davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Dog Days

Two readers of The Tribune are in
dispute regarding the beginning and end
ing of "dog days" and ask for an opinion
on the subject. The query, coming so
soon after the demonstrations of St.
Swithin's power to decree forty days of
rain, again emphasizes the tenaciousness
of weather superstitions. For, while the
st. Swithin fiction goes back only to
early England, the belief in period of
the year designated as "dog days" comes
down from the Romans and, through
them, from the Egyptians
To answer, first, the query, it may be
said there is no immovable date for the
arrival of "dog days" In Roman days
the period began July and ended
August IL, but these dates are con-
stantly moving forward, very slowly, it
is true, but nevertheless surely In the
course of time "dog days" will synchron-
ize with Christmas and New Year. The
dog days" are governed by the rising
and settlng of the Dog Star, or Sirius,
and this is a varying date, not only NOV
ing forward, but differing slightly in
different parts of the world
The Egyptians, like other primitive
peoples, watched the heavens CLOSELY and
observed that the rising of one promi-
nent star came with the annual overflow
of the Nile, the one great event in the
Egyptian year. So the priests of the
Pharaohs decided that this star either
caused the overflow or was sent as a
warning, and in gratitude they called the
star by name signifying Watchdog"
But the same star came to the Romans
at the beginning of a period of great
heat and much sickness, and they were
convinced that the added heat of the
summer was due to the. star One of
their writers records:
"The day of this stars first rising in the
morning the sea boils, wine turns sour.
dogs begin to go mad, the bile increases
and lrritates and all animals grow lam
\ guld. The diseases it usually occasions
in man are burning fevers, Mysteries and
.phrensies."
To appease Sirius the Romans every
year sacrificed brown dog.
The discovery later by astronomers that
Sirius was something like 150,O0O,OO0 900
miles from the earth rendered it rather
improbable that any of it's heat could
make itself perceptible here, but the
superstition as to ''dog days" still per-
sists, and with it the notion that dogs
are particularly prone to run mad at
this season, thus perpetuating Roman
belief. There are many persons who
suppose that the designation dog days"
is given because of this supposed canine
propensity to rabies.
And Xasxe 4 the bar who hAa nat
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Cost of Government
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: When the time comes to start pun
ishing those who keep the cost of living high
| hope that the government at Washington
can be made to go vigorously after the
greatest offender: to wit, Itself
Every time one touches government
tivity (and finds it everywherc) waste
is apparent, and waste of the most reckless
and unnecessary sort
Observe the distribution of the Victory
buttons granted by Congress to soldiers The
War Department undertakes to hand them
out, and instead Of simply handing them
over on presentation Of discharge papers and
stamping record of this thereon, there has
been invented complicated scheme that can
have only one USE which will be the employ
ment of many thousands of clerks in duties
that cannot conceivably benefit any one ex-
ccpt the party that found the jobs. Just
what it will cost in money and waste of pro-
ductive energy is hard to estimate, and if
it were an isolated condition would possibly
not mean much in our national expenses,
but, as every soldier and every man dealing
with Washington knows, it is only typical
of a thousand and one wastes, all of which
finally 20 to swell the cost of living, since
taxes and wasted energy enter into the
price of every commodity.
The Bakeran system is as follows: The
applicant for the Victory button goes to
designated place to receive the gift of
grateful nation. Is it graciously given? I'll
say it's not. First, the applicant is required
to fill out a blank. This somewhat dulls his
ardor, as the blanks and writing materials
are furnished in the usual haphazard way
and the soldier knows it means waiting and
delay and fuss When he comes to make out
his blank he finds he is expected to give his
name and address, whether wounded not
(this shows his dscharge), and then his
education his dependents, his trade, his
employer, his wages and whether or not he
was benefited by army, and if not, why!
Every one I observed had become so an
noyed by the time that question was asked
that they all said they hated army life.
Then this form was attached to the dis
charge and handed in. Next, three separate
stamps put on the discharge: a form
to the delivery; form to date and
form as to the name of the officer in charge
Then the papers were taken to an officer,
who signed his name on the discharge and
then the papers we're separated and the dis
charge handed back, with the button to the
thoroughly disgusted applicant.
The worst of it is that this information
must be sought for some reason and it must
be in contemplation to classify it for statis-
teal purposes. There will be some millions
of forms and many clerks will be needed to
handle them. The statistics when collected
will be of doubtful accuracy, as the forms
are filled in hastily and without thought
Is it not time to call a halt on such unau
thorized prying and useless expense? Wou;o
it not materially help reduce the cost of
living? F. CARROLL TAYLOR.
Nsv Xsxk. Aaes & 1918.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
The Incomes of the Super-rich

