davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Thermopyin and the Alamo.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir, In
my note regarding the Alamo. whose
Garrison was mastered by Santa Anna
March 6, 1896. ! asked for the authorship
OF that thrilling tribute. "Thermopyle had
"a messenger OF defeat the Alamo had
none" Mr.. George A. Mccall. who has
lived in Texas since 1853 and Ia now a
resident OF Weatherford In that state.
writes me that during the siege an infant
daughter was born to Mrs. Dickerson.
wife OF Captain Dlckerson OF the artillery.
he being one of the victims, Mother and
daughter were spared by the captors.
though II took nerve on the part OF the
defenders to save them. The only other
survivor was negro servant OF Colonel
Travis, who was fortunate enough to be
outside OF the mission when II was cap
tured. The Republic OF Texas adopted
and educated the child, who Ia remembered
as the Babe OF the Alamo" During the
discussion OF the measure In the Senate
Guy NJ. Bryan. a member. used for the
first time the splendid expression which !
have quoted lie was descendant of
Stephen r. Austin. the Father OF Texas
and founder OF the first colony OF Ameri-
cans in that province.
What a habit OF oratory those Bryans
do have! II, s. ELLIS.
UPPER MoNrcLAIR. N. J.. February 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
THE PLAGUE or LAWS.
Intelligent Edit Ing Might Help 10 MItt
gate Its Terrors.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sir: The
article on This Statute Ridden Public
Is timely and wholesome. The widely
quoted address of former Justice Cullen
OF our Court of Appeals. that has evoked
expressions OF praise and wonder. has
through the weight OF lts argument and
the personality of IL rcvered and re-
spected author caused thought and at
tention TO centre upon the growing evil.
About year ago an article appeared
In Bench and Bar entitled The Lust for
l.awmaklng." written by n member OF the
legal profession In this city. MIR. Frederick
II. Denman. which deserved greater At
tention than / believe 1t had. The
brief summary OF the requirements and
functions of statute law have never been
better expressed in 50 few words.
The exposition Of existing conditions re-
sulting In the piiing up and tearing down
Of laws. their multiplicity. their uncer-
tainty. their loss OF the spirit through
elaboration of the letter. these and other
evils were pointed to in this article sue
Cuctly ana conVlncingly while a hint Is
given therein, az In your article, that
business would prosper between sessions
OF Legislature II such intervals could
be achieved.
The principal reason, however. for re
ferrng TO Mr.. Denman's article IL to call
attention to the suggestion he makes for
curing the evil. Ii is only a suggestion
but II offers constructive note. Il thing
that should always follow condemnation.
and 1t il II suggestion worthy OF serious
consideration,
NO literature" says the writer. should
excel for clear. concise and polished Eng
lish the laws by which our lives are gov
erned" This result is to he attained by
referring the draft of a proposed law 10
body OF legislative editors. The func-
lions of this body, which should b. non
political or at least bipartisan and com.
posed Of the highest class OF professional
talent, may be extended to criticism Of the
proposed law itself
We are entering upon an era of
scientific construction. and not only should
there be tsrlff commissions OF the sort
long discussed but along the above line,
legislative commissions.
NJ WALLACE DIXON.
NEW YORK, February 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Three Weeks Ahead.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-sir: Per-
NIT me to add my testimony to that OF
+. NJ. Ferriday. whose letter in THE
Sun relating his experience Mt Cohans
Theatre was Of much interest The proc
ess OF attempted extortion was different
in his case from mine. but here Is a true
account OF what happened TO me at this
same theatre.
on certain Wednesday morning
went TO Cohan's Theatre TO purchase six
seats for the performance to take place
three weeks from tho coming Saturday
night Imagine my feelings when coolly
Informed by the man In the box office
that the best seats he had TO offer for
that performance, twcnty-four days away.
were In the fifth row, balcony. And he
also told me that he hadn't seat for
downstairs. but that ] could go to any
hotel or ticket agency and get all
wanted.
Where I told him he could go has no
particular bearing on the present tale.
but the cool insolence of the box Office
man in suggesting that go and be robbed
made me hot. and ! haven't recovered
yet, nor have / seen that show.
HENRY A. PRICE.
BROOKLYN, February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
REVENUE ~ SUBSCRIPTION.
A Nutmee Philosophers Substitute for
the Income Tax.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Str. In
view of the success OF the recent sub
scrption for tho Young Mems Christian
Assoc alton and Young Women's Chris.
tian Association In New York city offer
a suggestion: One years trial OF the in.
come tax will be sufficient education for
the people. therefore repeal the law as far
as 1t applies to individuals and appeal to
their patriotism instead. Ii $4,000, 900
can be raised In one city for philan-
thropic object 100000, 900 can be raised
In the whole country for n national and
patriotic cause, Everybody hates TO be
taxed; the great majority are pleased to
give II properly approached. A man who
after much figuring and peipiexty over
his income return Is compelled to pay S25
will cheerfuly give 800 II the appeal Ia
made with tact.
DO away with the expensive collection
machinery now In use and install a suit
able number OF men who have had expe-
ricnce In raising funds for benevolent pur-
poses Let them tactfully appeal 20 their
fellow citizens and tho money will be
raised. Some who now pay grudginxIy n
small sum will feel fattercd II asked 10
subscribe n larger one few nIggards
viii escape, but the majority will cheer
fully respond and everybody he happy.
DR. O. +. NAsPEc.
Nav HAVEN. Conn, February 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
THEATRE TICKETS.
How the Price lncre Asses From One Box
once TO Another.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: |
note In THE sun OF February IS T.. NJ
Ferriday's experience at the Conan The
atre and your caption is II So?"
My experience at the Cohan Theatre
last evening should tend to prove that at
is So" Nothing under 81 a seat could be
had at the window for the evenings per-
Torrance, and as l walked through the
lobby To the doorway Spectator shouted
Tickets for tonight" and pointed &c an
office in the Conan Theatre building that
was practically side BY side with the the
atre box office only wall separating
them.
In this once and at the same desk
where Mr.. Ferriday had his experience a
young man was selling the seats the CO.
han Theatre was supposed TO have but
didn't The difference was this: the box
office next door had all kinds of 80 cent
seats for 80 cents, IS cent seats for 81.
81 seats for sl.25. and from there on |
believe the tax was so cents over the box
Office price. ! saw Potash and Perlmut-
ter that night. but only after l paid 81
apiece for IS cent seats.
COLEMAN MILLER.
Boston, February is.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
The Drpar, meut ami the Hospitals.

