davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
A Hard.ridden Army.

The second retirement among army Of
ficers for failure to take, or failure IN
taking. the horsemanship test to which
all officers Of Held rank are now sub
jeCted as demonstration of individual
military fitness is Chaplain c. c. Pierce.
Of the Artillery Corps, at present on duty
at the Washington Barracks The retire
ment of this officer, while due 10 a recon-
mendation of the medical retiring board.
Is largely at his own request. He evil
IDENTIFY does not wish TO subject him
self 10 the increasing aCrobatic require
ments which are being imposed upon the
army by Mr.. Roosevelt The first officer
to be retired in the same way was Mai
j. T. Crsbbs. the army quartermaster
who had charge Of the Walter Reed Cen
eral Hospital. which is being built in the
District of Columbian important prof.
ect, enabling the major 10 demonstrate
his usefulness 10 the government-but
he could not ride, and the army has lost
the services of an officer who has been
promptly employed at a salary much
larger than his active pay by a New
York corporation.
Chaplain Pierce is one Of the ablest Off
GERS of his corps. He gained the extra
grade Of major on account of unusual
service performed in the Philippines,
where he had charge of the identification
of the dead and the shipment of the re-
mains to the United States It was at
Manila, also, that he was instrumental in
establishing a large amusement place for
the benefit Of the soldiers. He has al
ways responded TO calls from whatever
source. and is as accessible TO the enlisted
man as TO the commissioned officers. He
has lately been in Cuba, where he has
continued his splendid work. and where
he has added to his reputation. He re-
turned to Washington impaired I'm health
and not able 10 take the fifteen-mile ride
from Fort Myer. In other years, when he
was in Arizona and New Mexico, he rode
much more than that with the cavalry
officers in single day and would prob
ably be equal to any service for which he
would be called upon in time of war But
he chooses to leave the active list of the
army, prompted by the conditions. which
are apt TO be considered somewhat hu-
initiating, although in the cases of Mai
Crabb and Chaplain Pierce there is no
reason to place such a construction upon
their transfers to the retired list.
The army cannot afford TO lose officers
of this sort, at least in time of peace.
/ There is a certainty that they would be
Of use to the government even in time
of war. Notwithstanding the fact that
they cannot stand the jolting of a ninety
mile three-day horseback ride. which the
| President regards as absolutely essential
in maintaining the efficiency of the com
missioned personnel Of the military estab-
I llshment.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Dividing Authority with the Courts.

Among the minor provisions Of the
Union Station tTackage bill is one to the
effect that when the street railway COM
panies are unable TO agree upon the
terms for the joint use Of tracks. the
terms may be determined by the Su-
preme Court Of the District of Columbia,
which is authorized and directed TO give
hearings to the interested parties, and to
tx the terms Of the joint trackage."
This provision IS not a novelty, for II
appears in various statutes governing the
conditions upon which street railway
companies may use the streets. but it is
worth considering whether the regulation
Of street railways should be divided be-
tween several different authorities, Con-
gress being one. the District Commits
sioners another. and the Supreme Court
a third A practical example of the op-
Grafton Of this method is seen in the
court proceedings looking to an increase
Of the capital stock of the gas companies.
If no more than the mere question of
valuation Of plant were involved in this
proceeding, the court would be an ideal
place to settle It; but the question OF
valuation is insepaTable from the ques-
tion-of the price of gas, with which the
court has nothing to do Yet. in deter
mining the value of the plant, the court
may settle the question of price for all
time-a contingency that. Of course. was
net realized by the public at the time
the legislation authorizing an Increase in
the capital stock of the gas companies
was passed.
Now it may be that judicial determi-
nation of trackage arrsng ngements in the
public streets may never have to be
made, or, if made. would operate satisfac-
torily TO the public: but it is conceivable
that it might prove adverse to real muni-
eipaI interests, or to some policy that the
District government was endeavoTing 10
carry out. At all events. it seems ap-
pTOpviate TO point out that the trend OF
the times is toward the concentration of
regulatiye authority over public utilities
in some definite body. and that its distri-
button between the District Commission
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
FRENCH VITAL STATISTICS.
Population, Births, and Marriages
Revealed by the Census.
From ConaIa- Reports.

