davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
Wrong to Say 'Knots Per Hour"


Nine persons out of every 10 will say
that such-and-such a steamship Is capa-
BILE of steaming at "25 knots per hour
A nautical man would simply say "25
knots" Now which Is correct? The lat
ter. of course. The mistake arises from
the fact that the landsman thinks that
"knot' is just the nautical term for
"sea mile" which is. roughly, 60S0 feet,
or about one and one-eighth land or stat
ute miles. Now, knot is not distance
at all. 1t is a speed. The word speed
combines distance and time. For instance,
If we wish to speak of the speed of
train we refer to 1t as so many miles
per hour. There is no single word in
the language to express speed units, SO
we must use two words-miles and hour.
The sailor has a language peculiar TO
himself. and he has invented a single
word for a unit of speed. Thus speed
of one nautical mile per hour is called
one knot" Hence 1t Is redundant to tack
on another per hour after the word
knot when the word already includes one
per hour.
Perhaps some will ask how the word
knot originated. The explanation is
simple When a seaman wishes to ascer-
tain the speed of his ship he does so by
means of a log-line. This consists of
piece of wood called the log" or the
..loghip" to which is attached length
of line The line is knotted at regu-
lar Intervals; the distance between two
consecutive kpots bearing the same pro-
portion to sea mile that the time Of a
sand glass used in connection with the
operation bears to an hour.
Thus, for instance, If after the log is
thrown overheard the line paying freely
out let's out Is of its knots in the time that
the sand glass takes to run down, then
the ship Is making Is knots.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

BY JOHN HAYES HOLMES

not mean the dissolution rather than the
healing of the patient.
What guarantee can you give us, amid
the utter chaos in which we are involved,
that there is any real security for the fu
ture?
What assurance can you offer that this
flood of reform, which is ceftainly des-
tined to bear us far will not break its
bonds and thus sweep us to destruction?
What reasons can you present for be-
lieving that we may safely IVY these un-
tested schemes of political and industrial
revolution, and still have anything left
of this great republic which was founded
in the blood and tears of the fathers and
was strengthened and extended by the
undaunted labors of four generations OF
valiant sons? Is there anything which
may even partially persuade us that this
new movement really involves the
strength and stability of the tlmes?''
These are the questions which are
being asked today by many restless
heart, and they are quetions winch chal-
lenge respectful answer.
There are some of us (of whom | beg to
be counted one) who find our all sufflcient
reply to these inquiries in our abounding
faith in humanity. We believe that In
a country where illteracy is at mini
mum, general euucatlCD Oil tiic iHSiSo'S'
caste barriers unknown, freedom OF
speech, press and assembly granted and
practiced religious liberty everywhere
enjoyed. the people can be trusted to,con-
troll their own affairs.
This does not mean that the voice OF tne
people is necessarily the voice OF God III
all places and under all conditions. But
it does mean that the people, II given
the privilege of responsibility and a due
opportunity for self-knowledse and self
instruction. will quite as often decide iof
the right as for the wrong, ana tnat IN
the latter case will learn from thelr ex-
perience of error the certain way OF
avoiding similar blunders in he futnre.
Thus, by the very practice OF tneir Tree,
dom do the people grow in wisdom, ana
virtue. Thus, by the very fact or Us
operation does democracy perfect Hsei''
as water purifies itself. Thus does the
voice of the people become in course 81
time as if 1t were the voice OF 1o''
Which is all we mean by the ancient
maxim that the cure for the ms OF oeni-
ocracy is more democracy. 1t Is sucn a
faith in the people that gives to many
of us, amid the political and industrial
transformations of the time, the guaran-
tee of secularity which must be had ano
for any guarantee beyond this pledge OF
faith, we see no need.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

