* * * * *
[Sidenote: With the Editor]
As we go to press there is an uncertain feeling resulting from the
departure of our cruiser for Cuban waters. It may provoke a crisis, or
it may lead to a better knowledge of the true attitude of the
administration toward Spain.
Cuba continues to furnish us with its share of current history; the news
is no more encouraging than that of previous weeks, however.
In the East the situation has not materially changed. It continues
interesting--so interesting that this subject is uppermost in the minds
of the civilized world. While any day may witness the peaceful
settlement of the whole trouble, it is by no means certain but that
selfish motives of one of the Great Powers may, at any minute, cause a
general European war.
England's attention is divided between China and Egypt. The Indian and
Chinese questions bid fair to be merged, as there are indications that
England's attitude toward China is not an unselfish one.
In France the Dreyfus clamor has grown to a disturbance, the disturbance
to riot;--what next?
The short sketch of the life of Gladstone which will be published in
next week's number should interest all of our readers. The "Grand Old
Man" is undoubtedly the grandest figure in the history of the century
now closing, and his admirers are to be found in every part of the
world--many in our own country, where self-achieved greatness is by no
means uncommon. His has been a life of constant, unremitted labor in the
advancement of the interests of his fellow-men. No minute in his long
life seems to have been wasted, and to-day, when nearly ninety years of
age, he continues to labor to the utmost of his remaining strength.
* * * * *
Our Naturalist has already received enough suggestions for his projected
book to enable him to write a library, we think, but he says that he is
quite in earnest in wanting to hear from many thousand boys and girls on
this subject. His purpose is apparently to make a book which shall be
found just right by all.
A batch of letters comes in from Baltimore, and the subjects are so
varied and interesting that we give them in outline.
Jane H. wants to know about the mongoose: what kind of snakes it kills;
about sun-spots and their influence on the seasons.