davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1897-11-24
Michael Angelo in Kansas City.

MICHAEL ANGELO and all other not Sc
verely modern art and artists have received
a notable reproof at Kansas City. The
Greenwood Club, the oldest literary organ
ization of the town, celebrated michael
Angelo night" last week. Mr.. HORACE
WILLIAMS read paper on MICHAEL, and
the night was full of art. In the words of
one of the artists of our esteemed contem-
porary, the Kansas City Times, "those
present discussed with fervor, even with
reverence, the accomplishments and
triumphs of the artist whose work marked
the beginning Of Italy's glorious career,
which has been considered the most bril-
liant in the history Of the renaissance.
Some of the speakers became enraptured
with their subject and drifted afar and
away from their surroundings and threw
wonderful rhetorical bouquets at not only
MICHAEL ANGELO, but art of all kinds that
was ancient"
Everything marked great night for
MICHAEL ANGELO. Kansas seemed to have
reared worthy monument to him until
Prof. GILBERT B. MORRISON, principal Of
the new Manual Training High School,
arose to make some remarks. Prof. NOR
RIsoN has no love for the ancients or their
restorers. His views are 80 unconventional
that we have pleasure in transcribing them:
"I have studied art and have studied science and
have visited the great galleries Of the Old World.
have been able to understand why there is
much for these ancient sculptures and paintings
When look at pictures and sculptures like these somo
reproductions in the room aid to tho lec-
turerl only feel sorry for the ancents How people,
students Of art, enraptured and carried away by
such things 10 beyond my comprehension.
"For my own part am much moro impressed by o
| trip through cemetery. where sec the work Of
modern artists Of the fine tombstones at $25
aweek than by the triumphs called the ancients.
Look those pictures there and then the
on the ceiling Of this room. Some would say those
frescoes copied but say that the artist did fine
| work them and they talent and originality.
II any 11year.oid boy in Kansas City would make q
plaster OF Paris bust better than that thing point
ing to Michael Angelo bust) he would be considered
NO good Garth and be thought by competent critics
to have no possible show of being worth e5 q week" "
| MICHAEL ANGELO not worth $5 week
in Kansas City. This is a cruel blow, and
will ring around the world. According to
the Hon. ARTEMUs WARD, JUDAS IscARIoT
couldn't "show hisself in Utiky with inn
poonity." MICHAEL ANGELO cannot show
even a $5-a-week bust in Kansas City. The
new crowds out the old.
The sun., 1897-11-24
Extensive War Preparations by Eng
land.

The preparations that are being made on
all sides by the British Government show
that 1t does not intend to be taken un-
awares in case of war. Among the most
important are the National Harbor, as it is
called, which is to be constructed at Dover
Immediately opposite Calais on the French
coast at the narrowest part OF the Channel.
A contract for this great work has just
been given to large English firm. The
amount to be expended on it is only little
under $2O.OOO,00O There it is proposed
to establish the headquarters of large
squadron of fast cruisers. torpedo-boat de-
stroyers, and torpedo boats, supplemented
by coast-defense battlcships, to guard
against the possible landing of an invad.
ing army at any point within easy striking
distance of London from the south.
An important addition to the number
of battleships in the navy has also been
decided on, and the Admiralty has ordered
the immediate laying down of three ships
of that class at the dock yards of Ports
mouth, Chatham, and Devonport. They are
to be of 10000 tons displacement each,
with a speed of 1S1e knots. Except that
they are to be furnished with improved
quick-fring guns, their armament will be
the same as that of the Majestic.
The Government has practically begun
another important improvement which has
long been urged on it. That is the trans
| fer of the chief depot and manufacturing of
| Government war material from the banks
| of the Thames at Woolwioh to the centre
| of England, Birmingham and its neghbor-
| hood. Although the mouth of the Thames Is
we'll defended, there Is always danger that an
enemy's vessels might run up the river and
with modern high explosives inflict serious
damage on the establishment at Woolwich.
Birmingham and Sheffield, both centrally
situated inland, are now the great manu-
featuring points for war material of all
kinds, and the former has Just been con-
nected with London by an elaborate under
ground system of telephone and telegraph
wires, while London itself Is being forti-
fed, and has Its own special organization
for defence.
Then, in order to FREQ the Government
from the Indian frontier troubles as soon
us possible, orders have been sent out to
India that the campaign against the
Afridis and the other mountain tribes must
be brought to a conclusion with as little
delay as may be compatible with the asser-
tion OF British supremacy. Foot and mouth
disease has broken out among the transport
animals on the lines of communication, and
is seriously impeding the operations of the
army, besides materially increasing the
cost. Already the money obtained at the
beginning of the campaign is exhausted,
and a further loan of 81 :, 500, 900 has to be
made for immediate requirements, with a
large sterling loan to follow early in the
coming year.
In West Africa the raising and arming of
native levies, Differed by large corps of
special service officers sent out from Eng.
The sun., 1897-11-24
Has tho Administration q Currency
H' Policy?

