davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1916-12-23
"BELLISONANT'?
A Request That Mr.. Dewell Define
His Characterization.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr' Mr..
James d. Dewell. Jr.. says that chewing
gum does not interfere with womans
"bellisonant" voice. could not find
this word In the dictionary and would
like to know just what he means
had quite a discussion with another per-
son regarding II. one OF us maintaining
il meant bell toned" or soft" and
the other saying it meant "war sound
Ing" or cloud" II may be that the
word "bellisonant" means "war sound
ing" or "threatening." but Il II used cor
rectly in this instance? womans voice
is seldom spoken of as being loud. harsh
or war sounding. r. NJ o.
PAssAic, N. j.. December 20.
The sun., 1916-12-23
NATIONAL GUARD GUNNERS.
A New York Officers Criticisms ol
Bay state Batteries Resented.
70 THE EpiroR OF Tur SrN--sr

To THE EpiroR or THE SrS--Str.
clipping from THE SuN OF Novcmher
regarding cunners' rating. the headue
being Gun Ratings Anger Guardsmen
Of New York." having been sent me, 10
may interest your military readers 90
know the facts.
AS to statement that the me'h0'
OF marking is unfair. !, is m al sid..
so far as my knowledge goes. agrco.
that better and more equitable sy.
TEN could and should bc used y So
York National Guard officer is quoted
as saying that he has served Tor ySiI-
with men who knew how 20 handle tho.
guns better and knew uuis about pr,
teal mechanics than any of the Nc7
England militiameu.' That Is ratht
large bill for any battery 10 Al I
Is true that the Boston battery tro'
Boston batteries. since there has ney'
heen more than ono of the field ar''''er
type) is made M largely Of college ~.
but these men have cNcelled In ire 'e.'-
required by the militia bureau have
served their bit. all that has been askea
OF them. on the border; and n all sc.
counts received are true they have
served II AT least with rs much crei
rs any National Guard batteries Bat
terry A Of Boston was considered tte
best battery that ever came to t1r
Tobyhanna school.
The officer says that "you could take
country battery with headquarters 70
some small Massachusetts tnwn and fnI
plenty OF men who have been hanging
around for a long time" The oF'osr =
evidently ignorant OF the "smal, town
IN which the Massachusetts batteries a-a
located. All of these small towns" aye
cities. Boston, 763.5o9 population Rat.
terry \: Worcester lG6.785 popultt.oc,
| Battery Il; Lawrence, al.3li population,
Battery e; Lynn, Salem and Rcver'
l6o,o29 population. Batteries n + az
+, The Latter three batteries have been
| formed within the year
Your informant seems 10 he ,.a'ous
I OF the showing that Massachusetts, made
since he says nothing about batteries ~
Rhode Island. l'Iah. Minnesota Penn.
sylvania. New Mexico ard lllro,s al
rated above New Works hcst.
The New York batteries may ne as
good as this retired officer would make
out. but 1t seems remarkable th1' the
record shows no "rcrlinratrs ~ rrod-
! cheney OF officers and non-comn ss.onei
officers, no Eunnrrs ~ any class '.r GU
sections or for special details"
Regarding the wonderful challenge TO
Outright, outshuo, and ou'mun a n,
Massachusetts ORGANIZATIONS. nr 'N "as
not accepted, nothing was heard In p
| PaSo OF suCh a thal,ougc tNl U. o.. : %
The sun., 1916-12-23
The Block signal Set ut Danger.

