davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
THE REPTILE WREN
Whatever Evolution Says, Such Is D,
clared To Be It's Character
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.


Sir: The interest which your eorra,eri.
ents show in birds is delightful bu. hai
perplexities will not be solved probably u.
til man gains more knowledge OF evolgte,
and knowledge, like life, is a growth that IL
slow TO cast the old husk for q higher form.
This much has been gained that esrs.,
birds are Of reptile origin. The vrsa g.
though so tiny, gives evidence Of this PLAINLY.
This need not prejudice any one against u.
bird, any more than the knowledge Of Tie
butterhy's origin might against that essi
tiful insect. Il solves the whole enigma q
his character, for the law Of inheritaaes .
lived out from generation 10 generation
This explains by the little creature efsss
into holes ard -reyices for home buildins
gaining the archaeological name Of Irefi'-
dyte, which, applied to man, means one We
lives in dens or caves. II explains the e.
ceedingly quick and even movements Of the
bird, which are OF the body rather thar o.
the wings, they being too short for l''E
fights. This gives the key 10 the great On
Gurance OF so sWa4i a n"lSeA u ~
the fact that fear instead OF caution 70 ~
characteristics In fight the bird is sTlfi as
a dart, routing even the sparrow. The blue
bird cannot possibly be a match for hn
The wren does not make a practice Of VAT
ing other birds nests, but in coming sfIon
one from which the brooding bird is ten
porarily absent will NEEDLE with the sts'
either from inherited instinct or curiosity
Spying a bit Of shed snskeskin when sssrsi'
ing for insects across pasture land, this hf'
will invariably carry it home. He could n''
possibly realize the motive. The vren'ssic
virtue is fidelity, which is q trait possesses
by certain reptiles to very high degrss
GENEVA GRAHAM
New York, Jan. 4. 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Germany's African Allies

IRON Tic Lcrdo7 Iluirsl
The native garEisoa5 OF Eas: Central A.
RIGA have been drawn from the most power
fIl and wsriiSe ,Iibes G: the continent The
Yao Argoni and Awem5a companie. OF the
Kings African Rides are composed Of men
who have inherited aghtirg instincts. The
Manyema sold.ery OF he Belgans are the
SERGE descendants o; tho martial followers OF
Tppoo Tib. The Germans, 100. with char
scteristic thoroughness, have selected the
members OF tne!r force noire from the brav-
est and strongest OF the peoples Of Eauato-
rial Afrca-Sudanese, Wahehe and Wanyam-
Vezi The teachings 0; Islam have been
widely propagated In East and Central Africa
during recent years, and ia this campaign
the Germans have made a.. the capital IL mas
been possible for them 20 make out OF the
fac. that Germany and the Ottoman Empire
arc allies ranged together ol me same side
against the common Zoe. Perfdious Albion.
A. their frontier for's and "bomas' the Ger
mans few the Mshometsn Tag on the same
staf and directly below theiE own.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Even the Birds Have Their Fsub

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The letters concerning the b,srs'
Of the wren illustrate clearly tina. !. is 30
safe to state that a given species Of bird VI
not do a certain thing merely because ore
has never seen IL done. I was much s1I
prised to find that such an authority as W.
Shields did not know that wrens will sent
times destroy the eggs or young o. oh"
birds. The fact has been mentioned By
good many observers, and is undouo"e'
true. 1t is probably also true that this hs'
is no, common TO all wrens, but only to or
tain individuals. know Of a case vhsr
wrens and bluebrds nested near each O'h''
in perfect harmony for fifteen years.
The fact that wrens sometimes destroy n'
eggs of other birds should not prejudice PEE
pie against all wrens The wren Is "'
able and interesting bird. Il has eh'''
ful song, and during the sumner monn' y
sings almost necessarily. It's food IS arg
insects. A pair of wrens will ~orS Nv"
daylight 10 dark during long June dsy''pu
ering catcrpilars and other harmful i''s'S
to feed their young. have known then y
visit the nest with insects on an ayeTss' y
three times in five minutes. The NUMBER
insects destroyed by a pair Of wren' 81
their young in a season is enormous.
The case OF the wren is also the case VI
many other birds. While in general Wv
arc desirable snd admirable, yet thsy h''
faults. Just as men have. Even our moHos
tiful or most heavenly voiced songblFd' ~
not always perfect in their conduct '''''
each other o. toward other kinds OF Si''
But We must not condemn species beau
some OF is individuals have faults.
ARETAS 4. SAUNDEE
NorwsiS, Conn, Jan. 8, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
"a Traveller from a Distant Land"

