text: GEHERALD ARHETT Editor i.l ou al m< r*ll iiutiBimlil, Alii. [ficc as second class i». •»lei undor f Congress March 3, lbiit. illy iimi Sunday Ago-Herald . 11.00 Rally and Sunday per month ... .7b ; yi_»a,ily and Sunday, three niontha ?.0o ! Weekly Age-Herald. per unuum .»t' I Sunday Age-Herald .. 3.U0. A, J. Eaton, Jr., and O. E. Young are the only autnoFizvd traveling repie«cii tatives of Thi Ago-Heruid In its cir culation department. >io communication will be published witnout its author’s name. Rtsjoctci manuscript will not be returned unie2J stamps are enclosed lor that puipose. Remittances can be made at current rate ol exchange. The Age-Helaid will not be responsible for money sent through the malls. Address, THE AGE-HEUALD. Birmingham. Ala. Washington bureau, 307 llibbs build ing. European bureau, G Henrietta street. Convent Garden, • London. Eastern business office. Rooms 4b to 60. inclusive. Tribune building. New York city. Western business Tribune building. Chicauo The *>; Beckwith Special Asency. asents .or eign advertising. TEIiEPHOXK Beil (private exchange connecting ml dr|»iirtn»ent" >» Main 4 WOO. _ stay lire .ansae-Unas nil I he h..s handa who cannot <I» <h«. (e*., >«'" 11 leave yourself hurdly one subject. _The Winter's Tnle. BEGISiSlNG TUB u" ,,y Esther. «lve me eyes far the rlinns Ins hues of life. Shaw me .he ronr , .1 of the shlf.lus Beenes—.he pr« rrsslan of day and .r.sIX, .lie mh nennt of the seasons, and all me vnryins voices, farms ""U colors of this world. Thrill me n« I «",k m, awn llvlnu nlans .he wondrous, ll*l.ted renehes of nil Hf- Amen.— | - H. M. E. Cheerful Tommy Atkins The London correspondent of the Independent—and, by the way, our weekly periodicals are better able to present accurate war news to their readers than the daily papers, which are unable to wait for a dispatch to be proved false or true—contributes to that excellent publication an interesting account of Tommy Atkins in the trenches. Kipling has done more than any other man to popularize the British soldier. He has written of him with rare sympathy and insight, but the newspaper correspondents and magazine writers occasionally give us side lights on the character of Mr. Atkins which enhance his reputation for unfailing good humor and the utmost courage under fire. He goes about his fighting in a business-like way, yet contrives to enjoy himself as much as circumstances will permit. In his colonial experiences he has given a fine account of himself and in France and Belgium has admirably maintained his prestige as a first-class fighting man. The most vexatious phase, to the British soldier, of the fighting in Europe is the endless artillery fire which keeps an infantryman burrowing in the earth. Many quaint observations have come from the men in the trenches who tax their ingenuity to devise ways of spending the time as pleasantly as possible, while shells scream overhead and the incessant roar of guns keeps them from sleeping. Rain also adds to their discomfort. The satisfaction of “potting an enemy” is seldom permitted them, because the enemy is as much hidden as they are. But no amount of hardship and discomfort seems to impair the cheerfulness of Mr. Atkins. His humor never deserts him and his indifference to danger has become second nature with him, not realized by himself and scarcely noticed by his comrades. The first British soldier to receive the Victoria cross has just been given that coveted trophy. It is surprising that the British officers have not reported a great many cases of heroism worthy of reward. The Kaiser distributes iron crosses with a generous hand. Perhaps this will result in cheapening the iron cross in Germany. The Democratic Victory As was published by The Age-Herald yesterday in its Associated Press news, the latest compilation of congressional district returns gives the democrats a majority of 31 in the House of Representatives. Sydney J. Bowie in an interview which will be found on another page, points out an interesting phase of the situation. He says that 31 in the House over all does not measure the real majority, for on probably 90 percent of the questions which arise the progressives will vote in the future as they have voted in the past, with the democrats. Mr. Bowie, who served three terms in Congress, and who is still an active worker in the democratic party, figures out that the democrats will command, to all intents and purposes, a majority of approximately 50 in the House, which is “as large and half again” as the republicans have had in Congress, as a rule, since 1898. The democrats gained three senators from the republicans which will give the party in power a majority of 116 over all. President Wilson and lant over the result of the elections on the third of November. Mr. Bowie's analysis will be read with much interest. City