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Tue Last LincERING Dreap of the submarine men- 
ace on this side of the Atlantic has disappeared. The 
establishment of the Naval Reserve and formation of 
coast defense and home guards in all parts of the North 
Shore have tended to allay the fears of the more timid 
and a cheerful tone pervades in the activities attendant 
upon the opening of the summer season.’ Many families 
have already opened their homes in Beverly, Pride’s 
Crossing, Beverly Farms, Manchester, Magnolia and the 
Cape Ann section. Swampscott, Marblehead and Nahant 
are thriving and looking forward eagerly to the opening 
of the hotels in that locality. In all parts of the shore 
people are arriving for their summer sojourn. While 
all social activities will be governed by the fact that the 
nation is at war, it is certain that they will be many and 
varied functions—principally, perhaps, in benefit of vari- 
ous relief funds, but nevertheless brilliant. The sports 
at the clubs and hotels and bathing at the beaches will 
flourish, but in a lesser degree than usual. In most re- 
spects it will be a “typical North Shore season.” 
BES 
It Is A PLEASING SicH’ these spring days to observe 
the preparations being made about the various North 
Shore estates for the arrival of the families from the 
cities for the season by the seashore. A walk or ride 
through the avenues in Manchester, Beverly Farms 
Pride’s Crossing and vicinity is blessed with the pleasant 
odor of freshly turned earth and early vegetation. It is 
hard to imagine that we are at war when one sees the 
evidences of peace and comfort on every hand. It is not 
difficult to understand why the North Shore will attract 
so many to its resorts this season and why practically 
every available house has been rented. There is peace 
and security in the very atmosphere. 
SES 
INCREASES IN THE Cost of fuel, labor, car hire and 
other materials make the condition of the poor old Bos- 
ton & Maine anything but pleasant to contemplate. With 
the need ahead of renewing thuch of its equipment, par- 
ticularly its rolling stock, the future outlook of the road 
is not cheering. Unless the company is allowed to in- 
crease its freight rates, temporarily at least, the part of 
New England served by the road is bound to suffer. 
New England cannot do without the old B. & M.—the 
remedy must be administered. 
SSS 
Ture TAKING OvER of a portion of West Beach at 
Beverly Farms for the use of an aviation squad will not 
inconvenience the many frequenters of that splendid 
beach. In fact the maneuvers of the seaplanes will be 
an entertaining diversion for the bathers this summer. 
Ma Fs Ba 
NuMBER OF YouNG MEN to be areited for ser- 
vice at the front will not be very great when the assign- 
ments are made. ‘The conscription plan is the just way 
because the war will thus be begun right. America means 
to make a business of this war! 
EEE 
Tur West Bracw CoRPoRAtION has again demon- 
strated its public spirit and has offered to the government 
certain privileges upon the beach. Patriotism has many 
expressions in these days of stress and ‘strain. 
~— 
CHE 
CENSORSHIP OF THE PRESS! We hate the dark. We 
believe that right things live in the light. We believe 
that wrong things thrive in the darkness. Therefore, we 
are against any plan of censorship that seeks to prevent a 
free criticism of the way our government conducts the 
war. We believe that the guard of the press is more val- 
uable to the people of this nation, than the losses the peo- 
ple may suffer by the occasional printing of too much. 
Mistakes will be made in this war. _ Human nature is 
prone to error; and we learn from experience that man 
is slow to correct his own folly. We can cite instance 
after instance where the lash of the press has revised 
evils and awaked the public. If incompetency, favoritism, 
or ignorance make our nation suffer in this war, we want 
the press free to tell its readers where the incompetency, 
the favoritism, the ignorance lies. Adequate punishment 
should be meted out to false and slanderous abuse of any 
official. We believe, too, that newspapers should be cen- 
-sured if they publish news regarding military movements 
or information valuable to an enemy, but that is the limit, 
and it should be a: strict limit to their being muzzled. 
And it will be the limit, regardless of law or censorship. 
The duty of an editor is clear, and the majority of them 
will follow it, regardless of punishment. Patriotism de- 
mands certain concessions, but it also demands even 
stronger protection of the people against ignorance and 
incompetency anywhere. The editor who neglects this 
duty will be a more cowardly creature than the man who 
refuses to shoulder a gun. . 
BBS 
GENERAL JOFFRE Is Havinc a welcome that ought to 
make his heart glad and he will inspire our own nation 
to the task which is now before us. - France has honored 
us in sending her foremost General to thank us and to in- 
form us of the true situation abroad. Despatches and 
official advices have their place, but an official visit from 
such a commission is much better. When Joffre goes 
back he will bear with him the knowledge of the loyalty 
of America which he has gained at first hand. American 
troops are needed in the French lines to encourage the 
soldiers in action, but America needed Joffre to arouse 
the nation to a true estimate of the task at hand. 
SSS 
Apvicks From WasuHtNcton SAy that there is coal 
enough to supply everyone and the task at hand for all is 
to assist the coal operators to evenly distribute the supply. 
The present shortage is, of course, due to abnormal con- 
ditions, but these abnormal conditions will be intensified 
if everyone jumps in to stock up. It is now believed that 
if consumers buy their coal with the same purpose and 
regularity as in other years there will be coal enough for 
all and the coal merchants will be able to supply the de- 
mands as they are made. 
BES 
THe New Law PERMI?TTING gardening upon Sunday 
has aroused considerable opposition on the conservative 
side of the camp as was to be expected. But then, one is 
always the final judge. The average owner of a small 
plot does not usually need to leave all of his gardening 
work for Sunday. In fact he will very speedily learn 
that the garden that succeeds is the garden that has con- 
stant care. 
