davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

The men living who are sane enough to
make valid wills must be as rare as black
swans II the testimony already taken in the
probate Of the will Of SCHUYLER SKAATs
proves his insanity. For years he kept
. diary. noting his most trivial expenses
'and emitting important things. but how
fow there are who have ever kept a
diary more successfully. Those who have
succeeded. indeed. have won infinite fame.
from BOSWELL to MARIE BAsHKIRTsEFF. For
nine years he made puns continuously. afro
ciously bad puns. and repeated the same puns:
but this reprehensible habit is not 80 uncom-
mon as to be mark OF insanity. and DR.. JOHN
SONS and MAcAULAYs diatribes against pun
sters are not generally supposed to be justified
by the facts In church he used to make
his responses out Of season: but how many
old men and women. and sections and church
wardens to boot. Sunday after Sunday excite
subdued laughter by breaking the sacred
pause after each verse and canticle with their
loud. dronine voices3 He even fell asleep dur
ing the sermon: and yet 1t is the practice Of
many very sane and shrewd venerable fellow
citizens to pull their red bandannas from their
pockets the moment they hear the text and
gently spread them over closing eyelids. And
Mr.. SKAATs snored Can any man swear Of his
own knowledge that he himself does not
snorep And II SO. how can snoring be O sign
Of mental weakness2
Ono may suspect that If Mr.. SKAATs had not
left 100000 Of property behind him no one
would have fancied for a moment that he was
insane. Fortunately. absolute perfection Of
all ones faculties Is not necessary to give u
man what the lawyers call u "disposing
mind"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

The Governor Of Georgia has made It
known that he is opposed to the further toler-
alton Of the crime Of lynching that Is some
times perpetrated In that State. The way to
put stop to lynching is by the enforcement
OF the laws against 1t, by the punishment Of
the men who may be guilty OF it. It is the
duty Of the officers Of justice in the State to
arrest tho guilty parties and bring them to
trial: It is the duty Of the courts OF law to in
fiict upon them the legal penalties to which
they have rendered themselves liable. and
which are provided by the public statutes
Lynch law cannot exist where the regular law
Is executed.
A generation ago the practice Of duelling.
though unlawful. was tolerated in some States
Of the Union: but in our time the sender OF o
challenge in any State would be put under
arrest and brought to punishment There
need not be any great difficulty in putting an
end to lynching bees In Georgia or any other
State.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
PAIRING DOWN THE Es1II4rxs.
II Is Proposed to Remove Pol.oe Headqsar>
tiers Further Up Town.


When the Board OF Estimate and Apportion-
ment resumed work yesterday on the
budget for 1892 Police Commissioners
MacLean. Martin. and McClave were ON
hand. They wanted S534o.693.3O. or $685.
1870 moro than WAS appropriated for
lsstyear Tho Mayor said that the amount
appropriated for the salaries OF police sur
geons would have to he reduced. as there
were four vacancies. and this condition Of
affairs might continue without seriously affect
ing the we'll being OF the department. The
Board accordingly chopped on $4,000. A
number Of other items were hammered down
StS.31. In addition. Sail 100 was appropri-
ated for tho expenses Of the Bureau VI Elec.
lions under the Ballot Reform law.
The Commissioners entered into little in.
formal talk with the members OF tho Board
about moving Police Headquarters further
up town.. The Commissioners were OF the
opinion that this change would shortly be-
come necessary. and they also thought that ow-
Ing to the growth OF the city the old police dis
tTicts should be rearranged. The Mayor asked
new year; statement explaining. their ideas
posed changes The Commissioners promised
to have this statement ready some time next
month.
Commissioner Purroy was present in the in
terest OF the Fire Department. The provi-
sional estimates called for S2,B77.4H7. This
was reduced to $2.30l .2S2. an Increase Of
$155.7l4 over last years appropriation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
His strength is In the braces of the sky. ;