Beginning to-day the Ford Motor
Company closes its Detroit plant for
a week. The loss in production IL ap-
proximately 1850 cars Of a value Of
perhaps $7,OOO,OOO. Forty-two thou
sand men are made idle. Their
weeks wage Is 81 100000.
This occurs because the railways
entering Detroit are congested. Mr..
FoRD's products have to await the
transport Of food and fuel, which of
course must be moved first.
Such industrial dislocations will be-
come everyday affairs II something Is
not done soon to ameliorate the har-
assing conditions under which the
railways Of the country struggle to
serve the country's needs.
The sun., 1916-12-23
Census "Estimates Of Population. ("

At regularly recurrent intervals
this nation is blessed with compila-
tions Of alleged population statistics
from the Census Bureau Mt Washing
ton which to the careless reader ap-
pear to mean something. The fact
Is that they have as much signiti-
canoe as the distractions of any COM
petent mathematiclan, and are worth
less except as they provide harmless
amusement for persons who have
nothing better to do than to study
them. The latest Of these cOmputa-
tions occupies half column In the
Erening Post, and contains the SUBJ
joined Illuminating declarations:
"The population Of the United States
continues to shift to ne cities. accord
ing to estimates announced to-day by
the Census Bureau.
"The estimates. based on the rate of
population increases from 1900 to 1910.
disclosed that 400 per cent. Of the coun-
try's inhabitants now live in cities of
| more than 5000. as against $50 per
cent. in 1910.
"The entire population OF continental
United States for 1915 has already been
estimated at 102.017.3l2.
THE total in the States. Territories
and United States possessions is put
at ll2,444,62O.
1.-THE populations of some leading cities
as estimated to-day are: New York
5,6O2.sI; Chicago. 2.497,722; Philadel.
phia, l.7O9,51S: st. Louis. 757.30s; Bos.
ton. 756.476; Cleveland. 674,O73; Balti.
more. 5s9.621: Pittsburg. $4,000; De.
troit, 57l,7s4; Buffalo, 46s,55s; sar
Francisco. 463,516; Milwaukee. 436.535
Cincinnati. 4lO.47s; Newark. lOs.s94
New Orleans. s71.747; Washington. $685.,
$50; Minneapolis. ss3,454; Seattle. 34s..
639; Jersey City. 3O6345: Kansas City
?e7.s47; Portland, Ore. 2s5.46a; Indian
apoiis. 27I.7os; Denver. 26o,sO0; Roch
ester, 256,417; Providence. 254,s60
st. Paul. 247.232; Louisville. 23s.s10
Columbus. 2l4.s7s; Oakland. 1sl,eO4
Toledo. 1855; Atlanta, ls0.55s; Blr
mingham. 1sl.762: Omaha, 1s5.47o
Worcester. 163.31+; Richmond. 15S.ss7.'
These figures look very impressive
But they are Of the slightest impor
tance. Their purely hypothetical na
ture is revealed by their sponsors
who are quoted thus:
Census ofIieials were careful to ex
plain that these estimates do not TAX
into consideration local conditions. an
that they are based solely on the rat
Of the population increase or decreas
, in the past"
! In other words, anybody who ha
, the requisite training In arithmetl
3 and the time to waste can 60 throug
= the operations of subtraction. mutt
B piicatiOn and addition that are PEI
= formed In the Census Bureau and oil
tain the same results that are n
r forth therefrOm with such show {
The sun., 1916-12-23

who speaks perfect English. used the
word 'shair in place Of 'wiii'f
II shall be very glad to have your
opinion. as It changes the whole sense
Of the interview. H.
"PHrLApELPHIA, December 81"
Our correspondent is right in his
rating Of the German Ambassadors
English, for Count Won BERNsroRFr
speaks our language admirably for
one not born to Its use, and he under
stands It even better than he speaks
1t. None of the refinements Of Eng
lish expression, none Of the sinuosi-
ties Of half concealed meaning, not
even any Of the slantendicular phrases
Of half truth, escapes his acute and
alert intelligence.
Our correspondent Is also techni-
cally right in his criticism Of the
German Ambassador for employing
the word twill" when "shall" was in
dicated by the sense to be conveyed.
1t must be remembered, however, that
Count Won BERNsToRFF has been much
in the company Of President WILSON
Of late; and that the President, who
is superior, ex officio. to the rules Of
syntax, is especially unconventional
in his use Of wills and shalls.
We do not for a moment believe
that the germ of this solecism has
infected the German Ambassadors
English. We discern, rather. a diplo-
matte intention and perhaps a deli
cate personal compliment In his adop-
tion Of the Presidential style.
The sun., 1916-12-23
Our Obseurer Islands.

