davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
LITERATURE AND LIFE.
The Great Authority OF Cardinal New
man on paul Bourget's Side.

10 THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr: Paul
Bourgeois statement Literature is not
life" has TO all Appearances painfully
touched literary nerves on this side of the
Atlantic. In your recent editorial article
which discussed the above statement In
dignation almost upset an honest love for
letters. The dictum Of tho French novel
list was not only made to appear utterly
false but he was brnpded AZ a traitor
TO lbs profession.
Despite the brill!ancy OF THE SUN the
statement of the Partisan will stand AS
correct for large number Of the lovers
OF literature. unless YOU manufacture
more choice definitions and then qualify
their scope. a veritablo host of Witnesses
may be summoned to his aid. among
whom is reckoned one of the kings of
English prose. THE Sun will scarcely
question the place of John Henry New
man In letters, and strange 20 say he
seems to agree with Bourget that ''lttera-
ture is not life" The following quota
ton Is rather choice IN the instter:
Literature is almost IN It's esssnce unreal /.
for II Ia the exhibition of thought d!sjoined
from practice. lite very home Is supposed
to he ease and retirement. and when Il
does more than write and speak. It ia &C
cussd OF trausgressins It's bounds This IN.
deed constitutes wha, f. considered It's true
dignity and honor, VIZ, It's abstraction from
tho actual affairs o) rfe. Its security from
tho worlds currents and vicissitud.s; It's
saying without doing 4 man OF literature
Is supposed to preserve his dignity BY do
ing nothing; and when he proceeds into
action he is thought to lose hts position. as
II he ware degrading his calling by enthu-
siasm and becoming politician or a parti-
san. Hence mere literary mon are able TO
say strong things against the opinions of
their age. whether religious or political.
without offence. because no one thinks they
pne ms nv hap
pected 20 20 forward 90 act upon them. and
mere words hurt no one.
II would appear that chance loves an
aocumulatiye argument. for opening a
package of books received an hour ago
] noticed one wearing the title Little
Essays in Literature and Life" The au-
thor Is Richard Burton. professor of lit
erature IN the University OF Minnesota
| and a member OF the National Institute
OF Arts and Letters. II your conclusive
estimate OF the statement made by Paul
Bourget is correct, then the above title
| Is, TO say the least wrong. 1t should
merely read. Essays in Literature"
In the light Of Newman's analysis OF
| literature | am perfectly satisfied that
the question is by no means closed and
| that all the arguments are not on the
| sunny side" I much prefer the position
OF Paul Bourget. who In his hour of crit
\ ioal distress Views at his elbows the IA
nous son OF oxford and tho member OF
| the National Institute OF Letters and In
| front OF him the lone editor of THE SUN
who. with admitted brilliancy and ability
declares that literature Is life"
| GEORGES CHARPENrIER.
| New BRITAIN, Conn, August I.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

Yesterday conference ut the Urea =
ury Department between Secretary Nc
Anoo. the members of the Federal Re
serve Boar 50 far confirmed and PAUL
" WARBtRG and other New York bank
crs was important for two rea sons:
II was q token Of the cooperation
that will obtain between the Govern
uncut and financial Interests in coping
with the national crisis which Europe
has inflicted on tho United States. The
conference WAS significant of the dis.
appearance of all political pretudices
and differences in the presence of this
vast emergency.
The agreement reached OF the confer
cnce that there must he suspension
If specie payment 70 countries which
have gone on a paper basis on account
uf tho European war was Of the utmost
iimeliness
Gold exports from the United States
must he stopped II the automatic checks
already set M are not sufficient oh
siacle The country has a large store
IF gold but none available for tiinging
on the boarded piles In Europe nor fol-
wasting in futile discharge Of debts
tn the nations which have brought
trouble on the American people.
The gold which the country has will
enable the United States TO keep rs
credits and currency on sound basis
] must be conserved for that purpose.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

