davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-01-18
stolen Property.

We find this interesting announce
ment, reminiscent of an old shame.
in the Erening Post:
The Atlantic Division OF the Ameri-
can Red Cross announced to-day the
receipt OF an unusual gift, which has
been placed on exhibition at the Red
Cross shop. 5s7 Fifth avenue. 1t con-
sists OF ten Jade historical tablets, held
by the edges in as many pockets OF n
twelve foot strip OF imperial yellow gold
cloth. The tablets are further described
by the Red Cross as loot from the Sa-
cred Temple of Ancestors In the For
hidden City OF Pekin, China
These tablets. which. according to
the statement above. were taken with
out any warrant of law or ethics, are
to be sold and the proceeds applied to
the benefit of wounded American SOL
diers. Here Is a double opportunity
for a philanthropist Jealous of his
country's honor. Let him buy the
iades and return them to China,
where they belong and whence they
should not have been removed. II
matters little whether they were
stolen by soldier or civilian, Asiatic,
European or American: the fact that
they are here. and offered for sale,
is enough. They are n nasty reminder
that in 1900 the Germans were not
the only thieves to take advantage
Of the confusion in Pekin.
Major JAMES HARRISON
WILSON, who took command Mt Pekln
too late to prevent the looting, but in
time to compel the return of some
of the plumber, thus discusses the dis.
grace in his China"
Diplomats and missionaries, az well
as soldiers. helped themselves without
hesitation 10 abandoned property, porce
lains, furs and curios generally. Even
those who were unwilling to despoIl the
| innocent for the punishment OF the guilty
seemed TO want a memento, and gen
orally they were not content with one
but took as many as they could get"
All that was nearly twenty years
ago, but the moral law has no statute
of limitation and no color line. OF
course the buyer of the jades will be
an innocent person. legally entitled tc
the possession OF what he buys at the
auction. We are but suggesting his
opportunity to do two good things.
The sun., 1919-01-18
The Whereabouts Of Optimis m .

The Peace Conference at Paris Will
be formally opened to-day, President
PoINCARE delivering the salutatory
address. President WILSON'S frame
Of mind on the eve of the great event
is thus described in the dispatches:
at may be stated authoritativeiy to-
day that President WILSON is feeling
more optimistic regarding the general
situation than at any time since his ar
rival in Europe"
IL he would only tell his fellow
countrymen, including the Senators,
the treaty makers, what it is that he
is optimistic about!
They too would like to feel more
optimistic.
This high water mark of President
WILsoN's private hopes is said 10 re
fer to the general situation" What
Is "the general situation? Not a
man, woman or child in America
knows vet. To the best of our knowl-
edge and belief not an American
associated with President WILSON at
Paris knows yet exactly what 1t is
that he is going to propose to the con-
| ference and submit later to the United
States Senate for ratification.
The whole history Of that secret
diplomacy which Point One of the
| Wilson Fourteen so sternly reprobates
and repudiates contains nothing COM
parable for secrecy TO his own
course since he made up his mind to
quit his post of duty and go to Eu-
rope on what may turn out TO be more
or less a rainbow chase.
We are glad he is optimistic, for II
must be a new sensation for leader
Of thought and a practical statesman
who has been accustomed to sutoc,
racy wherever his intellect was seated
at Princeton, at Trenton, at Wash
ington-to find himself for the time
at Paris merely one Commissioner
among many, no matter how polite
the potentates and people are to him
on social and oratorlcal occasions.
But there are people over here who
would like to be optimistic also re
gardlng the general situation. The
President has uttered many words
during the past six or seven weeks
but emitted very little Information.
Words may cut deeper than swords
but unless they are charged with
meaning they do not leave any seal
on the intelligence.
The sun., 1919-01-18
THE VANISHED PIGEONS.
Boyhood Memories Of Crowded
Roost and Pot Pie in Ohio.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: The
wild pigeon was associated with my
boyhood life in this way: lived at
Chillicothe. Ohio, in the COS when the
flights Of the wild pigeon were plentiful.
so much 80 that In the fall season OF
the year the fiocks would darken the
skies as the larger groups flew past.
