The Louisiana populist., 1896-12-25

for a substitute, they SEE no reason
why they should be sent to death, while
others, blessed with a larger share of
this worlds goods. remain happily at
home. Whatever the reason, the num-
Der of desertions is daily on the In
crease.
"The interest in the construction Of
highways which characteriZeS our
time," says Professor Shaler, of Har-
ward University. lis in good part due
to the invention of the bicycle. The
wheel carriage propelled by foot power
is relatively old contrivance, but until
the last quarter of n century the ma
chine adhered TO the old type of the
four wheeled vehicle. III required the
hardy spirit of our time to lead the in
ventOr TO the conjecture that a man
might ride on two wheels. In its social
Importance the bicycle deserves to rank
next to the railway and the telegraph
among the inventions of our waningce cen.
fury. The use of these vehicles, the
number of which is now to be reckoned
by many thousands. affords TO those
who employ them constant object les.
sons as to the condition of our high
ways. Where a man is drawn by a
horse he needs to have a keen sym
pathy with his beast in order to per
ceiye how apparently slight differences
in the condition of the roadway may
greatly vary the amount of strain
which is put upon the propelling agent.
When. however, his own thews are en-
ployed, every little accident of the way
makes a deep impress on his body.
Thus, every cyclist becomes critic of
the highways he traverscs; and, as
over the land. and are of a station to
make themselves efficienI developers OF
public opinion, through their art has
been gained a stimula ting influence IN
favor of better roads"
Considerable interest is being mani
tested throughout the country in the
National Congress of Mothers which is
to be held in Washington next Febru-
airy. Mrs. II. w. Birpey, of Washing
ton, who proposed the plan, and who is
pushing the idea toward elimination,
is daily in receipt of letters from all
parts Of the United States assuring her
Of the cooperation OF the best known
and energetic women of America. The
subject was first pres erted at some OF
the mothers meetings at S.autauqua.
in the summer of 1895, and it is be-
lieved by those interest, ID that incalcu-
liable benefit may be de rived from the
assembling of many women for the
interchange of views m d the study of
home problems, which cam be solved by
women alone. a circI lar letter has
been issued giving the fol lowing outline
Of the work Of the prop )sed congress:
''It is proposed to have the congress
consider all subjects whic relate to the
home, especially those bea ring upon the
better and broader moral and physical,
as well as mental. training of the
young, such as the value of kindergar
ten work. and the extension OF, its prin.
ciples to more advanced studies. a love
VI VI NhC Phy
cal and mental evils resulting from
some of the political n ethods of our
schools, and the advantages to follow
from n closer relation between the in
huence of the home and that Of insti-
tutions of learning. OF especial i'm
portance will be the subject of means
developing in children ch aracteristics
which will elevate and en- noble them,
and thus assist in overcoming the con-
ditiOns which now prompt crime and
make necessary tile maintenance Of
jails, warehouses and reformatories.
These matters will be presented to the
congress by men and women foremost
in such work. and whose names are ev-
erywhere known and revered."