davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
Life Preserver Tradition.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Would it not be advisable for pas
senger-carrying vessels to hold a life-pre-
server drill among their passengers within a
short time of leaving harbor? The drill not
to be thought of as special preparation for
either icebergs or torpedoes, but as part Of
the routine of life at sea.
Recent occurrences have but too well de-
monstratcd how slow passengers are about
finding their allotted life-preseryers when
they need them, and when they do get them
Or deprive others of them, how helpless they
are about adjusting them. Whatever people
have TO do for the first time they are apt
10 be incompetent about and slow.
But in fetching and putting on life-pre-
servers they are slow, too, for another rea-
feels about going to the doctor-the mere
going is an admission OF the illness he has
been denying Putting on a life-preserver
is a recognition of danger, danger people
won't exaggerate, they say, meaning they
won't face.
If putting on a life-preseryer were not
thought of as last resort there would be
less sentimentality against it. Used to a
life-preserver drill ocean passengers and in
time people on lesser cruises, too-wculd
cease to be afraid Of being afraid. In the
matter of life-preservers at least fear OF
fear is entirely too high priced a sentimen-
tally. ELSIE CLEWS PARSONS.
LenoX, Mass, July -, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
NEWSPAPER STANDARDS
Much Praise and Some Criticism
from Tribune Reader.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Tribune is good paper; think
the best morning paper in New York. read
it every day, and from what can see in the
cars its circulation must be growing. But
The Tribune has an honored name and tradi-
tions second to no paper in the United States,
and so it seems TO me 1t assumes obligations
to do things that make only for higher ideals
in journalism and in every other walk of life
The liberality and progressvness OF its
policy in giving the public the work oil
Smonds, F. P. A., Briggs, Rice and all the
others who make its columns a daily treat
must endear it to its readers, and the cam
paign for decency in advertising that IT con-
ducts through Mr. Adams is inspiring.
But why, oh, why, does a paper that has
so much good in it sink to the level of the
cheapest yellows by flooding its columns WITT
the disgusting sensationalism of the Thaw
case? Mr. Adams frequently uses the deadly
parallel in his criticisms of the Hearst papers
for the inconsistency of their condemnation
of drug and other takers in their editorial
columns and taking the money OF similar
takers in their advertising columns, and the
same criticism can justly be made OF The
Tribune in printing a clever cartoon ana d
line or two showing the public's WEAKNESS OF
the Thaw case on its editorial page and then
devoting many columns of space and two big
pictures to the same case on its news pages.
| know that the function OF a newspaper Is
to print news and that the Thaw case is
news, but surely The Tribune's readers would
be well satisfied with a brief resume of the
news Of the case. The Tribune surely cannot
feel that its readers are interested in pct
ure of Mr.. Thaw eating watermelon, and II
by any chance some of them are interested
in the mawkish details of this tawdry mess
a paper that can run an editorial like ION
Bastile Day" ought to be glad of the chance
it has to give the public decent things to
think of and discourage whatever popular IN
terest there may be in such news.
1t must be possible, it seems to me, for the
same ideals to dominate both the editorial!
and the news pages. The Tribune has set
its standard high, and its readers will back
it up if it keeps that standard high in every
line it prints EUGENE D. ,. MUSES.
New York, July II, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
Not Impartial.
or of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | am an oldtime Republican and
reader of The Tribune since the days of
Horace Greeley, but must confess that al
though | like your paper best among all
am beginning TO lose my admiration for il
because your headlines on the first page are.
in my opinion, unfair, not neutral and they
do not reflect the true American spirit in
the struggle now going on in Europe. They
are biasScd in favor Of the Allies and show
decided animosity toward the Germans, which
J consider un-Americsn.
"lmpartiality' is the slogan Of the Ameri-
can people which should be religiously main
taiacd by leading newspaper like The 1r.o-
une. The personal feelings OF the men who
write headlines, etc, must not enter into the
news items Of well conducted. fair and i'm
partial newspaper which cares for its reputa-
ton and standing. Readers want reliable.
clear and unauthorized news. and care moth
ing for the private opinion Of the news
writer's. II their items are unfair or unrelia-
bic it will hurt the paper sooner or later.
You are greatly mistaken if you believe that
all native Americans are satisfied with the
one-sided news items and headlines The Trib-
une has been printing for some time past
j. ROCKHILL.
Pine Hill, n. Y, July u, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
MIR. James's Threatened Detection.

