davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
CONDEHN4TION A la NODE.

By means of statement made by one
of the commissioners In condemnation
whose compensation was reduced Dy
Justice Howard the other day the pub
lie is let into the secret OF some or the
methods by which condemnation SINE
cures are nursed and fortified against
the risks of ordinary mortality. Accord
ing TO this commissioner, Mr sidney
Harris, who says that he considers lhe
Justices action To be entirely equitable
the agents of the city who are taking
land for il by legal process in the Asn"-
kan region feel obliged by etiquette ana
custom to charge as much day FOR
their services on days when they do no
work as on days when they really trans
act business BY some kind dispensation
of Providence II has been arranged tnat
they can alternate days of inaction ana
days of action, drawing $50 for each
date in each series. and getting from the
city at the end just twice as nuch as
if they met only on occasions when real
work was to be done.
1t seems that the schedule maker who
calls meetings of the various condemna-
benevolently summOning TO that city
twice as many sets Of officials as can
transact business there, owing to the
scarcity of rooms hired for their accom-
modation and of representatives or the
Corporation Counsels office who must
aDnear at the meetings. Ten comlnls-
sions. Mr. Harris reports, have been Wis
iting Kingston each weekday. But there
are only five rooms and five assistants
TO the Corporation Counsel available. so
that five of the boards have merely wait
ed long enough between trains To make
formal record of meeting and adjourn
ment Naturally the amenities OF the
situation have demanded that no COM
mission should work on two successive
meeting days. SO that each has had It's
life doubled and its compensation ex-
panded in the same ratio.
Since the first function of condemna-
ton commission seems to be to run up a
bill for services against the community
which it represents, it is perhaps to be
wondered at that the experts gathered at
Kingston exercised such noteworthy
moderation. They and the charitable
minded schedule maker must have been
astonished at their magnanimity. 1t
would have been Just as easy to summon
ten commissions and let eight of them
wander about the streets until their
homebound trains arrived. That would
have given them all leases of life five
times the normal instead of only twice.
A sinecure is a sinecure. 1t is only
human to want to work II for all 1t is
worth. The disposition of those con-
cerned in condemnation proceedings 10
look on them as a means OF distributing
prize packages to the worthy has long
been accepted as a matter of course But
the public will not tolerate it much
longer Recent naive proceedings ut
Kingston ought to prove a death blow
to condemnation Ia mode.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
NOTES FROM TUXEDO PARK.
IFrom III. Tr1hrn, R,Irsar

tFrom Tbs Trfbun- Bureau
Tuxedo Park, ". Y, Dec. SG.-For tbs
first time in number OF years Tuxsdo
Lake IS frozen over for New Years. snd
now, as there is plenty OF snow for sleigh
ing and cOasting and the toboggan slide
is in operation. the coIonists will greatly
enjoy the holiday. Guests have begun 70
arrive for the ball on New Years Eve.
which, with other entertainments scheduled
for the young people, Will help make ths
season a festive one.
Mrs. Richard Mortimer gave a dinner and
dance for Miss WiIfreda Mortimer tonight.
a large number OF young people were pres
ent. including Miss katherine NJ. Tnford.
Miss Marie Seton. Miss Andreae. Miss
Rushmore. Miss Monroe. the Misses Kane.
Mr.. and Mrs {. :. Lee Richmond Talbot
F. t. FrelinghuySen. John Rutherford.
Addison Cammack. NaccuIloch Miller.
Richard Mortimer. jr.. Stanley e. Mortimer.
Clarence Pell. Miss Helen Coster. Mss
Dorothy Tuckerman. Miss Fish. Mr. and
Mrs. ]. E. Davis and others OF the Tuxedo
residents.
The New Years Eve bail will take plaza
as usual, at the Tuxedo Club. There will
be a number of large dinners for debutantss
preceding the dance. and the usual New
Years Eve festivities will take place
The Tuxedo Tenni, and Racquet Ciuc
has arranged a series of matches IN tennis
and rscQuets for the week end.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
THE RECORD Of THE LORDS.

