davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1900-12-08
Tho Power Of the Semicolon.

There Is gloom in the Boston hotels,
and all because Of a wretched little semi
colon. Nobody. not even a guest. can
get drink in Boston hotel after II p. NJ.
and all on account Of a miserable little
semcolon. Theatre parties. after the show.
sit sullen and thirsty in the restaurants
Of the Boston hotels and abominate pes
tiferous little semicolon. The hotel
keepers. who pay $4,000 for their licenses.
are thinking Of calling on the Legislature
10 extirpate that deceitful little semi
colon.
This Is the story Of the semicolon: In
1878 the Great and General Court passed
this statute
be made between the hours Of i2 at night and 9 In
the morning. nor during the Lords day except that
II the lcensee Is also licensed as an innhoder hs
may supply such liquor TO guests who have resoted
10 his house for food or lodging.
Give heedful note to the comma after
morning" kindly and hospitable comma
which permitted the licensed innholder.'
at least. to comfort the parched throats OF
his guests between 10 P. NJ. and A. NJ
In 1881 the statutes were consolidated
dIlu sOIutDOuy, CdTeltsb COpylot,
lat or jealous Prohbitionist. pluoked away
the innocent comma and set a blister Of q
senicolon there. Notice the difference
NO sale OF spirltuous or intoxicating liquor shall
be made between the hours OF ~ at night and In the
morning: nor during the Lords day, except that II
the ucensee IS also licensed as an innhoder he may
supply such liquor TO guests who have resosd TO his
house for food or lodging"
In 1885 the hour was changed from 10 to
II. but the comma was not restored.
Obviously the fatal little semicolon shuts
out the innkeeper from his former right
Of selling liquor to guests between II p. NJ.
and A. NJ and merely permits him to
sell on Sunday. This week the Supreme
Court of Massachusetts, has so construed
the statute. The semicolon has overruled
the Great and General Court.
This anecdote teaches us the moral and
legal value Of punctuation. which some
Of us were inclined TO look down upon in
our younger days.
The sun., 1900-12-08
DR. xAoLks srArisrfcAL RssoRr.
AsthoS writes Hriiiisnt vsvsesN 81 u for
the "tity Record"

Tho report Of Chief Nasis Of the Bureau
Of Municipal Statistics was printed In tho
Chy Record yesterday, IL occupied two
and onc.quarter pages, In IL Chief
magic SAYS that tho statistical report
for 1899 IL being compiled, The programme
81 tins report is an inviting ono. " occupies
two and three quarters columns OF the
and ends with ..dc, &C." to show that
all tho features ~ the report are not men
% iRnss that CHEF Nasie 'S promises ~ % tho o. taxi
payer, who spend $1,000 supporting his
The amount Of moneys paid into the city
treasury for franchises and privileges grant.
ed to corporations will show the amount OF
money they pay for the privileges they en-
Tho statistics relating 20 small parks
In the crowded tenement districts and tho
recreation piers along the water front In the
vicinity where the population Is densest VIII
he 81 interest 10 the citizens Interested In
providing breathing spots and recrsatii3n ahin,
has been published several small parks and
recreation piers have been established by
the city
The popularity OF the public baths along
tho river front Is attestcd by the numbers
that attend them. a. the statistics Will show,
and an increase in their number Is suRsrsttsdt stot
localities where the very poor dwell aud where
they can enjoy the benefit Of shower. needle
sirable and would greatly add to their com.
fort and improve their condition. A grand
and large public bathing house, to be located
at Coney Island. which II the popular seaside
resort Of the poor OF New York. would i'm
prove their health by the invi gorating pleas
come addition TO the public bath system
of New York,
'Tha list Of contracts which have asked
for when furnished will show the amount OF
and for what purpose the contract Is awa warded.
This will enable the citizens OF New York
to know what the city pays for labor, ma
farial &ns
The sun., 1900-12-08
AUTHORS HACK UP KIPLING.
They Make Afidayits In His Injunction Suit
Against X. r. Fenno 4 Co.