The pigeons could always be relied
upon to roost at the same places. About
Chilllcothe were several large. beech
groves. The beech trees were of alb
normal size. the branches spreading In
either direction from the tree trunks as
much as forty feet. 1t would seem that
the pigeons as they roasted among the
limbs of the beech trees were almost as
thick as the leaves themselves.
My older brothers and myself would
so to the beech woods-the woods we're
not a quarter Of a mile from our coun-
try house. After a very short stay
there we would return with a bushel corn
basket filled with pigeons. The pigeons
had been easily killed by simply throw
ing sticks into the trees or by actually
knocking the pigeons OF the limbs by
striking them.
10 HO DoltcT pot pio III p'V "O''N
than pigeon pie. In making such pies
my mother would use what might be
called the ordinary kitchen dishpan. A
new one would be selected for the pur'
pose. Tho pot pie would be made in the
usual way and elled with pigeons. Our
family included Ave growing boys. or
course one would never forget such
boyhood meals and recollections.
Few who have heard OF the wild pigeon
realize the enormous speed attained In
Its flight AS an evidence in support OF
| the distance they could cover in an abb
| normally short space of time. pigeons
were often found with a specimen OF
rice in their craw supposed only to be
found in southern Louisiana. This
| would indicate that the distance In
flight from such points had been COW
| cred in time not to exceed twenty-four
hours; otherwise the rice food would
| certainly have been digested.
JOSEPH c. BONNER.
NEW YORK, January II.
The sun., 1919-01-18
A PROPHET TRIUMPHANT.
DR.. Croft Lists Some. Quickly Fulfilled
Predictions.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir: 1
ask you to accept my sincere apprecia-
ton of the editorial notice you gave my
1919 prophecies. May l ask your at
tention to some definite fulfilments?
THE changing OF monarchies to re-
publics": That Of Luxembourg.
THE passing Of great political lead
ers" The death of Colonel Roosevelt
and ex-Chancellor Hertling. the Socialist
leaders Lenine and Liebknecht.
desperate acts OF assassination"
The attempt on the life OF Paderewski.
Revolution In Germany: The fright
! full revolts in Berlin with attendant loss
OF life; the revolution in Poland.
Sudden and unexplainable dis
asters": The Aim factory explosion in
Pittsburg and the New York Central
Railroad disaster.
Breaks will come In the Presidents
| Cabinet" The resignation Of Attorney
General Gregory.
Dark days for Washington: The
| flags on all the public buildings are al
half mast.
The report of fever. plague and
famine in Russia md India The three
earthquake shocks in the Far East. The
imposing events OF pageantry and pa
rade owing to the visit of President
| Wilson to England, France. Italy and
! Belgium. The great strike In New York
that demanded the interference OF the
President to adjust, These events have
come in the first thirteen days.
The vision OF the West is the hope OF
Europe. The world will never come 70
universal peace. nor will world democ.
racy be attained. so long as there are
kings thrones and class rule. The
peace table at Versailles Is doomed II Il
plans the rehabilitation OF monarchies.
Brave millions In the galleries of the
skies are watching.
| DEIMER r. CROFT.
| New HAVEN, Conn. January Is.
The sun., 1919-01-18
EVENTS TO-DAY.

David Names conductor. Metropoli'an
N9 s,0Ts Of I'M inncS.on H. w. N. student, Of
tho New York University School OF Law.
Hotel Ansonia, P. NJ ,,.,.
street and Second avenue, P. NJ
Jewellers - Karat Club, dinner wall
OrfAstoris. p. n. ,
Waldorf Astoria, II A. NJ,
The Nance Club. dance. waldorf-Astoria
pin"tr to Sylvan. I, .s'rock OF II" Wa
Textile Felt Manufacturers "aldor'-
p,a nss'a% ca nat Han, $50 '3S 81. Ana
GIusk. song rectal; Aoo!ian Hal SIS
7. NJ, Freda Tol!n pianist.
mi Delta Pi. semi annual contention ~
the chapters at Columbia New York y
sH4 SGSss of fns S dNRsr and
dance. Hotel Martinique. p. NJ
-. Address by John Kendriek bGnrs g,
~ Natural History, Central PARK West ar
Seventy-seyenth street, p. NJ.