News New Post Office Birmingham needs a new post office. The need was considered urgent several years ago, when the government began acquiring property for the site. With the growth of Birmingham, the demand for a new post office naturally becomes more pressing. The government has expended on the old post office now in use a good deal of money for improvements and expansion, but today the building is altogether inadequate. It is overcrowded and is insanitary. Nearly two years ago Congress appropriated $1,000,000 for the projected post office, $200,000 of which, or so much might be needed, was to be applied to the payment for additional real estate purchased for the site. The sum of $800,000, or perhaps $825,000, for the last piece of realty acquired cost only about $175,000, should be available for the building this winter, but owing to the congested condition of the work in the architects' division of the treasury department, the Birmingham post office will not be reached, it is said, before 1916, unless the matter is taken up out of its regular course. In order to expedite this important enterprise, an extraordinary effort on the part of Alabama's senators, backed by the civic organizations of Birmingham, will be required. Senator Frank S. White is deeply interested in the question. A recent inspection of the old post office quarters impressed him with the fact that a new building is badly needed. He will proceed without delay to induce the supervising architect's office at Washington to employ an outside architect if necessary to draw a design for the new edifice. A meeting of the Chamber of Commerce has been called for next Tuesday to take the proper action for cooperating with Senator White. The government has an excellent site for the post office—an entire block front on the north side of Fifth Avenue from Eighteenth Street to Nineteenth Street—a frontage of 400 feet with a depth of 190 feet. Now let the business men and property owners of Birmingham make a united, earnest effort and ground will be broken for the post office within the next year. In its large and costly buildings, the government has an eye to beauty and strength as well as a mind to the utilitarian side. And that being so, the work of construction is carried on without rush. After the excavation is made and the cornerstone laid fully two years will be required in bringing the edifice to completion. Eight hundred thousand dollars will be ample to start with, but before the building is completed and furnished another appropriation on the part of Congress will be in order. In view of Birmingham's great future, while the government is at it, we should have a $1,500,000 appropriation. 000 post office. Mr. Hewitt's Prophecy Everyone who is interested in the iron and steel trade or in the progress of the Birmingham district has read the prophecy of the late Abram S. Hewitt relating to the iron centers that would dominate the world. Mr. Hewitt was well referred to as a business statesman by pre-eminence. He had a large investment in the iron industry and no one had a broader view of this country’s future. He predicted that within a few years the commanding centers of iron and steel would be one in the extreme northern section of the United States and the other within a few hours of the southern gulf ports. Mr. Hewitt’s prophecy as printed at the time—about fourteen years ago—has been reproduced time and again in The Age-Herald and in other southern papers, to say nothing of leading trade journals. In the Birmingham district, the world sees today a fulfillment of the Hewitt prophecy. The industrial captains who attended the meeting of the American Iron and Steel institute here recalled the words of Mr. Hewitt, and President James A. Fanelli of the United States Steel corporation spoke along the lines so clearly presented by the lamented capitalist, economist, and ardent democrat. Various industrial and financial writers are having a good deal to say now about the Birmingham district, and not a few of them have coupled the words contained in Mr. Hewitt’s revision and the practical views expressed by members of the Iron and Steel institute in connection therewith. “Holland,” in his letter appearing in today’s Age-Herald, discusses this subject and with clear insight into the industrial situation connects Mr. Hewitt’s prophecy and Mr. Farrell's Birmingham speech. The benefit which this district derived from the meeting of the institute cannot be overestimated. Not only have the papers been full of it, but it will be discussed by industrial journals for a long time to come. The Eniden did more than her share of work before she met an honorable title. Although nominally a tributary state of the Turkish empire, Egypt has been controlled by Great Britain for more than 10 years. In 1889 Ismail Pacha obtained