davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
The Sneerers at Prison Reform.

Mr. Thomas Mott Osbornes arraignment Of his
critics is quite human and certainly was not I'M
provoked. He is a theorist, but he is the kind of
theorist who is willing to test his theories with
practical application. No harder test of any
ideas about prison reform could be devised than
to apply them to Sing Sing. At the very least
Mr.. Osborne is entitled to fair trial Of his,
and to a fair comparison of the results of his
brand of administration there with the results Of
the old style
This state has nothing to be proud Of in the
way its prisons have been managed and its pris-
oners treated. 1t has taken many years for the
idea to spread abroad that it was penny wise,
pound foolish, to send out from prison so
broken in health, so bitter in spirit, so reeking
with the atmosphere Of crime that they could
not possibly be anything but criminals again.
Yet the idea has spread and can never be killed.
Whatever mistakes may be made in schemes Of
prison reform will be regrettabe. They cannot
be half so regrettabe as the sneers at any hon
est effort to help men in prison and so help the
state which owes a duty to them.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
Professor Wilhelm Wien, Distinguished German Physicist
Defends His Country Part in the War.

20 a friendly and pleasant agreement,
because / should esteem il sacrllegious
to light for such bagatelles a great
national war or even to make it pos
sible."
on the other hand, 7 will not raise
the questions as 20 who caused the
present war and who was the real as
sailant. / will not investigate the cues
tion Of neutrality, whether Belgium
having made an agreement with Eng
land and France i'm case Of war could
still be regarded as a neutral state, and
how the action Of England against the
navigation Of the neutral states, Hol-
land and Scandinavia. and the use Of
the dum-dum bullets should be judged;
nor Will | more than mention the fact
that Germany promised to respect the
neutrality Of Belgium il England would
guarantee her own neutrality.
! wish only 10 ask you whether you
find J.. correct II the habitants Of a
neutral country like the United States
take sides IN such a passionate man
Ler? Whether il would not be better
to defer their judgment until they
could get q right view of the origin Of
the present war based upon its correct
historical presentation?
The United States has had most
friendly relation with Germany
would think that every American would
be interested in preserving this friend
ship. II any one speaks i'll about a
friend Of mine with whom he quar-
res, / would not believe him at once,
but would wait until P dsinterested
investigation is possible. We expect
this from the Americans. As vet there
is no in feeling in Germany toward
America. We are still inclined to make
the English news responsible for the
unfriendly behavior of the Americans.
But if such eruptions as yours are
repeated and we become convinced that
we are treated unjustly by the Ameri-
cans, then the physical law of the
equality of action and reaction will
reach into the psychological realm and
greatly diminish the sympathy we have
at present for America and the Ameri-
cans. ". WIEN.
Wurzburg, Germany, Nov. %, 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
A REPLY TO JOHN BURROUGHS THE PEOPLES COLUMN
An OpnF for

