davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Bismarck on Starvation in Warfare.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In connection with the Bismarck cen
tcnsry and the present tendency in certain
the Allies blockade Of Germany it may in
terest some OF your readers TO recall the
attitude Of the great Chahce-ior toward the
policy Of starvation adopted by the Germans
in their successful attempt TO reduce Paris
H. lS70-71 The population Of Paris at the
time comprised about 100000 souls, of
whom by far the greater part were, of course,
non-combatants. To the process actually
put into practice of compelling these 2,00O,-
900 TO capitulste from hunger Bismarck was
opposed. but the reason for his opposition
was political and not humanitarian.
Early in December. when the question
arose as to what would be the attitude Of
the Paris popuace after the capitulation,
Bismarck is reported by Mortz Busch to have
said: g. But at that point | should try
little coercion on the Parisians should
say to them 4 hold YOU, 100000 people,
responsible in your own persons. I shall let
you starve for twcnty-four hours unless you
agree to our demands Yes, and yet another
ourand-twenty hours, come what might of
It, would stick TO nv point"
,
Chancellor is reported by the same authority
to have solioqulzed about midnight as fol-
lows: "If the Parisians first received a sup
ply of provisions and we're then again put
on half rations and once more obliged 20
starve, that ought. ! think, 70 work. 1t is
like logging When il is administered con-
tnuously it ia not felt so much. But when
it is suspended for time and then another
dose inflicted, it hurts
From neither Of these quotations does IL
appear that Bismarck regarded the reduction
by starvation OF large embattIed populations
as other than generally accepted principle
Of warfare
As TO the actual effect upon civilians ~
Paris OF the shortage OF food caused by the
siege. Or. Busch, on January %, writes:
They have been on very short com
mons in Paris for some time past. and the
death rate last week amounted to about 5000
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Fixed Terms or Indetcrminate
Sentences.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Superintendent Osborne of Sing Sing
Prison stated in an address recently that he
favored indeterminate sentences, adding that
"a prison should be like hospital, and a
man should stay there until cured, and no
longer"
But there is a sayingI Beware Of analo-
gies." Physicians can usually pronounce a
cure for physical ills, but where is the mind
reader who can judge the state of the soul
Once upon visiting Sing Sing, the writer
asked Chaplain Schoonmaker whether some
Of the convicts became renewed men, and his
answer was, I'VE cannot tell. Some of these
men are as deep as the sea-
If escape from Incarceration were made
certain by apparent moral recovery, piety and
righteousness would certainly run up 70 a
premium. We fear that the trend is too
strong toward reduction Of sentences.
The law in Holland are told, is that
sentences must be carried out for the full
term, except as reduced by good behavior.
Let man realize that a penalty, just and
certain, stands over against every crime, and
the tendency will be toward a greater fear
and respect for the law. JOHN K. JONES.
Metuchen, " j., April g. 1918.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11

a teagown has proved an incentive TO the
ed.bound to seek the sofa, and that
becoming hat is a tonic strong enough 10
make a persistent invalid go for walk
Therefore by dressing fashionably women
are only stimulating themselves to greater
endeavors for their country. But even II
they did nothing they would he perfectly
justified. according TO another correspond
ent who, remarking that among the dis
patches from the front she knows none
more thrilling than those which tell OF men
advancing under murderous fire as though
on parade" insists that Eve, too, are on
parade in the midst Of our anxieties, and
we want new clothes to be in keeping with
the fine spirit Of our men," 1t is clear,
then, that self-sacrifce and noble sort
of emulation are the motives that really
account for what some superficial observ-
ers took to be merely new expression OF
frivolity and idleness.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Best Sellers" Once More.

Ii was only a year ago or so that au-
thors and reading public alike were told
that the day Of the "best seller" was past;
that never again might we expect a re
turn of those hacyon times when each of
half a dozen new novels ran up above
the hundred thousand mark, the one or
two most successful attaining a sale Of
two hundred thousand before their popu-
larity waned to nothing at all but vague
remembrance.
