davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
FRIVOLITY OF PEDAGOGUES.
is Bad Spelling In the Schools Due TO
Teachers Lack Of Earnestness?

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In
the current number OF a certain mag
zine an instructor in the State normal
school at Lacrosse. wis, bewails tho
ignorance which abounds among the
youth In the elementary schools OF his
State. He writes mo young man or
woman who is unfamiliar with the die
tlOnary can Justly claim a place among
the educated" During an examination
of 1875 high school graduates a mere
handful showed that they had received
any training in the proper use OF the
dictionary, and througH out the entire
body the averages were disgraceful.
Deplor!rg this lack or knowledge
among his pupils, the Instructor lays
the blame on the teachers In elementary
sChouls lie suggests that every
teacher should fImiliarize himself with
the dictionary in his school"
What /, and probably others, would
like to know is whether the critics
implication is justified by the facts. the
implication that the teachers ignorance
vi the contents and use Of the book
which. next To the Bible. has the largest
circulation In these United States, con-
tributes damaging evidence as tn what
tire teachers life must he outside Of
school hours. Are teachers frivolous?
NEW York. September 3. DEEPER.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
Unscrcwlng the InscrutabIe.

From International Marine EHgjHrerirg.
The bungliug efforts of the Admins
trat!on at Washington to build up tho
American merchant marine in the for
eign trade remind us Of the story of
the oolored preacher who asked close at
teution of his hearers TO the sermon
he Mas about to deliver, as he was
going to divide the indivislble. men
ton the uncomfortable and unscrew
tie inscrutablc," Deadly handicaps
have been put on the operating OF
vessels In the foreign trade by tho pres
ent Administration apparently for IL.
purpose OF preventing private capital
going into this branch OF shipping Then
because private capital will not make
Investments Of this kind the Admins
tration brings out again the horrible
nightmare of Government ownership.
The last session Of Congress. which
Nad a very large majority vote in favor
Of tho Administration, was decidedly
opposed to Government ownership. and
since Congress adjourned the Chamber
Of Commerce OF the United States has
voted on this subject. and by more
than eight TO one expressed opposition
to This form Of government.
We wish the Administration snlendld
failure in its attempt to "unscrcw the
inscrutahle."
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

full grown. The ape 10 q memagerle
unbarred. The reward for capture,
ut first 800, Is now $1,000; unearncl
increment beyond the dreams accrcd.
tied to New York, shudderingly adj
mired though the far metropolis Is
for greed and grasp.
What of the impossible, eve OF
the wonderful, would there be in the
at~-largeness Of an ape In an island
where by the hundred ships go up and
down through the fair deep waterway
at the no'the, with strange cargoes
from every port? sympathy Is the
worse than he causes. Rapt from his
native haunts, where he cared for
himself with admirable efficiency, a
simple child of nature, tanned and
grown by custom dependent on the
care OF his captor, he cannot In so
few days have reverted to the barba-
rism OF his forgotten jungle. If he
steals eggs we do not doubt he IL a
trembling plunderer of the nest. While
Woods Hole or Holl cries to Guilty
hunk and Tarpaulin Light on Nau.
shon winks at Nobsky Light on the
Cape, the stray simian cannot en-
JOY. because he cannot know, the
stir he makes from West Chop to
Chilmark, from Makonikey Head to
Cedar Tree Neck. from Cay Head to
Squibnocket: the panic of the Tis-
burics. How can he know the respect.
full fear that dwells in the hearts Of
those who with bait n a peanut bag
and the suaslon OF a dog collar AMI
chain might easily lead him 10 n com.
Portable home and themselves to a full
purse and glory?
May we venture to suggest, no
litcly but earnestly. TO the newspaper
men of New Bedford and b ston that
they seem to be in fundamental error
IN their treatment OF the news from
the Vineyard? They have talked with
the wrong parties, got the story by
its tail. Let us have an Interview
with the APE!
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
New Engla nd's Burden.

