davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
STYLE AND GRAMMAR.
Masters Of the Former OFTEN Careless
AbOut the Latter.

To THE EDITOR or TIE SuN-Sir: The
occasion of an attack by a correspondent
OF The Sun upon Newman's style appears
to be the use Of the word their" In q
passage where the antecedent IL singular.
All educated persons know that our lam
guage is deficient In having no pronoun
Of common gender i'm the third person
singular. Writers and speakers are there
fore frequently driven TO the use or an
awkward his or her" or to a his"
where they mean to include both genders.
Sometimes they cut the knot by using
their" To suppose that man like
Newman was ignorant on such point Is
not admissible. We must therefore as
sumo that In passages like the one re-
ferred to he chose to ignore the difficulty
A man who writes much In a large way Is
impatient Of these small matters. He Is
not mending language. but using It, He
takes IL as he finds It,
Newman's most striking merit as a
writer IL his plain. unaffected manner.
even to the point of LONELINESS. He has
command of eioQuence. pathos, Irony. all
the stops, but his best merit is honest
straightforwardness His manner has the
simple hcartiness OF natural things. II n
noble passage occurs In hi3 writings II
rises out OF the occasion and IL not
studied The staple OF his work Ia home
spun. And this Is the supreme merit Of
the great masters.
There can be no greater error than TO
suppose that style has anything to do
with grammar A sentence. a passage
may be perfectly grammatical and at the
same time be entirely devoid OF style.
No one would question AddisOn's style.
but his grammar IL sometimes appalling.
Carlyles style Is barbarous. but his gram
mar is impeccable. Matthew Arnold had
one OF the best styles 81 the century. but
his grammar Is slovenly. SCOTS style Is
tolerably good. but his grammar Ia In
tolerably bad. Thackeray's style IN good
and his grammar also ne rule.
Dlckens's grammar Is good. but his style
Is nothing to brag Of except IN his let
tors. where II IL very good Hawthorne Is
one OF the most correct " writer's. his
style IL fairly good. but far short OF his
genius Emerson has one of the finest
styles. but his grammar 10 sometimes
Indifferent. In brief. the two things are
separate and distinct. Usually the style
is the man. but grammar IL learned from
books. Any one can learn grammar. but
not every one can have style.
Baudelaire says OF Poe that he was
given TO repeating that originality IL a
thing to be learned by serving an APP
premiership to II. which does not mean
that 1t In IA thing which can he trans
nittcd by teaching" Something OF this
kind IL true OF style. IAprKE HAUJo.
DoBY WALLS. Okla. May 3.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
~ the Circus.

TO THE EDITOR or THE ScS--Sr. News
paper reports have IL that President VII
son laughed heartily at the clowns In the
circus performance he attended.
one does not have 10 search very Tar
for "a reason why such "A solemn, sedatc
and diguliied parsonage as our worthy
President Is reputed To hc showed unre-
strained mirth at the antics ~ these jolly
testers. Might II not he inferred that he
was reminded OF the continuous perform
ancc al the capital sine" March 4. 1919,
with the greatest Jugg!or and mounte-
bank on earth assuming the role OF chief
clown W. :. J
Sovru NoEwALX. Conn, May .,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
GIANT SKELETONS.
4 steel Architects Fears ami Criticisms
About Their COnst rliction.