During the calendar year 1917, for
which the Internal Revenue Bureau has
belatedly published figures, 3,472,890
persons reported net personal incomes in
excess of $1,000, and the total income
was $13,650,000 900, or an average OF
$4,000 per person reporting. The taxes
paid totalled 100000, an average of
1868 per person, or something less than
10 per cent.
A feature of the report is the indicated
decline in the number of the super-rich.
In 1916 incomes in excess Of S3O0,OOO
each were 1926, and in 1917 they
were LOIS. The million dollar class de-
creased from 2O6 to AL The shrinkage
of the very rich would, of course, be
greater, were the computation Eek
taxes instead of reckoned before taxes
were paid. The million dollar class paid
$109,000,000 out of a reported aggregate
income of $306,000,O00, or about 35 per
cent
The public mind has fixed belief that
the rich grow richer under all conditions
and circumstances. But the income tax
report does not suggest that such was
the tendency during 1917. The wage
rise swelled the dollar income of great
number of little fellows, but the dollar in
come of the very rich, especially after
surtaxes were paid to the government,
averaged less.
But care needs to be used when draw
ing deductions from the income tax re-
turns Many whose incomes were such
as to require returns did not file them
and little effort was made by the govern
ment to round up small dodgers. On
the other hand, it may scarcely be
doubted that skilful lawyers aided the
rich in many instances in legally keep
ing down reported incomes. Neverthe-
less, though Commissioner Roper's fig
ures are not wholly to be trusted, they
show tendencies and as such do not indi-
cate that in 1917 times were hard with
the masses of our people
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06

We think the reviewer of THE New York
Times" has discovered one Of the funda
mental reasons for the appeal of Somerset
Maugham's The Moon and Sixpence" when
he writes: "Now, tales of persons declared
by their creators to be geniuses are by no
means uncommon; but it is very uncommon,
indeed, for the reader not TO remain en-
trely skeptical regarding their extraordinary
gifts. And it is here that Mr. Vaughan
scores, and scores heavily"
The task of the novelist is particularly df.
fcult because it is not easy to describe tee
methods of a painter without recourse 70
technical language, and a good deal Of it
Vaughan sets forth the art Of his genius,
Charles Strickland very briefly and yet so
persuasively that doubt of the mans great
ness never enters the head OF the reader.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Curious Contrasts
or Of The Tribune

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: Beneath the testimony of ex- Cor IS
he exp Lieutenant Hard Boiled" Smith
that his treatment drove at least one man to
suicide, for which and many other things
Smith is now serving eighteen months. and
the testimony of Sergeant Bali of robbing
prisoners, and of most abomnable brutali-
ties, for which his sentence is six months,
ore reads of officers and petty officers OF
the navy, probably good fellows ALL" TO oe
Publicly stripped OF rank and rating and
to serve six and twelve years with dishon-
orable discharge-for graft!
God save US all--what curious contrasts
the news presents!
FRANK M'coURT.
Nav York Julv 20 1914
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
The Tragedy of Winter

(Fropt The Toledo Bladc)
Every time we see small boy. or girl with
legs and arms and face tanned to beautiful
brown the sad thought comes that another
month will bring the end of vacation. Then
the tanned legs and arms and face will re-
vert to the pink-and-white type and appear
Less interesting.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
For the Ouilters

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Will you kindly tell me where
can get the addresses of old ladies' homo.
where they would like pieces for r,ak;nn
quits! have lot of both silk and cotton
that would like to give away, where thew
might be glad to have them
MRS. NJ. E. ELSTON.
Port Jervis, N. Y, Aug 8, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06

looked askance at the old swimming
hole at this period of the year, having
been warned by an old-fashioned mother
that there is something noxious about the
water. during "dog days.?
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
To tho Editor Of Tho Tribune.

