davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
Baseball.

The baseball Magnates, the proprictors
OF tho League OF professional clubs en-
gagged in playing our national game,
opened their annual meeting this year
to numerous newspaper opinions that thcy
would SEQ to making baseball again de-
cent and sport. An impartial report
upon the situation up to this moment con-
tains very little OF promise that the
expected and much desired reign OF order
Is to come.
The former champion Of propriety on the
field, Mr.. JOHN T. BRUSH Of Cincinnati,
turns up as the most subservient ally OF the
King OF Rowdyism. Mr.. ANDREW FREED
MAN OF New York. Under this guidance
tho majority OF the League has shown it.
self TO be in favor Of the most reckless vio-
lation OF agreements made among them
selves. The spirit Of irregularity. OF con-
tempt for contracts and OF personal VEN
geance seems to be supreme.
In their progress toward a worse demon.
alization OF the game than has been reached
even yet. the League men had better atop
TO consider this:
Our national game has been q very popu-
lar institution. The professional organiza-
ton OF it has yielded great profits. But
throughout lite profitable stage there was
always behind each club a distinct and fav-
oring local interest In It, not as the Great
urc Of stock company or boss capitalist
but as the representative on the baseball
field OF the community where 1t belonged
Years ago the Atlantic Club carried
the pride OF Brooklyn. The Athletics
bore the hopes OF Philadelphia. The
Mutuals were the representatives Of
New York. The Unions Of Morris SANTA
belonged to no one: they played for their
district. The Rod Stockings OF Cincinnati
We're municipal institution. just 10 tho
English cricket clevens are supported by
their counties, and 50 are backed by
broad aud strong local interest so our
more noted baseball mines had their follow
ing. Because Of the manner In which IN,
National League has been managed this in
nuential sympathy has been in course O,
steady obliteration.
We no longer. for example, have a New
York nine or a Boston nine, but n gang OF
men hired and made 10 serve the personal
purposes OF q FREEDMAN or u SopEN, and
80 on through the list OF clubs and their
proprletors. The free, healthy and attrac-
tive character Of local representation is
being taken away and the unuttractlye
stamp OF Il narrow and low individual OWL
ership is being put upon the national gume.
1t cannot prosper under such circum-
stances.
The Magnntes had better think il over.
Az it appears to us, the post of leadership
FOR restoring the national game to health
has been transferred from Mr.. Brush of
Cincinnati to Mr.. ABELL OF BROOKLYN
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

There is, 1t appears, an Appalachian Park
Association, composed ot citizens OF North
Carolina and other States. The desire OF
the association IL To get established by Con-
gross park Of halt a million acres in the
Blue Ridge and Great Smoky country.
This is n very attractive and very merit
orlous project. The country desired Is
delightful in climate, mountainous, wooded
and well watcred IN short. beautiful in all
respects. FrOmthe central hill Of it, Rhone
Mountain, on" can see seven Statos. Tho
water courses, viii ii would be preserved
by having park there. are among the
most important on the Atlantic slopc.
That slope has no great public rcserva-
ton. The Appalachian Park j. to he rom-
meuded a. an admirable remedy for tic
defect.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
Germany Gets Her Price.

The terms In which the German Minister
for Foreign Affairs Count Won BUELow.
referred in the German Rcichstag on Mon
day to Gcrmany's arrangements with Eng
land indicated that they were being made
on the give-and-take principle, but
with decided advantage to Germany.
This seems TO have been very much tho case
in the agreements regarding their tor
ritories in Africa, particularly in con-
nection with the railway question In
South Africa. The opposition to Ger
man development in Southwest Afrcn
especially, which was 80 pronounced n
feature OF tho policy both Of the British
Government and OF Cape Colony, has been
abandoned and settlement made emf
nently favorable to Germany.
The German Southwest African territory
stretches from the mouth Of tho Orange
River which on that side forms the
northern boundary OF Cape Colony, to
the Cuncne River, which bounds the
Portuguese province Of Angola on the south,
covering altogether twelve degrees Of lati-
tudc Its eastern boundaries arc Rhodcsla
and British Bechuanaland. At one polut
only did England assert territorial rights
on the coast line; that was at Waltisch BAY
with surrounding strip OF country form
Ing an inset into the German territory.
This has boon described by anLl-Grr-
man Cape Colony politicians as "a lions
grip on the throat Of the Germany col
ony." 1--WE have nothing to do" said mem.
bers Of successive Cape Governments, "but
to hold Waltisch Bay, and Germany will
drop out ofSouth Africa" The new railway
agreement the terms OF which have, how
over,not been made fully known, would seem
to Indicate that this policy has been re-
nounced and that Germany has been accent
ed as permanent neighbor by tho British
Government in Southwest Africa. The
British South African Company binds itself
under the agreement to provision that
In Tho event OF the construction OF branch
OF the Bechuanaland railway through the
western portion OF tho territory OF Rho
desia, this branch shall not he taken to the
west coast otherwise than through German
territory. There Is no obligation on the
part OF the British South African Com
pany or the Bechuanaland railway to con-
struct such branch, but it is assumed
that as the territory Of Rhodesia develops
IL Will become necessary. The German
colony thus acquires an inalienabls future
interest In tho development OF railway
snoerpriss In Rhodesia and . right to bar
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
The aforementioned Of Cuba.

