davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
THE CIVIL SERVICE.
City Employees want Man an tho NUM-
Cipai Comm lssIOn.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--sir: Al
though certain high and mighty gentle
men never tire Of shouting the great bene-
fts Of civil service reform to the public
employees and TO the public service. we
seldom hear from those same employees on
the subject. unless the employee has grown
old In the service and Is anxiously think
ing of the time. In the near future when
he will not be efficient and may be re-
moved for non-efiiciency, when instead he
should be thinking of a civil pension.
This talk about civil service reform and
Its great benefits is certainly tiresome to
one who knows There are various brands
OF civil service reform. and when you get
right down 10 hard tacks they don't
amount to a damn.
Why Is 1t that a civil service employee
In one branch of the government Is dis
eliminated against IN favor OF civil SER
vice employees IN another branch and un-
der the same Civil Service Commission?
Is II not strange that an employee In
the first branch OF the government 10 not
allowed to hold honorary positions and
without compensation. while employees In
another branch OF the government and
under the same civil service rules and the
same Civil Service Commission are al
lowed that privilege
why Is such Partially shown Is NUM-
cipal civil service a Joke? 1t Is q we'll
known fact that many city employees are
actively engaged in political management.
] have no grievance against oivil EN-
ployees doing these things. but, ask
why II partially shown
IL is a well known fact civil service reform
IL NOT popular with those whom IL affects,
and lts rules and new orders are gener-
ally Objectionable 20 the great majority.
Would Il not be n very fine compliment 10
the civil service employees for those who
have tho appointive power. to appoint TO
the civil service governing bodies civil
service employees who are familiar with
condltions7
Bu. no. {: seems those who have tho
power are not broad minded enough. and
year In and year out appoint 10 these
positions men generally not capable and
out Of touch with the service. Generally
their Qualification IL 70 be a professor NJ
something RICHARD CARMaN
New YoRH. December ob.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
WESTCHESTER co. TO CUT RATES
Public service BOARD >n,s ilcc-
tricit, Prices Ave Too uIuh

ALRA~v. Dec. oj-The Publ. 80 ~
Commission OF the Second Us'- .
made decision on "ho CONN ,..'. ~
residents OF White Plains. rur' ,'r.'.'.
TsrrNtown. North Tarryt"Wr. '.tr - p
and Eastchester against Tho ~. re''.-
Lighting Company.
The opinion, by Comm So H".' " .~'
5. Decker, holds that respondent.
mum electricity rate Of H. cr'ts q .. H3t
hour in the districts affected e. o., .,--' -
unreasonable and unjust Nl
future should not exceed D. cor
watt hour. and also thar resp
minimum monthly rate OF 81 .- 't...-w
and should he reduced to q. .c....-
As 10 gas rates the CoWW.s-,1H
that upon the valuation r,,ori
the company's income does MOT '"'
a rate of return which can ne %
lawful order n these proceed '-.. :
strongly recommends that 'f. ''N
reduce its gas charges I'm r'cso g. 's -
s. - thousand cubic foe. t~ IS go
rate and put IN even lowe" go
thichly settled portions of o." ~. '.
ter. White Plains and Tar"ytovu
Mos' of the income oha'c"
In The last four years. r'du'rc o." We
chester companN's net revenue. N|"
the $40. 1000, 900 mortgage bonds 7HH
$1,000, 900 debenture bonds placed r
property IN 1904 IN tue transfer q .'
troll to the consolidated Gas .'
THIS was before the cstabl sHr,'' ". y
Public Service Conmiss on tr '
given weight in It's decision
Figures OF valuation placed
company on its gas aud r.' ~
critics In the For. Chester RS. .'
White Plains districts amt . I.'
were s6.S0O,00O, The comm $500
termining the amount On wI
pany was entitled TO return .ri
to $4,000. 900
Eastchesters gas rate is 'rr''
rately and II is recommended p
material reduction ne made H~r.'
arc: Port Chester. 81 30 ITO '~'''
feet and 81 Is for fuc.. VI
$40 for light and fuei TafN ,"N
for light and SIS for fu". Ee>
s so for llght and fncl
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
WANING IDEALTSM.
Yielding In This Country and In Europe
70 Hard Facts.

