davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

is MY opinion that the subway is
benehcent institution. After being
spurned and battered in spheres
Of labor, it seems just balance on the
ledger of our wrongs TO enter into the sub
terranean free for all, there to kick and
claw each other on our way to our fire
sides. 1t is an opportunity for sefeX-
preston, singular as it is fortunate for
those of US who neither play the violin nor
write sonnets. But was not surprised
that James Eureka kerwan could not SYM
pathize with my views
To his credit he did not intend to enter
the subway. He hastened to explain to me
as we collided, that only stress of weather
had forced him into the earth from the
comparative freedom of the street above.
Simply through disuse, he had become a
stranger to the debatable convenences of
Manhattans geological strata, success hav-
ing enabled him to employ more sublimated
means Of conveyance. Since he remem-
bered me he must have remembered the
days when he and | rushed through a
20 cent breakfast to plunge through the
barriers of humanity 70 the steel boxes
that contrived to carry to the southern
4TlHSe OF tHc lSldHU- ne IeHlcHipcleu IL,
but still he had forgotten.
Even when we stood against two
amelled pillars OF car, he was still the
polite philanthropist at charity fete, and
| became sadly aware that kerwan had
lost the subway spirit. If he had not been
impaled on that pillar he would have given
a convulsive start at the lady on his right,
who was chewing gum of odorous and
popular brand Not even the half enveloped
leg of lamb that some had propped
against his overcoat brought him back to
the possibilities Of his surroundings. When
assembled, his sigh of relief had none
Of the JOY in it that the rest Of us are
able to share with the schoolboy who
leaves the necessary evils of the classroom.
1t was the sad sigh of the philosopher.
Indeed, his mood had become phlosophic
Even we seated ourselves at a luncheon
club and looked into the mists of the har-
Dor, he still Il philosopher. Also he
was still shaken by his recent experience
Now that he was able't speak in connected
sentences, he reviewed the episodes of his
journey in the manner Of one who has been
to far country.
"Strange,' he said, that all that is worst
in the human race all the most unpleasant
attributes Of the individual, seem to be
brought out by journey in the subway.
On the street outside mankind is decent
and self-respecting. But let him enter a
hole in the ground and the Mr. Hyde in
his nature breaks forth He becomes re-
gardless Of the comfort Of others: he loses
his sense Of obligation to the community.
For no reason that | can discover than
that he has stepped below the surface of
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
Our International
Mind

America is three thousand miles away"
repeated Mr.. Hind, yet the man on the
street takes the same interest in distant af-
fairs that he does in matters which trans
pire a the City Hall. On the avenue before
the armistice, often watched the crowd
before that big map in front of the
library. People stood there all day long
studying the various battle lines intently
| have timed some of them and found that
a man often stands there full hour gazing
on localities which he has never visited,
which he perhaps never hopes to visit, yet
his whole interest for the time is there"
Mr. Hind was asked if this interest was
not the reason why Americans were noted
such tireless travellers. He replied with
emphatic Affirmative, adding that he
might even ascribe the traditional American
dollar chasing" to such a motive
Even that, think, goes back to the de-
sire for experiences We have always heard
Of New York's big business and money mad
ness. Yet I do not believe that the dollar
is the thing in itself at all. 1t is merely
symbol. Sometimes, going about, have met
men in smoking cars, hotel lobbes and
such places. They tell me with the most
dismaying frankness all sorts of details
about their lives. If it is a question of
financial operation, find this: man will
say, 4 made $4,000 yesterday with a GER
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

