davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1918-10-21
THE INFLUENZA.
Avoid Crowds and Breathe Fresh Air
for Safety.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir! The
inevitably delay. for a moment at least,
the victory of the allied armies, and for
that, IL for no other reason, It is the
most iDopportune outbreak of disease
that the world has ever suffered. In
addition. there is nothing to be gained
by closing ones eyes to the fact that the
present pandemic exhibits n mortality
unreached In any OF the previously re-
corded eruptions of infiuenza--and the
disease, in its universally disseminated
form, is by no means unknown to
civilization, the last century having wit
messed four worldwide flights.
The last pandemic began IN the Far
East. as had others before 1t. The
disease soon reached Moscow, whence
II spread over the European prairie with
q rapidity not incompatible to that of
the fastest methods Of conveyance
known to the world OF thirty years ago
New York was soon invaded and the
American continent was swept from
coast to coast. Within q year the
disease had visited every corner OF the
earth, attacking Unfortunately about
40 per cent OF the population, leaving
in its wake. however, a relatively small
list Of dead.
In a given community the epidemic
lived for a period of six to eight weeks.
and for three or four years after the
pandemic had subsidized isolated groups
OF cases occurred in scattered quarters,
while still other localities seemed never
to become purified. notably certain
Asiatic provinces. where overcrowding
and the sanitary listlessness OF the
Oriental proletariat combined to keep
alive foci OF infection which otherwise
would have disappeared.
Doubtless It was from such a quarter
that the present 'confla grafton started,
the hygienic sanctity of Continental Eu-
rope having been violated not only by
way Of the Ural steppes but by the
hordes of Chinese coolies engaged as
laborers behind the fighting lines in
France. However this may be. the fact
remains that the sickness is OF a tribe
| that slumbers through a season q years
and then wanders in search OF game or
pasture, and that. as II has come to US
| now, II is the most ruthless and restless
traveller that ever Joined the caravan
of nomadic disease.
The pandemic Of 1Ss9-so conferred at
least one benediction-namely. oppor-
tunity to investigate the cause OF the
disease and to identify It's bacillary
character. Subsequent advances have
made 1t possible to prepare a vaccine
which, II scientific medicine duplicates
its experience with typhoid fever. will
permit the world to anticipate the next
outburst OF influenza without fear that
the disease will become either rampant
or ravsnous. Until. however. the efficacy
of protective vaccination is demon
strated, fresh air and the avoidance OF
| crowds are the two best preventive:
known to common sense or science.
| DOUGLAS SUMMERS, NJ. D..
Director OF Laboratories. Bellevue and
| Allied Hospitals.
| NEW YORK, October 10.
The sun., 1918-10-21
The Lost Fence OF Bowling Green.

From ITO to 1914 Bowling Green
IN this city was partly surrounded by
an iron fence, which was an object of
much interest to antiquarians and
students of our local history as an
ante Revolutionary relic. When the
subway was under construction in
that locality. in July, 1914, 1t became
necessary to remove this fence for
the time being; and twenty-five sec
tons thereof, each section being about
eight feet In length, were placed In
the custody of the Park Department
and delivered in complete order at its
storage yard in Central Park, near
Ninety sixth street. This fencing has
now disappeared.
Two sales of scrap iron have been
made by the Department Of Parks
since the Bowling Green fence was
thus deposited in its yard; and re-
port by Police Commissioner ESRIGHT
on the subject, addressed to the
Mayor. indicates that the pre- Revolu-
tionary fencing was included In one
Of these sales and has probably been
melted up as old iron. At all events,
the report makes 1t plain that the
ancient fence Is gone beyond recall.
This occurrence Is discreditable to
the custodians Of the property placed
in storage with the Park Department
and also to the various societies in
terested In the preservation of his
toric monuments and relics in the city
and State Of New York. The head
quarters of the Sons Of the Revolu.
ton are at Frances Tavern, not far
distant from Bowling Green. Why
did not this organization, whose mem
bers are distinguished for their pub
lie and patriotic spirit, see to 1t that
the royal and colonial fence was
properly cared for and safeguarded
Where were the eyes Of the Society OF
Colonial Wars and those of the
Daughters Of the Revolution and the
Colonial Danes while this sponation
was going on? Why was the New
York Historical Society quiescent?
We do not propose to cry over the
loss Of spilled milk; but the insti.
buttons which we have named and
other similar organizations may wei
take warning from the inexcusable
dl disappearance Of the fence of Bowl
ing Green. Other historic monu
ments are threatened with destruc
ton or injury from time to time IL
order to permit the modern improve
ment of the city. Let all our patriotic
societies keep their eyes and ears oper
and protect objects of historic or anti
Iquarian interest which temporarily
stand in the way Of progress.
The municipal authorities should bt
notified Of their willingness to act II
the premises and aid in the preserva
ton of relics of the past, which W,
cannot afford to lose.
The sun., 1918-10-21
NEW York. October 10.

