davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1903-12-17
Are tn. Ere. Lecturer. Incompetent.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUE-Sfy: ] notice the
conflicting opinions expressed by your correspond.
cnts "a Chemist" and Another Chemist" as to
the value OF the free lectures being delivered under
the auspices OF the Board of Education. have at
tended some OF the lectures about travel aud art" Il
am quoting from tho letter of Another Chemist" y
"splcndidy Illustrated by tho finest photog raphs
liable: and my wonder was aroused that such
persons as the lecture should have the nerve and
impcrtlncnce TO appear before an audience at all
lot alone draw public money for the performances.
Most OF the men and women who thus lcct =.
urng there are some cHceptlous--onC or two.
perhaps, have a basis for their dwelling talks
the experience gained as members OF some per =
sonally conducted tourist party" supplemented
by the Use. often unskilfu, of some cheap stcrco-
scopic slides purchased on the Rue Rvoli or the
Strand. They bore and disgust their hearers with
egotistlcal references to inconscuuental and per
sonal details OF their hurried flights from city to
city and with vapid dissertations concerning art
and architecture.
ANY one who has had the privilege Of listening to
the late Mr.. Stoddard and Of seeing the beaut ful
views displayed by him will readily see how 10 .
tenscly Interesting and Instructive such lectures
might he made. Surely there must be many capable
lecturers to he found. both men and women who
can describe the beauties OF Paris and other Euro
pcan cities or the destinations OF rural England an d
whose services might be obtained for a little
more than that now being paid for efforts that are
generally painful sometimes ludlcrous.
am informed that the fee paid Is $40 a lecture:
which is not large one, but altogether too large
for tho class OF lecturers herein referred to.
NEW YORK. Dec. H. T.S.S.
The sun., 1903-12-17

justification for the action Of the British
Government against Tibet, as all previ-
GUS treaties have been made for Tibet
by the Chinese Ambans resident at
Lhasa, or a special envoy from Pekin
acting with the first Amban. The fact
that the Tibetans have steadily refused
to send envoys of their own to Khamba-
jong may be as much because they could
not act in the absence of qualified
Chinese envoy as because they were
unwilling to treat.
The return of Lord CURzoN's letters
directed to the Dalai Lama may have been
for the same reason, although it is alleged
that the latter has entered into compacts
with Russia over the head of his suz-
Grain. Should this prove to be the case.
and should the Chinese Government be
now holding aioof, the return of the
Indian Viceroy's communications would
be in the nature of defiance.
Whatever the facts may be, it is clear
that the British Government is deter
mined to break through the barriers
hitherto excluding Indian traders from
Tibet, and to make use of it as high
way into the hinterland OF China. Only
very pressing reasons, however, would
call for a military expedition into the
heart of the country in the depth Of q
Tibetan winter.
The sun., 1903-12-17

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Sir: noticed II
THE SUN Of Nov, 20 an Item In regard to a post
master In Kentucky named Jewell, who. 1, D.
claimed. has been postmaster longer than any othc
man living.
This may be true so far as any man now living
is concerned but there died within the year R1s"s'
Beardslcy OF North Lansing TompklnS COUNT
n. y, who born In 1909 was appointed post
master In Is2s. when 10 years old. by John Qunr'
Adams and who held the officc continuously fol
over seventy four years.
On June %, 1902. his friends gave him a house
warming on the seventy fourth anniversary u
his appointment aS postmaster. The New ioi'
Geographical Society offered him handsnm'
sum for his original commission when II was SIX;
years old. but he refused tho offer,
The Kentucky postmaster received his aHpoln
mont in 1855 twenty seven years lat or than RoSwr.
Bcardsley. and both died this year.
Compared with the NhTth Lansing postmaster,
the kentucky man Is a mere Kid. j. l.. B.
BRIpdEPoRT. Conn. Dec 10
The sun., 1903-12-17
The Spanish Canal Project.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN Sir: Your
correspondent f, in to-day's SrN, referring
to the interest taken in this country in the
Panama Canal project in Henry Clay's time.
does not 20 back far enough. This is shown
by the following letters of Jefferson. when
Minister to Paris from this country. to William
Cormichel at Madrid:
PARIS Dec. H. 1851 i have been told that cutting
through the IsthmuS OF Panama. which the world
has often wished and supposed practicable. has
at times been thought Of by the Government OF
Spain and that they proceeded so far as TO haN
survey and examination made OF the grounds.
but that tho result was either impracticability or
too great dlficulty.
PARIS May 81, l7Ss.-With respect TO the lsthmus
OF Panama. I am assured by Burgoin (who would
not choose to be named. however, that survey was
made that a canal was practicable and that the
Idea suppressed for political reasons altogether
He has seen aud mlnutcly examined the report.
This report Is TO me vast dcsdcratdm. for reasons
political and philosophical.
This alludes to n survey made by vhe Span
ish Government in l7Si. the first ever accom-
plshed NJ. l.. FILLEY.
LASsINGBrEGH. y. u. Dec, l3.
The sun., 1903-12-17
The HOar Resolution.