To THE En1roR OF THE SUS--SW: Inc
Polycllnlc Hospital II maintaining an am
bulance service for the beneht or the
city. covering the extensive district be-
tween Eighth avenue and the Hudson
River. Nlnety-secoud and Forty-second
streets We transported last year @,'ll
cases OF accident and sickness. ON a
single day OF this year We answered
twenty-six emergency calls For this SER
vice last year We spent $4,000 more than
we received from the city.
In view OF this fact, and especially IN
view OF the character OF the service.
which requires prompt transportation OF
the sick and injured 10 the hospital.
where relief may be obtained, as president
OF the medical board ! desire publicly TO
protest against the lack OF consideration
which has been shown the hospital by
the Street Cleaning Department since the
heavy fall OF snow nearly week ago.
We telephoned the Commissioner the day
after the storm, ASKING for help To clear
the snow away so that We could get IN
and out with our patients. The same
thing was done on the succeeding DAY,
with no other response than promise TO
look into the matter.
Five days have elapsed and not a
shovelful of snow has been removed In
front OF our building, nor has the street
leading To the hospital from Eighth and
Ninth avenues been cleared OF snow.
From February 10 TO February Is In
elusive we have answered seNenty-six
ambulance calls some OF these In districts
outside OF Our own, to which the police re-
questcd US to respond.
While conscious OF the fact that the
department has been greatly overtaxed by
reason OF this storm. which has in large
measure parslyzed traffic. | feel 1t my
duty to call the attention OF the public.
whom we are serving. to the seeming
Indifference OF the Street Cleaning De-
partment In It's failure TO respond to
the repeated urgent calls We have made
upon 1t for help.
JOHN A. WyErH, NJ. n.
President of the Medical Board.
NEW YORK, February IS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Joint lntervention-and by the
American Powers?