The chorus Of Iamentation was voiced
by experienced publishers, by very young
publishers. by publishers usually OPP
tmistc by those constitutionally pessl-
mistic. For a period Of considerable
duration it Did seem as though the dismal
prophecies were justified. For example
Hilarity Swatkins, whose thrilling tale
Of poisoned Tabasco had brought him
$4,000 in royalties, saw the returns from
his succeeding novel" fall to beggarly
NSI2OOO or SIS .000-and for whole year s
work. mind you! That is TO say, he actu-
ally worked for some six months, playing
golf and motoring the rest of the time.
Other literary idols met with a CORE
spending fate. SO serious was the situa-
ton that more than one discouraged, we'll
nigh desperate producer of predigested
fiction harbored dreadful thoughts of
abandoning his art and seeking relief for
wounded feelings mot to mention lessened
incone) in some sordid occupation like
banking or running a chicken farm.
Suddenly, however, the skies cleared.
One of the older publishing houses hap
pened TO have on its staff young man
who loped out to Chicago on certain
dav. held converse with the head of a
great lnail.order concern, and at single
stroke sold to that concern just one
million copies of "Ben-Hur." which had
been first published thirty-four years pre-
y;ous Before the world of books could
catch its breath Winston ChurchiPs
study. "The Inside of the Cup" bounded
into hundred thousand copies, and short
ly thereafter sped far beyond that figure.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Squeezing the Shorts.

A certain grim humor turks in the recol-
lection that when the Stock Exchange
wiped its slate clean of its minimum Sc
curity prices ten days ago the public was
inclined to congratulate the Spectator III
shorts" At last, it inferred, he was to
have free elbow room to effect his con-
tracts for future delivery, and incidentally
to help steady nervous, irregular market.
Come into my parlor," the invitation
read. And now look at the trusting guest!
Nobody, however, could have foretold
the mad orgy Of buying that has suddenly
succeeded the March statements. For
months past the increasingly favorable
situation of the country, industrially. and
financially, has been manifest. To-day's
recovery was freely and confidently pre-
dicted even as far back as the very be-
ginning of the war, when the entire bust
ness fabric seemed prone in the dust. But
then selling panic of equal proportions
had slammed the doors of the Stock EX-
change shut. Last weeks phenomenal
bull market must therefore be simply the
natural hysterical reaction.
What will happen when peace is de-
clared? Some of those who foresaw the
approaching wave of prosperity through
the Stygian gloom of last autumn are pre-
dieting a profound depression then. Let
the "shorts" take heart. Everything comes
10 him who waits. even revenge.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
War and Fashion.

While our tailorr and milliners are
troubling their heads about the correct
application of what they call military eff
fects" in spring fashions, the problem in
countries more Immediately under the cur
rent military influence is to determine in
what manner and to what degree fashion
should be made to conform TO the tragic
conditions that prevail. One signing HIM
self "A Husband" wrote to The Times"
of London, the other day protesting gravely
against what he called "the wicked con-
spiracy to force our women to embark IN
the most sweeping and costly revolutions
in the fashion of their dress which we have
seen for a couple of decades" He found
some hackers, but it is wonderful to see
how warmly he was opposed and upon how
many reasons-patriotic, economic and
psychologist.
The good for trade" argument plays of
course a due part. One peeress makes it
plain that, whatever hardships it may en-
tail upon herself, she feels it to be her duty
t
may be. "Of course" she writes-speak-
ing presumably for all good peeresses-
Eve must continue to buy new clothes as
long as we can afford to pay for them for
it is nothing less than "a question OF life
and death to those who depend upon us
And though she does not desire to accentu-
ate the gulf between the rich and the poor,
yet 1--WE shall do our best" she says firmly,
ito save our tradesmen and tradeswomen
from unnecessary distress" Nor does she
doubt that all patriotic women will gladly
continue to indulge in the sacrifice that
consists in wearing good clothes. THAT. "
she says, "is one of our contributions to
the economics of the war"
Another, without a title, however, ar
CUES that as fashions are shaped in Paris
and as the Frenchwoman is individually
patriotic, so every one is quite safe in fol-
lowing her example. "She wishes" it is
explained, ito oil the machinery Of the
country's mills and give employment to the
silent army of starving sisters. Why
should not Englishwomen do the same?"
