Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-08


Count Leo Tolsto, in a study of Ma
poleon and the Russian campaign in
the Nouvelle Revue, the well-known
publication founded by Nine. Adam,
gives full play to his theory of chance.
He rejects, says the London Chronicle,
in notice Of his article, both the
French and Russian explanations of
this tragic episode as equally false.
Napoleon, he asserts, instead of fore
seeing the danger, considered each
step he took a triumph, and the Rus
SLAMS, far from thinking to draw the
French to Moscow, had, on the con-
trary, done all they could to check
their advance. It was in spite of the
Russians, he says, that in falling
back they did precisely what was
necessary to vanquish the French.
Even the burning of Moscow was not
Intentional, but accidental and the
retreat of the French army was the
effect of chance
4 telegram from Volksrust says that
the boer camp resembles the camps of
Cromwell's ironsides. Every day
psalms and hymns are sung by the
camp fires, and on every side a spirit
of earnest religious fervor and enthu-
siasm is displayed. 1t is not easy to
down such people, especially when
they keep their powder dry. But
Maxim guns and well-directed field
VT: II
of prayer.
We are great for passing laws for
the benefit of the people in this aoun-
try, but somehow Or other they gen.
orally fail to work, or are not en-
forced. By a late enactment Of the
temporarily embarrassed citizen ought
now to be able to put up his Water
bury. or unfrayed Ben or solitaire
at rates which would not eat up the
loan in a few short months, and so
enable him to dodge his benevolent
uncle" under the sign of the gilded
three balls. AS an incentive to the
phiIanthropists who urged the passage
of our state law on this matter it may
be mentioned that report just issued
of the Paris Mont de Pete or munich
pal paWnshop, shows how prosperous
as we'll as helpful such an institution
can be, notwithstanding its low rates
Of interest and kindly accommoda-
tons. Here are some figures from the
report. Among the borrowers last
year were $500 working people, 8,497
employees, 1854 merchants, tradesmen
and manufacturers, and 2019 repre-
sentatives of the liberal professions.
Small renters, or those who live on
their dividends, frequently seek the
help of the friendly mont, and 5000 of
this class were among the borrowers.
The institution is looked upon more in
the nature of a bank conducted for
the benefit and accommodation of the
people than as a pawnshop, and it ad-
yances money on any security, includ-
ing furniture and railway or other
shares, and is used by the tradesman
short of capital as well as by the la
bOrer out Of work. It may be an effete
sort Of civilization that demands a
Quoted pawnshop, but if that civili-
cation has come the uncle" ought to
he eliminated.
At the recent great church congress
in Albert hall, London, smoking was
positively prohibited in any part of the
hall, but that difficult was got over for
rooms were secured just back of the
hall where the clergy could smoke the
soothing pipe 10 their hearts content.
Lord Bassey, governor of Victoria,
recently took part in discussion on
The morality Of Imperialism at a
meeting Of the Trinity College Dia-
lectical society in Melbourne. He eX-
pressed the view that the extension
and widening of imperial responsible
| ties was much to be deprecated, and
also said that there was a good deal
in the past history Of English i'm
Derialism that could not be vindicated
| or defended With respect to Ameri-
can imperialism he thought it was q
great mistake to conquer the whole Of
the Philippines. 1t would be much
better. he believed, for this country
to establish a naval base, as England
| had done at SINGAPORE.
"Brummagen joe" the secretary Of
state for the colonies, looms I'D the
biggest object in the eye of England
| today, and the bold and tactful man
ner in which he has dominated tht
cabinet and the policy of the country
brought a query to one of the papers
as to his proper official designation
The answer was that he is The TT
Hon. Joseph Chamberlain, one Of he
majesty's principal secretaries o
state" The paper also gives the fol
lowing interesting particulars in con
nection with the matter. 1t is only. i
says. as a matter of practice and con
venience that the various depart
ments of state have been placed unde
the immediate supervision and contro
IOf enc Of the statesmen who hold In
office of principal secretaries OF state
Originally there was only one secre
Itary of state. There are now five: TIL
home. colonial, war, Indian, an
foreign secretaries. The power of eac,