Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-02-15

talent be used to greater advantage to
the race than in overcoming this dam
ger. The current safely directed is a
blessing, but destructive and deadly in
its misuse, as the late Boston fire and
alarmingly frequent accidents in other
cities can testify. The greatest need
to-day in mechanics is safety in the use
of the electric current, so we may not so
often have occasion to make use Of this
epitaph:
"Gone up higher
Electric WIRE"
Boston is fast replacing horse cars
with electric cars, much more satisfac-
tory in their operation. 1t is exhilarat-
ing to ride in them with the hum OF the
wire overhead, the flashes of fire from
the wheels and rails and the great We
locity attained. In time they will alto
gether supersede horse cars.
The electric piano is the latest out
come from experiments with the subtle
fluid. Several public exhibitions have
been given with this novelty. 1t may,
however, be several years before every
piano is attached to main line from
which music may be switched on and
off at will. 1t certainly looks as though
Edward Bethany had this invention in
mind when he wrote Looking Back
ward" and described a land in which
every house was provided with flow OF
music like our flow of gas, that could be
turned on at pleasure.
Another nineteenth century invention
is the phonograph-graphophone now
being introduced by photograph COM
pany. The machines are rented at forty
dollars a year, and are being used by
business men, who dictate their cor
respondence through speaking-tube.
The machine records the words, and the
type-writist, coming later, places her
ear to the instrument and writes out the
matter. Or the roll may be taken from
the machine, mailed, placed in another
instrument and there read in the orig
inal tones used by the speaker. Perhaps
this invention will overcome the frigld
effect produced by love letter written
on the typewriter. 1t certainly would
be far more satisfactory to receive it in
the tones in which it was spoken, and
something more than the words, too,
could in this way be conveyed.
The people Of Boston have this year
been trying the Australian system of
balloting both in State and municipal
elections, and the result is most salts
factory to all wishing fair vote and
correct count. Every man votes indie
pendently and without constraint or un-
due influence. And not only every man,
but every woman voter, for the women
of Boston vote on school questions
though just why woman should vote
on school matters and no other is be-
yond my comprehension. She is either
concerned in no question of public in
terest and therefore should not vote, or
she is interested in all and entitled to
vote on all. To assume that she Is con-
cerned in educational affairs only is alb
surd.
Passing liquor store the other day
/ read the sign: Especial Rates to Pro-
fessionals." What did it mean-that
the regular imbiber is professional"
in other words, that drunkenness is
in the city Of John L. Sullivan regard
ed as q profession, and the drunkard as
a professional man? If so, shall not
be surprised to hear the first drunk"
that see in the policeman's hands ad-
dressed as Professor" Swipes or "Pro-
lessor" Teddy.
read Of q cigarette smoker whose
coffin was, at his request, covered with
cigarette papers, and after being inn
prisoned for some time in the vilest Of
poisonous cigarette smoke in q city
editors ''den,," wondered IL that was
the first or last that would be so orna-
nented In fact II not literally.
Wendell Phillips Day and Forefa-
TIERS Day were duly observed here, and
the oratOry then spoken carried us back
in history to different conditions and
more stirring times. A frequent retro
spect is good to teach uswhere we stand,
and does not always show a gain at every
point. In this 1t is valuable.
FRANK II. FKEEo.