davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
THE COY BACILLUS
HE DOESN'T SEEN TO
DWELL IN BOOKS.
at Least, If He Does, Lbra-
rians Don't Think Him
Great Danger.
By Bella A. sekely.

To broaden ones mind and to gladden.
ones heart by reading books is pleasure
in which. joyfully be the well known fact
reiterated, ever increasing numbers Of peo-
pie in all stations Of life are more and more
induging. But who will want to read or
even 10 study II it should be proved
that danger OF Infection with contagious
diseases is lurking behind the pages OF al
most any book? II this be true then only
the heroic. brave enough 10 run the risk Of
encountering surreptitious germs. OF the
uniformed. still ignorant OF the hazards
of book reading will persevere in that most
useful and most pleasurable occupation
which has so universally made for the
progress of the world. Looking at II from
this standpoint. the problem Of infection
through books seemed 10 be one OF almost
portentous issue, and. at any> rate. worth
while investigating.
The first disquieting news came. OF
course. from Germany. where Professor
Hitler reported cases Of the inoculation OF
guinea pigs with bacilli taken from dirty
book pages. II later appeared that twenty
government clerks in Lansing. Mich, were
infected with the tuberculosis germ through
books. To ascertain facts IN Germany
would cause a delay inadmissible in study
ing a problem SO urgent Even Lansing Is
too far away to get data with reportorial
conscientiousness, II ones editor wants the
story for to-morrow's Issue. Fortunately.
New York is a city of all things. good, bad
or Indifferent, and II a man can't get here
the information he Is looking for. especially
when his lead is fraught with sensational
possibilities. then he has pretty much de-
stroyed his usefulness as a newspaper
writer.
A little while after receiving the assign
ment I found myself in the spacious pri-
vate Office Of DR.. Billings, director. OF the
New York Public Library. Here was a
man who ought 10 know all about il. But
as looked at him, sitting in his revolving
chairs amid volumes of books reaching up
TO the ceiling. ruddy checked and smiling
IN this atmosphere supposedly crowded
with Billions OF germs, l faint heartedly
doubted whether those bacili were really
creatures so redoubtable as men Of science
would have US believe.
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
THIS IS INTENDED ESPECIALLY TOR THE BUSY MAN

has been the evidence given before the
federal grand jury at New Orleans regarding
customs frauds in the importations of mos
quito netting that the Department OF Justice
has sent a special agent, William Connor,
to that city TO aid the United States At
tCrney Charlton F. Beattie. in his inves-
legations 1t was reported also that while
the loss TO the government in the South
ern city might aggregate $4,000. an in
quiry in New York would show Irregular
ties up in the millions.
The new Water Commissioner. Henry
S Thompson. discharged lot of men, and
at the same time a letter he had written
TO Mayor Gaynor was made public. In 1t
the Commissioner says: I find there was
one gang Of nine laborers supervised by
one foreman and five assistant foremen.
There was another gang of five Iaborers
with one foreman, five assistant foremen
three teams and one jobless carpenter
Also ten stokers. firemen and oilers ma
chinist's helper and calkers with no pos
sibie opportunity to ply their trades, and
other employees utterly incapable OF per-
forming their duties. I have found brick
layers and masons helpers for cement
work where there was no construction or
repair work; eight inspectors of pipe lines
pipes anu il9 VI dIlISt WHeI6 l0eTe was no
pipe laying and no hydrants requiring in
specton.' The Commissioner expects to
save sl34.OOO year in cutting off unearned
salaries.
Governor Hughes nominated John y
Carlisle, of Watertown. as a member of
the Public Service Commission ID Dis
trict, to fill the vacancy caused by the
resignation Of Thomas NJ Osborne OF
Auburn
The general election in England resulted
in a Liberal-Labor majority over the
Unionists
The indictment against the Press Pub
fishing Company. publisher of The New
York World. charging the printing and
circulation of libellous statements concern
ing Theodore Roosevelt William Howard
Taft Douglas Robinson, Charles p. Taft
and William Nelson Cromwell in the
Panama Canal matter, was Quashed by
Judge Hough in the United States District
Court. The government held that the libel
was committed on the West Point reserva-
ton and in the Postoffice Building here,
and that the federal courts of the Southern
District OF New York had full and original
jurisdiction to try the case under the New
York penal code. Judge Hough ruled. how
ever. that, since the alleged offence was
committed in other parts of New York as
well as in the West Point reservation, IL is
primarily within the state Jurisdiction. and
the state courts should be resorted 10 in
the first instance by those alleging in
jury. He holds that Congress did not in
tend to intrust 10 the courts OF the United
States the punishment of offences other
than those primarily and exclusively COM
mitted In United States territory. Notice
of appeal was given.
The state camp grounds AT Peekskill
have beea selected Is 4 site for the new
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

