davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
THE MOSQUITOES SIGHT.
It's Hard Job to Find Out About
the Singers Individual PeculIaritles.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: "P.
L. makes inquiry as to whether mos
Quitoes can see in the dark. l am glad
he did. Thinking I might aid him and
In my rather cursory search for infor-
incidentally added to my all too small
sum Of knowledge and am SO much the
winner.
I consulted an encyclopaedia Now ]
find an encyclopedia so full Of interest
ing material that unless am most
intense upon the hunt for information
Of a certain sort I get of the mental
scent. so to speak. In this way. having
taken up the Med to Nun volume, got
to reading about mosaics. 1 had no
idea that they were Of such ancien,
origin. I had just got to description
Of Pers!ans head from the battle
Of Issus-I mean a description OF a
mosaic of it-when a buzzinE about my
own head reminded me that l had not
yet reached tho mosquito" So began
turning the leaves again, but stopped
of at Moscow.
1t appears that Moscow Is a town OF
enough importance to get seven columns
In small print. l bet know more about
Moscow this morning than most Of the
Bolsheviki. Next came Mosel but I
found that to be river, probably filled
with only river water. Little was said
about wine. so passed the article by.
Finally Il hit the mosquito. Not the
one buzzing about my ears. I had tried
that and not only succeeded in knock
ing of my glasses but the. article or
mosquitoes also.
First OF all read that there are in
all probability not less than 1000 spe-
ces OF mosquitoes. I consulted "P.
LIS" letter and found that he had
failed to specify which OF the 1000
different species 1t was that bit him.
He falls to say. too. whether it was a
Metanopsila. whose thorax is bare, or
a Metauotricha. who needs a shave. ]
had spent SO much time in learning of
mosaics and stopping at Moscow and
crossing the Mosel River that gave
up in despair.
One thing, however. I can tell him.
II is rarely he mosquito that bites.
Lady mosquitoes. belieing that appel.
lation, do most Of the blood sucking
Remember Mr.. Kipling? T. p.
NEW York, August %.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
Brian Boru Used to Chuckle Over
This One.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: "P.
LIS" question In THE SUN as to whether
mosquitoes are able to see in the dark
reminds me of the story OF the freshman
who had no such doubts on the ques-
ton and which may serve to solve your
correspondents difficulty. This Irish
man and companion occupied the same
room one night and left the gas burn
ing low when they retired. Being an
noyed with mosquitoes. they decided as
a protection against the pest to extin-
guish the light entirely. Presently some
lightning bugs began slipping about the
room. and the Irishman noticing them
awoke his companion and whispered
ats no use. Mike see the divils now
they have lanterns looking for u.s.
SEA CLIFF, August 22. j. e. s.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

the blue waters is too recent to have
lost fascination centuries old.
They built great ships and sailed
them
and they" are merely ourselves OF
a few generations ago. The gesture
may be awkward at the outset, from
long disuse, but the novices will be
apt learners.
Can any one imagine another PEG.
pie than the English submitting, with
out complaint, to ship tax imposed
directly by the sovereign, minus legis'
lation? Can any one imagine the
English submitting to such procedure
for any other end than ships2 Yet
the townsmen Of London and those
other cities, who surpassed their nj
lotments at the call Of ELIZABETH
were the grandsires Of those Kansans
and Iowans who are to be taught the
love Of ships and the sea.
1t should not be a hard lesson tc
teach, and 1t should be rich In re-
turns. 1t Is not to be supposed that
NELSON entered the navy at 10 with.
out having led many a toy bottom on
the end Of string, or that DRAKE
himself omitted to sail the Spanish
Main Of the family rain barrel lone
before he swept the Armada from the
troubled seas.
|. The lion, says STEVEN SON, is no At
ting emblem for such a people. And
indeed, PRoTEUs or TRITON would
seem more appropriate. Shall w
some day miss the eagle from oul
emblem, rs We have already nearly
missed him from his eyrie, and Get uI
NEPTUNE or member Of his king
dom? Possibly. At all events we are
in fair way ito build great ships
and sail them" Be sure that many
young Nelson in the land will be
sailing fleets up Nile Of porcelain
entertainments and many a Captain
Kidd buccaneering in the bathtub.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
Hope for the Woodcock.

