davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19

The aviator who has established record for
flight by moonlight ought to name his machine
the ''Snipe'.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19

President Taft is said to still retain his
hearty laugh, This despite the fact that he
has been given the ''horse laugh.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19


The revival Of the Abruzzi stories with their
monumental mendactty twaddle and slush. only
explained rejecting the sensationaiism of the
yellow press and the innate snobbery Of the very
common people 1t caters to- They have no other
foundation In fact inconsequenial fact
that the young woman whose respectable name to
again dragged through the cutters gossip went
to Europe to spend the On that the whole
fabric OF recrudescent rot including the state.
precise amount OF cash the bridegroom
in expectancy hagsiing erected
AS the Elkins family have formally denied this
whole mess gossip and conjecture. they ought
be taken at their word. and the violations OF
their privacy should But snobbish and tuft-
hunting public dslkes to baked Its sensation.
and yellow press Is at Its service. Regard for this
feelings OF the young concerned Is thrown ia
the winds. A
The whole enterprise reeks OF vulgar tmpcrtinence
and betokens a snohbish eagerness about wealth
titles that should have place In the American
emocracy.--Miiwaukee Sentinel
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19
A Kindly Warning.

Colonel James Gordon of mississippi has received
from the Richmond virsinian delicate and we'll
thought warning against standing for election TO tina
United States Senate. observes prophetically that
Colonel Gordon's farewell address to the Senate and
his previous breezy little speeches would fall
nuisance speedily He would first be the butt OF jokes
and would then be pushed aside. This is probably
the truth Of the case. Colonel Gordons sincerity
and his unaffected patriotism and sentiment capti-
waited the Senate novelties. But the Senate has
work to do and Colonel Gordon Is beyond the age
for acquiring habits OF work In held There
would be too much coying sweetness In six years
repetition unexpected successor Colonel Cor
don il hne. brave and sweet old gentleman. Let
him be remembered such. It would be painful
10 see him bufYsted by politics Knoxville Sentinel
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19
VAMPIRES AND OTHERS.

Considerable is being said about vampires these
days fresh interes, in those more or Tess iaDuIoaa
conclusion of series of rapid-nre events embracing
two continents. But speaking OF vampires long be-
they had been revamped into popularity. so to
speak the younger Lytton. owen Meredith wrote
a little poem about midges
try many Of the worlds great capitals and IT was
probably during his sojourn at Paris that the verse;
time In suitably melancholy mood. having been
left the cold. while more successful sutton
INDUCING In sad thoughts his attention directed
10 swarm of tiny Insects, and he fell TO STUDYING
their movements. He observed particularly loV-
ing pair which he thus describes:
One impulsiye young nudge heard ardentiy pouring
In the ears OF shy little wantom In gauxe.
Hts eternal devotion: his ceaseless adorinE,
Which shall last tin the universe breaks from ita
laws.
But, In the nudge world, life runs its swift cycle
before good cigar be turned into ashes. Those
feeting moments witnessed the decline and fall OF
love. Lytton recounts the plight OF the deserted
lover
BY the nudge his heart trusted his heart is received
In the virtue OF midges no more he believes.
From love In it's fasehood. wildly believed now
He with bury his decolate life in the leaves
Though his friends console and point hundreds
Of seconds ahead in which to live down SORROWS.
the poor nudge is first disconsolate But they
speak again Of fame and then ambition, to which ha
gives faint ear; and when the group danced away.
would survive. Illuminating the gilded Joys and
the roseleaf sorrows OF the mtdse world Lytton re-
about IT. May others not take comfort from the poets
experience
the ruefu countenance will arrive at fergetfulness
through the OF active usefulness: in other
the chosen OF his people. We would not be spitneto
or cynical nor would we speak nippantiy OF any
heard enough of vampires Why not talk about
midges 3-Waahington Post O
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-19
Only A -Four Flusher.

