davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
The Treatment of Polygamy.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The pres
ont agitation against the admission Of the
polygamous Mormon as Representative in
Congress from Utah suggests some reflections
Not to be misunderstood l will say. first. that
am myself a firm believer in monoGamy as by
far the worthsst form OF welded life. and that
feel assured that any thorough study both OF
human nature and the history OF mankind will
confirm my belief But We must remember that
tho heroes and saints OF the Old Testament
Abraham and the other patriarchs-were all
that polygamy was allowed by the Jews III not
perhaps. widely Sractisedl In the days Of
recorded in the New Testament NO
The fathers OF Protestantism. Luther and
Being torbddsn in the the scriptHres. PrStestants
could only refuse to sanction 1t from consider
sspoHs the Ss as2 oRSs
soiemnly permltted By luther and MsisnchtS SSS
wife was stiil living. and living With him t as
his wife; The marriage cersmony, was
Me- nde y hm. a0s dP maS
fhiiip seriously contemplatsd tie Tegs Th!ao
Hbopt ceRtaTy and Salt ai'or f aissrs
death the authorities q the. Church bearing
eriek w., to marry a Countess Roventlow
while his frat queen was still living and not
divorced from him. II IL even said that Fred
erick. who by his contemporaries was deome ed
model OF piety. took unto himself a third
am without means OF ascertsining whether
there Is incompatible proof OF this. However,
toward tho close Of the eighteenth century.
with scclesiastioal sanction. two wives There
are more cases OF kindred import on record:
Bishop Colenso OF tho Anglican Church al
lowed baptized African chiefs to live in polyg-
amy
Enough has here been said to prove that
opposition to polyRamy nowadays on purely
religious grounds, without reliance on Church
authority to sustain II. Ia not justified by the
practice Of such illnstrious teachers OF the past
as lhave instRnced.
STUDENT OF CHURCH HISTORY.
NEW YORK. Aug. 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

simply the immunity granted to fallible
Koran"
The point he makes as to the frequency OF
scepticism among the clergy themselves is
supported by facts within the observation
ofmany. Itfnds support in correspondence
which comes to this paper, in unguarded
conversations Of clergymen, and indirectly
In their evasion in sermons and addresses
OF doctrines and dogmas OF theology in
which the Christian faith has its sole
foundation. The revolution which has
occurred of recent years in the manner OF
the observance Of Sunday by the laity affords
further confirmation, as does also the
indisposition to church going, OF which
our correspondents write. The consc-
quence of critical examination of the Bible
as Literature" appears, moreover, very
strikingly in the able discussion upon
conscious personal immortality which has
been going on in THE SUN
1t all looks very much like the revolution
DR.. DE COSTA describes 1t to be. When
men Insist on testing and Analysing their
faith In the supernatural by the more evil
dence OF their senses, It soon goes by the
board, whether they are OF the clergy or
the laity
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

Everything was so lovely yesterday when
wreck struck the Shamrock. Sea, air and
sky made the delicious harmony that de-
lights yachtsman and fair weather artist
equally. The race was on. Columbia had
moved from Toward to windward with the
steady creep that denoted certain victory,
although to give an extra touch OF spice to
the contest, Shamrock perhaps was fighting
her ground harder by shade than she had
fought the day before. All the elements OF
brilliant and, to us, satisfactory victory
were there when the challenger Cracked"
and was lost to the race. The faithful who
day after day had gone to see yacht race,
to find the sea without a wind, now found
1t lacking boat.
We actually believe that there was more
grief than Joy at seeing our friend Sir
THOMAS meet with an accident SO exasper-
ating. We are extremely sorry for him,
and not the less so because we know that
he Is the sort OF q man to toe the scratch
smiling for the next round, no matter what
the luck Of the last.
AS for Columbia, she put little copper
fastening into her reputation gained on
Monday, and we congratulate her She
will do.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
The Lapso of Faith,

