davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
VOPSE THAN DYNAMITE.

All England has just Deen startleu ny 'ho
dynamite explosions In London. Yet lar
more grave in its possible consequences than
any explosion of dynamite is the mis-
sionary work being done by that peculiar
American, Henry George, whose parting speech
from the steps of. the Royal Exchange at Lon
don seems to have been little else than direct
incitement to riot and anarchy OF the Paris
Commune type. Mr.. George has for some time
been proceeding from bad to worse in his
preaching. He began with fallacious theory
about land, but one calculated to tickle the ears
of the landless In this country there never
was any possibility of his doctrine taking root
but land tenure in England is burdened with
many abuses, and it COULD be attacked effec-
lively. At first Mr.. George favored the appro-
pliation of the land by the State, by making
compensation to the owners But as 1t ap-
peared that this scheme would involve the crea-
ton of an enormous national debt, whlch
would for very long time neutralize all the
alleged benefits derivable from the change, the
eager refOrmer resolved to take the bull by the
horns repudiate all compensation, and advo-
cate coniiscation pure and simple.
And this is what he has been teaching OF late
all through England and Scotland. with the
natural result of stirring up the landless, ana
with the seasOnable effect of infusing the new
voters with n strong desire for such land
reform as consists with Mr.. Georges eccentric
fantasies. But when he gravely told the un-
employed London wOrkingmen that the burn
ing down of that great city might become
good work. or words to that effect, what did he
think he was doingY Philosophers and
rb1 bo and pptrOpum
can are perhaps purely modern developments,
but when pseudo philosophy and anarchy thus
60 hand in hand the parallel with the close oi
the last century becomes too close to be agree
able. Henry George surely knows that nothing
but mischief can come OF such wild talk to poor
and desperate men. He must also know that
the newly enfranchiscd agricultural laborers
are no moro fit To undertake important
measures, or 10 judge of them, than the negroes
at the South were at the close of the rebellion.
The presumption must be that no such change
in the land system of England rs he proposes
and Mr.. Chamberlain indorses can ever be
brought about without n violent revolution
II is even more certain that what he calls the
naturalization of the land would be n stupcn-
dous blunder in any country, and one so
prolific of evil that il could not be maintained.
But at present this rash andarrogant hobby
rider seems bent upon rousing all the most
dangerous and least controlable popular
passions, and he has been taking advantage of
a period of depression aud agitation Ia snread
abroad doctrines any attempt to put when III
practice must result in grave disaster The
plain truth is that Mr.. George has done more
harm in England already than all the dyna'
mite explosions can ever do.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
ANIMAL SUICIDES.

The London Lancet in recent article on suicide
observed that no animals below man ever destroy
themselves. This is surprising assertion to come
from scientific journal, for it is singularly at
variance with fact Ii is too late to make serious
attempt at denying the tendency of many animals
TO kill themselves, and while it may be sad' and
perhaps with some measure of truth. that tins ten.
dency is result of dOmestication the admission OF
that does not change the primary fact. All natural
i,ts have noted animal suicides, and most of them
have recorded cases IN which the existence of q
deliberate purpose was as apparent as in cases OF
human suicide. The dog perhaps, is most prone to
sef-destruction. and dog suicides have been COM
mtted for many reasons, AS because of old age and
growing inlirmitics or because of humiliation on
account of punishment. or through jealousy, or
grief at the loss of loved master or mistress
few months ago several cases Of unmistakable
suicide occurred among the Esqumaux dogs
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

ouehly good exhibition, such as this enterprise
nromises to be. As the Colonial Exhibition
will be held simultaneously in London, it Will
be an excellent opportunity for comparing the
inventions and resources of the English-speak-
ing race outside the United Kingdom. 1t VIII
be very unfortunate if the Exhibition prove as
discredtable rs the American departments IN
previous Worlds Fairs; but we do not think IL
will. The projectors have an excellent plan
which they promise to carry out with painstak-
ing care and artistic skill. Their enterprise Is
popular with the American colony in London,
and is supported by inventors and manufact-
urers on this side. They do not ask for Gov
erpment aid and have no desire to control the
appropriation required for the shipment OF the
exhibits from NewOrleans. They seem fairly
entitled to the encouragement which they would
receive from the passage of this joint resolution.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
TALKS ABOUT TOWN.
TIE NOYELIsTs OF TODAY.