To The EpfroR or TIE SuN-Str: The
idealist Is one whose aspirations deter
mine his Judgment; tho realst, one whose
judgment determines his aspirations.
1dealism Is q distenper OF the ungoverned
ina ginatlon. and idealism is its GONZALES
cence Both this country and Europe have
been desperately III Of tho disorder, but
now fortunately are we'll on the way to
recovery.
In this country we have had the Roose-
welt ideal of a pure democracy" achiev-
ing its uttermost chastity In tho concep-
ton Of supreme court OF popular clamor;
that calamity happily has ceased 10
threaten. We have had the Wilson ideal
OF American conservation to the service
OF international altruism that Derversion
OF governmental authority has been
checked, and the submerged S5 per cent.
OF the Mexican people Is TO be permitted
TO work ont it's own salvation. We have had
tho Bryan ideal OF the affection and re-
spect In which all nations must hold
just people our temptation TO confidence
In that manner OF defence disappeared
with Belgiuns neutrality. We have had
the Sulzer ideal OF the unrestrained rule
OF tho common people; the common
people, speedily recognized their own In
constituted representative We have had
the 1obson ideal OF senatorial selection
by virtue OF puritanical intolerance; Ala
bama preferred able service to defamatory
propaganda, and that method OF office
seeking IL no longer popular. We have
HAD the Knox wlckersha am Bra ndeis ideal
OF national sntagonism to prosperous
business : and the several departments and
commissions OF the Government comprise
tho only considerable body OF our citizens
that has not yet dscerned the disastrous
results OF It's application. In sum. We
have entertained and been governed by
ideals political and economic. IDEALS So
cial and personal. ideals sacred. profane
and promethean; and the common char
acter OF them all has been their hopeless
fmpracticabiiity.
Blundering blirdlv onward In con.e-
Grated conceit. we nevertheless have been
slneularly and urdeservedIy fortunate In
our merciful destiny: for Germany and
England are paying infinitely greater PEN
aities for sins OF ideaiism no graver than
our own. England has INDUCED too ven
eronsly the aspiration for universal peace.
while Germany has cultivated too zeal
olmly the aspiration for imperial agrees
sion The trial OF those ideals by the
consuming fires OF realism has come with
n vengeance; and II ia Altogether likely
that when tho smoke OF battle shall have
cleared away both those great nations
will have been purified OF all ambitions
save those alone that recognize the veri-
ties Of nature and human nature as they
really are.
One after another tho fantasies OF the
dreamers are being submitted TO tho
harsh test OF truth one by one they are
found wanting. The deal'sts have had
their delirious day and rho course OF
tomorrow will he ruled by men whose
judgment IL guided by the facts OF reality
instead OF fancles OF what ought 20 he
FRED METCAIF.
PLAlNrIELp. ~, J.. Dece mber %
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26

TO THE EDITOR or THE SUN-S,r: A
Few days ago there was placed on private
exhibition in the studio of the artist, Mr.
Henry Herring, lis East Twenty-eighth
stree. the clay model OF the great high
relief which Is To- he placed in the Church
or the Messiah In perpetual memory or
pr. Robert collyer. II the judgment Of
Ia" Collvcr family and OF such friends and
Practitioners as have seen the model Is TO
be trusted this memorial. when completed
I'm the heroic bronze. will constitute a not
able sCulptural achievement Certainly as
portrait Of DR.. Collyer II is almost start
ling in Is vital reproduction of the great
preachers benignant face. splendid physl-
cal proportions and noble bearing
ln connection with this event may
take this occasion on behalf OF tho COM
mittee in charge to issue a further appeal
for funds for this memorial? Six thou.
sand dollars is the sum required. OF this
little more than $4,000 is now in the
hands of the committee: mother 81 600
has been pledged, which leaves final
$4,000 stll 10 hc raised
with the exception of ono large gift and
fifteen smaller ones an the money thus
far received or pledged has come from the
members OF the Church of the Messiah
Il ~ with the desire TO have this monu-
ment "A truly national. indeed interna-
ttonal memorial. and with confident as
surancc that pr. Collyer's friends every.
whore will want to have their share in it's
erection that this further appeal for funds
is issued at tins time Mr.. Herring hopes
to have the relief ready for unvciling and
dedication by Eastertide. Contributions
therefore should be I'm the hands OF the
treasurer. Mr. William Shllaber, 60 Wall
street, not later than March or April
JONI HAYNES HoLMEs.
NEW YoRK, December "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
LANDMARK" COPPERS RETIRED
For IS Years Superintendent ~ tho
Criminal Courts BuiIdinI.