1t is obvious. however, that to many
minds, moral faith of any kind can give
no guarantee of things material Blind
trust III human nature means nothing
when we are talking about such matters
as governments and economic systems
We must have something more tangible
than this is the cry, if we are to believe
that the new social movements of the
age are anything more than so many
needless attacks upon the integrity of
our civilization.
To this demand I am confident that a
satisfactory answer can be given, and
ma this answer not in the field of ideals,
but In the field of method The guaran-
tee of security, amid the chaos about us,
IS to be found in the method of action
CHARACTERISTIC of the true social reformer
OF the times, which Is nothing less than
the method of exact science Visiona
fles, dreamers, agitators, blind propa-
sahdlsts' there are a-plenty N the social
neid today, and many are they who fol.
low whithersoever they lead But the re-
former who really counts as an influence
at this moment. and therefore may be
regarded as typical of effective social
progress, is nothing more, and certainly
is nothing less, than a scientist who
makes society his laboratory and who fol-
lows therein the experts wcll-approved
methods OF observation and experiment
Inc social leader of this new age is pri-
marlly an investigator. and only second
arliy a reformer His first demand is for
facts, and only when these are gathered
IN suif1clent numbers are classified and
tapulated and compared, and then at last
MADE TO tell their tale does he draw his
inierenees. formulate his doctrines and
iay down his programme of reform There
is much of the prophet in the true sociol
osist-fnuch of the poet-much of the hu-
manltarian and lover of mankind. These
qualities must never disappear, If the So
clal movement is to remain wholesome
ldeahstc and thus genuinely benefcent.
But at bottom, at least for the present.
must be the scientist as the perpetua'
guarantee of sanity and safety.
Here now is the guarantee of security
Tor which SO many cautious persons of
our time are valny seeking So long as
we look upon the new moral and political
movements, which are so characteristic
OF our age, as mere agtations, we may
feel alarm for the future. 1t is when we
look closer and see that behind the agi-
tation for change, there Is the accuracy,
precision and certainty of the scientific
me.hcd, that we may feel that "all Is
WELL"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

A MID such conclusion of ''chance
"a and change" as seems to be char
4 \ aeteristic of our age in the various
phases of it's social life, it is not surpris-
ing perhaps to find that many persons,
not over-given to timidity on ordinary
occasions. are genuinely disturbed at the
course which events are taking. and are
asking of the agitators and reformers Of
the time, in terms more and more in
sstent, what guarantee they have to offer
that their words and works do not spell
of civilization.
Those of us who feel the thrill of the
new movement of social transformation
and hail the advent of the new day with
an exultaton which leaves little place in
our hearts for any regrets fcr the pass
ing Of the old, do not always realize, |
imagine, how numerous are the revolu-
tons of ancient custom which are in
volved in the demands which are beir :
pressed upon every hand, ard therefore
fail to recognize the fears for the securi-
ty of the nation, which are ~latent in
many noble and devoted hearts.
What will the infinite extension of the
machinery of our democracy by such de-
vices as the initiative the referendum and
the recall, which may we'll seem subver-
sive of that whole form of representative
government which is at the bottom of
our constitutional system: tile multiply
ing assaults upon the integrity and au-
thority of our courts. which have so lon 2
been regarded as the very buiwark of our
institutions; the call for the active inter-
ference of the state with the admnistra-
ton of industry in such matters as work
mems compensation, the eglt-hour day
Tor women and children, the minimum
wage, ETC.; the rapidly growing sentiment
or our people favoring the socializaton
OF natural resources and the public reg
ulatlon, If not ownership, OF all means
OF production and distribution-the whole
great movement, in a word, for an un-
lcttered democracy upon the one hand
ana an unlimited social control upon the
other-what with all these startling limo
vatons sweeping down upon us at once,
1t is not surprising that MANY an earnest
soul Is wondering to what the outcome
OF II al is to be and is seeking rather
valnly Tor any evidence that these cures,
which are being offered for our ills, do
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
LONDON SOCIETY
BY LADY MAR MANwARING

