davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12

sion Of wealth creating facilities and
the consequent increase of prosperity
depends. II chance Of larger profit
attaches to convertible bonds and adds
to their attractiveness and markets-
billy. what Is there In the science OF
political economy which should MILL
tate against their issuance by cOrp0-
ration? Absolutely nothing but the hope
OF profit induced the enormous invest
ment that has built up American rail-
roads with thei wonderful contribu-
tion to American prosperity, although
the hazards Of new fortune have cost
the investors great losses.
If 1t should become public policy
that the element Of chance must be
eliminated from corporate finance,
American enterprise Ia likely to be
characterized by very slow growth In
the future. for there are not many sure
things in new business. The decision
Of the Massachusetts, Supreme Court
comes very close to saying that the
hope Of profit must be abandoned In
making corporate Investments, ana II
corporate finance must be conducted on
that basis American economic progress
will become uninsplring.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
The Evolution OF Mental Healing.

Those who decry the modern methods
OF mental healing as an anachronism
or express contempt for the i'm
becility" of otherwise intelligent men
and women who are earnest. de-
won't and active propagandists OF these
cults fail to take cognizance of the
history of psychotherapy or mind heal
ing, which might Undue them with a
more considerable not to say just attl-
tude In this matter.
An article In the Boston Medical and
Surgical journal Of recent date dwells
upon the fact that the present day
tendencies In psychotherapy are re-
vival In new form OF principles and
practices which are very ancient. The
amulet and the talisman represent the
earliest recorded attempt Of primitive
man to satisfy his psychic self In the
trea tlnent OF disease. Both de-
rived their influence through certain
religious rites by which curative
powers were impaired to parchment.
bits Of wood or other material. The
difference between the tal.sman and
amulet was that the latter was pro-
vided for special emergencies TO ward
of evil. whereas the tallsman was re-
garded as more constant protection
against existing dangers OF maladies.
Disease was often deemed a manifes-
tation Of demons that possessed the
hapless individual and demanded to be
exercised. The truly religious char
acter of these material representatives
Of human faith was first realized dur
Ing the crusades. when the trusting
afflicted began TO purchase relics from
the shrines Of saints. The royal touch
derived Its healing powers from the
mediated divine rights OF kings. Mag.
net,sm was the next method Of mani.
festation OF mental healing. In the
nineteenth century the revival move
ment which swept over the Christian
peoples initiated the present psychic
phase of healing.
The continued domination Of the
minds Of many good people by this
movement Is n manifestation OF an
evolution from the superstitious to a
higher type OF an influence that Is in
herent in the human being and must be
reckoned with In estimating the pres
ent cults
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
4 BITTER CRY FROM TTXAS.
II Mr.. Wilson Won't stop the war In
MrNicO COlpuitt WIN DO IL.

To THE EDITOR Of TIE SpH--Str. We
have had terrible food IN Texas in the
last thirty days and thousands OF our p,o.
pie have lost everything. We are taking
care OF them without asking outside helm
Now We are made the dumping ground FOR
the poor Mexican women and children
who have come over the line as Re rugees
Starved and naked they are, and the big
hearted people Of tn. great state OF Texas
will see that they do not want
The supposit!on IL that Texas has so,ls
representatives IN Washington. bu, II they
haye ever said a word in the Capitol about
Mexico II was in a whisper. and We haven't
heard II down here. | doubt very much
II they knew the Rio Grande Is the
dividing line
saw THE SUNS interviews with twenty
Governors and our Governor was the only
one who urged Intervention. What do the
Governors OF Connecticut. Massachusetts.
Idaho and Colorado know or care about
Texas or Mexico They are all too busy
fighting coal strikers
Woodrow Wilson can stop this war by
notifying the MeNicaus that II they don't
lay down their arms IN thirty days he will
intervene For Gods sake try and do
something To stop this trouble. In Texas
we have as many Sam Houstons as we
ever had ~ Woodrow Wilson can't stop
the war Governor Colqultt can.
HsV BuRNs
AUSTIN, Tex, January 6.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
Meaning of a Short Word.

