The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-05-17


tween the South and North in the great
est war for independence that was ever
waged on the globe. Since preparing this,
l have seen the figures Tor Edgecombe
county given by ex-Judge Philips. IL con-
tributed 2,416 soldiers out OF total of
whites numbering 9,554 The highest vote
was In 1860, 1854 votes This Is grand
showing.
Chief Justice Walter Clarks excellent
paper in the Boston Arena, attracts at
tention in the North. 1t Is like all he
writes-clear, carefully prepared, and IN
structiye He sets forth tersely and lu-
cidly the changes that have been wrought
in constitutional and statute law IN THIS
country and Great Britain. Some OF the
changes are most noteworthy and may
be described as progressive. Concerning
the criminal law, labor legislation, the
protection and favor to married women,
etc, the many changes tend to real ad-
yancement The CRIMINAL legislation has
been disgraceful and truly injurious. So
is the late legislation III North Carolina
as to divorce.
Many useful and some able works have
been published lately. One is entitled
Recent European History, 17S9-1900." 1t
is a small volume and a textbook for
high schools and colleges. 1t is by Presi-
dent G.. E. Fellows, of University of
Maine.
DR.. Charles B. Gulick, of Harvard Uni
verslty, has an Illustrated volume on "The
Life OF the Ancient Greeks" 1t is not
history OF wars, etc, but tells of their
personal, domestic hfe-what they did,
how they lived, what they fed upon and
wore, etc. Still another book about the
Greeks OF antiquity, is entitled 1.-THE
Story OF Athens" and is from the pen of
H. c. Butler. 1t is a view of, the peo-
pie, the greatest, most gifted, most ar
tistic OF all nations. 1t is said to be of
real value and desirable for the library.
The late Dean Farrar, of England, who
died recently of paralysis, was lovable,
genial, highly gifted man, superior
preacher, charming writer, brave
fighter. for what he believed He was not
orthodox but sincere, and was a staunch.
unfaltering opponent of drunkenness, to
which the English are so much addicted.
He wrote two really valuable and most
Interesting works, the Life of Christ.
charming works, full of instruction and
beauty as / found them. He and the
great Nonconformist preacher of Eng
land, Rev. DIR. Joseph Parker, of Lon
don, who passed away few weeks since,
were of the highest contemporary rank,
men of marked influence and distinction,
and superbly endowed.
Mr.. Sidney Lee, the admirable and dis
tinguished English biographer, has been
lecturing In this country. His famous
book on Shakespeare which all Shakes
peareans should read, and his admirable
life OF the late Queen Victoria have given
him deserved fame. The. New York Re-
view Of Reviews refers to him as the
biographer par excellence among modern
Englishmen." / have read only a part
OF his very admirable life of the beloved
Queen, but what L have read much i'm
pressed me for its candor, its sympathy,
its judicious revelation of character. 1t
is not a fulsome eulogy, but a calm. ex-
act, palms, taking portraiture of a very
uncommon Queen and pure, true woman
The illustrious John Wesley's bi-centen.
airy celebration is held around the world
this year. He left a private Journal"
Of real value and interest. 1t has been
long published. A single volume of Sc
lcctions from it has just been issued, and
1t has an article by that gifted English
critic, author of 'Obiter Dicta,' and 9th
er volumes of genuine interest. He writes
IAN appreciation" and the late Rev. Hugh
Price Hughes prepared the introduction.
1t is timely publication. When Wesley
wrote that Journal" the very great
ecclesiastical statesman and man of great
learning, was known perhaps to only two
or three millions of people, and the people
called "Methodists" could be counted by
only some one hundred thousand or so
Now his name is in all the great English
histories. He is the theme often of dis
crlmlnatlng, liberal divines and laynlen in
other denominations. his great learning
and abilities are duly recognized, and the
members and sympathisers of Methodism
now are more than $4,000, geo, l suppose.
1t has IN New York the largest Publish
Ing House IN America, and perhaps In the,
world, and the largest by great odds in
the South.
I lay before the reader some instruc-
tive facts and statistics. In 1880 alcoholic
beverages consumed IN the United States
were 1000 gallons to each person. Now
the consumption is nearly double, or 19.4S
gallons per capita. Here is a positive in
crease in the guzzlng haitian execrabc
one of SO per cent. in twenty years 1t
is a continued growth Drunkards are on
the increase and deaths by drink also,
numbering for 1901 for young men alone.
so 900. That is more than half the numz
Der of Federais killed in all the years of
the tremendous war, Must this vast dc
struction-this cruel sacrifice of young
lives go on? In 1902, this country paid
81, 1868, 098, 276--an actual increase of
s129, 1888, 281, over-the annual cost for five
years preceding. Each inhabltant aver
aged for this vile consumption for 1892
$1733. The actual drinkers averaged
932 or 10 cents day. What waste
and sin! There is a steady increase each
year in cost. Americans expend nearly
500 000,0 600 year for mineral waters. But
look at the other sum for drinks.
There are now six revolutions going on
to the south of our country. They are in
Santo Domingo, Haiti. Honduras, Nj
caragua, Colombia and Venezuela. I'm