from Turkey, by heavy bribes, the Persian title “Khedive,” which means being. In 1870 Ismail Pacha asked the help of the European powers in conquering Central Africa. In the wars with the tribes of the interior Great Britain took a prominent part, and when peace was assured she was equally prominent in shaping the future policies of Egypt. Since the rebellion of Arabi in 1882 no important decree has been promulgated in Egypt without the approval of Great Britain. France lost her hold on Egypt, where she had dual control with Great Britain, following the revolt of Arabi. The administrative government is in the hands of ministers who are appointed by the Khedive. One acts as prime minister. There is also a legislative assembly and provincial councils. The heads of the various departments formulate such decrees as they deem necessary. These are considered in the ministerial council, and if approved are sent to the Khedive for his signature. A British financial adviser is an ex-officio member of the council, but has no vote. He passes on all appropriations and payments of money. The organization Of the army is also in charge of British officers. English soldiers are an irrepressible lot. They play football between battles, quite regardless of the fact that a stray shell is apt to break up the game by blowing some of the star players to atoms. It is said that the route of a German army is strewn with bottles and that of an English army with empty tin cans, which may explain why the German soldiers are always singing. Carl Hans Eody probably won more fame by being executed as a German spy in the Tower of London than he would have gained had he lived out his full thieescore years and ten. The suggestion has been made that the name of the “River of Doubt" be changed to “Salt river.” That would hardly do, as “Salt river” is a typical North American stream. Amusement managers of Paris are thinking of opening up their houses again. Doubtless the Parisians at home are beginning to grow restive under so much solemnity. Japan has promised to hand over Japan to China. By doing so, she will appreciate the standard of international honor which is just now at a lowebb. Pittsburgh reports a boom in stogies. In the words of Al Reeves, the famous burlesque comedian, “Uncle Joe” should say, “Give me credit.” Football fatalities are so few and far between, compared to the fatalities along the battle lines in Europe, that they are hardly noticed. Maybe the pocket wireless will be so highly developed that a bill collector can find out whether or not you are in before he calls. At a time when Mr. Hobson might well lift his voice for A larger navy, he remains strangely silent. Still, it's too early yet to expect any dispatches from “Tsaigrad” announcing Russian victories. Colonel Roosevelt still believes that a "big stick" safeguards peace more than pious platitudes. Enver Bey seems to be the man who is chiefly responsible for putting Turkey on the toboggan. HELPING BUSINESS From the Cleveland Plain Dealer. In view of the statement that London landlords are experiencing difficulty in filling the upper floors of their hotels because of the general fear of Zeppelin bomb droppers, it is suggested that the hotel circulars should be enlarged after this fashion: "The Hotel Cicely. Every convenience. Smoking rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms. Fine view of the Thames only six blocks away. Cab stand 'round the corner. Bombproof roof covered with resilient eight inch armor plate. Heavy steel nettings supported on wrought iron supports. Bombs striking netting are retarded in descent. Should they strike armored roof they rebound into the street or onto other roofs. Street porte-cocheres have bombproof conical roofs with skidding sides. No bombs will be tolerated on the premises. The patronage of timid families is solicited. Absolute safety guaranteed." All of which, probably, isn't any more grotesque and unreliable than the original story of the deserted upper floors. LUKE M'LURE SAYS From the Cincinnati Enquirer. A woman wouldn't want her own way if she could have it. The modern girl's idea of love in a cottage is to have a $800 bungalow. The average woman would rather have a family tree than a business plant. The old-fashioned woman who could operate all 1875 model washboard now has a daughter who Can operate a 1914 model auto and who imagines that clothes wringer are equipped with Belf-starters. When you are thanking the Lord for your friends, add a few words of gratitude for your enemies. One enemy in good working order makes you behave yourself and gives you more free advertising than all of your friends put together. This may sound queer. But if you put a man on the back too often you will cause his head to enlarge. A Texas man says he has produced a deodorized onion. This is real