what prevents the shell from exploding
al that instant And II the shell con-
tanned a larg, amount OF .laImL me
expansive force Of the hcat generated
would burst the shell before oue-nait
of the th6rmit had reacted. as Do does
not react as quickly as powder by any
means.
Now. for the sake Of argument We
will admit that the reaction is complete
and the shell contains 100 pounds OF
molten iron Of a temperature of 0fOO
degrees, as the article in question
states. What would happen Simply
that i'm five seconds more the entire
shell would be melted and there would
be a spluttering mass of iron .all 10
earth. as ! have myself seen a stream
of molten iron produced from thermt
reaction poured on 20 an iron pla'e5
one-eighth Of am inch IN thickness, and
10 passed through like water through a
sieve. without even q splutter.
As il takes the projectlles from ono
Of the large siege guns forty seconds
10 travel seven miles. this shell will
travel thirty-hve seconds under tenn
perature Of $500 degrees. And, again,
for the sake Of argument, we VIII ad-
NIT IL has held intact, but IS IN q state
OF white heat. against which there is
no argument: with such a temperature
inside il. therefore, when IL strikes its
penetrating force is nothing, as 10
would smash and fatten out Ike An
egg.
To one familiar with the use OF Their
init this story looks somewhat like
she'll game. THERMIT USER.
New York, Dec. %, 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
MOLTEN PROJECTILES
A Metallurgist Doubts the Working of
the Hammond Shell.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: In your issue of the 22d ! read
an article on the Hammond SHELF
which throws molten metal. OF course,
I do not know if Mr. Hammond has
been correctly quoted or not. This ar
ticle goes on 10 state that he uses
thermit. and. as already stated. HERMIT
is a mixture Of finely divided aluminium
and oxide of iron. When properly ig-
nited usually by a mixture Of pow
dered magnesia and potassium chlorate)
a reaction takes place in which the
oxygen of the iron oxide combines with
the aluminium; as the aluminium has a
greater affinity for oxygen than has the
iron, under heated conditions, the
action of the oxygen leaving the iron
and combining with the aluminium
causes n tremendous heat, and the iron
oxide is reduced 20 pure metallic iron.
This material has been in use for a
good many years in machine shops for
making heavy YIELDS; also in remote
mining districts for repairing heavy
machinery
The article in question states that
the she'll is loaded with thermit and the
reaction is started by conclusion
cap. Please let me state that a reac-
tion of thermit cannot be started By a
conclusion cap, as il takes powerful
heat TO start a reaction, and usually a
mixture, rs stated above. which pro-
duces very high and quick temper
Ature. Now, IN the reaction starts az
the timo Of the proJectile leaving the
gun and is complete in Ave seconds,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
The Contraband Dispute Once More

Our manufacturers and exporters undoubtedly
have cause for complaint against Great Britain
by reason of that countrys stretching OF the rules
Of contraband. Yet from what has been made
public II is difficult 10 analyze the precise grounds
Of President Wilson's note Of protest. Appar-
emily no fundamental dispute Rs TO the law Of
contraband has arisen. But that is the worst
feature Of this nebulous portion Of international
law. Even If general rules are agreed upon the
opportunities for haggling over guilt in particu-
lar cases are endless.
So far as appears in the Washington dis
patches the chief source Of trouble has been the
much mooted matter Of conditional contraband
Under the Declaration Of London it was made
entirely clear that the doctrine Of ultimate desti
nation had no application 70 conditional contra
band shipped between neutral countries. That
Is 20 say, foodstuFs other products not neces-
sarily used for military purposes could not he
ss.zed a. conIaband II proceeding from America
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
THE DIVINE PLAN
Men, However Great, Are but lnstru
ments in Gods Hand.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 4 letter in your issue OF De-
cember e contains a criticism Of Vic
tor Hugos illusions to Napoleon and
the Almighty" az attributing change
ability" and embarrassment" TO God.
These expressions OF Hugos are to be
only read With the reverent spprecia-
ton Of the grandeur and mighty scope
of the Div.-e plan and the diversity OF
the instruments used for its accom-
plishmen.. The plan is one, while the
agents are changed "a progressive
steps are taken. Napoleon would have
embarrassed God" if the Great De-
signer had been limited 20 his employ
ment. but having accomplished his mis-
sion he was cast aside and replaced by
others who were to carry forward the
plan" progressing through the ages.
With such an understanding, the words
of Hugo arc grandly suggestive.
So carpenter designs door. Selling
a saw, he cuts the boards into shape,
and when this il done throws down the
saw. lie seiZes plane and smoothes
them. and then throws aside the plane
70 take M successfully the joiner's
tools, hammer, chisel, nail and hinge,
until the door is complete. The plan is
one; tho instruments arc many.
So God uses men and nations, the
great and the little, the strong and
the weak, mighty men and imbeciles In
great places. with the result that the
progress made il in furtherance CT the
great design and me certainty Of the
result according 70 tho original plan.
". 7. T.
Madison, y. j., Dec 81, 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

