davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19

dark mansion. The cab horse, tired
of waiting, takes nap, a well known
habit Of cab horses.
But this cab horse has the un-
usual habit of lying down to its forty
winks. Along comes the elegant, the
famous American amateur Secret
Service man. A cab horse lying
down to sleep! 1t looks suspicious.
Let us investigate. Aha! A cipher
message. No sooner has he put the
document in safety in his neighbors
apartment than he hears prowler
On the fire escape outside his own
window, and two men with revolvers
enter by the hall door. They retire
baffled. A ring on the telephone;
charming feminine voice makes an
appointment in the peacock alley OF
a local hotel for the next afternoon.
He will know her by the red rose
she wears. He goes. Two women
with red roses await him.
That is the stuff we want! Could
any real secret agent invent it?
Could he find time to attend to his
business if he had to do so much and
such elaborate Suggesting? Thank
heaven, the revelations of the last
two years have not robbed us of our
taste for the secret agent Of fiction!
May she and her accomplices con-
tinue to flourish and fail in our
stories! Not all the exposures in all
the newspapers shall disillusion us.
And in the retrospect these spies of
the imagination shall give to the
spies of real life the romance which
they lack.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
The Subjusation of Greece
Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: It Is difficult to believe that
any one with q sense Of justice can
defend the action Of the Entente pow
ers with regard to Greece. The great
majority Of Greeks do not want to
fight; they are loyal to their King.
Their country has been invaded and
their neutrality violated by the Allies
TO a far greater extent than Belgium.
The Allies have forced Greece TO de-
mobilize, and now want her to mobilize
again to fight for.them. Surely this is
the limit of coercion.
II has been said that Venizelos In
vited tho Entente powers to land an
armed force. Venizelos had no author
ity from the Greek Cabinet and the
Greek Chamber to give such an invi-
tation. But even II he had had such
authority the invitation was only for q
right of way, not for establishing an
armed force in the country and start
ing trenches. As IT is, the invitation
against which, by the way, the Greek
Cabinet and the Greek King protested
soon created disastrous situation for
Greece. The Entente powers, little by
little, took possession of the country
seized the arsenals, forts, railways, etc
They also ordered the dissolution Of the
Greek Parliament, and, in short, com
pletely subjugated that small nation
Had the Greeks resisted they would
certainly have suffered the same fate
as Belgium.
1t is also interesting to note that
the so-called rebellion against the King
is VIGOROUSLY a purely Entente affair
the Greek sympathizers constituting
about l per cent of the Greek popula-
tion-and that l per cent Of traitors tc
their King and country made up oil
the riffraf of the inhabitants-and the
cables in connection with this popular
upheava" being concocted in the En-
tente's military headquarters in Greece
Il must also be borne in mind tna'
the presence Of Bulgar troops on Grees
territory is due to the presence OF Al
lied troops on the same territory. Fol
the immense majority OF Greeks hlnl
Constantine is a great leader and ar
ardent patriot, certainly the equal o.
King Albert OF Belgium. England hon
ors and respects small nations only
when il is convenient for her 20 do so
R. DELYANNlS.
New York, Oct. 10, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
To the Editor of The Tribune.


