The sun. [volume], December 09, 1917, Page 8, Image 8

About The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920

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Tlfe STJN, STJN0AY, DECEMBER 9, I9T7.
8'
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and xr.w youii pnEsa.
SUNDAY, DKCKMHKtt 0, 1017.
memhkh or tiu: ahsociatki) rn::s3.
The Aeaoelateil l'ren la nclurtvetv en
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iithrrle credited In Dili paprr And also
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Ixndon efflee. iO-ii Kleet tret.
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Washington oQce, Munaer ltuthllnr.
. Brooklyn ofllee, doom 201, i:cle Uulld
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If our Mrndt vho titer vlth tiieau
tttpit and l(Mlrfa for pllle4tkM vfa
In mm rrltcttd orlkI return"! muiI
off rgMf mi tttmpt or that pnrfotr.
TEi.crnoNt:. mekkman ::oo.
Lord Lansdowne Vetoed.
Trd IANfrowxi;'s comments on
President Wilkin's ntldress concern
ing war nlrfis and pence irasslbilltles
. has Interest to Tin: Sun nnd to many
of its readers.
"I have rwiil the President's ud
tfress," suys the llrltlxh statesman.
"with warm ntlnilrtttlmi. I urn In
agreement with the policy which he
has so eloquently described, and I
notice nltli much pleasure tliyt his
speech ronlnins pushitRos which com
pletely support the views 1 have en
deavored to express."
This would seem nt first glance to
be conclusive us to the soundness of
the interpretation which Tin; Svn
has had tho honor to attach to tho
remarks nnd attitude of Lord Lans
downe. It would appear to ordinary
Intelligence that there could be no
batter authority on tho subject than
i-oru liansdownh niniseir. Tiiere is
certainly no ftinl!flcutlon ot his ex
pressed admiration for the President's
address or of the pleasure lie derives
from what ho regards its evidence ot
the complete correspondence letween
the President's ideas und his own,
jKevIously uttered.
It is therefore with surprise aud
with something like pain that we ob
serve thnt our highly esteemed neigh
bor the World peremptorily denies to
Lord Lanstowng the satisfaction he
momentarily experienced upon reading
the President's address. He "Is mis
taken," our neighbor now rules, "In
asserting that President Wilson's ad
dress to Congress 'contains passages
which completely support the views
I have been endeavoring to express.' "
The World goes on to explain to Lord
Lansdownu what he really meant In
his letter, ns well as what ho really
did not mean. It shows him with
palnstaklug and patient kindness that
Ms warm admiration of the Presi
dent's address has no reason for ex
istence and that the notion that he is
unite In agreement with Mr. WriaoN
is nothing but n pleasant delusion
on his part.
This Is iinfortunute for Lord Lans
downe, but we do not seo what can
be done about It. It will be inferred
from the firm though courteous man
ner In which the lrorlol rejects Lord
Lansdowne's own Interpretation of
" his own utterances and sustains the
construction which Jt, tho H'orWttut
upon his meaning In the first Instance,
that the decision Is intended to be
final and that the chances of a re
hearing for his Lordship aro Indeed
mighty slim.
Kitendlng the Truce to Bumanla.
That the Rumanian soldiers should
be drawn into the truce between the
Iiolsherlkl ami the Germans was In
evitable. It was Impossible for the
IJnteulo nations to give them any as
tsistancc and they wero left Isolated
by tho desertion of the ally that had
been Instrumental lu bringing them
Into tho war. Despite tho remon
strance of their King against tho ar
mistice and their own expressed wish
to continue their stand ngninst the
foe upon tho small portion of their
country remaining open, they wero
compelled through the utter futility
of their resistance to accept tho hard
terms forced upon them.
Their present wretched position is
the result of one of the sordid trage
dies of tho'war. That they should
reject any attempt nt frnternlzntlon
with the enemy shows an understand
ing of the malign forces against
which they havo been fighting. No
other nation has been moro than Itu
munla n victim of German Intrlguo
und double dealing. And uono was
moro completely betrayed to tho Ten-
tonic Powers by a frjend whom It had
reason to trust.
The whole miserable story came
out In the frlnl of the disloyal officers
after tho overthrow of tho old re
gime In HiiM-ln, in which wero dis
closed tlielr treachery und tho con-
nlvnnco of the Prlmo Minister Stiie
wi:u, a willing German vassal and
tool, with tho Berlin Government,
Itumanla wits forced Into the war
on n fnrty-elsht hour ultimatum from
Pclrngnnl. Slio wits told to Join the
Allies or f.nv un Inva-lon by n litis
slim army. Sho was nssnred of tho
ukslstnneo from lfussln of 1,fM00()
men to defend her frontier uguluil
the Illllirurs: h!!o n. l.ivn.to.i t.i
aylvanta. Stusues not onty failed to
send tlila rcllof, but his own agents
advised tlio enemy of erery more of
tho Jlumanlan army. The supplies,
suus and ammunition that the Allies
sent to the Ilumnnlans were diverted
from their route or stolen In Itussla.
As n result the Austro-Qerman forces
were prepared for the Rumanian ad
vance, and they had comparatively
little difficulty In completing tho con
quest of the country.
Tho Bolshevlkl would have had a
mnpilflcont opportunity of showing
tint burning desire to right wrongs
and tho supremo sense of justice
which It professes had It wiped out
this shamo of Itussla. Instead? It has
dropped willingly Into Berlin's plnns
and completed the sordid story of
Intrigue nnd treachery by handing
liumanla over to Iter enemies.
Art's ITogrMS In Decortication.
