is afraid that they will cross the Yalu and go down the Korean peninsula to the bottom, where their guns might be mounted within cannon shot of the Japanese empire."

"Does this mean that the Russians want Korea?”

"So the Japanese think," replied Senator Beveridge. "Korea is a wedge splitting eastern Siberia from southern Manchuria. It has better harbors than Manchuria, and if the Russians could extend their railroad into it their landing would be farther south. If they do not take it they fear the Japanese will and that the Japanese in Korea might be a menace to Russian progress toward the acquisition of the rest of Asia, which many of the Czar's people believe to be their destiny."

"Would the Japanese be satisfied if the Russians gave up Korea to them?"

"I think so," replied Senator Beveridge. "They would for a time at least, although this struggle was bound to come sooner or later. Both nations need territory, and the Japanese especially so. Both nations hope to control the trade of eastern Asia, and each is jealous and afraid of the other. If they could combine and become allies as to the future of China they might have peace, but that is not probable."

"Tell me something about Manchuria, Senator. What would the Japanese have done with it had the triple alliance let them stay?"

"They would have made a second Japan north of the Yellow Sea," replied Senator Beveridge. "The whole country would have been speedily colonized by Japanese immigrants, and Japan would have probably made it a basis for the acquisition of other parts of north China. Japan is not a large country. Without Formosa it is not as big as California. Nevertheless, it has more than half as many people as the whole United States, and its population is rapidly increasing. Manchuria would have insured the possession of Korea, and would have been also a base for a closer alliance with China." "But is the country worth fighting about, Senator?" I asked.

Do

"Both the Russians and the Japanese think so," replied Senator Beveridge. "Almost any nation would think so. Manchuria is an empire in itself. you know how big it is? It has graingrowing territory enough to feed the whole of Japan's forty millions, and it is so rich in coal and iron that the Japanese would have made it a beehive of factories. The country is as big as France and Germany combined. It is twice as big as New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New England combined, and quite as rich in natural resources. value can not be estimated."

Its

"But, about the Russians, Senator; they certainly have enough land?"

"Have they?" replied Senator Beveridge. "It would seem so, but the empire is not fitted to support a great population. The Russians now have enough

room and to spare, but they count time by centuries, not by days, months and weeks. They are always figuring upon the future. They have a population now of 140,000,000, or more than one-twelfth of all the people in the world. They are growing by the natural process of production at the rate of 3,000,000 a year. Without taking into consideration the increase by geometrical ratio, in ten years there will be 170,000,000 Russians, and in fifty years there will be 300,000,000. Indeed the Czar will need more than Manchuria to house them."

"What are the Russians doing there, Senator? Are they really colonizing the country?"

"They are settling along the line of the railroad," replied Senator Beveridge. "Many of the soldiers bring their wives and families with them, the railroad laborers come to stay, and the result is neat Russian villages are growing up along that road in the wilds of the far east. I remember stopping at towns on my way south which had all the improvements of modern civilization. There were good stores, comfortable houses and first-class restaurants with French cooks. bands played in the parks on Sunday, and all this in striking contrast with the mud houses and filthy streets of the Chinese towns adjoining them. The Russians are building a commercial port on Talienwan bay, and their cities along the TransSiberian road are rapidly growing. Indeed, there are towns along that road which have better department stores than Washington city."

The

"How many troops have the Russians in Manchuria."

"Only the Russians know," replied Senator Beveridge. "The soldiers have been brought in in small parties, but they are everywhere. It was estimated there were 60,000 in 1900. When I traveled over the Chinese Eastern Railroad in 1901 I was told by a high military authority that the soldiers numbered 150000, and they may have 200,000 or even 300,000 there today. With the new railroads thousands more can be rushed in. As you know, every man in Russia is a soldier, and the Czar's available army numbers millions.

"At the same time the Japanese troops are thoroughly well organized. There are no

better soldiers anywhere, and no braver. On the one side the Japanese are fighting for their homes and on the other side the Russians are fighting at the orders of their father, the Czar, and at the same time in the belief that it is their duty to carry the cross into China and thus Christianize the far east. That is a point that is not generally considered, but I am told the Russians believe that it is their destiny to spread their religion over all Asia."

