Springfield weekly Republican. [volume], January 08, 1914, Page 8, Image 8

About Springfield weekly Republican. [volume] (Springfield, Mass.) 1851-1946

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SPRINGFIELD, THURSDAY. JAN. 8, 1914.
b^TEEN PAGES
Unrest in India.
Two recent events have called attention
to the increasing peril which threatens
English rule in India. Isolated eases of
violence, such as attempts on the life of
two successive viceroys and several mur
ders of high officials, have been frequent
ly dismissed as the work of irresponsible
fanaticism—a view publicly encouraged by
some who have known better. But there
could be no mistaking rhe ground swell of
resentment in Moslem India when Turkey,
the main bulwark of the Mohammedan
faith, was attacked in two closely succes
sive wars by nations of Christian Europe.'
And even more marked was the outburst
of indignation in all India at the ill
treatment of compatriots in South Africa.
In both cases the cause for discontent
was plain, and if nothing lay behind it
there need be no ground for worry. But
what disturbs close students of Indian
affairs is the growth of a chronic sedition
which turns such incidents io account and
is ever at work undermining the prestige
of the British and spreading disloyalty in
the vast indifferent mass of the Indian
people.
The fullest account of present conditions
is that given in a recent series of articles
in the London Times by a correspondent
whose political views may be somewhat
reactionary, but who has a good grasp of
the subject. In his first article be point
ed out with some detail the increasing
prosperity of India and the great changes
which have been made there in recent
years, in industry, customs and govern
ment. But in succeeding articles he has
been showing how unrest has kept pace
with prosperity, an outcome which the
history of labor troubles shows to be by no
means abnormal. Misery keeps men down;
a diffusion of prosperity is not unlikely to
create new ambitions and a craving for
change. This is but human nature, and
no country is so self-disciplined as to be
wholly exempt: we should not be surprised
to find the same tiling at work in India,
where unnumbered millions have long
been kept down by grinding poverty such
as the West can hardly conceive.
In 1911 the population of India was
over 313 millions, of whom 18% millions
were literate, and 1,670,000 literate in
English. Of these English literates a
third had been added during 10 years,
during which time the total population
had increased by 20 millions. It is neces
sary to bear in mind not only that nearly
300 millions of the people cf India are
totally illiterate, but that 230 millions
live the immemorial simple life of the
Indian village. Of the Hindus 40 mil
lions are of the depressed castes, kept
down, despised, many of them ostracised.
Now among these enormous (lasses of the
poor and ignorant there is no natural an
tagonism to British rule, but it is only a
question of time, if present conditions con
tinue, when the ferment of rebellion will
permeate the masses and government on
the present lines be made impossible.
Of the present situation the Times au
thority says: "Agitation in all its forms is
‘spreading over the land. The press law
'is powerless to cope with the incessant
‘stream of misrepresentation." Indian
writers educated in English schools and
universities hare made a fine art. of writ
ing what their readers will understand,
while keeping within the law. Secret so
cieties grow in membership, and to these
the periodic assassinations of officials are
due. Of the growing disorder in India
this correspondent gives a distressing ac
count. In Bengal “dacoity” or brigand
age, perhaps for filling the coffers of the
agitators, has become a diversion for edu
cated youths. In the Punjab, where eco
nomic progress has been remarkable,
••rimes have increased nt an even greater
rate: three districts showed 60 times as
many murders as England. There are
districts “where British law does not run,
'and where security of life and property
'can no longer be guaranteed. ’ Stones
are thrown at Europeans in towns where
20 years ago they would have been re
ceived with kindly courtesy. Indian
parents complain of the intractability of
their boys, and the decay of manners is
a matter of common observation.
All these phenomena are signs that the
unchanging East is changing, and so rapid
a change in a population so vast would
be a legitimate cause for concern even if
no active disloyalty were at work.
Disloyalty, of course, is the only word
for it from the British and imperialistic
I point of view. To a disinterested spec
tator other terms may suggest themselves:
it is at all events the same spirit which
has always manifested itself in nations
struggling to be free, and it may fairly be
called patriotism even by those who doubt
whether India is ready for self-govern
ment. Self-government, according to En
glish standards of democracy, is at all
events out of the question as > et or for a
long time to come in a country with so
enormous a depressed population and with
so firmly established a caste system. Thus
the issue, as often happens, is confused,
imperialism standing at once for demo
cratic principles and for autocratic prac
tice. It is an antagonism which has
troubled the world ever since Cleon told
the Athenians, “I have remarked again
'and again that a democracy cannot man
age an empire."
In fact, the ease of ruling India is made
extremely difficult by the British ideals
of liberty and education, and critics such
as this correspondent of the Times are
calling for a reactionary policy, a cheek on
the education of natives and a new stress
on vocational training which will keep
people busy with their hands ami not set
them to reading and thinking. That is the
Russian ideal. "Why should people." one
Russian official pithily remarked, “be
'taught to read in order to learn that
‘people are happier elsewhere?” The
proper course in India, one writer on the
educational problem has said, would be io
decide how many educated men were need
ed. and then educate them for their work.