when he was Just little boy.
To deck him out in smartest best
1t was his mothers keenest Joy.
To labor with maternal zest.
And 40 to Peter Thompson's shop
Forthwith she took him, for you see,
with youthful nrmnesS he'd resolved
A full rugged sailor man to be
Pride swelled In him. pride nlied her
heart
As clad complete In blue and white
Bold walked he on, his tiny hand
Fast clutched In hers, a pretty sight.
Twas at tho play the other night
saw them-short Is twenty years
with old time pride side glanced she him.
But with an eye faint fringcd with
tears.
Yes. still In navy toys was ne.
The cut? There could be no mistake.
Successor OF p. Thompson then
Was Uncle Sam! God bless the makel
EDwAEn FAIEs CowABp
The sun., 1918-10-21
THE VOICE OF WOMAN.
A Letter to the President From Col.
lege Women.

Nv dear Mr. President.
The National Federation of College
Women, speaking ofticially through their
president, representing 10000 individ-
uals, congratulate the President OF these
United States upon his reply to Ger
manys request for an armistice.
Those who have sons at the front and
those who serve at homo Join in the re-
quest that we adhere to the policy OF
War to Victory; an unconditional sur
render by the Central Powers; the abdi-
cation of the Kaiser and the cessation
of military rule In Germany
They beseeCh the womanhood of the
United States to carry on" and not to
talk of Peace while the sun shines on a
newly made American soldiers grave In
France. and the sword OF Prussia still
Is raised over Belgium.
Respectfully submitted with their re-
newed offer Of loyalty and service to
their country.
THE NATIONAL FEDERATION oy COLLEGE
WOMEN,
MYRA KINGMAN MILLER,
President,
NEW York, October 10
The sun., 1918-10-21
On Buying n New Suit.