To THE EDITOR OF THE Sun - Sir: I
favor limiting the height OF the buildings
In proportion to the width of the streets
or the square on which the building Is to
be erected.
All plans for buildings on important
streets Of New York city should be passed
by the Art Commission. This is done in
all the important cities Of Italy. Only
two years ago certain persons In Milan
tried to file plans for n skyscraper. but
tho plans were disapproved by the Art
Commission because the building would
not be Gsthetical.
Skyscrapers are horrible from the artis-
teal standpoint, especially those built on
narrow plots. From the engineering
standpoint, note that all the skyscrapers
are erected Of a steel skeleton and 1t is
this material that supports the load, the
brick. stone and terra Gotta being only
an enclosure of the building. Everybody
knows that when steel Ii not very well
protected II corrodes and loses its strength.
In II building where there are many
plumbing and heating pipes tho steel is
likely to be injured by leakage of pipes,
and as there are electrical currents in
the building for lights and telephones the
steel In apt to disintegrate on account of
electrolysis. due mostly to the unavoid-
able current Of induction. and l see great
future danger to this kind Of construction.
II the work for all the skyscrapers were
done by high class architects and civil
engineers who would take care that all
the steel work would ne protected. I
should not foresee such great danger. but
unfortunately notice that the construc-
ton OF tall buildings In going into the
hands OF speculative builders who buy
the plans from a draughtsman for so
much u set. Then they sublet the work
at lump figure to the cheapest con-
tractors Enormous dangers are likely
to result from buildings erected In this
way Speculative builders have in mind
when erecting building only its sale.
They do not give any thought to whether
IL Is properly constructed or whether II
Will improve the appearance OF the city.
Construction OF such important buildings
should be entrusted only To competent
architects and engineers tfor there are
many in America, who should be re-
sponsible for at least twenty years.
From the real estate standpoint | have
erected among a large number OF smaller
the smaller buildings adjoining move into
the smaller buildings almost vacant, Thus
while the owner of the skyscraper makes
great deal of money on rents the
owners OF each OF the smaller buildings
are compelled to suffer subsequent losses
due to having their tenants vacate their
buildings. As matters stand at present
there is no equilibrium for owners Of real
| estate. II the height OF buildings was re-
| stricted this would not he the case.
NEW YORK. May 10. NJ. SEERAcINo
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
leges. It is quite essential to the safety

leges. It is quite essential to the safety
of the public.
We all know that the chances are
u thousand to one that nothing will
happen in any given flight: but things
do happen quite unexpectedly, and when
they happen in the air the result is
disaster. II Is bad enough that the
aviator. who deliberately takes the
risk. should suffer. II would be afro.
cious IL outsiders. who did not con.
sent to- the risk. were also to become
victims. There Is n difference even
between people going about their Or,li
nary business in city and the spec
tators at an acrodrome.
Precautions cannot be- carried toe
far In this matter. As early ~ pos
Sble the Legislature should make II
penal offence to fly over cities.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
Seventeen Americans.

The sailors and marines whom the
country honors to-day are to be held
most fortunate. though cut of in their
speing. No feared or common death
has touched them. As in every age
dnce the collective interests and hopes
crystallized into national conscious
ness and love Of country. their end has
the beauty Of q voluntary sacrifice.
10 them as to all soldiers duty was
simple. In the doing Of it they have
found the quietus which all the paci.
Asts, non.resistants and International
lists cannot keep man. with the long
race memory behind him. from esteem.
ing the most honorable and the happi-
est close Of this mortal existence or ap-
pearance. 80 to say II not to magnify
unduly the military virtues. 1t is but
to recognize n secular fact. Most Of
all, in these sophisticated. complex
and Hamletian times the clear straight
path Of humble and glorious patriot.
ism In the navy and the army looks
most admirable and enviable.
SO for these. az for the golden curled
dead of ThermopylT. ''men from tears
refrain. honor and praise. but mourn
them not No. even If we must regret
The proud. brave young mems strength.
Light of lifc's days and length.
And glory Of earth seen under and
heaven above.
With years that bring to tame
Now the wild falcon fame.
breast Of love-
Their story IL well ended. They
are become Il part of the national epic.
They are as gods in the viewleSs tenn
pies OF the American mind. Their I'M
remembered names will be inscribed
upon the tablets of valor and heard In
the ritual of patriotism. But when you
read: Body tobe sent TO fathers home, ="
Body to be shipped to mothers home,
then you see the death that here has
its public and monumental character,
wringing women's hearts and touch.
ing mems heads with gray. Amid these
oficial commemorations let us think
with sympathy and kindness OF the
real victims OF this tragedy. the pri.
vate mourners of these funerals. Yet
what noble pride underlies their sor'
row and foretells their consolation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
The Red TsIRwOrnI.

