davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
What Is "My Country:

All reproductive natlons-and
we are confident that SUN readers are
armed to the teeth with them-have
the involuntary trick OF building up
mental pictures not only of visible
things but Of the invisible and per-
haps utterly spiritual. OF the things
that are visible, but have not been
viewed by the owner Of the lima gina-
ton, 1t Is often easy to fancy what Is
conjured up by the average mind.
Usually It is the picture that has
fastened upon the brain camera In
youth When the war came many
people no doubt visualized 1t as an
enlarged page from Harper's Weekly
of Rebellion time. To some the Ger
man Of the mental picture was a slow,
gentle, decent sort of man. The
Frenchman on the plate wore a silk
hat and could do nothing more terrific
than talk. Now the owners of these
primitive imaginations have a new
picture of the war. Of the Frenchman
and, Indeed, of the German. When
the owner OF the same type of imagl-
nation goes to England he will find 1t
something besides chalk cliffs and
gorse and Elizabethan houses.
These errors made in imagining the
real are, of course, errors of misin-
formation or assumption. Imagining
the invisible-which is only done by
supplying some frame or shadowy out
line or by assoclatlng the unseen with
the visible, is more fascinating. A
year, for instance. has never been pho
tographed. but in every human mind,
we believe. there is picture, perhaps
crude and uniformed, Of twelve
months. Some see 1t as a circle be-
ginning and ending with New Years.
To others 1t may be a straight or I'M
dulating stretch connecting at the end
with another stretch that Is the fol-
lowing year. 1t may even be colored,
wearing the green of spring, the sun
light of summer, the gold Of autumn
and the white of winter. AS with n
year. so 1t is with childhood. youth,
grief, age, death. II 1t were not for
the poets, the priests and GusrAvE
DoRE, each OF us would have his in
dividual concept of heaven and hell.
1t would be interesting to discover,
through an inspection Of the mental
plates as they develop in the dark
rooms Of hundred million American
brains, what is the composite concept
of the phrase my country" the two
words envelOping the idea for which
the delightful phrases about democ-
racy to the contrary notwithstanding
millions of our men are fighting.
What film throws Its shadows on ths
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
screen of the brain when ~My Coun.

screen Of the brain when my Coun.
try" is heard?
Some. we are sure viii find on
looking within that the vision which
rises is geographical. A page Of
schoolbook, with the map of the
United States in colors, may glow
before the eye of the mind. With
others 1t may be a relief map, with
the Mississippi shining in the middle
and the Rocky Mountains rising
hugely at the left. There Is vastness
in this concept, but how much senti-
ment? The nobler man may see his
country In smaller part Of 1t, prob
ably in the place where he was born
or where his youth was spent. He
may see New England village with
white spire as the most conspicu-
Gus unit Of the picture; or a fiat
field Of the Middle West, with farm
house. beautiful to him II not to the
architects, blocked against a winter
sunset. He may see desert Of the
Southwest, with train disappearing
In the distance. He may see only
the bleak white sands of southern
New Jersey, with pumpkins among
the corn. He may see nothing but
single peak Of the first mountain
range that ever met his sight.
The Americana Imagination may
centre about some historical figure
or set Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at VAL
ley Forge, the Signing OF the Declar-
alton, WEBSTER speaking at Bunker
Hill, LEWIS and CLARK pressing
across the Wilderness. II he is a
citizen Of foreign birth, MY Coun-
try" may recall to him only the pic
ture Of gray morning in New York
harbor, with the bronze lady holding
out to him the promise of freedom.
Or he may see the skyline of New
York that so terrified and pleased
him on the first day of his new life.
1t would be worth the time of
Freud to stop for while the excur.
sions into the meaning of meaning.
less dreams and to discover what Is
on the canvas Of the patriots imagi-
nation; what picture 1t Is that makes
men sacrifice everything rather than
see the original lost. Perhaps, after
all, 1t Is Home.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
Who ID the Genius?

