davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11

sion in history, had to be reminded that
the "still, small voice" is Gods chosen
agency. Neither Jesus nor the apostles
and their successors relied on sermons
delivered to those who chose to come to
hear. They constantly sought the peo-
pie who needed their ministry, and their
words and deeds were suited to the par
ticular needs of the individual or group
with whom they labored.
Speaking generally, the sermons Of
our day, when the minister is really
preaching the Gospel, are not subjects
Of criticism. Some of the finest SER
mons I have ever heard were delivered
to pitiably small congregations.
But let the preachers remember that
the people now need salvation just as
they did when the angels brought the
glad evangel centuries ago. Let them be
not only preachers but pastors shep-
herds, seeking out the individual need
of each member Of the flock, and of the
lambs as we'll, and with the grace Of
God bestowed on them at their ordina-
ton give to each the gospel of personal
service.
Men, women and children are hungry
for they know not what. They seek sat-
isfaction in what the world offers
but are disappointed. Few find it in the
first sermon, for there is multitude of
diverse needs in the congregations
the minister can at best touch but a
few in each discourse. The others go
away unsatisfied. What if they fail to
come again? Must they die because the
truth was not given to them according
to their needs? A LAYMAN.
Newark, N. j., July l, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Not Walk-Over for Harding

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Referring to your leading ar
ticle, Blowing Down a Gum" as an
American of Irish descent and who has
just as much devotion to his country
as you can have, / cannot see that De
Valera has done any wrong or been
guilty even of any impropriety. If
small, oppressed people are to be de-
barred from soliciting sympathy or
support, pray, how are they to find
relief? Must they depend entirely
upon the charity of their oppressors ?
In this connection l would remind
you that Franklin's mission to France
at the time Of the birth of this nation
appears to me almost exactly analogous
to De Valera's.
However all that may be, such SEN
timents as are expressed in your ar
ticle are certainly not calculated to
make votes for the Republican candi-
date among the Irish. Perhaps you
think they will not be needed. If SO
beg to differ with you. Harding is
not going to have walk-over by any
manner Of means. A READER.
New York, July 6, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the Editor of The tribune.
Sir: Perhaps the greatest failure of all
institutions is the failure of the Church.
We face in the religious world to-day
the same condition that applied in
Rome about the time of the first GEN.
fury, when the old Roman faith had
been laughed out of existence.
The average man to-day is educated
An educated man will not return to
the old orthodox conception Of re-
ligion. The doctrinal ideas that the
churches still hold are mo- even be-
lieved by the average members Of those
churches. Educated men to-day recog-
nize the growth of the religious in
stinct, and realize that all religions
have the same underlying truths.
To the man on the street there is
the feeling that the Church is more
concerned with the life to come" than
the life here. The Church as mass
has always been on the side OF those
hat had great possessions. Roger Bah
sons letter. in the Interchurch move
ment, in which he advised bankers,
etc., to get back Of the Church because
the Church safeguarded their money,
is sad example of it all.
If the Church can preach simple JUS
tice, mercy, love and kindness. become
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Sadly True

