The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-28
ERON OTHER PENS

BRITAIN'S PETTICOAT INVASION.
At the moment when all England is
aroused over the possibility of Ger
man invasion, another terror assails
the unhappy Briton. The English
GIRL tall, demure. conventional and
dull of garb, is becoming Americana
lied. The American girl, breezy, bold
and boyish, is imbuing her British sis
ter with painful disregard for femi-
nine traditions, and for that love of
decorum which has so long made the
British drawing-room a deeply rever-'
ed institution. In commenting upon
this dreaded influence sorrowing
London critic deprecates the fact that
many English young women try to re-
semble the horrfd Gibson girl. with
her nose tiptiled,J her flounces and
ruffles fiuttering, and her gay hosiery
carelessly exposed. The critic further
laments the fact that the English
maidens are wearing jewelled collars,
and startling hats, and that they buy
false puffs and wave their hair in a
manner both mysterious and anaaz-
ing. The British girls of this borrowed
type have no romance about them
and no Imagination. They have for
gotten how to blush, and they cannot
fall in love.
OF course. this afflicted Londoner
has the usual resource left him-that
ever-present help in time of trouble.
He can write to the Times. He may
find, however. that even the ''Thun-
derer' will thunder to no purpose in
this threatening crisis. In short, be-
tween the menacing German bugbear
and the demoralizing American girl,
it would appear that the average Eng
glishman has a somewhat unpleasant
summer before him.-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
DEPRESSION IN TOYLAND.
Consul General Dillingham; of Co
burg. sends some information as to
the state of the doll industry in Sax
light on prevailing trade conditions.
In 1907 the export of dolls and toys
from Coburg to the United States
amounted to $2,S62,446. In 1908 it
! fell off to S1.920,965, a decrease of SO
per cent. The major part of the loss
has been felt in the doll trade, but
the blight has also reached the Teddy
bear and the tin soldier, for in conse-
quence of the 1essened demand, fur
animals have declined 10 per cent and
| Figures of tin and metal have been a
| similarly affected. There has also been
painful paucity of orders for wooden
ware for Juvenile use, such as paint
boxes, games. pencil boxes, ETC., all
of which previously had been in grow
ing demand for the American market
1t is somewhat disconcerting to be
confronted with this proof that Young
America has been bearing its share of
the troubles of its elders, for some
how one nurses the conviction that
whatever may be the embarrassment
| of the older folks, the simple pleas
ures Of the little ones should remain
untouched and the child mind should
be kept free from the sense Of Gala
nifty; But hard times know no dis
4 tinction of individuality or of years.
I-Pittsburg Telegraph.
| VENEZUELAN TRAGIC-COMEDY.
Conceding that Cipriano Castro, late
dictator of Venezuela, is a pernicious
disturber of the public peace, and that
! the nations are we'll within their
/ where he may renew his schemes of
ambition, it must be said at the same
time that in driving him from pillar
| to post his enemies are most effective
ly enhancing his popularity with his
cOuntrymen. The treatment to which
he is subjected has gained him some
sympathy even among those who never
| before took any interest in his career.
| Experience has shown that it Is mis-
taken policy to convert political adj
| venturer into hero by persecution,
and to surround his brow with the
| aureo1e of a martyr.
| As for Castro, there never was a
political career so little deserving of
sympathy in its failure. Never was
Venezuela or any other South Amer
lean state SO oppressed and despoiled
as by this most INSCRIPTIONS OF con-
quistadores. Through treachery he
conquered his position, and he forti-
fled it by extortions without example
until he in his turn has fallen by the
same treachery that he practfced. The
monopolies which he erected to ex-
plot the Venezuelans were Castro
monopolies through which he enriched
himself with immense treasures
] Philadelphia Record.