The guests who attended the Chamber OF
Commerce dinner last evening expecting
TO hear from Secretary GAGE an announce
inent Of the plan of currency reform which
the Administration will recommend to
Congress, must have been greatly disap-
pointed. After o quarter Of an hour of
platitudes about tho business situation
and outlook, all that the Secretary
vouchsafed to say, on the subject up.
permost in his hearers minds, was, that
he would not permit himself to doubt "that
in the councils Of our nation wise states
manship, supported and sustained by the
wisdom and value Of . pure patriotism
among our people, will find the way to tho
much. needed result" This is undoubtedly
true, but 1t was not worth coming all the
way to New York to tell It to US.
: Apparently the elaborate scheme Of cur
rency reform which Mr.. GAGE gave out to
the newspapers, few weeks ago, and
which, 1t was generally understood, was to
be embodied In President MoKINLEY's
Forthcoming Message, has been, for the
present, abandoned. The whole matter Is
to be left to the discretion Of Congress
without any intimation of what the Pres
ident desires 1t to do. If this inference is
Incorrect, the President should not walt
for the assembling Of Congress to say 30.
The sun., 1897-11-24

Tsmmany Assemblynan; In the Thirty
flfth district, 9b6.
Tn no previous municipal election have
there been so many blank votes as were
cost this year. The result in many districts
otherwise Republican has been changed by
reoson of the course OF tho Cits In furnishing
the voters with imperfect tickets, incom.
plete as to some offices, and therefore mis-
leading. Tammany Hall never loses any
votes because Of blanks, for the reason
that those who shape the policy and guide
the course of that well.disciplined organi.
cation are not in the habit Of making the
mistake of omitting to nominate full
tickets. This superlative act Of political
foolishness is reserved for the reformers,
and IL Ia one OF the most serious dangers
of such movements as they are organized,
bringing injury not to those whom they
oppose. but rather to those whom they
profess to favor.
Any alliance Of the Republican party,
direct or remote, with these Intermediates
proves always q disastrous partnership.
While their power for good Is small, their
power to damage lie considerable.
There are thirty.fvc Assembly districts
in the present Clty VI wow 1OTh, unu III III
ordinary contest twenty-six Of these dis
tricts are normally Democratic, and nine
are normally Republican. By dividing the
Republican vote, however, or by divert
ing a part Of 1t from the regular candi.
dates, the Citizens are able indirectly to
do some of Tammany's campaign work.
As result Of their manoeuvres this years
delegation from Now York to tho Assembly
includes thirty Tammany Hall Democrats
and only two organization Republicans.
The magnitude of the number of blank
votes at the recent election makes probable
some action by the next Legislature to In
sure to the citizens complete tickets and to
obviate the present method Of discrimina-
tion; but no provision Of law, no alteration
of the electoral code, no plan or change in
the system Of voting can alter or diminish
the inherent foolishness Of the Cits. Politi,
cal ciphers, they have a natural partiality
for blank votes. It seems strange that the
law should provide them with the means OF
making other people vote blank ballots un
consciously. The law could never have in
tended this.
The sun., 1897-11-24
Cycle Shows.

