davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Ups and Downs in the U-Boat War

The uneasy questions addressed to the
First Lord of the Admiralty in the British
House of Commons this week may very
probably be attributed in part to popular
disappointment following the temporary
reduction in shipping losses during the
first two weeks Of November.
1t is true that warning against unwar-
ranted elation had already been given by
Sir Eric Geddes shortly after the an
nouncement that only one ship of over
1000 tons had been sunk in the week Of
November 5-11. 81 would earnestly beg
the House and the country" he said, mot
to be uplifted or cast down by one good or
bad week or month in tonnage sinkings."
1t was double warning, but the inevitable
effect of two exceptionally good weeks was
evidently TO cause undue depression at
return to the conditions the public had
been accustomed TO for long time.
In the last two weeks the sinkings have
not been much below the average of the
first nine months Of the intensified sub
marine war, and although the First Lord
said in his speech of November that, on
the best information he had, the Germans
were building their vessels faster than they
were losing them, yet it was apparently
hoped against reason that the reduction
would be maintained.
Ups and downs must be expected. The
difference that a single day may make in
a weeks toll was very clearly shown after
the most encouraging Of the returns was
published. A member Of Parliament, who
happens also to be a ship-owner, asked
how it happened that only one steamer
over 1900 tons was officially reported sunk
when underwriters we'll knew by Lloyds
lists that greater number had been lost.
He plainly intimated that the Admiralty
was deceiving the public, a suggestion
which was Of course denied with some
warmth. The explanation seems to be that
the Admiralty lists, published on Thurs
days, are closed at O'Clock or the Sunday
before, while Lloyds loss book closes at l
o'clock on Saturdays, the losses between
that time and the following Monday going
on Mondays list. Apparent inconsistencies
are therefore occasionally revealed in COM
pairing the two lists.
II is impossible to devise any plan Of
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
The Psychology of Disaster

II still causes US -combatantS shock
to read in war books the frank, almost non
chalant, fashion in which seasoned soldiers
take their sight of horrors. We reason the
thing out and state what is, of course, the
truth: that the human organism, even OF
the most sensitive type, has vast power
of adjustment to environment and can be-
come Injured to almost anything We rea-
son this out, but, as always in the effort OF
one human being to appreciate another
human being of different age or race or
sex or situation, our imaginations fail to
keep pace with our minds. We may un-
derstand the process, but we cannot visual
ize the fact.
Now, oddly enough, there lies before US
a quite parallel case in our own personal
experience. We mean the fashion in which
our minds and emotions have registered
the horror and tragedy Of the Halifax dis
aster. There were, let us say, $500 killed
in this catastrophe and perhaps as many
more injured. The casualties in the Brit
ish army for the month ended just before
the Byng attack were over 10000. On
any theory of just apportionment Of
sympathy and horror, there can be no
question which item holds the greater
tragedy. Yet, obviously, the normal Amer
lean was profoundly more moved by the
Halifax disaster.
Some allowance can be made for the
nearness Of Halifax to our own shore and
situation. The suddenness, the tragic
sweep of city ruined in an hour, plays
part in our appreciation Of the event and
in our reaction to it. Yet with these fac
tors discounted there still remains wide
discrepancy which can be explained only
by the prosaic fact that we have gradu-
ally, insensibly become accustomed, hard
ened to reading Of the toll of life In the
trenches of Europe, whereas the Halifax
catastrophe leaps up before our eyes,
fresh, strange and arresring.
This ability of humans to adjust them
selves to disaster may have its cynical side
in the eyes of some. But it is probably
the most useful Of all our gifts. Without
it we should all end up in hysteria or the
madhouse even under the ordinary blows
of i'll luck which in the pipingest times of
peace we cannot dodge. It is one Of our
mercies for which we can well be thankful.
May it's capacity never be exceeded in the
days TO come!
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
A Call for Wood Choppers
from The Ratland Herald