One Of the special purposes of Senator
HoAB in offering his resolution Of in
quiry concerning the treaty with Panama
lis to ascertain whether at the time OF the
ratification of the treaty by Panama that
Government "had lawfully adopted a
constitution.
Having ascertained that, as matter
of fact, the new republic at the time
Of the ratification of the treaty had
not lawfully adopted constitution, a
broader field for investigation will open
before the venerable Senator.
It will be logical and perfectly proper
for Mr.. HoAR, for instance, to request the
President, if not in his Judgment incom-
patible with the public interest, to in
form the Senate whether at the time of
the ratification of the Seward-DeSt oeckl
treaty of 1867, by which we acquired
Alaska, the Russian Empire had law
fully adopted constitution.
Mr.. HoAR cannot fail to perceive that
If the lack Of lawfully adopted con-
stitution on the part of the contracting
Government invalidates or vitiates a
treaty concluded with us, who possess
20 good Constitution and one so law
fully adopted, the defect would be pre-
cisely the same in the case of Russia as
Of Panama.
Is 1T possible that for nearly forty years
We have been asserting in Alaska terri
torial rights which Russia was in no
position to convey to us because she had
lawfully adopted no constitution?
The sun., 1903-12-17
THE 100000, 900 JOB.
A Lawyer OF Repute Calls for Organiza'
tiOn to Defeat II in tic Courts.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrS-Sir: Had
| the educational campaign conducted during
the recent State election reached all the voters
within the State before the election. the &iOl-
| OOo, 900 canal appropriation might have been
| defeated. This was a consummation de-
vouty to be wished by the sober. intelligent
! sentiment Of thinking people. We are now
| face to face with a State tax more onerous
| than we have ever had, for the widening and
| deepening OF mud ditch, Is there nothin g
| left to protect the people from the results
| of their own negligence. inattention and con-
seuuent ignorance? Possibly they do not
| deserve the protection. but the question is
broader than malice. and is, Shall the pro-
posed confiscation suffer no resistance?
Shall public money be wasted in futile effort
to accomplish an impossibility. without any
attempt at eventon?
Organized committees for public plunder
usually succeed over disor ganiZed opposi
tion, especially when the feeble minded are
seduced into the belief that in some way they
are disturbing the equilibrium Of the rail-
roads; and that cause alone, backed by dema-
gogic circulars and appeals, produced the
result we now have to face. The railroad
business would be affected il the sloI 900, 900
would accomplish what has been claimed
for II by few interested engineers: but, un-
fortunately for the taxpayers. the weight
OF disinterested authority is to the effect
that starting with a mud ditch We shall leave
off with mud hole. and the slol 100000 will
accomplish the magnificent difference.
Gov Odel has bereft New York city OF all
its powers of government practically and has
saddled it with all the taxes within his reach.
He possibly believes that this coup will square
the account. ms New York city voted for it,
but New York city will continue to vote the
Tammany ticket, while the State al large,
burdened by the canal tax. will feel that it
has been buncoed.
Many grave defects appear in the legis-
latve act which is the foundation stone on
which the appropriation rests. In the opinion
of some of our able lawyers, that bill may
find an unconstitutional grave. if properly
tested.
The opponents of grating waste should
counsel together. and hinder il possible the
licensing of loot. 1t can be done by AN at
tack on the foundation. That that foundation
is not of granite stone, but OF muddy clay,
like the bed of the stream forming the canal
itself is the opinion Of one Of many lawyers.
New YORK Dec l6, LEX
The sun., 1903-12-17

