davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
Riyerside's Beauty Value
or of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Riverside Park is a national asset
The care and preservation Of Riverside Park
is a trust for which the citizens of New York
are answerable not only to the state but to
the entire nation.
Riverside PARK with two freight yards be
tween Seventy-second Street and 145th Street
would cease to be thing Of beauty or an in
spiration to either citizens or visitors. Beauty
also has its value, even commercial value,
since we are better understood when we
speak in terms of value. A freight yard il
not inspiring; q freight yard does not make
for an ideal. And TO progress We must have
ideals. The very reason why most Of us in
America are in sympathy with the Allies in
their struggle on the other side is because
they are fighting for an ideal, for freedom
against the materiaism and soullessness Of
Germany. If we permit the beauty spots of
the earth 10 be destroyed for commercial
purposes we shall suffer untold losses, in
that we shall lose the inspiration which only
beautiful things can give US, in education, in
health and in happiness
If there were no alternative to the plans
offered by tho New York Central, then we
might perforce have to bow our heads in ac-
ceptance Of the slogan, Business first" But
there is an alternative to its plans which
would give the railroad what it needs in in
creased facilities and permit it TO expand be
low Seventy-second Street, thus keeping
Riverside Park and the waterfront intact for
the future. Furthermore, the menace of the
railroad being removed, the park could then
be developed and improved as intended by
those farseeing citizens who first conceived
the idea of keeping this little strip Of water
front, out of the one hundred miles on Man.
haitian Island, alone sacred to its use as d
park of unmatched beauty.
Even though the alternative plan would
cost slightly more, yet for the sake Of pre-
serving our park it would be cheap at any
price. As good citizens we cannot afford not
to save Riverside Park.
ELIZABETH OGDEN WOOD.
New York, Jan. 9, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18

building programmes indicated. He kept
his own record as a naval councillor
straight and clear.
A highly characteristic action of the
admiral was his disagreement with the
majority of the naval board which heard
the charges against Rear Admiral Win
field S. Schley. Those charges were based
largely on enmities growing out Of the
lamentable Schey- Sampson feud. Admiral
Dewey had always held aloof from cliques
and factionalism in the navy. He had no
sympathy with the intrigues which were so
prevalent in the department prior to and
during the Spanish war. He felt that
Rear Admiral Schley was being pursued
by fractional animosity and that the repu-
tation Of the navy was being damaged by
such proceedings.
He voted to acquit Schley, although in so
doing he antagonized most Of his naval
associates. History, no doubt, will APP
prove that vote. But partisan feeling in
the navy ran high at that time, and what
history might think received little consid-
Grafton.
II was natural for Admiral Dewey to
go counter to what he considered an un-
worthy agitation. Therein lay his strength
of character. He was an upright, con-
scientious, courageous man, not afraid OF
unpopularity, if unpOpularity should re
suit from following his own convictions
and doing what he felt TO be along the
line of duty.
The navy has lost, therefore, an admit
rable head-a head worthy of its best ira
ditions. From the military critics point
Of view the United States may have pro
duced greater adnirals, greater rear ad-
mirals and greater commodores than
George Dewey. But few Of the men who
have risen to these grades have been su-
perior to him in the essential qualities
which go to make up the ideal naval officer.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
Ersatz Provender