Whatever may be the outcome of the
election the campaign in the United
Kingdom promises 10 afford much popu-
lar enlightenment on various constitu-
tional topics and on the history of Par
lament. Indeed. 1t is already doing
so. The apprehension that the public
speaking would be chiefly or largely of
the "LimehouSing' style has not been
realized. The entrance of the veteran
orators Of the House Of Lords upon the
platform has compelled all speakers to
aim at high standards of debate. and
the result is that the campaign on the
stump is likely TO be bracketed with
the famous debate in the House Of Lords
for its dignity and intellectual interest
An address which WAS made by Lord
Curzon at OLDHAM :he other day was,
entirely apart from its partisan bear
ings, highly suggestive contribution 10
the history of the upper house. Mr..
Winston Churchill, speaking at South
port in favor Of the abolition of the
upper house, had challenged any one "to
Justify and defend the character and
composition Of that assembly" That
challenge Lord CurZon accepted. He did
not hesitate even 10 defend the heredi-
tary principle, pointing out the extent TO
which 1t prevailed in professional and
mercantile life-men entering callings
because their fathers had engaged in
them, and doing so with all the advan-
tages of transmitted ability and expert
ence. He aptly called attention to the
examples of hereditary genius In states
manship which are afforded by such
families as those of Pitt, Fox. Grenville,
Cecil. Stanley. Cayendish Gladstone.
Chamberlain and-with an drguincntubt
dd hOminem addressed 10 his antagonist
Churchill.
But more effective was his analysis
Of the composition of the House Of Lords
and Of its services. In the last TWO hun
dred years. he reminded his hearers. Al
prime ministers had been peers and only
II commoners; of foreign ministers, 56
had been peers and 8 commoners; Of
colonial ministers, 46 had been peers
and % commOners; of war ministers. %
had been peers and 81 commoners. and
of first lords Of the admiralty, 4S had
been peers and 2s commoners. In the
present House of Lords there are 10
who were formerly members of fIle
House of Commons and who were trans.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
REGARDING THE GERM THEORY.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The letter by physician" on pre-
vention OF cancer In The Tribune of last
Monday has the merit OF showing the re-
lation between cause and effect. If wrong
modes of table living (bad foods are the
root of the cancer condition. II sinpli-
fes the question and presents the ground
for It's prevention. possibly cure In Ger
tain not too far advanced cases.
'Physcian's" terse reasoning appears 10
be sound and at the game time offers
practical field for work along dietetic lines
The position is not new, but IL is newly
stated and assuring. The trouble with a
germ theory of cancer is that 1t puts the
question out OF reach of common under
standing so that few. If any. can COM
prehend il or know what to do. The germ
idea OF the causation Of disease is bewil-
dering, and is open to serious question
Is it not barely possible that the bac-
terlologists go a little too far In their
claims for the provings of the germ theory?
Do they really know that microbes are the
cause Of disease? Is not bad food a more
likely cause of disease and the science OF
wholesome foods more promising basis
for thoughtful STUDY?
MEDICAL PRACTICE.
New York Dec. %. 1909.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
"BRITISHER" AGAIN A TARGET.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your correspondent "Britisher," in
Inmates that tariff wall is new sys-
tenn of political economy. A new system
of political economy. Is 1t possible Brit
isher' is not aware that the commercial
greatness OF this country Is In a great
measure due TO protection
The few Irish industries that he enumer
ates fall far short Of industrial activity.
The success of Harland & Wolff as ship
builders Is due mainly TO government con-
tracts and bounties The linen trade has
survived because it has defed competi-
ton. Irish bacon. Irish stout and Irish
whiskey find market all over the world,
because like Irish linen. they have quail
ties which cannot be duplicated outside
Of Ireland
The decrease in population is appalling
and ii affects alike North and South.
