davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
sCRAPPLE
Rollo 1earnins 70 wofk

ons day when Rollo was about 3 yeaas ye,a.
old his father said TO Rollo's motner III. .t,,
n was about time that the boy was Desih-
ming to earn his salt ,r.r,, ,,,,,ct
When Rollo heard this, he was very miuSs'
pleased and 80 expressed himself. IS secausy, s1,his
s..i Vhtcb he liked less than all the rest IL
was U9S salt Therefore he reasoned with hirno ao
self. IL his salt was all he was eXpeC,teI J.. - -
earn he could amass enough OF tnaI 49, W los,,
him ali his life, merely by working DetMSett
times. when he was tired of thinking Whe'
he would like to play at next. .,..,...
without giving all his reasons, l tne, t.ari
RoIIo said to his father that he was NSIg ,
clad indeed IL was time for him to earn nus nIs
salt as he thought, perhaps, he might p9e
less Of II II he had to earn 1t.
,,,ornont as though he was undecideu
whether to reply TO his little SON or say say
something. He decided upon the alterneIa,e ,,.l,.,
and bade Rolo accompany MN; mn t,,a iofe
"Chimes From a testers Bells by the late
Rob Rurdette.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
The CITY Holds the Clnh

! DHtLADELPH1A is now in a position to
L establish adequate rapid transit facili-
tlers-Dlrector Taylor.
! The Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
cannot survive the ruinous competition of an
independently operated and clty-owned high
speed system Such solution Of the problem
would wipe out the value Of tho Union Trac-
tion Company, destroy the large revenue yield
to its stockholders and leave its property
white elephant on It's hands
TO prevent so calamitous an Issue, the
Union Traction Company. through the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Company, is offered
terms that protect It absolutely The stock
holders are not being asked to sacrifice any
thing; on the contrary, they are being urged
not to commit hara -kiri.
So obvious are the benefits to be derived by
tho Union Traction Company from the ar
rangement, and so apparent Is Its helpless
ness in case the city goes ahead with the
program anyhow, that the reluctance OF GER
tain stockholders to participate in the pro-
posal can be based only on the assumption
that IN some way the entire rapid transit
scheme may be defeated and Philadelphia
left for another decade with wholly inade-
quate transit facilities
Such an assumption is absurd in Wow Of
the status of public sentiment. No Councils
would dare fail to meet the peoples wishes on
this issue BY the very force Of circumstances
the city holds a club over the Union Traction
Company club not Of its making, but none
the less real on that account. The Union
Traction Company faces the alternative of
coming in or being frozen to death on the
outside. Progress and prosperity are forcing
themselves down its throat.
But why delay? The Union Traction has
had ample time in which to decide. There
should be no further hesitation. The city is
restive. It wants to the dirt fly; it wants
to sec the beginning of the Greater Philadel-
phia If the Union Traction Company does
not act withnl a specified period, Councils
should ignore It entirely and get down to
business.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21

he had been exiIsd from Athens that he
showed himself n great man.
He had gone TO live with TisapnefnSss IL
the Persian satrap Still friendly TO the
Athenians, he arranged 10 help them Dy
keeping Tisaphernes from attacking them.
His secret negotiations were mot KEPT IN
confidence: intrigue after intrigue threat
ened to place prizes on his head amonB
Persians and Greeks alike. Alcibiades was
too gaily irnpudent to worry about TINS:
Athens had, at his instigatlon, made itseh
into on oligarchy. Then It repudiated him.
II was enough to make a merely selfish man
the enemy OF his country forever.
Not so with Alcibiades. He was called to
Samos and asked TO lead the navy against
the Athenians. Suddenly exalted by the
favor OF the multitude, nothing would have
been more natural than that he should lose
his head and make the attack. But he re-
fused His whole future was at stake, but
he resolutely turned his face against the
attack on his country He knew that once
he sailed he would disrupt Athens and make
all Greece a prey for Sparta and Persia. IL
was Alcbiades alone who prevented such
disaster and the fact that he did 1t against
his own natural incnations adds greater
glory to his name Inaction was the course
of Alcblades in a crisis fraught with dire
possibilities for all Greece. And inaction
was better thaneny action would have been
in that crisis. q
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
sufragists 10 PIaY dc Game

