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THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA
NEWS LETTER
Published weekly by the
University of North Carolina
for its Bureau of Extension.
JANUARY 30, 191«
CHAPEL HILL, N. C.
VOL. IV, NO. 10
Kditorial Board i B. O. Branson, J. G. del!. Hamilton, L. R. Wilson, B. H. Thornton, G. M. McKie.
Entered as second-class matter Uovember 14,1914, at the Postoiflee at Chapel Hill, N, O., under the act of August 24,191*.
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WAR AND THE HOME
While the sto-m of battle rages
aroiiud us and all the world is afire, with
in the circle of the home there is still the
*»icicnt peace. It is well that it should
lx‘. so. It is God’s way to preserve the
hearts of men in love and blessedness—
'tiod’s way to shelter for the future the
sacred things by which we live. Yet the
l>eaco which broods upon the hearth is
■ not—it must not be—the peace of indif-
^ ference. It is a peace made sober by the
•consciousness of man’s ordeal, a peace
ennobled by sacrifice, a peace exalted by
high thought and firm resolve.
^Iie golden headed children are wrap
ped us in a garment by the spirit of the
horn. They talk of this friend and of
that who has gone to fight. Fragments
of war songs cut across their play; they
dciui A.oierica and the Star Spangled
Bauaer. .Seeds of patriotism are taking
uiicouscious root within their hearts
The older ones catch morfe fully the
xu^auiug of the times. Their thoughts
arc of purposeful ttrift, of gardening,
of. the Ited Cross. They are begin-
lung, even before their time, to play a
Mill’s or a woman’s part in the work to
winch we have set our hands, and their
I am thereby made rich and fruitful
Ifajipyisthe home whicli has incor-
porab’d in its peace tlie leaven of a great
I C'il. Happy the parents who, because
they themselves possess in full measure a
.-t. II-'- in the Nation's heroic life, can
t-"iij.,iiut to their children the spiritual
iK'fitage which shall not die.—J. H. Han-
foi. 1 N 0. University Faculty.
THE TORCH BEARERS
•■/ou see,” explained the drafted man
/I'Liu didn’twant to go, “I ain’t mad at
anybody, and when I ain’t mad I can’t
tiglit. ’ He was not a coward, he was
n»t i weakling, he had no conscientious
objection to assailing a brother man
wtTi intent to kill. But he needeil the
stimulus of blinding passion. When he
wiiui't mad he couldn’t fight.
The remark is interesting, for it ex-
pf j.ms, better than anything else I know,
a. w.irtain sluggishness which we as a na-
ti »a experience as we face an enemy
tlirw thousand miles away. Our hostile
iutcut is cool toward men who have
£tevi‘r trod uiKiu our particular sore toe.
Vidiat, then, is the remedy'? Must we
tdsli uurselves into passion and invoke
hruk' rage to make us plunge at the en-
•erny us we would at one who should cut
■os with a horse whip across the face?
Tl.le^(^ is material enough for this in all
c juiioence: The Belgian horror, theLusi-
•t'joift tnurder, the base attempts to win
t>y h ainl what force could not attain.
Blit, (o .some men these things simply will
not come home. Their powers of indig-
iiiboii 'jre reserved for personal injuries
»,1 lue iSongs of hate and I’ecitals of bar-
rouse but a passing feeling. The
. 'iscitve of the moment tends to weaken
wlici the pressure is removed. There
oust be added that which will confirm
the purp'we and make it endure until its
are fulfilled or until life itself
fjiti, 111 the pursuit.
.To ibis end the single means is educa-
ti(!i Is an abiding purjrose is to ani-
,11 (te the man who isn’t mad, then he
£« i«d he helpeti to rise above his normal
sWf A.ad those who must help him are
they who, having a clear vision of a
beyond their petty selves, .are in a
..MHihonto transmit it. Their name is
liip iu. They are the editor, the teacher,
• tin*, official, the man of understanding
everywhere.
Th vae are the torch-bearers in this race
\ii freedoni. From then, the flame, not
of hitred, hut of the illumined will, must
■ pbU trom'iuiiid to mind and from soul
' I ii,mt until our drafted soldiers in the
),n>p, the field, the factory, and home
J1 e pu'-aessal of a steady endurance far
b-y .imt the powers of the man who is
■■ iMK'ly mad.
\M(i..s>ver sees why we are fighting and
i,o teli ht.s neighbor is a slacker.
