The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-23
KANSAS COMMENT

|
INFLUENCE OF LITTLE CHILDREN
There is deep touch of pathos in
the decision of Mr.. w. H. Woodhouse,
| OF this county, to devote his life to
the Master Christian of Galilee. Mr..
Woodhouse was a young newspaper
man of promise who was building up
a. Splendid reputation in this county
| and gradually becoming one of the
factors In its affairs. He had two
peautlful children, which inspired his
amplIlon more and more as they de-
veloped. All the world was bright to
him, and the colors and tints of his
| life and environment brought him
great satisfaction and hope. But the
threshold and his children were car
r1ed away in its dreadful gloom. Hope
and ambition and satisfaction went
with them, and the bright colors and
t1nts OF his life vanished in the dark
| ness He was left in a cherries void
with his young wife. Their house be-
came lonely and their days and nights
| sorrowful
Naturally, their thoughts turned
often to the two children that had de-
parted. There is no other direction
! in which the thoughts of parents who
lose children can turn but to Heaven.
FROM thence came messages-sllent
| messages which can be understood
only by bereaved hearts. Little hands
came to them In the night-shining
little hands in the darkness which
pointed them to a road that leads
across the Pacific into a country of
misery and desolation, where there
were other children-tots in rags and
in darkness.
About that time the venerable
Bishop Oldham came into their path
like a prophet of old. They carried
their sorrows to him. They told him
the story of their long and lonely
nights. He saw it all. He found other
children for their love and care
Children in far off India, whose little
hands were reckoning through the
darkness for somebody to come and
bring them light. Daniel himself
could not have interpreted the signs
his judgment. and the young father
and the young mother are now on
their way to Singapore in hopes OF
finding little substitutes for the IN
and cheerful home was bereft.
When our young friend babe US
farewell a few days ago there was
light in his eyes that must have come
his heart that enlivened him more
than all his former worldly ambition.
There was a wisdom and a system and
a purpose in his plans that will make
him a great missionary.
How potent is the influence OF the
memory of the children we have lost!
Wichita Eagle.
THE BIGGEST FINE.
If possibly you have been led to be-
1!eye that the supreme court of the UNI
ted States is in league with the Stand
ard Oil company, the verdict rendered
in the Waters-Pierce Oil company case
should alter that opinion. The Waters
Pierce is a subsidiary concern of the
Standard, and the verdict decides that
the Waters-Pierce company violated
the laws of Texas since it began bust-
ness in that state in 1900 and must pay
a fine of 81, 623, 900, and be ousted from
Texas. This is believed to be the lar
gest fine ever upheld by the supreme
court, and is evidence that trusts may
rot violate laws with impunity, If those
laws are justly administered, and with
in the limits of the constitution. The
500, 100000 fine assessed against he
Standard Oil company of Indiana by
Judge Lands, of Chicago, has never
been sustained by the supreme court,
and every decision has indicated that
it never will be, which shows there is
a difference. In the Texas case, the
offense was of long standing, and large
proportions, and, If the law is all right
the fine conforms with the offense. 1t
was vastly different in the Chicago
trial, where much hinged on a techni-
cal violation and the spirit of the trial
Judge Whatever the result of this de-
cision may be on corporations IN gen
eral or the Standard in particular, 1T
certainly removes the supreme court
from any stigma which may have been
placed on it by biased prejudiced per-
sons 1t is the duty of courts to try
cases on their merits. and under the
statutes involved, and 1t seems clear
that the supreme court can be relied
upon to do this. That the decision in
this case was unanimous, makes the
point more clear.-Atchison Globe