The outcome of the present system has
been an educated proletariat which finds
nothing to do except to brood over griev
ances and hatch sedition. Yet if England’s
mission is to be accomplished it can only
be by educating the people: so long as they
are kept in ignorance self-government re
mains impossible. The great question is
whether the transition can be effected,
whether the loyalty of the people can be
kept till the educational process which
the government is carrying on in good
faith is so far completed that India can
shift for itself or become a loyal part of
the empire as its people will.
This is a question which only the future
can answer, but it must be said that the
present menace is of the greater signifi
cance l>ecause India does not stand alone.
In its gathering resentment against out
side domination it is aligned with all Asia
against what a Japanese publicist has
called the “white man's clique.” If not
even the attacks on Turkey have stirred
such indignation as the oppression of In
dians in Africa, it is because Europe, while
pretending to interfere in Asia, gives no
reciprocity, does not allow Asiatics fair
treatment elsewhere. Those are the most
densely populated countries in the world,
but no outlet is allowed into the sparsely
settled areas which the white race claims
for its own. It is not surprising that the
watchword, "Asia for the Asiatics,” should
already have vogue, and it goes to swell
the opposition to British rule in India.
For all these reasons the present situation
is extremely delicate.
“Father” Duncan, Known as “The
‘Apostle of Alaska,” has ceased his ac
tive labors, and the splendid work which
he has carried on for nearly 50 years on
Annette island in extreme southeastern
Alaska, is to be conducted by others. What
Dr Grenfell has been to Labrador,
“Father” Duncan, in a way, has been to
Alaska, although the demands and goal
of his work have been somewhat differ
ent. It was over 50 years ago that this
Scotchman, a lay missionary of the En
glish church, began work among the In
dians of northern British Columbia. But
he found that the laws and conditions
there hampered his ambitions to be of
service, and he moved to Annette island,
which was set aside for his colony by the
United States government. There at
Metlakatla he has taught the Indians
trades and elementary business methods
and developed a modern town of 600 in
population, with well-built, houses, water
works, church, town hall and other im
provements. Various Alaskan travelers
have testified to the remarkable quality
of his achievements. Some time ago there
seems to have been fear as to what would
happen to the colony after “Father” Dun
can s death. But the Indians themselves,
very probably at his suggestion, met the
problem by petitioning tbe government for
the establishment of an Indian school.
And now “Father” Duncan, who has car
ried on the burden of the settlement un
til he is 82. has laid it down and an
experienced teacher, whose wife is also in
terested in the work, has been stationed
at Annette island £nd is reported to be
receiving the whole-hearted co-operation
of the natives, while presumably “Father”
Duncan looks on at the further progress
of his charges. Apparently bis name is
writ large in the calendar of saints on
the Pacific coast, and well it deserves to be.
The Profit Sharing Plan, —or the
melon to be cut this time for the advan
tage of labor instead of capital—of the
Ford motor company is remarkable in dis
closing that company's almost fabulous
success and what it proposes to do for
its employes. Here is a concern which for
the year ending September 20, IMS, is
credited with having made book profits of
$37,597,312, and that on a capital stock
of $2,000,000 and no bonds. Upon the
stock, dividends of $10,000,000 were paid;
the balance of the profits went back into
the business. A story has been current
that the attorneys who drew the original
articles of incorporation for the Ford com
pany some years ago were asked to cake
payment in stock when they presented
their bill. They were said to have re
luctantly accepted, since it was stock or
nothing, and are now receiving $1(XKOOO
in yearly dividends on that stock. On the
face of the figures given for tbe past year
the story is not improbable. What is pro
posed for the employes during the coming
year is a division among them of another
$16,000,000 over and above their regular
wages, and coupled with this it is stated
that a minimum wage scale of $5 a day
is to be established and that the day is to
be of eight instead of nine hours, the plant
being run continuously in three shifts.
In all 26.000 employes are said to be af
fected. 15,000 at present in tbe Detroit
plant, 4000 more to be added by the
change in hours, and 7000 scattered over
the world in Ford branches. Not less in
teresting than these figures is the state
ment that no foreman has tbe right to dis
charge an employe, and that if an em
ploye does not make gpod in one. depart
ment he is to be sent to the “clearing-
THE SPRINGFIELD WEEKLY REPUBLIC AX: THURSDAY. JANUARY 8,191 U
‘house’’ covering all the departments and
to be tried repeatedly at other work until
the job is found for which he is fitted,
provided he is honest and faithful. Such
a program does credit to the outlook of
those in control of the company. But it
does not reflect upon their motives to add
i that such treatment of employes would be
impossible if the company had not found
something richer than the mines of Go!*
conda in the light, cheap car. economical to
operate and economical to manufacture,
because standardized and turned out hy
the thousands, with which its name is now
synonymous not only throughout the oun
try, bur apparently throughout the world.
