The morning call., 1892-03-28

the military aeronaut. To-day the appli-
ances at the service OF the aeronaut include
photography. 1t was found during the
French maneuvers last year that an inflated
balloon, kent at anchor by attachment to
travelling wagon, could be carried forward
at marching pace with an ARMY, and that
very minute information could promptly be
conveyed to headquarters OF what was
in sight ahead. Remembering from a
height of mile is within possibility on
quiet day with light winds, and no doubt q
still greater altitude could be attained. but
a range of thirty or forty miles is sufficient
for Immediate purposes. AT great height
a balloon is practically target that cannot
he hit That the balloon is scrviceable in
field movements may be inferred from the
fact that the Germans have introduced it as
well as the French. The Germans are now
watching Russian movements across the
Polish frontier with aeronautic assistance
No doubt when their turn comes the Rus
SLAMS will have balloons also. Supplies of
gas at high pressure are easily portable in
metallic cases.
The movements of Jay Gould in Mexico
are not without interest to this coast if
they arouse the opposition of that doughty
friend of Californi a, c. p Huntington. He
is said to resent the notion of extending the
Texas Pacific into Mexico as a most un-
warrantable invasion of the domain of the
Southern Pacific. The mere fact that the
proposal eXciteS hostility, ought. according
to experience, To be warrant for an
endorsement of Gould on this coast
Perhaps the railroad king, once he is
thrown into an autagonistic attitude NAV
carry the war further into the monCpoly's
territory, and project line to the shores of
the Pacific That would be defiance bold
enough to take the breath away. 1t is
curious, however, to note the ease with
which the railroad monaTchs make treaties
and parcel out the surface OF n continent
into one anOtheT'S hands as spheres of opera
ton. Ii Is a government within a govern
ment. and very strong, too.
President Eiiots denuncatIon of the
methods OF teaching grammar in schools is
in the right spirit. What is the use of cram.
ming grammar into children by compelling
them TO memoriZe rules, in the vain expec-
tation that they will he able to apply them
correctly. They do not comprehend the
rules and they learn TO Getest grammar
Even If they did understand the rules, it
does not follow that their speech would be
improved Correctness in speech comes
from habit. The Surroundings Of a
child, the home and the playmate COM
panions determine the one result or the
other. AS II were, grammar may be swal-
lowed by boy or girl OF quick memory
without improving daily speech. Macaulay
says that Robertson. the historian. could
have given very learned reasons for the
all through his works. and especially in his
later writings, he habitually mispiaces
them; whereas not Cockney in a thou
sand could state the reasons, and not one in
a million misuses them. This Is a forcible
Illustration OF the influence of habit. Gram
mar has its utility when pupils are advanced,
but something much more expansive for the
Dlind can be found for children.
Austria has much need to reform its sys-
TEN OF executing criminals. The CHASTITY
operation is slowly performed by straugling,
and spectators 10 a certain extent can study
the muscular twitching OF the face and the
horrible rolling of the eyes. Schneider, the
Servant-glrl assassin, was suspended by a
moose from stake, and while the execu-
TONER kept this hands over the face,
two assistants pulled with all their might
on the doomed mans legs. But there was
one feature of the explatiGn scene com
mendable. The judges and a number of
the highest officials were present, and
therefore nothing was lacking in
the assertion Of the majesty of the
the eXecutioner indicated that his
office is one of respect aud not of ignOminy
Why indeed should a haDgman. who is au-
thoriZed and ordered to dispatch a crimi-
nal, be brought into cOntumely any more
than the judge who in accordance with
law passes sentence of death? There
are differences of opinion on these
matters. Monsieur Of Paris has always
been considered worthy citizen. In Eng
land a hRngman has no official position aud
he ia regarded with loathing. In America
the sheriff and his deputies attend to the
grim duties of the death penalty themselves
and do not suffer one iOt in public esteem.
because he has done his duty at an exeeu-
ton.