davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1899-05-25
Tn. Bicycle Squad peterioratinx ?

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The bicyS
Gle squad Of policemen in New York has be-
come positively inefficient. At no time since
the squads formation has the danger TO pedes.
trians from scorching bcyclists been 80 great
as it is now. and at no time since the squad
appeared have scorchers been so numerous.
This is not the opinion OF residents In one part
of the city only. but In every part OF Il. and as
time goes by the conditions deplored seem
to grow worse instead OF better.
There is no day OF the week and no time Of
the day when scorchers cannot be counted BY
dozens on almost any cycling thoroughfare In
the city. and not day passes without the lives
Of adults and children on foot being recklessly
impserilled BY wheels driven at speed far s. ss.
ln fair weather an average Of not less than
fifty accidents. more or less serious OCCUR daily
Bouieyardl between O'clock In the morning
and Eax at at nig6t as the result Of 4 ;,eSorchng
fs as mps m sro
slight and t the persons involved, Wishing to at
WRoat sSns hsr as or
arrests. Occasionally lying wheel colides
Of Pa9 ebrsp OF opSShs aSsS gSs
left; but niue times out Of ten % no binecoat tbs is
within hearing or hailinG distance on such oc-
hsr the TyS when such
cernedly about the cool weather We are having
or about the progress upon the new street rail-
mile clip cannot fail when three or four blocks
away to see the aggregation OF police authority
stationed In the middle OF the avenue, and nat
urally he slows down for a few blocks. With
the Shs 10 ossS ssS him. him. s Ro S
keeping his weather eye opeRsfor glisteninG
shields and police uniforms at street crossings,
rushes along the avenue In defiance OF law and
without the slightest respect for the rights Of
other people.
It would not be easy to suggest a better sig-
nal for the guidance OF scorchers than the
bicycle officers make OF themselves by stand
Ing persistently In the opening at the intersee.
gasiights at night In case six or eight scorcR.
ers are riding single fle 1t is only necessary TOR
the leader to sound the alarm. 1t is passed
| from one rider to the other as II By wireless
telegrnphy; and when there is any likelihqod
within the laws requirements.
1T would. OF course. be unfair to the bike
sSSaad 10 accuse its & OF aEnsss M OF Of
some of the older members, could not bo
proved. As usually happens. the facts In the
case are more apparent than their causes al.
though some OF the latter may be readily
About month ago. and for a, period Of sew.
eral days. arrests were made by the score Of
Theelpen riding Without bells or without
lighted lamps. While the raid lasted It's effect
SoM and s9w ss an1 0G bells lam
upper Broadway for Ave NIL lnutes In the even
ing and observe the wheels that pass. Then
take stroll up or down the sidewalk and try
to ind bicycle policeman. Inquire as you 60
dans during the evening" But don't attempt to
MAY ~. ~ ~ ''A ''''' WHEELER.
The sun., 1899-05-25

indicated clearly that the canal was FEAST
BILE from the engineering point OF view, and
could be built at cost not prohibitory ; but
its time and resources were so limited that
1t suggested the appointment Of another
body OF experts to continue its work. Ac-
cordingly the Walker commission was sent
down, and its report was also favorable,
while further study OF some points that
had demanded investigation indicated that
perhaps the cost might be even per
cent. less than had been estimated by it's
predecessor. Now we are to have third
commission, with still greater means at
its disposal, to finish the work. The
two former bodies consisted Of three
members each, while the third has
seven, six OF them being professional en-
gineers OF long and varied experience.
The appropriation for the Walker COM
mission was far In excess Of that for the
Ludlow commission, but this in turn is
dwarfed by the 81 900, 900 put at the Pres
ident's disposal now.
Perhaps the most interesting fact regard
ing the new commission Is the way 1t has
been made up. To begin WITH the three
members Of the Walker commission are re-
tained; next. the one available member Of
the Ludlow commission, Civil Engineer
NOBLE, is recalled, Gen. LUDLOW being In
active military service and Admiral ENDI-
coTr now Chief Of Bureaus and Docks.
Finally, three new engineers, two from civil
life and one from the army, are added, thus
combining fresh study Of the enterprise
with the accumulated experience Of the last
two cOmmiasiona Such an exarciae NJ tho
Presidents discretion in the choice Of a new
commission inspires confidence. while the
liberal provision that even the Panama
route Is to be studied allows us to expect an
exhaustive review OF the whole subject.
The sun., 1899-05-25
Evidently the French duel is not such a

