"Now she thinks she might be able to save others by getting up picnics and things of that sort;" said Mr. Cornwallis shaking his head, "but we fear she is not strong enough for that yet--that it would bring on the old terror and do no manner of good. She doesn't realize what it would be to fight against such a custom--a custom that was inaugurated when our New World began. It has grown to be a monstrous evil, but like many another serpent it has become so mixed up with business interests that it will be almost impossible to eliminate it. I have talked with more than one manufacturer, feeling there was no other way to rid ourselves of the vile Fourth of July abominations than by stopping their production and importation, but they will not give in. They will employ noted scientists to analyze their wares with the understanding that no germs of _tetanus_ are to be found. They will throw dust into the eyes of the governing powers. They resent fiercely the least intimation that they are responsible for the killing or maiming of three or four thousand boys per year. They charge it to parents and teachers. One man swore at me when I approached him on the subject and asked if I didn't know that there were danger traps all over God's world and that a boy should not be let to plunge into the river until he knew how to swim. You see how it stands, Doctor--the powers of light against the powers of darkness. It's a thing for the strong hand of government to take hold of instead of our frail little Ruth. It will take a long pull, a strong pull and a pull all together to accomplish anything of consequence. You remember the efforts made last year. They began with the Decoration Day slaughter. The 'Divine alarm' was sent all over the country and yet the list of the dead and hurt was beyond all precedent."