davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
NEW YORK As A PORT.

The figures of this ports foreign com.
merce for the year 1901, prepared by
the Chamber Of Commerce. ought TO be
reassuring TO those timid persons who
think that New York's primacy in the
foreign trade is TO be shaken by inn
prOvements in Boston llarbOr, the eX-
ploitation Of New London or the devel
Opment OF all ocean terminal at Fort
Pond Bay. This city is first in The
handling of foreign trade. and its sup
posed rivals are really nowhere. When
It can be said Of a single port on our vast
range of waterfront on the Atlantic, the
Gulf OF Mexico and the Pacific that II
handles 5311 per cent Of the nations
imports and 1852 per cent Of its exports
speculation as to possible encrOachments
Of other seaportS on our prosperity is
time wasted. The natural accretion of
so enormous volume of business would
be sufficient TO sustain the growth Of this
port for decades TO come were New YORK
not 10 lift a hand further TO attract
commerce or were its harbor facilities
already taxed to anything like their
normal limit
The development Of the harbor has
only just begun. There are great
stretches Of deep water frontage still un-
touched, and the Upper Bay can easily
accommodate, if need be- ten times the
shipping for which it now cares More
over, this harbOr is naturally more ca
paciOuS and accessible than that Of any
rival city, and on the same investment
for improvements New York could al
ways count on far more considerable rc-
turns. All the great transatlantic and
coast liners come here because this Is
the centre of maritime exchanges. and it
is hard TO conceive OF any change in con-
ditions which would drive these lines TO
any other American port. Other cities
may expand their foreign commerce
trifle faster. relatively, than New York
does. but that is only because the totals
In their trade are so modest as to per-
nit their annual gains TO make CON
spicuouS showing in the percentage col
umn. We can look with complacency
upon the struggle of our neighbOrs for
more exports or imports. Their sue
cesses happily cannot diminish New
YOrk's enormous and steadily growing
foreign trade.
This gratifying conclusion should not.
however, deter earnest efforts 10 make
more ont Of the latent pOtentialities Of
the port. Our docking facilities should
be enlarged inasmuch as we shall have
to take care of larger and still larger
ocean liners and plans should be made
ahead in cooperation with the federal
government for the deepening Of the
main channels and the development Of
our present unused pier space. The ad-
vantages which nature has lavished ON
the port should be seduously cultivated
and made ready for final utilization to
their fullest extent.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
CARDINALS GET GREETINGS
American Prelates in Rome Also
Receive Many Gifts.

Rome, Dec. 4-Cardinals Farley, ~Fal-
COMO and O'Connell have received an abun-
dance Of Christmas greetings, especially
from the United States and Ireland. Many
presents are being received by the Ameri-
can cardinals from Catholics and Protes-
tants alike
Cardinal Farley viii celebrate high mass
tomorrow I'm his titular church, Sancta
Maria Sopra Minerva. Cardinal OConnell
will celebrate mass in his own apartment
Both Of the cardinals will dine al the
American College.
Midnight masses were celebrated here, as
is customary on Christmas Eve The Pope
did not oficate. as he did in the early
years Of his pontifcate. Instead, the mass
was celebrated by Monsignor Zambfi in the
Pauline Chapel. in the presence OF all the
Vatican preates.
Cardinal OConnell will leave here on
Tuesday for Naples. He intends to make
an automobile tour prior to sailing for the
United States
At a private audience yesterday Mon
signor Kennedy, rector Of the American
College In addition TO extending Christmas
greetings I'm behalf Of himself and the col
lege. presented 10 the Pope S27s2I an Of
fering of Peters pence from Archbishop
Prendergast, OF PHILADELPHIA The Pope
sent his blessing to the American College
and asked Monslgnor Kennedy 10 convey
his Christmas greetings TO Archbishop Prem
dergast.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
INFERIOR AMERICAN HORSES.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Cannot something be done TO under
score General LEONARD Woods magnificent
words Of protest against the destruction OF
the great thoroughbred Industry in our
land?
No spectator Of the military contests at
the last horse show I'm Madison Square
Garden will question the generals declara-
ton that the destruction Of the great
breeding industry is "a national calamity.
The sorry hacks ridden by the American
officers were shamefully outlooked and out
drilled. outgalloped and outjumped by the
magnificent chargers from other countries
The chairman Of the Republican state
Committee has been consistent protestant
from the very inception Of this crusade
against a sport which had fiourished IN
our state for over one hundred years. II
is TO be hoped that Mr.. Barnes, with Cen
eral Wood and the respectable Republican
as allies, Will be able 10 achieve
something toward the upbuild!ng Of the
ruin wrought by the campaign against
racetrack gambling. q. WHILE
New York, Dec. 2l. 1911.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25