Catholic and Protestant. Unionist and
Nationalist Industrial stagnation. decay
and depopulation cannot be attributed to
climate or soil race or creed. This
disease blight is the direct result OF
foreign domination The remedy is self
evident.
The number of acts OF Parliament aimed
directly at Irish trade stand as an in
disputable evidence of the i'll treatment
meted out 10 Ireland by England.
'Britisher s. contrast of the streets OF
Dublin with those of Rathgar and Penn
broke is not well taken. \ suburb Is
generally cleaner than city because of
the absence of traffic.
"Britisher's" vision of the amalgama-
tion OF the Irish with other neighboring
races will not be realized. The great ma
jority OF Irishmen will never rest salts
fed with the status of a province.
New York, Dec. 29 1909 IVERAGH
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
THE NEWS THIS MORNING.

FoREIGN.-In a special cable from
The Tribune's correspondent in London
1t was announced that there is a pros
pect of heavy Unionist gains at the com
ing Parliamentary election. - Earl
Percy, eldest son and direct heir of the
Duke OF Northumberland. died under
peculiar circumstances in Paris but both
physicians and police said death was due
70 natural causes. =- The ''Matin" Of
Paris. denounced an investigation of the
so-called white slave" traffic in which
France holds first place. according TO the
United States immigration Commission.
OMESTIC.-Attorney General Wick
ersham filed brief in the United States
Supreme Court asking for receiver for
the American ,obacco Company and
charging il with conspiracy in restraint
Of trade. --- The count of the funds in
the Treasury. amounting TO more than
$3.50. 600. 900. incident to their transfer
To Lee McClung as United States Treae-
nrer. was completed. -- Speaker Cam
non returned TO Washington from his
home in Danville, III. Illness
caused Archbishop Ryan. of Philadei-
pbis. 10 cancel all engagements for the
Immediate future. == A divorce from
Fer husband was granted to Mrs Henry
Spies Kip at Reno, New. - The
parents of little Alma Kelner, kidnapped
3rom her home in Louisville on Decem-
Der S, received a letter from an Ohio
Town uefn6nnlnR $b,Ooo ransom Tor the
Chllds return. - Amba ssa dor Bryce
was the chief speaker at the night ses-
sion of the convention OF the Student
Volunteer Movement al Rochester.
CGTY.-Stocks were irregular
Justice Dowling enjoined payment by
TIE city Of the balance due to the con-
tractors on the greensboro Bridge. -=
President Taft was in town to attend
the marriage OF his niece -- Follow
ire the refusal Of Justice Bowling to
grant an injunction. Bridge Commits
sioner Stevenson awarded the contract
Tor the erection of the municipal build
ing. -= Controller Metz sent report
on condemnation proceedings to the Gov
ernor and State Legislature J. J.
Collins seized the offices Of the Superin-
tendent of Highways under a Supreme
court order. --= Application was made
for franchise for line charging three
cents TO cross the Manhattan Bridge
Commissioner Edwards obtained an ap-
preparation Of 100000 for snow removal.
THE ATHER.-Indications for to-
DAY: Fair. The temperature yesterday:
Highest, u degrees; lowest, 6.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
[From The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington Dec 30-The Vice-President
returned here at midnight tonight, and
Mrs. Sherman is expected to arrive in the
morning
The annual Charity Ball at the New WI
lard on Monday night promises to be the
most brilliant affair of that kind given in
Washington in many years Among the
women who have interested themselves in
the event are Mrs. George Won L. Meyer,
Mrs. Wackersham, Mrs. Larz Anderson,
Mrs L. H. Letter. Mrs. Nicholas Anderson,
Miss Helen Cannon. Mrs. Audenreid. Mrs.
Richardson Glover, Mrs. Beveridge. Mrs
Cosby Mrs. Frances Crowninshield, Mrs
William Phelps Emo. Mrs. Fitzhugh, Mrs.
