March 30, 1917. 
In A PAMPHLET, now being circulated by the com- 
mittee on publicity for the Constitutional convention, of 
which Francis Peabody of Boston is chairman, the initia- 
tive and referendum is held up as “a menace to popular 
rule.” The announced purpose of the committee is “to 
assist in arousing the people of Massachusetts to the 
tremendous power of the convention for good or evil and 
to assist in creating a true public sentiment upon all im- 
portant matters likely to be considered by the convention.” 
Examples of the failure of the initiative and referendum in 
Switzerland and in states where it has been tried are used 
by the committee to bring to the minds of the voters the 
nature of the proposed amendment. Although there is 
little interest at present being manifest in the approaching 
convention, what little there is seems to center about the 
initiative and referendum. It should be borne in mind by 
those who think the initiative or referendum amendments 
‘e a step toward popular government that such amend- 
ments mean rather a change of form of government than 
creation of a new instrument of government. 
SoMEONE Must ANSWER to our nation for the un- 
preparedness that is so evident, “there is not a single 
piece of modern heavy field artillery made or even de- 
signed. There is not a fighting aeroplane, in fact this 
country has not yet succeeded in copying a foreign aero- 
plane motor, which would be suitable for war planes. 
Our wireless apparatus is so incomplete that at the time 
of the trouble on the Mexican Border we had to take 
equipment from the Panama Canal to supply the defici- 
ency. Our regular troops, few as they are, are unhorsed, 
unmanned and ungunned.” That is unpreparedness sure- 
ly and indicates that America has not been militant. 
Universar, Minirary Service! At the risk of being 
monotonous we urge our readers to think seriously about 
the necessity for universal service. We are for peace, 
we are for the protection of American rights, but above 
all we must be able to defend our country from invasion. 
In this age of scientific war-making soldiers are made, 
not born, and the United States must make its citizens 
serviceable for its defence. That such a training will 
make this country militaristic is absurd. We want to 
fight no country, but if any of them insist on attacking us 
we must be able to take care of ourselves. 
Secrerary or Starr Lanerry has suggested that 
every church in the state have a flag in its room of wor- 
ship, but all churches are not fortunate enough to posses 
one. Here is an opportunity for patriotic organizations 
or individuals to do good work. Memorial Day is com- 
ing and a beautiful silk flag should be the proud posses- 
sion of every church and with it there should be a white 
silk banner of the State of Massachusetts. 
Ture Most THoucutiess Person should realize that 
there is trouble now on hand when one realizes that with- 
in a week, two regiments have been called into service, a 
guard shot and prowlers fired on at the Watertown Ar- 
senal while tunneling their way under a fence. 
WueEN It Comes to a new set of by-laws, we must 
realize that the Allies are fighting for a new set of world 
wide by-laws and they are giving life and treasure that 
they be not “made in Germany.” 
Tuer DiFFicuLtreEs Over the Bay State Railway ap- 
pear to continue. Can anyone tell, why the railroad and 
railway industries, of all the mercantile enterprises of the 
country, are selected as. the butt for hostile criticisms and 
attacks ? 
NO}WEHSSHORE BREEZE 
7 
3 
S 
3OO$ 
3 
» 
SOOBBOOBBOOKBOOBBOOBBOOKBOOBBOOBEO OBO OBE 
¢ 
THE EARLY INFLUX OF SUMMER RESIDENTS 
to the North Shore this season is indicative of 
3OO% 
rOonHOOuE 
x the general feeling of approaching national 
& =. trouble:. In the minds of city dw ellers there is #3 
AZ ~ >> 
#3 confidence that on the North Shore there is g 
security from any of the suffering incident to 
war. Far enough removed from any great city 
to be safe from “danger in the practically impos- 
sible event of hostilities on this side of the At- 
lantic, the North Shore presents the surest haven 
of safety for the summer resident. In event of 
war the only real danger will be at the hands of - 
fanatics or German sympathizers, and their ac- 
tivities would be confined to the cities. If any 
further assurance is needed of the security of 
the North Shore from disturbances of any kind, 
it will be found in the highly efficient and splen- 
didly organized motor patrol of the Naval Re- 
serve. Many North Shore summer residents 
are prominent in its activities, and its maneouvers 
this summer will take place off the North Shore. 
20% 
ove 
+, 
OOBBOORBOOBBOOS 
?. 
° 
+, 
ad 
4, 
° 
OOBBWOOBBOO 
Ad 
QOVWMOORVBOOUBOOBBOOBBOOMBOOBBOO 
: 
> 
33 ; 
s Jocular references to submarine attacks on this 
& side of the water have little terror for residents 
3 of the North Shore, as is evident by the number 
S of early arrivals this season. 3 
xa Px 
s g 
OBBOOBBOOMBO OBO OBO OBO OVO OU O OF OOMNO OME 
Bre CareFuL Wit Yourseur! Men and women 
should realize that their first duty is the perfection of 
themselves, and they should carefully study themselves 
with the hope of correcting whatever faults they have. 
Ordinarily, you say you know what is your fault. Of 
course, you can see the big errors of your life, you can 
understand the sins that flaunt your conscience, but do 
you know the galling little things you do, the almost in- 
significant near-wrongs which hurt those who care for 
you. Success in business is to be desired, and the ap- 
proval of society is to be coveted, but no character can be 
judged by a bank-roll or the voice of the people. The 
public does not know your faults, your coin does not fell 
the story of its acquistion, but inside your own family 
circle, if lips now stilled by regard for you were opene/ 
to the world what would the verdict of mankind be? 
The careless, indifferent, unthinking man leaves heart- 
burns aplenty, although he is generally happy in having 
his own way. Love may give up the pleasures of life, 
surrender the joys of existence and yield all to the de- 
mand of another, but in the heart of the loved one there 
is recorded a verdict. Whenever we see a successful man, 
a wonderful woman, or a person whom the world admires, 
we wonder what the truth would show if veils were 
drawn aside and the gaze of humanity could peer upon 
the naked soul. That is impossible, but we should all so 
strive to live that when, in the end the truth is out, the 
judgment formed by. those to whom we have been nicest 
will be the same as that of those to whom we owe the 
most. 
PROFESSOR RoprEs OF HARVARD UNIveErsrty, who is 
well known on our Shore, has been exchange lecturer at 
Harvard university and has been giving two lectures in 
3iblical literature. The college review has given a very 
flattering and just estimate of the service which he rend- 
ered. No one in New England who knows Professor 
Ropes is surprised at his success. 
Spring, who breaks all promises in the beginning to 
keep them in the end.—James Lane Allen. 
