The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-05-27
CURRENT

1t is very much to be regretted that
our good friend. The News and Cour-
Ter. allowed itself to be taken in by a
yellow correspondent with a wild story
Of Secretary Moody declaring that the
money spent on the navy yard at
Charleston might as well be thrown
into the sea. The story is promptly
disposed Of by the secretary's reply to
an inquiry from the editor of The
News and Courier, but it would have
been very much better to have wait
ed the reply before printing. the origi-
nal report. Perhaps the secretary Of
the navy Is not so enthusiastic over
the Charleston project as we might
wish him to be, but a he stated in
Charleston two years ago, In a
sation pon the subject, congress has
determined to develop the project. and
he, as an executive officer of the gov
eminent, will carry out the will of
congress loyalty and to the best pur-
poses. 1t would be bad enough to
have to record unfavorable views of
the situation hat were actually estab-
lished, but at least there should be
certainty of their holding before they
are given NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Post.
The Rev. DIR. DeFord, of st. Louis.
speaking at the Baptist convention at
Ids pIOStdlIilGO lldl III
Claus must be relegated to the past.
He say that the story of Santa Claus
is a myth, a "hurtful abomination,"
and SO forth, alleging all the usual rea-
sons. Some one is forever trying to kill
Santa, but all such efforts meet with
uniform ~unsuccess. The trouble is
that a thing which is true cannot be
killed. And the Santa Claus myth,
while 1t is not a fact. is one Of those
stories which contain more truth than
facts. 1t is one of those myths which
have grown more fragrant through
the centuries, and more vigorous, for
its roots ~sustenance from the
love and kindly sentiment at a races
heart. The idea of giving gifts at the
festival of Christmas Is a pretty one,
and hat of maxine the children's part
in the festival supreme Is prettier yet.
And. however much you may try, you
will never succeed in eradicating from
the minds of the little children the
fanciful rend towards the personifi-
cation of the giver of these donations
hich surprise them of a Christmas
morning. The idea is stronger than
all creeds. for 1t is, in a sense. the es-
sence of natural religion.-Atlanta
Journal.
Henry NJ. Stanley's personal rams
formation was remarkable. Starting
out DIS d IeChlcSS, Z
porter, a volunteer on either side al
ternately in our civil war, a sort OF
knockabout of journalism, we saw
him grow into a worldfgure, known
for lion-hearted courage n endur-
ance, for large views n for achieve
ments that seemed to make the earth's
surface wear a new face. Those are
not far wrong, we imagine, who at
tribute a part of the mental and moral
renewing of Stanley to the influence
Of David Livingstone. There are hints
of his in How I Found Livingstone"
In the earlier parts n gets Chiefly
the alert and iaunty newspaper man.
intent on his beat or out for a lark;
but after he had met and lived with
that great NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
whose heart was filled with Africa
long before it was buried there, there
was a change. Flippancy passed into
seriousness: adventure became heroic
undertaking. 1t was partly. no doubt,
the spell of Africa upon Stanley, but
1t was also the q~uickening and invigor-
alton of contact with Livingstone's
lofty and far-seeing soul. The harum-
scarum reporter became h intrepid
explorer and opener Of Africa to civil
lzation.-New York Post.
In the outset it looked like a pIece
I of clever advertising. It seemed in
COncetVdDIS lIdl dIy Id
rich, having no personal following, or
official training, without party service,
record or claim outside a circuit OF
e%uuivocal newspapers, could seriously
believe it possible for him right out oil
hand to secure a nomination n e:ec-
, ton to the presidency of the United
| States. The very conception was In
| sanity. But, co%nceiving it, the astute
| lunatic would observe some kind OF
| sense Of proportion and perspective,
He would not start out with a crasS
band and a bank book announcing his
purpose openly and in advance. HI
| would not organize a circus to roam
from one state to another. from oni
county to another, proclaiming thu
gospel of money and relying on the
| force of pure viciousness. Nor woule
he flood the cutters with money with
OUT some encouragement. Two mil.
lions is a good sum even to the Hears
estate though one with an occasional
CLEAN Of sanity ought to know that
under the conditions which face Mr.
Hearst. two hundred millions would
not suffice. And so ii is that we un
hesitatingly declare it our fixed belle
that the explanation of a spectacle 81
astounding. so revolving, may be foun:
in the circumstance that Mt. Hearst
mentaily unbalanced. not wholly re
sponsible for what would otherwis
be the most gigantic fake-not eve
excepting the affaire Humbert-o
modern times, in this or any country
-Courier-Journal.
Nervous Dyspepsia Cured BY