The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-06-09
Howe About:
Martin Johnson
Virtue Among Kings
Railroads
By ED HOWE

| n LIdOUGH porn In country LOWW
in Kansas, there is famous and
rich man named Martin Johnson. All
he had to start with was good deal
of natural sense Gas most people have),
and good parents and neighbors to
teach him the Importance of polite
ness, fairness and industry.
Probably at first he was ambitious
to fight Indians and hunt buffalo, but
was soon able to understand that such
adventures were no longer available.
Happening on a book about Africa he
determined to go there to take moving
pictures of big game animals, capture
them alive for sale to parks and mu
/ seums, ETC., and now lives in palace
in Niaroba, in South Africa. He has
had wonderful adventures, met many
famous people, and appeared before
great audiences in every part of the
world.
Anyone who denounces Martin
johnson because he is famous and a
gentleman, or says he acquired his for
tune by means not available to every
u
decency has been little above the
average of those who denounce him
because of his prosperity.
And I like his wife Osa, who is also
from Kansas. / do not know either of
them; have seen them only in their
wonderful public performances and
paid for the privilege.
Every one is writing now; even
kings and business men are seeking
such defense as print affords. There
is lately available book by the re-
Gently deposed king of Spain, al
though the actual work was done by
ghost writer. The title is "By-Ways
of Royalty" and the ghost writer, the
Grand Duke Alexander of Russia, is
thoroughly familiar with his subject.
1t is the first intimate story of roy
atty have ever read, and wonder the
book does not attract more attention.
The intimate life of king is as curl
GUS and strange to me as the intimate
life of a Russian peasant, with his
tea drinking, f1eas, sheepskin clothing,
and running away from wolves and
famines. The author, although
grand duke, writes surprisingly well;
he believes democracy false system,
but is fair in dealing with it.
Having been a humble subject all
my life, and gazed on rulers only from
afar, I found many surprising state
IT,, kho a4n fnv
your amazement:
mo major country has ever gone
bankrupt because of its kings mis-
tresses, but the worst fate that ever
befell a monarch befell the czar of
Russia because of being ruled by
foolish wife"
The car and Grand Duke Alexan-
der were cousins; the grand duke
knew the Russian royal family init
mately and for many years. The
author concludes kings as husbands
average about as do draymen, den
lists, clerks, merchants, lawyers. doc
tors, and other town men. He thinks
1t possible, however, that the average
among farmers, as to outside love af-
fairs, may be little higher than it
is among kings, owing to farmers be-
ing isolated on lonely creeks and
prairies.
The moving picture people have
about all the money now, but the rad
icals are not suggesting that they di-
vide with the poor; that demand is
made on manufacturers and other use,
full persons who haven't any.
One "movie" man in Hollywood
lately authorized his press agent to
broadcast the statement that his in
come from salary alone was half a
million a year.
The class one railroads (meaning a
group comprising all the best ones)
last year lost more than hundred
and fifty million dollars, as against
a profit of sixteen million in 1881.
Throughout the year of this terrific
deficit. the class one railroads gave
employment to hundreds of thousands
of men at the highest average wages
paid in the world; yet there is not a
community in the country, or jury,
that does not join the government
and courts in efforts to further impov-
erish the railroads.
But how the movies" of no use to
anyone, prosper!
1t is another exhibition of the Amer
lean spirit, unintelligent and dishonest.
that must be changed before the coun-
try can again get on its feet.
Nothing is ever settled When I
was a boy I heard quarreling which
greatly disturbed those taking part.
have heard the same quarreling
about the same subjects within an hour,
now that l am in my eighteth year.
If. after death, l am restored to con-
seriousness ! shall be surprised, but
whether land in the bosom of Abra-
ham or In the clutches of the devil,
think shall appreciate once knowing
positively where l am at.
Everyone knows you are weak
creature; you will finally admit it