state prison, to succeed the antiquated
Sing Sing structure. A bill will De intro
duced into the Legislature providing for
this step. The present action was brought
about by the abandonment of the Bear
Mountain site on the Hudson, following the
gift of land there for park purposes by
Mrs. E. H Hartman and money gifts by
other wealthy individuals to give the pro-
posed park a river front
Warner NJ Van Norden, president Of the
Van Norden Trust Company. appeared in
the Jefferson Market police court as com
plainant against Bessie Roberts and May
Williams. He charged the women with
robbing him Of $4,000 on Wednesday night
outside of the Waldorf. Both women were
held in $4,000 bail on a charge of highway
robbery. Much surprise was expressed
that the banker should be carrying so large
a sum in currency in his pockets"
No occasion for surprise" said Busy
Man. He probably intended to call at
some butcher shop in the morning and do
the family marketing"
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

ing Justice of the Appellate Division Of the
Supreme Court, died at his home in this
city I.otta Faust one of the most popular
condolences on the American stage, died
from an attack of pneumonia following an
operation, In this city. Police Lieutenant
John J. Dunn, for years known to Wall
Street where he was stationed. as Sir
Johnny died at his home, No. 49 East
list street He was seventy-sevcn years
old OF the fifty-three years he was in ac-
tive service he spent twenty-seven as head
of the Wall Street Detective Bureau His
principal duty was to keep thieves out of
the Wall Street district
He was able TO maintain the dead line
only against outside operators" said Busy
Man. Anything else happen that I ought
to remember
"A corporation to compete with the man
utacturers of shirtwaists was incorporated
in Trenton, n. J., by the striking shirtwaist
makers of New York. The new company
has been promised the financial support Of
the wealthy women who have so ardently
espoueed the cause OF the strikers. 1t is
called the National Cooperative Waist and
Neckwear Company Of New Jersey.
The Democratic League Of New York,
the outcome OF the Saratoga conference
last September, organized q general COM
mittee Of $50, covering every county in the
state. and elected former Mayor Thomas
NJ Osborne. OF Albany, chairman Francis
A Willard, Of Oneida, was elected secre-
tary and Colonel William G. Rice, of Al
bany, was made treasurer. The league
adopted an organization plan for the state
and drafted bills for direct nominations
and reform in the ballot and primary laws
Mr. Draper Commissioner OF Education
-
attendance of New York State last year ag-
gregated l.s40, SOC This included 12s4. 729
children in the common elementary schools.
10l S83 in the common high schools, 6,4s4 in
normal schools, 36. 6.2S7 in universities. col
leges and professional schools. 42.S02 in
academies, 225,000 in other private schools
of all grades and l32, 40 in night schools II
requires 5o.78S teachers to take care Of these
students OF which number q, l52 are in the
common elementary schools.
Such an army OF pupils equals the en-
tire population OF Virginia or Minnesota"
mused the Busy Man.
Paris" continued Constant Reader
suffered the ravages OF a food which
raised the water In the River Seine TO a
mark exceeding all records back 10 lGl5. Gel
lars and subways were flooded. buildings
undermined, and traffic suspended. Sewers
burst Sidewalks and streets caved in
Fifteen thousand were made homeless in
Paris. and one hundred thousand through
out France. Many lives were lost and
the Premier estimated that the property
damage in the capital alone would exceed
$40, ,01O 900"
THE total valuation Of all taxable prop
erty in New Orleans. or Milwaukee. or
Portland, Ore, does not much exceed that
figure. said Busy Man.
$50 serious" continued Constant Reader.
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