Now that an official luncheon on the
calory system-at 10 cents head-has
thrust itself into the public gaze, we may
expect frequent imitators. No home is so
happy but that a daring and economical
housewife may attempt a meal Of scalloped
onions and peanuts or some parallel enor-
nifty. So far so good. Bills are high, and
even a hungry husband may be glad to
sacrifice something to reduce them. But
let there be no pretence about such viands,
we beg to urge. If you will economic, do
so frankly and fairly, and don't serve your
peanuts as sweetbreads or your beans and
dried bread as chicken, as was done to our
courageous squad of rockies the other day.
Here lies one great trouble with all our
diet reformers. They don't say; Here is
an interesting dish; it's new stuff, cheap,
wholesome and good eating" They say:
Here's a new dish that tastes almost as
good as chicken and costs less" The long
suffering eater tries and fails, naturally.
He looks for chicken and finds sad imi-
tation 70 blast his trusting faith. Vege-
tarians make the same blunder when they
serve vegetable hash or pretend that a
guileless banana is some relation to calf.
It was by dint of combining white beans
and dried bread with sundry condiments
that the cook of the dieting rockies
achieved "mock chicken" that tasted
something like turkey. They were good
beans, at that, everybody agreed. Most
of the de-alcohoized beer manufacturers
have made the same mistake, achieving
poor imitation of beer rather than a good
drink
Some of the responsibility doubtless lies
with the unimaginative consumer. The
manner in which scientific Germany is
serving up Ersatz provisions-a substi-
tute for coffee, for sausage, for what not
shows how widespread is the belief
that human nature would rather be hood
winked than frankly crossed in its habits.
But we suspect that little more courage
and imagination on the part Of the pur-
veyors would work far better. The spirit
udl lOOu IuIHlSHeu ny Jul HldBdNiHS CuA0OA
gives a significant parallel. The courage
to print new stuff is sadly lacking; rather
than take the chance they serve Ersatz-
0. Henry, Ersatz-Jack London, Ersatz-
Edna Ferber, until the whole digestive
tract is deranged and all fiction tastes like
Harold Bell Wright.
The arts are one here. Whether you
are stringing immortal words together at
10 cents word or dreaming a new custard
pie, the point is to have faith and do your
own honest best and let who will put forth
the just-as-good package.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
Another German Raider

It is now nearly six weeks since 1t was
made known by the British Admiralty that
an armed and disguised vessel of mercan-
tile type, supposed to be German COM
merce destroyer, had been sighted in the
North Atlantic. Repeated warnings were
sent out by wireless, yet after a while,
nothing further having been heard Of her,
it was too readily assumed in some quar-
ters that the alarm was false.
Later information virtually confirms the
original report and shows that an extraor-
binary amount of mischief has already
been worked by the mysterious cruiser,
supposing only one to be at large. 1t IS
officially announced in London that of ten
British and French merchant vessels sunk
and two captured in the last few weeks
there is good reason TO believe that all
we're victims of a single raider. Reports
of further havoc come from Rio de Janeiro,
and it may be that the losses already
amount TO a score Of ships.
Very little is known of the raider. 1t is
reported on doubtful authority that she is
a protected cruiser, but more probably she
is a converted merchant vessel, like the
Moewe and the Grief. The enormous dam
age that may be done by such vessels in
short time has already been demon
strated. They are, in fact, a much more
serious menace than submarines. The
Moewe on her brief cruise destroyed or
captured many valuable ships. The loss to
Great Britain was estimated at fully S1O,-
100000, and the raider returned safely
into port with nearly one hundred prison
ers and about S250,000 in gold bars.
1t is almost year since the Moewe sue
ceeded in gaining the Atlantic. No other
German vessel excepting submarines sue
ceeded in repeating the feat before this
new raider, though it is highly probable
that the attempt has often been made.
Last February the Grief, disguised as a
Norwegian tramp, contrived to get about
as far as the Shetlands, when she was en-
countered by British auxiliary cruiser;
whereupon there ensued a duel in which
both ships were sunk. Enthusiastically
enough, the Germans hailed the event as a
great naval victory. 1t is amazing that we
have heard Of no more successful evasions
Of the British patrol until now. A few
cruisers at large in the Atlantic could do
far more harm than all the submarines,
and with greater profit to the Germans, if
only they were fortunate enough to repeat
the remarkable performance of the Moewe.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
An Obvious Calculation
" Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: No wonder Mr.. Chidsey, Of Pasesgoui
fails to solve his problem in diFerential ca
culus. Let me restate the problem as give
in his letter in this mornings Tribune: =
the nearest fixed star is one billion Of nIe
away, and it takes an express train, ruunrl
thirty miles an hour, ten days to 90 fre-
New York City 20 San Francisco mote he
asteriskl how long viii 10 take Woodrow VT
son TO solve the Mexican problem%
Now, if Mr. Chidsey will refer % the boo.
from which the problem was taken, he W.
find that be turned a page az the p'h'
marked with the asterisk Nay, morei y
will find, If he takes of his glasses and PEI
ishes them well, that two pages are stuck 70
gether and he turned them as one. Sepsrs''
ing the adherent pages he viii there see taA'
his set of astronomo-raiiway premises are
connected with quite another problem ah'
that at the bottom OF the facing page H'
the premises belonging with bis Mexican
problem.
He viii read: "If frog, at the bottom o.
well fourteen feet deep, desiring 70 escAP,
ascends one foot each day and tsll' o"'
two feet each night (here the page turm'
how long will II take Woodrow Wilson 7"
settle the Mexican problem
Never: @. Z. D. The answer Is oeVi0'''
but Mr.. Chidsey asked for II -,
New Rochelle, n. Y, Jan. IS, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
William De Morgan

