davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
Studies in Natural History: Dorothy Dix.

of an hour-glass.
A curious transformation also takes place
in its voice. which Is frequently harsh and
strident when addressing its owner. but be-
comes soft and gentle when strangers are
about.
1t has likewise. been ascertained that.
although a Sister is extremely delicate in
her appetite abroad. merely uibblinG at Il
plate when 1t returns home ii makes raid
on the pantry where it devours four nam
sandwiches. bottle of pickles and plate
of cold potatoes. No one can explain these
peculiaritles of the strange creature 1t
merely acts that way.
In its youth the Sister Is extremely beau
tifui and possesses many cunning little
WAYS such as purrinG around man and
rolling its eyes at him, and it is at this
time that most men load themselves down
with one as household pet.
Many men in this way acquire Sisters in
stead of a wife. which is much more salts
factory as one does not have to pay his
Sister alimony. A curious fact to be noted
in this connection. however. is that no mat
ter how beautiful or attractive his own Sis
ter is. no man cares to take her out with
Kim and Il close observer can tell at a
glance whether the Sister he has with him
is his own or another's by the way he gapes
and looks bored if it is his own. whereas
he appears interested and cheerful Il II is
somebody elses.
This has heen accounted for on the
ground that Sisters do not care to show of
for their owners.
There are many beautiful Sisters In st.
Louis. but so far from approaching the
blessing of having one or more OF these
charming creatures about the house to wear
their neckties for them and borrow their
shirt buttons and sleeve links. IT Is be-
lieved that there isn't a single man who
wouldn't give his Sister away in matr!-
mony if he could find man who woulS
give IL good home and take care of IL.
Copyright. 1903 by ". Il. Hearst. Great Brit
ain rights reserved.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
CHARTER ELECTION.

The Charter amendment which will be voted upon
this month"; June 23, is from material standpoint, a
important proposition than general Charter re-
vision Were new Charter adopted, the proposed
and necessary public Improvements could not be at
once made and it would fail to fulfill its most vital
purpose. Mayor Wells has truly said that, between
complete Charter revision and adoption of the one
Charter amendment which is TO he submitted this
month, the latter is far more urgent.
He takes the sound position that the city manage
to get along in manner give fair satisfaction, with
the existing organic law. while, on the other hand,
real progress could be made unless the empower
the city TO increase its bonded Indebtedness and later
sanction a bond issue for specified public improve
ments Municipal affairs can he conducted under the
existing Charter by efficient administration. al
though complete Charter revision is undoubtedly a
necessity that will soon become imperative But how
ever perfect Charter might be, and however eff
fcient the next administration might prove. material
progress could not be made without authority TO in
the bonded Indebtedness.
The proposition TO be voted upon June 23 does not
provide for bond issue Its object is to give the city
the authority to increase the public debt Another
election will he necessary for empowering the city to
issue bonds and at this subsequent election the bond
understand how the money will be invested Prac
ticay this months special election is preliminary
the second special election If this Charter amend
ment is adopted. the city will have authority to in
crease its bonded Indebtedness. However, actual
increase cannot be made until bond issue is ap-
proved at special election which will follow this
The object of the election is enable the city
make improvements public buildings especially the
eleemosynary Institutions which in deporable
condition and inadequate to the demands of growing
population to build and equip new fre-engine-houses
for the construction and reconstruction of public
in various parts of the city This is all public
work, urgent public work.
That the voters will adopt the proposed Charter
amendment is almost certainty, they have rati-
fed the principle frequently within the past few years
The projected improvements actually needed:
nearly every citizen realizes this fact Every progress
i've citizen. who desires to make his municipality
model and put it in the front rank of American cities
should go to the polls June % and vote for this
amendment.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