lhe following opinion concerning
tue course of American politics was
eaDied from San Francisco by the
correspondent of "The London
Times" shortly before the Demo-
efatlc nomination:
The evident determination Of the
voters to have the Washington gov
ssnment take up Americas domestic
Problems indicates tho probability
mat the league will be ignored at
.ee coming session Of the present
congress and will be jcstied aside
" the next Congress-, 20 that even
we're the Democrats 10 win, their
.sasue and their promises concern
.ne u would be ~ Dead Sea fruit
= the mouths Of those who think
sae future Of the world and Anglia
american relations still depend on
american adhesion to the League Of
Nations.'
ane correspondent might well
y added that last winter and
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
General Woods Future
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Whatever faults General Leon
ard Wood may have, he can never be
accused of being Stacker" a
"sulker" or anything but 100 per cent
man." Time after time has proved
that he is man among men. In Cuba
| watched his campaign against dis
ease, filth and almost insurmountable
obstacles. He conquered them. He
helped clean Cuba, the Philippines and
Porto Rico of deadly diseases and made
them fit for Americans.
During the late war he would rather
have been at the front. He was denied
by the Democratic administration. He
never sulked. He went to work and
kept order at home. He kept the peo-
pie satisfied and kept perfect order
Many leaders fall down during the
stress of war. Wood has stood the
stress of war; he has stood adversely
as few men have ever done.
Take the late Chicago convention
He was in the lead for the Presidency
He was within reach of this exalted
Office. All of sudden Harding and
Coolidge get the nomination for Presi-
dent and Vice President Others sulk
over the nomination. Wood did not
sulk one minute; he went back to
Fort Sheridan and Immediately took
up his work as military commandment
of that post again. Even the enemies
ef General Wood are thinking of him
for the highest diplomatic post in the
power o: Senator Harding to give.
This is due General Wood.
1t will be given him not because he
is Republican, but because he has
made good in every job he has ever
tackled. To do less would prove our
selves an ungrateful nation. We have
never been an ungratefui nation, and
time will see the wrongs of General
Wood righted and see him in a much
higher Office than he has ever held
before. B. YORKTON HOGG.
Fort Pierce, Fla, July s, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11

knocking. The scapegoat is always the
minister. But church is something
more than mere preaching place. May
l ask your recent correspondents a few
questions regarding their own familiar
ity with the real problems and tasks of
the Church?
First-What is their own personal re-
lationship to it? Have they identified
themselves with the things for which it
stands and thrown the strength of their
enthusiasm into it's distinctive service i?
Does the minister whom they so Wig
orously blame know that he can count
on their backing and help in his pro-
gram? Benevolent neutrality does not
accomplish anything at all.
Second-What do the critics know by
actual experience and personal tackling
OF the activities of church, its tasks
and problems, the opposition covert and
overland the blatant defiance of COM
mercialized wrongdoing?
Third-What do they know of the de-
mands upon minister? Every effort,
worthy or unworthy, seeks to obtain his
support and if possible draw on his time
and strength. The others are too busy
knocking, so he must carry their load
also. Few people have any idea of the
endlessness of minister's days. Just
one example: Two thousand eight hun
dred and seventy-two of these inefficient
men are scoutmasters and it takes sew
eral hours a week to be even a mod
erately good scoutmaster. Perhaps the
sermons would improve if the critics
would carry few of the jobs.
Fourth-What do they know of a min
ister's preparation? Their difference of
opinion proves the possibility of wide
difference in men. "Isms" bother critics
lot more than their ministers. A look
into the Churchs plans for keeping up
to date would apparently be startling.
They evidently know nothing of the cur
riculums of theological seminaries and
courses of study.
Fifth-Will the critics go to the min
lister of the church of their choice and
ask him to give them responsibility
that will cut deep into their time and
draw heavily upon their souls?
All the responsibility and joy of our
faith is neither the layman's nor the
minister's. We share them, as we must
share the blame if we fail.
j. ROBERT HALMSHAW.
Pine Plains, N. Y, July 9, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
How Alice Came To Be
Three Little Girls and a Man in a
Boat
To the Editor of THE Tribune.

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Something / read not long ago
IN an English magazine bears out what
]. Acton Lomax wrote in recent let
ter to The Tribune regarding the SPELL
ing of the surname of the immortal Alice
OF Lewis Carroll's story. This person,
who seemed familiar with the history
of the book and the child for whom it
was written, had this to say:
do you know how Alice came to be
written? Well, this is the story: There
were three little girls in boat on the
river-Gt was probably the Cherwell, at
Oxford, where Alice's father was dean
of Christchurch College,. They were
very tired of sitting still and they
hadn't brought anything to play with.
One of them had happy thought. The
grown-up friend who was with them
should tell them a story. He oBligingly
complied. The story the three little
girls heard for the first time on that hot
summer afternoon was Alice in Wonder
land The three were called LORNA,
Edith and Alice Liddell, and the grown
up friend who told them the now famous
tale was the Rev. C. L. Dodgson, or
Lewis Carroll. as he called himself for a
pretense name We should really thank
little Alice, the youngest of the three
sisters, for as they said goodby at the
close of the river trip she begged Lewis
Carroll to write out the story for her;
so few days later he made her copy
in his own handwriting, with funny
pictures all his own. This was in 1866"
l was pleased to learn about the acros-
tic on the name of the heroine in the
beginning of Through the Looking
Glass;" |, too, have been devoted adj
mirer of Alice, even more since reread-
ing the book year ago. 1t was a happy
thought Of the authors to have Tenniel
do the illustrations. The text and pic
lures are thus so happily welded, and
the pictures help to accentuate the
whimsy of the story. I for one would
never have anything to do with re-
vised modern edition of my old favorite
with modern illustrations.
AMY L. PAULDING.
New York, July 8, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Why the Churches Fail
The Critics Throng to the Attack and the Defenders Insist
That Some Blame and Responsibility Rest Upon the PEOPLE

