The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-10-03
FpON OTHER PENS
4 ROYAL BILL POSTER.

The emperor of Germany, to the in
dignation and dismay of tourists. has
spread in large letters across the face
of the North Cape. where thousands
go to behold the midnight sun, the
name of the royal yacht Hohenzollern.
Steamship companies have followed
his example, and likewise certain
manufacturing concerns. so that there
is danger that the magnificent, monu
mentally impressive forehead of
continent may become simply the big
gest billboard in the world. a colossal
reproduction of the fiamboyant and
garish announcement of the side show
of q country circus.
Some years ago when President
Roosevelt was in California among the
big trees his sense of the fitness of
things was outraged by certain pla
cards affixed to the trees, which he
instantly and emphat;ca1ly directed
should be removed. The kaiser would
do well to take a leaf from the book
of President Roosevelt, for whom he
processes so great an admiration.
There are other ways of advertising
the ancestral glory of the house of
Hohenzollern than by Decorating the
landscape in the spirit of a freshman
celebrating with red paint and daub-
ing the face of nature with class nu-
merals.-Philadelph Ledger.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS INDICTED.
1t is a startling indictment of the
American public school brought by
Col. Charles w. Larned. of West Point.
After reading what he says in recent
article one must wonder whether, after
all our much-vaunted educational sys-
tenn is not missing the main point
that of training useful, intelligent cit
liens. The military academy is a good
place to take the measure of public
school efficiency, for young men go
there from every congressional dis
| trjof n the country
Colonel Larned takes this years en-
trance examinations as test and finds
condition of affairs that is surpris-
ing to say the least. Eighty-four per
ton failed in one or more subjects, &C
per cent failed in two or more sub
jects, while per cent failed in every
thing. The studies in which the young
men were examined were those COM
monty taught in the grammar and
high schools of the community. Some
of the errors made by the applicants
would be amusing were they not so
nearly tragic.-C1eveland Plain Dealer.
JAPAN GROWING ECONOMICAL.
We think of Japan as an enlightened
country, and it is, but in five years 1t
increased its expenditure for schools
only $500, 900. or 16 per cent. In the same
period the war budget increased $685.
O00, 900, or 1872 per cent. And while this
vast outlay for war weapons was being
made, external commerce advanced
only IS per cent.
Six years ago Japans debt for each
inhabitant was $3.50 Now it is $3.50.
There has been nothing like this rise
in the earning capacity of the people.
The rest of the world sees these things
and fully understands them. OF this
there needs no better PROOF than the
fact that in the past year Japan found
it impossible to sell more bonds In
foreign countries except at ruinous
discount.
And now economy has started with a
zeal that commands the admiration of
all who know of it. The government
has cut 100. 0Oo, 900 from the budget, of
| which $40. GOO, 600 is taken from the war
fund. The powerful military party in
Japan Will naturally rail at this, and
| il may endeavor to upset the govern
ment. but the heavily overtaxed people
| will stand by the ministry that thus
stands by them.-PhiladelDhia Press.