II suppose | ought to be Thankful, bg'
I'm not. I've been so active all my Ne
that | don't know how TO loaf
This Is what I'd Coppers SAID "es,e'.
day about his being retired from ire
city's service AT the age Of -. lie VI,
be pensioned on New Years DAY.
For eighteen years he WAS Supsrr.
tendent OF tho Criminal Courts Bu ~
IN Manhattan and IL almost broke us
heart when he was transferred tn BrooN-
Ign three years ago TO he JdHitot - q
public school, Every one who htd bus
ness in the Criminal Courts know Inn
and he could call most of them h' .hAl-
first names. Judges. district dtior'
criminal lawyers. policemen 'Yta,
years back they have all known lI 'op.
pers.
The Coppers family came 10 Soy g
from London when I'd was .u ls 'H..s
and settled In the old Fourth Wt.I H-
learned the printers trade. cn''s'e' n
the Twelfth New York Volunteer 80 "a
beginning OF the civil wa and -, A
under Gen. Daniel Butterhold Lt'.r .e
enlisted in tn" navy and ser,'d o- '--
flagship OF Admiral Farragu'. tfr 80
war he worked at dol,u jobs Ven.
broke as a hotel keeper on station slant
and then began working Tor o. .fr
The prospect isn't FOR h7pr Nos
Year with Ed, because he do tros
how 20 loaf
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
TRANSPORTING TROOPS M SEA.
How England succeeded In Sending Her
Armies 10 south Africa.

To THE EDITOR or THE SrS-Sir. In
reference 10 the editorial article In THE
Sun entitled An Achievement for Ameri-
cans 10 Think About and your compl-
mentary remarks about the success the
20 South Africa in lS99-I902. and ask
ing how long 81 would take America to
send troops TO Mexico or the Philippines.
may say, as ore " the transport officers
In charge OF the ships sailing 90 and from
southampton during 'he whole period OF
the South African war. that the success
was due solely to the careful arrange
ments made beforehand. by which cer-
tain number OF officers. whose services
were retained at a small annual remu-
neration. were made fully conversant with
rhe methods aud Details of preparing
merchant ships for carrying troops
Previous TO the Boer war Il was COM
sidered undesirable TO carry more tnan
1900 men or 400 horses Ia one ship. II
was found practicable 10 Increase these
numbers to 5000 and 1000 respectively.
The details for berthinG ard v.ctuJii'ug
such large numbers of men or horse, in
n confined space have 80 Ice very carefully
worked out and every available foot of
space carefully considered
venture TO think that II America took
the same pains beforehand TO establish
a system for turning merchant ships into
troop carriers she would meet with the
same measure OF success as We dli
". / ". BARNARD.
CAPTAIN u y. Retired
SoTTHANpToS December 10
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
Tribute 10 the Common People

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUNNI. The
following incident which took place yes
terday in "A department store may account
for some peoples mistrust IN the old adaGe
Honesty is the best policy"
My wife. having accompanied friend
to the above store, while waiting FOR
her friend TO MAX" a purchase, disCOv-
cred upon the counter before her a purse.
inlaid with Il gold watch and containing
some $500 or more and several rugs OF
considera BILE value.
She Immediately delivered II 10 the
store superintendent, who requested her
to wait In his Office unt.l thc owner
should call TO claim II. which was done
in the course Of "a few minutes.
Upon the restoration OF her purse 20
her the owner. evidently a lady co Of
fashion, rewarded my wifc's honesty with
the following remark;
"Oh. | guess rhe common people don't
require n reward" and very haughtlly
made her exit.
trust her conscience permitted her TO
reap az much joy from her money AS
my wife did from her knowledge OF an
honest act, III. II. II.
WfSFIELp, l., l.. December %
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26

In recent disputes between railroad
engineers and their employers promi-
nencc has been given to the demand
that so-called surprise tests To reveal
the degree of watchfulness on the par,
~ the engineers shall he eliminated
or modified in such a manner as prac-
tically Ia rob them Of their significance.
At present the representatives Of the
locomotive drivers on the Western roads
are pledged to strike unless their re-
nuirements in this particular are met.
and their brotherhood : president. WILL
IAN s. CARTER. is quoted as saying:
safety first is good advertisement,
hut we want a system that will not cause
an enrineman. suddenly confronted with
a red light, 10 jump when there is no real
danger"
The tests are made to maintain on
the roads that discipline without which
no traveller and no package of goods
would he safe for an instant 1t is
plain that unless they surprise the men
whose conduct is being checked they
will have no virtue Of any kind. for II
man is Informed that in certain
block on specified run he will find the
signals set against him, and that Oh.
servers for the company will note his
conduct his behavior may not he a fair
index Of his usual custom. How ex.
cept by surprise tosts the vigilance Of
the mon is To he recorded is not suc-
eested; perhaps the Brotherhood would
substitute system of reports by the
engineer. in which they might rate their
own efficiency in this particular.
That third party to every industrial
nuarrel--the pubic-is certainly vi
rally Interested in this detail of the re-
lations between the railroads and their
men, and IT is highly improbable popu-
lar opinion will support any scheme
hat would make travel by rail less
safe than it now s
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
After the Emden Was Beaten.