The proces ot denudation to which
the human form has been subjected
on the stage ndtl on 'the screen In the
lust generation 1ms been so gradual
that It has scarcely. attracted aotlce,
and so complete that costume trunks
must now occupy 4 space Inconsid
erable in comparison with that which
their predecessors of tho Ilrltlsh
lllondc era of art took up. 'a well bal
anced musical comedy company should
be able to travel nov wlfh no 'moro'
Impedimenta than nn Industrious knit
tor requires. The saving In excess
baggage charges must be considerable
and should compensate tho producers
for thf falling off of patronage they
so bitterly lament.
Time wns when a censorious police
and a benighted magistracy took cog
nizance of overcnthuslastle revela
tions of the human form moro or less
divine on the stage. Now the peace
officer nnd the' Justice devote their
thoughts to, other matters. No more
does the dctectlvo of fifteen or twenty
years experience confess on the wit
ness stand tho shock administered to
his delicate sensibilities by a glimpse
of Miss Twinklstoe's shapely ex
tremities Innocent of drapery: no
more docs the police Judge have to
blush nt the recounting of the de
moralizing spectacle. Yet no man
or woman can put a finger on a day
or month or year nnd say, "Here
Puritanism gave up the struggle, and
Art, unhampered by clothes, danced a
long etep forward."
The authorities are not to lo
blamed If they have permitted the
process In question to go forward un
clieckcd. Tlio examples set for the
stage by Art of a moro pretentious
dignity could not bo without effect.
Classic dancing has been received
with enthusiasm in those places
whence not long ago issued the loud
est denunciations of tho "vulgarity"
of tlghted figurants. What respec
table lawns and drawing rooms have
been turned over for exhibitions In
which "Spring" pursued "Sorrow"
ncross the field of rislon, both In.
fewer garments than Ltdia Thou-
son would ever hare been allowed to
display herself in! The cultivation
of appreciation for Art has resulted
In tlio establishment of new stand
ards; tho difficulties which beset
Oscar ITamilIESstkin even when Kos-
ter & Dial's constituted an adven
ture on Thirty-fourth street do not
xlst to-day. Nor Is It to bo said that
tho stago has corrupted us ; the stage,
In the matter of undressing, has no
more than kept abreast of others.
Woman wears for ordinary occa
sions now tho most sensible skirts,
aa to length, that It has been her
pleasure to don In living man's recol
lection: In many cases they are no
longer than the stage dresses of half
a score of years ago. But disappear
ance of fleshings Is the characteristic
of stago costumes that now engages
the skill of makeup artists and ward
robe mistresses; benevolent persons
hope It is not drafty behind the
scenes. The task of the needto women
must bo measurably lightened; no
picture like those once popular of a
gay chorus girl soberly darning her
professional gear would now be ac
cepted as authentic. Ballet dancers
are the most warmly clad members
of the company.
District Attorney Swann Is now
showing signs of restlveness bo
eauo of tho presence of young women
exposed to all the rigor of winter
breezes on Broadway with only n
belt of, Jewels and a veil of chiffon to
protect them. Ho has threatened to
take some uctlon. Ho has not moved
too soon; but regardless of official
Intervention, the fashion will soon
change. Classic dancing will endure;
Art will not perish; but some theatri
cal manager will search for a great
novelty, put clothes on his show girls
nnd attain unprecedented wealth and
fame by restoring to us tho long lost
mystery of tho female form.
Looking Glass Land.
When Aucr. deserted Wonderland
for tho Looking Glass Country she
found many surprising cbnnges. Right
was left and left was right. If you
wanted to go east yon went west and
In order to approach a percon you
weut directly away from him. It was
not necessary to put yourself Jn some
ono else's place as It had been in the
everyday world, nnd still is rather
frequently. All you bad to do was
to twist the mirror and lo! you occu
pied tho place he bad held and bo was
quite plainly nowhere.
Tho Looking Glass Country baa
been too little frequented since Lr.wis
Caurom. and Alick adventured within
Its, borders. .Though thousands nnd
ninylio millions of children have rend
with Infinite delight of that explora
tion, the conviction which impresses
lisclf on youthful minds that there
U such n country loses forco ns wc
grow older and hypothctically wiser
and weave our ways through n less
magical world.
Only when something happens to
bring us in front of mirror nro we
conscious for a moment not ot those
few gray hairs showing, but of some
thing el so faded and font, probably
foreTcr. And since tra have forgotten
tho secrets of the looking glass we
turn nway from it and go through tba
old and painful process of putting
ourselves In others' places; when,
with a shift of the glass, or a atop to
one Aide, wo could so easily cut our
figures out of the picture and rlew
thoaa others full length.
With UrnNs wo sometimes -wish
that wo could see ouraalraa as others
sec us. It Is generally rnci useful to
be ablo to ec others as they sec them
selves. Wo see ourselves as others
see us when we gazo In tho looking
Blast. We tee others fin they Fee
themselves when, llko Aucr, we paas
through it. What was our right Is
their left; and to meet thorn we In
variably find wo must go tho other
jway. The world os we see it Is loft
behind. Let us step through the
mirror that shows us ourselves as
others see us and walk boldly into
Looking Glass Land.
All about us aro oplo whom we
recognize Instantly as remarkably like
ourselves. Their language seems 11
little strange and the printed charac
ters have in upside down appearance,
but that Is to bo expected. These
aro a friendly people, we find, and ns
they tell us tlielr history wo find In
them other virtues courage, gentle
ness, patience, affection. They are
long suffering, too. But what really
amazes us Is their different way of
looking nt things.
Where wo sec a definite beginning
and an ending or goal they sec a
continuous nnd changing panorama.
Where we see a mechanism an nuto
tnobltc. an army, a government they
sec a play of forces ; nn electric spark
provoking explosions, a host of men
without sufficient food or proper
leadership, a handful of men who
promise much and accomplish little.
