davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
ABOUT NOISES.
vice.ChancelIor Sure Those OF n COppersmith's
shop Would XIII Him.

e.Chancellor Pitney. while trying a noise.
nuisance case in Newark yesterday, interrupted
one of the lawyers to say:
THE rule Is that that which renders life uu-
comfortable should be stopped. The Court must
be the jury In this ease. and the Court has been
In a boiler shop and knows what it is. So far az
the effect of noise should be considered, IL
should be as applied to ordinary everyday
people. such AS these are. not people brought up
in n palace, unused to noise Of any kind. nor
people who 1.-Two in a pigpen and not caring for
noise OF any sort. 1t Is a wcll-settled fact that,
ali other things being equal. people living on
crowded streets and being subjected TO their
noises do not live as long as other people. Noises
do tend to shorten life. Why, this noise would
have killed me in ~ Year, probably"
Any ody who understands tho Vice.Chancel.
lor's highly nervous organism can easily believe
the latter part OF tho statement. Ho seemed
Yesterday to hear the %hnmmering and riveting
which tho witnesses described in tho case OF
Jacobus Against Hiertarski; The latter keeps a
cOppcrsmithing shop ut 03 and 05 Boyden
street, and nelRhbors all around the block have
complained that he and his men pound hercely
upon copper boilers night and day. Mrs. Lucy
Jacobus asked for her own sake and that of her
granted to stop the work.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
1INCoLX,s ELASTIC PARDON.
Let Ont . Friend for All He Had Done land
All Tint He Ever VIII Do.o

From the Washington Post.
Senator Mills has a new story about Lincoln.
1t was told to him by q son of John L. Helm of
Kentucky. who lives in Corsicana.
"Old John L. Helm" said tho Senator, twas q
famous character in Kentucky. He was. II I re.
member rightly. a Governor Of the State. but at
any rate his position was a most prominent one.
When the civil war came on Helm was a rabid
secessionist. He could not praise the South too
highly and could not heap enough abuse upon
the North. He was too old to go into the war
with his sons. and remained at home, doing all
no could to help the Confederate cause and
harass the Yankees who invaded the State.
Finally no became 30 obstreperous that the
Federal General who was in command near
Helms home put him in prison. The old mans
age. the high position which he occupied in tho
State. his wide connection. and especially his
inability to do any actual harm, were all plead ed
in his extenuntion, and he was released. In
stend of p%rotlting by the warning the old man
Once more he was clapped into Jail. This hap.
penod two or three times, and finally. while he
tho attention OF the Federal authorities. Even
President Lincoln was appealed to. and asked to
commit the ardent souiherner to an indefinite
Lincoln listened to the statements of the case
with moro than usual interest. Then he leaned
face. You are talking about old man John
Helm We'll. did you know that l used % live.
when 1 was q boy. IN Helm d town ! lie was
kind to me. He seemed to like mo as a hoy, and
seemed to think said Lincoln, with another
Of his almost pathetic smiles. that / would prob
ably make something of a man. Why. when l
went out to Illinois. poor and unknown. that man
gave me the money to pay my way and keep me
know him. And l know what I owe to him.
think I can fix his CASE
And then" said Senator Mills. "Lincoln
went to a desk and wrote a few words. The bit
of writing is treasured In the Helm household
to this day. This is what the President wrote.
"'I hereby pardon John l.. Helm of Kentucky
for all that he has ever done against the United
States and all that he ever will do.
LINCOLN"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
Tho Rev. DR.. Tartarin.

