THE FORTIFICATION OF THE ISTHΜΙΑΝ

CANAL

The question of fortifying the Isthmian Canal is now before us and is likely to have a strong bearing upon international affairs. If we feel that it is necessary to fortify this Canal in order to protect ourselves from encroachment, it will show to the whole world a distrust of others that they do not show towards us. Can we, one of the most powerful nations on the globe, afford to put ourselves in such a position? I do not deprecate so much the fifteen, or fifty, million dollars that will be worse than wasted in such fortifications, or the expense of keeping them up, as showing in such a pronounced way our distrust of other nations. Would it not be well at this time to consider carefully the necessity for any fortification of the Canal, to consider the security of its position three to five thousand miles away from any force that could seriously menace it, to consider the peaceful relations existing between ourselves and others, and the very strong

desire of all nations to maintain these rela

tions-the necessity, in fact, for retaining them for the self-interest of all; and, in addition to this situation, to consider our natural advantages and power; to consider also the general sentiment of the world in favor of unfortified highways of commerce, and the almost certain establishment at The Hague of a judicial court for settling the difficulties that may arise between the nations, which will practically remove the dangers of collision between them? Now, what would be the effect of our fortifying this Isthmian Canal? Would it interfere with the growing good will and trust between the nations? Suppose that this good will should result in the near future in the Governments of the world establishing a small international army and navy that could safeguard the interests of all, what would be the value of the money spent on this Canal in comparison with the great saving that would result to us in such an establishment? Are not the risks of fortifying this Canal greater to us and to the other nations than the risk of its destruction? Boston, Massachusetts. Edwin GINN.

[The Outlook has already pointed out that the question of fortifying the Canal is entirely different from that of neutralizing the Canal. The Outlook believes, not only that the United States has the right, under its treaties and under international law, to fortify the Canal, but that its plain duty is to fortify the Canal. The history of this question was discussed at some length in an editorial in The Outlook of October 1 last. We repeat the conclusion reached: "The Canal Zone is United States territory. The Canal itself is, to all intents, a part of the coast line of the United States. We may well agree that all nations may use it for peaceful transit on equal terms; but we have no right to agree that a nation at war with

[The Outlook, believing that many readers would be interested in the points suggested by Mr. Reid's letter below, asked Professor Sloane for a reply, which is appended. -THE EDITORS.]

I have been reading with much interest the article on "The Passion Play," by William M. Sloane, which appeared in the number for December 31. In some important particulars this article differs in its statement of fact from the little book on "Oberammergau and Its Passion Play," prepared by Monsignor Joseph Schroeder, chief priest of the little town. In regard to the usual statement that this play is given by peasants, the author of this little book says: "There is no greater

mistake than to think the inhabitants of Oberammergau are mere peasants and do not go beyond the narrow view of country folk in general. Certainly they were peasants once upon a time, but they are so no longer, though there may be some who still regard them as such. Their way of living and the many years' intercourse with strangers have brought them into close contact with townspeople, though themselves dwelling in a small village in the heart of the mountains. The lifelong sedentary occupation of woodcarving, combined with the air of small, low, and consequently musty rooms, has not specially contributed to the physical development of the inhabitants. The erect and proud bearing of other Bavarian highlanders will be found among the men just as seldom as among the women that healthy freshness which characterizes their sisters elsewhere."

Mr. Sloane says that the total number engaged in the play as actors, managers, ushers, musicians, etc., is "about six hundred, all told," but the priest of the town says that the number so engaged is one thousand, and for the larger scenes more than five hundred persons appear upon the stage at a time. Mr. Sloane says that there are fifteen hundred beds in the little town to assign to visitors. The priest says that there are four thousand for visitors (i. e., accommodations which insure tickets for the performance). Mr. Sloane says that the middle tier of seats at the theater only are numbered, reserved, and high-priced. As a matter of fact, all the seats at the theater are numbered and reserved, and have been so since the 1890 performance, according to the same high authority whom I have been quoting, and there is a scale of five prices (six, including the royal boxes when they are available), from two marks to ten marks. The price is printed plainly on each ticket, and the speculator is almost absolutely eliminated. The ten-mark ticket is hardly exorbitant from an American point of view, and certainly compared most favorably with the charges for grand opera at Munich during the festival last summer. Mr. Sloane says that there were two regular performances weekly from June to September, but, according to the official announcements, the regular performances began in May and were given every Sunday, with only occasional performances on Wednesday-in all, thirty regular performances in twenty-one weeks, which is hardly twice a week.