A citizen who does not know which
rose to pluck In the blooming field of
duty puts to THE Sun the problem
of the thorns:
ITO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: I
wish THE Sun would shed an illumi-
mating ray on a simple yet pcrplexing
question which I am sure bothers many
minds as we'll as my own during these
parlous days OF war
why, If We can afford 1t, should we
not buy new clothes for winter. rather
than to shamble around in our old toys?
Is 1t so that we may selishly be able
to buy another bond or two, while, by
depriving the tradesman OF his profit,
we make It impossible for him? II
seems to me that there Is lot of bun
combe In this kind of argument, and
my opinion Is that It Is our patriotic
them and send our castofrs to the suf-
fering Belgians.
"Will THE SUN please say?
"JNo. c. HOWARD.
"OGDENsBURG, October 49,"
If the buying of a suit meant moth
ing more than the transfer of Mr..
HowARD's money from his pocket to
the pocket of the clothing dealer we
should advise him 10 buy the suit
and rely upon the patriotic dealer to
invest the money In the next bond
issue or to distribute part of the
price among the various worthy Or
CARNATIONS which presently will ask
to have their war chests filled.
In time of war, however, the pur-
chase of suit of clothes Is an opera
ton of far reaching Importance. II
stretches from the buyer, admiring
himself in the cheval glass, back to
the sheep that browses on distant
hills. To begin with, can the wool
for Mr.. HowARD's suit be spared
from the supply necessary to clothe
the American army? Let us assume
that II Is to be spared, else the Gov
eminent would not have permitted 1t
to pass into the civilian trade. Is
the labor to be spared to make Mr..
HowARD's suit? A suit Of clothes re-
quires more work for its production
than Is represented on the time sheets
of tailor shop. Labor washes and
shears the sheep. Labor sends the
wool by railroad to the mills, Labor
The sun., 1918-10-21
COMMANDER STERLING.
An Appreciation Of the Officer who
PoIlced Vera Cruz.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: In
the sudden death OF Commander Archi-
bald Grahame Sterling from pneumonia
the navy has lost a brilliant member of
that younger group Of naval officers Of
command rank who have done so much
to modernize and popularize the service
within recent years.
Commander (then LieutenanD Ster-
ling was In command OF a company from
the battleship Utah when the naval
forces Of the United States landed under
fire ana seized the city Of Vera Cruz
In 1914. To the Utah's battalion then
fell the duty Of policing and guarding
the city. Lieutenant Sterling's self
effacing modesty and efficiency in the
performance of this duty was such as
to win him high place In the respect OF
his fellow and commanding officers.
The catastrophe OF the present war,
which broke upon the world while the
feet was still at Vera Cruz, made an
instant and profound impression on
young Sterling's imagination ana patri-
otism. He clearly saw--his training and
traditions directed him to see-that our
own eventual participation In any world
conflict was inevitable. The one Inn
pulse Of his life at once became his
unremitting effort that, % far as 1t lay
with him, the service should prove equal
to the supreme test Of war when the hour
struck. He had q keen sense for pub
lcity He had a gift for seeing news.
When many another officer sat back and
shrugged, or tried to cover up or ex-
plain away. young Sterling, by nature
sceptical OF reforming from within,
was always ready by every honorable
means and within the limits of naval
regulation to invoke the corrective pres
| sure of public opinion. The world may
| never know to how great a degree the
| immense naval appropriations OF the fol-
| lowing years were indirectly due to his
efforts. This must be in some measure
! tho consolation of that host Of friends
he has left behind, especially In this
city, when he is cut Off at the very
threshold Of command rank and before
his career could test its brilliant prom
| se of fulfilment. Always naval omcer
| he had still his very human side. His
gift for satire discovered unerringly
every form OF sham or pretence; his
sense Of fun, his boyish love Of mis-
chief we're the delight OF all who knew
| him well. With n personality OF I'M
| usual charm and refinement he repre-
sented all that Is true. practical and
best in the naval service. He came OF
a distinguished family of naval officers
being survived by his father. Rear Ad'
miral A. G. Sterling. retired. and by
| Captain Yates Sterling, U. s. N. DEATH
| Immediately took him when invaded
home from destroyer duty abroad.
He died as he had lived, In the line
OF duty. y. O.
| NEW YoRK, October 10.
The sun., 1918-10-21
Chairman Baruch's Prest,digitation.

Chairman BARUCH's latest order
curtailing production will receive
much public attention. There Is none
of us who will not be affected In com
fort or convenience by the lessened
product effected by the energetic
chairman's efforts to divert the uses
of raw material and labor from less
to more urgent purposes. MIR.
BARUcH, his countrymen will now
realize, sees life steadily and sees 1t
whole; from kitchen to cashiers cage,
from velvet greens of golf links to
humble homes where machine made
melody pipes bravely play the jazz,
the trot, enticing youth to shake a
leg, age to sleep, few comforts or lux
uries are spared.
Merchant, banker, dazedly seeking
mechanical aid to total up his taxes,
finds that the calculating machines
have gone to the making Of shells for
PERsHING; seek they relief for nerves
In golf. the putting green's tall grass
and nodding weeds wave them back
lawn mowers are now made into
tanks. 1t will be prudent now for
housewives TO store their corn meal
in the Ice box. lest rats and mice sur
felt thereon, for Mr.. BARUCH Is max
Ing wire entanglements Of rat traps.
No mora the softly cooling hiscuit for
toni. the penny cone Of frozen cream
dear to childhood. for Ice cream freez-
ers by a def twist Of the chalrman's
wrist. are now converted into depth
charge containers.
Machine made music slumbers in
Its black disks. the awakening needles
have been heightened into wires which
sing to the skies the shrill battle
songs Of flying warriors.
We mention but few Of the dep
The sun., 1918-10-21
BRIDGE TENDERS PAY.
The Modest Ambition OF Faithful
City Employees.