These mournful words came from
the lips of Senator HENRY +. LIPpITT
Of Rhode Island. addressing the Prov
idence Republican committee after
the bake had been opened:
There Is a great prejudice against
New England in many parts Of the
country"
The debtor against the creditor:
the lngralned distrust of the Dor
rover for the lender; Il natural, in
evitable fruit of that canny forchand-
einess that from time out of mind
has been cherished ami held in honor
Down East. Were New England not
80 prosperous, did her sons and
daughters not 81 thoroughly under.
stand and 30 consistently practise the
art Of accumulation, the Rhode Island
statesman would not have such a con-
plant to utter. Alas! nobody except
his heirs respects the constant self
denials of thrifty man.
Moreover, we can see no immediate
hope for a revision of the sentiment
that New England. Beyond
Its borders, where Is the homely vlr.
tue of economy held In esteem? The
spender, not the saver. commands re
spect TO lay up for a rainy day is
the most contemplate OF offences
To be in debt constitutes the real dis
tinction; individuals pride themselves
on what they owe, communities boast
Of their obligations. Yet New Eng
land, impcrvious TO the modern e
ample, teaches her children to lay
aside. to skimp, If need be, on the
Injuries, that they may have money
out on bond and mortgage. There
pleasure Is still found in modest and
inexpensive rccreations; a laundering
devil wagon that strains the bank nc
count Is not necessary TO the simple
life. Bad habits of an earlier day
die hard; the New England pocket
book is tight strapped; reason enough
for enlightened rage against her.
We have deplored New England
for years. She lacks utterly the vir-
tues of ~progressi veness. She contln.
ues to bank for us, and with enraging
regularity, TO collect her interest. She
remains ''closern the bark to n tree
%modernly, a tight wad." Does Sen.
ator LIPPITT conceive that she n win
the affection of the spendthrift who Is
not put down for a fat legacy?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
Tranquil Joe Returns.

The Hon. JosEPu WELDON BAILEY.
chief of the Texas reslguatlonists.
master of the u~rbanities. and historic
foe of the splkctail coat, brings Joy
at the end OF a wet summer by re.
turning TO the quest for office. a can
dldate for the Senate from the Lone
Star State. lie Is an omen Of peace
and an apostle Of placidity his Ievo-
ton to his high duties as .|innitor Of
the Constitution Il never he sufii-
clcntly praised his calm and restraint
restore again confidence in our threat
ened institutions.
Should the direct election of Sena-
tors confer his presence In the smaller
chamber at Washington Un n nation
too long deprived Of his guiding hand
and temperate counsel, how com.
pletely vinaicatch. how thoroughly
justified would be the Seventeenth
Amendment, Therein would lie It's
ample justification and excuse. But
n troubling thought intrudes: Old
habit still working within him. may
not Tranquil JOE forget his benign
purpose and quit before his merciful
errand Is well begun?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
MISS RETTOP'S LIFE WORK.
First Signs Of Sectional JEALOUSY In
the Editorial Improvement Society.

To the EDITOR OF THE SUH-Sir: At
times consideration OF the immtnsity OF
the task confronting the Editorial I'm
proyement Society makes 1t seem i'm
possible OF accomplishment, yet VIC few
chosen workers in the vineyard may
neither faint nor grow weary in our
self-eiected task Of editorial and re-
portorial upliftmcnt. OF our faithful
little army Miss Rettop has been def
nitcly assigned. and her efforts will be
confined to New York and its environs
In general. and to polishing up THE
sun In particular. Yet outside hcr
field. In what are known to us as the
provinces the work Is decidedly more
strenuous and v~oluminous. and We to
whom tnat vaster field has been devised
for sundry efforts for the elimination Of
slang and the e"xpurgation of cuss words.
are sadly o~verwOrked both because Of a
lack Of lIborers In our beloved society
and the fact that the editors of the West
and South seem to be OF n much lower
type than those assigned to the solicit
tous care Of Miss Rettop.
one OF the most fagrant instances
Of the use OF improper words in editorial
writing which have come 20 the notice
Of our society was tie recent outbreak
Of the rcvcred Marse Henry Wdtterson
III A"t Niit NV ''' fN's 4 lh7
painful duty OF PROTESTING a~galns, his
choice OF heated words nsiguing the
entire German nation to . leglou popu-
larly supposed to he one of great warmth
fell to my unhappy lot. but ! trust |
failed not in my duty and that on his
part no such lapse will occur again.
For reasons which will be plainly evil
dent 10 those under whose shocked eyes
the editorial referred to fell l refrain
from quoting Colonel Wattersnn's exact
words. trey being totally Incompatible
with anything our society could sane
ton. The duty which fell to me Was
dOubly painful a when a small boy
| used to sell the COuriCr-jotpudl. and
therefore my necessary words OF enid
ing hurt me much more than they other
wise would rave done. Needless to say
my pain while In loco parents was
worse than that experienced by Marsc
Henry.
me Miss i,ettop has written tu tho ne
loved president OF our society asking
for the present address OF Mr.. George
Elliott. II Is thought possibly a letter
OF protest will be sent direct regarding
the original publication OF the offensive
pharse. the defence Of which by MIR
Townsend called forth Miss Rettop's
de~nunciation. II MIR Townsend were TO
lisp in numbers" no doubt he would
express his ideas by explaining
There was once a writer. George Ell
lott. ~ whose words one might tel
Those who quibble
That the phrase "fsh ka hihh'e"
Means almost tho same as wat - 'e'v''
Y~spAppAppES PENKAwR.
NEW HAVEN, Conn, september 4
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