State Fuel Administrator Hugh J. NJ. Jones,
Of Montpelier. is making a serious appeal to
all Vermonters TO save coal and prepare for
the necessity of using wood for fuel
The method is simple enough-each citizen
to cut cord of wood himself, or order one
cut at his expense.
As "The Herald" has pointed out, there is
plenty of wood in Vermont woodlots, but the
whele problem is one of labor, and, unless
some Jail labor can be released and so EN-
ployed, it is squarely "up" to the citizen to do
his bit by personal effort
There are lot Of Vermonters whose work
keeps them indoors who would be much better
for the healthful exercise of pulling one end
of a crosscut saw or swinging an axe for an
hour or so each day, and there are plenty Of
owners of woodlots who would be glad to fur
nish the raw material-at a price
The difficulty lies in getting the man with
the unworked muscles and the man with the
unworked woodlot together.
Who is the first volunteer TO offer woodlot
to patriotic indoor workers who need abdomi.
nal reconstruction and whose arms and backs
and shoulders need development and strength.
ening?
Who's the first easy chair enthusiast 20
tackle his bit of cutting cord Of wood for
the good Of his country and the benefit of his
health
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Conserving the Migratory Birds

Interesting testimony regarding the ell
cacy of the Federal migratory bird law,
bitterly fought by groups of shortsignteu
hunters in various states, is that given Dy
George a. Lawler, of the United States
DEPARTMENT Of Agriculture. Four years
AGO. he saws, the game birds of the country
we're in danger of extinction Under the
differing game laws Of neighborng states
the birds might be shot-and were shot
on their annual flights north and south.
They we're shot, as Mr.. Lawler phrases H.
"pntil their course could be followed by
trail of empty shells on the ground" For
eleven months of the twelve they were
the prey of gunners somewhere on the
continent.
The migratory bird law of this country,
similar legislation in Canada and a treaty
between this country and Great Britain
we're adopted to put an end to this condi-
ton. which actually was threatening TO
send not only game birds, but valuable in
sect-eaters and feeders on seeds OF harmful
weeds the way of the passenger pigeon and
the great aux. The net result, according
TO this official, is that there is now stand
ardized shooting season Of three and
half months. Zones or belts Of states have
been laid out in which the open season is
the same, and the regulations of the FED
eral Department of Agriculture as to shoot
ing are enforced by the United States and
the state authorities working in conjunc-
ton. The shooting, Mr.. Lawler says, has
heen better this season than for twenty-five
years.
It is timely to have this beneficial oper-
alton of this wise conservation law pointed
out now. when endeavors are being made
70 break down the bars raised in a long pc
riod of hard work for the protection and
of the nations wild life. The
need exists for making avilable all possible
sources of food, it is true, and game is to
some extent a food supply. But it would
he shortsighted in the extreme, on the plea
of furnishing food, to make possible re-
turn to the old days when game was waste
fully slaughtered, in and out of breeding
season. What addition to the food supply
was thus obtained would not be material
aid to winning the war, but it would I'M
noverish the nation for many years to
come.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Hasty Sarcasm
(From The Boston Transcript
come.