The advantage Of shorter and
uglier word has caused the confusion
which exists so beautifully IN regard
to the dancing that occupies so much
Of public attention to-day. The evolu-
lions which originated IN the Argen-
tine and are known internationally as
the tango are more popular abroad
than In the United States. In this
city the tango Is danced by few per
sons at the average private ball. In
deed it rarely happens that more than
two or three couples rise to the music
of this dance.
II does not appeal to the young, as
1t Is too slow and deliberate in most of
its evolutions. 1t is rather too com
plicated for those who have resumed
dancing In their later years; thus 1t
enjoys none of the appreciation SO lib.
orally shown to the one step and the
new waltz. But tango Is a descriptive
and comprehensive word. 1t is shorter
than the designations OF the other new
steps and 1t suggests at once the whole
tendenc. of recent dancing.
SO 1t Is customary TO read that the
tango" has been barred by is clergy
man or by that ball committee. As a
matter of fact it is certain forms OF the
one step or the waltz with their nu.
merous variations, which have been pro-
hibited. In this country the tango plays
no important part I'm any programme of
dances. On the other hand It Is the
tango which Is danced So constantly In
Europe and has provoked the dlsap-
prevail Of so many ecclesiastical and
governmental authorities. II must be
said that there are no apparent grounds
for their Intervention, as the five stems
usually danced abroad are simple and 1t
is not easy to see in what respect they
could offend against the laws of taste
or morality.
Probably beyond describing in this
country objectionable gyrations instead
Of the dance from Sonth America the
word tango has come to express n state
Of mind. At a gathering Of the kind
described as tango tea" there will be
little or none of that dance. But the
devotion to such diversion and the In
sistence on enjoying 1t at all times
and under all possible circumstances
has come to be another suggestion I'm
the convenient word OF five letters
which has enriched the language.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12

The State OF Connecticut has had a
workmen's compensation act In force
since the first Of the year. According
to despatch from Hartford these ten
brief days have filled that fair land
with gall and wormwood. The Master
Painters and Decorators are most un.
happy and declare outright that the law
is soclalist!c. Since when, pray. has
1t been a flaw or term Of reproach for
legislation to be called "socialst!c"?
Has the hall mark OF progress lost its
reputation; Is the amulet OF indus
trial welfare losing its potency? Must
even the lamp Of ALADDIN flicker from
SCOT? In the name Of all the gods at
once. No! And again, No!
Moreover, the plight Of the hoboes
in Connecticut will have come 10 a
pretty pass should this gentle law prove
ineffective The despatch says:
To-day II was announced that hoboes
and tramps who were given a nights
lodging by municipal shelters might col
lect damages II injured by putting UP
their allotment OF kindling wood the next
morning"
Why not? Does the State OF on
necticut expect these calm gentlemen to
risk wounding their delicate skins out
of pure altruism? Are their thumbs
to be put IN jeopardy while holding
kindling wood with the notion that
should the Ratchet miss fire the liza
bility law does not apply? Have they
not been born in free and honest
republic? Why, little more of this
sophistry and they will leave such
a country!
But the hardships which fall unon
the farmers move us most Of all. To
quote the despatch once more:
From windham county comes the re-
port that farmers near there. alarmed to
learn that they are not exempt, have
discharged their hired men and are doing
their own chores"
When the servants Of the sea sons
have to remove their motor coats and
take to the sawbuck the hour Of revo.
luton Is upon us. Is mankind to re.
vert to the stone age when farmers
did their own milking? II 10, annul
the Constitution Mt one stroke and be
done with It. Let's know where the
pillars stand before this law IL one
week older. Drat these legislators!
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
At THE CITY GATE.
An Experience With the Grand Central
station Taxicabs.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN---Sir: Ar
irving at the Grand Central Station this
morning I summoned a redoapped official
porter and told him to lead me to taxi.
He led me through the eastern entrance
to the private taxi stand Of the Westcott
Express Company. where the agent de-
handed rs cents for taxi to the Lambs
Club, on Forty-fourth street near Sixth
avenue, only three blocks away. When
objected the agent said that was the min
imum rate for any taxi from their station,
even n It only went across the street.
I then went 70 the main entrance, re-
cured a public taxi and made the trip
for 80 cents. When ! asked the porter
why no had led me to the private stand
instead OF to the main entrance, where
there were at least dozen public taxis,
he replied that he had orders to lead all
passengers to the Westcott stand.
As strangers coming to the city are at
the mercy OF these porters and may not
know how they are being swindled, !
think It may come within THE SUNS
province to call attention to this outrage.
WILLIAM 4 PAGE.
New YORK. January 10
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12