Maior-General WooD sailed yesterday af-
ternoon for Cuba on mission filled brlm full
Of possibilities for good or bad fame involv-
ing more then himself. He Is young man
trained in medicine and brought into touch
with military affairs through the practice
OF his profession In the service OF
the army. He received commission in
the line, because, as 1t Is generally under
stood, THEODORE ROOSEVELT, being himself
unwilling to be Colonel OF the Rough Riders,
asked that that post DO given to WOOD.
woop had once come irregularly into COM
mand for time OF some troops on the plains.
For his services as the Rough Rider Col
onel WooD was promoted to be Brigadier-
General. In that rank he had charge of
the province OF Santiago. and now he is q
Major-General and Governor-General OF
Cuba, the very highest place next to
Gen. OrIs's that tho Government has to
bestow.
This Is q promotion, probably, beyond
precedent of q sort to strain to tho utmost
the traditions and individual prejudices OF
the military establishment. Unquestion-
ably It is the act OF the Secretary OF War.
It Is his judgment. manifestly, that Gen.
WOOD Is the most desirable man for the
chief conn and In Cuba, and the Hon. ELIHU
Roor Is happy in the fact that the judg-
ment OF no man in public life to-day Is more
highly regarded than his. Wemust incline,
therefore, to expect its vindlcatlon In the
case OF Gen. WooD.
1t Is for no one. however, interested in
the welfare Of Cuba and the satisfactory
adjustment OF that islands relations with
the United States, to bother with expecta-
tions Tho hearty cooperation OF every
one, and particularly OF all in the Army,
with the extra assistance of that sympathy
which lies without the control OF military
discipline, should bc put at the disposal
OF Gen. WooD throughout Cuba, SO that
nothing shall be left uninterrupted to &C.
compllsh the main purpose OF the time,
Cuba's industrial and political restoration
and development.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
OLDEST or CHRISTMAS CAROLS.
A Curious Example Of tho "wait' Song for
Antiauaries to Explain.

To THE Epron OF THE sUs-Sr! The following
quaint and very interesting specimen OF carly
English Christmas "wnit Singing" was considered
as great curiosity when n'st hoard 1t, about 1855
In the monastic town OF Glastonbury, Somerset
shire, England. II was handed down to me by my
father, who obtained II from very old "almshouso"
woman, who in 1858, was nearly one hundred years
old. And who treasured It up a. memory of her
ane;a1r. have no doubt II originated as far back
~ the tenth or eleventh century. Abbot Dunstan
OF Glastonbury Abbey. the oldest monastic ruin in
England. supposed 10 have been its author. and
the story is still told how the ancient script was
found among certain other writ OF his, which
were carefully preserved for many years after his
execution which took place somewhere about the
date mentioned.
My ob!et in asking you to publish II was TO see
what explanations OF its very curious wording might
be obtained by correspondence. 1t is sad or sung
to the very simplest kind Of 8resoran chant by two
persons or two sides Of church choir 1t will
prove Of great uteres. 70 the lover OF antiquities
and many viii be interested to discover It's real
meaning, obscure in parts but PLAN enough In
others.
give Il exactly as received IL from my father.
New YonR, Do, Is. ions K. MAyuEw.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
GRAVE SITUATION IN SOUTH AFRICA.