Evidently the French duel is not such a
purely funny thing as some non -Gallic journals
picture it. But 1t is queer thing all the same.
Only the other day. to settle the question as to
the comparative merits Of French and German
armies. a French lawyer and a Prussian officer
fought with pistols at ten paces The lawyer
was killed. And now M. CATULLE MENDEs is
lying at the point Of death from sword thrust.
the result OF a dispute with NJ. GEORGES VANoR
as to whether Hamlet should be played fat
or lean. VANoR maintaining that he should
be fat and MENDEs insisting that he should
be lean.
Now. dogs often fight for fat and lean. but
dramatic critics are seldom caught at it, and in
the present case there was hardly any real
ground for duel because the divine SARAH.
over whose Hamlet the trouble RACES Is gen.
orally believed to be merely a "Jausse maiore"
That fact would seem to leave room for an am
icable settlement Of the affair by the seconds.
The sun., 1899-05-25

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: The diff
fculties experienced in procuring uniformity
in divorce cases are succinctly. clearly and con-
vincingly expressed in your editorial OF to-day
but the remedy for the chaos in which we find
ourselves in matters OF divorce throughout the
United States Is not so homeless as it would
appear.
Let the State Of New York increase the causes
for an absolute divorce by adding to the one
which Is now given that OF abandonment for
given period and cruel and inhuman treatment.
This State alone III we except South Carolina)
has been the cause Of greater part OF the con-
fusion now existing relative to divorces, and
to the Legislature Of this State and more par
ticularly to the judiciary. should there come
broadening OF ideas to eet those OF all the other
States as expressed by their Legislatures and
courts. With but one cause for an absolute
divorce in this State. the courts have been COM
PEELED to twist and turn and work by all the
means In their power to see II there was not
some possible method to contract and lessen
the meaning OF the words. OF the statute into
something otherwise than what 1t s, with the
result that whenever the opportunity afforded
able words Of the statute with the injustice JUS and
hardships as presented in the cases decided.
e Wife esns. New Yort City aa at
the solieitation q her husband and goes to
NOTtn DdkOtd, tn6Te TeSlulnR Une statutory
time: commences an action for divorce: the
husband Is served with summons and COM
PLANT here; ne makes no answer In the North
free woman @ she goes st. Paul and there
marries again. and with her husband returns
to this city. The first husband begins an ac-
tion for divorce against her on the ground OF
adultery with the man she married In st. Paul,
and the courts in this State give him judg-
ment Now. see how she is placed: In New
York State she Is the divorced wife OF and
living in concubinage with B: in Minnesota
she is the legal wife Of and the courts of that
State and other States would protect her in all
are respectable people IN New Jersey. but
when she crosses the ferry and arrives In New
York she becomes disreputable. This woman's
child by her second husband inherits In every
other State In the United States, but In New
York he is ilegitima ate and cannot inherit B, the
woman's second husband can take her to Jer-
sey City to live. and there they would legally be
Mr. and Mrs. b. but, the second marriage not
being recognized In New York. B can marry
again In this State and have legal wife here
Thus we have the ediiying spectacle OF man
having legal wife in New Jersey who. can BY
crossing the river at an expenditure OF three
cubinage. at the same time meeting on this
side another woman. who Is also his legal wife
He might maintain two establishments, one in
each State. and each In it's respective State be
perfectly legal. the offspring thereof lepitimate
Is II not far better to increase the number OF
causes for which an absolute divorce may be
obtained than to permit a man to have two
legal wives at one and the same timer
New YORK. May %. E.TF.
The sun., 1899-05-25
Russia's Onward Movement in Asia.