to Holland, for example, even though their uti-
mate destination might be shown 70 be the
armies of the Kaiser. The one exception made TO
this rule was when the country Of delivery had
no seacoast, and this, Of course could not be
appled TO Germany. But England did not ratify
the Declaration of London and the earlier rules
are by no means as clear cut.
The country will support the President IN his
general stand Since this country is neutral IT'S
citizens are entitled to the full rights of neutral
traders. We are confident that Sir Edward Grey
will see the situation in the same light
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
GERMANY'S PLIGHTED WORD
What She Promised Toward Belgium
and What She Did.
To The Editor Of The Tribune.

10 iNt LulLOI ol Inc AlIDhNts
Sir; On August last the German
Embassy in London communicated TO
the Foreign Office the following tele-
gram:
please dispel any distrust that may
subsist on the part of the British gov
eminent with regard to our intentions
by repeating NEST positively formal
assurance that, even in the case OF
armed conflict with Belgium, Germany
will under no pretence whatever annex
Belgian territory Sincerity Of this
declaration is borne out by the fact
. that we solemnly pledge our word to
Holland strictly to respect her neutral
ity. II is obvious that we could not
proftably annex Belgian territory
without making at the same time terri
torial acquisitions az the eXpenJ g. Of
Holland" British White Paper No.
1879
Could anything be more formal. more
binding? Here is q solemn pledge on
the part of Germany, no matter what
the circumstance may be, not 10 annex
Belgian territory, even if she is com
PEELED by the force of circumstances 10
make war upop Belgium. Germany
has now proclaimed the annexation Of
Belgium and refuses TO recognize Amer
lean and other neutral cOnsuls ac-
credited to the Belgian government.
Thus Germany keeps her contract.
Thus Germany guards her honor
Again she has shown her cynical con-
tempt for her promise. 10 her an
agreement, whether in the form OF
treaty or a self-imposed obligation, is
merely scrap of paper, made without
faith and TO be disregarded without
conjunction whenever it may suit her
purpose
Germany having said Belgium was
rot profitable unless she also acquired
Holland. are we now to assume that
she will seek a preteXt for the anneXa-
ton of Holland? How many more
crimes must Germany commit, how
often must she violate her plighted
word, before the world understands the
real purpose of Germany in provoking
this wanton and unnecessary war?
A. MAURICE LOW.
Washington, Dec. %, 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
Nieht Licenses for the GuzzIers."

Although distinctly liberal" Mayor MitcheIs
administration has so far been productive Of
much less disturbance over excise law enforce
ment than attended Mayor Gaynor's period at
the City Hall. 1t is not to be expected that even
the granting of III al-night licenses for New
Years Eve will affect the city's serenity. The
present executive does not cherish the same point
of view regarding "guzzers" as did his predeces-
sor, and the public has found that those who
congregate in cafes to eat and drink and dance
after the theatre are fairly law-abiding-at the
worst, are not combative-when policemen are
not endeavoring to close the places and club the
guests out on the stroke of l.
New York City will do almost anything-when
not ordered to do it. 1t will take its night restau
rant life sanely and normany-provided it is not
told to pack up and get out at definite moment.
Mayor Mitchell has shown good judgment and
artistic restraint in his endeavors to reconcile
public convenience and the letter OF the trouble
some excise law
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
LEANING ITALY "
No Matter Who Loses, She Is Sure to
Win.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Benedict Prioth has a very
clever letter in your columns to-day on
Leaning Italy, Italy leans toward
the Allies. but she never goes over.
Italy. as q matter Of fact, is in fine
strategic position. Sufficiently power
Jul 20 command more than respect she
is frankly out for Italy, first, last and
all the time. un,roUbled, as IS one
other neutral country that might De
mentioned, by duty 20 humanity 70
civilization and TO the cause of peace
Having occupied Avlona and started
20 occupy Albania. both peacefully she
will, ere long, be in position 20 occupy
more or less peacefully, the Irentlno
and Trieste. Meanwhile. her met
chants are no doubt doing q seleco
trade with Austria ord Germany ~
cortraband of war ~ prices stli moI'
select a.,
Italy may lean and Jean; she VIII
60 over only when and Co whom wv"
be for Italy's interests 90 do ed.
Imagine her position six months OF
a year from now 4 fresh, sourd army
of two million. splcndIdly equipped, a
very respectable navy, oil the lessons
of year or so Of other peoples ~at
to learn from: these other nations
weakened by "a years constant hcnl-
ing and economic exhaustion HaIy
will come pretty close 10 winning ~
default the prize for which EngianIa
and Germany are now struggling, the
last say in the affairs Of Europe
The one sure thing about TINS WsF
IL that no matter who loses Italy WINS
RUSSELL f.. GElER.
BROOKLYN. Dec -, 1914
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
Colonel Roosevelt Takes Up New and
Worthy Cause.

