Omaha daily bee., 1893-11-19
Kate Field Writes About Editor steads Pro-
posed Civic Confederation.
CONSIDERS IT SOMETHING OF A CURIOSITY
characteristics OF the Celebrated British
Journalist and How He Ran His Meet
ings TO Suit Himself-some Good
Seed Planted.

genius, but genius is always EXCEPTIONAL
lowering above the masses as Himalaya
towers above the plains. Genius needs no
rudder but its own inspiration. The great
average of humanity, however, are sheep in
need Of a bell-rether TO pass to the promised
land. When stepped In absolute ignorance
these sheep are the prey Of demagogues
who play upon honest natures for selfish
purposes.
After reaching the dangerous level of
thinking they think men and women OF
conviction are more dangerous TO the COM
munity than the absolutely ignorant
Obsesscd by fads presented for their adop-
ton at the point of the bayonet, they say in
deed or word, "TaKe our nostrum or woe
unto tho nation. The fate Of Sodom and
Gomorrah is near. Woe, woe, woe! There
f. but one road TO salvation and we are the
tignboard. Follow or be damned"
Did YOU ever read Joshua Davidson" q
novel by that clever woman, Mrs. f.. Lynn
Lintonl If not, please do. 1t will make you
very miserable, but 1t will set you thinking
ano will convince you that there are various
kinds of cruciixon, and that although nail
Ing to a cross is not now fashionable, Christ
would undoubtedly be prosecuted TO death
did he walk the earth today.
Practical Christianity.
Joshua David son is a carpenter of this cen
fury who starts out in life to be
b practical Christian. he loves his neigh
Dor as himself; he fulfills the golden rule.
He is misunderstood, maligned, despised and
is finally stoned to death. I've been think
ing a great deal about Mrs. Lynn Unions
hero ever since l became an editor, for fhd
him trying to get q hearin g in this country
knocking at MANY a door only to be turned
away as an unwelcome guest. his name is
Reason.
With unmitigated ignorance, led by dema-
eogues on one side and underdone thinkers
led by fanatics on the other, Reason IL well
nigh crushed between the upper and neither
milestone, Neither extreme has any use for
that most sense ironically called
common.
Believing that the world is improving be-
cause facts show ii, having no specific for its
regeneration, but feeling certain that con-
tinued agitation alone will drag US out OF
present sloughs, / spent last Sunday after
noon and evening in Chicago's great music
hall. Mr.. William 7. Stead, q London
editor, had issued a general invitation to the
public, especially publicans and sinners, to
meet him to discuss ways and means for
driving the devil out of Chicago. MIR. Stead
named the special sinners whose presence
and the relation Of whose experiences he
most desired. AS the most degraded OF
both sexes have no desire to be made shows
Of. MIR. Stead must have known that the
audience would consist for the most part OF
two classes-the curious and honest seekers
tor light In the direction of helping the poor.
why She Went.
Agreeing with the prayerbook that we
are all miserable sinners, l went TO Central
Music Hall Sunday afterr DON out of curl
osity. Finding a seat in the first balcony, /
watched and listened, not having liked Mr.;
Stead's methods In certain attempted
English reforms. His bounding of Parnell
and Sir Charles Duke and his withdrawing
of the prince of Wales, almost at one fell
swoop, had prejudiced me against the man.
went TO Judge. There was a lack of gener'
osity and justice in this EDITORS attacks that
made his excuses for the heir APP
parent most offensive 10 a lover, OF
fair play. However, If Mr.. Stead had
found the way to drive the devil out Of our
big cities, l for one was ready to do my ut
most TO help so great a work.
MIR. Stead has a strong Individuality
There are no two ways about that. He is
every incn himself. His talk, walk, manner
actions are sui generis. His voice is agreea
BILE in tone, sufficiently powerful TO be heard
In large halls. his enunciation is distinct anc
he gives the impression of earnestness. Ht
is accused of aiming at sensationalism
Whether this criticism is just or false don
know. This | do know-that sensation moves
u. humanity, and until 1t is created there car
be no progress in any direction. II sensa
tionalism be MIR. Stead's way of attracting
/ public attention To great evils, MIR. Stead i
50 far wise in his generation. / do know
that this unique Englishman lacks tact
grace and many qualities needed in an idea
thurchmap, but l also know that he Ego
there last Sunday.
Deeply interested in MIR. Stead's address
In the afternoon because of its sympath
with our struggling masses, i went agai
70 Central Music hall Sunday night to lear
what could be proposed TO better their col
dition. So densely packed was the audit
rum as to force me to seek refuge on III
platform, where 1 otherwise should not hay
boon. thus is it that accident makes |
actors in many an uneX pected drama. 4
this second meeting Mr.. Stead was his ow
chairman, He was not satisfied with II
chairman of the afternoon, knew best WIFI
he wanted, and proposed TO attain his pu
pose. We all like courage.
stead Has Audacity.
IN The very audacity of Mr.. Stead cor
~ handed admiration. de d.d his own pra
~ ing, delivered his own benediction, did b
owl thinking. quickly shut of speakers wi
rambied, aud snubbed those who introuuc,
81 dynamite, religion ana politics. He rambll
himself. was at times inconsequent and /
tolerant, displayed weak spots in his armC
put he accomplished something before 4
night WAS over. great audience sat eager
W from 30 until IL o'clock. listening, for I
most part with appreciation, TO remarks fro
ST. the chairman and various speakers. II
~ audience did not go hor7e until 1t was
FL solved with only three dissenting voices tn
the formation of a civic federation for pI
lie welfare was eminently feasible, and I'll
q m named then and there shol
' meet to appoint a committee of twenty-o
|A to begin work.
Call Mr.. Stead what you please, he h
az, planted good seed. II often needs a strang
81. within our gates To arouse US 10 a realizati
of facts. 'Ive lived so long in Washingt
ana become 50 used TO the yagaries of c.
gress,r said q brilliant journalist 10 me I
long ago. 'as 10 be unable TO picture mu
that is fantastic and wrong. Looking at
scene with fresh eyes you will find food
copy that 4 should not dream Of"
The Point oil View.
BY the same token Mr.. Stead looked
Chicago as / have been looking al IL, from
point of view of q stranger. He sees, a
have seen, defects which can be remedied
there be applied TO them the same enthl
asm, The same determination, the same
telligence, the same civic prlde that hl
made the White City the wonder of
world.
ON the day preceding these mass meeti,
a foremost citizen of Chicago said TO I
.sOf what permanent use Will our Worl
fair be 10 US If we do not make our city {
respondingly clean aud free from the bl
that faint great communities and that es
cially ahiict US owing 70 our tremendous