davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
new GAS MASK MEETS
SEVERE TEST BY ARMY
Invention Of Two city College
Instructors Soon to Rc
Placed on Iarket.

\ gas mask designed FOR use in trench
warfare invented and patented by two
instructors IN chemistry in the college
of the city of New York has successfully
PASSED tests of the medical DIVISION OF
the army. II was announced yesterday.
The inventors and pa,entees are William
4 Prayer and william II .Estabrooke.
in collaboration with br. Ncish of Column
bia University
pr Estahrookc has received u letter
from the chief OF staff of the medical
division ~pronouncing the device satis'ac-
tory and stating that the tests 20 when
II was subjected were more severe than
those to hc met In actual warfare. The
United states army has not Yet decided
I, add these masks to- It's equipment.
The mask may be- II Use IN several in
dus,rics and will I've placed on the mar
ket soon. II is large enough 10 ~ over
the regulation army hat. It allows a
foot ~ space in front aud a i"~ inches
about tho back and sides 90 the mead,
The bottom hts snucly to the neck. An
exterior layer * composed Of severa'
chemicals aud metals which filter the
mixture Of gas and air sent against II
and permit only the air I" enter.
~ one ~ the tests "A man woariu. one
n. the hoods sat for several hours while
chlorine was being pumped at his head
He suffered no III effects. The c>ternal
surface combined with the poisonous
fumes gave forth a new substance in
halabl without injury
The mask can be recharccd while be
ing worn. II is somewhat like the Eng
lish model. Thick celluloid pieces permit
Vision,
1T is foolproof.' said Or. Estahrooke
yesterday. one can talk in it. snceze In
II and even chew tobacco
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
MAYOR vET0Es TAX BILL.
Ftnds Objections 10 Law MovinR
~ Payment Dates.

The bill 10 advance the dates for tho
collection of taxes to January / and
July ! from May | and November |
vas vetoed yesterday by Mayor Mitchell.
although the present administration
drew IL up ana advocated its passage by
the Legislature. The Mayor expressed
himself as firmly convinced of the cor
RICHNESS Of the principles involved AS he
ever was. bu, he said that the bill as
drafted presents difficulties, from which
te does not attempt TO dodge RESPONSE
tility.
lie gives two major reasons: one is
that the bill plans that the date be ad-
vanced one month IA year for four years
until January ! ana July | are REACHED
for the collection of taxes, but mort
cages on practically all ,~nCumhered prop
erty proyid" that taxes must be paid
"When du",' therefore morteagOrs, II the
bill were mad" "A law, would have t.
suffer the burden Of he advance az
once. This would entail such hardship
upon the owners 90 ~oucuinhered property
that he would veto the bill. II for M
other reason. Inc saSs.
The other reason IL that he now find
that the dates provided in tho bin dc
rot confoIm with tn" dates for the re-
ports nov required Of owners Of specia
franchises, and litigation would surel,
result over l,o collection Of specia
franchise tdAcs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
SAYS CITY DELAYS SIDEWAYS.
Chairman straus Of ~. :. e. Asks
Mayor to hurry C~Ontracts.

Chairman Straus IF the Public Service
Commission sent a letter to Mayor
Mitchell yesterday pointing out thai
operation Of the new subway lines is
being delayed in a number of instances
because OF the inslstence by the Board OF
Est mate that certain duct lines for
power cables should be charged TO
EQUIPMENT" and not to CONSERVATION"
Mr.. Straus says that because of this at
titude on the part of the board several
contracts. particularly some In Queens,
are being held NJ. lie said hat even II
approval of the construction of the duct
lines were given at once they could
scarcely be completed before the other
units Of the Queens lines are ready for
operation.
John Adikes. chairman Walter | VIII
lis, secretary. and other members of the
transit committee Of the Queens Chamber
of Commerce presented to Chairman
Straus and Commissioner Hodge ycster-
day the need for immediate action
They also announced that they would
call upon the Mayor before the II II
! the week TO ask his assistance.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
MAYOR TO PICK BOARD.
General ProSisiOus Of New La "
Take Eject Octob~r Z.

General provisions of the Lockwood
EllenbuGen bill consolidating departments
having jurisdiction over building. signed
yesterday by o Whitman. do not be-
come effective until October I. but the
Mayor is expected to exercise at once
his powers OF appointment under the bill
to membership in the important board OF
standards and appeals which will after
October I he the auth lritative body IN
the building affairs of the city.
1t is hoped this board. which il to
consist of the superintendents OF buildings
In the hve ~boroughs. the Fire Comrnis.
s.on.r. the chief of the uniformed force
OF the Fire Department and six appointed
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
CARRIER PIGEON IN PORT.
No. iOSO3 IL Blown Into Sewarrn
y, j.. aud Sccms Happy.

