davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22

1T is a small book, held neatly in
leathern jacket that is black with
the patina of age. A faint fra
GRANGE springs up from it's stained pages,
a scent of old loves and old disasters, the
trailed elusive perfume of courts and
gardens and silk and velvets and old lace.
The ghost of it's past existence is in it;
a thin whisper of other days and other
dreams floats out of it's pages, and behind
it rises the faraway echo of tiny laugh
tiers, the subtle voices of plots and am
bitions 1t is the book of Ninon de Len
clos, who was beloved of many men,
Though centuries and mad events have
gone noisily over her grave, she comes
clear-eyed and wise from these old pages
as if yesterday we're to-day and the spin
ming world had not moved an ell.
Voltaire, who met her when he was a
boy and knew her in his manhood, said
once that all the letters were false except
those of Saint Evremond. This may be
true; only pedants have the patience
now to dig the truth and disclose it, and,
being pedants, lack the fever to enjoy
and make use of it. But if it is not this
great mistress of all the wise men of sew
enteenth century France, who is revealed
in the insinuating little volume it is q
mind equally great and clear seeing, and
equally caught in the sweeping wind of
intelligence that brought with it La
Rochefoucauld and La Bruyere. The
epistles are themselves addressed to the
Young Marquis de Sevigne, son of an
other letter writer whose wit was no
less amiable, even if her temper was
more conventional The charming Nine.
de Sevigne does herself appear by re-
Election in these pages, most often in
opposition to the strong irony and
cynicism of Ninon de Lenclos; the
author of the MaXims, referred to as
M. de R. F. c., is seen many times, and
the shadows of Nine de Maintenon and
Nine. de la Fayette and La Fontaine and
Moliere, and all the famous protagonists
of Port Royal pass across the screen of
Louis XIII's France.
Cast by the accident of a collectors
fancy into the tumult and storm of to-
day, the letters seem to bear with them
some implication of immortal intention.
1t is not merely one-time emerging
France which lies in them, the perfect
ing consciousness of a national mind and
intuition bringing itself to fruition; it
is as if they asked for comparison and
stretched forth reckoning and tempt
ing hand to carry the observer back to
the time they mirrored.
1t was out of no security that the
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22
The EtcherS Needle Reveals FASCINATING
Lines and Angles i'm the Chief City of
the CSech0-Sl0Uuk Nation
Perspectives

Prague Bridges
By Ralph Block

culture of France in that time gathered
itself into a complete thing; the Wars
of the Fronde were the university in
which de la Rochefoucauld was schooled,
and the great warlike Prince de Condo
was himself among Ninon's lovers. But
here at least was a society that based
itself on definite formation of human
beings. They were aristocrats, and they
made the world; none else counted. 1t
was like Greece, but it differed from
Greece in that the slaves of France
were of the same hue as the mobiles, and
Women stood at the top rather than at
the bottom Of the slender structure.
Revolution in France was a bare hun
dred years away, war was behind them
and ahead of them, yet in their intervals
these intelligents Of France brought
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22

know / have it in fact, but, as with so
many other psychic alterations, one of
the most bothersome symptoms is that the
patient really doesn't want to get cured.
He resists cure, Willingly or unwilling
ly. And that is my present sad condi-
ton. Frankly speaking, | don't know
what to do about it, And, worst of all, /
have become more confirmed playgoer,
novel reader and "movie fan" than ever
Whether this is on the principle that
criminal returns to the scene of his crime
or on that other therapeutic theory that
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22

certain ailments (such as affect the skin
from bathing, for example) are best
remedied by taking another bath in the
same place, or is based on the well-known
chemical phenomenon that an excess of
poison acts as its own antidote, do not
know
There is the case. Is the fool returning
to his folly or the folly pursuing the
fool? That is the proteophobiac dilemma
that. confronts me. And just as run
out of typewriter ribbon l hear the girl
in the apartment across from me singing
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22

the latest sentimental ballad, 1t is not
the reminiscent curve Of the melody that
engages my attention; melodies for pop
ular songs aren't written these days
they are rearranged. But what is that
grand climax of the words of the song,
as it mounts to a sustained supertonic
and falls to long drawn close?
s.'In quest Of the in Sustained super
tonic) finite! Long-drawn close).
Good heavens! They've made it into
a popular song! Verify, what will be it's
next avatar?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22