politics would not concede an expau.
slve principle Of rate making which
would enable the carriers TO effect re-
adjustments Of service charge to ris-
ing costs Of doing business. This was
what rendered the present decision 20
momentous in the prospect.
In the earlier case the commission
traversed every point raised in justin
cation Of the advance then proposed.
It's summarized conclusions were as
follows:
There Ia no evidence which establishes
the necessity for higher rates. The prob
ability is that increased rates will not be
necessary In the future. II actual re-
suits should demonstrate that the com
Missions forecast is wrong there might
be ground for a further consideration Of
this subject. Before any general advance
In rates can be permitted It must appear
with reasonable certainty that carriers
have exercised proper economy In the pur-
chase Of their supplies. in the payment OF
their wages and In the general conduct OF
their business. These class rates have
been continuously in eject for the last
thirty years. The commission Is not dis
posed to subvert the conditions which have
become established. Carriers have fire.
ouent occasion to vary their commodity
rates Tho commission dislikes to tie up.
by hard and fast orders. these commodity
rates. and has concluded as to all the rates
involved in this proceeding. 10 require the
defendants to cancel their advanced tariffs
on file and to restore their former rates"
The difference In the outcome Of the
two cases Is apparent and significant
Commission government Is not proved
n success by the Judgment just rem
dered. but n has demonstrated GER
tain capacity to respond 10 the require
ments of business conditions II sub
looted long and perSstently to the bat
terry of hard facts. The trouble Is that
70 much business effort Is needed to
make an impression upon It. The East
ern railroads have been four years get
ting the Interstate Commerce Commis-
SION to abandon theory and grant some
concrete indulgence Of their cxigcn-
ctes.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

morale. But as lately as July II
Senator HuMBEBr submitted a report
to the French Senate in which he not
only charged that the forts were de-
fective and antiqunted but also that
the French artillery was dropping be-
hind the German, that ammunition was
scarce and also that supplies Of all
sorts were deficient In case Of war. He
instanced the matter Of shoes saying
the army was short 2,5OO,0OO pairs. He
described the engineer corps as inferior
to the German and said France had
been passed in wireless and aerial ia.
cilities to a serious extent
Much Of the truth Of this was ad-
mitted by the War Minister, NJ. MES
SHINY, but somehow the pessimistic
view has not made much impression
In France or Europe. NJ. HUMBERr's
report has been taken as a wall from an
asldrant for perfection rather than a
practical exposure Of disastrous condi-
lions. Senator HERvEY has made reply,
defending in particular the French ar
tillery, which he holds to be far more
deadly than the German, even though
less numerous. The shooting OF the
French nrtillerists he also says is far
more accurate.
II Is probable that the French army
Is less perfectly equipped and organ
lied than the German. But all recent
outside critics seem TO credit the indl-
vidual soldiers with higher tactical Gu
pacity. Many hold It to he less
trained but more efficient organization.
No one doubts 1t Will give good &C.
count of itself.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
To Build Up the Merchant Marin,

Whatever be the Immediate effect,
and whether the relief 10 American
commerce from II can be as great as
some hope. the hill 10 he introduced
into the House of Representatives to
day removing certain restrictions 10 the
registration ~ foreign vessels under
the American flag is Ia bc welcomed
a. the beginning Of now departure.
the first step towari the restoration Of
the American merchant marine.
The present paralysis Of export. the
ractical monopolization Of the carry
ing trade by foreigners, the golden OPP
portunity of neutral Powers. the i'm
Jerative need Of American ships TO
transport American foodstutfs-these
things are now impressed wildly, and
we believe permanently. upon the ma
tional consciousness The lesson will
not be forgotten. Distractions once re-
moved are not likely ~ he reimposed
The way to the identification of once
triumphant national energy on tn,
water may he opening once more.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
A Sentence In the Apostles Creed.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir: In
addition TO being a regular attendant at
church almost every Sunday. ] occasion
ally attend a Methodist church whore I
meet many OF this followers of Wesley.
In recent years In that church the Apos-
ties Greed Is reclted, although this was
not the practice many years ago.
At Ocean Grove every summer II has
been my privilege to worship In the great
auditorium where the Rev DIR. Ballard
now In his ninety-sixth year. usually leads
In the recital of the Greed. usually re-
cite with the worshippers, but am some-
what myshfed and seek light, which
trust some Methodist clergyman will I'm
part Unlike other denominations. so far
as learn. the Methodists leave out one
sentence: HE tJesus Christi descended
into hell" hell meaning "the grave" Yo,
will find this true by perusal OF tn
Greed In a Methodist hymn book, AMI YOU
will find the other reading OF the Creed IL
the Presbyterian and Episcopal books
have no desire TO provoke a religious
discussion, but ] would like In know WHY
my good friends the Methodists omit tn.
sentence 10 which have alluded.
EILzARETA, N. J.. August /.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
TO LESSEN ICEBERG PERIL,
Canadian Government WIN Issue
warnings 20 Liners.

