davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
The English Dramatists To-day,

The correspondent of The sun who
deplores the artistic exhaustion Of
the English playwrights of the present
day refers with some suggestion of its
superiority to the dramatic supply of
earlier times. There is, of course, the
implication that the playwrights of those
days were superior to the writer's for the
stage in this country and in England
to-day. This invariable tendency to find
the past superior to the present is evil
IDENTIFY an elementary human emotion
with which it is not possible to quarrel.
1t need only be kept in mind to judge
the present fairly.
Most observers of the dramatic out
put of the day in London and New York
would not be likely to find fault with
the best of it. The plays of PINERo,
PHILLIPS, BARRIE, SHAW, JONES and
MARSHALL would by most judges be
accounted superior to the works of TOM
ROBERTSON and his contemporaries, even
il they are not so certain in their appeal
to the public. RoBERTsoNs adapta-
tions from German and French sources
seem intolerably conventional and
mawkish to-day on their occasional per-
Torrance, and they we're never written
for anything but the stage. The same
may be said Of the plays Of SHAKE
sPEARE. They were written only. to be
acted They pQsseased The. elements Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Judicial Doctors OF Laws,

Union College did honor to it's best
traditions on Wednesday in comforting
the honorary degree of Ii. d. upon
Chief Judge EDGAR NJ. CULLEN of the
Court of Appeals of this State. What
ever may be said of the indiscriminate
bestowal Of this degree by all sorts Of
institutions upon all sorts and conditions
of men, nothing but commentator
should greet it's award by a prominent
university to the most distinguished law
yer upon the New York bench.
Indeed, il honorary degrees are to
be conferred at all it would seem emil
nently fitting that they should be awarded
to those who have achieved distinction
in that special field OF learning and at
tainment to which each particular de-
gree belongs; and it is surely appropriate
that worthy service upon the bench in
administering the law should OCCASION
ally be recognized by comforting the
degree of doctor Of laws upon Judge.
Our colleges and universities are not
open to criticism for having been too
generous to the judiciary in this respect.
Including the members OF the Court of
Appeals, there are more than seventy
Ave Judges Of the higher courts in the
State of New York, and yet compare
lively few of them have been the recip-
tents of the LII. D. degree.
Chief Judge CULLEN had already re-
ceived the degree from Columbia Uni
versity, about ten years ago. IRVING
G. VANN of Syracuse, one of his associ-
ates on the bench of the Court of Appeals,
is an LII, d. of Hamilton College, SYRIA
cuse University and Yale. So far as we
know none of the other members OF
that tribunal has been similarly hon
ored. OF the Supreme Court Justices
sitting in the Greater New York the only
possessors of the LII. D. degree whom
we know of are MORGAN j. O'BRIEN,
from st. Johns College at Fordham and
Columbia; EDWARD PATTERSON, from
Williams College and Hobart; GEORGE
L. INGRAHAM, from Columbia; CHESTER
B. MCLAUGHLIN, from Middlebury Col
lege, Vt; GEORGE C. BARRETT, from
Racine College, Wis; CHARLES H. TRUAx,
from Hamilton, and WILLARD BART
LETT, from Hamilton, New York Uni
versity and Columbia.
There are many others equally de-
serving Of the honor, and our higher in
situations Of learning never perform a
more graceful or appropriate act than
when they confer the degree Of doctor
Of laws upon such Of their alumni a.
have distinguished themselves on the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Tho Story OF New York's Recent
Growth.