When the people slunaber their rights the Boss
Is monarch OF all he surveys swells up with the
sense OF power like inflated toad. and, II any
murrnur OF complaint arises. deigns only 10 reply.
We'll, what you going to do about IT."
But. when the real sovereign rouses himself like
"a strong man after sleep and shakes his invncibs
locks, and thundsrs forth rebuke and mandate to
the usnrpsrs Of hs place. then how quickly the
courage OF the nook monarch ooxes out Of his nn-
ger tips. and how completely his porty dimen-
sions shrivei up to nothingness.
The truth II that Bossism Il never anything but
empty bluff. and II II doomed to dincomhture
szhansNes the people shooss 10 scaff. 80 much The
more the people 10 blame for every hour they
sllow themselves to be dominated ~ weAk hanA~p
virginlap. TtlQt "a
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
A WHEEL OUT OF GEAR.

Shall written law or tickle men rule this coun-
try! Justice Lurton, of Ohio, lifelong Repub-
hcan, friend and appointee Of President Taft,
learned jurist and member of the highest Judi
cial body of the nation asks this question.
He puts the question squarely up to the Amer
lean people and has given them something to
think about. Coming from SO gifted and deep
a man, and man in Justice Lurton's position
the question must of necessity carry with it the
inference that men and their moods, instead of
the constitution and statutes rule.
Justice Lurton's statement that neither a
constitution nor statute is to be treated by
either the executive the Judiciary as if it were
a nose of wax to be twisted and nodded accord
ing to the fancy of the OCCASION was aimed at
some man or set of men who have been in power
or now hold the reins, and that he has seen
enough Of the government at Washington to know
that this twisting and molding has been or is
being done
Law is infexible When it is made pliable
and puttish, all its high aims may be defeated
and what was designed to be virtue made q
vice
high note of warning has been sounded by
Justice 1urton. Laws are being disregarded, mis-
interpreted and in consequence the balance wheel
of the nation has been thrown ont of gear. If
the Constitution which has served us so long and
honorably is to be treated like dish-rag by
men put in power, why not let the people frame
one which they will respects If the laws are
not made for all the people and to apply equally
in all cases, why not new laws But at all events
let us have laws made for enforcement and re-
spect and enforced and respected. If the courts
are to be overruled by men in power, dissolve
the courts. This Or harken to Judge Lurton's
words.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
WIDER SIDEWALKS.
words.

With the Committee on streets determined "a
wipe out every show case on the sidewalks on
Broad street, and scores of reputable merchants
vigorously protesting, common ground must
be reached.
Composing no unimportant part of the city
government and vested with authority to do that
which is best for the improvement of the streets
of Richmond, this committee has right to
say what shall and shall not be when it comes
to thoroughfares. In the majority of instances
if not all, the committee abides by the wishes OF
the majority of the people,
Representing the business thrift and enter
prise of the city, paying into the city treasury
great bulk Of taxes, the merchants and their
wishes are to be respected. IF there were no
merchants there would be no Broad street. The
merchants make Broad street. They are there
fore entitled to the same consideration as the
people When they make a united protest
against the Recommendation of an ordinance
which they deem hurtful to their business. their
voices should be heard and thought given to their
side of the question. 1t is one thing to have a
better Broad street with scores of dissatisfied mer-
chants conducting the shops and excoriatng the
city government, and another to have thorough
fare lined with smiling, satisfied dealers proud
of their city government and ready to lend every
assistance toward those who guide its destinies
An ordinance giving greater space to pedes-
rlans on Broad street, which is all too frequently
congested, seems imperative. Removal of all the
show cases which now jut out on the sidewalk
is taken by the committee on streets as the So
luton Of the traffic problem
We believe an ordinance widening the pave
ment Of Broad street and restricting the size of
the show cases and the use Of sidewalk space for
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
COST OF RUNNING CITIES.

