The sun. [volume], February 23, 1918, Page 8, Image 8

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8 4
AND NEW YORK PRBCS.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1018.
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TELSPHONE, BEERMAN 2200.
Forward to Rescue m Plunder)!
People!
The Kulser's declaration of pur
pose In planting tho Iron heel upon
prostrate Russia will bear comparl-
wm with any of his previous moral
and philanthropic utferances:
"The despairing, cry of distress which
U ever more urgently reaching; 'our ears
from the Baltic iountry shall not bo
unheard. Effective measures mutt lie
taken to safeguard the tortured popula
tion from the Jurnlnr and plundering; of
robber hordes and end the state of com
plete lawlessness."
Returns from this mission of lofty
' endeavor came yesterday from Ber
lin In this specific and official form :
"It U impossible yet to give an ap
proximate estimate of the booty. Up
to now the following has been an
nounced: 1.353 cannon. 120 machine
guns, 4.000 to 5,000 motor cars, trains
with about 1,000 carriages, many of
which were laden with food, airplanes,
and an incalculable amount of other
war material."
This booty is war material, but It
was Russian property. It now be-
i.-omes German property as an lnci
dent of the effective measures taken
to safeguard the tortured population
of the Baltic country from the pirn
derlng of .robber hordes.
"Forward with Gool" Is the favor
ite phrase with which the Kaiser an
nounces his predatory expeditions;
and God help the people whom he
undertakes to rescue from lawless-
Aaos nrwl tho Inciters! . .
In the absence of a decIsIvefmVll-
tary check to the mighty Gentian ad
vance eastward, what is to be the
fate of Russia? Will the vast and
productive territory comprehended in
the Kaiser's programme of "rescue
become a possession of the German
Kmpire, to be governed directly or
Indirectly from' Berlin, to sustain per
haps the same relation to the im
perial system which India sustains to
Great Britnin, or will the deposed
Czar be restored to his throne for the
safeguarding of world autocracy?
The Vanguard.
The troops who marched through
New York yesterday were, in The
Sun's opinion, the vanguard of an
unconquerable army.
Our eyes are lifted hopefully to
the horizou to catch the dawn of
universal peace. We loug for it. We
shall clierNh lis least promising fore
runners with sympathetic care. But
our feet are on the earth, as firmly
planted as those of the young men
whe-e measured trid filled the
streets and avenues of the city yes
terday: niul In the future. If the call
comes to us to strike In protection of
our liberties, we shall lie ready to
niihwer.
Senator Wadsworth on the War
Department.
.Senator Wadsworth of this State;
whose- Republicanism Is of a kind that
lll not be questioned, has been one
it the Intelligent critics of our war
machine. lie has dared to point out
Its deficiencies and to reveal its weak
nesses. Thee duties of a conscien
tious legislator he has accomplished
with dignity and without fear.
Having performed this necessary
lint distasteful function, Senator
WAtiswoRTit lias now declared that
mntters are improving In Washington,
and thnt the caues of complaint
which have hitherto existed are being
ellralnntrd. The Senator said, with
obvious pleasure, on Thursday eve
ning at the meeting of the Traffic
Olub that we are "rapidly turning the
corner toward greater efficiency."
Undoubtedly what Senator Wads
worth Mild to the Traffic Club Is true,
evidence of It Is conspicuous In the
news from Washington. Red tape,
the arch enemy of efficiency, Is being
slashedeon every side. Coordination
pnil cooperation are emerging from
tho realm of the academic and tak
ing their place ,ln, tho constructive
world of war preparation nnd war
making? Tor this gratifying change
In the national capital we have to
tliiiuk patiiotli men who, like Senator
WAuswoiiTii, refused to neglect their
sworn obligation to the nation and In
Muled on the orderly cxerclso of their
proper functions.
This brief report of tho recent no
tlvltlo of Senator Wadswobtii is of
particular Interest at this time, be
cause of the light It throws op the
assertion that' criticism of the War
Department and Its processes was par
tisan In Its origin and political in Its
purpose. To make that assertion was
tho easiest way to assault the men
who wanted reform whero reform was
urgently needed; but the allegation
could not be sustained unless the
course followed by those at. whom it
was directed afforded support for It.
Senator Wadbwqbtii's cqursc has
demonstrated tho falsity of the
charge. He criticised adversely those
Conditions and practices that Impaired
our national effort and Imperilled our
cause. But ho criticised them as an
American, not as a Republican, and
when their correction began, he, as an
American, was quick to acknowledge
and praise tho reform that had been
instituted.
This country has not yet reached
the pass In which patriotism would
compel an American to close his eyes
to abuses, or hold his tongue In the
presence of Injustice.
How About the Canals? N
If the-barge canal In which the peo
ple of this State have made a heavy
Investment U worth anything, its util
ity ought to be proved this summer.
its advocates have repeatedly assert
ed that'lt will relieve the railroad
of an cnormdus amount of bulky
freight, assist farmers and manufac
turers by keeping freight rates down,
and help consumers by preventing
freight congestion.
Now let us see what the use of the
canal system can accomplish. If It Is
useful for transportation purposes, It
8hould-bo-devoted -to-collecting and
delivering coal for the northeastern
States next winter. General Wothe-
srooN, the Superintendent of Public
Works, Is convinced that it con be
utilized successfully to receive coal
after a short rail haul from the mines
and carry the coal to distributing cen
tres from which the railroads could
take it to Its ultimate destination.