Somebody's carrier pigeon has brought
UP against foul winds and been blown
into port at Sewaren, ~. j. He was a
very trim bird. with all sails set. as hs
wheeled into G. NJ. Cooper's back yard
with about as much idea Of where home
lay as 4 grouse with its head on.
SO Mr.. Cooper. who If a lover OF birds
/, would seem. threw out a lifeline IN the
form Of Juicy grain and the bird elected
10 remain until his rightful owner dis
played enough initiative 20 come ant
get him.
The pigeon il No. io5o3. On one IL.
he carries a brass ring with the lettc'
A. or w. On the other he wears N
aluminium band. Mr.. Cooper writes tina
the supply Of grain will last indefinitely
but he's of a mind that the owner ma,
Ike to trace him.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
MAYOR vETOES CENTRAL BILL
says II Would Undo All Work for
rad Removal.

Mayor Mitchell vetoed yesterday the
Thompson-Ellenhogen bin making Il
mandatory upon tho New York Central
Railroad TO file plans Immediately for
the removal from grade Of it's tracks
on the West Side and providing that the
Manhattan Borough President should
order the removal Of the tracks IL the
unable within a specified time TO agree
on a method Of Improvement.
The hill was favored by many civic
organizations as supplsmenting,thc law
passed IN 1911 under which tn. Central
and tn" Board Of Estimate have arrived
AT an agreement for placing the tracks
~ part IN 4 tunnel and in part on an
elevated structure.
The Mayors memorandum gave these
reasons for the veto
Because the city and tho railroad
company have reached d mutually ad
Nantagcous adjustment under the exist.
ing law which, when amended as 10 Ger.
tain details. Will be contaminated within
"A very short time because the pro.
posed bill woul render that adjustment
imprscticable and impossible because
the provisions Of the bill are not such
as 10 enable the city 10 compel the rail.
road company to a better settlement OF
this yeNcd question within any reason.
able period Of years, II at all"
h Mayor also vetoed the bin MAX
ing IT mandatory upon the New York
central 10 install electric operation
within the limits OF the Borough OF
Manhattan within thirty months He
said the bill can secure no desirable
result which will not be obtained through
IN" settlement which has been nc2ot..
a;cd between the city and the railroad
"On the other hsud.' he said. "its
enactment might ohstruct and delay tht
work of relocation and rcconstructio
under the proposed settlement"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
ATO ODDS ON
ARGETSINGER BILL
Members Of Unions Tell Gov
crnOr II Is a Blow at
short Day Move.
OTHER LEADERS BACK 1T

ALpANv. May lo.--Represcntatives Of
organized labor who protested to-day
before Gov. Whitman against the Ar
getsinger bill Offering general amend
ments to the labor Law found aligned
agains, them the labor members of the
state Industrial commission. AZ the
conclusion Of the hearing the Governor
, said he was inclined to sign the bill.
although he will take plenty or time
to consider written objections when the
opponents desire to place before him.
The main objections were aimsd at
provisions which would permit the Nifty
four hour law for women In factories 10
, be suspended In case OF a@iden. 10
machinery and permit twenty Twelve
hour days for women IN canneries during
the canning season. Labor representa-
tives argued that these would be the
first step in breaking down labor laws
which have been twenty years in build
ing.
chairman John Mitchell and Commits
sioner lanes NJ. Lynch Of the Statt In
dustrial Commission said the opposition
to the measure comes chiefly from un-
familiarity. While there are provisions
which they do not approve themselves,
( they said the good provisions were so
much IN preponderance as to compe'
approval. As = matter W fact, the new
hill. they believed. would strengthen
tho labor laws. For instance. the,
pointed out that under the present avs
Gamers are permitted to work womer
twelve hours a day for thirty days {
month, While under the new amendment
they would be limited to twenty days.
Those who opposed the bill included
James 4. BOYLE, president Of the Brook
lyn Central Labor Union Thome
Rock. Central Federated Union OF Man
haitian John Hanley. building trades q
New York Miss Melinda Scott, pros
dent OF the Woman's Trade tnio
League and member OF the Industrla
? Council Miss Rose Schneiderman. Ca
ment Workers Union Herbert Merrill
formerly As%semblyman OF schenectady
Mrs. josephine Hickey. Upholstered
Union: Miss Pauline Newman. GARNER
: Workers Union John GIN. New Yor
State Bricklaycts Union Miss Ma
: care, Hinche, Of New York. laundi
workers Mss Mary l.. preier. memb,
OF the Factory Investigating Comm.'
sion Matthew McConville. representa-
the engineers OF the State l..
Hanna. national secretary OF the Pave
Union Mss Florence Kelly. presidei
Nutloual Consumers League Mrs. Ere,
"rick Nathan. New York Consume
League Mss Frances Perkins. seer
tsry committee o. safety charl'
Wheeler. CONSUMERS League Of Rufa.
Those who spoke for the measu
We're James NJ Lynch, state Industri
Commission Henry II Ssvre. secrets'
: state Industrial Council .lohn Mitche
chairman state Industrial Commission
James + Holland. state Federation
Labor stewart Browne. New York Re
Estate owners Association T.. !. Ba
calo OF Buffalo. Associated Manufa
turers and Merchants Edward w. Lot
Troy Chsmbe- ~ Commerce John
Common OF Mount Morris. counsel Ne
York state ciuuers Association.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
FIX PHONE REMOVAL CHARGE
Public service Commission Bnscs
Rate on Yearly contract.