NTow and then political result is obtained
IN BY a spontaneous uprising OF the people,
but as a rule organization is essential to sue
cess. Male reformers have not yet learned
that they must meet system with system.
and that great ends are seldom achieved and
rarely retained by spasmodic or hysterical
alforts.
Sagaeious plans have Just been made by
the aunraglsts OF Pennsylvania to create an
arsanization as thorough and effective as any
that the politicians have ever made. They
1iIl raise 100000 ana assign duties to $4,000
Romen. The state win be divided into 12
aistrietz with Il leaders. The 81 counties will
each have a chairmani every city borough.
township or rural district win be under an
exeonfiye; each ward and even each polling
ditsriet win have a worker: indeed, the entire
nals voting population win be divided into
units of 10. and each 10 men win have q suf-
fsagist attached whose duty It shall be 10
eaucets the individuals and secure their
votes. II this plan Is carried out the issue
ssanok ts Ia doubt
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
The BabbIiue Fool

Emerson, who occasionally said things ha
hardly meant, once wrote an epigram 10 tbe
general effect that Heaven forgiyes eVerv
thing except awkwardness. This Is a yerv
true saying, because it indicates how much
more important manners are than morals
Morals can be taught, but manners must be
inherent in mans soul.
IL Is very easy TO be good, but very hard
TO be graceful, IL one isn't naturally pos
sessed OF grace. A man may lead a wicked
life and reform, but there Is no case on
record where man led a life lacking in
beauty and reformed. Children often are
awful little liars" when they are young
yet grow up to be even stupidIy truthful
they can't tell lie even when they should.
whereas children who do not know how Ia
stand ike Greek statues, or who insist on
waking poW-legged when they are young
never grow up to look like Apollo. This Il
very pad Tor morals, but it Is true.
me consequences OF this profound ana
overwhelming revolution IN our ideas ~
what is and what isn't important IN lie
WIZ WIN pc, above all, that We viii stop teaching
our ehildren 20 be good. ana teach them ~
ee as handsome as they can eBe qoo9
@ eeal Shlia' ana iet who VIII be clever. . Is 4
s.4tia pit Or advice. II dear children ~
soel nho Will pe clegerg Cleyeruess h
me1e goodness. s'
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Saving the Saloon From Within

THE saloons must reform from within or be
i so drastically dealt with by statute as TO
suffer something very close to confiscation.
Nobody knows this better than the saloon
men themselves. While California wine in
terests plan a cleanup" campaign, the Ma
tional Brewers Association. in annual con-
vention at New Orleans, speaks as unmistalt-
ably for measures OF reform TO save the beer
traffic.
President Schmidt, of Philadelphia, struck
the keynote of the meeting in his plea for
the "bier halle" of Europe. The selling of
malt liquor is a very different matter from
the booze business; the drinking of beer
and ale, from the drinking of spirituous
liquors. President Schmidt wants to see the
shutters, the blinds and alley entrances torn
away, the saloon made open and friendly
a place of general refreshment as a soda foun-
tain. Nothing else will save II.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
ERRORS OF THE ADMINISTRATION

To the Editor Of the Evenin0 Ledger:
Sir 1t is a principle of true democ-
racy that buyer should be as untrammeled
as a seller. Yet Attorney General Gregory pro-
posed a charge OF Conspiracy" because cotton
seed selling at half the price of last year.
Should cotton seed sell high because 1t is prin-
cipally used by the people? The Jacoblns of
the French Revolution the first TO try
with wheat-to regulate price by law. The
Standard Oil, in New Jersey to be pur-
sued for lowering the price Of oll-again in
the interest of the people. Burke held that
lawyers naturally bad statesmen" Mr.
Wilson began lawyer, and If he wishes to
force the people to pay high prices 1t may be
because. as Jeremy Bentham says, the "opin-
ion of lawyers is that cheap justice is bad, and
dear Justice good"
Montaigne says, THE worlds errors are
chiefly grammatical" and the Clayton antitrust
act Is mostly remarkable for it's "split infn-
itlves," Yet the first administrative measure
after its passage was Government cotton pool.
Thus confirming Montesqueu: "Of what
Is law? Almost all cases are hypothetical and
outside OF general rule"
LESLIE CHASE.
Atlantic City, November 49,
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Put a Full CARGO in the Orn