Address by Congressman George II ir'
on Democracy on Trial. Carnegie la
pr. william starr Myers viii cor'ln
his popular current history reviews. orera
the Starry HEAVENS" Music ,HaU, ~
p NJ. motion picture. Americas Answer.
meeting OF Institute Chess CLUB, and 3
r NJ. Art Room; DR.. Alfrrd c. Lane "
conduct a conference on The G"osrapNy
OF tho Warning Nations" Science Room.
society OF the Genesee, dinner. Ho'e.
American bank Note Company. dime
Park Avenue Hotel. =. NJ
L.nchsor Of the LEAGUE !.GIi Of Ere. "a
broadway, p. NJ.
Entertainment and bail OF nc IRIS
Counties, YoIkyiiie Casino, Eishty-sA'h
''I Mes,,ss OF y tho o.,oopa,hic Society Of
Sew Y2rN rsodi I, 81 H3reTs ny ri M
tart and Or. u $. b. Fennock, Murray H.
Uoto!, SIS y
l.ecturo by EdltN II. Abbot, ~ "Impres-
sionlsms." Metropolitan Museum OF Art. {
Testimonial dinner 20 Jeremiah T Ma.
prrnHc-atlc Organization Of the Fifteenth
Assembly district. Hote, Majestic. / p. NJ
s, T@k by w. j. 4 s,o M9EFsy IF" on wSa' t."
Complimentary dinner TO Col LOUIS
JeVeu Praeger of the Twentythird L.
fantry y. y. O., Hamilton Club, Brook.
New York Public Library, Fifth ave7p.
and Forty-seoond street. Print gaiier
The War Zone in Graphic Art StYaf'
gallery: J. {. NicoN and E!bridge KaF,
| ley memorial exhibitions. War lNhoErtpa'
The New York Public Library as Seen o.
Babcock Art Galleries. 10 EAs. Fe-'.
| ninth street. annual exhibition 81 pain e.
| Of the Southwest a. the Taos SocI-ly
Ferargl Ga'lery, - Ees: Tort' '~
| street paintings ~ joan Fo'insbe'
MacpOwei Club, los West F. "
| street, exhibition OF paintings
Touchstone House. IlS and If "a
| rhirt!eth street, four rHoyinc etova paint
| ers.
| Knoedler Galleries. $50 ana SIS ~tth
| avenue, official eKh ibition OF Pr-s'ra AZ
| Macbeth Galleries. $50 Fifth aveuu"
! Montross Galleries. $50 F!fh sy'rr"
| special exhibition OF paintings b. Amer
| cans.
Gimpol & wudensteln. So FIN ave.
! memorial exhibition OF paintings BY Merry
, Golden Desrth.
! Kleinbergcr Galleries. 7?5 Fifth ave.
! paintings nv Jan V Chalnli0Ski.
| Durand-Ruel Galleries, - East F';'v 8'.
enth street, paintings hy Ricardo cana
! Lecture by Nelson T. Mead ecu -e-.
| Events" Cooper Union. l. W
| New York state Rar Association. II
! Aston 7 y. "
Adventures Club, dinner speakers 1
/ ihalmur stefansson. Capt. Robert Rar''o''
/ Major II NJ. HAYS and Louis HrP '"'.
Hotel Bellec!aire, p. NJ
The sun., 1919-01-18
The Theatre Tax.

Theatre managers feel an emotion
akin to righteous indignation at the
proposal in the new revenue bill to
double the war tax on theatre tickets.