The Colonel came back upon the fro page and
in a good cause. It IS far more thrilling 20 knit
socks for an unknown hero on battlefield three
thousand miles away than TO help needy family
around the corner, Also, with our modern news
service It is quite as easy TO visualize the fate Of
Belgium as the fate of a starving East Side
quite as easy and twice as entertaining. There
fore. all praise to the Colonel for his efficient aid
TO the home cause.
We hope, too, that the Colonel pursues his plan
Of stumping the country on behalf Of the unem-
ployed As nation we have been hopelessly
negligent in meeting this problem. Even IN a
black outstanding winter like the present when
everybody knew and felt the impending desola-
ton approaching, legislators went about their
rigmarole as usual and only belated, improvised
investigators are now at work. The underlying
problem has never been so much as touched. No
wonder that the !. w. W. leaders are putting out
their chests and planning new and thrilling
stunts with the.mighty army Of recruits at their
command.
There is danger here; and, more, there is injus-
tice. If Colonel Roosevelt can awaken the coun-
try TO its duty he will be doing a great and good
work.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
Lynch Law in the Cleary Case.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: am "only woman" and be-
licve that vengeance should be icft q,
"whatevcr gods there be- hut n /
were a man. tho father OF boy muir
dcred by a drunken politician self
confesscd). would find a way 10 get
simple justice outside tho courts. where
il is daily proved a legal impossi5iity;
May / suggest ;hat n committee O.,
citizens might be induced o tar ana
feather Cleary? And. still surprising !
were a man. each separate juror r NAV
case might be gcntlt but firmly horse
whipped 40 POLITICIAN
New York, Dec. %, 1914.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
TIPPERARY.
BY OUR OWN JAMES OPPENHEIM.

Far far,
The lineally-measured distance from East Four
teenth Street, New York, to Tipperary,
Distant, distant the place and dreary-spent,
the hours in journeying thither
To, of my entire man-fOund acquaintance, the
most desirable the most yearning to-be-possessed,
of women.
Piccadilly and Leicester Square, good-byl
Far far is it to Tipperary
But my sky-soaring soul, my myriad-heerted
heart is there.
COmingl "Tipperary," by Our Own Frank Tinney.
-Advt.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
The Coming Touer
Advice.


A friend approached the eolyumS' ana s@i1' iO1 u
pardon me,
But-please don't take ofenee-your stuhS NOT
You round avav at evils and you bang away at
snarcs.
But wbv do YOU 20 after things abou, which no one
cares?
Til. people want to be amused, but you go on and
weary us
....,inn ,i,rs and wb,ek,rg things; your stuff IS
too darned serious.
-, b,,di,r you friendly tin: Run more to Josh
and fluff.
Law of the strong, uplifting thins-eut out the
weighty stuff"
Another friend came IN 10 Interrupt WV
p"u- u,,I n.,,bo,,rb ,ys
'Tm going to tell YOU this ne SA0' A''"O'S" = .
pfe'y h"fu' ..,.,,o a.r.,ood
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