q IR: In your issue Of July 20 you print
- letter signed by Evelyn A. Evans un-
der the caption Of "Give Mexico a
Chance"
The writer of the letter states that few
of "our critical observers of Mexico" have
even been in that country. She, herself,
took two trips to Mexico in 1918, and as
result considers herself competent to speak
with authority" l believe the reason for
the fatal policy or rather lack of policy
pursued by the United States government
in it's dealings with Mexico since the early
days Of the revolution has been the fact
that it has relied entirely on information
and opinion regarding the Mexican situation
from people who have made trips to Mexico
and not to those who have lived there.
Nobody has any right to speak with
thority about any country unless he has
lived there.
PIeasantries
To say that there is no animosity on the
part Of the Mexicans toward Americans is
foolish. That many Mexicans have no such
feeling is undoubtedly true, but that speak
ing in percentages this sentiment does not
exist in a very virulent form is inaccurate.
To quote again from the letter above
referred to, she says that she is probably
zone of the few Americans who relied upon,
the protection of the Mexicans and en-
tirely satisfied" and further on she says,
"To enumcrate all the pleasantries l en-
countered in Mexico would take too much
space to relate"
I feel that both these statements are en-
tirely true, but with reference to the latter
cannot but think she must have broader
point Of view or keener sense of humor
than I possess if she were able to under
stand and approve of the Mexican "pleas-
antry," many examples of which I was
obliged to endure during the eight years
that I lived and worked in that country.
The following are just a few of the
spleasantries" that come to my mind but
they indicate the underlying feeling of dis
like and resentment against the "gringo":
In theatre in prominent Mexican city
I was deliberately "badgered" by a man
sitting behind me, who at the end of each
act would turn around facing the audience
and then sit on the back of my chair foro
ing my head and shoulders away. This
caused intense suppressed merriment to
two or three rows of people. l expostulated
quite forcibly, but was prevented from TAX
ing more strenuous measures by an Eng
lishman with me, who suggested that pun
shment outside the theatre at the termna-
tion of the play would give the salts
faction and would cause less trouble. The
humorous feature was, however, that my
tormentor slipped out of the stage door
and left me waiting until the theatre was
empty.
Police Hun1Or
On another occasion l was riding through
a Mexican town en- route to a railroad camp
and tied my horse to lamp post while
made some purchases in drug store. On
coming out my horse was gone, and l was
informed by policeman, who had been
standing on the spot when 1 tethered my
horse, that tying a horse to a lamp post
prohibited by city ordinance, and
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
One Chance to Make Good

Last year on a trip to South America via
the west coast I became acquainted with
family that was on its way to the Braden
Copper Company, in Chile, where the father
had got position. Their experience was
similar to many others, except in this case
the American, who went to Mexico thirty
an At the beginning of the revolution he
was rich man, living in Carranza's home
town-the owner Of fine house, $500 head
of cattle, grazing lands and an interest in
rubber (guegule) property estimated to
be worth several million pesos. When I
saw hlm he was going to take job at 5000
or $500 a month in Chile, and he had to
borrow the travelling expenses from friends.
1t was the old story of robbery by first one
faction and then another until finally the
Carrarzistas took permanent charge The
man and his family had fled to Nogales.
but when the Carranza government was
finally established he ventured to return.
only to find that he had committed one fatal
blunder namely, an appeal to the State De-
partment in Washington, which became
known in his town, so that when he asked
for the return of his house and of such
cattle as still remained he was told that
having put his case in the hands of the
United States government, he had better
collect from it. This is the best joke of all.
1T seems to me that Mexico has been given
many reasonable chances in the world to
make good" and she hasn't done it.
CHAUNCEY ELDRIDGE.
New York. July 80, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Associated exclusively entitled to the use
for republication all dispatches credited to or
otherwise credited in this and also the Local
news OF spontaneous origin published herein.
All rights OF republication Of all other matter herein
also reserved.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Hatless NJ. P.'s
fFrom The London Morning Post