Professor H. H. Boyesen Columbia Coiege-ltls curious
to see how is the style OF some OF the great
eliss compared with contemporary writers Of hc-
tion and tisa welrecognized fact that many Of the
most vigorous English novests were least careful In
their style. Take Dickens an instance But there Is
an individual ygor and personality In their styles which
perhaps In our finished apt to polish
away. when look back at the first long story which
wrote "Falconberg,"-it was published In Ser'bneTs
Maya-neI am inclined to blush at the number OF adJec
tiycs used Now can hardly prune them down sur
centy-ycs novels must be realistic and uttli
tartan II ia tho of tho century. The Wilhelm Heis-
ters excite sympathy to-day when they go rambling
about the country sentimentazing They must be me-
cAanics or tradesmen and stick TO their trades.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
ARISING THE ARYiNS.

Professor Max Muller and Mr.. Charles G. Leland
appear to have put their heads together ior the
ungenerous purpose of abasing their and our Aryan
ancestors Every student of Nedic lteraure-and
the woods are full Of them nowadays-knows how
important part the mysterious Soma-plant plays
in the old Aryan religious ceremonial In the Rlg-
Vcha the great god lndra is solemnly adJured to
refresh himself with the soul-thrilling draught"
OF Soma-juice before he marshals his cloudcrestcd
armies and hurls his ghtnng -jayelms through the
disturbed sky. And the Rshis are cautioned re-
peatediy 10 omit no detail of the elaborate cere-
monial with which the brewing of the divine Soma
drink was accompanied. In all that hOary litcra-
tnre tho Soma holds a place analogous to that
which the nectar aud ambrOsia of Olympus
occupied among the ancient Greeks. Yet hitherto
all conectures as to the nature and identity OF the
SOMA plant have proved futile. IL has been en-
dowed with SO many mystic and contradictory
properties that many students have been tempted
to regard it an imaginary creation, though such
q conclusion is certainly not deserving OF serious
consideration. That there was Soma-plant must
be believed, and that an intoxicating drink was
brewed from it: n drink which, according to some
of tho Vedic and Vedc authorities. often if not
always produced n trance condition in the drinker.
Altogether the Soma has hitherto maintained its
reputation as q highly reputable, yenerably vague
and emnently antique beyerag> completely worthy
of association with the Vedc people and their
deities and heroes. But come Professor Muller
and Mr. Leland. and irreverently suggest that the
soma-plant was the hop. and that the noble Soma
drink. the support of lndra and the Maruts the
solace and stimulus of the Rishs, neither more
nor less than vulgar Beer And the world is con-
seauently invited to believe that our AryaD fore
fathers sauted the storm-god with libatlons OF
lager and that the hoary old priests kept the Soma
drink a sacerdotal secret for no higher or hoer pnr
pose than that they might fuddle themselves
privately without scandal. and exclude the common
herd from the pleasures of the beery orgies. IL is
very painful q truly humating suggestion. No
one can possibly feel the same interest III the |edas
| if 80 low an estimate of the Aryans is to be ac-
| cepted. And though the alleged discovery may by
some be regarded AS ailording an indirect OK
planation Of the late Democratic victory, nasmuch
as people whose progenitOrs began their career by
| worshpping Beer might reasonably be expected to
descend to anything. this is. after all, but frivolous
| treatment of serious subject. The Soma-drink
must be restored to its pristine unntegibty, or
| tho abasement of the Aryans will be complete and
| ;rretreyable.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
Bismarck find in Lord Granville an ally for the
extraditiOn of dynamiteurs
GORDON As HE is.

