Kansas City journal., 1898-02-11
NOTES AND NOTIONS.

Mr.. Temple Scott. who writes from En-
gland, disapproves of Hall Caine and Nine
Grand because they are trying to save
mankind. He has discovered that 'the
presentation of social problems and
physiological theories belongs not to fic-
ton, but TO sociology and medicine" Mr.
Scott does not tell us where he found this
out. hut he probably has it on good au-
thority, for no man would make such a
sweeping statement as that without know
ing his ground. 1t skaters an old theory
of ours. 10 the effect that Il novel writer
could do anything he pleased lnasmuch
as his success depends on pleasing people,
II is to be presumed that he will endeavor
10 please them. and it must be confessed
that it is no small task to please people
and save them at the same time. 1t used
TO be assumed. indeed that one must be
first thoroughly displeased before he had
any show for salvation. but we have
changed all that. And despite Mr.. Scott,
We still fail to see how We can interfere
ii the novelist chooses to save people firSt
and takes his chances on pleasing them.
Professor Kelsey. of Ann Arbor, has been
collecting statistics regarding the church
affiliations OF the students Of the great
state universities. Barring a bit of eau
ton regarding the reliability of that por-
ton Of the report. which accounts for
church adherence" outside of member
ship, the report presents matter of great
value. 1t shows, for instance. that there
are more Presbyterians in the so-called
goddess" state universities than in the
colleges managed by the denomination,
and the same is true, very probably. for
other denominations. The result of these
statistics may be only to spur Jealous sec
tarians to denounce the state schools still
NipOFOnSly
mined efforts to corral their adhercnts
within the fold of denominational educa-
ton. The result should be to spur earnest
Christians of all denominations to provide
the best possible surroundings and influ-
ences for the great majority of the young
whose parents prefer the unbiased discip-
line of the state.
. Judge Grosscup, man who has been eX-
posed to bitter partisan attacks by the
adherents of social radcalism, said a par
ticularly fine and timely thing the other
day at the meeting of the Kansas Bar As
sociation. THE mere fact he concluded,
''of popular unrest need not dismay us.
1t is in the last analysis the genius of hui
man progress. This restless quality of the
human makeup has captained every march
toward better things" In our partisan
controversies we are too apt to forget this.
However we may judge of the sincerity of
this or that leader of the opposition, we
must admit that the rank and file of any
great movement are animated by a desire
for betterment. Interests clash and COM
promises must follow. But it will help
greatly toward mutual understanding and
peaceful settlement if we keep Judge
Grosscup's words in mind.
A writer In the Atlantic disputes the dec
laration attributed to the elder Rothschild.
to the effect that food and lodging wa1
all the return he got for his wealth. ana
maintains that the realization of his dream
of wealth was in fact his chief reward.
So far, SO good. But the Atlantic writer
goes ON to say that 'the delight of giving
oneself UP to an impassoned thought is
still, as it has always been, the keenest
pleasure of a human SOUL We have al
ways been taught, and we still labor under
the impression, that it makes a great diff
ference what kind of thought it is. May
be it makes no difference in the province
of Massachusetts, though it certainly used
to. There are SO many impaSSioned
thoughts that may contribute to the high
est pleasure that we will not begin to
erumerate them, but certainly the impas-
stoned thought of accommodating the big
geSt pile of stocks and bonds and yellow
gold is not among them, as the article IL
the Atlantic seems to imply.
The Italian government has determined
to establish at Florence museum of all
the books that have ever appeared in the
papal Index Expurgatorius. If this col
lection contained only books which had
been condemned because of differing from
the church in doctrinal matters, 1t would
be interesting and valuable. however much
Of an affront it may be to the papal au-
tEcrities. But when one remembers that
it consists in much larger part of books
which would be condemned equally by all
decent tribunals and all well disposed peo-
pie everywhere. the wonder will be If the
city of Florence does not protest against
the establishment of such sinkhole Of
infquity within her borders, or at least de-
mand that the government supply along
with the questionable gift an ample stock
of disinfectants.
The walls of the city of Mainz are to
be levcled. At first thought this seems
like a recognition of the probable per-
manence of peace between France and
Germany. But it is nothing of the kind.
The walls are simply of little or no use,
and dreadfully in the way. The siege Of
Paris Showed that the walls and fortifl-
cations are of little use for the projections
of the city. The absence of walls around
tha city of Berlin is not due to the over
weening confidence of the Prussians that
no enemy will ever again be able to reach
the Spree. 1t IS because the improved ar
tillery of this day laughs at such barriers.
And SO Mainz will probably soon have a
beautiful boulevard where now stand her
picturesque but inconvenient bulwarks, 1t
IS estimated that the land occupied by the
walls is worth S1000.00o. 1t belongs I'd
the government. but the city will pay the
price for the advantage to her citizens
DR.. Gilbert, of Newark. N j., recon-
mends frequent conferences between the
teachers of adjacent grades in schools, as
of the grammar schools with those of the
high schools. The notion is a good one.
The line between the grammar and high
schools as between the high schools and
the colleges is, or should be. an imaginary
line in many respects, and the teacher in
any advanced grade should have the ben
eft of the experience with individuals Of
the teacher OF the grades below. To this
end DR.. Gilbert advocates the keeping Of
a psychological record of every child which
should go along with his promotion certifi-
Gates. thus enabling each new teacher to
take advantage promptly of the aptitudes,
as well as 10 make allowance for the
idfosyncrasias, of the pupil. Perhaps the
phrase psychological record is too for
midable. but the notion is right
Mr.. Nivekananda, who cut a wide swath
among the religious radicals at the world s
fair. and who impressed not few of all
parties. is reported to be saying at home
in India that krishna is worshped by
thousands in Europe and America, that be-