Among the changes noticeable in this
House of Commons is the absence of the
hat when members are in the House itself
Formerly hats We're universally worn when
members were seated or in the lobby
Only the whips were hatless in the lobby:
that marked them out from the others.
Now nearly the only members who still re-
tain their headgear-both glossy silk top
pers-are MIR. Chamberlain and Sir Fred
erck Banbury. Both make great play with
it. Sir Frederick raises his hat when
minister answers one of his questions or
when, in the fencing phrase, he is touche
in debate. The Chancellor of the Excheouer
takes his off when he rises to speak and
puts 1T on the table in front of him. and
when listening to a speaker sits with it
we'll forward over his eyes and his feet
planted high up on the side of the table.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06

GUARANTEE
Yeu can purchase merchandise advertised In ThE
TRIBUNE with absolute safeyor n dlssatIsfactlon rs-
suits In any THE TRIBUNE guarantees to pay your
moaey back upon request. No red tape. No qulbbn0.
We mako good promptly II the advertiser docs not.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
~ Everything
To the Editor Of Tho Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: For years was nervous, weak and
anemic, suffering intensely from shooting
pains in the back Of the neck, dizziness
upon rising, spots before the eyes and was
unable to indulge in any violent exertion.
l had no strength Of mind, seemed to have
lost all my will power, suffered embarrass-
ment in the presence of the opposite sex
in fact, / lived in a constant state of de-
lection.
1t was not until was practically a ner-
vous wreck through worrying over my con-
diton, mental as we'll as physical, that q
friend told me of 1.-THE Coming Tower"
tried it and it cured me.
ARTHUR B. SULLIVAN.
Philadelphia, Aug. 2, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Bayside, N. Y, July 81, 1919.

To the Editor of The Tribune:
Sir: Permit me, an old timer who has
lived with The Tribune since boyhood, to
join in with a word for +. p A, couple
more for Briggs, and one, at least, for
Haywood Broun. Suppose he did write sn
sports and then took to literary criticism.
What about it? Grantland Rice writes the
story of the Jess and Jack" prize fight.
This morning The Tribune has his poem on
ga Pair of Dcmobilized Boots" and mighty
good one. Don't put the harness on too
tight. Give a newspaper man free rein.
Then the human side shines.
NEWSPAPER WRITER FOR THIRTY
YEARS.
Hartford, Conn.,, August 1, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06

"Why blame pretty girls for being
bra1nless?'' asks one of those persons
who delight in starting controversies in
newspapers. The question assumes as
fact what is only a theory.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
In All Fairness

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: After reading all this controversy
about F. P. A., Briggs and Grant Rice, it
surprises me to see that as yet no one
has put in good word for w. o. Nc
Geehan.
SO it bchooves me to take pen in hand
and say that if l were making a list Of
the desirable features of The Tribune
would put McGeehans baseball accounts
first. Nowhere else have I come across
such humorous and interesting reading
And his parodies on Shakespeare! For
originality and raw fun they certainly take
the cake.
He can be serious also, as his weekly
comment, "In All Fairness" shows Not to
mention his other occasional articles on
sports Yes, sir, without McGeehan my
breakfast is incomplete. Here's for more
of him! c. CHRISTIAN
New York, August 5, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: I regret to inform you, sir, that you
are being spoofed by John c. Farrar, whose
letter appeared yesterday Saturday morn
ing, in which Mr.. Farrar claimed to know
Mr.. Brownell and to Uphold his Puritancal
ideas. l know this Farrar know him we'll
GEORGE w. SUTTON, jr.
New York, Aug 3, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
More Burleson Stuff

CFrom The Detroit Free Press)
How typical Of Mr.. Burleson that he sent
his Chinese cook to the Washington postofice
"a help sort ths mail.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Once, long time ago, before
used to take The Tribune, 1 didn't have
any sense of humor. Imagine life with
out a sense of humor! 1t was just too
dreadful Then one OF my dear friends
said to me, she said:
"Mal, sweetness, why don't you read The
Coming Tower?"
And I answered in all seriousness
Gmagne, I couldn't even the joke in
thatD: "What is The Coming Tower?"
She looked at me very pityingly (she had
a wonderful sense of humor) and she said:
"The Coming Tower, my dear, is the most
wonderful course in sense of humor that
is given anywhere in the United States.
1t is simply miles above the correspond
ence schools and the Rand Sahool and
everything. And it only costs two cents
q lesson. You must take it, and at the
end of two years you'll be able to laugh
at any joke, whether it is really funny or
not"
And so, my dear Mr.. Editor, took it
. . and look at me now. I do nothing
but laugh. 1t is the most wonderful feeling.
And to think that owe it all to your paper
and to dear Mr.. F. P A. NAL.
New York, Aug. a, 1919.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
A Voice From the Bleachers