Eugene Hale. Mrs. Edison Bradley. Mrs
Robert Shaw oliver Mrs Truman II. New
berry and Mrs. Brownson.
Mrs. Thomas T. Gaff gave one OF the
largest balls Of the season tonight. and had
almost the complete social roster as guests.
She wore an emerald green satin gown
trimmed richly in Lace and iewelled en-
broidery. Among the guests were the Sec
retary OF the Treasury and Mrs MacVeagh,
the Secretary OF the Navy and Mrs. Meyer,
the Misses Meyer. the Secretary OF Com
merce and Labor and Mrs. Nagel, Miss
Nagel, the Italian Ambassador and Baron
ess Mayor des Planches the Austrian Am
bassador and Baroness Hengelmuller, the
French Ambassador and Nine. Jusserand.
the Russian Amba Ssador and Baroness Ro-
sen, Baroness Elizabeth Rosen, the German
Ambassador and Countess Won Berustorfr,
Countess Luise- Alexandra Won BernStorff.
Count and Countess de ChambrUn. Prince
Koudacheff, Major and Frau Won Livonius,
Baron and Baroness Preuschen Won und ~
Iiebenstein Mr.. and Mrs Kennard. Mr.. and
Mrs. Ovey, Lieutenant Colonel and the Hon.
Mrs. Bernard James the Hon. Rachel Kay
ShuttIeworth. Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Letter.
Mrs Richard II. Townsend, Mr.. and Mrs
Thomas f. Walsh and others TO the number
of several hundred.
Mr.. and Mrs. Larz Anderson returned TO
Washington to-day from their Boston home.
and tomorrow night will give New Years
Eve ball. when Miss Taft and Robert Taft
will be among the guests.
Mrs. Edison Bradley received several hun
dred guests at tea this afternoon Mrs.
Roscoe G. Bulmer, Mrs. Charles O'DOnnell
Lee and Miss Mary Sheridan assisted Mrs.
Bradley in receiving, and in the tea room
were Mrs. Newberry. Mrs Emo and Mrs.
Grant. Mr.. and Mrs. Stewart Walker. of
New York, her house guests also assisted.
Representative and Mrs. Boutell enter
tanned eighteen young guests tonight at
dinner which was followed by a dance for
about seventy young persons
Mrs Richard Reid Rogers entertained a
number of young persons at dinner tonight
and afterward took them to the dance at
the home of Mrs William Haywood which
was given for her daughter. Miss Doris
Haywood. and was attended by about
hundred Of the very young set.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS.

IFrom The Tribune Bureau
Washington, Dec. 30.-The women OF the
diplomatic corps generally have paid
Washington hostesses pretty compN-
ment in appearing as patronesses for the
Charity Ball. 10 be given az the New
Willard on Monday night. Those who will
attend the ball ara Baroness Mayor des
Planches. Baroness Hengelmuller, Nine.
Jusserand. Nine. Nabuco. Countess Won
BernstorT. Baroness Rosen. Nine de
I,agercrantz. Mime. GUIDE. Nine Loudon.
Countess Moltke and number OF other
women OF the corps.
The British Ambassador and Mrs. Bryce
will return to Washington tomorrow from
a visit Of several days in New York.
The Austrian Naval Attache and Baron
Preuschen Won und zu Liebenstein have
returned 10 the capital from a series of
house parties, which have engaged them
since several days before Christmas
The Count and Countess de Chambrun
have issued Invitations for n dinner party
on January In honor CO Mrs Nicholas
Longworth the mother OF the Countess,
who will arrive in Washington next Mon
daV
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
WELLM4N TO BE INITIATED.

DR. Hergesell. who is spending a few
days in this city. is best known to the
world for his investigation of upper air
temperatures with selfrecording nstru-
ments sent aloft in unnamed balloons.
