Marshall County Independent, Volume 4, Number 34, Plymouth, Marshall County, 5 August 1898 — Page 2

MAKING NEWSPAPERS.

IS JOURNALISM FALLING INTO DISREPUTE? lie Metropolitan Papers of Our Great Cities Canting 111 KeÜectiun od the oblet of All Profession Julian Kulpb at'.! & W. Snialley On it. j MONG the many cheerful and memorable remarks made about America by Matthew Arnold were some I pleasant observaft tions on our newspapers, written in a letter to his daughter, when he was sailing for "The greatest relief will be to cease seeing American newsviner?. Their badness and ignorance are beyond belief. They 'ire the worst feature of life in the United States." It is somewhat comforting to believe that Mr. Arnold's sweeping and startling opinions were warped occasionally by violent attacks of insular prejudice, but his views deserve consideration, at least, and any comment? of such an eminent critic of life and letters can hardly fail to be of feme suggestive value. The sentences above quoted were written ten years ago. What should we say if asked whether, since then, American newspapers have grown better or worse Has the Influence of the American press increased or decreased during s period when so many papers have joined tha class which we may justly call sensational? We refer to the daily papers of the larger cities only. Does their influence make for the public good, and is it effective in strengthJULIAN RALPH. Tiing and unifying our complex national life? Such questions must suggest themselves to every thoughtful citizen with especial force at times like these, when the nerves of the country are keyed to concert pitch ly the existence of a national conflict. Any discussion of the matter is futile without a correct understanding rrf the conditions and problems of modern journalism, its practical as well as it theoretical side, and no one can be better eqvipped in the subject than an old and trained journalist, who has experienced all the phases of his profession and finally attained promiMBM as a critic and man of leite?. For this reason it is worth while calling attention to an article by George W. Smalley in the July number of Harper's Magazine, modestly entitled. "Notes on Journalism." The fairness of Mr. Smalley's discussion of the many sides of his subject is no less attractive than the readable, intimate style of the paper, which is pointed by a number of interesting and unhackneyec anecdotes. The conclusion, and it is just, that the daily press of our metropolian cities are vile and not good for society. Mr. Smalley has much of value to Say concerning the utility of newspaper work as a preparatory school to the higher literary professions, and it will seem to many a curious coincidence that the same numler of the magazine which contains '"Notes on Journalism" affords several striking examples of the development and work of the bes' modern journalists. Julian Ralph, for instance, has risen from the reportorial ranks to a high position as an author of fascinating books of travel, and a story from his pen. which intermingles fact and fancy delightfully, called "A Prince of Georgia." is the opening article of the July Harper's. It is. of course, idle to conjecture how effective Mr. Ralph's early newspaper training has been as a factor in his literary success. Mr. Smalley, it seems, te inclined to find some truth in the historic remark of Mr. Thier, who once observed that journalism was a very good profession if you got out of 't soon enough. It would be interesting to have Mr. Ralph's own views; in the aieantlme. however, his work must apeak for itself, and it is sufficient here to note bow forcibly some of Mr. Smalley's thoughts on modern journalism are illustrated by the peculiarly human and realistic qualities of Mr. Ralph's torv. The sharp and quick insight of character the keenness of wide-awake observation, and the tendency to write naturally and concisely merits which Mr. Ralph undoubtedly possesses- tan reasonably be set down as products of habits aecfcaarlly cultivated by thoughtful workers in the newspaper nroftfF.sion. The Tnrklsh Turban. A Turkish turban of the largest size contains twenty yards of the linest and softest muslin.