Three cable companies whose lines suf-
fered from the military operations of the
United States In 1893 are trying to collect
damages from the Government. The
Eastern Extension Australasia and China
Telegraph Company, whose Manila Hong
Kong and Manila-Capiz lines were cut
by Admiral DEWEY, wants $500. The
Cuba Submarine Telegraph has applied
for $4,000, and the French Telegraphic
Cables Company wants ST 900 for damages
to its Cuban lines. The United States
holds that it is under no legal obligation
for damages inflicted on cable properties
as necessary act of war, but Secretary
HAY has asked Congress to make appro-
priations for the reimbursement of the
companies purely as an act of equity and
friendship.
The sun., 1903-12-17
The Advance Into Tibet.

The latest information regarding the
British expedition into Tibet leaves
doubt as to whether anything more
than demonstration toward Lhasa can
be effected during the present season.
The force is composed of about four
thousand men, with mountain guns and
Maxims and large body of carriers
and transport animals. Khamba-jon
the base of the British operations, is
fourteen thousand feet above sea level,
with the temperature permanently be-
low zero during the winter. 1t is some
thirty miles inside Tibetan territory.
The Khamba mountain is situated in
the northwestern corner of the Chumbi
valley, through which the British are
advancing, and the road beyond it to
Gyangtse is easy compared with that
through Sikkin, by which the force
marched from India.
The road on from Gyangtse to Lhasa
is described as similar to rough Indian
cross road, in some parts twenty feet
wide and in others a mere trail. In
some places it is made to serve the
purpose of an irrigation ditch where it
runs between fields. No attention is
given to keeping he roads in repair, the
Tibetans not caring to facilitate and
divert their trade to India from China
The Tsangpo or Brahmaputra is crossed
BY a chain bridge only wide enough
for people to cross in single file, while
ferries do most of the business, such
as it is A days march from the bridge
is the most difficult part Of the road,
which is path over confused rocks and
boulders along the river bank, from
which false step would plunge one into
quicksands or the swift running waters.
Near Lhasa the road improves, and there
are bridges over the streams. The city
of Lhasa itself is eleven thousand feet
above the sea, and built in plain, some
ofthe buildings being however, on rocky
eminences that crop up. The surround
ing country Is said to be fertile, and
seasily capable of supporting an army
swithout unduly straining the resources
of the inhabitants.
There is some discussion, both in
England and India. about the political
The sun., 1903-12-17
THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE.
English Rapidly Suppianting All Other
Tongues In Common Use.

To THE EDITOR OF The Sun Sir: There
was published the other day an article which
was complaint by the writer concerning
the making of so many dictionaries of the Eng
lish language. The author deplored the fact
that we are rapidly approaching a stage
when there will be no such thing as A
dictionary which can be regarded in the light
with which former generations viewed
Webster's for instance. as a standard OF
late years there have been variants innumer-
able in the pronunciation of English words
based chiefly on individual authorities SO many
and 30 conflicting that it is now hard tlsk
to know what Is standard and what is not
nowadays, and possibly the writer of the art-
Gle in question may have just ground for
protest,
interesting train OF thought which may COM
mend itself to those who are of the opinion
that it would be well for the world at large 70
have a universal language. We ehavee1ampes
OF this idea in the attempts to establish Vol.
apik and Esperanto as vehicle Of universal
avail because they conflict with certain great
laws of progress. AS civilization advances
there is OF necessity gradual converging
shown that laneua ges and dialects disappe
as the human race presses on it's forward
march? And is it not evidence Of the truth
going on at more rapid pace than we arr.
aware, because of this constant making Of
new dictionaries OF the English language.
each addition Of which has more variants Of
pronunciation and more shades Of meaning
together with a constant accession OF new
words adopted by reason Of new discoveries
| in the field Of science? Surely this is not
| a condition to be deplored. but rather one TO
| be thankful for. 1t certainly shows an i'm
| portant stage of human progress.
Does not all this give sound basis for the
! prediction that English will of necessity he
The universal and dominant language of all
peoples? Does it not mark the restoration
OF things-for the disappearing languages
and dialects are so many stations along the
onward path enabling us to know the dis.
tance we have travelled from the tower Of
Babel, where confusion Of ton CUES began
When the day dawns that shall see all people
speaking one Ian glage. the En- glish Ian qua &c:
in which shall be reflected the language OF
all past generations Of people. the millenninm
will begin to appear and a will be ready a.
that time TO understand the new tongue
which the Bible speaks Of Some who have
understanding have already learned the
rudiments of this new tongue"
So let us have more English dictionaries.
with an ever. increasing, number OF variants
It is o cheering sign: In the meantime le'
the advocates of Nolapuk and Esperanto
seek to study the new tongue" whose
grammar can be found in the Bible. although
not In the letter of the Scriptures II is IN"
only universal lapguage which will nevrr
have any variants and therefore needs No
standard dictionary. MEHLFo.
NEW York, Dec. 10.
The sun., 1903-12-17
THE SUN THAT DIDN'T SET.
An Observation OF the Altitude OF Uncle
Marcus AIOnZo Hanna.
From tho Springfield Republican.