THE WORK OF S. WEIR MITCHELL
AS NOVELIST AND PHYSICIAN
—
! His Highly Important Achievements
in the Two Fields.
1 The death of Dr S. Weir Mitchell, in
I bis 85th year, removes one of America’s
I great physicians and one of the most-win
i ring figures in American letters—a field
in which if he was not also great he was
at least very highly and honorably imjmr
tant and certainly better known to the gen
eral public than in the other. In the ex
tent and quality of his dual achievement
he has had few rivals. To the larger
number he has been known as the author
of that admirable novel of the Revolution.
“Hugh Wynne. Free Quaker." and of
many other works of fiction, excellent even
if less notable. But as a physician be
long since achieved international fame,
particularly in the theory and treatment
of nervous diseases, and his published con
tributions to medical science, all of them
important and some of them vastly so,
numbered in the neighborhood of 150.
Added to this he was a poet as well as
novelist, and somehow had found time to
write much graceful and polished verse,
particularly in narrative form. It was as
a gracious veteran, still productive and
honoring exceedingly both of his profes
sions, that he remained to the last, having
published his graphic and delightful novel
of the civil war. “Westways.” within only
a few months.
Silas Weir Mitchell was born in Phila
delphia February 15. 1829. of old Phila
delphia stock, and after studying in the
university of Pennsylvania (where he as
serted that he learned little besides how to
play a good game of billiards), was grad
uated from the Jefferson medical college,
also of Philadelphia, in 1850. It is a pe
culiarly interesting fact that at about this
time young Mitchell submitted to the most
celebrated American physician-author, Oli
ver Wendell Holmes, a number of poems.
Dr Holmes, who was an intimate friend
of young Mitchell's father, Dr John
Kersley Mitchell, saw much literary prom
ise in the verse but strongly advised that
it be laid aside lest the young physician
should at the outset of his medical career
become too absorbed in another field in
which Dr Holmes felt that he could never
win great fame. Young Mitchell accepted
the advice, for the time at least, and when
many years later he published a volume
of collected poems he preserved in it only
one, “Herndon," of the poems shown to Dr
Holmes.
At the outbreak of the civil war,
Mitchell, who had been to Paris for
study and suffered there from smallpox,
had already begun to establish his unusual
ability. One of nis early contributions to
scientific literature in which he made
clear new discoveries was "Researches on
the Venom of the Rattlesnake.” But his
studies in toxicology and neurology led to
his being placed in charge of Turners
Lane United States hospital, created es
pecially for the treatment of injuries to
the nervous system, and he was also made
inspector of the sanitary condition of the
army. The conduct of this hospital gave
him opportunity to study hundreds of
eases of nervous disorder caused by gun
shot wounds, etc. And upon this invalu
able experience must have been founded
much of his later pre-eminence as a ne
urologist. He received first and last al
most innumerable medals and degrees and
his fame in Europe is witnessed by this
anecdote, which happens to be well
vouched for. While he was in Paris,
some years ago, he called upon Dr Chicot,
one of the most distinguished physicians
of the French metropolis, and consulted
him as to a fancied nervous disorder of
his own. He did not give his name at
first, merely stating the nature of the
trouble and the fact that he was from
Philadelphia.
"Why,” said the French physician in
some surprise, “you should never • have
come beyond Philadelphia for advice for
such an ailment. You have a physician
in your own city better qualified to man
age your case than I am.”
"Indeed," said Dr Mitchell, "and who
may he be?"
"Dr 8. Weir Mitchell,” replied the
French specialist, ‘and as I know him by
correspondence I will venture to give you
a letter to him. You should consult him
upon your return home.”
His patient smiled. “No, thanks," said
he, "I am Dr S. Weir Mitchell.”
Dr Mitchell's studies of birds and
snakes were productive of important dis
coveries. On one occasion, some 35 years
ago, one of the largest specimens of rat
tlesnakes ever sent to Dr Mitchell died
of cold. Its skin was carefully preserved
and tanned, making a beautiful and soft
leather-like material of very considerable
proportions. This Dr Mitchell sent to his
old mentor. Dr Holmes, suggesting that
it might make an appropriate binding for
a special copy of “Elsie Veuner.” Dr
Holmes, in a characteristic letter, wrote
back acknowledging the receipt of the
tunned serpent's hide, and saying in con
clnsion: "I thank you for it. especially
because it makes an attractive binding
and I know that its bark is better than
its bite."
Many, not to say most of Dr Mitchell's
published, scientific writings dealt with
nervous diseases, one of them in particu
lar with the pretense of simulation of
nerve trouble. .And in later years his
name became much identified with the
"rest cure,” which he advocated and en
forced upon those placed under his charge.
One of the most important of his scientific
writings was “Fat and Blood and How to
Make Them.” which has gone 'through
many editions.
