davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
THE VICE OF READING.

In the North American Review of
this month. Edith Wharton contributes
an essay with the above caption.
Edith Wharton is a Philadelphia wom-
an who has written some novels which
are evidence of tremendous historical
reading, and therefore she is giving us
expert testimony as to the vice to
which she refers. She regards the
mechanical reader as the one who
reads without benefit to himself or i'm
provement to his understanding. There
is large class of readers who are i'm
bued with the wholly modern spirit Of
desiring to be 'fn it, and in order to
keep posted on the literary trend will
read with their fingers a quantity of
fiction which they neither understand
nor can absorb. This she regards as
highly pernieious, and form of men
tai dissipation which is running and
frittering away the minds of the pres
ent generation.
Going deeper than this, the writer
says that the reader referred to does a
four-fofd harm. He creates a demand
for mediocre writing: retards true cul-
ture by his passion for popular render
ing of abstruse subjects; confuses
moral and intellectual judgments. and
by his demand for '+peptontzed" litera-
ture and inability to distinguish be-
tween the means and the end, .'he has
produced creature in his own image. -
declares the writer, 1.-The mechanical
critic"
Mrs. Wharton would appar emily cor
denim most of the reading done by
rote, even that inseparably connected
with certain courses of study. and
/ from her remarks we must inevitably
conclude that she regards as valuable
| only that reading which is done spon-
taneously and enJeyably. She ifkens
the reader who wants to "get in" lust
SO much reading a day, to the house
keeper who has calculated to an ounce
the daily consumption CT food in her
household; and the stores of food thus
brought into the house. to the laying in
of intellectual stores by the mechanical
reader.
She believes the born reader will
make his reading an underculrent to
all his affairs. and fix no limit of time
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
MEXICAN BANK is
FORCED TO CLOSE
Withdrawal of 100000 Was More Than
It Could Stand.

MEXICO CITY, Oct 1S.-That portion
of the community doing business with the
various American banks in this city has
been excited over the failure of the In
ternatfonal Bank and Trust company
which has an office in New York and here
Recent rumor had pointed to trouble
coming for the institution and President
Hunt says that the cause of the closing
Was nothing more nor less than enormous
Withdrawals of funds by depositors. With
in the past week depositors took out more
than $500 600.
The banks insolvency was demonstrated
Friday, when the German Transatlantic
bank of this city sent in a check Of $685.
600 for collection and the international
Bank and Trust company was compelled
to admit that it had no funds to meet 1t.
Many people are in financial distress on
account of the locking up of their funds.
The amount due depositors is some $780,,
600.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19

or inclination. With all due respect
for Mrs. Wharton's conclusions
which from her premise are logical
it would seem that she has not duly
taken into account the rush and hurry
of life, the little time there is for lei
surely and enjoyable reading and the
multiplicity Of books and other printed
matter of which and about which the
busy man or woman desires at least
TO know something. When some ire
mendous question is being discussed
plorable, it is a great temptation to
pick up magazine which, as the
writer puts it, discusses abstFuse mat
tiers in a popular manner. The casual
and busy reader gets in this way an
epitome of the whole matter, and when
he hears the subject discussed he is in
formed at least upon its general points.
The mechanical reader, hurried and
harassed, undoubtedly encourages and
SQI1dC6 IIGdtIIlculf VI OCCP
questions and the popular method
which Mrs. Wharton deplores, but
surely this is more the fault of rush
ing age and the complexity of modern
life than of the readers themselves.
When the millennium arrives and we
have time unlimited to enjoy the best
of everything, the mechanical reader
Will be banished to outer darkness; but
until that age comes those who feel
obliged to keep up with the procession
finG it moving too fast to allow other
than specialists to devote all the time
they desire TO the vast question re-
feeted in the literature of the day. The
real question is, ought rational men
and women to desire to keep up.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
III
Contemporary Comment
A Good Example.

a good example has been set by the
A!apama legislature. which has adj
Journeo Tor four years after a session
of sixty days. There is little to be
said in favor of yearly sessions of
state legislative bodies The good work
TOO tney may do is often overwhelmed
py the Dad. The Alabama legislators
passed number of excellent laws, and
is sald Of them by the newspapers
Inat tney were entirely unfnfiuenced
by poiucal rings or lobbyists. OF
not necessarily in every case prevent
political chicanery or prohibit the
passage of undesirable bills. Perhaps
TOUR years would be in most instances
TOO long an interval between sessions.
But the general principle, that we suf-
Ter rom too much legislation cannot
De MISUNDERSTANDING Journal
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
ONCE MORE DOUBTFUL.

