davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1909-01-30
Mr.. Taft In New Orleans.

Perhaps there is yet time before Mr.
TAFrs return from Panama to remon.
strate with the New Orleans Progress.
sive Union in respect Of the banquet
| it proposes to give him on the occasion
of his arrival. We have no objections
/ TO urge to the banquet az such. Mr.
/ TAFT in fact will need a good honest
spread" after some days Of close COM
munion with the commissary stores in
the Zone, and we know Of no city better
qualified to furnish it than New Orleans
but with tears in our eyes we do pro-
test against the alligator steak" prom
ised in Thursday mornings press re-
ports We beg. we implore the union
Ia cut that out.
In the first place, Mr.. TAFT has tried
alligator steak already. He did il
some years ago and was dangerously
i'll for two days afterward In any
event il will be no novelty, and simi-
larly it will represent an undeserved
affliction. Well enough for Augusta
to present him with freak dishes like
posSum and taters with persimmon
beer on the side. 1t was naliseous
enough, but at least il was novel; and
possibly Augusta couldn't do much
better anyhow In New Orleans, how
ever, a cosmopolitan city free from the
limitations that beset an inland town
and favored by an almost boundless
commissariat, there can be no excuse
for stupid eccentrictes.
Mr.. TAFT is a wholesome and a cor
dial gentleman. He likes good things
and in New Orleans of all places he
does not expect to be fed upon abomi-
nations The old time chefs have
passed. BoUDRo. MoREAU, JOHN
STRENRA, BERo, DENECHAUD, LOUIS
SENS, these and fifty others, along with
Nine. EUGESE Of sainted memory, have
gone to their rewards; but Others
survive, such as ANTOINE and GALA
TORE for instance, and New Orleans
can entertain Mr.. TAFT in fitting style,
employing its legitimate resources and
avoiding the unpalatable and the nox-
ious. The river shrimps. bisque Of
crawfish, bouilabaisse, cock oysters,
and Grand lake ducks fattened on
submarine celery-here ia material for
Olympian banquets. Perhaps it is too
early for buster crabs Certainly it
is months too soon for papabotte. But
if New Orleans wants TO feast the Presi-
dent-eect upon celestial viands, she
has the products and the cooks. ALI
gator steak is mere malignant nom
sense.
Let New Orleans pause before this
contemplated enormity can be consum-
mated. Summon to conference such
men as PAUL CAPDIEvIIhE and Mr.. TAFT
will leave the Crescent City stuffed with
memories Of nectar and ambrosia.
The sun., 1909-01-30
In New York's streets Yesterday.

Yesterdays procession of Italians was
one of the strangest and one of the most
impressive in its significance that this
town has seen. In honDr- Of Consul
CHENEY Of Messina it was seized upon
by the Italian population as an oppor-
tunity to show their gratitude and that
OF all Italians for the sympathy and aid
given by Americans 10 their Siciiian and
Calabrian- btethrep. 1t was also. no
doubt, pious and mournlul remem-
brance of all the dead. smittcn like Mr..
CHENEY and his wife, by that immti-
gable disaster, and ofthe suffering and
the ruin OF so many of the survivors.
II was a simple. and therefore the more
touching, commcmoration. Many of
these figures, unfamiliar even in city
so Italian, seemed to come from the
Calabrian mountains, from the Sicilian
back country. Many perhaps most Of
the marchers, must have given up a
days pay TO take part in this teSti-
monial of grief and of thanks. II was
solemn, dignified, evidently free from
the theatrical wholly sincere. ii not
only honored worthily the dead, hut il
showed that generous, grateful and
amabie spirit which is scharacterstically
Italian. -.
The sun., 1909-01-30
Dark Suspicion. OF q simpli ner

To THB EDITOR or THE SUS-Sr' Could you
tell me why the sages that MI the editorial pages
of the New York newspapers are 50 sour about
reformed spelling In the bottom OF their hearts
they know. and they dare not deny, that at pres
ent the spelling Of the English language Is Vile
and bsrbaric. They also ought to know that the
spelling Of other civilized European tongues Is
continually changed for the sake OF making II
simpler and more natural
Is Il because they have not been duly consulted
In the matter Is II becarse they are afraid they
would have to learn to spell all over again. and
they haven forgotten what an awfni time they
had the .iIst Nme'
or course II Is foolish N Try to get old people
once broken In 10 see the beauty end logic OF
through" spelled thru" or write "dodgd" when
the dropped e" earns It's IT, ing by indicating
that the g" Is soft. II should be "dodjd" u the
hoard daIc cd take the whole step.
Here Is where the schoOlmAsters rod puts II
all over the power OF the press.
Yours for sensible spelling.
BRoOklYN, January 20 NABArH HEpIS
The sun., 1909-01-30
PERFECT COFFEE.
ITS secret 10 In the Manner Of Rosstins
the Bean.