The belief that the State census will
reveal an unusual growth of population
in this town since the Federal enumera-
ton of 1900 is undoubtedly we'll founded,
although it is based upon premises in
capable OF mathematical demonstration.
The sources of growth are, of course,
excess OF births over deaths, domestic
immigration, and foreign immigration.
The addition to the population received
from each of these sources has been ap-
parently Of exceptional volume.
The vital statistics collected by the
Health Department are very defective.
While the total number of deaths is &C
curately reported, large percentage of
births escapes entry on the public REQ
ords, despite stringent measures to
compel registration There is reason to
suppose, however, that the waste of life
has been materially reduced since the
last Federal census. The Tenement
House act Of 1901 wrought great change
in the housing conditions of the lower
and middle classes. In its sanitary re-
quirements that law is the most advanced
of its kind which has yet been placed on
the statute books of any of our American
commonwealth. 1t not only prevented
a repetition of unsanitary constructions,
but corrected existing evils by enforcing
structural alterations in perhaps 10000
old tenement buildings and by providing
for frequent periodic inspections of the
hundred and odd thousand tenement
houses in which two-thrds of the city's
population lives.
A housing reform of such sweeping
character must have had decided effect
on the public health, putting a stop to
much destruction of life which formerly
occurred. The conclusion is unavoida-
BILE that the excess Of births over deaths
is relatively, as well as absolutely, larger
to-day than it was before the last Fed
eral census. A conservative estimate
would probably place it at Is 900 a year.
Domestic immigration ha4 bean u.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
1hr Burlington Magazine for June.

The June Burlin oton, published In America
by Robert Grier Cooke. opens with an edi-
torial article on The Extinction OF the Middle
Class Collector" in which terrific burden Of
responsibility is laid upon the shoulders Of the
academic painters of the last half OF the nine
teenth century, who are held TO have drugged
the market with undeserving wares whose
prices have tumbled from the precipice Of
their market in the 'eOs and '70s. All readers
may not agree that the remedy suggested
would create new army of middle class col
lectors.
Mr.. Roger f. Fry contributes an exceed
ingly interesting article on "Tempera Paint-
ing." about which art so little is known gen.
orally. and to the scant literature OF which
access is difficult. Mr.. Fry mentions as an
instance of the ignorance of former genera
ton In regard to the matter that until Ruskin
found Mrs Herringham copying in temperA
at the National Gallery, and asked her what
she was about, he was under the impression
that Botticelli and all the Italian primitives
painted in oils.
There is an appreciative article on the lats
Constantin Meunier by Prof. R Petrucci, .
we'll known Belgian authority, followed by an
equally interesting one on "Meuner's Aim
and Place in the Art of the Nineteenth Cen
fury" by Mr. Charles Ricketts,
The articles Of few writer's whose work
embodies careful research have attracted
more attention among connoisseurs than
those on Early French Porcelain, by Mr.. c. II.
Wylde, whose contribution to the Burlin oos
is taken up with the subject Of "PAte-tendre,~
illustrated by reproductions of specimens in
the superb collection of Mr.. j. H. Fitz Henry
Sir Edward Maunde Thompson, director
of the British Museum, describes one of the
magnificent illuminated manuscripts which
were bequeathed to the Museum by the late
Baron Ferdinand Rothschild.
Mr.. r. S. Clouston continues his articles on
Minor English Furniture Makers of tho
Eighteenth Century, with an exhaustive acA
count of the little known but deserving work
of Shearer. In this number Mr.. Herbert
Home concludes his interesting biography
Of Andrea dial Castagno. begun in earlier
numbers.
Readers Of the Burlin oton on this side Of tho
water will welcome the introduction of de-
partment Of American notes and Of current art
exhibitions in America, and will observe with
interest the addition Of the name of DR.. George
F. Kunz to the list Of the members OF tho
editorial consultative committee.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
ANOTHER LAY SERMON.
Religion an Instructive Aspiration and
Stimulant in Man.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sjr: In the
remarkable discussion on religious problems
now being held in The SuS nothing IL more
noticeable than the entire absence OF bitter
criticism and intolerance. Your CORE
spondents who are perplexed with doubts
In trying to solve the problem OF the universe
are anxious not scornful.
Giving expression to Questionings does
not mean that the searcher after truth has
lost his faith in God or his belief In immor-
tally, but 1t does mean that the spread Of
free inquiry has unshac kled his mind from
traditional errors which have bred bitter
controversies in the past. Many OF your
readers OF older years will remember the
narrow spirited bigotry and selhshness ex-
hibited in many a country town by overzeal-
Gus members OF the several churches there
and the utter absence OF that spirit OF charity
and brotherhood which happily Is on the In
crease these days.
The search for the unknowable will con-
tinue az long as the human mind endures, but
after all what does 1t profit q man? The
old question by the patriarch job "canst
thou by searching find out the Almighty"
always be hid by a cloud Still, the plant
grows In the mist and under the clouds as
truly as under sunshine.
or an illusion, still the fact remains that 1t is
the bnlwark Of our nation. the foundation OF OF
the American nome. III tedCneS IeSpeCt lot
sideraiion for children il builds hospitals and
asElums for the afflicted e1ects schools and
stricken. To its adherence TO these principles
does this great nation owe its progress and
prominence. and to withdraw the restrain
ing in lluences Of the Gospel from the passions
of men would prove disastrous.
Ask the devout churchman. be he a Catho-
lie or a Protestanl, as to the proofs Of Chris
tianity, and he will tell you that his rel igion
IA true because 1t satisfies the soul. As OF old,
the great body of workers hunger and thirst
after righteousness. Faith in God Is still
a living force among men.
If you do not believe it. look at the great
number of communicates who go forth every
Sunday morning to throng the aisles OF every
Catholic church in your city: those who
labor and are heavy laden" No human
agency. no gift of tongue, draws these tired
people out OF their beds so early on a cold.
stormy day to worship Is faith dead when
a refined Christian woman will stand on
street corner by the hour on bitter Decem,
Der day ringing bell, asking aims to feed
the poor as many member OF the Salvation
Army does yearly. in His name"
Never has the Church been presented with
such magnificent opportunities for helping
humanity as at the present; but II the people
receive a stone when they crave bread.
they will seek righteousness from other and
une Spected sources. The Christian Ia not
afraid of the truth, but Pilates question.
What is truth" and where is 1t to be found?"
is as potent to-day as ever, Contradictory
OF insincerity and hypocrisy, but eventually
JOHN NJ. HorsRApr.
STANFORD, Conn. June 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18