From the opening days Of the war those
persons most put out by the policy OF
neutrality which the United States has
sought to maintain have been not French
men nor EngliShmen, nor even Germans,
but Americans resident abroad. Mr.. Henry
James may share their Indignation, but
the report that it has impelled him to the
point of renouncing his citizenship and
becoming an English subject will occasion
some surprise. Mr.. James seems hardly
one to act thus impulsively unless-and
this is perhaps not unlikely-the Ameri-
can failure to protest against German
atrocities in Flanders and France has
come in the nature of last straw to a
man so passionately fond of the mother
country.
But only this spring the distinguished
novelist, as chairman Of the American
Volunteer Motor Ambulance Corps, sub
mitted to interviews, in which he indicated
a pride in the generous, quick and emil
nently efficient response his countrymen
had made to the opportunity for humane
service on the Continent. eve Ameri-
cans" said he, "are as little neutral as
possible where any aptitude for any ac-
ton. of whatever kind, that affirms life
and freshly and inventively eXemplifes 1t,
instead of overwhelming and undermining
it, is concerned" A very pretty little
compliment, indeed, phrased in the best
Jacobean manner. And Americans have
not abated a jot their indulgence in this
type of Immortality, while approaching
ever nearer the point of abandoning neu-
trality of every sort.
Can't Mr.. James be persuaded at least
to await the outcome of our present nego-
tiations with Germany? His countrymen
would regret to see the bond of citizen
ship still binding him to them snapped.
As one of their few distinguished men OF
letters remaining in a material age, how
ever incorrigible an expatriate, they cling
TO him as Europe does to her old masters
lured by American gold. And in this
fateful hour of history they need him and
need him sadly. For, wofully unprepared
as they are to match the Germans in sub
marines and heavy ordnance should war
result, their lack of cultural artillery
seems even more scandalous. When Ger
man professors open upon US with the
names and works of German philoso-
pliers. historians and assorted intellects
to prove our unftness to survive, how
crippled will be our response without
Henry James, each of whose later books
should be able to paralyze regiment!
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
UNITED STATES OF EUROPE
IT'S Formation Should Be Urged by
America.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The great difficulty in securing peace
between the warning nations in Europe is
probably due to the impossibiity of read
justing the map satisfactorily to all con-
ccrned and to the disagreement about in
IDENTITIES. It seems, therefore, advisable to
eliminate all those knotty questions for the
present and start peace negotiations with
view to benefting each and all of the bel
ligerents.
Although this tremendous struggle has con-
tnued a year, no one can foretell with any
certainty what the final result will be if
the war should be prolonged. except the com
plete exhaustion if not the destruction Of all
the warning nations. To prevent such a ca
lamity it would surely be opportune at this
time for neutral power to step in and call
q halt by suggesting peace on such conditions
as all parties concerned could honOrably ac-
cept.
II would certainly be very appropriate for
The United States government 20 invite 2
world congress TO meet IN Washington a.
soon as possible to consider the possibilities
of forming common basis for further ne
gotiations with a view of ultimately forming
union &C an the European nations undo,
a federal government, with Switzerland as
its capital.
Such a move could not be considered in
oppOrtune or offensive to any nation, but
would IN all probability be conducive to bene-
fetal results, because the people Of the war
ring nations are fairly tired of the war and
would be only too glad to see it terminated
in a way that would not be too injurious and
humliating to the national pride
This country should be the first to move
for the creation Of the United States Of
Europe" and thereby save what remains Of
that great part of the worlds most intelli-
gent and industrious people which is now
facing humiliation.
Naturally the plan of a union of European
countries will not 1t first receive approval
from certain quarters, but when the situation
is fully comprehended by the people as a
whole it will be found that this plan will be
accepted as the most sensible and the only
one which would result in disarmament and
permanent peace, with returning prosperity,
and at the same time make no further use
for scraps Of paper"
IL certainly Is proper time now to stop the
confagrati0n before it spreads all over the
world FRITZ NORRBY.
Morristown, y. j., July Is, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
Praise Italy, Too!
New York, July 16, 1915.
iitor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial of a few days ago, "On
Bastile Day" is admirable. No question that
France has freed the world of Teutonic OPP
preston and benefited mankind in this war.
Bat want to call your attention TO the fact
that well written editorial on what Italy
has done for the world would be timely and
appropriate.
VIII you tell me, please, where France
would be if she had had to mass an army Of
two million on the Italian frontier II Italy
sided with her enemies? Could she have
withstood the German and Italian drive
Where would the world be had Italy not b7ea
wise to hat Germany was aiming at?
Austria. from The very beginning, as we all
know, has kept constantly an army of about
three hundred thousand nicn on the lt1lian
frontier That army could have been utilized
also against France, and the German dream
of world dominion realized. Therefore, It
IS 70 more than fair to give not only France
credit for what she has withstood but also
Italy. her Latin sister, which has also con-
tributed to the war of liberation.
New York, July II, 1915. V. CALCAGNO.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
The Nationality Of the Alps.