The good and intrepid, but almost frozen
DR.. HEPwoRTH t~elegraphed as follows on
Wednesday from Bitlis to the Proprietor
Of the Free Ice Fund:
Ell have arrived safely after o severe eight-days'
sledgo journey in violent snowstorms. and through
the widest country, never before visited ov Euro
pcdns. II has been o wonderful experience"
The worthy clergyman and journalist is
beginning to understand what o hero of
travel he really ia. His enthusiasm Is at
white heat, although the weather is 30 cold
that his right ear might have been FROST
bitten had he not prudently incased 1t In
plush. His eight days Of sleighriding In
the neighborhood of Lake Van, over roads
tolerably we'll policed, although not
quite as we'll made as those in the Cen
trail Park or in Essex county, New jersey,
have given him new ideas Of the possibili-
ties of human endurance and the dignity
Of the explorers mission.
Neither BoNvALoT, after he had crossed
the Pamirs In winter, nor young SVEN
HEDIN, after he had traversed the Takla-
Makan desert to the Khotan-D arya, was
better satisfied with his achievement than
DR.. HEPwoRTH was when he drove into
Bitlis, and, having warmed his ears at the
hotel stove, proceeded to tho telegraph
office to send to his anxious patron in Paris
the glowing tidings of success.
He had discovered Lake Vanl He had
been driven for eight days through snow
storms! He had seen real Kurds! He had
escaped frost and Kurds with both of his
reverend ears intact!
Unless in the future the restlessness
which attacks all retired explorers sooner
or later shall impel DR.. HEPwoRTH to dare
the dangers of the awful Brunig Pass, or to
penetrate the mysterious depths of the For
est of Fo~ntainebleau, this sleigh ride from
Van to Bitlis is likely to remain the crow
ing exploit of his career.
But what Kurdish humorist told the
guileless Doctor that no European had ever
preceded him to Lake Want
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
without Delay, Hindranco or Post
ponement."

There are Republican newspapers with
conscience and influence which care moro
about the great things Of the future thar
about the ~picayune annoyances and en-
ba%rrassments Of the present. These are
beginning to be heard on the subject Of the
first and most imperative duty Of the Re-
publicans In Congress, namely, In Presi-
dent McKINLEY's phrase, the provision Of
"more revenue, and that scithout delay,
hindrdnce or postponement."
We print elsewhere an article from the
Philadelphia Press, loyal always as a Be
publican newspaper, declaring that more
revenue, and not merely speculation and
promises concerning the future yield Of the
Dingley tariff, is what the country demand
of the republicans in Congress.
It Is so plain that only the blindness OF
hopeless ignorance. or intelligent vision
temporarily obscured by tho pride Of author,
ship, can fail to see 1t.
Suppose that in taking up anew the
problem of adequate revenue, not satisfac-
torily solved at the extra session, there
should occur momentary annoyance or even
humiliation to this statesman or to that
statesman What weight hos any such
consideration when compared with the
tremendous risks involved in further ad.
herence to the policy of delay, hindrance
and postponementa
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
DO WE WANT cANADAs
An American who Believes That Canadian In.
dependence Would he Hest for Us.

nm american " hbelIeNeA TnotC canadian In.
dependence Would he Hest for Us.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Having
been a pupil in THE SUNS school Of American
citizenship tor some time now. 1 don't think I
am lacking in patriotic feeling and pride. While
1 always follow with pleasure and interest your
vigorous and inspiring editorial articles on
American foreign policy. / sometimes reach diff
fercnt conclusions from yours. AS to Canada,
for instance, I believe we must annex Hawaii.
and must control the Nicaraguan Canal, but do
not think it is at all necessary or desirable that
Canada should be allowed to come in. even
should she so desire.
To my mind, Independent Canada Is the best
and most probable eventual solution of the
whole America. British problem. Why should
we desire the annexation Of Canadai In discuss
ing the subject in your Sundays issue you an
swcr. We, on our part, should be freed forever
from the apprehension of trouble on our north
ern border" Wouldn't we be as entirely freed
from apprehension OF trouble on our northern
border II Canada should throw off her allegiance
to England and become independent Then
Canada would be less arrogant, and the United
States might be more mnRnanimous In discuss
As things stand now. England holds a pistol
al our head in the fortified naval station OF Hal
LAY; while We stnrys her devoted colony by our
In this position fortunately concerns us little.
Her devotion. TO the mother" country is
mental point of view. Canada is perfectly able
10 maintain an independent position against
any power in tho world cXcert the United
States, and in case of war with the United
States a European ally would DO of very little
assistance 10 her.
But, TO reiterate, we need not worry about
what policy Canada may adopt. The United
States has the best OF the present situation and
can afford TO play q waiting game. What
should be the basic idca Of our foreign policy !
M n to solidiiy our present position as the
Hawaii and tho canal. and what is there TO
stand in the way of our proper supremacy from
time to come. to Cape Horn What more in.
spring prospect for any American who loves
his country CHARLES II. BLOCNT.
BEAcHMoNT, REVERE, Mass. Dec. IL.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
JAPAN VIEHs ON GERMAN DoINGS
The Newspapers Think Russia Permitted Ger.
many to Seize Kiao Chou Hay.