From Conslla- Reports.
Consul General Frank II. Mason, OF
Paris, advises that the French official
Journal Of recent date contains an
elaborate exhibit Of the statistics which
record the movement Of population in
France during the year 1906, which he
summarizes:
From these it appears that the total
population of the country at the date Of
census in March. 1876. was 80. .252.245. Mar
riages numbered S06, ,4S7. an increase Of
1854 over those Of 1895, and the largest
total reached since the year 1873. It IS ex-
pected that the number Of marriages will
be still further augmented by the effects
Of the new marriage code. which went
into effect on July 1, 1907. and which
slmplifes In certain important details the
complicated and difficult system which
previously prevailed and prevented in
many cases the c0nsummatiOn of the
marriage rite between people OF limited
means and inconsiderate parents.
Divorces continue 20 increase. having
been 10573 in 1896 as against 100l9 in 1895
SEQ in 1904 and S.913 in 1903.
The whole number of living births was
s06. s47, the number Of deaths. IS. .196, giving
an excess Of births over deaths of 25.65l.
which is quite below the figure of 1906
when the excess Of births numbered
81, 7,I20. Reckoned on a basis Of the excess
Of births over deaths for each 1900 Of the
population OF France, It Is found that the
average excess for the five-yeaT period
1so1-1s05 was is, against iS for the period
1S96-l900, and only ! excess for the period
lS9l-lS95. In 1s61-1S65 the average yearly
excess of births over deaths for each
1000 Of the population was SS, in JS4l-1S45
1t was "a, and in 1S2l-1S25 il was 81.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

From the New York Tnbune
Omitting the Asian tongues and races
of India and China, and also those Of
Russia as more than half Asian. the
Spanish race and the Spanish tongue
stand easily second In the world in point
OF numbers and distribution, and second,
too, We should say. in scope Of future
promise. To them belong Central and
South America the whole Western Hem
isphere below the TTopic Of Cancer, OF
more than one-fourth Of the surface Of
the globe-for Portuguese Brazil must be
reckoned in with SIS somewhat closer
than cousinly kn-and liz addition one Of
the most valuable parts of Europe and
a goodly holding IN Africa and Asia. No
other race save our own has a comparable
field for growth, nor are we convinced
that any other has within itself more TN
exhausted vitality. With all its mighty
past, the Spanish is still one Of the great
races Of the present and Of the future.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Congress and District Militia.

From the Boston Transcript
Congress was brought to book very
promptly as to one of its oversights when
the resolution to postpone the operation
of the Dick law for two years was favor
ably reported to the House. Somebody
asked why the District OF Columbia had
not compiled with its requirements, and
was answered that as the militia of the
District is organized under an act Of Con-
gress only Congress is competent to re-
organize it. Congress has failed to pro-
vide for any such reorganization law, and
the District militia remains as it was
previous to the enactment of the Dick
law. Silence fell upon those Congressman
who were about to censure the District
militiamen for indinerenees 10 the advan-
tages of the statute.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
FASCINATION IN A PERIL.
Why Does the Orient ConJure Up
Visions of Warf
From the New YORK Evening Post

A-lA4 LA-s -Netf AHL1 kfEL4EE Ea-ts
Justice Harlan's prediction Of an earth
shaking war between the white and vel
low races is a qualified one. Such
war is not imminent That. from the
practical point Of view. makes quite a
difference. Given sufficient time. any
thing at all is sure TO happen; and be
would be bold who should undertake to
deny that before the year 2S0S the re-
public OF Japan. in alliance with the
United States Of Hindustan. may have
defeated the white Socialist Common
wealth OF Australia. In the meantime.
one can only wonder what there is
about the Yellow Peril that grips mems
minds with a fascination which even
member Of the Supreme Court Of the
United States cannot altogether resist
Or has the Yellow Peril taken the place
with Us Of the British lion. at whose
tail no true American, whatever his sta
uon, at some time or other could help
taking a twist2 In other words. is it
possible that the newspapers have missed
the correct sequence Of the Justices
reasoning, and instead OF attributing 10
him the argument There Is a Yellow
Peril, hence We want a great navy. d"
should have made Il read, we want a
tremendous navy. Why? Oh. yes. now
that I think Of It. because we have a
Yellow Peril Really the advocate Of
a tremendous navy is as much afraid Of
Europe as Of Asia-Or else why argue
for a feet on the Pacific and the At
lantiC? But it's the correct thing now
10 speak Of a white brotherhood; so, in
stead Of the British dog or the German
dog, we beat the yellow dog
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
THE HOUSE OF PAIN.