This would mean that every coal car
operated In this part of the United
States' could carry much more coal
than it doesnow, and that coal re
serves for 1018-10 could be economi
cally and expeditiously accumulated
during the hot weather.
The canal, if It is to pay for itself,
or to contribute to the welfare of the
State, ought to bring grain from the
West. The elevator Interests in Buf
falo were foremost In Inducing the
State to build the new ditch. Now is
the time for them to, show the State
that their advice was disinterested
and enlightened. If they knew what
they were talking about when tbey
urged the barge canal on us, its
waters will swarm tills summer with
grain laden barges on the way to
various places in New York State, for
local consumption and for export.
Certainly inland 'water transporta
tion. If it Is commercially practicable
at all, will be practicable this year.
Every other transportation agency is
overwhelmed by the traffic thrust on
It Every Industry in the land needs
better transportation .than it can get;
xne-wnr nas provided an unparal
leled opportunity for the barge canal
and If that expensive Institution Is up
to tho Job that awaltfTit, it will turn
out to be a blessing to the land.
The Education of Blinded Soldiers.
The latest reports show that there
has been a remarkable improvement
in the prospects of blinded soldiers
and sailors. Most of these men have
n future which' is at least free from
the haunting e-ense of dependence
upon others, and a great many are
actually earning more than they did
in their former employments. This
result is due to tho success which has
been attained In teaching them some
congenial and profitable work.
Another encouraging thing is the
fact that the first estimates of the
number or men blinded in action
were considerably exaggerated. Case
of temporary blindness have been
fairly common, but the majority of
these have been cured by medical
skill. .The National Institute for the
Blind in London estimates that 600
twldlers and 400 men of the fleet have
been blinded in the war. These fig
ures seem incredibly small, but they
doubtless Include the cases of total
blindness of both eyes.
Reeducation of the blind lias been
carried on at St. Dunstau's Hostel,
and Sir Arthur Pearson, chairman
of the committee, reports that thin
Institution is turning out a handsome
quota of men who have been taught
new trades. The occujmtlons most
eulablo to the blind are bool making
nnd repairing, carpentry, mat and
basket making, shorthand and type
writing, massage, telephone operating,
poultry farming and market garden
ing. Some men are being trained us
divers. Diving Js a new occupation
for the blind. Divers with lght.
building breakwatcis and piers, work
In the dark, for even If the water is
clear their work disturbs it and makes
It impossible for them to'see through
It. This work offers a. good opportu
nity to the ambitious man who wishes
to earn high wages.
Each man spends about two bourn
and .n half dally In studying Braille
reading and writing and In learning
to manipulate the typewriter. An
other two hours tiro sH?nt In learning
eome occupation.' Plenty of recrea
tion Is provided, for study Is specially
fatiguing to the lira in In rases of
blindness. Shorthand writing ami
typewriting make up a good ileal of
the teachlug. Many of the men left
positions as shorthand writers to Join
tho army. By learning a system of
eoiideused Braille specially devised
for shorthand writing, they experi
ence uo great difficulty In becoming
once again rapid and competent
shorthand writers and typists.
Massage Is taught at the newly
equipped department for Its Instruc
tion at the National Institute for the
Blind. Here there li a special gym
nasium, and models and other req
uisites for the scientific training of
tho masseur.
Poultry farming and gardening
seem difficult occupations for blind
men to pursue. Yet they are among
tho most easily taught and tho most
successful. The gardens and poultry
farms are laid out in rectangles with
sides of wire fences and posts to guide
the blind. Tho wooden walks arc
so constructed that they give the men
a warning or Indication of where they
are. They become good judges by
slmplo touch of the weight and condi
tion of tho fowl and attend to all
their needs, feeding and driving them
and collecting their eggs. Gardening,
digging, planting and hoeing aro done
by turns. ' It is wonderful to learn
that sightless men can distinguish be
tween flowers "and plants by the, aid
of other senses.
The predominating feature, of this
training school Is the undercurrent of
cheerfulness. Though blindness Is one
of the saddest afflictions of the war,
officers and men nro a bright, cheery
lot. It Is the custom to play games In
the Intervals of work rowing In sum
mer add pushball In winter. There
are concerts, lectures and a debating
society, which Is the most popular di
version of all. At present there Is
need of a greater organized effort on
tho part of the public to help In the.l
work. A considerable amount of as
sistance has come from societies, from
promoters of entertainments of all
soats and from collections In work
shops and factories. Cigarettes and
fruit are specially welcome. Much
has been spent on sleeping quarters
and on workshops, the success of
which has exceeded the most san
guine expectations. Thus one of war's
chief horrors is mitigated.
The Buffed Grouse.
An Inquiry into the decrease of one
of our finest game birds, toe ruffed
grouse, has Just been completed in
this State by the Conservation Com
mission and In other Statesend Cana
dian provinces by the American Game'
Protective Association. The reports
from the Now England and Middle
States, the Canadian provinces and
Michigan and Wisconsin arc alarm
ing, and nction must bo taken imme
diately if the bird known In the North
as the "partridge" and commonly
called "pheasant" in the South Is not
to follow the path of the heath hen.
another member of the family, now
practically exterminated except for
two colonies at Murtha's Vineyard and
on Long Island. Already South Caro
lina has awakened too late; her
ruffed grouse, "which used to breed
abundantly in the mountainous coun
ties," has been extirpated.
Wisconsin, where' the decrease- of
ruffed grouse has been roost marked,
already has placed a two years close
season on the noble bird, and Penn
sylvania, because the Legislature was
not In session, under an old law, upon
petition of citizens, closed the season
in eight counties.