"In the trouble between Japan and Russia, what should be the policy of the United States?"

"It should be that of a friendly neutrality," replied the Senator. "We are in the happy condition of being the closest

friend of each nation. The Russians have a sentimental as well as a real friendship for us and so have the Japan

ese.

Russia was our friend at the time of the Revolution, it aided us during the Civil War, and it sold Alaska to us in preference to any other nation. In return we have done many things to cement this friendship, and especially so during the famine of a few years ago. The Russians are appreciative, and today, notwithstanding the efforts of other nations to make the United States Russia's enemy, we are its strongest friend.

"It is the same with Japan. Commodore Perry, one of our naval officers, opened up that country to modern civilization, and since then we have always been fair and liberal in our dealings with

the greatest Slav. Ito is the creator of modern Japan. He wrote the constitution, and he has been the advisor of the Mikado since it was enacted. He is cool, calculating, conservative and perfectly fearless. At the same time he is as simple as a child.

"Sergius Witte is also simple. In fact, all really great men are unostentatious. It is only the little fellow in a big place who puts on airs. Mr. Witte makes you at home and talks to you in a low quiet way, which is very impressive. You can not help seeing that he is great, nor feeling so when you realize what he has done. He started life as a railroad clerk at Odessa and rose to be manager of the railroads of that part of the country. He was taken to St. Petersburg and

it. In our diplomatic negotiations we have asked less than other nations and given more. The result is that Japan regards the United States as her friend, and if the fight between her and Russia is carried to a finish we shall be in a position to take advantage of the situation then, whatever it may be. If any nation is to receive anything from such a settlement, we at least shall not be left out."

"You have met both Count Ito of Japan and Sergius Witte of Russia, the greatest men of the two nations, Senator Beveridge? Tell me about them."

"Physically, they are as far apart as the poles," replied Senator Beveridge. "Count Ito is dark, short and stocky. Mr. Witte is rosy cheecked, tall, but broad shouldered. Both men are very great and very quiet. I should say that Ito is perhaps the greatest Asiatic now living, and I think one might say that Witte is

given charge of the railroads of the empire, and then made minister of finance and the right hand of the Czar. It is largely due to him that the Trans-Siberian road was built so quickly. He has put the empire on a sound financial basis, and he is today the power behind the throne as to most matters in the far East. He is a broad-gauge man. He sees the whole world as it changes from day to day, and he knows how to take advantage of every change for the good of Russia."

"Speaking of Russia's financial condition, Senator Beveridge. The empire is heavily in debt. In the fight with Japan will the Czar have enough for his needs?"

"When war comes money usually comes also," said Senator Beveridge. "It may cost more, but it comes. Russia is a land of vast material resources, which it would take many mortgages to blanket, and its government has the power of rais

ing money without asking a congress or the people to ratify its act.

"Take the matter of the liquor business, which is now altogether in the hands of the government. Sergius Witte saw the enormous profits of the Russian rumsellers, and he sent out word that after a certain time the government would make and sell all the intoxicants used in the country. That time came, and today every drop of vodka or brandy consumed in Russia comes from the government stores. The business is so handled that there is less drunkenness and better liquor and at the same time the profits are enormous. During 1903 they amounted to more than the total expenses of the army and navy or to a sum equal to about one-fourth of all it costs to run

and grave apprehensions have been felt in diplomatic circles lest complications may arise that will draw other powers into the conflict.

The Great Baltimore Fire.

Shortly before 11 o'clock on Sunday morning, February 7, 1904, the city of Baltimore, Md., became aware of the fact that a great conflagration was in progress through a series of loud explosions which shook the entire city, and were heard in the suburbs. It is reported that the noise was that of a sharp, splitting roar, which

our government for a year. I do not say this is right, I merely give the results.

"There is now talk of taking over the tea business in the same way. The Russians are the greatest tea drinkers on earth, not excepting the Chinese, and the revenue from the sale of tea would speedily wipe out any debt which might arise from a war with Japan."