The unwritten rule Of practical politics; No
believe, Is that every citizen who can control
at least one vote besides his own, or who
has contributed more than IS to the CAM
paign fund, is entitled to be styled Tho
Honorable The Constitution OF Massa-
chusetts, which Is very amiable In the matter
OF titles, expressly deeignates tho Meuten-
ant-Governor Of that Commonwealth as
His Honor The general principles, how
ever, that flx the line between the Honor
ables and the nom Honorables, in Office and
elsewhere, arc inchoate and sadly In need OF
authoritative determination.
We wish we could say that President
ROOSEVELT, In his letter Of Friday last ap-
pointing the committee to investigate the
several Executive Departments, had done
something to simplify this important ques-
ton. On the contrary, the President adds
to the general perplexity by officially desig-
mating az follows the four members OF the
committee:
The Hon. FRANK II. HITCHCOCK, First Assistant
Postmaster General;
The Hon. LAWRENCE A. MURRAY, Assistant
Secretary OF Commerce and Labor;
The Hon. JANIS r. GARFIELD, Commissioner
Of Corporations; and.
"GIrroRp PrNcHor. Forester, Department Of
Agriculture"
CLIFFORD PrNcHor occupies just as much
space in Who's Who as the Hon. JAMES r.
GARFIELD, and infinitely more than the
Hon. LAWRENCE A. MURRAY, who doesn't
appear there at all. CLIFFORD P1NcHoT's
official place in the Executive hierarchy
seems to be on level with the Hon. JAMES
r. GARF1ELD's, each being at the head OF
bureau Of a Department. He has, probably,
as much expert knowledge IN his special line
Of professional activity as any one Of the
other three. Why, then, should the Presi-
dent bestow on them the style Of THE Hon
orable' and withhold 1t from CLIFFORD
PINcHoT. Forester?
1t looks like case Of unreasonable dis
elimination.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
EIGHTEEN HOURS TO CHICAGO.
Rhapsody OF . Magazine Writer IN tho
Twenty Miles an Hour Days OF lS4O.

