davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
ONE MORE DIsILLUsIoNMENT.

At Benares I discovered a grievance against the
stories used to hear and read, when youngster
otherv Hindu pilgrims to the Ganges cleansing
flood I thousands Of the latter in a single
day 1t used to be represented that these men
ond women all sritten with e sense of
unholiness. that they performed all their exactng
vows in order TO spiritual release. But
nissioIaries on the spot tell mo that tho Hindu IS
as lacking in Sense Of sin as found the Jap
enese and Chinese to be- They know little or
nothing about What the AngIo-Saxon experiences
as consciousness Of personal sin. What these
people trying to eXpate Is the dread burden Of
life itself. and to secure. by the favor Of the in
Vulnerable gods In their pantheon, a mitigation Of
nfe's Ills in the next birth. IN tho long order OF
reincarnationG.
Every Hindu's dread is that he may at death be
transmiErated into lower caste man. into
a woman. or into an ess. a snake, toad. sone
may be reborn into higher caste. possibly a
Brahman, and eventually. in the dreary procession
Of ages, into Niryana which. while mysticaly ex-
planned IN various ways amounts really the
extinction Of personal identity Some Of the holy
men even expect to proceed from this present life
into Nirvana.
Therefore oil these washings. Early in the morn
Ing the people OF this old city-Benares far ante
dates the Christian era-and the pilgrims from ell
parts OF the empire come down by thousands TO
the western bank Of the Ganges in order bathe.
From infants 20 decrepid old they dip into
the water and nutter their prayers with an ear
nestness and sincerity which be doubted
Tho great CHATS. steps down into the water
thronged with devotees. Many carry away tho
riouBly back home TO the pilgrims native village
Only the western bank of the Ganges Is eGicaciols:
TO die on the eastern bank is to be reborn ass
So tho western bank IS lined with temples CHATS
and palaces, in various stages Of disrepa!r There
IS sst IN erecting one OF these structures but no
merit IN maintaining one after another man has
built It One huge brcwnstone palace especially n
wonder of workmanship. hos sat down In dis
orderly ruin on the bank
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07

and ash-hIled. Although his senctity IS great
that he IS worshipped-I the act than
once-he Is not obliged 10 bother about the COM
mon moralities which go along with tho Western
faiths.
lest reclining q couch Of sharpened nails
"a torture which probably looked more horrible
than It felt for this underwent IL with sign
OF discoufort) when interviewed him. through an
interpreter. I asked him about the holy woman"
at his side conlely even through her ashes, on
account OF whom this celebrated fakir IS con-
sidered outcast by certain OF the stricter Of
new Hindus. He assured that the woman
merely lived with him TO take OF his house.
and that he IS married TO her. India is full OF
stories of the immoralities Of these holy men,"
who, as they march in procession stark naked
through the streets truer to type than when
their visits overseas they sit picturesQuely
clad. the adored centre OF groups OF American
.Eorr God
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
TEACH THEM TO SEE" "
Great Things Can Be Done for the
Blind Nowadays.
BY r. b. Simmons.

All through the ages tho people who were 'dif-
ferent," the blind. the deaf and dumb. the de-
formed. the mentally diseased and the geniuses.
have suffered by reason Of q curious delusion on
the part OF the rest of the world. The average in
divdual being possessed OF sight. speech. hearing.
two arms and two legs. and average commonplace
intelligence finds It difficult to think that anybody
whose equipment differs from his is inside the pale
OF everyday ufe or capable of being brought there.
Few have smarted under this feeling as have the
blind Even in this twentieth century 1t pursues
them Edward Perry the blind pianist who
travels constantly giving concerts, says that ne
hardly ever goes into smoking car to have a
cigar but ono exciaims In tones OK great
surprise. why. can you smoker"
1t is when this feeling the part OF the sighted
takes the bread out of the blind mans mouth that
II becomes serious TO him. 1t Is merely amusing
to have people fancy that because man cannot
zee he cannot enjoy SMOKE but they go rurther
and assume that because he cannot see ne cannot
work
Not long ago Miss winifred Holt. secretary OF
the New York Association for the Blind. received
a letter, OF many. It said:
Miss Holt am thirty years old and an inmate
OF @ homo for the aged and INDECENT blind WIZ
you help me 10 get workT
A young man. willing to work. told of to sat
the bread Of charity with the "ased and tndigent
because his sight had left him This. when Calico,
blind and seventy, thought out the practical ap-
ploation OF the pendulum TO clockwork. and wrote.
through his secretares, some of his aolest thngsi
when the blind Cuvier made experiments valuable
TO science; when blind man Is president or the
great Herreshoff company. which puts forth yachts
that beat the Britishi
Not all blind men can head great business enter
prises or write books but many II taught can
tune pianos, massage the sick. or operate a
telephone switchboard, and the dullest can
learn 10 cane chairs and make brooms- But when
man Is stricken with blindness in n1idHfe. a
workman at q trade which requires sight, II is
hard for him TO adjust himself 20 the changed con-
dcons II is we'll nigh impossible, IL he must
meet on every side ths common feeling that for a
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
WASHINGN THE CANOES
II Thing to GiUe BelieUer in Germs
Shudder.
by william T. Ellis.