many TO Seize AfnO CEOu Ray.
VICTORIA. B. c.. Dec. 16.-The position and
intentions of Germany in tho Orient furnished
food for much speculation in the Japanese press
and practically monopolized the attention of
Japanese journalism when the Empress of India
sailed from Yokohama. Tho Asdhi says that
Russia has ncceded to the German occupation Of
Kiao Chou Bay on the understanding that Ger
many shall refrain from any interference with
Russian plans for Corean dominion. 1t Is further
asserted In the same paper that Russia will, be-
fore Jan. ], occupy Port Arthur. while Germany
will at the same time take possession of an im-
portant strategic position on the Fokien coast.
The iii Shfnbun, regarded as the mouthpiece
OF Japanese opinion, says: Although tho
occupation of Kiao Chou Bay by the Germans
is ostensibly explained as a step toward securing
compensation for the murder of two German
missionaries, 1t Is known everywhere In the
settlements that there are other reasons for this
IN action. Germany has long been
anxious to obtain a settlement in the vicinity of
Annoy, but her former effort in this direction
did not provo successful. 1t was thus when
was looking for II chance to forward her plans
that the two missionaries were murdered by tho
Chinese mob. This gave the desired excuse to
the German Government. Accordingly tho
occupation of Kiao Chou Bay was at once under
taken. simply with the object of establishing n
foothold in northern China. 1t is believed to bo
certain that ns Kiao Chou Bay is a place already
granted to Russia by the Chinese Government
for n coal depot. Germany would never have
taken the step without a thorough understand
ing with Russia"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17

R,.s,a and to Siberia. The trans-Siberian
railroad, now under construction, runs
through only the southern zone Of Russia's
Great Asiatic territory. The products OF
the country, even should the central zone
not prove productive OF grain, must for q
long time prove bulky freight, lumber, coal,
and minerals. For these cheap transporta-
tion. by magnificent waterways, has been
provided by nature, II only tho obstacle of
ice Mt the river mouths can DO removed.
The Lena, tho Yenisei, and the Obi, with
their ~nayigable tributarles. traverse all Of
the country that In Of commercial value.
The Obi system at one point in the interior
comes within three miles Of the Yenisei;
at another point near the mouth 10 Is Joined
to Il already by q shallow natural channel.
The Lena system is separated from that Of
the Yenisei at one spot by q distance Of
only fourteen miles. The engineering diff
culties In the building of connecting canals,
Russian authorities say, are slight. The
whole river system Of Siberia, $4,000 miles
Of water navigable for steamboats,, can
therefore be connected easily with the
Kara Sea, and, II that can be kept open,
with Western Europe and the Russian
White Sea ports as we'll. Baron NOR
DENsKJ6LD long ago pointed out the vital
Importance Of these waterways II Siberia IL
really to be useful to the world.
The dangers of the Kara Sea, with moro
accurate knowledge Of tho conditions pre-
vailing there the year round, will probably
disappear in great part, as have most of the
geographical bugbears that stood in the
path of advancing civilization. Should IL
be found possible, as seems very likely, to
keep It open regularly during the summer
months, the trade Of Siberia car adjust
itself to the conditions imposed, and find
Its way out In those months.
England will not, DO allowed to monop-
olize the trade or even the carrying Of 1t.
Russia has already Joined its White Sea
port, Archangel, with the rest of Its Euro.
pean territory by a railroad completed last
summer 1t is building another port on
the White Sea on Q harbor ice free in win
ter. The sea journey thence to the Yeni-
sci is one of but a few days steaming, and
by the use Of seagoing barges, o practice
rapidly spreading in Europe, Transports.
tion can be made very cheap.
1t Is for the markets Of Russia that the
sea route to Siberia is being cleared, and
Russia may be trusted to guard her own in.
terests against England.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17