It would be absurd to pretend that
the recent election in Indianapolis
gives any accurate idea of the condi-
ton of political feeling and party at
tachments throughout the state. Mu-
nieipal elections are marked in our day
by general breaking across party
Hnes and this is particularly true in
Indianapolis, where independent vot-
ing is the rule, and where on this &C.
casion there were all sorts Of party
alignments.
1t is true. nevertheless. that the cleo
ton of a Democratic mayor and
Democratic city clerk in conjunction
cipa1 city in Indiana is not little sig
nificant. 1t could not happen unless
the Democrats were getting together,
as they are there and everywhere.
Such elections as occur this fall, and
in much more marked degree those
of next year, Will show a Democracy
united once more. New issues, and to
a very large extent new men, are COM
ing to the front. The party is weary of
continuous defeat and impatient of the
failures and folIies of Republicans in
office, endured only because the oppo-
sition to them has been divided. a
different regime is about to prevail.
Beyond question, Indiana is again 10
states" In the old days it was more
likely to- be Democratic than Repub-
Hcan. 1t could be carried by the lat
ter party only by tremendously pop
ular candidate, or by the liberal use Of
soap and arrangements for the pur-
chase of blocks of five" 1t is return
ing, we are confident, to it's old allie
glance.
We firmly believe that all Of the
former doubtful states will be doubt
full again next year If the Democrats Of
the country are prudent, harmonious
and aggressive. That New York is not
likely to be carried for the Republic
an candidate is now, admitted by all
well informed politicians. Indiana is
to be added to the list. The prospects
of the Democratic party are brighten
ing, and the probability of its success
next year is charging every day.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
TODAY'S WEATHER.

Mfnnesota-Fair and warmer Monday;
rain Tuesday; fresh northwest winds
Upper Michigan and WisconSin-Partly
cloudy and warmer Monday; probably
rain Tuesday; variable winds. shifting to
fresh northwest.
North Dakota-Partfy cloudy Monday,
with warmer In eastern portion; Tuesday
fair and cooler.
South Dakota-Fsir Monday and Tues
day, cooler Tuesday.
Mentana-Fair Monday and Tuesday;
cooler Tuesday.
Iowa-PartIy cloudy Monday and Tues
day; warmer Monday.
ST Paul y Yesterdays observations,
taken by the United States weather bu-
reau, ST. Paul w. E. Oliver. observer, fol-
the twenty four hours ended at O'Clock
last night-Barometer corrected for tenn
perature and elevation. Highest tempera-
ture, SO; lowest temperature, IS; average
temperature, 49, daily range, %; baron-
eter. % SO; humidity. Y; precipitation.
%; p. m. temperature So; z 2; m wind,
northwest; weather. partly cloudy.
Yesterdays TemDeratureS-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
The Langley Eiasco.

There has never been a more COM
plete and ridiculous failure of a much
neralded invention than that of Prof.
Langieys se-called airship. Scores
or unedueated mechanics dependent
on their own wits and means have
come nearer making successful flying
machine than this professor of the
Smithsonian institution with an ap-
preparation by congress to draw upon.
whoever is responsible for wasting
public money on this visionary scheme
deserves public reprimand.-
apOfiS Journal
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
Christian Missionary Societies.

DETROIT. Mich. Oct 1S.-There We're
no meetings today OF tf1e> missionary So
cieties of the Christian church. which IS
holding its International missionary con-
ference IN this city. Tomorrow the For
eign Christian Missionary society viii hold
sessions Tuesday morning sessions Of the
American Christian Missionary society viii
be resumed and will continue until Wed
nesday night H. T. Sweeney. of Columbus
Ind, il is said will be elected president OF
this society. to succeed a. b. Philputt
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
ANOTHER CHICAGO ExAGGERA.
TON.

