out a better system of sewerage or in striving to secure the return of the land-tillers to the soil. I do not mean that he ever allowed himself to be swamped by mere detail; he is much too good an executive officer not to delegate to others whatever can safely be delegated; but the extraordinary energy of the man himself is such that he can in person oversee and direct much more than is possible with the ordinary man. To General Wood has fallen the duty of preserving order, of seeing that the best Cubans begin to administer the government, of protecting the lives and properties of the Spaniards from the vengeance of their foes, and of securing the best hygienic conditions possible in the city; of opening the schools, and of endeavoring to re-establish agriculture and commerce honorable reputation for doing his work well and even this desire for an honorable reputation, it must be remembered, is absolutely secondary in his mind to the desire that the work itself should be thoroughly done, let the credit go where it will. The importance of all this lies in the fact that what General Wood has done in Santiago other officials must do elsewhere in Cuba, in Porto Rico, and in the Philippines, not to speak of Hawaii, if our rule in these islands is to be honorable to ourselves and advantageous to the natives. There is no need of prattling about the impossibility of governing the island under our Constitution and system of government. The men who so prattle merely show their own weakness; there is not the slightest difficulty in govern GENERAL WOOD AND HIS SON of one another, but, very naturally, bitterly hostile to the Spaniards who remained in the land. On the other hand, the men of property, not only among the Spaniards, but even among the Cubans, greatly feared the revolutionary army. All conditions were ripe for a period of utter anarchy, and under a weak, a foolish, or a violent man this anarchy would certainly have come. General Wood, by his energy, his firmness, his common sense, and his moderation, has succeeded in working as great an improvement as was possible in so short a time. By degrees he has substituted the best Cubans he can find in the places both of the old Spanish officials and of the Americans who were put in temporary control. He permits not the slightest violence either on the part of the American soldiers or of the inhabitants; he does absolute, even justice to all. He shows that he thinks of himself only in so far as he desires to win an ing the islands if we set about governing them well, and if we choose the General Woods because they are fit for the task and not because they are pressed by selfish interests, whether political or commercial. The inhabitants of the islands are not at the moment fit to gov ern themselves. In some places they may speedily become fit; in other places the intervening time may be very long indeed. Until the moment does arrive, they have got to be governed; and they have got to be governed by men carefully chosen, who are on the ground, who know what the needs really are, and who have the power given them to meet these needs. Politics should have as little to do with the choice of our colonial administrators as it should have to do with the choice of an admiral or a general. We cannot afford to trifle with our own honor or with the interests of the great alien communities over which we have assumed supervision. There are plenty of men fit to administer these colonies-men like General James H. Wilson and General Fitzhugh Lee; but they cannot do their work if they are not left largely unhampered, and if they are not given cordial assistance by the people at home; and the places under them must be given to men chosen because they can do the work and not because politicians recommend them. If political considerations of the baser sort are supreme in the adminisration of New York City, that is New York City's own fault; but in the Philippines or in Cuba it would be the fault of the American people and not of the inhabitants, and would establish a just grievance on behalf of the latter. We cannot afford to let politicians do with our public service in our dependencies what they have done for the consular service; still less can we afford to let doc trinaires, or honest, ignorant people, decide the difficult and delicate questions bound to arise in administering the new provinces. We cannot possibly, at any rate for the present, do better than to take for each province some man like General Wood, give him the largest power possible both as to his methods and his subordinates, and then hold him to a strict accountability for the results; demanding that he preserve untarnished the honor of the American name, by working, not only for the interests of America, but for the interests of the people whose temporary ruler he is. A Christmas Hymn By Richard Watson Gilder [Mr. Gilder's "Christmas Hymn " in its original form is doubtless familiar to many of our readers. In its present form and with an added stanza it now appears for the first time.