davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Lunch Time Verse
and Helen of Troy
HEAVENS AND EARTH. by stephen
Vincent Benet Henry Holt & Co.
Reviewed by
STANTON A. COBLENTZ.

Followers of contemporary poetry
have justifiably seen brilliant promise
In the name of Stephen Vincent Benet.
At surprisingly early age he had al
ready issued several books of strik-
ingly good poetry, and especial inter-
est, therefore. attaches to his subse-
quent work But in his latest volume
Heavens and Earth" he only partial
ly meets expectations. Perhaps this Is
because there is more of "earth" than
of heaven" in his verse; because he
prefers to clip his wings and drag
their white feathers in the mud. A
large part Of the book is devoted to
subjects such as Lunch Time Along
Broadway and Boarding House
Hail." to which the hand of genius
might possibly impart touches OF po-
etry, but which Mr.. Benet makes
merely drab and ugly. II may be that
Mr.. Benet has become too self-con-
scious; 1t may be that the new poeti-
cal movement has guided him amiss.
for in the very unconventionality OF
his themes and manner there Is a self
established convention that approaches
dangerously near to affectation. And
while the poems are sometimes clever
and sometimes scintillate with fancy,
trey are for the most part obscure,
prosaic and uninspiring. A typical
passage is the following from Lunch
a. City Club:
The member with the face like pale
ham
Settles his stomach in the leather
chair
The member with the mustard colored
hai.-
Chats with the member like curly ram.
AS satire this may be good, but as
poetry 1t is in the newspaper column
lists class. Fortunately. however. not
all Mr.. Benets work is OF this type.
The first part of the book contains
some passages of rare poetry, based
on the legend of Helen OF Troy, leg
end overworked by poets ever since
Homer, and yet treated originally and
with genuine effectiveness by Mr..
Benet. There is something like magic
In the following passage, the fourth
line Of which recurs as. a refrain;
The blooms Of the year are withered and
fall
(Dawn-and a red flame crowing)
And Times cracked fingers number them
all.
(And the wind OF Fate is blowing.)
And a wooden horse is trampling Troy
AS a hoof thrust crushes crumpllng
toy.
Ruddy and gold where the torches stare.
Helena sits In her carven chair.
Lovely and strange as moonlit cloud
But her head droops down like petal
bowed.
The poem varies from time to time
I'm It's rhythm and sometimes rises TO
genuine majesty. both OF phrasing and
OF thought There is true poetry In
passages such as this:
Zeus Of the silver dawning took the
scarf OF a cloud.
He quickened the wrath with nre TIL
the life cried out aloud
He called Desire from his lightning.
Despair from her weaving old.
And they fashioned the shape to a
woman that men might die to be-
hold
One cannot help wishing that Mr..
Benet would devote himself more to
this kind of work and pay less poetical
tribute to lunch time and boarding
houses. The result might be to his adj
vantage. as well as to that Of lovers
OF poetry.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Ceremony
By c. BLYTHE SHERWOOD.

BY c. BLYTHE SHERWOOD.
When / get to bed
All the ghosts of all the books
/ haven t read
Surround on either side.
They reprimand me as they
should,
And then, o virgin pridel
| light my lamp,
Run to my shelves
And with an armful creep
Back to my couch,
Where bride | am of books
Instead of sleep.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

make mine look trivial In comparison
So as l went about my work nights
got to thinking the matter over, and
1t was not long before / began to Won
der why should not be lion tanner
as well as any one else. / was
impatient to be at 1t right away. So
after going over and over the matter
from every angle and weighing the
advantages and disadvantages of vari-
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

the door Of each cage In succession and
drove them out. began as sternly
as I could to order them around and
give them their cues.
Except. perhaps. for an unusual
amount of snarling. they did as well
for me as for Charlie. I put them
through their regular work. which
took fifteen or twenty minutes, drove
them back. and fastened them into
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17
Demand for Children's
Dresses Reported Firmer
Retailers and Wholesalers Say
That Heat Has Stimu-
lated Sales

The warm weather has stimulated
the demand for children's dresses, both
at retail and wholesale, Manufacture
ers here are receiving large recorders
in these lines, according to reports,
which is taken to indicate that the
retailers stocks are in healthy con-
dition and that liquidation has pro-
crossed satisfactorily.
David n Mosessohn, executive di-
rector Of the Associated Dress Indus
tries of America, said manufacturers
of children's dresses and rompers are
looking forward TO a substantial de-
mand for fall because of the extern
sive liquidation, as it will be necessary
in many cases to restock literally to
make a good showing.
July is the month when retailers
clean " on their summer stocks, he
said, and those merchants who deplete
their stocks by special offerings are
realizing cash returns which place
them IN a stronger position to come
into the market for their fall require
ments. Retailers are planning now
for their school dresses, for which the
consumer demand Starts after the mid
die of August. Some especially good
numbers are being shown by manufac-
turers both for early autumn and for
cold weather wear
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