While the ruffed grouse' is not a
migratory bird, it is very widely dis
tributed. Such Inroads have been
made on coveys of gruuc that a dozen
States now forbid its killing nnd four
Canadian provinces have no open sca
son for sportsmen. Not one Stnte
during last year's legislative sessions
Increased the open season or the bag
limits. Instead shortened seasons and
reduced bag limits were the rule.
Various causes have contributed
largely to the decrease of this particu
lar American bird; two successive
bud nesting seasons, the decrease of
rabbits In the North, the staff of life
of vermin, which thus made further
inroads on the grouse, the usual toll
of foxes, hawks, o;ls and other pred
atory animals and birds, 'too loug
open seasons, deadly bag "limits," the
automobile that permits gunners to
cover vast tracts of ground in one
day, more than they could cover walk
ing In a week, tlje prowling cat, rig
ors of winter that often encase the
birds In the snow In nn Icy covering
from which they nre unable to break
through, sleet storms that freeze the
buds on the tres, particularly lit
northern Michigan and Wisconsin, tho
Increased number of sportsmen, asi
result of the continual preaching of
the outdoors, forest fires which de
stroy the cover of the birds, the use
of automatic and pump guns In cer
tain States, all have helped to make
the bird a grave matter of concern
to lovers of wild life.
New York has paved the way for
legislators of .Maine, Now Hampshire,
Vermont, Massachusetts, 'Rhode Isl
and, Connecticut, New Jersey and
Pennsylvania by the Introduction of
a bill to close the ruffed grouse sea
son for two years. Concerted action
may save this bird and take It out of
the danger zone. From the replies to
the questionnaire from game protec
tors, sportsmen and others Intorostori
In wild life the ruffed grouse situa
tion throughout its wide range Is
alarming.
A lamentnble Incident of Long Isl
and City life reveals a trolley car In
spector so dead to gallantry as to ob
ject to his wife's employment as a
trolley car conductor; the brutal crea
ture actually wants her to stay homo
and mind tho baby. Thus do the crudi
ties of an earlier age mar tho perfect
enjoyment of tho enlightened era In
which we live,
Why hasn't some one thought of a
'use to which cantonments can bo put
n. the end of the war?
Even though Forecaster Scarr prom
ised us a fair and warmer day in honor
of WmiiiimiTon, we refuse to convict
him of lack of patriotism. Perhaps he
Is merely trying to deceive the Ger
man army by Issuing misleading
weather predictions,
Decreasing consumption of cocktails
and Increasing consumption of sifgar
aro closely related cause and effect,
THE SUN, SATURDAY,
we are told. One or the other man's
appetite demands, the body requires,
and physiologists will bo hinting that
thoso who are making out lists of non
essentials should tako heed lest they
drive some pestered folks to drink.
Reorganisation of the Quartermaster
Corpn under Major-General "-Ooetiiai.
has been completed and a summary
made publlo to-day shows many radical
change designed to insure the food and
clothing supply of the army, particularly
of the overseas forces. Despatch from
Washington.
And this Is the fate of the organiza
tion so perfect when Senators dared
protest against the lack of clothing
for soldiers.
Those "more than a hundred offend
ers" threatened with court Inflicted
pains and penalties for having caught
fish with their hands through holes
In ice three feet thick on Lake Stes
sing should appeal to Mr. Hoovcff. No
more urgent demand upon the public
has 1 been trumpeted by the Food Ad
ministrator than that to eat more fish
and 'e88 flesh. It takes a warm de
jrree of patriotism to plunge a naked
hand Into freezing water through three
feet of ice even to get the making of
a, meatless meal. Anyway, a fish comes
under the well known license law In
respect to rabbits; it must be caught
before it can be cooked.
An "associate economist," testifying
at a Chicago inquiry, declared that
"investigations made by sociological
workers bear out the theory that the
more money men earn the less they
drink." This undoubtedly accounts for
the well known luxury of drinking
places in poor neighborhoods, as com
pared with tha squalor of the bars
before which the prosperous take their
toddles.
Do Dallas flrls swear? Keutpaper
headline.
If they do, It Is only another field
of endeavor, in which women are tate?
lnt men,' places.
A contemporary prints a story of
Washington to-day by a special cor
respondent who has found' it, an every
day sight In that astonishing city to
see splendid coaches drawn by spir
ited horses "silver mounted, the box
mounted by two negro servants in
boots, silk hats and cockades, and
smoking corn cob pipes." " Another
Interesting feature of Washington
since it became bone dry, which tho
correspondent inadvertently over
looked, is the fast train which leaves
for moist Baltimore soon after official
office hours and returns after Winner,
locally known as the Rum Hound
Unlimited.
Yesterday
hide.
was Slsrckers' Day to
HISTORY.
Tno Reports of Military Successes at
Jericho.
General Allenby's army, led by Aus
tralian mounted troops, has entered
Jericho. Detpatch from London.
Now Jericho was straltly nhtit up be
cause ot the children of Israel ; none
went out, and none came in.
And the Lord said unto Joshua, See,
I have given Into thine hand Jericho,
and the king thereof, and the mighty
men of valor.
And ye shall compass the city, all ye
men of war. and ko round about the
city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
And seven priests shall bear before
the ark seven trumpets of rams' horns ;
and the seventh day ye thall compass
the city seven times, and the priests
shall blow the trumpets.