the enemy, indicates that the envelop-
Ing and capture Of the main body Of
the Grand Dukes forces II the real
purpose Of the General staff.
But whatever the German plan OF
campaign is 1t cannot be halted, nor
apparently a the Russians be saved
from further defeat and humiliation.
unless s%trateglcal operations by the
western Allies in other fields are at
tempted and prove successful. The
Germans, Of course, understand this as
well as the Allies. 1t may therefore
be said that the present is the mos.
pregnant and dramatic stage Of the
war. What can the western Allies
do to relieve the terrific strain upon
the Russians In their own territory,
before which they bend and may
break? For nearly three months
France and Great Britain have had
no success on the western front that
has been of any service s~trategically
to the Russians ousted from Galicia
and now being driven back from one
line Of defence to another.
Something must be attempted by
the western Allies on n great scale Of
initiative and sacrifice. or the common
cause will be in grave peril and Rus
sian confidence In their good faith
may be forfeited. Does the almost
continuous artillery fire reported from
the French and British lines on the
western front portend the resump.
ton Of the long delayed offensive by
the western Allies? Six months ago
Mr.. WINSTON CHURCHILL said that a
million British soldiers had been fer.
ried across the Channel, and lately
there have been stories that as many
ms ten thousand a day were being
landed In France.
The western Allies doubtless have
men enough for a grand offensive.
But have they the howitzers and OK.
ploslves to prepare the way for an
advance upon a salient Of the enc
my's position? They, like the Ger
mans in Poland. must take advantage
Of the weather, and It seems to be
now or this year for the long
promised offensive by France and
England. Strateglcally the situation
is Of supreme interest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

the Boy Scouts system. Later" he
says, "the training of young men at
college can be developed by the man.
unl Of arms, marching, camping and
camp cooking, pontoon building, wire
less plants, aviation, &C." But in one
form or another military exercises
should he made a part of the school
and college course throughout the
country. Like President HIBBEN OF
Princeton, DR.. HOWE would like to
see Government camps for college
men the rule and not the exception.
He asserts-and no one will dispute
hlm-that III military education were
at once adopted in the high schools
and colleges only, the young men
there would begin. within one year,
TO show the great advantages Of such
training"
IL not for the sake of the national
defence, then for the better health Of
coming generations. try military edu-
cation, is the appeal of Dr. HowE.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
A Critical stage Of the War.

Strategy in the war in Europe Is on
a scale without a parallel in the his
tory OF warfare. This results from
the fact that 1t Is a war of extraor-
binary distances not only along the
lines OF battle but between the fronts
EAST to west where armies are crap
pling with each other. The western
front in France Is more than 300
miles long. From the western front
in France to the Dwina, where vow
HINDENBURG Is fighting to enyelop the
right flank of the Russian army COM
manded by RUssKY of Iemberg fame,
the distance as the crow flies is 900
miles; from the Dwina To the Gal
lipoli peninsula, where Anglo French
armies are hammering ut the Turks
with Constantinople as the objective,
the distance is so miles: while 100
miles separate the Anglo-French in
trenchnents in GallipOli from the
Isonzo, where the Italians are en-
gaged against the Austrlans In an at
tempt to capture Trieste.
A great victory on the western, the
Russian or the Turkish front by
either side would materially affect the
Conduct of the war: a signal triumph
by either the Austrians or the Ital-
fms In the Isonzo region would be Of
minor Importance. But the situation
is such on the western, the Russian
md the Turkish fronts that a great
victory by either side is for the pres
rIt hardly To he expected.
1t Is true that along the Dwina, and
south as far as Brest-Iitovsk and
beyond, the Russians are now hari
pressed ana the Germans in the north
have. begun a great drive to cut off
Riga but Riga Is 300 miles from
petrograd, and wilma, which the Ger
mans are threatening, Is about the
same distance from Moscow. While
In the full flush Of success no under
taking seems prohibltlve to the Ger.
man General staff directing the ar,
mics Of Austria ana Germany, the
capture of either Petrograd or Mos,
COW would call for such a tremendous
effort and failure would be so costly
that such a great stroke can hardly
b. seriously contemplated. About sew,
~enty-seven days remain before winter
begins In western Russia (November
20 normally, and the character OF
the 0orman offensive. which consist,
IN fuy3ous assaults upon the TANKS Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
LA FAYETTE TO BE HONoRED.
Tomorrow Is Anniversary ~
Birth OF Patriotic Frepcbmnn.

