davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
A Philadelphia DR.. Holmes.

Born In the year when DR.. OLIVER
WENDELL HOLMES was graduated from
college. DR. SILAs WEIR MITCHELL had
certain traits. professional and literary,
like those Of the Autocrat. Ills medical
range was wider, though he had per-
haps scarcely DR.. HoLMEs's penetra ton
Of the obscure borderlands and ma rches
where mind and body subtly react, the
frontiers Of madness and sanity.
Rather late In life, following, we be.
lieve. the precept Of DR. HOLMEs, DR..
WEiR MiTcnELl, prosperous and IN
nous, gave himself up to the literary
composition which DR.. HoLMEs very
properly felt would be Injurious to tho
philadelphlan's renown and income as
a rising physician.
Fluently productive in prose and
verse and many varieties OF literary
genre, DR.. MITCHELL sought for the
laurel he had had to forego; and his
work was creditahle. sincere, true, often
charming. II hs missed the splendor
of genius or even Of the highest talent
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
The Wet Moon

To TINS EDITOR OF The sus--Sfp: About
forty years ago I asked Jack how TO know
the wet and dry moons
Jack was "A full bloodsd negro. the son
OF Anar, the last OF the wilton slaves, owned
by the Belden family, Jacks wife was old
Lorry, OF mixed Indian and negro blood.
ana to my boyish mind any Of natures se-
crets were an open book TO Jack
AS ! expected, Jack knew all about IL
tie explained that In the happy hunting
grounds there was so much game that the
good Indians tmeaning dead Indians) that
went there never went hunting except in
clear weather. and when not In use they
always hung their powder horns on the
moon, When clear weather was approach
Ing the man in the moon Strengthened I'm
In bed ana the powder horn would fan ON
ana then the Indians would know that fair
weather was coming.
To this day notice that the horns OF the
crescent moon point upward In wet weather
and TIT enough to let the powder horn fan
ON when dry weather IL quo L. IL Frrcu.
WiLrcS. Conn. January 3,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
The Buzzards.

Those officers of the Post Office De.
partment whose business 1t is to curb
the swindlers who use the mails 10 rob
their victims estimate the losses of
the "unsuspecting public" through get
rich quick schemes and the like at $50.
100000 a year. Our old friends who
sent Handsome steel engraving of
GEORGE WASHINGTON" for twenty-five
cents, the inventor Of "a method for
killing potato bugs, price 81: the Gre
ator Of a great business In "a yard Of
beautiful silk for dime; perhaps
they are still in business somewhere,
though they have ceased to favor us
with their allurlng offers But they
have worthy successors
Some Of the victims are as bad as
the feecers; others are merely simple.
confdlng folk, who, unhappliy. II they
are not stripped Of their cash In one
way will be In another. The eminent
Mr.. MILLER Of $50 per cent. fame did
not fool all his customers. Some OF
thciu uNtuniiy SVt thSii iopuot TetuTHs
for a while. and then drew out their
principal. having taken their profit as
fraudulently as did he. The pathetic
cases are those Of unworldly men and
women who should know better but
DO not, and who reduce themselves and
those dependent on them to want
through ignorance played on skllfully
by knaves.
Their protection IL matter of great
difficulty. They are the natural prey
OF sharpers at home and abroad. No
Government Intervention can take the
place OF good sense. Yet this does not
absolve the Government from doing
whatever lies within Its power to ham.
per the operations Of the buxzards.
Certainly the post office cannot blind its
eyes to patent swindles. even II their
dishonest proposals wear the required
two cent stamp.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
NEW YORKS YOUNGEST MAYOR,
The Distinction Claimed In Behalf OF
Hugh j. Grant,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrN-Sir: In
reading OF the banqucts and happy gath
.rlngs OF the many survivors of the re-
cent municipal campaign | observe fire.
quent references as to New Yorks young
est Mayor.
For the Information OF all concerned I
would state that the distinction or honor
still remains with the late Mayor Hugh
j. Grant Mr.. Grant was born in De.
cember, 1858, and was elected Mayor in
November. lsts. at which time his age was
~ years and IL months. Being the
youngest he also was regarded as a most
popular executive.
AS an evidence Of his popularity one
event In the early part OF his administra.
non might be mentioned. In June, 1859,
IN response to an appeal the citizens OF
our city. regardless of political affi,ia .
ions poured into his hands nearly
100000 for distribution among the suf.
ferers OF the Jamestown disaster.
NEW YORK January 4.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
Pyramid or Needle?

