The Washington herald., 1911-01-25
VIEWS AND
INTERVIEWS
People Who Never Battle.

Il believe the Mexican Indians never
battle at ALL said Jerome S. Donovan,
or Mexico City. who was seen at the
Raleigh last night. and who preferred to
! talk about something else I'm fact.
| there is a belief among them" continued
! the genial son of Erin. that to battle is
to court sickness and death. There was
| a sick boy in a hut where a friend of
mine stopped one day. and my friend
suggested to the father that a bath might
cure him. The father held up his hands
in horror.
"A bath-that would kill him. he ex-
claimed. L never bathed in my life. and
my children never bathed and never will.
Down in the low countries they battle
once a year. continued Mr. Donovan.
lat midnight on the 18th of June-St
Peters and St. Paul's Day. The two
saints calm the ocean and make the
water harmless. and those within reach
Of the sea who have sufficient faith in
the protecting powers of the saints gather
! thete on that day and recklessly wash
their bodies. At points removed from the
| coast the 9th of June is the annual bath
| ing day. This is St. Johns Day, and that
good saint has a concession to moIify
the risors of the rivers for the benefit
| of the wouId-be clean ones
| Easing Up OId-aEe People.
Branson f.. Perkins. of Boston, who is
at the New Willard. is interested in all
| kinds of insurance. In speaking of the
| scheme to pension superannuated gov
eminent employees. he said: "A terror Of
| poverty is the helpessnesS of old age.
| Modern society recognizes that this bur
| den must. far possible. be lifted.
| If we show sufficient intelligence, it can
be lifted by individual effort. Massachu-
sets has done much within the last few
| years to make insurance for workngmen
| safer and far less costly.
! THE first year of the savings hank in
surance system" continued Mr.. Perkins.
| lin that State closed October Il. 1909.
After paying interest on the guaranty
| fund, setting apart the full legal reserve,
and in addition an amount equal to per
cent of the premiums to the trustees of
the general insurance guaranty fund. the
| insurance department earned A surplus.
! from which they have declared to the
holders of all monthly premium policies
dividend of Is per cent. For the pay
|
the surplus profit is required. The re-
naming Z, per cent is set apart as sur
plus guaranty fund. OF the expenses.
! over two-thirds has consisted of medical
fees The percentage of these medical
fees to premiums is. of course. usually
| heavy in the first year. 1t is believed
! that when the system is in full operation
a dividend of 20 per cent may reasonably
| be expected.
| For a period of at least twenty years
| befOr" the savings-bank insurance move
ment began. there had been no reduc-
| ton in the premiums of industrial poll
| cies. In the three years since the move
| ment was started. industrial insurance
companies premiums have been reduced
about 20 per cent. which will soon result
| in an annual saving to the working peo-
| pie of Massachusetts alone of from ST.
900 to s1.J00OOO. 1t will be but few
years until the saving effected for the
| wOrkingmen in the United States will be
between 100000 and sl5.00O.OOO a year.
| Great Colorado Desert.
The great Colorado Desert, in Southern
| California. which ten years ago was so
barren and so desolate that hundreds of
| venturesome people lost their lives in
| trying to cross it, is to-day recognized
| as one of the most fertile areas of land
! in America. according to Andrew F.
! Shields, of San Francisco. Cal. who is
| at the Arlington. The name Colorado
| Desert" continued Mr.. Shields. lis
being rapidly forgotten. and now it is
| known as the Imperial Valley.
In no part of the West is there a more
| wonderful or striking story of the
| changes which irrigation has wrought.
! The vast barren area of sand. stretch
! ing on all sides as far as the eye can
| reach. has become garden spot. Thou
| sands of acres are producing prolifically.
! There are now five towns in the valley
of close to loo population. and several
| smaller ones. These towns have good
railroad facilities. telephones. and cleo
trio lights. and their buildings are sub
stantial. Many of the settlers have al
ready purchased automobiles, and prac =
| tically all of them are enjoying all the
good things of life. which ordinarily can
be obtained only in the big cities. FL
| Center has theater that would do
! credit to town of 5000 Imperial has
a university club of 100 or more MEM
7
| eclipse the average club affair in New
York. Chicago, or Washington, which is
| going some.
| They are doing things down there in
that southwest corner of the United
/ StateS,' said Mr.. Shields Progress
| is the keynote of every move that is
! made. There is plenty of land there to
support 100000 people in luxury. and
every man in the valley expects to see
the 5000 or 2o.OOO population of the pres
| ent day increased to the maximum figure
| within a decade. And they are doing all
in their power to bring this about. San
Francisco is the only place where the
| Panama Canal Exposition can be held
with any prospect of satisfaction, pride.
| and success.
| Recipe for Good Health.
! Good health is my only ailment, says
Senator JEFF Davis. of Arkansas; Il work
like a harvest hand. and 1 have an appe-
tite like a prize fighter. l need plenty Of
| air when l am at work. and that's the
reason l am always found in my shirt
| sleeves when in my office.
II have been admonished frequently
that l am violating the rules of good So
ciety. Now, / don't give 'cuss for the
rules of good society when they are the
| r,,lac of fonlS and contrary IN comru0n