They are proud to point to the unself-
ish cooperation Of the theatre In every
stage Of the war. Actors have sacrl-
feed all compensation for months In
order to entertain the expedltionary
forces oversee. The stages Of the
playhouses all over the country were
opened to the orators for the Liberty
Loan campaigns, not without preju-
dice to the theatres. Then In the
War Savings Stump, tine Red Cross
and other drives the stages were
The sun., 1919-01-18

equally hospitable. Actors have re-
peatedly appeared for war benefits Of
every kind; many theatres are always
open to the soldiers and sailors in
addition to the special performances
given for their exclusive enjoyment,
and companies have been sent to en-
terrain them at the military encamp-
ments. The managers have contribu-
ted literally to the war time measures
for raising money in their various
forms.
These might be called the sentimen-
tai reasons which inspire the theatre
managers to protest. There are prac-
teal hardships that they consider
alarming. Already the public finds
the 10 per cent. tax burden. With
twice the present sum to pay, such a
reduction in the volume of patronage
Is foreseen that the result has been
| described as "ruinous" by more than
one impresario. Only the most at
tractive productions will be able to
survive under the proposed condi-
tons. Theatres will inevitably be
closed with the loss Of employment to
actors, and large number Of men
and women associated in business and
mechanical relations with the stage
J will be without work.
In the opinion of the United Man
ayers Protective Association the In
crease of the tax will work a hard
ship from which the theatre will take
long to recover; and Its members
are not without a certain wonder as
to the cause for such severity toward
an institution which has labored to
do its patriotic duty in the fullest
mea sure.
The sun., 1919-01-18

farmers the United States Govern
ment will buy all the wheat they can
raise this year at $2.26 bushcl.
With this price guaranteed, the
farmers have planted such crop Of
winter wheat and will plant such
crop Of spring wheat that the lowest
estimate anybody makes for the har-
vest Of 1919 is 1.1O0,000,000 bush
els. 1t may easily run past a billion
and a quarter of bushels.
The American people in whole
year do not consume, even at normal
prices, half Of such a quantity as
billion and quarter OF bushels Of
wheat With the war over, with the
surplus stocks. of South America.
Australia and other wheat growing
countries at last released for export,
Europe will not require great deal
Of our excess crop Of this year in any
event. Europe will not take any of
that wheat on the basis of s2'2e a
bushel.
Is the United States Government,
then because 1t must pay the farmer
S226 a bushel by contract, going TO
make the American consumers eat
their bread on a 1925 basis. when
there will be wheat in this our own
country to burn?
Wheat, mind you, sold to the Amer
lean consumers at famine prices can
not fail to make inordlnate prices for
corn and all other foodstuffs. Keep
wheat lacked up on the S2.26 basis
and all other grains will be up at n
corresponding level. Then because
the cattle and sheep must be fattened
for market with grain, beef and NUT
ton must continue at sky high prices.
Because poultry must be fed on grain
il will continue at high prices. Like
wise eggs, milk, butter, cheese.
All those prices hang on wheat NO
matter what the Government has to
nay to the farmer-anu to preserve
its good faith the Government must
pay the contract price-President
WILSON can decree that this years
prodigious wheat crop, after the Gov
| eminent has bought 1t, can go on the
market to consumers at prices deter
mined by the law Of supply and de-
mand. That will be normal. even n
low price range. When the American
people. are eating bread at nor
nal prices the stock raisers OF
| the country will he feeding grain
to their steers and hogs at nor
nal prices, the dairymen will be feed
! ing grain to their cows at normal
prices. poultrymen will be feeding
grain to their chickens and ducks and
geese mt normal prices. The Ameri'
can consumers will again be buying
not only their bread but their other
main food supplies at normal prices.
This grave matter Of the buying
power of IA dollar, of the capacity OF
a reasonable wage to support an
American worker and his family as
we all want them to be supported, OF
nations bread and butter. lies al
present in the hollow OF Prcsiden'
| WILSON'S hand.
The sun., 1919-01-18
OUR DEAD IN FRANCE.
Let Them Rest Where They Made
the Final Sacrifice.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir: Your
editorial article Of January IL. "Our
Men Who Sleep In France" will meet
with the approval of the great majority
OF Americans, | am sure.