and rational in manner. 1t is very youhs'
probably not over 20.
IT, on the contrary. whenever a man comes
near it. 1t begins to giggie and bride ana
blush. and say we girls it is over 80. AL
40 it takes to wearing frocks buttoned down
the back.
At a 1t goes in for simple white muslin.
while by the time ii is 20 and has acquired
bones it is firmly committed to decol!ete
effects and anatomical displays.
1t has been found extremely difficult to
classify the Sister. owing to the fact that
naturaists have not only differed in their
statements about the species, but about in
dividual specimens.
For instance. a man who owns sister.
and who might be supposed TO have some
accurate information on the subject. VIII
assert that it scratches. kicks and bites.
is slothful and lazy and generally no &C
count.
On the other hand. equally veracious
naturalists who have studied the same
Creature. con amore, declare that 1t IS
gentle mild, docile and lovable, perfect
domestic treasure. and that any man WOULD
he blest beyond his deserts in getting IL
Nor do scientists even agree on the physical
appearance OF the Sister
One side asserts that II is straisht-haired.
pale and slouchy in looks. while the other
affirm that 1t possesses beautiful curis. rosy
cheeks and tight. trim. strdiSht-uont
figure.
This unfortunate divergence of opinion
among scientists is naturally confusing 10
the student, but the consensus of opinion
seems to be that the Sister belongs TO the
family of two-faced animals. and Is a
species of the genus foxy gazabus.
1t will thus be seen that it is almost i'm
possible to ascertain anything with certain
ty about the habits Of the Sister. but the
hest authorities agree that ii is originally
every morning straight-hared creature
with a Mother Hubbard on and d twenty
six-nch waist. but by evening its hair be-
gins to curl and il assumes the proportions
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
The Sister-Without doubt the most beau
tiful and graceful of all household pets is
tho Sister,
This charming creature is indigenous to
the fauna of the entire world, but 1t oc-
cupies an entirely different position In diff
ferent countries. as in certain portions of
Africa it Is regarded as an asset. while in
Europe and America 1t Is merely a source
Of bankruptcy.
Notwithstanding this. however, the Gus
tom OF keeping one or more Sisters in
family still prevails. though the attention
of the careful student of natural history
should be called to a remarkable circum-
stance in this connection, l. e., that every
man admires every other mans Sister more
than he does his own. and sees points OF
superiority in 1t to the one he possesses.
This frequently leads owners to swan
Sisters. but, unhappily. the results are not
always satisfactory. all Sisters have the
same faults Of temper and are equally Diff
f1cult to manage.
1t Is not known who discovered the first
Sister but its origin evidently dates back
to remote age, many Sisters are now
living who are 81 ancient that they look
like the Original Thing.
1t has been impossible to ascertain
whether. Ike the Tortoise. they live on
through repeated centuries or not as they
are extremely reticent about telling their
age. and even go to extraordinary lengths
to try to conceal it by the use of paint.
false hair and store teeth
Indeed for this purpose they also adopt
a Eighty and a giddy manner so that
scientists who have devoted much time to
the study Of the species have laid down
this axiom for determining the age of
Sister: Ii. when you approach it. you OBJ
serve that it is inconspicuous in appearance
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

Crime is practically as old as the hui
man race itself.
Like the poor. the criminal are always
with U.S. and they are likely to remain with
us for a good long time to come.
But the prospect is not quite so hopeless
as it used to be.
About hundred years ago there began
to be formulated the theories which were
to receive their practical demonstration in
the labors of such men as Darwin. Spencer
and Huxley. and to be known to the world
as evolution"
The first blush OF the thought born OF the
evolutionary idea was decidedly material
istic, and it was for a long time fashion
able to talk very loudly about something
or other in the blood called Incredibly
1t was in the blood that one man was
good and another bad.
Men were born to be saints or devils, and
against the birthmark 1t was folly to con-
tend.
But those who understand the latest
thought will not need to be told that there
is Il strong reaction against the one-time
almost universal belief in blood.
The heredity dogma is losing caste.
1t is not held in half the respect that it
once was.
\ Government publication on THE Crimi-
raj, Pauper and Defective Classes by Ar
Il ur acDonald. specialist in the United
States Bureau of Education. is full of good
cheer and joy for all who love their fell
low man and hope for purer and nobler
human society.
The publication in question shows that
crime is mostly due to surroundings. and
not to Interchangeable hereditary tendency.
This being so. there Is hope. for 1t Is
much easier to change the surroundings OF
a child than to change its nature.
1t appears, then, that fully nine-tenths OF
the criminals in the land are such from
occasion"
That is to say. their crime is due mainly
to bad social conditions. to an unwhole-
some environment.
Among the chief causes of crime may De
mentioned the following: Criminal parent
age. Neglect on the part of parents. 9ov-
erty Evil association. The rum shop.
Some parents are downright bad; ana.
as a matter Of course, their children with
perhaps now and then an exception. gro"
W. to be Just like their parents.
This does not mean that the little ones
are the victims of "heredity"; that in their
blood. before they are born. are the seeds
which are inevitably to ripen into crime,
and that they are criminals simply because
their parents were criminals.
1t simply means that they are criminals
because of association with criminals:
whereas had they associated with good
people they would have grown up to be
upright honorable citizens
Again, there are parents who, while they
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