The Rev. DIR. DE COSTA, unfortunately for
himself and his cause, seems to have made
merchandise of his letter to Bishop POTTER
explaining his reasons for resigning from
the Episcopal Church. He Is understood to
have sold 1t for copyright by single news
paper as beyond any question he had
right to do; but by the proceeding he has
given his movement n mercantile charac-
ter in the eyes Of the public which detracts
grievously from its dignity and his own.
The substance OF the letter. copy OF
which we have received, is better than
the manner in which 1t was given to the
public. DR.. DE COSTA assures Bishop
POTTER that he resigns from the Episcopal
ministry on account OF no personal griev-
ance, but simply because he believes that
1t has been drawn into the adoption OF q
policy Of liberation toward school OF
theology and Biblical criticism which," in
his Judgment, lis hostile to Revealed
Truth" OF course the fact that there Is
such hostility Is denied by the critics to
whom DR.. DE COSTA refers, but logically
his conclusion is irresistible. The basis
Of all Christian theology Is purely mirac-
ulous, and without an exact and posi-
ity 1t Is incredible, because 1t defies
human science and contradicts human
experience. The Incarnation, the pillar
upon which the whole rests, Is absolutely
undemonstrable naturally and can only be
believed as a supernatural occurrence, the
authority for which Is absolute as being
COP Himself. lnasmuch, therefore, as the
school Of Biblical criticism to which Dr..
BRIGGS belongs az disciple, though not as
an original Investigator. tests Scripture by
science and demands natural demonstration
rs condition OF its credibility, 1t destroys
the very foundation of Christian theology.
Dr. BRIGGS tries by subtle and fallacious
argument to avoid that conclusion but it
is irresistible for all reasoning men.
DR.. DE COSTA, therefore, as an honest
man, is justified fully in leaving the Epis-
copal Church, II he believes in the super
natural authority and accuracy of the
Scrlptural record, and that the Church is
tolerating the scientific assault on It, The
party which uphods this critical school, he
says, "has taken possession Of the Church;
"the House Of Bishops, as a whole, ls on that
side, and "the revolution Is a fact" He
quotes "a distinguished rector OF the
leading parish in Brooklyn" as declar-
ing that probably ninety per cent
OF our Bishops believe and teach the
views for which Bishop CoLENso was
deposod," and adds that the worst OF the
prevailing scepticsm does not appear in
print, nor even in public addresses; In prl-
vate not few OF both clergy and laity
openly repudiate the authority OF Bible
orI
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

One storekeeper discharged clerk who
had taken upon himself tho responsibility
OF refusing to trade with her. But Polly
McGRAIL In the meantime had purchased u
revolver and told the strikers that II they
molested her further they would get hurt.
Moreover, taking the advice OF friendly
lawyer who volunteered his aid, she had
q dozen or more OF the most often
slve brutes arrested for disorderly con-
duct. Early one morning few days
ago. when It was very foggy, she woe on
her way to her work along an cmbank-
ment on the tracks Of tho Erie Railroad,
when man doomed out of the mist at
her feet, and grabbing her ankles, tried to
throw her down. At the same instant an
other man ran along the tracks toward
her; brandishlnR club. Out came POLLY
McGRAIL's revolver, and she fired 1t
twice in the air The two big rufflans ran
away blubbering Since then Polly Nc
GRAIL has been let alone, and she has
apparently won the fight.
Honor and pRans unending to this I'M
daunted little woman All New Jersey
ought to be hunting laurels for her. Smoky
Paterson Is glorious because she lives
there. Her humble home is as much a spot
Of chivalrous courage and old-timo forth
tude as II IL we're turreted and battle
mented castle and her name CoNDE or Du
GuEsCIIN instead OF Polly MCGRAIL.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

impose upon Russia q huge outlay,
with his conviction that at least
five years OF absolute tranquility and
rigorous economy are needed to COM
plcte the Trans Siberia railway with
its Manchurian branch. That Germany
would become a party to an anti-English
combination with France from which Rus
sia stood aloot Is most improbable, even II
Emperor WILLIAMS neutrality had not
been practically purchased by the treaty
regarding the Portuguese possessions In
South Africa.
We arc, doubtless, safe. then. in assum-
ing that, although the Beers can count upon
the sympathics Of almost oil the Conti-
mental peoples, they cannot expect active
assistance from any European Govern
ment. Their sole hope Is to bring about by
preliminary successes n widespread upris-
ing among the Afrikanders in the Cape
Colony. In this way, their forces might be
doubled and the problem which Sir RED
vERs BUTLER has to solve would become
gravely complicated.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

