davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY II. 1921.
Rail Labor Board Decision.

Fortunately the United States Rail-
road Labor Boards decision In the
matter of war time agreements and
rules does not confirm those impos-
sible working conditions unqualifiedly
and perpetuate them unchangeably.
If 1t did 1t simply would mean that
the board had determined that the
public's pocket ought to be assessed
another half billion Of dollars or 50
in still higher traffic rates to endow
special classifications of railway en-
ployees with money they do not earn.
What the board says is that, what
ever the emergency, there shall be no
immediate abrogatlon of the rules and
agreements set up under ruinous Gov
ernment operation. They must be ex-
amlned first as TO their reasonable
ness and justice. The board also de-
clares with color Of logic that to over
turn all those conditions at one sweep
without evidence and consideration
would be to abdicate its legal func-
lions and duties.
This is sound enough practice in
public administration and jurisdic-
ton. Any public authority should
know what 1t is doing when it falls
to doing IL. But unless the United
States Railroad Labor Board does
find out and pretty soon what that
preposterous situation means and
what the remedy for it is the Ameri-
can people will be compelled to pay
more and more for their transporta-
tion, thanks TO the calamity of Gov
ernment operation during the war,
while all other living costs are going
down and far down. Such left
handed dividend to the public as that
from the Federal railway labor
board would not commend it very
highly to the people OF the United
States and would not assure 1t of q
prolonged existence In the official life
of the nation.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
The Typhus Ship.

Although Health Commissioner
COPELAND has asked the President OF
the United States to close our ports
to passengers from plague ridden
countries-a step which eventually
may be necessary-the presence In
New York harbor of a ship carrying
typhus stricken passengers is not a
cause for public alarm or even uneasi-
ness. II the officials charged with
protecting us against the introduction
Of disease from abroad do their duty
there Is not the slightest danger of n
single infected person coming ashore.
All that is necessary is the rigid ap.
plication Of well understood quaran.
tine precautions. for enforcing which
the port is amply equipped.
There is no mystery about ty-
phus. It's cause and the manner OF
safeguarding the community from it
are thoroughly understood. Painstak.
Ing inspection. inslstence on cleanli-
ness and refusal to land passengers
arriving on ships from infected ports
until their freedom from infection
has been established will protect us
absolutely from this plague.
The quarantine officers have ample
power 70 enforce any and every regu-
lation they may deem necessary or
desirable. They need no new laws To
enable them TO erect an impossible
barrier against disease carriers
They are autocrats responsible only
to their consciences and their oaths
of Office to establish the restrictions
that shall be put on suspected mr.
rivals here.
Because this power has been inteili.
gently used In the past we expect IL tc
be intelligently used In the present.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
James Gibbons Huneker.

1t has often been said by admirers
Of the late JAMES GIBBONS HUNEKET
that he wrote brilliant musical criti.
cism of paintings and profound color
studies Of symphonies and operas
There was this much truth in the
saying that the field of art, including
literature In the term, was all Of one
piece to him. The form of expression
which imaginative or intellectual
work might assume was only detail,
and one or the other medium re.
fiected light on the rest and aided In
their Interpretation.
Thus he wrote with equal enthusl
asm and equal virtuosity on books
pictures, statuary, music, the drama
His interest was intense In all alike
he was fully versed In their technics
he devoted his years to seeing, listen.
Ing, reading; he had gathered and
assimilated fund Of knowledge OF
unsurpassed extent and variety.
He was an observer Of life too and
lover Of nature. but some way II
always seemed as II he saw realities
from the n1inetic point Of view. He
valued them rather as material for
filtration through the mind into a new
creation of artistry than as the fun.
damental object Of admiration and
enjoyment.
With his catholicity Of taste and
breadth Of knowledge he united a
curiously original point OF view. He
saw everything through lenses which
did not indeed distort the image, but
which brought out aspects and char.
acteristics that had escaped other
vision. His style, his special gift for
verbal mosaic, afforded him vehicle
especially adapted to his copious va,
riety Of opinion and illustration.
His death in the prime Of his
powers Is sad loss to American crtti
cism and American thought. He had
won front rank In his sphere Of effort
without enkindling either the jeal.
ousy of his colleagues or the resent.
ment OF those living artists whose
work Il was his duty to appraise
The general recognition that a con
structive force has vanished, guild.
Ing hand toward high and beautiful
standards, is the finest tribute that
can be paid him.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Flax Spinning Numbers.
Words Used by Indians in Counting
Recalled BY a Jingle.

