davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28

needs It is, doubtless, possible just now,
that the food supplies OF the Transvaal and
Orange Free State are growing short, but
the Beers are still inoomparably better on
from this point OF view than the inhabit-
ants OF Great Britain would be In the
course OF few weeks after the outbreak OF
a war with the Continental powers, In case
the shipment OF grain from the United
States were stopped, on the ground either
that free ships do not make free goods, or
that food must be considered contrsband
OF war.
It Is impossible for tho British Foreign
once to defend the seizure OF American
-four to which we have referred. except upon
one OF two assumptions: First, that the
principle that free ships make free goods
10 not applicable to the United States be-
cause we did not Sign the Treaty Of Paris,
and must therefore fall back on the terms
OF an agreement concluded by us with Eng
land in 1894; or, secondly, that food ought
TO be treated as contraband Of war. Either
assumption would be an egregious blunder
on the part of a country which, in the event
OF war with the Continental powers,
would he mainly dependent for its food sup
plies on neutral powers.
II England cannot conquer the Boers
without establishing suoh fatal precedent,
1t would DO better. a hundred times. for her
future security to recall her soldiers from
South Africa and acknowledge the absolute
independence OF the Transvaal.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28

The severe earthquake on Christmas
morning affected an area OF about 10, 1000
square miles in tho southwest corner OF
the United States. Towns along the coast
from Los Angeles to San Diego were
shaken SO severely as to alarm tho inhab-
itants, but no serious damage was DOM
Seven persons, however, are reported to
have been killed and large damage to
property was inflicted In tho valleys from
sixty to one hundred miles inland, near the
eastern foot Of the mountains where tho
disturbance undoubtedly originated
California has many earthquakes, and
usually it Is not difficult to determine tho
situation Of the epiccntral tract or area
beneath which the disturbance occurs that
causes the earthquake phenomena. As in
Japan, the California earthquakes usually
originate among mountains that were onco
active volcanoes, and though they have
long been extinct the plutonic energy has
not entirely subsidized and sometimes is
exerted SO powerfully as to disturb tho
underlying rocks and produce the earth
quake waves taat shake tne surface OF the
ground over n large area.
Though these disturbances originate
among the mountains, the sevcrest shocks
do not occur there and of course tho damage
is not so great in the epiccntral tract as in
the fertile plains and valleys where most of
the population and industrial development
is centred. For several days previous 10
the earthquake of Christmas morning
rumbllngs were heard among the mountains
OF the San Jacinto range, and the trouble
began among these mountains. But it will
be found probably that buildings directly
over the seat Of disturbance have received
little or nodamage, while many buildings in
the valleys to the east OF the epicentral
tract were overthrow. The DAMAGE
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
TNDIA.
important Changes In the British Frontier
Policy.

Important Changes In the British Frontier
Policy.
The Indian frontier policy OF Lord Elein. the
late viceroy OF India. that brought on the
frontier trout es OF 1918. has been definitely
abandoned in practice though not In principle.
new and improved methods OF carrying it out
having been decided on. Since his arrival in
India year ago az Viceroy. Lord Curzon has
gone thoroughly into the question OF frontier
defence. and as q result has resolved ca
policy which, without throwing away any OF
the advantages held by tho Imperial Govern
ment meets at once all the objections to which
his predecessors action was open.
As outlined the scheme Is this: As regards
Chitral which has been the great point OF con-
tention. instead OF increasing the works at the
new forts there In order to accom- m odate the
present garrison. the latter Ia to be reduced to
q strength suflcient for the escort nj the
Political Offlcer A portion OF the garrison
thus set free will be stationed at Dr9sh, the
Drosh Is nearer the base In India proper.
anS d SsnTs Of S',rS w6sF
The garrisons OF the present posts guarding
the line OF communication between the
6Rtra viii be replaced By local tribal T iey dea
paid by the Indian Government through the
leading to Gilgt will be i'm proved so as to pro.
vide an altsTnative route 10 case OF the direct
road from Peshawur being interrupted and
troops being needed at Chitral
Az to the Khyber Pass IL will be held by !. 200
Khyber Rifles organised 10 two battalions with
British Officers The garrison OF regular troops.
already dim inished by one half. is to be alto.
Lundi Kotal Is TO be enlarged and strength
ened. Other posts in the pass will also be
occupied by the Rhybe rifemen. In. conneo-
ton with the new frontier policy. late Indian
papers state that some OF the native headmen
o. Gilgt. Punial and other frontier districts Of
Kashmir had been summoned to Calcutta. and
had left to meet the Viceroy.
!, Meanwhile the Russian Government is put-
tins into practical shape it's project for a rail-
way direct from Saratof on the volRa to
Charjui on the ANU Daria, 10 join the newly
near Harat, Which Would bring MOSCOW Witbin
seven days journey OF the latter place, the dis
lance Jncluding the existing line from Moscow
TO Saraton being $40 miles.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
ART NOTES.
Jarapese wator coIors at tho American
Art Galleries.

