The Washington herald., 1909-07-22
AT THE HOTELS.

and import business AID is familiar with
the japanese market. Mr. West was seen
at the New willard.
This is particularly true Of small lines.
The big concerns would probably do bet-
ter 70 establish their own branches. Iizs
the Standard Oil and other large con
Germs have done. The business IN Japan
Is conducted through a negotiating inter-
prefer called a banto, continued Mr..
West. This worthy is generally q ras-
cal who cheats both parties. underauot-
ing 10 one and Overquoting 20 the other.
The banto Is a much-abused individual
Most business men who have had expert
enee with him claim that Ike the Indian.
ne only good after he is dead. You
may thiak you are real foxy. but one OF
these Oriental shysters can take the kinks
out OF your conceit any morning before
breakfast Tie banto is regarded as q
commercial barnacle. and he will be dis
pensed With as soon as It IS possible. But
az the present time, owing 70 the differ
eIces In languages and customs. the new
conner cannot get along without him. and
even the Oldest firms have 10 depend
upon him at times. BY dealing with the
importer the ordinary American will save
much annoyance and loss.
There was a time when the Japs
spoiled for a fight with Uncle Sam. but
I believe President Roosevelt called the
biun, and the thing IS OF indefinitely
for the present at least"
William n. Barker. OF Houghton. Mich,
who is az the Raleigh. discussing the nat
ural wealth OF his State, said that iron
was first discovered IN the Lake Superior
country on September 19, 1874. by William
A Burt deputy surveyor general OF the
United States, who was engaged in map
ping the upper peninsula.
Noticing the fluctation OF the needle
continued Mr.. Barker. who IS interested
In the mining industry itself. he in
structed his men 70 look around and see
II they could ind any reason for It IN tbs
ground Burt was a Massachusetts
man. who had come West as a SUI
veyOr IN 1924 He was a member Of tho
territorial council Of Michigan. and was
actively interested IN the development OF
the mineral resources Of the State. He
possessed inventive faculties OF the high
est order, and his experiments IN magnet
Ism contributed important knowledge to
the scientific world
The history Of the copper industry on
Lake Superior is just as well known as
that OK the iron industry, but contro-
versies concerning the matter are lust
as frequent and bitter. Nevertheless.
Peter White and other men who have
been In my section Of the country are
living witnesses 10 the truth that White
assisted as a boy in stripping the first
iron mine on Lake Superior and he saw
the first copper mine in operation He
wrote the bill OF lading for the first ship
ment OF iron ore from Lake Superior, and
yet he is a man stil IN his prime.
vigorous in health, active In many spheres
OF usefulness, and as enthusiastic as a
boy.
Speaking about cleanliness OF the
Africans. W. II. Moser. Of London. who
is at the Arlington and has spent a
couple Of years Of the Dark Continent
prospecting. said that while We have
faith IN the bath, Africans are not as a
rule violently addicted TO the employment
OF cold water for bodily cleanliness.
Time and again would enjoin this
upon them" continued Mr.. Moser. "and
invariably after they had absented them
selves and returned they would appear
with their faces shining with broad a,rins
and mustard oil and wearing something
OF the shame-faced expression OF a little
child conscious Of its new frock, and long
ing. yet half fearing, 70 hear II remarked
upon
zone OF the East Zsmbesi missionaries
told me, said Mr.. Moser, that when his
wife became so desperate and determined
as 10 Introduce soap and preach the
gospel OF its employment the natives
took Il, retired. and proceeded 10 eat Il as
q dainty. But I told you that YOU were
dirty, she said 'Dirtyr they repeated
and retired again into the use OF mustard
oil Another element which adds 20 the
smell OF Africa Is the dust and dust
storms. / have snelt one Of these storms
before 1 could see IL many times. The
peculiar darkness which acconpanies
these storms reminds one OF the thicl,
darkness which could be felt N old DAYS
IN the land OF Egypt. Like many other
disagreeable things, these dust storms
have their advantages as well as disad-
vantages.
Coming from the West. OF the deserts.
IN a season when every grain OF sand
has been scorched by the sun. and re-
fleets its pitess rays until the earth
seems one vast oven, immediately upon q
dead calm. dust and sand rise in dense
clouds, which are whirled hither and
thither, giving the parched earth little
respite FROM perpetual sunshine while
each tiny atom parts with the heat IL
had accumulated, and when the wind
falls and they settle down again, they
have acquired "a partial GOODNESS. IN
speakably refreshing TO both vegetable
and animal lie"
What I am sentimentallv Interested
n is extending the influence Of the
Arctic Brotherhood" said B. c. Gibbs.
If Dawson City, who was seen az the
New Willard That may sound strauqe
% you, but my word. man, II America
Knew what it ought to know. the Arctic
brotherhood would be more important
70 it than the balance OF European
rade, or even the appearance Of a new
'pera star.
Just let me talk 70 YOU minute Your
Of State Seward gave soma
7ifing millions OF dollars for Alaska.