davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
A GRAB AT INFINITY.
Let Man Wind the Fingers Of Thought
Around Himself.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Your
versatile correspondent Charles Nevers
Holmes presents a vivid portrayal of the
wonders of cotmic space. the beauty Of
the Terrestrial world. the Joys OF the
winter season. unconsciously betrayins
soul attuned to the INFINITE. n heart
beating in unison with nature. mind
conte1nplative and reposeful.
Ny attention IL attracted particularly
to the letter in which he INDUCES in a
rhapsody on the grandeur of the sidereal
universe, views with awe its intormlna-
bic extent and deplores It's Incompetent
sibility.
His voyage into spacial infinity is
beneficial in that It leads US to a con-
sideration OF the gorgeous pageantry Of
the starry heavens, matchless in splen-
dor and palpitant with supernal glory.
Our Imagination also Is amplifled and
we are conscious of sense Of ever
widening expansion to the Limitation of
our vision as we ascend with him upon
the wings of fancy into tho vast empy-
rean. where we behold the rhythmic whirl
Of myriad universes and are thrilled with
their vibrant harmonies. On and on he
pilots US to the remotest star in the
visual perspective Of mortals. and bids
us penetrate the interminable vistas be-
yond, until. lost within the spacial deeps.
we realize that cen the highest knowl-
edge Is but vanity. the contemplation OF
the infinite overpowers our conscious
ness, our brains reel and We sink into
the ennui Of intellectual stagnatlon.
We are forced to acqulesce when he
declares that "the immensely OF space
which surrounds our exceedingly tiny
planet homo Is not to DO comprehended
by any OF US even though we stand for
hours studying the wonders OF tho frma-
ment," and the question occurs to US.
Why does mankind exhaust its energy
in the investigation OF that which It has
already pronounced incomprehensible,
unknowable and unthinkable? If nature
is the supreme economist" why does
she continue to evolve out of the cosmic
dust continuous succession OF worlds
which ill no human want. meet no ne
oesstties nor exigencies OF tho tmesT
We are saddened by the reflection that
unless a new revelation comes to man.
tho universe will remain forever beyond
tho pale OF our conception. forever be-
You'd the scope OF the intellectual per
spective OF human aspiration and effort
Men seek to find sublimity in the vast
ness of inf1nity. little realizing what
slender thread sustains their fanciful
creation. They seek revelation OF the
unknown amid the unapproachable ave-
nues of space. little dreaming that at
their very feet may lie the sacred key
to the hidden mystery. AS TO know In
finity Is the highest demand OF all In
tellectual research and development, the
supreme desideratum of existence, there
fore, know myself" o Man! Realize
that thou art the microcosm, search the
abysmal depths OF thine own being. SO
shalt thou find the open sesame" to the
mysteries Of the universe. so shalt thou
steal the mystic secret OF tho cosmos
and touch the heart OF Deity.
+. 8. FRAY.
Nyw York. December 81
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
General DickmAn's Government Of
Occupied Territory.

Major-General DICKMAN's methods
Of maintaining order in the German
territory occupied BY our troops will
be watched with the greatest interest,
not only because OF the national de-
sire that the thing shall be done
creditably, but because Of the oppor-
tunity the situation presents to study
the German psychology.
1t is apparent that General DICK
MAN has no intention of assuming the
routine responsibilities Of the German
editors, preachers, theatre managers
and others whose activities give them
@ chance to influence public opinion
or stir popular passion. Instead, they
have been told what they arctic avoid,
and the burden OF compliance rests
on them. In the matter of newspa-
pers. for example. the occupying mill
tary forces take no action until the
papers are being printed. The first
six numbers must be submitted for
examination. and II the regulations
have been disobeyed in the prepare
ton Of the edition, appropriate action
Will be taken to punish those who
have failed to observe the restrictions
imposed on them. The same system,
modified to meet the exigencies, ap-
piles to other professions.
There has been speculation as to
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