It was in 1862 with “In War Time," a
novel, that Dr Mitchell began his creative
literary work, at least so far as actual
publicstiou was concerned, and it is a co-
I incidence that, although within the inter
‘ vening 50 years he had written fiction on
many themes, his last book, "Westways,”
might very appropriately have borne the
title of his first. Among the other books,
which numbered over 30. may be mcn
tinned, aside from children’s stories, "Thee
and Thou.” “A Draft on the Bank of
Spain. "The Hill of Stones” (verse), "Ro
land Blake,” "A Masque and Other
I Poems,” "Doctor and Patient. A Series of
I Essays." “Far In the Forest,” "The Cup
of Youth" (drama), "The Psalm of Death
and Other Poems," “Francois Villon” la
poem of dramatic narration), “When All
the Moods are Green,” "Philip Vernon”
(drama in verse), "A Madeira Party.”
’'Collected Poems." "Memoir of Owen
Jones ' (biography), “Hugh Wynne, Free
Quaker,” "The Red City," "The Adven
tures of Francois," "Autobiography of a
Quack, ’ "The Case of George Dedlow,”
"Dr North and His Friends," “The Wa
ger" (poem), “Circumstance,” "New Sa
maria," "A Diplomatic Adventure” aud
"U estways.” Of these "Hugh Wynne”
was the greatest popular success, selling
into many thousands and remaining to-day,
with its pictures of revolutionary scenes,
one of the few best, of the American his
toriea 1 novels.
BOSTON AND MAINE AND TROLLY'S
Chairman Elliott Seeks to Have De
partment of Justice Accept Chair
man Prouty’s Views.
From Our Special Correspondent.
Washington, D. C„ Tuesday, Jan. 6.
Two chief points of difference remain
between the New Haven railroad directo
rate and the department of justice. These
were discussed to-day at some length be
tween Chairman Elliott aud Attorney-
General Mcßeynolds. They are the dis
position of the Boston and Maine and
likewise of the trolly lines. Some ad
vance toward an adjustment was made,
but numerous conferences will be neces
sary before final terms can be reached.
Chairman Elliott declined to discuss to
day’s conference, it having been the re
quest of the department authorities that
nothing be said. It is very clear, how
ever, that the New Haven authorities in
negotiations with the department are mak
ing their arguments along the line of the
Prouty report and standing on the recom
mendations therein presented. Hopes of
preventing a suit against the railroad have
not been abandoned, even though lawyers
for the department have taken the stand
that a suit will be necessary in any event,
so that the final arrangements may be
entered as of legal record.
When Commissioner Prouty made up bis
report on the. extensive investigation by
the interstate commerce commission be
wrote the following: “What is needed
first of all to improve the railroad situa
tion in New England is rest and an op
portunity for constructive work. There
is much truth in the claim of these carriers
that they have been so occupied with in
vestigations and so criticized by the pub
lic that no fair opportunity has been given
for the operation of their railroad proper
ties.”
Chairman Elliott has several times em
phasized concurrence with this view and
is undoubtedly trying to impress it upon
Attorney-General Mcßeynolds and Spe
cial Attorneys Gregory and Adkins. He
can enforce it now ..by citing action taken
with reference to the Boston and Albany
and the steamship: lines, which with the
Boston and Maine and the trolly lines con
stituted the leadingj objections that Com
missioner Prouty raised against the trans
portation monopoly .in. New England. The
New Haven has already canceled its lease
of the Boston and Albany,, to become ef
fective February L and a few days ago
it filed with the interstate commerce com
mission various documents regarding the
steamship lines, by which the. commission,
under the Panama canal act, may proceed
to determine whether the railroad should
continue to hold that property. A willing
ness to meet governmental requirements
has accordingly been shown hy Chairman
Elliott and the railroad management.
Chairman Elliott does not intend return
ing to ,the department of justice to-mor
row, but will be here till Thursday and
will have another conference there before
he departs.
NEW YORK'S POLICE PROBLEM.
Rhinelander Waldo, late police commis
sioner of Greater New York, has made a
place for himself that none will envy. After
stripping the police department of every dep
uty commissioner, he notified Mayor Kline
that he resigned "forthwith,” put on his
hat and coat and walked out of police
headquarters. Mayor Kline met the situa
tion in a proper way by announcing that
Commissioner Waldo had been removed
for "insubordination.” Mr Mitchel, on the
eve of taking up his responsibilities as
mayor, will be pardoned for saying of this
Waldo performance:—
One nt the damnedest things that ever hap
pened in this city has been tried In the last
24 hours. I refer to the attempt to pros
trate the polh e department and denude it of
its heads.
As a peanut official Mr Waldo will never
be forgotten by the discriminating. In dis
missing the police problem at a dinner
given in his honor, Mr Mitchel admitted
its difficulty, but injected a note of hope
fulness which greatly pleased his audience.