self admitting that there was actually a
reason for hurry, but he knew better than
to stop long, being a student in the art of
conversations
What am really trying to get at is that
there is no reason for hurry in the subway
If every one went about in lesurely man
ner, if they could only learn how to syste-
Matte their minds, they would get where
they are going just as quickly, with none
of the attendant irritation they all expert
ence o-day."
He paused again and this time waited
expectantly. He had introduced the nevi-
table with considerable skill 1t only re-
manned for the inevitable to appear which
it did without delay.
SYSTEM" he continued, and it seemed to
that he rolled his eyes heavenward.
'thst's what this world needs-system Put
system into the heads Of those raging mani
acs and then the world would be just that
much the happier. Let the Individual be
systematic enough to have his nickel ready
as he stepped up for his ticket, let him be
systematic enough to pause while others
ahead of him entering the traain--in
methods, concentrate on what he is doing.
and then man would not be ashamed
of his companions"
"Not merely in the subway but in our
lives. We must all apply few efficient
tenets of system. That is all we need
systematic application and success go hand
in hand. Apply system and we have-well,
| know it's rotten thing to say, old man,
but we have the difference between you
and me.
What is the difference between US? We
started even We both Industrious. We
both started with the same concern. Now
I general manager, earning salary of
(and here he named figure which pone but
the most sanguine advertisements in our
monthly magazines dare to print in their
headings) and likely to get raise with the
new year. My wife and children have a
home, real home, with all the comforts
which one would naturally wish them TO
have. I have my automobile and nv boz
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

tain amount Of comprehensive pleasure
But he will say, I lost $4,000 yesterday
with exactly the same amount of satisfac-
ton. To him the game is the thing, the
experience to be gone through, not the
financial result at ALL Win or lose, it's
all the same. Your New Yorker values only
the activity
In the war 1t was the same way, colored
by great national altruism. I was stand
ing not long ago in garage talking to
an old man who had lost his two sons in
the war and whose business was failing be-
cause of war conditions and the lack Of
those boys to help administer it. We talke.
about the war
What do you think of it all | asked.
He stopped q moment and looked at
the floor. Then he called helper to come
with rag and clean up a puddle of petrol
he saw on the pavement. Then turning to
me, he remarked quietly:
"'That's what we've got to do-wipe it
up
This from an old man who suffered the
greatest personal losses in the war, but who
was absolutely unmindful of his own inter-
ests. The sense of participation in world
life dominated the personal and egotistic
phases. America Graves for life and she is
willing to pay for it,
and the three thousand miles, more
over" the journalist went on, "make many
differences in your way of doing things
Yet l can't say that your way, being diff.
ferent, is at all inferior to ours for
eigner makes great mistake when he com.
plains. He has no right to establish any
hierarchy of customs. One way is just as
good another, only different For in
stance, in New York I cannot get used to
their giving away programmes in the thea
tres. We have to pay siXpence for ours
at home, but then we get book about the
play. Here | go to the theatre and when
1 have settled in my seat turn to the pro-
gramme. find information about what to
wear, what my wife ought to wear, where
to dine or spend holiday, data on cigar
cites and stays, motors and drinks Then
usually when l get to where they begin to
tell about the play, the curtain goes up
Still, that's one way of doing; New Workers
are used to it.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

skyscrapers, not even a grdiron
OF choked streets and brilliant
avenues, but churning mass of
eager, striving people, is the way c. Lewis
Hind the metropolis when he came
here representative of the Imperial AS
sociaton for Assisting Disabled Naval and
Military Officers. Our familiar Manhattan.
with thousand nooks and corners Offering
fascinating material to the trained eye of
the journalist, presented above all this one
aspect to the visitor, 1t was not the physi-
cal city itself which seemed so striking, ac-
cording to Mr.. Hind, but what it repre-
sented in the opportunity to crafty that
age-old instinct of the human mind name
ly. the desire to be or to know about the
other man.
High in his "roof bungalow" overlooking
Park Avenue Mr.. Hind detailed his reac-
tons to the influence of Gotham To him
the most amazing truth brought home by
the city was the markedly American traits
displayed by its people, regardless of the
presence of great foreign element as
yet unassimilated.
'Your city," he said, Seemed to per-
sorify to me all that I had heard about
America. Not alone it's hugeness and hurry,
but its crowds. There are all sorts of
people here, some like those we have at
home, some like the masses found in con-
tinental cities, but all marked with the same
cast of mind which may be what YOU call
Amerlcanism. If I chose to stay around
any of the clubs l should find men mostly
like the men of London; but when I have
surfeit of them and want just for time
to get a different taste of life, I stroll
downtown and come up on Fourth Avenue
car in the rush hour. Here are great tides
of men, mostly of foreign parentage, read
ing foreign newspapers, speaking foreign
tongues, yet as much part of New York
as your clubmen. In spite of the differences
of race and language, these men bear the
same stamp of thought that your leisure
classes do
what is it? I shall not call it Curiosity
for that has a slightly vulgar and shallow
connotation. 1t is rather what might be
termed the eagerness TO taste the life
which lies outside their own. Whether it
be question of absorbing a different sort
of life from plays or books or touching ell
bows with it in the streets, it all amounts
to the same thing. America to me can be
summed up in single phrase: Three
thousand miles away After all this COW
ers it completely 1t explains the intense
admiration of Europe for your war work
and the stupendous accomplishment of put
ting men into the field. II explains. too.
the eagerness Of America as | see it in
New York, to know what lies beyond YOUR
borders of everyday life
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