came to fetch him herself, whatever the
weather was. He was eighteen.
What maternal lovei
What a good young man he must grow to
be, Poor fellow. twelve years later, at the
age of hardly thirty, he was dying in an
asylum for idiots and imbeciles of general
paralysis, brought about by life OF de-
hatchery. There was an illustration Of
bringing up youth the II hold the
wolf by the ears" system-and with VEN
geance!
French women do not allow their boy, 10
get out of their sight, and their husbands.
who are entirely under their influence, have
nothing to say and permit state Of things
which l have no hesitation in declaring
most injurious 10 the country.
The system is bad enough for education
of girls, but 1t is deplorable for the educa-
ton of boys. There Is no spirit Of enter
prise and independence. there is no feeling
of dignity and self-respect. there is no
morality unless education is built on a basis
of liberty and confidence.
If we are to have a France free. strong.
active, enterprising. we shall have to
change our system Of education from top to
bottom. and the first reform which It will
be necessary to carry out will be the sup
preston of the mothers wing, which ener-
Yates our youth.
Let every one play his part.
Let mother bring up her baby ard
guide the first steps OF her child; but. from
the age OF ten, not later. let the boy under
go the manly influence of his father. Let
that father become sovereign then and
admit of no more playing at dolls.
II We are to see again the valiant France,
whose sons discovered Canada and de-
scended the whole valley Of the Mississippi:
IL We are to compete with the United States.
with England, with Germany even. We shall
have to say TO our wives. as the founders Of
the Roman Empire and the British En-
pire formerly said to theirs:
We have married you in order to have
children, not to receive advice, much less
to be led by the nose. much less still to
see our sons brought up like irresponsible
dolls
Copyright. 1908. by ". r. Hearst Great Britain
rights reserved
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
PARK MAINTENANCE.

St Louis probably expends less money than any
arge city in the United States for the improvement
md maintenance of its public parks The public park
urea aggregates. more than 1000 acres and for pur-
hasng park property the city has paid out only ST.
0o94i, or about SIPS per For the construction
nd maintenance Of all of the parks since their ac-
iuisition 4.1I2,3S6 has been appropriated thus max
ug the total cost of purchase, construction and main
enance not more than S5,40O,0oO according to items
bainabe.
Forest Park. consisting of 1874 acres was ac-
uired in 1874 and SS49O5S In twenty nine wears
has cost the city for maintenance about slOa6 per
ere. The average cost per acre. per year. has been
My S3of0. Carondelet Park. $50 acres was acquired
1870 costing SiiooI0. In twentyeght years it has
cen maintained at cost of about S1O59 per acre or
My $3.50 per acre per year. o'Fallon Park 1:,Ss2
cres was acquired in 1875 for S259065. In twenty
light years the cost of maintenance has been 81
Ell acre. or $7O93 per per year.
For the acquisition of Tower Grove and LAFAYETTE
arks no regular purchase money was paid The for
consists of 2066T acres and the latter of 29e5
lafayette Park acquired in 1874 and Tower
Grove Park in 1865. In thirtyhve years Tower Grove
ark has been maintained cost of 50 0U5 per acre
S145 per per year. In ftynne years Lafayette
lark has been maintained Mt cost of S16.4T6I3 per
ere, Or S2I926 per acre per year. All other parks
omprising S651 acres have been maintained at a cost
$500.
Comparative exhibits covering several cities. con-
aimed in the last annual report of Mr.. Theodore
Sortle. Superintendent of Parks for Hartford Conn.,
sdicate that st. Louis owning parks of exceptional
:tural beauty. has not been generous toward its
ark Department as have other cities. The average
ere cost for maintenance is unusually low in this
ty.
The Boston Commons. 1874 acres. are maintained at
annual cost of nearly $500 per acre and the Boston
ublic Gardens maintained at annual cost of
iS1 per acre. exclusive of greenhouse expenses. Ohm
tead Park, $50 acres. and Franklin Park 5oI acres
ost sos last year per Charles Bank Park. 10
Tcs. with gymnasium, cost $500 per acre last year
Jackson Park. the least expensive of Chcago's pub
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