American Powers?
What form shall Intervention take
n Mexico In case 1t becomes inevitable?
Events like the killing Of the British
subject BENTON have a most ominous
import.
It Is admitted on every side that
single action by the United States Gov
eminent will immensely increase the
difhculty Of the task Of restoring order
and safeguarding life and property In
the distracted country on our southern
border. The reasons for this are OBJ
vious and need not be discussed.
Therefore good many patriotic
Americans. for example Mr.. W. MORGAN
SINISTER, and other equally intelligent
proponents Of International policy.
favor action In Mexico Jointly with the
European Powers. and, II necessary,
cooperative military proceedings such
a. were undertaken In China at the
time Of the Boxer troubles.
The ready criticism upon this pro-
posal, Of course. Is that 1t Is absolutely
and irreconcilably opposed to the spirit
Of the Monroe Doctrine: that It throws
to the four winds Of heaven the tradi-
tional policy Of the United States with
regard to the affairs Of this hemisphere
The answer comes easily enough: II
the Monroe Doctrine stands In the
way Of the obviously proper course for
this Government to take in its own In
terest and the interest Of the civilized
world, let the Monroe Doctrine go!
But is there any good reason why the
Monroe Doctrine should go?
THE Sun suggests tentatively that
under that doctrine Joint intervention
in Mexico Is entirely possible: inter
vention, that is to say, by the American
republics Of the Pan-American Union
We ask II such cooperative action on
the part Of the great Powers OF this
hemisphere would not be both effective
in removing every source OF irritation
or. suspicion arising from single action
by the United States. and expedient
from the point Of view Of the interes,
Of the two American continents In
American control Of American affairs
and there again We have the Monroe
Doctrine.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Dr. Fishers Seasickness "Curc."

A German physician. greatest OF men
II his recipe works has discovered a
cure for seasickness." about the second
millionth infallible remedy for that
cynical waggery Of the deep. A Har.
ward instructor In physiology. celebrat-
ing FIscHER's conquest of the wine dark
deep. feeds us with the true truth:
"seasickness undoubtedly results from
overstimulation Of the nerves connected
with the equilibrium and motion senses In
the ear. This has been proven almost be-
yond question"
And quite beyond question Is the fact
that old Or. FISCHER injects atropin,
thereby paralyzing for the time those
aural drunkards. Will those strong
stomached charlatans or humorists. the
curse Of every steamer. who prescribe
lemons and champagne or bottle OF
stout or something equally non-linger-
ing and humorous for the victims OF
this most vicious OF the Ills that bite
humanity restrain henceforth their
pragmatical advice or unholy glee? As
for the tribe Of stewards and steward
esses, as for the cold and grinning
ships doctor. usually 30 familiar with
the visage Of these calamities that II
you had appendicitis he would prob
ably insist that it's nothing but seasick-
ness-as for Them. be 1t remembered to
the shame of DANTE and his Hell that
he left out these inevitable candidates.
Atropin! Atropos Is what you think
Of; chloroform. prussic acid is what mp
peals to you in those hours Of earth
quake and desolation. How about the
equilibrium nerves Of the legs and sides
We know personally at least seven post
deaf, stone deaf folks who are sick from
dock to dock. Are they sick without
overstimulation Of ears?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
FCLIPSES or 1911.
Two Solar. Two Lunar: New York Not IN
the Observation stand.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN---Siv. Four
eclipses. two solar and two lunar will
occur in 1914. the first on February "a
This Is what Is known as an annular
eclipse the moon finally seems to cover
up the centre OF the sun. leaving a ring
like fiery border all around the former.
Our moon at her distance from us canno,
apparently wholly conceal the suns disk
from sight and what Is to be seen OF his
disk appears like n complete blazing
circle. The eclipse OF February "a is not
particularly interesting from a popular
standpoint and Is not to be seen In North
America,
The moon not only crosses the fiery
disk OF the sun but also intercepts some
OF the solar light from our earth. Wher-
ever this lunar shadow falls is called the
path OF the eclipse" and the inhabitants
OF that region will see the moon totally
or partially cover for "A while the face of
the sun. Our earth and the moon are
both In motion, particularly our earth.
The widest shadow cast by the moon ia
only 16l miles. and. accordingly, n solnr
eclipse can he seen from only limited
part Of the world. on February "a this
lunar shadow will not fan upon North
America for the path OF the annulus will
remain entirely within the Antarctic and
South Pacific oceans, Therefore II will
be witnessed by the Inhabitants In the
southern part of Patagonia and the east.
ern coast of New Zealand. But although
the citizens OF New York city will not
he able to see the solar eclipse OF Feb
ruary ~ they will be able to see some of
the solar eclipse Of August 81. on that
day the moon will wholly hide the face
OF the sun: but unfortunately this
eclipse will appear to the citizens OF New
York only as partial eclipse.
CHARLES MEYERS HOLMES.
DovER, N. H.. February 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21