Sir: Mr.. Wilson's excuse committee,
in It's Hand Book. says that the capital
Of Mexico is in New York. II that were
true. the Mexicans would be lot bet
ter off than we, who have to mind the
dictates Of one Venustiano Carranza'
located in Mexico City, who seems TO
have completely bluffed what we used
to consider our government.
This handy book states that our
troops were withdrawn from Vera Cruz
so that constitutional government
could be established. Where, pray
tell, did they expect that "constitu-
tional government" TO come from
Did they expect it to fall from Heaven
Does Mr.. Wilson really think that be-
cause Carranza adopted Constitution
alist" as the name Of his faction
he is dispensing government from the
Mexican constitution? Has he not yet
found out, in four years dealing with
that country, that their catchy notices
have to be discounted like their cur
rency, and are worth about cent on
the dollar? The only use Carranza has
made of his constitution so far Is TO
issue DEGREES that are contrary to 1t.
Mr.. Wilson seems to take Carranzas
constitutional" gag about as seriously
as he does the cry Of liberty" that the
bandits are putting up as they roam
over the country, helping themselves 70
whatsoever they please. They want no
one but themselves to have any liberty.
Mr.. Wilson's sympathy, however, seems
to be with the bandits, because Of this
kind Of liberty they are whooping
about, and he offers no assistance TO
the great mass Of the Mexican people,
who are peaceable and aw-abiding and
are suffered to endure this bandit
scourge.
This handy Wilson excuse book, as
an excuse for not protecting American
lives and property, states that Mr..
Wilson was guided, In a way, by the
precedent set by the Taft administra-
ton. At the last Presidential election
did the American people voice their
approval Of the way Mr.. Taft handled
the Mexican situation7 Did they elect
Mr.. Wilson TO continue that policy
Did not Mr.. Wilson roam over this
country, telling US how differently he
was going to do, If elected, and how
no would protect American lives and
property in foreign countries?
They also quote what Abraham LIN
coin said about intervening in Mexico
This is a piece Of deception, pure and
simple, as the case then was entirely
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
Foolish Ducks
From The Boston Herald

fFTOU Inc BOSTON HNfHtNsi
When we marvel It the annual MI
grafton of the birds and at the I'M
erring instinct that leads the pigeon
back hundreds Of miles 70 the home
loft. there Is some consolation for
those Of us who enjoy exalting human
intelligence in remembering that all
birds are not wise or wonderful. There
are the ducks of the Cape Cod and
Nantucket region, for example. One OF
the mysteries of every winter is why
thousands of ducks persist in staying
there and dying of cold and starvation
when a short flight southwark would
bring them to regions Of comfort and
abundance The Massachusetts, Game
Commission Is listening to the plea OF
sportsmen who urge that II the open
season is extended through the early
winter the shooting will tend to keep
the flocks in motion and thus perhaps
send them TO the southwark.
Under existing conditions January
finds great flocks of ducks on the mud
flats Of Southeastern Massachusetts,,
mainland and islands. The law pro-
tects them. Food is abundant there
as long as the season is mild. Soon,
however, the biting northern winds
cover the feeding grounds with sheets
of ice. Do the birds go to Maryland
or the Carolinas, as sensible birds
would do? They do nothing Of the
kind. They hunt vainly for food on
the frozen fats and marshes near by
until thousands die Of starvation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
Why, Oh, Why2

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Under the frank of Frank h.
Doremus, OF Michigan, recently re-
ceived a copy of the platform of the
Democratic party, and also a copy OF
the address made by Martin II. Glynn
at the Democratic convention at st,
Louis. On the envelope inclosing the
copy Of the Democratic platform II
says the platform was printed in The
Congressional Record" on June II, 1916
and on the other envelope that the
speech of Mr.. Glynn was printed In
the Record" June Is, 1915.
II struck me as strange, as neither
had the remotest connection with Con-
gressional or government action. II
this is permissible, why cannot an ad-
vertisement or a religious address, or
in fact, ANY old thing" be placed in
the Record" and franked?
II seems to me the rules In regard
70 matter to be published In The
Congressional Record" should be re-
vised and radical changes made.
Why should our government pay FOR
printing and disseminating partisan po-
litical NATTER g. c. Il. STILES.
Brooklyn. Oct. 10, 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
What France Did for Us
. Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have this moment finished
reading your editorial on the death OF
Norman Prince, Chapman and Rockwell.
II has greatly thrilled me. as feel 1t
must every one whose ancestors fought
in the Revolution and have love and
appreciation Of all France did for US
at that time. It is undoubtedly true
we would not have gained our indepen-
dence at that time had it not been for
her great help.
The thought entered my mind. as
read your article, that many Americans
would like to have the pleasure of sub
scribing to a monument TO be raised TO
these great, young men. who not only
have shown themselves physically
brave, but spiritually so. giving up
their lives for the principles OF lib
erty. They deserve the finest monu-
ment that can be erected as lesson TO
the youth of our country. Could you
not open subscription fund and keep
IL open until the close of the war. in
case the names OF other brave lads
should have to be inscribed upon II!
ELLEN MCGOWAN BlDDLE.
Xashinxtop. ID, &. Oct II. 1919
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
No Longer a Stranger