To THE EDITOR oy THE SrS--Sr; According
TO the irest reports It Is the intention of
the new Police Commissioner 10 make some
modification In the present system OF sta.
uonary or "HNed" posts The idea Ia to
make conditions more agreeable for mem.
bers OF the force and at the same time not
TO decrease the efficiency Of tn. stationary
post system. which has proved successful
in every way.
Under the present system the stationary
post IL a hardship that few policemen can
stand over certain length OF time. I, is
too eyRcting and too many ~ effects accru.
from It. II has been responsible for more
men leaving the police force than any other
reason, and many young policemen unable
to stand the strain imposed upon them by
the stationary post have handed in their
badges and expressed their desire 20 quit.
Naturally the largest number OF resisna.
tions are received during the winter month.
from policemen unable to endure the rixor,
OF winter,
IL the Police Commissioner 4. sincere In
his desire to modify the fixed post probably
II would be good idea for him to try the
following plan; Let there be erected ON
street corners at fixed intervals small shell.
ter houses similar TO those AT present To-
Gated at some of the entrances to Central
Park. The houses would not have to be
elaborate and large: Just large enough to
permit an officer TO enter and sit down on a
small stool. Each house should be eauipped
with q phone by which Il would be poxsIbl.
for headquarters or the captain OF his pre
cinct to reach tho officer In case he was
desired to perform some special duty. To
distinguish II green incandescent lIrbt
could be placed on top OF the house and
persons In need OF police aid would know
where TO go for an ofr,cer. n
NEW YoHK, January 10
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12

ers who have been unable to compre-
bend why some OF them were ever ''in-
serted into stories" ut all. And now
that the secret Is out the works Of sew
eral authors will ut once become more
Ineligible. IL takes the atmosphere OF
Battle Creek, the middle Western Bos-
ton. to crack the nuts Of magazine
fiction.
Apparently Big Business has con-
trolled heroic smokers in the dime
planted by the more masculine cheroot.
We have even read of great detectives
ana counterfeiters who were addicted
To stogies. But we will say In behalf
of Mrs. AMANDA UoLcoME that so far
as our records go no movie hero
smokes anything but cigarettes and
from his oifhand manner it is assumed
that he buys them by the crate.
Unfortunately. though, SAMUEL s.
MCCLURE was on hand and deliberately
upset much OF the smoking control
theory Mr.. MCCLURE said In part
well, will talk for the publisher. I
have never inserted cigarettes in heroes
mouths. ] have taken them out lots of
times As II general thing we let the
authors copy alone. and the boys Rich
ARD HARpING DAVIS and others, generally
use pipe for their heroes"
The pipe has Il hold over college
heroes that is almost supernatural But
we wish very much that Mr.. MCCLURE
had stayed away from Battle Creek,
for now we are MS much In the dark rs
ever ms to why certain cigarette smok-
ing heroes" were inserted" And II
Mrs. AMANDA HoLcoME had been left
alone perhaps she would have explained
the connection between Big Business
and the snuff taking heroes Of our
fathers
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
A LESSON IN FAITH.
Concerning Intellectual Honesty and
Theological Dogma.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: Ed
ward Brcck can learn another way of
looking at the 'dogmas OF the Christian
church" II he will consent to look at the
matter In another light Prejudice"
which he 80 Justly vituperates, Is refus-
fairly upon them.
The mind abhors q religion not because
II is formal" but because 1t Is false.
BY an Unborn efficacy of its own the hui
man intellect embraces truth and rejects
error The pefversity that thwarts this
constitutional inclination OF the mind
toward things as they are, and not as they
are not Is the intellectual sin that de-
serves supremest reprobation. IF by any
reasonable process mans intellect finds
truths enshrined In dogmas II were
Tyranny" and lack Of intellectual hon
esty" to turn II away from them Truth
Is our commanding chief; we are Its liege
men. Truth speaks we obey. II the
master voice OF truth is simulated by
some lying fraud there must be a means
Of detection available. II I continue
to be deluded some one else will have
used the means to better advantage.
1t 10 not likely that the cheat will sue
coed In outwitting all.
Is there not then an authoritative
standard to which any man may appeal
and from which there is no appeal?
AHcfc 10 dHu IL my uOxHd piedse you not,
Instead OF calling me names hold the mat
ter up to the light and measure II by
application to the common graduated
yardstick provided, so | maintain, by ma
ture. Whose denies that such n standard
has been given us cuts the ground from all
discussion, nulll'es all reasoning and
paralyzes all rational intercourse on
earth.
This rational standard for testing and
assuring alleged truths must be dlcta-
torial Independent and universally ac-
cessible. II cannot be the creation OF
mans own mind. moulded mt will. As
umpire IL must command obedience and
submission from both sides. To he access
sible to all Il must he one and the same
in every created Intellect. In the personal
ght OF his own mind each individual
sees the great standard light kindled In
the cause OF human reason.
To abide by this Is the true intellectual
honesty" To II have been implicitly
appealing while stating the foregoing
convictions These do not prove. though
they favor. the decried "dogmas"
CHESTER. January 10. !. A. NJ
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
GRANT A "NEAR MAN."
How General ISuckncr Justified the Use
or the GNpressiO