What the British Government has been con-
cealinR from the British public since the
Transvaal Government handed its ultimntum
TO Mr.. Conyngham Greene. the late BRUSH
Agent at Pretoria. 10 now brought to nght py
the reverse to Gen. Buffers force In the
attempt to cross the Tugela on Friday. IL Is
no longer war with the Dutch republics OF
South Africa In which England Is engaged. but
revolutionary movement against Britlsh RUE
similar TO that which. on this continent 10 the
last century. inaugurated the War OF lndepen-
dence The Dutch Afrikandcrs OF the CAPE
Colony are now acknowledged to have Joined
the armies OF tho REPUBLICS In thousands. and
50 to have raised them to a strength that has
baffled the calculations OF the English Generals
on the spot and led to the successive disasters
that have attended the British arms almost
from the opening OF the campaign.
The reverse to Gen Buffers command Ia
doubly disastrous. because on its success had
been built the hopes the British Government
entertained that Ladysmith would be speedily
relieved. and check given to the spread OF
open and secret dis,frection in the British
South African Colonies. These authorizations
have been falsifled. and the situation assumes
an entirely new aspect. II Ia no longer more
question Of imposing suzerainty on handful
OF independent Dutch burghers. but one OF
British supremacy in South Africa. OF the road
to India. and OF EnRani's Eastern empire.
three phrases for the same thing. For these
the British Government has now to fight: and
this It will do without regard "a to whether It
is the present or n Liberal Govern ment that will
have to carry the work through.
There seems no probability that any great or
immediate success is likely to relieve the
gloom that at tho moment overhangs the
British army In South Africa. Tho three VIC
tories OF the past eight days have. rs Gen
Cronie's statement shows. infused a new spirit
into the Beers and made them more reso,ute
than ever to persevere IN their Resistance.
Gen. Methuen's division Is held In check at the
Motder Rivcr: Gen. Frcnch IL occupied In OH
serving The enemy in his front and keeping
his com nun cations with his base open : Gen.
Gatncre's position ia complicated by the
spreading dsafrectlon. aud Gen. Bullcr Is at
a standstl for want 81 the artillery
lost on the banks OF the Tueela. 1t may he
that the division under Sir Charles Warren.
now about due at Cape Town may aid In putt
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

accountable TO the popular branch OF the
Legislature.
1t is evident, indeed, as Mr.. BAoEHoT
long ago pointed out that France has to
choose between a Parliamentary govern
mcnt and dictatorship. II she insists
upon creating President OF the American
type. he will become, practically, dictator,
as did LOUIS NAPOLEON after the I'd Of De-
cember, 1851; and, once installed In his
Office It will be for him to say whether he
will not prefer some other title. He could
keep his place until the army and people
got tired OF him, and, TO avert their in
difference, he might find himself impelled
to plunge his country into foreign
war. That Is why the signs of revolution
in France are watched anxiously by foreign
nations. Experience has shown that to
French dictator military success is indis-
pensabc His pretensions need the bap-
tism OF blood. The fact was goomily recog-
nized by NAPOLEON ILL.,, who entered into
two European wars In haLf-hcarted way,
and began third sorely against his will.
A French dictatorship, in word, would DO
"a flrcbrand In Europe, and no diplomacy
could arrest its incendiary work.
But, it may be said, the reactionists.
though they controlled ma. ority OF the
Versailles Assembly in 1870, deliberately
adopted the Parliamentary type OF govern
mcnt because they were discordant, and
could not agree TO clothe either Bonapart-
list or n monarchist with dictatorlal powers.
A similar d!scord exists among the reaction
lists to-day. and that il the chief ground for
hope that the overthrow OF the present
French Republic may DO deferred for some
time to come.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
Bryan aud Mckinley Pictures in Mobile.
From the HoJils Daily R,oiItsr.

From tie NoLih Daily R,gisier.
There was time not many moons ago when the
display of II Bryan picture TO the assembly in our
theatre would surely arouse a storm OF applause,
but that timo Is no more. On Monday night this
features OF Mr. Bryan were thrown upon the screen
and there followed some applause, accompanied by
htew SHOUTS IRON the upper part OF the house Tho
contrast between the present and the past was
remarked upon at once by the obseryapt.
hut a stranger thing happened. McKinleys pir.
tnre was then shown. In the coed old time the pic
turo OF Republican President was treated with
respectful silence. but this oeca ion the applause
burst forth at once and was general. Som, who
heard 1t say that 1t wa about 10 Same in strength
As 'hatgiyen Bryan. and some say IL was twice as
loud Tho difference in quantity Ia OF no import.
ance however, The startling fact is that q Mobile
assembly appAuded McKInl ey at ALL or that It was
possible to compare the applause for a Republican
with The applause given to the Democrat
OF course. some of the applause was for the head
OF tho American nation In the time OF . prolonged
war out after all excuses are made. tho facts as we
relate them rsmain not wholly explained, and thsy
ere most significant
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