charities since their reign began has one
inconvenient result. In the old Victorian
days the sovereign was disposed to limit
her benefactions to certain classes of
public work, and it was tacitly left to the
then Prince of Wales to dispense royal
patronage to other departments Under
the Edwardian regime both these chan
nes of generosity flowed into one broad
stream. and Queen Alexandra made 1t
her private concern to supplement those
official gifts by an amount of personal
beneficence whose extent is even now
hardly realized. But nowadays the out
lets for charity have become SO wide and
varied that King George and Queen
Mary have added to their aims list scores
of enterprises which were undreamed of
in the childhood of some of us. Girls
clubs and play centers. boy scouts and
public school missions and a host Of
other projects find a willing ear In the
royal family to their appeals.
But there is reason to know that In
certain quarters the general public are
disposed to trade upon royal generosity
by soliciting their majesties patronage
for hosts of things which have a purely
local interest. The keeper OF the privy
purse has, therefore found ut necessary
to lay down a wholesome rule in these
matters, in order to relieve the King.
who cannot possibly do for one what
cannot be done for all. Some time ago
Queen Mary caused it to be known that
her public duties could not be discharged
properly If she had to devote precious
time to such things as church bazars.
One would not be surprised il another
friendly hint of the sort is sent out
one of these days with regard to some
other classes of appeals of the same ma
ture. Some correspondence about these
things which has come to my knowledge
shows that there Is a keen desire in the
highest quarters to sympath.ze with all
good works but the public at large has
not yet learned where to draw the line.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
Prodigy at Age of Five

From the New York Herald.
Wanetta Haverstick, who celebrated her
fifth birthday today. has developed into
a prodigy of learning, wit and wisdom in
the last six month.
DR.. G. w. Haverstick, her father, for
merly lecturer on childrens diseases at
the Physicians and Surgeons hospital
recalled he once had been interested in
the word method of teaching children He
tried the system on Wanetta.
In six months Wanetta has mastered
the first grade reader, has a better and
more comprehensive knowledge of geog
raphy than the average 12-year-old pupil.
is apt in physiology, takes keen interest
in politics, has bowling acauaintance
with physics and is SO well versed In the
Bible that she is excluded from the Sun
day school class composed of children of
her age. BY the time she is old enough
to enter kindergarten she will be prepared
for the third school grade.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

wv ARsAw, May s1.-(specia1)-
M Ignace Paderewski, the Plan
w ist, is the uncrowned
ling of Poland. Whenever he appears in
ar town of the ancient Polish republic
he is greeted with that loyalty and en-
thusiasm which belongs only to popular
monarchs There is royal halo about
Paderewskfs presence in this country.
whether 1t be in the part that is under
Russian. Australian or German rule
When he goes out. crowds wait below to
cheer him as he leaves the hotel. When
he enters a theatre those who cannot
get inside wait for hours outside in the
hope of catching a glimpse of him AMI
cheering him on his way home When he
gives a concert it is as though a king
held audience
The pianst's growing popularity
troubles the authorities. especially in Ger
man and Russian Poland They don't
know what to make of it. The Russian
police have an idea at the back of their
heads that he will one fine day get him.
self crowned on the concert platform, be-
tween a sonata and a rhapsody. This was
shown when he gave series of concerts
were packed with wreaths and bouquets
and baskets of flowers for the artist
king Crowds blocked the pavements in
front of the windows where they were
displayed. All the windows had stream
ers of amaranth and white-Polish ma
tional colors The police became alarmed.
They sent a batch of Gendarmes to the
Philharmonic hall, who waited the arrival
of the flowers, and sheared off the Offend
ing streamers with their swords. Only
one, with yellow ribbons, escaped mutila-
ton. Some friends managed TO pick up
fragments when the police were too busy
shearing off new arrivals, and gave them
to Madame Paderewsk, who hid them
in her vanity bag and carried them off
in secret triumph to rest with other con-
cert trophies.
Always an ardent patriot, even whea
poor and unknown. Paderewsl1i now
spends huge sums on his country In
America he once stopped his journey
from New York to Boston and gave a
hurried recital in private house. because
a chance fellow passenger offered $4,000
for Polish schools if he would do it, And
yet no sums can tempt him to play be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

