The independent., 1907-02-07
SIDE LIGHTS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

q HE cocktail bracelet is the latest
for women. There are fashionable
women of New York, says the Fitts-
burg Dispatch, who wear clrclets on
their wrists which sometimes contain
a Martini dry or Manhattan. Ine
bracelets have one drawback, it is sald
and that is they will not accommodate
the cherry that goes with the fairy
cocktail. The other night Pittsburg
attorney observed a woman OF fashion
place her lips to her bracelet. He
thought that she was paying tribute
to her own loveliness, but learned
later she was merely refreshing her
inner self with a mixture of -eordlals.
The nip contained in bracelet COCK
tail is So small that it cannot be called
a drink. but a cocktail it is, neverthe-
less. OF course the bracelet is hollow.
If large enough it holds three thinbie-
fuls Of ready made cocktail, and pres
sure on an almost invisible spring per-
mits the fluid to trickle through
tiny hole in the gold shell, which is
almost too small to be seen. With one
of those graceful movements which
appear to be natural with woman
the drink may be imbibed without rear
of detection. A Broadway goldsmith
sells numbers of the bracelets every
week. and as most Of the purchasers
prefer secrecy in connection with the
transaction they pay pretty penny
for the obviously useful trinkets.
Among the supporters of the saw
ings bank scheme of life insurance in
Massachusetts IS Ex-Governor Doug
las, who owed his election to office
to the confidence of the laborlng peo-
pie He writes to the association that
is pressing the matter: Il believe your
plan of erecting in savings banks an
independent department OF LIE lnSur-
ance not only sound and feasible, but
the best way Of furnishing to working
men 'ife insurance at cost; and de-
sire to do what | can to assist you IN
your object" Oregon, still in the re-
form mood, is figuring on similar
scheme to furnish life insurance to
wage workers without incidentally
making some benevolent Dryden rich
enough to buy a state
One allegation in the recent inter-
state commerce commission report on
the Standard Oil company needs fur
ther action by the commission The
report said among other things: The
Standard buys advertising space IN
many newspapers which it fills, not
with advertisements, but with reading
matter prepared by agents kept Tor
that purpose, and paid for at adver-
tising rates as OF dinary news The
assumption is that this literature fur
nishes many OF the ideas touching the
great benefits conferred upon the pub
lie by the Standard Oil company" For
the protection of the public the COM
mission should indicate the newspapers
that have been guilty of this prostl-
tuition of their columns. Moreover, II
is unfair to the press as a whole tnat
this charge should remain a generality.
Policy holders in the two big New
York mutual life insurance companies
seem doomed to long drawn grief. Five
inspectors for each company are
charged with the counting of the bal
lots cast IN the election OF trustees tnat
ended in the middle of December. Ehey
get s35 a day After six weeks OF pre-
liminary maneuvering at $50 day the
inspectors for the New York Life are
Just beginning to count votes. Two OF
the five members of the board have
now had the grace to withdraw from
the board unwilling longer to partici-
pate in the farce. Their action con-
stitutes one of the few encouraging
features Of the whole nasty muss of
the last year The inspectors in charg
OF the Mutual Life ballots at sS5 day
reached a point week ago where bal
.ots began TO be counted. As II In
alarm at the prospect of getting the
work done they then reduced their
working day TO three hours.
To what lengths our view Of the
government a. a grab bag has led us
al sorts OF legls lativo proposals this
winter give witness Massachusetts,
chiropodists try to induce the state To
hold its citizens hands while they
operate scientifically upon his feet at
his expense BILLS 60 the same effect
involving all sorts of issues from coy
otes Ia Christian scientists have 20 be
dealt with In Nebraska In New York
city the hig rubber neck automobiles
Give tourists trip through tho most
interesting sections ~ the city for
dollar by day and a dollar and halt