New-York tribune., 1912-07-14

NlEh SIlCG tlAS <A4iIhS-Atg paSNSN q
flaming sword that turned every
IL way at the entrance of the Garden
Of Eden to keep out the unworthy the
policeman has had an honorable place
IN the maintenance of order in the world.
According TO Blackstone he is the chief
executive IN that branch of criminal JUS
tice which provides for a methodical sys-
TEN for the prevention and detection of
crime" He is also at the head Of a sys-
TEN Of precaution, for he prevents evils
and provides benefits. He is the regulator
and governor of the inha bitants of the
earth Whether one thinks OF the adiles
and quastors of Rome, or of the Broadway
squad, the term Policeman" implies the
realm and rule of order-order compelled
and made possible by the possessor Of the
title.
One Of the personalities of San Juan.
Porto Rico, is Colonel George Reynolds
Stanton, called by some of his intimates
six feet of white linen," on account of his
great height and his fondness for immacu-
late ducks" He has been known to
change his linens four times day. and
frequent visitor at his home IS authority
for the statement that his white shoes are
numbered by dozens instead of by pairs.
Oficlally Colonel Stanton holds the POSI-
ton Of "Chief Of the Insular Police" but
before you have been on the island many
days you Will have found that he is much
more than his title and what Il calls for.
He has the entire population OF a million
and quarter-black. brown, yellow and
white-under absolute police control, and
at the same time is the most popular man
! In the sixty-six districts. Does the Roman
Catholic Bishop wish assistance in the set
tlement OF any special case. he calls upon
his friend, the colonel, and the matter Is
forthwith adjusted. Are any OF the boot
hacks on the Plaza Principal in trouble,
the first one they fly to is their chief For
they are his friends. and they pour their
woes into his sympathetic ear while they
hacken his boots in the public square,
Knowing that, in his own miraculous way,
the chief will unite the tangled skeins and
make them happy once more. Native Porto
Ricans and resident Americans are alike
under his spell He is their honored guest,
their protector. their referee, their self
constituted judge.
THE ROULETTE WHEEL INCIDENT.
In a corner of his private Office stands
roulette wheel. Shanton's predecessor wore
an 1850 diamond ring-the gift Of the
owner of the Wheel one Of the most infiu-
entail members Of a certain class of high
society in the capital. When Shanton
took charge of the department he. too. was
approached by the gambler; but, telling
him that he didn't wear that kind of dia-
monds," he walked into his private"
gambling house and took the wheel out
with his own hands
There is TO this day a certain class OF
Porto Ricans who are apt to be bit too
free with their knives. 1t was hard at
first TO convince these gentry that they
would show themselves to be better mem
bers Of the body polite by obllgingly de-
lRering their weapons on demand. but the
debate was so inevitably and so promptly
decided against them that they soon saw
the wisdom Of giving up at the first re-
guest. On one of his first days on the
bland Colonel Shanton was up In the
mountains and-quite by accident-came
across one Of the desperadoeS OF the Yicin-
NY surrounded by some OF his criminal
ssSocistes The new chief knew the man
oy reputation and description. Without
hesitation he went Up to him and, putting
out his hand, said: uncle, I'll trouble you
LOT your knife"-and got 1t. Not many
months ago, finding that his bundles Of
KNIVES and other paraphernalia had grown
70 unwieldy dimensions, ne decided TO make
way with them in a wholesale manner
ihat night, when the moon was covered
,r~ H., a
with his gathered trophies, and steaming
out into deep water dropped into the sea-
so tons OF "wickedness" that he had
AAen from the native cutthroats.
AN AUTHORITY ON KNIVES.
That the colonel knows a good knife
"heh he sees one is plainly demonstrated
" MS collection, the major part of which
was gathered by himself in his pursuit OF
uuty among the desperadoes on the 18th
NUS and on the island of Porto Rico.
S'ef The mantel in his dining room is q
S'seoi that the late Colonel Astor had
e'eauy coveted and for which he had made
Standing offer Of $500 On one shelf in
N'e room directly In the rear of the dining
.V'ni-a room devoted 10 part OF the
,0''neiS collection-are over two hundred
'es OF various shapes and sizes. Muir
,VuS spanish folding blades, ranging in
,e'n IRON eighteen inches to less than
"a some with handles inlaid with silver,
-oi-peari and one with gold beau
,,s embossed affair eight inches long,
siae by side with common weapons Of
ssn sn''noher people-machetes. dirlfs. stilettos
sa 1 vest array OF curiously shaped and
nuieaiiy handled knives made by the
,"'un,aineers. g. UNI, all made for one purpose
49,. another Shelf are a number OF COM
M'on knife-and-gun affairs. One OF
saSse-in leather oa,o 50 hoan dis.