New-York tribune., 1906-07-22

Madison. Wis, the seat OF great university
and the capital os a great commonwealth, is
often unctuously referred 10 by its prideful
inhabitants as the Athens OF the West there
by implying a high degree Of intelligence and
culture. Its denizens. in the serenity Of their
beautiful and much shaded homes. are prone TO
look with patronizfng eyes out upon the great
heathenish world raging beyond its confines
Yet it took only an ignorant Negro 20 shake this
serenity. set the town by the ears and create
such a nine days wonder as the community had
never known before. Now that II is all over
they are asking themselves why such fools these
mOrtals be and particularly such cultured and
educated mortals as those of Madison. For
nearly fortnight the mass OF the community
was animated by a vague unrest a premoni-
tion CT some impending evil which eliminated
IN hegira such as perhaps few American cities
have ever seen, and none for a more slender
cause. Madison is set IN the midst of a cluster
OF lakes with beautiful MENDOZA on the NORTH
ATOnona the south and Wingra on the west.
and the calamity predicted for it was that II
would sink beneath the waters OF these lakes.
or rather that the waters would rise up and
gulf Il, its noble capital. its beautiful Univer-
sity, and all as a punishment for its iniQuity.
The Negro making this direful prophecy was
an itinerant exhorter, who held forth in the Cap
itOI square evenings. and the date set for the
laureate address at the University of Wisconsin
The Iurid prediction would not perhaps, have
created half the panic but for the fact OF the San
Francisco earthquake having just occurred. and
the claim OF the exhorter that he had foretold
this calamity. The public mind was still wrought
up over the Western horror, and in just the con-
dition TO receive the seed OF unrest and appre-
hensiOn- BY a curious coincidence, also. the
prediction came just at the time when series
tired minister. the Rev. H. A. Miner, on the in
iquity Of Madison, pointing out how cities Of old
had been visited by the wrath Of God for their
sins. Beautiful Madison is. it nevertheless
has ninety saloons for its 25,O0O people, and oc-
casionally there is an outbreak Of disorder that
shocks the community. The provocation of Mr.
Miners letters was free-for-all fight at a Sun
day baseball game and the hoodlum attack the
same day on Jewish congregation while dedi-
eating new synagogue. Mr.. Miner said In
part:
Has it come to pass in this the capital city Of
the state, the seat Of learning and culture, with
dozens Of church spires the insignia of Chris
tian civilization that can't have a Sunday
free from the noise of the baseball games and
drunken brawls in connection Herewith and our
streetcars placarded with flaming posters invit-
ing thereto; that peace loving people engaging
in solemn worship while in the very act of dedi-
lii45 q io0Sc lIltg nave reared Tor the worship
OF Almighty Cod must be assaulted, peIted with
green apples. the American flag used as a, deco
ration 10 the entrance of their synagogue torn
down and trampled in the dust by the marau-
ders. Must all this be and not scarcely word
uttered by our citizens in protest?
immoral tendencies. violations of law con-
tinued are sure to bring ruin. It is easy to drift
along downward current Our attention may
be so absorbed in our business and pleasures,
we may be SO self-centred. prtdirg ourselves
on the beauty OF city and the culture Of
our people, that We do not take note Of the cur
rent down which are drifting. Surely the
recent acts OF Iawlessness ought to awaken US
and stir US 10 become lava abiding if we would
save ourselves"
The newspapers making the most Of the situa-
ton also doubtless added fuel TO the fame
through their discussion Of the mental phenone-
After the fateful day was past the press
roundly abused for dignifying the predic-
tiOn by taking notice Of 1t and stirring up the
superstitious and weak minded. But the atti-
tude Of the press was one Of ridicule It showed
how sudden caprice had taken possession of
communities. how one sweeping over the