To THE NEW YORK HERALD The quas-
tlon about the numbers used by fax
spinners brought me memories of my
girlhood.
Nearly seventy years ago school
mate In a Connecticut town repeated to
me a similar Jingle thus:
zen. teen. tether. lether. bump. cen
bumper. teen-bumper. tether-bumper.
lcther-bumper. jlnket."
She could give no explanation OF these
seemingly meaningless words. but said
she had heard them years before.
On my repeating them at home that
evening my cider brother. well known
student Of the languages os our North
American Indians, told me that the
words were numerals In certain % such
languages and that he had heard Algon-
quins and those OF other Indian tribes
use similar words In counting.
OcrocrNARIAN.
New YoRK, February 10.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
The Seer of February 2.
An Authority Answers the Question
Who Gets the Ground Hog Up?

To THE NEW YORK HERALD: Is II In
innocence or out of respect to the Fed
eral Weather Bureau that you ask,
What animal gets the groundhog up?"
The grounding gets the groundhog up.
His habits are as fxed as the sun IN
its course, and as iTnrnutable.
I aver this on the strength OF OBJ
servations made over a period of fifteen
years, during which time I was the poet
laureate of the Punxsutawney Ground
hog Club. In Punxsutawney. Pennsyl.
vania, Is the official weatherworks Of the
grounding, with complete data dating
back to 1901. In the foothills Of Canoe
Ridge Mountains. southwark of the
town, dwclls the official marmot. the
only scientific shadowgrapher In the
world. His home is under a stump that
10 rooted yards deep among irnmovable
rocks and from his official quarters radi-
ate In all directions underground chan
nels providing communication with rnyr-
lads Of his nalnions thereabout.
In 1901 there was organized the PUNK
sutawney Groundhog Club. the only or
ganixation of It's kind in the universe.
whose prerogative 1t is TO chronicle the
do!ngs Of Br'er Grounding. The per-
sonnel OF the club Is made up of cartog-
raphers shadowgraphers and expert
mixologists.
Every February delegation Of
these long distance prognosticators re-
pair 20 the official home of Br'er Ground
hog with instruments capable of record
ing planetary disturbances as far re-
moved as Betelgeuse. and sensitive
enough to measure the thickness, or
thinness rather, Of the shadow Of the
shadow made by the grounding or any
multiple Of his shadow. These observa-
tions are handed to the historian Of the
club. located on the seventh floor OF the
Punxsutawney Spirit. compiled, coordi-
mated, translated into all modern lam
guages. and the next day published in
the archives Of the club. where they
need no protection. for they cannot bt
deciphered or destroyed by mundane
agencies.
Louis Elishenlus may acclaim himself
the Supreme Spirit OF the Spheres. but
Br'cr Groundhog's emanations on the
second day OF every February. screened
by the circumgyratory parade OF the
prophets and meteorologists OF the
Punxeutawney Grounding Club. has him
backed half way 10 the moon.
who gets the grounding up? The
grounding gets the grounding UP.
C. II. FREAs.
BEooKsvrLLE, ria. February 7.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
When to Plan a Life.

Mr.. EDISON, who is "A to-day, offers
his opinion that boy should become
interested in his llfe's work when he
is between Il and 16, and adds:
III young man has reached 81
and is dead mentally, no amount Of
advice. example or experience will
ever change him In the slightest
We fancy that the Wizard bases
his theory on his own history. He
was hot on the trail of the watt and
the con at tender age, and he has
never left the chase. 1t is imagin-
able, however, that many persons who
saw him fooling with wires. metal
plates and jars Of vitriol decided that
he was dead mentally" He knew
he wasn't.
But there are thousands Of minds
which do not come out of their trance
until their owners are approaching
middle age. There have been cobblers
who did not turn to the law until
tney were 40; generals who tried
first to be farmers. ministers who had
no thought Of the pulpit until late in
life. Many Of these were given up by
their friends as dead in mind and
ambition.
1t would be safer to say that any
man who has reached the age Of 90
and has not yet decided on his career
is not likely to go far.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Trucks on the State Roads.