Somewhere in his "reminiscences Justin
Mccarthy told later generation that it
could never understand the feeling of ex-
pectancy and Of joyous satisfaction which
preceded and accompanied the publication
of new novel by Dickens in the good old
Victorian days. 1t was an event of nation
wide Importance. The Irish statesman
wrote, and wrote with fervor, before one
belated Victorian emerged from his life
long obscurity, to give to that younger
generation an experience almost as inter
esting and pleasurable and memorable.
William De Morgan gloried in his Dick
ensian touch; he cultivated it, and never
wearied of praising his master.
Joseph Vance" came at a moment when
the modern movement in English and
American fiction was in full swing. Real
ism was the word of the day; Russians
and Frenchmen were our chosen models
We had discarded the Victorians. Their
champions were old fogeys. And yet, that
one book, voluminous, leisurely, discur-
sive, Victorian in atmosphere as in
method, revering the London and the
characters and the caricatures Of Dickens's
own vision, suficed TO bring back even the
sophisticated and the scoffers to an art
which they had forsworn.
De Morgan, at siXty-fve, became the
author Of the year. If he never quite sue
ceeded in repeating his first great sue
cess, If he never drew another character
that will live, as old Vance deserves to
live, in the annals of English fiction, he
never failed TO give his admirers pleasur-
able moments Of sentiment and humor. He
loved his characters; he lived with them at
the distance of many years; he had the
gift of transferring himself back into the
past. And so, at the beginning Of the
twentieth century, he added page worth
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
How Long?

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The carol of peace has receded, for q
while at least, from every ones thoughts, and
the mind can now only dwell upon what is
going to happen on the battlefield in the
forthcoming year. What most people have
asked themselves with regard to the peace
proposals is how Germany would have re-
ceived them if she had been besieging Lon
don. Perhaps not so we'll as we have DONE
judging from her courtesy TO neutrals when
they have seemed to act in a manner inimical
70 her interests Germany has gone right on,
disdainful of neutral opinion. England has
not followed this example nor can one be-
lieve that she will ever do so.
Neutrals, apparently forgetting all natural
obstacles. ask how long is this terrible war TO
last. Is this an opportune question, put to
the Allies when they are in their full striking
power? Let it come when the blow now pre-
pairing has been struck
II is only those who respect Germany for
her military efficiency that can sympathize
with her in defeat Otherwise, the choice
lies between power that has broken every
civilized code and which would continue to
break them if victorious and nations that ask
no more than they should have the constant
shadow of military tyranny removed and re
store 70 the weak the freedom they have lost.
c. KING.
Strstton, N. Cornwall, England, Dec Is,
1919
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
Riverside Park a Necessity