His strength is In the braces OF the sky"
according to Mr. HowELIs In current maya
zine. quoting from recent poem. is good
line. with Biblical largeness Of stroke" But
to an ordinary layman how unilluminatinR is
such oritioismf Tho simple change OF the
single word braces" to suspenders would
destroy all the poetry Of the line. and yet
there would be just Us much Biblical
largeness OF stroke in 1t as before.
In future ought We as good Christians
always to speak Of braces" rather than "sus-
penders"r What did the poet mean. and what
docs the critic. except that man was strong
and he Is made to seem strong by comparing
him to the skyf And yet the sky Is only Hg-
ment Of the imagination. Perhaps Mr.. sLUP-
SKY will explain. for We are sure that Ibis sus-
penders" diamond bedecked or star-bespan-
Rled) ARE strong as the suspenders Of the
sky" II this 10 so. possibly Mr.. SLUPsKY Is .
sun myth II he 10 not the shark that was Q
boojum after oil.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

vincial Government for the sake OF
tho influence It will have In aiding Mr..
ABBOTT to carry the bye elections now
coming on. Mr.. ABBOTT would not dare to
deal with an English speaking province In
such manner. He relies upon tho anti
French anti Roman Catholic sentiment In
the other provinces TO prevent an uprising OF
the people against his tyrannical conduct.
He Is dealing with dangerous elements.
and the reaction may sweep his Govern
ment from power and severely test the
strength and stability Of the Dominion
The law requires that the Parliament OF
Quebec should be called together before the
close Of 1891. Tho newly appointed Premier
Of Quebec dare not do this, rs vote OF nom
confidence would be passed by a large ma
jority the moment the House organized.
This would compel the Lieutenant Governor
to invite Mr.. MERcrER. as leader OF tho ma
jority. to return to power To avoid state
Of affairs 30 embarrassing. the Lieutenant
Governor has dissolved Parliament and Or
dered an election to be held In March noxt.
There is every prospect that MERCER will
be returned with an Increased majority. Mr..
ABBOTT anticipates such result. and for
that reason he has postponed the election
to date 80 remote.
The purpose Of this delay is to leave the
province in the control OF tho Tory party
until after all the bye elections for men,
bers OF the Federal Parliament have been
held. But MERCER Is shrewd. bold. and
resourceful political leader. He will not be
easily defeated. Tho anti-English cry may
be raised and have very great influence
upon the conflict. 1t may unto the French
as one man In support OF MERCER. Mr..
ABBOTT is in desperate straits. and there
fore his resort to desperate remedies.
These constant attacks upon the French
minority. their religion, and thor Ian
guage. should open their eyes to tho fact
that II Quebec was an independent State in
tho American Union. they would have abb
solute and unquestioned control Of their
own local affairs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
DR. yA1I,s Assa,LAxr INSANE
ne Protests that IEe II or Sound Mad. hat
IL Acquitted on the Ground OF Insanity.


IL Acquitted ON the Ground OF Insanity.
Atthe resumption OF the trial OF John George
Roth yesterday. Lawyer Ambrose II. Purdy.
| Eot,'s counsel. called Charles r. Mclean or
tho Police Board. who testified that on Oct. 81
Roth complained that there was n conspiracy
20 ruin him, and that Inspector Byrnes and
other police officials were shnrers In the con-
spiracy.
Thon Roth testified In his own behalf Ho
began In q calm manner. but as Mo proceeded
he became excited and ut times incohcrent.
He testified that he was A yonrs OF age. an2
was born in Mayence. Germany. He came to
tho United States In 1871. and was employed
in the office OF real estate dealer In 1870 Do.
began business on his own account. Shortly
afterward he began to realize that there was
conspiracy to ruin him. He spent part
OF tho summer Of 1880 at the Catskill Noun
tain House. Ho overheard q conversation
between tho son OF tho proprietor and
Mr. Hill who had au office In Broadway which
convinced him that there was not only con-
spiracy to ruin his business. but to drug his
food. He was ,persecuted BY number OF mon
nssts and SaaSs nasr scr Te
% SnlnSs ws1s BY bb n tho rst hand
trousers pocket OF the wearer.. He had seen q
whom he knew rHS Mmsr
Roth. suffered intensely: :,
:" Are you insane. ltotb." asked Mr.. Purdy
no. sir: 1. don't. think So" replied Roth
Is 1t q fnct that you were ever the husband
81 Mrs. 4. 7. Stewart. as you have claimed =
both laashIed heartily for momont. and
''9H No. should should think not 1 am not Hill
10th then testified that his prosecutors had
but had hypnotized his sister and caused her
to he taken t.. n hospital. where shc, was
huteherel by tho physicians. He held DR.:
sa s Sat @ 9e
with which no shot at DR.. Hall several weoks
before tho shooting. hoping that, 4 he WrotY t4
would uncarth the consplrators agninst him
and put IN end to the persecution. Hs dtdno
intend to kin DR.; Hall. but only to y wound him
to peson sei from Mt ta
He did not wish to DO acIuitte,l on tho ground
Of insanity. because. In his opinion. lie was
Doctors Matthew b. Field and Allen Fitch
testified that In their opinion Roth Is suffering
with chronic delusionnl insanity, and Il dan
gerous lunntic. pr. Charles L.. Dan! Of Belle
was insane at the tilne OF tho attompt to shoot
DR.. Hnll and is now insane.
asked Judge MARITIME 4 he could no. return ret, to
he could. and he again took the witness chair.
He said that he wished to contradict the doe.
tors who had testified that he WAS insane and
Das Asossyp Bdo and
Lawyer Purdy did not sum mp. Judge MARITIME
charged the Jury. and they retired. Within
ten mns a they ret T ~
Judge MARITIME committed him to the State
asylum for the insane at Auburn.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
The Millions Chicago Beg. For.