milk But It would be vastly better 10
have milk free from such germs and not
In need of sterilization, and 1t would be
lamentable to have the knowledge that
all milk was to be sterilized move pro-
ducers TO be less careful Of its cleanl-
ness and freedom from possible Infection
and inspectors less vigiant in examining
the supply and making sure of its purity.
So it is well to inOculate against typhoid.
But 1t would be much better 10 filter ana
purify the water supply so that 1t VIII
not be a purveyor of typhoid germs, and
it would he best Of all to safeguard the
sources of supply from contamination.
It would be wrong to place reliance upon
incubation and thus neglect to purify
the water; or to rely upon filtration ana
permit unlimited pollution.
There is really danger that men Will
be so dazzled by the splendid curative
achievements of medical science as 10
overlook the need Of preventive measures,
and relying too much upon the processes
of sterilization which bacteriology has
provided will neglect to preserve native
purity. When supplies of food and drink
become contaminated it is well TO ster-
ilize them-indeed, II is necessary TO DO
so IL they are to be used-but the far
more desirable thing is TO protect them
from contamination. There is no say
ing more trite than that prevention Is
better than cure: and there IS none that
is more pertinent and profitable.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
IN THE BERKSHIRES.

lB By Telegraph TO The Tribune
LenoN. Dec. IA bass-relief tablet TO the
memory Of the Rev. Dr. Arthur Lawrence
Will be unveiled at St Paurs Church.
Stockbridge, tomorrow morning. Or. Law
renee was rector OF the church from 1872
to 1909 The tablet is by Miss Daisy KING.
who will be in Stockbridge tomorrow. The
Rev. Charles J. Sniffen. curate of ST. Paups
under Or. Lawrence. will make an address.
DR.. Charles McBurney has returned TO
Stockbridge from South Carolina. where ne
has been hunting quail Mrs. McBurney
and Mr.. and Mrs. Henry McBuruey are I'm
Stockbridge for the holidays.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edwards Spencer are IN
New York
Mr.. and Mrs. George Winthrop Folsom
Mr.. and Mrs. Clark q. Voorhees, and the
Misses Ethel and Constance Folsom will
sail on January for Nassau for the win
ter.
Mrs George Bend and Miss Beatrice Bend
are with Mr.. and Mrs Cortandt Fold
Bishop for the holidays
Frederick Schenck, OF Harvard. is az
Valley Head for the holiday recess TO visit
his mother Mrs. j. Frederick Schenck.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Deladeld are en-
tertaining Robert Sedgwick jr.. and Mar
shall K. Kcrnochan for the holidays. There
was Christmas tree entertainment given
at Little Farm tonight for Miss Anita
peladcld
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
ANNAPOLIS ATHLETICS.