The application Of Rudyard Kipling for an
Injunction restraining II. r. Fenno 4 Co,
publishers. from further publication or sale
OF two edit ons of the authors works
recently put on the market came up
for hearing before Judge Lacombe
yesterday in the United States Circuit
Court. Augustus r. Gurltz appeared for
Mr.. kiplins and stephen NJ. Olin for the
publishers. Mr.. Gurlitz said that there
was no question Of copyright in this motion.
but that it was simply suit brought to put
al end to the publication of a spurious edition.
which by the use Of Mr.. Kipling's trade mark
an elephants head was made to appear
as an authorized edition. People are more
careful. said Mr.. Gurlitz, TO buy author
lied. reputable editions OF books than they
used to be. hence the publishers of pirated
editions are more eager to dress their books
up in such shape that they viii appear to be
what they are not. This policy has recently
assumed alarming proportions and some
thing must be done TO check II and protect
In support OF his statements Mr.. Gurlitz
presented affidavits from John kendrick
Bangs, samuel l.. Clemens. +: p. Dunno, HAM
ilton W. Ma bic and Edmund Clarence Stedman.
stating hat they had observed decided in
cllnation on the part Of publishers to foist
spurious editions upon the public. masq uerad-
Ing as authorized editions. They agreed that
the Intervention Of the courts was necessary
TO stop il. Aiidavits from half a dozen
purport TO those OF the authors were also In
troduced.
Mr., Oln. for the defence. areuedin favor
OF cheaper books, and praised publishers
who got out editions that the poor people
could buy. Judge lacombe took the papers
and reserved his decision.
The sun., 1900-12-08

selves tosethsr 10 illustrate In their habit
of life simplicity IN attire. inexpensiveness
In tho appointments and chssteness In
tho aspect. proportions furniture and deco
ratons Of their dwellings"
This would be well 80 far A. concerns
mere good taste. undoubtedly. but what
practically would he tho consequences Of
such simplicity and absterniousne-s1 what
would bccome of tho workmen en-
gagged In manufacturing the articles Of
luxury rejected 10y those able TO buy
them;
Next he would have this company bind
Themselves TO discourage W. habit Of eS-
ccssive accumulation; to employ for art.
science. philanthropy and religion all be-
yond certain portion Of their income"
What Il excessive accumulation and who
IA to fix the limit What Is the amount OF
the certain portion OF their income
beyond which they shall not go. and how
are they to employ the rest In the ways
Bishop POTTER proposes' science' What
science is suffering for money! Philan-
thropy? Is that charity
No. Bishop Porter must think on this
matter longer and more deeply II he
expects to command the respect OF the
wise. 1t is a very big subject.
The sun., 1900-12-08
"Repugnant to Americans"

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sr. With
feelings of deep satisfaction / read your edi-
torial articles on the Nicaraguan Canal ques-
tion and believe all patriotic and sensible
Americans. including myself. heartily indorse
your stand in the matter. The idea Of England
or for that matter any other nation. holding
any claim whatsoever on thoroughly Ameri-
can canal. built and maintained by our Cow
ernment. is utterly repugnant to Americans
who are Americans In fact as well as in name.
a. is also the idea that foreign Powers should
dictate to this country concerning tie for
tifying Cf the same. should we deem IL ey-
pcdient to do So and fervently hope we will
30 decide
The commercial freedom of the canal Is
another matter. but our national history
proves that we are neither a selfish nor a mar
minded people, and that we can be de-
pended on to deal equitably with all nations
In the privileges Of commercial use Of the
waterway.
Our pro-English Secretary should wake I'D
and demonstrate his diplomatic ability bv
making smooth the path for this American
canal. built by American brains and paid for
by American money. c. w. W
RosELLE, y. j.. Dec. I.
The sun., 1900-12-08
AMERICAN SCHOONER WRECKED.
Three Of the Crew Rescued After Ciinging
to Rock for Forty-four Hours.

WASHINGTON. Dec. THE Consul OF the
United States at ST. John. New Brunswick.
has reported TO the Department Of State the
wreck of the American sch hooner Velma Of
Calais. Me. which occurred recently on the
MUIR lodges. "a dangerous group OF rocks
off Grand Manan. New Brunswick. The
Nelma was driven upon the easternmost
Of the lodges and went to pieces in a terrific
gale OF the four members Of her crew.
three succeeded In reaching the almost sub
merged Cross Jack ledge. though their strug
sle through the wind and snow and darkness
made their successful effort almost super
human. They remained clinging to the
ledge and suffering greatly for forty-four
hours, when men living on Three Islands
heard the faint sound of q gun and saw a
distress signal on the Cross Jack ledge. Pro-
ceeding al once 10 this place the rescue Of the
wrecked men was ACCOMPLISHED in the heavy
sea by the bold and skllful handling Of their
boat by Albert L. Cheney and his sons. Lloyd
and Arthur
The Consul says that during a period Of
more than seventy-f1ve years the Cheneys
grandfather. father and sons have on
several occasions rescued and cared for ship
wrecked persons and piloted vessels from
positions OF danger to places of safey. They
are as modest as they are brave. and are most
reluctant to speak Of their acts OF heroism
and humanity, which they regard simply
as in the line Of duty and not deserving OF
special notice The Government will pre-
sent them with suitable testimonials in recog-
milton of their services.
The sun., 1900-12-08
Fiashiight on the French Field Gsn,