Our powerful contemporary. the Chicago
Herald, contends that Congress ought to
hurry up and furnish the five millions Of
public money which the Chicago managers
are asking for to carry through their Fair
on the scale which they think will be most
profitable to Chicago.
"Chicago." says the Herald. Ibid not
propose the Worlds Columbian Exposition;
Congress proposed it,
This seems to US mistaken view OF the
facts. Tho proposal first came from New
York. New York proposed the Fair and
was prepared to make glorious success Of
It. She conceived the plan and advocated 1t
until the attention Of Chicago had been
drawn to the subject as an advertising and
money-making project that might have mil
lions in it. Then Chicago got up and said
that she wanted the Fair: and thereupon
the Republican politicians came In and
backed her up for reasons OF mere par
tisanship. The Fair was taken from New
York because 1t is q Democratic city.
and 1t was given to Chicago because
Illinois is sure to be Republican.
Chicago loudly declared that she did not
want a cent OF public money to help her out
In getting up the Fair. She was perfectly
able to provide any number OF millions that
might 10 required. But now she comes
begging for gift Of five millions. In one
shape or another.
Well. let tho Republicans who. for mere
party reasons. took tho Fair from New
York. now come forward and raise the mil
lions Chicago is begging for. 1t is Repub-
lican Fair that they have provided for. and
they ought to furnish the capital. Not o
cont should come out OF the national Treas
,iry for such purpose.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
Three TA.sss

To THE EDITOR OF THE suS-S1: There are
three things in our judgment that the city Of
New York wants to do:
First-To sink the proposed underground
road. a Ia McGlnty. Z" to the bottom Of the sea."
Observation-Disclosures the efficiency and
capacity OF the Manhattan Elevated Railway
system. to allow them through immediate
legislation to extend their lines and enlarge
them. paying the city properly for new from
chses. so as to at once relieve our people from
being packed like cattle on the present made
quate lines
Thirdly-Behold tho Delmonico dinner this
week!!l Chicago practically begging New
York for subscriptions to the Worlds Fair.
after spending money lavishly In Washington
to defeat New York city for that privilege.
Chicago ttitude. Arstin Washington fighting
us. and then coming here adroitly begging
from us. has q flavor Of cheek in It that would
make brass fade into liquid. The right way
to treat that windy village now that they have
bitten of more than they can chew is to leave
them alone. and take no Fair site on their
grounds for our State.
v. L. STEVENSON Il Co.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

After all the talk OF an Antarctic expedi-
ton next year there is prospect that the
project will be dropped owing to tho indifer-
ence Of the Australians Two months ago tho
sum Of 1000 seemed to be secure and only
$4,000 more were required But the sum Of
10000 expected from Queensland IL not
forthcoming. the Legislature having declined
TO grant the money. Baron OscAR DIcxsoN
was TO give $4,000. Sir THOMAS ELDER also
promised s25. O00. and $50. 900 was all that was
expected from Australia Her scientific men
believed the expedition would be worth far
moreth4n 1t would cost Australia through the
light It would throw on tho value Of tho whale
fisheries and the effect of the Antarctic regions
upon Auskralts's climate The politicians.
hovsvsr. are 'indloersak aad though the
hpaF nav ssghsps p rAssst v some othsr
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