Toned, so unfinching in their reflection
of the human mind. Yet with this
kindness goes Swallowed recollection
OF the base Of the pyramid upon which
such superior refinement was able to
rest The modern mind, passing over
the austere and even cruel exposures
of human vanities and egotisms which
came out of these early French philoso-
pliers and wits, cannot entirely forgive
them their austerity, their hardness and
their refusal to be illusioned by the
SOULS own attempts at self-deception.
If pity is modern invention, then
these people were not yet moderns. How
could they have been so preoccupied with
their retinements, to the exclusion of
compassion for and understanding of the
great mass of humans, those who were
made to stand unleavened outside of the
benefits Of civilizing influences by the
incompleteness Of society's provision for
them?
1t is in this mood that the French
Revolution becomes understandable, and
the 273 perfect pages of Ninons letters
to the young Marquis de Sevigne take
on symbolic meaning far beyond the
scope of their witty intention and the
intention Of the English translator Will
son, who had them bound so prettily cat
Plato's Head in the Strand in 1851.
There was a wisdom in Ninon's head
Of which she least could be aware, and
,, her own assurance of the ironic mean
ing Of life is an irony that surpasses her
best attempts. For life has unrolled it's
canvas since then, and dipping the brush,
has started to paint wider scene The
pigments are heavier, the details will not
be so delicate, but there are more
varieties to be seen and the scene en-
circles the whole horizon. 1t was easy
enough to moralize about mankind then,
when so small part Of it was under the
glass. 1t was easy even to make an art
out of living, even though the cost was
very high So long as the inarticulate
rest of the world was willing to pay, it
could be done. But when the rest of
the French world quit paying, good
deal of the pleasant wisdom Of the day
became obsolete.
People do not love any more and
make friends in the fashion of Ninon
de Lenclos; there is no time left for it.
To-day there may be nobody who lives
so sweetly and contentedly and with so
much understanding. For that there
cannot help but be regret. But if there
is more to be done in the world it is
also to be done more swiftly, more pas
sionately and with greater intensity. 1t
is possible, in that understanding, to
turn back to these scented pages and
their visions of peacocks and gardens
with something of superiority and not
a little of condescension. 1t is as if the
world had grown up. And perhaps it
has
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22
Literary Spectres
Phantoms Trail the Observer Through
All the Devious Paths of Modern Art

dramatization of the "Quest of the In
finite"! And surely enough, as looked
at the billboards, | noticed in small type
the parentage of the play.
l had quite forgotten this incident
when friend of mine who is "movie
mad" informed me that the seasons hit
was now playing at the Palladium. He
said it was thriller. That was enough
for me. | came, / saw, | concurred.
Surely no film ever started off with a
louder bang. The name of the piece
flashed by on wings of celluloid, but
had just time to catch the title: "Above
the Uttermost" There were certainly
thrills galore. And soon I began to feel
a few that were down on the programme.
Let me see. Hadn't gone through these
same experiences vicariously before? Was
it show that had witnessed or a book
that l had read? Or some other "movie"?
| became so absorbed in trying to trace
the matter that I missed afterward
learned-two murders and suicide. Oh
yes! That was picturizati on-that's
what they call 'em--of the well-known
ploy beyond the End" based in turn
upon the popular novel "The Quest of
the Infnite"!
I laughed quietly to myself and
watched the rest Of the finn unroll with
amused complacency. cat least" l said
to myself, "ths is the last form in which
the infinite quest Of the infinite will be
served up to me-"
But only the next day I discovered my
error For, opening up one of the five
evening newspapers ] take, there was
friend "Quest of the Infinite" alias BE
yond the End" alias "Above the Utter
most" staring me impudently in the face!
1t was running in the newspaper serially.
But no. Surely there must be some mis-
take. For the author of "Quest of the
Infinite" was Abee See. And this shame
less bit of plagiary was signed EfJee
Aich. Looking closer, however, discov-
cred, from a note under the authors
name, that this was an authorized novel
ization of the film "Above the Utter
most" "Read it here every night" said
the advertisement, "and then see it IN
your favorite film temple"
The vicious circle was complete. Hav-
ing started as a novel, the book speedily
became a dramatized novel, then a plct-
urized dramatzed- novel, then a novel
lied, picturized- Grammatical novel. 1t had,
so to speak, met itself on the way back.
Surely confusion was never worse con-
fused. 1t was quite as bad as the chap
in Shakespeare with his travelled skein of
dramatic designations. Just out Of pure
cussedness, suppose, / should like to be
present when the noted novelist Abee See
reads the authorized novelization of Abee
Sees erstwhile pure novel made by the
noted novelzator Efjee Aich.
Such is one of the protean manifesto
tions of latter day art.
The spectres are not yet laid. AT every
hook 7 open / fear lest last nights
"n,ovie" lump out at me from between
ito covers. Every play | visit fills me
with preliminary fear lest week-ago's
,ove, comes to life Before my eyes.
To tell the truth l would visit doctor
about this, only ] am afraid he VII
to,l me that / have 'proteophobia.'
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22
r ::: ;: r.: :; the: 4: :: - q 4:

EMARKING that there was no name
N like Wragg on the banks of the
IN Va 1lissus, Matthew Arnold ragged
about the touch of grossness in
our and shortcomings in the more
delicate spiritual perceptions If modern
names in actual life are ugly. unconvincing
or incorrigible, they need not be so in fic-
ton, where the author can style the
bear unpleasing names which are meant
to please it is his fault Poetry has to be
particular in this respect, for it must be
above ridicue Research has revealed the
real names involved in the romantic story
of Tennyson's Lord of Burleigh" The
lady wooed by the lordly landscape painter
was named Sarah Hoggins-which, it may
be observed, only rhymes with "noggins"-
and the place where the affair took place
bore the unpromising name of Bolas Magma
Wise novelists take trouble about the
names of their puppets and the titles of
their books. Dickens has left evidence of
the extreme care he took, and he was not
always successful Effective names for
characters are not easy to find, if one has
the artists zeal for exactly the right thing
which sent Balzac on a wandering quest
around the streets of Paris Even when
the novelist has discovered or elaborated
what he conceives to be an apt name, he
cannot be at ease. His villains name NAV
belong to a respectable gentleman in real
life who does not like the coincidence, and
he may get into hot water, or, worse still
into the law courts. Thackeray had to an
swer some Infatuated Irish journalists who
accused him of libelling Miss HAYES.
young actress then performing in London.
Her name was also that of the murderess
Catherine Hayes, who is the leading figure
in Thackeray's "Catherine," and a reference
to "Mrs. Hayes, who died at Tyburn and
subsequently persisted in my novel" was
followed by such denunciation as only Ire
land can produce The world was doubt
less, dissolved in laughter at such I'M
merited abuse. To-day writer's take more
trouble with their nomenclature than they
used to. Names directly suggestive of men
tai or physical qualities, such as Bunyan's
Badman and Talkative, Peter Simple and
Sir Fretful Plagiary, or the Qurk Gam
mon and Snap firm of solicitors in "Ten
Thousand a Year" arc not regarded as
adequate, though Thackeray, as we'll as
Dickens, used th.m and again. Nor
are names directly indicating professions
such as Mr.. Mould the undertaken, in
fashion. The merely grotesque, like Tim
othy Tittlebat, have also disappeared Miss
Braddon was beginner when she called a
town Sloppin gton- Sloshy. A modern
generation requires something more likely
and less obvious than that. Nor do our
popular authors leave the imagination colo
by talking about the little town of VI
as Lytton did, carrying on the practice o.
the eighteenth century. Richardson made
Mr.. B famous as the pursuer of Pamela
and Fielding served him right when b,
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-12-22
By Irving Galvan Seymour