We confess to q patriotic curiosity
TO know the name of the person in
the service Of the United States Gov
eminent who first conceived the idea
Of making the call for the motorless
Sundays east Of the Mississippi a
request and not a command.
Such great conceptions are usually
the product Of individual intelligence.
The Initiative is not from plural ef-
fort. It goes back to some one mans
wit, common sense, foresight and
faith In the soundness Of public opin-
ion. 1t is rarely the result Of for
NAL conference. Its PRONUNCIATION
may follow q conference on the sub
Jet, but somebody, some individual,
has proposed the plan originally to
the conference which adopts 1t as the
expression of combined wisdom and
Joint authority.
Previous undertakings Of similar
import had been DIN the form Of
regulations based on the authority Of
law. People were told that there
must be q sacrifice for the sake of
the conservation of this or that war
material. The machinery Of enforce
ment the penalty for disobedience
we're quite plainly in sight. Citizens
grumbled a good deal and kicked a
little when their comfort was i'm
paired or the safety Of their health
threatened. as in the case Of last
winters coal shortage. The 'ordi-
nances were obeyed, of course, and
the purpose was accomplished. but
under process of compulsion more or
less visibly and audibly attended by a
reaction
This man-for we insist that 1t was
some one man, a man of genius
perceived that better results could be
obtained by making the sacrifice and
the service a purely voluntary mat
ter, to be enforced only by an equally
voluntary consensus Of unofficial pub
lie opinion. He foresaw that the Gov
eminent had only to ask and that
the entire population concerned would
Loyalty and joyfully cooperate. He
knew with the faith that was in him
that the spontaneous sentiment sup
porting the restriction would mani
fest itself with a potency which all
the marshals and deputy marshals
at the command Of the Department
Of Justice could not exert. And he
was right!
This man Of genius. whoever he
may be. IL q profound psychologist,
q clairvoyant seer, a practical ad-
administrator. He has served his coun-
try we'll, because he has done much
more than to accomplish without
friction, without reaction, the requi.
site saving Of gasolene in the eastern
part Of the continent He has evoked
perhaps the most impressive and in
structive demonstration Of the Amer.
lean spirit that has been witnessed
since the war began.
THE SUN would like to know the
name Of this man of genius.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
Shadow aod flame.
From the Edtson hontAiy.

The sunset flares where the pavcments
blend
With river and shore at the long streets
end
In q luminous mist of gray
Under the walls OF our canyons deep
The Souls of the Past awake from sleep,
Haunting the pathways their hearts have
known
Their dreams are living In steel and stone
But we dream on to-day.
Their keels are dust and their sails are
Who anchored here In the Port of the
New squadrons challenge their Fate
Forgotten storms wrecked their crowding
We prison the lightning In weaving wires,
Our caravans burrow under the earth
where the heart and brain that gave us
Dreamed of a mighty State.
Into a city OF marvellous mould
They wrought their souls az they cast
their gold.
They won for us name and fame
Shadows are they. but their dreams are
Woven about them our world has grown.
Magic, that turks In our battlement wall,
Crowns i with stars when the white stars
write Us our drs.r-in asm.i
l. LAMPRsr.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
The Meaning OF Allied Successes in
tho East.

Tia eastern theatre of the war,
Aaatic Turkey and the Balkans,
has come after long period of
comparative inactivity into a promi-
nence which 1t has not had at
any other time of the war. In both
Turkey and the Balkans the Allies
have Just won victories that at any
stage Of the hosdlitles would have
been distinct gains; but, following
closely upon the disastrous and dis
ccuraging German reverses on the
western front and representing over
whelming defeat to Bulgaria and
Turkey, both weary Of the war. and
quarrelling over loot which each was
promised for aid to the Central Pow
ers. and which both now see they
cannot acquire, these successes be-
come vital factors In bringing the
war to an end.
The two advances were undoubt-
edly concerted movements, and they
were both arranged with a careful
attention to details that would as
sure their success. When General
ArIxNBY struck the Turkish army
in the plains Of Esdraelon and COM
PEELED its surrender, the Allied army
in the Balkans forced the Bulgar
position in the highlands east OF
Monastir. There was In these ad-
vances similarity Of strategy.
General AILENBY won his victory by
. blow at the centre OF his foe. The
Balkan allies did not attempt an at
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
The disappearance Of the towering.

