davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
CHICAGO Loses lis Opera.

This is a disastrous year for opera.
First, the Aborn company, after its short
season here, went to smash. Boston's
company was never assembled. Now the
Chicago Opera Company, which was un-
able to open its projected season, has
gone into bankruptcy, with its artists of
recent engagements among its creditors.
Even the Metropolitan has felt the strain,
and it's management talks boldly Of re-
trenchment next year in salaries Of
singers and kindred expenses.
New York has kindly memories of the
Chicago company. 1t was virtually the
Hammerstein company, reassembled by
Signor Campanini after the redoubtable
Oscar was driven from the operate field
here by the heavier calibre of the Metro
poltan's armament. DalmOres, Dufranne,
Mary Garden and others who had con-
tributed to the delights of the Thirty
fourth Street house transferred their ac-
Invites to the Windy City, where they
promptly found themselves at home un-
ger lilt VI NdIllpe'iiiI4 . DtAOOll' VI
brief season each year they visited the
metropolis, to give us such FRENCH opera
as the Metropolitan, splendidly equipped
in other lines as it is, cannot stage to-day.
And they were welcomed and welcome.
1t is to be hoped that the plan of re-
Y Mobilization can be put through. Opera
in America has not yet reached the stage
of being classed as a necessity, as it has
in Italy and Germany Nevertheless, it
has constantly growing clientele-in
normal years-and its educational value
in the field of music is unquestionable.
1t would be a genuine misfortune if a
company so good as Campanini's group
of artists had to be permanently dis
banded.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
The Last Colonial Dame.

When human being reaches the age
of ninety-six to-day his consciousness has
spanned great changes. But before it
came into being Stephenson had invented
the locomotive and Fulton the steamboat,
and power looms and other Steam-drivcn
machinery had started the epochal indus
trial revolution on its avalanchine career.
For this reason Mrs. Mary Miller, aged
ninety-six. who now sleeps forever where
she was born, in North Greenwich, Conn,
bridged much lont err period than her
wears alone would indicate.
A daughter of America, married at the
age of fourteen, who bears thirteen chill
dren and never stirs further from her
native village than she can walk, who
has never ridden in railroad train or
trolley car, goes back to that remote
Colonial period which her great-grand-
mother knew. Then, as genealogists can
testify. the mothers Of our vanishing
race became wives in their early teens,
as Mrs. Miller did, and bore each her
bakers DOZEN of empire builders. As
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
The Cost Of the Barge Canal.

70 tho Editor Of The Tribune.
S.r: The State of Ne" York proposes
% include IN this years budget an item Of
about Slt 100000 necessary TO complete me
Barge Canal. The reason for including TINS
amount I'm the budget and not financing T..
as was done for the rest 81 the cost OF the
canal. nv the issuance OF bonds. IS that
contracts 81 excess of the au' horned
amount o. the bond issue have been let,
and ,bo contractors will he demanding pay
,nert for their work before the people can
have an opportunity 20 vote upon the queS-,
ion. over % per cent Of this amount VIII
have TO be paid by Inc City of New lorN.
This !. a most favorable time for dlspoS-
ing Of short term paper. Why could not
,te STATE Controller be authorized 20 issue
certificates PAYABLE within one year! men
=. the r,xt election a referendum could be
submitted e. the people There Is no doubt
hat it would be voted upon iaVoraoIy au-
rbori7In, the issuance Of additional BONDS
for the amount Ecces' ary 10 conlp'ete M
work. similar 20 the bonds previously au-
thorizcd for the same purpoSe' ana these
notes could be paid from IA" proceeds o!
the sale OF the bonds. Should ne releren-
dunn fail the amount could De included IN
,ext wears budget and the notes redeemed
az that tmc. ...t.
The burden Of taxation upon real estate
in the city IS So heavy that this matter IS OF
vital importance and would be Obliged 10
you if YOU would bring this suggestion 70
the attention Of yolr readers IN oraer Ih"'
tins matter may be discussed. ,.,.
New York. March l. 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Steyenson's Tribute.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: THE world is so full of number
of things" that | suppose a few anti-suf-
fragst mistakes don't really matter, and
it seems rather unkind to knock the pins
from under Beatrice Raymond's arguments
by informing her that the truly greatly
beloved" woman to whom Robert Louis
Stevenson paid such tender tribute was not
his maiden aunt. She was, on the contrary,
m!ddle-aged woman, working outside her
own home for hire. Her name was Alison
Cunningham. If poor "Cummy" brought
cersure upon her family because they were
unable to keep her." as Beatrice Raymond
distinctly remembers, it seems reasonably
certain that r. l.. S. never knew it. or at
least didn't hold it against her.
lie was, Of course diStressingy liberal
minded, and overlooked her foolish fad
for working and incidentally for having
,hrcc meals q day, like the rest of us
working women.
II would be exaspcrating il il were no.
So truly pitiful TO meet with such state
ments at Beatrice Raymond's. To be rated
for our foolish fad for working. instead of
hiring some other woman AT s. week 70
do our work for Us, Us Beatrice Raymond
explains she does makes ne rub our ewes
wonderingly. II IS a hundred years and
more since poor Marie Antoinette asked
our ancestors why. If hey had no bread.
they did not cat cake Have those hundred
years gone for nothing in the way of en-
!ehtenmer. cf the soft and sheltered
women? :. VI. p.
New York Feb 26, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Practical IdeaIism in Difficulty.

