davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
DUTCH WORDS SURVIVE
MANY Derivatives and Names from That
Language Still in Use
the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The editorial Of the 2Sth inst enti-
ded "'Scups' and Others" moves me to add
70 the number of words Of Dutch origin
which have been retained in local speech
The impress Of the first settlers here has sur
vived in this particular much more than is
generally recognized.
There is the delectable cake known as the
"cruller," which is much different from the
doughnut, degenerate product OF Yankee
land. A pessimist has been described as one
who only sees the hole in the latter. NO
one, pessimist or other, could find one in the
cruller. which ha. the distinction Of having
had the dough twisted prior to the process
Of cooking. When next you call for coffee
and crulers note this fact The Dutch verb,
"Krullen," to curl or turn, supplies the rea-
son for the name.
All OF US use the word "kill' more or less,
for many geographical localities hereabouts
are so designated Such places as Kill van
Kull, Dutch Kills, Peekskill and Catskill, in
this state, and Schuylkill, in Pennsylvania,
are familiar. The longest stream which in
denied the west shore Of the island, the Great
Kill, had one source at Broadway and Thirty
ninth Street, and this was undoubtedly the
reason of the accident there a short time
ago during the excavation for the subway,
an explanation which was. rat men .isE IN
the newspaper accounts.
Another branch started near Seventh Ave
nue. and Fifty-seventh Street, and both
Joined before the creek emptied into the
Hudson at Forty fourth Street. From it
arose the appellaton Of the Great Kill Road
which left the river at Fourteenth Street
ran east to beyond Eighth Avenue, and thence
continued through Chelsea TO its termination
in the block between Forty-frst and Forty
second Streets, Eighth and Ninth Avenues
where it met at right angles the Road Round
the Tour, thereby leading the traveller to the
Great Kill.
That essentially New York term, "stoop,'
in the phrase, high stoop house." for ex-
ample, is just an adaptation Of the word
"stoep," meaning "the steps at the entrance
of house" The local name "Gramercy" is
derived from "krom," crooked, and "mesje,'
little knife, designation suggested By the
bend in the creek which ran through the
present park. Scholars generally have agreed
TO this derivation. The name of the chill
dren's friend, Santa Claus, comes from
"klaas," i. e., Nicholas, St. Nicholas being
the patron saint Of Holland and this city.
Pearl, Beaver and Bridge streets and
Maiden Lane and the Bowery still retain the
original names, and the word Broadway is a
literal translation of "de Breede Veg" by
which name the thoroughfare was called by the
Dutch. Doubtless your readers could supply
other examples, and so add to the interest in
this subject while it is uppermost
HOPPER STRIKER MOTT.
New York, Jan. 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Bird Protection
Fron, The Chicago Herald


Friends OF wild birds and animals were suf-
fciently influential to persuade the govern
ments of the United States and OF Great
Britain to ratify migratory bird treaty on
December last. The effect Of this treaty is
the establishment Of an embargo on non
game birds.
BY its terms both Canada and this country
are pledged to put stop to the wanton Kill
ing Of wild creatures. Everybody in a gen.
eral way favors such treaty. The utility to
agriculture of many birds which were once
slaughtered in wholesale fashion is now well
known. In addition TO that an appreciation
of the interest and of the charm of these
denizens OF the fields and woods ha. become
common. Public opinion sanctions the pro-
lection which is proposed.
But it can never be effective in this country
without the creation of special officials. Des-
pite the majority approval the treaty will not
enforce itself. Consequently the National
Association of Audubon Societies has drafted
a bill which, among other things, directs the
Department OF Agriculture to look after the
observance of the treaty. This measure is
one of the minor expressions of the modern
conscience, but it is none the less deserving
OF the serious attention of Congress.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03

it would produce thoroughly dangerous
division of responsibility between the two
platoons; it would put the individual fire.
man on the basis of a time-serving labor
unionite, watching the clock for quitting
time, instead of being the eager, Jealous,
brave guardian of the public which men
in that service must be if they are the
right kind of men to stay there. Inc plan
is so manifestly weak and dangerous
dangerous alike to the Fire Department
and the public welfare-that there is lit
tie chance that this experiment will result
in any permanent change in the methods
of fighting and preventing fires which now
rank this city's department as the best IN
the world. On that account the waste OF
city money in making the experiment Is
the more to be regretted.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Who Sells the Cheap Food!
TOR of The Tribune