A full account of the sea fight he
tween the sydney and the Linden of
the Cocos Islands, which appears in
naval officers TO his father is notable
because it reveals feeling free from
enmity between the victors and the
German survivors It has been said
that the naval officers with the fleet at
kiei do not show the hatred for the
British that inhames the German news
papers in their comments on the war
and that Is fostered among the troops
Al the front. I'VE seemed to agree
SAYS the British naval officer who de-
scribes the Cocos fight. that ii was
our job to knock one another out, but
there was no malice in IT," So Kici
anticipates the encounter that is ex.
pected some day in the North Sea.
There is something in life afioat. even
In the shadow of the guns, that makes
men generous enemies and lifts them
above petty WEAKNESSES.
At one time of the CocOs battle n
cloud of yellow smoke obscured the En-.
den, and the cry went up, "Shes gone"
on the sydney the order was at once
given, AN hands turn out the life.
boats; there will be men In the water"
But when the cloud blew away the
guns of the Emden were still fla shing.
An sne stranded In the surf cutter
with the writer or the letter in charge
rowed in TO her. you fought very
we'll said the British officer, salutlnR
Captain KARL Won MULLER. mo" said
Tho German, and after pause he went
on: "Thank you very much for saying
mat, hut | was not satisfied. We should
have done better" The Germans were
quite shaken up" says the Brlt0n
when they found ont that our Captain
had asked that there be no cheering
on entering Colombo, but we certainly
did moi want cheering with rows oI
badly wounded men laid out in cots "
the quarlcrdcck
The British officer has words Of prais,
ana friend ness for The Germans. can
mih Won MULLER he says. "ls n yer,
nhe fellow, NIrTHoEF. the torped0 Lieu
tenant "a thoroughly nice fellow" an,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
Experience Proves II.

That President WILSON will be su.
premey gratiiied TO find his course In
splitting the Democratic party wide
open in a patronage fight enthusiast
cally, and of course dislnterestedly,
supported by the Republican press and
Republicans generally will be conceded
by everybody. Approval from such
sources cannot hut nerve Mr.. WILSON
for the noble struggle upon which he
has entered.
Yet our virtuous friends OF the Con.
gressonal minority need not put all
their energy into their present altru
istic efforts In any enterprise calcu-
lated to demoralizc the Democratic
party Mr.. WILSON has never needed out
side encouragement.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
BI LOVE. NOT LEGIONS.
\ sweet Recipe or Peace From the Tent,
Of (haut auuua.

TO THE EprToR OF THE SrS-Sir' see
that our great Secretary Of state saws
that the war IN Europe is not to be
brought II close by lecions but nv
love. Now do Won think that the Great
Conmoner. and he certainly is than
most. would consent to explain this
! really think that in the nam. Of hi
mHuity he should AZ once let the world
know the precise meaning OF this SO that
We once more might have peace. Whose
love- What love- The Eaiscr's for the
French, or vice versa or the English love
for the Kaiser, or tn" Eaisers love FOR
the Turk tFi -. or does the great snake
charner mean the vast oceans OF his own
love for the warning factions II this he
the solution. how is this love 80 he an
piled i'm order 20 bring about the desired
result For heavens sake, let some one
AZ once tell the European warriors that
Bryan loves them. Il is worth irving
Even II they do not NJ once stop fighting
think what Christmas present e woul |
b. FOR them JUNIrs
NEW YORK, December %
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
REPORTS SUCCESS OF
SOUTHERN EDUCATION
General Board Shows Pccpls
Have Responded Quickly TO
Outside Help.
NOW BEAR HALF TIE COST