Statement o. Sfar Omeer IN L'Eoho de PorIs
As for the new French field piece. everybody knows
that it's superiority lies entirely in the fact that In,
breech contains a brake which oompletely--lpde>d
mathema tcally the effects q the recou Tber,
are not more than ten people IN France including on
GERS and chiefs Of Government workshops, who know
In ali details the Of the hydropneumsc brake.
The pieces OF which 1t is composed are MANUFACTURED
separately. when they are adjusted there remain.
,,i another thing IN bo done which canno, be accom-.
pished by means of pan or any kind Of document.
because the feat requires 3 sorov-far. or rather Q
tour d. rd'n which can oEy be acquired by experience
A. soon as II is accomplished. the brake is closed up
In q steel case
The sun., 1900-12-08

Forestry Hoard Bsys $500 Acres mere In
Isamtttss County.

Tho state Forestry Board. tho object n
whose boins In to add to tho states present
forest preserve. by the purchase Of additional
tracts. held q meeting In tho fifth Avenue
Hotel yesterday afternoon. There were pres
ent Lieut.. Gov. woodruff. President Of tho
board: Charles n. Babcock. Edward A. Bond,
State Engineer and surveyor and Merton
l.. Lewis. tho boards Secretary. The meet
ing was Ell eoutivs and lasted i've hours. At
Its conoIu sion Secretary Lewis reported that
tho board had purchased a t.3oo-acre tract
In Hamilton county at si 30 an acre from
George X. Finch. a lumberman Of Glens Falls,
In consideration Of which Finch relinauished
all claim to an II ocO-acre tract. the title OF
which was In dispute between Finch and tho
state. This ii.0Oo-acro tract revcrts to tho
State for Its preserves Three thousand
nine hundred acres in Hamilton county were
al-o purchased from George y. Ostrander
and Lewis Olmstead at an aver age price af
about 81 so an acre
IL was expected that the Forestry Board,
Of Health and the members Of the commits
sion appointed TO find a suitable site for a
State hospital for tuberculosis patients,
would agree Yesterday on this site. Presi-
dent Howard Townsend OF the State Board
Of Health and several members OF the board.
with Drs. Pryor, Mcdonald and Jennings
OF the tuberculosis Commi -sion had an in
formal talk with the Forestry Board about
various sites, but no conclusion was reached.
two weeks. at which this matter will be set
The sun., 1900-12-08
Remedy for Gas Over ch ar see.

To THE EpIToR OF The SrN--Sir; In TEE srS a week
ago some gas consumer complained that the quality
OF getting worse since the have stopped
fighting each other and have again consolidated their
interests and that they try make the consumer
pay the costs Of that fght 1t is probably well call
the attention Of the public to the fact that there is
State Inspector OF gas meters H. AeIander) with an
Office at No. Hanover Square While this officer can
control the quality Of gas he control the quantity
In the case Of any meter which Is too fast made an
Application to the State Inspector some time ago to
my mo r. He tested 1t and found 1t too fast Upon
his certificate that effect tho gas company refunded
TO me the amount overpad. Tho companies from time
time test the meters of their accord but seem
only 10 correct them when they are too slow. When
they fast the State Inspector is the proper rem
ody. But believe there very few people who know
that there is such an Officer CHS.
NEW YORK, Dec. Q.
The sun., 1900-12-08

70 prevent the f,irther extension NJ British
dominion In Central America. The Monroe
Doctrine will take care Of That. n the Mon
roo Doctrine BE- not strangIcd by American
hands
Tho point for American Senators N con
sfder IL tho possible effect of deliberate
revival by US at this time Of our own former
engagement now void. not 10 occipy.
colonize or exercise dominion In any part
Of Central America What do We gam
by undertaking any such national ohli-
gauon' suppose that the way opens for tho
acquisition Of actual sovereignty over u
strip Of territory along the canal. That
"a matter properly between ourselves
and Nicaragua and Costa Rica. the treaty
makes II dependent upon the permission OF
q power on the other side Of the Atlantic.
Suppose. again. that the unforeseen events
which tho future always keeps In store
should make II expedient and desirable
that Guatemala. or Honduras. or Nicaragua,
or Costa Rica, or all Of them, should come
In under our flag. Suppose they should
want TO be annexed. and We should de-
sire to annex them. Why put ourselves
voluntarily now In such a position that In
order to extend our own boundaries on our
own continent we should be obliged either
to obtain the consent OF European power
or to violate a treaty?
Such are some OF the complications
which We owe to Secretary HAYS fatuous
attempt to make for himself diplomatic
record
The sun., 1900-12-08
Revenue Reduction.