(Fropt The Boston Transcript
Scot evidently uncanny, who was seen
walking few steps along the margin OF
French golf course with blond young officer
who then left him somewhat hastily, was met
. moment after by an awed friend, who asked
him: "Wel, how did you like the PRINCE Of
Wales" Never saw him." snapped the Scot
"But that was the Prince of Wales you were
inst talking with" "How was to know? ?"
said the Scotchman. ale said, 'Can | play
golf? and | just answered, 4 don't know
whether you can play golf, but the links are
there!"
In.smuch as Scotchman, whether canny
or uncanny, has profound respect for roy
atty, it is probable that this enc felt, after he
had discovered his mistake, very much as the
crusty old negro who long and checklessly
guarded the hats at the Hotel Chamberin, at
Old Pcint, did after his little interview with
President Roosevelt. 1t was the ColonePs first
visit to the hotel, at least since his Presi-
dency. When he went into the dining room
he handed his hat to the old colored man, and
when he came out he received it back in
proper order And no check "But how do
you know that's my hat?" said the President.
"I dort know it's yo' hat, ,,h," said the Gus
todisn; al jes' know it's de hat you glib me
when you come in" As the negro was an in
tense sdmirer of Roosevelt, he was overcome,
when some one told him who owned the hat,
with . sense of having got hi. joke Off once
too often.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Young America in the War
Our Training Camps a Triumph of
Efficiency and Democracy
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Henry Ford says, and truly, Young
Americans need discipline and We are glad
that. they are now getting it and heap
besides in our great training camps, which
are such a triumph of efficiency and democ
racy.
And It is these great schools OF the sell
der that are fitting our boys TO strike such
a blow az will prove our type Of democracy
is equal to every demand the world is making
on il to-day.
And as Fernau says in his Coming Democ-
racy," Onward to democracy will and must
be the battle cry Of Europe, and of Germany
in particular" =
Camps like that at Plattsburg have shown
a triumph for efficiency and studiousness in
respect 10 the intellectual and physical Mt
ness of our coming leaders, and it is equally
true that genuine democratic principles have
been dominant in the training and selection
of these new officers, upon whom so much de-
pends in the successful prosecution OF this
war.
II is on the line. of political Christianity,
fellowship and service these young men are
going forth to do battle for the worlds sal
vation, and they cannot fail, for their ideal
is based on the eternal laws of justice and
IL.
shaping this nation not only for world re-
lation., but for world leadership, and they
also know that the cornerstone Of freedom 10
authority and that liberty under the law
only, and not license, is the test of citizen
ship. Thus the thousands of our college and
university men in our army add good deal
70 those elements which develop in the SOL
der that spirit Of chivalry and comrsdeship
and willingness to serve which strengthen
the soldier and make him more efficient.
These were the characteristics OF Harold
Tennyson, grandson Of the poet, who was
killed at the front In letter 10 his par
ents. written just before his death, he said:
81 have only done my duty and have died
with joyful spirit Ny last thoughts were
how pleased you would be to know that in
no other way could have better upheld tha
name of Tennyson' J. c. PUNPELLY.
New York, Nov. q, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Kuno Meyer as Celtophile

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | venture, as an Englishman very de-
sirous of securing the esteem Of Americans,
to ask you to be good enough to insert the
following statement:
Professor Kuno Meyer, who has been re-
ceived with open-handed hospitality and re-
spect in America, was for thirty years pro-
fessor in Liverpool University and col
league of my own. While in Liverpool he
was universally treated with the greatest
respect and the greatest honor. Every house
vas open to him and every hospitality Law
ished on him.
1t is known TO you that in England the
fact of being a foreigner unlocks many
door which opens but tardily 70 one OF our
own countrymen. This fact may have oper-
ated, together with Meyers reputation as a
Celtic scholar, to secure him the entree to
the houses of the most interesting people IN
England, the learned, the wealthy. the dis
tinguished in any path of life. At all our
family festivals Meyer was a welcome and
an honored guest, and many deemed that in
honoring him they we're honoring his nation.
And how has he repaid the kindness OF
the country which made his reputation and
supported him during the best years Of his
life? lie is now engaged in giving series
Of lectures in Berlin in which he INDUCES
In the coarsest and most wanton abuse OF
the English, whom he declares TO be the most
brutal nation on the earth.
His great object in life is 70 unite the Irish
and,the Germans in a common hatred of the
ration which has long been his home. IL the
Irish, who are a chiyalrous nation, knew
Meyers real sentiments about their aims and
their character. they would be the first to
repudiate the advances Of this renegade. He
made no secret Of his scorn and contempt
for their ignorance and political imbeciity
He laughed at the Catholic religion and
deemed 1t worthy only Of children.
The most honorable Irishmen would have
none of him, as Is proved by the fact that
both Cork and Dublin rejected the PROPOSE
tfon to grant him the freedom OF their re-
spectiye cities.
Knowing Ireland and England as we'll a.
Meyer knows them, he was the very man
for the Kaiser 70 engage as q spy. and, in
deed, his very accurate knowledge Of the
countries might have caused him TO be re-
garded in Germany as an Anglophiie, had he
not posed under/his German psymaster as a
Teuton Of the most revolving type.
HERBERT A. STRONG,
Emeritus Professor. Liverpool University
Slough, England, Nov. 81, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
State Ends, Not Means
Security Must Be Achieved in Oh
Way or Another