eminent. The American saws: oh. well,
this is very free country; let it GOT
THAT is one of the things democracy
does for country. And that reminds me
of another thing have noticed. A strange
thing to me, when I see the great and sin
cere interest Of the people in art, is the
lack OF encouragement given to artists here
New York lets her artists go their own
way, possibly because she is accustomed to
having great many of them gather within
her limits. Plenty of anything makes it
seem inconsequential. But the real reason
l think, is which | am going to tell
you, and which you may not like Democ-
racy has taken the sensuous beauty out of
living, and art is an offshoot of this sem
suous beauty.
"By that mean this: Not that
men do not have the chance to make their
csreers-because am delighted with the
examples / see here of the ease with which
a young man can go up and up and gain
prestige, position and money. 1t is not
question of opportunity, but Of patronage
''Art is respected In England because it
is found in what the average man calls
for this or q royal institute for that and
so on. Art in America is not taken up to
any extent by the government or by society.
Everything in the nature of a movement
must have the backing of high society.
When you start relief drive or a charity
the first thing you do is to arrange an i'm
posing list of patrons and patronesses
There is so little organized patronage for
art in America.
Here is sample OF the effect of democ-
racy on art Recall the portrait of Charles
by Van Dyck-that suave, graceful, weak,
we'll meaning, utterly worthless Stuart mon
arch. He stands there with all his beauty
and pride, with those dogs and the blaze Of
that magnificent order on his shoulder.
There are romance and sensuous beauty The
economic and social conditions in which he
lived are nothing to US now: they pass as
We progress, but the beauty remains Now
turn to the portrait of President Wilson by
Sergeant. A portrait it is, and admirably
done, but there is democracy-simple plain,
commonplace, worthy, but unbeautiful de-
mocracy. All that it stands for is good,
perhaps the nearest ideal state under which
to live, but its romance and beauty are
gone.
I'VE visitors see all THIS IN America, es-
pecially in New York, and l am told that
when I go inland I shall see even more
plentiful examples of the difference the
three thousand miles make. New York on
the seaboard is eager; they say that the
West is more So But don't get the impress
sion that we in England are not curious
about America To US il is the land of big
things, big works, big thoughts and big
people"
He glanced out of the window which
opened the southwark sweep of Park
Avenue toward the Grand Central Terminal
There were hundreds of motor cars in a
steady stream hurrying homeward after the
business day. To the south the gigantic
Commodore Hotel loomed against the sky
and beyond it, little westward. light
sparkled from the pinnacle of the Metro
politan Tower.
"a big people" he repeated quietly.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

