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Show Current Comment THE BILLBOARD OFFENSE. Bt. Louis Globo-Domocrnt. A billboard opposite a church In the central part of the city Is to be removed re-moved as a result of n protest on the part of the congregation. One of tho most serious questions In American cities at present Is the encroachment of the huge billboard nuisance. The external ex-ternal aspect of cities has become largely large-ly billboards. In every large town their area mounts up Into square inllea. Once cities were proud of their architecture. archi-tecture. Now it Is largely obscured or snuffed out by billboards. Civic Improvement Im-provement societies talk of beautifying cities, but tho cltloH are largely hidden behind billboards. In former times a few small blllbonrds wore dovoted to theatrical or other public announcements. announce-ments. But there are acres of billboards bill-boards where onco the surface was limited lim-ited to square feet. High billboards and long billboards are the .modern rule. They obstruct the views cut off the air. offend the eye and put a town In nauseating eclipse. Probably tho next step will be to flush a sign on the backs of pedestrians ns they trudge along In the billboard alloys al-loys and canyons. In European countries this matter Is managed Infinitely better. Paris restricts re-stricts billboards In size nnd location, and they are taxed so ns to produce a large revenue for the city treasury. Paris continues to be vlslblo to the ls-itor. ls-itor. It has not rendered itsolf beautiful beau-tiful In order to bo put under an eruption erup-tion of the billboard disease. Parisian billboards are big enough to bo read with ease, but are not permitted to overshadow and overmaster views In the city. Size in such matters Is comparative. com-parative. In St. Louis billboards have almost a go-as-you-please. Thty keep on expanding. When night comes they have the aid of electricity and magic lan terms. The public be blowed Is the basis of tho great billboard Invasion. What are tho municipal authorities going go-ing to do nbout It? ARE WE LIVING LONGER? Chicago Chronlcio. It will probably astonish most people to be told that the longevity of the human hu-man family Is on the decrease. The actuaries of the insurance companies In New York are assorting that In splto of all the Influences that combine In our day to preserve and lengthen human hu-man llff peoplo are dying younger than than ever before. In other words, they dlsputo the truth of the census reports and of all other mortality reports except ex-cept their own. Tho census of 1000 gives a table of Increase or decrease of deaths from foi-ty foi-ty causes from 1800 to 1900. From sixteen six-teen of these causes It reports an Increase In-crease and from twenty-four a do-crease, do-crease, and the percentages of Increase are much smaller than the percentages of decrease. The largest percentages of Increase are: Heart disease. 12: disease dis-ease of the kidneys, 24; apoplexy, 17; cancer, 12, and Influenza, 17. The largest larg-est percentages of decrease are: Consumption. Con-sumption. 01.9; diarrhea, 19; bronchitis. 26.1; cholera Infantum, 31.9; debility, 43.1; diphtheria, 31.7; typhoid fever. 12.0. convuslons. 23.2; diseases of the brain, 12.3; croup, 17.8, and malarial fever, 10.4. Thore Is not much rellanco to be placed In mortality statistics, either these of the census or those of the actuaries, ac-tuaries, but every Intelligent and reflecting re-flecting person knows that science has made enormous inroads on tho causes of early death, and that It is simply Incredible In-credible and absurd to say that the av erage length of human life Is decreasing. decreas-ing. BRIGHT'S DISEASE IN GLUTTONY. Boston aiobe. It Is tho deliberately expressed opinion opin-ion of the celebrated Dr. Osier that Intemperance In-temperance In food Is undiminished among Americans, although lntempor-ance lntempor-ance In drink constantly Is decreasing. Adults, ho believes, eat far too much. It was formerly understood that Brlght'a disease of the kidneys could bo traced In many. If not In most coses, to the Intemperate use of alcoholic drinli9. Other degenerations, particularly z the arteries, were thought to be Induced In-duced by the sustained Immoderate use of alcohol. The doctors now, chief among whom may be mentioned Dr. Osier, say that these degenerations aro due In large part to too much food. ETIQUETTE IN WASHINGTON. Minneapolis Journal. Society at Washington has been accused ac-cused of leaning too much toward precedent prec-edent and form. We have been amused recently by the whimsical contest between be-tween the Justices of the Supremo court and other factotums of the Government Gov-ernment as to who should approach the President first at public receptions. The Supreme court, notwithstanding Its learning In other directions, was reversed re-versed on the point of etiquette and the plenipotentiaries of foreign lands salaam to the President before the members of the court. These and other oth-er contests have given an impression that society at tho capital was becoming becom-ing rather strong on form for a republic. repub-lic. A CRIME AGAINST CHILDREN. T-nltlmoro American. Whatever views may be hold of divorce, di-vorce, thero Is ono feature of divorce trials which Is repulsive to all peoplo of good feeling which It la a pity there Is not some law to abolish, and that Is bringing little children Into court us witnesses against accused parties. Such Impressions as are then gained might never leave a child's mind, and general public policy seems to be against tho practice. |