that the work has all to DO done over
again, a new campaign laid out. and new
armies collected to carry 1t on. Boer
soil remains untouched by the In
vaders and the British are still every
where on the defensive, with beleaguered
armies or with armies shattered by
defeat II is. then, q situation
which imperlls the prestige OF the British
Empire. As military power purely Eng
land Is making an exhibition OF her weak
ness In the presence OF an enemy OF inslg-
nlflcant numbers which brings satisfaction
to all her rivals or foes and pain and mortl-
f,cation to her friends and admirers. Ac-
cordingly, Consols have fallen to par, the
lowest price since 1893, and all England
is reused to the necessity Of eIhausting
every resource Of the Empire to retrieve
her military reputation and maintain her
front rank place among the powers OF the
world. That she can do this we do not doubt,
but before the end is accomplished she
will need to dismiss other decisions as to her
army and be forced to recast and reform her
military system, putting into II new vitality
and adapting IL to the conditions OF war as
1t Is now, not as It was century ago.
For this purpose, out OF the long test
which the South African conflict Is likely
to furnish, there will come eventually
nucleus Of officers about whom this reor-
ganizatlon can be made--not mere polo
players, club loungers and drawing. room
heroes, but actual soldiers taught the art
OF war in strenuous conflict with dan
gerous civilized foo.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
E,om the F,nancia. Caronic,s.


In the present period Of activity in the stock mar.
fet 1t seems not ont Of place to call attention 10
piece Of newspaper enterprise which is occasioning
q good deal OF favorable comment In financial
circles. The EVENING SUE ot this city prints ca IN
day full detailed report OF the transactions on the
New York STOCK EGchanGe, showing every change in
price and the amount or sales at each change Where
the market is duh and inactive the undertaking is
not very formidable one. but where the trapsac.
tions reach daily total or mill on shares and over
and 1t taxes a whole page of u big sheet like THE
sUN to report them, the task becomes ono Of con-
siderable magnitude and II requires great skin and
ingenuity aud very careful looking after ietas and
much preliminary planning to accomplish it with
success
The record thus furnished il like that given by tho
Stock Exchange official list and is extremely useful
TO those in any way interested in the market sueh
record shows at a glance what the course and
character OF the market has been, and which pro.
pertleS nave been particularly prominent in It, But
WHAT chieny commendahle 10 tho promptitudo
win whch Inc work Is done, The concern which
prInts the official list nearly always and- difficulty
IN coping with the added work when sudden burst
OF activity occurs Monday Of this week Will serve
Tor an Illustration. On that day our messenger
ooulu not OBTAIN copioI of the Official sales sheet
uhui twohty minutes to Aye o'clock Tar EvRNING
S"S giving The same record, WAS being sold ON the
streets at ten minutes TO four O'Clock.
Last spting when sales on the Exchange amounted
to one and one half million shares per day III, differ
even greater Ithappened several times then
mat the ofncial sheet could not b. obtained until
close to O'Clock. whilo Tue Sun would no sold on
the streets at o'clock TO be sure typagraphical
errors creep into THE SySs report but candor com.
peh ns To say that the official list 10 not altogether
Tree from this kind Of defect. We may add that the
paper referred to in its financial column also fur.
h''hoS avory good summary Of tho news for tho
day and the influences affecting tho market.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

We respectfully salute across the very
distant border OF Mexico Pres dent PoRFIR,o
DIAi, tn" head Of tho Mexican Government.
for the high minded StatcSmnnsh!p with which
HI has kept MeXicos CngGgcmcnts in tho mat
ter Of tho La AbrG mine. although they had
been entered uron under u IN understanding
Som" years ago a court ~ 0ibit, atipn &C INSIST
ing Of n Mexican. an American and the British
Minister AZ Washington. Sir EpwARp THORN
TON, pronounced valid tho claims upun Mexico
rut forward by tho American owners OF the La
Ahra mine. and Mexico began the Payment Of
the award. A'terward Mexico discovered
evidences OF fraud In the claim. and. while con-
tlnulnG to pay. in accordance with the decree
Of the arbitrator. she u, ked that il might be
rnconsidercd, II was reviewed by the American
Court Of Claims. anil Me%ico'S claim wa. found
good: AMI this the United States Supreme
Court. Mr. Justice HAHIA% speaking for It. has
finally confirmed.
OF we'll and honorahly managed international
relations. this. ~ the physician would say. is a
beautiful case,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

