The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-01-17

uOn III 1Of the bttullHk Nhnity VI itPu"-
fishing the glowing compliments paid II
on its holiday edition." No need,
whatever, to ask pardon, Mr.. LIGHT, for
you have shown In the splendid edition
indicated, your perfect ability to use,
artistically, the flrst.class facilities
which you evidently possess-a fact
which is always applicable to superior
ability, even when In the possession Of
means equal to your own. But, then, 1t
Is the Characteristic Of merit to be mod
est and retiring"
"TuE words which should be written
in every home and impressed upon every
mind" says the Kaufman Sun, "are that
the education that Is TO avail In this life
is not to be learned from books, piano
stools, drawing schools and French
tutors alone. This idea has cursed the
people OF this country long enough.
Men and women are, to-day, wandering
about with nothing to do, who have
spent time enough porting over Greek
and Latin or drumming on n piano, and
mental and muscular force enough, too,
to have acquired knowledge Of and skill
In a business or trade that would have
placed them beyond the possibility OF
want. The field for intelligent and skill
full labor In this country Is large and
poorly supplied; that for accomplished
imbeciles is small and terribly over
stocked"
OK THE subject Of the Reagan Inter
State Commerce bill, Bradstreet's says:
1.-THE abuses which 1t seeks to remedy
are mainly abuses OF an administrative
nature, and can only be ,radicaied, II at
all, through the agency Of some admin
istrative institution, equipped with spe-
cinl powers and guided by specially
trained intelligence. The railroad ques-
tlon is not wholly, or even very largely,
moral question, as some Of the citizens
OF this country seem to believe. Many
OF the questions which arise In regard
to railroad management present real
problems for the solution Of which very
much more than correct general moral
sense is needed. The way to solution
Of these questions is along the path Of
investigation and inquiry. Such inves-
tigation should, OF course, In order to
lead to any result, be conducted from
the standpoint Of the general interest,
not from that OF the special interest af-
fected; but investigation there must be.
and II must be conducted, In essential
points OF detail, Mt least, by men compe-
tent through special experience to throw
light upon the question in dispute. A
national railroad commission clothed
with tine power to compel publicity In
regard TO the operations of railroads,
and composed Of men specially qualified
for their task through knowledge and
experience would be the body best fitted
for the purpose in view. There can be
little doubt, we think, that some time
must yet be spent In the investigation Of
railroad problems before the country
can safely enter upon the work OF legis-
lating In sweeping way against rail-
road abuses"
Sr. NICHOLAS for January Is a most
charming number Of that popular young
folks magazine, and opens very appro-
priately with poem by Celia Thaxter,
entitled 1.-The Child and the Year" An
other timely article is the breezy and ex-
citing ice-yachting story by L. Vinton
Blake, which introduces us to our old
friends, the Dalzells; while John II.
Coryell contributes a bright and home.
like story, called "Baby Deb Pays fol-
the Christmas Goose" which tells how
the feast was kept in New England
lighthouse. "Historic Girls" new
companion series TO "Historic Boys by
f. s. Brooks, is begun by the same au'
thor, In the same interesting style, with
an account OF the girlhood days o
Queen Elizabeth, and the Christmas fes
tivlties at Hatfield House, 800 years ago
j. L. Trowbridge continues his serial
because his hero, In spite Of his hard ex
perience. has not yet cured himself O
"His One fault;" "Davy and the Col
lin" go through another installment O
the most surprising and Illogical advep
ventures; and Edmund Alton tells
great many more instructive and enter
tanning things he learned when he was
boy-page "Among the Lawmakers.
Louisa NJ. Aloott and II. II. Boyese
bring their two very short serials to
end, but have, no doubt, others just q
interesting ready to take their place
very soon. There is spirited full-pag
picture Of very old-fashioned elephar
with tusks curved the wrong way, b
J. b. Nugent, and description of 1t b
G. +. Holder. A. b. Frost contributes
jolly series Of pictures to the Re'
Charles r. Talbot's funny poem, 9Th
School-master and the Truants." TheI
Is also wholesome outdoor poem
John Vance Cheney, called "For Bias
wood Chaps" an cart and Artists" p,
per, by Clara Erskine Clement, abol
Velasquez, with reproduction of OF
OF his most famous pictures, and a grei
deal besides Of the same bright, healtl
full and happy sort.
The Dukes Joke.
frha late Dnka of wallinoton ,,ot