We see Instrumentalities, they see
powers. We put our faith in order,
they know only the grip of chaos.
We, happy dwellers In an outer world
where so many things are fixed and
calculable, are bewildered nnd even
nngry because we see only what Is
going on. But these others, they have
no means of telling what Is going on
except In their own souIst: they see
all things about them without form
nnd void; they arc confused; they
know onty that 'as thcro seems to
them never to havo been any begin
ning, so there seems to them to be no
ending; meanwhile, as always, they
suffer, struggle and press forward.
Wc shall never understand the.o
pcoplo by stopping before the mirror
which shows us our own pleasing
reflections nnd orderly surroundings.
When wo have acquired some skill at
seeing Russia ns the Russians see her
we may be able to help mend matters
In the Looking Glass Land.
The Waste or Government Money.
Among the unreformed, unrepent
ant and defiant wasters In tho United
States to-day, the Congress continues
to hold Its familiar place. In the Con
gretMlonal Retard for Tuesday the
President's address Is printed In the
report of the Senate proceedings, l)o
ginning on page 10 and ending on
page 21. The same address is prlntod
in tho report of tho House proceed
ings, beginning on page 22 and end
ing on page 2-1.
The only difference lu tho two
prints consists of tho "Applause"
and "Prolonged applause" Inserted
by tho House reporter.
The repetition of the address was
utterly unnecessary, but notwith
standing this Congress will undoubt
edly read ns long lectures on scien
tific economy and patriotic saving be
fore the session is ended.
The Seven Dollars of the
Foo
Administrator.
Tho Spokesman-RctHcio of Spokane,
Wash., perforins a valuable and Inter
esting service in attempting to prove
that the Hoover $7 dinner story is a
falsehood. It had been alleged that
Mr. Hoovta, on a visit to Bpokano, nte
S7 worth of food at a local hotel, and
thoso patriots who took tho yarn
seriously toro up their conservation
pledge cards and violently cursed tho
whole of the food economy plan.
Mr. Hoover, as far as the Spoke-moii-Revteio
knows, ucver was In Spo
kane in his life. Further, says tho
article, no mnn could devour $7 worth
of food and live, at tho present rood
crate prices. Still further, even if a
person does eat up $7, he need not
disturb tho economy balance ns long
as ho confines himself to foods other
than wheat, sugar and whatever other
essentials happen at the moment to
bo on the Hoover list.
Thus another malicious rumor Is
put out of its misery. Like the Red
Cross sales lie and the thousand
others born in disloyal minds, It goes
to Its long rest.
As for tho diet of Mr. Hooves, Na
tlonal Food Administrator, we havo
no direct information. We should
Judge that stalwart official to be n
good feeder, within certain prudent
limits, nnd we know enough of his
sincerity to feel sure that he doesu'
haunt tho kitchen on meatless Tues
day to pick at tho roast of meat from
Monday. There would be no wasteful
roasting In tho Hoover household on
the day preceding mcatloss day, nt
any rate.
Long years, ago it was the custom
to publish the Items of Tiicononi:
Koosr.VEi.T's hearty meals. What tlio
then President nto and what he said
between wullows meant much to tho
American public. Shall wo bo forced
h
to ndopt tho snmo watchful tactics
with Hootkb?
"Mr, Hoovct ate half a loaf of corn
broad and two lnrgo slices of shark
meat with apparent relish ; also tool;
two cups of coffee without sugar. 'I
feel bully.' ho said. 'I am delighted
to notice that this honso has discarded
toothpicks In tho Interest of the
wooden ship programme.' "
Let us conso worrying about Mr.
Uooveb's appctlto; in tho meantime,
however, assuring onr Pacific coast
contemporary that howevor curious
tho fT'menl sounds In that locality, It
is un evil possibility In this town.
One and Inseparable.
Tho word "Victory 1" Is n good
word. You press your teeth firmly
against the lower lip and In the very
first and accented syllable give ur-
ttculato expression to a determina
tion to see the thing through.
The noun "victory" eraployod ns
an adjectivo Induced tho people' of
Groat Britain to lend about HSOO,
000,000 for winning tho war. It has
persuaded the 8,000,000 Inhabitants of
Canada to subscribe over ?41G,000,O0O
for tho samo object. There wero over
S"l,7ofl subscribers to the Canadian
loan. Proportionally, Canada has
done as well ns we did with tho sec
ond Liberty loan, and It may be n
little better.
Without ictor' there will le no
liberty; without liberty, victory would
turn Into defeat.
The destroyer Jacob Jones boro the
name of tho liaro of the Wasp, a man
who had studied and practised medi
cine, been clerk of the Delaware Su
preme Court, and then at 31 entered
the navy nn an ensign In 179). Ho was
an officer of the Philadelphia when the
was captured In 1S03 In the harbor ot
Tripoli, and a prisoner for clRhtecn
months. J lis vlctor' on October 18,
1812, over the brig Frolic, wo achieved
n forty-tlirco minutes, with some of
the lighting nt quartern so close that
the Wasp's rammers In loading struck
the bo w.i of the Ilrltlsh vessel. Com
mander Jones and his prlre were cap
tured Immediately after their engage
ment ty tho Polctlers, seventy-four
Kuns, und were taken to Bermuda.
Congress fravo him a vote ot thanks
and u medal and appropriated $:s,000
to compensate him nnd his crew for
the loss ot their prize. Several Ktates
gave swords to film, ami the Dela
ware Legislature honored him with
gift of silver plate. In 1818 he
commanded tho Macedonian in Ds
catvr's squadron. Lieutenant-Commander
David Woutii Baouet. who
commanded the Jacob .Tones when she
was sunk on Thursday, was a brother
of KnslKn Worth Uigixt, who wns
killed with four sailors in the attack
on Cardenas, Cuba, on May 11, 1191.