To THE EDITOR or TEE SUN-Str; Apropos
OF all this controversy over coffee, feel
moved to say that In 1880 happened to be
10 the city Of Mexico. 1 had my morning
chocolate or coffee brought to my room In
the Hotel Yturbide, where was stopping.
and found II always excellent But had
q friend In town. Mr.. Jorge Hammeken y
Mexla. and at his house 1 encountered
coffee OF such flavor and aroma that
thought in fact | know that had never
taste ed the like before.
Some years previously / had heard the
United States Minister to Me Kico lecture in
New Orleans on the subject Of coffee and
he told his audience Of u certain district. the
the name Of which do not at this moment
recall, the product OF which was so superior
that II was regularly sold. years In advance,
to English buyers. l supposed that my
friend Mexia had In. some way obtained his
supply from this source and accordingly
asked him about It. He replied with a
laugh and proceeded to explain that he
always bought the cheapest Cordova conee
he could fnd In the market, seldom paying
more than Ave cents q pound forit. The
secret Icy In, the parching OF roasting OF the
bean. II any one in this part Of the coun-
try still remembers OF ever sees that proc
ess he will know that at certain stage OF
tho parching the coffee breaks out In sort
OF sweat. The bean IL covered with drops
Of oily moisture. AZ that moment the
coffee Ia removed. poured out upon thick
and soft col ton towel or cloth; one end is
turned back over the coffee and the cloth
pressed down closely with the hands. In
this way the Precipitation Ia absorbed. IL
docs not crystalline In the pan. The coffee
IL rest ored to the brasier and the process
OF parching completed.
Mexia claimed that all the differences In
coffee consisted In the amount OF moist ure
Il contained and the manner and extent OF
its elimination. His was a In uXurious home.
His cooks were artists. He could set be-
fore you Q red snapper from Vera Cruz
apparently untouched and yet, utterly de-
void Of bones, and his trestmen OF Tezcuco
ducks OF snipe was a thing OF inspiration.
have never forgotten his exposition OF
the art OF making coffee. and have never
since tasted a brew equal TO his. He said
that coffee cont aimed an essential oil-some
more, some less-that II was always maliR-
nant, and that theNextent to which 1t could
be dissipated marked the excellence Of the
subsequent concoction
OF course in these civilized days when we
take our coffee from the dealer already
roasted and ground. sometimes actually
powdered, the maxins aud injunctions OF
Mr.. Jorge Hammeken y Mexia are valuable
only as reminders OF a vanished dispensa-
ton. have not the sliqhtes' doubt. how
aver. that what he said was strictly true.
| took coffee every morning at his house
after that, and never since have I known
y. n.
WAsprsoTos ID e January %
The sun., 1909-01-30
The Heritage OF the People.

Secretary GARFIELD wants a million
dollars TO catch the land thieves. His
agents have discovered the fraudulent
acquisition by corporations and indi-
viduals OF approximately silO,OOO.OOO
worth Of public lands. The hares are
away with the DOODLE and the hounds
must have a million dollars in order
TO catch them. This sum does not rep
resent the total stealings, It covers
only what are known as new cases |"
We are unable to say how much Of this
heritage Of the people" has been ac-
quired by fraud since the process began
q generation or more ago In 1905 Sec
retary HITCHCOCK reported more than
500 Of these grafters and stealers as
under indictment. A few Of the offenders
have been bagged and fined or jailed,
and hundreds Of new players have
appeared in the game. The chief of
the field service submits a statement
Showing more than % 00O cases of
alleged land frauds demanding further
investigation These are in addition
to over 2s,OOO cases Investigated during
the last seventeen months, The tens
OF thousands who have been in the past
and the tens Of thousands who are now
devoted to the game is ample proof Of
its widespread popularity.
A Washington despatch reports:
"a summary OF most OF the larger cases al cited
by charges OF fraud or illegallty now pending Is
submitted. but the details OF identification and
names OF parties are omitted because II Is said
this would embarrass further inquiry into such
cases"
II ia a fair inference that a revelation
OF their names would be no less embar-
raising to some Of the gentlemen who
are in the game, and there is even pos
sibility that the publication of full
list Of suspects" would give the Ameri-
can people an entertainment closely
resembling a surprise party. IL is also
possible that in such a list there would
appear sundry clues to the influences
which have thus far succeeded in block
ing efforts to reform our land laws and
to regulate the disposition Of our public
lands. The pursuit Of these scamps has
been one of Mr.. RoosEvELTs poll
cies. and ETHAN ALLEN HITCHCOCK
did his best to give the enterprise a
genuine vitality. Mr.. HITCHCOCK 8
weakness in the matter was his lack Of
sense of humor. In his eyes the theft
Of public land was a crime. and land
CRATER was a criminal irrespective Of
his position in public life or in the pub
lie service. He wanted to catch the
offenders and punish them no matter
Who they were. That is not regarded
as the proper way to play the game.
The trick is to catch the little fellows
and let the big criminals 60 and take
their loot with them.
1t is possible that in his continuance
Of his predecessors policies" Mr.. TAFT
may take larger view of this game and
insist upon new set of rules and regu-
lations. Unless he does so il is prob
able that his successor, or the Execu-
tive that follows that successor. will find
that the heritage of the people has
been swapped for lot Of hopeless
lawsuits.
The sun., 1909-01-30
IL a Ministerial Crisis at Hand In
Germany