From the Springfield Republican,.
OF one thing we may be sure. MIR. Hanna
is enjoying himself. He is not worryinR.
1t is another who walks the floor whiie MT.
Hanna sleeps. He likes the present sltua-
tiop much better than certain situations
that could be imagined and in all this Mr..
Hanna Is human. His feeling OF placid,ty
is In no respect inconsistent with loyalty 10
the President or to the party
Compare the present position OF Mr.. Hanna
with that OF a year ago. or even OF six months
His sun seemed to be setting. When Presi-
dent Mckinley passed from the scene many
assumed that Mr. Hanna would shrink III
power and importance: and as time passed.
with the rapidly expanding popularity OF Mr..
Roosevelt. their forecast apparently was
being vindicated. Mr.. Roosevelt seemed to
be without possible competition as the real
head of the Republican party. as well az It's
nominal leader by virtue OF his high Office
Then came the Ohio election. with it's ire
mendous victory and the incontestable signs
that the dominant Republican in the whole
Ohio valley was no other than Mr.. Hanna
Presto! the whole scene was changed
If the story should be named. the title might
well read "The Sun that Didn't Set. Uncle
Mark remains. n resplendent orb high up in
the political sky. He does not come down
because he cannot The wires refuse TO
work The situation may be embarrassing
to the other great uminary or the heavens,
but Mr. Hanna is not at fault. Besides. he
is warm and comfortable. He knows he
has not set. He Is getting his share OF sun
worship while his shining powers are max
ing the other orb higher up afraid of his own
shadow.
In order to appreciate the full extent OF
Mr.. Hanna's personal achievement. we need
only remember that seven years ago the
Ohio Senator. was unknown to American
politics, except rs business man OF Cleve-
land who had lately begun drumming for
dele gates in favor of the nomination of his
friend Mckinley to the Presidency. Seven
years ago people were asking. Who is this
man HANNAH" No one asks that question
now. With no great amount of moral capital
nor any training in public affairs, he is now
"the great Senator from Ohio" who can fight
the Presidents nomination Of a dear and
intimate friend without mourning the Presi-
dents displeasure; he is the actual favorlte
and first choice OF that powerful business
class which has been the backbone OF the
Republican party: and. on the stump. he
eyen basks in the popularity Of Uncle Mark
among the people of the Ohio valley.
What other eminently practical politician
in our time or any previous time. has sc
outwitted the cartoonsts and gone SO far in
so few years as Mr.. Hanna?
The sun., 1903-12-17
MIR. Hanna's Circular.

According to a despatch to the Ne,D
York Herald from Birmingham, Ala,
an admirer of Senator HANNA in that
town wrote to him about two weeks
ago on the subject of the Presidency and
received the following reply:
Ihave read with interest your kind letter Of the
eth inst, and assure you OF my sincere appreciation
Of the sentiments expressed and OF your regard
and confidence In me. Such suggestions as you
!. make with reference to next year are. OF course.
highly complimentary. but my position on this
subject is well defined and well known. have no
personal ambition to serve. and cannot be considered
In any sense a candidate for the Presidential nomi
nation My only desire is to serve my party to the
extent Of my ability. NJ. A. HANNA
Yesterday morning another admirer
of Senator HANNA's, in Elizabeth, N.
j., Gen. j. MADISON DRAKE, received
and gave out for publication the sub
Joined communication on the same sub
iect from the same distinguished Repub-
lican statesman
MY DEAR GENERAL: have read with interest
your kind letter Of the 9Th inst and assure you OF
my sincere appreciation Of tho sentiments expressed
In the same and Of your regard and confidence in
me. Such suggestions as you make with reference
70 next year are. OF course. highly complimentary.
but my position on this subject is well Defined and
well known I have no personal ambition TO serve
and cannot be considered in any sense a candidate
for the Presidential nomination. My only desire
M to serve my party to the extent OF my ability
Arain thanking you for your kindness. I remain
yours truly. NJ. A. HANNA
A careful examination of these two
letters from Mr.. HANNA to two admirers
so widely separated in the geographical
sense but so nearly unanimous in their
admiration and hope that he will run for
President in 1904 convinces us that the
Senator'S replies are equally apt in
phraseology, equally decorous in senti-
ment and equally creditable to his pa
triotism.
A statesman is not without honor
when he is compelled to use a formula
on occasions like these.
The sun., 1903-12-17
HOAR on SMOOT CASE.
Senator Explains His Attitude TO Orange
WOmen's Political Club.