Arthur means, sir, that you allow the
women here to do pretty well what they
like with you
The observation brought the supper to
an abrupt end 1t was, of course, an
appalling piece of impertinence and the
equerry was instantly dismissed from the
room by the prince. When he had gone,
the prince made what apologies he could
for the impertinence of the equerry to
the monarch
oh, that is all right" said Alfonso,
who was quite ready to overlook the Of
fence. but what on earth put it into
his head to say such an extraordinary
thing?'
The prince explained that nothing could
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
FavOrite room of the uncrowned King of Poland

way for their successes in much the same
manner. They had no Paderewski; but
King Ferdinand went around Europe
booming his little country. Thanks to
his efforts the world heard of Bulgaria.
which was merely Turkeys slave 40 years
ago. The Slav world is waking up to
great things. These millions who are
in eastern Europe have learned their
strength. Paderewski and his political
friends realize that they must prepare
the country for a great change. They
dreamed of having Adrianople. One
dream has come true; why should not
the other, asks Paderewski.
His life story is as romantic as the
man. The son of d country organist, he
was terribly poor He came to Warsaw
to study music at the Conservatoire
Here he met a girl student as. poor as
himself. They married. He had to give
lessons at the rate of 25 cents an hour
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

have done so but champagne, fact that
the King readily believed and the equer-
ry, ere he and the prince left the next
day, received the monarch's laughingly
granted pardon for the offence.
King Alfonso does not find his personal
liberty much curtailed by feminine inhu-
ence, at all events not in directions that
matter much to him. But for the danger
that ever turks around crowned head,
especially Spanish one, King Alfonso
is a very happy monarch and perhaps
freer to do what he likes than most
kings. And luclSily-for him, he never par
ticularly wants to do anything that runs
counter to the wishes of the ladies who
rule and direct his life.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

Germans. many tried to persuade him to
go in for politics, to become a member
of the Austrian parliament. For he is
one of the finest public speakers living
Paderewski hesitated. The suggestion
had much charm for him. He thought
his worldwide influence would serve his
country the best If he became a poiti-
cian- But reflection. and his wife, per-
suaded him to refuse the offer. He went
back to Morges, and the concert hail.
In England PaderewsSis influence and
high social position have made even
statesmen like Asquith and Sir Edward
Grey absorbed in large politics. and afraid
of offending mighty Russia, interest them
selves in the Polish question. In London,
thanks to Paderewsks influence, is
group of people working for Polish in
fiuence, teaching public opinion what Po-
land means.
The victorious Bulgarians paved the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

and before whom crowds bend, gives
way. They retire to Morges after each
Polish visit, but this year his friends say
will be his last out of Poland.
Morges is their Swiss home, where
Madame Paderewski finds life perfectly
charming, with her wonderful fowls and
parrots. Here visitors from Poland can
be controlled more effectively. True he
holds his little court here; even royalty
come to pay him homage, not, of course
as a monarch, but as musician.
Madame Paderewshs enemies contend
that she keeps guard over him because
she fears that he will become so intense
ly interested in his own country that he
will want to give no more concerts and
win thereby be ruined Some three years
ago, when in Austria Poland where in
Cracow he unveiled the historic monu-
ment he had given to his countrymen in
memory of a famous victory over the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

gifts, but others regarded or affected to
regard them in different light and at
their instance and suggestion King AL
fonso relinquished the custom and the
leading lady now no longer receives a
bouquet from the royal box when King
Alfonso visits the theatre.
Like many other men who are greatly
influenced by their womenkind, King AL
fonso would probably be the first to deny
that he was in any way unduly under
petticoat influence. In this connection
the following story was told to the writer
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

fore the Car of Russia, or the German
Kaiser, because both these nionarchs al.
low the Poles under their rule to be op-
pressed.
If it were not for the more practical
influence of his wife Paderewsk rich as
he Is, would soon be poor. No appeal
Tor his country or less fortunate fellow
countrymen can he hear in vain Madame
Paderewsk has made a rule of being
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