Thus tho tragedy enacted somewhere
In foreign waters last week brings to
public notice two noteworthy men who
t-crved their country faithfully, be
sides the lamented participants In the
present wnr.
Wo have In the world too many Ger
manized Socialists and too few social
ized Germans.
Cut a cord of wood!" Is tho Fuel
Administrator's cry In Vermont. "Cut
a mess ot red tape!" ought to bo tho
slogan In some spots In Washington.
NAMES
ON THE
STAMPS.
THRIFT
A Folnt for Consideration Hegardlng
Foittble Costs In Case of Death.
To TKt Earroa or Tut Sun Si1: I
notice on your editorial page this morn
ing the advice to purchaser of war sav
ing stamps to writ their names across
the face of the (tampa, a surgcatlon
which seems to have the approval of the
Federal authorities.
May I suggest that this Is not in all
cases a wiso thing to do? Assume that
a person of very limited moans purchases
a mall amount of thet stamps, write
his name across tho face of them and
dlts before a redemption thereof. Even
though the person so dying should leave
no other pioperty Justifying or requir
ing the taking out of letters of adminis
tration upon his estate It would clearly
be Impossible for his widow or children
to collect tho redemption amount of
stamps o marked without the appoint
ment of an administrator to stcn In the
decedent's name either a transfer er a
reoelpt The expense of such an appoint
ment, Including, as It would, a probable
premium of $10 on a surety company
bond, might In many cases exceed tho
principal amount collected, and ceVtatnly
lu many cases this expense would ex
ited the accrued interest on the Invest
ment. ,
This phase ot tlio matter rhould be
taken Into consideration by purchasers
of stamps before registering them or
wrltinr their names upon them.
It might be well If the Federal author
ities should tnako tome ruling in ad
vance to cover such cases so that pur
chasers of stamps will know how to pro
teet themselves against theft and at the
same time not subject themselves to the
expense above pointed out. J. r. r.
Nkw York, December 3.
DR. HOHENZOLLERN.
Has He the Degree Tet Which
the
V. of P. 'Conferred Already I
To ntr. Editor or The Hun Sir:
noticed In The Sum a few days ago Jliut
the name of Count. von, XUrnstoj-fC had
been stricken from thn rolls of Franklin
and Marshall College, .which several
years ago had conforrcd upon him the
degree of doctor of law. This suggests
to me lo IriQUlre whether or not the uni
versity of Vemwylvanla has taken slm
liar action on the name of Emperor Will
lam. According to tho 1016 edition of
the Almanach da Qotha the doctor's de
cree fmm that Institution Is still in
eluded in the Hat of the Kaiser's tltle,
dignities and honor. II. B. C.
Detroit, Mich., December f,
Tbe Helmet.
Hy Udy harotofort has bain
Conttnt ot Chrlitmas tlmt
With almple sifts Ilka motor can,
And onyx clocks that chlma,
And paarla and Poms and I'aklnseaa,
And vatas from Japan,
And things Ilka that wlthta the raacn
Of any bmlnera man.
fhi acorns iuch trifling tflnkat now,
And Indicate to mo
'I'll" prifont kUc ilatlroi to fr.d
Upon tier Chrlatmaa traaj ' '
Ho I liav rut the khaki en
And nliht and day I drill.
For lot aha wants tha halmet from
The head of Kalftr Ulll.
MlNXA XSTIMI.
THE 2:47 A. M. CAR.
Connoisseurs of urban travel, In
particular thoso who go home nt odd
hours, assert with quiet emphasis that
the trolley la much to bo preferred to
the elevated or tho subway. Draw
them out and they will adduce much
to uphold their preference. The sub
way, to begin with tho most disagree
able 'method known of getting from
hither thence, Is Impossible to a man
of reflcctlvo temper. Its nolso precludes
quiet meditation; Its speed gives no
time for 'contemplation. It has no
personality. "Common as the town
pump" has given way this long tlmo
to "common aa tho subway." Ono
never neea the same guard, never tho
namo faces. Ono can never get tho
amo car, or If ho docs thero is no
way of knowing It. It is well, almost
Prussian in Its cftlclency.
The same objections, though In
greatly lesser degree, hold true of the
elevated. There Indeed ono may meet
the samo gsurd nightly, but ha Is busy
Jerking levers and Jerkins cords and
shouting stations.
Ho's not friendly like our conductor,
tho, one who looks like a retired army
sergeant, and probably Is. Ho has
been on this run with the tamo motor
man tho bis fellow with tho mittens
made of bed ticking, heavily padded
for years. So has tho cnr. It has per
sonality, If you like. Tho third win
dow from tho front on tho left has a
smear blown In tho glass which dis
torts tho streets of Brooklyn into fu
turistic compositions. One xeat Iibh
the same old rip, the one on the rlitht.
There aro only two seats, lengthwise,
on which wo regulars sit and face each
other In friendly fashion. if
Old 2047 rocks across Brooklyn
Bridge at a furious rate, but nt Sands
otreet It is winded, and it limps there
after tortuously. Incredibly ugly Bor
ough Hall; moro windings: glimpses
of white painted all night lunch rootna
where taxlcab chauffeurs swap gossip
over their near coffee; second class
and second hand stores; tho brllllnntly
Illuminated show room ot a gas cotn-
pany; a turn; coa. pocKe . . m
of the Oowanus. then o climb t n the I
Park slope. Ono could almost lm da
hreiwh industry, ' past penury to 1
brownstone comfort, on to the abode of
afflitetico ns typified by ii long low of
marble, mansions overlooking tho dark
mysterious pork. Then downhill nnd
at the end a cemetery.