A CENTRAL committee in New York an
"A nounces that $1,000 tons of food have been
sent to Belgium, that 10000 more are now
afioat, and that 10000 are in sight. And yet
"in spite of the subscriptions to the Belgian
relief funds, the efforts of the Rockefeller
Foundation and OF many other organizations
at work in the West, Belgium cannot be fed
at this pace"
The terrible fact stares America in the face
that the stricken country will need half n mil
lion tons Of food before spring It is no
time for lying back on the oars One ship is
gone. but the second should be filled quickly
and made ready for sea. Philadelphia must
be true to It's traditions Of two centuries Of
wholesome generosity.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
HUM OF HUMAN CITIES

"The biggest business In Los Angeles" ia
what the Los Angeles Express calls the citv
government. The biggest employer. the bie
gest purchaser the largest agency for pro-
noting the health, safety and convenience of
the people, the greatest educational Insti
tuition, the greatest provider OF recreation
the greatest owner of land, buildings and
equipment, the greatest builder of material
works In this community is the city govern
ment itself
Six million dollars from the general treas
ury and four millions more from special as
sessments were expended last year TO fur
nish water, clean streets inspect milk con-
struct sewers and perform the hundreds of
other KINDS or special service that make I'M
what we vaguely think OF as the government
OF the city.
To perform this service 1000 officiaIs and
employees are engaged in the so or more
departments and bureaus. To arrange the
work or this vast army; to assign definite
duties to each employe and each groIID Of
employesi TO relate properly the work of
each TO that OF all the others: 10 Drevent
overlapping, duplication and confusion ~
duties and authority; to establish standards
OF service and distinct lines OF responsibility
these problems require the highest type az
ability in management.
Such problems win not solve themselves.
So long as they remain unsolVed there will
be lost motion, waste and inefficiency in the
clty's management,
The fact is however, that there Is no CEN
tral officer or authority whose business h
iB TO make these adjustments; TO insure the
smooth running OF the municipal machinery
The result is just what It would be IN any
business enterprise run without a well de-
Yised ana well-managed business organiza-
tion. OF the S10,0O0,000 a year spent BY the
city, II Is safe to say that 10 per cent
81 ,0O0,000-is absolutely wasted.
In private business, a ten-million dollar
business would justify the employment OF
the highest ability obtainable In the man
agement. The difficulties and technical
problems involved in city government are In
no way different from those commonly dealt
with in private business. Ana yet the city's
organization for doing business Is unsys-
tematic, incomplete and defective In most
glaring ways.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Osborne: Warden Instead of Prisoner

TRoUBLE- RIDDEN Sing Sing is to be put
4 in the hands of a practical student of
prison reform. From gross mismanagement
which has brought rebellion among the pris-
oners, and very nearly complete demoraIiza-
tion, It is to turn to a regime of enlightened
prison management under Thomas Mott os-
borne.
No great prison in America has yet been
given such a trial OF the new penology" un-
der so well reputed an advocate of prison
reform. Mr.. Osborne is more than an acad-
emician. Last fan he put himself through
a week of imprisonment at Auburn to learn
The practical effects of discipline and punish
ment as then dispensed. He makes no con-
cealment of his intention to alter a great deal
OF the antiquated and cruel routine OF Sing
Sing.
In the face OF the Generalization in Sing
Sing at present, It win be no surprise II Mr.
Osborne fails. Yet the fact that the new
penology" Is getting anything but fair trial
win mean only the more credit for Il II it
succeeds
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Well Donel

1t is told of n group OF actors that they
were once at the Lambs Club on rainy day
and were feeling very blue There wasn't
smile in the place.
Willie Collier, the comedian, came in, breezy
and cheerful as a spring lady, and looked
about George NJ. Cohan was scowlng. David
his plays
stein.
Rotten"
Collier went on and asked Richard Carlo
how he felt. "None of your business" was
the reply. Seeing that the glooms had come
for keeps Collier looked about and then with
an air of profound relief he said:
"Wel I'm glad TO see the ink-well.'
Some days later an English friend was tell
ing the story Of this occurrence to George
Arliss and when he came to well, I'm glad
to see the lx-pot,' he didn't see why Dis
raell' refused to laugh.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
NE coM1C sINGER