The disappearance Of the towering,
massive figure Of General LYMAN Won
SANDERS, the Turkish Generalissimo.
from Nazareth must have been one Of
the interesting sights Of the Palestine
advance. LYMAN Won SANDERS was
sent by the Kaiser q year before the
war to teach and train the Turkish
army. He early adopted the motto OF
treat 'em rough" and he was the
man most generally hated by the
Turkish soldier. 1t would have been,
no doubt. some satisfaction to the de-
feated Ottoman army to see the OBJ
noxious German commander a British
prisoner. But he executed his move
ment to the rear, as the Mayor Of
Nazareth said, when he heard that
the British cavalry was near the Isk-
anderan." and left his pupils to take
care of themselves. AS few Of them
followed him he had evidently re-
served the trick Of the maneuvre for
his own use.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
Inquiry About a Star Hanging Around
Venus.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Will
the astronomic department of THE SUN
enlighten the reader. who Is over
ignorant in regard to the stars? The
morning stars are at this period of ex-
ceptional brllliancy.
recognize Orion. Sirius. Jupiter,
Castor and Pollux. Procyon, and OF
course. Venus. What Is the brilliant
small star so very near Venus at this
1uncture. and will your astronomer ex-
plain. in such plain language that one
who knows SO little about stars as I
can understand. when Venus will be-
come the evening STAR
A VETERAN READER.
NEW yoRK. September "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
ARSENE: THE NEW POISON
GAS.

The Caravans continus IN work their
.os .. 60, h,,, 49,. ~. .,an. that !.
lack OF ..punch" nrevaiIs IN practically
every detail. That thew were usine dur
ing the recent French offensive a shell
containing a new gas was suspected by
surgeons. and the cases In which the
poison showed it's effects were gath
cred together in one hospital and stud
led by Professor Rendu. The number
is comparatively small, about forty
three, which seems to indicate that the
gas weapon is only moderately sue
cessful. After a careful examination
of the men, the general result Is
: rather encouraging, for the new gas
turns out to be something Of a fiasco.
From the description that is now
given, 1t is seen that, so far from
being sudden and violent, the effects
! are OF the slow End insidious kind, not
at all corresponding to the general
Idea OF sincalin. inasmuch as there
| Is no special odor belonging to It and
no color. so that Its presence in the air
~ invisible. 1t Is certainly remarkable
that gas possessing these seemingly
great advantages-lack Of smell and
neutrality-suspicious. be such q poor per-
former.
TO place this gas exactly is difficult
as yet, because the medical report is
not complete, but 1t may be fairly I'M
derstood by comparing it with the
other irritating gas, yperite, or mus
tard. Both these gases are chlori-
| mated, yperite being chiorinated sui
phite OF ethyl, and arsene the chloride
or di-phenylarsene. When the shell
explodes the effects have marked DIFF
ferences, yperite being discharged in
minute drops and arsene in small
solid particles. In the case of arsene
! faint smell is noticed directly after
the shells burst, and suggests garlic,
which aroused the first suspicion that
| some new form of poisonous element
| was being used. The suspicion was
| not Immediately confirmed, for garlic
gas does not cause symptoms until an
interval Of hours or even days. In
fact, in some men nothing was no
ticed until three days had passed.
This popularity of arsene seems to
show that It is not the emetic gas
used in the drive against the Italians
last year. 1t has somewhat similar
effects, causing a flow of tears and
vomiting, but these symptoms are re-
garded as largely the result of other
gases, which may be used at the same
tirae. The object Of using garlic gas
| was undoubtedly to produce an in
flammation of the throat and eyes. and
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