Copyright. 1907. by Joseph B. Bowles)
Benares. India. is holy Hindu ground Even II
such an outcast es a European should quit earth
this most favored spot, ne might hope to be
born again Hindu, This is tho best place In
the world to die. according TO the belief 207,-
l46G00 Hindus That is why thousands OF persons
yearly brought here for that express purpose
and wealthy rntahs build palaces along the river
bank in which 20 spend their dying days. The
simple fast OF dwelling this sacred city inpnrts
sanctity to More than Mecca is to the Ma
hometan Benares is TO the Hindu.
Obviously. this IS the place TO study Hinduism.
Obviously. also. Hinduism hero IS the Hindu
ism Of the Chicago parliament OF religions-or OF
Boston "parlor meetings" All the washing that IS
done In Mother Ganges" can scarcely make Hin
duisIn clean enough TO be presentable in good
Anglo-S Saxon society
The hottest" Hindu IS the dirtiest. He has his
face and body completely smeared with ashes,
whereas the ordinary Hindu has only his arms and
breast and forehead marked. This holy mans
hair hangs in matted ropes, uncombed. unwashel
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
gers street to cd street; Tuesdays the unn.-

gers street 20 Ed street; Tuesdays the upper r..A
Side; Wednesdays. the lower West Side: Thur.
days. the upper West Side: Fridays The Bronr
and Saturdays Brooklyn A little Polish girl act.
as her guide, but II Is the blind woman who tavI,
the child what car to board and what direction n,
take. She seems 10 have New York IN her head
and never makes a mistake.
An old man. once an officer in the United Stafa.
army. came to the association He had loved -
play cards in his leisure. but he was blind
and so tired OF doing nothing. why don't Won
play cards?" asked Miss Holt But I'm blind No
more whist for me-" said the old major SORROW
fully. Then the cards made especially for M.
blind were shown to him. and he took a pack ara
went home rejoicing. Blind people Of all ranAs
and conditions present send all kinds OF appeal.
TO the offices OF the association at the home OF its
founder. which offices the association would Ike 10
change. because they totally inadequate to ia.
needs Barring its small workshop for the blind In
42d street and the work Of the outside teacher an
the activities OF the organization carried on IA
this private house
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
THEosoPKY's FLoURIsHING COLLEGE.

Theosophy. which hero claims to be practically
pure Hinduism, has established a. great college at
Benares the Central Hindu College. with 700
students and a fine equipment Of buildings. Mrs.
Annie Besant herself, whom the late Colonel Olcott
nominated at the direction OF the 'N1ahatmas' as
president of the Theosophlsts (although all Of
the Theosophiss seem inclined TO ratty this choice)
lives here and IS the head OF the college, The iay
OF my visit TO the college she in Madras the
world headquarters OF theosophy, so my Interview
was with her assistant. Engl!shwonan dressed
In saimon-colored kimono. with white ph!loso-
phers robe draped over it, She the sacred
Brahnan cord about her neck and her bare feet
were thrust into sandals. Mrs. Besant claims to
nave been Brahman in q previous incarnation.
revival Of pure Hinduism is one OF the objects
II not the chief object of the college, which also gives
instruction In the Western sciences. 1t was as sur
prising as IL disgusting find that this nstit,-
tion' with staff OF European Theosophists among
It's teachers. ana supported in good part by funds
from Europe and America. should have as the one
conspicuous figure on it's campus in heroic size the
Cnmentionaole SILVA symbol. II Boston only knew
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
ALL FAULTS CORRECTED.