ORANGE, N. j., Dec. l8.--The Orange
Poll teal Study Club. composed of women.
wrote to Senator George F. Hoar regard
ing his criticism of the protests against
the seating of Senator Reed Smoo,. IT,
has received the following reply from the
Massachusetts Senator:
If have been quoted anywhere AS saving
that The pressure of public opinion is needa1
to secure investigation of charges agains,
Senator Smoot, | have been wrongly quoted
Any member of the Senate who will moi do
his duty without public excitement ought
himself to be expelled.
i think the opinion Of the women of tn.
country of the highest value on important
public questions. | think they ought 10 he
clothed with the suffrage and that 10 c!othe
them with the suffrage would alike purify
and exalt the character Of the republican
government.
But l do not think they ought to petition
the Supreme Court either to hasten judgment
or In regard to what Judgment they should
render In cases pending there,
The sun., 1903-12-17
Aids to Liquidation.

Legislating for nation OF the vast ex-
tent and the varied and sometimes con-
flicting interests of the United States is q
task of rare difficulty. 1t requires the
ripe judgment, the careful attention and
hands it is confided. Their personal COM
fort is worthy of attention, for states
men vexed physically, deprived of their
peace of mind, might thus be prevented
from giving their best thought to the
important matters before them for settle
ment This has been recognized in no
legislative body more completely than in
"the most august deliberative assembly"
in the world. The United States Senate,
in order that the nation may be properly
governed. sees to it that the Senators are
we'll cared for in the discharge of their
public duties.
Mr. CHARLES G. BENNETT, the Secre-
tary of the Senate, has made his report of
receipts and expenditures for the year
ending June 30, 1903, and in it are the evil
dences of the Senator'S determination
that nothing shall be unprovided that
may aid them in the discussion and ad-
justment of questions of national i'm
portance. The connection between wrist
bags and the revenue laws is obvious;
women carry wrist bags in which to
carry money; and as these are frequently
snatched by "moll buzzers," they aid in
the distribution of wealth. The Senators
know this, and therefore they bought fifty
wrist bags. ranging in cost from $50. so
to $245 each, between July 1, 1902, and
June 30, 1908. Opera bags are an article
of interstate commerce, and three of
them we're purchased for the use of the
Senate during the year.
Handkerchief cases are usually re-
garded as dearer to the feminine heart
than the masculine, but laws are made
for women as we'll as men, and five hand
kerchief cases, ranging in cost from S.. 55
to 1910, were among the articles paid for
out of the Senator's allowances last year.
The spectacle of a United States Senator
wearing chatelaine bag is one that
would attract attention on Broadway,
but there is some occult connection be-
tween them and law-making, for four,
costing from $l2 to s4, were bought for
the Senate in the fiscal year Are there
light and frivolous Senators who wear
them?
No Senator uses pass, for that would
place him under obligations to the soul
less corporation issuing it, But pass
cases are necessary to hold Identification
cards and many have been bought .at
prices running from rs cents to 81 so.
In card cases the Senators have a vary
ing fancy; some use simple contrivance
valued at Is cents; others demand an
ornate affair, the cost of which amounts
to sll.9o. Probably bargain; marked
down from s12, and it caught the eye and
fancy of thrifty Senator. Vienna glove
cases were bought for three Senators.
Eleven manicure sets, cost $5.75, were
supplied out of the contingent fund, Six
boxes of card dominos were supplied,
but if there was anv purchase Of playing