A month ago there was more or less
enthusiastic expectation that the Inter
state Commerce Commits sion would see
its duty early In the matter Of strength
ening railroad credit and rule promptly
and favOrably on the application Of the
Eastern lines for permission to make
q horizontal increase Of 3 per cent In
their freight rates. Public opinion, 80
far as Il could be tested, was not op.
posed to the railroad application. At
tho headquarters Of prevailing political
sentiment disposition was manifested
which was clearly aPpreciative Of the
exigencies Of the railroad situation.
The factor involved was not repre-
sented so much by the amount Of in
creased earnings which would accrue
from the actual advance in rates pro
posed as by the desire Of the common
carriers to have the fact demonstrated
that general rate increases Of demon.
strable necessity were possible under q
regime Of Government regulation which
had evinced little more than q large Gu.
pacity for decreeing sweeping rate re-
auctions on occasion by way OF reliev.
ing a continual process Of ordering re.
auctions In particular instances Such
an establishment Of fact could hardly
fail to provide vast encouragement to
railroad finance. with beneficial sequel
through the acceleration which railroad
enterprise always gives to the expan.
Aop Of general business.
40 the railroad case stands today
expectation has lost Its enthusia Sun OF
q month ago and Is even turning to.
ward apprehension that the railroads
will fail ultimately to gain recognition
6 tie principle they have hoped to In.
corporate In the undertaking OF making
rates by Government rule. The action
Of the Interstate Commerce Commission
In postponing from March until Septem
Der the date Of effectiveness Of thu
higher rnte schedules submitted by IN,
railroads Ia formality which does moi
preclude earlier action. Nor does It zig
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21

never killed . single man except In
self-defence, and to charge me with the
destruction Of the Cumbrc tunnel and the
taking OF all those innocent lives II but
another demonstration OF the length to
which my enemies will 20 to Willy mo-
MAxfMo CASTILLO.
It Is astonishing how harmless and
maligned the Mexican patriots become
either in success or captivity. VILLA
rocked with iniquity before his Juarez
coup and has since been indicated:
while CASTILLO had an evil reputation
and before he thrust himself upon the
hospitality Of General Scorr was a
fugitive from the scene Of an appalling
crime. OF which he has been accused.
Is CASTILLO also to be vindicated?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21

wealth and influence on the border,
especially as he had a residence in FL
Pnso. where he was popular.
Whatever the truth Is. the tragedy
has the aspect Of serious inter.
national episode. Secretary BRYAN, as
soon as he heard that BENTON had not
been seen after his call on VILLA, re-
Quested Consul EDWARDS to take meas
ures to protect the Engllshman. The
British Foreign once had also learned
that something was wrong. An obscure
national may be despatched in Mexico
and little made Of II, but the Staying Of
man like BENTON In Constitutionallst
headquarters cannot be passed over.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Open the school Buildings on Fair
Terms.

Whenever the public schools are used
for private purposes. such rs the meet
ings Of clubs. singing societies and the
like, 1t is only fair that the incidental
expenses for heating. lighting and JAM
tor service should be paid to the city
and the buildings should be properly
protected from abuse. In 10 far as the
latest regulations adopted by the Board
OF Education to govern this subject af-
feet these details they involve decisions
rs to the amounts to he charged and
the manner Of payment, in which It Is
scarcely worth while to question the
judgment Of the commissioners.
II. however. the new rules prohibit
the occupancy Of the schools In vaca.
ton time and on holidays generally
they are in conflict with an intelligent
public desire to have these structures
put to profitable uses In the hours when
they are not needed for purposes Of In.
structlon. There Is n growing demand
that these expensive plants when not
needed for their primary purpose shall
be thrown open on reasonable terms
for the amusement, recreation and i'm
provement Of citizens. young and old.
Not only Is II believed that much good
can he accomplished by this means. but
this opinion seems to have been pretty
strongly supported by experience.
The Board OF Education should de-
wise simple system for opening the
schools and do away with all the red
tape that Is not essential to the ade-
quate protection Of the city's property.
1t should seek to aid. not to hinder,
those who want to occupy the buildings
for proper purposes. 1t should permit
such renting arrangements rs would
allow clubs and societies to advertise
meetings In series. to insure perma-
nency Of these organizations. In gen
eral IL should encourage the use OF the
buildings for the benefit Of all the resi-.
deuts Of New York. who own the struc.
lures and who are entitled to whatever
benefits may he got from them In the
day or evening.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
A letter comes to THE Sun from MI