TO TIE EDITOR OF THE sunni: A
short time ago sold a book to the New York
state Library, assuming, In my innocence.
that 1t was AN ordinary business transact
ton. subject to the general rules of bust
ness. | was mistaken. I find that before
/ can get any money in payment | must
send the library two receipted bills. ard.
moreover. l must make an affidavit 10 the
effect that ] once owned the book, that I
have sold II and that the library has 1t,
also that the library ordered it.
Could any one devise any further means
Of wasting red tape ! am ready. how
ever. II this does not convince the library
officials that they have bought book, "a
go 10 Albany and to swear to the books
identity IL. NJ
RUTLAND. Mass. May g.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
Jefferson on just Nations

To TIE EDITOR OF TIE SrN-SH: Our
Democratic friends like to consider them
selves Jeffersonians. Apropos Of the
canal treaties why has not this sentence
from President JefYersons second !nau-
gural "A hearing
with nations. as with individuals. our
interests. soundy calculated, will ever be
found inseparable from our moral duties ,
and history bears witness to the fact that
a just nation is trusted on It's word when
resource is had Ia arnaments 70 bride
others"
That 'soundiy calculated" is a phrase
worth attention. even. or indeed esp"-
cially. in the commerce reckoning Senate
OF the United States J Il. IL
MoSTCLAIR, y. j.. May 9
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
Kitchen ami Bathroom Flower Gardens.

To THE Eprror OF THE SrN-Sir: !
wonder IL there Is on earth another fd.niIi
Just IKE nine. bring hone u bunch uf
flowers They let those flowers stand
around where they can be seen on the
day bring them In. Next day the flow
ers arc gone. When ask whore, | am
told that they are In the Kitchen or tho
bathroom or some other plac" out of
sight where they will keep better. keep
ing cool.
want flowers where they can h. seen
all the time. Let them wilt II they want
TO- but let us get the good OF them. The
idea OF my folks seems TO bo to pre-
serve them "a long as they can.
New YoEK MAY 10. Poor rAPA.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
Canle.

The unfeeling candor OF youth more
than gals the kibes of maturity. yet
what n blessed thing Il IL as a cor
rector OF standards. an appraiser of
comparative values and n strippcr of
hypUrisies Most of us pretend to ad-
mre this and that because some big.
wig tells us to; becn ifse It's IN shionable,
cant Of the day. Folks affect to dote
on BorucEIII or "WILLIE" YEATS when.
II truth were told. they prefer n picture
Of JONI SULLIVAN In his prime Of mus
Gle to all the Primitives In all the mu-
seums; and never read n thing except
the stock exchange quotations and the
sporting news.
Therefore II is dele'table and edify-
ing to read in our esteemed prederes-
sor THE SuN OF yesterday:
One day recently a crowd Of the boys
tof the Childrens Village. near Dobbs
Ferryl were asked whether they would
like to have a visit from President WILL
son. with one accord they responded
together:
I'VE would rather have MATrY.'"
Said Marty being our ancient, trusiy
and we'll beloved friend with the
magic pitching arm. the Hon. CHRIsrY
MATHEwsON.
Such IL, was and ever will be fame.
and ever should be. The names of
presidents and kings grow mouldy. The
Splinter, the tennis champion. the great.
est golfer in the world. the demigod OF
the diamond. these are living and blnz-
Ing divinitics. II Fate still loves her
little joke. II may yet happen even 10
That Irrepresslblc Exception. Colonel
| ROOSEVELT. to he known as "the father
Of the well known Harvard quarter.
] back"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Kansas wants 10000 men TO harvest;
It's crops Topeka despatch.
Kansas will continue to want so far
~ "a good many of the "unemployed' OF
this and other great towns are con-
cerned. Kansas il we'll enough and It's
passion for automobiles Is praise
worthy. but what il the country. and q
dry country at that. TO persons who
love their perpetual theatres? Crops!
Get self-harvestinG crops. Don't expect
urban badauds to work. least Of all to
condescend TO rural work.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