And It shall come to pas?, that when
llliey make a long blast with the ram's
num. Miiu wiicu ya near me suunu Ul lie
trumpet, all the people shall shout with
a treat shout; and the wall of the city
shall fall down flat, and the people shall
ascend up every man atinlcht before
him. Joshua ti., 1-5.
By faith the nails of Jericho fell down,
after they were compassed about seven
days. Hebrews i-i,, 20.
CONSERVE FIDELITY?
Don't Bother the Bogs, bnt Learn
From the Chefs to Save.
To the Editor qv The Su.v Sir: I
read In THE Sun a letter entiled "The
Dog Menace," signed "Conservation."
But when It cornea to the dog question
"Conservation" forgets that there are
very fetv men on earth as good aa do;s
when It comes to fidelity, friendship,
loyalty, courage, devotion, &c. : In one
word, all the qualities of a doe's char
acter aro lacking In the human race.
On the contrary, we should be glad to
havo such an animal to "prevent waste,"
the waste made by the ones who are
asking to kill log to prevent It.
Tons of food are eaten by the dogs
dally, that would go to the swill barrel
If It wero not for the dogs preventing
this waste.
The thousand of examples set by
dogs, the thousands of lessons given
by dogs to humans, shourh be sufficient
to establish their utility.
Tho ones who are to blame for the
wastage of foodstuff ato hniong the
human rare and not among the brutes.
Lack- of practical knowledge and of com
mon sense In food conservation matters
aro the blttercM enemy to the preserva
tion of food
There Is no doubt that the Food Ad
ministration does its best with the men
helping Mr. Hoover, but In my opinion
a greater benefit would result if the Food
Administrator had ns assistants cooks
and chels Instead of professors of this
and that.
The former, with years of experience,
are- practical economists, while the
latter are theoretical and have no Idea
of real economy.
Ask Messrs. Plumepatte, I.escaHwura,
Panchard and tha leading chefs de
cuisine of New York city ; they will be
able to tell you a few things about
economy.
For my part I have dono and am doing
my best to preserve food by writing
articles based on facts In hotel maga
zines. These have been sent to the Food
Administration, I enclose some of my
articles, and If since November the
economics I try to Impress on the Fpod
Administration had been practised by the
catering firms 7,000,000 eggs would now
bo saved In the United States, and 3,500,
OOP pounds of soup beef would have been
prcst'ivcil.
JUI.TEN I'KllBOST,
('hef Hotel Lorraine.
Nkw Yoiik, February 22,
As Mauij renown as Fogs,
fiam the .lildnim (lattlle.
(leorzo Wickerbham, a eoose hon
pruphet "t YHhllk', wys there li be
msny t,nos this winter as there wera fogs
last August, There nere twenty fngt last
August, according to people who ay they
kept count, Six enowa have fallen thus
far this ear. 1
.FEBRUARY 23, 1918.
A JUDGE SINGS HANK WHITE.
His Gracefal Verse it Preserved In a
Vermont History.
To Tin Editor or Tn Bun Sir: In
1803 I publlahed Volume II. of "The
History of Reading, Vermont," the town
of tho home of Hank White and George
M. Clark (at Felchvllle). In preparing
that book for publication I learned of
a poem written by Judge John A Aiken
of Greenfield, Mass., of the Superior
Court of Massachusetts, and with the
consent of Judge Aiken I published the
same In that history. Inasmuch' as pub
llo attention Is drawn to the career of
Hank White, I enclose a copy of the
poem for Tub 6vn, with Judge Aiken's
letter to the editor. This history of
Reading contains authentic portraits of
Hank White as a cltlsen and as a negro
minstrel, and I shall be pleased to send
you a copy of this book It It will In
terest you.
Mr. White was for many years an
intimate friend and neighbor of the
editor at Felchvllle, Vt., and was. the
representative of the town of, Reading
in the Vermont Legislature of 1884-5
as a Republican. In the later years of
hll life Sir, White was an auctioneer,
and by his drolleries attracted and held
the attention of the rustlo crowd.
The son of OeorgJ M. Clarkis th
postmaster at "vflndsor, Vt Mr." White'
and George M, Clark married sisters
named Felch. It was In honor of their
uncle, William Felch, that the village
received its name, Felchvllle.
Gilbert A. Davis.
Windsor, Vt., February 15.
Mr Dear Sir : I send you the verses
you ask for. They appeared December
10, 1881, in a paper called Before the
Curtain, -which was printed in Green
field from time to time, whenever a show
came to town.
The publication used to contain a pro
gramme of the performance, together
with advertisements, of local tradesmen
and some brief comments on local hap
penings and concerns.
The particular occasion for the verses
was a performance of the Whltmore and
Clark Minstrels, a company at that
time and for a considerable number of
years welt known, as you are nodoubt
aware, all over New England.
I presume there were other artists of
merit In the compxny (certainly it would
be ungracious to assert otherwise,), but
as 1 recall tha past "Hank White was
"the whole show." I have seen emi
nent "end men" in the burnt cork pro
fession from time to time since, but
none of them, however, has displaced
Hank White from the top place In my
esteem. I hope the dear old man ,1s
still among the living, and If you ever
see him! although I am a stranger to
him. give him my regards.
John A. Aiken.
Gilbert A. Davis-, Esq.,
Windsor, Vermont,
TO FUNK WHITS ,
Immortal Hank, we alt rejoks
Again to hear your welcome voles.
Saloons are empty, billiards, beer,
All (all to draw when you are here.
Boji bring their girls tha bras whs
dare
"None buf the brave deserves the fair."
(The rich oft get them. It Is true;
Alas, this world Is all atkew!)