Has the agitation against high prices
1or foodstufs had any good effect?'' asked
Busy Man when ne met Constant Reader
isst evening
Prices came down a few pegs with
great promptness' - was the reply. Beef,
mutton. pork. pOultry. eggs and milk, all
were solo a. rates materially lower than
the excessive figures that were being asked
before the outburst OF popular indignation
began, but n spite OF all that food prices
are sLH 50 high that il is hard for all but
the zell-ro-dO 70 make ends meet, and il
= hoped that vigorous prosecution OF Ger
tan trusts viii do still more 10 cheaper
the necessar.es OF life. The Taft admins
tatl01 has not been slow 10 act Nj. VII
Enr, Secretary OF Agriculture, declared he
vas gathering proofs which will show that
American farm products are being sold
cheaper abroad than in this country. In
Chicago a federal grand Jury began the
promised investigation Of the Beef Trust,
sad NJ Tar sent Assistant Attorney Cen
era- Wade Ellis 70 take charge Of the case
-aere are fair prospects, IL is said, that
Ire beef situation Will be overhauled IN
record time SUbp9nas duces tecum have
been served on officers OF the National
Packing Company. which call for all i'm
portant books of the concern, including the
record q shares issued.
II his city District Attorney Whitman
snd special grand jury are in fun cry
ster tae so-called Mix Trust. Justice
Coz sitting iu the Criminal Branch OF the
supreme Count, charged the grand Jurors
mat 4 evidence showed the DonnelIy act
4sa teen violated by milk dealers. indict-
nsn;s should be returned against the Of
lenders Almost al once number OF New
1ork milk dealers reduced The price from
70 cents a quart. and further reductions
Il this ana other foodstuffs are confidently
expected"
AL OF which goes 10 show" said Busy
%sn' that the ouick-witted produce dealer
Hao~s Tow 20 meet q big storm when he
ee Il coming After Il liz over he can
1@se prices again and rake n the prohts
1Hu4 another popular protest arises. II
hot be G dignifed way OF getting
Ing u the world, but in the words or
popular song every little bit added 70
you have undoubtedly makes q little
Washington
Edmund " Voorhies was nominated for
postmaster OF Brooklyn hv President Taft
-cceeo George Il Roberts, tr.
he Congressional committee OF inquiry
20 the Eallinger- Pinchot controversy be-
S sessions The first witness was l.
9isVis' the dismissed field agent who
sefeo Charges against Nj Ballinger'
.ry OF the Interior, in connection
A. As Cunningham coal claims in
ssS1SS fer Claws said the
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
Constant Reader Tells Him What He Missed In Last
Weeks Papers.

charges were thai in number of cases
Mr.. Ballinger had acted with frnpropriety.'
Clifford Pinchot was elected president
OF the National Conservation Association,
succeeding DR.. Eliot, who now becomes
honorary president. Mr.. Ptnchot at once
assumed active charge OF the headquarters
in Washington. TIE association now has
a membership estimated at ten thousand.
The tariff officers Of the government
recommended 10 the President that proc
lamations be Issued by him declaring the
following countries as not being undUly
discrimina tive in their tariffs against the
United States, and therefore entitled TO
receive minimum rates of duty imposed
by the Payne-Aldrich act: Denmark. the
Netherlands, Norway, Sweden. Belgium.
Egypt and Persia.
John E. Ballaine, of Seattle. said TO be
the largest individual property owner in
Alaska, made a proposition IN writing 10
the Senate Committee Territories, OF
which Senator BeVeridge. OF Indiana, is
chairman, Offering TO the government
royalty OF 90 cents ton OF coal mined for
the lease OF five thousand acres OF some OF
the choicest coal lands In Alaska, in the
Katalla and Matanuska districts. Such
tonnage royalty would net 10 the govern
high as 100000 a hundred acres"
ANY persons of importance die?" asked
Busy Man.
General William F. Draper, formerly
American Ambassador to Italy, died at his
ho.re in Washington. j. Q. julius Lang
bein former justice Of the Municipal
Court and a Civil War veteran, was
stricken with epopexy and died in an am
bulance on the way TO Hudson Street Hos
pitel.
Edward Payson Bryan, ex-vics-president
OF the Interborough Rapid Transit Com
pany, OF this city. died from apoplexy
in San Juan, P. p. Professor Edward
VtIette Reynolds, member OF the Yale
Law School faculty. died al the Hotel Bel
mont in this city. from pneumonia. he
was on his honeymoon and had been III
onIv four days Ezra Kendall, the come
dian, died from apopiery in a sanatorium
q, Marttnsville Ind. Otis LIE Roy Smith,
an artist and china decorator, known In his
,rofessIon as Otis lie Roy, died from cere-
brsI heuorrhage in his home in this city.
Joseph Wheelock, jr.. died in Phoenix. Ariz.
ue was the son of the old and capable
actor OF that nane-who fell dead not long
seo-and was himself promising young
performer before his health failed.
pear Admiral Nehemiah Mayo Dyer IRE
tiredl honored for distinguished services in
two wars, died at his home IN Meirose'
Mass following an attack or acute indi-
eestlon Frank A BurTelie, pioneer IN
m. press clipping business, died al sea, on
81. vay from Costa Rics TO New Orleans.
Edward Patterson. until last month prssid-
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