He has plans for the future. however,
the execution of which promises to ex-
cite liveler popular interest than any
of his previous work. He announced a
few months ago his intention of explor-
ing the region lying about the North Pole
with, an airShip built for him by Yep
pelin. His purpose was first made known
before he learned how much and how
little had been accomplished by others
this year, but the reiteration Of his
earlier statement shows that his pro-
gramme has not been abandoned
In the means OF transportation which
the Strasburger will employ there is
nothing original. A dirigible balloon was
used with the same object in view by
Walter Wellman. DR.. Hergeselrs adOp-
tion of the balloon, therefore, is an ex-
preston of confidence in the feasibility
Of reaching the pole by the aerial route,
in spite of the American journalists
failures, and he has several good reasons
for expecting success. He apparently
has more money at his command than
Mr.. Wellman had. and his plan seems TO
be more comprehensive. He will have
two airships, one being kept in reserve
nj Sptzbergen, and they will probably
be superior to Mr.. Wellman's America.
Moreover. DIR. Hergesell purposes TO make
extensive test flights before he begins his
longest voyage for exploration. Mr..
Wellman's only assurance that his air
ship possessed the requisite endurance,
we believe, was derived from expert
ments while il was under cover
Some other Arctic explorers have been
animated primarily, If not exclusively,
by desire to win glory. Dr. Hergesell
aims to secure facts which they have not
cared or have been unable to obtain. II
his expedition includes men having
scientific specialties he may bring back
much information which ill be new and
which the world will value.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
UE4ICO, NICARAGUA AND THE
UNITED STATES.

Mr.. Creefs direct and explicit state
ment concerning his special mission to
this country and its results should mt
an end TO the foolish and potentially mis-
chievous chatter which some persons
have been emitting about strained rela-
tions between Mexico and the United
States in consequence of our State De
partment's policy toward Nicaragua. We
have not been able 10 discover the slight
est ground for such reports. and the
makers OF them have not been able TO
disclose any. but il is none the less graft.
flying 10 be assured. on what must be
recognized as the highest authority. that
none whatever exists. and that Mexico
and the United States are in just as COM
plete accord concerning Nicaragua and
all Central America now as they were
when they Jointly lent their moral coun.
tenance 10 the making OF the Central
American treaties Of peace and progress.
Ii is natural and reasonable that It
should be so. The interests of these two
countries in Central America are sub
stantially identical Both desire peace
10 prevail, progress in ciyiliza tion-in-
cluding good government-to be made.
and the lives, property and rights OF
their citizens 10 be respected. The Mexi-
can government fully understands that
our policy toward Nicaragua las had for
its end those aims and nothing more.
The United States has not actually in
tervened at all III Nicaragua, but So far
as II has exerted any Influence whatever
upon the course OF affairs in that dis
tracted country il has worked not for IT.
self alone, but for Mexico as well. and.
indeed, for Nicaragua and all Central
and South America.
If there were those who wished 10 see
republican institutions fail in Latin
America they might regret or resent the
attitude and action OF the United States.
But all who wish to see them succeed, as
they are succeeding in most of the coun-
tries TO the south Of us, from Mexico 10
Argentina, must have been profoundly
Eratihed 10 see Mexico and the United
States morally cooperating 10 promote
lhat end two years ago, and must to-day
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
NEW YORK SOCIETY.

President Taft. accompanied by his
daughter, Miss Helen Taft, and by his
sons. Robert and Charles T. Taft ID. ar
rived yesterday afternoon from Washing
ton 10 attend the wedding of his niece
Miss Louise w. Taft. TO George H. Snow
don, which took place at 4 o'clock at tine
West 4Sth street home OF her parents Mr.
and Mrs. Henry W. Taft. The ceremony
was performed by the Rev DIR. Barry. rec
tor OF the Church of ST. Mary the Virgin,
in the presence OF comparatively few
relatives and intimate friends owing to
the recent death OF Mrs. Horace ID. Taft
Miss Margaret Lowe was the sole attendant
upon the bride. who was arrayed I'm a gown
OF white satin. trimmed with point lace.
and wore a tulle veil. her flowers consist
ing OF lilies s-or-the-valey and orchids Her
only ornament was diamond pendant, a
gift OF the bridegroom. Miss Lowe was N
pink satin, trimmed with gold ace, and
wore pink satin hat with pink feathers
Her bouquet was of pink sunset roses.