He came very near describing Police Com
missioner O’Meara- of Boston when he
said:—
I have felt that the police problem is
capable of solution In this city. It Is a busi
ness problem and a human problem The
man who directs the affairs of the police de
partment should have a knowledge of busi
ness problems ami should have business ca
pacity. He should be human In his relations
with the people of the city and the men on
the force. Oue of the first things he should
do is to give to each Individual policeman a
respect for his job and the work be has to
do. not only for himself but for the city. If
the police commissioner can do that for the
men of the force, and can give them useful
and continuous occupation and keep their
minds on their work, and at the same time
have in himself the force of character to In
spire loyalty to him and to the city. I be
lieve that we ran solve the police problem.
And It will not be as in the past the rock
on which the ,administration goes to wreck.
Mayor Mitchel’s choice of a head for the
New York department will have much to
do with the fate of the new regime. It is
suggestive that among the. Mitchel appoint
ments is that of ex-Mayor Adolph L. Kline
as a tax commissioner.
NEW YORK VITAL STATISTICS.
Fewer births, marriages and deaths are
a coincidental feature of New York's
health statistics for 1913 made public last
week by E. J. Lederle, commissioner of
health. The births decreased from 135,-
655 in 1912 to 135.134; the marriocra
from 51,703 to 51,257: there were 73.901
deaths, representing a decrease of .35 per
thousand of population. This is the fourth
year in succession that a new low record
in the death rate has been established.
Viewed from the standpoint of age group
ing. the greatest, conservation of life was
among children, especially infants. The
figures were compiled exclusive of the
final 12 hours of the year.
Tbt Free Presbyterians of Scotland have
passed a resolution expressing regret at
the effort being made to < pen the national
museum ou the Sahbatn. The Sabbath
qvtftion persists, but everybody seems
agreed that there should be a Sabbath.
NEW YORK ART OBSERVATIONS
THE WINTER ACADEMY OF DESIGN
I Considerable Display of Smalt
Sculpture and Very Good Repre
sentation of Painting.
। From Our Special Correspondent.
' New York. N. Y., Thursday. January 1.
It is not so easy for a visitor in New
I York to realize that it is a badly-governed,
, corruptly-managed place; of course one
■ sees that it is immensely crowded, and that
people have to "roost high” in order to do
the business of mankind, so largely con
centrated here. But it is to the occa
sional visitor an easily hospitable city:
good to get around in: any number of
ways to reach the spot he wants to go to;
easy to get out of; and while he is here,
there's no difficulty about thugs, pick
pockets. confidence men, those whose steps
take hold on hell, and the rest of it. All
one has to do in New York city (Manhat
tan) is to know where he is going, what
he has to do, and to behave himself, and
he will find every possible convenience af
forded him. New York’s streets are clean,
for the reform instituted by Col Waring
has persisted, despite Tammany, as he said
it would. Waring, whom people spoke of
as a realist, working on human nature as
it was. proved thereby that he was an
idealist, and looked on the future when he
set himself to any task he undertook.
Much was lost in thoroughness of practi
cal achievement when he gave his life for
sanitation in Cuba, but the life of him
continues wherever he set his splendid
spirit "No.” he said to me when Tam
many ended his official service—now long
ago, “no,—you mistake a check in such
matters for a close; it is not: there will be
shortcomings, but the right thing once en
tered upon, is bound to conquer, and New
York will not relapse into the old condi
tions: the people are stronger than the
busies.” The city is in a ferment now (to
some extent) over the extraordinary per
formances of the incompetent gentleman
who has just resigned as both gentleman
and official from the police department;
but there is a general confidence in young
Mitchel, —it is believed that he can do and
will do solid reconstructive service in the
greatest city of America. He does not
read Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, but
he will do as well as that very interesting
personage Gaynor, who lived in the Stoic
philosophy. Let us hope that Mr Mitchel
will fulfil the hopes of an untrammelod
purpose, such as he has, to do things
rightly, and keep free of political entangle
ments. His opportunity is great.
But this is not what I started to write
about. The Academy of Design has made
a new departure in its exhibition, now in
the midst of its term, for it doses on the
18th. The first gallery in the fine arts
building on Fifty-seventh street is largely
occupied with sculpture. It is minor sculp
ture. to be sure, but still the representa
tive of form and proportion instead of color
and values and tone. It certainly is a pitv
that this great city, so. crowded with
artists, should have no adequate hall, or
galleries, to exhibit the work of our great
sculptors. We have known for 20 years
at least, (since the Columbian exposition
of 18931 that the statuary genius "had
reached America, and that we had great
men among us, doing big things. But
still there is no place to give advantage
to the display of that genius. What we
have here is all grace, elegance, occasional
ly notable promise, and of course a clear
sense of the requirements and merits of
pure form, but what room is there for a
great thing in these academy galleries, so
small, so narrow, so unfitted therefore to
give effect to a sculptor's heroic concep
tions? New York ought to have a mag
nificent house of art. where there should
need no apology of vacancy. In the exhibi
tions of die Architectural league we have
seen some superb plasters of great concep
tions. and those, exhibitions are of the high
est interest in respect to the future of
American art. If - there were sufficient
room, where particular galleries could be
given up to sculpture in the large sense,
the Academy could fulfil its proper scheme
of existence. As it is. it will be most
unsatisfactory. For that matter, the gal
leries are too small for fair show of the
pa inters of America, now a numerous
body. There are pictures refused admis
sion every year which merit a place on the
walls, but are inevitably crowded out.