Wh rever uses his power, whatever it
. ■jii ,),'? lt.% to enlighten and inspire the tor-
pi. I Hiiass, is a patriot and a hero even if
bn etrcumstances compel him to sit at
lie -,l H. Hanford, N. C. University
A WAR OF RESOURCES
Ever since the battle of the Marne,
where Joffre’s bold and brilliant strategy
saved the cause of civilization, the fight
ing on the west front has been trench
warfare. Here, a preponderance of ar
tillery, men, munitions and airplanes, is
necessary for success, and the British,
French, and Germans have developed
the tactics of this system of warfare to a
perfection not realized in the first year of
the war.
However, the experience of three and
a half years on the western front has
shown that even with the preponderance
mentioned, relatively small advances are
made each year, perhaps an average of
less than a mile on the 500 mile front.
As we can judge the future by the past
alone, it seems improbable that a mili
tary decision can be effected by thi^ type
of warfare. Great hopes, however, are
entertained that, by next fall, with the
proposed enormous production of air
planes by the United States, a decisive
preponderance in this arm may lead the
way to victory, but if the output of the
Germans (on which they are feverishly
engaged) approaches that of the forces
opposed to them, such hopes may not be
realized.
It is thus being more and more real
ized that this world war between nations
is one of resources, and in this respect
America is easily ahead of the war-worn
countries of Europe. It would seem, at
least, safe to say that if the war is con
tinued long enough, (perhaps one or two
years), Germany and her allies would
realize their economic ruin and bank
ruptcy and will be forced to make peace.
Our Boundless Resources
If the present lines in France and Bel
gium hold to the end of the war, without
advancing a foot, Germany is defeated—
not by a military decision, but from im
pending financial ruin; and she will
eventually sue for peace on other than
her present insolent demands.
But to succeed, even in this modest
program, billions of dollars must be
raised by America to construct ships,
airplanes, guns, munitions, motor trucks,
tools, etc., and to furnish food to our ar
mies and our allies, and there is no way
to raise the vast sum needed (which may
easily exceed 50 billions of dollars) than
by the sale of Liberty Bonds or of Sav
ings Certificates.
Buy Bonds and Thrift Stamps
Without such sales, Germany remains
the victor, but with a generous response
by every man, woman and child, the
world is made safe for democracy and
our civilization is preserved. Therefore,
if one owns a note or a bond paying 6
per cent, let him sell and invest in a 4
per cent Liberty Bond. The tax on the
note or bond is about 2 per cent (more
in some counties). The holder realizes
only 4 per cent on either note or bond,
which is exactly what he receives from a
Liberty Bond. Besides, a raise in interest
in future Liberty Bond issues affects all
previous issues—whether three and one
half per cent or four per cent bonds.
To permit people of small means to
lend money to the government, war
stamps of 35 cents or over can be bought
at any bank or postotfice. A $5 stamp
can be bought in January 1918 for |4.12,
and it will be redeemed Jan. 1, 192.J at
its face value ($5), thus paying the own
er 4 per cent interest, compounded quar
terly. The postoffice will furnish details
as to the value of these f5 stamps at any
date of purchase or redemption.
A house to house canvas should be
made to sell these war stamps, in order
to give every one the privilege of doing
Ids bit to win the war.
Money is the prime essential—the sin
ews of war—and with every one who
can buy a stamp or a Liberty Bond do
ing so, the success of all future loans is
assured.
There is no doubt but that the army
and navy will do their part; are you wil
ling and anxious to do your part to win
the war?—Wm. Cain, N. C. University
Faculty.
THE SERVICE FLAG
A splendid custom has sprung up all
over our land in these war times. In
WHY DO WE FIGHT?
J. H. Hanford
Behind the bulwark of the sea.
In the red world a corner free
From blood, and iron and agony,-
Why do we fight? .
A cry came over the fields of red,
A cry came forth from Belgium’s dead,
A cry came up from the ocean bed.
Why do we fight!
front of hundreds of thousands of homes,
business offices, churches and factories
flags float proudly and on these flags are
stars—a star for each one who has goi e
into service for his country. They are
called service flags and each home is
proud of its hero stars, though the hearts
left behind may be heavy with unshed
tears.
What are you doing? This is no time
for slackers. Have you seen husband,
son, brother answer to the call and there
is no call for you? Perhaps no one of
your kin has been called and you claim
fexemiitioii on account of your age, or
physical disability, or dependents.
There are millions of homes without the
flags and the hero stars but those who
live in them dare not be content. If
there is a spark of love of country, aye,
of love of humanity in you, it will not
let you rest at ease while others bear the
burdens and do the work.
There is no age nor disability exempt
ion in the service that you can render
and it lies right at your door. Get busy,
find your job and put your strength and
heart into it, or be ashamed all the rest
of your life by the knowledge that when
the call came you were a slacker and held
back and failed.