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TOLEDO'S

FINE CATHEDRAL. American's Visit to Spain Fkmoai Structure. From Article on Toledo In Century: To the right, beyond and beneath us, rises the great basilica, the Christian shrine built upon the foundations of many a strange temple, and upon corner stones that were consecrated to long-forgotten creeds. It rises out of the low-lying swamp land, and rears its lofty spire far above the citadel that crowns the rock-bound height. But it is incomplete and far from perfect. After all the centuries that have passed over it and all the generations of men who have in their little day labored upon it we must accept It as a true picture of human aspiration and endeavor, always striving and struggling and never attaining. The first cathedral church of St. Mary erected here of which record has reached us was consecrated toward the close of the sixth century, but even the careless and superficial excavations which have been made beneath the cathedral in recent years disclose the fact that here there was a place of prayer long before the Christian era dawned. The present edifice was completed in the year of the discovery of America. The first view of the bold outlines of the mighty pile la unfortunately impaired and interrupted by the surrounding buildings. But if we patch together laboriously the partial views and glimpses we obtain we shall see that, unlike any other Spanish shrine, the Toledo cathedral equals, if it does not surpass, in majesty of construction and impressiveness the greatest cathedral churches of France. About the high altar are grouped according to dynasties the alabaster tombs of the old kings and the new kings and the heads of puissant houses of which we have never heard, and mighty warriors whose deeds have escaped the recognition of history. Here they sleep in the courts of peace which once rang with the clatter of their trailing swords. Here they came with their great banners: here our lady blessed them wiJi the blessing of her smile, and here ;hey brought back upon their shields those who fell doing her bidding, to sleep forever near her shrine and within the sweep of her pitying eyes. Tha cathedral is at once the Valhalla and the Westminster of Spain. Here all her glories are recorded and here each generation as it passed from the stage stored its noblest dead. I remember with mixed feelings the two days I spent here, escorted by the seven canons, each with his chain of clanging keys, who opened to me the most secret treasures of the shrines. This favor I owe to the courteous consideration of the cardinal. But I remember with still greater pleasure the days that followed, when, safe from the courtesy of my cicerone, in the disguise of capa and straw sandals, I wandered, undisturbed and unlightened, through the sacred precincts. One evening as I sat and listened to the vesper song an open aoor in a stone pier which I had never seen before caught my eye. I entered, and. ascending a spiral stairway of stone, across which the cobwebs were drawn as thick and strong as chords, came out of the darkness at last into the light of a little chapel, ail amber and alabaster. I touched with reverence the hem of the vestment worn by the image which stood over the deserted altar, and on the moment it ( rumbled In my hand like October leaves. I never knew to ; what saint the chapel was dedicated or why the cult had been withdrawn, and, j though I sought it often. I never found 1 mv wav again to this forgotten chapel. BROOKES SUCCESS. Brigadier General A. C. If, Pennington, who has been in command at Camp Black, has taken command of the department of the Gulf, with headquarters in Atlanta. He has received orders countermanding the former order assigning him to Tampa, and instead of reporting to the Fourth Army Corps he will go direct to Atlanta. He will succeed General Brooke, who hao been in command at Chickamauga. General Pennington was assigned to the commad of Camp Black on HempGENERAL PENNINGTON stead Plains, in the latter part of May, when the volunteer regiments of the State were mustered into the federal service, and has remained in charge there, while the troops have been sent South and to the forts along the coast. Kio-e tarda' Kg. To one not conversant with ornithology the etatem nt that the eggs and nests of somv well known birds remain yet to be discovered must appear surprising. The eggs of the curlew-sandpiper, a bird familiar In Groat Britain, were first discovered last July on an island at the mouth of the Siberian river, Yenisei. 'I here are a few other birds whleh make their nests in remote regions, although living part of their lives among civilzed men, whose eggs have not yet been found.

