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I.-The World's Conference of the Young Men's

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Christian Associations

HE Conference of delegates representing the Young Men's Christian Associations throughout the world, which began on the 20th of August, has honor from the fact that it has proved the largest Conference, numerically regarded, ever held on the continent of Europe. Christiania, Norway's capital, the place of meeting, was admirably suited to the requirements of a large gathering. The two thousand one hundred delegates from thirty-one countries on both hemispheres, along with the many friends of the cause, and visitors who were attracted to the special proceedings, had hearts and homes, churches and halls, palace and public place, opened to them.

The Royal House of Norway and Sweden was represented by Prince Oscar Bernadotte, who was present with his Princess at every session. The King ordered the first Marshal of the Court to invite the delegates to a standing supper at the palace. Although the multitude of tongues is always a difficulty in these large gatherings, the spirit of the Conference was so good and the proceedings were conducted in so orderly a way that patience and a noble aim wrought happily from first to last of this fifteenth international gathering of the Young Men's Christian Associations of the world.

The general management of the Associations in the World's Alliance being in the hands of a committee the headquarters of whose executive is in Geneva, it was natural to expect that the members of that committee would have a leading part in the proceedings. Their words and their work left the impression that they made up a band of men who were to be trusted to do in a faithful and efficient way a work that is becoming increasingly important in the twentieth-century enterprise of Christendom.

Christ for young men and young men for Christ, the spiritual development of the Association's membership, the place of the Bible in the Association, the Gospel

of Christ a power among young men, national work, organization in different countries, the world-wide scope of the movement, and the claim of the two hundred million of young men who are in heathen lands-these phrases express the thoughts about which the main programme features of the Conference gathered.

Of the delegates from all lands, about thirty officially represented the United States and the Dominion of Canada. The next Conference will be held in Paris in 1905, the place and the time being chosen from the consideration that that year will be the jubilee year of the World's Conference which adopted what is known as "the Paris basis," which was effected at the first World's Conference ever held.

During 1901 seven millions of dollars have been pledged or committed to the Association for buildings, endowment, support, extinguishment of debt, and extension. Twenty-three new buildings have been dedicated, large additions have been made to fifteen city buildings, eighteen new city buildings have been placed under construction, the debts upon thirtyfour buildings have been either paid or pledged, fifteen railroad buildings have been opened, thirteen more have been assured, three army and navy buildings and three college buildings have been completed, and nearly three millions and a half of dollars have been expended for the current expenses of local Associations and of the State, Provincial, and International Committees. More than four hundred buildings are now owned by Associations, worth nearly twenty-three millions of dollars, while the value of equipment is more than a million dollars additional. There are over fifteen hundred Associations, and over three hundred and twentyfive thousand membership. Well-nigh forty thousand students have been giving special study to the Bible in Association classes. Twenty-nine thousand men have sought instruction in evening classes, and over three times that number have taken

advantage of the gymnasium. Army and navy work has been carried on at more than six hundred and fifty points, and the attendance of the Association's religious meetings during the last year has been more than two and three-quarter millions. Fifteen hours of the Convention period were given by a special Committee of Delegates, of which Mr. Mott was Chairman, to the framing of a set of sentences which would combine in concise form the mind of the representatives from all lands with regard to the Young Men's Christian Association now and prospectively. The outcome of the labors' of the Committee was submitted and in the main sanctioned by the Conference at the one meeting set apart on the programme for business. The substance of the resolutions is contained in the following: 1. A recognition, with profound gratitude at its basis, of the remarkable development of the Association, with special notice of the progress of the last four years, which progress is inexplicable apart from the direct working of the Holy Spirit. 2. The fact that the unusual development of the work since the Conference at Basle in 1898

has been effected without a cent of deficit
financially. 3. Appreciation of the serv-
ices of the Central Executive at Geneva,
with honorable mention of the work done
by Secretaries Fermaud and Phildius.
4. Six general lines of policy to be pur-
sued during the period from 1902 until
the Conference of 1905. 5. Strengthen-
ing the relations between the national
branches of the World's Student Chris-
tian Federation and the general Associa-
tion movement. 6. Special plannings for
the welfare of young men in non-Christian
lands. 7. Inasmuch as some parts of
Europe are even more destitute than some
of the fields in Asia, methods were devised
for meeting the crisis confronting Chris-
tian effort in these destitute parts. 8. In-
structions to the World's Committee to
make a special study of the most ap-
proved plans for improving the World's
Conference. 9. The appointment of the
World's Committee for the next three
years. 10. General and particular con-
gratulations upon the blessing and success
which have marked the Christiania Con-
ference.
A. H. S.

Christiania, Norway.

