davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
Training in English.

| The Educational Review" for May con-
tains some papers prepared for the Har-
ward Teachers Association. and some of
these are rather interesting and valuable.
| One point which is made in nearly all
these papers is that in the school and
college work Of the present day sufficient
! attention is not given 10 English. The
universal testimony seems to be that stu
dents entering Harvard and other colleges
stand lower in English than in Latin
Greek or mathematics. One writer quotes
Milton's theories on education. which are
perfectly practicable in our own day. The
English poet, who was also a man OF af-
fairs, insisted that the student should
give much time to natural science. TO po-
itics, and to general reading. He summed
up his idea of college training in these
words:
"a complete and generous education is that
which fits man TO perform Justly, skilfully and
ragnanmously, all the private and the public
Offices Of life
1t would be difficult to improve on that
definition, even in the nineteenth century
The question is, then, whether the mod
ern college does SO train a man that he
will perform justly, skilifully. and mag
unanimously" all his private and public du-
ties Does it make him gentleman and
man of affairs? Does it, in word, fit him
TO make the most of his life? There seems
to be a suspicion in the minds of many
college graduates in this country that it
does nothing of the kind. Either the COL
lege training is not suited TO the present
state of our civilization or the college man
will have to reform the unschooled masses
and bring them into harmony with his
ideals to such an extent that his training
will be useful. Which is to be the result?
Are the colleges to alter their curriculum
to fit public sentiment, or are they to edu-
cate the great mass of the American peo-
pie SO that college training will be use
full? Perhaps there will be changes in
both the college and the people.
This matter Of education in English.
however, is one about which there should
practical life thorough training in the
use OF the English language is the most
useful thing young man can haze. 1t is
also obvious that man who has studied
Latin. Greek. French. German. plane and
spherical tr!gonometry, differential cal
culus. and all the natural sciences. yet
cannot write clearly and correctly thesis
in his native language. and has no knowl-
edge of the great English authors. cannot
possibly be called well-e6. ,ated man.
1t is. therefore. the height Of folly to neg
lect training in English for the sake of
making higher averages in other studies
Yet 1t appears that this is continually
done.
1t Is claimed by some OF the advocates
OF classical training that a knowledge OF
Latin and Greek gives a man greater IA
cility In the use OF his mother tongue. |
This is undoubtedly true. other things be- |
ing equal. But when. In taking examina-
tons for college. boy Of eighteen stands
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
PhiluJelphia.

The attempt of Mayor Ashbridge OF
Philadelphia. and his henchman. English,
TO blackmail the Hon. John Wanamaker
has resulted in giving the sleepy citizens
of the Quaker City an insight into the
workings of their municipal government,
which has caused some of them temporari-
ly, at least, to sit up. 1t has been Enown
for years that Philadelphia was the most
corrupt town politically in the United
States, but direct personal knowledge of
the fact never seemed to concern the Phil
adelphians. and it came to be generally
accepted that the sort of government they
had was the government they preferred.
The Wanamaker incident may cause a
slight diversion.
In the end, though. nothing will be done.
The Philadelphia voter rises but seldom.
and always with great difficulty, but when
he does his vote is simply thrown cut by
the Republican election officers. Mr.. Wan
amaker is on record as declaring that
there has not been an honest election in
the Quaker City in years. and he has his
own reasons for knowing that the only
way to control the local machine is to buy
1t. Left alone, the machine goes on in
the even tenor of its way. putting the
same men and influences in control of mu-
nicipal affairs. sending the same delega
ton of nobodies to Congress, and piiing up
Republican majority is called for
in gubernatorial and Presidential cleo
lions.
III r.lt IL lc MI
in which to hold the Republican National
and We look to see Mr.. Hanna
shine there is undiminished lustre.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
GRANTS OLD STEWARD DYING.
Oscar Florence PenniIess and I'm a
New York Hospital.