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir, Your
correspondent Mr.. w. W. Williams com.
menting In THE SUN OF Sunday on ths
rival designs for the completion of the
Cathedral of st. John the Divine. takes
occasion TO observe that.
II church builders mediavai and mod
ern, have learned one thing. II is that a
blunt, thicksct splre like Mr.. La Farge's
cannot successfully be used to crown a
great macs II never gives the desired ef-
feet OF dignity. but Is merely heavy and
awkward.
May one be allowed respectfully 10 refer
him TO the example. re pluribus unum." of
Trinity Church In Boston, of which the
browning member shows an angle far wider
than that Of Mcssrs. Helms 4 Lafarge for
st. John the Divine and YET is not COM
monty held to be deficient In dignity?
NEW ROCHELLE, January 1. NJ s.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
The Menace OF Radium.

Never In the history OF quackery
Nave remedies purporting to be com.
pounded upon a scientific basis
besa exploited with effrontery such
10 that with which they are now
presented to a gullible public by In.
veniOus advertisers. Never before have
reputable physicians lent themsel \ "a
10 this species Of empiricism to pro.
mOts the Interests Of advertisers sim.
ply because they exploit their sO-called
new remedies through the medical
press. The latter appears to be IN the
grip Of this octopus by reason Of profit
able returns; In many instances. as we
have shown hitherto. the medical news.
PAPERS are less careful in investiga Ing
the merits Of advertised articles than
are many lay journals.
sO'cailed radium preparations present
the latest manifestation Of this ten
dsncy. The wonderful action Of rudium
has been the theme of sensational nrti,
ciss In the newspaper press based upon
the statements OF II few optimistic sur.
gsons whose good fortune has placed
them In possession OF this precious ele-
msnt. The danger in this unfortunate
exploitation arises from Two sources,
legitimate and iliegitmate.
The danger menncing the public from
iliegitimate practice lies In the glamour
surrounding radium, which causes IL to
be utilized by shrewd manufacturers I'm
the preparation Of various mixtures,
solutions, powders, &c. These may or
may not contain an inftnitcslmal Quan-
uty OF radioactivily. There Is no pro-
lection 10 the public with regard TO the
quantity and certainly no knowledge on
the part Of physicians as to dosage Of
these proprietary radium prepa ratlons
1t II well known fact, however, that
radioactiyity Is retained In huld prep.
aratiOns only a few days Hence no
preparation claiming radioactiyity il
reliable. That such prepa rations are
exploited In reputable medical journals
IL painful fact. 1t presages their
abundant use by thoughtless doctors In
govt und other diseases In which ru-
dunn Ii said to be valuable.
II IL highly important that the Board
OF Health or the national food inspec.
tors should subject these prepu ra lions
10 tests aud label them accordingly In
order that the public may DO warned.
In Germany the medical profession Ia
ut least protected by the Government
inspection Of all radium derivatives
In legitimate practice radium doubt.
less has caused u number OF cures" In
cancer much smaller than tho number
OF deaths due TO neglect Of early opera.
oea. II there Is anything positive
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
The Fight for Ojinaga.

The attempt to take Ojinaga from an
entrenched and wen equipped Federal
army IL the severest test of their mette
that the insurgents have undergone.
Americans In possession Of Ojinaga. n
town on "a plateau, with the Rio Grande
at Its back and the tributary Conchos
% one flank, would make the place i'm
pregnable against General VILLAS army
- long as their ammunition held out.
The Federals have field batteries
and from their entertainments on the
south Of the town and on the west bank
az the COnchOs they can sweep a wide
area OF treeless country with their rifle
nre-by volleys, for they are not sharp.
shooters No town could be- better
suited geographically for defence than
O5inaga. From an elevated position it
commands every possible approach from
the south and east. aud the Rio Grandc
protects it on the north from assault by
the Insurgents For week the inves.
tors have made hut little impression
upon Ojinaga. To charge across the
Ukci III iSut 10 uVt Dy
General ORTEGA's men-it could be at
tsmpted with hope of success only by n
very superior force. A swift night at
tack might succeed. hut hitherto the in
surgents have shown no stomach for
such desperate enterprises.
1t Is not surprising that Ojinaga has
proved a hard nut to crack; the aston.
iahing thing is that the insurgents have
renewed the battle from day to day with
such tenacity. Their fighting spirit Is
shown In q new light. II is a question
whether they would not do better to
leave IN investing force in entrench-
ments and withdraw the remainder of
their strength for operations elsewhere.
Although General VILLA cannot suffer
Federal army to menace his rear,
there IL danger TO Constitutlonallst
prospects In permitting the OJinaga
struggle to take on the proportions Of
decisive conflict In the north.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
in medicine II Is the fact that in