however. to find truth. The pelican
helped the investigators learn the
truth. When alarmed the bird drops
the contents of its bill, which 1t Is
estimated in the adult bird will hold
four quarts.
The diet of the pelican consists in
these waters Of menhaden, princi-
pally, varied with mullet, pigHsh,
pinfish, herring and an occasional
crevalle. Only two Of these are food
fish, and their price in the market
does not exceed four cents a pound.
Menhaden has never been used for
human consumption, although the
United States Bureau of Fisheries is
now engaged In experiments to utilize
this fish for food, II possible. The
mutilated fish complained Of by the
commercial fishermen turned out to
be those cut by nets.
Incidentally. the investigation dis
closed the fact that pelicans are d.
minishing in numbers, but doubtless
the reason why former colonies Of
the bird are deserted Is the lack of
food. The pelican Is an asset as a
curiosity. The tired business man
and his wife, spending the winter In
Florida, find much amusement in
watching the antics of the queer birds.
Incidentally, is the world to be de-
prived Of picture postcards that every
one travelling in Florida and the
Gulf States takes so much pleasure
in forwardlng7 What sells camera
and film rolls In Florida? The same
maligned pelican. Legislators may be
sure Of this: no. step looking to the
destruction Of this bird will be taken
while conservationlsts are on the FIR
ing llne-without fight.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
HIGH COST OF ROOMING.
Attention Called TO the Vacant Houses
In Manhattan and Brooklyn.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sr: Prices
for furnished rooms. the rooming house
kind, are fast passing into the class OF
luxuriea Now 312 a week for q single
room is a common request. know. be-
cause have investigated many Of the
advertisements carried by one Of our
newspapers.
At the Same time hundreds Of vacant
houses in mid-Manhattan and on the
Heights. Brooklyn (memor1es OF Wall
street-Montague street ferry days), make
these districts look like deserted cities.
Is II not possible to awaken an inter-
est in turning these old timers into small
apartments? Probably hundreds OF them
could be so transformed at a nominal
cost.
have been looking for a small apart
ment of about four rooms and bath at
n righteous rental in which TO move my
stored furniture for several months.
Meanwhile u am, with my wife. still
RooMINo.
NFw York. September "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

Tho milestones were placed on the
Boston road in the eighteenth century
for the usual purpose of informing the
traveller how he was getting on. The
first was in the Bowery. opposite Riv-
ington street; the second. In Third
avenue near Sixtet nth street: the
fourth, In Third avenue near Fifty
seventh street; the fifth, in Third
avenue near Seventy-seventh street.
II there was ever a three mile stone
II should have been at Third avenue
very near Thirty-sixth or Thirty
seventh street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
The Big Apple Pie.

when a fellow has fought
In the trenches all day.
And gets back TO the huts
or the Y. NJ. c. A.,
The nrst thing that catches
His war weary eye
IL a tasteful brown segment
or fresh apple pie.
He forgets all the racket.
The shell holes and mud.
The crumpled up figures
Bsspattered with blood.
The death that's abroad
on the earth. In the sky.
when he munches a slice
From a thick apple pie.
He dreams while he eats
OF the orchard at home.
where tho apple trees break
Into roseate foam.
And baldwin and pippin
And red northern spy
Grow ripe to be baked
Into good apple pie.
The food of the gods
May be honey or dew.
But the food OF the sons
or the red, white and blue
who on Libertys altar
Are ready to die.
Is q generous hrnk
From. . big apple pie.
NINA IRvSs.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
Cure for the Tobacco Habit.
Foam fhs ChdrIotfs Obssrtjsy.

Among the American soldiers who have
gone to France there has been q decline
in the American habit OF chewing to-
bacco Y. ". C. A secretaries who sell
tobacco in canteens In France say that
modern warfare. rather than prejudice.
Is responsible for II. It's the gas mask
that's doing the trick. they say. A devo-
tee of the plug is seriously embarrassed
when called upon to don the gas mask.
one Southern soldier is said to have put
Il like this: with terbacca bitin' inside
yer cheek. the OIL gas mask anchored
tween yer teeth. mustard gas all about
ys an no ohanot ter opsn yer mouth-war
sure 10 hellr'
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
THE MILESTONES.
They Marked the Way for the Ancient
Traveller.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Can
you give me the history OF those
four or fve milestones on Third avenue.
formerly Old Boston Road. and any in
teresting Information concerning them?
Tho frst mile stone is on the Bowery.
about Spring street INTERESTED.
HAcKENsAcK, n. J., September "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
A Little Lancashire Is a Dangerous
Thing.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: Mr.
Frank II. Vizetelly may know Morse.
but he does not know Lancashire dialect.
The sentence he quotes or uses would
be more nearly correct II he said. "Theh
met go wrung wi this word II ther't
kpoan careful. cause a mons yet met
be added" w. II. w.
NEW YORK, September "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