Recent incidents indicate that Prince
Won BUELOw is finding the task of gov
erning impracticable, whether as Ger
man Chancellor or as Prime Minister OF
Prussia, both of which offices he holds
The so-called bloc, or coalition of
Conservatives, National Liberals and
Radicals. by the support Of which he
hitherto has managed TO control the
Reichstag and the Prussan House Of
Representatives, is broken up. 1t is true
that neither as Chancellor nor as Pre-
mier is Prince Won BUELow obliged to
resign because he has failed TO domi-
nate legislature; but after all il is the
business Of a Minister to get necessary
measures carried. and il he is unable to
do this he should either bring about
dissolution OF the legislature or give
way TO a statesman willing to evolve a
majority out Of different elements.
1t is the Chancellor's financial pro-
posals to which the rupture of the bloc
in the Reichstag is due. The Conserva-
tives, who represent the landowning
classes, insist that the additional taxa
ton which has become indispensable
shall be almost exclusively indirect
The Radicals, who are spokesmen OF
the commercial and manufac turing dis
tricts, while willing to submit to some
extra imposts, demand that at least q
part OF the burden shall be borne by
direct taxation. II is not yet absolutely
certain that a compromise may not be
reached in the Reichstag between these
two constituents of the bloc, but the
chance Of such an accommodation has
been lessened by the incident which took
place the other day in the Prussian
House Of Representatives.
We refer to the vote cast in the last
named chamber on the proposal to sub
stitute direct election for the present
roundabout and three class system pre-
vailing in Prussia and also TO effect a
redistribution of seats. We need not
dwell on the objection, often noted in
these columns, to the Prussian three
class method Of voting, under which the
largest taxpayers, or in other words
the richest men, who are OF course com
paratively few in number, choose az
many secondary electors (by whom the
Representatives are named) as the
great mass Of workingmen. What
The sun., 1909-01-30

An interesting phenomenon is asso-
ciated with the great stream Of water
which rushes out Of the tunnel forming
the tailrace OF one Of the power companies
at Niagara Falls. The opening Of the
tunnel Is just below the upper steel arch
bridge, and the stream OF water flowing
from 1t makes an angle Of about rs degrees
with the direction in which the river flows
The velocity OF the stream. which has
generated over rs 900 horse e-power. is SO
great that II shoots nearly all the way
across the river. thus changing the direc-
ton OF the surface current.
In former years an ice blockade, locally
called an ice bridge" would sometimes
form in winter. when the great quantities
OF ice carried down from the Lakes accu-
mulated in the gorge just below the Falls,
but this phenomenon was only occasional.
Now the formation Of an ice bridge Is
a regular occurrence every winter in
deed, when one ice bridge goes out an
other often forms. The water flowing
from the tunnel holds back the ice float
ing on the surface OF the river. and this
even freezes into solid mass.
The sun., 1909-01-30

There seems to have been a queer mis-
understanding about the proposed Tag
Day" which was TO have been inflicted on
New York to-day. 1t was asserted that
the Mayor had given his permission and
that the police had instructions to protect
the collectors. The Mayor declares he
never gave his approval to the scheme,
that no permit has been issued and that
no official Endorsement Of the plan has
been given. II is unfortunate that this
announcement vs ss 80 long delayed.
The sun., 1909-01-30
The Spirit OF . Remarkable Demon
stration.