From The O4iloolD
It's long journey through the stellar spaces
And. boy, we're glad it's over and you're
here;
No more alone on that ethereal mere,
But safe abed ard watched By friendly faces
We hope you'll like US and our earthly places
You'll find Us kindly on the whole, though
queer;
Not ever quite so bad as we appear,
And at our maddest not without our grsccs.
And here you are to live and help US live.
Bend close and listen, bird with folded
wings.
Here is life, secret: Keep the upward
giancel
Remember Aries Is your relative.
The Moons your uncle, and those Twink
ling Things
Your sisters and your cousins and your
aYafs.
HERMANN HAGEDORN.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

have known that that could not possloly
be a crack. little crack, down in the lower
left hand corner Of the pedestal. Dut
being a woman she had TO touch nnd eX-
amino the crack and speak out about IL
For despite the harsh words OF the mas
culine rhapsodists who sit at the feet OF
that immortal bust and who consequently
arc calling Miss West smart and stupid
and arrogant, Miss West is right. Let
onv one read or rercad "The Sacred Fount
who doubts. There is some humor, gentle
humor, at the expense Of British weekend
grandeur; and there is humor, too at 'n'
expense Of the rclator who is intrudlnG an
ANALYTICAL mind upon so fair scene. FOR
instance:
Thi, especial hour the dinner hour /.
Newmarch. had always a splendour tn"'
asked little Of Interpretation, that even car
ried itself with an amisblc arrogance, as
indifferent TO what the imagination eouIu
DO for IT, think the Imagination III .nos'
halls of art and fortune, WAS almost lhe'-
itaby accounted poor matter; the "hOie
place and its participants aoouhueu SO ~
pleasantness and picture, III all inc lV'.'
lbs for cvery sense. taken for granted
there BIZ the very basis OF lie that e'tn
the sense most finely poetic, aspiring 10
extract the moral, could scarce nave helpeu
feeling itself treated 20 something OF the
,nub that afTects-when IL docs ahcct-th'
unlimited reporter in whose face door -
closed. said to myself during dinner that
these we're scenes in which transcenueh'
intelligence had after all no Application
and that, in short, any preposterous acute
ness might easily suffer among them such
loss Of dignity as overtakes inc news.
paper man kicked out. We existed, oil OF
US together. 10 be handsome and happy. 70
be really what we looked-sinee we looked
tremendously we'll; TO be that and neither
more nor less, so not discrediting by musty
secrets and aggressive doubts our high
privilege Of harmony and taste
But humor is not the strong point OF
1.-The Sacred Fount." II there had been
more humor about, the volume would never
have been written. That mind-was there
better among its contemporaries
could still write words which showed some
remaining sense Of perspective toward the
oyerarching and enveloping setting OF the
country house; but in this golden haze 1t
could not view the tremendously wcll-look-
inr inhabitants in fair relation to other
objects upon the horizon. The pcrvadlng
illumination Of Henry James's genius is
still triumphant. But it is set to triumph
over a problem Of heart and mind worked
out among hearts and minds SO utterly
meaningless as to leave the reader with a
dismaying sense Of faulty. One arises
with the feeling that vast amount OF the
rarest intellectual ability has been wasted
upon an utterly negligible concern. 1t
seems also much too clear that it was the
vastness and grandeur Of the concerns
setting which led the rare intellect into
such a distortion. Perhaps Miss West was
a little rough in the phraseology of her
ieer. But, essentially, she was right
Week ends were not good for Henry
James's soul.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
December, 1916

prom The Spectotor)
0 God Of battles, Ger the din OF war
Hear US, We pray, tho wives Of those who lie
Slain on tho rsvsged fields OF France; who
gave
Themselves for England, freely gave their
lives
To rid the world OF lust and cruelty
Let not dissension here within our gates
Weaken our purpose. take not in vain
Those men we gave. Let not their children
feel
The shame OF any srmistice-giys strength
And union, Lord, to those who guide our Eng
land,
Until the stubborn fight Is von-until
Atonement for each d.op Of blood Is made.
For thus alone may all our sons enjoy
The Peace their parents won by blood and
tears
TcP
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Daylight Saving

