Chicago eagle., 1898-12-03

continent, or to control their destiny,
could not be viewed "in any other light
than as a manifestation of an unfriend-
~ disposition toward the United States"
The phrase seems mild and lacking In
As dlplomatists have under.
stood the words, 1t has been strong and
definite. The Monroe doctrine. with the
warning implied by the single word
has sufficed for seventy
five years to protect the Western Hemi-
sphere against European intrigue.
~e
Is there n disposition. In these days, to
divorce culture and courtesy? One
hears. now and then. some exponent Of
a cOurtlicr age called a gentleman Of
the old school," In fashion which
would imply that good manners Of the
deferentinl kind no longer exist. Ger
talnly. that branch OF learning formerly
labeled In school catalogues 'deport-
modern curricula, says the Philadelphia
Saturday evening Post. Youths and
maidens are taught, instead Of the po-
lite arts, smatterlng Of the sciences, n
language or two, aud dozen or more
supposedly essential studies. The de-
pertinent taught by the "Old school"
stayed longer with the pupils Of those
times, for even the few existing surviv-
ors Of that regime are shining examples
Of educational methods more effective
than those that obtain to-day. despite
our boosted advance In culture. Human
intercourse carried on according to the
standards OF a century ago was stilted,
perhaps. but courteous always. We OF
this decade have gained many things
our fathers knew not Of. but We have
paid dearly for our advantages. There
are gentlemen ana gentlewOman nova.
days, since In every land there IL an
aristocracy more or less clearly defined.
but the ancient and honorable titles
convey no more the fullness Of signif-
cance which was once theirs. They ap-
pertain to those persons who are rich
In material things. who. because Of
their wealth, may buy more Difference
than another. Personal qualities enter
into consideration not at all.
The postoffice department Is arrang-
Ing for considerable extension Of
rural free delivery. The enlarged
appropriation for this purpose voted
enables 1t to do 80. Many com.
munities which are anxious to share
the benefits OF this service have
made known their wish to the depart.
ment. The selection among them 10
made with view to benetitlng the
largest number possible with the avail.
able money. A law which went into
effect ON the first Of July last permits
the use Of private mailing cards. Here.
tofore the postal card by the Govern
ment was the only Que allowed. Now
any one may put the address and
One.cent stamp on any card OF about
the same size, form and weight as the
postal card, and write message on the
other side Of the card. The Govern.
ment will profit by the use Of these
cards, for 1t will save the cost Of their
manufacture, while the senders will be
permitted to print on the message side
any business devices, or views Of seen.
cry, such as travellers abroad like to
mall to their friends. A reform which
is to be hoped for is the Introduction OF
stout, linen.lined stamped envelopes In
which to send registered mail. Such
envelopes are In common use In Eu.
rope. and are found to be a great con.
venience and much safer than our sys-
tenn of putting the stamp Of registra.
ton on an ordinary envelope.
Gen. Greedy Of the signal service, In
his annual report, announces what may
practically be called new system of
telegraphy, whose commercial utility
promises to be Of much value. This
new and scientific method Of tele.
graphy was discussed In last years
report under the title of "Synchrono.
graph" and was the subject Of expert.
ments at Fort Monroe, Va. Since then
Prof. Albert @. CrehOre and Lieut..
Col. George o. Squier have pursued
their investigations, under the direc-
ti0n Of the chief signal officer of the
army. with gratifying results. The
officers named visited England for the
purpose OF testing the new method Of
sign.wave telegraphy by the use Of the
alternate current. In England they
were given every facility for expert.
ment work over the government tele.
graph lines, and demonstrated that by
the new method words can be sent at
the rate OF over 5000 q minute over q
line 100 miles long. BY constructing
transmitters for commercial purposes
1t 10 expected that much greater speed
can be secured In cable service, q mat.
ter Of great value to the commercial