New York Hospital.
NEW YORK. May 13-Oscar Florence Is
dying in st. Luke's Hospital He is with
out means. save those provided by his
wife. but he is hopeful and thinks he will
recover from the complication OF diseases
OF which he is the victim.
Twenty years ago Oscar Florence was
one Of the most popular hotel stewards
and caterers in New York. He served
such famous hostleries as the old Metro
politan and Grand Central Hotels in this
city and the Grand Union Hotel at Sara
toga.
He first achieved fame as steward to
Ulysses s. Grant when the latter COM
manded the armies of the East For four
years Oscar prepared all the meals for
General Grant in the field. The general
wanted to make him quartermaster. with
the rank Of major. but Oscar preferred to
be hotel steward. Otherwise he would
row be entitled TO a substantial pension.
Oscar is 81 years old. He bears
marked resemblance to the late Gen. Rob-
ert z. Lee. General Grant is his ideal of
a man and soldier. General Grant was
the greatest man / ever knew" said o.
car yesterday. but he was poor feeder
| don't believe he had any favorite dishes
except. perhaps. pork and beans. He didn't
care rap for poultry or game. He
wouldn't eat lamb. He was simple in all
his habits.
II never heard him complain of single
thing during the four years I was with
him. l served him up to the day he went
into the White House, and even afterward
frequently went to the Executive Man
sion and prepared meal for him. He was
the best friend ever had"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

| high in Latin and Greek and low in Eng
lish composition, there seems to be some
| thing very wrong somewhere. And this
| frequently happens.
The cause OF this singular phenomenon
is very simple, when one comes to investi
gate it. AS taught in our schools, Latin
| and Greek require merely good memory
as good as that OF parrot. The student
is not made to acquire grace or fluency
in expression; he does net have 10 write
! letters in either of these languages, or
study the shades of difference in style and
phrasing. He merely translates the works
of classical authors. generally with
very murky idea of the difference be-
tween them. He knows that one is easy to
construe and another is hard, and that Is
about all he does know. This is true OF
nine;y-nine per cent of the high school
pupils in this country and Of at least two
thirds Of the college students. The study
of English is thing which may be made
very easy or very difficult according to
the methods of teaching Most teachers.
being overworked in the effort to bring
their pupils up to the mark 81 the classics
and in mathematics, do net require much
of them in English. and quick-witted
boy or girl can shiriz hard work either in
literature or composition. and give more
time to other studies. Moreover, the
training which students in the lower
grades receive in English is generally so
bad that when the high school teacher
undertakes to give pupils a thorough
course in this branch of knowledge. it is
necessary to go back to principles which
ought to have been learned in the primary
schools, and the mass of ignorance to be
overcome is SO great and so dense that
the teachers task becomes almost impos-
sible There is no common sense in a sys-
TEN of education which makes it necessary
to instruct the senior class in high
school in spelling grammar and the
study of the dictionary. Nine out of ten
of the members of such class have little
or no idea of the shades of meaning be-
tween different words which are almost
synonymous, and they are possessed Of
that pernicious idea that while one must
be exact in writing a Latin sentence, or
working out 4 sum in algebra. 1t Is not
worth Wnlie 10 De precise IN the use Oh
English. No amount of knowledge OF the
classics can make up tor two great defects
in the education of the ordinary American
youth: one is the inability TO speak and
write English correctly. the other is the
lack of familiarity with the literature of
England and America. The young college
student who has never read Scott, and
Thackeray, and Shakespeare. for the pure
delight of the thing-not rs school task.
and who has never deived IN the treasure
house of English poetry Of his own free
will, has missed a very important part .
OF his education. II our schools do not
teach children to know and love books. .
they are failures. no matter what else
they do: and it is lamentabie fact tina
many schools actually make it impossible
for the children to form habits Of miscel-
laneous reading. and impress them with
the idea that literature is difficult and (
tiresome study. rather than delightful
recreation.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
MONDAY, NAY IA, 1900.
The Question of the Canal.