Iron The Cleveland Lsddsrl
A New York organization promoting the
daylight saving" idea announces that Rep
resentative Borland, Of Missouri, has under
taken to introduce bill which. If made law.
will provide that all clocks in the United
States be set forward one hour on May /,
1917, and backward one hour on September
80, 1917-these changes presumably to be
made annually and to be mandatory so far
as government clocks are concerned, though
other clock owners would be free TO suit
themselves, except for such compulsion as
would be exercised by the force Of example.
Whether or not this is p more scientific
plan than the Cleveland idea OF advancing
the clocks permanently may be open to de
bate. Undoubtedly the hour Of daylight is
saved" only in the summer season, but semi
annual clock changes would involve some in
convenience and confusion. The question OF
method is Of minor importance. The signih-
cant thing is that the reform which Cleye-
land inaugurated and which many European
countries have adopted under stress OF emer-
gency conditions is now proposed for the
benefit Of the whole United States
To be sure. there is small likelihood that
Congress will take the proposed action, at
least in the immediate future. Where clocks
or calendars are concerned reform moves
with exceeding slowness. Cleveland's City
Council was not led to sec the light in day.
The Ohio Legislature has not been able TO
see it yet. No doubt the Borland bill will
receive at the hands Of the present Congress
nothing more than little horse laughter
and a great deal Of utter neglect But a
start has been made, and sooner or later the
truth may dawn on Congressional compre-
hengion
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07
Owed to the Sparrow

Dear sparrow lovers, might ! say
The spsgyow's merit lies TO-DAY
Not a.. "a what you feed it2
There's hardly any bug or worm
That may not freely twist or squirn'
And live is full allotted term;
The sparrow will not heed H.
BIZ. here's an architectural work
The b'sd has done, recall the gu"
OF that Old ig-saw bracket.
For where the sparrow comes, my eeah
And fills :. full OF straw and cheer
The bracket does disappear;
That's why our houses lack t.
Maybe he drives of other birds;
Maybe he and his spouse have vo''''
They surely MAKE a racket.
But, anyway, Whate'er his feao'
And whc.aer bugs o. seeds he cav
Waile scufhag in our filthy sirs''
Hes Killed ,hc jig-saw brscket "a
u. D. FoLLu
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

You can purchase merchandise advertised in
TIE TRIBUNE with absolute safety-ior 1t
dissatisfaction results in any case The
TRIBUNE guarantees to pay your money bsch
upon request. No red tape. No quibblng. We
make good promptly if the advertiser does not.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

ovpss and pushhsd daily By ne Tribune AssOcisucn
Nvs Tea ecrpofsuco oTieo Reid President g. werner
ReruN yiss Prsaidsat: Richard X waldo Secretary. T. A
sut.r TREASURED Adsre., Tribune Building. i5t Nassau
streel Nex York Telephone. Bsckmsn Sooo
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-07

poRrrGN RATS

Eutsred al the Fostono. al New York a. Secoad Gas
Mall Matter.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
CONFEREES AGREE TO
ROOSEVELT ARMY PLAN
Accept Volunteer Force Section in
Draft Bi1l-Make No Other
Changes in Measure.

Senate and House conferees on the
army draft bill today agreed to report
the measure with provision authoriz-
ing the President to raise the volun-
teer divisions Col. Roosevelt desires to
leaa to France. No other changes in
the bill were made by the conferees.
who accepted without change the
House provision for the Roosevelt vol
unteers. AS the Senate by a large vote
previously approved the volunteer
force, its final adoption by both houses
of Congress is regarded certain unless
something unexpectedly should develop
in the Senate. The full force Of the
administration Is against it.
Whether Col. Roosevelt and a volun-
teer force go abroad remains for the
President to decide, as the provision
agreed to by the conferees makes It
optional and not mandatory upon the
conferses dscfdsd not to reopen other
questions. The conscription age re-
mains from twenty-one to thirty years,
inclusive.
Before the week ends the conferees
hope to have the bill finally adopted
by both houses and sent to the Presi-
dent.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
Mr.. DANIELS EXCUSED
FROM RINTELEN TRIAL
Judge Cushman Blocks David La
mars Efforts to Have Secretary
Appear as Witness.


By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. May 15.-Federal Judge
cushman presiding at the trial of Da-
-, p;,..,. o,nt,;n IN
via Lamar rFahz t.ihteieh' eap.a'" ~
the German navy. and others for al
+;en ,ndr.trv ~ tho country in 1a15
.ioii inuus.S ne eo
today blocked Lamar's enorts 10 nave
Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the
N.,,y c,,,ed here to testify in his de-
ass' e"eu
IT received this message from Secre-
+.rv n.nie,s " Iudga cusbman said.
know nothing Whatever ABOUT the
case: I trust it will not be necessary
o. r,a - .nn.,r a. m,tters of ofIic;a,
~ ny - "'s =,
importance demand nay presehce III
Washington
"r have therefore excused a him from
-. ..,- 10000.
ceonins. II IN Wv WV " es n,,i essnsa a
Ilon ny MT. Odu!eis you .nlh ~ neSes
sary 70 nave MS testimony, you ma
arrange 70 take ms deposition IN
washington.
Lamar resumeo the stana IN ms oWh
oenaiI. contlnuing ms testlmohy IN re-
gara 70 tne mterest. ne saio. Wmiiain
Jennings Bryan took in the antl.muni-
tion traffic movement shortly after his
TeslgnaIion as secretary OF State.
Henry d martin, a de1endant. told MIN,
lamar testined. tnat Bryan IN private
conversation oilteriy denounced the
who. he said. in 1915. were bringing
pressure TO bear on the President to
force the country into war. Bryan ex-
pressed approval, Lamar SAID Martin
toid hfm. OF the anti-mun1t1on traffic
movement. saying 1t would go down
Evening star., 1917-05-15
STRIKE OF ENGINEERS
STILL WORRIES BRITAIN