b. Irving Galvan Seymour
lam haunted by white spectres, and
L like so many that are pursued by
phantoms, my mind has been run
ming much Of late to the Bible. I have
been thinking particularly of that IA
nous (if somewhat unasthetic) simile in
which fool returning to his folly is lik-
sned to a dog returning to his vomit.
Surely, this is one of the most striking,
effective and meaningful SMILES ever
presented to man. Only do not know,
whether in the case | am about to relate,
It is the fool that returneth to his folly,
or the folly that pursueth the fool. My
particular white spectres are, the paper
Of the daily press, of the popular novel
and the pale flicker of the films-yes,
even the glare of the footlights. And
here is how my spectral complex origi-
mated.
had read very thrilling novel and
lad enjoyed every page. Chat in itself
is really confession, as any psyche
analyst will tell you. Besides, it convicts
me of not being a highbrow, for thrills
should not be enjoyedD The name of
the book was-well, let us call it "The
Quest Of the Infinite" (The advantage
Of not giving the real name of the best
seller in question lies in the fact that
every author will secretly think it was
MS own, and thus one spreads kindly
feelings at no added expense.) Anyway,
as was saying when l interrupted my
self, the book remained with me long
alter | had read it. In fact, owing to
'ae ingenuity Of the American purveyor
o. amusement, it remained with me alto
sether too long. / simply could not for
ret 1t, try as l would. 1t followed me
around, just like a phantom, now in one
shape, now in another, until that haunted
telling took possession of me, forcing me
% seek relief in the present outpouring.
For moment I had forgotten the
quest of the Infinite" and seeking an
afternoons pleasure | strolled into the
Theatre, whose boards announced
dramatic thriller called Beyond the
rnd." You have by this time discovered
mat like thrillers. Whereupon l paid
me hight price of good seat, together
.i'h the war tax, and sat down prepared
,Or good afternoons fun. No sooner
uaa the first act approached its climax
"an was overwhelmed by strange
sensation of clairvoyance. Had dreamed
'a'S show before? Had l, perhaps, lived
nfough the whole experience in some
V'her life? Somehow or other | knew
Just what was going to happen next, and
"oen the curtain fell on Act / | felt
"Ae heeng the place from sheer fear at
ay Suddenly developed uncanny powers.
certain curiosity that is even more pow
S,iul than fear held me rooted to my
mar until the curtain rose once more.
ravens! 1t was just as l feared! The
W scene had told myself it would be
s"e very words from the mouths of the
'.s'sonages. | could bear it no longer
wv Nv Tue end of Act II, inwardly shaking
y" On uncertain premonition, dashed
~ '"e aisle and eagerly sought the cool
ar OF the street. This acted like magic
rp0'' me- Suddenly remembered where
a "@u seen these things and heard these
10 before! had been witnessing q
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-06
THIN, NERVOUS PEOPLE
NEED BITRO-PHOSPHATE
WhaIs and How Increases Weight Str myth and Nerve Force
In Two Weeks Time In Many Instances

be prescribed by every doctor and
used in every hospital 10 increase
strength and nerve force and TO en-
rich the blood"
JOS D. Harrigan, Former Visiting
Specialist 70 North Eastern DISPENSE
tory, says. Let those who are weak
thin, nervous. anaemic. or rundown,
take natural. unadulterated sub
stance such as bitro-phosphate and
you VIII soon see some astonishing
results in the increase Of nerve en-
ergy, strength OF body and mind and
power Of endurance"
itrO-Phosphate is made entirely Of
the organic phosphate compound re-
ferred TO in the National standard
DispensatOry as being an excellent
tonic and nervine and a preparation
which has recently acquired consid-
cradle reputation in the treatment Of
neurasthenia- The standard OF ex-
cellence. strength and purity Of its
substance Is beyond question. for ev-
cry Bitro-PhOsphate tablet is manu-
tactured in strict accordance with the
L. = Pharmacopoeia test require
ments- Bitro-Phosphate is THEREFORE
not patent medicine and should not
be confused with any Of the secret
nostrums. so-called tonics or widely
advertised "cure-alls"
CAUTION: - Although Bitro-PhoSphafe
i unsurpassed for relieving nervousness
sleeplessness and general weakness. owing
70 its remarkable flesh growing properties
Il should not be used by anyone who
does not desire to put on flesh.-Ads-
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-06
COmtship By Wireless
Is FoHOwed By Wedding
BuProxu at Great Lakes