To THE EDITOR OF TIE SUN-ST: The
best poetry Of the American people has not
been written on paper and published In books;
1t is recorded In living characters upon the
broad page OF continent. We have lived
q literature more grand and more enduring
than the accumulated volumes Of the worlds
libraries. Our best strength has been given
to the conquest OF a continent. carving out
OF the rough block OF fate the destiny OF
new nation. 1t has been an epic OF prog
ress, In which the dream OF yesterday Is the
reality OF to-day. tomorrow material for
the historian. In the warfare with time and
space We have achieved results wherein fer
tility Of invention and energy and determine
ton In execution are proved superior to tnat
Fortunatus's hat whose imaginary powers
Carlyle coveted for mankind.
No one reads Cooper. but every one has
read him; and as one reads OF the latest achieve
ment in fast railroad travel. New York to
Chicago in eighteen hours, how naturally
the story recalls the experience Of Corny
Littlepag &c. setting out for college. 1t was
Just before the middle OF the eighteenth CEN
tury, and the college Of New Jersey" was
doing business at its Elizabethtown stand.
journey Of less than hundred miles were
than many "a vso1 966e trP se
fond mother wept as she thought of her young
hopeful exposed TO the dread pe1rihls Of f the
voyage over tne NOTtu ItNeI! i he vci scS
commuter Of to day. II he does not remember
the novelist's description Of this occasion,
should blow the dust of his "Littlepage Manu-
scripts, and reread 1t.
Railroads" for horse drawn
cars--had been in use before 1880. but 1t was
about that time that steam travel began.
both in this country and In England. Inc
first American locomotive. says the historian
of The Marvels Of Modern Mechanism,
was used in 1899 by the Delaware and Hud,
son Canal Company The engineer invited
any one in large crowd OF enthusiastic put
timid witnesses to accompany him on me
first trip. NO one accepted, and pulling.
the throttle wide open he said .!Rood-by
to the crowd and dashed away from the
village, around the abrupt, curve and over
the trembling treste, amid deafenins cheers;
at the rate Of ten miles an hour.
Justin Mccarthy, :, In his History OF
Our Own Times tells how in the opening
year Of Victoria reign, 1887. railroad train
had actually been run for a distance at the
rate-1 quote the figures from memory, with.
out being able at present TO verify them-oI
thirty five miles an hour
The story of railroad development in Amer
lea is more interesting than the average ro-
nance Of hction-from the crude beginnings
Of less than a century ago to the mighty sys.
TENS Of to-day, from twenty-three miles OF
steam railroad in operation In 1880 TO nearly
200. 900 in l90O-but II cannot be told here.
My purpose in writing this letter was to lay
before YOU the following extract from the
New York Mirror. 1870. which W i'll no doubt
interest railroad travellers Of to-day;
NEW YORK. June Is. N f.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Private Residences in New York.

From ns Real Estate Record and Guids.
During the INST six months of 1904 plans weYs
nled for only so private dwellings be erected az
estimated of $4,000 while during the whols
twelve months OF that year plans were Med for
only 90 dwellings, which were estimated 10 coss
s2,l4,5o0 So far during 1905 plans have been
hled for 81 dwellings, which estimated 10 con
S2,s46.o0o. Just during 1904 the building Of
private dwellings In Manhattan touched It's low
water mark, 80 during 1905 II Is probable that a.
many private residences viii be built as during
any year alnce ls9s-when plans werc Med for
over 800.
1t Is in the district south OF Fifty ninth street
that most money is being spent on new dwellings.
In that section II ones TO be erected almost
all by people who are building 30 occupy them.
selves. at cost of s47.00o On the Yves, Side. on
the other hand, the number OF dwellings for which
plans have been Med Is "a being twice great while
the cost Is only $4,000. little half much.
The average cost OF each new west Side dwelling
Is $4,000. while the average cost OF each DWELL
ing erected TO the east south OF the Park over
100000.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18

