davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-02-02
ASpirantS for Columbia
Get a Psychology Test

A CITING on the theory, now we'll
n established. that a certain pro-
! \ portion Of the students who
enter colleges have brains incapable Of
absorbing further knowledge. the au-
thorities OF Columbia University are
compiling a series OF psychological
tests which each entrant must pass.
Columbia is the FIRST university to use
this method OF wedding out applicants.
Its action was inspired by the wonder
ful results obtained in the army. where
men were chosen in hundreds for
executive and minor positions through
the use OF psychological tests quickly
and easily applied.
To the mothers and fathers of chill
dren approaching the college age II
may seem a terrible thought that re-
CARELESS Of careful rearing and the
best of environment their child may be
one OF the unfortunate few who are
unable to utilize more than a secondary
school education. Yet It is true that a
small proportion, sufficient to be a
drag on nearly every college. have
minds that may be likened to storage
batteries. capable Of being charged jus,
so far and no further. 1t Is this class
of students that Columbia University
intends TO keep out By the use Of psy-
chology and not only avoid their hin
drance in class rooms but also helr
them to reach more quickly the walk
Of life for which they are fitted.
based on Binet-simon system.
The department OF psychology a
Columbia Teachers College is now pre-
pairing the tests which are to be giver
candidates for admission. There Il
much speculation as to Just what the,
will he, but 1t Is certain that goo,
portion OF them will be based upon tn,
| Binet-Simon system, originated II
France a little over a decade age
Prof. f. L. Thorndyke OF Teacher
College has them In charge. AS chair
man of the board which originated tn
examinations for the United States al
service, he rendered the country al
almost invaluable service, for throug
his efforts the Government was spare
the time and expense of training hun
dreds of men who were untitled. intel
lectually or emotionally. to NY. II tn
new system Of entrance examination
adopted for the spring semester at Co
lumbia 1t may prove as beneficial
that institution as did the selectiv
draft system to tho National Army.
OF the tests which Prof. Thorndyk
Is preparing little can be said. Thei
nature will not he divulged beforehand
because that would allow tutors I
coach students for them just as the
now prepare them for the ordinary ell
animation. However, II can be state
with reasonable assurance that I'll
, tests will determine the entrants pei
lception, judgment and alertness, an
The sun., 1919-02-02

Fifth avenue. But with plans for per-
manent arches. halls OF fame. parks
and what not springing up on all sides,
each championed and each in turn
derided and cried down, the problem
Is becoming daily more complex.
For immediate: purposes. the arch
now rising over Fifth avenue is ade-
quate. in the opinion OF most artists
and architects. hut as a permanent
addition to the city's artistic and ar
chitectural equipment, symbol not
only OF our part in world victory
by arms but of a new era OF peace.
this arch has few defenders. 1t is
fairly plain that all factions realize
that something bigger. more sign!f1-
cant, will have to be brought forward
/: the occasion Is to be risen to.
For the city's memorial, whatever
it be, will not mark a victory by land
or sea 1t must be a reminder for all
time OF the greatest test of heroism
we'll met, the greatest rejoicing that
ever rose from the nations Of the
earth and the beginning Of the great
est era Of hope and happiness the
world has seen.
To rise to such an emergency, New
York finds itself handicapped at the
outset by the mere physical limita-
lions OF Manhattan Island. Conges-
ton prevails in every part OF the
city, making the streets unavailable
for any expansive treatment Of archi-
'ectural designs such as arches and
colonnades. Extra parks are practi-
cally out of the question. and the
majority Of those that exist are
needed for air space or are protected
by public sentiment against any In
vasion, however worthy. Joseph
Urban would have a Victory Temple
on Riverside Drive, yet Riverside
Drive, in the opinion OF many. would
be sidetracking such a memorial.
What many consider the most am
bilious project of all those yet pro
posed is contained in a set Of plans
which have been placed before ths
Mayors committee and are nov
under consideration. They embrace
not only a victory memorial, figure
OF national significance, but provide
for individual recognition OF Amer
!cas prowess on land and sea. Boil
arms OF the service are paid homage
and finally, the city receives trans
formed park. an imposing water gait
and an impressive entrance way
through which distinguished guest
would come from the sea into TIL
city.
A towering victory arch, one be
The sun., 1919-02-02
Philippine Output Improved bv Better Machinery and
Porto Rico May Rival Yucatan for Ssal