The Employers association Of Chi
cago is doing itself proud these days.
Sometimes the members and officials
of labor unions are accused of exag-
geration, but the literary feIler" who
is at work for the Employers associa-
ton can give points to any of them.
He is not afraid to put himself on rec
ord in the face of the plainest facts.
We had occasion short time ago
to expose the absurd falsehood of
statements from this quarter relating
TO the increase of building during the
past year in various cities of the
country. A table was made up in Chit
cago and telegraphed all over the
country showing enormous losses in
the building business, all of which
were attributed to the prevalence of
labor troubles. These losses were fix
ed at many times the actual amount,
and in some cases were worse than fic-
titious. st. Paul, for example, was
building industry, whereas the official
records show a handsome increase.
The same people are at it again, as
appears by the latest statistics sent
out by the Employers association,
which relate to wages and cost of hv-
ing. They purport to show that cost
Of Ii-ir
than 15 per cent, while wages have
gone UP in some cases 100 per cent.
Much virtue lies in that "in some
cases" Possibly there are wage earn
ers whose compensation has been dou-
bled within the past few years, but
they are mighty few
The price which statistics measure
the cost of living rest on a compari
son between 1898 and 1898. Now NO
man with the slightest statistical
knowledge and desire to do Justice
would make such comparison. There
was one immense increase of prices
before 1898, and the increase in wages
has come almost wholly since then.
Any valid comparisons would be be-
tween the present standards and those
of ten years ago. They would show no
such results as the Chicago bureau af-
fects to have discovered.
There can be no excuse for this kind
OF work, and it reflects the greatest
discredlt upon these who are behind
the Employers association. The tr1,e
and actual figures would he forcib1a
enough. Undoubtedly there has been
large increase both In wages and
prices. There are plenty of statistics
to show IT, and to declare just about
how much it amounts to. The COM
mercfal and statistical newspapers are
full of them, the government re-
ports publish them and the great COM
mercfal agencies record them. At the
present moment wages are not adj
vaHcing, and it is practically certain
that they will not increase for some
time to come. A lun has come upon
prosperity. Speculative ventures are
being welded out, and legitimate en-
terprises are feeling the evil effects of
prosecution for political purposes. In
both directions industry suffers
through a Iessening of investment.
There can be nc general OF material
gain by the wage Garner until these
conditions have been changed. The
advance in prices. on the other hand
has not been checked. Rents, provl-
slons and materials of all kinds have
Continued IS become more costly dur
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
Ward and vokes at the Grand.

"a Pair of Pinks." That's the title
of the Kaleidoscope connection of
which Ward and Vokes are the cher
r1es, the pieces de resistance, at the
Grand this week.
"A Pair of Pinksn is quite the best
thing that these two comedians have
appeared in for some time 1t has va
riety. 1t moves. There's something
doing all the time, and generally some
thing clever. Nearly every member of
the company can do something, and
they all get a chance to do it. Ward
and Vokes do not attempt to spread
themselves all through the two acts,
and monopoIize the evening, which is
comnendable
What there is of plot to the piece is
very broad satire, and the same motif
in the hands of that genius of farce,
the late Mr. Hoyt, would have evolved
into fine farce comedy. Briefly, it IS
something like this:
Billion Aver" the richest man on
earth. owns little world of his own;
has his own actors, criminals and bur-
glars, with whom he makes arrange
ments to have them break into his
house and rob him at times agreeable
to himself; has his own detectives and
his own JAIL which is most luxurious
affair, something after the manner of
our own county institution.
In this place the criminal is treated
with the utmost consideration and
everything that will tend to make him
desire to prolong his sentence is pro-
vided. A bunch of beautiful maidens,
'1the murderers' admiration society,""
call and bring flowers, etc, and the
laws delays and legal laxity are
broadly satirized. When it is time to
end the piece, Billion Aver" says:
I'm tired of this place; let's go to
Hong Kong" Hong Kong" being the
pame of the song which is the finale.
That is an easy way of finishing, and
consistent, too, when you remember
that Billion Aver" had money enough
to go where and whenever he chose.
There are several bright musical
numbers in the piece Most of them
are of the topical variety, and the lines
are bright Eff Had You" is a ballad
OF the gentler sentiment and was en-
cored a number of times.
The people surrounding Ward and
vokes have ability. Margaret Daily
Vokes is, unfortunately, suffering from
a severe cold, but in spite of 1t, per-
forms her share of the entertainment
in her usual happy manner Lucy
DAILY. the vivacious, she of the twink
ling toe and that swagger walk, is very
captivating In soldier suit, and was
c0Upelled to repeat 'Fhe Maiden 7
Left in Hong Kong several times.
Vinie DaIy's aefobatfcs were a source
of much applause and justly so.
Ward and Vokes need no comment.
They have considerable new material
in the humorous line and they deliver
the goods in the same old way. A
very ereditabIe representation Of a
French count is done by Gus Bruno,
and Lou Miller IS @Tuff Mutt" burg
lar, is also worthy of mention The
chorus is excellent from the pictur-.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
PREMIER AND pAMPHIETEER.