Unto the Prison House Of Pain none willingly re-
pair
The braTest who an entrance gain
Reluctant lnger there
For Pleasure, passing by that door, stays not to
cheer the sight,
And Sympathy but mufies sound and banishes the
light.
Yet in the Prison House Of Pain things fun Of
beauty blow
Like Christmas roses, which attain
Perfection mid the SNOW
Love. entering in his mild warmth the darkest
shadows melt,
And often. where the hush is deep. the watt of
wings IS felt
All. met the Prison House Of Pain!-whst lessons
there are bought
Lessons Of a sublimer strain
Than any elsewhere taught
Amid its loneliness and gloom. EThTo meanings
grow more clear,
For TO no Earthly dwelling-plaee seems God SO
strangely near
Florence Earle Coates, in HppinoOtt's.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

ers and the courts hardly aecords with
sound principles of administration. II has
worked so badly in the case of the gas
companies that the Commissioners are
now engaged in a legal contest with the
court itself In an effort to divest 1t or
jurisdiction over matter that is OF vital
import to the people of Washington
Moreover, although this Is not quite to the
point. selection Of the board OF education
by the court does not appear to have un-
qualified approval. Why should any ad-
ministratlve governmental functions be
thrust upon the courts? II is wrong in
principle, and unnecessary in practice to
do so.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
What a Curious Man!

There is a Presbyterian minister in New
Jersey who is certainly a curiosity in
way. His name is Scudder. and he be-
Heves in a lot of naw-fangled notions about
church work that may get him into
trouble with the more solemn-minded
ones Of his congregation, He isn't the
only curiosity in his line in the world
one bobs up here and yonder occasionally
but he is curious enough to attract con-
siderable attention. for all that
Mr.. Scudder says ne favors all kinds OF
amusements for the young folks in his
'congregation-caTds, pool. billiards. foot
ball, dancing, checkers, and such things.
He wants to install a bowling alley near
the church.: he also wants day nursery
for weary mothers with obstreperous chill
dren-a place where they may be looked
after whilst their tired mothers adjourn
to other fields Of endeavor for a little so
cial chat or recreation.
Says the minister:
Il don't see why Satan should have all the
good things on his side-all the catchy music, the
frolicking. the good dances. the pretty pictures,
and the entertaining games have tried 10 see
wherein there vas anything wrong in a game Of
tenpins or billiards Tho only thing that dis
tresses me is that I am able 50 seldom 20 make
ten strike. Life is not a funeral procession;
young people are led astray through their social
natures. Satan has been too long using lot q
bait that the church might utilize 10 its great
| advantage and the devils eternal confusion
CuTiously enough. the Rev. Mr.. SCuddcT
doesn't appear to be anything at all Of
Il sensationalist He seems to be merely
an earnest pastor, who declines 10 see
the good to come of always wearing a
/ long face and mortifying the flesh. lie
thinks the religion of sunshine and roses
a much better thing than the religion Of
terror and stilted austerity. lie recog-
nizes the right Of bubbling youth to laugh
laugh loud, too. OF course, it is more
or less unorthodox, and all that, but he
/ believes it. and says it right out in meet
/ ing.
! Somehow, we feel that this idea is going
/ TO grow-there are signs Of it cropping
out around Us now and then. The New
Jersey minister's theory viii not be such
! a novel or unique thing I'm a few years
more. We don't know but that it is
/ the right way to look at it, At present.
however. NIr. Scudder must be content TO
be looked upon as something Of a curiosity
/ in the average locality.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
IS CRIME GAINING GROUND9
Vicious Legislation and Lax En-
forcement OF Law Responsible.