The purchase Of the Danish West
Indies, while giving general satisfac-
tion to the people Of this country.
does not advance the solution Of the
formidable difficulty which has long
confronted patriotic American story
tellers. We refer to the amazing pau
city Of information regarding various
little islands already possessed by the
United States.
Hawaii. the Philippines. American
Samoa. even Guam, are all very well,
but their size and population make
them distinctly 'unsuited to the chief
rquirement Of fctioneers, which Is
not an exotic atmosphere-that can
be supplied-but a certain Crusoelike
quality in short. desert islands. And
If the hero Is to be young and hand
some American naval officer his ap-
pearance on the scene cannot well be
accounted for unless he comes to
plant the American flag and take pos
session in the name Of Uncle SAM.
Now there are plenty of rocks and
coral reefs in the Pacific which belong
to this country. but the ordinary ref
erence books do not even name them
completely. A few may be recalled
offhand; for example, Wake. How
land, Baker. Palmyra, Christmas.
Marcus, Johnston, Gardner. Gnllego.
Starbuck. Penrhyn, Phoenix and Mo-
rell. How is a novelist to utilize
these places in the absence Of facts
about them? II he gives his imagi-
nation rein, some one who has been
to the spot will turn up and contra
dict him, the exposure will be In
serted. in the Congregational Record
and the authors reputation will be
gone forever.
There was recently case In which
the novelist carefully picked out
Baker Island for his setting. 1t
seemed to fulfil all the requirements.
He could find out absolutely nothing
about 1t. but then. neither could any
one else. The exigencies OF the plot
required the heroine to run five miles
in an effort to escape the unwelcOme
attentions Of the villain. who alone
with her had been spared from the
shipwreck. At the last moment, when
serial publication had nearly been be.
gun and when the first episode had
already been released on the films, the
author made the sickening discovery
that Baker Island contains only abou,
three-quarters Of a square mile. Sc
he stopped the camera man and took
to drink, and both he and the heroine
were drowned.
Some time earlier a writer with les.
excuse placed his pair on Midway
Island, an interesting spot 2,702 mile.
from San Francisco. They were ab
solutely alone, and everything hinged
upon that point The scenario wa.
abandoned when the writer found ou
that Midway is a cable station inhab
tied by about forty persons, mostl!
telegrnphers. who were ready to re
lay events to the rest Of the wOrl,
before they could properly be un
folded. Had this writer resorted {,
the device Of the Greek chorus h
might have salvaged something iron
the ruin.
There have been other instances
but these two will suffice. While W
are adding to our insular possessions
why not provide exact and accessible
information about such islands as W
already have?
The sun., 1916-12-23
THE JANIT0R'S GRAFT.
Managers Of First Glass Properties
Refuse to Tolerate II.