dress single remark in Parliament
without having previously obtained the
permission of the First Commoner by
means of he peculiar process known
as catching the Speakers eye
There is no optic in the world that has
played so important a part in history as
the "eye" of the Speaker of the British
House OF Commons. It's powers and
rights are based, like the English con
stitution. not on written law, but on
long established custom and tradition.
Very often several members arise in
their places at one and the same time,
endeavoring to arrest the wandering
optic Of the Speaker, and IT is then free
TO that august functionary to make his
selection and to indicate the member
who has his permission to speak. This
he does, not only by means Of a look,
but also by an inclination Of the head
and by calling upon the member who
has his permission TO speak-a practice
which has been in vogue since the ten
ure Of Office Of Sir John Trevor, who
squinted most abominabIy and whose
obIiquity of vision led to all sorts Of en-
barrassing mistakes.
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
AMERICAS SCENERY.

NO country in the world has scenery
that can compare with the Grand Canvon
of the Colorado" said Lieutenant John
Dzialas. OF Saarburg. Germany. at the
New Willard. Lieutenant DZialas has been
for two yeaTE rsiltary attache Of the Ger
man legation m --Iexico and is on his wav
home. He visited California and other
Western states on his way East, and IL
enthusiastic about the grandeur az tha
scenery and the advantages offered In This
country.
1t has been my good fortune IN Wait
Italy, France, Switzerland and other
countries OF Europe" said Lieutenant
DZialas. but nowhere have | seen so won
derful country as America Not only
does II excel In nature but your neonle ar.
the most wonderful | have ever known.
There is so much energy displayed on all
sides. Apparently there is but one ambi-
tion--to work This is In striking contrast
TO the conditions In Europe and Mexico,
where there is disposition TO shirk labor
and 10 procrastinate. .'-Washingtou Post.
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
A DISTINCTION IN GERMS.

It's this way. explained Mr. Putnam
The new books come from factories
where they have been handled by dozens.
possibly BY hundreds. OF hands II thers
are any germs on the finger tips OF the
employees they will get into the pages OF
the books. But you viii admit that a
nourished- active germ. coming from liv-
ing person, probably IS more dangerous
than some half starved anRmic bacillus
that has been imprisoned in one Of those
heavy bindings there for some hundred
years" Then Mr. Putnam went on mora
seriously.
"Disinfectins won't help matters II Is
impossible 70 disinfect a book every tIns
II has been handled or touched by some
body. n cases OF scarlet fever. when
scales OF skin are coming OF. books read
by the convalescent should be destroyed
not disinfected but destroyed To avoid
Infection with tuberculosis through books
al one has to do is not 10 do the wetting-
Of-the-fnger act The government clerks
in Lansing. Mich. probably were IN the
habit OF wetttns their fingers when turn
ing the pages OF their books.
In RivingtOn street i found Mss Kent
the assistant librarian OF the East Side
Circulating Library, giving out books %
children for home use.
What books do they read,' asked.
Fairy tales" she answered with q
smile. Fairy tales. They care only FOR
fairy tales"
There were twoscore or more children
sitting around the tables. bent over books.
with expressions OF interest and pleasure
on their little faces aud with the glow OF
excitement in their eyes.
What are they reading asked again.
Fairy tales" Miss Kent said; sonly
fairy tales"
Ever heard OF cases OF infection through
books ! aueried, getting 10 the point.
That's fairy tale, too and she
laughed Its Just fairy tale"
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
FLEE THERE FROM COLD.