A third dismisses the discussion with the
remark that at does not much matter II
our skirts are two yards round or three,
as long as we are doing our best as
women to help our country in its hour of
trial and need"
But the most subtle argument comes
from a professional critic Of fashion, Mrs.
Aria. Women" she explains, want some
panacea these times, some distraction from
sorrow and suffering. II is on record that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11

Then burst on the astonished populace
an unpretentious little story about an I'M
pretentious little girl named "Pollyanna,"
whose sayings and doings were recorded
by a new author. II is the current under
standing that this "Glad Book" had sold
only a few hundred copies when John
Wanamaker happened to pick it up in his
Philadelphia store, took it home, com
menced to read il after dinner that eve
ming, and sat up most Of the night before
finishing the last page. The next day, so
the tale continues, Mr.. Wanamaker gave
orders to both his Philadelphia and New
York stores to push "Pollyanna" hard, TO
talk about it, to make it prominent In
every possible way, as in his opinion II
was the kind Of book most people needed
to read in these strenuous and none too
encouraging days.
We do not know that this report is
true. But we hope it is, for it
is the kind OF thing one likes to
hear. At any rate "Pollyanna" began to
soar, and she has scared higher and
higher, until a month Of two ago it was
said that she had found a welcome in al
most two hundred thousand homes in this
country alone. AS for that enigma, Har-
old Bell Wright, it would be simply idle
to guess how many copies of his latest
effusion have been sold. The figure might
Jump forty thousand overnight.
These are but four instances of books
now being very widely circulated. That
there are not few others may be taken
for granted when one sees a single pub
fishing house in Boston advertising half q
dozen new novels already running into six,
ten, twelve Large printings." On the
whole. it is safe to infer that the day of
the best seller" has not disappeared-not
by a great deal. The author who can
write novel of real power or Of sufficient
melodramatic intensity-especially one
who can write a novel of true literary art,
not lacking that dynamic sympathy which
grips the heart Of reader-would do well
to stick to his typewriter rather than ex-
pertinent with Wall Street or engage in
the extra-hazardous occupation Of chicken
farming for financial profit.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Piracy an Act of Self-Defence.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | became a reader of your paper after
having it for week free and believing that
you would strongly hold on to the truth only.
Now. while you regard the destruction Of
the Faaba as a cold blooded murder, though
it was done by an enemy, why don't you say
a few words about the behavior of the Rus
sian soldiers against the Jewish population
in Russian Poland?
The Germans declared their intention
plainly and openly, giving plenty Of time for
all the merchant vessels to come to safe
ports, or risking to be destroyed. Now, II
merchant vessel, or a passenger vessel, goes
out after that date, the responsibility for the
lives of the people on board falls upon either
the people themselves, IL they know about
the danger, or on the management Of the
ship, if they do not know, as it takes the
same risk as a warship. Now, you would not
say word if the Falaba was a warship, and
the Germans act against all ships on account
Of commercial ships having destroyed German
submarines and trying to destroy more. How
could the captain of the submarine be sure
that by waiting longer the snip would not
destroy them, as case like this happened
and the captain got prize?
Why not explain the act of the submarine
as a sef-protection ! believe that this is
the right way TO think about it, if you want
to consider yourself really as a neutral.
NJ RUDOMINER.
AnriI 1919
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
A Year of Good Work.

Police Commissioner Woods has good
cause to feel satisfied with the results OF
his first year in his extremely trying
place. Nothing spectacular" ne says,
has been done, and that is true, from the
point of view of those who eXult in the
flamboyant and are prone to forget or over
look entirely exactly the kind OF honest,
steady improvement which is taking place
in the Police Department. Yet that inn
provement is worth more to New York
than the spectacular could be.
Mr.. Woods's methods have undeniably
improved the morale of his force. Each
man in blue can be sure of square deal
and of free personal access TO his chief
whenever he wants (which means much.