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Now that the twenty -one-day test OF
the 25-cent food has been made and 1t has
been found that a man can be suitably nour-
ishcd for that sum, would it not be good
idea for the dietitian or business manager, or
whoever did the purchasing for their meals
TO tell the public where food can be purchased
at the prices quoted? unfortunately | lost
the clippings l made from the papers which
gave the actual cost of foods as served, but
/ do know that, excepting the bread, every
article was from 5 20 100 per cent lower than
it can be secured in any market / know of
Begin with milk quoted at 8 cents. All "B'
milk is 10 cents. and "a" is IL cents. Ham
burger steak was quoted at IA cents, think
1t is "a cents pound in first class market
Bacon pay as cents a pound for. II is lit
tie less in the piece, but also some waste. As
| remember it was quoted at about 20 cents
in the price list, and so on with all the meats
Bananas are from 20 to 80 cents dozen
and oranges from 80 cents up. Yet they were
quoted at ! cent each.
Unless it can be told where food can be
purchased at the prices which were quoted.
can't see how anything of value has been
demonstrated. MABEL WILSON KICK.
Flushing. y. V, Jan. so, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Such Naivete!

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Your editorial on citizenship for
Teachers" deserves the full Endorsement Of
all fair-mnded Americans. No applause is
needed for the action of the Board of Super
intendents; the wonder rather Is that our
public schools have for so long harbored
teachers who not only lack legal citizenship,
but are often devoid of the spirit Of Ameri-
canism.
About two years ago took the examination
as teacher of foreign languages in the city's
day high schools, was the only successful
candidate and, as far as ! know, am still the
only one who holds a license to teach that
particular subject. When the time came for
filing testimonials and other evidence of fit
ness | was simple enough to put in the very
fore my citizenship paper, only to learn that
such paper was unnecessary. ! was under the
naive impression that this city would not
pay educators before assuring itself that it
was paying American and not Siberian or
Ethiopian educators.
The fact of the whole matter is that the
city is paying salaries to non-citizen teach
ers, while !, a citizen, have not even been
able to secure place in the evening high
schools. c. c.
New York, Jan. 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
WHAT DOES UNITED POLAND MEAN?
Conflicting Facts of History Touching the
Presidents Vague Phrase
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

U the OF Inc lIlDuHt.
Sir: In the Presidents speech to the
Senate on Monday last he makes the follow
ing extraordinary statement: II take it for
granted, for instance, If I may venture upon
single example, that statesmen everywhere
are agreed that there should be united, in.
dependent and autonomous Poland"
Ignoring the plconasm as unworthy o
writer of Mr.. Wilson's reputation, the first
question that suggests itself is, Where is
Poland!' Does Mr.. Wilson mean that the old
Kingdom of Poland, at one time the largest
in Europe, should be restored? Does he know
that such restoration would include, tow
ard the east. fully one-third of Russia in Eu-
rope. to within a few miles of Moscow, and
oil the west all of Prussia, to and including
Brandenburg, which province the kaser's
ancestors originally held as Polish fief, and
which stretches along the Baltic Sea from
the Vistula to Memel, In the second Swed-
ish and Polish war 1850, Frederick William,
the Great Elector," with characteristic
Prussien unscrupulousness. fought first on
one side and then on the other. The Swedcs
paid him for the assistance rendered them
at the battle of Warsaw By recognizing him
as independent sovereign of the Duchy OF
Prussia. Having received his pay he de-
serted them. and in 1861 paid for his
treachery by the formal REIMBURSEMENT By
Poland Of its feudal rights over Prussia.
In the partition OF Poland, as rearrsnged
by the Congress of Vienna in 1915, Russia re-
ceived 22050O square miles, with popula-
ton Of l60O0,000; Austria, $1,000 square
miles, with a population of 100000, and
Prussia. $4,000 square miles. with a popula-
ton of 100000, her share including the
Province of Posen. most of West Prussia and
several districts in East Prussia.
How much of the territory then distrib
uted does the President think should now
be included in a united, independent and
autonomous Poland? And does he think
that any Statesmen" in Prussia, Austria o,
Russia have agreed, or will agree, to any
such disposition of territory now claimed by
them, and which they have occupied as thei'
own for more than one hundred years?
Out of the part allotted to Russia in 1915
the major part OF the Grand Duchy of War
saw, embracing tract bounded by a line
drawn from Thorn TO near Cracow on the
west to the rivers Bug and Niemen on the
east was made constitutional kingdom
subject to the Car, but in 1882 was declared
n Russian province. In 1863 this Kingdom OF
Poland disappeared, and was subsequently
known as the Territory OF the Vistula.' and
later as the "Vistula Government" Is 1t this
portion Of the original Kingdom, of Poland
which was in the Presidents mind when he
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
"What Did He Mean!"