One other discrepancy between Mr. Sloane and the parish priest of Oberammergau may be of interest. Mr. Sloane says that Dedler's music is for the most part low-pitched throughout, but Monsignor Schroeder says that "the music has been set too high on the whole, and therefore gradually jars on the ears." Most of those who attended the play last summer will agree with the prelate's judgment, and will sympathize with his further statement that the music is difficult of performance and taxes the powers of those who render it, especially toward the end of the eight hours of the play.

There is such a high finish to the play as it is given to-day, so many of the old objectionable features have been eliminated, so much recourse is had to the modern mechanism of the stage, that the impression upon the spectator is hardly that of a mediæval survival; but one readily agrees with Mr. Sloane that to narrate the features of scenes rare and unique must be with mingled feelings and inadequate word.

The editors of The Outlook have forwarded your letter of the 19th to me, and I hasten to thank you for the careful attention you have given to my article on Oberammergau. That paper is based on my own impressions received during two fairly long visits in the Bavarian Alps, on information gathered in Oberammergau by myself and a trusted friend, and on the report of the authorities for the season just closed as published in the newspapers. It stands, I think, as printed, before The Outlook readers in just this light, with no pretension to critical accuracy-a sort of impressionist view of a casual visitor. Nevertheless, I believe my statements to be accurate; there is wide room for difference between the native and the visitor in matters of definition and statement. Monsignor Schroeder would naturally have one view of the Bauer in his parish, and intelligent visitors another; that there are well-bred dwellers in Oberammergau no one would deny; that the natives are "peasants" in the accurate sense of that word is equally certain. As to the numbers engaged, mine refer to those regularly attached to the organization of the play, and salaried from the receipts; that others are

engaged for this or that temporary service or for several performances may be true. Several persons have counted the largest number visible on the stage at one time in the most thronged pictures, and their count so substantially agreed with mine that I adopted it; a census might, of course, reveal a number that were not easily seen. As to the number of performances given, thirty were advertised for the season of 1911; eighteen-no, nineteen (132 days)-weeks, from May 16 to September 25. During the three weeks I was in Bavaria last year the advertised Sunday and Wednesday performances were, to the best of my belief, repeated every Monday and Thursday-I went on a Monday. Here are thirty-six performances, and the report (which unfortunately I did not keep), as my memory serves, showed more. As to the music, not being expert, I think I used the wrong designation "low-pitched" for soft or soft-pitched, if this last be not too barbarous. Furthermore, there are beds and beds: I penetrated into the lodgingplaces provided for other "peasants" who walked many, many miles, and after a talk with a very intelligent Oberammergauer fixed the number for tourists at a maximum of 1,500; that 2,500 more of a certain sort could sleep and feed in the village is very probable-such as are immune to crowding and smells. The tourist agencies, I think, advertised about my number. On the Monday of my attendance the ushers gave themselves no trouble except about the middle tiers of seats, and I fell into the mistake you point out. No doubt the other seats had numbers on them.

As to whether the Passion Play is a historic survival or a finished modern production, I cannot quite accept the view of Monsignor Schroeder. To me, as my paper indicates, it has no value or interest except as "mystery" play. It is neither a modern drama, a a morality, nor a miracle play. Many men have many minds. I stated mine as modestly as I could.

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About the charges there are also two opinions: It was a Bavarian friend of the upper class who stigmatized the cost of lodging and seats as “die reine Geldprellereir," and my impression is strong that other unbiased Bavarians were of the same mind. What you refer to in connection with the performances in the Prince Regent Theater certainly is Geldprellereir; of that there can be no doubt. Extortion is a vice easily acquired. WILLIAM M. SLOANE.

New York City.