A Southern railroad Is said to have given
its employees the order to resign or to forswear
cigarettes. Such rule seems to be in tho
nature OF foppcry. There are persons who
prefer pipe or cigar to a cigarette. but surely
the latter IL Mother crime nor a INSIDE
meanor. The odor Of II Is not grateful to all
nostrils. but we can imagine tn ut n cigarette
consuming brakeman or conductor may be
trusted and is not necessarily dangerous. The
cigarette is cheap enough and thore are stern
mornlists who insist that II is nasty. but the
heat and fury OF its enemies make them sus-
pected by the Jud!ciOus
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
women smokers In London Restaurants.
From London Trut

Tho restaurants whore thNro is no restriction on
women smoking include nearly ali the nost eIpen-
hV" ana fashionable The Tastaurants whore helady
Smokers taboo are Ishould say. mostly those where
the great BrHsh middle GLASS treats It's wives and
daughters 10 table dh6ts at hvo shiilings. or 10
may be, three and siIpence a head. There arc,
again, restaurants innumerAble. not expensive and
atrihe Bohennan, whero tho ladies' smoke o. much
as the men. Tho female smoker appears to flourish
ehohy at the top and bottom Of society. In the In.
termediale lanks she Is looked on with suspisloA-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

Cen. SAMBO BpwLIS of Springfield con-
soc' himself II little hv asserting that ".ho
Democrats who are favorable to IMPERIALISM
are IuIt" generally rich mer" II this werc
co. II were n gricyoHs fault. Which does Gen
EowLEs consider to be tho more terrible crime
wealth or expansion;
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

Some anti-impcrialists held meeting In
Philadelphia the other night. The hall was
comfortably illled.' n phrase eonventionally
used to describe an assemblage known as "a
frost" Yet tho resolutions begin as follows;
I'VE. citizens of Philadelphia"
Truth would have required them to say: "A
mighty small and utterly unimportant part Of
the citizens OF philadelphia"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

This suggestion has q force all Its own. A duel
on the stage Tor keeps would brins to tho Metro.
politan Opera House such a crowd that the man.
agement would have To raise the roof The gate
money would DO enough to satisfy the most exact.
ing charity. HtWonld not bs permit sible under
the Horton Law. that statute should he enlarged,
there not being enoaSh danger. as u rule, in dusls
TO barthem from public entertainments. And let
Mephistophe!es sheath his foul playing sword and
be INFORM.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17

A.-"Come. will sing YOU"
R-"whAt Will you sing Inef"
Al will sing Won Twclve--O."
B-"What 10 your tvolNeOf"
A.--"Twciye. ths Twelve Apostles. Eleven thu
Eleven oro To Heaven. Ten, the Ten
Commandments. Nine. the Nine 50 bright
To shine. Eight, the Gabriel tuRcls
seven. the seven stars in the sky, SIX the
SIX Poor Waters: Five, the Plum Boy.
Preachers. Three Of them are Thrivers
Two - them wero Tily.w lite babes
clothed all III grern--O. I'm. and ono Is all
alone. and ever E!oro shall be so. Amen
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
A Knowing Poet.

From ne Wd'hinlion Evening Star
who 10 your fayorite Suthorr" inquired the young
woman who Is collecting autographs.
Il don't know what his name is" replied Asui.
nAido' But tho mAn who wrote He who nights and
runs away may live to nght another day certainly
knew his business"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
Roger A. Pryor for Prs.id.n,

To THE Error or Tue SUN Sir! In my opinion
the South should have the next Presidency, Who
could make better President than Gen Roger A.
Pryorf know of no one, JUSTICE
BRooKLTs. Dec, 10, 1900
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-17
Duel on the Stage. nu. No Stag. Duel.

To TIE EpIroR or THE suS-Sr: Could II not
he arranged to have NM saoza and Jean de Rssxke.
or lis representative nght their duel the stage OF
the Metropolitan. in Faust" for instances They
could stick each ,thcr to their hearts con.
tent; the trnpolttan would be crowded to the
doors; thc audience villn: TO pay advanced prices
for seats AMI financially. a 4 a. au advertisement
It would he " h,wling success.
NEwBuR0u. Des -. H. W. SCHoSEwoLr