The force does more work now than 1t
used to do, and does it willingly. BY the
abolition of some of the fixed posts and
the Encouragement Of patrol plans the city
is better protected and the wisest use made
of the men available. The gymnasiums
and the athletic training school, the train
ing school for lieutenants and sergeants,
the lectures for captains and inspectors,
the shifting of patrolmen to districts with
which they are familiar and the upbuld-
ing of the Detective Bureau are all
features in the systematic improvement
of his department undertaken by the
Commissioner. His task is almost an inn
possible one. at best. Criminals Of every
degree of brains and courage will always
infest this city. But Mr.. Woods is gradu-
ally whipping the department into shape
so that the crooks will have to fight hon
est, intelligent and well-trained men in
this force which protects the public. He
has accomplished much. and there is every
prospect that he will be able to do much
more on the same lines.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
UNITARIANS AND SUNDAY
Former Intend Simply to Answer
Questions Evoked by Evangelist.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: During brief absence in Boston
read your editorial on the futility of the
meetings held by Unitarians in Paterson
while Mr. Sunday is preaching there. Ex-
cellent as the editorial was, / beg the favor
Of pointing out wherein it somewhat made
quatey stated the real reason Of this Uni
tartan action.
These meetings OF ours are in no sense
a counter revival. Nor are they designed as
an answer to Mr.. Sunday or a refutation Of
his theology. We're they any of these things
they would, as you imply, quite violate Uni
tartan spirit and traditions. Another reason
altogether lies behind them, and that rea-
son is this:
Mr.. Sunday IN other cities visited and, |
hope, uplifted by him, has seen At to attack
Untarians, not only covering them with
gnominy in the eyes of men, but delivering
them roundly to more deadly penalties in the
world to come. This we should not notice,
for 1t is an old and monotonous story. But
the point is that certain of Mr.. Sundays
hearers, preserving their reason steady while
the emotions rage, are thereby moved BY the
spirit oi ld4l P4d! 10 inquire VIM 'HeSe CHi-
tarans are, what their religion ID and why
they hold it. And these legitimate ques-
tons it is which the Unitarian meetings en-
deavor to answer Mr. Sunday is only an
incident in the matter. His name will prob
ably not be mentioned once. But the honest
questions raised in candid minds by his VIC
lent attacks we deem it incumbent US
frankly TO meet, and this chiefly by exposi-
ton of our central position that religion
and the Christian religion should be rca-
sonable as we'll as worshipfu, should trans
form the spirit and invigorste character,
while not darkening the conscience or scan
daizing the intelligence.
WILLIAM L. SULLIVAN,
Associate Minister All Souls Unitarian
Church, New York
Boston, April 6, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Against Health Bills.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The Brooklyn Committee on Social
Legislation mas disapproved most heartily OF
the five bills introduced by Assemblyman
Harold j. Human, of Albany County. which
are attack upon the health law and the
Health Department of the state.
II these bills were passed the progress
that has been made in health work in this
state in the last year and a half would be
nullifed. The death rate in the state de-
creased decidedly last year, and the passage
of these bills would mean going back to con
ditions which caused the death Of one thou
sand more infants than died last summer.
One Of the bills would make IT possible for
places requiring special training and expert
knowledge TO be open TO persons NOT possess
Ing the proper qualifications
There IS special opposition to one Of these
bills, making permlssiye instead Of mandatory
the division Of child hygiene, public health
nursing, tuberculosis. vital statistics. commu-
nicable diseases, administration, health edu-
cation, sanitary engineering. laboratories and
research. JAMES JENKINS. JR
Brooklyn, April 2, 1918.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
MOTORING MADE HAZARDOUS
GIaring Headlights at Night Con
slant Danger.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

/ To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: I note that a law has recently beer
enacted in the State Of New Jersey regulat
/ ing the use of glaring headlights on automo
biles. Any car driver or owner knows the
need of such law. Is there none in New
York State? There cannot be, but there GER
tainly should be. Nor can | find that any
Of our lawmakers are agitating the passage
Of statute to check this evil.
