davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-01-31
Gripping American Dercnses

Under all the conditions which con-
| front the country, it must be said that
Mr.. Reeds treatment of the seacoast
| defense bill reported to the House on
Saturday was little short of disgrace
full. Fully appreciatfng the Govern
ments desire for strict economy, the
War Department officials in making
their estimates for the ensuing year
had cut everything down to the plane
of barest necessity. The department
asked for Sl3 37S,57l, and Mr.. Reed
proposes to allow only $4,144,912 There
are two purposes veiled behind this
proposed action. In the first place the
Administration is determined to sub
ordinate everything, eyeu- national de-
fense. honor or what not, to an attempt
To cover the deficiency producing pow
CT of the Dingley law Nothing, out
side Of pensions. and perhaps the river
and harbor steal, will be too sacred to
go by the board for the Dingley bene-
fit- The sacopd object in crippling the
War Department at this time is un-
doubtedly undertaken on a. hint from
Wall Street and London. 1t is to keep
back defensive preparations as far as
feasible, in order that the country may
be in an unfit condition for hostilities.
and thus furnish q practical security TO
the foreign campaign creditors of the
Administration, and strong argument
with which to suppress so-calIed
'jingoism in Congress.
II is notorious that the War Depart-
ment has not powder and projectiles
for our coast batteries sufficient to
put up single decent fight against
an attacking fleet. 1t asked for
S943,69 a sum which would have pro-
duced about ten rounds of powder and
ball TO each gun and mortar to be in
position by the end of the next fiscal
year. 1t is cut down to 1891. 900 All
the other allowances are on a cor
responding scale of niggardliness and
contempt for the safety of the country.
Happily the matter does not end at
the door of the House of Reed. This
fortiication bill is one upon which the
Senate should make a relentless fight.
The appropriations proposed by the
Speaker are so ridiculously inadequate
to the purposes for which they were
asked that the whole business might
better be pitched overheard. Last
spring and summer. Mr.. Reed was able
to hold up the Senate. This winter ii
seems to us that the game might as
well go the other way in the interests
of variety and public policy.
The times., 1898-01-31
The Paper Don Novelist .

That very clever woman who writes
ander the name of Kate Douglas Wig
gin is doing something decidedly out
of character in Penelope's Progress, ;"
an interminable tale now running in
the Atlantic Monthly. 1t describes the
adventures of three women in Scot
land. They travel about in leisurely
fashion, meet various more or less in
definite characters, and rhapsodize over
the scenery. 1t is the kind of writing
which is sometimes characterized as
feminine. and reminds one OF little
girls innocent and joyous dramas with
paper dolls. In these paper families
the feminine members are always
beautifully gowned and very satisfac-
tory, hut there does not seem 10 be
very much that the infantile stage
manager can do with masculine dolls,
and so she makes as few of them as
l,ossi 5le, and when they need to be on
the scene, at a wedding, or anything,
they do not look much like real human
beings. "Penelope's Progress" is a sort
of paper-doll story. There are a few
men in it, and the names Of two of
The times., 1898-01-31
Men Rs Household Servants,

That servant problem is coming IN
again 1t will not stay down. 1t is a
Jonah. But somebody has found new
solution. OF course, that has happened
before. This time it is suggested that
men should become servants. taking
the places vacated by women. Thus
John. and Thomas and Henry. will go
into the kitchen and become cook.
waiter, or man of all work, while Mary.
Kate or Susan goes into the shop and
becomes clerk, bookkeeper. or factory
hand. The idea is picturesque one.
Undoubtedly, there are a great MANY
things in household work which a man
can do better than a woman. because
of his greater strength A considerable
hue and Cry has been raised at one
time and another about the health of
women being affected by their new oc-
cupations. But to face the question fair
ly it must be admitted that most of the
occupations they have entered thus far
are not half as hard as those which
they have left. A waitress in a hotel
carries loads which are twice the tax
on her strength that if would be to run
the elevator. There is more nerve
wearing and exhausting labor in house
keeping than in bookkeeping. and
washerwoman, under the old method
which obliges her to bring all the water
from the we'll, and fill and empty
her tubs herself, probably uses
up as much muscular force as most men
do in their daily work. If it is really
to be considered desirable that woman
should have the lighter and easier
work, and man the hard muscular la
Dor, it is certainly proper that he
should do some of the housework.
But there is going TO be another trou-
bic if this man-seryant business is in
troduced to any great extent. How
long would any man be likely to sub
NIT to the regime under which the aver
age maid of all work lives? Would he
get up at O'clock or earlier every
morning, cook three meals, wash, iron,
scrub, tend the children, sweep, lust,
The times., 1898-01-31
Mr.. Bailey. Revelations