The General Education Board mad. ann
Nc yesterday An instaiment OF IS fo-,
coming report. dealing with tho promo
ton OF education In the Southern S.a.a,
The report shows that tho Souths-r ,.,
pie themselves are now carving larren,-.
OF the burden and that the Govorrn,o,,
has slso entered extensively into ~.
work. which was formerly Thought u,
constitutional In that Vt was ather IN
trastate than interstate.
mfr. Rockefeller's first gift 10 tho On.
eral Education Board was designed IN
support an inquiry into the educatIon,.
needs OF the Southern people" the repor,
says
The Investigators found tina, The ersa,
bulk OF the people of the Southern States
was simply not earning enough u provide
proper homes and TO supper, good
schools
The average annual earnings OF a FAR
mer IN many sections. they found. ver.
as low as Si60. This, they decided, was
largely through lack OF scientific know
edge, and at was therefore delibera,elr
decided TO undertake the agricultural Adu.
cation, not OF the future farmer. but q,
the present farmer" Then came the c..
operative Farm Demonstration movemen'
Tho Federal Government took up IN.
work in States infested by the boil weAvl
holding that this was an Interstate mon.
ace, and the General Education BOARD
confined It's operations to other States
THE following table summarizes III.
total cost OF tho Southern wora thus FAR
and shows the source OF the funds by
means OF which 1t has been carried on
General
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
he big trees, Mu1n was his guide. and

the big trees, MUIR was his guide. and
a sunset glow TRANSPORTED the West.
What an opportunity for the author Of
the "Song OF Nature! In vain his ad.
mirer pleaded with him. 1t was getting
late. the dcws were falling, there was
chill in the air. the camp bed was
rough, strange noises were abroad. and
EMERSON left MUIR to his wilderness.
1t seems only the other day that JOHN
MUIR was showing the sequoias TO WILL
IAN HOWARD TAFT, pushing him with
friendly hand along the trail. and
giving the President no handle to his
name. for MUIR was as democratic as
the big trees. lived to near century,
and his disciple and comrade. who pre-
served the sequoias for generations to
come. babe fair to last as long. MU1R's
wanderings and privations had but
dulled the edge OF his vigor: at 10 he
was voyaging far up the Amazon, and
he was still a strong man on his feet.
The future seemed to hold for him
many days of exhilara ton and worship
in the wilderness. lie was cut down
untimely in hale old age. But he
will live in human memory as long as
the vast Alaska glacier named after
him, and the inspiration OF the books
into which he poured his soul will not
wane.
No one can view the beauties and
mysteries Of the Yosemite without think.
ing Of the great natural man who gave
expression to them IN moving prose.
And JOHN MUm-this is the eternal
debt OF the American people TO him
will always be known AZ the savior
of the national parks. Institutions of
learning bonored and decorated him,
but this was his greatest distinction.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Shr. Mr.
Charles Vein says. as other German SYM
pathiZers have said before. that the West
IL distinctly pro-Gcrmau. He docs not
gay what he means by the West but
the States just west OF the Mississippi
River are decidedly not pro-Germau.
In the cities and towns in Iowa the in
terest in the Belgians has been surprising
In these towns. which are very largely
settled by Irish German and Scandna-
Wan emgrauts and their descendants in
the next two generations. there have been
collect ions taken for the Belgians by "a
tag day collections In all the public
schools. this movement originating in the
State educational department. and in the
town know best the collection taken at
the union THANKSGIVING service was unan-
lmously voted sent To the Belgian Relief
Fund Some gifts were sent 20 the Christ
mas ship. but Of course this carried gifts
to all nationallties
have many relatives and friends in
that section and have Yet To hear "a word
OF sympathy FOR the Germans.
EX-IOwAS
NEW YORK December "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-26
OLD FASHIONED FIO\OUIF
One Regarding W"mcn's Apparel That Is
N"~ i,u; Sst-i, i;;,--,,-i;.

To TIVE EDITOR OF THE SuN-SIr. At
the exit NJ a subway station on a rainy
day lately ! SAN nice Old lady who had
no umbrella look out at the rain and then
deliberately fold M her drcs, skirt from
the bottom. up under he- protecting cloak.
50 that 4 would not get Wet or spotted
on her way home.
In old times il was common thing TO
see women Old and young do precisely
that when caught IN a storm o. shower,
hut you very rarely see a woman do so
now To-day women walk right along
In the rain in all their iin"ry as n they
were rain proof II not the fashion
now for women to save their apparel in
that old style mauucf. q WonII walking
along the street with her dress skirt
turned mp would now attrac, universal
attention.
Mind. I am not complaining Of this.
nor seok.ng To- ,ritlcsr. We don't crit O.. Sc
the ladies' Just mention II 10 show one
of the many ways In which we have de-
parted from old "a hioued economies.
NEW YORK, December -. Antique