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: For your editorial entitled what Did
He Mean" in which you refute the absurd
contentious OF THE New York World" with
regard to President Wilson's Senate speech,
thank you. In to- days issue of that same
paper is an editorial inveighing against the
stupidity" of the Presidents critics and
pointing out that what he meant was rot to
impose peace terms upon the belligerents, blu,
merely to state what kind of peace must be
msde If the United States is to be q party
to its guarantee. "The World" hardly better,
the case by this explanation. The kind OF
PEACE We will guarantee, says Mr.. Wilson
must be peace without victory"--in other
words. it must be such peace "a will bring
no adequate punishment 70 those nations
which, even "The World" admits, are the
aggressors and beginners Of this awful con
fict. &. II. W.
Boston, Mass, Jan. 26, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
GERMAN RUTHLESSNESS
Americas
A Precedent and Call

the Allies on account Of a similar cons;
tor created by Great Britain has been tr,.,-
ed by the Allies in precisely the way tA,,
Germany is treating the protests Of "A.
United States against similar illegal act, =,
Germany. 1t is difficult to see how any a.
rious complications with the Allies coulS
follow the assumption Of such an attitude n,
the United States.
In these statements I am no. sssumin,
TO excuse either the Entente Allies or tia
Central Powers for either their acts in via.
lation Of international law or in Violate,
OF the rights of neutrals. ! am not even
claiming that the attitude Of the Administra.
ton at Washington has been judicious, dir.
nifed or right. ! am simply endeavorine to
point out that our government may avoid
more serious and embarrassing compiler.
tons, even at this late day. by ACCORDING
TO all the nations at war the same treat.
ment.
II we are TO enforce our demands against
Germany and her allies, we should do the
same with Great Britain and her allies; II
We are TO permit Great Britain and her a..
lies to disregard and ignore our Just pro.
tests, there can be no reason for our ir.
sisting upon Germany's giving serious a..
tention to our protests under similar cir.
cumstances. ANDREW C0LVN.
New York, Feb. l. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Not Even Partners?