From L'ArdIdo ItoIidno Of yesterday
To-day the Italian residents OF Greater
New York will show to the American peo-
pie their deep gratitude and appreciation
when as a mark OF homage and sorrow they
meet the remains OF the late American
Consul General Arthur Cheney. who died
az his post OF. duty in the fearful disaster
at Messina. With bowed heads the sons
Of the country in which the gifted diplomat
lost his life will escort the body as il touches
the native American soil that gave him life
BY this tribute OF respect the Italian
people OF this continent will testify through
their kindred in this city TO the American
nation, its people and its Executive their
deep and everlasting obligation for their
generosity and charity in helping the
affiicted OF sout hern Italy.
The gratitude OF the Italian people toward
ths United States and all Its inha bit ants
can be manifested in no more worthy and
nttinR manner than by this gathering OF
America s adopted people OF Italian birth or
descent at the gateway OF this hemisphere
upon the arrival OF the great steamer bear
ing the mortal remains OF the American
Consul General and his consort.
The recent and appalling disaster in Italy
has engendered in the hearts OF all people
q spirit OF broad charity and love OF human
cementing closer the ties OF brotherly love
and fellow feeling which bind all civilza
tion. incidentally II has shown that In
time OF great aft1ction and distress all
national lines are obliterated and we be-
come one people. animated BY our one God
To stricken Italy. suffering from its terri
BILE loss. one great solace has been the aid
so powerfully and promptly rendered by
the American people Hardly had the new
OF tho earthquakes reached these shores
whom funds we're being raised for the alle-
Walton OF the sufferers. From every source
and from every quarter OF this great land
came the evidence OF the splendid gener-
osity Of a splendid people. For all Of this
the Italian people are sincerely gratefu
and make acknowled sment by public and
simple manifestation at the catafalque OF
Arthur Cheney.
Banker and merchant, stevedore and
laborer, rich and poor. from our Italian
colonies all will come on the same footing
and whether the hat that is doted be silk
or cotton they will pay as one people their
mark Of sorroving regard. While MOURN
Ing for her dead. Italy and her sons will
mourn for Americas dead.
The Kingdom OF love and regard binds
us together. and in that kingdom we viii
always dwell together In peace and unity.
giving our arm when the step OF the other
Is hating. giving our aid when aid is sorely
needed. and giving our sympathy and tears
OF regard as We sit together in our grief
for our departed.
To Italy. who gave birth 10 America 8
discoverer, there can be no greater return
than tho love and benehcence OF people
who have risen from its soil.
To this call to meet and escort the remains
OF the departed American Consul G eneraI |
and his consort there should be a promnt
response. so that the Italian people NAV
testify by their presence the great debt
OF gratitude they owe generous American
people,
The sun., 1909-01-30
Specialized .Imstirr.

There is now, properly, children's 5
court, in WHICH infants accused of Of
fences against the law are arraigned
without being brought into contact with
mature prisoners. This institution was
cStan.ishod because the harmfulness of
asSOciating children with drunkards.
Vagabonds, thieves and dissolute per-
sons MAS as apparent as il was inde-
cent. It was the best that could be
done TO modify the effect Of applying
70 mlsclhicvous, ignorant or wavward
youngsters the penal system that was
designed for the restraint and correc-
ton of their elders.
Now it is seriously urged that another
special court be established to deal with
disputes between husbands and wives.
which cannot receive, it H. asserted, SYM
pathetic consideration iii the ordinary
The sun., 1909-01-30

In the Nonh AmerGan Rt-tep for February Mr.
HannIs Taylor reviews the Lincoln Douglas
debates and Mr. Nathan Hssken dole Contributes
a poem on Lincoln, The tarir IA dealt with by
Mr. r. p, Porter and Mr.. A. II, Washbuu. Con.
gresham A. p. Gardner explains his views about
the House rules. The Duchess Of Marlborough h
continues her account OF the woman question,
DR.. a. McLane Hamilton examines the rellglo.
medical movement from the point OF view OF the
psychiatrist. and Mr.. Mayo W. Haleltlne reviews
Mr.. V. Morawetfs book on the banking and cur.
rency problem. There are articles also on sim
plned spelling. on American artists. on insurance
legislation, on jewish history. and on Jxpans war
against opium.
The sun., 1909-01-30

ruinous disclosures Of criminal mis-
doing would follow.
Now we have the Tribune's statement
that many citizens, all Of whom are for
virtue and against vice, disapprove Of
the investigation Of the detective agen-
cies Of the Government, on which mill
ions of dollars are spent annually and
which afford the widest opportunities
for waste and corruption.
What department Of the Government
has so comported itself in this matter
'as to indicate its desire for truth, the
whole truth and nothing but the truth?
And what department Of the Govern
ment has behaved as IL it desired, above
all other things, to keep secret and
hidden the truth?
The sun., 1909-01-30
Let Us Not Brood Upon Our Inwards.