The cycling brotherhood and sisterhood
of the country will rejoice to know that,
despite various assertions to the contrary,
the much-loved bicycle shows, which
have gratified their curiosity in the past.
are not to be discontinued. 1t is now
reasonable certainty that wheel exhibi.
tions will within few months be held in
all the principal cities of the United States.
Since the National Board of Trade of
Cycle Manufacturers refused, some time
ago, to sanction bicycle shows for the sea.
son of 1s97-9S, there has been a strong
tendency on the part Of the local cycle
boards in different cities to hold exhibit
tions on their own account. In Phila-
delphia,. according to the Philadelphin
Record, the demand for bicycle show
was SO great that the Board of Trade of that
town, after passing resolution in favor of
holding show, sent committee to confer
with the National Board and ask for its con-
currence. 1.-THE committee" says the Record,
twas received with scant courtesy, but final
ly was granted hearing. No definite an
swer was vouchsafed, and the Philadelphia
representatives were compelled to come
home empty handed to await the pleasure
of the high and mighty ones in a mail re-
ply" The reply came later and was q re-
fusal. But it did not affect the determine
tion of the local board, the bicycle dealers.
the club men. or the wheeling fraternity
to hold all exhibition. Active preparations
were promptly made to have a cycle allsw
early in January.
In letter to THE SUN, a few weeks since,
the Director of the National Board declared
that "a successful and representative cycle
show cannot be held without the sanction
of the Cycle Board of Trade. and these
| promoters are deceiving the public
| when they claim that any considerable
number of manufacturers of repute
will participate in their ventures"
1t may be that few of the older bicycle
makers will not participate in the shows
that will take place, but probably the re.
suit of their refusal will be to make the
exhibits of the younger manufacturers all
the more attractive.
The sun., 1897-11-24
FIGHTING THE MERRIMAo.
shipping Mon Protest Against Giving Her
American Registry.


WASHINGTON. Nov. 23.-The controversy over
the application Of the Miami Steamship Com
pany for an American register for the steamship
Merrimac had hearing by Commissioner OF
Navigation Chamberlain to-day. The vessel was
formerly tho Salveig, Norwegian steamer,
wrecked by the big fire at Newport News year
ago. She was purchased for $47.OO by Hogan
& Sons for use in the New York Galveston trade
and repaired at an expense Of 81 900.
Application made then for American
register under the statute which authorizes
such Issue to vessel whose repairs In this
country amount to 81 per cent. of her value
Objection was made to granting the register on
the part OF various shipbuilding concerns and
transportation companies on the ground that
the cost OF repairs was excessive and that she
gould have been repaired for a sum within the
81 per cent. limit.
Col. J. j. McCook represented the prot otestants
and Hogan & Sons interests were looked after
BY Mr.; Plntt of Tracy, Bonrdman & Platt. Mr.
and will not announce his decision for some days.
Collector Bidwcll of New York officially ex-
dressed the opinion that the register should be
granted. The Fifty-fourth Congress passed
special acts granting registers to three vessels
owned by Hogan Sons employed in tho Miami
line,
The sun., 1897-11-24
Tho New Canal Commissi on.

Within a few days the gunboat New
port Is to leave New York for Greytown,
having on board the Nicaragua Canal Com
mission. consisting of Admiral WALKER,
Col. HAMS, and Prof. HAUPT, with a large
force Of engineers and assistants.
This commission has more time and far
greater means at its disposal than it's pred.
ecessor, the board of 1895, whose work it
Is to continue. That earlier body was con.
stituted in the same way, Col. LUDLOW
being appointed from the army, Mr.. ENDI-
coTT from the navy, and Mr.. ALFRED NOBLE
from the engineers in civil life. Its report
disposed, we think, of doubts as to whether
any isthmus canal was practicable; for in the
Senate, as we may recall, It had been urged
that the fierce tropical heat, baking the
soil, and especially the tremendous tor.
rents Of the rainy season, would require q
structure SO solid as to make Its cost and
maintenance prohibitive, the tolls not be-
ing able to pay the interest and the run.
ming expenses. The Ludlow board esti.
mated that the canal could be built for
$133, ,472, ,s93, but found that further ex.
aminations must be made in order to de.
termine whether the present route and
plans were available.
Accordingly Congress, in its act of June
last, appointed the present board to make
these additional examinations, and also to
ascertain the proper route, to report on the
feasibility and cost of building the canal,
and to form "plans for the entire work of
construction" as contemplated by the act
of 1895.
The crowning Importance Of the task as
signed to the present commission is there
fore manifest. Its conclusions, combined
with those of its predecessor, ought, we
think, to guide Congress in determining
what it will do for this magnificent enter
prise. If it should find that the cost will
be less than the Ludlow board estimated, SO
much the better; but there need be nothing
discouraeing in like estimate, provided
it can be shown that the tolls will offset
the low interest proposed for the bonds
and cover the running expenses.
The great mistake was in not appointing
this new commission. after it had been
asked for by the Ludlow board, at least a
year and a half ago. The throwing away OF
this time may now cause its report to be
awaited with impatience, but 1t is some
consolation to reflect that the years past
have been years of hard times, and that
when the report comes, it will find the
country in a condition to take up the work
actively. If it Is favorable, as we have
every reason to hope 1t may be, Congress
will be justified in promptly taking charge
OF the great enterprise, and pushing II
ahead on the plans which the new commits
sion Is instructed to make.
The sun., 1897-11-24
CUSTOMS REGULATIONS.
The New Tobacco CIassincation Adopted-Duty
Round Timber.