the earth a feversh, irrational desire to
hurry sezes him. He may not be in a
hurry at all. He may have entered the
place just to kill time, for all | know. But
does it make any difference? He is bitten
like every one else. Perhaps for the only
time in his life he is convinced that time
is feeting thing. He seizes it by the fore
lock, if he does not get a death grip on
some one else's hair in his haste to seize
something. 1t may be for this reason,
though I had not thought of it before, that
hair tonic advertisements seem to prevail
in that galaxy of literature fosted upon
the traveller. At any rate, be he or
woman, he must grab something, push some
thing away. 1t may actually hinder him to
push. but does that make any difference ."
But" objected, "every one has a reason
to hurry. They are anxious to get through
with it as rapidly as possible"
Kerwan levelled his forefnger at me n
accordance with the more scientific school
OF personality I thought at first he was
going to tell me that my hopes for better
job we're up to me and no one else but
he didn't.
Don't you see he replied, chat if they
did not hurry there would be no reason to
hurry out of it? You surely are able to
conceive, as | can, of the subway being a
pleasant place. | can even believe that 7
should like to lnger there-under certain
circumstances. But instead of looking out
for the benefits of every one, every one is
for himself. In his haste to leap into the
inferno of q car, even your friend becomes
your enemy. really doubt if he would stop
to help you if you were caught in one of
those DOORS provided he were going the
other way.
"But this is not the worst. Any one en-
tering the subway becomes so obsessed with
himself that he remembers nothing else
When he stops, he stops where no one can
pass him. With absolute unconcern he
blocks the way to train or to the ticket
Office, while hundred people are stopped
people who really may be in a hurry"
Here Kerwan paused. He saw he had
made faulty remark. He had caught him
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

at the opera. my trip abroad if want it.
In short have climbed far up the ladder
that l can tell you secret"
He was leaning across the table, pointing
at me again, his gaze holding mine, as the
cobra in his lair charms the Indian swal-
lows.
t'This is the secret There is plenty of
room at the top. Plenty of room for the
man who is able to get there How did
do it? you ask. How did | manage to
achieve one of the big jobs in this nation
of big jobs? You will laugh when 1 tell
you it was easy The whole thing came to
me in a half hours talk one evening with
my wife. There was the usual little argu-
ment over the butchers bill. She was say
ing it was queer that could not do as we'll
as Mr.. Jones across the hall, and in the
midst of her statements / came to realize
that something was the matter That is all
you have to do, realize something is the
matter-and then face the facts. | faced
them, squarely and Systematically, and
when had finished this inquisition, saw
what it was that was holding me back in
the for success
81 had not been going fast enough l had
oSSi 0iio"iHB otHeIS 10 pass me. L reallZed
at once that it was time to speed UP. YES.
just as We speed up tagging department
at the Office. Having reached this conclu-
sion, had to decide next just how I was
going to make haste. This was easy;
perusal of a magazine had already taught
me my trouble, bu- I had not realized it
till now. And, believe me, am convinced
that the ball and chain which made me lag
in the race is just the same as yours"
Here Kerwan thumped the table vigor-
ously with his fist and stuck out his lower
jaw aggressively.
Man, it is SO easy when you just como
to realize it. Perhaps I should say if you lust
come to realize it. because there are so few
who deign to take the trouble. All that
was the matter with me, all that was keep
ing me from thrusting myself into the front
rank was certain deficiency in self-pro-
lection"
he allowed his features to relax into q
benevolent smile.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
New York; From an English Editors Roof BUNGALOW