II.-Government Good Roads Convention

The National Good Roads movement received new impetus during the recent Minnesota State Fair, where the "good roads train" was on exhibition, a convention held, and practical demonstrations of road-making were given. Since the turnstiles at the Fair registered an attendance of more than 250,000 people during the week, the opportunity for furthering the Good Roads movement was exceptional. While the farmers are the class most benefited by good roads, they are hardest to reach. and to awaken to the importance of improved highways, and much good is expected from this opportunity of getting in touch with them. There were many prominent speakers in attendance. A. W. Machan, Superintendent of Rural Free Delivery Service, United States Mails, gave one of the most interesting talks of the session. After speaking of the wonderful road construction of ancient times, of the roads built by Julius Cæsar, parts of wh still remain although constructed two thousand years ago, he

touched upon the interest taken in roads by our own Government during the early days, before railways were common. Now, he said, the Government is again interested in good roads from the fact that it has a new problem to solve-namely, the delivery of mail to the doorstep of every inhab itant of the land, urban and rural.

One

by one the facilities of the post-office have been added to the rural service, until to day the rural carrier may be looked upon as a veritable traveling postmaster. One of the greatest advantages of rural delivery to the farmer is the arrival of the daily paper which gives him the market reports. To-day the unimproved condition of many of our country roads forms the one great obstacle encountered in the extension of the rural free delivery service. The experience of the past two or three years has so thoroughly convinced the department that the success of the service depends upon the good condition of the roads, that it now exacts from petitioners for the service an agreement on their part to improve the

roads, or to see that the proper authorities will do so. Mr. Machan added: "I am firmly imbued with the idea that a universal road system in this country is to play a most important part in the rounding out of our national greatness, in the develop ment of our industrial resources, and in the promotion of the happiness and contentment of all the people."

An object-lesson of great value was presented by L. M. Haupt, C.E., in an illustrated evening lecture on "The World's Highways." He showed views of some of the finest roadways of Switzerland, Norway, Holland, Egypt, Russia, Mexico, and Colorado. Two photographs taken at the Omaha Exposition were of special interest. They were pictures of a load weighing eleven tons in both instances. On an ordinary dirt road twenty animals were required to draw it, while on a steel track road it was drawn by one horse. George C. Crose, representative of the Great Northern Railway, with the "good roads train," spoke upon "Railroads and Country Roads as Factors in the Country's Development." He cited the States of Indiana and Ohio, in which roadmaking is well under way, to prove that good roads are a source of profit, and said that the values have been increased in the two States named to such an extent that, if the rate of taxation had remained the same, the additional amount received would have more than paid off the road bonds by this time. George W. Cooley, President of the Minnesota Good Roads Society, spoke upon "The Economy of Good Roads." He said that the average cost of hauling per ton per mile over an ordinary dirt road is twenty-five cents, while it costs less than ten cents per ton per mile to haul over a good macadam road. Besides this, macadam roads can be used every day in the year, while many dirt roads are impassable much of the time. Minneapolis and St. Paul together consume five hundred tons of farm produce per day. This is hauled over dirt roads. Were these roads macadamized there would be a saving of $750 per day. In the course of a year this saving would build fifty miles of macadam, or one hundred miles of gravel road. Mr. Cooley believes that one of the important things

to be done is to abolish the payment of poll taxes in labor, as good uniform roads cannot be made under present conditions. One of the most practical suggestions of the Convention was presented by Senator Dodge, Director of the Office of Public Road Inquiries, who proposed that a postage-stamp should be issued by the Government, bearing appropriate inscriptions and illustrations, which might be used by those interested in the cause of good roads, a part of the income from these stamps to be used in the construction of needed highways. This idea was later embodied in a resolution and sent to the Postmaster-General, asking for recognition of some such character. Among the other prominent speakers were R. W. Richardson and James W. Abbott, United States Commissioners of Public Road Inquiry; W. H. Moore, President National Good Roads Association; M. A. Hays, Secretary Chamber of Commerce, Sault Ste. Marie; the Hon. Samuel R. Van Sant, Governor of Minnesota; and James J. Hill, President of the Great Northern Railway. An International Good Roads Congress will be held in this country during February or March, when delegates from twenty-five foreign countries are expected to be present.

An interesting and practical feature of the Convention was the "good roads train," the third train of the kind ever sent out, and the first one sent out at Government expense and under Government supervision. This train is equipped with the most approved machinery for road-building, and during its stay of one week at the Fair practical demonstrations of roadbuilding were given every day. Both macadam and gravel roads were made during the Fair, as well as a good dirt road, such as can be constructed in any place. The Great Northern Railroad gives transportation to the train, which will travel from St. Paul to the Pacific coast, giving demonstrations of road-making at various points, where conventions will also be held. The machinery is furnished by the various companies which manufacture it, and the Government bears all other expense. Many thousand farmers took their first lesson in systematic road-building at the Fair. J. D.

The Dispensary System

To the Editors of The Outlook:

The "Union Signal" of July 24 contains the following statement regarding the alleged failure of the dispensary system in South Carolina:

During the first dispensary year something over $400,000 worth of liquors was sold. Last year the State sold over two million three hundred thousand dollars' worth, besides the sale of beer by beer-dispensers. The people are more drunken; the State is sinking morally; the effect has been so degrading that when a vacancy occurs in the State liquor business there are numerous applications for the place by respectable (?) church members. Is the statement correct?

now

J. E. S.

[The figures given are probably official, but none the less are so stated as to convey a wholly false impression. If the South Carolina dispensary sold only $400,000 worth of liquor during its first year, then it did but a small fraction of the liquor business of the State during that year. Probably the first year's report covered only a few months' operation of the dispensary. The figures for the last year, instead of indicating a large consumption of liquor in South Carolina, indicated an exceptionally small one. The drink bill of South Carolina, according to those figures, would but little exceed two dollars per capita; yet the drink bill of the United States, according to the estimates made by nearly all authorities, exceeds ten dollars per capita.—THE EDITORS.]