Great Lakes, Ill. Nov. 6--After
courtship by wireless. a wedding by
proxy, with the bride thousands of
miles away. will unite Miss Emily
Orsi of Cairo, Egypt, and Lieut..
Rudolph Winner of Chicago, at the
Great Lakes naval training station
today.
The romance began IN Egypt, when
Lieut.. Winner was assigned TO the
Z s. s. North Carolina Miss Orsi Is
the daughter of an Italian marquis
and her mother was English The
marriage license was obtained in
Waukegan two months ago and a copy
mailed to the bride, who obtained a
similar document in Egypt and sent
a copy TO this country
At the ceremony, the bride will be
represented by Miss Grace Belle
Reams. of Chicago. and the service
viii be read by chaplain Charles ".
Moore. A bluejaclzet orchestra will
play the wedding march At the close,
a wireless viii be relayed to Egypt
and Mrs Winner viii start at once for
this country to meet her husband
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-06
.YANKS THRILL
OLD THIAUC0URT
People Weep as Advance
Guard Enters Town on
Heels of the Germans.

With the American Forces in
France Oct. -CCorrespondenee OF
the Associated Press.)-It was three
American privates who gave the
French civilians Of the German occu-
pied village of Thiauoourt the great
est thrill Of their lives. For four years
they had been waiting-and then the
Americans came.
When the three privates. an ad-
vance guard OF swarms OF other
Americans in their wake-swung into
the wartorn village of Thiaucourt not
d soul was in the streets But with
in a few minutes news spread among
the zoo civilians that the Americans
werethere and men and women and
children came in droves from cellars
where they had been hiding in terror
for two days and nights And from
other cellars and dugouts came 500
German soldiers who were delighted
with the idea of giving up.
The offensive Of the first American
army which wiped out the St Mihiel
salient, began on Thursday morning
and it was Saturday afternoon when
the weary Americans reached Thiau-
court, hungry and fatigued from fast
walking in their eagerness to keep
pace with the fleeing Germans.
PopuInce Weeps for Joy.
As the Americans poured into the
village and the French realized more
and more that again Thiacourt had
come into her own. men stood in the
streets and cried openly and women
sat about on doorsteps and bits Of
wreckage caused by shells and went
until near exhaustion
What food they had on hand the
French turned over to the Americans.
the villagers insisting upon the
Americans taking all they wanted Of
what they had.
No Fresh Meat for Four Years.
From the time the Germans reached
Thiaucourt in September, 1914, until
few days after the village had been
retaken by American troops the civil
ians were entirely without fresh meat
OF any kind excepting now and then a
chicken or a rabbit. which were
raised in cellars without the knowl-
edge OF the Germans During the four
years occupation by the Germans
none Of the civilians was allowed 20
leave the town.
El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-11-06
SHOULD BE PRESCRIBED BY EVERY DOCTOR
AND USED IN EVERY HOSPITAL
Says Editor of Physicians Who's Who"

money back. BY feeding the nerves
directly and by supplying the body
cells with the necessary phosphoric
food elements, bitro- phosphate quickly
produces a welcome transformation
in the appearance; the increase in
weight frequently being astonishing
Clinical tests made in ST. GATHERINGS
hospital y. Y. c.. showed that two
patients gained in weight % and -
pounds, respectively. through the adj
ministration of this organic phos-
phate; both patients claim they have
not felt as strong and we'll for the
past twelve years
This increase in weight also carries
with II general Improvement in the
health Nervousness. sleeplessness and
lack Of energy. which nearly always
accompany excessive thinness. soon
disappear. dull eyes become bright
and pale cheeks glow with the bloom
OF perfect health.
Physicians and hospitals every
where are now recognizing its merits
BY its use in ever Increasing quanti-
ties Frederick Kolle. VI. D., editor
OF New York Physicians Who's
Who says: "Bitro-Phosphate should