Experimenting with that irritating yet
entertaining puzzle matrimony, in the
hope of lengthening and tightening It's
shackles, modernist couple of our town,
Margaret and Winthrop Lane, have taken
a very long leap. Speaking in The
Evening Sum-" Mrs. Lane explains that
she and her husband have carried eco
nomic independence to this farthest limit;
eve do not pool our financial interests
We do not throw our earnings In one large
heap and then spend it together, for tc
our minds that destroys the individuality
that must somehow be preserved II the
marriage is to be a success. We DIVIDE
the bills evenly, and then each of US has
the remainder Of his or her own money
for personal expenditures. Each of US re-
mains a free person. If | make mistake
will pay for that mistake myself. Anc
my husband has the same happy feeling
This might be happy feeling. And
again, we suspect, it might not. When a
business partnership is formed, let US say
between lawyers, one of the chief benefits
sought and obtained is just this pooling
of profits and losses, successes and mis-
takes. The theory of every such partner
ship is that in the long run such credit
and debit items balance each other and
there is no ultimate loss to either side, but
a steady dividend of mutual helpfulness.
The basic idea of partnership is precisely
this aiding each other through tight
places and past occasional mistakes.
So the thought occurs: If the law firm
Of Smith, Jones e. Davis with young
Brown, Jones and Peppercorn as juniors,
names on the door, can run a partnership
with quite complete freedom Of individual
ity, year in and year out, upon the basis
CT pooling profits and losses, why cannot
a simple combination like Margaret and
Winthrop Lane? Does the mere fact that
YOU are married make business partner
ship with your husband or wife impossi-
ble-or at least incompatible with true
independence of soul? Perhaps some of
our philosophical experimenters will ex-
plain.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
A New Empire State
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: have read with a good deal Of inter
est the letter from J. II. Belinger in this
mornings isue, and, while to a certain ex-
tent his article is true, believe it would only
be question of time when some political
party would be so firmly rooted that no one
could have it displaced. For some time have
been working on what believe would be an
ideal state. / call it the Empire State Take
a geography and draw an imaginary line from
Port Jervs TO the boundary line between
Connecticut and Vermont. This would bring
into this new state some Of the wealthiest
counties in this state. Then, with the
concurrence Of the citizens, include the
following counties in New Jersey: Der.
gen, part of Passac, Essex and Hudson coun-
ties. Let the westerly boundaries be the
Pamon and Rockaway rivers. As at present
a great majority Of the citizens in these coun-
ties have business in this city. This new En-
pire State would become one of the wealth
lest and, what is more to be considered, the
greatest business state in the world, barring
none. II. HENRY d. kLINKER.
New York, Feb. 2, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: On May 10, 1915, the day on which
President Wilson's first note on the Lusi-
tania tragedy was published, the writer ad-
dressed a brief letter of two lines 20 PROM
inent newspaper of this city, saying: "fresi-
dent Wilson's note will accomplish nothing
Brute force is the only argument which
Germany uses or accepts. Results VIII
show"
That prediction has come true to the let
ter. Results have shown that the Lusitanla
tragedy is still unavenged and unatoned for'
The writer will venture to hazard one
more statement, viz: Should any acute com.
plicatons arise between this country ana
Germany, predicated upon Germany's re-
cent note threatening renewal OF supma,
rne atrocities, the President OF the on'tea
States will, in practical effect, make total
complete and absolute backdown from the
stand which he took in what is known as MS
Sussex note. -,
He will eat his own words, and there VIII
be no break with Germany.
FONTAINE MAURY.
New York. Feb. |, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Preparedness

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: IF the wisdom of the "despised and
rejected" ancients were not so lightly dis
missed as it is to-day it might be less diff
cult to persuade some of our headers of
thought" of the right meaning of national
preparedness. The Romans of the age Of
Augustus must have keenly appreciated the
blessing of peace and anxiously sought to
preserve it. What, however is their creed in
this matter? In the pages of Horace (Satires,
2, 2, 1l0-11D We come upon this thought, pro-
verbal with the Romans, which means in its
simplest form: ST Wis pacem, para bellum.
Translated for readers with modern" edu-
cation, it signifies: If you wish peace, pre-
pare for war;
Is this only a mad precept, characteristic
Of a nation Of militarists. who were incapable
Of higher ideal and vision, or is it the be-
lief Of practical people, accustomed to deal
with the facts of reality, a people whose law
and government were an inestimable con-
tribution to the progress of civilization?
A READER.
Valatie, n. Y, Jan. 81, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Costly Foolishness