forcement OF Law Responsible.
From the New York World.
Society not only fails 20 hold It's ground.
but it is losing in its warfare against
the criminal In 1901 the government
pnblished the conclusion Of Eugene Smith
that our annual tribute 10 crime was
S51o 6G0.000 and Criminologists have re-
Gently computed substantial increase.
To our eternal disgrace, the United States
leads all civilized countries in the num-
Der of homicides over 5000 yearly is
the average. William c. Clemmens fixes
New York City's quota at 2N In six
years over 300 murderers have gone un-
detected. The Alabama State Bar As
sociation has shown that IN proportion
10 population there are 70 murders in
New England to one in London; in Cali
fornia. 70 to one; IN Nevada. 245 to one.
What are the reasons for this appalling
condition? The answer Is vicious legis-
latIon and tax enforcement. The first
shows some Improvement the litter none.
We are slowly recognizing that society's
right to impose punishment is based on
self protection. Some day the morally
insane will be treated Ike the mentally
insane, and detained until it is safe to
permit them to be at large. The in
detcrminate sentence and the exercise
of the paT1oning power are potent factors
in bringing this about First offenders
cannot be punished like hardened GRIM
/ inals
Bad as our system IS. its administra-
ton Is worse. a century ago the odds
were in favor Of the prosecution. The
State has not. The criminal may testify;
and the slightest infraction OF the laws
/ letter led TO the heaviest punishment.
/ Now the pendulum has swung too far
/ The criminal has right to appeal; the
State has not The criminal may testify;
/ he cannot be forced TO do so. The laws
delay is so great that witnesses forget,
move from the State or die Adjourn
ment after adjournment subjects them
10 unnecessary attendance in court. so
/ that only the philosophical or the venge.
ful are willing TO come forward ANY
! technically suffiCes for n reversal, and
| if the criminal is wealthy insanity ex-
lperts are called TO befog the issues. By
the time the case IS tried the crime has
! been forgotten and public sympathy is
with the offender. Swift justice is not
necessarily sure, but it is surer than
I Justice DELAYED
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
origin OF "Thunderer.c -

London Correspondents New York Herald.
It is not perhaps generally known under
what circumstances the name of "Thun-
derer'' was applied to the Times. Two
ladies of Kew were splashed with mud by
an nI-behaved horseman, and the Times
taking the matter up In a leading article,
vigorously denounced the rudeness Of the
rider, alleged 10 be the duke Of Cumber-
land. On the allegation proving false an
other article appeared by way of apology.
in which occurred the phrase I'VE thun-
dered out" This gradiloQuence caught
the public fancy, and the name ''Thun-
derer" followed as a matter of course.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Which Is Betterf

A Chicago professor declares that we
lack perspective. He says We can see
things forty years back, and forget what
happened yesterday
Yes, but II We remembered what hap
pened yesterday we would have no time
TO recall what happened forty years
back -
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Reversed.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
we hnd,' wrote the reviewing court,
that the trial judge erred in that he ad-
mitted testimony tending to establish the
guilt Of the accused, and also in neglect
ing to dot an / in the papers Of commit
ment-
'The prosecuting attorney erred in that
he counselled witnesses to tell the truth,
knowing the same would be damaging tn
the accused.
Reversed. Defendants admitted TO bali
in the sum OF fifteen cents.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

From the jacksonville Times- Union.
In Georgia now the woman who looks
under the bed is more apt to find jug
than a man.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

for a time junior
partner in law Of
Hon. John NJ. Al
len, of TUpelO.
Miss, who was
h u m orist Of
the House for
many years. Mr.
Lamar says Il is
hard TO figure out
how he got along
IN his profession
while in Tupelo.
because John Al
len was always
telling him funny
stories. No llat-
ter how impor-
tant the case be-
fore them, the
Hon. John would
break in with
Lamar, did you
ever hear that
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Party nennitions.

From the Nashville American.
The late John Hay said that the Demo-
cratic party had degenerated into "an ag-
gregation of unrelated prejudices." This
is a very good definition of the party as
it exists to-day. But the Republican party
must confess that its fitting appellation
is an Organized Appetite.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

The new st. Gaudens gold pieces are
unfamiliar to men Of high public sta
ton. as Senator McComber, Of North
Dakota. has just learned. He attended a
Washington luncheon the other day.
There was much good natured badinage
among the guests and the younger men
attempted several pranks. One jolly
youth had one of the new gold pieces,
which he offered to the North Dakota
Senator in exchange for greenbacks.
THAT Is not money" said the Senator,
who thought it an effort to fool" him.
Take it away. want real sold for my
greenbacks."
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
How 1t LoeLs in Oregon.