Reese Alsop was the best man. and the
ushers were walbridge f. Taft and Will
lam Howa-d Taft. I'd. brothers OF the
bride; Martin S. Baldwin. Felix and Charles
snowdon, jr., Raymond Page. THOMAS
Duffey and Howard CorIes.
There was no reception after the cere-
mony The President. who was attended
by his military aide-de-camp. Captain
Archibald Butt, returned To- WASHINGTON
last night.
Mr.. Snowdon and his bride started for
Philadelphia Immediately after the cere-
mony and will sail for Europe Wednesday
on the Cedric for two months trim
abroad. On their return they win make
their home In Seattle
Among the guests at the wedding in ad-
dition to the President and his sons and
daughter. were Mr.. and Mrs. Charles p
Taft and Miss Louise Tsft. Of Cincinnati. /.
New-York tribune., 1909-12-31
THE TALK OF THE DAY

IN the customers room of a large broker
hge concern I'm the Wall Street distr,c, ,
wag posted this sign on Monday. .eyes
we know all about the great blizzard II
was much worse than yesterdays. We
were all in II and forgot it. Tell yo,,r
story TO the elevator man" The sign had
been put up after three men, disregarding
the spectacular fluctuations on the tane
hau toid long stories. When the davis
business was over departing customer
stopped in front of the little notice and
taking pen from his pocket. added.
There are blizzards in which snow and
wind are lesser factors than nerve. Root
Island. Decsmber q 1909"
..iSd Mrs; Frost.Who was it that said,
Peace, perfect peace?
frost-Sonle one whose telephone was out
OF crder.-Iife ~ WI
Referring TO the fact that 'Rabv,, rb,r,,.
whose lightweight father ramad
him Frederick A. Cook in honor of tbs
alleged discoverer, will be renamed Job,
henry 1hrey, 30, correspondent writes
TO The Tribune: Had his parents baao
Cfthodox Jews the little fellow would mt
nave been subjected TO the double naming
for. in accordance with an ancient custom
they would not have named their child ,,r
living person. The observance of tbis
custom is based on the uncertaintv y,
mortal things. No man can know what
time may bring forth. The good man OF
to-day may be a bad man Tomorrow an,
1t would be wrong to burden a child with
a name which might become dishonorabl.
There have been Aaron Burrs ana Benedict
Arnolds. William M. Tweeds and Wilkes
booths who wished that theil parents had
observed the old custom
Irate Customer-see here, That stud.nt
lamp you sold me u week ago is no good
II won't work eO"e'
Dealer-Beg pardon, sir. I ought to hav.
Puck.
&c out into snowstorm and iet IN.
makes strike you in the face then shovel
II off your sidewalk. and then off someboav
else's premises. and you will get what the
Chicago Health Department terms "a moor
mans Turkish bath" Snow puriaes ,hA
air and purlfes the waste places Of ths
body. and makes the nerves tinyle ssvs
Health Commissioner Evans and then n.
proves the fallacy OF that old saw, "A green
christmas makes a full graveyard" nv
showing a higher death rate for the weak
preceding the Christmas just passed than
the one year ago. when 1t was green. "
Kate consulting diotionary)-It says
here that the mistletos bears . giutinous
fruit. ou'
Ethel-Kisses are bit sticky.-Boston
Transcript.
Major Washington Haverstick, a genera,
Inspector OF buildings for the Treasury
Department. believes that cuspadores should
be bsnished from Uncle Sans premises.
He holds that cuspadores merely induce
people 10 sxpectorate and that if they nro