Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-27
In Other Lands
Side Lights on What il rams
piring Among the Near and
Far Nations Of the Earth.

hAg 4
Railroad construction is progressing In
I the remoter regions of the old world at q
notable pace. BY far the greatest as we'll
as the longest road under way is the
Cape-to-Cairo road, penetrating the entire
length of eastern Africa. Construction is
progressing from both ends, nearly 1000
miles have been completed, leaving about
$500 miles Of construction to finish the
longest railroad in the world. The I'M
finished stretch lies between Khartoum, in
the British Egyptian Soudan, and Broken
Hill, a point in Rhodesia. This gigantic
undertaking, the most impressive and dar-
ing enterprise since the building of the
Pacific railroads, opens up a new world
and carries civilization into lands inhab-
tied by savages. England is building rail-
roads into remote parts of. India, linking
the coast and interior cities with a chain
Of steel highways. designed to serve the
double purpose of military and commercial
needs. Japan has gridironed its Islands
with 5000 miles of railroads and projecting
as much more. Russia is steadily pushing
a line through Turkestan toward the east
ern shore of the Caspian sea. Turkey has
covered one-half the distance from Damas-
| Gus 10 Tie nOiy CITY y meCCd, ana Ter
man capital is promoting two roads in
Asia Minor. Although all of these projects
have a political motive primarily, they
have trade possibilities of great import
ance. New and old parts of the world will
presently be brought into closer relations.
broadening the horizon of the isolated, and
opportunity given room to WOO the an
clients into the stimulating sunshine of
progress.
Advancing spring is generating some
warmth In Servia. The ruling element
of the country, seeing Austria's grip on
Bosnia and Herzegovina riveted and
clinched, are fearful lest they. too. will
be chucked in the Austrian sack while they
sleep. They do not intend to be caught
mapping and are putting every patriot on
guard, with magazine guns and knives
whetted to a razor edge. The Servians
are the only disturbing element in the
Balkans at present. Bulgaria and Turkey
are on good speaking terms. The Mace
DOMAIN cry is hushed. Promises of home
rule makes the Bosnians fairly contented
with their fate. But the Servians are
spunking up, and threatening dire things
to the peace of Europe. The spectacle re-
sembles the advance notices a feather
weight fires at a heavyweight fighter to
attract attention. In this instance the
bluff serves the purpose of reminding Aus
tria thai servia is on the map, and that
Austria cannot cut its way to Salonica
without some lively shooting.
At every turn Of the long road toward
home rule, the confidence reposed by the
Irish people in the leadership of John E.
Redmond is amply justified. Being a
shrewd politician, Mr.. Redmond knows
there is nothing to be gained by antagon-
izing Ireland's friends in the liberal party.
The Dublin convention with great unanim-
ity refused to sanction obstructive tactics,
and that friendly policy prevails in Parlia-
ment. 1t was made manifest in the last at
tempt to embarrass the ministry by a mo-
ton attacking the House of Lords, which,
in effect, was a censure of the govern
ment. The nationalists refused the bait
and stood unitedly with the ministry. Irish
craftsmanship may be credited with more
brilliant men than Mr.. but II
has developed no ADLER or more sagacious
leader.
The question Of the location Of the capt.
toll OF the federation OF South African
states has been amicably settled on a COM
promise basis. For a time conflicting
claims. as bitterly contested as a county
seat fight in. this country, threatened to
DELAY Indefinitely a union for which a con-
stItutIon had been drafted. Pretorians In
sisted on the superior claims of the old
capital Of the Transvaal, while the Eng
lish interests of Cape Town sought to
bluff the Dutch into submission. The set
tement arrived at makes Pretoria the seat
OF government, while the sessions OF Par
nsment viii We. held at Cape Town. Dom
Paul Kruger hN dead. but his spirit is
marching on.
The sacrifices which American heiresses
make In purchasing foreign husbands may
rot be wholly in vain, so far as the Eng
usa arstocracy is concerned. Prof. Ed
ward A. simmons, formerly OF McGil uni
versity. Montreal. expresses the conviction
that yankee wives win save the so-called
nobility from physical. moral and finan-
cial degeneracy. He believes that as a re-
suit of marriage TO AMERICAN women the
naxt decade will witness a great improve
ment in the British upper crust" While
this statement Is open to argument, there
; Is no doubt about the financial uplift OF
! much of the decaying nobility. An Amer
, lean recently travelling in England with a
! native for a companion remarked the alb
! sence OF picturesque old ruins and inquired
the reason. W. had them once" replied
the native. but your heiresses have come
/, over and put them all in good repair"
Everybody works, even father In Japan.
, The amazing industry and thrift Of the
5 people. often remarked in this country. Is
) displayed at home TO an astonishing de