progress. It will make the onion as popular during courtship as it is after marriage. The average wife seems to have the idea that the way to preserve a husband is to keep him in hot water all the time. All men are liars. But the 1914 June crop of brides is just beginning to realize the fact. When a widow marries the second time, she isn't entitled to a divorce. She knew just exactly what she was going up against. The high cost of living wasn't much of an item in the old days when a dime package of cornstarch was used to powder the baby after his bath, make mother's face beautiful and produce a glow of luscious mincemeat for dessert. IN HOTEL LOBBIES Enjoying Visit to Birmingham Judge J. J. Banks, formerly of Birmingham, afterwards of Denver, and now of Los Angeles, has been cordially greeted by his old friends here since arriving a few days ago for a social visit. "Birmingham has made wonderful strides since I was here last, and all in all, it is the best city I know of in this country," said Judge Banks. "I love Birmingham, and am looking forward with pleasure to the day when I will be able to return here to live. I am glad to see so many of my old associates and acquaintances looking well and prosperous. I hope to meet all of them before I return to California." Champ Clark Tomorrow Night "Champ Clark will unquestionably draw a great crowd at the High school auditorium Friday night," said Dr. J. H. Phillips, superintendent of the Birmingham public schools. "He is entertaining as a political stump speaker and he has the reputation of being especially attractive as a lecturer. What he says will be enlivened with good American humor. "Mr. Clark comes in the Lyceum course. The season tickets already sold would insure a very large turnout, but single admission tickets can be obtained at the door for 75 cents, and there will, no doubt, be quite a number of persons present who are without season tickets." Public Service Corporation "If the United States court’s decision to the effect that public service corporations have no right in law to demand a deposit before turning on lights, gas or water, or for other public service, means anything, it should, in my judgment, release from $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 here in Birmingham." said W. O. Lanning. "This would greatly relieve the financial situation, for that amount of money put into circulation—money now tied up—would help to hasten the coming of abundant prosperity." Steady Growth of Woodlawn "Woodlawn grows steadily and prettily," said J. B. Gibson of the Woodlawn Realty company, "and in no part of Birmingham has the city beautiful idea received more practical attention. Not only is this shown in the prettily kept lawns and gardens, but especially in the homes that are being constructed as well as many that are already occupied. Local pride in its schools and its unusually fine churches and attractive homes is strong and the citizenry ranks with that of anywhere on earth in all that goes to make up a good people. "Woodlawn has three car lines. The building of the Tidewater has greatly stimulated the growth of our section of Greater Birmingham, particularly the Woodlawn Highlands, where many very beautiful homes have already been constructed. The Gate City car line and the First avenue line of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company, together with the Tidewater, reach every part of Woodlawn. The construction of the First avenue viaduct, will do much to stimulate further development in Woodlawn and will be a great benefit to her citizens, who by the way, are to a large extent, owners of their homes." Farmers With Cotton Cheerful Frank Richardson of Mooresville, in Limestone county, was in town yesterday. He was secretary and general manager of the Birmingham Paint and Glass company for a number of years, but for the past Year has resided at Mooresville, where he has engaged in extensive farming operations. “The farmers in my section of the state are pretty cheerful over the outlook.” said Mr. Richardson yesterday. "We raised bumper crops—the largest in fact ever known in our neighborhood—and notwithstanding the advance in prices the past week most of the farmers are holding cotton for a higher market. I think the extra large production will partially balance off the lower price and that we will come out in first-rate shape." Returned from Deer Hunt Col. W. B. Deedy returned this week from his annual deer hunt with Greenwood Hunting club of Mobile. The club had a successful seven days’ outing, killing 11 deer. Colonel Deedy got a fine buck, it being the third he had killed in the three last annual hunts. In Several Southern States One of the visitors to Birmingham yesterday was H. M. Tucker of Richmond, purchasing agent of the Virginia-Carolina Chemical company. Accompanied by