A letter comes to THE Sun from Mr..
CHARLES ELMER BoND OF 12 North
Broadway, White Plains, N. Y, saying
that he has received n letter from the
secretary OF his friend Or. Sun YAT-sEN.
asking him to deny the authorship of
an article published In The suN OF
December 7. 1918. under the title "SuN
YAr-ssN, China's Rebel Leader. Tells of
His Perilous Escape to Japan" and at /.
tributed to DR.. Sun YAT-sKN. Mr. BOND
says that DIR. Sun denies having written
this article.
THE Sun received the article In cues.
ton from WILLIAM q. LEONARD of the
Pacific Associated Press. from whom
many other articles dealing with mat
tiers Of interest In the Far East had
previously been received. the same being
published and their authenticity having
never been disputed in any way. THE
SUN received the article attributed to
DR.. Sun and published II In perfect
good faith, having every reason to be-
lieve that Il was a. genuine as the
others which had emanated from the
same source.
In reply to telegram Of inquiry
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21

II you take an idea into the theatre It's
treated with the same GOODNESS al when
you tell a barber how to cut your hair
ARNOLD DAILY.
On the contrary, II You tell a barber
how to cut your hair he listens not with
GOODNESS but with rapt attention and
then cuts 1t in precisely the opposite
fashion. Tell a barber how to cut your
hair! Well. well, most rational folk
have given up such futile requests long
ago Rather tell head waiter humbly
that you would like to speak with him
on terms OF equality.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Another Metropolitan E.,r.v.s.,c..

To THE EDITOR OF TBH SUS-Sir' To dis.
pose OF revolvers rifles. biackJacks and
other dangerous weapons by tossing them
into the sea may be an ericacious and spec.
tacuiar method OF destroying their useful.
ness, but are the interests OF the citizens
being properly conservedf
These Implements OF crime could be made
to return a revenue TO the city. An ordi.
nary mechanic could very easily break ur
tho articles so a. to ruin their mechanism
and the city could then sell the metal OF
which many OF them consist and which hs,
q staple commercial value. II necessary
the proceeds could be devoted to the relief
Of the destitute.
Probably . thousand dollars worth Of Z
good marketable commodity has been de.
liberateiy thrown away when Il could hay.
been used to bsneht the community.
RuDoLPE ConsilLo.
Nlw YoaK. February ~.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Emciency Hint for Commissioner Feth'
erst0n.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUS-Ssr: Has
IL occurred to our new street Commits
sfoner that II II just as essential to clean
"A side street running east and west every
ten blocks as II Is to clear the main arter-
les north ana south thus permitting the
loaded teams to reach the dumps on
either river with the heavy loads?
with our recent heavy storms why not
gain time on our streets running east ana
west by banking the snow from the gutter
to the centre. which would permit OF teams
passing on either side, the snow to De
cartcd away at more convenient timer
This would permit OF all the horses ana
wagons being used in cleaning the main
avenues and with an army of shovellers
would give immediate relief to the side
streets.
Give this n trial and see its effective
ness GEORGE ii. MURRAY.
New YORK, February 90.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-21
Work for the JanitOr.

To raE EDITOR OF THE SuS--Sir. The
snow problem could be handled far better,
Il seems to me. II the snow were shovelled
into the centre OF the street. especially
cross streets In which there are no car
tracks This would leave clear space
on either side. thus permitting delivery
wagons and other vehicles clear passage,
keeping 10 the right law could be en-
acted compelling the property owner to
have the snow cleared In front OF his
house by piling II up In the centre OF the
street. This method would give the
lordly janitor something to do and to
boss. PERRY LUKENs.
New YoRK. February 20.