Immortality, however, in spite Of their
original purpose. The ROBERTSON COM
edies we're never diverted from their first
use. The same is true OF the dramas OF
all his school, Was any play by Tom
TAYLOR, JAMES ALBERY, H. j. BYRON or
DION BoUCIcAULT ever put into book
form when it was not intended for the
Use Of the actor?
These Victorian writer's for the stage
may have exceeded their SUCCESSORS in
technical skill, and in the case OF stage
genius like BoucIoAULT they are far
In advance Of the English playwrights
Of the day. But in polish Of style, faith
full observation OF life, truthful analysis
Of character and the other qualities that
may distinguish a playwright, the men
at the head Of their profession to-day
are on an equal literary plano with the
best Of the novelists. Is j. M. BARRIE
inferior to anybody, possibly excepting
GEORGE MEREDITH? Is ARTHUR P1NERo
less artistic in his studies of English life
than anybody writing in other form OF
literature than the drama?
The trouble, we fear, is not with the
dramatic authors Of the day. They are
advancing in every artistic phase Of their
work, even II they cannot interest play
goers to the degree their predecessors
did. The men who write for the stage to-
day are endeavoring to lift their product
to the level Of what their contemporaries
accomplish in other branches Of letters.
If playgoers determine that the theater
shall not be put on this basis, it is not the
fault of the dramatists. Those who are
true to themselves and their art will not
degrade it, even when they might. Some
notable instances of public Indifference
to the best in the contemporary drama
might we'll have discouraged the man
ayers who go on producing what the
playwrights offer, in spite of the refusal
of the public to consider the theater
anything else than place of entertain
ment. Sometimes it has to be pretty
obvious kind of entertainment, too.
If improvement is needed among the
dramatists, it is not to be assured by
comparing them unfavorably with their
predecessors and bemoaning the quality
Of their work. More can be accom-
pished by leading the public to take the
same pleasure out Of theatrical per-
Torrance and judge it by the same
standard that it would novel of contem-
porary life. By such criterion the Eng
lish dramatist of the day will not be
found wanting.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
A Boston Fin.neisr. Story About Mr.. Ry.,

n bOstUu FIuHuCIerB StOry NUuut MI. Ryan.
To THE EDITOR OF TIE SuN-Str: Several years
ago had occasion TO present TO Mr.. Thomas F.
Ryan business proposition of considerable I'm
portance and merit. 1t appealed TO his business
sagacity. but although II was very tempting he
said TO me: II am interested with Mr., - In an
other matter. not In any way to be disturbed by
your project. but rather than cause suspicion In
his mind OF my loyalty would not touch It II In
sured proht OF million dollars In advance"
mention the above incident at this time as In &.
dicative Of his character as 1t Is known 70 his
friends H. NJ. B.
BOSTON, Juno 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Tho Oath Feminine.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-!Ssr: And Is the os.A
feminine such new thing that 1t startlcs -Old
Fogy"f Back In the early sos there was ball In
this city given by those who esteemed themselves
some pumpkins, by the provincial standards q;
least. Thereto came q certain Yale undergraduate
who was socially acceptable In the midst Of
waltz his partner. young lady Of popularity and
accredited position, suddenly stopped with the
remark, Damn my back hair, it's coming down.
~ Jared him for second: then he replied laconr-
ally, Tho he'll you say And the may whid
went on. F. McHC0H.
HARTFORD. Conn.,, June ie
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Tho Italian Garden.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: am glad to
see protest against the numerous bootblack
stands In City Hall Park. When I the hrst
one sprout knew that others would soon appear.
because II II was possible for 10 get per-
nit for such a purpose others could and would
do the same.
They should be csrted away at once. and the
many haring news stands along with them.
II our worthy Mayor will see that this Is done
at once tho people OF this town will confer a
degree upon him that Will put In the shade the one
he got the other day at Princeton. W. 8. J..
BRooKLYN, June II,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
bench In the Interpretation and applca-
ton Of the laws.

The movement in Chicago to acquire the
Peaoe Conference is advertised as having
the backing OF $1,000, ooo,ooo OF capital.
What do Japan and Russia care Tor that,
The way for the PACKERS to make real
impression Is to offer to guarantee the war
indemnity, up to the billion.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Gifts by MIR. John wanamaker,

From the Christian Integi0eneer.
MI John Wanamakcr has given the International
young Mems Association 100000. TO be used In
constructing Christian Association buildings in
heather cities. The gift will be u-ed 20 erect hud-
inEs In Kyoto. Japan. Pckin. Chn.. and Seoul.
Corea. He has testified his appreciation OF wmi:
the association does for young men in missionary
countries by previous gifts OF buildings In Madras
and Calcutta, India
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-18
Where Are the Census Takers,

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir: have
read about a census OF New York having been
begun on the list OF June. but now 1t Is June II
and have been visited by no census enume-
rator: and many Of my acauaintances tell me
that none has yet appeared at thor houses.
What Ia the meaning OF II? Is the fact that
an apportionment for State Senator's and
Assemblymen is to be based on the census an
explanation Of the apparent laxity3
New YORK. June II. CITIZEN.