The National tribune., 1909-11-11

much about it. The Poe and Thoreau
manuscripts are specially valuable and
choice and their possession gives Mr..
Morgan a prestige in this respect not
equalied by any other American.
Speaking of art treasures, the pro-
posed sale in January of the house and
contents belonging to the millionaire
called silent Smith," whose step
daughter, Miss Anita Stewart, has just
married the Prince de Braganza, is Gre
ating quite an excitement among those
who appreciate beautiful things. The
house, which is rather modest on the
outside, was remodeled by Stanford
White, and its interior is said to be
one of the most splendid in this coun-
try. So spacious are Its magnificent
rooms that 1000 people could be en-
tertained by Mr.. Smith at one time
without the least fear of crowding, and
so servants were employed by him to
keep It in proper order. The house
was once owned and lived in by Will
liam C. Whitney, and it was then that
Stanford White was given the chance
to see what he could do with 1t. Mr..
Whitney put the whole matter of its
furnishing, etc, into Mr.. Whites hands,
who, unlimited as to means, travelled
all over Europe, picking up here and
there the choice and beautiful things
suggested by his perfect and fastidious
taste. Mr.. Whitney spent from $4,000
600 to 100000 on the house and
grounds. When Mr.. Smith bought it
he added to the beautiful collection of
Mr.. Whitney's, and it is said expended
in the decorations of his ballroom alone
some 100000. A single set of furni-
ture in the ballroom cost 100000, and
there were tapestries about, which Mr..
Smith got hold Of somehow, and which,
when they were in England, were
loaned to King Edward for his corona
ton ceremonies. Some rugs in the
house cost $4,000 apiece, and in the
different rooms are numerous other
magnificent things, many of which have
graced the palaces of royalty. Mr..
Smith left this house to two of his
nephews, who prefer to have the
money.
The shiftless and general good-for-
nothingneSs of large part of the poor
whites of the South, and their misera-
bly, thin, sallow, lusterless-eyed appear
ance, have been accepted for years,
more or less, in the light of an neces-
sary evil. The poor creatures them
selves were supposed to be the cause of
| their condition thru their ignorance
and natural laziness which made them
prefer a life of poverty, with wretched
food, unsanitary conditions, etc, rather
than the reverse of this at the expense
of hard work. The children of these
parents, SO dun and lifeless, not car
ing for play, so different from healthy,
normal, children in every respect, have
attracted the pity of some warm-heart-
ed people, but nothing much has been
done Tor them, as it was felt nothing
much could be done. 1t has now been
discovered, thru the noble efforts of Dr.
Charles Stiles, Chief of the u. $. Public
Health and Marine Hospital Service,
that these poor people of the South
have been suffering for years from a
parasite called the ''Hookworm," which,
while il may not kill direct, it lowers
the vitality of its victim so as to re-
tard development both physical and
mental, and renders him particularly
susceptible to consumption, typhoid
fever and malaria. One of the out
ward effects OF the presence of this
parasite is an enlargement of the abdo-
men, and sometimes, especially in chill
dren, 1t leads to an abnormal craving
for uneatable things, such as dirt, etc.
The marked anemic condition of these
people. before referred to, is easily
traceable to this disease which is now
to be fought vigorously, and this has
been made possible by the recent gem
erous gift of Mr.. Rockefeller of s1,O0O,-
600 for this purpose. 1t is estimated
that fully 100000 people-think Of
it-are the Hookworm's victims, and
these are more commonly found among
chlidfen of school age than any others
Whlle generally confined to the poorer
| classes, those Of the well-to-do have
not escaped. What a splendid work
Will be accomplished if these unfortun
ate people can be brought to a condi-
ton OF energy, vitality, and all that
health means! What star in the
Nations crown If these little children
can De saved! And to wipe out forever
the opprobrious title of poor white
trash" which this afflicted class have
patiently, and 1t seems unjustly borne
lor SO many years, will that not be a
great step forward?
In one short week three young men
lay dead and one dying, all four the
victims of football. At West Point
CADET Byrne. splendid fellow, hand
some, sunny-hearted and generous. ex-
tremely popular with everybody. faced
death like the young soldier that he
was, his agoniZed father and mother
standing by his bedside. In time of
war, when ones country is In danger
mother may be called upon to sacri-
nee her son or disease may take him
IRON! from her ahd' II she is a good Chris
tlan, She bows her head meekly In
submission to the Divine will, but who
could blame mother for refusing TO
see the hand Of God in such a death
as that of young Byrne? 1t is claimed
by the supporters of the game that II
deyelopes the manly virtues, makes n
man think and act quickly, etc, all of
winch may be true, but il this goal, de-
sirable tho it be. is only to be reached
over the dead bodies of promising
youths, some other route had better be
taken. We all know that the country is
hlled with fine, Virile young fellows who
never played game Of football in their
lives and never expect TO. Football il
not the only means of making a man.
thank goodness, and tho this plea is
made much of by the defenders Of the
game, the real truth is it is played be-
cause the boys themselves enjoy its mad
excitement and the prestige il gives
them, and because a large number of
people take the keenest pleasure in
watching what Is considered by many
TO be brutal sport. IL is the same
spirit exactly that takes the Spaniard
to the bull fight, which we cry out
against so loudly. No one would OBJ
ject to football If 1t could be PLAYED
less brutally and without its element
OF danger to life. Since the occur
renee of these fatalities before alluded
to, quite protest against the present
rules Of the game has gone up over the
country especially from the college
presidents. These all agree that what
Is called mass plays" should not be
allowed, and that the rules should be
revised at once to prevent any more