Hero worship has made Chinese Oordan III
most mythical parsonage. His comiiaro'nS
nersonality, his vcisstudes OF fortune III gov
orn;no sem-civilized races and his scornful dis
rogarJ of tbe action of Cabinets and the judg-
r,ort of mon combine to render him unique
f,ure in n mosaic world. A British army has
heon cont fourteen hundred miles from the
Mediterranean to rescue him because he appeals
70 tbe IMAGINATION of the Englsh-speaking
world. The Government was Indifferent to the
fate of the Arabs and blacks OF the ooudah IL
had ordered the evacuation OF khartoum anu
had compelled the Khediyc to abandon MS
African Empire but it could not allow this one
heroic soldier to perish in the city when ne had
been sent to defend costly and arduous ex-
pedition has been organized anA campaign mas
been opened in the Equatorial deserts because
this strange Puritan warrior has bewildcred
and almost bewitched the sober Judgment OF
Enclishmen. The Government was forced by
popular sympathy and admiration to effect his
deliveraDce.
On this account the paper by Colonel Chaille
Jono nublisbed elsewhere in this issue possesses
peculiar value. 1t is a photograph and not a
chapter of ecstatic heroics. Chinese Gordon is
described by his former chief OF staff IN the
Eouatorial Provinces as he is. There is hearty
appreciation of his genius, but no indiscrmi-
natc incense burning. The human frailties OF
tbc man are recounted rs well as his great
ouaLties rs a leader, soldier and administrator.
Nothing is set down in malice; charity is
fully exercised but Chinese Gordon appears
for once not as mythical demigod or as high
priest of medieval piety and Eastern mys-
ticism, but as a great man with thoroughly
human traits, who drinks French brandy as
well rs reads his Bible and whose violent tenn
per, capricious disposition and rapid transitions
of Judgment and conduct stand in the way OF
his permanent canOnzatiOn as military saint.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

attached to Commander Schley's Arctic expedition.
These animals could not endure the warm weather
here. and they deliberately jumped overheard. ana
held their legs stiff 80 to insure their sinking
Those who at this day deny the occurrence OF
animal suicide no doubt do 80 in the vain nope Oh
bostering up the theory of instinct which all
modern science negatives. 1t is terrible TO some
people to have to admit that animals often exhiDlt
degrees of intellection which it is Impossible 70
distinguish from reason but facts are much
stronger than theories, and the facts IN this case
make it impossible to maintain seriously such
statement as The Lancet has made itself respon-
sible for.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
Tile 1MERIC1N LXHIBITION.

The various departments of the United States
Government are represented at the Worlds
Fair in New Orleans by characteristic exhibits
a resolution has been offered in both Houses of
Congress providing for the transfer of these ex-
hibits, which are of unusual interest and i'm
portance, to the American Exhibition to be held
next year in London. The resolution cOntem-
plates an expenditure not exceeding $500, ,OOO
whereby these exhibits may be utilized for the
unique display of American manufactures pro-
ducts and resources to be presented in the Eng
lish Capital. The contributions of the various
Government departments will be sent back TO
Washington at the close of the New Orleans
Exhibition, unless otherwise disposed of by
direct action of Congress. 1t would be an ex-
cellent idea to have them do double duty and to
represent the United States Government at
London. If they are kept together and sent by
Government vessels to the projected American
Exhibition, much will be done to render some
what hazardous experiment cOnspicumsly sue
cessful. The Government collections were
among the most interesting at the Centennial
Exhibition. Those at Newt Orleans are also
creditable and will worthily represent the re-
sources of the country in foreign capital.
The American Exhibition has received inAu-
entail support at home and abroad. The
capital required has been subscribed and inc
managers are confident that faithful cxposi-
ton of the industries, inventive genius and
varied interests of the country will be afforded
| Americans are anxious to have the reproach in.
| Cured by inadequate displays and mismanaye,
ment at Paris and Vienna removed by thor
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
PRAIRIE CHICKENS IN MINNESOTA,

CharleS II. Sterat-Twelve years ago, while shooting
prairie chickens Northern Minnesota, purchased
farm OF 900 acres. There was not house In the
neighborhood for miles at that time; now the country Is
well filled with attractive farm houses. have dozen
buildings ON my tract, and the crops yield me hand
some return Nine months year devote to my proes-
sion in the city, but the lst OF June, three days after
leaving eat supper ON my own farm, and no
schoolboy enjoys his vacation more heartily Prairie
chickens are even abundant there now than Tor
mery but has changed their legs are feathered
and their meat from feeding in the wheat helds has be-
come A delicate white,
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
THE SUPPLY OF AMERICAN RICE.

