The record-union., 1898-09-17

that they die disgustingly hard and
have a trick of feigning death or disa-
biiity in order to disambowel the sur
geon who seeks to alleviate their suf-
ferings. A wounded Dervish is as dan
gerous as a mad dog, and the treat
ment accorded him is based on ne
cessity emphasized by the loss of many
valuable lives.
SALE OF PoIsoNs.
Santa Rosa Republican,: Since the
Botkin poisoning case has been brought
to light the matter of better protection
against designing persons in the use or
poison, is being discussed. 1t is pos
sible that something can be done IN
the way of recording the transaction OF
purchasing poison, to check the evil re-
sulting from it. A provision for re-
cording the description of the purchaser
or the Identification of the same by
some one we'll known to the druggist,
would certainly add to the security
against the evil. 1t would not be
great hardship upon the people to re-
quire physicians prescription to en-
title one to buy poison, and this would
work we'll in many cases.
THE PHILIPPINES AND PUBLIC
SENTIMENT.
Los Angeles Times: At the present
time the sentiments of the American
people as regards the Philippines are
indeterminate and tentative. We must
of necessity leave something to be de-
termined by the course Of future events.
Whatever may be the verdict of the
Peace Commission soon to assemble in
Paris, that verdict is not likely to be
final. 1t will be subject to modifica-
ton, revision or repeal, unless it shall
result in our taking full possession of
the Philippine archipelago, and in Civ
ing to the islands a liberal and stable
form of government. Such an outcome
would definitely settle the fate of the
islands, and it. is not altogether certain
that we shall not be brought face to
face with that alternative in the end
| if, indeed, we are not virtually face to
face with it now.
NEWSPAPER READING.
Fresno Republican,: A voracious ap-
petite for newspapers, frequently to the
exclusion of all other reading, seems
almost national American character
istic. Wherever men are unoccupiedl in
street cars, ferry boats, hotel offices
| and the like, nearly every man will be
found with his face buried in a news
paper, while the man who utiliZes the
| same spare moments reading a book
is a rarity and is likely to be dubbed
off-hand a crank. A habit so wide
spread cannot be without effect on the
literary tastes of the people, and it has
become a custom among literary men
to decry this effect as pernicious. A
recent criticism of Mark Twain, for in
stance, attributes his supposed lack of
poetical taste to the atrophy of a nat
ural faculty, caused by excessive read
ing of newspapers. Newspaper Eng
lish'' has come to be a term Of re-
proach, and 'a good piece of journal
| ISM is the accepted form Of dam
ing with faint praise" shallow at
tempt at serious literature. That there
is some truth to these criticisms must
be conceded. Newspaper writing, Of
| necessity, cannot always crystalline
great thoughts in immortal phrase. The
average literary man would not under
take to write a personal letter, much
| less a serious discussion or breezy mar
rative, under the conditions of time,
surroundings and distractions of a
| newspaper office. In a daily newspaper
every thing must yield to the all i'm
portant consideration of time, and mat
ter must be turned out in the rough.