No belter kkeltcr nssemblape are we,
as In tho tubes. We arc known to
ono another by night. Wo have our
mysteries. There is for example, tho j
unmistakable, Yankee, white haired, at
great pains to keep well worn ctnthes
neat, who sinks his chin in a collar
of almost clerical cut while ho reads.
He looks at each of tho morning news
papers In turn, but always saves At
lantis for dessert. How did a Yankee
learn to read modern Greek? Ami
why. In Heaven's namo?
The riddlo of tho stocky nmn who
joins us half way hom Is trantparcnt.
Ito carries a paper bat; redolent ot
fresh baked rolls nnd his nails nro
edged about the cuticle with white.
Four proofreaders aro among us.
They are easy to Identify, scholarly
looking old chaps. Having read tcven
or eight hours for their living, they
read tho same columns al( tlio way
home for recreation, l.lko the tnotor-
man on his day oft" taking a nlco long
car ride.
Wo wait for the milk wagon drivers
tat their corners If they aro a few
seconds late. They always show up,
grinning tho thanks they nro too much
out of breath to voice. They are on
their way to woik.
Hunday mornings aro our bane.
Then we are ousted from our favorite
seats and have no elbow room for
newspapers. And we must listen to'""" asnr'- lurnaco nro wun jtv
tho high gigglings of tho girls who
havo been W. dances nnd nro returning
from their ono night a week of fun.
Why can't wo have a Sunday car to
ourselves?
CEASE, ANACHRONISTS!
Do Xot Coaple the Dlmo With an Old
and Dlmeless llowcry.
To the F.MTon op The Sun Sir: The
letters In The Sun from old timers are
lo me, with a memory going hack pome
seventy-five years, most interesting,
There Is one, Frank Dumont, who is at -
ways correct. I ran with the machines
from the time I was old enough to and
served seven years In the old volunteer
department, but Frank can giro tne his
tory. Or. contributor icentiom 'White's Me-
lodlun as charging ten cents admission.
Bltis his heart, there was no such coin
In the time of which he writes. Our
circulating medium was old Spanish cr
Mexican Junk, so worn that some of the
coins looked like a piece of tin. Tlio
admission was sixpence and a shilling.
Master Marks was a very graceful
dancer, but no mention 1h made of tha
two greatest clog dancers of their time,
Johnny Ptmond and Mickey Wan en.
It .i In tlio Mclcdlon that I first
saw Dan nnnnctt, tho ntithor of "Dixie."
The song wan sung thcto before Ihnmett
went with tho Urynnti.
The theatre opposite Fell street was
probably tho Windaur. The ono opposite
tho Old Howcry wan called tho Thalia.
The "Seven Temptations" was produced
at the Old Bowory and I saw It.
The first Mvlodlon was destroyed by
fire In the early MOs, nnd on that oc.-a-
lights that ever disgraced tho old volun -
I... rf.irln,nl Tim mmhjlmn ir.ru
ir.n.ln. in fll.l U.pl i,.,rl 1.,rlr,.. .r
IV vv-.v. .......... -
(Old Maid). I ran with 1 when a boy
and a nlco lot of .Sunday children they
we.e. The engine house war., and MIX
exl.ts. at the corner of Delancey nnd
Attorney streets. The locality wsh
known as Magtown. It was no uncom
mon Uilng, when the boys returned from
a flro or a fight, to havo the apparatus
run In tonguo llrst and a corporation
padlock put on the door, but they were
never kept out of service long.
TArrAN, December 7. Jon t Hanot.
OAT BUYING CORNMEAL.
Tho Mills of the Grain noils Crind
Everything Small hut the Trite.
To thu Eniios or Tut: Scv Sir: Mr.
Iloovor urges every ono to cat commcal
In place of wheat flour. Every local
citizen will of oourio wk-h to comply,
To-day my wife went to a largo retail
grocer and bought five pounds of corn
meal for which she was charged eight
cents a pound. I can buy wheat flour,
a few pounds at a tlmo, for six cents or
less, and of courso thero aro ten who
can't afford to pay that difference to
one who can afford It or Is Indifferent.
What should be dono about It? To
whom am 1 to makn complaint and look
for a remedy? l.ov.u..
Suw Tons', December S.
'I lie lilunt ArkaiuM !',
yrnt P IV it .vu r.rn.
The pie supptr was a failure.
STRIKE OUT -CRY.'
And We Shan Laugh and Bur to the
Great Victory.
To tsi Erjrroa of Tsrs Brm Mrs 1
have read Tua Sum for nearly forty
years I began early. Permit me the
privilege of recording my praise of your
editorial artlclo "Sing Before Tou Eat,"
printed on December 3.
To my mind it was ono of the best
that ever appeared In your wonderful
paper.
It cams for me, and I am sure many
others at preclsoly and exactly the right
time.
I have sung It gleefully, oxultlnsly to
many plccon toed, knock kneed, chicken
breasted, empty hearted war cowards of
both sexes, nnd have sent It post haste
to reveral more.
In fact it Is my great hope to know
It soon by heart.
It appears to me that when these old
dlntlrhs do not suit the times tuoy are
subject to change lllto anything else on
this mundane sphere.
Now It Is proposed that the vrord
"lauph" be substituted for "cry," and
we Khali slnR and laugh this thtnr
through.
And for thoso lucky onei on the
western front In quivering, oufTerlnr.
KlorlouH, supcrsupcrb La Belle France,
let them never forget that death ltsctf
Is afraid of the man who laughs.
And I havo no doubt that the onty
crying ever to bo done In these blessed
I'nlted States will bs for Joy when our
victorious men return. John Johns.
Wasiiinotom, D. C., December T.
SHOP EARLY!