second arlock lot the reporter into another
section. about hundred feet in length extend
ing the rock Teet in the middle Of the river
Manhattan side. This IL the section both tubes
last constructed. and is furthest from completion
The soil through which the tunnel driven Is
similar that OF the previous section. and the
work OF construction difficult. The same wavy
reflections from the true level occurred at several
places At point both tubes some twelve
inches below level All the faults in construction
have been corrected the floors levelled up and
forco OF "snndnogs'' Is work sinking the pile
foundations.
Still another airock took him out into the Man
haitian section, where the tunnel runs through solid
rock to tho Battery shore. This section is about
200 feet IN length and the work of construction
is far advanced that tho air pressure has been
removed IN both tubes The concrete lining of the
interior Is about finished the conduit duct benches
are installed and the drain pipes under the track
beds in place. The tunnel is TO have an elabo-
drainage system. At intervals OF few hun
dred feet throughout the entire length under the
river the space between the two tubes will be in
closed with caisson work and sump chamber
made. having access to both tubes. In these sumps
there will be placed a system of pumping ma
chnery, whereby the water from leakages and pos
sibe accidents will be pumped out either en-
trance. At the Battery end Of the south tube
track bed and track have been laid from the en-
for distance OF about 800 feet. This is the
last stage Of the work OF construction
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
TRIP OF INSPECTION.

acting upon the principle that seeing is believ-
lns' a Tribune reporter secured permission TO 20
throusH one OF tho tunnel tubes from tho Brook
lyn TO the Manhattan shore The difficulties which
We're encountered at the outset OF the work were
palhly evident before going underground at ALL
Ihe buildings upon both sides OF Joralemon street
from the intersection Of Clinton street down a
comparatively steep hill to the bulkhead line on
tho river bank. look as If they had come through
San Francisco earthquake. A few OF the moro
sturdy structures do not show outward evidence of
damage. but most OF the buildings exhibit gaping
cracks caused by the sinking OF the street level
Some OF the worst are shored up with huge tim
Ders TO prevent them from tumblins into the
street when tho work was started the first shaft
was sunk from the surface OF Joralemon street
just over tho crest Of the hill at Clinton street
snort distance below the surface a sandy clay
with shifting propensities was encountered similar
to that found in excavations for high buildings In
the lower end OF Manhattan Island. When the
shaft reached the river level this shifting soil car
ried water, and at once became most difficult TO
work in 1t had consistency, and flooded into
the excavations under the caisson Innings as fast
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07

10 registerer a deluson. Mr.. Lowell has under
taken to do little with his sensitive plates at
Flagstaff, but expedition sent by him to
South America and under the direction of Pro-
fessor David P. Todd promises even more VAL
uable testimony That the party is already at
work is shown by telegram received last week
saving that the canals had been photographed.
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
TO TEST THE TUNNEL
Experimental Trains Under the East
RiUer Soon.