John F. Talpage-The rice culture In the United States
Is gaining steadily Many of the sugar planters are en-
terng into It, and If the present freetrade rage under
the guise of reciprocity % treaties continues all OF the
sugar lands will have be put under rice This has
been an exceptionally bad year in rice What with har-
vest storms other calamiiies the crop shows falling
off of nearly per The out OF present crop
will be 339lS7 barrels, against 403.SS9 last year.
The stock ahead on the 1st instant stood $4,000 bar
rels against 24 900 January l. 1884 Prices are to
10 per cent lower than equal date last year. We shall
have to draw heavily the East India kinds probably
not less than 100000 to 100000 bags The prospects
for the year from our point of view are promising
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

other is on the schnylk River. where tho comni ron
ers of Fairmount Park have Jurisdiction The only other
course of the kind know OF Is ON the Thames Eng
land II the National Association Of Amateur Oarsmeu
decide to hold the regatta shoepshead Bay they
will have course over which they can have aJsoute
control The start can be made from the fop:-bFidge
and end near the inlet will build grand s;iai near
the sheepshead Bay Hotel and run track to L. Tis
course will be full sight of the grand stand from start
to nish and having the riparian rights 1t can De Kept
clear OF steamers and ali other craft.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
SHIP CANALS IN NETWORK.

John r. Voo,his Dock ComniSsioner.-Did you ever
think Of what commercial value 1t would be If two
canals ran tho island Since my duties in the
Dock Board famarized me with the business Of the
water front have often thought that mistake was
made in not maintaining Canalst real water way.
The facilities 1t would afford would be incalculabe, and
1t would have resulted in building up splendid row Of
warehouses Twenty-thrd-st might have been made
another waterway ships from the North tothe East
River The Importance OF such means OF transportation
In a great commercial city like New-YOrk is what Is
bringing about the ship canal through Harlem River and
snuyten DuyyiL 1t may be that at some time In the
future history will repeat itself and NewYork Will be-
come another and greater Venice
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
TWELVE PAGES.
The NEVIS THIS MORNING.

Eoprtcx-The Parliament Buildings and Lon
don Tower were damaged by dynamite explosions.
- French repulsed at Kelung. - Attempt 10
assassinate the police superintendent OF 81 fe'eIs
bure. - England's reply to the French counter
,,ronosa,s regarding Egypt 60 The first OF a Sc
res of American concerts was held in London.
CoSGRrss.-The Senate in Executive session
heard Mr. Edmundss speech advocating the Near
apnan treaty; Mr.. Edmunds introduced bill TO
punish dynamiteurs; Mr. Bayard offered resoiu-
tion condemning the outrages In England.
DoMrsrc.-The siege of the Oklahoma boomers
bv Colonel Hatch's troops has led the tormer to
;sspe proclamation of defiance e. The
denositors of the New-lIaven Savings Bank
received their money as soon as
tbev asked for it. - Mr. Cleveland asked Mr.
Jones. of Portsmouth, to be Secretary OF the Navy.
- Anna Jaques. the phanthropist, is dead at
Nswbury. Mass. - William III. Charming was
hurried in Boston. - Ex-United States Marshal
Snence was sentenced in Tennessee to be hanged
for murder.
CITY AND SUBURBAN.-Mayor Grace and
ex-Mayor Edison entertained by the
Iotos Club - Braggart talk by kossa
and IJovce about the London explosion. - An
;ndiunation meeting of gas consumers called. -
Fx-Navor Edison ordered to show cause why he Is
not in contempt. - The jury in the Stadler case
disagreed. 80 Commissioner Squire dismissed
fortv-fye Iabcrers. - The steamer st.
John burned. - Excise Commissioners
at odds over liquor dealers charged
with keeping gambling dens. 80 DIR. Iauszky
taken to Hartford. r. Gold value of the legal
tender silver dollar (412l2 grains), s3'51 cents
- Stocks, after opening lower and after some
recoveries, were dull and dropping and closed
weak.
THE Manufacturers local observations IN
a;oota coeler clearing weather Temperature
Yesterday: Highest, 80; lowest. 24o average
32l4o.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
SIMMER VISITORS TO cHAUTAUoUA.

