The National tribune., 1907-09-26

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present trip. will learn more of the
sentiment of the people there, and l
foresee there will Ibe some changes in
the laws affecting the islands, They
must have a stable Government and
they must have market and when
there and the lands will be rapidly
developed"
Senator Depew)1retuthed last week
from his S0th trip to Europe. He is
sun-burned. looks. wells and said that
he had had a fine time abroad, altho
the weather in Great Britain and the
continent had been cold. Altogether
the Depews Were away about two
months, spending most of the time in
France and Switzerland Senator De-
pew did not wish to discuss politics.
There was no politics. anyway; he
thought it was dormant, so to speak, as
yet.
Asked what he thought about the
coming battIeship cruise around the
Horn Mr.. Depew said he thought it
would be a good thing.
What Is the good of having a Navy"
he asked, "if 1t is not ready for all
emergencies and for distant voyages?
The surest guarantee of peace. in my
mind, is to be prepared for war"
That Senator Depew is not welded
to peace and arbitration" is shown by
his remark about things doing at The
Hague Conference He said he thought
the only countries that really had
worked unquallfiedly for peace at The
Hague were the South American Re-
pubIcs.
They wanted a guarantee against
the use of force in the collection of
debts" remarked Mr.. Depew with a
smile.
Three hundred thousand song birds.
destined to become pets in American
homes, were imported into this coun-
try this year. according to Prof. Henry
Oldys Assistant Biologist of the De-
partment of Agriculture, who knows
the haunts and habits OF the feathered
creatures perhaps as well as any man
in the Government service. Prof. Oldys
does not attempt to estimate the vol
ume of sound that might be created by
the throatS of this vast army of feath-
cred immigrants II they were assem-
bled in some auditorium, but he ap-
praises their commercial value at 50
apiece, as being 100000. Based on
this estimate, therefore, the market
value of 1000 of these birds represents
the salary paid one of Herr Conried's
operate stars for one nights service
As 10000 song birds usually COM
prise single cargo, it is safe to say
that so vessels were required to bring
the little voyagers from their Euro
pean. Asiatic and South American
homes to this country. While many
OF them will be distributed among the
geological parks of many American
cities. and not a few go to private
aviaries. majority of them will glad
den homes where a song bird or two
are household companions.
The practice of keeping Gagged birds
for purposes of song has been known
almost since the beginning of the |
world, Prof Oldys says. In fact, he |
admits the origin of the custom is un-
known. 1t was habitual with the Peru
vians under the Incas. he says, and
records show that Gagged birds We're
popular in classic Greece and Rom.
many centuries ago. How the voices
of bulbuis and other singers added to |
the charm of the hanging gardens of |
Babylon is told in poem and story.
Most popular among these feathered
singers are the canary, mocking- bird |
cardinal. nightingale and indigo bird. |
since SO many other things from the
realm have come into favor,
the Japanese robin has enjoyed con-
siderable vogue in American homes not
only for its sweet warblings, but its
rare plumage as well.
The Secretary oof the Treasury au-
thoriZed the Grand Army of the Re-
public of New York to raise the Stars
and Stripes over the new custom house
when 1t was opened formally Sept 23
The day was also the anniversary Of
Sept. % Of 1879, when the first naval
victory under the American flag was
won
There was parade down Broadway
Of members from all the G. A. r. Posts
Of the city and of all naval veterans.
With Col. Simpson Hamburger as the
Grand Marshal. The ceremony of
noisting the flag took place at p. m.
Secretary Taft and his party left on
he steamer Minnesota for the Philip
pines last week The party. besides the
secretary, Il composed of Mrs. Taft,
her son Charles. Brighten Clarence
Edwards. Chief of the Insular Bureau;
private Secretary Fred w. Carpenter,
and George Long, a War Office mes
;enger.
The party will spend eight days in
Japan. Oct it will sail from Nagasaki
or Shanghai, arriving two or three
lays later. Secretary Taft will then go
% Hongkong. where he and his party
VII board the transport Mcclellan, and
arrive at Manila Oct IA.
according to present plans, % days
viii be spent in the Philippines. and
Nov. II the Secretary Will reach Vladi-
'ostok. The following day Irtutsk will
De reached.
The journey across Siberia will be
made in a special train Arriving AT
st. Petersburg Nov. 22,. the Secretary
VIII be allowed time to pay his respects
o the Car. After spending a dew or
wo In Berlin, the party will leave for
New York. reaching that city about
he middle of December.
Ihe very latest canard is that at the