; The history of the old hosiery would fur
nish material for an absorbing article. 7
say dined there. This was new experience
for me. We do not dine Sunday evenings
in England, but New York goes on living
at high pressure even on Sundays After
the meal we went across the street to the
Church of the Ascension. where there was
good sermon, followed by what to me was
the most surprising thing in the world. A
poet, Mr.. Vachel Lindsay, had been an
nounced as scheduled to appear and read
some of his poems. There are several re-
markable phases to this, but shall leave
the most striking to the last. In the first
place, the reading had been advertised in
the daily papers. No British church would
think of advertising. The British would
probably have paid no attention to the
notice if it had appeared. Again, this idea
of a church forum would have been impos-
slbe in Britain. The sharp cleavage be-
tween the clergy and the laity there would
have precluded any such institution. Our
church is a function, a ritualistic cere-
mony that is all. Yours caters to the great
underlying American trait WHICH l have
mentioned-namely, this desire for expe-
riences. This church in particular adver-
tised Mr.. Lindsay as the greatest living
poet, if | am not mistaken. Perhaps the
crowds were amused at this characteristic
haps they came to see what sort Of man
the greatest living poet might be or what
sort of man might admit of being so titled.
But | think they came because they were
intensely interested in seeing and hearing
For certainly crowds came, and this is nv
nnal and most important point. They
thronged the church; they occupied everv
conceivable corner; they sat on the very
altar rails. And they sat listening eagerly
while this strange figure chanted through
his verses.
after the reading they asked questions
There was a revelation of the human mind
in these questions. Some were highly tech
nical, some were absurdly elemental. but
all were profoundly sincere. For instance.
Mr.. Lindsay was asked DO all poets chant
their verses?' That may seem amusing to
the professional writing man, but it was
the most natural question in the world.
Here was man who was experiencing con-
tact with an acknowledged poet for the first
ttulc III MS lie Tie wanted TO know. An
other man, noticing Mr. Lindsay's frequent
apostrophes of admiration to his native
state asked, Do all poets come from H.
hnois?' He wanted to Know, too, about
poets and about certain portion of his
own country.
Here was strange spectacle Twentieth
century New York, up to date and mill
family progressive, turning out in thousands
to see poet who chanted his poetry in the
most archaic of fashions. just as Homer
or Virgil or some of the wandering trouba-
dours might have regaled their hearers and
charmed the masses of men, this present.
day poet, in the heart Of your greatest city
delivered his message to a multitude who
sat silent before him. 1t was amazing. The
same thing occurred to-day. l spent an af
ternoon in a theatre hearing visiting fell
low countryman read poetry. The hall was
crowded by folk who had been willing to
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
VaCheI LindSay'.s
Audience

Il shall give you sample Of this eager
ness and the differences that three thou
sand miles make. The other Sunday night
dined at the Hotel Brevoort. Incidentally.
mere Is fruitful topic for the journalist
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

pay generous admission fee for the privi-
lege of looking into the lives of this man
and his comrades at the front. All because
they want, at all costs, to know every kind
of life which is lived outside their own
horizons.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
By Archie Austin Coates

TEW YORK, not pile of towering
4 skyscrapers, not even a grdiron
of choked streets and brilliant
avenues, but a churning mass of
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
At Our
House
By Martha B. Thomas

7 WISH you could spend an evening at
our house. Especially winters even
L ing. Often and often I have paused
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
By John P. Marquard

TT is MY opinion that the subway is
a benetcent institution. After being
spurned and battered in our spheres
Of labor, it seems just balance on the
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02
1.-THE Little
Mess
Rv F. Morton Smith, u. S. N.

" Y is service record had little in it.
Robert jerks. thirty-hve years
l. II old, physically fit for sea duty.
New-York tribune., 1919-03-02

'lOtIiio. botn are Warly unconscious.
Charlie apparently has eyes in MS tall
for those in his head are tightly closed
Tepsy opens hers and regards me gravely.
They both know what IS coming. yet they
never fail to present fine air Of studied
innocence.
l pick up Charlie, 2 laA, limp weight Of
warm fur. He lies exactly as gravity pulls
HIM Not culver in his tai, not stirring
Of his whiskers. He feigns unbroker SUM
ber; It availeth not He is handed across
the cactus into the night and skilfully
comes TO life in mdair. where he executes
q turn and lands safely on the porch rail
ing From this vantage point he waits the
election of his contemporary.
Topsy does not yield so easily to persua-
sion. She clings frantically to the cushion
upon which she lies and has been known
to make fruitless attempts at escape rum
ming into the dining room and hiding under
the desk. But she is caught. She make.
felnt of being clumsy with the cactus.
She scrambles the window ledge and
tries to fall on this side of outdoors. But
| urge her gently. and she drops on the
ground in heap. / think she tries to work
upon our sympathies, hoping for thirteen
years that out of pity she will be called
back. The newsnsners ara folded
the bird cage enveioped in a ging-
ham apron, the lights blown out
and we journey to bed.