Through the efforts OF tho la Fato''e
Fund tomorrow Will be obs rNci
throughout the country as L. F,,,"a
day as well as Labor Day, Il being 't
l6Sth anniversary Of the birth O. me
Marquis de Ia Fayette.
l. Fayctte" buttons will =, s.'!
throughout the country under tar .l-
spices OF the fund. 1t will be Ii E.y-
cite day al the san Francisco tlr .lI
to Mrs. Francis Carolan. head ut Zee
California committee of the Ia F.,.'o
Fund. have been shipped 30. 600 o. @
buttons, which h and lpc associates
expect TO dispose Of tomorrow
button Is made IN the t|rlco'or ar' 100
OF rance and bears in gold l@,'t.r, a
limo la Fayette. Major-Gcuo~al I $
a. Born septic Der 6. 1884,"
II IL expected that thousands Of O. -,
buttons will hN sold tomorrow .'
city. The Children Of 1919. aDNt.. .r.
the la Fayctte Fund, will as. 80 %
sale of them. The minimum yr..
button is 10 cents and tG,y u.. Ne
bought in any number desired 30 a.
rooms OF the La Fay,ttc Fund
Vanderbilt Hotel.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
High Time TO Think About the Tariff,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SrS-Sir, The
day IL worth while; worth while be-
cause II refers mos- scnsihly TO that AL
Important feature the business OF oug
country.
I have been a Constitutional Democrat
ever since ! cas-, my first vote, and was
bitterly disappointed when the recent
change in tho tar.n showed that It was
not a tariff for revenue.
l have found now that Il Is utterly
impossible for this country 10 do bust
ness Handicapped by competition with
other countries whose payroll Is con-
slderably less. II 's all nonsense. the
most absolute kind Of tommyrot. to try
10 argue to the contrary.
No other country in the world with
our opportunities would drive busine IS
away with an uubusinosslike tarin.
Mr.. Wilson has a greater opportunity
10 save his party and put II right with
the people thau any Democrat has ever
had before, but II Congress IS going TO
be so thick witted and act the block
head on the tariff again this Admlnistra-
ton will deserve defeat and many Demo-
Gratis viii welcome II.
If our Government Is not 70 help our
business, then what Is the use OF tina,
Government?
Let us go one step further: II our
Government helps the business Of other
countries tS the dctrimcnt Of It's own
citizens 1t is the same thing In business
that treason is in war.
Louis II. SCuMITT.
PLANTsvUTt. Conn, September 3.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
New We Have Federal Regulation
Of the Rate Of Interest.

. In the Treasury announcement re-
earding the measures taken to use
public money to meet the difficulties
Of the cotton situation 1t is stated
that the deposit of Government funds
in the South Is made "to aid in NOV
'iug the cotton crop" This is quite in
MI. McADoo's best manner.
According to the terms Of the Treas
sury plan an initial deposit OF 49,
100000 gold is being made in the
Federal reserve banks Of the South to
furnish a basis for the rediscount of
paper taken by member banks In loans
granted on cotton properly stored in
warehouse. All the facts of the plan
to aid cotton planters imply anything
but financing for the movement of the
crop. They suggest simply assistance
to facilitate the storing and holding
of cotton for higher prices, in other
words, Federal accommodation for a
bull speculation.
= Essentially the McAdoo scheme con
templates II DISQUALIFICATION of cot
ton through the employment of Gov
eminent funds. II may be desirable,
but whatever its merits or its conse-
quences, 1t can scarcely be described
with accuracy as a plan TO aid in
moving the cotton crop"
incidentally, and just for the sake
OF calling attention to the new depar-
ture, the MeAdOo plan prohibits the
rediscount of cotton notes at Federal
reserve banks If the member banks
have charged the original borrowers
more than @ per cent. including COM
missions.
This Is the first time. to the best Of
our recollection, that the Federal Gov
eminent has sought to regulate the
commercial rate of interest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