Two years ago denunciaton OF the
President by q local Democratic Repre-
sentative associated in the public mind
with Tammanv Hall would have been
gain for Mr.. Wilson in every ones mlnd'
1t would have been proof that he mad de-
served well of the public by earning the
i'll will of the politician.
The reason Representative Fitzgerald $
outburst leaves the country cold is found
in the fashion in which the President
himself has allowed his administration
70 move down to the level of the poll
tician in handling patronage.
There is absolutely no difference be-
tween Mr.. BRYAN. of Nebraska, and Mr..
Murphy. Of New York, in the interpreta-
ton of the doctrine of deserving Demo
Gratis" Mr.. Murphy applied it to Albany
conditions on behalf of his "boys.' Mr..
BRYAN has invoked il in Washington III
exactly the same spirit.
But Mr.. Murphy's action merely COM
mitted himself and his associates. Mr..
BRYAN established the doctrine among
the Wilson policies. What he did was
permitted 10 stand unchallenged. What
he said went unrebuked. The doctrine Of
deserving Democrats" now stands with
the shipping bill in the popular mind,
MIR. Wilson having accepted one at the
hands of his Secretary Of State, the other
from his Secretary Of the Treasury.
A quarrel between John J. Fitzgerald
and the Wilson administration on what
constitutes a deserving Democrat" does
not awaken acute public interest. Ideal
ism grown practical becomes indistin-
guishable from any other form of prac-
teal politics. When the New Freedom
gets on the bargain counter the old IN
difference of the public to patronage
brawling is sure to return.
1t is easier to mix oil with water than
idealism with patronage. Mr.. Murphy is
wiser than many Of his betters in being
consistent. He always leaves the ideal
ism out of the question.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04

mothers, they spent such long days in
nursing babies and cooking tremendous
meals, in making soap and tallow, spin
ming clothes and dosing patients that dur
ing all their lives they rarely got beyond
q walk of the spot which the stork chose
for them, and in which they loved, lived,
shaved and died.
Railroads and trolley cars were not
yet born ard stage coach rides were
for the comparatively opulent only Per-
haps, as Mrs. Miller did, if they lived as
near by as she, they walked their thirty
or more miles into New York City. for
girls could walk in those days as well as
cook and bear babies. They earned their
outings.
But Mrs. Miller before she died got
lift or two in the automobiles of neigh
bors. This completed the bridge of her
centuries.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
An Open Forum
SOLIclTUDE FOR Mr.. WHITMAN
Fear That Public Service Appointments
May XII His Future.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Il seems to me that possibly the
Governor does not appreciate what grave
Personal consequences. involving his politi-
cal prefermeut, depend upon his appoint
ments Of new PuOuc service COMMISSION
ers.
The papers have only limited at what has
almost been an open row in the legislative
inves tigatiEg committee.
More even than the Democratic members.
the Republican majority have been dis
satisfied with the action of counsel, the
Governors own selection. They assert that
counsel has been trying merely to get the
scalps" Of the present commissioners, with
out doing more Just enough 70 justify re-
n.ovals and TO warrant new appolnteeS.
They resent the fact that counse, mas so
limited his inquiries, that he should seem
so cocksure of his own appointment as
chairman 20 the reorganiZed board and thar
he should have so strong a pull as to be
abe 10 promise The present secretary Il tut
ure commls sioncrshlp.
These ere parlOus times for the HoV-
ernor. lie must ACCEPT full responsibility.
Through The success or failure Of his own
board Of Public Service Commissioners
the hardest Job in the state Governor
Whitman VIII politically survive or perish
in 1916.
10 man can faithfully serve the public
and the CORPORATIONS NJ the same time.
Every commissioner who heretofore mas
tried = nas failed; every commissioner VINO
hereafter r.s- try il will fail. The DANCER
is. nav. almos, the certainty. that some OF
the new commits toner's may a''c~ni we m
uosyiblc. with disastrous political conse-
Quencos TO their chief. -.-..,.
4 WHITMAN REPUBLICAN
Now York. Feb 2S. 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
THE PEOPI E'S COLUMN For Pu1le Debate