In general, the report of the Ameri-
cnn Red Cross on Its first years work
] In France only enlarges the picture,
already quite plnin in the public's eye,
Of the great works Of mercy done In
, many ways In many fields. The re-
lief Of the civilians Of the devastated
regions of France, the care Of the
crippled and the repatrlated, the cure
and prevention of disease, the educa-
ton Of incnpacltated soldiers and the
nursing Of children-these services,
performed for noncombatants, were
but a part Of the gigantic task for
which the American people poured
out their millions.
On the military side the report
shows only a part of that which the
Red Cross did for the soldiers, for
the document was closed too early In
the summer for q complete view.
There Is enough to Indicate, however,
the manner In which the Red Cross
, did Its part, and even more than had
been expected Of II. Commissioner
PERKINS writes that on August 1 the
Red Cross had 10000 beds operating
for our soldiers, 1900 Of whom had
gone through these hospitals In about
a fortnight. This was service be-
yond the estimate Of the army's needs.
As'some part Of the public may have
a confusion. or misconception, of the
part assigned to the Red Cross in the
care OF the wounded we quote from
the clear definitions of the report:
In what are known as American Red
Cross hospitals We supply all the ma
teriaIs and install the hospital. We also
furnish nurses and pay their salaries.
The doctors and orderlies are partly
loaned by the army. partly supplied by
us. This 10 the arrangement In hospi-
tails which are devoted to the care of
the soldiers. OF course In hospitals for
our own personnel and for the person
mel Of other auxiliary Organizations we
supply the complete personnel A. well
as all materials used.
where the hospital is known as q
Red Cross Military Hospital Il means
that we have installed the hospital and
that the business Of the hospital Is
managed by Us, but the medical direc-
ton OF the hospital is turned ,over TO the
army. which employs its own personnel
"our convalescent hospitals are places
where officers. enlisted men and army
nurses go for convalescing and for rest
when they are run down"
To relate what the Red Cross has
done for the physical and mental CON-
fort of the soldiers would be to cata-
logue about all the benefactions which
intelligence can conceive and gener-
osity supply.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
Winter.

The winter which begins at 10: 40
o'clock this morning promises i'm,
provement over the winter of a year
ago. This day twelvemonth we had
already tasted the bitterness that was
to reach Its climax at New Years and
was to distress the East until April.
America at home shivered, its fuel
cut of through human incapacity to
deal with thefrelentless weather. The
food problem was grave. Abroad our
men gathered on strdnge SHOWS TO
resist a foe that then appeared I'M
beaten II not unbeatable. No winter
ever began more wretchedly.
This shortest day is long in pleas.
ant contrasts Our men are coming
home almost as rapidly as they went
abroad a year ago the Prussian snow
man Is melted In the heat Of clyillza-
TONS anger. The East has coal food
cards are souvenirs. There Is last
years winter for only a few Ameri-
cans-that gallant little army which
stamps Its feet and swings It's arms
not far from the Arctic Circle; the
men who are waiting below Archa NIGEL
to see what Russia will do for herself
or what the rest OF the world will do
for Russia Beside these mems win
ter ours is Palm Beach at noon
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
where the President Surely Repre-
SCENTS This Republic.

President WILSON seems determined
TO do ell In his power-and his power
Is u, great-to carry relief to thesdis-
tresssd and food to the starving
throughout the European peoples now
surveying dlrely in consequence of the
Rz6hs war: This Is a very different
thing from any general scheme for
che political Reorganization of Eu-
rope. involving engagements, and per
hAps dangerous entanglements, which
the United States Government should
not undertake, as Senator LODGE
showed In his statesmanlike and truly
American speech yesterday. without
the most careful and deliberate con-
sideration of all that 1t may mean to
Che future, Of this republic.
There are a thousand good reasons
for NOT tying up the difficult and COM
plex and as yet imperfectly defined
question Of a League Of Nations with
the immediate business Of concluding
peace. When the President assumes
to speak for the American people
with regard to the establishment Of an
internationalism which may perhaps
endanger our own cherished and
priceless rights Of national self-de-
termination in matters vital to our
selves, he necessarily speaks without
authority. because there has been no
ascertainment Of either legislative or
popular opinion b. any process ex-
cept his own conjecture. He cannot
possibly know. But there is every
good reason for his assumption that
he represents the American people
when he speaks IN the name Of COM
mon humanity, Of Christian charity.
of ordinary common sense and ex-
pediency, for such practical measures
Of help as we can give to Russia, to
Belgium. to the suffering and hungry
In every devastated and disorganized
community within the reach Of our
sympathy and assistance. He speaks
with warrant because he knows.
Everybody knows.
This creditable impulse Of PreH-
dent WILSON requires the authority Of
no Fourteen Points. II concerns one
point only; that point is the Golden
Rule. And in the practical. sensible,
natural application Of that point of
divine law to the urgent needs of in
nocent and suffering humans, any
where and everywhere that the hand
af our help can reach, President WI
son may be sure he is the spokesman
and has the support Of the American
people-and when more assuredly
chan this week OF all the weeks of
the Christian Year,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