And girls hose fellows are not bo!4
All by themselves you here beholdt
Babes In their mothers' arms are here
To see the man their dads revere;
Republican and Democrat:
The rich, the poor, the lean, the fat.
Deadheads and paupers every on
Who loves ennobling, generous fun.
Lone Is the time since first e saw
Burnt cork on your rxpanslve Jaw;
Tims that Is marked with joy and pain;
Still small our naces, small our gain;
But when we tee you, each forgets
Ills mortgage, wash bill and his debts.
Such changes you had not foreseen
When first you took the tambourine;
Fakirs and snides usurp the stage
With Jokes of ancient lineage,
Murder Ihe Jests they've learned by rote.
And Incorrect sing every note, ,
Stand on their heads and shout snd yap.
Turn somersaults and Dip and flop.
Uluatrlou-. Hank, we find Iri thee
Trusbsrd of ancient minstrelsy.
Whose sturdy sene rejects the bas,
Despises all that's commonplace;
Whose Judgment, talent, humor, wit
Selects the best and cleaves to I:,
Whose fancy can create thf new
And glvr the old an added hue.
Ueaidts all these. In rvrty part
You show the practised actor's art.
Zjng life b yours, continued health;
A fruitful farm, inrreailng wealth;
May kfndly Fate on you hetow
All blessings that we mortal know.
Our scanty pile we'll share with you,
'Tls not a gift; 'tis Justly due
But. ah, the clock Is striking eltht.
And all tho boys Impatient wait.
At half past ten you'll count the tin.
Up, curtain! Let the show begin.
The Place Where the Sleighing Was
Poor Several Weeks In the Tear.
To the EniTort oi" Tim St'N Sir: None
of your correspondents has mentioned
the fact that Hank White represented
the town of Reading In tho Legislature
on term. I believe ho never rose to
higher political distinction. Of Reading,
ty the way, George Clarke once said that
It was a good town, but fur several weeks
In the year the sleighing was mighty
poor. For a ear Hank was owner and
manager of n 99 cent store In Woodstock.
I don't think ho ever used George Mero
or any other negro as a model. On the
stage Hank whs black, of course, but
this was as far as he went a a deline
ator of the colored man. .Ho was a
Vankeo olY ami on tho boards. During
his lact .-eavnn on tho road he again
sanit ' I Saw Ksau Kissing Kate," the
song that first inado lilm famous.
O. A. Whltmore, one of the founders
of Whltmore and Clarke's Minstrels, Is
still living at the age of 80 years or
more, and up to within a season or two
at least was still playing the clarinet
which mado htm well known In New
England In his younger days. E. C. D,
Woodstock, Vt., February 20.
More Praise for Mr. Roper.
To tub Kditor ok The Sun Sir: I
was much pleased to read Mr. Richard
son's letter giving the praise that Is due
to tho designer of Income Tax Form
No, 1040, and I would like to Indorse
every word ho has said, .
Can The Sun And any one to speak
a good word for Form No. 1031, got up
for corporations? Augustus Smith,
Bavon.ve. N, J., February 22.
Bed Ituisla.
White ftussla once the froien whlta
i Of rivers hard as flint,
The ghostly white of branches piled
With flakes as soft as lint,
Ths royal htta of ermine draped
Aout Imperial forms,
The hlte of everlasting snows,
Ths while of winter storms.
rteil Itussla now the du.iky red
Of blood pools in the streets,
The flaring red of cities wrapped
In' fiery winding sheets,
The vivid red of dripping awords,
The red of drops that start
In crlmsop teurs of agony
Prom rtustlaa bltedlng heart,
JIlXNi IlTlfO.
THE GAME OF .CORES.
Straage Betilti ObUlaed by Catttiff
0 the Heads ni Tells of Words.
To Till Editor 4r Tn Bon 'Sir; We
havs the game of Cores at our house.
The children take paper and pencil and
three minutes to think. Each then sets
down three letters composlrfg the heart
of some word, any three consecutive let
ters within and exclusive ot the In
itial and of the last letters. Words
must be straight, non-compound (In
form at least), dally used English words
proper names barred. The slips thus
headed move' to the left snd three min
utes again is marked off. During this
term the student engages' to build the
word, a word, around this nucleus. If
ha achieve a result he writes his answer,
folds the slip with a hinge and passes it
on with only the test letters exposed ; if
baffled he turns it over as he received
it. When every one In the circle has
thus had a shot at every kernel and
tha original paper return to source,
collection Is made and the laurel is voted
to him whose Core has made the circuit
without a nibble, or failing such im
munity, has the smallest number ot bites
In the form of coqspleted, words.
Some, surprising results attend. Cores
will go scot free more often than one
would think, particularly after the game
has been running .for several nights
and the sporty young high school stu
dent has put in a little deadly thinking
up on the side. Frequently, too. but one
word will be evolved, for any one set and
perhaps by every member ot the. circle
working, of course, independently. ,Thls
result is hailed as only a cut less tri
umphant than the unscotched caid, as
showing1 a assumption of caste ex
cluslveneas. Manifestly, the disgrace
ful thing is to have a string of variants.
Finally, those Cores which defy all are
put on an honor list, properly Initialled,
and there sjand until eliminated , by
overtime or ex curia attacks.
The game Is an excellent critical
training camp and can be sophisticated
really to no smalt degree. Perhaps some
elders might be puzzled to expand "dch,"
nsw," "htf," "eaw, la." i'elp." "cig."