Tho real object Of the candidacy OF the
Hon. JOHN ROLL MCLEAN Is supposed to
be ultimate rather than immediate. Per-
haps he wants to be Senator in Con-
gress from Ohio. Perhaps he wants to be
the Democratic candidate for vice-Presi-
dent. In 1896 his ambition seemed to take
the latter direction. At any rate, Mr..
MCLEAN doesn't really expect to be elected
Governor Of Ohio this year.
II he can poll big vote his Interior pur-
poses will be greatly served. In any case,
he has his hand firmly on the Democratic
machine. 1t will not get away from him
easily. He Ia rich, shrewd, furnished with
henchmen who were not born yesterday,
and able to amuse himself. The Ohio
Democracy continues to look at him sus-
picously. There Is vast enthusiasm in his
newspaper organs, but think Of the Demo-
cratic toes the man has trodden on in the
last twenty years!
III can cut down the Republican vote
in McKIN1EYs State" Mr.. MCLEAN must
have said to himself before he decided to
be nominated by q plurality Of one-half a
vote, II shall have things my own way.
Anyway l shall be a national figure for a
few weeks" Excellently well reasoned.
As ways and means OF making incision into
the Republican vote, Mr. MCLEAN seems to
have depended upon:
1. Republican sulks and throat-cutting.
2. The vote Of certain foreign-born cti-
zens.
The "secret and vicious alliance with
Great Britain" an alliance known only to
the makers Of the Ohio platform and to the
Hon. JOE BAILEY was intended to prejudice
foreign-born citizens against the Republic
can ticket. The stuff and nonsense about
Imperialism was meant for the same
market.
But observe how these fond hopes were
blasted:
/. Democrats sulk and throw razors.
2. There are no better Americans than
those OF foreign origin.
Wherefore the Hon. JOHN Roll MCLEAN
soon tumbled back into State issues and
the Democratic campaigners are still very
uncertain about national issues. They will
be tuned up more during the rest OF the
campaign, but Mr.. MCLEAN must be disap-
pointed in his platform There are some fine
old Copperhead survivals in Ohio, but, on
the whole, the Buckeye Democrats don't
want the flag pulled down in the Philippines
and are not capable Of swallowing cock-and-
bull stories about an alliance with England.
AS the canvass deepens, Mr.. MCLEAN must
feel that, between national pride and State
pride, Ohio Is a hard row for him TO hoe
this year
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
II They Arc Right, Why Go to Church?

To THE EDITOR OF THE sunni; VIII you kindly
tell me and sure thousands of your interested
readers will 10 Erathed by your what is the
necessity OF going to church on SUNDAYS, or any
other day. II the present theological criticism is
sound? DR.. Briggs says the Bible ia only a collcc.
ton OF fables which will not stand investigation,
and Bishop Potter says DR.. Briggs is a scholar
by whose labors the Christian world is incompar'
ably enriched Moreover, tho outcome OF the late
scussion of the immortality OF the soul in your
esteemed columns seems to be that the soul is only
the brain in action, and therefore no more morally
accountable than so much water power or steam
power. Where remains, then, the necessity of gong
TO church HENRY f. SASDIs
PLAI>FIELD, Oct. 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
Foreign Notes OF Real Interest.

Japan has decided to open up twenty.ons new
ports to foreign commerce.
Heinrich Hcinc's sister Frau Charlotte Won Emb-
den. has Just passed her hundredth birthday.
Mr. Hiram S. Maxim. tho inventor. has given up
his American brthright for British NATURALIZATION
certificate.
Horatio Tcnnvson the last surviving brother of tho
late poet laureate died suddenly few days ago At
Brghtngsca. He too, had written verse
Mount Kcnia in British Fast Africa has at last
been climbed Mr.. ManE,ndor Of oxford University
J. tho hrst man to reach the top. which is 1900
feet above sea level.
Owing 10 III" strike st CrruSot. tho Srhnciiers the
great French ronma~ters. are preparing to transfer
part OF Their works t. Ccttc which has the Advan'
tag" of heinga Mediterranean seaport.
$500 900 hotel is being erected the Colo del
Gigantic in the Alps ~ Savoy by the Italian Alpine
club. 1t will lie the higheI hotel in Europe. An
electric reflector will bs put up that will send light
over a radius of sixty miles.
Dr. Hans RicAtcr will in all likelihood be appointed
director Of IN Vienna Conservatory OF usic iusuc
ccsslon to the late Herr Fuchs. This would pu' en-
end to tho fiction at the Court Opera and would
leave br. Richter more free to accept engagements
outside of Vienna
tunnel built forty-two years ago between the
London General Post once and IuStun station H. =
the pue lma'" transmission Of mail and account
Of it' 90 Ip!ct7 failure almost forgotten. has been
exam ne recently and found TO be in good orlor.
TIC ~! cning il four feet high By four and hall
wIlr aud is now propp ed ID use It for the trans
por'aton Of mail by means Of IN mature electric
IA lway
St C1lnmba's shrine. with the Rims of tho catAeI.
raj on the l,le of Iona has been nrne over by tie
Duke of Argyll 10 til" Scotch Pr'SJyt rians lie has
handed II over IN trust u thu Established Church Of
scotland, and IN case the ch lrch should he DIS
established to tine civil representatives Of the
nation. Tho duke Arrntly thinks discstablsa
mont near ~ Land. FOX he names the eventual ~
trustees in the decd.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
FIVE BRIGADIER- q GENERALS.
Coils. Pennington, Frank, Carpenter, Oven
shine md Bmrke Promoted and Retired.