When spring returns TO France again
To weave a covsrlet
or flowers above the gallant DEAD
We never shall forget.
Ger heroes OF the trench and neld
A blanket she will spread
or silken peoples full OF Sleep
And petalled richly red.
But where beside stheir broken planes
The aviA,ors 10.
No more like eagles TO explore
The spaces OF the sky,
Remembering how well they loved
Tho azure where they new.
She will enbroider over them
The cOrnnower' - darling blue.
MINNA IEVrSo.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

In kuHsey's Magazine for January begins
Sax Rohmer's new mystery story. 1.-THE
Golden Scorpion" with tragedy, sinister
Oriental figures and Scotland Yard men
stalking through It from the very nrst
pages Short fiction is represented by
George Allan England. Eleanor Ecob, Jack
Bechdolt. Katharine Metcalf Roof and
Elizabeth Patterson. The news articles
touching on the war include Msjor-General
Carriers Training Officers for Our Ma
tional Army" Robert G. Skerrett's ''what
Defeated the Submarine" ]. s. 4. Vests
For Extraordinary Hsro!sm." which re-
lates to the d. 8. C. men; and Roy
Ritchis's 'our Great Army School," other
news ana pictorial features ere about the
new Senators In Congress, Cssoho- slovalia
and the Spanish influenza.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

oom traditional methods and meters
are stricken Off like chains, It Is sur
prising to find the most formal, the
most strictly prescribed, the most ar
bitrary Of all forms Of English verse
reaching out for something like popu-
larity-and getting It
1t seems as II the sonnet, despite
Its foreign origin, must have In It
some inherent adaptabllity to Eng
lish thought, and some elemental
quality Of music, to have survived
and even prospered In the midst Of
the onslaught and the tumuh and the
shouting that has gone on around the
new" poetry's demolition Of old gods
and traditional forms Even the nols-
lest champions Of free verse carolling
In Chicago occasionally lay aside tho
cudgel and loiter with leisure and
sweet serenity In the ancient narrow
corridor Of fourteen lines.
What is the explsnationi Is 1t
that where everything is chaos moth
Ing Is certain, and the weary and the
anxious turn, as to q rock in trou-
bled sen, to this established form?
Partly, no doubt; but partly, also. the
explanation lies In the change that
has. come over the uses Of the sonnet.
It Is to this, probably, that we must
look for the cause Of the readers al
tered attitude toward the sonnet
The time Is not far gone when the
reader who was afraid Of the SUBJ
lime, the academic and the ponderous
turned the page over when he came
upon the impediately recognizable
fourteen lines. The sonnet was for
long the vehicle for just that kind OF
poetry-the sublime beyond reach, the
academic and ponderous.
The whole movement Of English
poetry for the past ten wears has been
In the direction Of intimacy Of mat
ter and plainness Of speech. This. Of
course. Is q reflection Of popular taste.
Thus the poetry reader, until very re-
Gently. turned away from the four
teen lines, as being probably some
thing beyond him and for which he
had no liking.
What has finally brought about O
change in his attitude Is the discovery
that poets are using the sonnet to-
day In way quite different from the
uses with which he was familiar in
his school days. Tho themes are not
moral ones; neither are the subjects
remote. The language IS not stilted
and unnatural, but the language of
plain speech. fused to poetic inten-
slty, to be sure, but still simple. In
short, the characteristics Of the SON
net which hitherto frightened him
away are discovered to be not char
acteristics Of the sonnet at all, but
the characteristics Of an age that had
marked the sonnet with Its mark. an
age hopelessly removed from him in
both Its thought and its expression.
The sonnet today has been brought
down among men to record the hon
est, unaffected thoughts OF men. to
speak with the plain speech Of men.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

