Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1885-07-31

| this tossbe 1900 pounds, @ on which
snpposition the velocity may be reckon
ed at2, oo0 feet seconds, ana it's power
of penetrating armor at 313 inches
near the muzzle, or 2 inches less at
| i, 900 yards. The new guns will be
i#yasti uperior to the Italian 100-ton
gums, which are at present st the
head Of all the naval artillery in the
world, and they are to the like ex-s
tent in advance Of the 10O-ton guns
which are doing duty for England on
the Notifications OF Malta and Gibral-
tar. although these are largerin the
bore by Il inches. The substitution
of steel for wrought iron admits Of.
heavier charges Of powder, and this
fact makes all the difference.
-". Terror Of the Plague. &
The action of the Board of Health
of New Orleans in relation to report
ed death from yellow fever, shows
more than usual Judgment. The case
referred to is that reported in recent
dispatches, wherein it appears that q
three year~old girl died, with all the.
symptoms Of the dreaded scourge upon
t her, at a place called Gretna, just OF
posite the northern part of the city.
The child was only sick, three days,
and only had had medical attendance
for the few closing hours OF her sSart
life. Consequently, it is exceedingly
difficult to say with precision whether
her death was caused by yellow fever
or some ordinary complaint incident
to the low lands of the Mississippi.
d. ff,r fct hat
the officers Of the Board OF Health, in
stead of following the usual course of
such bodies and saying. ''Hush!!' in
the deepest and most mysterious OF
tones, have had the manhood to come
out frankly and state all they know of
this particular case, putting all people
on their guard and giving everybody
an opportunity of Judging for them
selves as to the gravity of the occa-
sion.
There is an old Persian fable about
some prince who was once permitted
by magic to wander through the air
with the Spirit of the Plague. The
two, prince and gent. tloated one night
all over Central Asia, where myriads
| were dying or had died of the plague.
The demon had promised to show the
inquisitivc prince how many people he
could Stay il night. In the course
OF their wanderings, from Trebizond
| to Candahar, the demon pointed to 800
people killed by him in that one III ght.
"But,' said this Oriental Telemachus
to his grlsly Mentor, II see 10000
slain, and you say you have only killed
30O?" The answer the Persian poet
! put into the mouth OF the servant of
| the pestlence is worth remembering.
| Said he: Eyes, but I only killed 300,
terror killed the Others
This story IS of peculiar significance
and value in relation to the action OF
| the New Orleans officers, and the con-
trast 1t affords to what has formerly
| happened. There is no doubt that in
all times OF pestilence fear kills more
than the pla que. 10 disarm fear the
people need to know the precise linn
| its of danger. knowledge creates
confidence: ignorance is terror When
people know the strength and force
of their enemy-that Is, when they
| know it in time---there is no danger Of
panic. Intelligent preparation can be
made; wise precautions adopted. But
the silent shru9 or the low whisper, the
hiding of things terrible belinda cur
tain! The use of paltrv sophistry
when frankness is asked! AL these
terrorize and amman a people. Tell
them the truth; let them know the
whereabouts OF the danger and its APP
parent trength-hiding nothing from
the light of day-and terror gives
place to manly resistance, to intelli-
gent preparation. This is simple,
plain, self-evident truth, and this is
why the open and straightforward con-
duct Of those Louisiana doctors is to
be commended. If every epidemic
were met and dealt with in the same
frank fashion, taking the people into
open conference with the health OFF,
Gals, all plaques would lose their
worst terrorS and. shorn of their ter
rors, all plaques would lose half their
deadly destructivepess. 1t is quite
| probable that when the Persian gent
told his story, it was the fear that doc
| tors usually show OF telling the truth
that he accused of so much murder
| st. Louis Glo0e- Democrat.