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: | read with much interest the
letter printed in yesterdays paper
called Unhappy Sailors
As a business man who caters to the
enlisted men Of the navy only, | dis
rgree with the writer on several points.
She writes that those who cater to the
bluejackets' trade are those who have
an eye to large observation-disclosures,
girls Of the street, etc.
The sailor Of to-day Is no longer a
stranger to the real American. lie is
now invited to their homes and meets
their families. lie no longer frequents
the saloon.
OF course | admit there are other
bluejackets who still associate with
those who have designs upon their pay
only. Very few do we find OF this class
to-day. The respectable enlisted man
is respected by the real American.
DAVID ARONSON.
Rranklvn. Dat Ia lQl6
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19

hold interest without making any de-
mands upon the attention, something
which will dissolve all the complex
problems of life in the simple beatifc
intuition of sweet sixteen.
Much has been said Of late about
the long hoped for "Great American
Novel," But it is feared that such a
book, even If we had any one who
could write it, dealing as it must
with the wido-awake struggle for ex-
istence in the modern world, and
handling as il must the sharp edge OF
realities, would send chill shlver
under our counterpanes and find lit
tie favor with a reading public
which dislikes any abrupt transition
from a snug, warm resting place to
the cold gray dawn outside.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
For the Children of France

tFrOm The PhflddeIphid Led0efl
Henri Lavedan, the famous French
Academician, rose TO the greatest
heights of his career in his series OF
war impressions, entitled "The Great
Moments" when he discussed the
youth Of the Land" He pointed out
that all the fighting, all the sacrifices,
all the heroism in the field, at sea and
at home were for one purpose only, TO
perpetuate the nation, and therefore
the war was sacred and solemn
obligation, carried on solely for the
children of France, that they might be
secured from the menace of those
things within and without that their
fathers struggled with. That the chill
dren of France are worth fighting Tor
none denies, therefore the proposed
charity in the name Of Lafayette that
would raise s130,000,0 900 in this country
for a fund for the support Of the
French children made fathcrless and
destitute through the war IL not only
magnificent in its conception but noble
in its object. While the amount seems
to be too large to be realized even IN
fifteen years, the time set, still there liz
nothing like hitching your wagon TO
star; and it is about time we did some
thing on a commensurate scale In the
way of return for what France did for
US in the Revolution. Let the children
of America plead with their elders that
thew do this great thing not only out
Of gratitude for help in our hour OF
trial, but because Of the pressing need
to the world at large that France shall
live on through her brave and suffering
youth who have been tried as in re-
fner'e fire
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
MEXICAN NOTICES LIKE CURRENCY
Subject to Huge Discount but Mr. Wilson Fails to Realize
When He Accepts Carranzas Constitutiona'm at ace
Value-How the President Differs from Lincoln

