The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-13
FRON OTHER PENS
GREAT MODERN WEALTH


The world is richer than it ever was
before. and there is more splendor,
more magnifcence, more luxury and
ducing comfort than were ever
dreamed of by Solomon. Midas,
Croesus. Iucullus and those noted in
history for their great wealth, their
luxury and extravaganza. A noted
lecturer and author in q recent lecture
at Columbia university declared: Eff
Nero or Heliogablus could come to life
today and see the dining rooms of the
great hotels in Paris and London,
respondent with light, crystal, silver,
ETC., they would admire them as far
more beautiful than the halls in which
they gave their imperial feasts."
There never was an ancient city or
building that is not easily surpassed
by many modern cities and edif1ces.
Rome in the days of its greatest SPLEEN
dor was dirty, unsanitary, mostly side
walkless and poorly lighted. The
barbaric magnificence of ancient
lighted cities of the east, the history of
which fades into romance and the
facts of which are obscured by
legends was crude and cheap COM
fury. They seem to have used a vast
amount of gold in the ancient days.
If it was as plentiful as it seems to
have been it could hardly have been
as valuable as it is now. What be-
came of the vast amounts of gold
used in the building and adjoining of
temples and palaces, in the manufac-
ture of vessels, etc, in the days of
Solomon and before and after? What
became of the bushels and carloads
of precious stones which we read
about in the Bible and profane his
tory? These things did not perish. 1t
is easy enough to know or to imagine
where they came from, but where are
A ar~{o
THE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
It is more important that congress
fully appreciate the desirability of re-
forming its method of dealing with
the inland waterways than it is that
the revised policy be put into i'm
mediate force by the enactment Of an
law during the present
session. In view of the increasing ma
tional deficit, and the fact that other
matters press for attention.
fear is expressed that no rivers and
harbors bill may be passed.
While an early beginning of the
project for developing the waterways
by a comprehensive, continuous pro-
gramme would be desirable under or
binary circumstances, it is by no
means vital. The time that may
necessarily elapse before the treasury
assume SUCH SlIdp0 DIS "
justify an inauguration of the new
policy may be prof1tably
spent in educating congress and the
public. The nation has had enough
of haphazard. unrelated efforts to de-
velop Waterways; it now demands re-
suits which can best be obtained by
some such broad policy as that adj
vocated by the national rivers and |
harbors congress-Cleveland Plain
Dealer.
FEDERAL EDUCATION BUREAU. |
1t ought to require no argument to |
prove to congressman as a juStifica-
ton for a more liberal allowance for |
the bureau of education, that there |
is in it's work a vast and almost I'M
touched field of public usefulness. One |
has only to refer to the voluntary con- /
ventions of teachers to the various
associations representing the sec
and higher institutions of
education, ETC., to recognize the fruit /
full field for simpIification and unifica-
ton IN these directions. How much
greater the opportunities in connec-
ton with elementary education, which
IS all that come to the vast majority
Of the people. The present commits
sioner pointed the way to what might
be done in the way of exchange of
experience and information by the
recent conference of state superin-
-endents of public instruction, and /
the whole field of textbooks and theI
coordination of courses of instruc-
ion open a wide field Of endeavor.-l
Philadelphia Ledger. J.