sentiment OF the best Americans. Having
thus stated my loyalty. may l write a few
words of protest:
When | sou hit to cut out the editora.
two weeks ago | found on the other side OF
the leac, and therefore to be preserved
with it. an article By an English woman
advocating what she termed marriage
novitiate" What does that rhrase mean
Is the sub ect one which ought to be dis
orr-oJ ~ loii- ~nu'-~"~0~ '" --h 81 m
young daughters have constant interest? Is
it night lor a .eaGn1 paLei 20 I've cur
rcncy to anything 50 subversive of ordinary
sentiments of decency and morality Does
free speech include obscenity? Shall the
advocacy of crime be right of free speech
Shall our open daily press introduce 70 nv
young daughters evil thoughts, expressed
never so enticingly?
However, | still have the editorial not
withstanding its disgusting background. |
hoce that a new light may reach you in
these matters, and also that you will be
ieve there are thousands of women who
may not write words of dissent but who
cordially agree with your correspondents.
at" on February 6; "Phebe Willets." on
February 10, and X. F. Burke, on Febru-
airy II. j. +. X I.
Berkeley, Cal, Feb. %, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
"Auntie" Is Out of Place.

To The Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Il is use ess 70 say that the eight
million women wage earners have crowded
men out o. their work. BY doing such
"women's work" as sewing weaving and
cooking in factories men have impe!ied
women to leave the home in search OF
something TO do.
The unmarried woman Of the so-called
middle class who allows her family TO sup
port her in dleness makes II difficult and
often impossible for them 20 marry and sup
Nort families Of their own. As for the uu-
married woman kept by vel -to-do Gam
lily. il is pitiful to see her fr.ttcring away
her time on bridge, poodle dogs or paltry
fancy work.
The noble work" of the "wcll beloved
auuties" as teachers and guides of their
own young people is for TIE most part a
beautiful dream. The young people are
taught in school, and generally refuse to De-
"gui ed" by "auntie' She s out of p ace
in the home of a married couple, and as d
non-producer she is worthless TO the COM
mUn:ty
If she is amused by the statement that in
order 70 make success OF life" the un-
married women must hire out for wages
Miss raymond has not had the experience
warranted by her years.
OF course. il is different with the married
woman. II she is too poor TO hire com.
pe.ent nurse she should but often is unable
to, spend her time with the children until
these are OLD enough for school Bat many
a mother is strangely incompetent to man.
age children. and # she IS weil-to-do she
might in reason hire a rurse before they
are Of schoo, age. herself doing work she
S better fitted for. She would BE- severely
censured for .eayirg . healthy child IN the
hands Of competent woman vet. oddly
enough. should the child become danger
ously i'll. no oce would charge her with
neglect o. duty" in hiring trained nurs,
10 care for IT, LINDA L. CONTENT.
New York, Feb %, 1918.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Exhibit of Alaska Pictures.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The officers of the American Geo
graphical Society have taken upon tnom.
selves the task of collecting photograph
and maps of Alaska. These are LOW dis
played IN their rooms, at Brosdway and
ij6th Street. Here is an opportunity for
New Workers and visitors to this city 20
learn in an agreeable and pleasant manner
a great deal about our vast Nor hives. pos
session. Teachers in our public and pri-
vate schools can conduct their classes there
and 50 enthuse them that the teaching OF
Alaskan geography will fade from d ia K o
pleasure. Readers Of The Tribune should
know Of his chance 70 see Alaska.
New York, March l, 1915. ]. G. B.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Injustice TO General Wood.

