Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-11-14

nO more. Or, Stlll better, Spcnu only
M cents Have the courage to wear
an old coat IL necessary. Some day
you may be able to wear better one.
Let clubs and society organizations
worry along without you until you can
afford to join them. Hold UP your
chin and--livc within your income.
~eSA
While statistics of this country and
of most of the countries of Europe re-
port Il falling off in the birth rate.
there is Il marked Improvement In the |
health rate and in longevity. Beyond
question. in spite of much that seems |
to initiate against progress in this di |
rection. other factors are at work |
which more than balance certain bane. !
ful influences of the times. Athletics |
deserve no small credit for the new |
life in the community. Athletes may
be short-lived. but their influence in
the country has been to raise the
standard of health and strength and
to promote the temperance and self
control which tend to longer life.
Much is due to medical discoveries and
to a better knowledge of sanitary con-
ditions. Although the germ theory of
disease has been acted upon scarcely
more than twenty years. the results
are beyond calculation both in saving
life and warding off sickness. Per-
haps the best showing in the direction
of health is the great decrease in in
FAINT mortality. 1t has been the dis
| grace of civilization that the number
of deaths of children under ) years of
age was out of all proportion to the
| progress of the race. Last year this
| proportion was greatly reduced in Chi
| cago. New York and London. not to
| mention cities of lesser size, ana ii Is
ono of the most hopeful signs of the
times. Aside from any human and
| humane sentiments. the enormous
waste 10 IL country where years are
| spent in rearing and caring for chill.
drcn only TO have them die before
making the slightest economic return
Is incalculablc. Anything, then, which
tends to increase health and longevity
is of vastly more Importance than
large birth rate merely. The latter
alone may mean the poverty and weak
ness of Il country. The former is the
real strength of Il nation.
| %G
| During the short war with Spain the
management of the army of the United
States was severely criticised, and the
officers supposed to be responsible
therefor We're condemned by popular
opinion. Yet the complications which
hampered the efficiency of the army
We're Il result rather of the defects of
Il system of long standing than Of bad
administration by these In charge. This
became evident to Congress-. and after
the war ended In August, 1893. Il cam
, paign for army reorganization was be-
gun. 1t was not until February, 1901,
two years and half later, that the
army reorganization bill became law,
and In February Of this year only was
the final step In the reform taken, by
the creation Of the army staff. What
, makes army reform In the United
States particularly notable Is that In.
terest In the question survived In Con.
gress for four years and half afte,
the imperative need for more eti
Client army had passed. When tn,
. Boer war began in 1900, the British
found their system Of army admins.
tratiOn suffering from the same defects
Of divided responsibility and from the
same delays Of circumlocution that
caused the scandals In the United
States In the spring Of 1898. No I'M
, portant reform was attempted during
the progress of the struggle. Not long
: after the war ended In May, 1902, a
commission was appointed to inquire
into the management OF the war Office
and to recommend reforms. The pub
, licatOn of the commissions report
! caused an almost universal Outburst OF
Indignation, for the report not only
|. proved the accusation that the British
I army had and has mo thinking depart
!. ment." but 1t showed cOnclusively thai
the government Ii us unready for wal
now as 1t was before. A plan fO
changing the organization Of the regi
ments and brigades has been proposed
but the central administrative authO
ity Is as divided us ever. II the Brit
ish succeed In thoroughly reOrganizinI
their war Office by 1906, they will hav,
done us well as Congress did.
8 ~aA
A career that among Its incldent
comprises whale catching In Vale
y and sleeping in coffin In Kansas Il
d least has the merit of variety, ant
these are two Of the variations In tn
i life Of David j. Roberts, foreman o
the first division of the GOvernmen
Printing Office, man who has run tn
gamut of the usual experiences Of
J. tourist" printer in the days before tn
! Mergenthaler machine revOlutiOnizet
= the usages of the craft.
The picturesque and ancient tow
Of Carnarvon, Wales" said Mr.. Rob
n erts, "is on the Menai Straits, and wa
% the scene of great excitement one da.
!. in 1878 while was there doing tn
. 'peripatetic act When the tide cam
d in the water was very deep In th
10 straits, and school of whales ha,
Ia foated into the narrow channel witt
the tide. As these We're very valuable
it was in the interest of the towns
people to prevent their escape; so ev
70 cry one turned ont 10 helm All th,