Coils. Pennington, Frank, Carpenter, Oven
shine and Burke Promoted and Retired.
WASHINGTON. Oct 17.-President Mckinley
photographed tho Secretary OF War an order pro-
noting to the grade Of Brigadier- General the
following officers: Col. A. G. N. Pennington.
Second Artillery: Col. Royal T. Frank. First
Artillery: Col. Louis II. Carpenter. Fifth
Cavalry Col. Samuel Ovenshine. Twenty
third Infantry: Col Daniel W. Burke. Seven.
tcenth Infantry.
The appointment OF Col. Pennington Is to I'LL
the vacancy caused by the retirement Of Gen.
Shattsr yesterday. According to the arrange
mcnt made By tho Secretary of War. Gen. PEN
nington was retired Immediately upon his ap-
pontment and Col Frank named to succeed
him. The same course was followed with each
OF tho officers named thus making five promo
tions and I've retirements in ona day. The re.
tirement OF Gen. Burke. the junior officer In
the list. leaves a vacancy which will be 6led
by the prom otion OF either Col. Lawton or Col.
Arthur Macarthur who are now serving
BrigadiPr- Generals Of volunteers only. Their
promotion will bC hold up until the return OF
President Mckinley. or the officers promoted
to-day Gen Ovenshine ia the only ono who has
retained the rank OF Brgadier- General OF Vol
unteers. Gen Frank had the same rank dur
ing the war with Spa n. but was mustered out
OF the volunteers at the conclusion OF the war
Gen. Ovonshne distinguished himself in the
Philippine operations. and Gen. Pennington
was in command OF the Department Of Puerto
Principe, Cuba.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

The glitter Of the shiniest tall hats in the
world: the fash OF the most gigantic shirt
front 'sparklsrs" in the world the shadow
OF the most impressive capes and UNI
brellas in the world: the pop-pop- pop
OF mcst OF tho champagne. technically
known as wine" In the world: tho vast
clouds Of smoke arising from the blacklist and
biggest cigars in the world the steady thump
and crunch OF the most massive feet In the
world; the light Of craftsmanship flashing
from the most intellectual heads in the world
the cries OF "GoEBEL. GoEBELl" shooting
from the deepest. seasoned throats in tho
world: the Cook County Marching Club is in
Louisville to-day.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

Tho Board of Construction Divided on the
Onention of Supsrimposed Tnrreta.