OTTAWA, Ont, Aug. BY a ne" "r"-
less system OF keeping tab on ceberss
In the Great Circle track the pomlnon
Government hopes to minimize by too per
cent the dangers of the North America
route. Thu wireless branch Of the ndNa'
service department has decided upou a
plan in connection with the new Govern
ment wireless station at Cape Ia. =
whereby all vessels within radius ~
500 miles will be kept informed Of the
exact location and movement Of ice
Two special Government agents
have charge OF the now station. Nh'n
a ship encounters ice this station VIII 10
Immediately informed, The kno"ledsc ~
the whereabouts of this ice, the rat ~
which It is travelling, Sc will b. a. ono"
transferred to every vessel within 'po
miles of Cape Race.
In this way Government officials her.
think that accidents from iccbergs IN ma
summer route TO and from North Amer
can ports viii he made almost Impossible
The new station will be in operation tbs
fall and will he the first Of seritF ~
precautions which the Dominion Govern
ment Is preparing to institute in the
cause OF safer navigation
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
THE REVOLT or MRS. CAUDLE.
Rouse Ye. Henpecked; Rouse We. Slaves
the Hour OF Freedom strikes!

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. The
letter from a member OF the New York
branch OF the s. o s. tSociety of Simps)
was an inspiration 10 all who might read
H. AZ member OF that fraternity can
fully appreciate this writer's viewpoint
For twenty years / have been sub
jected to the rule of the weaker" sex
CT Is evident that the originator of that
term never got a beating from one OF
them, or else he had weird sense of
humor) | have been the audience OF
enough household eloquence" to MI
twenty five or fifty large volumes. Oft
have l asked myself during one of these
harangues: "Is there no rest for the
wicked? Must drag out for yet twenty
years more perchance, a similar melan-
choy existence? Is II for me to continue
suffering these 'slings and arrows OF out
rageous fortune. or shall jump into the
River OF Doubt and end my fluctuations
forever
And now comes letter from Brother
IS. .. s." boosting my .wavering spirits
UP to giddy heights of bliss and con-
vincing me that a new era Is about to
dawn upon the horizon OF us poor
creatures of the dust Our release from
domestic oppression Is at hand. No more
shall we he talked at with no thought
OF retaliation. No more shall the female
species of our households elope with our
hard earned cash without as much as a
thank you ma'am." No more shall we
be dragged of to ''punky" entertainments
at night instead Of being permitted to re-
main at home In peace. We will rise ur
In body, my friends and demand the
inaiienable rights to which every free
born American citizen is entitled;
Let US then he up and doing.
Henpecked brothers. do not wait.
Well demand our rights and get 'em.
Though our very life's at stake,
JACK C. WILLErs.
LINDEN, n. j., July 81.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Str: The
leading article In to-days SUN captioned
"a Time for Action" Is splendid as far
as It goes, but II does not go far enough,
Not only should the outflow of gold from
these shores be stopped but an embargo
placed on everything that would In any
way give aid and comfort to the subjects
OF the devil inspired monarchs who are
with light hearts about to drench Europe
In blood. When these naughty sutocrats
ind out that not only can they get no
gold from the United States but no food.
stuffs or clothing or munitions of war
with which to carry on their hellish game,
the shoe will soon begin to pinch and
bring them 10 their senses.
rigid boycott OF everything Is wha.
Is wanted. and whatever loss its enforce
ment may cause TO the country will be
but a flea bite to what will otherwise be
sustained Let tho United States declare
a commercial war on belligerent Eurooe
and by that act Of holiness will the nation
b. exalted. D. l.
YoNuIRs. July 81.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
THE FEEDING or HELLoATs.
The Pankycranks, Rebs and tho Def.
crence Due to the SEX"