Culpepper Exum, he was a guest at the Rotary club luncheon at the Tutwiler. “I had not been to Birmingham for about 16 years,” said Mr. Tucker. “The city has grown so large and is so changed I could scarcely recognize it. “My old home is Charleston, S. C., but my headquarters being at Richmond now, I have taken up my residence there. Virginia is a very prosperous state, and Richmond is a very solid and progressive city. Another southern state with which I am familiar is North Carolina. I was there recently and was glad to find prosperity prevailing. North Carolina is well off. It produces a variety of crops and has a variety of business interests. “In South Carolina, the low price of cotton has caused business to be somewhat quiet, but as cotton is advancing, the farmers who have the staple for sale are naturally feeling more buoyant. The south as a great section will come out well this year despite the bad cotton situation a month ago. The farmers will get better prices than it was generally thought they would, and business will be benefited accordingly.” THE GALLANT GORDON'S From the Dundee Advertiser. Rising, rising, rushing like the tide, Gay goes the Gordon to a fight— Sings the poet of the Gordon Highland ers, who have suffered severely in the fighting in France. To the credit of the regiment stand the capture of the Dargai Heights, in the Tirah campaign of 1897, and the rush through the sheet of lead which helped to sweep the Boers off the ridge of Elandslaagte in 1899. In the desperate 26-hour struggle of Waggon Hill the following January when the fate of Adysmith hung in the balance, the Gordons had their full share of the fighting under the stalwart Miller-Walnutt, “a man cast in the mold of a Berserk viking,” says Sir A. Conan Doyle. Another Waggon Hill on a small scale there was toward the end of the war, when at Reitz they put up a magnificent and successful defense under terrible punishment against 500 Boers. WAR ECHOES Glasgow Times: Khaki, the color which renders soldiers so difficult to see, was discovered by a happy accident. The British troops in India wore a cotton uniform which, when it was new, was khaki in color, but after a visit to the laundry was undescribable. A Manchester business man, discussing this defect, remarked casually that a fortune awaited the man who could find a khaki dye that neither sun, soap nor soda would fade. A young officer heard the remark, hired a skilled native dyer and began the search. Years passed in fruitless experiments, till one day, passing over a heap of rags, relics of their failures, they chanced upon one piece which was still khaki, though the laundry had worked its will. But it had received no special treatment, so far as they knew, except that it had fallen into a metal dish. That was the secret. The metal of the dish and the chemicals in the dish had combined to produce that fadeless khaki color which makes soldiers invisible and turned the lieutenant into a millionaire. Dispatch from The Hague to the London Standard: Mention has been made of the frequency with which the Dutch regiments on frontier duty have to be relieved in order to prevent them from coming to blows with the Germans. The German minister at The Hague has just received an address from three Dutch battalions in Limberg, who ask him to inform the Kaiser that they can personally testify to atrocities committed by German troops on the Belgian frontier. The communication concludes with an expression of profound indignation at the sights witnessed, and warns the minister that if by chance German troops should violate Dutch territory, the Dutch would kill them to a man, if only to take some small revenge for what the heroic Belgians had to suffer. The minister has communicated all this to the Dutch government, and made a formal demand that the affair be inquired into and the soldiers punished for what he terms “their insulting and lying communication.” Dispatch from Belgium in the London Post "The King is the real, active directing commander in chief of the army. His office is near the front, and he is at the office early in the morning, sometimes at 8 o’clock, rarely later than 8 o’clock. A little inn near by sends him luncheon. It is very simple, sometimes lacking even in what a middle-class citizen of London would regard as the ordinary comforts of the table. Of course, the King could get anything he wanted, if he chose to employ the military transport to bring it up from the coast. He is so vitally absorbed in his work, however, as to be indifferent to his comfort. So long as he can get a cigar after luncheon, he is satisfied, and even that has sometimes been lacking. “In the afternoon, the King’s labors continue. He has visits to receive and to make. He goes often to the trenches. Of late, he had decided that the Belgian army would be encouraged