WRITTEN FOR THE SUNDAY REPUBLIC.
1t was only few days ago that l was
expressing my surprise and my indigna-
ton at seeing big French schoolboys of IS
and 20 taken TO college. under the eyes OF
an usher, and ordered to march two by two
just to go over a distance not more than
two or three hundred yards. Whence came
the order to treat these young men like
children In the nursery?
l would know. and l Immediately called
on the head master of the college. He re-
ceived me very kindly. and would. he said.
answer all the questions l would put to
him.
l told him of the little scene had wit
messed in the street, and said:
rs 1t the Minister of Public instruction
or is It you who order these big lads, these
young men, to be brought to college like
flock Of sheep. accompanied by a watch
dog in broad daylight? Who is 1t that can
not trust them in the streets for five min
utes?"
You have lived in England and in Amer
ica' he said with a pleasant smile. land
you are surprised
Il am astonished simply dumfounded."
Well. it is neither the Minister nor my
self who gives the order
personally, l am Of the opinion that We
ought. in France. to bring up youth, as in
England or the United States. through CON-
fdence and the use Of liberty. but am not
the master.
The order comes from the parents-the
wish, at any rate
You mean from the mothers. presume {"
You have got it,
Knew had. and l had always suspected
1t. The whole trouble in France comes from
the mother and her undue influence.
The love of the Frenchman for his mother
causes the admiration Of the whole world:
so does the administration. which monopo-
Lies tobacco and supplies him with fire.
proof cigars.
The Frenchman. brought up by his moth
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

err and generally for his mother, is far too
much under her influence.
We are an amiable race.
We bow to women more gracefully than
any other men in the world. but our very
young men lack independence and vlrility.
II is only at 20 that we begin to be taught
the use of liberty instead of at 10 so that
l may say that We are allowed to be free
without having learned the use OF liberty.
French youth are brought up according
to the old Roman principle. II hold the
wolf by the ears; but as you cannot al
ways hold the wolf by the ears-as there
comes moment when you must let go-I
fail to see the good of IT.
You can love your mother without living
forever under her influence. l even deny
that the exaggerated influence of a mother
Is a good thing or conducive to very high
morality.
1t is the French mother who Is the cause
that we are a nation OF badly paid officials
and Government clerks.
1t Is she who prevents her son from en-
terinS commerce agriculture. or from
going TO our colonies, which are all the
time waiting for the French people to settle
there. and which. for want OF them, are
getting peopled with English and German
settlers.
1t is she who induces him to take a pro-
fession or Government situation, and TO
accept salary of five or six hundred dol
lars year. which compels him to marry
for money instead of marrying for love.
She likes to know that her son, like her
husband. Is at his desk in his office from
to T.
That Is her ambition. the dream Of her
life. During those hours she Is easy and
comfortable. She knows where he Is. Al
ways the principle. Il hold the wolf by
the ears" See the result.
The son marries a dowry, which gives to
his wife certain amount of authority. SO
that he passes from the influence of his
mother to the influence of his wife. Too
much petticoat, 1 tell you; a great deal
too much.
When l was big boy at school in Paris
I had a schoolfelow whose mother brought
him to school twice day. and twice day
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
FINISHING WORK ON BRIDGE.
New York Structure to Be Open
for Traffic in Spring.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL.
New York. June s.-The new East River
bridge will be ready for traffic next spring.
This statement was made in the office
of the Bridge Commission in the Park Row
building
THE fire on the structure delayed us
somewhat in our work. said Chief En-
gneer Buck. But it did not interfere
to any serious degree. and now We are go
nS right ahead as fast as possible
From distance the bridge looks as
though 1t were ready for business. The
last of the superstructure work is now be-
ing done by the Pennsylvania Steel Com
pany.
II the bridge is opened for traffic next
March. as is now predicted. the work Will
have been completed in remarkably short
time. compared with the number Of years
1t took to finish the Brooklyn bridge. Thir-
teen years were spent in completing that
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
RECENT COMMENT
BOstOn's Lost Echoes.