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Some recent letters appearing
in your columns have sought to prove
from DR.. Straton's comment on the
small attendance at New York churches
OH Sunday evenings and the large at
tendance at amusements that the
managers of these largely patronized
places are meeting the general needs
of the public, and that the preachers
are not.
The crux of the whole matter is that
needs" have been confused with de-
sires.
The gripping sermon to which ]
listened just now applied the double
text, "Bear We one another's burdens
and so fulfill the law of Christ" and
every. man shall bear his own bur-
den" Chat is, the exit" of soldier)
These express the heart of Christian
preaching to-day.
Now, in this hour Of world unrest
and threatened anarchy. whether the
supreme need Of mankind is the spirit
Of eagerness to do ones own duty and
then to "help the other fellow" or
whether the mud and melodrama of
the movies are the cure for the world S
woe-well, let each reader say.
"How explain crowds at the amuse-
ments and the lack of crowds at
the church 2" The sermon is a sum-
mons to action; the NOVELS it not
the summons to absolutely nothing,
either mental or moral? The films do
not cater to what people need, but to
their lazy desire. And to which group
OF attendants, the large or the small
does the public look for leadership
and effective work in every great for
ward step in human progress?
Fox-grapes often grow on vine
that is big as compared with vine
yielding good grapes. But size is not
all we ask of vine. "By their fruits
We shall know them"
ROBERT RIPPERE.
Brooklyn, July i, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Canberra

After an interruption Of seven
years the plan Of new Federal
capital for the Commonwealth of
Australia is being pushed. During
his recent visit to the Southern con-
tinent the Prince Of Wales laid the
foundation stone of the new capitol,
situated on a hill which is to form
the center of the new city. For
Canberra so far exists on paper only,
partly in q provision Of the Austria
liam Constitution and partly in the
elaborate and ambitious plans pre-
pared by an American architect,
Walter Burley Griffin, of Chicago.
At present the Governor General
and the Federal Executive and Leg
islature have their seat at Mel
bourne, largest city Of the Common
wealth, which is also the capital of
the State Of Victoria. This condition
displeases the people of the rival
colony Of New South Wales, whose
principal city, Sydney, at one time
housed the central administration.
In order to allay intercolonial jeal-
ousies, the American idea Of building
new capital on neutral ground was
borrowed. The future Canberra will
be situated in the interior of New
South Wales, on a plateau 1000 feet
above sea level, in a very healthy if
somewhat arid region. The Molonl-
glo River divides the ground on
which the city is to be erected.
From the center, which is Capitol
Hill, dominating the landscape,
broad avenues will radiate on star
like plan in all directions; and the
scheme provides not only for nagnifi-
cent public buildings and an elab-
crate system Of homes, but also for
spacious parks and three ornamental
lakes.
The idea Of the Australian Wash
ington is twenty years old. In 1913
the site was selected and named /;
but work had to be postponed owing
to the outbreak Of the war. A curl
Gus fact in connection with the plan
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Copyright, 1920. New York Tribune Inc.y

great clearing house for social serv-
ice, it may win back its place. The
Church has failed to be truthful about
it, simply because the average man
does not find in it's teaching anything
that he needs. And if it continues to
teach creed or doctrinal belief not
based on science, with absurd con-
illusions, twill continue to fall into de-
cay. CHARLES j. BUTTON.
All Souls Unitarian Church, Troy,
N. Y, July 4, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11