PREMIER AND pAMPHLETEER.
While his former colonial secretary
is ''stumping" the country for imperial
ism, Premier Balfour is feeding the fire
underneath England's seething political
pot with the political pamphlet. Cham
berlain is step in advance of British
politics The prime minister, so far as
methods are concerned at least, is a
step behind. The man from Birming-
ham in order to turn crisis into an
opportunity has cut loose from English
political conventions. His sometime
chief, at one with him in the desire
that an opportunity must be evolved
Though he regards the opportunity as
England's rather than as Chamber
lain's) has found his strength and
method in Gladstone.
1t is quite probable that Americans
understand the colonial secretary a
trif1e better than his own eountrymen
understand him. The man of ready re-
sources and impenetrabIe sangfroid,
the convincing stump" speaker and the
vigorous campaigner, the player in the
game political, whose hand" is never
more than a vague speculation to, his
opponents-such man seems a trans
planted product in the isle which is
held in the tight grasp of conventions.
But Balfour is less understandable and
therefore. perhaps, more appreciated
To Americans his is really the pic
turesque figure in British politics to-
day.
And Yankees who possess a sense
Of the eternal fitness of things will
appreciate the man who appreciates
the fact that there exists In England
today situation that demands the
political pamphlet. From that time in
English history when the reigning mon
arch was content to be comfortable
merely and to allow her ministers to
rule, great crises have brought forth
great pamphlets. Today the pamphlets
their lucidity and for the honesty they
breathe forth. When the present crisis
is history they will be important be-
cause they will be helpful in solving
what will doubtless be regarded as a
puzzling period. They will have a place
in the literature of history.
EI1f Tfc1,
cal pamphlets that deserve a place in
the literature of the world. When poor
Defoe sacrificed self-respect to serve
a prime minister whose claim to fame
is that he was able to appreciate the
value of such services as this son of a
poor tradesnan cordd render, he re-
vealed the possibilities of the political
pamphlet. His pamphlets brought him
| a posthumous disgrace, and a kindly
| world has remembered him only for
his novel, but they helped to save a
ministry in their day and they are lit
erature@ as well as history.
He and Swift, Sir Philip Francis or
whoever it was that invented ~Junius,"
Burke and Gladstone are some of the
famous pamphleteers of English his
! tory. And now it seems that Arthur
Balfour has no intention of casting
this political weapon aside as useless
and out of date. Even Chamberlain
has tried his hand at producing one.
but Chamberlain is not pamphIeteer.
The situation may produce greater
pamrhleteers than Balfour, but at
least his pamphlets deserve credit for
dealing intelhgibly and in, manner
becoming the dignity Of premier with
| a great question.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
The Doom of China.

The most inevitable thing that can
be read on theI worlds map is the
coming partitionsof China. She is the
one great obstruction in the pathway
of a world-enefreling civilization. She
is becoming constantly thorn in the
flesh of the progressive nations Rus
sian aggression is forcing verdict in
her case, and perhaps now is as good
time IN history to have it rendered
finally as can sbe, anticipated
Constitution.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
No Need for Worry.