The selection of hemp for fixing and
maintaining improved strains is being
continued, and seeds OF the strains Of
proved superior value are sent to
growers who raise the seed CONNER
cially. This method has been followed
during the last Ave years. so that most
OF the hemp now grown in this coun-
try is Of these improved strains.
One Of the most promising recent
introductions Is the Tochigi variety
from Japan. A plant Of this variety
grown at st. Joseph. Mo-. in 1917. gave
an excellent yield Of seed, especially on
loose soil, and this seed was OF good
quality and high termination, notwith-
standing three severe frosts before the
plants were harvested. This season
about thirty acres of hemp seed were
cultivated In Missouri.
Early maturing varieties, chiefly OF
italian origin. are being grown al
Madison. Wis, In cooperation with the
Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment
The sun., 1919-02-02

OF sisal over large areas away from the
coast. The work Is now started under
most favorable conditions for the de-
velopment Of sisal production on a
large scale in the Philippines.
Work on the development Of i'm
proved strains OF sisal and henequen
by methods Of selection is being con-
tinued on an increasing scale in Porto
Rico. Trial paintings Of sisal and
henequen have been made in the dry
lands near Quebradillas, in northwest
ern Porto Rico. and also on Mona
Island. where several Thousand acres
Of unused land are apparently suitable
for these fibre crops. Propasatng
stock Of the plants has also been fur
nished for experimental planting In
Central and South America, with the
hope Of developing new centres Of pro-
duction that may become available as
the increasing demand for binder Irvine
1bres exceeds the supplies from Yucca
tan.
The sun., 1919-02-02

side which even Parisa Arc de
Triomphe would look small, erected IN
Battery Park is the central motive
of the plan. About three sides OF a
quadrangle. to which the huge arch
would form the entrance on the land
side. would rise a walled colonnade. n
hall Of fame for the soldier and sailor
heroes of the war. Thanking the arch
and inside the colonnade are proposed
two museums for trophies, one for
the army, the other for the navy.
Finally. the whole would be faced ses-
ward by an ornate water gate for the
city's and the nations guests.
Landing at this water gate and
crossing a 500 foot wide court OF honor,
In which a whole regiment could be
drawn up. with room for bands and re.
ception off1cials. the guests would pass
through the arch and out OF the park
along a thoroughfare as wide as Broad.
way, decorated with columns and
memorial figures, and on up into the
The sun., 1919-02-02

explore the mental processes involved
in such studies as mathematics, his
tory, languages and theoretical and
applied sciences. The methods of test
ing are standardized and grouped. to
be given to those supposedly having the
mind OF a normal person over 10
The methods used In determining the
mental age OF a college student are in
teresting mainly because OF their
novelty, and in the course of time will
he too commonplace to attract atten-
ton. The reason for the application
Of these tests has long been a matter
OF Inconvenience to colleges, Every
semester sees it's quota of "hunks" and
the college boards are forever harassed
with the cases OF students whose par
ents have the means to semi them to
college but cannot Furnish them with
the mental capacity 20 keep up in their
work
These students are "crammed" for
the entrance examinations by paid
tutors: their minds are loaded with
, just enough Of the subjects required
to get them by. after which they be-
come stumbling blocks. In the army.
where all types from the lowest to the
highest are admitted they are eXpertly
classified Immediately upon induction
The quick witted are placed in posi-
lions of authority over the slow minded
and backward. Men of superior in
telligence are made officers or given
executive work OF some sort. tnfortu-
nately colleges and universities up to
the present time have applied sciective
| ma n a
| Much Used in Air service.
The PSYCHOLOGISTS in the army camps
who had charge of rating the intel
ligence OF drafted men became so eN-
pert that line of several hundred
men could he moved continuously.
each being classified. with a percentage
OF error less than out of 100. In
one large draft camp a personnel Off
Ger examining negroes was in the
habit OF glancing at each man in turn
/ and instantly asking him set OF
questions to show his mental age.
Where were you born? How old
are your"
, Then leaning across the desk tho
, Officer would whisper:
: Have you any ancestors
, In cases OF low mentality tho
; draftee would assume that ancestors
were something in the nature o'
: coolies, and he would offer hastN
r and vehement denial of any sucf
, property.
. Psychological tests were used more
: extensively in the United States ali
= service than in any other branch o
the army. From the time man ap
e piled for his initial examination II
= the flying corps he was subjected Il
d one test aftSr another. The men VIII
The sun., 1919-02-02
Massive Water Gate Suggested as Memorial of the Great
JEW YORK, the champ.5n g,