To TIE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sir. Tho
d sposition OF safety razor blades seems
to II" bothering some of your readers.
The easiest way Is the best.
| tax. mine 10 n blacksmith. He puts
one on top OF another in piles of 100, and
through the two holes used in tho shay
ing process 10 hold the blades, r.vets
them together. They are thus made into
steel slugs with no cutting edges to harm
anybody
You can throw them anywhere, use
them for paperweights or let the baby
tcethe on them. EASY.
PORTLAND Me-. May 2,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

TO rue EDITOR or THE SUM-: An an
aver to the repeated query 20 the origin
Of the word "greaser'' may be seen IN Philip
Terry's "Guidebook to Mexico" according
20 Witch the wops who used 20 unload car
goes of hides at San Francisco we've called
grsasers because they were sm-ared with
TALON while at work. Thcsa fr isn't nan
dlers were always MeNicans, hrnca a.. Next
cans came 10 be called grcasers This ETY.
mology may be right. but the ending "er"
sc.ms odd.
have noticed III" existence ~ spanish
"grasero," Stag hand,or. spanish "grasa"
means grease Stag L. DlsHwAsuGR
WAsHISUTON, u e., MAY Q
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

30 THE EpIToE az THE SvS-Sir; We
hear "A lo' about the bad results of In
discriminate giving To hcegars. | mold
that II IL better for a man 10 give away
his money 10 boggars who ARE obvious
frauds" than not to give az All. II such
giving is not hest FOR the boggar il Ger
tainly is for the giver
II W. take il upon ourselves Ia censor
our fellow man 10 avoid giving Ia the un-
worthy We get a habit of uncharty which
prompts US To shut our hearts aud our
purses TO all corners. G, u,
NEW NnRlN MN | o.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
4 Head Among the Headirss.

To rHE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sir. It
just occurs 10 me that Secretary Tumulty
has now been in Office for more than a
year with not single instance OF lack Of
common sense or of tact charged against
him and the multitudInous duties OF his
responsible post he discharges not only
with becoming grace but with complete
self command and easy facility.
4 gentleman of brains and intelligence,
OF sympathy and OF downright ability. l
beg leav. 10 salute Secretary Tumulty.
NEW YORK. May .. MANIiATrAS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Tho so-caled homo rule r"mmiss 'aers
are said to have agreed on his'r!c' SUI -
ntendent Edward W S'''' 80 rd,a1'r
It,, was born ~ N'uIttAu. - 20 Ertu'.. =
OF 'he public schools the 'itS tou.l' !
New York University and has been t. a, r.
Ing since lssl Ne has been dist II
super nterdeut since 1909.
Friends Of pistric. Superintendent, pa--
win l.. Pardwci OF staten Island -
campo EninE for Inn. and District Sup' y.
tendsu' John w. Davis of n" Bronx 80
Is said To nave good backing.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
Mouths,

In Congress mouths are open vide
White tank pours forth ro.'ng tide
And busiucss pihHs with f"ar and doubt
White cndleSsiN the, spout and ipou'
Tho canuou's open mouth We marx
In hushod sNpcr'ru' -" hAik
Spec n tremb,rs nn it, IRON lips
Aud husinoss suffers an eclipse
HUT 10, the wheat crop comes aious
To save Us FROM such fo'ies "roue
And business Joys when II eppears,
u has no mouth hut countless ears
MvLAspBuRGH wILSo>.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
My Hosiery.

Wii,nW = ftffmh0 ~ n0gP
The socks I get from thee, dear heHrt.
Are made, indeed, FOR churls not me.
Though tho seams look good. they rim apart --
Ny hosiery My hoelery'
Nor is my taste for Alirc blue
'"rlso ana rol6r RaNe'y,
Hut for u quiet or sombrc hue
In hosiery My hosiery
have pc use for fancy braid
Aah polka dots are rot Ia mo
For only want the p,aiur.t ma u
u hosiery Ny hosiery
know YOU do YOUR best N try
And please the manly heart Of me
But, mN dear ! ask, lust let me buy
My hosiery NV hosiery
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

The Administration probably views
with entire composure the threats Of
refugees from Mexico to forsWear their
citizenship. They are persons guilty Of
trying to earn a living In foreign lands.
and Secretary DANIELS has expressed the
official opinion of such troublesome
creatures.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
The consumer. of Course, Pays II