simultaneously with the announcement
that Russian exploring expedition has
left St. Petersburg for Central Asia, there
comes the news that the Governor Of Kash-
gar, in Chinese Turkestan, has applied to
Pekin for reinforcement Of Is. 900 troops.
The exploration party is under the COM
mand Of Lieut.. KOsLoFF and will make its
way through Western Mongolia and the
Cobb Desert, and crossing the Nan-Shan
Mountains to Lake Kukunor pass into the
region Of the sources Of the Hoangho. 1t Is
expected that the work to be done by the
expedition will occupy about two years,
and be the prelude to important action in
that little known part Of Asia.
The anxiety manifested by the Chinese
Governor Of Kashgar is not. however, oc-
casioned by Lieut.. KosLoFF's expedition,
but by the military movements Of the Rus
SLAMS In his immediate vicinity and In the
southern part Of his province. The re-
Gently reported reinforcement Of the Rus
sian garrison on the Murghab and the
occupation Of points In the Sarlkul dis
trict on the eastern slopes of the Tagh-
dumbash Pamir toward Tashkurgan, to
the southwest Of Yarkand, have no doubt
alarmed the Chinese authorities and led
to the request for more troops. The prox-
unity Of the head Of the Transcaspian Rail.
way extension at Andijan, some $50 miles
from Kashgar by well-travelled road,
taken in connection with the numbers OF
the Russian troops that are quartered
along the line OF rail between Samar-
kand and Andijan, also give them cause OF
apprehension. In addition to local levies
the Russian regular force in that part of
Asia comprises four battallons OF rifiemen,
fourteen Of ordinary infantry. nine batter
les Of artillery OF eight guns each. fourteen
sotnlas Of Cossacks. and some companies OF
engineers and battalion Of garrison artil-
lery. Behind these, between Samarkand
and the Caspian, there are said to be twelve
battalions Of infantry. twelve sotnias OF
Cossacks, battery OF artillery and other
troops with power to draw on the garri-
sons in the Caucasus In case OF need.
The Interpretation to be put on the
various reports coming from that part Of
the world at intervals would appear to be
that Russia is moving steadily forward by
means of her railway and military outposts
into Chinese Turkestan. The trade Of
Yarkand and Kashgar that now finds its
way to IRiia through Kashmir will. in
brief perJ 1, be diverted to the far easier
route toS the Russian railhead, and the
present cilayan trade over the high passes
The sun., 1899-05-25
R11rTon orr OF COMMISSION
Cant, Coehlan Ordered TO Command the
Puget sound Naval Station.


WASHINGTON. May 24-Capt. Joseph b Coeh-
Ian has been detached from the cruiser Raleigh
and ordered to command the Puget Sound
naval station at Bremerton. Wash. He VIII
assume his new duties on June 30. The
Raleigh will be placed out OF commission im-
mediutely at Portsmouth. N. H. Orders de"
tachng other officers from the Raleigh have
been issued also. Lieutenant Commander I.
s. Phillips. her executive officer; Surgeon y.
II. Marstellar. Passed Assistant Surgeon j. NJ.
Moore, Ensign H. A. Pearson. Ensign +. l..
Chadwick. Lieut. c. b. Morgan and Paymaster
s. l.. Heap are ordered home and placed on
waiting orders. Lieut.. W Winder will go to
the Michgon as executive offlcer. Ensign p.
d. Babin Ia ordered to the Texas. Lieut.; II.
Rodman has month g leave. and will go then
to the Albatross.
To correct any nisapprehension IL should be
understood that the command q the ,Pnget
Sound naval station is an exoeedinRly desira-
BILE assignment. No disciplinary measure was
contemplated In sending Capt. COahlan there.
II II had boen intended to make Capt CoRhian
Navy Department for his reference to the Ger
man Emperor and German naval oftlcers In
his speech at the Union League dinner In New
York last month he would have been placed
on waiting orders. Instead Of that he gets de-
srable shore duty. thus insuring more pay
than he would have received on waiting orders
and a furnished house, free OF charge. II 10
have returned from tour OF sea duty. and the
practice was followed In the cases OF nearly All
the officers who returned from Manila In the
Raleigh.
The sun., 1899-05-25
A jews Protest Against the " Missions to the
JeWs.o

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: It Ia about
time something was said concerning these
missions to the Jews" in the lower east side.
which have caused so much disturbance lately.
As every one knows. these missions are sup
ported by wealthy religious bodies In New York.
and run by Jewish converts to Christianity.
That name which they have assumed OF
Missions to the Jews" is misleading. They
are not missions to the Jews they only cater
to the poorest element among the Jews. So
far they have not attempted to do missionary
work among the uptown" the well-fed, edu-
Gated Jews. Their efforts have been directed
us whose abieet poverty coerces them into do
ing anything for bread, and the salvation OF
these poor wretches ia accomp mplshed as fol-
lows; They are approached by "missi lon
cency. offer them stipulated sum OF money
II they only will allow themselves to be
baptized. That Is all that is required Of them.
1t Is a mere matter OF presenting satisfactory
statistics to the wealthy church m1embers 1
put at the disposal OF these INSCRIPTIONS mis-
sionaries These men have recourse to the
most disRraceful methods In their efforts to
hated and despised by the Jewish population
OF the east side. as shown by the disturb Dances
lately reported in the newspapers as having
occurred In and about these missions: Warsza-
wiak and Faust are fair examples Of the sort
for Christianity. Those who nay the mission
aries have been warned again and again from
the Jewish pulpits rs to the character Of the
men employed inthis unholy work.
This work OF " salvation Is an insult to the
Jews in general. who can well take care OF
themselves; IL Is menace to public safety. as
1t provokes disorder and riot and as such
should be stopped. JuDAICus
~
The sun., 1899-05-25