This week will decide whether the wishes
Of the Administration or the demands Of
the country are to control the Senate in
the matter Of canal legislation at the
present session of Congress. The question
will be decided by the Democratic men-
bers of the body who. although in mi
nority. are able to compel action, GER
tainly to the extent of a record vote.
But they need to be up and doing! The
transcontinental railway lobbyists and the
Panama syndicate schemers will be close
to headquarters from now until solution
is reached. They will try to reach not only
a solution, but Democratic Senators who
would do well to stuff their ears and
stiffen their courage and consciences
for the next few days. For Democratic
Senators. since they have the game in
their hands and can force the play If they
choose to, will be the main object of at
tack by the inimical influences. Between
the assaults Of the Administration and its
Hay Pauncefote and Panama agents on
one side and practically universal pop
ular pressure on the other, the friends of
the Hepburn bill in the Senate are likely
to have an exciting and nervous time of it.
They can win, however. They know it
and the people know it. No excuse for
non-action will be accepted. The Admin
istration can be placed in position where
ii must accept the American canal or reg
lister its hostility to it and expose its rela-
lions to the British and Panama scheme
beyond hope Of explanation during the
campaign. This is the situation. The
twenty-six Democratic Senators will be
held responsible for making the most it.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
TO VIEW THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
Princeton to Send an Expedition to
WRdesbOrO, NC.

Princeton to Send an Expedition to
WRdesbor0, n. c.
NEW YORK. May 13.-Prof C. A. Young.
| the worlds greatest authority on the sun,
has given an idea Of the extensive prepa-
rations being made by Princeton scientists
for viewing the total eclipse of the sun on
May %.
This celestial phenomenon, he said Is
stirring up great interest among all Of
Princeton's astronomers. physicists. and
mathematician. and large number OF
professors will leave the university shortly
for Wadesboro. N. c.. where the party's
headquarters will be. Prof Young expects
great scientific results from the expedition,
which will be the largest undertaken by
any of the universities.
When interviewed Prof. Young was bus
lily arranging the two-score trunks that
will accompany the scientists. He said
the twelve-foot telescope would be under
the charge of Prof. Bracket and Mr. Nc
Clenahan in photographing the corona.
Prof. Libby will have the smaller cameras
and will photograph the corona and sur
rounding field On smaller scale.
Prof. Reed will use the ire-prism spec
trcscope Of the twenty three-inch telescope
of the Halsted Observatory for photograph
ing the spectrum OF the corona Prof. Ma
gle will usually observe the corona and
prominences with four-inch telescope,
at the same time making drawings of any
peculiar features Of the prominences and
corona.
Mr.. Russell will observe the spectrum
Of the corona with a grating spectrcscope
attached to a fve-inch telescope. Prof.
Young. in cooperation with Mr.. Fisher
foreman Of the machine shop, will have
charge of the mechanical work.
Many minor instruments will be taken
along for the use of volunteers who may
be present at the station.
Tho university Is indebted to Taylor Pine
and the executors Of the John Green estate
for subscription Of si.2c0 to defray the
expenses Of the expedition.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
WHEN THE FING Is DEAD.
Wicrd Ceremonies Attendant When
a Spanish Monarch Dies.

From the London Teecriph)
Strange and almost weird is the cere-
moniai which accompanies the burial OF
Spanish Kings. The pantheon. or royal
tomb, is at the palace Of the Escurial. sit
uated 3.cCO feet above the level OF the sea,
ard some distance from the Capital.
ONLY Kings. Queens. and mothers oil
Kings are buried there. the collins OF the
Kings living on one side. those of the
Queens on the other After lying in state
for several days in the throneroom In Mad
rid an enormous procession is formed, ac-
companying the body to the Escurial.
A halt is made on the way and the
corpse rests there for one night In the
morning the lord high chamberlain stands
at the side Of the coffin and says in loud
tones: rs your majesty pleased to pro-
coed on your Journey After a short ST.
lence the procession moves en- and winds
UP to the grand portal OF the palace
These doors are never opened except TO
admit royal parsonage, dead or alive
When the casket containing the remains
is at las. placed in the vault. the chamber
lain unlocks 1t, and, kneelin2 down. calls
with loud voice: Senior. Senior!
Senor." After q solenil pause, he ciisS
again: "His Majesty does net reply
Then Il Is true the King is dead He
then locks the coffin, gives the key to the
prior 1.-THE palace Of the Escurial contains
also a large monastery and church,. and.
taking his staff Of Office. breaks it in
pieces and filings them at the easkst.
The booming OF tie guns and the toEinS
Of bells announce to the nation that ire
King has gone to his final resting place.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
The Western View.
(From the Chicago Chroniele.)