1t Is a waste of legislative breath
to talk of driving heavy motor trucks
off the State roads, whether with pro-
hibltive taxes or whatever means. 1t
Is true that massive trucks pound to
pieces in a short time the sort of
roads that are usually built in the
rural districts. And 1t Is fact that
the wear and tear Of soft tired pas
senger cars is very slight, often neg
ligible. The proof of this Is to be
found in Pelham Parkway. this city.
The east road there has been down
for about twenty years. 1t Is and
has been one of the most thickly
travelled in the whole State. There
are few thoroughfares In the city
proper that can equal the Pelham
Parkway volume of traffic, day and
night. Yet after all those years Of
use the road was still In splendid con-
dition up to last summer. But motor
trucks, steel tired wheels of any sort
and horseshoes had never been per-
mitted on the roadway.
No better proof is needed that little
damage Is done even by high speed
motor cars using soft tires than the
extraordinary record Of Pelham Park
way, which began to be knocked to
pieces as soon as trucks and wagons
were allowed to use 1t. Nevertheless,
so long as there are votes and cleo
tlons the agricultural and general in
dustrial business of the State will
never be deprived of the marvellous
distributive facilities which have been
built up in New York. Not only mem
bers OF the Legislature representing
the farmers and small town manu-
facturers but members representing
suburban communities served by the
great department stores Of the metro
politan centres will never listen to
any proposal to put the essential
trucks out Of business by taxing them
off the State highways.
Either the State must make the
present road system heavier and
stronger so that the highways can
stand the truck pounding longer than
they can now, or, better yet, 1t must
build separate and special roads for
the use Of trucks only. This would
mean tens Of millions more put into
our great road system; but, as in the
case Of Pelham Parkway, 1t also
would mean tens of millions saved on
the passenger motor roads that no
longer would be wrecked in a season
or two as If shelled by great guns Of
battling armies.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Miss Garden as Flora at the Manhattan
'L' Amore del Ire Re" Sung First Time This Season
by Chicago Company.

The Chicago Opera Company was to
have begun its local season last winter
with Norma" but Miss Raisa and Mr..
Galefn were both Ill and at almost the
ultimate moment "L'Amore del Ire Re-
was substituted and Miss Mary Gardens 8
interpretation OF Ftorc was made known.
The opera had its first hearing In the
current season at the Manhattan Opera
House last evening and again Miss
Garden was the representative of the
young woman who upset tho lives OF
three men.
There have been several versions OF
F,oro. differing from one another IS
stars differ in glory. But Miss Garden s
is perhaps the most individual OF them
ALL She does not render unto Sem
Benelli all that Is Sem Benelli's nor un-
to Montemezzi all that Is his, but rather
does she, with that brilliant conquest
which Is always hers, seize upon their
materials and appropriate them to the
elastic uses of her own personality.
Once panther always a panther.
Those who are familiar with Miss Gar
denis art well know the sinuous. gliding
walk. the fluid poses. the wide armed
gestures and the singularly penetrating
quality of the vocal tone. Her Flora Is
flower. Mdntredo would not have
trusted her so far. Not only the aged
and experienced ArchibdIdo would have
listened to her every feline movement
but the husband would have forgone the
soldiers life and sat by his own fire
side with a good long knife ready for
Av1to or any other ardent visitor.
Miss Garden at times astonishes her
oldest admirers by outbursts OF genuine
vocal beauty. She does IL in Marguerite
and she does 1t in Flora, but In the latter
with the deeper accent Of passion which
does not sound from the Gounod heroine.
There were moments OF musical elo-
Quence in Miss Gardens impersonation
last night, but more Of dramatic semi
parlando. 1t will be gathered from these
cursory comments that her FtorG was
decidedly interesting.
Edward johnson was again the Atfto.
It is his best role, so far as New York
knows He looks well, is picturesque in
action and sings the music with fervor.
Mr.. Galeffi was the Manyredo, which role
was in Mr.. Baklanofrs care last season.
The stalwart Italian barytone gave a
lifelike representation of an innocent. un-
suspecting husband. better fitted for
wars than for treasons and stratage,ns.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11

