smooth in untrodden purity, and the doorbell was ominously silent.

He tried to read, to write, to pray; but he haunted the windows like a maiden awaiting her lover, and he opened the door and looked up and down the street every fifteen minutes. The poor man had exhausted all his resources. He himself had given far more than he could afford, and he had begged of every man, woman, and child in the place. And yet-must two thousand dollars be lost, all for the lack of ten dollars and fifteen cents? Mechanically he thrust his hands into his pockets and fingered the few coins therein.

It was nearly midnight when there came a gentle tap at the study door. Without waiting for permission the minister's wife turned the knob and entered the room. Her husband sat with bowed head resting on his outstretched arms on the desk, and her eyes filled with tears at the picture of despair before her.

"John, I suppose we can take this," said she, in a low voice, reluctantly laying a little pile of silver on the desk; "there's just ten dollars there." Then she recoiled in terror, so wildly did her husband clutch the money.

"Where did you get this?" he gasped.

"I-I saved it from time to time out of the household money. I meant you should take it and go out to cousin Frank's for a rest and vacation after this was over," said she, doggedly.

"Vacation! Mary-vacation!" he exclaimed, with unutterable scorn. Then he fumbled in his pocket and brought out a little change. With trembling fingers he picked out ten pennies and a five-cent piece, putting a lone quarter back in his empty pocket.

"Thank God, Mary-we've done it!" and the man's voice broke, and a big tear rolled down his cheek and splashed on a dingy nickel.

New Year's night there was a jubilee meeting in the town hall. The Rev. John Grey hurried through his bread-andmilk supper in some excitement. He was to preside, and must not be late.

The hall was full to overflowing. On the platform with the minister sat the deacons of the First Congregational Church— and the Hon. Peter Wentworth. The well-fed, well-groomed, honorable gentleman himself looked about with a complacent smile-this was indeed a most delightful occasion.

The Rev. John Grey's address was an eloquent tribute to the great generosity of their distinguished fellow-townsman. The minister's voice trembled affectingly, and his thin cheeks flushed with emotion. The First Congregational Church was deeply indebted to the Hon. Peter Wentworth, and would fain express its gratitude.

The minister's wife listened with a faraway look on her face, and little Donald Marsh gazed with round eyes of awe at the great man who had been so very generous; while over in an obscure corner of the hall a pale little woman stealthily rearranged the folds of her gown, that she might hide from inquisitive eyes the great darn on the front breadth of her worn black cashmere.

TOPICS OF THE TIMES.

By B. O. FLOWER.

SOME DEAD

SEA FRUIT OF OUR WAR OF
SUBJUGATION.

In his testimony before the United States Senate Committee, Governor Taft made a humiliating admission that should strike horror to the mind of every American. He admitted that the frightful torture known as the "water-cure treatment" was used occasionally by the soldiers of this Republic to force the unhappy Filipinos to disclose desired information.

This treatment consists of placing the victim on his back and pouring water down his throat until the body is so distended as to cause exquisite suffering, which is intensified by the fear entertained by the victim that his stomach will burst. It is a reversion to the brutal spirit that made the days of the Spanish Inquisition the darkest page in the history of Christian civilization. Nor is the treatment as outlined above the worst that reports from the Philippines indicate as being indulged in upon occasion by our soldiers. It would be difficult to imagine anything more debauching and degrading, or better calculated to arouse all that is most brutal and savage in the nature of our soldiers, than to be compelled by officers to assist in such barbarous and inhuman actions.

All students of history and human life know full well that when injustice and savagery are once awakened and practised they rapidly brutalize those familiar with them. A people that tolerates a government practising any injustice to others will ere long be oppressed; and officers who become brutalized and hardened by torturing the weak enemy will ere long show the same brutality toward those under them. Therefore, the story of the frightful death by torture of Private Edward C. Richter of the United States Army in the Philippines is not altogether surprising. According to the very circumstantial report of the death, given by a companion who was ordered by his officer to pour the ice-water, young Richter was among a group of his

comrades, who after being paid off had indulged too freely in liquor. He became hilarious and disregarded an order of the superior officer to remain silent. Accordingly, he was bound hand and foot and had ice-water poured on his head until in agony he expired.