Imports into the United Kingdom
for the first four months of 1921
totaled s397 .5os,7a4, compared with
sssS,s2s,oSs in the like period of 1920
and $3.50, ,622 in 1919; exports of
British goods aggregated s2s7,654,37l,
against f4o1. 1912 and s17o,SSS,sol
while reexports had value Of
s35, 81 ,oSa, against se5, 5o7. o4e and
s41141 ,522 The total Of all exports
therefore, in 1921 was s323, 025,46o, or
sI74,2Ts,694 less than a year ago, and
el11 ,52o.337 more than in the pre-war
year The large decrease in total exz
ports this year, compared with 1920,
was, however, overshadowed by the fall
in imports, the decline totaling s22e,-
420245, although the aggregate was
still s138,31le171 above that of 1918.
The percentage decreases compared
with January-April, 1920, were AZ per
cent in imports and IS per cent in total
exports. Actually British exports were
% PEI cent less in value and resxports
So per cent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17
British Business
Undaunted Despite
Stress and Worry
Americans, Guests of Eng
fish, Report Problems
There Graver Than Here;
Good Feeling for Z. S.

Apparently indemitable courage on
the part of British business men in at
lacking industrial problems that far
overshadow those in this country was
the impression brought back from
England by Lew Hahn, secretary OF
the National Retail Dry Goods Associa-
ton, who was member of the party of
American and Canadian departing nt
store merchants who made a tour of
England and Scotland in May and June
AS guests of the British Drapers
Board of Trade.
Our hosts were perfect hosts, he
said. land did not allow their private
troubles to intrdue upon their guests,
but at the same time a deep substratum
OF unhappiness, discomfort and worrl-
ment could be discerned. The British
merchants and other business men
with whom we came in contact looked
worried and tired. They seemed to
want nothing more than to get away
from their business and forget it all,
but, true to British tradition, they
stick noblv to their tasks and are fight
ing it through.
"Conditions in England in an indus
trial sense are much worse than here.
The upheaval in manufacturing circles
there has been great. British manu-
facturers are up against tremendous
problems. AS see it, the era of cheap
labor in Britain has passed. 1t will be
necessary for the English producers Of
merchandise to scrap many OF their old
machines, which seem extremely aged
and out of date to Americans.
"Until the war, cheap labor IN Eng
land made modern machinery unneces-
sary
"The price situation in England
seemed to be more unsettled than IN
America When we were there the
coal strike was still in progress and
there seemed to be spirit among
other industries that the settlement
of the coal strike would form basis
T~r revisions in all other trades.
=. anufacturers were loath to quote
prices to the merchants in our party,
and many of them frankly said that
they expected a new price basis before
long Altogether there seemed little
opportunity for American retailers to
buy any large quantities OF merchan-
disc in England.
Probably the most impressive fea-
ture of our entire trip was the sincere,
friendly attitude of the English people
toward America In the business and
social world the British are looking
with more friendliness than ever be-
fore upon this country. Sincere, deep
affection between the two peoples
seems to be growing stronger.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17
Northwest Retailers Confident
Seattle Merchant Says Shops Are Preparing
for Fall Revival; Farmers Are Expecting
Banner Crops This Year