Your suggestion that when transfer
Of bodies Of our dead soldiers is desired
the desire should be granted. but when
Il is not the-men who fought for us
should be allowed TO sleep where they
fell, l. e., In France, is the reasonable
The sun., 1919-01-18

indicate that 1t will recover sufficient
strength to form the menace to the
present Government that 1t was pre-
vlously. The vote which is to be
taken in accordance with the provi-
sion of the armistice may thus be
undertaken and the first step made
to determine the national assembly
which will be empowered to make
peace with the Allies. TO assert,
however, that hEBKNEcHT's death
will reestabllsh order and firmly seat
the present German Government
would be mere conjecture. 1t is much
more probable that the revolutionary
disorders In Berlin have not run their
full course and that they yet remain
serious obstacle to an organized and
stable Government.
The sun., 1919-01-18
OUR MEN IN ITALY.
Complaint Of the Lack Of Informa-
ton Concerning Them.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: To
those OF us who happen to have friends
or relatives In military servise In Italy
1t would almost seem that there was a
conspiracy of silence concerning the
activities Of these.
Naturally. and Justly, there Is and
has been a vast deal 20 be read about
what we did In France; and It would
appear that there Is not a square mile
OF that harassed country that has not
either been pictured or described. But
while we have had American troops and
aviators IN Italy for nearly a year now,
1t Is the rarest thing to find any men
ton OF them in our newspapers. with
perhaps the solitary exception OF that
brilliant aviation officer (now retired)
Major Fiorello II. La Guardia.
Perhaps some one can explain this
seemingly studied neglect OF our men in
Italy. II they are not important enough
to mention, II may be that they are OF
no vital use there. II they are of no
use, there are many parents here who
would be mighty glad to have them sent
home. WILSON A. BURROWS.
YoNKERs. January II.
The sun., 1919-01-18
ENTERTAINMENTS FOR MEN
IN UNIFORM.

KHAKI and Blue" Dance-Seyentv
Resim.n; Armory' Thirty fourth street
provided by Social Department. New YORK
War camp Community Service Enlisted
men Wv WISHING to bring Rartnsrs should ap.
before Thursday noon -
Social Eyening-volunteers Of America
Service Club CIV. c. c. 8. Unit No eqI 6a0
Seventh avenue CThirty- ninth street,
Social evening with National Honor t;uard
Young Ladies. Refreshments served from
Movies, Sing Entertainment--y NC.
East Side Branch. Eighty-sixth stree;
ana Lexington avenue. S T.. NJ. Special
recreation, Music-CentrRl Branch. Y. w.
6, 80. A. go lexington avenue third
and soldiers Club CIV. e. G. : mi, NJ
49,, 2?S Yves, Ninety'nin,,h street, corner
psncss-Girl. Friendiy soc!e,v ~ r...
Thlrty-tourth street, y NJ: " . . &
init No. Is tNational League for Woman.
service 2Sl Madison avenue C7'hrty- ninth
Nv. 9 9 s Tni, No So. SSSy Wn., m, G,1b
ninth street to 1880 p. NJ; W. c. c. s.
Club Cal Lexington avenue Inhoye FirtyI
s|urrh street 7;SH 20 u p, NJ; W. e. c.
Central Park West, SP. ri" our Clu nn :,
Church OF tho Good Shepherd, Ike w..
sixty sixth street $50 TO y p. NJ. dane,
ING, bhlll'e I'ITeSnmfntSt Hunter
Park avenue and Sixty eighth stree, 4 ~,
II y. NJ supper. entertainment, dancing
Seventh Assembly District Soldiers Satin1s
and Marines Club CIV c. c. s I'nif NJ
52). a?:s broadway tEishtic,h street, no
TO ii P. Nj; W, c. c. 8. Emit No 90 wv
II. A., Lexington avenue and Ninetv-second
street. +. NJ; Sailors and Soldiers Ci,,S
tW c, q s. Unit No. 49,, 9l6 IVES, Ed
avenue at lo6th street,. SP NJ tinformai
dane dane other Other nights Y W II. a, al West
smokes refreshments, Columbia Boatbovsa
foot OF West ll6th street, +. NJ dane.
ing pool: W, c, C s Unit No 2 70 Nan.
haitian street, corner Amsterdam avsnms
and l26th street, p. NJ: Uni,"d 0rda,
True Sisters, 1900 Broadway, corner i6sd
street, y. NJ refreshments. smokes. en-,
tcrta inment
Dancing, Entertainment tfor colorat
Service and Recreation Centre. ie7 Wss,
l36th street. to 10 l.. NJ This CentH.
is open to colored men in uniform every
day from TO p NJ and to 10 p. NJ.