tFrou The Westminster Gd-cNc)
TIE announcement from Milan that the ltal-
ans have succeeded in mounting heavy siege
Guns on the summit Of Mount Baldo, in the
Carrie Alps, which commands several i'm
portant fortified positions in Austria. is q
reminder that the war area now includes the
greatest Of the mountain systems Of Europe
and one where the frontiers Of four nations
Trance, Switzerland Italy and Austria run
coterminous. Some Of the highest peaks Of
the Alps are so situated that it is a matter
Of extreme difficulty TO decide to which coun-
r. they belong, and the ownership of the
summit Of Mont Blanc has for many years
been disputed by France and Italy. The own
ership of any part Of the Matterhorn depends
On the operation of the law of grayitation.
& water poured on the summit runs southeast
toward the Adriatc that part Of the summit
5 in Italy, but should it take a southwesterly
course toward the 'MedIterranean, then it Is
accepted it began its journey on Swiss soil.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
A Fair Suggestion.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: A mans idea of life from his earliest
school days, is to settle all his difficulties
by force. A woman's idea, from the time
bad boys first begin to tease her, is to con-
qUer her troubles by thoughtful arrange
ment.
Women are expert in getting the things
they want out of life without using main
force. This is one reason why war seems 20
them so abhorrenty useless. Let the war
advocates remember that the majority of the
people in America are women and children
If men bring on war II is the women and
children who are going TO suffer far more
than men. If the men in our government
cannot settle this trouble with Germany
without resorting to arms it is because they
need a woman in Office to teach them how.
he women and children of this country need
a government that will protect them from
war, not one that will let this nation fall
Ito the worst calamity that could possibly
come 10 us.
A representative government needs to rep
resent womans mentality as well as mans
especially women know how best TO repre-
sent the children NJ. VI.
Scranton, Penn July u, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
German Cailousness.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: 1t has occurred to me lately as some
sort Of an explanation of the inhumanity OF
the Germans that the rank and file, born with
tie same impulses as other men. one would
suppose, have been 80 diligently instructed
20 suppress natural human feelings that they
nave so given up all will Of their own 20 the
viii of their ruler. that they have ceased 70
be like free men Of free countries, and in be-
coming parts Of a machine have lost human
feeling have become altogether callous in the
infliction OF suffering. Things which a year
ago We should have thought incredible they
have done in perfect cold blood. A war core
spondent, writing of the minute care taken
Of the soldiers to keep them fl TO fight, says:
His feet do not belong 10 the man, they be-
lcng to the Kaiser" And not only his body.
hut his mind and his heart; he thinks what
he is told to think, and to feel-or cease to
feel-as he has been ordered 10.
AN AMERICAN WOMAN.
> Woodmount, Conn, July -. 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19

country is not trying TO instruct the Presl-
dent of the United States how to run his OF
flee or issuing warnings" to United States
citizens; they are not organizing fake ueu-
trality societies or fake peace societies to
embarrass the government they swore to up
hold, and up to date the United States gov
eminent has not had to seize a Brltish-cOn-
trolled wireless plant because Of continued
and impudent defiance of United States cfh-
Gals. As to the conduct of British-born
Americans in case of war, it isn't likely
they'll hop over the border so fast T.. tn
ing will suit them better than to stay right
here and keep an eye on below grade types Of
American citizens represented by the likes Of
Down East IF he is One). W. TANCRED.
New York, July Q, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
Largest Fish Landed with a Rod.

From TIE Dundee Adrcrtiscr)
That tuna, weighing no pounds, which was
captured by an English angler in Nova Scotia
after nine hours fight, and which must
surely be the heaviest fish ever landed with
rod is tn funny that occasionally visits
the coast Of Cornwall As an article of food
the belly portion is extremely good when
fresh, and the rest of the carcass, which looks
like beef can be seen for sale, sailed in most
Mediterranean towns. Strange to say, though
highly priced in Europe since the time Of
Herodotus, these gigantic horse-mackerel are
seldom eaten in the United States or Canada.
They are sometimes caught there for tie sake
Of the oil, and the sport is quite exciting, be-
cause the monsters when hooked endanger
the lives of the fishermen by dragging them
overheard
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
Music to Him.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your paper is getting more and more
interesting Your daily editorials on the war
since the Fourth of July have been written
by master mind; too bad they are not
signed. Your previous leaders were just as
high spirited, but not so numerous. Many OF
them | send to friends here and abroad
cut out "On Bastile Day" and mailed it with
a letter to France. to be published in papers
there When reading this article | imagined
heard the strains of the patriotic hymns OF
the French Revolution: par la voix du canon
d'alarme," ga ira" and LA Marseillaise,"
though this came out after the Bastile days.
How inspiring! thank you for giving your
readers such high-souled leaders. | hope they
will appear some day in book form a
monument to The Trbune's patriotism and
fair-mindedness, as opposed to barbarism,
vandalism and despotism in this calamity
started by the German war party.
YOUR CONSTANT AND APPRECIATlVE
READER.
New York, July 16, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
guiding principle and explanation OF his
conduct to this day, for he adds;