The pioneering spirit Of the North
west, with its ability to adapt itself
quickly to new conditions, has stabil-
ICED the business situation in that sec
ton Of the country TO a greater extent
than in most other parts of the United
States. in the opinion of George A.
Phillips, head of the Palace Store Com
pany, Spokane. president of the Wash
ngton State Retail Association and d.
rector of the National Retail Dry Goods
Association.
Mr. Phillips, who was in New York
last week with number of his buyers,
who were placing liberal orders,
brought with him from the Coast a
more optimistic spirit than is com
monty found in business circles these
days.
ave are not deluding ourselves"
said Mr. Phillips, with the hope of a
great recovery IN business and boom
in prices But Ne retailers and bust
ness men in general in the Northwest
see better business coming. We have
taken our losses. wiped the slate clean
and are row digging in for that con
slant, steady growth which means solid
prosperity.
THE farmers IN our section, who
produce great amount of wealth and
upon whom prosperity or depression
largely hinges, seem 70 have read
iustad themselves completely. From
All / can learn the farmers of Wash
ington, Idaho and Oregon Will sell their
crops almost as soon as harvested this
year, instead Of waiting for rise in
price This will put large amount of
new money into circulation.
Banner Crops Are Expected
Besides, all crop reports from our
section indicate a banner yield this
year, so that the farmers, even though
selling their products at lower price
than last year. probably will take in
more money because Of the large.
amount Of produce they viii sell.
Among our chief products are wheat
fruit and fish. all Of which appear t,
have rounded the corner of depression
Lumber also appears 70 be looking I'D
and we believe that the lead mines il
our section Will resume operations
about September. All this mas givel
/ the retailers much encouragement
Current business is good. TIL
! spring and summer season in genera
has been entirely satisfactory and. W.
are anticipating s good steady busi
/ ness, with an increased demand 70
! almost all classes of merchandise earl,
/ this fall. The retailers in our section
are now placing orders for their earl.
/ needs. based urcn est mates CT TIL
! amounts they think they car sell.
| Ne are net influenced by SONS O
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

also has slim ulated the wearing of low
shoes, almost to the. exclusion Of hign
shoes. or boots, AS they are technically
known in the trade Boots, to be
slightly, must be covered by the bottom
of the skirt, it has been discovered.
An attempt to follow up the decreas-
ing skirt length by adding TO the tops
Of the boots proved unsuccessful last
winter, when the women refused to
buy them, with the result that little
or no attempt at pushing boots is being
made for the coming fall and winter
season
The price question in shoes appears
to have been fairly well settled by this
time. Prices that manufacturers are
asking for fall merchandise are about
the same as those paid for spring shoes.
Retailers themselves say there can be
little change in the price situation this
fall. Where some types Of shoes
princi pally because Of the fluctuations
in the leather market, are slightly low
err than they were for spring, other
types have shown increases for the
same reason. One Of the disconcerting
features OF the present situation is the
big spread between the price Of raw
hides and finished leather, and again
| between leather and shoes. The prin-
cipal reason for this big spread in
both cases, says the manufacturers,
lies in the fact that labor and other
manufacturing costs in both the tan
ming and shoe industries has not shown
any appreciate decrease from the
peaks reached during the boom.
Prices Higher as SURPRISES Vanish
Early this year in order to get bust
ness started again after the great
slump, both tanners and shoe manu-
racturers booked new orders at prices
below actual replacement costs. These
| prices were made to work of surplus
stocks. AS soon as these SURPRISES
had been disposed of there was q gen
era stiffening in prices.
/ Few shoe manufacturers are as
eager to shade their prices in order
to obtain new business as they were
last January, and in some cases re
tailers have been unable to fill in
broken stocks, except at advances.
Although the shoe manufacturers are
loath to discuss the labor question
now, there is feeling that the work
ers cannot long hold on to the present
wage scales, in view of the wake re
ductions in other industries. AS soor
as the pressure for this reduction be-
comes strong enough, 1t is felt, lower
wage scales will be put in effect, anc
lower prices for shoes will result.
Cheaper leather is not anticipated
! by the shoe manufacturers for some
| time to come, although few OF them
are sufficiently impressed with the re
cent advances in some divisions of the
leather market to lay in large supplies
against further price increases
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17
Little Change at Wheeling

Little change in the iron and steel
industry is noticeable in the Wheeling
district, as none of the mills have re-
sumed operation and very little work
is being done. A few of the plants
are operating on small scale
A feature OF the week in the local
iron, tin and steel industry was the
posting of a bulletin by the Whitaker
Glessner plants of the Wheeling Steel
Corporation that only individuals
would be considered in filling positions
when the mills resume operation.
Heretofore the Amalgamated scale has
been signd each year by this company,
but now and in the future, the same
policy will be followed as has been car
ried out by the Wheeling Steel and
Iron Company, another of the subsdi-
aries of the Wheeling Steel Corpora
ton.
The Whitaker-Glessner Company,
which operates a miln Wheeling; one
at Martins Ferry, Ohio; one at. Beech
Bottom, W. Va, and another at Ports
m outh, Ohio, will in the future be rec
ognized as open shop mills. The union
will not be recognized in any manner
whatsoever according to the bulletin.
This notice has acted like bombsnell
in the ranks of the union men, who
are said to be preparing for strike
when the company resumes operation
At the present time all of it's mills are
closed with the exception of three open
hearth Furnaces in the Portsmouth
ri VT
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