Jaranese Water Coiors at tho American
Art Galleries.
The collection OF Japanese water colors by
modern artists, imported into this country by
Mt. j. b. Miilet OF Boston, proves. on inspec-
ton. TO be OF genuine interest. The pictures
are on exhibition at the American Art GAL
leries in Madison Square There are about six
hundred sheets. by 40 artists. The drawings
are painted in many cases or silk. in others on
paper. All have been matted by the artists
with appropriate tints. There Is q consider
able number of landscapes which, with a few
exceptions. are far less good than the birds.
! fsh and flowers. No. 2l2. landscape
painted on silk by Konen. may be mentioned
as one OF those that is above the average and
may be ranked for cleverness with the bird
fish and flower pictures. These last constitute
the attraction OF the show. There are ex-
ampes OF skill in the depletion OF birds, fish
aud flowers in this exhibition that no weste IN
artist could compete with. As an example
Red Carp" No. 10. by keigetsu. Ia delneated
with phenomenal sureness OF line. great grace
OF movement and amazing delicacy In the
handling OF pure washes. Rooster" No. 1888
by kimpo. white cock with scarlet comb and
wattles: "Pinks and Harebclls." No 1877. BY
the same artist; White Goese." No. II,
by Banshu: ''snipe." No. 3s0. by seikwa |:
SdIp. NO. O,V. ny kOSOn; Duck" No
5O6. by Shusei: Water Plants and Carp" No,
2l5 'color print) by konen: White and Pink
l.otos." No. $50, by Kimpo. and 'Storks," No
III. by keisui, are each in its way quite as
remarkable. It is difficult for an unpractisei
eve to distinguish between a color print and an
original painting, SO faithful is the rerroduc.
ton. In a case in the larger gallery upstairs
are shown some autographs from pictures hy
Hokusai. These are admirable specimens OF
color printing
BY reason OF their purely decorative charac.
ter the nalvely beautiful sim plcity OF the ex-
ecution and the absence Of realistic back
grounds these pictures arc entirely different
fromthe productions OF American and European
painters in water color. They represent n dir
ferent POINT OF view and would he called undar
some standards incomplete. were IL not that
the simple color spottng and insstonce ON
some one feature show that the artists had no
intention oftrying for more than Ia seen To be
accomplished In the pictures Our water-color
painters need have no fear Of having their
market spoiled by japanese Cheap labor" for
the two companies occupy entirely different
fields. II Ia altogether probable that many o,
them viii delight in tho display Of astonishing
clevern"ss presented by n large number OF
these Japanese works n art-an art TINT is
IA direct as II ia unaffected and al beautiful IA
It Ia convincing. n Ia more easily comma
hended than their admirable work in hropz,
and lacpuered wood, for njoymcnt OF the mic.
lures requires no knowledge OF the diniculties
OF processes. The skill OF tho brushmea is an.
parent at glance.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
Tho Elixir OF Life.