The report of Director Durand of the Cen
sus Bureau in Washington, on the cost of oper-
ating cities shows that about $405 900, 900 was
spent in 1908 in maintaining and operating the
city departments of the 15S largest municipal
tiles
Expressed in per capita averages the cities Of
more than 100000 population in 1908 with the
highest expenses were Boston, $27.58: New
York, $2471 and Washington, $24.63.
Among the cities Of from 100000 to 100000
population Denver, with $24.44, had the highest,
and st. Joseph, with $3.50, the lowest per capita
expense. Of cities having from $1,000 to 100,-
900 inhabitants the highest per capita expense
was $685., in Yonkers and the lowest in Savan-
nah, with S7.20 Of cities with from $4,000 TO
$4,000 population, the one with the highest per
capita expense was Sacramento, with S20.34,
and the lowest was Joplin. with $3.50.
The report shows that the maintenance of
schools represents IS per cent Of the total ex-
penses Of cities The protection of city life and
property BY the police, fire and associated de-
partments is second in cost. The per capita
averages vary greatly. Salt Lake City spent
1918 per capita for schools; Newton Mass,
spent IS. and New York, Boston. Washington,
Newark Denver, Springfield, Mass, and Sacra-
mento each spent about IS for the same purpose,
while Montgomery spent only $1.63; Charles
ton, $1.81; Norfolk, $2.15; ST Joseph, $2.17;
Memphis, $2.19; Knoxville, 1928, and Man
chester and Galveston each 1914.
The report indicates general increase in the
cost of maintaining city government. In 1902
the average was $13.36 per capita. By 1908 it
had advanced to $16.S1.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
THE REAL THING IN SOCIETY.

The cruiser division of the Atlantic fleet con-
sisting of the Tennessee South Dakota, North
Carolina and Montana will leave Hampton Roads
August II, for cruise of the New England
coast and will visit Newport and Bar Harbor,
that Society may see the feet and that officers of
the armada may touch elbows with Society. 1t is
well. Society and the Navy in the same
boat, so to speak. The officers of the Navy,
their wives and daughters, their sisters, cousins
and aunts constitute Society within themselves,
more exclusive even than the traditional Four
Hundred. They live and move and marry in
their own select circle and any mixing with the
outside world is condeseension. Several years
ago when private letter Of Admiral Sampson
was made public in which he urged that no man
from the ranks should be elevated TO offcialdom,
although the public Knocked, the inner circle Of
the Navy applauded and captains wife was
heard to say, ''why it would be an outrage to let
one of those common fellows in through the back
door, for we would have to entertain them in
own own circle'
Fact is the Navy is our American aristocracy
and when Newport Society sees the pluIned Of
fcers of the Atlantic feet it viii see the real
thing. And what is our Navy for. if not an
object lesson
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29

he would compromise his own dignity and de
grade his office.
The Ohio Republicans" says the New York
Tribune, ''are described as having been so long
accustomed to direction from Washington that
they are entirely unused TO acting on their own
initiative, so that now that the opportunity Is
afforded them their first feeling is one of EN-
barrassment, rather than of qualification"
just how far that is meant to involve other
men who have sat in the White House, we do
not know. We arc glad to see, however, that
President Taft will not follow the precedent.
Aside from the prophecies, the President who
NEEDLES in local politics takes an unfair ad-
vantage of opposing candidates and of the
voters By reason of his position, the President
has an influenza pull as it is called in
politics-which he could not have as an in
dividual and he uses the powers of Office. the
powers of government it may be. TO carry his
objectionable and intolerablc, and the people
resent it. The President of the United States
is an institution His insignia of Office make
him much more than an ordinary person. He Is
more than an oficialy he is an Office, the highest
Office in the land and he should be removed as
far az possible from the small things of partisan
politics. II would be far better for the country,
in our opinion, if he were elected for a single
term of six years without any patronage what
ever to bestow upon hungry othce-seekers. Mr..
Taft has set a good example and we hope he
has established precedent that will be honored
and observed by all his successors
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
TAFT AND POLITICS.

