Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-31
OTHER LANDS THAN OURS.


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King oscar Of Sweden, who has been
Obliged by III health TO temporarily abdi-
cate the sceptre, is reputed TO be one OF
the most learned men in Europe. He is
a member or honorary member OF nearly
every important academy or association OF
sciences. in addition to which he has at
tanned fame as a poet, ~linguist. critic, in
ternational arbitrator and athlete. He is
the possessor of hundreds Of decorations,
including those OF almost every known or
der OF knighthood, but the medal he val
ues most highly is one given him by the
Humane Society Of France for stopping a
runaway team on the streets OF Paris. A
characteristic illustration of his extreme
modesty is given by a story told of his
examination Of some school children. Hav-
ing asked the class to name the most ia
nous monarch Of Sweden, a small girl
mentioned Oscar II. When pressed to
mention a notable event Of his reign the
diplomatic miss was obliged to admit she
knew of none. THAT is right" remarked
the king. II don't know Of any myself"
II the nation is happy that has no history
the Swedes own that privilege. King Os-
car spoke the literal truth. The only stir
ring event of his reign was perhaps the
Norwegian poet Bjornsen's challenge OF the
king to a duel.
The appointment Of DR.. Randall David
son to the archbishopric OF Canterbury is
but another illustration OF how the Scot Is
conquering south Of the border. The arch
bishop of York is likewise a Scotchman.
In the British government ten Scotchmen
are drawing yearly e37,617 from the treas
ury, viz: Arthur Balfour, the premier;
Gerald Balfour, secretary for the Board
Of Trade; Mr.. Richie, the home secre-
tary; Lord Balfour Of Burleigh. secretary
Of Scotland; II. T.. Anstruther, a junior
lord Of the admiralty; Hon. T. Cochrane,
parliamentary secretary for the home Of
fee; A. B.. Law, parliamentary secretary
for the Board of Trade; Sir r. b. Finlay,
advocate for Scotland, and Scott Dickson,
solicitor general for Scotland. Moreover,
the earl OF Mimic, governor general OF
Canada, is a Scot, and Lord Hopetoun, until
recently governor general Of Austria, is OF
the same nationality.
Some doubt has been thrown by recent
travellers upon the correctness of the ac-
cepted notion that China is a land of teem-
ing population. II has been asserted that
the human hives along the seaboard and
the great rivers of China ought not to be
taken as a basis for estimates; that in
those parts Of the empire which lie on
the main routes of traffic (the natural and
artificial water c~ourses) the population OF
China is comparatively thin. A census
recently taken by the Pekin government
for the purpose of assessing taxes to meet
the indemnity payments seems, however
TO prove the accuracy Of the older esti-
mates. The census shows that the eighteen
provinces of China proper contain 4O7,737,
305 Inhabitants; that Manchurin has
$500, 900 and Mongolia, Thibet and Chinese
Turkestan a little over 10, 900, 900. The total
population Of the empire is 426,4 1926, &C
cording to this enumeration. The absolute
reliability Of Asiatic statistics is ques.
toned; nevertheless, the agreement Of the
results Of the census with the accepted
estimates is so close as to invite conf
dence. The statement hat the Chinese
empire contains one-third Of the human
race will hereafter be regarded more thar
ever as an approximate truth.
RRa
The Rand in general and Johannesburg
in particular are in the hands Of what II
probably the most complete railroad mo-
nopoly in existence, and the fact that this
is controlled by the government does no
better conditions. The freight rates from
the coasts to the Transvaal are so high
that only the comparatively wealthy car
live in comfort there, enjoying luxurieF
in the way of furniture and the like sucf
as they have been accustomed to at home
Rents are abnormal, very moderate houses
in decent localities renting for from 81, 50(
to $4,000 a year and everything else II
proportionately dear. There is only on,
remedy for this-the reductions of charges
on the railways from Natal and the Cape
which are paying dividends to the govern
ment large enough to make private cor
porations green with envy. Import dutie!
on foodstuffs, building materials and min.
ing necessaries might be abolished unit
ordinary economic conditions return, to thu
great advantage Of the colony.
The fact that no especial honor has beer
conferred upon Lord Curzon for the sue.
cessful way in which he has pulled off
the Durbar is creating some surprise, ever
in England, but the fact is that Lore
Curzon occupies a position which makes 1
difficult to give him a distinction such al
would usually follow an event like thu
Durbar. He is not a British peer. He de
clines to become one, and 1t is, therefore
impossible to give him q step In the peer
age. 1t is true that he is an Irish peer
} and It might be possible to offer him a steI
up in the Irish peerage. Lord Palmerston
, for instance, was a viscount In the peerag
, of Ireland, and 1t would be quite feasibl
/ to confer the same rank, or even an Irisl
earldom, on Lord Curzon. Apparently
however, King Edward does not care t
create Irish peerages or give promotion t
existing Irish peers. In these circum
\ stances, the only distinction that can b
l conferred on Lord Curzon is one OF tn
S orders which he does not already possess
The removal of that great English in
; stitution, the Postof1ce Savings bank, fror
) its present location to more commodiou
: quarters in West Kensington, makes salien
the remarkable growth Of the enterprise
In 1880, when it had to move to get NOR
room for its business, it had s,1S5 900 de
positors. and its deposits amounted t
, Sl6s, 900. 900. Now its depositors numbe
5000, 900, and the deposits count up t
S725,O 900, 900. Originally designed for tn
benefit of the working classes, the ban