Churches OF a" d"-rm..a-. .
started on an intensive eN..' '. -
up the drive. EabblS W. .a'g '''-
OF the Red Cross wur ,- ...
side from returned J,N.-. -
made appeals from the i..i.
s-nagogues. and to-day .-.-'r'
clergymen will do the suH. ''.. ,.1.
pulpits. Some OF the war L,r."s .'.F'.
in the synagogues to enrol 1' n1r''A.
yesterdays services.
The campaign committee LIS
out an earnest appeal o. i." g."
have service stars in t.'!r WIND w.
Says II, d. Campbell TIE o'
"If any one will listen, surely IT Is t''
We ask you TO do two .h,EA
ask you TO do them N tie rt.."
star or stars that hang :" .
dow. We ask you, trti ..
your household is 100 yer ,'.
bershlp in the Red Cross. " .'.
second. TO get two more
side your own family 20 '1.r
lar pays for full member,h'p ..' 49,.
Miss Kathleen Burke ~
fish Women's Hospital
eighteenth trip TO this .u.r...
the war, is speaking t'r "
Cross. though as she We
gassed she can't use her '''
much. Miss Burke rays
palled at the growth OF t'..
uganda IN this country
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
Service in the Post once.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir:
have Just read of Beacon HIS" order
for 1000 stamped envelopes given to the
Post Office Department early in October
and not filled on December II.
Considering the service that We have
had the last year or two, we think thai
Beacon Hill" ought 10 be well pleased
with his service.
On August 80 We gave our check fol
10 900 envelopes. and they were not de-
livered TO us until December ..
Really his service was quite good.
MERCHANT.
ROCHESTER, December 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

When Field Marshal Won MAcKENsES
was interned in Hungary, a guest"
o; Count KARoLYI, he demanded indig-
nantly whether the German military
authorities knew OF his plight On
being told they did, he exclaimed
Then I am really abandoned" tears
CAME into his eyes and the scene was
extremely painful" Painful indeed:
so, too, were some things that hap
pened in the countries overrun by VoS
MAcKENsES's armies painful" A man
of iron should not weep.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

the possibility that the American de-
sire to interfere a. little rs possible
In the domestic and local customs OF
the occupied territory might be inter-
preted as weakness This has been
possible. but the correction Of such a
misunderstanding would come quickly,
a fact Of which the Germans must be
aware. The response Of the Germans
TO this treatment will provide an in
teresting commentary on their men
tai processes.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
Record of the Banks.

4Honlas dllut' N!ce-p.'Si". 10. .''
bankers and trust CompanI's ,' e
tee or the Industrial olV'slo.' 't.' go
terday that III OF the IL 'ES,.lI y
listed had enrolled 100 per ,'H' 49,
latest to enroll are the t"e2'y-s'. %
Manhattan branches q me ON IA
chanEe Bank the Na'!oh". '''.' '4.. ..
the CONAN Nationa. lam l.- iT
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22


They are coming out Of EEypt and ths1
neck ths Promised Land
Through the deser; and the lions thai
are standing IN the way.
Harkl hear the Tommies cheering TO the
music OF the band:
Garry on" the captains calling, '.C,arrx
on" and Clear the WY p
They have taken Gath and Ashdod and AID
Ascalon as wei,
The places. where ths Phills.in.s 70 fondiy
loved to dwell.
They have got the gates Of GAIA and A.
Vancing In their wrath
They smite tho Hun as David srnot. Go
Hath OF old Gath.
They have entered little Bsthlenena with
Joy for Christmas Day,
They are in the Holy city with q pr1r.r
no words may say.
GOD keep you. young CruIAderul avAv hs-
yond the sea
He led you through the desert and Je-,,-
salem Is free.
ANDREW r. wtsr.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
POEMS, WORTH READING.
Personal Report by n Returned Visitor
to Argonne Wood.