Excellent artists who do not live in the
metropolis have no consideration whatever.
The Academy authorities are not so much
to blame as their conditions.
But to return to the Academy show of
sculpture. There ar e many portrait busts,
now and then a miniature full-length—a
statuet and some of these interest one
mildly. Italian names are frequent in the
catalog; these indicate a clever facility in
the toolwork, and little else, for the Ital
ian artist of to-day does not display gen
ius. There is a charming group of “Cas
par. Daphne and Foresta Hodgson.” three
children, by Scarpitta; there is a very
feeble “Nydia” by one Pietro; there is a
bust of Beethoven by Fiorato, in which
every trace of character is left out of the
face; there are figures for fountains and
for rose gardens by other Italians. But
mere prettiness is no great value except
for toys for children, and such things can
not he regarded seriously. Of really strik
ing work Edward Field Sanford s'lndian
entitled “How!” (misprinted “Howe” in
the catalog) is to be mentions I: it is real
ly heroic and ought to be a statue. So
also deserves the “Big Tree.” another
Indian portrait or study by E. Jewett.
Women ^contribute in a distinguished way
to these minor sculptures. Bessie Potter
Vonnoh has a statuet worthy of Tanagra
which she entitles “Grecian Draperies,”
—she might and ought to have found a bet
ter title;—and much better than that Is
“A Chance Acquaintance.” a delightful
little naked boy who has flung himself
down on a leafy bank, and gazes with a
startled wonder at a butterfly that has
alighted on his ankle. Miss Anastasia St
I/eger ‘ Eberle presents a delicious little
gr >up of “Girls Wading"; the three are
admirably modeled and full of girlish grace.
Annetta Saint-Gaudena (that family is con
secrated to art), has some portraits in low
relief which are quite worthy; and in that
way of portraiture there could hardly he
any more fortunate achievement than Leila
Usher’s medallion of Charles Eliot Norton.
It is his very characteristic pose of head
and refinement of feeling. A strong work
is Harriet W. Frishmuth’q “The Swim
mer,” a well-knit, rather spare figure, bent
ns about to plunge. Elsa Hasbrouck's
"The Dreamer." a girl doing up her long
hair, is attractive; aud Edith B. Parsons,
in her “Faun” has caught the wilding spir
it very well; her faun is poetically con
ceived, and the fawn by his side is a pretty
punning accessory. Charles Louis Hinton’s
“Atalanta” is a piece of exquisite work
manship: R. Hinton Perry's “Adam and
Eve” is. strange to say, original and beau
tiful. Eve sits higher and looks with a
wistful even a boding question at the man,
reclined and lifting himself to raise his
head and extend an arm toward the beau
tifur vision with the welcome of timorous
desire. It is a fine imagination well pre
sented. The winner of the Helen Foster
Barnett prize for the best piece of sculp
ture shown in the winter exhibition by an
artist under 35. is Paul Manship, who
shows several things beside; the prize
work being “Centaur and Dryad,”—it
evinces able handling in the nude female
figure, with its leafy draperies floating be
hind. and in the fantastic man-horse that
is really assailing this dryad—this crea
ture of the forest—to her terror. It is a
matter of technic, for the idea reads better
in Greek legend than it looks in modern
statuary.
It seemed well to speak at the start of
the need of n great salon, with room enough
♦o display the work of painters who, living
in the country, have yet had the full ad
vantage of European cultivation and its
teachers, aud paint as good landscapes,
marines or portraits as are painted in the
narrow range of New York studios. Aud
yet. if one should judge by the present
Academy, it would appear that room is not
necessary, for this is one of the smallest,
the most restricted of exhibitions. There
are 351 number- in the catalog and of
these 119 are sculptures. The walls, there
fore, were but sparsely occupied. In the
south gallery there are scarcely two doz
en canvases. There are only 232 paint
ings shown. And if there has been so se
vere a selection as this we must hold
either that we have here the very top of
American art. or else that the censors
gave up in despair and did what was easi
est; for a principle of choice cannot be
found. That it is not the best of American
art we shall readily discover: but that is
because onr great men have lied and our
great women have not yet come io the fore.
Aet it is quite undeniably, n more than
usual Academy, by virtue of its prevailing
exclusion of hopeless commonpt.u ns. Thore
are bu one or two banalities in the whole
lot. and of these none is so obtrusive as
when in last year's exhibition unendur
able silly vision oft he Holy Grail swelled
up in tl:e Vanderbilt gallery over the stair
ways. There are many of the foremost
men and women in onr art without icpre
sentation here; there are many of the most
remarkable individual painters of the
younger generation who do not appear.
Nevertheless, it is a remarkably good
Academy.