The announcement in our London de-
spatch OF Sunday OF the discovery OF an
elixir OF life by Prof METCHNIKoPF OF
Paris would. II true, be a remarkable
Christmas gift by science To all humanity.
Mankind has become little incredulous
ss to discoveries OF this nature, inasmuch
a. each century has produced similar
Sixirs, and three generations have still gone
the way Of their fathers in each hundred
years. Eternal youth and eternal life
how many would not barter their souls for
their possession The old sailor that sought
the fountain over unknown seas. the woman
with the frosts just whitening her temples,
the man who feels his grasp upon the
coupon scissors growing feeble-all cling
10 youth and life with passionate longing
And relinquish them with poignant regret.
few years ago the Brown-Siquard Elixir
was Wanted as a specific aga INST old age.
but the aged and the intlrm are with us yet.
No one speaks OF IL now.
The medical profession has within the
limits OF this century given us the means
OF notably lengthenng the average Of
human life, but principally through great
dirninution in the mortality OF children.
Numerous remedies, too much neglected,
may be looked upon, taken together, as a
species OF life elixir. such as life in the
open air, the daily bath, careful diet, mod
GRAFTON in work and food and drink, and exer-
else. But old age still crowds out youth
only to succumb itself soon after.
However. 1t is not for any one to say that
an elixir to proong life may not some day be
found. Science has presented to the world
some very startling facts and phenomena
OF recent years. 30 that 1t has come to
be sort OF aphorlsm with some scientific
men that II a thing is improbable it is all
the more likely to DO true! Certain
agents may one day be discovered
which will enable the physician to stlmu-
Int the cells OF various tissues. brain,
nerve, liver, muscle, kidney, blood and
che like, to renewed activity when they
seem about to degenerate and die. Tho
physician can do this for brief periods
already; a permanent form OF stimulation
is quite within the bounds of possibility.
Whether Prof METCHNIKoFF has OBJ
tanned any agent so valuable or far-reach-
ing as apparently it is promised, Ia
question not easily decided with the
limited data given us, and we must await
the full and final details as reported and
proved by the magician himself. before we
can pass upon the value OF the Christmas
gift to humanity Just heralded in THE
krN
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
TEE xLoUR sBrsURE
A p.n,.,ous Policy for Eps,enS.

To THE Enron OF TIE SUN-Siri After
carefully reading about tho -four episode In the
English. Boer war, cannot see by what right
the -four was seized. Leaving out all question
whether -four is contraband or not. why cannot
American citizens sell to Portugal not only
flour hut gunpowder or anything We wish.
Because England 10 engaged with little re-
public In the centre OF Africa, we must not sell
goods TO a third party. friendly powell Who
knows. and how can II be proved. what our
Portuguese friends will do with the goods after
they have been received1
Surprising England and Russia at war.
would England dare TO stop our -four. arms or
any other trade with France on the grounds
that. possibly. French merchants might re-
ship the goods by rail through Germany TO
Russia? WALTER W. CoNcKLIN.
EsGLEwoop. n. j.. Dec. a.
To THE EDITOR OF The suN-Sir: The seiz-
ure by British cruisers OF vessels containing
cargoes Of provisions consigned from this
country to Portuguese merchants at Lorenso
Marques on Delagoa Bay Ia an I'M
happy incident OF tho British war with
the Beers. The natural sympathy OF the
American people with republics bravely
fighting against the attempt OF a power
full empire to crush out republican gov
crnment In South Africa by the force OF arms.
Is now only restrained from emphatic and
even passionate expression by great effort at
self-control. but the raising by the English OF
40 irritating a question OF the rights OF neutral
commerce in time OF war may easily tnname IL
into irrepressible In dignation.
The policy OF the English Government In
proceedings which cause us annoyanoe and
provoke in Americans tho bitter remem brance
OF past British conduct cannot be called less
than ill-advsed. This Boer war 10 likely
to be of long continuance: at least. that It will
last several months longer. IL not through the
next year. seems now TO be certain Meantime
the brave resistance oil the little South African
republics will appeal more and ore to Amer
loan sympathy and admiration. The absolute
neutrality Of our Government In the contest
will be. OF course. unshakable. but the i'm
pulses OF American hearts will not be restrain
able. and as they are charged with wholly re-
publican sympathies. the offensive British
policy discovered In these seizures is kindling
the possibility OF an angry fame
II is a bad policy. a dangerous policy. for IL
tribes with American feeling. the desire to
conc!liate which in British favor has been man.
Tested so strongly Of late, now that apart from
us England Is without friendly mpathizer In
the world. AN AMERICAN.
New YORK. Dec. 81.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28

The statement OF our country's exports
and imports for November. issued at WASH
ington yesterday and printed elsewhere In
THE SUS to-day. shows that our exports were
valued at sl237 o5. lli. rs against so. 022 .074
OF imports leaving a trade balance OF nearly
SJ4OOO,ooo in our favor. Por last Novsn-
Der this balance was s77.000.O0O. but a
more searching comparison IL less dis-
cournring. We exported this year about
sl5oO0OOO less in agricultural products.
less wheat. more corn. and less cotton
BY far the largest share OF the increased
imports for the month was about $1,000. 900
worth OF articles in q crude condition
for domestic industry" Against this. our
exports Of manufactured articles were 81. oOo.-
600 greater Indeed. our entire exports OF
all kinds for the month were but $1,000. 900
less than last year. wonderful showing. con-
sidering the temporary deficiency In cotton.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
Foreign Notes Of Real Intere.t.