ALBANY. Nav l0.--The %iclenhnuc co,n-
panics and the upstate Public Service
Commission to-day reached an agree
ment AZ to charges for ~disconuecting a
telephone, hereafter telephones will hc
Installed Al the scheduled rates on the
basis Of a year's contract. and If IA sub
scriher wishes to give up the service in
less than a year he will be charged
$3.50 for tho diSconucctiou. IL the tolc-
phone has been In use hut a month, and
this charge viii he reduced 30 cents a
month As tho year progresses.
Thu" representatives. Of the telephone
companies said His rliarg" would lie
l"ss ihan the cost Of tn" work actually
ihN"lN"d' Tn" commission was anxious
10 close the controversy before the SUM
m"r season. when most short term con
tracts are In operation.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11

Biggar had ~alicnated his affections was
Offset by letters submitted In cvideise
which he had written to his wife In
1901 and 1909. He testified that they
were separated in 1901. before he met
Miss Biggar. Mrs. IIcndrick contends
that the separation occurred In 1ao3. "A
year after her husband and the dcfcn-
liant met.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11
storm warmiug L. Issued.

The Weather Bureau last night issued
the following bulletin for the Atlantic
coast. warning of an approaching storm /:
Hoist southwest storm warning 10
=. NJ. Delaware breakwater TO Port
lana. Disturbance Of a marked charac-
tor over northern part OF Lake superior
moving cast and northeast. strong
sout Invest winds Thursday"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11

TowASpA. IA, May lo,-Lewis Briggs
of Ulster found an orphan woodchuck
while strolliug through the fields, tie
turned 1t over to "A cat with "A litter u
kittens. She has adopted II, making II
comfortable in the kittens nest. The
family seems satisfied all around.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-11

Other New York city bills signed by
tho Governor We're:
BY A~sscmblyman Marsh. extending the
life of the trustees OF the Exempt Fire
mems Benevolent Fund for twenty
years.
BY Assembly man Donohuc. providing
that the Commissioners of Taxes and
Assessments shall prepare a block mai
~ taxes and assessments exhibiting by
block and lot numbers each Oarcel OF
land owned or taxed in the city. There
are to DE three copies OF the map. one
each for the Finance Department. the
department of Taxes and Assessments
and the Department Of Water supply.
Gas and Electricity.
BY Assemblyman Simpson. transferring
from the Police Department Ia the De-
partment Of Correction control over in
stitutions for the detention OF witnesses
who are unable 70 furnish security for
their appearance" In criminal proceedings.
Py Senator Dunnigan. amending the
City Charter by specifically including
tho grading or regulating Of sidewalks
within the power of local Improvement
boards.
BY senator Dunnigan. authorizing the
commissioner Of the sinking fund to
cedc to the Federal Government free OF
cost lands under water required for the
Improvement of the naviCable waters
within the city.
by Senator Gilchrist. authorizing the
Board Of Estimate to lay out Rensen
avenue In Brooklyn from the intersection
~ Utica and East New York avenues
southeasterly Though the Thirty-second
ward cauarsic PARK.
Ry senator Cromwell. providing that
a Borough President before issuing a
permit for tho removal Of pavemcnts
may require a deposit sufficion, TO cover
the eNpeuseS incidental to issuing the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-27
THE GREATNESS" OF
RICHARD HARDING DAVIS

