The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-23

Heroes do not always wear uniforms,
gaudily braided, with gold lace and orna-
mented with frogs and epaulettes. They
are found in all ranks of life and as often
as not in rags on wharf when the rescue
of the drowning has to be undertaken. The
engineer of the passenger train which was
wrecked between Wann and Alton june
ton is hero Of the non-professional type
whose memory deserves to be honOred, and
if he has family dependent upon bin they
should be befrlended. This man showed
fidelity TO duty and bravery that ennOble
him. When be saw that a collision with
the oil tank cars was Inevitable he called
out TO bis mate. the fireman, Jump for
your iifeP' The fireman jumped and es-
capped injury. The engineer might also
have jumped. but he stuck TO his post.
turned off steam and put on the brakes He
sacrificed his life to duly. The flames burst
forth and he was envel0ped IN them. IL
was unAvaling TO rush up the emGankment
and lie persisted In agony.
"Put yourself in their place" should be
the comment on the story Of cannibalism at
sea, which comes from Colon. The crew and
passengers Of the Spanish sloop Juana
we're without food for twenty days, and for
week previous to that they had been eat
ing anything they could find. Dog flesh
must be palatable when eaten by civilized
person. 1t does not appear that any enc
was killed for the sake of the rest. The flesh
Of tie dead was eaten, aud few who were 10
the straits of the Survivors could have re-
sisted the temptation. Some years ago
still more CHASTITY tragedy of the sea Oc-
Cured. A yacht on Its way to Australia
f0undered. The crew saved themselves In
a boat, but had scant provisions and little
Avavr ffa fa.,NN frfran
men cODSpred TO kill boy and eat his body.
They Stifled the voice of conscience by argu-
ing that they were married men, and that
their lives were more precious than that OF
the boy. So they dispatched him as pain
lessly as possible and drank The blood and
ate the fish. They were trtsd for murder
in England and convicted. But hanging was
out Of the question. They were imprisoned
for eighteen months.
Apparently we are again coming to the
decision OF questions by The ancient practice
OF judicial combat or trial by battle. Two
young Chicago bIoods were in love with the
same girl. though t does not appear that
she was in love with either of them. so to
decide which should call her his they put on
gloves and fought four rounds like demons.
One Of the com Satants was laid out fiat and
the other no doubt spruced himself up and
triumphant air. IL the fair one has any
sense she VIII have none of him. A hero of
this description may be yalOrous, but he is
much more likely 10 be jealous, and
woman has a poor time Of il when the green
eyed monster PLAYS Cerberus to mans
affections. Combats Of this description show
how very animal human beings can be.
What better was this fight than that of q
couple OF stays with the hind looking
meekly On aud ready 10 go with the victor
Tsmmauy is making in the House of
REPRESENTATIVES one Of the most selfish
fights ever chronicled to prevent the Federal
power from having any control over quar-
anime. il is a movement 10 leave each port
TO its own services, wise or foolish, In case
OF an invasion of cholera, smallpox, yellow
fever or anything else Of an epidemic char
acter. Tie interior of the country is 10 have
no consideration. Practically the whole
country is 10 be at tie mercy Of local
authorities, without any general plan to
work upon. Aud this is done in order that
TammaDy may keep the patronage Of few
Offices. such as that OF quarantine doctor or
boarding INSPECTOR. How much more sim
pie and effective would It be t. hand over all
affairs II quarantine To the Federal author
ity.
The Royal Geographical Society Of Eng
land has commenced The publication Of a
monthly journal which will contain as here
tofore the proceedings" Of the society, but
VIII have papers from travellers and geo.
graphers TO render il popular as we'll as
authoritative. In this months number Dr.
Nausen contributes an article on Glow can
the North Pole be crossed?" and Captain
Lugard, who has seen so much Of Africa,
writes on treaty making in that continent
In the journal bint is given which might
be applied in America. IL is remarked that
many Of the narratives Of travel may be
found OF value as reading lessons in schools,
where stories that are new as well as true
are the best means of making what is too
often a task real pleasure" There are
numerous plates in the journal. Narratives
Of American travellers, If published in this
form. would equally be adaptable as read
ing lessons.
The official population returns for France
in 1891 recently issued are sufficiently
gloomy TO give rise to anxiety. The aggre-
gate of births was $50. 000 showing slight
Improvement on 1890. but a bad comparison
with 1859. when the figures were 1000. In
1881 the number was $4,000. A decrease
has gone steadily on since that year. The
French have had the divorce law re-
established eight years. They are availing
themselves pretty freely OF its privileges.
When the law was passed there was
mighty rush for Liberation. No year has
quite equaed the first in divorce fame, but
there is steady increase year by year.
There were $3.50 in 1885, 1886 in 1887, 470S in
1888, 1886 In 1882 5457 in 1890. and 5752 in
1891. Altogether an impressive representa-
ton of marital unhappiness.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.