William J. Bryan will be nominated for Presi
dent by the Democrats, not because faction
of the Populists have nominated him, but in
spite of it, II the Popuiist convention never had
been held Bryan would be nominated just the
same at Kansas City.
1t follows logically that the Democrats will not
nominate Charles A. Towne for Vice President
merely because he is the Popuiist candidate for
that Office Mr. Towne is no more Democrat
now than he when Republican member OF
Congress from Minnesota.
His votes every question dividing parties in
Congress show his antagonism to Democratic
principles.
He is well enough rs silver Republican But
the Democratic party is not silver Republican
party. The Democratic party is composed Of
Democrats,
The united Democracy accepts Bryan because
he is q typical Democrat He believes in Jefer.
sonism and Jacksonism. His financial views are
non essential at this time, when more pressing,
matters demand attention.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

il he and his friends should happen to sue
coed in tearing up the Monroe Doctrine at
this session of Congress. or next winter
we do not quite see what We should find for
the navy TO do We could not guard or
defend a Hay Pauncefote canal. because it
would be dominated by the British navy
and the British fortiiications in adjacent
waters: and, as we have stated. we should
have lost the right to prevent the extension
of European institutions to this hemi-
shere! Perhaps Senator Lodge will be
good enough to make another speech. ex-
planatory of his apparent idea that, after
this Administration gets through with its
mission, there will be anything of an Amer
lean character left TO maintain or defend.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
Third Parties.


He who reviews the political history of the
United States for the past fifty years will. We
think, be convinced that there is room in this
country for effective work in the hands OF not
more than two parties at the same time This il
not to say that there is occasion for indie
pendenee OF action as regards or both OF these
parties great deal may be achieved by the
proper direction Of the independent vote We
owe to it that the only Democratic President of
the nation since the civil war has been chosen.
and that there have been at least two Democratic
Governors OF Massachusetts, during that time.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
No, the Only Hated Nation.

Lord Salisbury wonders at the root of bitterness
against England. Possibly he emphasizes it too
much There is root of bitterness against Eng
land, but there is against all countries The bit
terness may be enhanced in proportion to the
amount of jealousy that the object of it
exctes. II is not singular to England
We as badly hated. Anyone who has got at
the real feeling OF the civilized world knows that
We have not friend on earth except England.
That is the plain prose of the thing W. may
brutaiZe sentiments all We please Tor the
sake OF politics, but the fact is that with the
exception Of England we are cordially dislihed.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
TWO BURGLARS IN SKIRTS.
Young Girls Arrested for PIundering
n House Mt Might.

AUBURN, N. Y, May 13--Marg1ret La
Dor and Catherine Labor. sisters, aged 2 .
and 10 years old. are in jail here on Z
charge OF grand larceny, awaiting the &c.
ticn Of the grand jury row sitting In this
city.
The girls live in Genoa. On the night
OF May > they broke in the door OF tbs
home of Harvey Stanton in the neighbour
ing village of Locke. taking away alnioss
the entire contents OF the house. Thc~
were arrested. arraignsd on the charge OF
burglary before Justice Byron Hunt. and
held for the grand jury.
They have made a confession to the JUS
tice. naming two men whom they say in
duced them to commit the crime and to
whom they turned over the stolen goods.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
The Decay of KipIinx.


Aspiring young authors never have a chance to
forget that the magazines never pay for names
but for merit until they see what the magazines
print over well-known names. Rudyard kipIing
is contributing some animal stories TO Phila.
delphia publication and getting big money for
them. II they had been written by John Doe or
Richard Roe they would not have brought more
than the market price paid by junk dealers for
soiled paper.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
Trade and Trade Restrictions.