The Veil before the mystery OF things
shall stir for him with iris ana with lighti
Chaos shall have no terror IN his sight
Nor earth q bond 20 chafs his urgent Wingsi
with sandals beaten from the crowns OF kings
Shall he tread down the affairs OF their night,
Ana stand with Silence on her breathless
height
TO hear what song the star OF morning sings
With perished beauty IN his hands as clay
Shall he restore futurity is dream.
Behold his feet shall take a heavenly way
OF choric silver and of chanting fire,
TIL in his hands unshapen planets gle4ms
Gsoree sterling "a Beyond ths ureaksra ana
ot4f fasaa
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
VIEWS OF READERS
ON TIMELY TOPICS
Contributions That Reflect Public Opin-
ion on Subjects Important to City,
State and Nation.

To the Editor Of sAs Evening Ledger:
Sir-Goodwlll and gratitude alone stir the
heorts OF the honest citizens OF Philadelphia
toward Mayor Bankenburg IN his gallant cru
Hade against corrupt municipal politics, and
his term as Mayor OF Philadelphia Will shine
rcsplendent I'm the annals of this city beacon
light Of hope to those who may In after years
grow weary in the fight for honest govern
ment.
1t was loyalty TO this sentiment and not any
baser reason as intimatcd by those interested
IN giving wrong impression OF her address,
which actuated Mrs. j. u. Thomas, president
OF the County Suffrage Society," when she asked
for a conference of the Mayor, His Honors
Cabinet clergymen interested In organized
charities and members of Select and Common
Councils to force the issue on the question
which had been hurled by sinister influences
I'm hypucritra Representatives, at Mayor
Blankenburg, viz, the forced unemployment
of thousands, who, in all sense of civic respon-
sibility in those who control municipal gov
ernment, have the right to expect some action
for speedy relief.
't speak not TO disprove what Brutus spoke,
But here I am to speak what l do know"
At the conference the County So
ciety's president expected to meet His Honor
the Mayors Cabinet, Select and Common
Councils, clergynen interested in organized
charities and newspaper men, Nor did she re-
ceive any information which would have made
known to her the fact that there not
present representatives of all the bodies whom
che had Invited to be present. 1t was to this
audience her petition was addressed For, out
side Of Mayor Blankenburg, Mrs. Thomas was
not aware OF the identity Of the other gentle
men present SO it was not only unjust but
untrue TO Construe her petition into attack
on the Mayor, and in this matter Mrs. Thomas
was not "i-advsed" as woman critic
says but serenely persuaded she in the
right. She may be accused OF ltra-enthusl-
asm, ''yet enthusiasm Is the genius of SINGER
ity, the real Rllegory of the Lutte of Orpheus,"
and without the agency of the surrounding
atmosphere even the Lutte Of Orpheus had
complished no magical result; but neither can
moralsts with axes to grind" nor the merely
vugarly insolent sway the Critcrions OF
age and character TO any other decision than
that the course she took was tonic to the
apathetio state into which the question
drifting, the history of human achievement is
tho record of conflict.
1 would further add that in the action taken
in the recent meeting of certain officers of the
County Society the only course left open
for Mrs. Thomas by these Misrepresentation
her letter of resignation, neither the sentiment
of the majority of the Executive Committee
nor the Society as body was represented.
Philadelphia, November 10. SUFFRAGIST.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Ior.takers From Fun.makers

TTAPPINEss is the inalienable right of
II every one. Sorrow, sadness, gloom, pain
and misfortune must come, but IL was never
the intention of the Creator that they should
dominate life. The capacity for happiness.
always found in little children, should persist
through each succeeding age. Men and women
who accept melancholy theory OF living and
only snatch a furtive Joy now and then are
wronging themselves and others. To take the
ills as exceptional and TO bear them bravely,
but believing always that happiness belongs
by birth TO all and is obtainable by all, Is the
spirit each should cultivate.
Among the indispensable benefactors OF hu-
manity. not the least are the fun-makers. We
can IN AFFORD TO lose one OF them, especially
when his humor was so clean healthy and in
vigorating as that OF Robert Burdette. His
genial wit hlled multltudes of homes with
wholesome merriment, and he pricked many
a bubble of human vanity with good-natured
satire. The man who teaches others to see
the beauty and feel the Joy OF living has made
a distinct contribution to his age.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Crnel Hnmor bf a stnlesmnn