In medicine II IL the fact that in
the majority Of instances OF visible or
ralpable cases Of malignant growths
cure Is possible only by the earliest
possible diagnosis and surgical removal
before the neighboring parts are in.
voIved. The declaration OF the Con.
gress ~ American Surgeons and its
admonition to the public confirm the
statement made by TME Sun that
cancer is more durable than typhoid
fever. The trust In radium interferes
with early operation. In which alone
lies safety. The quantity Of radium
now In the world is insignificant COM
pared to the enormous number of cases
requiring treatment Moreover, the
large outlay Of money demanded of
surgeons makes It practically impos-
slble to utilize 1t without similar large
outlay on the part Of the patient and
prevents the surgeon from being as
liberal with IL as he Is with his ser.
Vices. Few patients have the neces.
sary means; many defer treatment I'm.
I'll they have saved a sufficient sum.
thus losing precious time. each day
adding to the fatal prcgnosis. It's high
price excludes radium from c!ccn,osy
nary practice.
The logical and safe deduction from
these facts appears to be for the public
to trust to the admonitIon Of the Con-
gress OF Surgeons to consult q surgeon
for erorU smelling or grotcth, whether
painful or not, without delay and TO
submit to its removal. which every
conscientious surgeon will advise n II
he malignant. Awaiting a possible ra.
dunn treatment is extremely dangerous.
Often superficial cancer has been re.
moved by radium without disfigure.
ment; In these cases II should he an
piled whenever practicable. The large
OF cases. however. must
continue TO call for operation until the
supply Of radium increases.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
Knickerb0cker Hotel Pastry Cook
Case Remnn ded.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 5.--Wh!le the Su-
preme Court handed down to-day "A large
number Of opinions the Shreveport rate
case was not among them nor did the
court decide the long pending Intermoun-
tain rate case.
Justice Vandeventer read an opinion re-
versing Nhe Judgment OF the Circuit Court
of Appeals for the second circuit in the
case OF the United States against James
Il Regain. proprietor OF the Itnickerbocker
Hotel In New York. Regain was proceeded
against by the Government 10 recover
a penalty OF $1,000 prescribed In tho alien
immigration net OF 1907 for persons con
victed Of bringing into the United States
allen laborers contrary to law.
Regain was charged with having as
sisted In the importation Of one Foreau,
pastry cook The lower court granted
an instruction to the Jury prayed for by
the defendant, Regain, that the Govern
ment should be required 20 prove beyond
a reasonable doubt its allegations before
II could recover.
The issue involved in the case was as
to the rule of proof. The Government
appealed from tho instruction given on
the ground that the action was a civil
one and not criminal. and that II was
simply required to prove Its allegation
by q preponderance OF evidence AS IN
civil cases, The Supreme Court urhe,1
this view and reversed and remanded the
case
The court. IN an opinion by Justice
McKsnna, laid down the doctrine to-day
that the safety appliance act OF Congress
which requires automatic couplers for
cars moving IN interstate commerce 4os
not require that the coupling OF an engine
to n tender shall be automatic In 80
Gliding the case the court affirmed the
Judgment OF tho Federal Court for the
Eastern District OF Pennsylvania IN T.
hu ha lt,,tv fstr t,.l<
estate OF J. A. Pennell an employee ~
tho Reading railroad. killed while sery-
ing ms fireman on an interstate t'a'r.
due 10 the old fashioned coupling used 70
connect the engine and tender
Another opinion by Justice McKcnrA
CONSTITUTES the food and drug act ana r.
regarded as of far reaching importance
The Federal authorities brought lih"'
against product OF the Arti-KamuI,
Chemical Company. which was nut ~
the market under label marked "a
acetanilid" The Federal authorities o..
sisted that the preparation was ma
branded, IN that II contained acetnhcre
td!n. derlvative " acetanll!d The rl,'
was reversed and remarded with instru'-
tons TO dismiss the exceptions filed 10y
the Anti-kamrla company,
The action OF the Illinois Fedora, count
Diminishing an Indictment against saultr
T. Moist, Chicago piano dealer, charg
with the use OF the mails to derraul
through picture puzzle advertisemer.
was affirmed to-day by the Supreme Court
Moist offered credit certificates 10 piara
purcnasers VINO solved his puzzle, az
pltcable AZ part of the purchase prize
on 4 piano
The Government insisted that tho Ger
tihcate represented nothing Of value Az
that tho purchaser IN the end paid en-
full value for the article
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