From the Portland OTeEonian.
Everybody who goes among the people.
out In the country and round about, re-
turns with the report that the people are
for Roosevelt. and II they can't get him.
are for Bryan
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

From the Louisville COurier-JournaL
The Courier-Journal bets half a dollar
Bryan will be the next President OF the
United States, in case the crops are bad
and the banks continue to hoard their
cash
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

We don't favor this idea of making our
eX-Presidents Congressman without votes
but with the right of speech. There's
TOO much talking and TOO little voting out
AT the Canitol now
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

A thirteen-story ''freproof" skyscraper
was burned down In New York Few
days ago. The "fiTeproof' building ap-
pears to be one OF the very biggest
fakes" in this country.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Presidents and Precedents.

do you believe IN pensioning ex-
Presidents?"
mo, it would establish an unfortunate
precedent"
What do you mean2'
First thing you know somebody would
want to pension all the Presidential can
didates"
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
False Wan.

Diamond importations fell of Sl1 .OOo. 900
last year" said Mrs Wall.
Just the amount my scamp OF a hus-
band promised 20 buy for me- walled
Mrs Street.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
PLAIN DEALS.
rom the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
TRANSMCT CTATION.

TRANSM CITATION.
When that Chicago man takes hold
And gets his tools in line,
Hen turn a flatiron into gold
That's eighteen carat fHe.
He'll give a gaspipc half a twist.
He'll take n greater rough,
And with power they can't resist
Hell make EN- yellow stuff.
If he IS wise. Of course he'll stop
Before he goes too FAR.
Or otherwise his gold may drop
To 30 cents q bar
Just let the man restrain his greed
And keep the output low.
Nor let the daily crop exceed,
A half q ton OF so.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Rather Quick on the Trigger.

From the Boston Herald.
Taft to be nominated on the first bal
lot? How characteristically swift and
previous of Theodore,
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

Count Okuma does not deny making a
certain speech. bus says IL was mistrans-
lated. Something like that appeared to
have happened TO Senator Davis recent
speech in the Senate, when the proof
readers got 1t in shape for the Congress
sional Record.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
stiiI nj II.

Your wife was one Of tire early Christ
mas shoppers, wasn't she?'
Yes, one Of the earliest-and she dasn'
stopped yet"
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
More Capitalization.

From the indianapolis News
There also seems TO be a tendency IN
Washington to establish Federal control
of Presidential booms.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

As long as ws keep tavern w viii have a roof over
u.s. full stomach and a moist Talate And as long
as there is a prominent corner in Ne,g York there
viii be D. fool 10 build a hotel on IT, So cheer
up. boys, remember that every sWallovtail has six
lining
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
CAPITOL GOSSIP.

one OF the leading legal lights Of the
House OF Representatives is William
Bailey Lamar. from the Third District of
Florida. After graduating in law, he was
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

'The Supreme Court calls attention TO
the fact that the States are stu on the
map" says the Baltimore sun. OHIO Is
one that isn't so very still just now
however.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

From the st, Louis Globe Democ1at.
Positive, dodging street cars; compara-
tive. lodging automobiles; superlative,
lodging the water wagon
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

miraPs superheated adjectlves are en-
phatically understandable, no matter
what the language Of the listener.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

Gee whiz! Here's his name. all of it,
sure enough: "Laszto Jeno Maria Henrik
Simon Szechenyi." Better paste 1t IN
vour hat
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Sounded Like IL.

Read this book Three Weeks?
NO. What's Il ab0ut?'
Broken new year resolutions, I take It. .
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Limited Rnn,n-

From the New York Press.
The trouble with I e Taft band wagon
is that there is room enough for one only
TAFT himself.
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

1T is easy" says a philosophical para
grapher, for q man 10 discover a wom-
ans weakness. All he has 10 do is 10 keep
quiet and listen
But isn't that fully as we'll calculated
20 inspire admiration for the strength
that keeps her talking?
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

where do all the empty bottles go?'
injuries the Atlanta Journal. Well, in
Atlanta's case We should guess Chat
Fsunno1
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Useless nnppnge.

Prom the New York Mail
Couldn't we express the grip somewhere
else. instead Of carrying it around WITH
US?
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15
Both BIumng.

They were the worst fooled pair
In all the city.
lie acted Tlch-but therei
She acted pretty
The Washington herald., 1908-01-15

Texas has more widows In proportion
10 its population than any other State
In the American Union says the MeXi-
can Herald. Evidently. a little OF a
Texas girl goes a long way.