How You Can Serve
By gifts or work yon can help in the
glorious things being done by the Red
Cross or the Y. M. 0. A. Learn about
these things. Your heart will be thrilled
as never before. It is the embodiment
of Christianity, the very spirit of the
Master himself at work in the camp, on
the battle field, in the desolated homes,
that suffering may be lessened, lives
saved, broken hearts healed, humanity
uplifted and the wounds of this stricken
world healed.
By economy and thrift you can join in
the saving and that is good. You will
have to do this anyhow as the times
grow harder. But if it is only for your
self and your hoarding then God have
mercy on your poor weakened soul and
may he touch your heart so that you also
learn the grace of living. You will not
have far to look to find the needs.
Keeping the commandments will never
get you to Heaven. The only way is
through a heart so loving that it gladly
strips itself to relieve the suffering of the
world.
Give to your country. Give first its
just dues. Declare your taxes honestly
and pay them. Out of your savings buy
Liberty Bonds, or Saving Certificates, or
Thrift Stamps. Some of these are in
reach of even a child. And this money
helps to feed and clothe our boys who
are ofi'ering the supreme sacrifice of life
itself. And, God willing, each gift helps
to hasten the time when our boys can
come back to us, and the sun will shine,
and our homes be safe, and the world
once more a place for happiness and
jx;ace.
Our. country is looking with a gaze
which follows you and pierces to the
heart: its finger points straight at you
and the voice says; ‘‘This means you,
you, you. Make no mistake about it. I
want you.”—F. P. Venable, N. C. Uni
versity Faculty.
ham is now doing.
But cutting and hauling wood these
days is a hard, cold, forbidding job, and
the farmers ought to be fairly paid 'for
their wood and their trouble.
Which leads us to inquire what are
fair prices for wood? They must be
reckoned, of course, on the comparative
heating value.s of wood and coal. In a
general way we know that pine is worth
less than oak or hickory, and both of
these less than the lowest grade of coal.
Without bothering our readers with
heat unit figures, as found in a standard
work on fuels. Dr. J. M. Bell, in the Uni
versity school of chemistry, reminds us
that the heating value of a cord of dry
oak is about one-fifth less than that of a
ton of coal.
On this basis a cord of dry oak, sawed
in short lengths and split for instant use,
ought to cost about four-fifths as much as
a ton of low grade coal. If such coal can
be delivered for $6 a ton, a cord of dry
oak ready for use, is fairly worth $5, and
dry pine a cord. If the prices of wood
rise higher than these ratios, then the
prices are too high, and somebody is
profiting unduly by the war situation.
But whatever the prices of firewood,
the supply is everywhere abundant in
North Carolina, and if anybody in this
state suffers from cold it is because money,
or energy, or initiative in municipal
wood yards are lacking. Firewood is at
hand everywJiere in North Carolina, if
our coal supply runs short.
‘Transiting British thermal units in
to money values,” says Dr. Bell, “it is
more economicnl to burn dry oak at $5 a
cord than coal of any kind at a price
over 1>6 a ton. '
“On the other hand, pine wood has
much lower value than oak wood. Fuel
engineers in their calculations lake two
tons of coal as equivalent to five cords of
pine wood. In terms of money, pine
wood at li4 a cord is more expensive than
coal at any price under |10 a ton.’'
WHY FREEZE IN CAROLINA?
Why should anybody freeze in North
Carolina, when our wooded area is some
20 million acres, and our fire-wood cut is
close to six million cords a year?
Fire-wood is more abundant in North
Carolina than in any other state in the
Union. We burn in our stoves and fire
places in North Carolina nearly twice as
much wood as all the wood jnilp plants
consume in the whole United States year
by year.
If coal cannot be had or if coal prices
are beyond reason, our fire-wood supply
could easily be trebled or quadrupled, if
we went at it in Cutting Clubs as they are
now doing in New England, and as Dur
OUR DEBT TO ENGLAND.
Notwithstanding the claims of France
as disseminator, through her Revolution,
of the modern ideal in government known
as “sovereignty of the people,” England
has exerted a wider influence upon mod
ern world history than any other nation.
England had already pointed her course
toward democracy ere the epic year 1789
arrived. Certainly Parliment yet lacked
much of automatically registering the ma
jority will, but even in the absened of uni
versal suffrage it approximately so func
tioned. She transmitted* in unbroken
continuity to colonial America the in
stinct, theory, and practice of popular
Sovereignty. Fundamentally, she op
posed our Revolution, not as a subversive
and hated theory of government, but as
a breach of the Empire. George Third
and his blundering placemen lacked the
genius to see that here in America, by
virtue ot special conditions, a portion of
the Empire’s citizenship had for the time
slightly outrun nation-born Englishmen
in Democratic evolution.