To THE EpIroR OF THE SuN-Sir: There
Is an editorial article in THE SrN OF De-
ccmber 81 TO which ! take great eXcep-
ton, II Is headed "PerQuisites OF the
Superintendent. Ex-Janitor." and II re-
fers TO the discussion which has arisen
lately as TO the grating ny superin-
tendents in modern apartment houses
on the various tradesmen who supply
the tenants in the buildings. This prac-
tice may exist In some OF the old fash
loned fats operated by small owners
and i'm the minds OF the editors of comic
papers. but I can assure you from first
hand knowledge tina, 1t does not exist in
the modern high class structures IN
charge of reputable agents or estates
and individuals of standing. At least,
certainly not with their knowledge. as
stated in this article
We make specially OF the manage
ment Of high class apartment houses
on Fifth and Park avenues and adjacent
side streets. and have between thirty
and forty in our charge. We have con-
stantly recognized the possibility OF
grating by superintendents, and every
superintendent In our employ knows
that II he is caught In the act OF ac-
cepting any gratuities from tradesmen
90 g., ,r,.,ry N influence the tenants
nrrch,s.s his serv,ces will Immediately
be dispensed with.
Owing to the discussion recently In
the papers We have again sent out to
all OF our superintcndents the following
notice:
In connection WIN 'ne atur'es apps,
ing IN 'h' '"''u. -" -,
re'e''" ,,,l,,, 80 ,,a'. I'm, 70 IN.
l., -, =, o,,r L,ox,edye and bci.f such
| conditions do not exist in the buildings
under our control
lfsny Of our tenants will quot" Instances
| whore superintendent mas "'en :" AZ.
tract 'heir p",rohnke ",h sup' III
VIII DE '''''"e''''''
In addition to these precautions We
have exhausted every means for the dis
Covery of the existence or this EVIL ana
feel quite certain that Il has practically
ceased to exist. We are not alone IN
this stand and feel that all other hlgh
class agents and owners are striving
for the same end.
The competition for the business OF
management is so Keen that II the COM
petitor could show the owner that his
superintendent was practising this means
for increasing his income the owner 5
representative would probably lose the
business,
Superintendenis are not III" poorly
paid employees that you suggest. who
must eke out their existence by Other
means should say that the average
wages paid our superintendents are over
The sun., 1916-12-23

Who but a Juvenal could do justice
to the slippery sloppery facts OF this
villages street condition this week?
QuINTUs F1AccUs Is too mannerly TO
be adequate. It's hard to believe
"aptissima queque dabunt di'' when
we've plus aloes guam mellis" in our
cup OF weather ''inde caput morbi."
but "nunquam aliud natura. aliud
sapientia dixit." How much OF a
soaking can wisdom stand?
The sun., 1916-12-23
Not u Meal, Not Even a COLLATION..

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sr. In
your interesting editorial article on
"Americas Most Famous Meals" con-
fess to surprise at the absence even In
honorable mention Of good DR.. Lyman
Abbotts second cup Of coffee NJ X.
NEW York, December 22.
The sun., 1916-12-23
In Extenusti0n OF German DipIO-
mats Small Sin.

A friend In Philadelphia submits
this case:
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sir: For
a ereat number Of years I have taken
THE SUN and am q firm believer In the
old saying. II you zee It In THl Sun
IT'S so.'
This morning you quote Count vos'
BxaNsrosSs ~ sayins: Nov am per.
fectiy convinced that We will have q
conference
DO you not think the AMBASSADOR
The sun., 1916-12-23

Delay in getting letter boxes for
this town 10 explained ~ ~due to
inability to meet the wishes Of the
New York Art Commission" Tho
poet knew what he was talking about
when he said: Art 10 long. and time
Is fleeting."
The sun., 1916-12-23

Mrs Knioker-what did your husband
give your
Mrs Bocksr-scms frightfully cheap
cigarettes
The sun., 1916-12-23

An exploring expedition under gov
ernmental auspices to find out where
the stock ticker ticks might have an
interesting experience.
The sun., 1916-12-23

Perhaps some Of the Wall Street
brokers. moved to compassion by the
plight Of their customers, will give
bonuses to sold out speculators.
The sun., 1916-12-23

Mr.. LANsING's predecessor as Sec
retary OF state may be compelled TO
admit eventually that he doesn't hold
the record for indiscretion.
The sun., 1916-12-23

Fr0ra fkS Soata Ana Riade,
The nest Of tho sertss Of university ex-
tension lectures TO be given ct San Diego
vili be on the subject; "Raja Yogs YER.
sus Hsth> yS0a"
The sun., 1916-12-23

The supposed lack OF shipping facili-
ties to South America is n fallacy which
dies hard, THE SrN ought to help kill
II. FRANKLIN JOHNSTON,
Publisher American Exporter
NEW YORK December FL
The sun., 1916-12-23

Newton discovered what made the apple
fall.
"Rumors OF pace" hs announced.
The sun., 1916-12-23

