The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-07-19
TIE EDITORS LEISURE HoUss,
Points and Paragraphs Of Thines
Present, Past and Future.


The situation in China at this writ
ing is still "an unknown quantity"
There have been SO many things publish
ed and then contradlcted it Is next to
impossible to see just how things are
there. But taking the most hopeful!
view from the most favorable conditions
there, anl the situation is one to be
'ored. They are killing folks, and
tina. alone makes every humane mind
recoll and wish that the smoke of battle
could be famed away forever by the
sweet wings Of peace, and that the
sound of cannon could never again
disturb the peace and quiet of the
world.
The great distress that persons of
supersensitive disposition endure
is OF sufficient frequency to have
a place in a column of "pass-
ing events" Such persons are to be
pitied many times when they are
condemned.
It is true that some ore has vel.
said that people iaye no busi ness
spreading their feelings so far around
them that others Will walk ca them
unawarss but the person of the very
sensitive disposition does not eysry
time know how far his feelings have
gone and sometimes perhaps we are not
careful enough ourselves to keep off
the feelings of o.her people that lie
so broad around.
The world poorly appreciates its
loss In the death of a good and con-
scientious journalist. zoo often tkas
do personal work ami set to work othel
agencies for the bettermeDt ci the
~oiil lo>al)y and eAs,se:::l,' w;t'.Gi't
being rer1pgaized as the real beuefactor<
to manl AIFthat they are.
These reflections come from readina
some OF the tributes paid by tbs Vir-
ginia press to Col. Cowardin, late editor
of the Richmond Dispatch. His deati,
occurred in Richmond about two
weeks ago. To be sure, the many ex-
pressions of appreciation of bis worth
as man and worth as a journalist
shoH She high es:eeGn in which he
was held hy t;ss psopls of the State ano
THE South generally but even with al
this his is the common lot OF men who
work as he worked. He did far more
than any cne yet reckons.
1t is gratifying to the world to see
signs OF an early termination OF the
war in South Africa. The sympathiz-
ers with the Beers will bs glad to learn
this as we'll as others-not because the
Beers will not be successful-but be-
cause an end to the strife will cause so
much suffering to cease.
No people in all the history OF the
world have ever struggled more heroic
ally than the Beers of South Africa,
and they will be so remembered in The
history of the wars of the century.
And while they have pledged never
10 surrender it is said that they are
beginning to see the folly of continu-
ing human sacrifice to the satisfaction
,f keeping personal pledges. Let the
war terminate and may we hear OF
wars no more.
Charity and Children remarks that
rom the many and handsome advcr-
isements which the newspapers are
carrying for the different schools and
colleges of The State, the educational
interest must be at high tide. 1t does
ook SO indeed, and it is source OF
ratification to all lovers of intelligence
and advancement. The day-dawn
,eems to be near when North Carolina
will be fully aroused on the question
If general education.
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