However unintentional it may have
been. there is no mistaking the fact that
a real injustice was done to Major Cen
eral Leonard Wood in the matter of the
American Legion of Reservists.
The position of an army officer at the
present moment is excessively difficult.
The situation in which a commanding of
ficer finds himself is wholly unenviable.
General Wood, like others Of his rank,
must reflect upon the possibility that any
moment the duty may devolve upon him
to defend New York City against attack.
That New York is indefensible by all
resources available or likely to be avail
able in time, he knows. Yet the knowl-
edge must not be communicated. The
terrible responsibility that may come
to him will have to be faced without any
chance of diminishing the odds or prepar-
ing for the catastrophe.
An army officer is highly trained ex-
pert. but unlike all other experts his live
lihood depends upon his suppressing his
own knowledge, information, experience,
during the period when it might be of
real value to his employers. AS if this
were not bad enough, he is, as the pres
ent instance indicates, liable to unjust
censure for That which he has not done,
when all his common sense and loyalty
impelled him to do it at all cost.
Is it the desire of the pacifist TO kill of
all trained soldiers in advance of any
possible hostilities?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Contrast in Journalists.

To che rt.-cr of he Tribune
Sir: There is great contrast between the
fearless Richard Harding Davis and other
Journalist Tho shut their eyes 70 the truth
and = used 20 see anything in a French sol
der other thar MS old-is hioned uniform AID
ignored everything in Turco but ms dirty
tIouser,. 81. honor 20 tn.s brave Amer ca"
who did not pu, himself IN the way OF be
ing uat.ed Oh re back a he Kaiser
guest" ard who is ready 20 bear witness
against Gelmany's false statements. II Is
20 be hoped mat he and the o,her brave
men with m m Rheims have placed their
worn statement on record. '. ). L.
Vow YolN March /. 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
German Concessions.

