The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-12
MINOR TOPICS.

Did you ever notice that in speaking of
wars the name of the loser always comes
first? For instance. "Franco-Prussian,"
"Anglo-American,' 'Spanish-American."
etc. The newspapers are already beginning
to refer to the present conflict as the
"Russo-Japanese war" and it would be
awkward to combine the names the other
way. VIII the outcome follow the prece-
dent?
General Miles doesn't know nearly as
much about war as most people do He
declines to prophesy to the outcome of
the present trouble. saying that he Is
totally unacquainted with the warlike prep
arations made by the powers, and with
their comparative strength. So are the
newspapers and the readers, but none of
them hesitate to prophesy the exact out
come.
negro organization in Massachusetts
called 1.-THE Booker Washington Club" was
raided by the police, who found gambling
going on. So the Southern papers had
stories about Booker Washington followers
being criminals and Iawbreakers. But
what's in a name? There have been Cleve-
land clubs and such things raided by the
police.
The Sultan of Morocco may be bar
barian and unacquainted with the political
situation in this. country but he showed
real tact when he presented President
Roosevelt with only milk-white horses.
He has heard enough of this "dark-horse"
talk.
Among the misfortunes of war is the fact
that the band of the Russian Imperial
Guard cannot be sent to the st. Louis ex-
position. The bureau of music had booked
this crack organization for an engagement
this summer, but it will now be needed TO
brighten the japanese.
1t is TO be hoped that China will make
the most of her opportunities. Never in
thousand years has she had such a chance
or been in such a position TO acquire
practical military education without cost.
1t is better than a correspondence school.
The Treasury Department has decided
that frogs legs coming from abroad must
be classed as dressed poultry" In that
case frogs eggs are the same as hen eggs.
and will bring 40 cents dozen. A fortune
is waiting for somebody.
The downtown stores have beautified
their show windows with gorgeous cos
tunes that look as if they belonged to the
Arabian Nights; investigation shows, how
ever, that they belong to the knights of
Pythias.
Has anybody heard what Tolstoy has to
say about the opening of hostilities? If
he is wise he will keep very quiet for a
while. but without doubt Russia will be
glad to hear from him in a month or two
A Toronto paper complains that it is alb
solutely impossible for a wealthy American
to stay in jail How does that paper
know-has it ever heard of any wealthy
American trying very hard to stay in Jail?
The Kaiser made a record yesterday; he
dined for the first time at the United
States embassy. 1t must have been proud
day for Ambassador Tower-and an anxious
one for Ambassador Towers cook.
Richard Harding Davis has packed his
suit case and his Gladstun bag and his hat
case and has wrapped his rugs around his
bundle of sticks and booked a passage to
Yokohama. War is indeed a fact.
The furthest the Chicago papers will go
is to admit that the Baltimore confagTa-
ton is almost as bad" as the Chicago
fire of 1871. Chicago is jealous of her rec
ords for the biggest on earth.
The japanese are an initiative people, but
/
They showed what good lesson they had
learned from Dewey when they started the
fun by cutting the cable.
Switzerland has decided to maintain an
attitude of strict neutrality. You can al
| most hear the signs of relief going up
| from the beligerent powers on the receipt
! of this assurance
The Bear is already beginning to walk
like man with a severe case of inflam-
matory rheumatism, but Japan hopes To
make him crawl before she gets through
with him.
The Cleveland papers announce an i'm
mense number of strikes in that city this
week. A national bowling tournament is
being held there.
A scientist announces the discovery OF
radium in Holsters. Then there are tons
and tons of it in Indianapolis, and we
never knew it!
James Creelman is another of the famou:
word painters who has started East look.
ing for trouble Well-good- Jim, tax,
| keer o. yerself,
STORIES THAT ARE TOLD.