A Congress met for this session the sso-
retary OF the Treasury recommended re-
ductton OF taxation OF eSO, 100000 Thas
amount represented his judgment a. to how
much annual income the Government could
safely dispense with. The Republican lead
ers in both Senate and House OF Repro
sentatlves talk Of making tho reduction
S4O 100000.
It would bs the wiser plan to let Mr..
GAoK's carefully studied estimate prevail.
even II the probability was that II was
wrong rather than right, for the reason that
II wrong the remedy will still be as easy as
II will be welcome, but II right It's rejection
will cause embarrassment II not trouble.
Thirty millions is great sum to clip on
the national revenue at any time; under
the circumstances present and past 1t Ii an
enormous and surprising sum.
The sun., 1900-12-08
IMMIGRATION INCREASING.
Larger in the Last Fiscal Tear Than In Any
Year since 1897.

WASHINGTON. Dec. The number Of I'm
migrants entering the United States during
the last year increased more rapidly than In
any year during the last two decades. and the
number is larger than in any year since 1892.
IL reached AS 572, as against Sil.7iS in 1899
and 229, 299 In 1898. In only three or four
years In the country's history has the record
Of Immigration been exceeded by that OF the
fiscal year ended on June 80 last
The greatest number Of immic cr ants cams
from Italy, l7.3l6 coming from northern
Italy and s4.348 from southern Italy. The
Hebrews are next In order. with a record OF
CO. 76i. and the Polish third. with ~. 93S. There
was a large Increase In the immigr alton into
the United States through Canada.
The sun., 1900-12-08
The Depiorsbie Conception and Initiative
We're Secretary Hays.
From a London Despatch TO the Nev York
Tribune

From London Despatch 10 the Ncp York
Tribune.
LONDON. Dec. :. 0 A. M.-The fate OF the
Hay-Pauncefote Treaty is awaited here with
more interest than anxiety. Its rejection,
or even an amendment in a spirit hostile 10
the Suez regulations. will be regarded as a
sign that the American Senate Is bent upon
ending rather than mending the Clayton
Bulwer convention. and upon doing this.
moreover. in an offensive way.
The British Government did not take tho
Initiative in opening negotiations for a re-
vision of the convention OF 1850. IL merely
responded In a most friendly spirit TO a sug-
geston from the State Department that the
time had come for adapting an antiquated
treaty to altered conditions in a spirit of
mutual accommodation a d good will IL
conceded everything that was asked. and
merely stipulated that the suez principles
should be applied to any canal under Ameri-
can control
The rejection Of the convention will be con-
sldered as an indication that the American
Government does not know its own mind
and that 1t does not value the concessions
made In response 10 its own solicitations
The adoption OF n Notifications amendment
will be the signal for a strong press agitation
here against "a departure from Suez practice
and the Foreign Ofice will have the puulic
support If IL declines TO accept the treaty in a
new form. 1t is understood IN diplomatic
circles here that Lord Salisbury at the outset
of the negotiations expressed Willingness
to settle the canal question If he could re-
ceive an assurance that the treaty would have
the support of the Senate, and that the va
rious Senators of the Foreign Relations Com
mittee were consulted in advance whether
they had committed themselves or not TO
the treaty.
1t is considered singular by dipomatists
here that the question of fortiiying the ends
of tho canal should be raised. No European
Power which is without coaling stations
and a naval base close at hand can ever
menace American control Of the canal, and
England Is the only one which is adequately
supplied in the West Indies with these indis
pensable accessories for naval warfare II
Americans insist upon fortifying the canal
it must be because they have their eyes upon
Port Royal and Santa Lucia. and dread British
Interference with the waterway.
Although Lord Salisbury has renounced
In the new treaty the principle OF dual con-
troll. England. having acted In good faith,
would prefer to have Americans accept the
teaty In its original form.
The sun., 1900-12-08
E on nhdence and Hopefuiness in Aisbams.