Goodness Gracious. Pasaaic.
Hsodiine Passdto Dolly News.
Annual sals Of Congressional Women
Te-msrroW.
The sun., 1916-12-23

There must he moments when Cali
fornia wonders why she did II.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07

A scientific journal tells this story
of a frogs cunning: "A brood of
chickens was fed with moistened meal
in saucers and when the dough soured
a little II attracted large number OF
flies. An observant toad had evi-
IDENTIFY noticed this, and every day
toward evening he would make his
appearance in the yard, hop to a
saucer, climb in and roll over and
over until he was covered with meal,
having done which he awaited devel-
opments The flies, enticed by the
smell, soon swarmed around the
scheming batrachian and, when one
PASSED within two inches or SO of his
nose, his tongue darted out and the
fly disappeared. This plan worked so
well that the toad made a regular
business of It."
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07


dimes with us tomorrow? Who helps
us to be thankful we have mince pie
and turkey to eat?"
Aunt Mary and Uncle joe"
They're not new-not exciting.
Who else?''
Helena Taylor" added the mother,
looking keenly at her son.
|. And her husband?" Philip half
asked, half declared.
His mother shook her head. mot
this year" she said. Then, suddenly,
she rose And | have much to do,
dear. The day before Thanksgiving
Is busy day for good housekeeper.
my boy"
And you're all of that" Philip
called after her as she disappeared
through the doorway.
The tall young officer studied the
end of his cigar. Then he pulled two
or three deliberate, thoughtful puffs
and leaned back in his chair.
Helena Taylor. Ell? It's three
years tomorrow since she and | met.
II mother really wants me to marry,
she had better stop asking Helena
here. She spells all other women for
me. | cannot marry for years after
I've seen her. What a pity she mar
ried that fellowl Nice enough chap
Bob, but"
His soliloquy led him always to the
same resuk-a figurative cry over
the milk that was spilled. The girl
had married another man while he
was on his midshipman cruise and he
woman.
A lifetime friend of the family and
an orphan, Helena Madison had al
ways been a guest In the Roland
homestead during holidays, and after
she married a townsman 1t was nat
ural that her husband should be in
cluded In the invitation. And after
Philip left home 1t was the same;
she came as often as ever and the
mother never knew of the effect her
marriage had had on her SON. Al
ways unconscious of IL, she had made
It a point to ask the girl to the little
reunions of old friends she planned
for Philips homecoming.
This year there had been so much
gathering. but-Helena was coming
to take her old place at the Thanks
giving table. In the last year the
mother had learned much, but her
son was ignorant of her fuller knowl-
edge Of his life.
II she knew now with what mixed
emotions the young man waited the
coming OF the great feast day. she
did not show It. Nor did she be-
tray the secret she was holding in her
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
An officers
Thanks
By Dorothy BIockmore

loopyrsht, 1910. By Associated Literary Press,
'Ill finish this year at the academy
take one more cruise, mother, and
then you may pick out a girl for
me-"
Lieut.. Philip Roland said this half
jestingly, half seriously. He had
come home for the holiday and was
sitting with his mother in the con
servatory opening from the great New
England dining room of the old home
stead.
That's what you always say, my
boy" Mrs. Roland replied. And,
mind you. Phil. the only reason |
want you to marry at all is SO that
you will settle down In some port
this side of China and be able to
get home oftener than you do"
The young man placed his hand
over his mothers. "A purely selfish
reason, Ell? Well, fifteen days in
five years isn't very good record
for a man with as good home as I
have, I'll admit. But-the navy's the
navy, mother"
Mrs. Roland nodded her head sage
ly. 7 know that" she sighed.
And yet I've been instructing In
the academy for three years." the
young man continued, half-apolo-
getic note In his voice; with only
summer cruises to break the mo-
notony. I've been teaching the young
Idea how to navigate and"
And stay away from his home"
the mother interrupted.
Perhaps; but not Intentionally,
mother
There was silence for few mo-
ments while the canary overhead
threw dodwn seed pods on the two.
Philip spoke at last. And who
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Must Have Object In Llf..