Marie Taglioni's eldest son. Prince Franz Won
windisch- Grat:, has been declared bankrupt. He
Is thirty.t1o years OF age aud doctor OF laws OF
Vienna University,
Asses ar becomin; more aud more plentiful
teinGeburGert in Berlin. Some Just now om-
ployed to draw slrishs. novelty that has proved
attractive 10 the people OF Berlin.
Pigs milk is under discussion in the French
Chamber Of Deputies, petition having been !, n.
TO 1t asking that its may hc permitted rs uour
ishmeat for blbles Some doctors favor 1t.
Mr.. Justice oBrien Of the IRISH QUEENS Bench,
who tried the Phanir Park muricrers. IL dead. To
the day of his death, according 10 Truth. he re-
NAMED under SPECIAL police protection
Kid boots are going mp in price In En- gland. Tho
reason given ia that too many young animals have
been Eilled to prov.dc them. According to tho C'g
Pres patent feathers will soon be luxury OF the
rich.
Par!s's underground railroad cavod in recently a,
the Place de rEtolle owing TO heavy rams At tina.
point on' tunnel passes undur the other. It b..
LEVIED, however, that tho railroad be opened
next spring in spite Of the accident.
There will he m exhibit by tho Chartered C,rn.
papy OF Sputi Africa at the Par.s Exhibition prl.
year, owing To tho attacks on the Queen" Tho
Johanncsbnrs Chamber of Mines however. pro-
poses to show av, stamp mill IN operation.
Some ono has been investigate: the religious he.
ie:s Of the Irish bar Ont Of 4"a bagrisrrs he found
= P.otestants, $50 cathollc' aai only one levi
the rest were non com initial Only Ii out % 81
Queens Counsel weEr Cltaolics aud oEly Of thu
10 Judges
Last ytar's consumption of whisky was the high
ever reached in the United KIM loan, accord nv
10 the EusuSh temporary Journal being moro than
agall"n a head for every man. woman and cAIi.
Compared with 1873, there has becn an iucrrasr IA
dratho from chrou:c "lcoholi' M OF s2& per cent.
among men aud of l+54 per cent, among women
Somewhat ambiguous is tho advertisement hy th'
University Press OF The OAfI.d Kudrsak Bible To-
sol hors and sailor' hurd M Kiak," tvon Z
British soldiers ar III = Bibles IN ConslicT u,
places. It shouli he o;uGann rather 'han dLa.
ger, Tor tho Beers 49, a GHd'toa:u ~ people ~.
would hesitate % agr al B,hl, :! they could 200 ll
LInoutut dc France has new ana ms ortant pr,Gs
20 award, u Daniel os.'s having handed over t,.s
loa 10 y.cldipg over $40 francs yOn", n csah.
h'h trier'ial pT:ae of 100000 francs or 100000
f'r the most important work II science. art. itrri
turo or Industry. ComprUt on is limited u French
men except in years of international exhibitions.
The donor lays special stress on medical dscoyoss
The nrst award wall DO in 1904
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28

The Hon ALADDIN ATKINSON breaks into
the Boston Advertiser with a long letter. He
writes that the anti-imperialists named nv
JOHN BARRETT. whom he has attempted 10
stab In the back by putting on them the
obloauy OF Gen LAwToNs death. repel this
charge with scorn and contempt" Nor
Mr. BARRETT. but Gen. LAYTON Is tina
accuSer OF the anti-imrerialists: and too
much scorn and contempt are poured upon Mr.
ATKINSON ana his fellows In fomenting rebel
Hon to permit him to repe much oft Lot us see
TINS venerable cook and spoiler OF many messes
IN his more ludicrous and characteristics attI.
rude lie says that the opponents OF criminal
aggression" will hereafter be sustained by n
powerful and wel-orGanized national force
winch holds the balance Of power among the
"ople' II not yet majority. and will hold tho
balance Of power in tho next House OF Repre-.
scntatves. possibly in tho present House 4"
Ihis powerful and wel.organized national
ioFco must DO the Anti-Imperialist League.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28

a Society for the Suppression Of Music
offensive to members OF the society has been
formed in Chicago. The elevation OF stree,
music. the reform and education OF hand
organs and hurdy gurdies will he among the
objects for which the suppressors will labor
They begin with enthusiasm. but they will
soon be tangled up in the eternal shndy be.
tween the classical and the rag time Chicaeo's
thst' and aspiration are high. but she must
refine many ear1 before she achieves the tri.
nmph OF harmony for which she signs In
Boston. under the benign rule OF the Hon.
JOSIAH QUINCY these matters arc regulated
ana tuned by the municipality, and not son OF
Italy can discourse upon the piano organ until
his gifts have been duly ascertained and his
power to soothe or wound the public tym panum
has been Officially examined.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
TRAINING SHIPS FOR THE HAvn
Secretary Long Wants Two with Full San
Power mud Auxiliary Steam Power.