N orator Of the nation, which
faunts more banners and
sees more paradcs and erects more
memorials and entertains more in the
course of It's everyday life than all
the other cities of the country put to-
gether. is up against 1t.
Give New York something simple,
Ike fleet reception. or a centennial
or a gala week for British, French or
italian commissions. and It is right at
home. But with the greatest event in
history to celebrate. not for day or
a week. but for all time in short, an
event TO memorialize--New York is a
little puzzled. How shall she COM
memorate the world victory OF 1918?
That New York will have a perma-
nent memorial no one can doubt: and
one quite aside from the arch now
being put up in temporary form o.
The sun., 1919-02-02
~ HERE are possibilities Of the
United States becoming indie
l. na,dant ~ Yucatan for its

IT. HERE are possibilities OF tn
United states becoming indie
u pendent OF Yucatan for Its
supply OF binder twine material
through developments made by the
United States Department OF Agricul'
ture. Manila maguey has been grown
In the Philippines many years and
sisal has been introduced into those
islands since the American occupation.
Work carried on by the department
IN cooperation with the philippine Blu
reau OF Agriculture during the past
year resulted In the introduction into
the Philippines OF The first really ef-
nclent machines for cleaning the hb-es.
Two machines in the islands are fully
equipped and in operation and third
complete OUTFIT has been forwarded.
Plantations for supplying leaves to the
machines are being developed on a
large scale. Better methods OF plant
ing. cultivatfng and harvesting are be-
ing practised.
The cultivation of fibre plants In the
Philippines has been confined chiefly
to areas near the coast where the
leaves could be soaked In sea water to
The sun., 1919-02-02

soften the pulp and facilitate cleaning
by hand. Cantals, or manila maguey'
was produced more extensively be-
cause the plants were more easily oo-
tanned and this fibre more easily
cleaned by hand. More than $4,000
tons OF the hand cleaned fibre was ex-
ported from the Philippines during
1917. It's value for use in binder Irvine
Is greatly impaired because the salt
from the sea water attracts crickets
and grssshoppers. which destroy the
bands while the bundles Of grain are
standing in the field.
1t Is found that sisal Is not only su-
perior TO maguey, as was well known
before by manufacturers In this coun-
try, but that It 10 cleaned to better ad-
vantage by machines. Proportionately
more sisal. therefore. is being planted.
A second introduction Of a half million
sisai plants from Hawaii has been Sc
cured. The use OF machines for clean
ing the fibre viii permit the planting
The sun., 1919-02-02
drawing Battery Bay

city. Departures Of such guests would
be made equally impressive cere-
monies. That no American city. as a
city. has ever had placed before it
proposition of such magnitude based
purely on patriotic. artistic and civic
grounds Is conceded by all who have
seen the plans.
Battery Park in the opinion of many
OF the citys leading architects and
artists. is the ideal setting for a ma
tional and civic monument OF such pro
portions. The plan OF the proposed
memorial. suggested by F. r. and A.
Ware and NJ. d. Metcalfe. architects,
requires an area whose northern line
would extend from the Aquarium to
State street where that thoroughfare
turns into whitehall street, and whose
eastern and western boundaries would
run to the harbor on a line with Broad
way Broadway itself would be ex-
tended south. passing the Custom
House. and into Battery Park. where
It would go under the victory arch ris
ing from an ornamented wall sur
rounding the big memorial enclosure.
On the inside OF the boundary walls
beginning at a point near the Barge
Office and running around to the sea
end OF the opposing wall south OF the
Aquarium. forming a court OF honor.
would be a colonnade containing VIC
tory hall Of fame with 400 or 500 inches
and tablets for busts or inscriptions
concentrating the heroes Of the great
war.
Toward the harbor this court OF
honor Is open, and leads. by a series of
steps, down to a great water gate.
ample to admit craft as large as the
Presidents yacht to enter and land
guests Of the city. Facing east and
west on the court or honor. and inside
the tolonnade, Of the hall OF fame
stand the two museums.
The proposed triumphal arch. the
central motive Of the memorial, is
structure OF colossal proportions
From the level OF Broadway as one
would enter the Court of Honor the
arch would rise to a height Of $50 feet
It's span would be the width Of Broad
way, which would be extended into the
part at the same width as obtains up
| town.
From the street level to the highes,
part Of the opening proper the arch
would measure approximately $50 feet
This arch would provide wide van
tage point for sightseeing, and would
be fitted with elevators and decorated
entrance halls.
The Court OF Honor would be lait
The sun., 1919-02-02