To THE EDITOR or THE SuS--Sir: The
death Of General Simon Bolivar Buck
ner brings 20 mind a story that I heard
on the porch OF the United States Hotel.
Saratoga on a summers day of the sad
time when General Grant was between
life and death.
General Buckner was there i'm company
with three or four other distinguished
ex- Confcd. rate soldiers. The talk turned
on the point whether Grant was as great
"A captain as We all thought him. There
was disposition among the Southerners
TO dispute Grants claims to being In
the category OF Alexander or Napoleon or
Wellington. They said he was soldier
of capacity and audacity and fearless
ness. but with Lincoln behind him. favor
ing him right or wrong, he had advan-
tsges which no other commander In mar
tial history ever had.
General Buckner. who was known as
a great admirer of Grant. was attentively
listening 20 his friends. but he said very
little Whenever a harsh remark was
dropped Buckner would, however lean
forward and say
"Ycs, know but after all Grant was
a near man. a very near man"
1t was not long before this equivocal
statement got on the nerves of those about
him. Finally one OF the party said
See here. Buckner, what the devil do
you mean by saying Grant was near
man" Docs that make him the equal Of
Lee
Whercon the grizzl"l old warrior
quickly reviewed the principal battles In
which Grant engaged, with the idea of
show nE how Grant was always in the
breach with his troops AT the nick OF
time how when the Union forces were
on the verge Of defeat Grant either ar
rived with reenforcemeuts or by a splendid
stroke saved the day. One after another
Buckncr told the stories OF Grants sue
ccsses at shiloh, Don,lson, sc His re-
c.tal in each case ended with the laconic
remark
You see Grant was a near man--iust
happened 20 be near when most wanted"
In the end the surrender al Appomat-
Ton was reached Buokner told with what
desperate resistance 10 the inevitable Lee
fought to the last ditch and how with
every resource exhausted, with every ave-
nue. OF escape blocked Lee determined
to save his army from humiliation by an
honorable surrender.
so, said Buckncr, Lee looked around
for some one 10 make terms with. 1t
just happened that Grant was nea- there
under the apple troe--and naturally
Lee decided TO hand his sword TO Grant.
Yes, Grant WAS near mana very near
man" e. r :.
NEW YORK. January 10.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12

just about this time OF year.
snappings. crackings family sound.
Listen keeny and you'll hear
Broken sentences float round.
smoke no mo- tcrick-crackD Keen
temper"
(Sound like falling breakfast platterD
Save my mon" --"Larks"--then
fractures
Faint or loud what is the matter.
Boomings as Of far OF guns.
splinters In a gentle rain,
Pops like those we used to hear
Before the Fourth was safe and sane.
Sounds that punctuate the air,
Tell me what this tumult means
"These be New Year resolutions.
Breaking into smithereens"
HELEN r. LoyEIr.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12