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: We are fighting this war ehiehy y
prevent Germany from repeating il, aneH
cidentally TO force her 70 pay for the daHAa
she has done. The crushing Of milara
and the dethronement Of the dynasty are -
means toward that end, and not necessary
the only means. The threat Of her repeslif
this war resides in her having simultaneous
the wish and the power. Deprive her
either and the threat disappears. The VI"
will exist as long as the Hohenzollens fs''
but the power is supplied by their eou'"
directly and through Austria Of the uhV
three millions OF their subject races, ps''A
Alsatians and Slavs. To free these races
not only to right wrong which CT"
heaven for redress, but at the same TINE
remove the threat Of new 1914
These are two means Of prevention -
still others may possibly exist
To declare that our aim is TO erusa "
to dethrone-that is, TO accept the means %.
not the ends bad strategy, because Il aep
the dynasty and its supporters to Per'a7s
the people that they ars at bay, mat We -
to crush them through destroying tnei' .
tary defence, and that it is their eIs'''S
and not that of the dynasty which
dangered. This probably means to PRIV"
the war greatly, because the Teutons W.
fight longer TO preserve their very ei''''-
than 10 retain the spoils OF past "siS
perhaps longer than TO retain s'H
which has brought this war on them
better state clearly that our aim Is
move the threat which they offer Us,
mind them that they are the eai mhi''
and predatory people, that their long ~"
desire for so-called place IN inc
means essentially conquest and annsA'"
and that so far as we now sec TO P's
their future onslaughts we have 20
between dethroning their predatory o'''s
and depriving them Of predatory pow n
freeing their subject races, but that We
be glad to consider any other means
they can suggest. IL
The first step toward an agreem.'
any matter is TO state your aim eleanp
to make clear FIRST that you will seeep. 4.
honorable means TO Il, and. second "'' -
means which you propose do ho'
others which your opponent may Jews %
Because Austria, Bulgaria and faf'' %
mitted voluntarily TO Berlin for "
poses and will resubmit whenever ~ =
opens, their removal from that eons- y
only be nominal and temporary, ana
not really help to safeguard peace. uouk |
HENRY MARION he"
Bedford Hills, N. Y, Dee .. isiis
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
eliminate Ticket Spectators

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: IN your issue of the 9Th / noticed
an editorial Cheaper theatre Tickets"
You will perhaps help the theatrical pro-
fession and managers and do service TO
the public if you emphasize the particular
evil which is hurting the theatrical business
the most, and is certainly in these times an
injustice to the theatregoing public.
refer to the evil of the ticket spectators
and brokers. During this week |, with my
family and out of town friends whom was
entertaining, remained away from the the
atre because we could get only the worst
seats in the house at the box Office. Inquiry
showed that there were plenty of seats at
the ticket spectators Offices for the six or
eight plays we had listed to see. Tho the
atrical profession can count the loss of
twelve orchestra seats from this one case,
which | have no doubt is multiplied hun
dreds of times each week from the comments
hear made on every side concerning the
imposition on the public which is In the
humor of being entertained, but is desirous
Of doing so on the most reasonable and
economical basis possible.
Many unnecessary" items have been
eliminated for the period Of the war; why
not eliminate the very unnecessary evil of
the ticket broker? He is certainly a most
unnecessary evil, and is the one to get the
first choice at the box office for a large
quantity of tickets for the best seats in the
house, which would go into the hands of
the supporting public but for experiences
such as have had this week.
A REGULAR TRIBUNE READER.
New York, Dec. 6, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08

crease in domestic consumption" the price
should remain at such figure as to prohibit
a large number of working people from max
ing purchase.
In my opinion it would be crime for the
meat administrator to consider this propo-
sition unless Armour & Co. first reduce the
price of their product.
The result of your "follow-up' set forth
in your columns at some future date would
be OF great interest to many Of your readers.
J. C. HORTON.
Verona, NJ j., Dec. 8, 1917
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Can't Get American Men