-THE EDITORS.] I. Tell me what is this innumerable throng Singing in the heavens a loud angelic song? These are they who come with swift and shining feet of Light to greet. II. Oh, who are these that hasten beneath the starry sky, the heavenly host appeared. III. Who are these that follow across the hills of night To lay them at the feet of him their Lord and IV. What babe new-born is this that in a manger cries? This is the Lord of all the earth, this is the King of kings. V. Tell me how shall I partake this holy feast With all the kneeling world, and I of all the least? Fear not, O faithful heart, but bring what most is meet— at his feet. 66 "S Father Coté By J. Cleveland Cady EE, see! a stone church!" "Where?" "On the farthest hill, nearly a mile away; don't you see its steeple against the sky?' Surely there was no mistaking the Renaissance steeple, and the dignified mass that, crowning a commanding summit, was clearly outlined against the sky; it was certainly a church, and more-a stone church-which in a region of frame buildings gave it great pre-eminence and interest. This is the land of the "Acadians," the descendants of the peasantry who in 1755 were deported from Grand Pré to the south ern colonies, and who, many years after, when the troubles were over, returned, only to find the lovely Grand Pré region fully occupied by newcomers. Sadly they turned their course to the sterile shores of St. Mary's Bay, where they settled, midway between Yarmouth and Digby, Nova Scotia. Though comprising the bulk of the population of the region, here and there may be found families of New England origin, with their peculiarities of dialect and custom. Little villages of frame cottages line the road for twenty miles-very small, humble homes, indicating the narrowest margin of living, but neat, often bright with flowering plants which fill windows and doorways, and quite free from an air of poverty. It was, however, a strange neighborhood for a large stone church! As a long ascent was before us, we dismounted, trundling our cycles. Presently we overtook a farmer riding in his cart, drawn by a small ox between the shafts, which were secured to its head by a rope bound and fastened to the horns, a device which every true Nova Scotian declares to be the only humane and efficient way of attaching beast to cart. Such incidental acquaintances usually afford opportunities for securing information, and often entertainment; no wise person will miss them. We hastened to the social feast, "That seems to be a fine church up on the hill." "Yis, I guess it's about the best church in Nova Scotia." with 'em? What will he do with 'em? Alas! alas! it's ruining the place!' "Then he began to say, 'What a pity not to build a stone church, now the stone is all "Well, that's surprising; the people don't here!' seem wealthy." "No, they ain't; I don't suppose the people in any part of the Province have to work so durned hard for a living; but the church, that's all owing to Father Coté." "And who is Father Coté?” "Oh, he's our priest; he's a mighty knowing man; he was at college at Quebec, and learned all they could teach in every line; and then I've heerd he studied abroad. He's a great man, anyhow, Father Coté is; why, he planned the church, and built it too! "Before he came here we were a-going to get up some sort of a cheap church, and raise money for it by picnics and fairs, lots of 'em; but when he came he just put his foot down, Father Coté did, put it down real hard, too, and said: We won't dishonor God's cause in that way. We'll work, and we'll beg for it first, and let people everywhere that will, have a chance to give to the Lord's House. You, François, go off to the fishing villages and see what you can get; and you, Alphonse, go over to the mines and get what you can there.' And so he set one and another to work, and worked himself the hardest of any, until nine thousand dollars were raised! Nine thousand dollars! Just think of it wasn't that a monstrous sum! All the rest was labor and materials that our folks gave. "Then he just bossed everything all the way through; why, he'd take the commonest sort of a man and in a little while break him in so he could do anything he wanted of him. Yis, sir, and he didn't mind time and agin taking off his coat and working with the rest of us; there wasn't anything stuckup about him. But wasn't he wise, though! "In the beginning, when they were set to build of wood, he said: 'I see you've got lots of stone on your land; it's very bad for the farms; you ought to get rid of it.' "But what can we do with 'em? Nobody don't want 'em, as far as ever we've heerd.' "Haul them all over to the church grounds; they will be out of your way there, and I can dispose of them.' "So the people cleared up their farms, and great piles of stone rose on the church grounds, until everybody began to be fright ened, and were saying, 'What will he do "Before long we all saw how knowin' he was; he'd got our farms cleared of stone so we got bigger crops, and at the same time he'd got all the stone right handy for a new church—and, of all things, a stone church! "More and more the people were glad to work under such a man; and they did it with a will. And just think-he planned it all, even the great trusses that carry the roof! The carpenters were afraid they wouldn't hold it up, and the whole business would be down on top of their heads; they'd never seen anything like 'em. But he said, I'll be responsible; go ahead.' And they stood as solid as a rock! Oh, he's a wonderful man." "I suppose the people are very proud of their church." "Yis, they love that church, they've put so much hard work into it." "Does Father Coté get much time to look after his people, and know them?" "Tell ye he does; there are seven or eight hundred of us, and he even knows the names of all our children; seems as though he's always looking out in some way for the good of the families, big and little." We now approached the church, which we were curious to investigate, and, bidding