We do not suppose that Mr.. g. B. Shaw.
who is proudly accustomed 10 be as fixed
and immovable as Julius CRsar or the
mariners star. will care n picayune what
is said by DR.. c. Stanford Read, an Eng
lish physician, in his book entitled "Fads
and Feeding" (E. p. Dutton and Company
in the chapter on vegetarianism. Dr.
Read says: a vegetable diet must needs
be bulky because Of it's wateriness espe-
cially when cook ed. and the large amount
of indigestible matter IL contains. This
tends TO abnormally distend the stomach
and bowels" We wish that the doctor
had not split the infinitive; but surely this.
leaving out Of the consideration Mr.. Shaw,
who is Familiarity aware Of his bones and
knows that he does not manifest himself
in any pronounced contours. must have
its effect with those who wish 10 be COM
pact and comfortable about the waist
The doctor warns us of the evil of undue
study Of our insides, of morbid intro
spection concerning our internal organs
These. he declares. ARE best left to look
out for themselves" Not that he thinks
that every member Of the community
should always trust to his own likes and
cravings in diet and should never listen 'o
the advice Of the physiological expert,
but he does wish to protest against the
wild and often illogical beliefs" now 50
numerously aaoat and against 'the craze
for overthrowing the dietetic habits h
years" that is 30 widely spread At ihIs
time. sFixed attention upon the proc
esses which go on more or less auto
maticaIly within us only tends to Gauss
trouble and TO evoke morbid sensations,
the doctor says, 1t is -far from healthy
and it breeds neirotic tendencies.
There s a whole chapter on Mr.. Horace
Fletcher's theory Of annihilative mastlca-
ton. 1t reviews the distinguished tests
that have been made Of Mr.. Fletcher and
his theory and speaks of FletcheriNn
cautiously and respectfully. Alcohol also
has a chapter. In the course Of this We
read: Most people will say from their
The sun., 1909-01-30
One Of Mr.. Evart.. Famous sayinr,.

To IRE EDITOR or THE SUs-Sr: Tho story
OF Tru thfu George throwing silver dollar across
the Rappahannock River at Fredericksburg 10
received as fact 10 that city. the home OF the wash
ing tons which Is nlled with much that Is OF In
terest relating to the first President his mother.
sister and his family generally.
Even the witty william NJ Evarts did not
dispute the story when Il was told him. but ac-
counted for the fact by saying: "A dollar would
go further In those days than now"
PHILADELPHIA. January 20. HIsToRIcUs.
The sun., 1909-01-30
Goodwin smith on Truth.

Lovers of pure English such as few men
can write nowadays will rejoice in the
republication in book form OF the import
ant articles on religious thought contrib
ited by Prof. Goodwin Smith to THE SUS
and now called mo Refuge But in Truth
(Wm. Tyrell and Company, Toronto)
Whether readers agree with the authors
conclusions or not they must treat them
with respectful consideration and must
be amazed at the intellectual vigor and
the undiminished skill in dialectics shown
by a veteran Of S.. To the articles from
THE Sun is joined brief paper first
The Religious Situation"
The sun., 1909-01-30
The MNstcrN.
The faithful ambassadorial messenger
of the President reports:

of the President reports:
The White House Is being almost swamped
with communications from all sections OF the
country expressing In the strongest terms the
faith OF the writer's In the Executive ihsfr di,ap.
pror0! OF the oourS, OF Congress IN Investigating me
"crn S,rroe expenditures and their inability
to un nderstSnd the purpose OF the House In seeking
to curtsl the usefulness OF that branch OF the
federal service
The first attempts Of the President to
escape the consequences Of the insult to
Congress contained in his last annual
message took the form of warnings
through the Tribune that many Con-
gressmen would be ruined il the docu-
ments and reports of the secret service
were published.
Then there came threats through the
same medium Of communication that il
Congress persisted in its assault on
the President retaliation in the form Of