The wOodcock has been proclaimed
the prince of all game birds. Few
spOrtsmen will take issue with that
opinion. 1t Is ten years since DIR. A.
X. FISHER wrote his paper on 1.-TWO
Vanishing Game Birds" one of them
being the woodcock, and despite pro-
tective laws enacted since then the
bird Is still In the danger zone, and
its fate, in the belief of DIR. T.. w.
NELSON, chief of the United States
Bureau of Biological Survey. rests
largely with American sportsmen.
The woodcock has been a much
harried bird. Time was, and not 80
long ago, when New Jersey and Penn
sylvania permitted shooting during
the month Of July. The theory of
the legislators was that the young
wOOdcOck of the previous springs
hatch were Of sufficient size and
strength of wing to warrant turning
gunners loose on them on July 1.
AS late as 1903 Arkansas, Della
ware, Louisiana, Mississippi and
Texas gave no protection to wood
cock, and the open season through
out the birds entire range extended
from June - Of one year to April Is
of the next year. The length Of the
seasons varied from one month and
eleven days in Michigan to seven
months and ten days in Kentucky.
Five years later Louisiana closed the
season for term Of years.
The Federal migratory bird law Of
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
MORE IDLE PHILOSOPHY.

zone of the saving bits Of honestto-
goodness horse sense that sometimes
keep a man from losing his reason
said the Idle Philosopher, lis en-
bodied In a saying that had much
vogue among the New England Puri-
tans. When I first heard II from the
lips Of my sanity great-grandmother
I was shocked. child though I was,
for coming from her 1t seemed TO
SAVIOR of blasphemy. The truth is
not to be spoken at all times she
said. and I could not at once recon-
cile the words with what I had al
ways been taught
"Afterward understood that she
was merely intoxicating reticence, but
II was not for a long time that per-
ceived in her phrase the germ Of a
| far more valuable thought than that
Of silence.
Truth can be nothing but truth,
Of course. II line be curved, ever
so little. II Is not a straight line. So
II a truth be even a little warped, II
is no longer the truth-that is. a New
England conscience does not acknowl-
edge It as such.
But II there are times when the
truth Is not to be spoken. what should
be the alternative? Mantfestly, It
must be either silence. evasion, or the
untruth. So much is logic. and since
there is no direct answer in revealed
religion, 1t Is necessary to seek
guidance from philosophy. Religious
law 10 not to be set aside, but 1t must
be supplemented.
| Nowhere in Holy Writ is q lie
condemned merely on the ground that
1t Is lie. To bear false witness is
forbidden only in case 1t shall be
against ones neighbor. Plainly. 1t IL
the motive Of the lie, and not the lie
itself, that is in question.
Il may be wrong. but it seems to me
that the Golden Rule is a sufficient
guide in almost any Imaginable case
Of doubt. I am content to speak oil
keep silence to others. as would have
them speak or keep silence to me.
| And this view Of the question
seems to be especially applicable to
situations that frequently arise be.
tween a husband and wife. 1t often
happens that the unvarni-hed truth
cannot be spoken with discretion and
at the same time It Is practically i'm.
possible to remain silent. 1t is then
necessary to follow the Golden Rule
and be q philosopher"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
The Airplanes That Are Not.

The Senate committee appointed
to investigate the matter Of aircraft
production reports state Of affairs
most deplorable and disgraceful. The
familiar charges Of graft have not
been specially scrutinized by Sena
tors THOMAS, REED, HoKE SMITH
New and FRELINGHUYsEN Judge
HUGHES is now attending to that
branch Of the subject for the De-
partment of Justice. The picture
which the Senate committee pre-
sents is n composite Of incompetency
vacillation, wild experimentation,
waste Of time and Of money, conflict
Of selfish interests, lack Of energy,
lack Of ordinary horse sense; and
the dimensions of the failure, as sta.
tistically presented to date, are such
as would warrant the profoundest
encouragement IL the same condl'
lions were unalterable.
Sixteen months after the beginning
Of the war we are told that Col planes
of the necessary type have been
shipped to France, Of which sixty.
seven had reached the front on July
i; that not single American made
plane Of attack is Mt the front; that
not a single heavy bombing plane OF
American make Is at the front; that
no successful fighting plane Of Amer.
lcan make has been developed and
put into quantity production; thai
the supply Of planes on the American
front Is wholly inadequate to meet
the requirements Of modern warfare.
1t Is almost grotesque to be in
formed at this stage Of proceeding.
that the time has come for taking
up aircraft development and pro
ductlon not only as military neces
sity but as an industrial and com
mercial problem"
II there is any comfort lurking be
hind this sorry exhibit, the patriotic
and optimistic heart can perhaps fine
1t in the circumstance that quite
equally depressing reports concerning
the conditions and prospects of shiI
production Immediately preceded the
dawn Of doing in that department OF
the nations war activities.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