PlttShUrS FOSt.
Fer some weeks the intellectual Bostonians have been
surprisingly puzzled by the sudden disappearance of the
echoes heard beneath the Echo bridge over the
Charles River at Newton 1t had been possible with at
mospheric conditions favorable wentyfou dis
tinct The scientific as the one
which furnished the famous saying that, 'Tenterden
steepe the of the Goodwin sands.' Money an
poprated to the sand dunes diverted to build
church spre. The temporarily DESTROYED
by the draining OF the river which
lowered the stage Of latter. Angles of in
cidence and reflection thus dsarranged and the
echoes heard from the locations And the
Bostonese never 1t until shown
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
<<<%><%<<<<<<>>>
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
TO-DAY IN ST, LOUIS,

. From The Republic. June s. 1878.
. Miss Phoebe Couzins delivered
. lecture at the Baptist Church in
. Carondelet.
confirmation services were held by
. the United Hebrew Congregation at
. the synagogue on Sixth street. The
= Reverend Doctor II. ]. Messing Of
. ticiated and the choir was composed
. of Professor Charles Crucknell. Miss
. Esther Jacobs. Miss Sallie Blumen-
. thai. Miss Emma Davis. Miss Lucy
. Michaels. Miss Rose Jones, Miss
. Rose Levy and Edward Dierkes The
. persons confirmed were Godfrey
. Jones. Joseph Michaels. George Ger
= shon. S. c. Hirschherg. Jennie Bloom.
. Fannie Marx. Rachael Drucker and
. Esther Drucker.
q Sam owens broom factory, at No.
. oil Collins street. burned.
. John Sheldon. 20 years old. died at
. his home, Easton avenue and Har-
. per street.
. A bill was introduced in the Council
. to reduce the salaries of city Off
. Gals and save sl2000O a year
. The Union Pacific and Kansas Pa
. cific railways formed a pool to pre- .
y vent further cutting of rates.
. Delegates to the State Teachers ,
. Convention at Carthage. Mo-, in
= cluded Doctor Shannon. Doctor S. S.
y Laws. Professor C. NJ. Woodward.
. w. T. Harris. Louis Sedan and H.
. H. Morgan.
. Turfmen decided to erect at the +.
= Cote Brfliante track a monument to
= McWhirter. Kentucky horse killed 4
. in race. Lieutenant Governor
. Brockmeyer led the movement The 4
morse was owned by General Abe Bu- 4
. ford of Kentucky. who received 4
. wreaths from Mrs. Robert Carr, Mrs. 4
y Bent Carr and the Misses Flora and 4
. F'anita Haywood, to be placed on the 4
. horses grave.
. Professor ]. NJ. Macallister gave 4
D performance in magic at the Olympic 4
. Theater. Z
Attaches of De Bars theater gave 4
. picnic in charge of Colonel ]. C. 4
. Brown. VIII J. Slocum and CAPTAIN 4
. j. c. Adams. Z
, The Reverend G. A Tafton went 70 4
Liberty. Mo. to deliver the bacca- 4
laureate address before the William 4
= Jewell College.
i >>~>>~~><>><>>>>>S
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07

except by victory over the base and besettng political
sins.
Both in the attitude of the people and in the tone
of the press there is every promise that politics and
the political atmosphere will be purified within
paratlvey short time. Political conditions represent
crisis not to be underestimate, but the United States
nave often successfully COPIED with far more serious
conditions and each time with renewed and strength.
encd morality That is not too sangune view which
looks confidently to the inherent moral vigor of the
American people to throw off the political malades
with which they are rapidly being acquainted.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-06-07
Work for the Churches.
The Outlook.


Commercalism in politics. characteristic venali-
decadent civic spirit which satirizes
olerates 1t both in municipal adminstra-
ton, have long been notorious nfamy the
eyes of civilized nations national reproach
The details of this political proigacy pub
lished during the length
the conscience of the churches conviction
moral danger threatening the national life, and of
their duty sound the urge remedy.
Encouraging notes of the awakening conscience
ing moral revival and reformation have been
recently in branches church.