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--sir! In
your editorial article THE Terror OF Tar
rytown' the license enjoyed In England
by Mother Enamaline. daughters Blster-
belle and Slicksilvia and the rest OF the
I'lutonian fellnes Is attributed to "the
difference due to tho sex" No one can
doubt that this sentiment IL In a largo
measure responsible for the unchecked
outrages perpetrated by the above mem
toned members of the sainted sex.
At this particular time had our fire.
brands hunger strike been genuine II
would have been exceedingly Illuminating
inasmuch as II would have served to H.
lustrate certain well known facts. She is
not so wise as she thinks she Is or she
would never even attempt TO impose upon
one OF her own sex, especially when under
her jurisdiction. Instinctively she ought
TO Know that 10 quarter would be given
her Miss Davis proposes to see that Rebs
Edelsohn does not make farce OF the law,
and, so far as this particular case is con-
cerned, what you say Is probably true. that
II 10 fortunate for the reputation OF New
York that the Commissioner Of Correction
was not a man and therefore gullible by
pettlcoat tantruns, untrue to his official
duty on account of "the difference due IN
the sex." Forcible feeding would have
been rcsorted to II necessary.
This same forclble feeding has raised
o"N' " hu' hnu NfS IN rS0bidIu tildl u nus
up to the present time been echoed ON our
shores by the very ones who are now al
most enthusiastic over its proposed adop-
tion by Miss Davis. The question arises :
What would he the verdict OF those future
rulers " the same stand were justly taken
10y n man Commissioner OF Correction
Would they not rcnd the air from cart
tails, soap boxes and platforms with cries
OF masculine" Injustice, masculine
cruelty and lot more Of their character
istic twaddlc? Would not the various
aspiring political Bolsnas form battalions
OF Illuminating and palpitating females
and hik" to Albany aud march to WASH
ington TO petition some high official to
stop the torture"
With women AZ sen, personalities
count for everything. while principles
count for practically nothing. This is one
OF tho many reasons why they should
never have the franchise.
New YORK, August 2. ETHEL BEYBA
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
Letting Cp on the Rai,roa ds.

What the decision IN the Eastern
rate case means In dollars and cents
Il will take railroad men long time
10 figure ont. Roughly computed II
may he said that having asked for a .
per cent increase in freight rates the
petitioning carriers get perhaps Ia
per cent. or enough on recent average
volume Of traffic 10 add Sl5,O0o,0o0 to
their not earnings. Practically all of
this advance is allowed on only about
nne-third Of the total freight tonnage
involyed in the application for higher
charges, and less thon half the terri
tory covered by the thrty-five Eastern
railroad systems Is affected.
IT. that district known as Central
freight Association territory, which
lies north of the Ohio River between
the Missi ssipp River and line drawn
from Buffalo through Pittsburg to
Wheeling. the carriers have received
substantially the : per cent. advance
asked for in class rates and some com
modify rates. \ traffic man would be
NlFPnfh 10 Ifll W udl flN' INV ldlllbdNN
yct In the way Of rate advances, for
much Of the decision Is made M of de-
rials Of increase. There Is nothing for
the New England railroads and not
much for the trunk lines except as they
benefit through interest In the earnings
Of the roads in Central Freight Assocla
ZION territory.
Commodities on which higher rates
arc not allowed constitute the bulk Of
Eastern railroad tonnage. For example
rhout bali the freight Of the Eastern
carriers is coal, one Of the commodities
an which rates are left unchanged.
Still It is patent that the railroads
get something In the way of sanction
for higher rates, and this. in view oi
the Interstate Commerce Commission's
previous attitude, is great deal What
Is more. Il Is ono Of several indications
If changing attitude on the part oil
the Governmental overlords Of the rail
roads which must encourage the owners
NJ the railroads and their management
10 believe that official pressure upor
them Is lessening II was altogether
likely that this would bo the conse
Guencc of the recent disclosure 10 the
interstate Commerce Commission of tn,
tremendous power Of life and deatf
which II had over the railroad system
If tbe land and tho dawning sense q
responsibility which must have beer
impaired by the discovery,
In tho Minnesota. Missouri River an,
snrcrcport rate cases the Snprrm,
Court, by successive stages. clcarl,
defined the Interstate Commerce Com
missions authority as superior (,
state tnterfgrcurr with the rlilroa,
rate structure, In III" opinion whicl
tho Supreme Court rendered loss tpa,
Two months ago n the so-called inter
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