It is a striking arraignment OF strenu-
Gus athletics which Surgeon General
Stokes Of the navy delivers in his annual
report. Many physicians have declared,
anG many athletes and professional
coaches have as often denied, that the
hard work Of football, track and crew
teams as the intercollege contests have
developed them produces muscular and
organic growth which is almost certain
to degenerate rapidly if the individuals
find it impossible in later years to keep
MP systematic athletic training. The sta
tistics which the surgeon general quotes
in his report show a heavy percentage of
heart, lung and other organic affections
among former Annapolis athletes. which
he traces to athletics.
Obviously if the theory of degeneracy
Of muscles and organs after hard train
ing discontinued is to be considered at
all naval officers would be likely 10 show
such degeneracy plainly. BY the very
nature of their occupation they are pre-
vented from keeping up hard training.
They may be able TO do gymnasium
work, but probably not with the regular
ity or enthusiasm which accompanied
training for athletic contests. The queS-
tion which the surgeon general raises is
not one Of abolishing athletics, but Of
establishing a different standard. not
only for Annapolis, but for all establish
ments where athletics and physical train
ing receive attention. He would MAKE
Success dependent more upon skill and
less upon brute force" thereby develop
ing strong bodies, capable of undergoing
hard work and resisting strain, fatigue
and disease, rather than the bodies Of
athletes of the gladiator brand. As An
napolis is training its young men to serve
the nation directly, and the country
needs them as nearly flawlesS as may be,
the subject is worthy Of serious discus
sion
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
THE THREE RS
Valuable and Neglected, According TO
Teachers and Employers.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir. Your editorial OF December l3 on
the investigation into the school system Oh
New, Jersey prompts me to refer to an eN-
nerience Of several years ago while presl-
dent Of the North Side Board Of Trade
We received numerous complaints from
members that public school graduates Oh
recent years who applied 10 them for EN-
ployment were deficient in spelling, gram
mar and arithmetic our board numbers
about FIVE hundred OF the Leading business
and professional men Of the borough anu
all corroborated the individual complaints
we received. Our committee on educatIoh
then sent a letter OF inquiry TO employers
OF help throughout the city. and the re-
sponses stated almost without exception
that school graduates were deficient IN the
studies mentioned that they considered
these studies essential, and that a knoWl-
edge OF basket weaving, cord and rama
work and the like was of no value to them
We then visited the public schools ana
asked the opinions OF principals and teach-
e-s None Of them was willing to be
quoted. but when we pledged ourselves 10
make no individual quotations many oil
them told us that the course Of study was
overloaded. that it was impossible, in the
school day and term, to give thorough
training in the so-called three Rs ana
teach sewing, cooking, basket weaving car
pentry, nature study and the Ike. we
visited a high school where the principal
not only told us that spelling and gram
mar were not essential school studies-that
anv boy or girl could pick these up through
l. afVafr iHH
reading the newspapers-but he laughngy
asked one of his teachers to bring lis some
test papers on spelling, etc, made by di-
rectiou Of Superintendent Maxwell. and
seemed to think the large proportion which
were deficient quite a joke.
As We went deeper into the subject we
found the supplies, tools, implements, etc,
as well as the salaries Of the special teach
ers for the "frils and fads" formed very
considerable item I'm the annual school
budget, and this was responsible for our
appearance before the Board OF Estimate 10
protest against the large appropriation for
such purposes. We were surprised 10 learn
that the advocates OF the "frills and fads'
were possessed OF the false notion that
children ought not to learn through study
or hard work. that they should imblbe
their ideas while at play as much as pos
sible, forgetting that there IS no royal road
to learning and that everything worth at
tanning in this l'fe comes only through
hard work and persevering effort 1
30 matter what vocation boy may fol-
low after leaving school he will have 70 use
the English language in pursuit of it, and
he must have a knowledge Of arithmetic
SO. then, the better grounded he IS I'm the
latter and in speaking. reading and writing
the language through which he must make
known his ideas and abilities to his fellows
the better qualified will he be to get on In
the world. maintain his self-respect and the
respect Of others and be useful citizen.
ALBERT f. DAVIS.
Borough of The Bronx. Dec. 20. 1911.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
TO PREVENT RATE WARS.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: It is obvious that law is needed
prohibiting trusts from exacting eXtortion-
ate prices i'm one section while selling the
same products in another below cost. Such
underselling is palpably for the purpose OF
crushing legitimate competition, and should
be penalized. Trusts should be allowed 10
enjoy the profits Of prevailing prices with
out being handicapped by uniform prices
set by law, but should never be permitted
to engage In crushing competition II II IS
evident that such underselling Is below the
prices charged by the trusts elsewhere atter
due allowance Is made for legitimate eX-
pense elements. Tradesmen, having estaD-
Iished living prices, should be protected
from demoralzing trade war waged by
concentrated capital in the form OF trusts
To fix prices by law would be open to the
objection Of paternalism.
EDWARD EVERETT WARNER,
New York Dec. g. 1911.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
THE MAYOR AND HIS "ACHIE|E
IENTS."