The current bulletin Of the Public
Library contains some interesting com
ments upon the place IN literature Of the
late Richard Harding Davis as follows {:
Nearly all the writer's who have COM
nentei upon the death Of Mr.. Davis
have taken care to say that "he was not
a great author" They have added quite
truthfully, that he had no Illusions him.
self. "a 10 hts place in literature. and
that he preferred 20 be known rather as
a journalist than as an author
What constitutes greatness" in a
writer We know, generally, Wha'
qualities bring pouultr'ty. and those. we
know, Frequently do not lead 10 dis,'nc-
ton. Indeed. some leaders have no
come So suspicious ~ ~" popul,r taste
tnat they are apt TO jump u the CON
81 sion that whatever is popular must
therefore be bad, This doctrine MAY he
safe four times out OF i've. hut the MN
time 1t leads one into absurditios. \
small group of novelists and critics are
fond of sncering NJ Dickens, not neces-
sarily because they dislike his works.
but because il picascs their perversity.
and incidentally insures notorlcty, TO dis
agree with the general op!niop. II is a
small mind which always agrees with
the majority, but II is AT equally small
mine which always disagrees with the
majority.
Whatever may he tho qualities which
make a writer ''Grelt"-4,ud many ~
them probably do not alter materially
from one century to anothc'-tlC
qualities which insure distinction in ones
own day are forever changing, Two
hundred years ago the only poets recot-
n'zed were those h Cbeyed certain
ironclad rules OF versihca'ion. To-day
a poet who invrnts his own rules * al
most certain to be acclaimed In spite
~ tn, attendant freaks, IN" notor,ety
seekers who flourish upon such a system,
in spite OF the "lunatlc fringe the
change Is fortunate. Originality is the
life Of literature IL verse ,cr prose
either) must go In handouts 1t ends in
dry rot.
The writer Of prose fiction to-day e.
not apt TO bc taken seriously by tho
average critic unless he has at least one
of these qualities: a marked regularity
of style, or n fondness for subtle ana
minute analysis Of character, or n
tendency to prefer the theme Of Illicit
love Richarl Harding Davis had none
81 these. His style possessed one ex-
ccllent quality clearness. But clear
ness in at n discount among many OF tho
arbiters OF taste. So great has been the
influence 81 Henry James that obsurity,
a certain involved and tortuous method
OF oppression, has been cultivated by
other writer's (to whom II was not
natural) and the ability to convey ones
precise meaning to any intelligent reader
has been thought To prove that one
possesses no ideas worth communication.
Mr.. Davis had the gift of narration
he knew how to tell a story. This might
have given him at other periods ot
history. a high place In literature, Now
adays 1t insures a writer popularity
and that Mr.. Davis enjoyed-but not the
praise of literary critics.
His fictitious characters were folk OF
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-27
JOHN HAYS ONE NOVEL.

10 those who follow the career Of
John Hay he must seem one favored
by the gods. lie had the i~nestimable
privilege of living close TO Abraham
Lincoln IN the critical years OF the
republic; he had the opportunity of
seeing the parts Of the world he wished
to while still young he had the knock
q! doing well whatever he SO, his hand
TO- his domestic life was happy and
fortunate and he was able In his later
years 10 render great and lasting SER
vice 10 his country. His essays in
literature were so good that II seems
reasonable that he would have at
tanned the highest rank ia American
letters If he had persisted: for his
charming sketches of travel are still
read and his dialect poems are an.
parentiy as popular as when they first
appeared. 1t is impossible to suppress
the regret that the State called for
the energies which might have been
expended on literature. "a regret inten-
siii"d by the posihumous acknowledge
ment of the authorship of The Bread
iciitncrs I~iarpers, in the new edition
published ~thirty-three years after the
novel first appeared.
n older generation can still re-
member the strong impression that
anonymous novel made after the first
instruments appeared in the CcuturD
magazine. the publishers were obliged
10 issue the hrst chapters in pamphlet
FORM to satisfy the people who had
missed the beginning. Those were the
days when men were looking for the
great American novel, before Henry
james had tangled himself in his end
less sentences and fine spun d.stinc-
tons. before the army OF writer's of
notion had arisen to meet on equal
terms the British output. The Bread
winners" looked as though IL might
meet the requirement: il not the
anonymous author might succeed IN
his next attempt. But that never
came. the authorship was not revealed
and the question Is still open as to
what John Hay might have accom-
plished as a novelist II duty had not
called him to another field.
Read a generation later The Bread
winners seems as fresh and as living
as when II first appeared In essentials
the matters 1t dealt with have not
changed. there may be differences in
the Technology, but the labor prob
lens are the same now as they were
then and that portion OF the story does
not need 10 be ewritten. The altera-
tons in the M and customs of
society and Of daily life are more
marked. but the author paid more at
tention to human Gature and. we
imagine. the absence OF motors. OF
electrical appliances and even Of
modern dances and fashions will not be
noticed. 1t is a good. strong and enter
taining story now as 1t was then. We
are curious to know how the genera
ton that has sprung up since It was
written will receive Il.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-27