if it saw a little of the ceremony and panoply of war; so reviews are fairly frequent, and when there is a chance for a regiment ordered from one part of the front to another to march past the King with music, the chance is taken. “Sometimes it is nine in the evening before the King leaves his office, but more usually he goes at six or seven, probably to his temporary palace which the German airmen are always seeking out with bombs, but which happily they have not yet found. He continues then to carry on the work of state, but his day’s labor in the public eye stretches to an average of eight or nine hours.” ALABAMA SANCTUMS Germany On the Gridiron From the Anniston Star. Germany carried the ball to the 10-yard line, but failed to drop kick and then fumbled. Site's Still Afloat From the Tuscaloosa News. Judging from the way the republicans hit the democratic ship of state one would infer that they had some submarines. At the Pie Counter From the Gadsden Journal. All parties continue to find good points about the last election. But the democrats got the most out of it. What Doings Did From the Opelika News. The people of Dothan are to be congratulated on the fact that they pulled off a successful fair, notwithstanding the war and the consequent low price of cotton. Time to Change From the Montgomery Advertiser. London makes much of the "rumor" that German soldiers are making preparations for a "hard winter campaign" by laying in a supply of fur for the "puppy." Wonder if London expected the Germans to wear straw hats this winter? Let's Have Christmas From the Huntsville Times. The suggestion has come from some quarters that because of distressed business conditions that there be no Christmas trees or exercises of that kind this year, Silly idea. The Daily Times protests against any such suggestion and favors every good boy and girl having a visit from Santa Claus this coming Christmas just as heretofore. The churches should go right ahead with their Christmas tree preparations, the able homes should see to it that Santa Claus makes his presence and then proper effort should begin early to see that the worthy poor children are not forgotten. "AMUSEMENTS" From the Kansas City Star. The clever Mr. G. B. Shaw (one gets a little tired of calling a genius clever; but that seems to be the expected adjective—the clever Mr. Shaw has a character "Doolittle" in his recent play, "Pygmalion." He is a London nervy whom two gentlemen are purposing to raise to a higher station. Here is part of the dialogue: Higgs (rising and going over to Pickering): "Pickering, if we were to take this man in hand for three months he could choose between a seat in the cabinet and a popular pulpit in Wales." Pickering: "What do you say to that, Doolittle?" Doolittle: "Not me, governor, thank you kindly. I've heard all the preachers and all the prime ministers—for I’m a thinking man and game for politics or religion or social reform same as all the other amusements—and I tell you it's a dog’s life anyway you look at it. Undeserving poverty is my line. Taking one station in society with another, it’s—it's—well, it’s the only one that has any ginger in it, to my taste." Don't let the wit and the sarcasm of that take your eye from its pain thought. "All the other amusements"—politics, religion and social reform being instanced. Politics and baseball are on a par in a great many persons' minds. ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES, A MAID TO LOVE, There was a little girl Without a Fishhook duH. Who didn't try to follow all the styles; And when she went to stroll. Why, bless her simple soul! Her face was ever wreathed with happy smiles. Her clothes were fetching quite. But she did not look a fright, In neither hat nor gown was she extreme. Yet, the men—what fools they are!— Stood admiring her afar And everyone declared she was a dream. MOST ANNOYING. “I try hard to love my neighbor as myself, but sometimes it is extremely difficult,” said the near-optist. “What’s the trouble now?” asked the confirmed pessimist. “He insists on borrowing my phonograph to play his own collection of records, which includes all the national songs of Germany.” “Well?” “I sympathize strongly with the allies.” HELPING HIM OUT. “I see you are bursting with an epigram. Let's have it.” “A woman is always in fine feather when she has one on her hat.” SELDOM HAPPENS. “Our only millionaire has had a very unusual career.” “Unusual, you say?” “Oh, decidedly. He has the same friend now he had when he was poor." O DEATH. WHERE IS THY STING?” (Advertisement in a Minot, N. D., Exchange, “Discovered” by Luke McLuke.) Death is only a dream so peaceful and sweet; A. England has caskets both pretty and neat, And when our friends pass on day after day It's a pleasure to know who laid them away. DOWN WITH THEM! The A'haps, we