WOUNDED IN ACTION

Fatalities of Half. In tire civil war the proportion of union soldiers who died of wounds to : those who were killed outright in battle was 43 to '7. or not far from 7 to 11. These figures are taken from the report Of the adjutant general's office, j The statistics on the confederate side art less exact, but it may be assumed ! that the proportion there was about the same. It is a comfort to know that in the j present war the number of deaths from i wounds if not likely to be as much a 50 per cent as large, in proportion to the number of wounds received, as it was either in the civil war or in any other prior to the present generation. And this in spite of the more than tenfold Increased destructiveness of latter-day weapons. The reason and ground for this hope are not in the nature of the Krag-Jor-geneen and .Mauser rides, used respectively by our own and the Spanish armies, but in the astounding progress of the last twenty years in the art of surgery. It is not because a man who Is hit by an up-to-date rifle bullet more often dies on the spot, for that this is the case is very far from certain. During the fit-tit. third am fourth quarters of the modern nickel-coated slug's flight 1 Its rending effect is terribly fatal, it is true: but in the second quarter, or "humane area." of its range it has a tendency to cut a (lean hole. But all experience of recent years indicates that whore nine wounded men out of ten would have been buried from a field hospital in the years between 1861 and L5. only four would die in the year 1898. the other six being e. 'i tually discharged safe, whole, and probably in better health than they enJoyed before they were wounded. In fact, "died of wounds," so far RS it applies to the wars of ,ast generations, including our i wn rivll war. really means in most c ases that death resulted from "hospital gangrene." "hospital fever" or erysipelas The surgeons of those days were quite aware of thOM symptoms, but their THE WAR WITH SPAIN causes had not yet been discovered. It was supposed that the atmosphere of a hospital was impregnated with a subtle, impalpable infection, which could cmly be combated after it had begun to show its effect In suppuration. Or;tluid result of this infection Was even called, quaintly enough, "laudable pus, ' because, on the theory that a certain degree of suppuration was unavoidable. it was regarded as a troublesome humor, which, if kept in. would produce fever. It was not then known, perhaps hardly even suspected, that the surgeon himself was a-ially inoculat ing patient after patient with a terrible specific disease. The surgeons of the civil war would doubtless have been very much surprised to hear that their hands, hastily rinsed in cold hydrant or spring water, were busy carrying from wound to wound hundreds of organisms, the proper name of which was or was ko be "gtreptOCOCGiM pyogenes." Two medical discoveries one. in the honest wense of the word, empirical, the other resulting from purely scientific investigation led to the detection and apprehension of this Wholesale assassin. Many a surgeon, before the year 187S. would have been glad to know hew it might be possible to amputate legs and arms without suppuration. Many tried for a solution of the problem, although most were, no doubt, content to take things ii they found them, welcome the appearance of their "'laudable post, and fight the, to them, inevitable "hospital fever." It was Joseph List' r. whose name is now known in very surgical ward in the world, who first, as I veteran surgeon laCely expressed it, "started th' hounds on the right scent when they ITtre all nt fault." Thlf shrewd Scotch surgeon "nming from Edinburgh to

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the Battlefield Reduced OneFever Amputations Required.

King's College Hospital, London, about twenty years ago. introduced there what has been called the "aseptic" method of surgical treatment. In this method the whole vicinity of the part to be operated on. called, in the language of the clinic, '"the surgical field." is impregnated with a spray of carbolic acid by means of an atomizer. As soon as the operation is finished, not only i the air excluded from the wound by bandages, but these bandages are steeped in solutions of germiide CSUrbolic acid, to exterminate the roe that besets the wound from without. The instruments and the hands that operate are also washed in a solution of carbolic acid. A? a result of this practice it wae found that wounds "healed at the first intention." There was seldom need of treating suppuration, for suppuration never appeared, except when the operator or MNBe of bis assistants bad been guilty of gross carelessness. Bandages were left on until the flesh "had grown together again. There was no more Washing of wounds to be done, nor any expectation of febrile Symptome as a matter of course. The patient was expected to leave his bed, not wasted with slow fever, but hale and hearty Between the new treatment and the old there was all the difference between prevent ion and cure. It was evident, of course, to Listet and his followers that they were protecting their patients against something tangible and destructible that could be made to feel the sting of a powerful acid. It remained for the microscope and the brains of such men .is Pasteur, Koch, Pruden and Surgeon General John If. Sternberg of the United States army to successfully investigate the nature and general ways of that something. The power of the microscope happened to the prodigiously increased ju.-t about that time by discoveries in practical optics, and one of the first results was the detection and Identification of "streptococcus pyogenes." PLANTING SI EUE GUNS NEAR The name sounds like that of the Bysantine emperor, but it only means "little necklace animal that makes pus." and it is a well-deserved name, for Pyogenes is the busy maker, first, of that "laudable pus" which is now known to be an accumulation of the victim's precious white blood corpuscles, and later, of the still more deadly symptoms of the dark, glairous pus. The way to guard against this deadlygangrene and fever was, fortunately for humanity, pointed out even while Its cause was only vaguely known. The general principles ot Lister's methods have been thoroughly and systematically applied In our service. Not onlyare there complete facilities for aseptic surgery in the field hospitals which will accompany the United States soldiers to Cuba or to the Philippines, as well as la the pick bays of every man-of-war, but In every regiment there are a certain number of men in the ranks, each provided with antiseptic dressing packed hermetically. These are the trained bearers of first aid to the wounded. The regulations allow of their leaving tneir fighting positions from time to time to bind up the wounds of fallen comrades in such a wav as to effectually guard against "sepsis," or the infection of suppuration. Wir Into Afrln. "Your wife is somewhat strongmlnded, isn't she. Littlejohn ?" "Strong-minded. A furniture polish peddler came here yesterday and in five minutes' talk she sold him some polish she had made herself." Detroit Pres press. He that calls a man ungrateful, sums up all the evils that a man can be guilty of. -Swift.