To the Editor of The Times
Mr.. E. ID. Bailey evidently probed q
very sensitive spot when ne criticised
the present workings of the Civil Ser
vice Commission and made suggestions
for its improvement. But the wounds
of a friend are healing" and surely
there are few better friends of the
cause than the above-named gentle
man.
Mr.. Bailey is one of the oldest and
most intelligent and experienced en-
ployes in the commission, and he is,
therefore. especially well qualified to
suggest valuable improvements in the
service. He truly stated. in his testi-
mony before the civil service investi-
eating committee, that by simplifying
the work of the commission ii might be
possible for it to- do it's work effectively
with its present force. One of the i'm
provaments suggested by him must
strike sensible people as a change that
should have been adopted years ago.
Reference is had to the proposition to
allow eligibies to remain on the list for
at least three years without a Te-eXam-
ination. by filing a new application
yearly. This would certainly greatly
reduce the work of the commission and
consequently its expense to the Gov
ernment, while it would mean a saving
of much trouble and useless expense
to the eligible
Under the present system the work
of the Office is in a confused state. y
peep behind the scenes would dis
close thousands of examination papers
extending over a period of several
months. which have not been marked
yet examinations continue to be an
nounced, Notwithstanding. Let the
good work go on; no branch of the
Government needs investigation 50
badly. RECENT CONVERT.
The times., 1898-01-31
GonieZ's ReDly.

We feel sure that after reading the
noble letter Of Gen. Gomez to Gen.
Blanco, published in yesterdays Times,
Mr.. Mckinley viii come to TIE conclu-
sion that his friends in Madrid and
Havana have failed in their last de-
spairing effort to end the war in Cuba.
BlancOs vile and impudent attempt to
bribe the old patriot chieftain to be
tray his country and the cause of
liberty of course will be followed by
renewed efforts to compass the Cuban
Washington's murder.
Before making any active movement
in relation to Cuba, it is possible that
the Mckinley Administration may in
sist upon giving Spain reasonable time
in which to accomplish that design,
and to learn whether Blanco has been
equally disappointing in his assaults
upon the virtue of Garcia and Rabi.
Without much doubt, the Administra-
ton has waited so long that it may
feel as if further delay could no harm.
In this view the country does not
concur, and the Senate would be up
holding universal American sentiment
if il should tell the President plainly
and frankly that not an appropriation
bill or any other important legislation
would be allowed to pass until he had
at least recognized the belligerency of
the Cuban Republic.
The time for mincing matters is
past. The Senate is in position to
bring the Administration up with
round turn. 1t ought to do so, and at
once.
The times., 1898-01-31

| them are Willie and Robin, which
| again recalls the paper dolls. Their
| emotions are papery-very. They are
not much on conversation. and only
int, oduced when it becomes absolute
ly necessary TO get upsa love affair.
In the current number of this tale a
chapter is begun thus:
My Willie issnot drowned in Var
row thank laeaslen. He, is drowned in
happiness, according to his own ac-
count"
Now, that lis enough. without any
more. But tkereis some more. Willie
employs himself, most appropriately,
in gathering some sprays of the pink
veronica and the blue speedwell, while
Penelope sits on an old bench and
watches him i'm happy idleness. Some
how or other the impression has been
conveyed in previous chapters that
Penelope is acting as chaperon for the
party. and this lingering impression in
terferes with the picturesqueness of
the present scene. One can endure a
good deal in lovers of extreme youth,
although even then one does not want
them around in sight too much on pub
lie benches. airing their raptures. and
exchanging VOWS and caresses. If one
really enjoys seeing that sort of thing,
it is done more artistically on the ste ge.
But in cases of extreme youth it can be
endured. Tke present description, how
ever, conveys the idea of a lady of un
certain age being lsittenish on the pub
lie road with somebody whom she calls
Willie who is gathering speedWeliS.
and drowned, metaphorically. in happi-
ness The impulse of the reader is to
catch Willie up by the back of the
neck and drown him, literally, in some
thing else.
TIE best thing that the author of
"Penelope's Progress" can do with that
story is to wind it up as quickly as
possible and never do so any more. The
literary world of two generations ago
tolerated Stiffness and sentimentality,
and rhapsodies on vegetation, in the
writings OF woman authors, because it
was generally assumed that they did
not know any better. Nowadays it is
not considered necessary for a woman
TO write unless she has something to
say. ana then she is expected TO say it
and stop. Mrs. Wiggin has had things
To say in other books that she has
written, and she may have something
more TO say if she is willing to wait
for inspiration. But "Penelope's Prog
ress'' is valuable only as a horrible ex-
The times., 1898-01-31