oecrethry LONE wants Two win Fuu san
Power aud Auxiliary Steam Power.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 27.-secretary Long to-
day sent identical letters to the chairmen OF
the Senate and the House Committees on
Naval Affairs. In which he urged that authority
be given the Navy Department to have con-
structed two sailing ships 10 be used In train
ing seamen for the United States Navy. Tho
desire OF the Department ia to use these ships
toteach landsmen. commonly called ''greenies"
In the navy. the duties OF enlisted men on ves-
sels OF war. In his letters the Secretary calls
attention to the imperative need OF the navy
for additional facilities for the training OF boys
and men OF the service" In exclamation OF
his recommendation he says:
The seafaring class OF the population OF the
United states Is very small. and in order that
sary that the men who are enlisted AS landsmen
be given a thorough pre- i'm mary training be-
fore they are sent on board recruiting vessels.
The only practical wav ~ properly training
putting them on board vessels adapted for this
purpose IN company wit regular crews OF the
navy. and the best kind OF vessel for this use
IN one ot full sailing power and auxiliary steam
power"
The Secretary then calls attention to the
small number OF training ships now in the
service and the TACT that they are old and can
not De use much longer to continue training
seamen. The Secretary. therefore. recon-
mends that AUTHORITY no given for the con-
full riggei. and with auxiliary stenm power
each capable Of carving 500 enlisted men. in
Guiding the total ships company proper and
those under training. vessel OF this size. the
a smaller vessel. No estimates of the cost OF
construction are submitted
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
Francis Joseph and the jews.

'-'' 7T' L7''T'H
Tho Emperor OF Austria has added TO his MANY
good services to his subjects an enphatc condcm.
nation OF the crusade against the Jews Tho En-
peror yesterday received DR.. Ksch tho Chief Rabbi
at Prague AMI permitted him 20 pronounce bless.
inI upon his Sovereign in the Hebrew form Err
k!Sch expressed his thanks. and went on 10 bespe.k
the Emp"rors compassion for his rersccuted co.
reIgonis'"' TIL" imperial reply was significant
Yes sad his Majesty. your beother in the jew.
ish faith IN Bohem havo had hard times to 90
thr' II II and will say that | am indignant NJ an
much brutality. Tho Chief ,bbi asked II he n, bt
repeat thee words. Yes" said the Emperor II
specially request you TO do So"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28

To THE EDITOR or The sUS--Sir: In an oxeood.
hs!y interesting editorial in Sundays Sun You re-.
Ter to Lord hobtrtss age, ~. Itnay be- apronos .,
nay mat Alexander tho Great died at so. hannibal
was most successful at 81, Caesar won Pharsalia a,
g. N1p 'ieon at the height of his power was 40 Re-
.1uso o' h'eh'' exhaustion At Ligny as claimed. he
lost the batln of waterlo = which welng,,, - ~,
the asr OF 49, Washington was commandments,
at 49, and Grant was 4a at the surrender OF Leo n,
AppomattoI, ~
sherman was fow years older than Grant. sbsr,.
dan was famous at 81 Fitzpatrick and Custer va.
known as boy Generals, Lee. commander OF tbs
Confederate armies, was So when he surrendered 10
Grant aud his greatest Lieutenant, Longstreet. a.
d. !" d. stuart, tue { ederate cavalry General
WASH whom killed.
MoD, VAN WAGNER. Veteran OF Civil War
KINGSTON, y, y, Dec. "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-28
At last the Hon. BILLY MASON has dis

At last the Hon BILLY MASON has dis
covered that the citizens Of the District OF
Columbia are governed without their consent.
and he Is coming to their relief Washington
happens TO be- remarkably we'll governed
city. rather diseouraRng fact to Mr.
MASON who has so many other reasons
for disbursement But we arc glad
that he has found out something at last. To
tell the truth. we had not deemed him capable
OF successful effort in that direction. II he
goes on. he will not only do much n eded
work OF ssf-improvement. but he may come
to have some glimmering conception OF the
limitations OF that phrase. consent OF the
governed" which he Is so fond OF using