different from now. At that time there
were few Americans in Mexico. 1t was
before the day Of railroads and the ad-
vent of American enterprise in that
country. There was no question, at
that time, as TO the protection OF
American lives and property; it was
only Of a disturbed condition in that
country Of which he spoke. Here Is
another thing that Lincoln said which
would At Mr.. Wilson's case much bet
ter. but which was omitted from the
Hand Book: "You can fool all the peo-
pie some Of the time, and some Of the
people all the time, but you can't fool
all the people ell the time"
But, shades Of Mosesl Think OF
comparing Mr.. Wilson, who unblush-
ingly neglected to protect American
lives and rights, with Abraham Lincoln,
who unfinchingly protected them.
Have any readers stopped to think
that IL Woodrow Wilson had been
President in the time Of James X. Polk,
and we had had Woodrow Wilson's ever
since, New Mexico, Arizona and Cali,
fornia (Which would still be part Of
Mexico) would to-day be bandit infest-
ed wastes, soaked with blood and reek-
ing with crime?
Polk, Scott and Taylor had better VI
sion than Woodrow Wilson. But what
would they think II they could see the
shameful situation Of to-day!
We're camping now on sacred ground,
Down on the Rio Grsnde.
We're on the famous battlefield,
Where Taylor made his stand.
They tell US they're not wanting war,
But cant tell you how
They think It would be any worse
Than this unseemly row.
we're ready now to do or die,
Like Taylor and his men.
We're Just as true, and ready, too.
As brave as they were then.
They fought and bled, and died, and
won,
immortal 10 their mama
We're willing now, as they wers then,
And We can do tho Same.
They've trsmpled down our starry nag
Across the Rio Grsnde.
They've killed our men, and women fair
Insult on every hand.
Here, now, they're wriggling, squirmins
out,
Not acting brave, you must allow,
And what would Scott and Taylor think
II they could see us now!
J. H. DOWNIE.
Somewhere in Texas" Oct IL, 1915
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
Reading in Bed.

The habit of doing in bed is made
the subject Of clever little essay by
an anonymous writer in the current
number Of 1.-THE Atlantic" The
writer treats Of that borderland Of
home made dreams, the comfortable,
irresponsible state of half-awakeness
in which the balance between sense
and oblivion defes analysis. Lying
in bed" he says, being a halfway
house between sleeping and waking,
and the mind equally Indifferent to
logic and exact realism, the lier-in-
bed can and does create his own
dreams. The fine art of
lying in bed consists largely in cult
waiting that inward eye with which
Wordsworth saw the daffodils."
Whether the habit Of reading In
bed is more prevalent now than it
was a generation ago is question.
The fact that most bedrooms are
now steam heated and electric lighted
is certainly conducive to the prac-
tice. Anyway, It can hardly be de-
MED that our "best sellers" and pop
ular magazines are admirably suited
TO this "now I lay me down to sleep"
frame of mind. In such state the
mind is uncritical, credulous, relaxed
and uninterested in the pursuit OF
correct information. 1t shrinks from
anything which points toward actual
affairs or demands effort. II seeks
not truth, but an anesthetic. 1t de-
sires an easy optimism in which 1t
can close its eyes in peace; fantasy
Of life in which goodness, heroism
and even wisdom happen not by
struggle and discipline, but by magic.
Consciousness sinks into sweet OBJ
livion when finally Pippa trips light
ly over the last receding states Of
wakefulness, with her song,
God is in His Heaven,
All's right with the world"
Formerly, Browning, Tennyson,
Scott and delightfully."- loquacious old
Anthony Trollope were very popular
az sedatives. DR.. Crothers recon-
mends the reading Of "The Congress
sional Record" for the same purpose.
But such writings are too tedious for
US. Their mildness and frequent
monotony demand attention and get
on our nerves. Such a soporific is
too mild for the tired business man
or distracted club woman Of to-day.
The demand is for an intellectual
Knockout drop. something which will
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
AT VALLEY FORGE
Mr.. Bakers Comparison Leads
Americans to Shade Their Eyes

