The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-17
FRON OTHER PENS
THE PHILIPPINES.


The recent report of DR.. Victor G.
Heiser, director of health in the Phil
ippines, merits the consideration Of the
American people. 1t shows that conta-
gious diseases that formerly ravaged.
the islands are being combatted with
signal effect. The death rate is being
reduced every year, as the population
is brought under the sway Of the sani-
tary reforms instituted by the authori-
ties. The possibilities of such reforms
is indicated by the fact that among the
American population of Manila the
death rate was reduced to $50 a thou
sand in 1907. In 1906 it was 9.34 For
the entire population of Manila it was
1881 in 1907, against 400 in 1906. Last
year there was not a single case of
death from smallpox in Manila. Pro-
vinces in which there had formerly
been 5000 deaths annually from small
pox did not report a single case last
lands was reduced from $3.50 in Sep
TENDER, 1905, to 2,2S2 in June, 1907.
Cholera is being vanquished. The dis
ease no longer prevails in a malignant
form, the institution of land quaran-
tine has been abolished, and there is
no longer any semblance of the old
time cholera panics. Persons afflicted
with leprosy are humanely cared for,
and so treated that some are cured and
many relieved. The bureau of health
mas ISdCn0Q d STATE Ol SplSHulu Slii-
cheney, and the dangers incident to liv-
ing in a tropical climate will be mini
mixed in OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES I'm
ion.
IS ORATORY A DRAWBACK?
The great orators have not been the
most fortunate aspirants for the pres
idency. Webster, Clay, Douglas and
Blaine were ido1ized by their followers
not only for their abilities and per-
sonal traits. but also for their per-
suasive powers of speech. Horace
Greeley, candidate of the Democrats
and Liberal Republicans in 1872, was
not notable orator, but was, none
the less, an effective talker. He made
a speaking tour in the latter part of
the campaign, and although his posi-
ton was an anomalous one, he acquit-
ted himself with credit; even if he was
, overwhelmingly defeated. Tilden, who
in his free soil days made speeches.
obtained his mastery by his pen, not
by his tongue. Grant, who was called
the silent man because he could not
make a speech when he first became
a candidate, learned to speak very well
in public, his speech for Garfield in
1880 being good example of his de-
velopment in that direction.
AS stump speaker Mr.. Bryan,
twice defeated already, probably sur
passes all present or past Americans.
The signs indicate that he is again to
Will he this time prove an exception
to the apparent rule. which makes 1t
extremely difficult for an orator to be-
come president Boston Globe.
INJUSTICE TO WIDOWS.
Since the elder Weller gave his adj
vice to his son, Samuel, concerning
| widows, and even from a more remote
period, the world has put upon these
relics of happiest days an undeserved
| load of satirical opprobrium.
The ways and wiles of a widow have
| been pointed out as things to note and
avoid. The home of the widow is mem
| toned in classic writings In a sighting
| manner. Aspersion is cast on every
hand on the young widow in particu-
| lar, even to ascribing, in these days,
those gargantuan hats with which in
discreet young women overtop their
| charming but frivolous persons, to the
| influence. or initiative, or machina-
| tions of merry widow.
| The charge is bad enough, but the
adjective is worse. We doubt If there
ever was a merry widow for what has
any widow to be merry about? The
| word is a libel, and the hat a means of
| emphasizing it. If ever a widow were
merry we doubt that her merriment
would lead her SO far as to wear one
/ of those buzz-saw-edged English bath
tubs now improperly termed the merry