LONDON, May 15.-Dr. CHRISTOPHER
Addison, minister of munitions, in the
course of a statement dealing with the
engineers strike. says:
"The people say the army in France
has heaps of shells. But that isn't the
point. / am glad to say they have
plenty of shells at the front. but these
strikes are particularly affecting such
things as big guns. tanks and airplane
motors. The supply of these has been
gravely affected.
"a continuation of the offensive in
June depends upon the things that now
are being finished in the shops We
have lost three weeks over the supply
of important war munitions at Barrow.
That will be felt later. but what is
being held up now is that which will
affect the soldiers in June and July, as
they will not. unless rapid work is re-
sumed. be able to go forward with that
protection from the tanks that they
should have. This is the gravest fea-
ture of the whole thing"
Evening star., 1917-05-15
GEN. PETAIN is MADE
COMMANDER OF FRENCH
Nivelle to Still Lead a Group of
Armies-Foch New Chief
Of Staff.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PARIS, May 15.-Gen. Petain was an
pointed as commander chief of the
French armies operating on the French
Nivelle was placed in command of a
group of armies. Gen. Foch, who has
played an important role In the battles
of the Marine and the User, succeeds
Gen. Petain as chief Of stan Of the min
istry Of war.
Gen. Petain, who was retired
colonel at the outbreak of the war, is
the man to whom many Frenchmen
have been looking for the initiative
which would win a decisive success on
the French front. To him more than to
any other commander now in active
service with the French the legend Of
success attaches. He became a popular
hero and the idol of the soldiers for
his defense of Verdun and probably
of the French front some time ago had
he obtained the degree Of power he
wished.
After his great success at verdun
Gen. Petain was placed in command of
a group of armies and late last month
he was named as chief of staf It is
generally understood that when the re-
tirement of Marshal Joffre was decided
upon the marshal selected Gen. Petain
as his successor, but that the general
was unwilling to accept the post with
out extraordinary powers. According
to some reports he desired to have
command over the British forces in
France as well as the French.
Gen. Nivelle was subordinate to Gen.
Petain until at the latter's suggestion
he was made communicating chief at
the time of Marshal Joffre's retire.
ment. Gen. Foch, who made a brilliant
record early in the war. was detached
from active service last month.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
NEW FIGHT TO PROHIBIT
USE OF GRAIN FOR LIQUOR
Senate Prohibition Advocates Not
Dismayed by Defeat Of Cum
minis Amendment. !

Undismayed by the Senate's elfmina-
tion of the Cummins prohibition amend
ment from the espionage bill, senators
advocating dry legislation during the
war, today planned to renew their
fight.
A group. including Senators Cum
minis and Kenyon of Iowa. Gore of
Oklahoma, Curtis of Kansas, Gronna of
North Dakota and others, is working
on carefully worded bill for presenta-
ton either as a separate measure or as
an amendment to the first food con-
servation bill brought up.
Opinionsfo of the Secretaries Of War.
and Treasury upon legisla-
tion to check manufacture of cereals
and other foodstuffs into liquor are be-
ing sought by Senator Gore as chair
man of the agriculture committee. LOSS
of revenue is regarded the most serious
obstacle.
Whether the proposed new prohibi-
tion measure shall directly prohibit use
of foodstuffs in manufacturing liquor
or shall merely clothe the President
with power to prohibit 1t is undeter-
mined. Most senator's are said to favor
the former plan.
Senators Gore, Gronna and Kenyon all
have introduced bills on the subject and
a subcommittee is now considering
them with view to reporting a new
and carefully drafted measure.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
NINETY REPORTED LOST
WITH TORPEDOED SHIP

NEW YORK. May 15.-Shipping cir
that ninety lives were lost April "a In
the torpedoing of the British liner
Abosso about thirty miles east of Fast
net. The Abosso was bound from Nj
geria to Liverpool and was torpedoed
without warning, the report said. The
survivors were picked up forty-five
minutes later and landed at Liverpool
Forty-six of the passengers perished
and forty-four of the crew.
A dispatch from London recently
quoted the London Chronicle as de-
manding to know why the British ad-
miralty had failed to publish the loss
of "a certain big ship" with "a loss of
more than seventy lives"
Evening star., 1917-05-15
Appeal to Coal Miners.