ment In the interest and the hope OF Demo-
cratic success. It rests upon him to prove
by the zeal and ability which he displays
that he loves the Democratic party without
reference to the rewards to which he may
conceive himself to be entitled at Its hands
His constituents will recognize the faithful.
ness OF his services.
There Is no use for big heads or sore heads
in Congress. The Democracy expects that
its representatives In Congress will DO
united. It expects them to be neither CRISP
men nor MILLS men. but Democrats willing
to do>sll In their power for the promotion OF
Democratic principles, and sacrificing
nothing OF Democratic strength to their In
terest In tho personal fortunes Of any can
dldate for any Office.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
Cleaning Streets.

The streets OF New York received more
attention in the way of talk In the year
nearly over. than could be provided by the
memories Of five years preceding. The
flow OF criticism upon their unoleanhess. and
upon the authorities. was almost constant
and always charged with feelings Of dis
satisfaction, II not Of condemnation. The
result Of this excitement OF public wish
for better sweeping is that our expenditure
In the year 1892 in the Street Cleaning De-
partment will be but twenty thousand
short Of 100000
The sight Of the large increase OF money
for this purpose is very likely to lay the
foundation for very serious disappointment
in the case Of many expectations. Commits
sloner BRENNAN. tho boss sweeper. full Of
the ability and energy required for the
work. and inspired with the keenest desire
for success In his duty. will certainly make
the streets cleaner than they have ever
been before. but he will not make them
clean. He might perhaps make them clean
for ten millions. but two millions Is far too
little to bring about such an ideal state.
The New York pavements. although their
improvement Is carried on with credita-
BILE rapidity. are for the far greater part very
cheap and very bad. and hence the natural
accumulations Of dirt are always removed
with difficulty Again. as stone gives place to
asphalt. instead Of some Of the filth sinking
into concealment between the crevices. the
whole Of it lies visible on the surface. Az
q still further obstacle to complete ap-
proval OF the way the streets are kept is
the constant growth Of the general sense Of
cleanliness and OF its exactions according
to its ever rising standard. The cleaner we
are. the better we like 1t. and the more
urgent is our hostility to the dirt still re-
manning. -.s7 y
This presents the STRENGTHENING problem
with perhaps greater accuracy and eompre-
hensiveness than were applied to its con-
sideration by most Of the critics. but 1t Is
to be trusted and to be expected that the
now more richly endowed department
presided over by Commissioner BRENNAN
will show at the end Of 1892 record for
effectiveness in comparison with the money
spent that will fill the community with
pleasure and pride.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
Keep Together!

Whatever little or big dissatisfactions may
have been caused by the Speakers appoint
ments OF the committees should begin to
heal during the Christmas recess. The
Democratic party has small interest In the
griefs and disappointments of individuals.
Perhaps the most satisfactory method for
the appointment OF the House committees
would be to take 1t away from the Speaker
and give 1t to the House directly. But there
would be just as much opportunity for per-
sonal grievances. and. perhaps. even more
opportunity for intrigue and cabal. Every
member thinks himself entitled to good
places. and even the new members
regard themselves as peculiarly fitted for
certain committees. and II the Speakers
Judgment fails to coincide with theirs, they
nurse grievance.
Now Speaker CRISP has performed dis
agreeable task. and OF course he has
failed to satisfy everybody. But the
duty OF the Democrats in the House
is to satisfy their party and the country.
That they cannot do by sQuabbling among
themselves. by displaying their jealousies
or sore ambitions. or by sulking. They
must unite for economical and honest and
prudent legislation. keep the cranks In sub
lection. and give tho Democratic party o
record worthy OF its principles. II any
Representative believes that he has not
been treated according 10 his deserts by
the sPesksr. be should lsy eslee ~ gsssek
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25
FRIDAY. DECEMBER as. 1891.
sus.er,p.,o. By ss.,,-ro.,.,.,s.
Christmas.