Nevada pays poor compliment to
itself when Il announces that Reno
will no longer be Mecca for divorce
applicants II the Governor signs the
amendment TO the Nevada divorce law
which provides that the applicant must
be either n bona fide resident Of the
state or have six months residence
prior to beginning divorce action"
Is II 10 hard to live in Nevada that
divorce seekers will not dwell there
six nonths7
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
British Budget Results.

When the British Chancellor of the
Exchequer. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN.
took up last year the task Of estimat-
ing revenues and expenditures for the
budget year April 1, 1920, to March
81, 1921, he had ample excuse for
misgivings the like Of which had
never before troubled the mind Of a
financial prophet. The preceding
years had been devoted to raising and
spending money without regard to
where 1t came from or how IL was to
be paid back. The object had been TO
win the war, and after that to de-
mobilize at all speed and at any
temporary cost.
But by April, 1920, the necessity
for spending had become necessity
for saving. In the United States q
similar shift had occurred, but we all
know that little attention was paid
by our Government TO the necessity
for saving except as a tune for lip
music. The only savings were those
made by Congress when 1t drew the
blue pencil through a couple of bill
ions Of expenses department heads
imagined were Indispensable.
But witness the remarkable results
In England, where simple budget
system containing the Chancellor OF
the Exchequer's estimates is laid be-
fore the people at the beginning of
each year, showing just what Is to
be done with their money during the
next fiscal twelvemonth.
For the fiscal year 1919-1o20, when
the English people we're eager to have
nothing interfere with the clearing up
of the odds and ends of the war. the
/ Chancellor Of the Exchequer was able
10 come off unscathed and uncensured,
although total expenditures were
IL, 1,665. 100000, with revenues of
Fl ,339, 600 900, leaving a f326, 1000, ,00o
deficit, or nearly $500 900, to be
made up by borrowing.
Then dawned the new fiscal year
1920-21. and with II came not only the
rumblings Of oncoming defiation, In
volving a slowing down OF business
and the danger of dried up sources OF
revenue, but also the unanimous, un
deniable demand from the people that
the reckless Government spending be
stopped Immediately.
Now in England this mandate die
not mean that the Chancellor OF the
Exchequer could go out on the stumr
and submit set Of tentative figures
and estimates OF what might be done
In certain. cases II Parliament were
willing, or what might be saved In
some other place II some item Of ex
pense could be wiped out there, and SC
on. The demand that Government
spending be stopped, and he stopped
forthwith, meant that the Chancellor
OF the Exchequer had to take himself
at once TO his study, put on his think
ing cap md set down the concrete
figures OF exactly how the saving was
20 be accomplished. These budget
figures committed not alone the Chan
cellor but the whole Government 20 the
policy laid down. They put the Gov
eminent on record Ms to what was tc
be expected and provided a definite
The New York herald., 1921-02-11

tures educational efforts will be seen
at the coming American Berkshire
Congress in Philadelphia on February
16. II and Is. Experts will lecture
and the Government has arranged
an exhibit OF smoked meats TO en-
courage greater production of home
cured hams, shoulders and bacon.
Demonstrations In economical car
cass cutting will also be given and
formulas for curing will be dlstrib-
uted. And all breeders will be urged
10 give the hog chance to keep
clean.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
The Drawbacks.

When all the winter stars are out
And shining overhead.
And hills are white with snow, love
To steer a flying sled.
But as I skim the icy crust
And cut the frosty breeze.
Invariably I begin
Alasl 70 cough and sneeze.
When bright and full the silver moon
rilumines fields and fells.
I take delight In sleishing 70
The music OF the bells.
Tucked in beside pretty girl
In furs and curls and RULES
But long before the ride is Ger,
Behold ] ge. The snufies.
3fINrA IavIxe.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Social Workers Needed.
The Supply Of Trained Men and
Women Short of the Demand.