run errands, answer the door bell, and
allow himself to be called away in the
middle of any one of these duties to do
something else, finishing work finally
about O'clock at night? Would he
then sit in the kitchen, without COM
pany, until bedtime, and agree to be in
bed by 10 o'clock every night? Would
he agree to follow this program every
day in the week, including Sunday, with
a respite of one, or possibly. two after
Moons? Would he stand being ques-
toned as to his private affairs, and for
bidden to wear a coat and hat like his
masters? Would he like to have his
rations given out by the mistress, and
his food supplied mainly from whatever
happened to be left after the family fin
ished their meal? Would he, in short,
consent to do just what the average
maid of all work does. for Sl.50 to $4
a week and board? Probably not
The whole trouble in this servant
question is that it is a survival of the
feudal system. a personal instead of
business arrangement.
The times., 1898-01-31
France aud the Jews.

Leading Hebrew citizens of France
and their coreligionists in neighboring
countries are beginning to speak their
minds with regard to the wave of per-
secution which has broken over them in
/ the land of a free people, who, above all
others on the continent of Europe,
should be incapable of such silly race or
religious intolerance. Various opinions
are entertained as to the real iounda-
tion of the crusade. All authorities
seem to agree. however. that the
Dreyfus case and its Jewish relations
have been seized upon by certain politi-
cal leaders, formerly identified with the
Boulanger movement to create a situa-
ton of unrest and violence for their
own ulterior purposes.
One prominent Hebrew, DIR. Max Nor
dau. is very radical in his expressions
on the subject. He asserts that there is
a night of St Bartholomew in store for
the French Jews, and believes that the
outbreak of bigotry is traceable to
clerical influence. But this idea is not
generally shared by others of his rank
and standing. The present Pope has
always been strong opponent OF the
anti-Semitic tendency everywhere in
Europe. He has called it anti-Jewish
anarchy. and the relations between the
Vatican and the Hebrew financial dy-
nasties of the old world for years have
been amicab BILE if not intimate.
Ii is much more probable that, under
the suise of anti-Semitism, which is
convenient for purposes of turbulence,
an attempt is being made to organize
revolution of some sort against the eX-
listing order of things in France. When
the conspiracy comes to a head and
develops into something tangible, it is
more than likely that the current sense
less rage against one class of French
society win be quickly forgotten.
The times., 1898-01-31

Tie Petit Journal of Paris thinks
Germany aud Englan nd. are drifting ra pd-
ly toward i dangerous crisis. 1t says as
TO the former that somebody in authority
may make 4 statement which the govern
ment cannot prevent, and that would bring
war Reference, of course, is made to
the Dreyfus scandal. 1t seems snIa II
matter TO constitute ''casus belli," but
the opinion is growing strong in France
that Germany is anxious to find one, and
almost anything would serve.
The times., 1898-01-31
MONDAY. JANUARY 81, 1898.
Not IN TIE I.east Imnortant.