II the practical observance OF this feast be
measure Of tho extent Of the popular be-
tef In tho supernatural event 1t COM
hemorates. faith In the Incarnation is uni
brsai In Christendom. As the Birth at
bethlehem recedes as an historical event.
he celebration OF Christmas grows heartier
nd moro general instead Of lcssening it's
old on tho interest OF humanity.
Divisions OF Professionalism which long
Elected tho feast as an institution OF the
Ihurch Of Rome. now Join In making 1t tho
npreme holiday OF tho Christian year. The
bws themselves give 1t heed by adopting
he customs peculiar to tho day. Tho Uni
hrians open their churches and sing Christ
has carols. though they reject the Divinity
II JESUS. Infldel Socialists celebrate the
hast as commemorsting tho publication OF
he doctrine OF tho brotherhood OF mankind.
he name OF tho CHRIST is in every mouth.
though religious faith declines. the OBJ
Iprvance OF Christmas extends.
4 with all due reverence we say 1t, tho pop
Ilarity Of JESUS OF Nazareth steadily in
Feases and becomes moro prevalent. At
he Same time that both here and In Europe
criticism OF the system Of dogmatio the
tlogy built up on His teachings grows more
Ievere the teachings themselves are gain
be In their hold on mankind. The Church
hay DO attacked, but JESUS Himself Is more
han ever an object OF admiration and affec-
hon, II not OF actual alteration. There are
IcofYers at priests and religious systems.
but nowhere and by no one Is the Son Of
Nan derided. At the name Of JESUS. says
Be. PAUL. every knee should bow. Never
before was the Injunction more generally
Ibcyed than to-day, so far as concerns the
popular acknowledgment OF the sublimity
Il His teachings.
Il The theological revolution now occurring
Does not affect this reverence unless to in
Irease It. As generation for the dogmatic
authority Of theology falls away. there sue
leeds a more eager clinging to the great
brinciples laid down by JESUS as essential
lpr the maintenance Of q lasting and uni
iersal religion. Even when religious faith
Hes out altogether. there still remain az
iectionate consideration for the personality
h JESUS and undiminished admiration for
jho truths proclaimed by Him and exempli-
led In His life. The Christian rule Of con-
buct continues to be the highest ideal Of
human society. Men may refuse to live
ID to It. but they unite in clarifying Its
berfect beauty.
In that sense the faith in JESUS Ia az
bnivorsal In Christendom as the observance
q this day set apart to commemorate His
NTH into the world. In that sense every
Eneebows at the mention Of His name.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

The natives Of Massachusetts are not
dying out. not BY any means. By the registry
Of the State for last year. which has just been
issued. 1t appears that the birth rate was
nearly 20 to tho 1000 population. that the
death rate was less than 20 to the 1000. and
that the ratio OF males born was higher than
that Of females. There were over 1000 twins
born in the State. and there was O fair show Of
triplots. There were moro marriages in
the State during tho year than there
had been In any previous year; or. to
speak with precision. there were 20.S3S,
while the number OF divorces was not largo
enough to frighten anybody ready for we'd
lock or bound theron. The record OF the city
Of Boston under the heads OF "marringes"
and births" is encouraging. or even excel
lent. Massachusetts, Is o vigorous and vir-
tuous State. sound In the brain. the heart, the
backbone. and the stumps.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-25

edge OF which they stand In need.
But whether or not our former
exhibition OF talkatlveness was defen-
chile. It has certainly vanished In Q
large degree Our old elation at our tri-
umphs over nature has been succeeded by
profound and solemn satisfaction In the
suppression Of q colossal rebellion and the
reconciliation OF disruptured Union.
About the import Of that victory we do not
need to speak: 1t Is as familiar to strangers
rs to ourselves. With the recognized as
sumption OF front rank among the ma
lions. we have lost the need or wish to blow
little trumpets OF our own. On the other
hand, our curiosity about tho people OF
other countries has been slaked. The an
nual exodus Of American travellers to
Europe has acquired immense proportions.
and tho reverse flow OF Europesn visitors to
the United States has long been large, and
Ia incrcasing The presence OF a Frenchmnn,
a Spaniard. q Russian no longer awakens
the slightest curiosity: much less does an
encounter with an Englishman. a German.
or an Italian. Even tho sight OF a Chinese.
a Japanese. or a Corean soiourner has
ceased to cause any sensation Of surprise.
In this respect New York Is really Jess insu-
lar than London and far more cosmopolitan
than any other British city.
This. then. Is the outcome Of the changes
In national traits which have taken place
during the last half century. that one is
much less likely to be accosted and pestered
by intrusive companions in travelling by
rail from New York to Washington than In
tho course Of like journey between Lon
don and Liverpool.