out approximately 500 by 800 feet.
Ornate piers would guard the water
gate. which would be 500 feet long. adj
hitting OF the mannuvring Of craft Of
considerable size.
Since the long bygone days OF Castle
Garden. when immigrants got their
first impression Of Americas metrop-
oils through the vistas afforded from
what is now the Aquarium, Battery
Park has been far from figuring as a
place Of beauty. Visitors from Euro
pean cities. whether persons Of wide
information or pupils OF kindly guide
books. usually admit. New Workers
find. that they approach the city with
interest centred on two things-the
Statue OF Liberty and the skyscrapers.
The sun., 1919-02-02

still wondering what New Works most
interesting section may be Ike.
For the next two or three years at
least. 1t Is argued. New York will be
the centre Of arrival for many foreign
delegations. famous soldiers and states
men on official and semi official mis-
sions. A large percentage Of these
visits will call for elaborate receptions
by city and national officials. With
such equipment as the memorial sug-
gests. even though the structure were
but temporary. those receptions. now
often source OF embarrassment
through inadequate arrangements.
could be made events of dignity and
beauty.
The sun., 1919-02-02

that while they would not disturb any
feature Of historic interest in the park
the great walls or the Hall of Fame
would shut Off from the visitors view
the ugly "L" structure. and up to a
point opposite it the squat Aquarium
and the ramshackle public baths near
by. At the same time but a small part
of the airy spaces of the park would be
invaded, permitting an artistic re
arrangement Of trees and grass plots.
Such project would involve the e1-
penditure, it is estimated, of severa,
millions Of dollars-possibly five or six.
New York is used to spending millions,
but they usually are millions for a
practical" meaning, commercial en-
torprise of some sort
The sun., 1919-02-02
Arc de Triomphe and Brahdenberger Thor
Could Be Lost in Victory Arch-Greatest
City Would Have Worthy Approach

would be conducted straight through
the arch and up Broadway, through
part of the canyons of skyscrapets
and past some of the most historic
spots in the town to the City Hail,
where they would be received by the
Mayor They would then pass on up
town by Lafayette street, Washington
Square and Fifth avenue.
The advantages to the city from the
aesthetic point of view alone would be
considerable. it is contended. Such a
memorial would mean the transforma-
ton OF Battery Park from mediocre
lounging place with grass and few
trees into one Of the distinguished
show places of New York.
The memorial plans are 50 drawn
The sun., 1919-02-02

are flying to-day must pass both
psychological and physical cxamina-
lions at regular intervals All fiiers
must take what is known as the re
breather" test. designed to show
whether the aviator retains his
faculties at high attitudes. Entering
a room fitted with q startling ARA
of apparatus he is given a small card
upon which is printed in fine type
series of instructions he is to follow
in taking the test. He is given a
moment to read and absorb the in
formation and the card is then taken
from his hand. A hoard Of doc,Drs
watches his subsequent actions mi
rates him upon tho precision and ac-
curacy with which he follows the
written orders.
High Attitudes DupIicata<
While breathing and rebrcathfnn
oxygen from a tank. thereby dupllcat-
ing the conditions to he found u;.on
dying to high attitudes. the aviator
must put out lights. correct an irdi-
Gator on a dial and regulate the speed
OF a motor. All Of the work is done
with one hand and one foot while the
doctors continually take his blood pres
sure and respiration listen to his heart,
and test his eyes.
Prof. l.. NJ. Tcrman Of Stanford
University, an eminent psychologist,
discussing the value of these tests, has
pointed out the futility of uncovering
the students entire knowledge Of his
previous school work. and fgurativelv
1Ant 81, no
samples of the applicants brain power
he extracted for assay, All psycholo-
gists agree that differences in ind
vidual endowment exist at birth and
are emphasized with progress toward
maturity.
| Universal standards have bccr
reached whereby each person OK
amined can he classified, and as tho
! classifCations are now well nigh per-
focted, it is possible to apply them to
the college entrance examination with
assurance of their ACCURACY.
II is quito probable that the new
system will meet with disfaVor in the
mind OF the general public. Parents
are loath 10 believe their children any
thing but perfect. and "A father who has
attended some famous university and
desires his son to follow In his foot
steps can hardly hc blamed for hiring
any number of tutors to make Il posi-
bic. But If the psychologists are given
a free rein, the tutors will fail in their
purpose, the university Will avoid n
needless drag and expense, and tho
mind which has reached its maximum
content will be diverted to its own
The sun., 1919-02-02