an attempt to make novelty out Of an
old thing. 1t has much II the old thing
is revived because people feel the want
Of It." This distinction IL developed by
the writer in an interesting discussion
Of the relative merits Of old and new
jokes. The modern tendency Is In the
direction Of novelty mt all costs; 1t has
become a craze until the sophisticated
man Of the world now laughs at bad
new Jokes because he Is ashamed to
laugh at good old ones"
The child, on the other hand, has the
wisdom to know that good Joke. like
good wine, improves with age. A Joke
or q story that has once caught the
fancy Of youngster may be repeated
an indefinite number Of times and still
evoke the sumo hearty appreciation.
Indeed, any discrepancy In the telling
will probably be resented. often to the
embarrassment Of the adult narrator.
who may have difficulty in recalling the
ipsissima verba of the authorized text
And so. the Times concludes only II we
allow free play to the child that Is
within us shall we appreciate the har-
lequinade: LET us once demand that
pantomime shall please the childish
part Of our minds and we shall find that
that part Is very well worth pleasing"
Few will be found with sufficient
courage to deny the force Of this conclu-
sion, for there Is one aspect Of the mat
FOR hnt h. hac aI Of
only Is there modern craze for nov
city, but there Is modern craze for
childishness. The trouble IL that we
have developed tendency to be self
consciously childish. Peter Pan" be-
gan 1t, and because we found that we
could witness that delightful fantasy
with whole hearted enjoyment we
proceeded very solemnly to put away
adult things and become systematically
children. 1t takes n man OF almost
publicly n disbelief in fairies. although
in point of fact the number of blessed
souls who are really privileged to be-
lievc in fairies is exceedingly small.
We are In danger Of making childish
ness as much an affectation AS MARIE
ANToiNETTE and her lords and ladies
made the return to nature business.
by all means let us have Harlequin
and Columbine and the rest Of the
merry crew back again. for the jokes
that they make are old jokes and ex-
ceedingly good jokes. Even the com
paratively modern innovations are good.
1t is, for instance, in the highest degree
exhilarating 10 see n policeman hit over
the head with string OF sausages II
appeals to the anarchical instinct which
In ordinary life our social prudence
keeps under restraint. Blu. II some
American manager Is enterprising
enough to experiment with u harle-
Quinadc. let US not 60 TO the theatre
with II set and iufantile smile on our
lips, gravely determined to regard the
Offering with the ingenious candor OF
little child.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-12
THE Berk shire Industrial Farm.

To THE EDITOR oF THE SUN-Sir: on
the edge OF the Berkshires, In New York
State, has grown IN in twenty-five years
a farm school for delinquent boys that de-
serves wide public motto. aud backing.
Nearly one hundred boys who In former
days would BE- IN 1a!ls or reforna,orr.
here lead normal, manly he. spending
half the day at school and half the day
WORKING out of doors. The farm. given
by MIR. Frederick Gordon Burnham has
never had large euhpwments or large
gifts, but has grown from small thinss
TO a larger field by devoted service, with
small pay at the farm and ny gifts from
an increasing circle of friends. The farm
has LOO acres Of farming and mountain
land. buildings worth about s75, 600, all
unencumbersd, and an endowment fund OF
$4,000. The counties pay $3.50 per an-
mum for the boys committed by the courts
and II is necessary To raise $4,000 an
nually from subscriptions To pay running
expenses.
The crux OF the farm is In the en-
l!ghtcncd humanity with which Il is run,
no prison features, no harsh discipline,
only Inspiring leadership and moral IN
fluences to turn these wrongly started
hut loNsh!e boys toward maniness. The
farm was epltomlzcd IN the remark OF one
of the royal iruss!an prison commits
siouers who recently visited there: This
il not an institution, II Is "A home. II Is
governed. not by rules. but by the char
acter of the men AT the head"
For what II is accomplishing and a an
example OF the right way u run a reform
school the work Is worthy of support
Among those on the advisory board are
such we'll known men as the Hon. Joseph
H. Choate Dean William NJ. Grosvenor
Lor,llard Spencer. head OF the Boy Scouts ,
Ernest X. Coulter head Of the Big Brother
movement, and the Hon clifford C. Pin.
h.,
the Berkshire Industrial Farm, ESQ Fourth
avenue, New York city.
RICHARD NJ Hum, Treasurer
NEW YORK. January 10.