At Cooper Union, unfortunately such
civlity would be our OF place, seeing that
a goodly number of people going there
have no overceats a all. In days of brisk
winter breezes half OF the visitors to
Cooper Unicn. both men and women. go
there mainly 10 warm themselves. ami in
cidentally, TO read. But germs, especially
germs of tuberculosis are known 70 have
a perverse preference for a system that
has been weakened by neglect or exposure
and therefore l approached l. c. Z
Jordan, the secretary, with a distinct ap-
prehension of being obliged by him with
the sensational piece OF news I was hunt
ing for.
Mr.. Jordan. TOO. smiled. like DR. Billings.
but he smiled sadly
It's absurd" he exclaimed with pas
sionate gesture, how a person afflicted
with tuberculosis is being prosecuted, Why.
they shut him or rrom his family. ex-
clude him from the schools. isolate him
from his fellow beings: they make OF him
pariah. like leper. In Europe scienti-
fc authorities. writing on the subject, be-
gin energetically to protest against such
exaggerated folly. They claim tha, tuber-
culous people are being subjected 10 un-
necessary humiliation. with It's subsequeu,
result Of much mental suffering. which. Of
course. cannot be conducive TO improving
the physical condition OF the patient
Now, | don't know whether there are
any consumpttve persons freauenting our
reading room. | don't know. as We make
no discrimination Whatsoever But know
one thing. which is that ne have never at
tempted 10 disinfect newspapers. books or
magazines yet our librarian. who handles
the books. never has been sick for a day in
the last ten years. nor has the woman at
tho .desA giving out the maxAzines That
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30
UNFAIRNEss NEVER CHARGED.

While the Speaker generally comedies
priority to newcomers who are about to
address the House for the first time, he
is so impartial in the performance of this
particular duty that within the memory
Of the present generation, at any rate,
no Speaker Of the House of Commons
has ever been taxed with unfairness in
this respect. OF course, this extremely
antiQuated method is attended by some
disad vantages, and it often happens that
members are prevented from addressing
the House for weeks together and de-
barred from taking any part in the de-
bate owing to their failure 10 catch the
Speakers eye. Failing eyesight, under
the circumstances, is an almost insuper-
able bar TO the retention of the Speaker
New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

over many centuries, there have only
been fifteen instances where the Speaker
has thus been called upon to exercise
his prerogative
THE SPEAKER S RESIDENCE.
The office of Speaker carries with il a
magnificent official residence in the
northern portion of the Palace of West
minister, the bright and lofty rooms being
lighted with great windows command
ing views Of the Thames. His residence
is most luxuriously furnished. with a
fun equipment Of plate. servants, car
riages, horses. etc. Moreover, il is
lighted and heated free of any expense
to his purse, and he receives a salary of
$4,000 a year, allowances amounting 10
almost as much more, all sorts of odd
perquisftes. some of them of very ancient
origin, besides a retiring pension Of 500
QUO year for the remainder Of his life
Moreover. it is the prerogative of each
Speaker Of the House of Commons to be
offered a peerage and seat in the
House Of Lords on his retirement.
While the emoluments are liberal. they
may be described as well earned, for the
post Of Speaker calls for the exercise of
the most superhuman patience No
matter what twaddler is on his legs. the
Speaker must give his whole and un-
divided attention, often for long hours In
succession. He cannot slip cut TO the
smoking room or to the lobby. but must
remain in the chair, bored literally TO
death
Like sad Prometheus fastened 20 the
rock
In vain he looks for pity to the clock.
The Speaker of the last House of Com
mons, and the one, therefore, who will
be reelected on the meeting of Parlia-
ment, a fortnight hence, is the Right
Hon. Sir James William Lowther. Con-
servative member Of the Penrith Divis-
ion Of Cumberland for near a quarter
Of a century, formerly Under Secretary
Of Foreign Affairs and a son of the
younger brother of the third Earl of
Lonsdale. His own younger brother.
Sir Gerard Lowther, is British Ambas-
sador at ConstantinopIe, and married to
a daughter Of the late Atherton Blight
OF Philadelphia and Newport, r I.
Probably James ". Lowther has suf-
rered less from boredom than any of his
predecessors in the chair, for he is a
most gifted caricaturist, and, while ap-
parently taking notes during long and
dreary debates, relieves the tediurn of
the hour by caricaturing both the speak
ers and their listeners. In fact. no mem
Der can ever be quite certain that he has
not been quietly taken off, by the
Speaker. with all his weakest points
emphasized, in such a manner as to rem
der him ridiculous, and it is the fear
which the Speaker thus inspires, quite
as much as anything else. which enables
him 10 maintain discipline with so much
more facility than any previous occu-
pant Of the office. He has the keenest
sense Of humor. is one Of the foremost
fencers in England, and is never so
happy as when riding 10 hounds. II is
no wonder, therefore that he should
have achieved the reputation of being
one Of the most successful and popular
men that have ever presided over the de-
hberattons of the lower house of tba
English Parliament. EX-ATTACHF