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The present Secretary OF War
has forgotten some things relating to
the army which made the march to
Valley Forge that he might well have
remembered.
One Of the leading generals OF that
army having q large command was
General Muhlenberg. the Virginia
clergyman who during his last sermon
threw of his gown and appeared in the
uniform Of a Virginia colonel. IL any
one who served or who ever had served
Under him would have taken the silver
vessels out of the churches and sold
them to buy drink" or would have
driven ministers out Of the churches,
he could only have repented 1t in the
next world, for no time would have
been allowed him to repent 1t In this.
IL the money the soldiers had was
worthless" II was not the soldiers but
the Uniformed government that made it
so, and II they we're "just as bad char
acters as the Mexicans" Mr.. Baker
measures by a different standard from
that adopted by the rest Of his country
men.
The army at Valley Forge was COM
posed of our best troops. Just before
breaking camp near the Schuylkill 1t
had been joined by Morgan and his
splendid rihemen coming from their
triumph at Saratoga. In the ranks OF
the infantry that formed the body OF
that army was John Marshall, who be-
came Chief Justice of the United
States; James Madison and James Mon
roe, not to mention those OF higher
military rank, but among them all
there were no "ragamutfins" nor those
generally worthless" They not only
did not disregard American life and
property" but respected that which
alone makes life and property worth
having. Among them was General
Henry Knox, a Valley Forge soldier,
who afterward became the first Secre-
tary of War Of the United States.
The comparison which this suggests
leads US to shade our eyes. The deeds
OF the men at Valley Forge furnish q
sufficient answer to those who revile
them. Unlike what We see In so many
quarters to-day, they refused to buy
case at the price Of honor. They pub
lished TO the world but one declaration,
but they meant 1t, and Its enforce
ment gave us this nation.
EDMUND WETMORE.
New York, Oct. IS, 1916.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-19
Secret Agents.

Truth, we know, is olIen stranger
than fiction, but it Is rarely half as
romantic. Generally, however, the
two become mixed in the memory,
and the result is what is popularity
known as q knowledge of facts.
Take the secret agent, for instance.
Before the war broke out there was
hardly a novel reader in this coun-
try who did not know more about
secret agents and their ways than
did all the chancelleries in Christen-
dom and Asia. The head and brains
Ct the enterprise was always
woman. beautiful, brilliant, fascinat-
ing. She came, she saw, she all but
conquered, for here at least fiction
has always been true to fact. In the
end the conspirators failed.
And there were the secret ciphers,
ard the KEYS to them, and hanscms,
and later taxicabs, and surprise Wis
it. at midnight to lonely houses,
blindfoldings, gaggings and kidnap-
pings, gun play full Of thrills-then
a sudden switching on of the light:
"The game is up, 'Nastasia lvanov-
skaia." Fooled again" said she.
Now, what are the facts as the
last two years have revealed them?
Never a woman, beautiful, brilliant,
fascinating, in the whole bag Of
tricks. Never a gun play, ncr a
taxicab, a gag or a forbidding, dark
mansion. Never cipher code even,
for the greatest find Of all was in
lcng hand. 1t was not taken fway
from the agent after a desperate
struggle. 1t was not even lost in a
taxicab. 1t was left behind in an
elevated railroad car.
international espionage needs the
inventiveness of the fictionist to
make it romantic. DR.. Armgaard
Graves understood this when hc be-
gan to market his revelations
But he went little too far, even for
cur avidity and receptivity Of ro-
nance, when he exposed the German
plot to blow up the locks Of the sea-
level Suez Canal.
The resourceful Mr.. Lincoln capt
ured our imagination with what he
did far more than with what he
wrote. His escape from custody
ceme nearer to the real article, as
we have come TO know it through
fiction, than anything else tina. has
/ Happened in the last two years in
zeal life. And the creature calling
himself Won der Goltz was laughed
81 by American common sense when
he claimed relationship with that
/ distinguished family.
Have the noveists learned their
/ lesson? Indeed not, and we are glad
Of it. They are more irresponsibly
romantic than ever. The lady car
rying the cipher message from Paris
t. the French Embassy in Washing
ton is tripped in the Pennsylvania
Railroad Station. She is taken TO a
hospital, intrusting the document to
fellow passenger, a woman. Nc
sooner has this lady reached Wash
irgton than she is inveigled into q
cab, gagged, abducted. But she man
ages TO slip the cipher message out
Of her bag. 1t is left behind un-
rcticed by her captofs when they
| cnrrv her into the forbiddinQ looking