fort LI scum Leave Valdes
8:1* a. m. 1:1* a. us.
l:l* p. m. 4:00 p. a.
TUESDAY
1:16 p. a. *:*0 p. m.
4:60 p. m. 6:00 p. a.
SATURDAY
1:16 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
7:16 p. m. 10:60 p. m.
11:16 p.m. 16:00 m. m.
There will be no tripe of the boat
on the Jnd and 4th Friday* of eaeb
month, these day* being need to clean
hollers.
Special tripe or cancelling of the
above will be mad* without notice
only to meet exigencies of the ser
vice. _ .
All official business between Val
des and the Post should he arranged
for transaction, what* possible. *e
that advantage will be taken of the
scheduled trip* and extra trip* will
be made at a minimum and made only
when urgently needed.
O. R. KOBHLRH,
Capt. 14th Infantry, A. Q. M.
COL. DAVISON TAKES
TROOPS TO NEW YORK
Col. W. P. Davison recently had
charge of a large body of troops tak
en from the Pacific Coast to New York
from where they were to leave for
Prance. Letters from Gen. W. P.
Richardson say that Col. Davison
spent one day In Washington with
him and Major J. C. Mehaffey, who
Is still in Washington.
SEATTLE ROBBERS KILL
THOS. KNIGHT, CHAUFFEUR
m i ■ f
SEATTLE, Dec. 10. — Thomas
Knight, a public chauffeur, wps shot
and hilled by robbers last night while
returning with a party from the out
skirts of the city.
Arctic Hotel
All Warm, Outside Booms
Transient Trade Solicited
Special Rates bgr the Week or Monti)
Baths In Connection
PHONE 133 MRS. SYR1NG, Pm*
i
J. E. WILSON
Freighting to all points
in the third division.
Horses bought and sold.
Phone 166.
SAFETY FIRST
Travel On The
“SHAMROCK”
Prompt Service
D. D. STEWART Master
LOVE & MEALS
Insurance
Fire-Surety Bond*-Life
.
THE SOUTHERN
i
MRS. BLACKWELL, tap.
Nice, Clean Rooms
• Baths In Connection
PRICES REASONABLE
Phone 194
VaMcz Miners Union No. 188
Western Federation of Miners
W. M, CONLEY Me,
VeUsa *‘—
CEORGE M. BARRY. SsCTstys.