The proposal tentatively made by
the Hon. BYRON X. NEWTON, Assistant
Secretary Of the Treasury, in charge OF
public buildings, to pare down the APP
preparations for post office buildings
in numerous villages of the plains to
figures bearing some relation to BUSH
ness sanity insures some lively rue
tons in Congress when Representa-
tives from Painted Post, Red Dog and
other favored sites arise in their
places.
What! spend taxes for public build
inss only where tho buildings are
needed for the efficient conduct of pub
lie service. and o where they are
needed only for the efficient campaign
ing of Red Dogs Representative in
Congress?
Secretary NEWTON Is a disturber OF
the peace.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05
ABUSE OF FREE SPEECH.
How Long Are Street Corner Agita'
tors 10 BE Tolerated?

To THE EDITOR OF III SUN-Str: AL
though the Constitution of the United
States allows the right of free speech
to every man, such a right cannot be
construed to mean that every man IL
privileged to mount a soap box or u
platform at a convenient street corner
and deliver a speech which is calculated
to arouse the ire and Indignation OF a
majority of the auditors, resulting In
tumult and disorder.
A meeting was recently held on the
corner of ~. Nicholas avenue and 1920
street at which a speaker was expound-
ing the doctrines of socialism to a
crowd OF almost 500 persons. Standing
on a soap box. relieved Of his hat n
coat. this speaker. who mas a caustic
tongue and a varied assortment OF ges-
lures, succeeded in whipping the temper
OF the crowd into a fury.
Amid the bowling. %jeering. Kissing.
cheering and applause a policeman
pushed his way through the crowd at
10 T.. VI. and informed the speaker that
the time was up and the meeting would
have to break up. The speaker. wise
enough not to offend the law. descended
from his perch and was about to leave
the scene of disorder when scores OF
persons closed in on him with threats.
Fortunately other policemen came to
give assistance to the man on regular
patrol. They succeeded in clearing a
path for tho speaker, who disappeared
down a side street while the police held
the crowd In check.
This aftermath of tho meeting caused
excitement In the whole neighborhood.
The quiet ard rest OF innumerable per-
SONS we're disturbed. a condition which
should not be tolerated. That serious
trouble was avoided was due entirely
10 the timely appearance of the police.
And I am not eXigcerating VIXEN |
say that some Of the hotheads were
crying out lynch him" ORDER.
NV YORK. SentpMher 4
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

The September number Of the NOrH inner
irdp Re'ipC. with tho exception of a paper
on Rupert Brookc's verse and the coutlnu-
alton Of Mary Austiu's version Of tho Christ
story, is taken up wholly with war and poll.
tics. The rditor attacks the Admimstra-
tlou's Mexican policy, General ! +. ORNan
maps out the part tho National Guard would
take. Admiral Goodrich describes the future
Of battlcshlps, G. q Hainrs the use of the
railroads ~ defence, Lord NorthcliIc, prrsi
dent Eliot and Congressman A u Gardner
speculate ON Americas entering M" wur
{ Johnston writes on the Balkan States.
John Barrett extols Pan.Amcricanism, A NJ.
Low explains the freedom OF the seas and
senator e = Thomas lamenis the limitations
on the senate 90.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

To RAJ EDITOR oF THE SuN-Sfr. The
gracious yielding Of the Teutonlc
supermen to the Presidents emlnd IN
the interests Of humanity (anl our fell
low 'ountrymen at s"a) affects lmme-
dltt'lN hut one of our two Quadrcnnial
%larklses' \ source Of talk is closed tn
S"'''nlI l'likls, As to our supposed
duty 10 the unfortunate country that
has been stamped into pulp by hohnaIls
and muskct butts, S%andpaper Rlrkls
may continue To be abrasive. &.
NEW foRK, September 4.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-09-05

Among the very oldest Inhabitants %
northern New England 'hlackstrap" Is
s'lll remembered as a seductive beverage
much In vogue In the era which witnessed
the apothcoas " swit,heI 1t was CON-
sImrd largely Boy those who found -wl'chn'
lacking IN certain clements ~ oUnyivl-
atty. We have been assured that Il was
not a drIuE for babes, AMI It seems t.
have passed At - cOmptrIt.Nely early
stage OF our national development Ia
tho good old days ~ "bllCkStrap' all
mo,a.ses was blGClSstrnp moIasses, hut /,
WAS 50 called because II WAS used IN thu
connection Of the beverage and not 10
do, En1tc II as a by- product Of the manu-
flvture Of cane sugar,