CURIOUS WELL IN HAWAII. Flow of AJTtestea Water Oddly Regulated by the Clock. A most curious phenomenon has been observed in the flow of an artesian well on Kealia plantation. Kauai. The water has regular variations in its

, flow, being lowest at 8 o'clock in the ', morning, gradually rising until it atlams its greatest now at I ocioca in the afternoon, and then as gradually falling until 8 o'clock In the morning. Manager George H. Fairchiid. of the plantation, thus describes the peculiar phenomenon: "The top of the pipe is thirteen feet above sea level. At eight o'clock there is a flow of about 1,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours. By adding five feet more of pipe the flowstops. We have had this extra five feet of pipe on top of the well for a month or more, waiting for extra pipe to conduct the water to the mill where It is to be used. We have noticed a peculiar action of this column of water, and I have been unable to find any explanation of it. If the publication of the facts by the Star will lead to an explanation, I will be very much gratified. The column of water in this five feet additional pipe placed to prevent the tlow at 8 o'c.'k. in the morning is at its lowest point, one and a half inches below the top of the pipe. Then it rises until at noon it begins to flow over the pipe. The flow increases until 2 o'clock, when there is quite a flow. From that time it gradually falls, until at 11 o'clock at night there is a very slight flow and this ceases at 1 o'clo. k in the morning, the water gradually falling until it reaches the lowest point at 8 o'clock, when it begins to rise again. It has been suggested that this change in flow is due to the tides, or to the rotation of the earth, or to the influence of the sun. It is interesting, and I should like a satisfactory explanation." Representative IfcCandless says regarding this phenomenon that in his experience where an artesian well is influenced by the tides the water never rises above the sea level. Hawaiian Star. The Colossal Image of Knddrta. A most etxraord Inary piece of work is the colossal image of Buddha at Kamakura, one of the ancient capitals of Japan. The image is constructed of copper, tin and gold, and where it has been burnished by contact, the metal is a ruddy brown, but the general surface is weather-stained with incrustations of green mould where the massiv parts were welded together. The height is forty-nine feet seven inches: the circumference of the bead ninetySAN JUAN, PORTO RICO. seven feet; the width of the face from ear to ear nineteen feet, and its length, from the tip of the chin to the edge of the curling hair, nine feet nine inches. The eye is four feet long, the ear six feet six inches, the nose threa feet nine inches, and the mouth there feet two inches. There are 830 curls on the head. The circumference of the thumb is three feet. The eyes are of pure gold, and weigh thirty pounds each. The idol was erected in 119.'., and within the image is temple over forty feet in height, with an altar and other accessories of worship. The Kamakura image i worshiped annually by millions of Buddhists from India. Burma China and Cores, as well as by those in Japan. Talent. The Gallant Colonel- Madam you grow younger every day. The Flattered Lady (to her by-standing husband) Do you hear that? And still you say I have no qualifications for the stage?"' Cincinnati Enquirer. CassSsati "1 wonder bow that item ever got past the press censor!" said the Spanish offic ial. "Which one? rhe society note to the effect that the queen regent expects to travel for her health." Washington Star Sclent Hie. Governor of the Prison "What is the causa of this unseemly delay?" Goaler "That expert headsmen you engaged from the medical school is sterilizing the a.' Brooklyn Life. The Pipe of Fan. "My pipe." c ried Pan. "I've laid aside Forever!" In his vague regret The modern poei wonders should He offer Pan a cigarette.

NEWS OF INDIAN A.