A Little Christmas Gift of Considera
tion AH of Us Can Make.
To Tttn Emtor or Tns Bcn Sir: "Do
your Christmas shopping early" Is the
slogan of thousands of fair minded per
sons -who havo In mind the Interests of
those behind tho counters. It's a good
jdofran, for at Christmas time, tho sen
girt of considers-
,ncT(:M(tX hour3 f labor ur.
b'
Thero remain, however, a uoodly
number ot persons who watt until the
very last mlnuto before making their
Christmas purchases. Of course there
aro Instances In which persons are pre
vented from shopping early, but these
Instances aro so fotv that they need
scarcely be considered.
Tho spirit of "do your Christmas shop
ping early" Is one of consideration for
thosn on whom falls the strain ot the
extra burden. If tho extra work Is
fctretUicd over n period of weeks Instead
nf day It means Juat so much relief
from the strain for them.
CltlUSTOltf.
New York, December I,
RUNNING THE FURNACE.
X Day Slater Criticises Allianj's Hint.
to tbe Hooteboldcr.
To the Editor or Tub Bcn Sir; From
Albany comes a series of 'Mon'ts" and
I pointers on coaxing the furnace Issued
by Governor Whitman. It Is mainly
perpetuating tho misinformation going
1 the rounds for eai-H and altogether at
, varlanco with one's experience. For In
stance, ho advices the heaping flrepot.
which In these days of scarcity meana
much moro coal than Is necessary In
moderate weather.
My experience, laigely with tenants
fHillng to heat, and going back a number
of yearn, makes It certain that a "hatful
I or "rc "'lear lown l" xhv cars " niuc"
,umcr l,lan 11 ""P up nrepoi two-
coal on lou onl " " mwnan rang
,n;,t refuses to bake on an "old nro"
w,,u t,1 aal1''', banking on the lining.
governor tnaKcs It worse hy en-
' Joining that tho shaking process should
j vtop on tho dropping of llvn coal. Well,
, my cxpcrlcnco Is that two-thirds of fur
naco trouble comwi from unskilful use
' of "10 shBk". allowing live ashes to re-
, Ashcs ,, eoot wether Jf) nnm w
1 furnace, cauie a waste In this country
f at least onc-qunrter of tho coal. In
tho kitchen rango n half inch of soot on
tho top ami tho bottom of the oven will
1 cause tho unnrces-ary expenditure of one
ton of coal out of every three.
1 The Governor does not mention tho
key to saving coal, namely, careful ma
nipulation of cold air box necessary lo
changes of weather from sero to mod
erate. Frequently tlio box Is shut up
altogether, taking tho always stale cel
lar air and allowing a quarter of fur
nace heat to warm the cellar (that
would bo batter forced up Into tho house
by exact amount of cold ulr)'. He does
not mention the office of tho water pin
that when full enables tho householder
to bo comfortably warm at 63 degTees,
whero tho steam heated apartment Is
I chilly at ,0 dogrees or more. Nor docs
'ho mention tho fact that a cotton win-
dw shade pulled down nt nlnht 1 nl-
1 most ns valunblo ns a 3torni window to
fcliut nut tho cold nnd nhut In tho boat.
WILLIAM Oll.l,
DoncitKSTr.R, Mass., December S.
HE DONE HIS DAMNEDEST.
Isn't It Done, 'ot Did, and hy Twain.
Not HarteV
! To T,njI,w,n ot' T'"' s-Sir.- It
" ' ".. irum it
I Hrnm ln.f it . ..... !... ,1.-
"i. ... n,u in,,!. m-J I1UU
,- ... ... ...
, '
"i""i ' ""e. i u-
,?,'n" m'mo,n: ls ut fauU ,1"t, 13 l'n
' of Mk Tw'"",s Pr 'nee-., and the
gentleman wno nau casneu in -nan an
propriately cpltaphed by tho local pout
In theso line :
He done hi damnedrnt,
Angela cuiuld do no more.
This Is moro poetic, moro emphatically
uugrammnticai. aim puts man on a
piano with tho angeU Instead of, after
the t-crlptural fashion, a llttlo lower,
IT. II, UOBTSCHIU.I,
LrrTI.n Fkrht, N. J December 7.
Does tho Preacher Prurigo'
To tub Enuoit or Tim Scn Sir;
have to suggest that the vociferous gen
tlemen who continually appeal to the
rulillo to exerclsn economy nn.! kaIc
' aenlal ehould preface their remarks by
stating what form of self-denial they
themselves are practising. It would add
to the force of their remarks,
New York, December S, v.. M. D,
A Fair Sight on a Fine Street.
To the Ktirron or The Spn Sir; Of
all tho pleasant slalits nne ri-ci mi Fifth
nvcnuo t)ie njo pleasant of nil Is ,i be.
hold a brave soldier buy diiftlnj.- ikiwu
tho avenue wilh his arm linked hi tint
of his sweetheart In broad da lluht, both
totally oblivious of their surroundings,
Naw York, December s. J, M, T.
THE PRESIDENT AS CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OF AMERICAN RAILWAYS.
The Alternative Plans of Urdflcstien and What They Import.
lu tho two nllcmatlvo plans for
railway unification submitted hy tho
Interstate Commerce Commission to
Congress is much material for study.
Congress will doubtless defer extend
ed consideration of what Is to bo done
until tho President has spoken. Mr.
Wilson has conferred with Henry C.
Hall ot tho commission, and has prac
tically promised to lay his ideas bo-
fore tho national legislature in a spe
cial message. As a great deal depends
upon prompt action, tho President's
decision is not likely to bo lotur in
coming.