spring ratification Of the treaty and
entry OF the United States could 1T
any time have been easily secured on
terms satisfactory to our war ascot
ates, but the prospect was de-
stroyed BY President Wilson, who
stubbornly refused to seize the on
portunity which offered. Until new
start Is made under different aus
pices there is little hope Of hr;nr;no
! thus country into league mem
bership.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: R. A. G. asks for an outline of a
sermon to bring more people to the
Church. There is but one thing a
preacher can do to make his ministry
from the pulpit effective-and that is to
preach the Gospel. Every minister will
know what ] mean by that expression.
But the ministry from the pulpit is
the least Of the work to which the
preacher is called, although regret to
say that all preachers whom I have
known in recent years. in many cities in
several states, seem to think it their
sole duty.
The work Of the Holy Spirit is not
effected en- masse. Salvation is wrought
on the individual Elijah, despite his
magnificent triumph in what was prob
ably the most dramatic religious osca-
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Lord Fisher

Lord Fisher undoubtedly did his
tame an injury by publishing his
recent book of "reminiscences. Its
extreme indiscretions and its gen.
eral tone of over-emphasis and self
exploitation must have. convinced
many readers that Fisher was
heady, vainglorious and eccentric to
g degree which hopelessly vitiated
his judgment.
In 1914 Fisher was recalled from
retirement to be First Sea Lord and
to help conduct the war for which
he had long been preparing the Brit
lsh navy. The British fleet wasn't
fully prepared, but that it was in
fairly good shape was due chiefly
to Fishers progressive policies and
innovating energy. The First Sea
Lord was successful organizer.
But he seemed to have little gift
as strategist or war director. He
was obsessed with one fantastic idea
OF his own-to win the war by max
ing landing on the coast of Pom.
erar1ia and rushing force of Rus
slams toward Berlin.
AT heart he opposed the Gallipoli
expedition, because the latter inter
fered with his own pet project, and
was officially rebuked for his waver-
ing attitude toward the Gallipoli
adventure. The Pomeranian expe-
dition was a piece of self-delusion.
How British fleet operating on the
Baltic coast could keep communi-
cations with England open was
never explained. Fishers lack of
interest in other war plans made it
difficult for him to cooperate with
the Admiralty. He was therefore
dropped back on the retired list be-
fore the end Of 1915. Thereafter he
figured only as a waspish critic of
both sea and land operations. He
had steadfastly opposed CONSUMPTION
and the use Of British armies in
France.
Yet Fisher was great power for
the reconstruction of the British
navy. He was extremely democratic
in his views and sympathies. He was
even an anti-monarchist. He fought
red tape and bureaucracy in the
navy, and when he couldn't smash
the obstructionists he circumvented
them. He was a modern navy man
even before the war showed how OBJ
solete a great deal of naval theory
had become. He was for speed and
torpedo warfare and the submarine.
Before his death he had accepted the
submersible as the true type of the
future fighting ship, and had con-
coded that sea warfare must be
linked hereafter with warfare of
the air.
Undoubtedly he was great naval
technician and builder. And his per-
sonal foibles and contempt for con-
vention made him a racy figure in
official and social circles-both in
London and on the Continent-where
his engaging eufant terrible quality
was understood and relished.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
Al,c1ys Scofers