MINOR HAPPENINGS DURING THE PAST WEEK. Motion Company Figure on th? Purchase of the Indian Mldhtnd Hallway Wire Nail Trust Taken Precautions Against .Mol- Woman Laes a Whip. Precaution Against Mol. Anderson. Ind. The wire nail trust, which has a lockout strike on Its hand at this point because of an effort to reduce wages from 10 to 40 per cent, began today preparing for any serious trouble that might result. It is tearing down the six-foot fence which surrounds its big plants at this point and putting up a ten-foot solid board fene that will turn a mob. The Indiana labor commissioners have taken up the matter, under the direction of Gov. Mount and arrived today. They will probably bring suit against the company under the anti-trust laws of the state. It affords an excellent, opportunity for making a test of the law. The men are not making any demonstration. The trust is also at work nailing up the plant. It is also rumored today that an attempt will be made at this point as at Salem O.. to operate the plant with Hungarians. A Broken Kiiicntreiiient . Chesterfield: The camp it very quiet, the campers spending the time in social chat and friendly games. Yesterday conference meeting was held ia the auditorium, and Mrs. Pft ntner delivered an address. Yesterday afternoon a prominent banker of Upland bad an interesting message given by one of the mediums. The spirit of a young woman appeared and told how a letter ibat was misseut broke off their engagement. The banker readily recognised and acknowledged the circumstance to be a fact. It is further reported that the recipient of this message was a prominent worker in one of the churches at Upland. Major Bitters, editor of the Rochester Herald, is in the camp and is reported to be a candidate for the presidency of tjie association to succeed Mr. Parki.son. The latter refuses renomination m account of ill health. After the Intliaii: HMIaaS. Anderson. Ind. From reliable sources t is understood that the Chicago. Indianapolis and Louisville the Motion has again taken up the matter of acquiring the Chicago and Southeastern, Of Indiana Midland, owned by Henry Crawford. The deal which was oa three months ago finally fell through because k was found, ii i claimed.:. hat the delinquent taxes were almost up io the original cost of the road. Recently, however, the Panhandle nvA Lake Erie and Western have been figuring on su b a deal, and the Monon bay hurriedly taken up the matter again. The line extends from Anderson to Brazil, a distanc e of 100 miles, and la now being extended through to Munc'e and from there is to be pushed through to Lima, and then to Toledo. H h- laimed that the Indiana and Illinois Sc,i;;i;I ern one came within $!l W0 of buying j the road. Woman fjnefl ;i Whip. Marion. Ind. The greatest sensation that Upland, in the eastern part of this count)', has known In years was caused this morning by Mrs. Delia Uaugiier Nixon horsewhipping Joshua B. Wool, secretary of the Humphrey Smelter company. It is alleged that Wood had made statements detrimental to Mrs. Nixon's character. Two business men of Marion were mentioned In connection with the story. Mrs. Nixon purchased a buggy whip, cut the heavy end off. hid the remaining part in her parasol, and walked a mile to the factory, where she found Wood and gave him a terrible whipping. The blood Sewed freely from the defenseless man and he offered no resistance. Wood came to Dplsnd from Quincy, Iii. No (Jause for Suicide. Anderson, Ind. The burial of the remains of James C. Wood, found dead at Indianapolis on Sunda last, took place from the family residence in this city yesterday afternoon. Mr. Wood was held In high esteem by the older reftidenvta, among whom he was well ami favorably known. It is not accepted here that he committed suicide. He frequently took morphine for relief of pain and to secure rest after periods of extreme excitement, and it is thought by those close to him that he unconsciously administed to himself an overdose. There is no apj arent cause whyMr. Wood should have committed solide. Mr. ndlrr Ufas Shocked. Lafayette. Ind. Dttrhag an electrica. storm yesterday sttercoosi lightning played queer pranks at Wtn home of Edward A. Caudler. in Sixth street, the roof being struck and the lxdt of lightning coming down the chimney and bounding into the dining room in ball shape, as the witnesses express iL Mr. Candler was shocked, but not seriously, while alarm only upset the remainder of the family. C'tirisikin 'ulturc Ansociat inn. Laporte: The third annual meeting of the Pine Lake Christian Culture Assembly closed today, and after the election of officers this evening the deleg:it s will start for their homes. 1'he meeting was the most successful ever held by the assembly, and was marked throughout by the moat intense interest and enthutdam and a brilliant Intellectual program. Next y car's program has been arranged and plans are under way to make It the largest gathering of Baptists evrr held la tl'.p west.