guiding principle and explanation OF his
conduct to this day, for he adds
We, the descendants of all nations of the
world. feel to-day better than ever that to be
American means to be cosmopolitan. Ana
while we rage against this nation or that
nation we forget above all the most vital
thing in life: good taste. We, who are
brother citizens of the descendants OF all
nations, cannot, now or ever in the future
speak i'll of any nation without hurting the
feelings of a descendant of that nation VINO
breathes our American air and who may be
sitting at our table.
This sensitiveness to an old allegiance
and the ideal of American citizenship to
which it gives rise in this instance form
an interesting human document But
though they may possibly explain the
hyphen, they do not excuse it. True
Americanism is of sterner brand than
the polite cosmopolitanism of which Mr..
Bruno speaks, else our forefathers would
never have turned upon their prince to
wrest from him with the sword the orpor-
tunity for cosmopolitan development so
much admired 1t includes hair trigger
resentment at the slightest hint of aggres-
sion or meddlesomeness from no matter
what foreign quarter. 1t ignores origins
and princes. 1t recognizes only one set
of institutions, one country.
Hard as Mr.. Bruno's ordeal was, he
seems not yet to have become full-fedged
American. Let him try again!
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
How About Rosenthaps Wife?

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; We see so much in the papers these
days Of the extraordinar1 efforts being
made to save Becker from the chair and of
the great pity for his Wife
What about RosenthaPs wife? Was eny
pity shown her, or anybody else By Becker?
Have not the four miserable gunner been
put to death? They were Becker's tools. to
do the work he would not 90 himself.
Way should any pity be shown Becker ?
lie is only getting what he justly deserves.
Was any effort made to save the gardener
who was put to death last week for killing
his brother-in-law? Let justice be done
MRS. W. T. BROUN.
New York, July IL, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
No British Americans.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: The letter of your CORES pendent
Down East in this mornings Tribune
people to rush into print tskuking behind
anonymous names) with such an utter Igno-
rance of their subject. Down East" de-
ciarcs that Brtons don't become naturaiized.
If ne will take the United States Government
Census for 1910 he will find the percentage
OF naturalization Of white males of foreign
birth a. follows: Germany, $50; United
Kingdom. 63.5 divided thus England. 59.4:
ireland. 6I.S; Scotland, Sos; Wales, G92).
To an unprejudiced mind this ought TO
suggest that it is the German, having escaped
from the influence of goose-step and divine
right Kutur, who is lacking in apprec citation
Of the Liberties he enjoys in the United
States. For it would be interesting to have
Down East tell US what the Brltlsher
stands to gain substantially in political
way by changing his citizenship. And the
very fact that one never hears of British
Americans is proof positive that they are
true 70 their oath and that when they be-
come American citizens they are Americans
At least there are none Of them serving
time in Atlanta Pententary for passport
frauds on the government they swore 10 up
hold; none OF them arc under indicLmen, for
issuing fake manifests in defiance Of The
government they swore 70 uphold; none of
them are under indictment for perjury in
trying 20 Justify the assassination Of Ameri-
can women and children on the high geas.
none of them are engaged in the smelly bust
ness of conducting fake ship transfers in or
der TO embarrass the government they swore
to uphold; the ambassador of their former
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
Stand by the President. y

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your stand by the President" has
the spirit of 1861.
We will! 4 Lincoln Republican says So
and a recent visit in Delaware County con-
firms me in my view. The Republicans there
know no party, and have as much confidence
in and intention to support Mr.. Wilson as If
he was a Lincoln.
Our seaboard cities impress US as being
conglomerate. but even here when liberty is
assai!ed | am sure our confidence in Ameri-
canism will be gratfed. II. B SMITH
New York, July IS, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
For a Police Hero.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir ALLOW me 10 express my hearty aP'
proyal Of the article pertaining to the po-
lice hero, crippled for life, which was PRINT
ed in Tuesdays issue of The Tribune.
II you are getting up petition in his De-
half, you have my consent to afix my sis-
nature to it, as | think he is entitled 70
some consideration from the Police Depart
ment after the noble way he has done ms
duty. MORRIS LEVY
Brooklyn, July IA, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19
No Official Blockades.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Would you kindly publish in your
valuable columns the exact dates OF the ION.
cia" bockades declared by England ana
Germany? Hoping you will publish this val
uat!e information, | am {. K. B.
New York, July -, 1915.
The British communiqu6 closing the
North Sea was issued on November ?. Inc
waters about the British Isles have been
treated by the German Admiralty as wax
zone since February lS.-Ed.l
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-19

condition with gun already in position
and ready for action, but apparently in
this case the gun had to be brought up
and mounted. The delay was fortunate
and the superior speed of the 0rduna,
with the pluck and presence of mind of
the captain and crew, insured her escape.