If Messrs. Reed. Dingley and the
COMMITTEES on Rules think that they are
doing brilliant thing in arranging to
railroad the Teller resolution through to
Z defeat today. they are welcme TO the
pleasurs of their emotions: but nobody
else win be impressed. The effect OF
the Senate's action in this matter upon
the country lies in the fact that it was
the free expression of those who voted
F. aye, including several Republicans
who would have been muZzled if the
Administration could have managed it.
s. What the House may do in the prem
ises does not signify. since il is notori-
Gus that whatever it may be- it viii
merely represent the views and wishes
of the Speaker. With that excellent
opinion of himself which is one of his
achief beauties. Mr.. Reed evidently fan
cies that his course today i'm turning
down the Teller resolution Will quite
Offset its success i'll the Senate If that
as his idea it is wrong. All Europe and
America know exactly what to expect
OF him; but the former at least had
been deluded into believing that the
gold sentiment could be forced on the
Senate also. When it developed that the
party in power could not control even
its own Senator's, the shock to financial
circles in Lombard street was painful.
and the ipse diXit of Reed viii not mend
the matter
The situation is quite satisfactory
from Democratic point of view. We
are doing our winter plowing with
Republican heifers-with two of them
particularly. Life would be as empty
as Ecllles without Hanna and Gage.
They are doing noble work for CONNER
cial freedom. Long may they wave!
The times., 1898-01-31
On the subject of Secretary Gage, sena-

On Tie subJect OF Secretary Gage, Sena-
tor Frye is not as much of lamb as his
name might suggest. He regards Gage as
mischief maker. responsiU the Teller
resolution, and says that If he were as
good a politician as he is banker, he
would know better than to spring the
single geld standard at this time The
trouble appears to be that Gage knows
he represents the views of the Adminstra-
ton and OF the people who own it, and
cannot be made to see why he should not
express them.
The times., 1898-01-31
Rubber Shoes.
To the Editor of The Times:

To the Editor of The Times:
Some very worthy citizens have
slipped and fallen on the icy streets.
spraining their wrists or breaking their
limbs These accidents might have
been prevented by the wearing of nom
slipping OvershOes.
AS men cannot be trusted to take
care of themselves, the District Com
nissioners should take steps at once
to put an end to these deplOTable casu-
a1ties. This can be done by a police
regulation imposing a fine of from five
10 twenty dollars on every person over
ten years of age who appears on the
streets in freezing weather without
rubber OvershOeS on.
All skeptics as to the right of the
Commissioners to issue such a law are
respectfully referred to Judge Scott 3
opinion on the handlebar regulation or
to the BUREAU OF REFORM.
The times., 1898-01-31

The European dispatches are rather
reticeut concerning those four sailors mur-
dered at Kiao Chou by the Chinese. We
feared that China has been watching the
indifference with whicl America has al
lowed its citizens TO be tortured and butch
not know the difference between a Hanna
Administration and a first class German
Emperor. They VIII discover it now how
ever.
The times., 1898-01-31

If the cotton and iron strikes, and such
evidences OF prosperity, continue to spread
1t viii he a great panorama that Presi-
dent Mckinney VIII be able 10 spread be
fore his Me <icaG fellow ruler When that
potentatc reaches our soil. In his own
country President Dlaz sees everything
prosperous and active. When he comes TO
America ne VIII enjoy an opportunity to
witness the net results of tine gold curse
which Mexico, fortunately for its people,
has escaped.
The times., 1898-01-31
Thomas Knew.

after taking his servant to task one morn
ing, who is it that sees all we do and
hears all we say and knows all We think,
and who regards even me in my bishops
robes as but vile worm of the dust?''
And Thomas replied: 1.-THE Missus, SIR
The times., 1898-01-31
= A Simple Statement.

4 correspondent inquiries: How many
Texas Republicans want office" Let's
see; Mckinley got about 10000 votes
in Texas. Fifty thousand OF these were
sound money Democrats. Subtract 50,-
600 from I65 900.
The times., 1898-01-31
Renl Comfort. )

From the Chicago Record.)
A true p'ilanthropist just now. may de-
rive consider able satisfaction from tile
thought that not more than about half
the things the Ohio politicians are saying
about one another can possibly be true.
The times., 1898-01-31

Prof. Won Hoist, of the Chicago Uni
versity, is very certain that the annexation
of Hawaii would be very bad thing.
Frof. Rockefeller, proprietor Of the same
university also connected with the Standard
Prof. Won Hoist There is great deal
of human nature in man.
The times., 1898-01-31
The overproduction of Genius.

from the Atchison Globe.)
1t is rare man who has not invented
something and paid money to patent
attorney. Running patent office is as
good business as manufacturing patent
medicine.
The times., 1898-01-31