THE INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN SWITZERLAND

Having read with great benefit Mr. Roosevelt's recent article, I am moved to write you a few lines on the initiative and referendum as they work in Switzerland. First, as responsibility is, by these so-called im provements, taken away from the elected legislators, the character and ability of the legislative bodies are correspondingly lowered;

and, second, the measures placed before the people for their suffrage are framed in more or less complicated manner, so that often undesirable legislation is effected through the voters' attempt to secure the desirable. The proposition very often will contain a bait so desired by the people that they vote "yes to the whole, and there is no redress except to go through the entire thing again, with perhaps no better result. For instance, to secure the nucleus of the standing army (up to then unconstitutional in Switzerland) the proposition had, as a part of it, the bait of decreased field service in the Reserves for three years. The measure passed, of course, but even then only by a slight majority. The proposition is very seldom a simple one, requiring a yes or no vote, but is put in such a way as to invite the greater evil to secure the smaller good.

Therefore I thoroughly believe in the election of representatives on whose shoulders rest, and weigh heavily, the responsibility of passing the most desirable laws, and they to stand or fall on their records, we, the common people, thus getting the full benefit of the ablest minds among us.

J. W. KELLEY.

Framingham Center, Massachusetts.

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[The use of the initiative and referendum is not at all inconsistent, if properly guarded, with a strong representative system. should, as Mr. Roosevelt pointed out, be employed only in cases of emergency where the representative legislature fails to do its manifest duty. While the principle is bor rowed from Switzerland, all the Swiss details do not have to be adopted. In fact, one advantage of the example of Switzerland is that it affords us the best possible opportunity of avoiding her errors or failures in applying the principle to our own conditions and needs. THE EDITORS.]

EAGER TO READ

Two years ago, at the Lake Mohonk Conference, I made an appeal to the delegates present for contributions of books, that a system of public school libraries might be established in the island of Porto Rico.

At that time there was but one school library in the island, and not more than half a dozen public libraries of any sort. There were barrios and rural villages with scarcely a book to be found except the text-books of the pupils in the public schools; and these, being the property of the Government, could only be used by the children during their school life. As a result of the scarcity of books, the twenty thousand or more children who left the public schools each year with no more than a fair reading knowledge found themselves with nothing to read, with no means of practicing, and so retaining, their ability to read. In fact, their "little learning" bade fair to become a useless, if not a dangerous, thing.

The response to my appeals exceeded my most sanguine expectations. Books came

from all sections-through the kindness of the Red "D" and the New York and Porto Rico Steamship Company, transported free from New York when addressed to me and marked "Donation to School Libraries." One publishing house sent nearly five thousand volumes, and cases containing one hundred or more were not uncommon. Some of the books thus received were not wholly appropriate for children-volumes of history, biography, travel, or bound volumes of the illustrated magazines are particularly desirable-though nearly all have found a place.

As a result of the movement no less than 233 school libraries, containing 34,643 volumes, have been established in Porto Rico, and are now in active operation. One cannot appreciate what this means to the people without visiting the island. In practically all the cities and towns such a library is maintained, and in nearly one-fourth of the little barrios, or hamlets. These libraries vary greatly in their character and pretentiousness. In no instance is an entire building devoted to library purposes, but in a number of towns a sizable room, either in the alcaldia or in some school building, is set aside for such use. But by far the vast majority of school libraries are in the school-room, presided over by the teacher. Through the generosity of a friend I was enabled to purchase at an army auction nearly three hundred discarded soldiers' kits strong iron-bound boxes of a suitable size, each with lock-and these are the bookcases. Books may be drawn by the pupilsand ex-pupils usually at the close of the session, and it is an inspiration to see the little folks cluster about the teacher with the books they have selected, to have them properly charged. In some instances the school-room is open in the evening, with the teacher in attendance as librarian. Not long since I found myself in one of the smaller interior towns of the island in the evening, and stopped at the school-house to visit the night school. Finding two rooms of the building lighted and both crowded with pupils in some instances two in a seat-I expressed surprise that the attendance should be so large. In reply the principal informed me that one of the rooms was open as the school library, and that those I saw were its patrons. I counted seventy-two, among them many adults. We need have no fear for the future of Porto Rico when such things can be found.

But there are nearly twelve hundred thousand people in the island, and, with all that has been done, there are more than seven hundred school buildings without school libraries. This means that one-half of the population is not in touch with a library. And every one wants to be. The school boards and public-spirited persons throughout the island are behind the library movement, and are working hard for it, for they see what it means.