"utw," "hra," "tfl," "bco," "augy "ops,"
obu," "hog," "aza," "ulu" and "rru."
Take a poeitlon behind your son to
whom, let us say. you will condescend
to put up the task ot demolishing this
modest trial list, and see how many you
can snare In three minutes. Try It on,
at legft, before you can the appended
"solutions." and thereupon decide. How
puerile 1 or. as may Indeed easily hap
pen (for this is no tried by fire list, but
mere snatches from memory), bury me
under a barrage of alternates. Certain
ly, at any rate, simplicity must be said
to inform "woodchuck," "greensward,"
"straightforward," "seaweed," "Vlobe
lan," "receipt," "feign," "outward,"
"phrase," "outflank," "subconscious,"
"gauge." "dropsy," "globule," "litho
graph," "hazard," "pendulum," "over
run." There are refinements of the game for
those who wish to be seriously teased.
Thus the yielding up of additional let
ters, ostensibly to ease, will frequently
cloud matters thicker thari before.
"Kdo" may not be softened by addlpg
an "r," while even the further en
larged "vedor" may not bteer to "steve
dore" : "iep" prefixed by an "h" and that
in turn by a "c" may conceivably point
no clearer toward "archleplscopal."
This elaboration could, of course, be
highly matured, providing as it does
both that cumulative wariness of the
trapper and that almost but not quite
exasperation of tho trapped that com
pose the sharpest thrill of rlav. And
even In the Juvenile stage this little game
is one to build mental muscle, for It will
be observed that the exclusion of the
initial letter shoulders out of the prob
lem, as a short cut at all events, that
sycophant the dictionary,
Stanij:t K. Wilson.
Swarth mom, Pa., February ID.
LOUIS'S USE OF "PEER.1
Undonbtedly One of tho Klgns of Ills
Mammoth Modesty.
To the Kditor or The Sun Sir: Does
Louis know the meaning of "peer"?
Dare we Impugn the Unglish of the
"myriad minded"? Surely he could not
be guilty of the perverted use of "peer"
In the sense of "superior" ! I sfout tho
idea. 'Tls inconceivable he could blun
der. No. he Is au fond the most modest
of men : he s-poofs us with posturing,
superlatives. For what could bo more
ingenuouly Shrinking, show a finer fila
ment of modesty than this very "I'eer of
Poets" which seems so unshy? Obvi
ously, one who de lares himself merely
equal of poets claims no more than
parity with the highest and no greater
eloquence than the lowest. Better this
diagnosis at any rate than ono of un
thinkable kinks In a world poet's
philological alimentation.
S. K. Wilson.
SwAnTHMor.E, Pa., February 19.
The Vagrant Dog.
To tiik Kihtor op The Sun Kir: It
Is a public service to call attention to
the evil ot the vagrant dog as yon did
tills morning In your article "Dogs vs.
Sheep In Connect lent."
In the mldxt of the scarcity of a great
war1' we are prevented from supplying
ourselves and our allies with mt-at and
wool because the wandering dog makes
It Impossible for the farmer to keep
Fheep. We do not ask that dogs be
killed, but we do ask that their owners
be required to keep them an other do
mestic, animals are kept, on the land of
the owner or ,ndtr his control at all
time, day and night. Dos taxes and
dog llccni-cs are no protection to sheep.
Sorne day the Legislature in enacting a
dog law will not ask how little can be
given, but will In all seriousness t-ct
at out the business of doing all that Is
necessary to establish sheep keeping
upon a sound basis.
Let no one Imagine that this Is solely
a matter of rural Interest. It Is a mat
ter of vital Interest to all persons who
aro affected In city or country by the
rising cost of living. lOvcry housowlfe
who finds meat expensive. cery person
who pays high prices for wool t-hould
demand that the present dog law be
repealed and tho vagrant dog be abol
ished. 15. Parmalee Prentice,
New Yoiik, February 19.
The Heckler.
To the Kditor ok the Sun Sir: An
orator on tho top ot a Urltlsh Canadian
recruiting bus at Howling Green a day
or so ago who was giving his auditors
a lesson In Ihe history of the United
States was interrupted by a man In
tho crowd who told him that Washing
ton was born In America.
Ho sarcastically repeated this bit of
giatultous Information and the crowd
was puzzled to know which Matenient
T.as true. Finpi.kt Sackf.tt.
Nkw York, February
I'ashlon Not.
I5ven If you can't wear khaki,
Let 'this penetrate your pelt :
You can wear mora open pockets
And a wholt lot tighter belt.
I
TRADE BOYCOTT OF GERMANY AFTER
THE WAR OPPOSED.
, L - i
The Merchants Association Rejects
nltted by the United States Chamber of Commerre.
The .Merchants Association, with am
explanatory statement, has cast Its
ten votes in the Chamber of Com
merce of the 'United States against
the referendum proposing a trade boy
cott against Germany after the war
unless that country abandons Its pres
ent military system.
This action was taken by the boara
of directors at their meeting Thurs
day, despite tho recommendation of
tho association's Committee on Foreign
Trade, of which Lucius R. Eastman,
Jr., is chairman. Before acting upon
the referendum, the committee held a
publlo hearing to enable members' of
the association to express their views.
While recommending favorable ac
tion, the committee expressed Its' opin
ion that the boycott should be regarded
distinctly as a War measure, rather
than as an economic measure.
The report of the Committee on
Foreign Trade, as presented to the
board ot directors, reads as follows:
"At a meeting of your Committee
on Foreign Trade held at tho offices
of the association, 233 Broadway) on
Wednesday, January 30, it was voted
to recommend that the Merchants As
sociation of New Tork cast Itsfvote
In the affirmative on referendum No1.