IDENTIFY by his thoughts or the many evil
dences there were at the Spanish court
of how greatly feminine influence pre-
dominated there.
Il don't quite understand ycu," said the
King, and he evidently did not. The
prince could and would have readily ex-
planned that he meant nothing in par
tcular and then turned the conversation.
but unfortunately the princes eauerry
had taken a little more champagne than
was good for him and he Jumped in"
with the remark:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01
Sizing Up the Situation
Yonkers Statesman.


The young girl had been engaged as an
amanuensis by society woman. She
discovered that nearly every day the
husband and wife had quarrel. so she
gave notice that she was going to leave.
"Why?" inquired the lady, In surprise
"Oh, you don't need an amanuensis,
madam" replied the girl. What you need
u war correspondent"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

on excellent authority. A few years ago
Prince Arthur of Connaught attended by
an equerry, paid a visit to the Spanish
court. On the last night of the princes
stay King Alfonso. the prince and the
eluerry went to masked ball given in
ala of some charity, and subsequently
returned to the palace for supper, which
was served in the Kings personal apart
ments. In conversation after supper,
whilst the King and his two guests were
enjoying their cigars, the prince rather
unwisely let slip remark prompted evil
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

present at all business interviews. This
mas maze her many enemies Faderewski
would like, above all things, to buy an
estate in Poland. Madame Paderews,s
mas so far, dissuaded him, in spite of
friends influence pulling the other way
His immense popularity would proba bly,
set the authorities against him. And
Paderewski, whom thousands of women
have vainly lost hearts and heads for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-06-01

The very generous way In which their
majesties have been encouraging public
Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-06-29

passed abolishing the defendants state
ment, and providing In its place that
he be sworn as witness. If ne desires,
but his failure to be so sworn be not
subject to adverse comment by prose-
cutting counsel This is I'm accordance
with current Federal and State law.
The legislation in Georgia against car
rying concealed weapons has in recent
years been conspicuous 1t has been
suggested by the law Of self preserva-
ton. Daily we read OF men who have
shot others, and have been acquitted
on the old statement that the deceased
threw his hand on his hip pocket, and
the defendant shot in fear of his life
When searched. the dead man was found
generally unarmed
II the carrying Of concealed weapons
were made a felony. subject to be re-
duced to a misdemeanor by either Judge
or jury, the deterrent effect of such a
law would be the saving Of many a
life. / earnestly recommend to you
the consideration OF this question
Banking Laws.
The banks of a State perform public
functions, and as sucn are properly sub
iected to governmental supervision The
bankers OF the State, with the desire of
maintaining high standard of respon-
sibtlity and of affording guarantees
against improvident management, that
imperil the money OF the people, recon-
mend legislation looking to the accom-
pllshment Of these objects. / commend
this subject az one worthy Of your Sc
MY predecessors have recommended
the creation Of the position of State Au-
ditOr, and in this recommendation ]
heartily concur, His services could be
utilized in checking the cost OF new
buildings for which requests may be
made by the various institutions Those
who have served on the appropriations
committees are aware OF the inadequate
facilities Of the State In arriving at the
amount OF the necessary expenditures.
The Constitution.
The Constitution Is the expression Of
the supreme law OF the land. 1t can only
be changed by the people speaking in
their sovereign capacity. In order that
they may vote intelllgently on any prop
osition II Is essential that they under
stand It | recommend that In propos-
ing Constitutional amendments, you
plainly indicate the proposition to the
voter in such language that ne may I'M
derstand the meaning OF the question
submitted.
My predecessor has called attention to
the fact that some Of the agricultural
schools are well attended, while others
receive little patronage, whether due to
the matter of location or lack of interest,
or from what cause. | am unable to say
Each obtains the same appropriation
from the State for maintenance. I REQ
ommend that you investigate their con-
dition, and apply the proper remedies.