But I am renewing my appeal to the people of the United States. Send us some more books. Each will be stamped with the name of the donor. Or, if you prefer, twentyfive dollars will fill one of our boxes with a carefully selected list of books, bought at publishers' prices. The incidental expenses, too, of local transportation, etc., have to be met by contributions, as I have no special appropriation for library purposes. Porto Rico is generous to her schools, spending $1,200,000 annually for their support, and I have not cared to ask such a special appropriation. I shall be glad to answer any questions.

E. G. DEXTER, Commissioner of Education.

San Juan, Porto Rico.

THE GOVERNMENT CLERK

Is he

Washington is going through its periodical discussion of the Government clerk. underpaid, adequately paid, or overpaid? Should he have a retirement pension, paid by the Government or by himself? All sorts of conceivable and some inconceivable arguments on every side of these questions are advanced, by Washington business men who thrive on the trade of these clerks, editors who want to sell their papers, Congressmen who want a reputation as far-seeing, economical, shrewd, legislators. Each will have his say, and in all probability the whole matter will quietly drop out of sight, as it has already done many times. In fact, the problem is not as simple as it appears to many. Of the whole force of clerks in the Government employ, a very small percentage, judged by the work they do, are overpaid; a larger proportion, perhaps half, are adequately paid; and the remainder are underpaid. The difficulty arises in giving adequate salaries to those who earn them.

Under civil service rules clerks are divided into classes, each class receiving a certain salary. Then Congress limits the number of clerks in any one department who may be included in the higher classes. Those classes are always full, and there is practically no chance for a clerk, whatever his ability, to get promoted except as somebody in one of those classes drops out or resigns or is demoted. Furthermore, the protection of civil service, of which so much is made, is absolutely worthless for these higher classes. It makes it difficult for their superiors to dismiss them, but does not hinder in the slightest their demotion. The result is that practically all clerks above the $1,000 or $1,200 class are at the mercy of their immediate chief of division or the bureau chief, while he is bound to consult the wishes -sometimes the whims of the head of the department, and he again is subject to pressure from some Senator or Representative in Congress. In the last analysis, it is this political interference which is the most serious disturbing element. If any method can be devised of eliminating that, of removing the hard and fast lines between the classes, so that one man's advance shall not necessarily depend upon another man's loss, it

TO CHEER BABUSHKA'S EXILE

Wishing to know whether her friends might send literature to Madame Catherine Breshkovsky, and, if so, how to address it, I wrote to Mr. Khrouleff, with whom I have personal acquaintance, asking him these questions. He replied with promptness. I hope many will send her books and magazines and picture postal cards. The books must have no writing in them, nor may they refer to political subjects. She loves books of travel and serious novels if they end well. She specially likes illustrated books and magazines. Care must be taken to obey the restrictions imposed by the Russian Government or this privilege might be withdrawn. Mr. Khrouleff says:

In reply to your request concerning your sending books to Katharine Breshkowsky, I hasten to inform you that all our exiled enjoy the rights of free citizens in respect to correspondence, and in consequence may receive any amount of books that are not excluded by competent authorities from the usage. With regard to that circumstance, nothing can prevent you from sending as many volumes as you like to Katharine Breshkowsky, and in that case I should advise you to address your postage in the name of the Governor of Yenesei, from whom it will depend to forward it to the present address of the mentioned exiled.

Hoping that this letter will find you quite well, I

THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR LOCUST In The Outlook for December 31 Mr. Jacob Riis tells us how it might be of advantage to this country to introduce from Denmark a bird called the starling, as it might help to destroy the seventeen-year locust that is expected this year.

Mr. Riis does not seem to know that the socalled seventeen-year locust is not a locust at all, but a cicada, an insect not in the slightest degree related to the family of locusts, and not in any way injurious to vegetation of any kind.

In fact, after its seventeen years of subterranean abode there is no evidence that it takes any food when it reaches the surface of the earth and puts on its wings; indeed, the structure of its mouth parts is such that it can only suck the juices of plants through minute tube not much larger than that post sessed by a mosquito or horsefly, so there is no cause for alarm about any injury to vegetation by the prevalence of the seventeenyear locust. J. D. HYATT.

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New Rochelle, New York.