Among the marine painters wo find our
selves quite comfortable; and it is a par
ticular pleasure to find that William Rit
schel has the recognition of the Carnegie
prize. “Rocks and Breakers. Pacific Coast.”
is one of the most impressive portraitures
of the ocean force and the earth resistance
that has been painted. It is as vital as
one of Winslow Homer's. Emil Carlson's
“Sky and Ocean” is another splendid pres
entation of the elemental strife. The ex
traordinary beauty of the color in Carlsen's
waters is beyond praise. Frederick J.
M augb is not seen at his best in "l Iff the
Coast of Maine,” yet it is n strong portray
al of the ocean. Another Maine coast pic
ture. by Howard Russell Butler, is full of
leaping and wandering sunlight, mid the ar
tist well calls it "A Glorious Dav." There
are a goodly number of pictures of linr
bors and waterfronts that have to do
with the sea, but are not at all marine pic
tures : such, and a striking instance of the
romance of evil, is Lewis Cohen's "Strong
hold of the Scaligers”—who were robber
barons of the Mediterranean ; the reddish
old towers rising oiit of the water and
rendered with a sort of sympathetic emo
tion by a very capable draftsman. A benu
tiful view is given by Edward 11. Pott hast
of Gloucester harbor: seldom do we see so
excellent painting of the fishing (raft of our
vikings. F. K. M. Rehn has here a fine
picture of “The Swirl of the Surf.”
All this time no mention has been made
of the appearance of John Singer Sar
gent as a landscapist; one of the distinc
tions of the :xhibition is his “Water
fall,” loaned to the Academy. This great
rock gorge, the savagery of the scene, the
swift quarrels of the waters,—the im
mediate aspect, is quite tremendous; its
finest beauties are the swaying glints of
sunlight that sweep in from the clefts in
the cliffs, as if for a moment. But does this
artist discern no color in such a scene?
Sargent has no portrait here, as he often
does have: and of portraits there are not
many of importance. Those that are im
portant are by th? brilliant Emmets; Mrs
Ellen Emmett Rand’s "June” and Lydia
Field Emmet's “Fairy Tales’’ and “A
Good Little Girl.” I had the pleasure
of seeing these three at the exhibition
in the Casino at Stockbridge last sum
mer. and need only repeat hearty delight
in their human sweetness, and then espe
cially the delicious harmony of Lydia
Emmet's work. She catches the elusive
grace of childhood with rare skill. Louise
Cox has done a nice picture of Mrs Homer
Saint Gaudens and her child. In the way
of figure painting there is little of note.
I observe that Charles W. Hawthorne's
“The Widow” is praised by a critic of
prominence as showing “with what dis
tinction he can invest a prosaic subject
through painting -it in a personal and
really original way.” This may be pleasant
reading for Mr Hawthorne, but his pic
ture is the baldest sort of anecdote, told
without spirit or interest and certainly
without any attempt at colors. Ivan Glin
sky makes a pretty picture of his little
boy unclad and hugged to his admiring
mother's breast. The strongest • portrait
shown is that of the vigorous young con
ductor of the Philadelphia orchestra. Leo
pold Stokowski, done by Leopold Seyf
fert.
I shall recur later to the landscapes and
other interesting matters in the Academy,
bnt for the moment turn to speak of the
most remarkable display of Persian and
other oriental rugs that has been made
here for many years. The embarrassment
of a big Armenian firm in Constantinople
throws its large possession of old weaves
and also old pottery on the market here,
and the rugs, faience, armor, plate, etc.,
are all to be put up at public sale, on the
afternoons of January 6, 7. 8 and 9 at the
American Art galleries. Madison Square
south. A beautifully illustrated catalog
is to he had. which in itself, as a work
of printing art and a valuable guide to the
classing and characterizing of rugs, is of
great value. There is no work of human
hands for nse. plain use. constant and un
sparing use, can compare with these rugs
of Persian, Khorassan, Turkestan, Kur
distan, Ghiordez or other weaves in the
accessory of beauty. To particularize in
this field would be tedious; only sight can
make plain in any degree the great charm
of these marvelous color harmonies. Prayer
rugs and mosque rugs, home rugs and so
on. all are of great interest. “Imagine,’’
says one writing about them, “a Persian
palace carpet coming to New York which
is 46 feet and 4 inches long and 28 feet
and 4 inches wide! How many million
aires have apartments vast enough to ac
commodate a rug like that? Several, no
doubt; but they are scarcely common.
There is another Persian state carpet, of
Lavehr-Kerman weave, which is 37 feet
long and 27 wide. Both of these carpets
are beautiful and rich. The larger of the
two is extremely thick, extremely lustrous;
its body is of a ruby-red color, with a great
blue medallion in the center. The border
is woven in contrasting colors. It is a
dream of oriental sumptuousness. The
second is woven of many brilliant and har
monious tints, with creamy white back
ground TJiere are many other rugs in the
great collection which are almost as large
as these/^ «
THE NEW YORK LEGISLATURE.
Republicans Klect Their Man as
Speaker — William Sulzer Blocked
by Democrats.