SIs mrs. Duty or the Repusi,csn rsrty.
NO., fns pAtlod,fnhfa Pres,

Frou, the PAdadeiphfa Pres.
Secretary Gage is the nrst Republican head Of
tho Treasury who ever laid before ConRress-
doubtless unwillingly, for Mr.. Gage is sound in
this-estimates for expenditure greater than his
estimates Of revenue. This must stop. It is
fatal 10 national credit, TO national honesty,
and to national honor. Deficits accepted as q
matter of course, as they were by President
Cleveland and tho Democratic majorlties OF tho
past four years. are utterly demoralizing. They
sap the very foundations OF national solvoncy.
No party can permit them and expect to retain
popular confidence. nor ought IL. Tho American
people 10 honest to tho core, and wilful, pre-
meditated deficits are incarnato dishonesty.
A deficit for two years to come ia now univer-
sally accepted. Mr.. Cannon's elaborate ex-
PLANTATION that IL this. that or tho other thing
had not happened tho deficit for 1899 would DO
smaller has nothing to do with tho matter. 1t
is mere bookkeeping. 1t twists figures, 1t docs
not provide revenue. For raising revenue Mr..
Cannon is not responsible, but he speaks rs
Chairman Of the Appropriations Committee for
the Republican majority, which is responsible
for raising revenue.
The country expects, and IL ought to have q
frank. explicit, resolute declaration from tho
leaders Of the Republican majority, that tho
deficit will DO met by levying new taxes to raise
sufficient revenue. Such a declaration would
meet an instant public response and would
create q public confidence nothing else can.
More revenue 10 to-day the first duty OF the Re.
publican majority Of tho House. The precise
method by which the revenue shall be provided
is q subject for consideration. The vote itself ia
o matter for the future. But tho determination
TO levy all tho taxes needed to meet the OK
penses Of the Government economically admin
istered ought to DO reached, made, and an.
| nounced now.
No stable prosperity can exist until It Is per
fectly clear to all the land that the Republican
party proposes in the simplest and most direct
way to increase the revenue Of the Government
so as to equal its necessary expenditure. TIT
stability Of business prosperity depends on tho
stability Of the currency. The stability o.
the currency depends on the solvency o.
the Treasury. Tho solvency of the Treasury
depends on a revenue moro than sufficien'
for expenditure. Give that and the cur
rency will cease to give concern, because wher
that IS done the Treasury can retain every green
back paid in to draw out gold, as It's ordinar,
cash balance is big enough to absorb all tn,
greenbacks which by any possibility can be pre-
sented for gold.
A public declaration that the Republican ma
jority in the House is determined to provid,
sufficient revenue is to-day the first need ant
duty Of the hour.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
Hayti's Rough Experience.

The report that the German ships at Port
au Prince refused the request of the foreign
representatives for a little more time be.
fore the threatened bombardment is now
confirmed from Berlin.
The story as it came was that the Ger.
man commander sent in his ultimatum
early Monday morning, to the effect that
Port au Prince would be bombarded unless
within a few hours certain specified terms
were complied with. 1t was further said
that our Minister, Mr.. POWELL, on learn.
Ing the news. hastily convened the dip
lomatic corps Of the various countries, and
that they went aboard the Charlotte with a
request for n postponement of firing for
twenty-four hours, in order to get foreign
residents away. The German commander
refused to grant any delay, saying he would
fire a warning gun at half past IL that
day and begin the Commandment at l. A
few minutes before half past IL, as the &C.
count goes, the lIaytians hoisted a white
flag, and at A o'clock the terms were com.
piled with.
One account represents that eight hours
was given at the outset, namely, from 8
To 4 but, Mt all events, the refusal of the
German commander to grant the request
OF the diplomatic corps, even though he did
offer a refuge on board one of the German
merchant vessels, is confirmed by the
North German Gazette, which says that,
"while unable to comply with their re.
quest 10 postpone warlike action, he still
maintained all due politencss In his inter,
course with them"
In view Of the character OF the dispute
and the amount involved, the preparation
10 lombard such a port, without granting
even ten hours for the removal of persons
and property from the range of the guns
seems a rather hlgh-handed proceeding. Il
went far beyond Corinto, for there the Eng
lish simply landed and took possession.
II is said that Hayti offered to abide b!
the decision OF England. France, the Unite'
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17

A man nine and q half feet high might we'll
have made lesser mortals feel Hartford
Times.
1t Ia a good height for q man who wants to
pick apples with comfort. but 1t is too far up for
n bootblack and not far enough for a pusher of
clouds and rain raiser. A man nine feet
high must have considerable trouble in tying his
shoe, and his feelings in picking a pin of the
ground cannot DO wholly agreeable to him. Be
that as 1t may. tho man ia inches high would
not have much right to look down upon such
modern specimens OF diligont growth as the
Hon. CY sULLowAY of Now Hampshire and the
Hon. CYCLONE DAVIS of Texas.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17
Tho Bitter Dry OF tho Moneyless.