IHE ia OIC AN ms -lN''''|' -
uENTS."
In answering The Tribune'S questions
about his two years in Office Mayor Gay
nor asks one Of The Tribune TO wit,
whether he is right in thinking that
man should not allow his state or ma
tionaI political affiliations to influence
him i'm local or municipal elections. and
if ne is right. why The Tribune does not
saw So But The Tribune has been
preaching no other doctrine than this
for a good many years 1t has supported
one non-partisan movement after an
other and it has been glad to applaud
from time 10 time evidences that Mayor
Gaynor was excluding partisan politics
from his administration.
The Mayor may modestly disclaim the
word achievement" but what he has
done 10 strengthen the administration Of
the civil service system is fine example
of non-partsanShip at its best. His rule
recurring his SubOrdinateS TO follow the
numerical order on the civil service eligi-
BILE lists in making appointments strikes
a final blow at the use Of political infiu-
ence i'm securing public employment.
How the taking away from appointing
officers their discretion 10 select from
the highest three on an eligible list In
filing a vacancy will work out in prac-
tice remains TO be seen, but the expert
ment was worth trying. for in no other
way could the merit system 50 completely
effect its purpose Of excluding political
influence. And if the Mayor has accom-
plished. as he appears 20 think he has,
the end Of the police system Of levyiDg
blackmail on saloonkeepers, that has
been a really great achievement. The
Tribune sincerely hopes that he has sue
ceeded The evidence, however, is ex-
tremey difficult 10 obtain, whatever it
might show If the public shall become
convinced. as IL may, perhaps, before
the two remaining years Of his term are
over. that the Mayor is not mistaken in
his belief. the recognition Of his service
10 the community will assuredly be gen
erOuS
To be sure, the Mayor affects TO be in
different 20 praise and declares the pleas
ures Of Office 10 arise out Of the con
sciousness Of doing the best one can in
Office But il is not 10 be forgotten that
few if any Of this city's mayors have
ever received as much praise as Mayor
Gsynor has. The controversies in which
he has engaged should not be permitted
10 obscure the fact that every one Of his
services 10 the public has received In
slant and generous recognition. Mr..
Gaynor has talent for giving and re-
ceiving hard knocks, and in the din Of
battle the more credtable phases of the
relations of the Mayor 10 his constitu-
ency are likely to be forgotten. His per |
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
DISCUSS APOSTOLIC DELEGATES
Cardinals Merry del Val and Falconio
Consider Latter's Snccessor

Rome, Dec. 4-The Papal Secretary of
state. Cardinal Merry del VAL conferred
to-day with Cardinal FaIconio concerning
the appointment Of Apostolic Delegates at
Washington and Manila these posts having
been made vacant by the elevation Of Mon
signor Falconlo and the death Of Monslgnor
Agius. Among those most prominently
mentioned for the position at Washington
are Monsgnor Stagnl, Apostolic Delegate
TO Canada, and Monsignor Aversa, Apos-
tolic Delegate TO Cuba and Brazil
1t may be decided. however TO appoint
one who has not yet served i'm any of the
Apostolic delegations. In that event either
Monsignor Laurent secretary Of the Con-
gregation of the Propaganda. or Monsignor
Bonzano. rector Of the Propaganda College.
would probably receive the appointment
Both speak English fluently, have had
long experience in American affairs and
have taught several generations Of Ameri-
can students.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
MONEY AND BUSINESS

Expansion is reported In most lines Of
trade The commercial agencies are re-
ceiving favorable advices from all parts
Of the country, bank clearings for the
week just closed show a gain Of more
than per cent as compared with the
same time last year, railroad earnings
are heavier than those recorded at this
period In 1910. and general conditions
underlying money and business suggest
marked improvement in our Industries
in the months TO come. The holidf re-
tail trade has been satisfactory while
wholesale operations have been large.
despite the settlements incident 10 the
end of the year. In the iron and steel
market better prices and bigger orders
from consumers are noted. The rail-
roads are making contracts for rails and
equipment involving many millions OF
dollars, the size Of specifications and
actual orders encouraging The belief that
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
EXTENDING HUDSON RIVER PIERS