23 of tho Chamber of Commerce of the
United States of America, a referen
dum on a proposal to discriminate
against Germany In trade after the
war. If necessary. In self-defence.
"The question Is on the adoption ot
the following pttambles and resolu
tion: "Wharsaa tha size of Germany's pres
ent armament and her mllttarlstlo atti
tude have been due to the. fact that her
Government la a military autocracy, not
responsible to the German people, and"
"Whereas the size of tha German arma
ment after the war will be the measure of
tha greatness of the armament forced on
all nations, and '
"Whereas careful analysis of economlo
conditions shows that tha site ot Ger
many's -futura armament will fundament
ally depend on her aftsr war receipts of
raw materials and profits from her for
eign trade, and
"Whereas in our opinion the American
people, for the purpose of preventing an
excessive armament, will assuredly enter
an economic combination against Germany
If governmental conditions In Germany
make It necessary for self-defence, and
' "Whereas we believe the American peo
ple "111 not Join In discrimination agulnst
German goods after the war If the danger
ot excessive armament has been removed
by the tact that the German Government
has In reality become a responsible Instru
ment controlled by the German people,
therefore be It ,
"Resolved, That the Chamber f Com
merce of the United States of America
earnestly calls the attention of the busi
ness men of Germany to these conditions
and urges thsm also to study this situa
tion and to cooperate to the end that a
disastrous economio war may bo averted
and that- a lasting peace may be ftoade
mora certain,
"Although the committee recom
A SCHOOLBOY FARMER.
In Two Months He Knew More Than
the Farm Bred Boy.
To the Editor or The Sun Sir: So
many statements have appeared In the
papers to the effect that farmers find
city help worse than useless that con
trary expert testimony is In order.
I have this day received from a re
spected citizen of Itensselaer county,
N. Y., a letter In which, without refer
ence to any inquiries on my part, he
tas :
"1 had a boy from Albany High School
last summer and he liked farming. After
he had been with me a couple of months
he knew more about fanning than the
other boy that I had working for. me
who had been born ,and raised on a
furni."
This verbatim quotation is from a
mixed farmer of 1S4 acres, who raises
all usual crops and rtock.
evidently tho mental quickness of the
city youth will In some cases enable
him to surpass tha experienced boy.
Perhaps other fanners can say a good
word for city help, thus confounding the
croakers. IticiiARO P. Head.
New York. February 19.
PRO-GERMAN SCHOOLS.
Are There 1,300 of These Institutions
In America!
To the Kditor or The Sun Sir: The
article on pro-Oernian schools In Kansas
where English speaking is punUhed
suggests mention of tho fact that a
"Union for Germandom In the Oiitlands"
(Vereln filr Deutsclitum im Auslando)
at Merlin supports 1,300 pro-German
schools In America (see Meyer's Itand
lexlkon des Wlssens, article Deutscheu
Volkstum).
That these schools ore conducted ic
cording to tho Interests of the German
Imperial i!oernment few loyal Ameri
cans will doubt after recent revelations
of German intrigue.
llx-GUARDSMAN.
Ni.w York, February "2.
TRADE BRIEFS.
Crude oil engines sre b-lng u.sed in run
ning launihes betien fjwatow and Kit
jans. China. Th launches crn built In
iloiKkonc and furilier construction of thH
kind la anticipated, American manufac.
turcrs of oil and kerosene burning engines
should communicate with shipyard on ti
ers in Henckonc.
American motion picture films are popu
lar in Australia, and there Is a groaing
demand lor them. A list of importers cn
bo obtained at lloom TIU, CtistotulIIouae,
this city, by referring to Kile No, UG47S.
Serial pictures ar- not well received. There
li slto a prejudice acJlnst melodramatic
films and thore dealing with sex prob
lem. Numerous uses for peran shells hse
ben discovered in Louisiana. They hae
a high nutritive value as stock feed, con
taining " per cent, protein and -'i per
cent fat. Tho shells have a!.so beeu usod
as fuel and as floor sweepings,
American manufacturers contemplate the
erection ot plants In China for making
rubber goods. Tin Held' Is attractive, re
ports Acting Commercial Attaihe Ferrln,
as pneumatlo tires are being (Uted on Jin
rlklshas, and the number of automobiles
is Increasing with the Improvements mads
on Chinese rads. With Ihe flalilllinlent
of the new industry there will alio bo a
demand for rubber shoes.
Catalogues of agricultural implements
khnuld be sent ts the Agricultural School
111 Cludad Juare, Mexico. There, Is also
a msrket for text books,
There Is nn opportunity t sell small
e'eolrio plant, fitted with kerosene, en
gines. In Jamaica.
Consul 11, R. Italadsy has a.ked that
cstaloguea ot cream separators be sent to
blm at Manchester, England.
r
a Proposal or Discrimination Sub,
mends an affirmative vote on the for,
going resolution, It was also voted rtsj
li should be reported to you that It la
the sense of the Foreign Trada Com.
mlttee that this resolution and pr,,
ambles should be considered aa a
meaaure rather than aa an oconoalt:
measure.