Tho explanation Of the discomfort with
existing currency conditions which, at the
South, underlies and animates the demand
for currency reform legislation, is found in
the resolutions adopted on Wednesday by
the Southern Bankers Convention at At
lanta, Ga. Among the other things they
mention as desirable are these:
Increase the amount Of gold and silver in eircula
tion among our people.
"Give smaller towns the advantage of better bank.
ing facilities. so that every honest man will have
meted out to him the credit he 10 entitled to.
Give producers OF every kind In every section am.
pie currency at reasonable rates OF interest to handle
and hold their crops or manufactures until they de.
nire to dispose OF them.
"Gfve lower and equaliEed rates OF interest
throughout the United States"
All these things resolve themselves into
one,-more money for the moneyless. How
legislation can furnish 1t, except by "giv.
ing" the money outright to those who need
it, nobody can explain. That there is in
the country already IN amply sufficient
supply of coin and paper money, the accu'
mutation Of both In this city and at other
financial centres plainly shows. The diff,
Guilty is to get it distributed in localities
where 1t is now scarce, INT that difficulty
can be removed only by the industry and
economy of the people Of those localities
themselves. Legislation will not helr
them. Doubling the number of banks and
the quantity of bank notes in existence
would, under present conditions, only
double the unused surplus of currency with
out helping those with whom it is now
lacking to get any portion of it.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-17

The unusual good fortune of the COM
mercial expedition from England to the
Yenissei and Obi rivers this year in find
ing the Kara Sea free from ice has made
a strong impression in Russia and will
spur on the Government in it's efforts to
render the Siberian rivers accessible to
merchant vessels.
For a series of years Capt. WIGGINs had
succeeded In working his way through to
the Yenisei with one or two steamers and,
after disposing of his cargo, returning In
ballast. He was generally impeded by ice
either In the straits south OF Nova Zembla
or in the Kara Sea itself. The mishaps
that befell him, though due to dangers to
which vessels are liable In any waters, left
the impression that, while the passage to
Siberia might be forced in ordinary sea-
sons, it was, nevertheless, rather hazardous
for commercial ventures. Last summer a
fleet of a dozen steam vessels made its way
through the dreaded waters with almost
absurd ease, no Ice being seen whether In
going or returning, though the 74th de-
gree of north latitude was reached. More
| ever, valuable return cargoes were found
for some of the vessels.
One summers experience, or the fact,
even. that at irregular intervals the Kara
Sea is free from ice, cannot, of course,
settle the question; but the success of the
Popham venture this year gives additional
Importance to the scheme of Admiral
MAKARoFF of the Russian Navy, of keeping
the straits and sea open by means of ice
breakers. This method has been adopted
to keep open the track for ~ferryboats OF
the ~trans,Siberian railroad across Lake
Baikal during the winter season. AID
miral MAKARoFF believes that by using
ice breakers the passage south Of Nova
Zembla may be kept open every sea
son, the open time of the Siberian ports
may be heightened, and a return passage
be made sure for vessels caught In Siberian
waters by the first Ice Of winter. More
over, he is convinced that. as breakers o.
almost unlimited power can be constructed
1t Is possible to keeps track open for steam
ers all the year round, should that be desir
able. He Is now ON the ground surveying
the Nova Zembla waters and taking mete
geological observations. Even II his plaI
falls through, he will have removed tn,
chief difficulty the English nayigators hav'
found by providing trustworthy charts o
the waters leading to the Siberian ports.
Should Admiral MAKARoFF's projec
prove feasible, however, and this summer
experience makes 1t seem by no mean
visionary. 1t will be Of very great value t