In the Century for September the story
Of Secretary Bakers visit to the front in
France. told by his private secretary.
Ralph A. Hayes, begins. American war
Industries are shown In pictures by Her
bert Puliinser; Sir John Foster Fraser
discusses the future of India; an account
Of the persecution of Armenia. written by
Nishan Der Hagopian. is illustrated with
photographs. while Anne Douglas sedg-
wick's childhood in Brittany Eighty
Years Ago" is illustrated with sketches
by p. de Leslie. Helen Davenport Glib
bons contributes the Confessions of a
Grating Wife" sound talk much needed
by many sorely tried spouses who to-day
must be helpmeets. David Gray's novel.
The Boomerang" comes to part ave;
Paul Fortier Jones tells OF Training to
Fly and Fight" and Richard lie Gal
iienne gives an account OF . visit to the
Interstate Park.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

The National Bankers Association
has published for the protection of its
members a list OF about 500 Liberty
bonds lost or stolen. These are OF
denominations running from $50 to
81, 900. the one hundreds being by far
the most numerous. The list cannot
be complete. but even the number Of
those lost whose owners reported them
to banks is a moving total. The dark
recesses Of unused stoves. OF stockings
hung in closets. must still be favorite
repositories of such valuables in some
homes. Would it not give protection
to many who have periodically re-
sponded to the buy a bond campaigns
to let them deposit their holdings with
postmasters in return for Uncle SANS
receipt, and collect their interest at
post offices? Such plan would prob
ably result in thousands of small
holders buying War Savings Stamps
with their interest earnings.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
Germany's Lost Colonies.

Germany Is bewailing her lost colo
MES. DR.. W. S. SOLF. the Imperial
Colonial Secretary of State, has been
making a speech on the subject. He
would like to regain the million
square miles of colonial territory
which the British, largely through the
iIistrumentality Of the Beers, have
taken away from the Germans in
South Africa and the eastern part Of
that continent. He says that Ger
many has won the moral right to be
a colonial power ION the principle of
respecting humanity" whatever that
may mean.
If 1t mean that the Germans have
been humane or kindly toward the
natives subject TO their colonial dom
ination, 1t is far from the truth. Their
subjugation Of the Herreros in Ger
man Southwest Africa Is a story Of
brutal oppression and cruelty dis
graceful alike to the agents who per-
petrated 1t and the Government that
sanctioned It. 1t would be monstrous
n relegate these people to German
rule without their consent; and it is
safe to say that their consent will not
be obtainable until the sun rises in
the west or some similar phenomenon
occurs
BISMARCK realized that the Ger
mans had no capacity for coloniza.
ton. In his old age he repeatedly
protested against the various colonial
projects which were brought forward
and expressed doubt as to their sue
cess. This was almost the only sub
ject in regard to which Prince Bis.
MARcK and the Empress FREDERICK
the mother of the present Kaiser
were in accord. Mrs. HUMPHREY WARD
writing in the current number OF
Hdrper's Mdgasine about an interview
with the Empress In 1893, tells us
that she spoke Of German colonies In
toe course Of the conversation and
characterized them as "all nonsense"
In DIsRAELI's first novel, 1.-The voy.
age of Captain Popanilla," the captain
asks an EIglishman: Upon what
principle does your Government sur
round small rock in the middle OF
the sea with fortihcations, and cram
II full OF clerks, soldiers, lawyers and
PRIESTS"
well, your Excellency, believe II
Is called the Colonial System" wa.
the reply.
The speaker might have added tina
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
"MASSIF."
The Search for Definition Of an I'm
pOrtant French Word.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir: In
connection with your illuminating COM
ments on the French word "massif'
may l point out that according 20 the
latest edition Of Cassell's New French
English Dictionary G905) the word
cesignateS. among other things, "a
group. clump, cluster (of trees. fiowers) /;
grove; solid mass group" Agricultur-
ally the word is used to designate a
thickly wooded region-that is, a re-
gion in which the woodland completely
obscures the view OF what is beyond
and 1t seems to be in this sense of the
word that 1t Is used In describing opera
tons around Lassigny.
Geographically "massif' Is used to de-
fine group OF hills clustered, more or
less symmetrically. around . central
point, hence the hilly region OF central
France Is known as the "Massif Cen
trial" This section embraces that part
Of France which lies between latitude
a degrees and 4S degrees north. and
longitude degree 45 minutes and 4
degrees Al minutes east of Greenwich.
OF this region the Massifs OF Cantal,
OF Sancy and OF the Banne d'Ordanche,
OF which the altitude is. roughly, $500
feet. form part and are supplemented
by eleven hilly districts known as the
rD Monts de la Marche. (2) Monts du
Limousin. go Monts d'Auvergne. as
Monts d'Aubrac. (5) Monts du Charo-
lais, co Monts du Beaujolais, I7)
Monts du Lyonnais. NS Monts du
Forez. (9D Monts du Livardois. uO)
Monts du Vivarais and Gl) Monts de
la Margeride.
In arboriculture "msssif' designates
a special plan Of planting trees In which
the height attained by the different
varieties plays an important part.
The term is not as new to the Eng
iish language as is commonly believed.
1t occurs in its architectural sense "a
block Of buildings. q mass of stone)
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
THE LATIN ~"
with Sidellghts on the Teutonic Pro-
nunciation OF "W."