- (Nationsl League for Woman's Scr
vicel. '26l Madison avenue CThirty. nir, .
street,, TO y. NJ, followed by genera.
dancing.
AM. N!shta French Italian and Span,
Cw. g, G $. Unit No. 49,, Riverside Part
and Ninety seventh street S y NJ
Concert for Soldiers and Sailors Met.
ropolitan Museum Of Art, Elghty-secont
Basketball Game and Dancs-y NJ II
4. OF Washington Heights, 81 Nlrhoya,
avenue and iSsth street. 3 y. "
Mecca Temple % Mystic Shrine-M otior
pictures ,hrst run OF Governments pictures
Camp Community Service at Carnegie n nj
Fifty-seventh street and seventh ayenu.
| : p, NJ. Band concert ny Mecca Templ,
Famous Band Your uniform is your pass
The sun., 1919-01-18
Germany's Compliance with the
Armistice.

Marshal FocH's answer to reports
that the Germans are not living up to
the terms of the armistice Is to OK
tend its provisions for another month,
with such notifications as experience
has suggested.
Were Germany not acting in good
faith, the remedy would be In Mar
shall FocH's hands. The delays of
which complaint has been made, de-
lays aff0cting particularly the trans
fer of railroad rolling stock, appear
to have assumed an Importance out
side the armistice commission they
never earned inside 1t. These are not
mentioned in the official statement,
which says that Clauses concerning
agricultural material, Russian war
prisoners, naval conditions and the re-
cuperation of material taken from the
invaded districts were signed"
1t was inevitable that Germany
could not keep exactly all the pledges
extracted from her; with the best OF
good will on her part. compliance
with the letter of the terms was no,
to be expected. Her agents have beer
at all times under the careful scrutiny
Of the Allies and the United States
and the complaints and charges made
against them obviously have sprung
from misinformatlon or failure &c
comprehend oil the difficulties Of the
situation.
The sun., 1919-01-18
Three Public Improvements Neccs.
sary TO Its Greatest Prosperity.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sir. The
completion OF the Erie Canal and its
use to capacity. II terminals are sum
cient, is indicated next spring. and the
effect on tho future OF this city Is
evident
There are. however, three necessary i'm
provements to complete our ascendency
one IL vehicular tube tunnel be-
tween lower New York and New Jersey
large enough to admit the carriage OF
freight at all seasons doing away with
nearly all the railroad floats which now
do this work j. Is conceded that such
a tunnel can be perfectly ventilated.
Another Is the establishment OF n
free port where raw materials and mer-
chandise OF all kinds can be landed free
of duties and repacked and reexported
to all parts OF tho world. avoiding light
ge, carriage, storage, customs charges
and all tho multitudinous expenses
which are now a heavy drain on the
COST OF our exported good. Tho result
to our export trade would be 70 enlarge
it greatly. possibly to double It In a
few years,
The third essential for our city Is the
East River entrance to Long Island
Sound, go that We would have two out
let's TO the ocean instead of one for
heavy ships OF deep draught, The value
Of this is so apparent that 1t needs no
argument.
There are OF course many minor i'm
provements. one OF which IL an elevated
railway on West street, with oommunica-
ton by spurs TO all the great shipping
limo piers. This could be cheaply built
and would terminate the congestion and
delay In shipping now existing Before
the war II cost as much to cart a truck
load OF merchandise from a Brooklyn
factory to a pier in New York Counting
the delay as II cost TO freight the same
goods to London or Liverpool. This is
true TO the knowledge of tho writer
II all these improvements are carried
out New York will become the greatest
city the world has ever known.
ROBERT a. CHEsEBRoUGH.
NEW YORK, January IL