The whole scheme follows tho idea OF
Secretary DANIELS that the navy should
Observation-Disclosures despatch.
The navy has always been a great
school, but whether it will bs az great
working institution as II has been
with the little red school house. as well
as an imitation Of the Naval Academy,
on board every warship Of the feet
Is question that gives tho graduates
Of Annapolis from Admiral to midship-
man no little concern as Secretary
DANIELS ushers In his curriculum with
a flourish,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
THE SUN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1914.

and capabllity. he missed II. more than
nut IN somewhat the same way ms the
Autocrat. mon Onlnes omnia possunus.
the clevcrest cant do everything: and
the fine flower of Imagination couldn't
bloom for the illustrious Psychologist
and ncurologist of Philadelphia any
more than for the Parkman professor
OF Boston. Elsie Venncr" Is more and
greater than anything Dr. MITCHELL
wrote, yet the doctor swallows the art
list In II: we have exquisite clcvcrncss,
hut no more: and the snake character,
the sensual anguine charm of ELSIE Is
not brought out. HOLINESS book. Of
course, is the "Autocrat Of the Break.
fast Table" That Is to say that he was
too busy to be an artist: that flashes Of
insight, humor, wit and charm had to
take the place of u created and artistic
whole.
Or. WEIR MITCHELL suffered in the
same way, though he had not the same
endowments. He worked for literature
on the side. The jealous goddess doesn't
award too much to amateurs.
This Is not deprcciatiilg the merits Of
Dr. WEIR MITCHELL. He touched medl-
cal science ut n number of points. lilo
tried to write well, and occasionally
succeeded, in many ways and kinds.
But to produce good or even respectable
literature needs time and pains, a long
devotion or some supreme, happy gift.
Or. MITCHELL enjoyed himself; he gave
pleasure to many; he took pleasure
from his work. That is enough, II ii Is
not the most.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

! wish the millions OF laborers North
and West who have families to raise
and are willing to work on n farm could
realize the very great advantage In living
down South. where we have all that goes
TO make living worth while.
Ten months in the year We can live
out Of doors
Ice formed only four times in the last
winter.
Land 10 plentiful, well watered, very
productive and costs only IA few dollars an
acre at your own terms.
We produce cotton. corn. oats and every
kind of vegetable.
Free schools ara easily accessible In
every community, and protection 20 life
and property Is far better than in the
East and West w NJ SHOEMAKER.
MONTGOMERY, Ala, May So
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

Our common and high schools are dis
NAL failures. Accuracy Is not taught In
the schools, and accuracy is the main es-
sential to success.--Mr. JAMES j. HILL
Some men may be said 10 begin the
struggle Of life thorough and accurate
because II is their nature TO be. Mr.
HILL, a self-made man, is one of them.
In a measure he is right about the pub
lie schools, but they would have TO be
vastly improved to suit q man OF his
rigorous standards.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Str: Your
contributor ~ l., O." mistakes In SAYING
IN The SIN OF Sunday that THE Bread
winners" though attributed 10 John U,v :"
was never confessed by him" The con-
!ess'on was made In the very practical
form or an application to Harper 4 Broth.
ers, the publishers OF the novel in book
form, for any royalties that might be due
on IT, The application Is printed with the
permission OF Mrs. Hay in J. Henry
IIarper's History OF the House Of Unr.
per" ARC
New York. January
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

A Cincinnati butcher who 10 giving
lectures with moving pictures on tho
high cost OF living says that "brisket
and shoulder plug are just about as
nourlshing when cooked properly as
clubhouse steak" That IL all very we'll,
but when a woman cannot make club
house steak attractive with hsr kitchen
range. what hope Is there OF her tempt
Ing the appetite with brisket and
shoulder plug?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
Lord NOrthcliHe and tho "Daily
Mall"