Beyond effecting an organization, not
much work of importance was accom
plished at the opening in Albany, N. Y.,
yesterday of the 1914 legislative session.
Adjournment was taken last night to the
19th. Thaddeus C. Sweet, republican, was
elected speaker of the Assembly on the
first ballot, with 81 votes. Alfred H.
Smith, democrat, got 44 votes, and Mi
chael Schaap, progressive, 19. Three “in
dependents" voted for Sweet.
Former Gov Sulzer made two attempts
to get in his resolution calling for a gen
eral investigation of alleged political
abuses by an Assembly committee. The
matter was blocked promptly by objec
tions from the democratic side. In pre
senting his objection. Assemblyman Walk
er referred to “the late lamented govern
or.” Mr Sulzer paid no attention to this
comment. Gov Glynn's annual message
was read in both houses.
When the Legislature reconvenes.
Speaker Sweet is expected to announce his
committees and the appointment of a ma
jority leader. The general impression
among assemblymen was that Harold J.
Hinman, who was appointed temporary
leader yesterday, will succeed himkelf as
the permanent republican leader.
CUSHING ELECTED SPEAKER
WINS ON FOURTH BALLOT
COOLIDGE CHOSEN IN SENATE
Democrats Could Not Swing Solidly
for Webster for Speaker—Some
Progressives Broke for Cush-
ing — Long Day of Un
precedented Scenes.
From Our Special Reporter.
Boston, Wednesday. January 7.
Speaker Cushing has been re-elected on
the fourth ballot by a total of 123, or a
clear majority of all and two more, to 109
for Webster of Boxford, the progressive
candidate, five for Tague of Boston, dem-
few
' a
' ■ Oft. i
■ -vßk ' ’ •
(Wj
I
! ■ A
CALVIN COOLIDGE.
fElected president of the Senate ]
ocrat, and one, by himself, for Morrill of
Haverhill, socialist. The democrats played
the game as best they could to defeat the
republicans, and they promptly revealed
Aeir tactics before the result of the first
roll-call was announced, when Tague of
Boston, their candidate whom they were
pledged to follow, changed his vote to
Webster of Boxford, the progressive. Al
most every democrat followed his lead,
but not all of them. Webster came with
in one of as many as Cushing on one bal
lot, but some democrats, including Mr
Mitchell of Springfield, would not vote for
a progressive. So the democratic game
was blocked. Later a few progressives
left Webster for Cushing, including Mr
Webster of Northfield, and Cushing won
by the above vote.
Senator Coolidge got a handsome vote
materially in advance of the regular party
vote. •
Mr Mitchell of Springfield gives out the
following statement regarding his vote for
' —
• < 1
’ w £■ W
Bk: Ji
GRAFTON D. CUSHING.
[Re-elected speaker of the House.]
speaker: “I have always been a democrat
and I voted for the democratic candidate
for speaker to the end.”
Most of the proceedings were of the
usual routine, except the election of the
speaker and the debate over the plan to
have a committee on committees.
CONVICTS HAVE NEW PLAN.
Form a Good Conduct League and
Will Help Maintain Discipline.
The convicts of Auburn prison at Au
burn, N. Y., have adopted a New-year’s
resolution pledging themselves to good con
duct. To make the resolution effective
they have organized a good conduct league
by means of which they will have a share
in maintaining prison discipline. Convict
public opinion is the weapon by which it
is expected that good discipline will be en
forced. The organization of tbe league
was perfected, it was announced last night,
by a company of, 5(1 convicts elected by
ballot, which' met last Sunday in the
prison chapel and adopted the resolution.
The scheme, which is an experimental one,
was suggested by Thomas Mott Osborne,
chairman of the state commission for
prison reform, who was recently a vtilnn
tary inmate of Auburn, and was instituted
by John B. Riley, state superintendent of
prisons. All convicts will be admitted to
the league, but under its rules bad conduct
will forfeit membership and certain privi
leges. The aim of the organization as set
forth in the resolution is “mental, moral
and civic betterment for those who for so
many years have been considered without
the pale of human kinship.”
The league is described as “one of the
first fruits of the humane policy” of Su
perintendent Rilfy. who is commended in
the resolution for having "inspired among
officers r.nd inmates such a kindly spirit
of physical, inoral and humanitarian pro
gressiveness as warrants the hope of more
considerate management and supervision of
the whole personnel than that which has
obtained in nil previous history of prison
conduct.”
D. F- MALONE DECLINES BANQUET.
At last a public official has arisen to
protest against public dinners to him
self. He is Dudley Field Malone, col
lector of the port of New York. In ex
plaining his position to those who tendered
him the honor, Mr Malone wrote: "In de
clining any banquet which would be per
sonal in character I do so because of the
fact that I wish ho emphasis laid, publicly
or privately, on me personally. Moreover,
the strain on the private purses of citizens
and on the energies of public men due to
innumerable banquets has become so
great that I do not wish to contribute to
its continuance.”