President Taft declined to NEEDLE in the Ohio
political campaign, and more recently he de
olared in a public address that while he was
President he would take no part IN partisan poll
tics.
s'You know he said refectively, 1T is lit
tie difficult when you are thinking politics and
having great deal to do with politics, to make
fluent remarks without running up against poll
-.
'But travelling as / am, as President of the
United States, have no right to be other than
President of the whole people and to stand only
on the platform of patriotism, love of country
and prosperity for all.
Noble sentiment. 1t does MOI mean that
d man should not be partisan. There is moth
ing wrong in honest partisanry, and mug
mssmpery is All abominatien. Ours is a government
of checks and balances, to use trite saying
and political parties are necessary. Any man
with liked political convictions should ally him
self with that party which stands for the prin-
ciples and policies in which he believes. Nor
should his allegiance be easily shaken. So long
- his party is true its fundamentals, he should
stand by ii and vote with it, even though there
should be in the platform plank here and there
not altogether TO his liking
3@ Mr.. Taft is Republican and was elected by
\ Republican votes. And he is none the less a
Republican, We take it, because he is President.
Republican policies, and to affiliate with his party
associates as far as may be in all matters of
pbhc polity. But if he should stoop to political
wirspnIling and especially if he should medde
ith politics In his own State or in any State,
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
ARE GOVERNORS WORTH WHILE?

- Fhe proposal to form Il House of Governors
Is receiving Commentator from the press IN
which The Nirginian heartily concurs As po-
htical organization ii would be capable of doing
much in the interest of States rights and State
sovereignty and in this day of concentration and
nafIonalism, such an alliance offensive and de
fensve is greatly needed. The railroads, the
trusts and the Republican party are working to-
gether TO degrade the States and excite the Ma
tion and unless there he a counter movement on
the part of those who believe in preserving the
government as il was handed down to us by the
founders, State sovereignty will soon be merely a
memory.
But House al Governors might do great
deal in a practical way to aid industrial pro
gress in the several States and to bring about
much desired uniformity of laws. There
would be no danger of wrangle and complicators
for the body would have no power to legislate.
It would be a conference and views would be
interchanged and ideas and suggestions snapped.
And in this way the public interest would neces-
-4afiisy be benefited iii greater or less degree
Under the present regime. Governors of States
and Mayors OF cities are more ornamental than
useful, not meaning to reflect upon them. In
d sense they are necessary. We could not get
along very well without them, but if they merely
attend to the routine of Office they worth very
little in a substantial way TO the public, In
some cities. under the commission form of gov
eminent, the mayor is put to work and made to
earn his salary. But we have no means Of com
pelling the Governors, they are sovereign" and
50 long as they act with becoming dignity, sign
bills, see that the laws are upheld, and make APP
pointments and speeches, they cannot be i'm
peached. The Constitution in most liberal and
indulgent 10 the Governor of Virginia. 1t re-
anires Of him only that be shall take that
The laws be faithfully executed, communicate
10 the General Assembly at every session the
condition of the State; recommend TO its con
sideration such measures as he may deem ex-
pedient and convene the General Assembly on
application of twothirds of the members OF both
houses thereof. or when. in his opinion. the in
terests of the State may require. If he complies
with those requirements, he is entitled to draw
his pay and enjoy the company of his colonies
and others. So far az our knowledge goes, other
States are equally considerate and indulgent of
the chief executive officer and In the language
Of the alley they have q snap.
1t seems to us only fair and right that the
Governors should get together and make them
selves as useful as they are, admittedly, orna-
mental
It would be interesting 10 have message from
candidate Mccarthy on that phase of the subject.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
Another Hot Weather Tonic.

1t seems as If Washington scientists endanSer~
ing their thinking machines when the thermometer
registers 100 that city by trying TO settle the
matter OF Mother Earths Their estimate credits
her with mot above 100000 or below $1,000
600 years" This estimate, given official sanction
through publication by the Smithsonian Institution Is
the result OF studies by Frank Wtggesworth Clarke
and George F. Becker, the United States geological
who have followed the subject with consider
able interest Professor Clarke, in a paper entitled
Preliminary Study OF Chemical Denudation presents
review OF all the available data only for the
United States but for the world OF the proposition
fronf chemical point OF view. Mfr. Becker on the
other hand, discusses the question in THE
Age Of the Earth from more philosophical point
Of view.
Other scientists told, have made the follow
ing calculations" guesses:
Lord Kelvin in 1852. 20 to 400 million years. with
probable IS million years
Clarence King and Carl varus in 1893, "a million
years
Lord Kelvin in 1897 revised his figures to 20 to 40
million years
De Lapparent in 1890, 81 to 90 million years,
Charles D. Walcott, secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution, in 1893 maximum age, 10 years.
J. Jolly, In 1899, age of the ocean, so to 80 million
W. J. Soas in 1909 age OF the ocean, so TO $50
million
We note that the author OF the Rock OF Genesis,
whoever he was, has not been quoted in the discus
manipulating Advance.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
STRANGE INDIFFERENCE.