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sr. Il
mas been my experience as "A student
OF Latin that "Weeny. Weedy, Weekly
Is the pronunciation taught In on" 70
spect 81. G. c." seems TO be correct
However. I believe he is in error
when he states that this pronur ta'"G
OF the Latin ~" is similar 10 pro-
nunciation OF the German ~" For eN-
ample. did he ever hear "Nater,ani
pronounced "Watterland' The fact
that the German "w' is pronounced 40
"v-for example. "warum' "Nsrlm
has confused the Latin tutor
l suppose II necessary to state that
am not pro-German. but il 81. q
had ever studied German he would rot
stand In need OF this correction.
r. h. H. :. tx. Is,
BOUND BROOK, n. j.. August -
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
Talking With the Other Planets,

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sr Ar
thur Brisbane writes: THE fact NAV
man has always wanted to fly Wa SUI
hcient proof that one day he would ny
The fact that everybody wants 70 tax
to the other planets Is proof thai some
day the talking will be done
Perhaps. But to me Mr.. Brlsll.tS
proof in the latter case seems n'>e
in the nature OF an alteration than :
prophecy. II ever We get TO another
planet or talk with its inhabitants, +"
will be, believe me, by way OF h'e
in the ground. r. l., W.
New YORK, August %.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

1t might be OF value to candidates
for elective ofiices to know that in the
Congressional Directory for the Sixty
third Congress the eloquent young
man who is to succeed JAMES K.
VARpAMAN as a Senator from Missis-
sippi records his name in his bio
graphical sketch as BYRON PATTON
HARRISON, but in the same interesting
record, Sixty-fifth Congress. he calls
himself PAT HARRISON with no hint Of
ownership OF the throat swelling
Byron Patton. PAT, IL It must be Pat.
was elected to the House eight years
ago. when he was 20. sharing the
baby membership honor with one
other Representative. He may have
a similar distinction when he enters
the Senate. but in its personal his
tories will he write himself PAT?
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
Dean Larulurt's Letter.

MY DEAR Mr.. sPrroELBERo: Your
letter Of August II is received. We
had seen the newspaper report Of the
death Of your brother. Lieutenant sgd
ney L. Spiegelberg. q graduate OF this
college In the class OF 1905.
This is the first death Of graduate
OF the College Of Physicians and Bur
geons that had been recorded in the
present war.
While condoling with you in the loss
Of your brother. we are proud to record
his name on our lists as having given
up his life for his country. The exact
date Of his graduation was June Is.
1905. Yours very truly,
L. c. LARuLuRr, NJ D.,
Dean, College Of Physicians and Bur-
Geons. Columbia University.
NEW York, August %.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

In "Hakluyts Voyages $3.50 The
sayd trauerses and repaIres
oeganne at the massife Of Spaine made
by the reuerend lord great master Merry
q Amboise. & ended at the Church OF
S. Salvador"
FRANK H. NlZETElLy.
NEW YORK. August 20
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

A fleeing thief threw away $500
on Broadway on Wednesday and the
finder returned every cent of the
money to the bank which had been
robbed. Thus 10 small change always
safe in New York.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
Tho Bret Harte Hotei"s No. Says Cali.
fornian.