"Reading Under the Lash" To the Editors of The Outlook:

Is not the writer of the paper entitled "Reading Under the Lash," published recently in your columns, scaring himself by a bogy of his own making? We have taken a great deal of pains, in the course of our work of providing the right reading for children, to become acquainted with the tastes and the habits of the average boy and girl in the matter of reading at school and at home, and such a condition of things as described in this article h never come to our notice; nor has a

fairly wide observation and inquiry since the article appeared revealed anything more than perhaps a slight tendency to it in one or two exceptional cases.

From our knowledge of the teachers of this country, we are justified in saying coercion in the matter of children's readthat we believe there is very little of ing, but that there is an earnest endeavor to induce the children to read the right books. But the teachers need guidance and the parents need guidance as to how to foster the taste for the best books and to deepen the enjoyment of the children in them. The capacity of our children. for literary enjoyment is growing. A constant worker in the Children's Department of the Boston Public Library for the past four years assures us that he has never seen a boy or a girl "droning over a book "—least of all over "Robinson Crusoe." The bright, eager faces of the children at the desk or browsing among the shelves show no signs of "taskdriven " readers or of "coerced" little ones, and we believe the danger described by the author of the article in question if it exist at all-is more than offset by the great good that is being done by teachers and librarians in bringing our children in contact with the right books at the right time; while they are occupied with these they will not be reading "gutter" and "yellow" literature.

D. C. HEATH & Co.

No Room for It on the Maps To the Editors of The Outlook:

Just a supposition of mine, or of some internal force: What do you think of another continent beyond the poles (especially the north pole)? In conversation with a friend the other day in regard to Andrée and his balloon, the thought came to me that there might be another continent beyond the pole, and that Andrée had discovered it and was unable to get back; and that some day, with the aid of airships, some one might be able to find him, or be able to go and come, and at last to report. My reason for asking this question is this: that I believe that this

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In his amiable article on London in your issue of the 21st of June the Spectator makes "The Village" appear much more antiquated than it really is. It takes a long time to get on a familiar footing with London, and the Spectator has libeled the city in several respects. For instance, one might gather from his references to the scarcity of telegraph offices, the absence of telephonic communication and of restaurants, on Sunday, that the Spectator must have visited Lon don many years ago, but his statement that the County Council "last year" took over the functions of innumerable parochial authorities shows that the impression is recent. What happened the year before last was that the County Council lost some of its functions through the consolidation of numerous local authorities into twenty-eight Borough Councils, some of them governing populations of 400,000.

The Spectator said that there were no newspapers in London on Sunday. There are eleven published every Sunday morning, five of which are not issued on any other day. The others are the Sunday editions of papers which also appear on Saturday. The Sunday edition of "Lloyd's News" sells 700,000 copies, the Sunday edition of the "People" 300,000, and some others over 100,000 copies. There are no daily papers which issue Sunday editions, as London objects to seven-day journalism, but it does not object to Sunday newspapers.

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Child Labor in Factories

To the Editors of The Outlook:

I have been following with much interest the discussion in The Outlook of "The Child Labor Disgrace" in the South. It is indeed a disgrace to our civilization, and I am profoundly thankful that public opinion is being aroused on the question.

I wish to add my testimony to that of Mr. G. C. Edwards, of Dallas, Texas, quoted by you in a recent issue of The Outlook. I was born and raised in Natchez, Miss., within four squares of the factories of the Natchez Cotton-Mill Company. It is true of these mills, as of those in Dallas, that children of tender age (often not more than eight or nine years) are employed in them from 6:30 in the morning until 6:30 at night. It is also true of these mills that whole families are employed. There is, or was, until recently a kindergarten run near the mills by Christian ladies of Natchez to care for the babies and little children of mothers working in them. Before this was established the little ones were left to shift for themselves at home, the babies in the care of the younger children who were not quite old enough to be profitable in the mills.

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The operatives live in a section of the city by themselves. It is variously known as Factory Town," "Chinch Row," etc. The houses are all of the same typeframe, one-story, with only two or three rooms, and built in a row with not more than ten feet, if so much, between them. Conditions are necessarily unsanitary with so many persons living in so small a compass, and when sick these poor people have small chance in the battle against disease. One of the saddest things about their lot is the amount of consumption caused by the inhalation of cotton-flints and the close confinement in superheated and ill-ventilated factory rooms. I remem If the Spectator can suggest a plan by ber noticing, even as a child, the hollow

London does not like tall sky-scrapers, but there is no alarm about a ten-story building, of which the Spectator speaks. The London municipal authorities insist that no building shall be higher than the street in front of it is wide, and that there shall be a clear space in the rear, so that light and air can penetrate into every room-a condition of things which I do not think The Outlook would object to see adopted in New York.

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