say. In times like these Who'd do away With Christmas trees And aen.contend There is good cause To make an end Of difficulties. Should be suppressed By all right thinkers, For each one's breast Is filled with elinkers! A FELLOW FEELING. "A mystic says it is always painful for him to come back to earth," remarked Gadsby. "I'm in the same boat," said Jayson. "Every time I come back to earth, I have a headache." AN UNDEVELOPED EAR. "What is that piece Miss Pounders is playing on the piano?" "She says it is supposed to represent the clash of two souls." "What does it sound like to you?" "It sounds to me like a gas heater falling down the back stairs." EXACTING POSITION. "It is no easy matter to act as toastmaster of a 'highly successful' banquet." "That is the truth. The toastmaster has to remain reasonably sober." UPPER SIDE BYRDETTE. Next James Whitcomb Riley, Robert J. Burdette, reported critically ill at his home in Los Angeles, is perhaps the most famous member of the American Press Humorists’ association. He is noted both as a preacher and as a humorist, having conducted at one time a widely quoted "column" in the Burlington, Iowa, Hawkeye. The cheery optimism of Dr. Burdette has sweetened the lives of many people and the sympathies of thousands who admire him without ever having seen him. Attend him in his hour of suffering. The world can ill afford to lose the author of "Keep Sweet and Keep Moving." PAUL COOK. AFTER TING-TAO From the Chicago Tribune. 1. Port Arthur, January 1, 1905. 2. Tsing-tao. November 7, 1914. As the taking over of Port Arthur and Tallowan by Russia, the utmost mark of the advance of Europe on the far east? Post Arthur was China's. Japan captured it. Russia took it away from the victor. Port Arthur became Russian, Russianized, the Gibraltar of Russia's empire in the orient. Meanwhile at Tsing-Tao Germany was building another Gibraltar. Kiauchau was German, Germanized. England was long before them at Hongkong, and she took another foothold at Wei-hal-Wei. These were outposts of Europe's farthest advance upon Asia. Then Port Arthur fell before Nogi. Was that the turn of the tide? After seven years the Germans lose Ting-Tao. What will go next? Are the Asiatics taking back Asia? History will have an interesting tale to tell of the invasion of the east by the west, and it would be a confident observer who would say at this moment what the course of events is now to be. If Germany triumphs and her great dream of a new Rome becomes a reality, the loss of today may be canceled. But if she fails, what then? Will Japan go unpaid for her service? She has paid blood for Tsing-Tao. She has done more. Her power has been recognized; her aid has been eagerly sought by the great powers of the west. When the European conflict is over, her place will be higher than ever, her prestige greater, her power in every sense augmented. In the readjustment of Imperial politics which will follow peace, her voice will be well nigh decisive as to the situation in the far east. If in the course of this war she is called upon, as she may well be, to take an even more costly and important role in events than she has thus far, for example, in the case of serious internal disturbances in India or Egypt, her pay will be the higher when the accounting is reached. If her hegemony in the far east is implicitly accepted now there will be no doubt of it then, and the destiny of the Pacific, at least upon its eastern shores, will be shaped in the next period by her. With Great Britain deeply indebted to her and Russia complaisant, for the time being, at any rate, through the relief of her situation in the near east, and Japan’s strength advertised throughout Asia, the island empire of the east will tower over the orient. If this be ordained by fate, what will be its effect upon Asia and upon the world? The expansion of Japanese influence and the recession of European imperialist enterprise in China means a distinct progress toward fulfillment of the doctrine of “Asia for the Asiatics.” But whether it is a part of or consistent with the movement which in Europe has been the most significant development of recent years, the self-realization of nationalities may be doubted. If Japan proceeds to develop the imperial idea on the most aggressive lines, to Japanese Asia, she will encounter the nationalist tendencies which her own spectacular rise to world power has stimulated and will continue to encourage. On the threshold of such an Imperialist adventure she will find the Chinese, who already has disposed of the Manchu. Indifferent as are now the masses of this people, it is not unlikely that they would interpose a formidable resistance to Japanese dominions. Nationalist ambition in India certainly would not accept it willingly. But if Japanese statecraft continues to be as wise and farsighted