Life without pursuit is a vague and
languid thing.-Baeou.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Hopes Women viii
hdopt This Habit
Is Well As Men
1zzs4 o. bet water each morn
Irz hslps us look and feel
clean. sweet, fresh.

H&upy. bright, Advantageous and
xzHzIQu4-~4 GOOD clear skin; a nat
uni rosy complexion and freedom
U01U Illness are assured only by
cI111. healthy blood. II only every
w1E11n and 1lkewise every man could
rz4|Ize The Wonders OF the morning
iu1I1o hath. What a gratifying change
a1Ele14 a the thousands of sickiy,
- boxing men, women and
Win E1Hty or muddy complex
lc11; I@1le1d of the multitudes OF
nerve wrecks" "rundowns," brain
49, and peesimists we should seesa
xl<|Ie op<imistic throng of rosy
czt1k1d people everywhere.
A Iu1Ide hath Is had by drinking,
60 morning before breakfast, q
11411 a. real hot water with q tea
arQcu{Ql q limestone phosphate In It
u u<1h nom the stomach, liver, kid
nGy1 and ten yards of bowels the pre-
Ti6r4 1ay'n indigestible waste. sour
xeEmeut1kion6 and poisons, thus
cle414iuE. Hweetening and freshening
~ entire alimentary canal before
putting more food into the stomach.
These subject to sick headache. bill
fFlzz1ee9 nasty breath, rheumatism,
eaz4A: and particulary those who have
? ID 14llow complexion and who
azs cQestinnted very often, are
Az8ed to obtain a quarter pound Of
stone phosphate at the drug store
Hich viii cost but a trife but Is
elsnk 70 demonstrate the quick
- 4 rsrnza.able change in both health
"a appearing awaiting those who
practice An1aTnal sanitation. We must
enheE hat inside cleanliness is
fafe ilap0Ttant than outside, be
assae ths sAin does not absorb impur
za - cqnkaminate the blood, while
- uuEnH ii the thirty feet of bowels
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07

do you think you can support my
laughter in the style to which she
has become accustomed?" mo. sir,
but ! think can support her in the
style to which her mother had 20 be-
come accustomed when she got mar
ried.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Maaa Him Think =. DID

DO you feel that you are called on
70 do something for your fellow
msnr asked the indefatigable philan-
thropist. Il don't know whether am
o. not, answered the practical man,
but the unanimity with which my
fellowmen seem to expect it some
times makes me think that l am
Birmingham Age-Herald.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Doomed 70 Fail.

Seymour see that young Bidder
has gone into the chicken business.
Ashley-Has he? Well, he won't be
In IL long.
Seymour-Why not?
Ashley-Because he's color blind;
he couldn't tell a white leghorn from
a brown one.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Poor satIsfaetlon.

After trying al the advice she
could read how to reduce, all the sat
isfaction Miss Hortense McGhee got
was to have her friends look her over
and say How thin you're getting,
dear. Aren't you feeling weIl?"
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
just the Thlno.

Parke-"You know, | wish / had
some real occupation that knew was
going to take up a large part OF my
time for the rest Of my life" Lane
why don't you start lawsuit in New
York ?''-Life.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
A euIIefuI Girl.

She asked me to teach her to
skate"
Il taught her to skate last winter"
The deuce! Then she's fooling
me.
Don't take it that way. old fellow.
Maybe she thinks she needs a post
graduate course"
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Strong Temptation.

When a man has an idea that the
weight OF the world rests on his Shout
ders he is almost invariably tempted
to ! 'eis. regardless Of the risk OF up
sett : his precious luggage.
The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-07
Secret Of Superiority.

A mountain woman says the reason
Why we-uns knows SO much more than
you-uns is because we can't read so
much. So we think more.-W. A.
Bradley, in Harper's Magazine.