TO the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Upon a previous occasion you pub
lished some recollectons of mine concern
ing the extension Of piers into the Hudson
River. The objection that | pointed out
Is only one OF many that might be made.
The watershed Of the Hudson River is Of
the first Importance, and its outlet should
be treated with the greatest caution. In
this instance Nature has provided an alter
native in the East River the convenience
and value Of which may not be denied. and
as Blackwells Island fixes the least area
Of its navigable waters it's extension would
provide adequate means for the commerce
Of New York accessible to all railways TO
the east OF the Hudson River, and all upon
the west OF the Hudson River that may
have access 10 the tunnels OF the Pennsyl-
Nanis Railroad; for az the Wards Island
Bridge. now building. will provide access to
the Pennsylvania Railroad and its tunnels.
80 the railways coming In through New
Jersey may find access to Blackwelrs ISL
and extension by the same bridge. and that
railway commerce which seeks distribution
by water will also be provided for
This letter is caused by the published in
teryiews with the Secretary OF War and the
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
SEES TOO MUCH SYSTEM.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: laughable difficulty, or one that
would be laughable If IL were not so serious
presents itself in our schools during the
first month of each term, and TO an even
worse extent In high schools to which pupils
go after being "educatored" eight years in
elementary schools. The pupils have been
with Teacher A. who believes in the group
system or with b, who believes in formal
steps; or with G. an ardent exponent Of the
Herbashian system; or with ID, who prac-
tises dramatization Of all lessons, or with
f., who says there is nothing like liberal use
OF appercepton Each Of these practitioners
Of the formerly simple art OF school teach
ing became devotee Of his or her new de-
vice (See page PSI. Eleventh School ReporD
through taking COURSES at some pedagogy
school
The new teacher gets victims OF each kind
OF the new pedagogy and has a regular
circus inducing the various groups Of "edu-
catored' pupils to become adapted TO the
one he or she favors. There are even dis
putes as to whether formal steps are four
or five, so pupils may go from one formal
stopper to another and yet be in trouble
ROBERT i. GREEN.
New York, Dec. 21 1911.
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
THE TALK OF TIE DAY.

! IN a letter from New York to a Berlin
/ paper the Atlantic Garden. In the Bowery
is spoken of as one OF the old landmarks
of interest TO Germans. which will soon
be no more than memory" In the
days" says the writer. when Germans
came here by the hundred thousands Il
was their chief congregating place, and
before he landed the immigrant was told
OF the glorles OF the place. with its groups
Of distinguished German citizens, its beer
and its woman's orchestra In the theatre
next door Miss Menden appeared a. Mazep-
pa in a costume which I'm those days was
nothing short OF shocking, and there the
people Of New York saw Sonnenthal, Kalnz.
Possart. Seistinger. Gallmyer and other
stars Of the German stage. The garden
and the theatre, they say, will soon be wiped
out and the Germans will not miss them,
for there are not many Of them left-they
have all become Amercans-all except the
old men and women. and they do not
care"
do you think any woman ever believed
a man when he said she was the first
girl he had ever kissed"
Yes; Eve. Satire.
By a special decree Of the Austro-Hun-
garian War Office fruit and vegetable gar
dens are To be set out on waste plots OF
~ lound around barracks. drill yards rife
ranges and other military places. The sol
diers will be- encouraged to cultivate these
In their spare time, and any profits derived
from the work will be shared among the
men. II is believed that the plan will have
many advantages. The soldiers will be
provided with some profitable and interest
ing occupation in their leisure time. and
will also learn much that may help them
when they return 10 civil life. A somewhat
similar idea has proved successful In Ger
many. There the soldiers took up the work
with much interest especially in the cultl-
walton Of fruit trees along the walls of the
barracks The dlnsrept companies entered
New-York tribune., 1911-12-25
TO PERLFY or STERLLLZER

The announcement that hereafter q
large proportion Of the milk supply Of
this city will be artifcially sterilized. by
a ''pasteuriZing' process for the killing
of bacteria, is welcomed as giving as
surance Of immunity from tuberculosis,
typhoid fever and other diseases which
are conveyed by contaminated milk. 1t
is followed by the announcement that the
New Jersey state authorities purpose 10
inoculate with anti-typhoid serum all the
inmates Of the Trenton state prison. Il
practice which has had gratifying results
in the British army, and indeed in our
own army during the recent massing
near the Mexican frontier. There can
be no doubt that thorough "pasteuriza-
ton will prevent infection through milk,
If the milk is not subsequently exposed
TO contamination, and II seems TO be
equally certain that 'inocuation against
typhoid is as effective rs vaccination
against smallpox, and is no more for
midable operation than the latter.
While, however, these measures are
thus to be regarded with confidence and
approval, it would be a mistake to con-
slider them the complete or even the
highest fulflment Of duty toward the
public health. Indeed. there is some
danger that their adoption will be-
come the pretext for grave abuses. IL
Is well TO destroy noXious bacteria III