along with his own crude and worthless
philosophizings upon love and lovesickness
and what he calls it's "peripheral manifes-
tatione,"" Doctor MACDONALD exultinRly
announced that about fve per cent. Of the
letters received we're from persons Of ques-
tionable reputation, and that he intended
to exhibit and discuss these deeper forms
OF sociological abnormality" In a separate
treatise intimRtipg. further, that informa-
tion concerning the projected book Of
deeper abnormallty could be had by adj
dressing the same lock box in the Washing
ton Post Office.
We looked at the time through Doctor"
MACDoNALD's pseudo-solentiflc chapters on
the female sex with sensations approaching
nausea. We do not think any healthy mind
can mistake the nature Of the individuality
which Graves this sort Of investigation and
voluntarily engages in 1t. His scientific"
and sociological activity, however, would
In ordinary circumstances be his own affair,
subject only to the restrictions OF the laws
against the circulation Of indecent literature
and perhaps an occasional thrashing at the
hands Of an indignant father, husband or
brother But In the volume now before
us, printed by the United States, the
Doctor"-we put the title in quotation
marks. because 1t does not clearly appear
that he ls Doctor OF Medicine-hguresa as
specialist Of the United States Bureau Of Ed
ucation, investigating and measuring with
instruments Of precision" as he delights to
explain, "the boys and the girls OF the
Washington public schools"
In the application OF anthropometry to
the helpless school children, the charac-
teristic propensities OF the Doctor are
still preceptible, even in the dignity Of
Government type. In somewhat similar
inquiry In Boston, conducted several years
ago by DR.. II. P. BowDTToH for the
Board OF Health, the number Of children
measured was 24,826, OF which 13, 722
were boys and only 1o,9o4 were girls,
Doctor" MAcDoNALD's tables showing
Percentage Of different abnormalities.
according to age. computed on the total
number Of boys and girls for each age"
show that the cases OF the girls interested
him more than the cases Of the boys, in the
proportion Of $500 girls to 1883 boys ;
and we find still greater disproportion
between the number Of older boys and the
number Of older girls examined and classi-
fed according to their "psycho-physical
measurements" The significant dispro-
portion appears in these tables:
The sun., 1899-05-25
Man Described as Unworthy of Immortality

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: There Is
no basis on which to found belief In the i'm
mortality OF man in the entire Old Testament
Even Moses. the great master mind OF ancient
times. never mentions It, but rewards good
ness In this world by long life and happiness.
Why above any and all animal creation
should man deserve Immortality? Mans
shortcomings and his ability to do evil In every
honor aud celebrate the memory of men OF
talent and genius. like, Josephus. Homer
for their power IN defining and describing the
depths and motives OF his wrongdoings aud
crimes; All leading characters in the, Bible,
from the early prophets to Christ himself deal
more with the evil actions OF man and his un-
worthiness than with his goodness and su-
periority.
Humanity at large always consisting OF op-
pressors and oppressed. deceivers and de-
celyed; certainly has no right. no trace OF q
claim for immortality. l. NEWMAN,
NEW YORK, May %.
The sun., 1899-05-25

This letting-loose Of a statlstician and
investigator Of Doctor" ARTHUR MAC
DoNALD's type upon the school children Of
Washington, and his continued recognition
as an employee Of bureau of the United
States Government constitute a remark
able fact, to which we call the attention not
only Of DR.. WILLIAM T. HARRIS, Commits
sloner Of Education, but also of the Hon.
ETHAN A. HITCHCOCK, President McKN-
LEY's Secretary Of the Interior.
The sun., 1899-05-25
R.uub,,caus and the Fourth of July.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir' As the Fourth
OF July is drawing nigh. would like to suggest in
the columns of THE Sun that the Republicans Of this
town celebI ate that day Just rs Tammany Hall has
been doing Tor years II certainly hchoovcs the Ro.
publicAns to be as patriotic as Tammany, especially
at this time. Let the County Republican Committee
engage Carnegie Hall or the Metropolitan Opera
House on Independence Day and have an old'time
ceebrAtiNh. We cannot have too much OF the spirit
Of IN. GEORGE FEsTRIcK.
u.v.. t.=.|.E ,- .-f -.
AAfzN O.. g,t p.-., ,.4r,.- " 80 .... -
The sun., 1899-05-25
An Honest Confession.