Lone bandit robs a train.-Headlire.
General Director McADdo win un-
doubtedly class this interesting and
once thriving Western industry among
the "unessentials.'
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

On the derivation Of the word there
Is no end OF controversy. but to de-
clare that the Bulgars are "skedad-
ding" would be to establish it's ac-
cepted significance beyond dispute.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
II Would Make the Right Wing Of .
Palindrome.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: The
word "Potsdam'' alone Is not a palm
drome. Madam" is. w. II. w.
NEW YORK. September "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

The war has brought the heretofore
despised penny to Hawaii.-Honolulu
despatch.
1t will be poor time to win re-
spect for It II II buys no more than II
does at present in New York.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

Heavy rainfall undoubtedly ham
pers the American forces, but, with
the impartiality Of Nature. It also pre-
vents the Hun from displaying his
eastward fieetness,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
p.rh.D. in Mercy to tn. Other Poets,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Why
ara excerpts from the works of the poet
Louis NJ. Eilshernius rigidly excluded
from the columns entitled Poems Worth
Reading" appearing in the Sunday issues
az THE suS? FAIR PLAY.
cooPERsTowN. September "a
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

ALIkNBY's line from the Jordan to
the sea liberates four oppressed ma
tionalities. 100000 people that have
been crushed beneath the heel of the
intolerant Turk.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
Mathicu New Chilean Ambn.sndor,

SANTIAGO. Chile. Sept, "a b.
Matthew has accepted the post OF D'..'
Ambassador to the United states 10
succeeds Santiago Aldunate Raso '''
who died in Washington last Apr. -
Matthew formerly was Minister 20 Be-
liyia,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
NEw YORK, September "a.

There is a considerable obstacle in
the difficulty. under present conditions.
Of obtaining the material and labor
required for extensive reconstruction.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
MIR. LANSING'S NOTE.
Ono Reader who Looked Upon 1t rs
Too Mild.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Is
there anything In the annals Of govern
ment or Of diplomacy to equal the APP
peal Of the Administration to the Bol-
sheviki? II says In effect to the very
worst. most cruel and bloody band OF
robbers, murderers and traitors who
have ever appeared in history. who have
sold their country to the Huns and
made it a slaughter pen 10 bind the
bargain. that they really must not be-
have so. assuring them at the same time
that we have no intention Of Interior
ing with them; this despite the fact
that 1t is a virtual recognition Of them
as a do facto Government, though they
have never been clothed with authority
by any one. and are In open alliance
with our enemies. A. IL.
LENox, September "a.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25
The Hoover Gospel.

Knieker--what is the programm.9
Bocker-The clean plate and the dusty
cup.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

II the correspondent refers to Sec
rotary Lansings note, then he has
not read that document carefully. 1t
was not addressed to the Bolshevik
so-called Government, but, through
our diplomatic service, to allied and
neutral Governments. THE SUN does
not read in the note any assurance
that We have no intention Of inter-
fering" with the Bolshevik murderers.
We take Mr.. Lansing's phrase "ac-
ton which is entirely divorced from
the atmosphere of belligerency and
the conduct Of war" to be an assur-
ance to neutral Governments that
they are asked. not to enter the war
against the Central Powers. but to
join in setting the face of civilization
against anarchy in Russia.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

Drawing the capsules Is truly lot
terry in which ultimately only the
Kaiser can lose.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

London once, 4o-43 Fleet street.
Paris once, Q Rue de Ia Michodiere, on
Rue du Quatre Septembre.
Washington once, Munsey Building.
Brooklyn once, Room 202, Eagle Build
ing, BOS Washington street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

~ ov frtssds Uho fdvor a totth mdnt-
scrjpts sri iIlvsfYattons for psbAcation Vtsh
to kocs rejected criticize returned fAcy mus
N oil oosss send stomps for fhof purpose
TELEPHONE. BEEKMAN 1900.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-25

THE EVENING SUN, Per Month. $3.50
THE EVENING SUN, Per Year. 600
THE EVENING SUN Foreign) Per Mo. 1.S0
All checks. money orders, &c.. to DO
made payable to TIE Sun.