He may, of courso, elect to exercise
the war powers vested In him by tho
Constitution, amplified by Congress
last summer and capable nf ritlll larger
extension by legislation at tho present
session. There nro certain considera
tions In favor of tho oxorclso of these
powers if tholr exertion follows tho
lines Indicated by tho Commcrco Com
mission. Their report says:
It tho other alternative be adopted and
tha I'raaldant operates tha railroads as a
unit during tho period of the war. there
should ta, la our opinion, suitable guar
antee to each carrier of nn adequate an
nual return for uee of the property as
noli aa for lta upkeep and maintenance
flurlnr operation, with provision for fair
terma on which Improvements and better
ments made by tha rreildent during tho
period of his operation could be paid for
by tha carrier upon return to it of the
property after the expiration of that
p-rlod.
These aro recommendation.'! that will
put heart In tho railway executives
and in tho muoh mote numerous nnd
equally worried host of railway share
holders and creditors.
Moreover, Presidential control might
raako less difficult tho handling of
wage questions arising In tho course
of the war. It would ilouhtlcss be
perfectly practicable for tho President,
under the authority vested In him
by the selective servlco law, to Insure
tho continuous operation of the roods.
It should be rememberod that the
same law which provides for tho
formation of tho National Army places
In the hands of tho lrrsiclent power
to prescribe the regulations under
which men shall bo chosen for mili
tary service, except for n few stated
exemptions.
All tho vast machinery rrf clas-slftca-
lion or registered men is in tlio rresi -
dents Hands. Ho controls absolutely
tho selection and rejection of these
men on occupational grounds nnd
grounds of dependency. It is his to 1 under a plan of iTesidential unifies
say what men bhall be called upon for I tlon? Will not tho various depar'
senieo and when. He has already cm- ments still be continually at each
powered tho IocaI and district boards other's throats and will not n very
to call men of particular trades out of autocrat be required to dictate t j t.iem
their turn, except whore consldera-' with his voice whllo running the imiI
tlons of dependency make this inexpr- with his hands? Who will till the Jo!.?
dlent; nnd such men may bo formed . He will need to lo a fupermnn. As
Into special units for special-services I for two or three of him, lia.s nur it
Immediately necessary. 1 perlcnco with tho Shipping Hoard nnl
Thus the President controls a supply
of somo millions of skilled workers.
Suppose trainmen were to strike. I
htnu nu thought that they will do so,
but it ii evident that if they did, so
many of them ns are of tho military
ages might speedily find themselves
back at work ns the result of an I which havo lagged on the ways b-
rTvoilt Alrr-.eiA a i Trri'rniiqA thrt T"niprirpnOV Fleet COMlCrS-
vost Marshal General and slightly ac
co:eratlng tho v orklng of tho selec
tive service machine.
Again, the plan for Presidential con
trol of the railways icsemblcs in
general way tho procedure of Great
Britain, which took over operation of
her rail lines for the war, guarantee-
ing to Investors an adequate return on
tho properties. Tho results of this
Government operation have been sat-
Isfactory except, perliaps, with respect
to tho future. For the railway work-
crs havo repeatedly asked increased
wuges and the urltish Government
has granted their demands in every
Instance, m that the workers' pay has
hecomo an enormous item in total op
erating costs. This is all very well
whllo tho war lasts and tho Govern
ment Kuarantecs interest and divi
dends, but what aro tho railways to
do when tho Government's hand ls
withdrawn, when n proilt is no longer
assured, when private operation must
pay theso swollen wages and yet earn
a profit? The more thoughtful minds
in Great Britain aro a pood deal tmz-
zled for answers to thtio questloiir-.
There is certainly no rcaon to
suppose, particularly lu view of tho
trainmen's recent sayinga and doings,
that we shall not fnco tho bame
situation hero. A 40 per cent, wage
raise has boon proposed for members
of the railway brotherhoods by their
leaders. Tlio President has conferred j of mlstnkcn lawn nnd they c "
with these leaders and won their t much more. Don't subsidire, ''"n
assent to mediation of wage demands, -by guaranteeing Incomo, grant 1 "
though tho leaders havo not pifdKed hlslier rates, much lilKlier rat
their men to accept tho icsults of ' Just inte; glvo them a chance t v'
mediation, to submit their contention their way instead of having t-e- - -to
arbitration and abide by tho results, cally to beg, lluvf t
or even to refrain from strlkin
THE BOYS IN PANAMA.
Fifth Infantrymen Aro Not Without ,
Itcadlng Matter.
To thu Fpiron or The Si n Mr.-
havo Tnn Si'N of October 15, In which
Is printed tho letter of Samuel lto.i - en -
baiiFo of this oigantzittlon asking for a
correspondent in Brooklyn, his homo be
fore enlistment.
In this company wo rceclvn all Muds
of reading matter, nmoin? which 1h jour
paper si: well as Brooklyn papers and
papers ftoin all over tho Stales which
cover the continent from coast to coaht,
and also wo nut nil klndu of mugnzlnes.
which mor,t of the time tiro nut lu uofl
and are at tho disposal of any man at
any tlmo ho wishes to u-o them.
Wo alrio havo a complete library of Ukn to tell of tho ui.un.- r
all tho latest good book nt the disposal reprisal for a bombarded li
nt any man in tho company. So you pliuo. It lH carried nut
ran see fnr yourself that I'rivato ltosen- enemy fighting forces and i
hauso ha at hand nil tho reading mat-, pltal. The.su things I lm
tor he needs, and I wlnh jou would pub-1 spent a good deal of tin.- o
llah this letter, us M per tent of thn
company wants thin misiindvrstuiidlng
corrected. Jay s. Williams,
Corporal, Co. K, Fifth fnlted States.
Infantry. ,
BMnnr, Canal '.one, November S.
