8 NORTH SHORE BREEZE 
North Share Breeze | 
Published every Friday afternoon by 
NORTH SHORE BREEZE CO. 
33 Beach Street Manchester, Mass. 
J. ALEX. LODGE, Editor, 
Telephones: Manchester 378, 132-M. 
Subscription rates: $2.00 a year; 3 months (trial) 50 cents. 
Advertising rates on application. 
Entered as second-class matter at the Manchester, Mass., 
Postofiice. 
VOL. XV 
March 2, 1917. No, 9 
MARCH 
These changing skies and piercing winds of March 
Remind us life, too, hath its bitter weather. 
lv hat matter tho’ the storms around us blow? 
So shall our hearts be closer drawn together. 
Beyond the clouds the blue heavens overarch, 
Fair flowers shall bloom where lingers now the snow. 
<i ON ea 
THE SpectAL Arp MEETING held at the Hotel Somer- 
set, Boston, on Monday, under the leadership of Mrs. 
Robert S. Bradley and others, was a great success. The 
large ballroom was filled and every available space was 
cecupied by listeners who were standing to hear what 
Admiral Peary and John Hays Ham: nond: Jr, had. to 
suggest for an adequate preparedness program. Admiral 
cary advocated three fundamental principles: First a 
fleet of sixteen powerful battle cruisers, 
ocean, armed with sixteen-inch guns; a department of 
aeronautics with a seat in the cabinet for the secretary in 
aarge of the department, and a system of universal train- 
ing. Finally, the construction of great ammuntion or in- 
dustrial centers in interior of the government. Admiral 
Peary’s address was followed very carefully by the audi- 
ence and his plans were endorsed if applause is any indi- 
cation of the interest of the auditors. The addresses were 
intelligent, clearly outlined and admirably presented. The 
Special Aid society is to be commended for its lively and 
efficient interest in so timely an issue. 
eight in each 
An ApvocaTtE OF CompuLsory MILITARY training 
and adequate preparedness has been arousing interest in 
his propaganda in Essex County with the direct purpose 
in mind of influencing our representatives in Congress. 
If we remember correctly it was our Congressinan. that 
made the first speech and began the organized movement 
for an adequate preparedness. Some “folk are thinking 
and preaching the doctrine that Augustus Peabody Gard- 
ner was advocating two years ago. This district is ably 
cared for by Congressman Gardner on this issue. There 
is no need of a propaganda to awaken its Congressman, 
but there is need of a propaganda to awaken the consti- 
tuency to the seriousness of the present situation. 
THE SPIRIT OF PREPAREDNESS is evidently in the air. 
First aid classes have been arranged in most of the towns 
and cities on the North Shore. “There is a class in Bev- 
erly and in Beverly Farms there are two organized and 
under the direct supervision of the Red Cross society. 
voung women are interested and efficient work is 
being done. 
THe CHurcues Antone the North Shore observed 
Go-to-Church Sunday last Sabbath and the work which 
was carried on quietly was successful. There were many 
empty pews, but there was a larger number than usual in 
‘ 
March 2, 1917. 
Tue Late Jostan H. BENTON was a man of experi- 
ence, generous and energetic and his interest in the library 
of the 'City of Boston has meant much to that city. Con- 
stantly was he at work upon intelligent plans for in- 
creasing the usefulness of this important educational in- 
stitution to the citizens. At his death it was not surpris- 
ing to learn that he had made such generous provisions in 
his will for its maintenance. The income of one hundred 
thousand dollars is given for the work of the children’s 
library and the income of five hundred thousand dollars, 
provided the city appropriates in each year that it desires 
to avail itself of the annuity, three percent of the money 
available for departmental expenses from taxes and in- 
come. It is evident that Mr. Benton planned this check 
in order to assure generous appropriations from the city, 
which might be curtailed if the income for library pur- 
poses thus given were available. 
ADMIRAL PEARY AND JOHN Hays HAMMownp, at the 
preparedness meeting arranged by the Special Aid society, 
at the Somerset, Boston, Monday, agreed that the Unite: 
~tates should provide an adequate air fleet to protect the 
country and that the head of this department should have 
a seat in the cabinet. Both of the speakers graphically 
presented the. serious condition of unpreparedness that 
existed and advocated the strengthening of this arm of 
the service. It is quite evident that the air presents the 
way to destruction by the enemy and the means of vic- 
tory defensively speaking. This idea should be embodied 
in an appropriation and the plan cared for by our present : 
congress, but will they do it? 
THe Firipusters ARE At Work in Congress to de- 
lay legislation in order to force an extra session of Con- 
gress on the plea of unfinished business. The President 
has asked for authority for any world crisis which may 
rise and it will be voted before the present Congress ad- 
iourns. Some of the methods employed by those seek- 
ing delays for the avowed purpose of forcing an extra 
session are unworthy but, however that may be, there 1s 
a growing conviction that when early summer comes we 
shall find’ Congress in session. These trying days will 
probably make “the call of Congress by the President de- 
sirable if not imperative. 
THe Prick oF PAPER has increased so rapidly that if 
would appear to careless thinkers that there would be a 
corresponding diminution in the amount of paper used 
and the number of books published. The figures for 1916 
have now been tabulated and show that instead of a de- 
crease there has been a noticeable increase in the number 
of volumes printed. The prices of paper have, indeed. 
acted as a deterrent, but the world war has stimulated 
interest and the publication of a new line of books. These 
books have materially increased the number of volumes 
published and sold. 
THE SINKING OF THE LACONTA and the death of sev- 
eral Americans appears to some to be the overt act that 
President Wilson has been awaiting. The steamer was 
unwarned and ruthlessly sunk by a submarine. The 
atrocity of undersea warfare has exhausted the vocabulary 
of the journalist. He is silent. There is nothing more 
that can be said. The President has made his statement 
to Congress, asked for authority, that will doubtlessly be 
granted and the sinking of the Laconia will be but an- 
other evidence of the horror of war. 
MinrrAry AuTHORITIES spent three days in our 
neighboring town of Essex last week, laying plans for 
future military and naval manoeuvres. Such arrange- 
ments at our very doors give one pause. 