Not only do such visitors pass the
Bartholdi monument at safe distance
but as a rule not even a guest OF the
municipality escapes beinF landed at
an unsightly pier on the Jersey side OF
the river or at an equally unsightly
one in uptown Manhattan.
In the event Of call at the City
Hall the visitor gets a look at the
woolworth Building. II he has time
and can dodge those who have his en-
tertainment in charge he may journey
downtown and view at close range the
architectural marvels of the town. He
may also see Wall Street. Old Trinity.
st. Paul's Chapel and the Equitable,
the largest office building in the world.
Otherwise he goes away as he came
Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-15

Billy" Leet, young Omaha mil
lionaire, is preparing to make novel
effort to win back his wife, Mrs.
Martha Ruddy Leet. who has sued
him in San Francisco for a separa-
ton and separate maintenance of
$3.50 month.
He is now in city east of Chica-
60, studying aeroplanes and prepar-
ing to learn to fly.
As soon as he has mastered this
art he is going to fly from the city
where he is to San Francisco and
alight on the grounds Of the sub
urban place where his wife is stay
ing.
Will Ask Forgiveness.
Dressed in his flying togs and
with the achievement of the long
flight to his credit he is going to
ask his wife to forget their past
differences and come back to live
with him again.
This information came from
Billy" to friend in Omaha by
letter.
II believe he will do it." said A.
L. Sutton, Leet's attorney, when he
was told of the romantic plan OF
Billy"
"He is just that kind Of a chap.
He courts danger. He is never so
happy as when he is doing some
thing hazardous.
"And Mrs. Leet is the kind of a
girl to whom such an achievement
might appeal. She, too, is a young
woman who likes the exciting and
the daring. Her father was a
wealthy man whose hobby was fast
horses. He owned a stable of the
finest racing horses in this country
and young Mrs. Leet is great lover
of fast horses and speedy automo-
biles.
"The aeroplane plan Of Billy
Omaha daily bee., 1919-05-15
BELIEVE ARREST
BREAKS UP AUTO
'RUSTLINC' GANG
Police Say Six Stolen Cars
Traced to Garage Of George
Alexander, Now In
Custody.

A gang of automobile thieves has
been broken up and trace of six
stolen cars has been obtained
through the arrest of George Alex
ander, automobile mechanic, 2523
Caldwell street, according to Chief
of Detectives Dunn.
A recently rented garage at the
home of Mrs. r. R. Young, 24l4
Parker street. was used by Alex
ander as blind to cover the theft
of cars stolen in Omaha, detectives
say.
Stolen Car Found.
An automobile stolen from the
garage Of Dick Britton, 25l1 Chi
cago street, on the night of May 7,
was found in Alexander's garage.
Alexander has been identified as the
man who rented the garage from
which FIVE other stolen cars are be-
ing traced.
Alexander told detectives he
didn't know any automobile had
ever been in the garage. Later he
is said to have confessed to Detec-
tives Psznowski and Murphy that
he "can change the motor numbers
on any car in FIVE minutes"
Had Many Tools.
Files, wheel jacks, tire chains and
automobile tools in large quantities
were found in Alexander's possess
sion. Alexander was booked at the
police station on charge of receiv-
ing and concealing stolen property.
Automobiles stolen from the fol-
lowing persons are said to have been
driven to Alexander's place and the
motor numbers filed off: w. E. Prit-
to, 1903 Woolworth avenue; E. w.
Arthur, Drake Court; w. ]. DeVore,
1914 Webster street; Mrs. /. N.
Wright, 1910 South Twenty-fourth
street, and w. T. Shackleford, Thir-
teenth and Grace streets.
Alexander will be held pending
further investigation Of stolen cars,
detectives say.