Question of supsrimposed Turrets.
WAsuINGToN. Oct. 1.-THE discussion OF the
design OF the throo battleships authorized by
Congress at its last session was continued to-
day at IN Getting OF tho Naval Board on Con-
struction. Consideration was confined to the
character OF the main battery and turrets OF
the new vessels. 1t was apparent from what
was said at the meeting that tho opposition to
the supsrim posed or two-storlsd turret 10
lessening. In fact. one OF the members Of tho
board who had been heretofore opposed 10
this kind OF .urrot came out In its
favor, and it was indicptcd that the
Ordnance Bureaus opposition was changing.
The main argument OF those who favored
the two. storled ferret was that 1t W uld enable
the three buttlsships to have broadnide batter
les second to none In tho world. This argu-
mcnt was based on the superstition that tbs
vessels will each have two l2-inch guns and
two S-inch guns in each supcrimposcd turret,
starboard side amidships. and two S-ihch guns
IN a turret on the port side directly. opposite.
Under this arrangement It was pointed out.
each vessel will be enabled TO pour broadsds
into an enemy from four 12-inch rihes and ak
nmid.hips on the side farthest from the enemy
being the only ones that could not be used In
No dc@ision was reached as to whether the
three bnttIeships shall be fitted with super.
imposed turrets hut there was, some talk OF
securing permission from the Newport News
Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Company to allow
the guns in the superinposed turrets OF tho
Kearsarge to he tested before that vessel 10
turned over by the company to the Govern
ment. some Of the members wanted to see
this test made before voting on tho proposition
TO install double -decked turrsts on the three
battleships When the question Of making
this request comes up for action before the
board, It is probable that thsre viii be
opposition. on the ground that Il would cause
delay in tho completion Of the KearsarRe and
could he used as an excuse by the cont FACTORS
If the ship was found to be defective in any
to shake up the vessel considerably. The tur.
rets of the Ksarsarge are not in condition for
working. nm two or three weeks will be re-
unirod to 1T them for the experiment which
members Of the Board on Construction desire
to make.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Well. I suppose
III be called crank, but really believe Shamrock
has the better model-more skimmine-dishy, and
therefore additionally American. as it were. But
she is oversparred and ovcrballastsd. So is Colum.
bis. A boat that would knock the suGing ont OF
both should be twice the beam of Shamrock with no
more ballast than would keep her righ'sdo mp
with without leverage Of mast and sail and Just
sail enough to keep her kitng a keel Of fifteen de.
grees believe the dear old America in hor original
rig, than which there is none better or simpler il
her deRdwood were cut away, would beat Shamrock
and Columbia she did the British yachting ncct of
cracks Indeed, she has many OF tho true points of
tho homogeneous catamaran." or
NEW ioRK Oct. II. FLYING PoNTOoS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
OLDEST ENGINEER DEAD
Joseph Wood Was n wood-P asser on the
Locomotive John RuIl.


RED BANK. n. j.. Oct. 17.-Jossph Wood. the
oldest locomotive engineer IN tho United
States, died to-day at the home OF his daughter.
Mrs William j. Sickles. He was nearly ninety
years old. He was born In BorAsntown and at
the age Of seventeen got employment on the
steamboat Superior. which piled on the Della
ware between Philadelphia and Bordentown.
In 1881 the famous John Bull locomotive
was shipped from England to America and on
Nov. II Of that year trial trip OF the engine
was made on n mile track near Bordentown,
Isaac Drlpps was the engineer. Mr.. Wood
being the wood-passer. Mr.. Dripps has been
dend some years
Mr.. Wood subsequently was engineer on the
Camden and Am boy Railroad, and afterward
master mechanic Of the Rarltah and Delaware
Bay Railroad. From 1871 to 1860 he was en-
Rneer Tor tho New jersey Transportation
Company During the war. from 1851 to 1864,
he was employed by the Government as supsr-
intendent of water supply for engines from
Alexandria south.
After he quit railroadng he turned his mind
to inventions and bought out number of
appliances now in general usc on railroads.
Among the inventions were Woods improved
frog, the rubber hose connecting the water
tank with the engine. steam whistle and the
sand pipe. He was trustee Of the First
Methodist Church many years. His wife died
about three weeks ago. but he leaves one
daughter and two sons. James Of Jersey City
and John OF New York. both Of whom are loco
motive engineers
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-18
TAKING THE CENSUS nv cUBA.
The Work Was Started on Monday and II
to he Completed In Forty Days.

The Work Was Started on Monday and 10
to he Completed In Forty Days.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 17.-Gen. ]. P. Sander.
who is in charge OF the census OF Cuba. said
to-day:
There has been absolutely no hitch in the
taking OF the Cuban census which started yes
terday have received kilograms every day
from Assistant Director Victor H. Olmstsad.
who is in charge Of the work in Cuba, and he
has reported no obstacle and everything rum
ming smoothly toward the rapid and sue
cesstuI taking OF the census within forty
days. IL somo delays occur do not appre-
bend it will be duo to the failure to provide
horses or other means Of conveyance for enu-
merators. but they will be owing to tho serious
difficulties OF communication, the prevailing
rainy season and tbs suspicious nature OF the
people who look upon an enumerator MS pre-
liminarv step TO an increase OF taxation or
some other political move. These cnumera.
tors are each paid S. a day. which under sworn
agreement includes all cxpenses. An enumer-
ntor has only ten miles aquarO to cover in forty
DAYS and only the very LATEST OF them would
require horAeS. As soon as the schedules are
completed they Will be shipped TO this city and
the thhulations completed by the Hallerith
Tabulating Company in January or February"