to Argonne Wood.
All. g'wani
wat de yer soy.
Their Lost Battalion OF Argonne"f
We wasn't lost
We was on our way.
ArRonne Forest looked good that day |;
And we sneaked IN, crawlin' on our
knees =
Pottin' the Huns behind the trcsa
we was advancin', maybe Off tho map.
But before we started We promised kid
Cap -.
Wed send Their horrible Hun ter; his
last long nap.
That we'd fight like hell an do our oest.
An eroak wild our heads ter Their east
and feet ter Their west,
But we was enjoyin' it--don't yer 500
we had thor Hunnish Hun UP er tree
I rot one that was lookin' sky high
He didn't see mo as sneaks right by
Am. leans me shoulder 'gainst Their shell
Scared trunk
~ mar tres that shelters ther German
skunk,
An. lets him live fer q minute or two,
Tryin' to guess wat he saw way up IN
Their blue,
w'en-bless me soul! comm through
ther tops er Their trees
I wis nabbergasted an drops to mo
knees
I sees a big basket on ther end OF er
rope
An. says ter mes,N now watts this
dope2
An. It makes me carr ter see Their
darn foci Hun
Pull Their basket IN with ther end or MS
gun,
An. I says ter meself. TITS one TO seven
That Their darned nut thinks he's bein
fed from heaven"
But me blood runs cold wen i looks
above:
Sees him open Their basic. an take out
err dove,
An looks again, not q second too soon'
An catches or glimpse Of or big balloon.
An II suddenly dawnp on mo darn TOOL
Twas er carrie, pisson--no scvey dove
NUT.
An. knows thsr Colonel has somethin'
ter say
That he couldn't get to US in ther regular
way,
An wasn't long guessin' that Argonne
Wood
Was surrounded wild 'Huns-an' sur
rounded good
An twas up tie. me TO get that bird
Before that tree climbin' Hun kilrd Their
Colonel's word.
So ND ter me shoulder puts me gun
An I draws a bead on ther blankety
blank Hun,
Not on his head or his heart wild q
twist,
But fer Their little bullseye OF er watch
on his wrist
OF ther hand that was choikin' Their fne
game bird
That was sent ter bear answer Ter Their
Colonels word.
An knows gives ther black hearted
hound
A chance ter be alive when he strikes
the. Hound.
But Golly, gosh darn an then by heck
When sees him start ter wiring Their
neck
OF that little bird OF q sporty kind.
raises me gun an changes me mind.
An sends q bullet through Their top
OF his nut
He falls ter Their ground via dun thud.
But
Tina. little bird taxa, thar same hong
trip,
An It lays there choked in ther Huns
death grip.
An I tenderly unfastens or BIT OF strinx,
An takes from under It's fne long
wing
Their coloners message ter stick ter our
guns
An he'd soon cut through the- sur
roundup Huns.
But This nibs" got no answer by carrier
that day.
For into me pocket I tucked him away,
An beat It far into ArEonne Wood.
An found Their place where kid Cap"
stood,
Wild ther Company lined Up behind Their
trees,
Pottin' Their Huns with almighty casa
An again crawled along Their ground
An yelis, "Cap'n! carrier message wat
found"
JOHN BARRY RYAN.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

Mr.. MEEHAS OF Dolan's has retired
with the announced intention of be-
coming a tourist; and there must have
been a lot OF money in beef-an' and
sinkers II their purveyor can go in for
they are.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
Worn for the Returned Soldier.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: The
staff corps of the army will probably
have to operate for an Indefinite period
cleaning up records and checking up re-
turned materials. Why not let discharged
men who have no immediate employment
in view DO this work until they have
secured positions in commercial life?
New YORK, December 81. ABC
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

II is we'll that the colicky statue Oh
LINCOLN by BARNARD will not be sent
to London; the dignified work by ST
GAUpESs Is much better suited. But
what will be the thoughts OF the
"other British city" to which. II is an
nounced, will be sent the statue that
LINcoLN's son has described as mon
strous' and "grotesQue"?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
Women. Progress In westchest.r.


Miss MABEL Johnson. n daughter OF NJ
George johnson, will have tho honor Of
going down in local town history as the
nrst woman TO act on an election board
In tho capacity OF ballot clerk.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22

BY the calendar this Is the shortest
day in the year; but to the child who
believes in the saint OF the chimneys
1t is, like tomorrow and next day. one
OF the longest.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-22
RED CROSS DRIVE !
NEEDS BIGGER push
More Workers Required to Go,
Citizens Enlisted in Mem.
bership.
POLITICAL PARTIES HE'D
They Have $4,000 Volunteer,
on Jump-Banks Make
Good Showing.
POLITICAL PARTIES HELP

The Red Cross Christmas Roll CIV
continued to lag yesterday behind ~,
expectations Of those who are manav,,.
1t, but this, the committee saws. ia M.
because OF opposition to the orcaniz,
ton, but simply because people va.
to DO asked and there are not enoprA
workers TO approach them. Some A.
the most efficient help is coming from
the two big political parties, which "a.
gether have $4,000 volunteers tram.
ing around to the homes OF New Yor,.
els trying to enroll all tho ,no.h.,
and fathers and sisters and broths,,
and domestic servants. There I, ,
fierce competition between tho a..
plant and the donkey % TO WIFI
shall get the bigger number.
Don't let the Republicans 1ea, a,
Representative Thomas T. Smith e.
Tammany tells his army, and l1arerc.
II. Fay, secretary OF the RepuSlls,
county committee, Is similarly p-od
ding the men and women under hin.
They have a lot OF adventures. Den,
trailing into dark tenements, climbing
over piles of coal, Sc. and sometime.
shouting UP dumbwaiters when ,asy
can't reach the family any other wa,
But they are getting pretty good =,
suits. 1t Is the working people, by IL,
way, who are coming out bes. in ~,
campaign.