The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-13
EROA OTHER PENS
BLocKAD1NG OUR TRADE.

Since the close of the Chino-Jap-
anese war of 1895 the United States has
made strong effort to secure a heavy
trade with the Orient, and in that she
has been partly successful. Only since
through the good offices of President
Roosevelt the conflict with Russia was
brought to an end.s however, has our
export trade with the Asiatic peoples
begun to show that rate of develop
ment which is encouraging. The
Portsmouth convention, despite the
first unpopularity : its terms brought
out in Japan. was undoubtedly the
starting point for a genuine entente
cordiale in commercial and trade re1a-
lions between the people of Japan and
the people of the United States.
A large export trade to the ports of
the mikado ultimately means large ex-
port trade with the Chinese ports, with
the French possessions and Singapore
and India, because japanese vessels
are carrying the wares we land at
Yokohama to the other Asiatic coun-
tries now, and in time will build up
market in them for our goods. The
greatest block in the way of the prog
ress of American products in the Ash
attic markets is the fact that our man.
ufacturers and shippers have never
studied the needs of oriental peoples,
nor do they take the trouble to pack
their wares in such manner as to in
sure their reaching the market in good
condition. Consular officers have fire.
quently addressed advice, protests and
suggestions to the home shippers. call
ing attention to these two most import
ant points in the development OF an
eastern trade, but with not a great
deal OF effect.
1t seems almost criminal for export
ers who pretend to be constantly seek
ing new markets for their goods to
overlook such simple and yet essential
-f y. n
trade as 0,00o, 900 people might supply,
but it is, nevertheless fact. For that
reason, and almost that reason alone,
the export trade of Germany to the
Orient has increased with almost twice
the activity of ours within the last 10
years.-Washington Post.
A THESIS FOR THE COOK.
In the good old time a fellow who
wrote a thesis of his own free will
was looked upon as something of
prodigy. He was supposed to be the
domicilium supermum OF wisdom. He
usually had lean legs and a hollow
eye, and a forehead that bulged like
an fashioned basket But it was
packed with knowledge, because that
was what made 1t bulge so, and when
he delivered his thesis he was given a
Phi. D., at least, and the Job of assist
ant professor of something at the state
college, where great things were ex-
pected of him.
Nowadays the man with thesis
can be a cook at government hos
pital II he wants to. In fact, If he
doesn't have the thesis he can't be the
cook.
Before an ambitious young gentle
man can attain the dignity of chef at
ST. E1izabeth's hospital for the insane,
in Washington. he must deliver his
thesis on the relative nutritive values
of various foods, and prove that he
knows all about them. It's a great
scheme to show that he is a good
scientist, but it's pretty hard to figure
how it will prove him a good cook
Plenty of scientists con be found who
know the amount of sugar in a turnip,
or can tell with the hydrometer the
specific gravity of can Of condensed
milk, but how many Of them could
cook a dog biscuit-without making a
martyr of the dog
There used to be cooks-and pretty
good ones, too-who weren't strong on
relative nutritive values. There are
old colored mammies scattered
throughout the southern states. even
today, who wouldn't know a proteid
from an alkaloid. and couldn't tell If
a cucumber contained sugar, or a to-
mato starch if they had a food chart
hung over the kitchen table. but when
it comes to corn fritters and chicken
fricassee, or roas' sweet 'taters an
possum gravy-they could make all
those hospital folk, insane or other
wise, think life one long, sweet dream.
s-Washington Post.