WASHINGTON. Nov. 23.-Crculars were issued
to-day from the Treasury Department to carry
into effect the recommendations of the recent
New York conference Of tobacco examiners
garding the inspection and rating OF tobacco.
The customs division has informed a mighty
hunter of New York, who desired to bring into
the country trophies OF his skill and success In
Africa and India. that unless he made them
over to some public institution for free exhibi-
tion he would have to pay duty on them as skins
of animals, mounted birds, &c.
seeming inconsistencyin in the Tariff law has
Just received q construction In the customs
division for the instruction and guidance OF
collectors. Round timber for spars OF vessels
or TO be used in the construction OF .harves Is
dutiRble at one co t cubic foot whil Q round,
manufactured timber is on the free list. Col
lcctors have been informed that they must de-
termino from the size. symmetry, &C., OF the
timber whether 1t is TO lie used for spars or
wharves. and II they think IL is, they must
assess the duty and let the Importers protest
and prove its final use ii they are not satisfied
with tho collectors action.
The sun., 1897-11-24
italian Regard for Animals.

FFOm The London IINos'
Not long ago was passenger on one OF the lake
steamers which ply between Desenzano and Riva. 1t
was day OF wild wind and driving storm. At Sao
peasant, OF peculiarly truculent type. came on
board. clad In the shaggy CLOAK OF the district aud
bearing a vast blue umbrella no less indigenous With
him. too he brought his donkey, Now. even Italian
steamers do not knowingly admit quadrupeds Of this
size TO tho shelter OF the fore cabin though possibly
II they did. great harm would he done. or Senti
ment violated. The beast therefore, was tethered
on the open deck and thus became exposed to tho
fury OF wind and weather. not to mention wave
British peasant would probably have accepted the
situation and let him bide. Not so the Lombard
Hastily divesting himself OF his ample overcoat no
spread It carefully the Clover aaimal's' back
and. unfuriiny his vo!uminous umbrella. held that pa
tently over tho asiniue head land his OWN all the
way to Riya. Now. here. surely, wasa good man.
mercitul to his beast.
The sun., 1897-11-24

rle,,o raunteru Carrying Away EvergthinE en-
watch They Can Lay Hands.

NYAcK, N. ", Nov. 23.-Unloss Charles A.
Pike. tho now owner OF the old 20 stone house.
in which Major Andre was imprisoned at Tap
nan. has mon TO watch the partly fallen build
ing every hour Of the day and night there will
be very little Of tho historic structure loft for
him to convert into public resort, such az
he now has In contemplation, Tho relic hunters
who make daily pilgrimages to Tappan threat
an tho total demolition OF tho house. and Mr..
pike fears that even the ground will be dug
away after tho building is gone. He has had to
erect fence about fifteen feet high In front OF
tho ruins, and even this docs not prevent relic
hunters from getting through and stealing about
everything they can lay their hands on. Para
of one Of the doors has boon carried away, sew
eral locks have been removed and brick! in-
Vulnerable have been taken from tho promises.
Even residents Of Tappnn, who wore born with.
in sight of tho old building and have looked ae
it nearly every day of their lives, hnvo Joined
the army OF property dostroyers. and yesterday
several of them wero peddling bricks from
Andr6's prison for 75 cents zach. As the sock
becomes exhausted prices will probably geo
higher, and It will be no wonder II American
citizens OF Tappan who 1.-Two within stone 9
throw of the old house will be paying $40
each for the bricks. Mr.. Pike says he will save
the rest OF his property IL 1t takes regiment OF
soldiers to guard IL day and night, and II the
depredntions continue the old Tappan buryinY
ground which dates q hundred years back OF
the Revolution, will soon have some fresh
Urn
The sun., 1897-11-24
Again the Blank Ballots.