"shakcsncare" Gso-r. LYMAN KIT.
-
r'fS'' tHarvard University fre''' cam
bridge. Nass)
-, U,,,orv =, N. Third French R.nuh.
''S.o'' ~"
lie" G. IL c. Wright. OHoushton M!m!n
comnanv)
* History OF the National Capital. Vol.
IT." Wlhclmus Bogart Bryan, Mac
nlirnus)
49," Nl.,hol nnl S,rIctv" John Koren.
lR,urv Holt and Cowr,uyl
"R,rcson pni Religion" Iuriu. Hop-
k!ns Miller. HIsnry Hnlt and Companyl
"Tho E'rmrr-s uf Stv'"" pavii Watson
Hauri,. u " p.ut and Sons T.. i. put.
ION ,rd Comrtnyl
"Vpmhlr. oi u canadian Natura'i''" =
r Mod - bent and sons. Z y.
button and company
"Th" Nlgiientes " Montana" Prot
Thomas J O.msl1'n estate Publishing
company. Helena, Montr
IDEA, Homes IN it~t'n Communities. ="
,Robcr, " Rriic and Company, New
Nurkl
"Sorlo'osv" John VI Gillette. Pm. y
"a G. ,C'irr amt COMPANY. Chirago)
'Lt'tyevr." Martha Foot" crow. Mac
uI'or-i
opowfs'tr ~, IN Ruutrla" porothea
XIX. tIpNu Lane company
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-27

straightforward mind II never occurred
to their creator to make elaborate In
vest.gations Of their psychology. Yet
psychology has been the darling study
OF the past two decades college boys
and girls ak glibly about II, and he
world is a favorite with the writer's OF
reviews. Mr.. Davis's love stories were
about youths and maidens. and for
youths II mlidens. Such a simple
theme as a bachelor trying TO induce an
unmarried girl TO be one his wife Is too
hopelessly "bOurgeois' for many a
novelist Of 1916. He dismisses II with a
plying smile his powers are worthy or
something better than that.
Richard Harding Davis made his
hooks Of travel readable and Interesting
From his description OF an English cleo
ton In Our English Cousins or the
account Of the Queens jubilee in "A
Year from n Reporters Notebook" down
to his description Of Salor!ca. published
In a magazine only u few weeks & his
manner of writing VAS simple and direct.
but vivid and dramatic. He hose the
things or the enveuts which struck HIM
as beautiful or novel or curious. ana
described them. To many readers THIS
IL the best kind of writing .or the pur-
pose. But 10 those who prefer to know
more about the Observers state of mind
than about the things Observed, IL seems
trivial Mr.. Davis showed you what he
saw himself and what attracted the at
tention OF an alert and curious American
traveller. He did not give YOU the
record of his own emotions and mental
experiences. the kind Of book Of travel
which has been called "a little tour
around the authors own inside
Il ~ customary 20 speak OF Gale
CHER as Mr.. Davis's best story, just as
Il Is customary Caud equally incorrect
TO call The Luck Of Roaring Camp"
the best story by Bret ilarte, or the
stories written In NJ. pavis's earlier
period. when he was describing the eX-
tr.mes Of New York lie. "A Leander
OF the East River In Van Bibher and
Others is perhaps as good a story as
"Gallcghcr." While It's hero is a less con-
Neut!unal TYNE. In one Of his novels
Mr.. Davis seemed 20 be writing around
son-who AZ that period was drawing
such magnificent Young men, seven feet
in height. that they appeared 10 almost
every schoolgirl "a the fa'rest lowers
Of creation, This phase did not last
long. for In Captain Machlln' there is
q hero who 10 also a possible human be-
ing. In his short stories Mr.. Davis
Mayed u dozen variations upon one
amusing tremc-that ~ the agreeable
yuuuy American, with characteristics
'ucryc." who sIccccds In his objects.
Whatever they may be. In the face Of the
uppos,lon Of tho great ones % the earth.