Do Amcrlrnn Farce, Defy Knrelun
Artists?
To THir KruTon or Tun Sun sir:
have often noticed that portraits of
Americans by foreign artists aro never
qullo true, Thero Is always n certain
air or manner of the nitlst'.i country.
The feat'irer! may be drawn In l!m-, 1ml
the evpn-islnii that sit Ibeie I-, net
Aim I lean, 1 t-hinild k, tha- 'I,- ir ilun
In the flirt that an uitW undi r iand
otilj the character or yy .mini.) l
own ciuntr) men, s St.
Sr.W YontC, Iccftci
Tho Government Would liard b.
likely to refuse demands which ,,
vold only a question of more money
because a Government at wnr natural
ly and properly puts money in the
second place, or even in tho third or
fourth place. Tho Government mak
Ing war la bent solely nnd simply
upon getting things done, keeping the
whoels turning. It has plenty of
money, but only so many trackt,
many locomotives and so many c-iu.
If a few morn million dollars will keep
locomotives and cars 4usy tho money
will always bo forthcoming.
Tho net result of Oovernmunt opera
tion, then, would be that railway
workers would not strike, knowing
well that the Government could ami
would promptly put some of them
back at work and fill tho places of
the others; but the workers would
press their demands for moro money
uninterruptedly and confidently, know
ing equally well thnt the Government
would meet each and all of theso de
mands rather than risk a day'n tleup
of transportation lines.
The ohlef consideration with the
Government, I havo said, la getting
things done. Would they get done
under Government unification of the
railways' Commissioner McChord of
tho Commerce Commission dlsparns
tho work of the railway men's com
mittees, without, it may lie, making
enough allowance fur the obstacles
confronting them. Ono of theso ob
stacles Is tho set of laws forbidding
pooling and enforcing theoretical com
petition and practical waste. l!ut tho
more serious obstacle Is that described
by Mr. McChord himself, namely, the
divided powers of tho presmt Govern
ment control of tho roads.
Tho priority director gives ' ,1
orders, the Army and Navy depart
ments', the Shipping Hoard, tho Fool
Administration and thn luol Adminis
tration nil F-trugglo with end. otl.tr
for transportation facilities. Pom
thing like chaos results. Only lli
other day, when thn Fuel Administra
tion sought to get priority for eo-il
absolutely needed In tlio oastern
section of tho United .States, tho FoM
Administration intervened. As a if
suit the Fast Is ftlll thort of coa
dangerously short In a number ,f
instance".
. i0os this
actual wot king of gov
ernmental control ns nt present cr.c
clsed over the railways promlso well
for the- success of absolute control
the Emergency Fleet Corporation
been of o. sort to rncourago faith In
tho efficiency of governmental he; Me
and committee?? '
Decidedly not. In view of tl.o painful
and inexcusable handling of tha con
struction of commandeered vessel",
tlon not only Insisted on their cot
structlon at a loss to tho builders, Nit
demanded nn expedition tvhleh "
volved still greater losses!
Tho possibility of unification 1 1 s
railways under Government co.-.tro
'which the majority of tho Intct state
I Commerce Commission Buggest, rathr
obviously not thlnklmr particular'--
wull of it, H an alternative wim
promises well, during tho war, for
railway lnentor and executive. ,
holds out an exceedingly dark futLV
It is nn nlternativo that will on.
. mend Itself highly to railway workers
seeking unlimited Increases in pay
It Is an nlternativo that promlv
Immense expenditures for tho Govern
ment nnd heavy taxes for thn country
Hut fnr moro momentous- than
theso things, it ls an alternative 'hif
gives no promise of the very t' ln on
which the Government ls be."' eT!
clent, awlft, sufficing and connm- "
operation of our chief public u' i'
The record of Government r '
i control in the past, the record f ' Got
eminent operation! In the alllr 1 n"
i of shipping, tho record of Govu i.rrien'
administration lti rreneral holds , t
only no prcmUo but pct-'i1 eJ'
couragement for the plun. Tlio r'l.
hopeful expedient ls unllic.ttton unde
private control. The roads havo mo-.n
what they can do privately In the (f-
'of heavy odds. Retnovo thn ohs-ur
Ni:w Yoi-.k, Recinibei S.
REPRISALS.
Tho Allies' Metliodl of I.tu-mj
Mmicnt Explained.
ToTHE KditoropTih: Huir- Su
l'uli-
j fccemi to bo tomo mleuudmtan
lwii.it constitutes a rcrrltal as
' out by tho Allied forcrs. l.'a
helim-r ppeakt, of the killing - '
and children In carrjlni: mi' .i
H Is very evident that mio ,i
know .that in every i .( e n
Alllei Intend to make an "
city nr town notice Ii pi o-, t'
to remove tho rntiro t'.vlll.in -What
could bo fairer than t- ,
N'o llciche wan eir Kti-nst'
fall ax that. Although i,..t Ii n .,
lewardlng the killing of nui'-a 1
i front.-".
So. thn Allied repri'a.. .
lied out against thu civ ', a "
No ono but a German ".,l
nuch a thing.
Mlt.VIN Wile 'N ' ,v
Ambulaucler, Section Ha- ' ' '
calne CO.
Nt:wAtiK, N. .1 , December '
A t'uaauni Jltix-J.
Tr-nix le C'lTOIIIiin Pm-ie
An i',l,l photograph iu 1 !
e.vlleotlon nf It. W. Irmn the c
when, ulilt" out rlrtlns thnmsli e
pa.turen, he illm-rtirii.il a rr ' -
l;h fi in en ilttir. un-- , -i 1
lltoiin u. in a Ktlt-U ,lr , r i
1 u.
i I.iai,.
vv ,
nt d I'M
up atatu.
J