FAIRMONT, w Va, May 15.-Each
of 10000 miners employed by the Con-
solidated Coal Company in West Vir-
ginia. Maryland and Kentucky is asked
to strain every muscle and nerve" in
getting out every possible, ounce" OF
coal in a communication from ]. III.
Wheelwright, president, of the COM
pany. announced here today. Much of
the 'company's tonnage goes to govern
ment plants and for shipment to the
allies from the Atlantic seaboard.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
WAR APPROPRIATIONS
OVER THREE BILLIONS

All appropriation records of Con-
gress were broken today when the SEN
ate appropriations committee reported
the war. army and navy deficiency bin,
carrying a total of $500, 1000, in.
cluding $400. 0.000,0 900 for construction and
purchase of an American merchant ma
rine.
The committee added $563, 1892, 600 to
the House bill. Among the Senate in
creases were 100000 for the council Of
national defense. 100000 for deten-
ton of interned Germans, $26, 900, 900
for army machine guns and $4,000. 600
for heavy army ordnance.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
BRITISH MISSION PLANS
TO ECONOMIZE TIME HERE

The British mission today held a gen.
eral meeting of practically all mem
bers to summarize the situation and ar
range for the most economic use Of the
short time remaining.
Unless the State Department has other
plans, the mission will hold to its prep
aration for departing within a week or
SO.
Mr.. Balfour saw Emil HovelaQue of
the French mission and British Ambas-
sador Spring Rice
TORONTO, Ont, May 15.-Arthur j.
Balfour head of the British war COM
mission, will visit Toronto on May 23.
His Secretary has SO notified Mayor
Church. 1t was announced today. A flt-
ting program of welcome to the distin-
gulshed visitor and his party Is being
prepared.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
ANSWERS CALL OF FARM,

NEW YORK. May 15-"The-back-
the-farm' movement has so increased
passenger traffic to nearby points that
the traffic officials of every important
railroad entering New York have been
unable to discontinue any commuters'
trains in the Encouragement of their
passenger train scheduleS to facilitate
the movement of troops and munitions
The high cost Of living and chance to
in the outlying districts Is given as the
cause for the increased Communication
traffic.
The call of the farm also has been
answered by more than 800 New York
city school boys Of the 10000 enlisted
by the military training commission.
Most of them are living in camps From
points outside this city the commission
The total enlistments to date in the
state outside the city are more than
1000.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
MORE AMERICANS AT BERN.
Germans Only Ones Showing Disre.
spect on Way From Constantinople.

BERN. via Paris, May 15.-Eighteen
more Americans from Constantinople.
Smyrna and Jerusalem have arrived in
Bern some of them after weeks of
journeying.
The new arrivals have caused the
hope to prevail that all Americans
eventually will be permitted to depart
from Turkey. The trip of the Amer
Jeans to Bern was a repetition of the
journey OF the earlier parties, with the
utmost courtesy being shown them by
the Turks. Bulgarians and Austrians.
and trouble. including arrest and othe.
inconveniences. arising only from the
Germans at Nish, Serbia
Evening star., 1917-05-15
TWO NEW FOOD BILLS IN.
One for Controller and Other to Save
Immature Live Stock,

Two new food control bills, one au-
thorizing the President to appoint "a
controller general Of supplies" during
vent VEN slaughter Of Immature livestock,
were introduced yesterday by Senator
Gore, chairman of the agriculture COM
miftee.
The measure proposing a controller
competition between them. he shall SUI
pervise purchase, storage. conserva-
tion. transportation. distribution, sale,
exchange and control of foods, feeds,
fuels and similar -necessaries" to such
extent as Congress shall provide. He
would have the salary of a cabinet Of
ficer.
Evening star., 1917-05-15
Decoy Ships to Destruct;on

NEWPORT NEWS. Va, May 15.-s
o. s. calls and open boats loaded witt
men are being used by German sub.
destruction, according to British sbin.
masters in port here. So many ships
have been decoyed In this manner that
the British have ordered Captains to
pay no heed to such calls In certain
zones, as they are patrolled by boats
sent out to succor ships and men in
distress. - = -, -