To THE EDITOR CT THE SUS--Sir:
read in THE SUN Edward p. Doyle's
statement that laborers are earning at
the rate of $40 day and skilled labor
at the rate of $3.50 and extra pay for
overtime
| am a bridge tender IN the Depart
ment Of Plant and Structures, . having
passed a promotion examination from
laborer call II a demotion In salary,
pure and simple.
protest in the way our salary has
been made up In the three years past.
In 1917 twenty men received $50 less
in the year. Was It for political rea-
sons? In 1918 les men received less
wages than laborers,, watchmen and at
tendants.
Bridge tenders received at the rate
OF $3.50 n day in 1918, s75 for the year
less than Alderman Kenney's resolution
called for.
see In the 1919 tentative budget
that all laborers are to get SS.25 day
Our salary will be about s3.05 q day
again SIS less than laborers
claim that bridge tenders should re-
ceive $1,000 a year that would be about
ing to arguments in the City Hall about
the tentative budget and no one OBJ
jected to men earning less than labor
ers' pay. We buy our uniforms. rubber
bools. rubber coats. pay S35 a year car
fare. and work seven days a week
for ono am more interested in lend
Ing my money for Liberty bonds and
War Savings Stamps and contributing to
the Red Cross than the high cost of liv-
ing. We are deserving. and for the
work that we perform the full seven
| days and the full time OF eight hours.
is 1900 too much for us to ask7
Billy Waller Is the man that is In
the open for living wages to all under
paid city employees
WILLIAM WALLER,
Bridge Tender willis Avenue Bridge.
NEW York. October 10.
The sun., 1918-10-21
THE FALL.
Two Extracts From the Works Of a
Passing Monarch.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: Look
upon this picture:
Remember that you are tho Chosen Peo-
pie. The Spirit of the Lord has descended
upon me, because l am the Emperor of
tho Germans. am the Instrument Of the
All-HlEh. am His sword and His Vicar
on earth. Death and destruction to those
who resist my will. Perish all the enc
niles OF the German People. God requires
their destruction, God. Who by my mouth
commands you to carry out His will.
And then upon this:
have the confident hope that the
whole German people in these most serious
times will resolutsly gather around me
and give their blood and wealth until
the last breath for the defence OF the
fatherland against tho shameful enemy
plans. such a unanimous resolve to exist
will and must. with Gods help. succeed
In breaking the enemys will TO war. and
secure for the fatherland tho peace It Is
worthy OF among the people OF the world.
Tempora mutantur. X.
NEW YORK, October 10.
The sun., 1918-10-21
AN OLD SOLDIERS COUNSEL.
No Peace without Victory Is the
Country's Demand.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--sr: No
peace by negotiation
The murderers and nssassins of women
and children on land and sea should not
be allowed to have a voice In any peace
settlements.
Germany should first be invaded, and
terms OF peace. indemnity and restitu-
ton be dictated from Berlin.
Anything less than this means that
our millions OF t>ead have died In vain.
In the words OF the immortal Grant
unconditional surrender" OF the German
war lords means for you and me and
generations yet unborn absolute freedom
from so-Called civilized warfare.
JOHN w. SEAvER,
Private I'd Mass. Heavy Artillery, 1869
LSEBRooK, n. Y, October 10.
The sun., 1918-10-21
THE NAVY WANTS SEXTANTS.
Lend Them to the Photographic Of
fee for Inspection.

The navy Is in urgent need Of sex
tants. either new OF used, and any per-
son having one or more of these instru-
ments is requested to bring them TO the
Branch photographic Office. rs Broad
street, New York city. where they will
be inspected as to their fitness for use
and an appraised value placed on them.
Sextsnts with ivory scales or those
needing more than minor repairs or ad-
iustments are not desirable for navy use,
Payment will be made to the owners
of the instruments accepted.
The sun., 1918-10-21
TELL DR.. COPELAND.
The Health Commissioner VIII Keep
You Warm.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Str: While
DIR, Copeland Is busy issuing orders
to prevent the spread of influenza.
why is it that he has overlooked apart
ment house owners who have not
turned on the heat? Landlords who
work elevator women fourteen hours a
day In direct violation OF the law are
overlooked by both the health and labor
departments. Why? HENRY T. PRICE.
NEW York, October IL
The sun., 1918-10-21
The Martial Spirit Of Eighteen.