To THE New YORK HERALD: There
may be unemployment In many fields
this year. but the demand was never
SO great for the trained. CAPABLE social
worker. Right now I know OF several
high saiaried openings for both men and
women of the right training and expert
ence. So far suitable candidates cam
not be found.
As president Of the Charity organlza-
ton Society have been watching social
work grow for thirty years, and at last
Its standards and requirements seem 20
be formulating themselves along pro-
fessional lines.
Americas cities and especially her
rural districts need sound. trained COM
munity leadership. but where can they
get Il?
The New York School OF Social Work
is not turning out anywhere near the
percentage Of trained people who are
needed. I consider the opportunities
opening up a challenge to the best minds
IN our mems and women's colleges. and
would like 70 see twice the number
Of students enter this semester. which
began February 8. that we may begin
10 meet these demands. Other countries
recognizing the situation are sending
their students 70 us for training. One
student sent by the Polish Government
has Just arrived. having won the willard
Straight fellowship at tho school.
I believe the thousands OF dollars con-
triouted annually 20 civic and social
WORK n good investment only II we can
produce the right kind OF people TO make
the pablic's generosity really count
toward fundamental social betterment.
RosERr w. DE FoRDsr.
NEW YoRx, February 10.
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Daily Calendar
THE WEATHER.

For Eastern New York-Rain or snow
to-day; tomorrow fair not much change
In temperature west and northwest
gales.
For. New Jersey-Cloudy to-day. probably
ram IN cary morning: tomorrow fair; not
,aueh mug cnange In temperature; strong west
Fcr Northern New Ensiand-snow or rain
lo-aay; Tomorrow fair: not much change
winds, probably reaching gale force.
For southern New Englend-Rain or snow:
Tomorrow fair; not much change In tenn
pe.n.uIe' sa,,ar'' eas' ana southeast. shifting to
For Northern New York-snow to-day; to-
morrow CLOUDY; not much change In tenn
perature.
WASHINGTON. Feb. lo-rhe disturbance
that was central over Louisiana last night
moved northeastward with greatly .ncreased
ginia Tonight. II was attended by general
precipitation. mostly IN the form OF rain.
+, from 'he Mssissippi Valley eastward. except
the interior Of New York. Another disturb
anT ancs WAS y. ..,, sttended BY rain to-day IN the
and northern Rocky Mountain regions
Inc temperature continued Considerably
s ABOVE normal to-day almost generally and
ings were from 23 70 SO degrees above The
normal for this date.
The storm over West Virginia viii move
snow snow IN the north Atlantic States. the upper
,,n Hnio Valley and the region OF the grea:
lskes tomorrow, while the weather VIII
Gear IN the sections further south. Generally
Isir weather VIII prevail In the States east
S,,,rrn S,Ur.nern Michigan. where there win be snow
me temperature VIII continue above nor
maj In practically all eections. Storm warn
,ss % are displayed on the Atlantic coast st
Hna H.aa. oetween Hatteras. North Carolina, and
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Philharmonic Concert.

Tho programme of the Philharmonic
Society's concert In Carnegie Hall last
evening was given in observance of the
anniversary OF the death OF Richard
Wagner on February 13, 1883. The
music was all by the master and
beginning with the "Rienzr' overture
included favorite excerpts from his
music dramas. with several from the
Ring" al ranged by Josef stransxy. and
ending with the "Tannhaeuser' overture.
In the performance OF the "Nibelungen''
music. arranged by Mr.. Stransky. and
the Siegfried Funeral March. four tubas,
according to Wagner's directions in his
scores. were used for the first time at
this concert. The instruments were
brought from Europe by Conductor
Stransky. What became Of those Mr..
Seidl used at the Metropolitan?
The New York herald., 1921-02-11
Mime. Hempel in Opera.
Prima Donna Is Singing With the
Chicago Opera Company.

To THE NEW YoRx Herald: Your
editorial article Of to-day mentions my
retirement from the operate stage. VIII
you kindly correct this statement, as
have not the slightest intention Of ever
retiring from operatic work and am
singing twenty-one times this season
with the Chicago Opera Association7
FRIBoA HEnrEr.
ROCHESTER, February Q.