CoNTRIBUToRIAL INDIFFERENCE.
am not master OF the rhyme.
I'm not versiher.
! am not there with phrase sublime
on worldly thoughts or higher.
have but 10Y TO sling the ink:
From that my need gather;
DO bevail 20 hit the zinc7
Am concernedH-welL--not exactly.
J. A. D.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

"It's like having expert stand back OF you"-
the quotation is from Edna Ferber's story in the
Cosmopolitsn-"in a game of cards, showing you the
next move Or, as Sphinx postcards like having an
expert stand behind you in q chess game, telling
you what are trumps
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

"'wHOM ARE your SAID CYRIL"
tFfon The December "AdventIr."l
Whom do you suppose could have operated Il all ?"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

Well, at midnight tomorrow The Coming Tower
will be year old.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

II Secretary Bryan should sing "How Dry AM
We, for one, would be disposed 70 agree with him
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
THE DIARY OF OUR OWN SAMUEL PEPYS.

December 2S-Up by times, having had little
sleep. and so distract all the morning. Our Olive
seized this day with great misery, and went
away in PAIN and I hope she will soon be well OF
it. for she is a good girl and hath great affec-
ton for my wife; and little for me, too, |
think. At the office all the day, debating this
and that and what not, and in the evening to the
playhouse, and saw Miss NJ Dressler in "A Mix
Up" which ! deemed inept and dull, and could
not see aught to laugh at in
29-With my cozen Milton to luncheon, and j,
Leopold the physician, and thence to the Office
where all the afternoon, dull, rainy afternoon.
To Mr.. van Westrum the critick's for dinner, and
we had some goose, of which had three plates
full; and had so much it was near nine o'clock
when | reached my office; and so late that |
could not 90 to see the fight between Charley
White and Joe Shugrue. as had thought to. At
my scrivening until midnight, when home and
to-bed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

Perhaps Great Britain will retaliate with the Cd
servation that the holding up Of our shipping wa
nnrely nsvchological.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30
OUR OWN BUTLER.

Our honored Board distrusting action mild
Holds that 10 spare the Rodmsn spoils the child
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

Yank-purshssers don't seem to C under the g..
much.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

President Wilson will ask damages from Great
Britain for having held Up our shipping; and II he
doesn't mind, would he slip IN word to the efeet
that we want some indemnity for Barrie's war stuff?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

Reserved your tablet
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

Gle IS not English, but Jewish" says the Globe,
referring to Charley White. Regards to Disrsel;
Israel Zangwil please write.
Well, it looks like White New Years for Shu-
grue. (Telephoned, anonymously
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

The war has hurt the magazine business, too ana
their advertising has fallen of so that no" they
FEEL fat, too.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

r p A.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

COmingI "Tipperary" by Our Own Frank Tinney
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

20 thank vou," said the coyumlst land ! had the
time,
I'd listen longer, hut I've got to spill some prose
and rhyme"
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-25
Rural High Levy 10 Lower.

The valuation of property in
Meridian rural high school district
10 approximately 81 ,650.00o. a de.
crease Of 400. 600 over last year.
notwithstanding this lower yslaa-
II 10 understood that the district
can get along with 8 mill levy
instead of 4 mills, as last year, and
this will decrease the tax for every
one. Running expenses for the
school last year were $4,000. but
this included new equipment,
and it 10 thought that the expense
this year will be at least $1,000
less. District 3s's levy will be the
same as last, 5 mills. The two
schools cost practically the sans
amount, the higher levy in 8;
making up for the increased valua
ton of the larger rural high dis
trict.
The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-25
CANYON COUNTY FAIR.

Caldwell, Sept. 20, Oct, I'd.
Excursions via Oregon Short
Line. Tickets on sale Sept. 20 to
October I'd, inclusive. Limited
70 October 3D.. See agents for
rates.