The tone of the German answer to the
American note leaves nothing to be de-
sired. The body of the document itself,
if it makes few real concessions, none or
them unconditional, does leave the way
open for further discussion. If nothing
is settled, nothing is placed beyond the
realm of diplomatic possibility.
Yet no American can entertain the sug-
gestion that unless the American govern
ment persuades the British TO refrain
from using our.fag or arming their mer-
chant ships for operation against suDma-
rines Germany must exercise the PRIV
ilege of disregarding not merely interna-
tional usage but ordinary humanitarian
precept and sending neutral ships and
crews to the bottom.
We shall deal with Great Britain and
France on the one hand and Germany on
the other without the smallest surrender
Of our own rights which are not condi-
tional upon their relations with each
other. We shall not consent to the IN
terrupton of our legitimate commerce IN
non-contIaband because Germany has re-
fused to alb de by international law IN
dealing with her enemies. We SHALL not
patiently suffer the sinking Of American
ships by German submarines because
England has violated international usage
in her war for the Allies.
Already THE Manchester Guardian
has courageously and intelligently voiced
a sound view of the proper course Of
England toward the neutral nations. 1t
is not too much to hope this view viii
gain ground in the next few days IN Eng
land and in France.
The German note, both in tone and
temper, holds out the promise Of real con-
cessions hereafter on the German part.
But neither the Germans nor the Amerl-
cans should misunderstood the nature OF
the concessions. They are not gifts, spe-
cial privileges, unusual fayors. They are
simply the restoration of our own rights,
which the Germans have presumed to
take from US. Similar concessions from
the British there must also be.
Europe should not forget that the
United States fought ono war for the
freedom of the seas. The century that
lies between the War of 1912 and the
present hour has not made US less jeal-
Gus of our own rights, less careful Of
our own honor. When we were weak,
helpless, barely entering upon our ma
tional existence, we dared to brave all,
that our commercial life might not be at
the mercy Of European rivals. There Is
not a feathers weight of jingoism, Of
chauvinism. in this country to-day. But
it is equally true that there IS not the
least readiness to surrender rights for
which our ancestors fought, suffered and
died a century ago.
1t is too much to expect that English
men or Germans in the present hour will
see things through our eyes. But 1t Is
appropriate and necessary to remind
them that we shall not see them through
theirs, or look at them with eyes blinded
bv partially to any belligerent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
WHERE The DEMOCRATS ERRED
Failed to Charge immediate Appropriations
Against 1915.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The statement gwen GU. BY Sena-
tor Warner and As CmO.yman Smith in re-
gard 20 state finances is incorrect. They
say there was surplus" il the treasury
October l. 1914. of S8,5l7,733, and eStI-
mate the revenue for The current fiscal year
at SAB $50 making a to al OF $5-.ool ia.
So far this corresponds with the figures in
the Controllers report. They then say
that the total appropriations for the year
1915. including the sinking fund are $751;
e536S7. THIS is correct only 80 Tar as 1t
refers to appropriations for the current
fiscal year They continue: The Governor
increases this figure by S9,9i5o4O, but ne
includes therein items Of the supply Dill
which were Immediately available from and
were paid out of the finances Of 1914, and
therefore are not charGeab!e to this year
Here is the point at which they fall INTO
error. The Controllers accOun 5 are kept
by fiscal years and with each Legislature
The supply DILL and all special appropra-
ton bills passed by the Leg stature OF 1914
are charged against this fiscal year, as
matter of bookkeeping The Surplus" OF
s.. 500 900 above alluded to IS mere book
keeping balance. and is made before deduct
ing the supply and other appropriation bills.
The actual cash on hand, however, may be
larger than this adjusted surplus because
certain appropriations, while due, are not
actually paid off at the date when the books
clOse.)
So. their estimate of Sl4OOO,OOO probably
available on October 1. 1915. must be re-
duced by the supply and other bills OF last
year and will be only S4.9Sl, FOG.
This latter item is the Controllers esti-
mate and is shown plainly in his annual
report for 1915 at the foot of page T.
OF course. even that smaller amount Is
only an estimate and will be reduced by
o,, falling off in the SOeclal taxes.
A. C. PLEYDELL.
Secretary New York Tax Reform Asso-
citation
Nm. V,rL. Nfarch 1918
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04

not have been true to itself If 1t had
not spent in other ways from S5O,O0O,oOo
to 500 5000 more than it was found
necessary to spend thanks to system
of careful cooperation between the eX-
ccutive and the legislative depart entD
at either session of the last Congress
which the Republicans controlled.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
From an Old Subscriber.

To ne Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Like your contr butor, K. F. Burke.
OF Trenton. vas 5roush. Ip on The Tr.D-
une w father subscribed for il from me
trst and I. on becoming q householder. an
exiled New Yorker, have directed il 10
follow me 20 California, that its homelike
face may keep OF homes.ckuess. Moreover.
: have kept nearly every editorial since the
beginning Of the war as 4 history Of the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Interstate Trade in Game.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: | am sending you a copy of the
Machold bill. The object Of this bill is TO
permit game farmers in other states TO sell
the food they produce in New York II is
absurd. Of course, TO say that farmers in
ad accent states cannot sell the food they
produce in New York.
believe you will perform a great public
service Il you will discuss this matter
JOHN c. HUNTINGTON.
New York. Feb %. l9l5
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
Correct Ecolesias,ical Terminology.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In the interest Of good English.
which the general public looks 20 the Press
to protect L seems advisable thar our news.
papers n describing for Instance. the ar
fairs OF the Roman Church should use rs
legal title viz. the Roman Catholic"
Church. The name Catholic is borne bv
many religious bodies, although the Greek
Catholic Church IS considered TO have the
prior right TO this title. Jerusalem being
the Mother Church OF h"lstenorrl
DOUGLAS MERRITT.
Rhinebeck. y. Y. March |. l9Is
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-04
MIR. Adams Articles.

To the Editor # The Tribune
Sir: The first things read in The Trib-
INC when they appear are Mr.. Adams's ar
ticies on honest advertising. They ought
% be read By every person in the United
States. and some get-rich-qulcA fskere
might have - get out OF business am
glad he got after Mitchell the Tailor" anC
Richie x Cornell
GEORGE t. NELSON.
New York, Feb. IS. 1915.