The loss of America quickened Eng
land’s progress toward democracy, which
progress was almost immediately stayed
by French revolutionary excesses com
mitted in democracy’s name. The Revo
lutionary and Napoleonic Era over, she
shortly resumed with accelerated motion,
her course toward popular government.
Her three great Reform Acts, 1832, 1867,
and 1884, iiractically perfected its ma
chinery, so tliat today she represents the
most advanced form of the democratic
ideal found in the world.
In the meantime, slie retained the resi
due of her over-seas dominions, after the
secession of the thirteen colonies, and in
creased them. Moreover, she acquired
their affections, her statesmen at last
having found means to reconcile autono
mous application of the democratic the
ory with the solidarity, of her far-flung
empire. In fact, this last discovery served
as cement to weld together ihe most scat
tered empires of history. Tender her
regis thus has developed strong self-
governing offspring, Australia, Canada,
New Zealand, and South Africa. Even
England’s adopted children, Egypt and
India, without her race instincts, have
caught the vision of her goal and will ul
timately inherit her ideal.
America then, despite the passions of
1775-1815; despite the distrust of 1861-65,
and its later recurrence over tlie Venezu
ela Boundary (Question; despite the
poison of hate so steadily injected into
her veins by misguided Irish ex-patriots,
owes to England her inherent instiiKit for
democracy. She owe.s to England the
origin and a century’s grow’th of the
Monroe Doctrine. Only the Mistress of
the Seas within that time could have an
nulled it. To her example we owe Napo
leon Third’s non-recegnition of the Con
federacy.; and to her preponderant sea
power Germany’s non-intervention incur
war with Spain.
Of our blood it was England who, in
the fateful year 1914, first stepped into
the bloody arena to make the world safe
for democracy. America, finally shaken
by world forces out of her self-complac
ency and isolation, is coming to realize
her oneness of interest and purpose with
the mother country, and that with all her
faults, bunglings and grumblings, the lat
ter represents the staunchest and most
pertinaceous foe to irresponsible autoc
racy and international lawlessness.—H.
M. Wagstaff, N. C. University Faculty,
WORTH THE COST
I suppose not many fortunate by-prod
ucts can come out of a war, but if the
United States can learn something about
saving out of this war it will be worth
the cost of the war; I mean the literal
cost of it in money and resources. I
suppose we have several times over wast
ed what we are now* about to spend. We
have not known that there w'as any limit
to our resources; we are now finding out
that there, mav be if w*e are not careful.
President Wilson.
GOOD ROADS INSTITUTE
The North Carolina Road Institute,
w'hich will be conducted at the State Uni
versity, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
February 19-22, inclusive, under the aus
pices of the State University of North
Carolina, the State Highway Commission,
and the North Carolina Geological and
Economic Suiwey will afford an opportu
nity to road engineers, superintendents,
patrolmen, commissioners, trustees, etc.,
to obtain practical instruction in regard
to various phases of road building and
maintenance. Every road-building unit,
whether county, township or road dis
trict, which has in charge the expendi
ture of a road fund, should have as many
representatives as possible at this insti
tute.
THEY SAY IN NEW YORK
Wealth and Welfare in North Carolina
by university students and faculty,
Prof. E. C. Branson, director—an un
usual university document, 140 pp., which
should be duplicated for their localities by
state and municipal universities, yes, by
normal schools and high schools every
where and reviewed extensively in educa
tional papers—free to N. C. residents,
25c elsewhere—address Cha}X!l Hill, N. C,
—Wm. H. Allen, in Public Service.
Nothing Else Like It
The University of Nhrth Carolina Club
is writing texts to meet the needs of the
schools and to help the public to under
stand the resourses and possibilities of the
home state. “Wealth and IVelfare in
North Carolina,” a 140 page pamphlet
just sent out from the university press is
the latest work of this group of students
and faculty. It is an interesting and en
tertaining examination of the economic
and social problems of the state and is
probably the only book of its sort in the
United States. Twenty-four members of
the club, including Professor E, C. Bran
son, the leader of the club, have contrib
uted to this book.
Ill the section on Industrial Wealth, by
W. E. Price, Rockingham County, it is
show’n that in the last federal census of
industries North Carolina led the thirteen
southern states in the average number of
industrial wage earners, primary horse
power employed in manufacture, total an
nual wages paid, value added by the
processes of manufacSfcre, number of tex
tile mills, amount of raw cotton consumed
in manufacture, total value of textile-
products, variety of cotton goods pro
duced, the number of furniture factories;
and in the manufacture of chewing and
smoking tobacco led the whole United
States.
Teachers and thinkers everywhere are
sure to be interested in this book, both
because of its content, and the method of
its writing.—The Evening Globe.
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