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: 1t is always assumed that the suit 10
keep the New York Central Railroad from
broadening its tracks is merely an endeavor
to preserve a beautiful view and some fine
old trees for the property holders on the
Drive. As a matter Of fact Riverside Drive
Park is not luxury for the rich, but a
necessity for the poor, and a breathing spot
for all classes Of men, women and children
who walk long way for the privilege of
fresh air and view.
In winter il is filled with children and
babies. And in summer it is no exaggeration
to say that it has saved the lives of thou
sands Of these little ones, who are brought
over from their stifing homes early in the
morning by their mothers and spend the day
playing and sleeping in the shade of the
trees. The city does a great deal for chill
dren who are sick enough 20 be put into hos
pitfalls, but il would be less expensive and
more TO the point to preserve this little oasis
for the children who can only be kept out Of
hospitals by having a place provided where
they can enjoy fresh air and sunshine in
safety.
The park is also a much needed resting
ice for inyalids and old people, and great
boon 70 thousands OF workers who have to
remain town all summer. CT.
New York, Jan. 10, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
PORK DEFENDED
Ex-Governor Suffers ex-Seeretary Thinks
the Scandal Limited
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Since the establishment of the fed
eral income tax, more than ever before,
hear protests and criticisms of the annual
appropriation bills passed by the Congress.
No doubt these bills are larger than they
ought to be. Some items should be stricken
out, others should be reduced, because ex-
travagantly large.
But on the whole I have little sympathy
with the pork barrel" outcries which ema-
nate chiefly from newspapers whose sympa-
thies and interests are with the great accu-
mulators of wealth rather than with the
common people.
The pork barrel" cry comes largely from
public service corporations and from those
who have their money invested in these cor
porations; il comes from trusts and monopo-
lies, and from those who have their money
invested in trusts and monopolies. 1t is
born of desire 10 prevent the expansion OF
the functions Of government into fields
where the result will be the destruction, or
the curbing, of trusts and monopolies.
It is born of a desire TO prevent the people
from doing for themselves, at cost, certain
things which corporations are now doing for
he public and amassing enormous fortunes
thereby.
The wisdom of government ownership and
control of the business Of transmitting our
mails is not questioned by anybody. But
there was powerful opposition to the postal
savings banks and the parcel post. Both have
now demonstrated their usefulness. The wis
dom of their establishment is plain to almost
every impartial and unprejudced person.
The development and extension Of the
postal savings banks and the parcel post
make il more and more appropriate that the
government shall own the buildings in which
are located the larger postoffces. True
economy demands government ownership Of
these buildings. When buildings privately
owned are rented the rentals are usually
very liberal. The facilities are usually in
ferior and inadequate.
Yet the pork barrel" outcry is heard con-
corning large proportion Of appropriations
for Federal buildings. "The New York
Times" recently published an editorial crti-
csng such appropriations under the cap
ton, "The Public Buildings Scandal" There
are conditions more scandalous in connec-
ton with the rental of buildings privately
owned than there are in connection with ap-
priations for Federal buildings.
1t was not scandalous pork barrel" legisla-
ton which provided funds for Batavis's new
Federal building. II was not pork barrel"
legislation which recently appropriated money
for Federal building at Bowling Green, Ky,
the home Of Speaker Champ Clark, although
"The New York Times" tries TO make out
that IL was.
The greed and avarice of corporations en-
joying special privileges is, to a great ex-
tent, at the base Of the pork barrel" out
cries and the talk about public building
scandals. CHESTER c. PLATT.
Batavia, N. Y, Jan. 10, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
THE HEALTH INSURANCE Bill

10 the Edltor Of The TrIbune.

