The National tribune., 1909-10-14

Slty from the hanuS Oh eX-GOF. JOIln II
Long, Superintendent of the Board ol
Overseers, amid brilliant asser.blase
who had gathered to see him Installed
in his new office, across the ocean. in
old Stratford- -on-Avon, another scery
equally interesting was taking place
In this historic little place, the holn.
of William Shakspere. and visited by
thousands of people every year on that
account, stands the modest dwelling 1
Thomas Rogers, WHO in the 18th ctn'
tury was Alderman ot St-atfofd and
built the house fer his home. He after
ward became the f9ther-in-law of John
Harvard, wn1. - everyone well Knows
was the founder of Harvard College
John Harvard lived in this hoE'e c1
the worthy Alderman for many years
and it occurred to the novelist, Marie
Corelli, not long ago, thIt, The old house
being for sale, it would be most httlne
thing for America to own it. Miss Co
relli spoke of the matter to AIR Edward
Morris, of Chicago, who fell At once
into the idea, and in short time p'lr-
chased the place for Harvard tniversi-
ty. The famous novelist gladly offered
to oversee the restoration of the ola
house, and it was she who organized tn,
dedication ceremonies, which, as before
stated, occurred almost simultaneously
with those at Cambridge, Mass. White
law Reid, our distinguished Embassador,
received the house in benaIf Of Har-
ward in a fitting speech, in which he
said that the double incident Afforded
two more ties which bound lis m, q
closely to England, the old house, Icy
establishing a relation between the very
beginnings of education in our country
and the home of Shakspere, the ''ciiief
shrine of our common literature, and
in the similarity of the service done by
the new President thru his books tor
England to that of Mr.. Bryce for Amer
lea. Miss Corelli presented the key OF
the houss to ambassador Reid with
few graceful words, and afterward en-
tertained about 100 Americans and Eng
lish at luncheon in her handsome home,
which was gaily decorated with Amer
lean Flags and the Harvard colors.
Mark Twain's daughter, Clara, VINO
il very musical herself, was married on
the 9Th inst to the celebrated Russian
pianist, Ossip Gabrilowitsch. She was
married at home, and her father, who
gave her away, shared honors with her
in a sartorial way at least. Mark was
gorgeous in the scarlet cap and gown
of a doctor of literature, which Oxford
University presented to him, and when
he stepped forward and took the hand
of the bride in her white bridal dress
and vail the effect was quite stunning.
After the ceremony he retired, and put
on one of his white flannel suits, and
everything then proceeded in the usual
manner. Americas first humorist has
ideas out of the common with regard
to other matters than dress. He does
not believe in filing the walls of a room
with pictures, providing you have some
thing pretty to look at from the win
dows of the room. Natural pictures,
framed by the easements, are good
enough for him, he says.
Pierpont Morgan has been trying to
induce the Italian Government to sell
him the Reggia Palace, at Mantua,
which is one of the most famous royal
residences in all Europe. Just what he
wanted it for is not stated, but he did
want il badly enough TO offer $4,000. 900
for it-a sum that looked pretty big
and nice to Italy-but 1t was no good.
The Italian Government regards the
Reggia as one of its monuments. and
II has made law forbidding the sale
of all such TO foreigners. Mr.. Morgan,
who has been picking up beautiful art
treasures for many years, and who has
spent many millions in this way, has
wonderful collection on the other side
OF the water, which, it is hoped, since
the tariff has been removed from works
of art, will soon be brought to America
TO enrich our own rather meager
store. With regard to this ;Iat-
TO give us a sort of back-nanded,
half-hearted advantage after all.
1t stipulates that the pictures shall
be proven without any question of doubt
10 be 30 years old at least, that the
name of the artist be given, as well as
the place where the picture was paint
ed, and it's exact date even to the
month. This certainly seems absurd,
for in many cases it would be an utter
fmpossibiiity to give the exact date of
a picture, even to the year. The name
OF the artist fixes the date close enough
surely. and it is difficult to see the
Governments idea in being so very rig
Id in its examination. About 900, 900
worth of old paintings have been held
up by the Custom House lately on ac-
count of the importers not being able
to tell the exact age of the pictures, and
art dealers complain that the law as IL
STANDS liz practically good for nothing
But there must be something in this
matter which the public generally does
not understand.
We have still much TO learn in true
humanitarianism. In our prisons, for
example, tho the methods of treating
those confined there have greatly i'm
proved in the past decade. yet the heads
OF these institutions far too seldom
seem to be animated by The proper spir-
IL in dealing with the unfortunate in
mates. Far too little is done in the way
of reclaiIaing the criminal. We spend
over 81 l,00O,0 900 year TO prevent crime,
but are inclined to let the matter rest
there. The hopeiessness of really ac-
compiishing anything in the way of
true redemption with that dark, silent,
perverted army OF the under world has
discouraged us TO the extent of paralyz-
Ing our wills. We have been inclined
10 look upon 1t as too big a proposition.
with regard TO prisons, generally speak
Ing, the Inmates are treated with more
or less absolute cruelty, struck by the
guards for the slightest oHfense, spoken
10 roughly, and made to feel their hu-
initiating position every moment of the
long day. OF course, this makes the
men ugly, sullen and mutinous, and
they 60 away from the prisons the same
desperate, wicked men they were when
they entered their iron-barred cells.
There are shining exceptions TO this
general condition IN various prisons
over the country. where the principal
object. of its head and those concerned
In IT'S management is 10 restore the
manhood and confidence of the prison
cr in himself looking ahead TO the time
when he shall again take his place ia
the world. So many little things help
10 make us better or worse It Is
strange what q powerful influence good
FOOD or poor food has on the morals
Everyone has experienced the cheerful.
meilowing, charitable effect on the dis