Japan is said to have an advantage over her .opponent in the present naval equipment at the scene of trouble, her tonnage in battleships, protected and armored cruisers being 209,000, while Russia's is 166,000, besides having many more torpedo boats and boat destroyers than has the latter. Both are fighters and, while Japan exceeds in naval equipment, Russia greatly exceeds in reserve strength of men and resources. The Eastern question is and has been a very delicate one.

went up and reverberated like thunder, followed by a peculiar whistling noise similar to that made by a shrill wind. At the time the churches of the city were filled with worshipers. Many became frightened, but no panics are said to have ensued. Soon the streets and pavements were crowded with excited people.

Repeated explosions followed, and thousands of people hurried to the fire, but owing to the heat and falling cinders they could not get within half a block of it. Sheets of tin from the many roofs went sailing through the air like paper kites and fell clattering to the streets, and the firemen and police who were obliged to stick to their dangerous positions were compelled to dodge into doorways for shelter. The high winds spread the flames rapidly, and in half an hour

from the start of the fire a dozen large wholesale dry goods and notions warehouses fell prey to their ravages.

The city fire department was wholly inadequate to check the terrible conflagration, and by noon at least thirty warehouses were in flames, with the fire steadily eating its way into the blocks east, west and south. Although all of the city fire department was at work it was found unequal to the task, and telegrams were sent to Washington and Philadelphia for help, the former city sending six engines and the latter four, which joined in the battle with the flames. The surrounding counties also sent assistance, some from a distance of over thirty miles. It is estimated that 400 lines of hose were in operation at the same time, all the water plugs within a radius of half a mile being in use. The fire, however, was soon beyond the control of the firemen, the flames leaping from one building to another, and no human aid could avail to stay its terrible ravages.

The following forenoon-Monday, February 8th-the great fire had about burned itself out along the river front, after an area of more than 140 acres in the center of the business district had been devastated. The burned district is said to comprise 75 squares and nearly 2,500 buildings, being bounded on the west by Liberty street, on the north by Lexington street, on the east by Jones Falls, and on the south by the basin.

A most fortunate thing was the small number of deaths and accidents incidental to the fire, the only casualty being that of a York (Pa.) fireman, who was found dead in the Equitable Building, and the death of a lady patient in a hospital from shock.

Former President Catchart, of the Fire Board, and still a member of the board, is said to have predicted the fire. He is reported to have strongly advocated reform in the local fire department, and expressed the opinion to the city administration, while president of the board, that in the event of a fire gaining headway in the business center of the city it would get beyond control.

"Not one case of attempted or of accomplished looting has been reported to

1845-New York City, 45 killed; 300 acres destroyed; loss $3,000,000. 1845-Pittsburg, Pa., 100 buildings destroyed; loss $1,000,000.

1845-Quebec, 70 persons killed.
1849

St. Louis, Mo., 15 buildings destroyed; loss $3,000,000.

1850 Philadelphia, Pa., 30 lives lost; 400 buildings destroyed; loss $5,000,00. 1851-St. Louis, Mo., losses unknown. 1851-San Francisco, Cal., scores of people killed; 250 buildings destroyed; loss $10,000,000.

1860-Portland, Me., 1,743 buildings destroyed; loss $10,000,000.

1862-Troy, N. Y., destroyed, with large loss of life.

1863-Santiago, South America, 2,000 persons perished.

1866 Portland, Me., partly destroyed, with scores burned.

1871-Chicago, Ill., 17,430 buildings destroyed; loss $200,000,000.

1871-Wisconsin and Michigan, forest fires killed 1,000 persons.

1872-Boston, Mass., 776 buildings destroyed; loss $75,000,000.

1881--Quebec, buildings destroyed not stated; loss $2,000,000.

1882-Milwaukee, Wis., Newhall fire, 140 persons killed.

1892-St. Johns, N. F., buildings destroyed not stated; loss, $20,000,000. 1897-Pittsburg, Pa., buildings destroyed unknown; loss $3,000,000.

1900-Ottawa, Canada, 436 buildings destroyed; loss $12,000,000.