To EHr EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir: The
majority Of the boys of eighteen are
eager to fight and help their country,
but how can they do so except by having
some special trade or by going into the
marines. a branch that not every boy
can enter?
Why not let down the bars and let
them fight ahead of their time? They
are eager to do SO. am is and know
how the boys feel. r. w. IL.
BROOKLYN, October Is.
The sun., 1918-10-21
PoINCARE GREETS ALBERT.
Belgian King Congratulated r"'
Return to Ostend.

PARIS, oct. '2o-PresIdent polr
has telegraphed the King and que
Belgium expressing happint-.
their triumphant entrance into '-.
In reply King Albert thanked tI' DRY.
dent and declared he was proud 80
mand the French troops fiSht."g ~.-
him.
The Belgian and French Fore aH NJ.
listers have exchanged conSratu!]'
the deliyerance OF Lille and Flau-t'h
The sun., 1918-10-21

scours, willeys, mixes, oils, cards and
spins the wool into cloth. Labor
brushes and dyes the cloth. Labor
carts the bolts of cloth to and from
the cars. Labor cuts, sews and
presses the clothing. Labor makes
the buttons. Labor brings the cloth
ing to the jobber. Labor takes it to
the retailer. Labor exhibits it to the
admirlng customer. Labor does book
keeping all the way along the line.
When a million Mr.. Towards de-
eide to make the old suit do while
longer, hundreds Of working people
are released from what they are do
ing in the way Of transforming the
Sleeps wool into clothing. They are
free to take up tasks more essential
to the winning Of the war. The bur
den on the railroads of war time, on
the trucks of war time, Is llghtened.
The $50, 100000 which the Mr.. How
ards don't spend Is free to be put to
the use of the Government. The ma
ton keeps the labor, the Government
borrows the money, and the Mr.. How
ards, instead of having nice new suits,
have their old suits padded on the
left breast with bonds.
THE SUN does not advise Mr.. How
ARD or anybody else to dress in
manner that will lower his self-re-
spect. But these times are not like
the times Of peace, when the gen.
eral prosperity is heightened by the
, lively circulation Of money and The
active employment of labor in the
manufacture of those things which,
although necessities In peace, are lux
urles In war. The Government will
keep the money circulating and there
Is no scarcity Of employment.
The sun., 1918-10-21

A correspondent OF the New York
Times ascribes the phrase THE public
be damned" to Commodore VANDERBILT
and disputes the title Of WILLIAM II.
VANDERBILT to its authorship. He says
that about the time OF the panic Of
1873 the father OF WILLIAM II. VAN
DERBILT was credited with the expression
and the takers of Nassau street were
selling a metal figure Of the Commodore
about one and half inches high,
which, when pressed heel and head
between ones fingers and thumb.
threw its thumb to its nose; and the
takers cry in selling 1t was The public
he damned" This may be true, but
it Is not the less true that the senti-
ment. in its relation to the indiffer-
ence OF railway corporations to public
rights and comfort, was attributed to
WILLIAM Fl. VANDERBILT In an inter-
view with him by a correspondent. we
believe. OF the Chicago Times, nearly
ten years after the panic Of 1878. This
same correspondent was accustomed to
confess in private. without shame and
even with yellow professional glee. that
THE public be damned" was the child
Of his own INSCRIPTIONS invention. and
that WILLIAM II. VANDERBILT did not
really utter 1t, as alleged in his report.
The sun., 1918-10-21
BARCELONA ACCLAIMs WILSON
Council OF spanish City Elects
Him an Honorary Citizen.

"PeV'u' '"o'e DeepdlcH Z" HE Sun.
LONDON, Oct 20.-Just twenty years
after the end of the Spanish American
war the Town Council OF Barcelona has
elected President wilson an honorary
citizen of the capital Of Catalonia in
recognition OF his efforts and his attitude
toward the restoration of the world $
peace.
Barcelona newspapers say the prin-
chile Of new nationalitles is glorified In
the person Of President Wilson,
The sun., 1918-10-21
The Programme OF the Careless.

To THE EDITOR OF TIfs SUN-Sir: Tell
me II the saying Eat, drink and be
merry, for tomorrow we die" Is not
attributed to Robert G. Ingersoll. A
friend contends 1t is taken from the
Scriptures, +. A. KEANE.
BROOKLYN, October 10.