The chief objection to the two-platoon
system in the Fire Department, test OF
which the Board of Aldermen has ordered,
Is that it would completely break down the
efficiency Of that organization as fire.
fighting agency. Probably the next great
.st objection TO it is on the score of cost.
That the aldermen are already discover
ing. They have made provision for bond
issue of S125,700 to cover the expenses.
Fire Commissioner Adamson has warned
them that the two-platoon arrangement
cannot be put into effect with the present
membership Of the department To have
two brigades in the department, working
fred hours, would leave the city more or
less unprotected. Consequently, II the
scheme il 10 be tried with any degree OF
thoroughness and the public cared for as
well, additions must be made TO the mem
bcrship Of the department.
II is always within the prerogative OF
rublic officials to be foolish if they desire
% be. but the taxpayers Of New York must
regret that this particular brand OF fool
ishness took possession OF the aldermen.
The two-platoon scheme was tried faith
fully and thoroughly for nearly three
months In 1904 and 1905 in the third bat
TALON of the Fire Department The results
shown caused its rejection. Every Fire
commissioner, every head Of tho uni
formed fire-aghting force has act his face
against it, not from any desire to grind
down or overwork the frcmen-the fire
chiefs come from the ranks, and the com
rolz,ioners have all been the warm friends
NJ their nen--but because they know the
,lan Is yicioug and harmful 10 the best in
tere.ts Of the city. II would be expensive;
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
IF SOUTH VOTED AS NORTH
Mr.. Hughes Would Be President, wti
Republican Congress
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Your correspondent Nance asked
yesterday the effect upon the late electi''
If the South voted as the North" Answer
ing in the terms that count--those Of u.
Electoral College-the effect Of equal sppll'
cation OF the United States Constitution IA
the North and South would be as stated BE-
low:
Grouping twelve states as the solid South
and all the rest of the country, thrty-''
states, as the NORTH" and using the 1871
"World Almanac" figures, we find that :"
North had one vote in the College for even
5O.042 voters, while the South had one yoa
for every 20,6S6 voters. In other words, orc
Southern vote weighed as much as two and
two-iifths votes cast anywhere else.
The effect upon the last election OF tn'
illegal condition may be figured out as f0
lows: The total popular vote FOR Presidsn'
last November was ls,5l3,7lO, of which ne
"Soid South" cast 2,37S,935, or about 10 PEI
cent Of the total Presidential vote. The Elk
toral College consists OF 53l members, ese'
state sending one member for each Of its ~
Senators, and one for each OF its Congress
men. Eliminating the 90 Senatorial men
hers not affected BY size OF popular vS"
there are 435 Presidential electors eoFF'
spending to the Congressman. or these
the basis of popular vote. as above, the sosh
is entitled TO a little less than - per eeS-
or fifty-seven electors; while by virtue p"
breach of the Fourteenth Amendment Ie'''
doned, we must admit, by the North Tor !"
sons that are often dscreetly sidesteppee
rarty managers). the "Solid South in iae-
casts ll5 Electoral College votes, !. c,
votes to which they have no right unae'
Constitution. -,
Mr.. wilson's majority in the Electoral Y"
lego was %.
Had those 5s excess votes been taken ~
from the Southas it was the sworn w.
of previous Congresses 20 do-Mr. 1--WE
would be President on the 4th OF next w.
and the Sixty fifth Congress would no"
preparing its organization with a strong
iority Of Republicans behind Repo0",
President. Perhaps you or some OF
correspondents will answer Names =,
GLIDING inquiry: as il not about t'"'
(upportionmcnt) law was amended
ARTHUR o. TOWNSEND
New York, Jan. 25, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-03
Ciyis Romanus Sum

A citizen Of Rome, strong, proud aud free
Rome guards me. We'll the outer nations
know
Rome's might, who dared to beard her as a
foe.
Her galleys by their hundreds beat to sea;
Who halts their course halts Rome; and let
them see
Their cause is just, for where the eagles 60
Until the trumpets Of their victory blow
Rome knows no rest, whate'er the odds may
be.
But who are these proud citizens who creep
About the world at some strange Kaiser's
will?
Whose ships go trembling forward on the
deep
Dccked like n circus clown. What men fulfill
Their duties 10 ignobly? Who can keep
Their people honored whom they guard so
i'll?
A. {. GRETTOk.