190 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



Feb. 15 



ceasingly to shoot oat into space heat, 

 light, and power. I am told by the Scien- 

 ttfic American that a radium clock is already 

 running that will probably run until the 

 mechanism wears out. 



OUR POLITICAL BOSSES. 



Gleanings seldom touches on politics; in 

 fact, I am not a politician; but just now 

 the State of Ohio is entering on a conflict 

 that ought to interest every State of the 

 Union, especially as in most States there 

 is the saijie or a similar state of affairs. 

 Our political bosses declare that Governor 

 Herrick shall serve another term, no matter 

 what the churches, temperance people, col- 

 lege professors, and those who have charge 

 of our schools have to say in regard to the 

 matter. For some time we have seen state- 

 ments in our papers to the effect that "Boss 

 Cox" would probably settle the matter 

 when he got ready to do so. Several times 

 I questioned the above, but have been told 

 by men who ought to know that Cox is a 

 very careful man, and what he says almost 

 invariably comes to pass. Well, just recent- 

 ly Cox has made a decision in the following 

 words, which I take from the Americayi 

 Issue: 



It was my intention not to commit myself on this sub- 

 ject until my return from my vacation; but taking into 

 consideration the fact that my position may be mis- 

 construed I have concluded to make this statement now. 

 I think Gov. Herrick is entitled to the support of all 

 good Republicans. He shall have mirie. 



Now, the question naturally arises, "Who 

 is Boss Cox, any way, that he should decide 

 matters of such moment?" Most residents 

 of Ohio know pretty well who and what Cox 

 is, without explanation; but for the benefit 

 of some who do not, I make another extract 

 from the American Issue which will explain 

 somewhat. Read the following: 



His admiring friend, Gustav J. Kargar, certifies us 

 in his admirable monograph in Leslie's Monthly for 

 January, 1904, entitled, " George Barnsdale Cox, Pro- 

 prietor of Cincinnati," as follows: 



" Every night he may be found at Weilert's resort, in 

 the beer-garden if the weather permits, in the beer- 

 hall if inclement. He often driiLks fi-om twenty to 

 thirty glasses at a sitting."* 



There you have it, friends. The man who 

 decides for the rest of us who, shall be our 

 future Governor often drinks from twenty 

 to thirty glasses of beer at a sitting in one 

 of Cincinnati's famous beer-gardens. Our 

 churches, our ministei's, our educators, tem- 

 perance people and temperance workers, in- 

 cluding the mothers of our land, are now ex- 

 pected to kneel, and bow themselves down 

 in the dust, while this man Cox, this agent 

 of the brewers, this man who drinks to the 



* Once more let me quote from the American Issue: 



OFFICIALS RUINED BY STRONG DRINK. 



In 1809 Thomas Jefferson made the following strong 

 utterance on the liquor traffic: " The habit of using ar- 

 dent spirits by men in public office has occasioned more 

 injury to the public service and more trouble to me than 

 any other circumstance which has occurred in the in- 

 ternal concerns of the country during my administra- 

 tion; and were I to commence my administration again 

 with the knowledge which from experience I have ac- 

 quired, the first question which I would ask with re- 

 gard to every candidate for office should be, ' Is he ad- 

 dicted to the use of ardent spirits?' " 



extent mentioned above, coolly and calmly 

 walks over us. Will the State of Ohio put 

 up with this thing longer? If it is going to 

 wake up our good people and bring them to 

 life, there may be a providence in it. God 

 forbid that such a state of affairs should ex- 

 ist any longer. If nothing but a civil war 

 can free our State from this bondage and 

 thralldom to the liquor interests, then let us 

 have war. May God be praised, however, 

 that an awakening and a scratching of 

 names at the ballot-box may take the place 

 of war. 



the "simple life." 



Dear Friend Root:—\ have never yet come to the place 

 where I did not consider the expense of an article before 

 purchasing. Not many years ago when I visited the 

 West I went into the dining-car to get my dinner. I or- 

 dered a piece of chicken- pie, baked potatoes, and a cup 

 of coffee. Then, as you know, bread and butter, sauce, 

 and pickles are always thrown in, and for which I paid 

 40 cts. How much more would one wish to make out a 

 good square meal when real hungry? The gentleman 

 who sat opposite me at the table paid $2.00. He did not 

 eat one-fourth of what he ordered, and I doubt if he felt 

 any better satisfied than I did. I think I heartily agree 

 with you that this is not only foolish but wicked. 



Savannah, Ohio. W. C. Gault. 



Friend G., I have so often had almost ex- 

 actly the same experience in dining-cars that 

 I begin to think it is the rule rather than the 

 exception to pay for a great lot the diner 

 does not want and can not use. Perhaps 

 some who read these pages may consider 

 you and me penurious, and say we make a 

 fuss about trifles; but the thought of so 

 many people in so many parts of the earth 

 who are actually suffering for nourishing 

 food is constantly before me. While on this 

 subject I wish to mention another thing that 

 I omitted in my former talk. People all 

 around me, and I rather suspect all over the 

 world, are constantly purchasing things that 

 are soon to be laid aside, and are only rub- 

 bish in the way. Of course, you can make 

 a sale or advertise things you do not want; 

 but a great many do not wish to go to the 

 trouble of doing this. It is a little out of 

 fashion with many to "dicker" or barter. 

 Well, in view of this I am of late very care- 

 ful about purchasing things. I say to my- 

 self, "Now. old fellow, do you really need 

 this? and will you make some use of if I'ight 

 along?" Mrs. Root and I have talked the 

 matter over; and when we get hold of some- 

 thing that pleases us, and is in constant use 

 every day, we say to each other, "There! 

 that investment is a good one. It has paid 

 for itself already, and now I have learned 

 how to use it I would not be without it." 



Oh, yes! there is just one thing more I 

 wish to say. Mrs. Root says that door that 

 was put in last summer, making a short cut 

 (see page 1029) from the kitchen to the pan- 

 try, is worth to her one thousand dollars— 

 that i:^, she would not have the door taken 

 out and go on with her old way of doing work 

 for the sum of money mentioned. Now, 

 friends, look over your home and see wheth- 

 er there is not a chance for you to make a 

 "good investment" in the way of short cuts 

 to save the dear wife or all the rest of you 

 useless steps. 