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: One of your correspondents OF
July smugly asserted that of course
nowadays, religion is "as dead as Julius
Cesar" and that mo one takes it Sc
riously now"
This complacent denial of His ON
nipotence-indeed, His very existence
is no new experience for the Almighty
Nineveh ignored Him; Sodom and
Gomorrah smiled superciliously at
Him; Egypt, Rome and Assyria defed
him-and the one fact that is to-day
undeniable is that all these boastful
assertions and their perpetrators ara
forever silenced in almost forgotten
dust, one with the quiet-mouthed
mummies and crumbling cuneiform
tablets, while the object of their de-
NAL is still vivid fact to thousands
of living red-blooded men and women
the world over.
In the early days of Christianity
Gamaliel, who was learned and &C
counted wise even among the great
Jewish doctors Of his time, said that
if the new faith were of God it would
prosper in spite of mans opposition;
if it were of man, Gods power would
crush it. know that it has not failed,
because have seen old men meet
death fearless-eyed, knowing that their
Redeemer lived; because I have seen
young men return from France, and
the most horrible and degrading condi-
tions the world has ever known, still
with faith firm and beautiful in spite
of all man could do to blot it out.
The boldest of us dare not say, there
fore, that the faith has failed, though
we must admit, however regretfully,
that the men to whom it is intrusted
fail often, thus bringing shame and
dishonor to their Maker. The fact lost
sight of is that there are always those
who scott at what they cannot under
stand. At one time nobody believed"
that the world was sphere, but, oddly
enough, it was subsequently discovered
that their uabelief had in no way af-
fected the shape of the world.
l came across the following verse
the other day--it needs no comment:
"God breathed His Spirit in the red
contented sod;
The stupid sod looked up at Him and
said,
There is no Cod"
FRANcIA sTRoNGMAN.
New York, July s, 1920.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
was brought out by Archibald Mes

was brought out BY Archibald Mes.
ton, an Australian authority on
aboriginal idioms. He stated that
Canberra means Laughing jackass,' 4
and the interesting part Of it il that
It Is not jackass at all, but d
bird, the size of a full-grown crow,
and specialist in killing obnoxious
snakes. The discovery caused mer-
riment all over the Antipodes, but
the name stuck. After all, there are
so few authorities on Australian in
digenous dialects extant that the
Commonwealth government can af-
ford to disregard the somewhat in
appropriate meaning Of the melo-
dious Canberra.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-11
The Great Race

| The yachts that race have not
their daily following of eager fans
as have the ball players and horses.
With the restrictions upon sight
seeing craft that will prevail, no
mobs of onlookers are likely to go
down the Bay this week at all COM
parable with the thousands who
turn out daily to see ssBabe" Ruth
knock the ball out of the lot. The
race for the Americas Cup is a
somewhat aloof event, offshore,
rather incomprehensible to the un-
initiate in the matter of time allow
ance and sundry technical terms,
and sudden looming excitement,
quickly over, rather than a daily
thrill to be pursued and debated like
the weather.
Yet for all these limitations upon
popular participation and enjoyment
the Cup races are always the peak
OF the sporting season. For the brief
time that they occupy the public's
attention they yield thrill and
suspense and a picture Of gorgeous
beauty far beyond any other con-
test. The drama is perfect. A great
international tourney between two
nations proud of their sporting
achievements. is fought out between
two protagonists, the chosen yachts,
upon whose slender hulls and tower
ing canvas the hopes of millions are
conferred.
Is there any justification for the
odds in favor Of the Resolute for the
series to start next Thursday? Boat
for boat, the experts seem to see
little to choose, guessing thus in adj
vance. But the factor of handling,
Of superior teamwork in the Reso-
lute's carefully trained crew, is ex-
pected to give a few seconds aid to
the American sloop. And the total
handicap involved in the fact that
the Shamrock Nv, like her prede-
cessors, was obliged to sail across
the ocean in order to participate, is
considerable. Nicholson has at
tempted to avoid this obstacle by
building stancher boat, an ADLER
boat of the scow type, and cracking
on sail to drive her harder lines
through the water. But by so doing
he has incurred severe time allow
ance, according to the surmises of
the wise; for the new rules are
especially designed to penalize ex-
IRENE hulls. tending toward the scow
type. Thus the Resolute is certain
to enter the contest with hand
some handicap that may range any,
where from two to ten minutes.
In plain truth nobody, however
expert, really knows the first thing
of what will be the issue on Thurs
day. Therein lies the great sus-
pense over this first race. After it,
the character of the remaining races
may be fairly we'll forecast. At
present anything may be looked for
"a decisive victory either way or
nip and tuck contest similar to the
racing between the Resolute and the
Vanitie. All Americans can be sure
of is that they are represented by
wonderful boat, the master craft Of
great designer, and that she will
be sailed for everything there is in
her. If the fourth Shamrock wins
she will deserve all admiration and
praise.