Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-11-07

The recent forestry congress called out
the fact that q, 0OO, 900 acres of timber are
cut annually in the United States, and that
eighteen years viii clear off all that re-
mains.
So much has been said recently against
newspapers meddling in private affairs of
citizens that a word or two on the other
side of the question seems about fair. Last
week the daughter of Richard s. Newcomb,
distinguished New York lawyer, con-
tracted a foolish marriage with a man who,
to say the least. was neither her equal nor
deserving of her affection. As the cere-
mony was clandestinely performed and as
Mr.. Newcomb knew nothing concerning
his new son-in-law's antecedents, he was
disposed, as most fathers would under
the circumstances, to make the best of a
bad Job, and receive the foolish girl and
her husband A New York paper, however
investigated the latter's previous career,
and the result was not altogether a pleas
ing one. The son-in-law is now arrested
for bigamy. There was a time, said
Mr. Newcomb, sadly, as he read the dis
closures. when 1 thought that the news
papers meddled too much with ones priv
ate affairs, but in investigating and ex-
posing the record of this man they have
done a service both to me and my
family which | can never repay. This is
the other side. Newspapers are not al
ways as bad as they are painted.
THE old Circassians who sold their
daughters to the Turks to be kept in
harems were sensible compared to the
shoddy Americans who give their daugh-
tiers and barrel Of gold beside to some
beggared gambling, titled loafer and rake
who carries the name of prince or
count The old Circassian got something
for his girl. 1t was a compliment to the
girl The good, round price she brought
was testimonial of her attractions. But it
is humiliating to the whole American
people to see daughters of millionaires
marrying the bankrupt, titled nobodies.
who have inherited title and all the
loaferish vices and heartless selfshness Of
the old despots whose played-out and
degenerate descendants they are.
1t is little short of exasperating to have
such titled nincompoops think they con-
descend to marry American heiresses. If
these titled frauds were let alone
they would soon become tramps
or Migrants, and very scrubby and worth
less sort of vagrant at that The idea that
old American fathers should mig and
pinch, screw and squeeze, hoard and save,
and then have some titled pauper with
very disrepntable morals, marry the for
tune, and d silly girl with it, is, as the girls
say, just too mean for anything.
The Chicago Herald speaking of peace
full conditions of the world, says: Almost
for the first time in the memory of the old
est inhabitant profuond peace reigns IL
every country in the world. There are nc
wars or rumors of wars. The latest appea
to arms was to settle little dispute IL
Hayti. Savage and barbarous as well as
civilized and enlightened people are all en-
joying the blessings of peace. All our In
dian tribes are encouraging friendly rela
tions with each other. Old army officers
believe there will be no more Indian wars
1t is true that the great countries of Europe
show no disposition to reduce the size O.
their standing armies, but it is also true
that their rulers talk peace when they speal
from the throne and are believed to be sin
cere in what they say. In a monarchy al
army is an established institution that i
is hard to dispose of at once. In many
cases it is wanted more for display thar
for use in war. Many still believe that {
course of military discipline serves to make
good citizens The various countries Of
Europe are now united by network O.
railroads and trains pass from one country
to another without stopping. Commercial
interests are opposed to war Wealth
favors peace among nations 1t is prob
ably fortunate for the lasting peace o.
Europe that the royal families of the three
most powerful nations are now united by
ties of marriage and consanguinit. The
experiment of the last emperor of France
of trying to make himself popular by en-
gaging in foreign war is not likely to be
repeated
GLADSTONE ON AMERICA.
THE grand old man of England, fol
whom all friends of human progress pray
that he may live long, made very marked
and favorable comment on America in his
speech at Chester a few days ago. In this
address he not only justified the princi
pies of the American revolution, but com
mended the system of government-the
love of freedom combined with respect for
law and order-that was the outcome OF
the Declaration of Independence
Mr.. Gladstone is perhaps the only
European statesman of the first
rank who is capable of taking
this broad view of the American
republic He has the broad culture, is
so thoroughly abreast with the times, and
has the philosophic spirit that can over
come the strong English prejudice and the
intense national pride. The greater the
Englishman the more generous his esti-
mate of America. Macauley could speak