TO the Editor OF Inc Tribune.
Sir; The health insurance bill a. ,,...
duced in the New York Legislature On L.
airy 10 by Senator Ogden L. Mills will -.
vide protection for the worker who /, 49,
just as in this state workmens comp.n.,,,.
laws provide care for the worker who {, /.
jured.
Statistics show that about Der ear,
workers are injured each year, and TIA. q.
or seven times as many are incapael,s.sS l,
acute Illness.
The bill, as contemplated, fu-nishe, ~.
thirds Of the wages during illness, n.a,.,
care to the working man or woman duri,.
this time, maternity benefits for women. a.,
funeral benefits when necessary.
Medical care under all clrcumstanc., al
surgical care for ali accidents not a, pr,..,.
under the compensation laws are farni,..s
also tho care by specialists, dental car. ;,
stop the enormous number Of injection, n.
duced by bad teeth, and generous allev,,,.
Of medical and surgical appliances. Ia,
care will not only stop serious illness :,
dTreSLlNR many lANApttAg Eases OF QlseAse l.
their early stages, but will diminish Il.
length Of time that the workers are sick \.
cause it will furnish adequate care to ey,,,
case of illness.
The medical organization outlined IN u.
bill Is 20 linked with the state and los,
health departments that further developu,,.
Of preventive medicine and sanitation /, A..
sured. The medical provisions OF the nm
have been worked out through a long s.r,,
of conferences between committees OF ned.
cal men and social insurance experts. Az
have been Endorsed by the cornell Of y,
Medical Society Of the State OF New York 4,
safeguarding the public interest the puble
health and the welfare of the medical uro
fession. The employer under this law vii
have healthier workmen, and the smpoy,
will have safeguarded his greatest eeonor.
asset-that OF daily good health.
ALEXANDER LAMBERT
Chairman Of the Social Insurance Comnir,,
of the American Medical Association.
New York, Jan. IS, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
The Discondnuance of a Plan
ditor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: On December 80 letter appesrsd =
The Tribune signed By me Offering urs''
certain conditions to manage and fnsna
movement TO obtain a million signatures /"
an address Of sympathy TO Great BnaD'
France and their allies.
It has been decided not 20 carry ou' y.
plan; therefore, 20 prevent a misconstrueta
being placed on It's discontinuance, ! gi's =
state that the reason the plan has been g'r
up is that word has been received from :
Allied source, which IL is impossible % ci'F
gard, that such an address would not be !"
ceiyed with entire favor.
do not regret having made the pr0P',
ton, as the answers, both in tone and ~.
Der, have been so gratifying as 20 leave (, \.
doubt that at least a million signatures co.,
easily have been obtained A. r. CORlN
New York, Jan. IS, 1917.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-18
Not far from Verdun,
December %, 1916.
Dear Mama:
New York, Jan. 10, 1917.


Maybe YOU think that my head has been
turned by the glory and glamour Of this war
etc. Let me tell you that although there IS
n lot of that rot in the newspapers there Is
mona in France. | have heard two bugles
since have been here, and both those were
warnings TO the people that a bomb-dropping
aeroplane was overhead. There are no pretty
drills and no dress other than service uni
forms. Every ones single thought is to do
his duty for France from the smallest kids
TO the oldest here.
Here Is an example l am living tempo
rarily in a house where | sleep IN bed
wonder OF wondersl We are zen repos,
literally ain repose." Everybody expects
that the army division to which we are at
tached will soon be sent into the hardest
kind of fghting, and we are getting into the
best condition possible for it. SO we are
quiet now, although still within hearing OF
the big guns
The owner Of this house is a little stopped
old French lady seventy-fve years old. She
has four sons now fighting and one dead
She also has five grandchildren lighting. She
has sent her three granddaughters away so
as to give the soldiers the comfort OF the
house She not only gives her house, but
does everything to mako us comfortable,
making beds, drying shoes, etc, doing laun'
dry and building fires. | believe that all she
gets to eat is what is given her. And when
YOU ask her why all this-"C'est pour la pa
ireland dismisses 1t with n gesture.
And that is typical and not at all unusual
ave must put Germany down where she will
never again be menace" That is not
aatic SLOGAN 10 hide a selfish policy. II
is In the heart and soul Of the French people
There is no hatred of the Germans as in
England. The prisoners here are treated
exactly as the French poiu. They have the
same food and do the same work. Lots OF
them are mending roads around here and are
very happy. If there were more here there
would be less French soldiers working on
the roads, too but as IL is there are as many
French soldiers as Germans working on the
roads, and all working together and in perfect
harmony. There is no hate here, but just
the attitude that II is necessary TO win tn,
war for the good of France and the world
II is always "snd the world"
have found that love France. II is won.
derful. There are real sacrifices here and
real patriotism. The Frenchman loves his
country first, is proud Of her next, and will
do anything without thought of the cost for
her And the French women, too. Perhaps
they have given more. Anyway they do not
get the excitement. They are wonderful.
After I am through here will be better
man for seeing the French. I will work
harder than I ever did. feel like new
man already, and feel that am doing some
thing far far better than what ever did at
home. Love 20 all. Please be careful OF
yourself. Your loving son,