81 confess this Philippine problem puzzles me"
remarked the mAu with the high forehead. 81 don't
know what should do II were in President Nc.
Kinley's place"
The with the short neck jumped up aud
grasped him by the hand.
IL am delighted to meet you. SIR" he said "You
are the hrst and only man have seen yet wh6
couldn't take right hold of this Philippine business
and jerk the dAylights out Of III"
The sun., 1899-05-25
TIE oUEsTIoN OF IMMORTALITY.
A Believer who Does Not Rest His Faith
on Dogma.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SuN-!sir: In this
mornings editorial on DR.. Savage you say that
the belief in Immortality depends on the belief
In dogma Docs II? am an absolute believer
in immortality, not because the Bible teaches
t. but because my ex xperlence and reason make
II as certain to me rs anything future
can be-. The Bible confirms what my own
knowledge deduces. II you read John Fiske's
Destiny Of Man you will discover that there
are scientific men like him WHO base their Joy
Gus belief in Immortality on the reasonable
ness OF all Gods work. HENRY r. ROSE.
NEWARK. May 30
The sun., 1899-05-25
Financial Prosperity of the Presbyterian
Church.
From the Minneapolis TintS.

The Presbyterian General Assembly makes good
financial showing for tho last twelve months. It 10
an indication that tho "hard times " are over for
good and ALL This last year the Presbyterian Church
raised for benevolent purposes %. 500. 600 an in
crease ON the year before OF $500 900. In so doing
it relieved Of Its eight boards Of all debts.
which in case. that Of home missions amounted
to the sum Of tl57. 900
The sun., 1899-05-25
The Financial Affairs of sam Jones, the
EVanEolist.
From IL, Couri,r.JouraaI.

My income has been between S25. 900 aud ss6 600
year for the past hfteen years. l will make an
oath tonight that I'm not worth $4,000 to my
name. try to do good with my money. Does God
restrain man from making money! No. He does
not BntHeres.rAina you on the way you spend IT.
The sun., 1899-05-25
The Only Evidence of Immortality Is Spirit.
ualism.

To THE EDITOR OF The suN-Sir: Your
editorial remarks on Mr. savage's views Of
Immortality induce mo to say that IL he would
give the credit of his views to that spiritualism
from the investigation Of which he derived
them 1t would seem moro honest and manly.
continued life beyond the grave.
BROOKLYN. May %. W. j. CUSHING,
The sun., 1899-05-25

u our friends ,oho favor W tofh manuscripts for
publication toiih 10 hdvs rejected articles returned hev
must N all eases send stamps for that purposs.
The sun., 1899-05-25
Seab Highly Regarded

From. Ae Marieha Herald
Ia said that SeAb Wright will be In the race for
Congress, seAb would make mighty good Gee. z
RrebhmAn. w.. ''.r Y HTN : Z
The sun., 1899-05-25

PARrs-Kiosque No. IL. near Grand Hotel. and
Kiosque No. 10. Boulevard des Capucines.
The Portland daily press., 1899-06-27
WESTBROOK.

Rev. T. NJ Davies, pastor of the Free
Church Congregational Morrills Cor
ner, Portland, preached Sunday morn ing
and evening at the Warren Congregati on
al church in exchange with the pastor.
Next Friday evening there is to be a
service of conservation held, by the mem
bers Of the Warren church Y. p. S. c. E.
The semi-annual election of officers
will also be held at that time.
The members of the Sunday school con-
nected with the Westbrook Congregation
al church are to hold their annual picnic
and excursion at CLIFF island, Thursday,
June 30. Special cara are to leave the
church at 7.45 Thursday morning If the
day is suitable for the picnic the church
bell win ring at seven o'clock. Should
the day be stormy postponement will be
made to Friday.
Miss Mary Hodsdon, who was one Of the
graduates at Mt. Holyoke college, last
week, to receive her diploma from the
hands of President Mckinley. has arrived
at the home of MIR. and Mrs. Edward S.
Brooks. where she makes her home
Saturday was the last day OF grace in
which owners of dogs could obtain
licenses. Monday Edward Gilman, Jr. !,
a special police officer, was charged with
the duty Of killing of all unlicensed
dogs.
Before Judge Tolman. Joseph Comeau
paid fine of 500 and costs ON account
of search and seizure made by Deputy
Sheriff Chute last weak
The fire alarm whistle sounded twice
Monday forenoon at the S. ID. Warren
paper mills The alarm was struck In
accordance with custom at the mill, to
give the members of their fire company
trial turn out.
An adjourned special meeting of the
Westbrook city government was held
Monday evening at the council chamb er
The special business was the passing of
an amended order for bond issue The
next meeting is to be held the first Mon
day evening in July.
The last meeting of the season was held
Monday evening by Mizpah chapter. o.
e S. A delegation of the members Of
beulah chapter, Cumberland Mills, Deer.
ing chapter of Woodfor1s and Iona
chapter of Portland were In attendance.
After the work of the evening delight
full social with music and Investments
was enjoyed by all.