The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-26
WILLIAM T. STEAD,
THE MAN WHO DARES

Wimbledon. One week, perhaps. the
subject is "Zionism''; another it is
spiritualism, and again, the discus
sion of vegetarianisnl, with an exhi-
blton and sale of vegetarian foods
and wearing apparel, featherless hats
and leatherless shoes.
With all his praise of America, Mr..
Stead still does not agree with Max
O'Rell, who wrote: eff / were to be
born again, and had to be a woman,
should pray.to be American worl-
an" Mr.. Stead considers it darkest
America politically, SO far as women
are concerned.
From what I know of the laws"
he said, "'the American republic in all
legal, political and constitutional mat
ters, is more unjust to women than
any monarchical state in Europe. AS
republic, it has never done honor
to any woman since its formation. It
is based far more than any monarchy
Of aristocrats upon the dominant mon
opOly Of the male. In society, the
American woman may be a queen, but
in the commonwealth she is an Uit-
lander"
D UT if anybody wants to arouse the
ID lion in Mr. Stead just now, he
should refer to the education bill.
which has not only torn up England
and aroused acrid discussion from end
to end Of the kingdom, but which is
like a spark to tow with this ultra
nonconformist.
.'The hope of any nation to-day is in
her schools he said. THE nation of
tomorrow that has the highest per-
centage of education is the nation that
is going to get the best end OF the
world problems. English education
to-day is distinctly not up to the mark.
~ Nd ite a
ity could also be greatly improved
If something is not done and quickly,
the next generation of Englishmen
will be hopelessly distanced by both
Germans and Americans The per-
nicious education bill is case of
mortgaging the next generation to the
church. Half the schools are to be
given helplessly into the hands of one
religious denomination. The other
half can go its own gait, and the two
are expected to stand side by side in
merit. merely because both are sup
ported out of the same fund. be-
lieve you have a motto that says
something about United we stand, di-
vided we fall Well. that is the case
in this matter of education # there
is no one body governing all alike.
there can't be uniformity In the re-
suits The bill is not only against
constitutional principles justice, econ
OmV ana COH1IlOn ScuSc, uuI oiSo
against the great cause Of education in
general. It is practically impossible
for me to try to explain to you, for
YOU do things so differently IN Amer
lea, but it is one Of the greatest of the
great mistakes made in recent years.
do not remember much OF the De
tails of the historic room where this
conversati ton took place, except that it
was all very Steady. 1t was not splck
and span. but neither is Mr.. Stead.
Nothing seemed to be new, and by no
stretch Of the imagination can Mr.
Stead be placed as wearing anything
new The room is irregular In shape,
there is a huge round table in the
middle of the squarest part, heaped
high with the thousand and one things
which every editor finds Will accumu-
late upon his hands, in spite of him
SELF an imposing mass of photographs
displayed upon one assaat Wal pdeseTe1 5ifessizea
prominently displayed, and books and
| books and papers and magazines
| everywhere.
"Come and see me, sure, when You
return to London he said at part
ing. A month later I again mounted
the steps Of Mowbray House, and as
before had to run the gauntlet Of the
entire office force.
''Mr. Stead is very busy the clerk
| said, and every one in the room turned
a pair of reproachful eyes upon me.
Again I signified my amiable willing
ness to wait, and again. with a sigh,
I was shown into the little pink room.
and again / sank into the depths of
| the broad leather couch. But this
| time slight, overworked-looking
| young man came in and sat down be-
| side me and began to talk confiden-
TALLY.
IT am Mr.. Stead" he said.
Eyes? But you are not the Mr..
Stead I saw four weeks ago and whom
| wish to see now"
| "You wish to see my father?' he
said sadly and reproachfully. MY
father is so busy. Won't I do as
we'll ?"
| Really, the minor cadence in his
voice was almost too much. There is
no telling what might have happened
| to my resolve had not the door of the
private office banged open with
suddenness that made us both jump.
| And there stood w. T. Stead in the
flesh, electric, welcoming and master
full Young Mr.. Stead melted sadly
away, as who should say, Il cannot
save him from himself" and again I
entered into the sanctum sanctorum of
one of the most remarkable men in
England to-day.
Mae Harris Arson.