It is my lot to have to drive my car over
about fifteen miles Of Long Island roads, fire
quently at night. I am a lover of motoring
as sport, and get keen pleasure out OF
driving during the daytime, but at night II
has become almost horror for me to chauf-
feur my own car. Rolling along the mar
row, but good, Long Island roads at mod
crate rate Of speed, with gaslghts burning
which give me ample illumination, even on
the darkest nights, I am suddenly confront
ed by glare Of flashing electric lights from
an approaching motor. which absolutely
blinds me- If keep my eyes open and keep
on going | seem compelled TO do one of two
things, TO steer crash bang into the approach
ing lights or 90 TO the other extreme and
take the ditch and am not unique in this
respect.
| Not being particularly "sot" on perform
/ ing either of these stunts, 1t behooves me
to come to an almost or quite dead stop, or
shutting my eyes and saying my prayers, GO
lit blindy. | generally do the latter, and
thanks probably being due to the prayers
have so far come out all right. ! am averse
to doing the former, as on summer night
when the cars are out in force, l would be
stopping every few feet
/ In all my experience as a motorist, both
on Long Island and down the Jersey coast
II have only known one instance where an
approaching motorist had the consideration
to lower his lights, and I was so surprised
and grateful then that had to restrain my
self from going after him and thanking him
with tears of gratitude in my eyes for his
judicious thoughtfulness.
The motorist who stands at rest at the
side of the road leaving his electric head
lights glazing is equally as bad, il not worse,
than the moving motorist
| I insist that the glaring head gifts which
seem to be so popular now are not necessary
besides being a positive danger to life and
limb; sirens whose principal object seems
to be to lure other motorists to death and
destruction, and to light the road even
though done so brilliantly. as an after
thought The Tribune must have among its
readers hosts of motorists whose cars are
equipped with the kind Of headlight that |
speak of here, and feel certain that il you
we're to publish this letter it might make
the brother motorist who IS going in the
opposite direction, and at the same time it
may eventually result in the enactment Of
law to govern the case Of those who will
not do anything but follow their own sweet
will until some one uses sledgehammer or
its equivalent on them. BRIDLINGTON
New York. April 6, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
A Cocainc Nictim's Plea.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: / see tha, IN q drugs ac' about 20 =
passed they talk Of allowing physicians =.
prescribe cocaine and similar drugs VIM, -.
sly restriction. As victim OF the cocaine n1'.,
want TO register a protest Many TX.
as ! have been nave been led into the Pm In
through taking a prescribed naIcoue
pain, and through ease boo getting presef' -,
reflled have kept at 1t until habit mas w.
formed that seems impossible 20 DreAA. LAX
have tried various things trying 70 O' -.
of. One practitioner who is hypnotiIs' -,
tried hypnosis with some effect he ssy' IN 80.
if will become am hypnotic subject iol "a
so he can use me in his practice he CAT
me g., al,
Drugs on the order Of coca ne s'o..o .,4
be prescribed uule-. absolutely necessary ,sd
physicians held accountable in some "''i /.
prescriptions should not De rehliso' lev.
victim. am looking at it from my own own. "a
point. and know there are many ~ ,ss
who would give anything 10 be r'u "a The
habit. but the unconquerable craving 81 ri.
easiness Of obtaining makes curing u rwIS
almost impossible JAMES v
New York, March 81, 1915. -s-'.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Congratulations.
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Having been reader of The Tribune
over half century and having great inter
est in its progress, wish here TO congratu-
late IL upon its refusal TO publish all fake
advertisements. and the prominent position
II has given 10 brave Samuel Hopkins Adams
in his splendid crusade against every form of
advertisement that is not on the square and
is only an aid to those who make a bushes
OF dcceiving the public. When the Sunday
magazine was discontinued ! noted how many
advertisements IL contained which plainly
The Tribune could not approve and which
were contrary 10 its campaign for mercan-
tile honesty, and | saw the wisdom Of the
change. Again, as of yore TINS great Re-
publican paper, the peoples friend. is at the
fore, and | am glad.
JOSIAH c. PUMPELLY.
New York, April 4, 1915