The tunnel under the East River from Manhattan
TO Brooklyn will be tested with experimental trains
about the end Of September. Another month II is
confidently expected. will regular trains running
from the terminus of the subway system at the
Battery to the Borough Hall station OF tho new
subway on the other side OF the river
This IS the prediction Of Frederick {. Nohla
divisional engineer OF the Rapid Transit Commits.
sion, who has been in charge Of the work on the
tunnel since its beginning and is. therefore in a
position to speak from experience as 70 the length
OF time that will be required 10 have II ready FOR
public
The construction Of tho pho foundations" said
BIT NOBLE 10 n Tribune reporter, lis proceeding
much faster than was at first anticipated In
about three weeks time that work viii be corn
pleted A small section Of the south tube WIN
sure will be removed and the work OF putting IN
the concrete lining will be begun once vYa get
rid OF the air pressure the remaining work will be
pushed ahead rapidly. Our difficulty has been IN
getting the necessary work In an atmos-
phere OF compressed air with pressure Of from
seventeen TO forty pounds to the square inch Iru-
der forty pounds pressure the most hardened noen
are not able TO work longer than two hours ar a
time. With such conditions It Is sasv 10 und.r
stand the length OF time II takes TO do even a
little work. When able 20 remove the atr
pressure from both tubes. completion will be a
matter OF only a few weeks for we win be able "a
put ordinary labor at work and make the shifts
continuous night and day.
"A great deal OF nonsense has been talked and
written about the difficulties we have eYperiepcnd
IN running these two tubes under tho river re-
lore the work was started knew pretty we'll
what We were up against, from the engineers ra-
portS Inc actual work disclosed only tho condi-
tions which the previous reports led US 70 expect
Inc job was difficult one. but the most faulty
work was the result OF bad management on tha
part OF one OF the sub-cOptractors This faulty
work mas cost lot OF money 10 correct but I'm
repairing the faults we have certainly made the
tunnel safe to degree far in OF what Is re
CURED The parts where reconstruction has taken
place are much stronger than they would have
been had the work been carried out without faults
ana as 1t was first planned. The work Of under
pihhlhg tho sections OF tho tubes which run
through sort soil is, in my opinion. a wholly IN
necessary precaution and was undertaken by the
contractor more 70 reassure the public than he
, -rho ol any real danger. When the pile work il
@ non OF the tunnel Will rest upon hardpan founda-
s-n IN most cases upon solid rock-so that tho
pOssIDlnty OF accident is CoInnlntnlX rennn,,oh
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
PH0TOGRAPHING MARS.
Just at Present the Conditions Are
Unusually Favorable.

What in some respects is the most fascinating
Of all astronomical Observation-Disclosures other
spheres in the universe besides ours are the
homes of sentient bengs-is brought anew to
popular attention by a celestial incident an
nounced for the current month. So far as is
known. the planet on which the conditions are
presumably most favorable to habitability is
Mars and opportunities for studying it are
therefore utilized with peculiar interest. The
orbit OF Mars lies next outside that of the EARTH
and at intervals slightly exceeding two years the
earth catches UP with and passes its slower
neighbor. When the two are on a direct line
from the Mars is said to be 'fn opposition
10 The sun" Owing 10 the eccentricity Of the
path followed by Mars however, its distance
from the earth at some oppositions is as great
as sixty million miles, while at others it is not
more than thirty-fve millions. The opposition
scheduled for July u. 1897. is the most advan-
tageous IN this respect for fifteen years and will
not be matched for another fifteen. The two
bodies are now running along almost side by
side. and if the mysteries in which the ruddy
ORB next beyond the earth Is clouded are not dis
PEELED by the study OF the last few and next
few weeks ct least the present chance for pene-
trating them will be uneQualled for long time.
It is believed that the climate Of Mars closely
resembles that Of the earth. The axes OF the two
bodies are tilted over at about the same angle,
TOO, and there is evidence OF a regular success
sion Of seasons on Mars. the most conspicuous
perhaps being the systematic appearance and
disappearance Of enormous white patches. first
At one pole and then st the other. These rep
resent the condensation freezing and melting Of
some fluid, possibly Cthough not certainly water.
It is suspected that there is also atmosphere
less dense and more quiet than the earths, but
sufficient TO establish a circulation between poles
and tropics. After the melting OF the polar
SHOWS the resulting liquid might be distributed
by gravitation alone. but when It evaporates in
low latituGes some sort of vehicle seems 10 be
necessary 20 get II back 10 the poles again. II
IS that argument rather than any direct evi-
dence Qke that Of the spectroscope) which JUS
tifes the belief that Mars has at least lit
tie air
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
WHAT DO THEY MEAN7

Concerning both the gerufneness and meaning
Of these markings wide differences OF opinion
have prevailed. AS they can be observed only
with powerful instrument and under favor
able atmospheric conditions. few astronomers
have attempted TO verify or disproVe Schia-
pareIirs work Partly from a lack Of individual
experience and partly because Of disagree
1nent between drawings made at the came time
and representing the region. there has
been disposition TO doubt whether there were
man. Antoniadi. ling associated with B7anmar-
n Illusion. due 10 imperfect focusing. Mr.
Lowell. on the other hand. advances five sepa-
ratesreasons for pronouncing Antoniadfs theory
unsound and incredible.
Mr. Lowell IL IS hardly necessary TO add, is
the chief advocate OF the theory that the canals
are elaborate engineering works, undertaken for
purposes Of irrigation. The terrestrial observer
sees IN these lines. he holds. not water. but
vegetation that has been made possible by
water conducted 10 the scene in channels too
narrow 20 be visible from the earth. The accu-
racy OF his interpretation IS, OF course entirely
Independent of the existence Of the lines them
selves. The genuineness of the canals end even
the reality OF an occasional termination may be
accepted, on adequate proof. without assuming
that they are uae product Of intelligence fully
human OF more than human.
Il is because the representations of Schiapa-
reih and others may be confirmed that Mr..
Lowell has once or twice tried 20 get proto-
graphs OK Mars. These ought TO be free from
any psychological influence and hence ought not
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
DIVERSIFIED SURFACE.