We have good authority for correct
Ing the Fleet street report, cabled to
THE Sun on Sunday AS London gossip,
that Lord NosrHcLlrrE 10 relinquishing
control Of the Daily MdU on account
OF illness, and dlsposing of his in.
terests In other Of the so-called Harms
worth publication We are glad to
bs assured that there Is no truth in
these rumors of extensive retrench.
ment In the journalistic activities of
one OF the most energetic, interesting
and useful Of the newspaper makers
now living and that ever lived.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

Judgment but Of proved courage and
force Of character. They must have
iron jaws and backbones " the stffest
steel In order to offer determined re-
sistance to any kind of pressure. polti-
cal or financial, which nlny he brought
to bear In favor Of policies Of mere ex-
pediency as against the adoption Of
right and proper courses dictated by
honesty, reason and common sense.
They should be men incapable OF any
abuse Of their IWwer for private ends,
and men who can and will give Just
interpretations OF law In many places
obscure and In more places dangerous.
Theoretically good deal Of their au-
thOrity Is granted, without statutory
checks, for exercise in emergencies only,
hut they should be men capable Of dis
tInguishing between financial emergen-
cies which are rare and political emer-
gencles which are of frequent occur
renee.
As the requirements for membership
on the Federal Reserve Board are con-
sidered Il IL az clear as sunlight that
the members should be men who would
not scheme, plot or cOntrive to obtain
membership. They should be men TO
whom not the salary Of $4,000 year
which Is offered but any sum that the
country could afford to pay would he
reasonable recognition Of the qualities
needed Of patience, intelligence, fair
mindedness and resolution with which
to meet the demands Of the office. They
should be men who will take the office
only from high sense Of duty beca use
they realise its enormous difficulties.
There are seven places to be filed
on tho Federal Reserve Board. One OF
them goes to WILLIAM G.. MtADoo as
Secretary Of the Treasury. For months
current runIor, which has now become
circumstantial report, has indicated that
President WILSON Is urged to nominate
john SHELTON WILLIAMS for Comptrol
Ter of the Currency, an officer who is to
he one Of the six other members OF the
Federal Reserve Board. Does Mr.. WILL
IAMs fill the bill Of particulars which
we have endeavored to render respect
ing the qualifications Of the managers
OF the new Government money trust
II he does, President WILSON is fortu.
nate in having SO close at hand avail.
able material for the most responsible
Of new public Offices. II Mr.. WILL
IAMs, who has only been Assistant Sec
rotary OF the Treasury 80 far in this
will suffice, It is evi.
dent that the other right men for the
Federal Reserve Board will be easily
discoyerable.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06
Varied Notes Of the Radiator.

To THE EDITOR OF THE srs--Sir. Now that
tho lexicon Of terms applicable to man
under the influence" appears to have been
approximately completed, perhaps you would
Ike to print few that would be more or
less accurately descriptive OF the steam rad,.
ator In action that Is to say after the steam
has been turned on,
Ours. ono or another OF them at one or
another time, pound. hammer. gurgie, ex.
plode. simmer. boil sing. sigh. purr. muir.
muir. rattle, bang. sixsle.
HArrs FLAT pwnlLsa
Nnw YoRE, January 3.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

No matter what his nervousness, how
over, WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN always
feels II In his consciousness that ne will
get through with It, He has never yet
forgot his piece" nor had To retreat from
tho platform In disorder.-Despatok from,
Washtn0toA
Down In Leesburg the citizens are
aware that they too have never yet
"forgot his piece"i nor did his nervous
ness make him forget to recall for them
his presence Of mind.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

From Maine TO Hatteras tho sea folk
will be more Interested In the running
ashore OF the revenue cutter Andro-
scOggin at Cove Point than In any
other news of the day. Great Is the
fame of the Androscoggin as a rescuer
and salver. Every fisherman knows
her hull and rigging. and the coastwise
sailors feel secure when she is along
shore. IL will be hard for them to
realize that the Androscoggin was In
need of assistance herself.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-06

The life OF WILLIAM MARcoNI IL
precious to science, but he flew with
GRAHAME-WHiTE at Hendon on Sunday
The Duchess Of SUTHERLAND, whose life
is valuable tn society, also assembled
with the English pilot during the day.
What an advertisement for the flying
machine by one Of the best advertisers
among tho sviators