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Considerable publicity has been
given about propretors of hotels refusing
work to Americans and employing help only
from the ranks OF foreigners. Nothing could
be farther from the truth.
The only reason we employ foreigners
is because We are compelled to. Americans
do not want TO work as porters, walters
and cooks.
There is not much difficulty in obtaining
American girls to work for US, but the men
are apparently too proud to do our kind
of work.
There are many good paying and steady
jobs TO be had II American men will take
them and buckle down to the work
ROBERT ID. BLACKMAN,
Proprietor Hotel Belleclaire.
New York, Dec. 6, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Frozen Canvas as a Wind Break

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: have request to-day. The young
men who are quartered at present in the diff
ferent military camps must greatly suffer
from the cold weather, and there is very
simple way of making their tents windproof.
All that is required is that they sprinkle
water on the outside of the canvas, for the
water will freeze and close the pore. OF the
canvas.
! have done this in the mountains Of Colo
rsdo and know how good protection it is in
cold weather. Will you do me the favor and
publish it in your paper7
AUGUST HASHAGEN.
New York Dec. s, 1917.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Why the High Meat Prices?
Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: For a number Of years have been a
constant reader of your valuable paper. I
have long schooled myself TO believe that
everything I see in The Tribune is 80.
Following that line of thought, | was, to
express il mildly. startled this morning to
note an article, caption reading "Stop Meat
less Days, Say Livestock Men"
II would be indeed interesting reading
should you follow up the statement OF the
representative of Armour & Co., and have
him explain why. il it is true that there
was AT adequate supply of beef and mutton
on hand to meet all demands without de-
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
Another Incompetent

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Now that the production OF auto
mobiles for other than army purposes has
TO be curtailed, Burleson proposes to sup
plant our pneumatic mail service by auto
trucks.
Shall we add Burlsson to the two incom-
petent Secretaries whom we already have?
ROBERT GRIMSHAW.
New York, Dec. 8, 9l7
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08
,,-,-yrp or THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Te Assocaed Pres exclusively entued 70 te Use Iu
republication - al dispatches credited 70 II o. 10
Otherwise credited this psper and afo the lccA news
spontAneous origin published hsr.in - -.
Al rsh-s o. republication q all other nAer hs'eo Nv
also reserved.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08

Yol can purchase merchandise advertised ~ M M
7RrBtNT ofth at-,u,e safsor dissatisisccon resun
i ~ esse TIE TRIBUNE guarantees TO paw your money
80 Yr.. -.,yc No rNi tips No clubbing we nANe
god promptly if De advertiser doee not
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08

Owned ard publisfed daily b. n. Treun. A'scaaton.
Wv Yok Corporsol. ogden Rid. President; O. Nsno'
E,g.-, VIC d.rt; p A sutsr Treasure Adoro~
7Sur. Bufine l-i Ns,ssu s-ec>, NsT YORK Tsephons'
Brc'rrsn gco0.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08

r1,,-,I Al N, r,s,o-ce At New IoTs " seoond Ga"
Mail Mater.
New-York tribune., 1917-12-08

SUBSCRIPTION RATES BY Maj. rNsiAs' Phd' out
eide c. Greater New Nors;
St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1917-08-15
Notice of Allowance OF Account.
ESTATE OF CoRLIss W. MORRILL,

ESTATE OF CORLTSS w. MORRILL,
STATE OF VERMONT. District of Called onia, S..
The Honorable Probate Court for the Dis
trict of aforesaidd To all persons interested
in me- estate of Corliss w. NJ orrll.s late of
Danvile, In said District deceased. Greet
ing:
Whereas. said Court has assigned the 18th
day of August next for examining and al
lowing the account of the Administrators of
the estate of said deceased and for decree of
the residue of said estate to the lawful
claimants of the same, and ordered tn at
public notice thereof be given to all persons
interested in said estate by publishing this
order three weeks successfully previous to
the dag assigned, in the st. Johnsbury
Californian, newspaper published at st.
Johnsbury. in said District.
Therefore, you are hereby notified to ap-
pear at the Probate Officei in ST. Johnsbury
in said District on the day assigned. then
and there to contest the allowance of said
account If you see cause. and to establish
your right as heirs. legatees and lawful
claim ants to said re sidue.
Given under my hand this 3Oth day OF
July A. D. 1917.
WALTRR P. SMITH. Judge
2-1-3t