In this war of subjugation-this relentless attempt at forcible annexation, which Mr. McKinley on one occasion characterized as being "criminal aggression" and "something not to be thought of"-horror treads on the heels of horror. Here, for example, is one of the fruits of our criminal aggression. It is a typical case, a news item that went out in March and attracted little attention because the people are becoming accustomed to such appalling facts. We take it as it appears in the news columns of one of our exchanges:

"A tourist car carrying 18 insane men under the guard of a detachment of 105 soldiers rolled into the Omaha depot on the 16th. The lunatics were American soldiers who had gone violently crazy under the hardships and vices attendant upon military service in the Philippines."

Below is another humiliating bit of testimony, which but for General Miles would not have come to public notice, and which throws a strong sidelight on the tendency of an army engaged in a war of conquest to degenerate and become brutal. Near the close of last year Major Cornelius Gardner, civil governor of the Philippine province of Tayabas, forwarded to Washington a detailed report that appears to have been promptly pigeonholed by Secretary Root. After General Miles had referred to its existence, some members of the Senate Committee called for it, and on April 10 it was laid before the Senate. In this report Major Gardner says:

"Of late by reason of the conduct of the troops such as the extensive burning of the barrios in trying to lay waste the country so that the insurgents cannot occupy it, the torturing of natives by so-called watercure and other methods to obtain information, the harsh treatment of natives generally, and the failure of inexperienced lately-appointed lieutenants commanding posts to distinguish between those who are friendly and those unfriendly and to treat every native as if he were, whether or no, an insurrecto at heart, this favorable sentiment, above referred to, is being fast destroyed and a deep hatred toward us engendered. If these things need be done, they had best be done by native troops, so that the people of the United States will not be credited therewith.

"Almost without exception, soldiers and also many officers refer to natives in their presence as 'Niggers,' and natives are beginning to understand what the word 'Nigger' means. The course now being pursued

in this province and in the provinces of Batangas, Laguna, and Samar is in my opinion sowing the seeds for a perpetual revolution against us hereafter whenever a good opportunity offers. Under present conditions the political situation in this province is slowly retrograding, the American sentiment is decreasing, and we are daily making permanent enemies. In the course above referred to, troops make no distinction often between the property of those natives who are insurgent or insurgent sympathizers, and the property of those who heretofore have risked their lives by being loyal to the United States and giving us information against their countrymen in arms. Often every house in a barrio is burned. In my opinion the small number of irreconcilable insurgents still in arms, although admittedly difficult to catch, does not justify the means employed, and especially when taking into consideration the suffering that must be undergone by the innocent and its effects upon the relations with these people hereafter."

Under the title of "Three Forms of Torture Applied by Americans to Natives in the Philippines," the New York World of April 18 contained the following, which cannot fail to awaken horror and humiliation in the mind of every conscientious lover of the Republic. The revelations being brought to the light of day by the Senate investigation seem incredible, and indicate that the ferocious inhumanity of the Spanish Inquisition and the savagery of the red men of America have been present in the army of the Republic. Read the following description, as given by the World, of the way our soldiers have tortured the Filipinos, and then resolve whether or not the hour has arrived when every American patriot should insist that this cruel, unjust war of subjugation or criminal aggression must be brought to an immediate close:

"Water-Cure," No. 1.-This is used to extort information from Philippine prisoners. The victim is first bound hand and foot and laid on his back on the ground. Great quantities of water are then forced down his throat until he can hold no more. Pressure is then applied to the stomach until some of the water is expelled from the mouth, when more water is forced down. This process is repeated until the victim either gives the information required or dies.

"Water-Cure," No. 2.-Used to extort information from prisoners and also as a punishment for enlisted men. It consists in tying the victim securely and then pouring ice-cold water, a little at a time, on his face or dropping it on the back of his neck or on his head. This is an ancient form of torture, and was used during the Inquisition, sometimes, in preference to the rack or searing with red-hot irons. It is certain to drive the victim insane in a short time, or kill him.

Progressive Wounding.-This is a form of torture practised by officers sometimes when they wish to impress the natives, and it may be