good-by to the enthusiastic and sociable farmer, we made our way to the interesting building. It was a large structure of the native gray stone, very simple and plain in its exterior appearance, but solid and dignified. Its front doors being locked, we proceeded to the rear, where we found men and teams preparing the foundations for a considerable annex to the main building. Presently one who seemed to be directing their efforts—a dignified and very courteous man-stepped forward and invited us into the church. Accepting his guidance, we entered what proved to be a remarkably effective building, capable of accommodating some eight hundred or a thousand people, and possessing in an unusual degree qualities not often found in conjunction-dignity and cheerfulness. Its walls, built of the rough stone that came from the farms, as well as by very common labor, had required unusual thickness for stability, and this gave deep interior jambs (some two or three feet) to the lofty windows. It was surprising how greatly this expression of mass and strength contributed a feeling of grandeur to the whole interior. A handsome barrel ceiling crowned the nave, its form and lightness contrasting agreeably with the plain, sturdy walls. The style was in the manner of the French Renaissance, simply treated; the coloring was light, relieved sparingly by gilding. The altar, which rose nearly to the height of the lofty ceiling, was the culminating point of effect, and while no costly materials or rare workmanship entered into its composition, it was very impressive, partly from proportion and mass, and in no small degree from the manner in which it was lighted-in part by concealed windows whose sole purpose was to give emphasis to some portions of the picturesque structure. As we remained in the church, we felt more and more its charm, and were led to make inquiries of our guide (who proved to be Father Coté himself) as to the history of this building which would in most places have cost thirty or forty thousand dollars. But nine thousand dollars in money, he informed us, had been raised and expended; beyond that all had been accomplished by the labor of the parish, which had been most freely and generously given. "Why," said he, "each man now gives twenty days' work in the year for the Church and its needs!" On leaving we accepted his invitation to rest a while in his study-a sunny room in the plain little manse hard by. This gave opportunity for further inquiry regarding the details of the work, especially how it was possible that this least fertile region of Nova Scotia could build the finest church of all the country districts. "More than anything else," he replied, "I think it is because the people have taken it up as a matter of service to God. That has ennobled the whole thing-has made selfdenial sweet, has made the work the great desire of their hearts. "A very usual way here, if a church is to be built-I do not know if it is so in the States is to have a succession of fairs and festivals, and so raise the most of the money. I have never believed in it. In many country places where the fairs continue several days there is a great deal of intemperince, and it has seemed as though the evil quite outbalanced the good. But, aside from that, I do not believe it is the right way to raise money for the Lord's service. So I have told my people that they must work for the Lord's House; save for it; give and beg for it; they must do it as an offering to Him, and He would forward the undertaking, own it, and bless the House to them. They have done so, and He has favored them beyond all expectation. More than that, their efforts have made them a very different people; they love and respect their religion more, are more faithful and devoted. Is it not always true that that which we struggle and deny ourselves for, gains imperceptibly a strong hold upon our hearts? It is, I am sure, a great mistake to eliminate self-denial from God's service; we lose the best means of developing Christian character." We were greatly impressed, not only with the views which had wrought such admirable results in the Salmon River parish, but with the gentle dignity, ability, and noble spirit of the man who would have made his mark in any walk of life, but who had been content to come to the poorest population of the province, cast his lot for life with them, and, elevating their lives, do a great and lasting service. While the large, substantial church was the conspicuous symbol of what had been accomplished, of infinitely greater value was the change wrought in the community; the training in giving and doing "as unto the Lord." Bidding good-by to our new friend, we passed around the church to get our bicycles, and in doing so met one of the carpenters who was working out his share of labor on the annex. "You give very much to the Church,” we said. Yes, we have all of us given a good deal, right straight along, for the last six or seven years; but one thing I am certain of-and I've thought it over a good deal-we are each one of us to-day every bit as well off in pocket as we should have been if we had not given at all. Not a man, woman, or child is anything poorer for what they have done! I know that's so." Was it strange that, in our dreams there, and in our waking since, a personality of great dignity and force has been much before us: that of one who, with fine talents and endowments, gladly accepted a lowly lot, buried himself in its duties and interests, and upon high principles wrought a noble work? |