( CtOUNCILMAN CHARLES SEGER is too
~ busy to look at pictures showing typical
scenes In the slum district, for Councilman
Seger, II seems, is humorist and a wit as
his acquaintance would have discovered long
ago had they not taken him so seriously.
Yes, Mr.. Seger is a humorist de luxe Listen
TO him while he explains without cracking
smile that the Legislature OF Pennsylvania
did not know what It was doing when 1t
passed the housing law, and the Governor
was deluded when he signed It; wherefore
that the dignity of government may be pre-
served. he and his fellow Councilmen, states
men extraordinary, will modify the measure
and see that its drastic" provisions do not
go into effect.
law which provides that every living
room must have window is obviously "dras-
tie" And who are the poor that they should
expect their roofs, when they have any, not
to lealS7 Really, tenement dwellers might be
able to resist tuberculosis in habitable quar-
ters, and what would life be without funerals
TO break in on the dull monotony? Mr. Seger
reasons like buzz saw and an undertakers
assistant
How different from Mr.. Seger is Mr. Rams
ley, president of Select Council! Mr.. Ransley
had time TO look at two pictures, but ire
fused to be drawn into print" The avoidance
OF publicity has become one of the greatest
problems with which our public men have to
contend. They will not leak" even IL tene-
ment houses do.
A gentleman suggests that If some of the
Councilmen spent few days and nights in
side OF the houses In the slums they might
quickly change their minds Such an ex-
oerience would be instructive of course, but
'rders from the Organization, we surmise,
would be ten times more effective.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Philadelphia. November 10.
WANTS BETTER TRANSIT SERVICE

To ths Editor Of the Evening Ledger:
Slr-In connection with the proposed raise
Of railroad rates for commuters II is distress
ing that Philadelphia should have such poor
connections with its suburbs. For a distance
of five and a half miles we must ride either
80 minutes or more on the surface cars, or
else take train costing IL cents Compare
this situation with New York. where you can
ride similar distance in the subway for
cents within about 20 minutes Would II be
possible for Philadelphia to learn something
from her neighbor, or might she not be q bit
original and try municipal undertaking as a
real public service?
JOHN UNDERHIILA
Xayne Junction. Novenhar -
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
PAYING FOR THE RAILROADS

To the Editor OF the EUeHiHD Ledger:
Sir-The commuters who are organizing to
protest against the raise in passenger rates are
wasting their time, They should not direct
themselves to the railroads. but to that group
of hard-headed individuals now sitting in WASH
ington as the Interstate Commerce CommlA-
sion. Let them go there and make their plea,
not for restored passenger tariffs. but for an
equitable freight tariff. which will permit the
railroads to do their business a profitable
basis. II the Commission had shown sense last
July and awarded the increase asked for. there
would not be this intoerabe condition OF at
fairs, Some one has to pay for the railroads.
PANTAGRUEL.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
The Siren

There was a man named Jacques De 1"ii'
Who sang 80 very well,
To hear his voice the festive clam
Would crawl cut of its shell.
once, as he sang pathetic songs
In earshot Of the deep,
An oyster ducked the catcher's tongS
And came ashore to weep.
But still he sang in doleful tone,
This operatic lubber.
Until the ocean wave did moan
And cen the whale did blubber.
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21
Open wall Street

From the New York sun
There Is good hope for the speedy OPENING
Of all tho Exchanges. The frst step has been
taken ana presently when the success OF the
experiment IS established, the financial world
win be ready for another. The consnmnafien
20 be reached Is the resumption Of trading on
the stock Exchange SO that huidlty may bel
restored 20 investment securities and the values
they represent untl this occurs business ana
finance must remain seriously hampsred and
entangied The event r. now more nearly q
sight than q any tme 81 g the EXCHANGE
vas closed 1g - governors avert 8 panic
Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-21

TO the Editor Of the Evening Lsdgsrs
Sir-In some parts OF the country autoEno-
bile busses are being operated IN lieu OF troll
leys or as competitors to trolleys. Would IL
not be quite feasible for some OF the suburban
places to establish such routes IN Competition
with the railroads that have so unjustly raised
the commuters' rates?
GRIFFITH THOMAS.
Philadelphia. November 20.