From ths Mobile Daily Register.
The country has gone through severe test Of its
powers as a republic the passions OF have been
excited as perhaps never before in history. yet
the after experience shows that st as people
true 10 institutions and confident OF the future OF
our Government Tests OF this sort are unavoidable
and they have their good uses Many a republic In
the past has gone down under them but our test,
seem destined 10 strengthen the fabric and render
more certain that II will always continue
II We seek for the explanation. md 1t In the fact
that the benefits conferred upon the individual ctzen
by the perpeuy OF our form Of government recos
nled greater than any that be obtained by any
possible change In that form. We know Of course,
that the Government is not perfect No human in
venton has that merit butit far than any
republic that ever founded before and the knowi.
edge OF this keeps the citizen true In his allegiance
The sun., 1900-12-08
Marble Lore.

To TIE EDITOR or The suS-Sr' In tho ms rble con-
trovcrSy which is now -on- I notice thst Nutmeg
ssys that in his boyhood days he used marble called
the -annIe.- Doesn't he mean -sliey2- Forty years
ago when was paying -mibs" IN Cambridge Mass,
We boys hsd the following outfit The -dogse." de-
brown clsy marble. snd he'd In general oontempt on
sccount OF Us chespness the woser- two for oenu:
the common aey.- q perfectly whit- marble: the
STRIPED alloy. the 'buils-eye sey" with tarset-lEo
d"-gn- pdin'cd on n and the bob alley srge msr-
he To hob with. Then We hsd the agates Including
the resi- a, mentioned by Dan Beard. A. marble,
bccam. 'hcapet IN pnce the tNoser" has probably
lost Identity, but think Dan heard the boys orao.
Will agree with me Ihat Nuimeg's annie was an IA.
Toy BAY STATE
NEW NoRK, Dec. q.
The sun., 1900-12-08
Our Jockies on the British Turf.

The action OF the stewards OF the English
Jockey Club in notifying the star Of our
expectation to England. TOD SLOAN. that
he could have no license TO ride in Britain
means moro TO SLOAN than appears on
the surface. II bars him from riding in
America also. because so long as the English
stewards shut the door on him the New
York stewards. the controlling body in
American racing affairs, will not have him.
The English Jockey Club gives as the
ground for its decision against SLOAN
his consent to accept a present Of El.00o
from FRANK l.. GARDNER in the event OF
his winning the race known "a the Cam
bridgeshire. run last October. with the horse
Goldman. SLOAN himself Acknowledged
that he had agreed to accept the present
but told the stewards that he had not re-
ceived 1t because Goldman did not win.
GARDNER and his betting commissioner.
Mills, through whom the thousand pounds
were offered. pleaded ignorance Of the turf
rule prohibiting the Offering or giving Of
presents to jockies SLOAN made the same
plea for himself. GARDNER and MILLS got
of with fine Of f25 each. but on SLOAN
the judges inflicted the heaviest punishment
that was within their power.
Not so many years ago the most famous
Of all English jockies. FRED ARCHER. rode
Mr.. KEENE's Foxhal to victory In the
Cambtdgeshire. and Plunger WALTON. the
first American Of his kind on the English
tracks, gave ARCHER f5 900. For this ARCHER
received a warning not to do 1t again. OBJ
viously. In justice to the American turf and
to SLOAN. the course Of the British racing
authorities calls for explanation.
Lord DURHAM began a crusade against
American horsemen and horses last summer.
which there were many reasons to suppose
sprang from the very noticeable success Of
the American trainers and jockies. DRAKE.
the plunger OF the day. WIsHARD. the
trainer. and LESTER REIFF. one Of the
jockiss, were more than once required
to answer official charges that implied
dishonesty, but always with the result
Of exoneration. Either there is pique on
Lord DURHAM's part behind this punish
ment Of SLOAN or there are other reasons
for it which are sound. Those causes should
be made public in fairness to all.
The sun., 1900-12-08
Elsingere Spotted,

To THE FDrroR OF THE SuS--sir: Can {. be possible
that the Elsngee Jones Of Cook county il OF whose
dreams In dress at ST. Louis you have spoken dis
crimnaungly in an editorial OF this dste-can II be-
ask that this is my young friend T. Jerry Jona. who
travels for a wet-known Oh taioryf His full
name was formerly Elsen Jeremiah Jones and he was
fsmIPrly c lied Jerry II this Is what hPs produced
the poec RIGHTEOUSNESS OF fsngere It goes pro,s
that he does "yests least, not to public
view. No man with name 80 beautifully trsnsia'Ni
into the higher aesthetics from such plain beginnings
would carry the word vest with him 10 the flight
LOUISVILLE, Dee. T. A. L. Y.