Ex-senator Loren d. Sessi0ns.-Chauauqua Lake has
become great resort for summer visitors When my
peope moved in there nearly half century ago there
were two lakes the connecting channel being 80 narrow
and overgrown with bushes that it was dcut TO pass
from one to the other. There is broad clear channel
there now and the steamboats, 90 through without
trouble They carried 275OOO people on the steamboas
Iaot
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

There is much common sense IN the decision
of the Brooklyn Gable Railway Commission.
II is i'm effect that there are enough surface
roads on or near the streets in which this line
vast be run, and that what Brooklyn wants is
o system of rapid transit. This is true enough.
An elevated road is needed over there more
than additional surface lines
London was not the only place in the world
yesterday where great crimes for political pur-
poses were perpetrated. In ST. Petersburg an
utterly reckless attempt was made to assasslnate
the Police Superintendent 1t failed entirely,
not one of the bullets hitting the mark. The
assassins after the fashion of fanatical Mill
ists seem to have made no effort to escape, and
in due time, doubtless, will be hanged, as they
deserve.
Charles p. Miller has taken good while to
catch his breath after the shock which Mayor
Edison and the Aldermen gave him on the last
day of 1884 by disregardng his pet injunction.
But having at length recovered his cOmposure
he intends to inhict upon Mr.. Edison all the
pains and penalties which contempt of Mr.
Miller can involve. SO Mr.. Edison is to show
cause why he should not be punished. There
was an uncommon quantity of contempt in the
air of the City Hall during the closing hours OF
last year, but clear-eyed and unprejudiced
people are not inclined to blame Mr.. Edison for
his course.
1t is to be hoped that the Park Commissioners
at least felt as bad as the baked skaters when
they beheld the rain and slush yesterday morn
ing, which completely spoiled the chances OF
skating on the Park lakes. They ought to have
felt a good deal worse, for the reasons which
they have advanced in defence of their policy
of keeping skaters off the ice are totally made
uuate. The ponds should have been thrown
open almost as soon as those in Prospect Park.
At points where the water was deep danger
signals might have been put up and skaters ad-
mitted freely to the rest of the surface. OF
course nobody wants to see an accident on the
lakes but there is no particular reason that
we can see for keeping the ponds closed unit
they are frozen solld from the bottom up.
The worm is about to turn-an indignation
meeting of househOlders is to be held mex
Tuesday, at DelmonicO's, to protest against th'
outrageous swindle perpetrated on the public
by the consolidated gas companies. 1t is th'
almost unanimous assertion that not only have
gas bills not been reduced since the reduction
in price, but they have actually been increased
Such things could not be if there were not frau'
and cheating somewhere between the mete
and the cOmpany's offices, and 1t Is high tim
that the householders protested and appeale'
to the Legislature, If necessary, for relief. In
last indignation meeting to denounce gas op
preston was in 1s49, and 1t resulted in bring
ing the prices down from 81 to 81 per thou
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

There is proposed ordinance in the hands OF
a committee of the Board of Aldermen, which
ought not to be passed in its present form. III
provides that boxing, wrestling, running ana
walking matches shall not be allowed In tins
city, except under a special license from the
Mayor, the license to cost not more than $l,ooo
nor less than 500 for each day during when
the competitions continue. We approve
heartily such restriction as applied to boxlhg
and wrestling exhibitions, and to slx-day
walks, all of which are gotten up merely TO
cozen the public out of much money as pos
sible. But no such costly burden should be
laid upon our amateur athletic clubs, which are
made up chiefly of young men of moderate
means. Their games should not be interiered
with or taxed, for they do no harm to any one
and give fair return for the puce OF the
tickets Indeed, these games are rather bench
cial than otherwise in their influence, botn upon
competitors and spectators, and involve no such
violation of law as pool-selling or public bet
ting of any kind. The club treasures are not
overflowng, and the clubs need all the money
they can make out of their games without pay
ing for licenses.
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25
prGATrAs AT sHEEPsHEAD BAY.

Austin Oorbin There isn't favorable course In
America for q regatta than shecpshead Bay will Sc
cure the riparian rights there and will then have ono of
the two courses Of this character In this country the
New-York tribune., 1885-01-25

An amIable gentleman named Finch, an Iowa
Prohibitlonist of Democratic antecedents, who is
chairman of the Prohibition National Committee,
has come to the defence of st. John the Barterer.
1t would be interesting to know how much per
night Finch draws for his efforts to break up the
Republican party. His old price was $50, when
deluded Republican temperance people paid the
bills, bit the price may have gone up under the
bull movement Of the Democrats LII the late CAM
Imign,