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Mr. Harry Shapiro decidedly
stepped on my toe this morning when he
Expressed himself" on Haywood Broun.
Obviously, Mr.. Shapiro cannot find any
fault with Mr.. Brouns work, but simply
thinks it is preposterous that a baseball
reporter could have a mind beyond any
thing else.
| quite sure he would not have come
to that conclusion if he had taken the
trouble to read the books Mr.. Broun re-
views and recommends And may l ask
if he was endeavoring to be humorous when
he cited Eva Tanguay as literary critic? :?
DOROTHY BINGHAM CAMP.
BavSide. N Y. July 81 1919
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
A Card for F. F. V.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: The letters prasing Briggs and
Adams, which you have been printing. recall
to mind my intention some months ago of
writing to ask why you discontinued "Shoes
and Ships and Sealing Wax" 1t puzzled me
then and I still wonder why, if F. F. " is
at present with you, you don't run that
column. A paper that has Briggs and
an Adams on its staff should know humor
when it sees it, and l submit that F. F.
in his column proved himself to be humor;st
of rare qualities and powers. Why not start
that column again? Is there any good rca-
son why you should not? No, there isn't
l may not know what l am talking about
but l insist there isn't-unless F. F. V ;s
oeao' or IN lexas. F..
Mount Vernon, N. Y, Aug. 2 1919.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Could you not arrange to print sne-
clal editions of your paper for persons of
the L. NJ N. and Joseph Osborne type? Por-
tons of "The Congressional Record" m;obt
be substituted for the Coming Tower and
photographs of Senators for the Briops cor.
toons. Then the rest of US could en;o,,
sown unexpurgated Tribune without the bor
rowing thought that our pleasure Is anotber,s
pain. ~
Cansstots. N. " Aug. 2. 1914
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
Mexico;s Chance
A Resident Considers She Has Had II

that the horse had been taken to tho "cuar-
tel" or barracks. The officer in charge told
me that nothing could be done about it
until the following Monday (this was Sat
urday) when my horse, 1 assume (since no
suggestion had been made to arrest me),
would be tried before the Municipal Court!
l was, however, able to appease outraged
justice by cash payment Of $40 to the
officer. The humor of this pleasantly is
perfectly obvious to me now, but l must
admit 1 was unable to see it in its proper
light at the time.
4 Duelling Episode
A friend of mine, an official Of one Of
the American built railroads, was invited
to attend race meeting at the Jockey Club
in the City Of Mexico one Sunday afternoon.
There is only a small clubhouse and no
grandstand, that people sit on camp
chairs on the lawn facing the track until
starts, when they stand up. A Mexi
can officer up during one Of the races
and took the two camp chairs occupied by
my friend and his wife. On being request
ed by my friend to return them, he refused,
with all the courtesy and graciousness Of
OLD SPAIN, on Cne ground That there were
no reserved seats! The joke is obvious,
but my FRIEND vulgar railroad with
sense of -humor, lost his temper and
struck an officer of the Mexican army. The
subsequent proceedings" are too compli-
Gated and lengthy to relate, but suffice it
to say that after constant and systematic
public insult resulting in duel, my friend
committed a breach Of duelling etiquette
(through gnorance), and finally forced
to leave the republic.
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06

Owned and published daily by New York Tribune Inc
New York Corporation. Ogden Reid. President; g.
vesncr Rogers. Vice President Helen Rogers Reid. Score
tary: f. A. suter. Teasurer Address Tribune Building
1sA Nassau Street. New York Telephone Beekman 5000
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06
SUBSCRIPTION RATES-By MAIL, including Postage
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untsred at tho Postonice New York Second Cass
Mall Matter
New-York tribune., 1919-08-06

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Is there really and truly d John
Brownell? B. w.
New York, Aug. 3, 1919