Joseph G. Moore, lawyer of Westerly, r. l.,
being afflicted with tuberculosis went TO New
York recently to test the healing properties of
the relic of ST. Anne in the Catholic Church of
St Jeane Baptiste.
The small bone was held to this throat He
returned to his hotel and told his wife that his
cough was better.
On Sunday he felt the relic again. Then
he said he was confident that he would recover.
But he had relapse and died.
It would appear from their Indifference that
the people generally of this community are will
ing that persons similarly afflicted should rely
upon ST. Anne relics and the like for their cure.
All such are earnestly invited to take more
serious view of the subject and aid the Tuber-
culosis Camp which has been established and
which will do noble work for humanity and
for the community, if it receive adequate sup
port
1t is an established fact that tuberculosis is
preventable and that it is durable if the disease
be taken in time. When a man with smallpox
10 found at large, there is an outcry as though
he we're a mad dog and be is rushed off to the
pest house and isolated. If there are a dozen
cases in the community, the order for a general
vaccination is issued and enforced. Yet we
allow persons with tuberculosis to 90 about the
streets as long as they are able, or to remain in
the family where others are liable to contract
the disease. We could have checked the white
plague as readily as we haze checked smallpox
and yellow fever, if we had been at the same
pains TO do so. Yet tuberculosis is on the in
crease and numbers its victims by thousands
each year 1t is a reflection upon our humanity,
upon our common sense, upon our very civiliza-
ton that we should allow this condition to re-
main In Richmond at least one step has been
taken to arrest the white plague and it ought
to be the pleasure of the public to provide the
means of carrying on the work
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
The Talk Down Home"


The bureau of the census has begun issuing bulle
tins bearing statistical affairs of Cities and the
released for publication to-day that about $405
100000 spent In 1908 in main tanning and operat
ing the city departments OF the 1853 largest cities
the United States having estimated population OF
$4,000 more in 1908. whose financial statistics for
that year have been collected by the census bureau
and analyticaly presented in Its annual report
the statistics of cities for the 1908 1t is shown
that the maintenance Of schools ab
cent OF the total of cities for education and
cost more than other municipal function, while
the protection of life property by the police
and associated departments was second in cost These
two functions OF education and protection OF life and
property SIS cent OF about *405 which
was the total expense Of maintaining and operating
city departments. For the whole group cities the
average per capita expense for schools $40;
for police departments s2.25: and for nre depart
ments s1.72. These capita vary greatly
among the several cities, Salt Lake City expended
s8.1S capita for schools Newton, Mass. S. and
New York, Boston, Washington. Newark, Denver
Springfield, Mass and Sacramento each expended over
IS for the purpose, while Montgomery expend-
ed only $1.6s; Charleston. s1Sl; Norfolk. s25; st
Joseph, SALT: Memphis, SAFE: Knoxville s2.2S and
Manchester and Galveston, each $2.34.-Charlotte
Evening Chronicle
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-29
Snake Cfaar1ncrs.

The latest snake story comes from San Bernardno,
Cal Singing Nearer My God. TO Thee" three women
charmed rattiesnake which had just crawIed from
beneath cushion upon which of them seated
at ranch. Mrs. r. p. Dunlap. Mrs. Harry Allison
and Mrs. w. A. Vale were seated lounge under
the trees when Mrs. Dunlap perceived the snake.
Instantly abe thought OF music charming reptiles
she whispered Lets sing She commenced to hum
the sacred air. and the others not knowing why. took
1t up. The snake with head poised paused Mrs.
Dunlap slowly and beckoned the others to
follow, which they did. After having gained safe
distance the others discovered what their had
been Armed with clubs the then killed the
snake-Alexandrta Gazette.