Once again, and always again, 1t would
seem, inasmuch as the non-partisan Mug.
wump municipal Cits never learn anything
In the field of practical political knowledge,
the "blank votes" figure largely in the Of
fetal count. Expecting such Il result, The
SUN said on Sept. O.:
"In the municipal election OF 1890 their pioneers
in political idocy the Peoples Municipal League or
sad memory. took a similar course. and by utterly
confusing complicatng and disarranging the plan Of
voting. succeeded in defeating the candidate they
favored! The p. N. L. ticket. being in part blank
and not complete ticket. those who voted It dis
franchised themselves unconscously as to such
ofices as no nominations had been made Tor. and
upon the allies of these amateurs. the Republican,
not upon their opponents. tho Tammany Hall Demo-
crats OF that period. the burden Of loss through
blank votes fell most unjustly."
What the Cits of 1890 did in the line of
"blank vote" political fy.casting was a
matter of history and record in September.
same line has now become a matter of
record likewise. Here is the melancholy
story of their monumental and incorrigible
foolishness Blank votes in New York
county for Chief Judge of the Court of Ap,
peals. 56,257. Blank votes on Assembly.
men, Ninth district, ,742; Twentieth dis,
trict, 1,47O; Twenty first district, 612.
In this last district, by reason of such blank
votes, GEORGE G. AUSTIN, Republican, was
defeated by MURRAY, the Tammany can
didate. To continue: In the Twenty-sixth
district. $40 in the Twenty eighth, ,223
in the Thirty'hrst, 5000, thus electing the
The sun., 1897-11-24

land. is being pushed forward with all
speed to check the French advance toward
the British Niger and West Coast posses.
sions. The diffaculty In this case is one Of
transport, the native bearers, conscious Of
the value of their services, demanding full
rations and high pay, and going on strike
when they are not granted. In South
Africa uncertainty about the future Is man.
ifested in the steady preparation going on
in the Transvaal and the Orange Free
State for defence, and in the approaching
despatch of more British troops from Eng
land to the Cape Of Good Hope.
Tho question raised in England over all
these war preparations, is whether in the
end the game will be worth the candle.
The sun., 1897-11-24

home crowned with che laureis OF vic.
tory and with all the blushing honors
of success thick upon him, there would be
less grotesqueness In the fervor Of the re.
ception accorded him. But wEYLER, even
when Judged from the standard Of the
most chauvinist Of Spaniards, has been a
failure. After years Of inflated Dragging,
he has accomplished absolutely nothing for
the pacihcation of Cuba nothing for
the conquest Of the island. In his In.
glorious campaigns he has wasted the
lives Of many thousands of the best
Spanish soldiery, squandered vast sums OF
money, and destroyed the property to re.
gain which for Spanish control was the
ostensible purpose OF his bloody mission.
His vauntings, his promises, his threats,
and his lying proclamations have all come
to an end I; and he lands In Spain discrcd-
tied statesman and warrior. This last es.
tate OF Cuba 10 worse than the first. Tho
island is In sorrier plight than over be-
fore; and so far as the subjugation
of Cuba Libre Is concerned, the end
of the rebellion Is further Off than
It was when WEYLER landed there. No
matter for that; all the discontented, all the
uneasiness-are gathered unto wEYLER
with an intent to make him q popular
hero. He returns homo under q cloud Of
Government displeasure. The people, who
have only semblance Of popular liberty,
seize upon him as the most available means
by which can be made known their dissatt
isfaction and their discomfort.
The protest Of the commercial bodies
gives pause to the Spanish Government,
and the scheme for Cuban autonomy, which
was nearly ready for disclosure, has been
postponed until some statesmanship can
be brought to bear upon the tariff clause.
Delays are dangerous but denial to Cuba
Of the right to regulate It's own tariff laws
would be fatal to the whole scheme Of
autonomy. With that fatuous blind
ness which has characterized Spanish
colonial rule ever since Spain possessed
any colonies, it is highly probable that the
Sagasta Government may be coerced into
conciliation that was contemplated in the
scheme for autonomy. But should even
these poor and reduced concessions be
made to Cuba, 1t is evident that the
diverse elements, Conservative, Radical,
al 4 Carlist, which are now rallying around
WEYLER as the hero of the hour, will give
the Government bad day before quiet re-
turns. At last the Spanish people have
found hero. They find in him a means of
expressing their determination that Cuba
never shall be free.