The political obstacles which Column
bia thinks it is erecting in the path of
Americas manifest destiny will be
traversed as readily as a pen crosses
a fly speck on piece of paper. Let
them worry nobody. The American
people are usually level headed. We
do not believe they. can be scared by
the war whoops of party organs.
playing petty politics, into such a gil
gantic blunder as the choice of the
Nicaragua canal would be.-Chicago
Tribune.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
"Watson's American BurIesquers" a
the Star.

"atsohs american 6urleSquerS" at
the Star.
A lively and varied entertainment
was presented to the usual large Sunday
audience at the Star yesterday The
company is composed of clever people,
al OF whom are familiar to patrons of
this tehater.
The centerpiece of the cluster is
Billy B. Watson, the little Dutch come
alan, who was with Twins Big Show
last season. He is always funny, is a
nard worker and has the unctieus and
easy manners of the natural comedian.
Inc OHIO contains a number of meri-
Lorlous specialties. Paul and Arthur
BEL, appropriately called the Musical
bei!S, DO a very commendable turn
with number of different instru-
ments. The intermezze from "Cava-
ier1a Rustieana" is often done by ''mu-
sicaf artists" but rarely as well as the
Bells play it ON two concertinas.
wheeler and Washburn contribute
lively song and dance speciality much
above the average. A big acrobatic
feature is the Meeker- Baker trio, one
or whom is Johnny Bell, st. Paul boy,
VINO IS as popular as he is gifted. He
was greeted with profuse applause,
and a host of friends waited after the
performance to offer the congratula-
tons to which he is justly entitled.
He IS fine looking lad with a splendid
physique and does some marvellous
stunts
The Sisters Batcheler perform most
creditably on the violin and mandolin
and sing and dance well. Mcfarland
and Murray are here once more doing
The Millionaire and the Iceman,"
which is only another name for a lot
of laughable nonsense and probably by
any other name would make people
laugh just as much. At any rate they
drew their share of applause. which is
the official stamp of approval.
The burlesquers are about the same
as burlesquers usually are. The chorus
Is of the heavyweight class. Doubtless
this is matter of economy on the part
Of the engagement, for only half the
usual number Of these generously pro-
portioned show girls are required to
I'LL the space. However, they are
mostly handsome and perform their
allotted portions of the entertainment
quite commercially.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19

After all. Minnesota may be able to
dispute with Illinois the honor OF con-
verting Greater New York. The North
Star state is represented by John the
Baptist IL, who has the advantage of
being on the ground first and who has
already assured Gothamites that Elijah
is a fakir.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19

Some idea of the rapidity with
which the Pacific coast has developed
a town like Aberdeen, Wash, which
has not been heard of much away
from home, can have a million-d dollar
fire.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
An Unreasonable Mayor.

Things have come to a pretty pass
when the mayor wants city employees
to actually work for their salaries as
if they We're employed by business
firms or individuals. If this absurd
notion is chung to by Mr.. Harrison, we
may expect many of his former friends
too get SO busy earning their living
that they will have little time to fight
him olitieally.-Chicago Record-Her-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
Among the Merrymakers
With the Fathers.

Washington had just accepted the presi-
dency.
Now" he faltered, you must remem-
Der have never shot any mountain
lionsI"
But you didn't do a thing to the Brit
ish lion,' whooped the popuiace.
Blushing under the hcnors bestowed up
on him, he retired to the backyard to
practice baseball, singlestick and history
writing. thus seeking to fit himself for
the burdens of office.-NeW York Sun.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
Or SWAP Some of Those Bonds.

If Mr.. Carnegie is| really afraid of
dying rich he might trade off some Of
his preferred steel stock for common
Washington Star.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19

The Gotham Republicans will of
course be able on the morning after
the election to boast that they still
have the Low, bnt the high, jack and
the game will be elsewhere.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19
hi Sublime Faith.

THEY dug tie bruised and battered form
of the inventor out from under the ruins
Of his flying machine.
II want to say" he whispered hoarse-
ly. "that my invention is going to be
magnificent success! I have found out
just " hat ais it,
Waving the surgeons away he continued
to talk to the reporters.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-19

We will not have unbroken peace
between Russia and Japan until a few
OF those belligerent, thfng-seeing cor
respondents are locked un and deprived
of their typewriters.