"Prior to, the executlvo meeting ct
the committee at which It was votei
to make the above rocommcnuaaca,
namely, that the association vote. 5
the affirmative on referendum No. 21 7
publlo hearing was held by the coo.
mlttee In the assembly rooms at he!,
quarters, due notice of which had bam
given In Greater New York, all tnu,
ested persons being Invited to attend
and express their opinion on the mat
ter under consideration. At this hew.
lng the chairman invited a free ex.
presslon of opinion, with tho result
that sentiment both favorable ant
unfavorable to affirmative action was
expressed. The majority of those pre,
ent undoubtedly favored afflrmaUv
action. The committee appreciated tht
importance and weight ot certain of
the reasons which wero advance
against affirmative action, but decided;
that, since the matter has reached in
present status, the commltteo couli
only recommend affirmative action."
In recording its voto on the referen
dum the association filed the followlr.i
explanatory statement:
"Tho Merchants Association of Nsw
York casts Its ten ballots In the nrga
tivo on referendum No. 23.
"It interprets that referendum t
embodying an appeal to the business
men of Germany to cooperate with
tho business men ot th United Statii
In endeavoring to avert a disastrous
economic war after the termlnatioa
of the present hostilities, with the re
sulting evils which this would entail
on both countries. With the sentiment
and" purpose' thus Implied the associa
tion Is 'in entire accord. It believes,
however, that the proposed method Is
neither the most appropriate nor the
most effective for accomplishing tU
end sought. The international cooperi,
tion whlcli It Implies Is moro properly
a function of Government and caa
better be accomplished through gov
ernmental channels than through tht
intervention of unofficial commercial
bodies.
"The action of this association !i
also Influenced by its belief that ths
preambles embodied In referendum
No. 23, while presumably Intended to
imply an appeal to tho business me
of Germany for cooperation in avert
ing an economic war, unfortunately
aro so framed as also to convey ths
suggestion of a threat that failure cn
their part to cooperate mlcht result
in the declaration by thN country ot
an economic war in .order that the
changes in governmental conditions !n
Germany which the preambles Indi
cate as desirable. If not as necessary
to economic peace between the two
nations, .may be established."
"shoo fly:
How Colonel Jim FIsk Sang the Sour
In the Old Erie Headquarter.
To the Editor of The Sun Sir. de
ferring to the letter of "11. S. I'J' la
The Sun of February 1". I rtme:nlr
that my father told me at the time of
calling at the offices of the Krle K.nhay
on a hot day In summer and hearlns
voice Binglns loudly, "Shoo C, dor.':
bodder me, for I belong to Company G"
On passing tho room whence tho sour.l
emanated he saw throush th on door
no less a figure than "Jim Jul lee, Jr "
the great James Fisk himsc'f. in h!i
shirtsleeves, with heels on a desk ar.d i
palm leaf fan in his hand, amusing Ma
self with the then popular song
FIsk was murdered by Ed S'okee oi
January 6, 1S72, so It was presumably
In the preceding summer. HTl, that this
Incident occurred, "Shoo l'h ' beir.g tdea
at the height of Its popularity.
W I' tTEPHINa
Batonnk, N. J., February 12
Ben Butler and .Samuel Cor.
To the Editor or Tun s,-s vw Tt1
discussion of "Shoo Fly" In jour in'er
estlng columns reminds me that it
sung by our marching soUlit-rs as earlv
as 1S61. We had an I'alian criaa
grinder from St. Ixiuls In our company
who was loaded with a great varle'.y ot
catchy 'street songs w Ith which ho occa
sionally enlivened the march,
them was "Shoo Fly."
Shoo fly, don't bodler me,
For I belong to Company
was a turn he gao it to lit u.
1 subsequently heard Hen 1
hlUKl,ltunll. ,.r,tv If fi
of
the floor of the, llousn In ire i-"
ninth or "Hump'' CorFri-s.1,
hilarious laughter
Charles Tiinonorjj M' iwr
Warpbssvih i', W. Va., February I!
Another Personal Experience.
To TIIK Editor or Till! S- v '
havo seen so manv guesses ah' ' "1C,
Fly" and its period, with -" ' of
cortalntj anuhere, that I i ' B'-'t
tu tell of a personal cxpclci . w 'h
fUed date.
Just after Christina-. Itr? ft
by sea troni New Yr.: f r-itv '
Cia. tine of tho jmm e. --e' - was
Southern man who on m ' M!!
snncrlngly, "Shoo ity, d"ti i h ,er ra"
and followed with a l ontempt ,o ,e 'a"?3
He had been Mint time In vw Ye
and apparently tins w,is h's v'?
inemhranco of it
Tho popularity of the son? c.-tvr.ly
antedated I5"rt. I am imo." crtala
that the hcieM of Its poiula-Hr '""
reached In 1SV.' 3 I'
Gi.en I'tnoi:, X J. February
From Ono Who Has Kept llen for
Venn.
To Tin: I51HTUR ui Tin: "t '
south line 1'i'Sno H t, f i- i ' '
Washington fvr tvn to fit s V '! :
how to tun his hutlm -
A lot of peoplu ,'itin t ' '
their line femes and hi.1 U .
south by Warhlngton, 1'. '
wall it from tho hen iik- H '
their hens at a lot. thunu i ' ' ' " '
ter, they object to hems -'m.
recover thn Iocs by I ; '
throttch tho mild weather wl M
Al III.
I hae kept hens tnr jhj'i
Alwiijs hao a io'.-, 'Vo ..
cember nnd ,1 miliary, Mill a '
March and Apul
Only a d.urphnol wmd
told to Keep lust Item " "
weather lias mine, and U s
darnphool.i who urn M'-M''e
Nil huI.as i ' ' '
Niw Mh-forp, Conn., Fetroan "