Recacrs al Tie Times ,elo may a, any
time be uaeble 70 procure copies Of a al oi,y
Te,rS S,aRd, railroad station on Tailroad
trains iria confer q Jttror upon tas manage
mont by sending to Ibis Office Information Of
dle f0c;
The times., 1898-01-31
A Venerable Joke.
{ (From The Phila, i,

tFrom the Philadelphia Ledger,
If the Government wishes to make a
really popular. innovation in it's postage
stamp business, it might retail them 1T
wholesale rates. 7sa8'
The times., 1898-01-31
History Repeated.

from the Omaha World -HeraId.)
The latest war news from Cuba gives
rise to the suspicion that Blanco has
discovered one of Weyler's old letter.
files.
The times., 1898-01-31
A Chance for the joss.
(From tie Chicago Record.)

Grover Cleveland might retaliate upon
the Administration for this Dole reception
by asking 1iliuokalani down to tea at
Princeton.
The times., 1898-01-31
The Passing OF the Horse.
.l,r.,.n thc g. Il. Co.,,

sFro;n the Chic 20 Tribunel
More than dozen factories are turning
out horseIess ca rriages for this years trade
One OF the best points about a hcrseless
carriage is tonguelessness-
The times., 1898-01-31
Circulation Statement.

Communications intended for publication
IN The Times should be teFSely and plainly
sri'ifteR and must ia all cases be accompanied
By the name and addJ'SSs Of dte Writer. Re
.ected communications aeiu 5l"t be preserved,
aid oa}g manuscripts Of O6rioas Importance
sriH De returned 10 their authors.
The times., 1898-01-31

The report of 49, Investigations by
Senator Henderson into the record of
Hamilton Glover Ewart, whose name
is before the Senate for combination
as judge of the district court of West
ern North Carolina as printed in The
Times yesterday, created considerable
comment 1T is believed that the Sen
ators will examine very closely the re-
cord of this very thrifty former member
of Congress, who is alleged to have sold
agricultural reports and books on the
diseases of horses to make an honest"
penny. Many persons believe that if
the report is true Mr.. Ewart would be
no adornment to the bench as a United
States judge.
The times., 1898-01-31
How He Lends 1t.

From the Columbus Press.)
Mark Hanna is. still leading the Republi-
can party~-with q halter.
The times., 1898-01-31

The February Forum contains,
among other things, an article by the
president OF the International Geo
graphical Congress. Sir Clements Il.
Markham, X. c. B., on Antarctic EX-
ploratior and Its Importance" Ex-
Secretary Carlisle. in a second paper on
Dangerous Defects of our Electoral
System proposes a remedy. Major j.
w. Powell. director OF the Bureau Of
American EthnolOgy, contributes an in
teresting paper on the question.
Whence Came the American In
dians?" Mr.. c. Wood Dayis's contri-
button. Corn and COttonseed: Why
the Price of Corn Is Low will inter-
est and surprise the general reader
through its disclosures of the adulter-
alton of various articles OF food by
cottonseed oil. Mr.. F. c. Penfield. who
was our diplomatic agent in Egypt dur
ing Cleveland's second Administra-
ton, writes of .'Britains Exploitation
Of the Nile Valley. Karl Blind, one
of the few survivors of the men of
whom De Tocqueville speaks in his
Memoirs, contributes critical view
of the Alexis De Tocqueville's Recoi-
lections.f
The times., 1898-01-31

1t is probable that the Senate this
week will do something more than dis
cuss the Hawaiian treaty The census
bill. which was displaced by the Teller
resolution, will be again made the un-
finished business. and Mr. Carter ex-
poets to pass ii before the week is over.
1t looks as if those who We're opposed
TO putting this work under the civil
service reform system will have their
own way The Corbett election case
may also be called up. and it is also
quite likely that one or two of the ap-
preparation bills recently reported may
be taken up and passed.
Senator Davis does not yet see any
time when he can predict final action
on the treaty. Several set speeches are
yet to be delivered. Mr. Teller. an ad-
vocate of annexation. has the floor.
and will probably consume one after
noon. Others who intend to speak are
Senators White, Caffery. Lodge. Fora
ker, Cullom, Daniel and German.