as it has been during the last generation it will move on sounder lines, consolidating Japan's power without premature experiments in militant imperialism, which would awaken her in her critical present without adequate compensation in the future. But speculation upon the course of events in Asia is confronted by possibilities so vast as to stagger the imagination, and this at a moment in the history of China and the Pacific. which may largely determine their fate for centuries. UNDERWOOD From the Washington Star. Mr. Underwood in the Senate will be watched with much interest. Ordinarily, a new senator must wait for his beard to grow. The oldsters are sensitive about prominence for a youngster. But the new senator from Alabama will come into the chamber with a national reputation as a legislator, and therefore not to be treated on the ordinary score. He is already equipped like a veteran and, in the congressional sense, is a veteran. Will he like the change? The question is already under discussion, and opinion is divided. Those who predict he will, point to his temperament, which, they think, is better suited to the Senate than to the House. He has had marked success in the House, and has led it under difficulties, but by methods not associated with so large and at times so turbulent a body. Those who will not be surprised if he shows disappointment suggest that if there is a second Wilson administration, he may become connected with it as a member of the cabinet. His talents and experience would fit him for any one of several portfolios. If the temptation is presented, Mr. Underwood would do well to meditate on a choice that John G. Carlisle made. The Kentuckian—the state's most intellectual contribution to political life since the days of Henry Clay—had only a few years before entered the Senate after making a brilliant record in the House, when Mr. Cleveland invited him into his cabinet, and Mr. Carlisle accepted, to the regret of many of his admirers, and, as they afterward contended, to his own and the party's loss. The reasoning ran like this; Mr. Carlisle was the master of the subject which was coming up in the Senate—the tariff—and had he remained there would have been the leading figure on the democratic side. He would have been matched against Mr. Gorman when the latter undertook the revision of the Wilson House bill, and stronger in the contest than those who entered it in support of the strictly anti-protection party policy. But when the fight came up, Mr. Carlisle was in the treasury department, associated with the unpopularity of the administration which was rising rapidly; and in the end, he went down with his chief. And thus were lost to the public the services of a man then in his intellectual prime, and a power in all debate marked by research and illuminating statement rather than by stump fury and lawlessness. The tariff is coming up in the new Congress, and Mr. Underwood should be there to bear a hand. Should he ever change his seat in the Senate for one at the cabinet table, he might live there. WACO'S CORONATION BALL. Judd Mortimer Lewis, in the Houston Post, (To George Lazenby.) Holding tight hold of your two hands, I walked back into Childhood's Lands; when you looked up and I looked down, I noticed that your lips were wreathed with smiles; and noticed that there breathed a sweet perfume from everywhere, and that light breezes stirred your hair, and that your brown eyes were alight with all there was of joy that night. I noticed tiers above high nets of other faces, and my ears were caught by murmurs and by songs; and wreaths of roses, and the throne were like a dream before my eyes; but only just your low replies and only just the light that ebonized. From your two eyes into my own were for me—made me understand— that we two walked in Fairy Land. For us the king in jeweled crown marched to the throne and sat him down, for us the heralds' trumpets blew, for us the fool cut capers, too; for us, for only you and me were all that wondrous minstrels. The chancellor, the glowing lights, for us that wondrous night of nights! The roses festooned, till it seemed a scene some fairy must have dreamed! I saw the Duchesses appear. Each with her prideful cavalier, bow to the throne, and turn to help to make a beauty row; with dazzling gowns and beauty rare, with jewels shining in their hair. They slowly trod to take their stand. To make it more a Fairy Land Than it before had seemed to be— And all for you and all for me! Then waved again the fairy wand, One last quick clasp I gave your hand One good-bye kiss, then turned to go From all the gladness and the glow Into the night. But I shall see As long as I have memory Your curving lips, your eyes alight As I saw the lip on that glad night, When tightly holding your small hand I walked with you In Fairy Land. 