Trade is a natural thing. 1t is governed pri-
marty by natural laws. 1t can be interfercd
with by statute and by custom, and in every case
OF interference trade suffers H. left without arti.
fetal restriction it will regulate itself infallib.y
under the law Of competition, but where restric-
tions are imposed such regulation fails and the
element OF monopoly appears. The tariff is a
restriction OF trade. II shuts out competition
and compels the consumer TO buy in a market
where the natural law of supply and demand has
been set aside by statute.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
The Popular Election of Senator's.
(Ern,p tho Cbic,yn Times Herald

II is to be hoped that what the Illinois Repub-
lican Convention failed TO do will be well done
by the Republican National Convention in an un-
oguivocal declaration. With all their absurditics
the Populists are right on this question, and the
Democrats will surely follow their example. II
the Republicans are wise they will make the de-
maud unanimous and when this is done the senate
itself will hardly dare to oppose the change as it
has in the mast
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
Lord nobcrt., DiMcuIty.


All OF the railroads of South Africa pass
through regions which afford facilities for ATTACKS
by small bodies OF the enemy. These may de-
stroy culy,rts and bridges with dynamite or
other high explosives The efforts even of one
man might suffice to break the continuity of
bringing forward supplies for the army. II is
therefore necessary. AZ the present time. TO guard
these lines of railroad throughout until there
has been transported to Bloemfontain. other
points which may he taken secondary bases
of operations, sufficient food to last the army
for several months.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

General Davis has nothing but praise for
the garrote as ali instrument in capital
punishment He thinks it much more hu-
name than hanging, and the President in
transmitting his reflections to the Senate
seems to agree with him. Yet we doubt
if the Philadelphia platform will point
with pride to the recent executions at San
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

Attorney General Griggs in quite right
in his contention that the new building
fer the Department OF Justice should be a
credit to the city. but why does he waste
time in argument. Let him 60 to Messrs.
Payne, Cannon. and Grosvenor, and ar
range things with them as Oxnard did.
That is the sensible course
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

Mr.. Hanna processes himself much
pleased with the Populist ticket nominated
at Sioux Fails. With Quaint and simple
modesty, however-as rare as a blush on
his metallic cheek, he has no word Of
praise for the creations Of his genius put
forth by the Mid Readers at Cincinnati.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
The strike in st. Luuis.

Violence would not only kill any chances for
success on the part OF those who resort to it In
the present crisis, but it should be put down
IL the entire male population c. St Louis has to
do the work.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

The Administration has developed its
policy sufficiently with regard to Nicely.
but what does 1t propose to do with Rath-
bone? That is the main question after all.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14

"Julge not according to the appearance" Yon
can Judge He,irieh's Maerzen, Senate and Lager by
their appearance and you can judge them by thfif
qualities Phone 6sl, Arlington Bottling Com
many. for q casa
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-14
Only Sleeping,

(From the indianapolis Press)
The Ship Subsidy bill is not dead yet. Alas!
it is the good that die young.
The age-herald., 1900-01-04
GEN. WOOD RELEASES
 FORTY PRISONERS
Many More Pardons Expected in a Few Days-Cubans Are Now Happy
 Yellow Fever Report.

Havana, January S.-Today General Wood issued an important order, giving freedom to forty men in the province of Santa Clara. some of them had been detained without trial, and others swere suffering excessive punishment
 All had been released ten months before by an order issued by General Bates, but they were immediately re-arrested by or ders from headquarters on the ground that the department commander did not have the power to pardon.
 General Maseo said that freedom from all foreign control was in sight, and that the assurances of President Mckinley and the conduct of the government convinced him of the absolute sincerity. of the United States The yellow fever report for 1899 shows 1O3 deaths in Havana, which means that eighty-three persons have died of the disease since General Ludow's report was issued al the end of August last. During the month of December there were 70 new cases, of whom twenty-two died.
 On January 1 of this year there were twenty-five eases under treatment. Today there are seventeen. The cold weather will probably diminish the number.