The surface Of the body which Is now receiv-
ing keen scrutiny IS sufficiently diversified TO
tempt observers into charting its geography SO
that various localities can be identified in any
discussion. For long time there was thought
10 be close resemblance to the earth in the
distribution Of land and water. In the north
ern hemisphere the color generally Of
rusty yellow brown, though subject to nu-
rlerous minor variations Of tinE, while in the
southern hemisphere the prevailing hue IS a
gray or green. The areas first mentioned were.
therefore, regarded continental and the lat
ter as marine. and their subdivisions were
labelled accordingly. The names originally
adopted are still retained a matter Of con-
yerience, but the notion that there are oceans
or lakes is now pretty well discredited. The
dissiglilarity in color may eventually be eX-
planed the theory that some areas are COW
cred by vegetation while others reveal sandy
deserts or bare rock.
Il ought TO be added that IN practically all
the pictures made Of AIars-and this is true
especially Of drawings-there is an uninten-
rionsl b1lt great exaggeration of the contrast
OF color and brightness Of adjacent tracts The
gradation Of tint is often so delicate that II
IS almost impossible to tell where the dividing
line is that separates q gray patch from its
vellovv environment. Efforts TO record general
contours are beset with peculiar difficulty. the
more so because from one opposition to the next
in period Of fully two years-real differ
erlces In both tint and outline unQuestionably
occur. Indeed, these changes are often more
sudden and transient
Professor William II. Pickering. at one time
on duty at Percival LowelPs observatory at
Flagstaff Ariz reported a few years ago that
within period scarcely exceeding q month
he noticed that a particular area which he was
watching was successfully gray, green, blue,
brown and violet! In the distinctness OF the
large markings OF the surface Of Mars, there
fore the vast majority Of the available illustra-
Il.
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07
CANALS OF MARS.

The most puZzling and most suggestive fea'-
ure Of the planet which has been named after
the god Of war IS the network Of fine lines
which Schiaparelli of Milan. called canals,
though carefully disavowing any intention TO IN
terpret them by the use Of that designation.
The italian created profound sensation about
twenty years ago by reporting his discovery and
his announcement was received with Ekepticlsrn
by his professional brethren, the more so be-
cause he coupled with It the statement that at
times some of the lines appeared double. Other
astronomers have followed up his work, the
most attention having been given 10 it by Per
civaI Lowell. Of Boston. TO whose observatory
at Flagstaff reference has just been made. Up
TO the present several hundred Of these lines
have been reported and charted, though
it is not alleged that they are all visible al
one time In fact, Schiapareln remarked in
treatise which appeared in 1888 that IN DIS
tincfness coloration. width and other traits
the canals showed remarkable differences from
time 10 time Sometimes they could not be
seen where they were expected to be. "Silnois.
he remarked, could not be detected at all In
September 1877. II existed a fine line IN
October In 1879 II exhibited a breadth end
biackness rivailing Nilosyrtis' the biggest Of
all the canals) and having width estimated
al about one hundred and forty miles.
When they first develop the canals constitute
family discernible gray lines. BY degrees, 1t is
SAID they grow in darkness and vfvidness.
They are not uniform in size. seldom measuring
less than - or % miles across, often exceeding
thirty and occasionally reaching one hundred
or one hundred and twenty-five When doubling.
or termination" is observed the space between
the two lines is sometimes as narrow as thirty
or forty miles. Both 6chiaparelu and Lowell
put the maximum interval at between one hun
dred and fifty and one hundred and seventy-flve
miles Lowell has noted ct the intersection Of
two canals round or oval spots. OF the same
darl, hue the canals. He calls them GASES.
New-York tribune., 1907-07-07

PECULIAR
NoMcAL