Grass Valley correspondence San Francisco
Chronicle.
Tho naming of the new 500. 900 hotel
here the Hotel Bret Harte is protested by
= writer styling himself Sierra" Isl
ezra" declares that Bret Harte detested
modern commercialism and left san Fran
cisco in disgust when 1t showed signs OF
developing into commercial city. ending
his days In London. Sierra" further
states that 1t is very doubtful whether
Bret Harte ever visited Grass Valley. al
though, he admits he was sojourninE in
one of the canyons OF the Yuba River
In 1870 at the time he wrote his famous
verses, Lines on the Death of Dickens"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

1.-THE Kaiser picks three Kings"
But the aces FocH has up his sleeve
are numerous enough to beat a better
draw than threes of any kind in the
pack the Hun General Stan are hold
ing out for the War Lord.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

The officer in command Of Berlin's
largest recruit drill hall called in the
architect and ordered him to build a
wall through the middle from side to
side, from floor to roof. II need" ne
explained. more room to maneuvre
according to the revised Hindenburg
tactics"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
THE FIRST p. d S. CASUALTY.
Lieutenant sydney L. Spiegelberg
Gives His Life for His Country.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN-ST: !
enclose herewith copy Of an original
communication received from the
Columbia University College OF Physi-
clans and Surgeons.
ALBERT J, SPrEoELBfRo.
New YORK, August 90.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

London once. 40-43 Fleet street,
Paris ONCE 0 Rue de la Michodiere, on
Rue du Quatre Septembre.
Washington ONCE, Munsey Building.
Brooklyn once. Room 202, Eagle Build
ting 500 washington street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

~ our triends uho favor W icith mdnu-
scripts and liustrafiors for publication pish
90 kdpe rejected articles returned they mhsf
In oil coses send sfamps for thaf purpose
TELEPHONE. BEEKMAN 1900.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

THE EVENING SUN. Per Month. $3.50
THE EVENING SUN, Per Year. 500
THE EVENING Sun tForeisn) Per Mo. LOO
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

Published daily, including sunday, by thu
Sun Printing and Publishing Association
$50 Nassau st. Borough Of Manhattan, N. Y
President, Frank A. Munsey. $50 Nassau ~.
Vice. President, Erwin wardman; Secretary
r. II. Titherinston: Treas. VIM. T. Dewart
all Of $50 Nassau street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23

All checks, money orders, &c. to be
made payable to THE Sun.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-23
AS A CATHOLIC CHAPLAIN SEES OUR
SOLDIERS IN THE MAKING.
The Only Inconsistencies They Know Springs Longing Active Ser
vice the Battlefield

4 4. u Amecn
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-18
Township Dog Tax Must be
Paid to Township Clerk.

Notice Is Hereby Given that all own
ers of dogs residing in the Township
of L'Anse, County of Barags, State of
Michigan. are required to pay dog tax
es in conformity with the provisions Of
Act BAT. Public Acts of 1917:
Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty of each
owner of any dog on or before the first
day of February of each year, to
secure from the clerk of the township,
49," in which he or she may reside,
metal registration tag showing the
name ofthe . ;" township and license
year and the clerks registration num-
Der thereon, and such tag or device
shall be securely fastened to the collar
of the dog and constantly worn by such
dog" Exception is made where dogs
are strictly confined to the premises
where kept and safely secured, except
when accompanied by owner, care
taker or custodian.
Amount OF Taxes:
Male Dogs. $500. Female Dogs.
$500. Spayed Female Dogs, $500.
Male Dogs kept solely for breeding
purposes and confined in kennel, $1.00.
Female. $500. Mote that the tax re-
duction for spayed female dogs can
only be allowed upon presentation of
certificate from veterinary surgeon
stating that such dog has been spayed.)
The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1918-05-18
Penalty Fine or imprisonment.

Sec. 4. 1t shall be unlawful for any
one to permit any dog owned by him
or her to be at large without license
tag. Any person violating any of the
provisions of this law shall be guilty of
misdemeanor and upon conviction
shall be subject to fine not exceeding
$500 or to imprisonment, in the dis
erection of the court. The tags cannot
be transferred from person to person,
nor from dog to dog, and the tags shall
be good for only one year from Janu.
airy LIST of the year issued. (Note that
the dog tax year now begins Jan. LIST
and ends Dec. 31st.)
Sec. 6. Any sheriff, deputy sheriff,
constable or police officer shall have
authority to destroy, and it shall be
his duty to destroy. any dog or dogs
found at large in violation of the pro-
visions of this act.
Dated May 10, 1918.
MICHAEL CoNNoR,
Clerk of L'Anse Township.