Many hard things have been said ~
the Coroners' Of're and in public opin-
ion It has long been held a nest of in
efficiency and things worse. Some OF the
charges made by Commissioner " Ac-
counts WALLsTEiS. however. go beyond
anything generally suspected. lie says
explicitly that the findings Of coroners
ENTHUSIASTICALLY, we prcsume-infiu-
cnced ny the agents o. insurance COM
panies 40 that tho relatives OF the dead
are defrauded. Further. he charges that
physicians engaged in Illicit practice are
protected. These allegations are so
serious that they call for immediate
action. The District Attorney is no
doubt already inter sted in them. and
Mr.. WArLsTErS indicates the duty OF the
State Insurance Superintendent 10 take
the matter up. Further. II becomes more
than ever urgent for the Legislature to
attempt a broad reform OF the system.
Coroners or some substitute we must
have. but It Is humanity possible to
frame a law that will create an efficient
service without constant suspicion and
scandal
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03
French Preparedness For War.

As the Ave emhattled Powers Of Eu.
rope close in upon each other the Gues-
ton nppernost in every mind has ref
erence TO the degree OF prepa redness of
France Is her army equal to the H.
tanic task of attacking or even of I've
sisting Germany's great fighting ma
chine: The answer is difficult to give
There are many factors wholly I'M
known outside of France. and even in
France opinion seems To be divided.
1t Is quite certain that France can
not put 80 many men in the field as
Germany. Her army IS some 10000
men less in time of peace and perhaps a
million inferior upon an ultimate war
footing. This is a serious handicap In
itself but II Is more. far more than
offset by the fact that Germany has
to face two adversarles nj the extremi-
ties OF her realm, whereas, Italy being
neutral. France can concentrate her
whole force on the Alsatian frontier.
Regardless of all other elements, that
Of command will doubtless have a
strong II not determining effect on the
result. In this regar ri compa risons are
mere g,Iesswork. Every one acknowl-
edges the high scientific standard OF
the German officers from the Chief OF
the General Staff. Won MoLTKE. down.
But not one Of them has ever COM
manded troops in actual warfare. The
.l.rs. n
more real fighting, but never on n great
scale In Morocco and elsewhere they
have shown skill and efficiency, the
characteristics Gallo courage and dash
But whether any one Of them will rise
to the demands Of great warfare re
mains wholly conjectural.
Then there Is the matter Of FORTH
cations. II has been said that nova
at the Lorraine border. II Is known
that all northea stern France Is sprip
killed. over with fortified cities and otheI
strong places defending every strategic
point. Considering the resistance made
by the great fortresscs in 1901, de
spite every encouragement and han
dicap, il is probable these will show
great staying power and may effectually
check the German advance should the
French army be beaten in tie field.
But there is reason TO believe that thu
Belgian frontier Of France Is far In
ferior in defence to the region east Of It
The question therefore arises whether
should the Kaiser decide to disregart
the neutrality of Belgium. he nigh
not meet with only feeble resistance
in that part Of France and thus sue
cessfully outflank the lines so studi
ously elaborated against his direct at
tack. This Is one Of the unknown
quantities in the situation. Is Franc
or Is she not effectively fortified on ne
theoretically "safc' side?
As for the general condition OF IN,
French army It Is beyond question
vastly superior To what II was whel
war was begun In 1870, It's mobiliza
ton Is far better provided for an,
tho moment of war finds far create
concentration In the field OF the CON
Jog contest. Until recently It wa
supposed 10 be perfect In equipmen
as well as admirable IN training an
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

The American professional swimmer
Brown believes that he win be able TO
swim the English Channel because he
uses the trudgeon stroke and can make
better distance than those who have
left the water baffled after twenty hours
or more OF endeavor. BRowN is fine
representative OF tho long distance
American swimmers. but II may be
doubted whether even nc can keep up
tho trudgeon stroke in the heavy Chan
mel seas.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-08-03

It need not be feared that the Euro
pean struggle will reduce the supply OF
bubblng beverages along the Great
white Way. Perhaps the bubbles may
originate elsewhere than on the sunny
plain where Gaul and Teuton are likely
TO make blood more lavish than wine
In a few days. But the name and the
sparkle will be provided from some
where, and nine out of ten OF the guz-
zlers won't suspect the spuriousness of
the gaseous inspiration. Even II the
price goes up, what matter? The
dearer II IL the more will II be craved