According Ia II Chicago estimate the
additional expense To be- imposed on
corporations doing m interstate busi-
ness by the provision OF the Wilson
anti.trus, measure requiring reports in
the discretion Of the commission would
amount to not less than $l0MU,W0 an
nually. Senator LIPpIIr of Rhodc Isl
and regards this figure rs too high. \
close approximation NJ III" sum would
~ exceedingly difficult To- get at. yet
it is plain that il would be considerable.
and il is obvious thnt III" Chicago
calculators who pitched on SlOWU, 900
nro right when they contend that the
\ expens" must ultimately be borne by
tho consumer.
What the actual cost Of the various
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

TO rHF ENRON ~ TNr SUM- N1klnf
things hy and large ! Am inclined 20 'htnk
that the greatest Of all tho blessings Kind
Providence has bestowed upon us ia rer-
soma, vanity Il, n TIpu,
Nrw YORK May 10
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Has Colorado ceased to have Gov
eminent? IL not, what is the meaning
of tho announcement that the despatch
of the State forces to preserve order
will be the signal for renewed intcrne-
cine war?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Can't find a new author in England
Heddlinc.
why should there be one when Am
hassador PAGE Is telling us that the
tenements of Grub street are over
crowded and that it is mere foolishness
to write anyway? Maybe Mr. SEARS, the
disappointed seeker. may have better
luck II he combs the literary jungle OF
New York
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

I, is easy 10 understand why Warden
CLANCY wants TO quit Sing Sing. but
why on earth does ex-warden KENNEDY
want to get back to that abominable
hplec
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

An indignant creditor killed the man
who owed him 5000 and could not pay
Did he think that dead man would be
more likely to settle than a living man?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

There is nothing in contemporary in
cldents to suggest that the value Of con-
victs' evidence liz in any way questioned
in the Department OF Correction.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

n our friends irho fseo, Us 9TH manuscripts and
0iwsfyonons for pu6ik daon irish 10 hare re>eekd
articles returned Mev must IN all cases send stamps
~ net purpose.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Two German aviators killcd.---H cddiine
Daily hint to reckless fiers.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

street, Strand.
Paris once. q Rue dc Ia Michodiere. on Hue du
Quatrc Scptembre.
washin eton once. Hibbs Building
Brooklyn once. 100 Livingston street,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
subscriptions BY MstL Postpaid.

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The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Published daily. including Sunday. by tho Sun
printing and Publishing Association at 10 Nassau
street. In the Borough OF Manhattan, New York.
President and Treasurer. william c. Reick 40
Nassau street: Vice President. Edward y Mitchell.
i7O Nassau street; Secretary. c. T.. Luxton. 40
Nassau street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11

Al checks. money orders &c, to be made pay
able 10 The SrS
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-07-18
The Daily NoUelette
THEIR PROBLEM.

the 18th OF March, 147s. Leonardo
Da vinci was putting the fin
~ ishing touches on his immortal
painting of Mona Lisa
But he was not satisfied All through
the sittings, Mona Lisa had been so
gIum looking. (See Eddie Skittle's
Famous Illuminated Models.")
II he could only make her smilei
Mona" he said. craftily, as he
worked away. 4 heard a good one to-
day. Why does a chicken cross the
road7 To show her silk hosiery. Ism
that a good oneg'
But she merely sighed and looked
GUNNER than ever
For A while he laid on the immor-
tai strokes in silence
7 heard another good one" he said
after a bit This is really a good
one What difference between a
woman and an umbrella" (See An
chovy Smooch's Ancient Jokes-)
She shook her head and yawned-
you can shut an umbrella up he
said Isn't that funny?'
But Mona Lisa's face was the very
picture of glumity.
Mona" he said, with sudden inspir-
alton. after this sitting III take you
around TO MaXimus's and teach you
the painters lame duck; it's the latest
Immediately, on Mona Lisa's face,
appeared that sleepily expectant eX-
preston that had made the whole world
marvel