the shortage talk We hear in the whole
sale markets. The ample supplies al
raw material and the fact that labor
is far from scarce. indicate to US that
merchandise can he produced quickly,
if need be, to Offset any possible short
ages"
Publicity Brings Good Results
The retailers in Washington. accord
ing to Mr.. Phillips. have been free from
much Of the adverse criticism that has
been aroused in other sections of the
country. This mas been due IN large
measure. he thinks, 10 an educational
campaign, conducted through public
lectures in various communities. ar
tcles in the newspapers setting forth
facts concerning retail distribution, It's
service and il cost.
little over g yea rago a state assoc
citation of retailers was formed From
the first the newspapers were ac-
duanted with every move the associa-
ton made A writer was engaged to
prepare articles on retail distribution
IN which facts and figures. all based on
actual research, were given. public
speaker alos was hired to give q series
of lectures throughout the state, TO ac-
quaint the general public with some
of the intimate and little known facts
about retailing, which reversed some
fthe misconceptions in the popular
mind about retail profits.
Our organization. in showing what
part the retailer plsye din the scheme
of distribution and what an important
service he rendered to the public" said
Mr.. Phillips, successfully com bated a
move of some fthe North Dakota ag.i-
tstors TO bring some 0 fthe Non Par
tisan League ideas into our state.
Altogether, we retailers seem TO have
come into closer relations with our
customers. which has eliminated sonn 2
Of the unjustifed attacks upon Us as
q class.
Our public has come 20 see that reg
ulatory legislation. designed TO protect
the public, actually costs the public
more money Laws that hamper the
retailer inevitably ad dto the cost OF
! doing business. and this cost must be
passed on TO the consumer, If retailing
as an integral part of our. economic
system, is TO survive
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17
Copper Output Near Bottom

Copper Output Near Bottom
Since March smelter production has
declined rapidly. and for May it is about
one-quarter OF pre-war rate Of produc-
ton. Copper output is row about as
low as il will get. unless the industry
receives further blows. The most IN
eortant companies producing copper at
present can be counted on ones fingers
Miami. Kennecott. American Smelt-'
ing and Refining Company icustom
business, Copper Range, Quincy, Ten
nessee Copper, New Cornelia and East
Butte.
"Of course, some American copper
companies operating in foreign SCUM
tries have not shut down, Z. e., Cerro de
Pasco, Chile and CRANKY, and their pro-
duction swells copper imports into the
United States. Even with the addition
of such importations, export trade
alone. should il continue at the rate IN
dicated in the first FIVE months Of the
year, will be more than sufficient to
take care OF domestic production plus
imports.
IAN echo of the serious condition of
the copper industry if the United States
is reflected in reports reaching this
country of conditions in Australia,
great metal probing continent, where
copper production has been drastlcaily
cut an dwhere the cost OF copper pro-
duction S prohibitive of further opers-
ton. The gravity of the Australian
hituation is. in large measure, due to
difficulties with labor and the unwill-
ingness of labor TO accept q reduction
In wages.
Comments from the London press
frequently allude TO the activity of the
Copper Export Association and have
intim sted that the organization is
threatened with disruption. If such
fate really hangs over that body, 1t Is
news to the American copper industry,
as the association has been functioning
entirely satisfactory and Is. from all
reports, in splendid financial condi-
ton.
Recovery in the copper market, long
awaited by producers, IS not expected
during the summer and depends upon
so many factors closely linked with
general industrial prosperity that it is
idle to hazard any guess as ia when
resumption of operations VIII occur"
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

evidence is found in the fact that the
style shows presented shoes, which, if
anything, are even more highly deco
rated than those that have gone before
The end of the quest for style in foot
wear is not yet in sight, apparently, al
though one or two manufacturers pro-
TESS to believe that it will not be long
before there is reaction against the
highly ornate shoes.
Shoe manufacturers and retailers
alike contend that the American public
never has worn enough shoes. BY this
they mean that in proportion to the
changes of other garments contained in
the ordinary mans or woman's ward
robe, there have been too, few shoes.
They maintain, among other things,
that women, and men, for that matter,
nave been wearing shoes intended for
evening or other dress occasions for
ordinary street wear. An un0rganized
campaign is now under way to change
all this and to educate the public to
wear the proper shoes for the proper
occasion.
From sanitary standpoint many
shoe manufacturers maintain, the san, o
pair of shoes never should he worn two
days in succession. More is being
made of this argument in the shoe
stores to-day, and it is gradually tax
ing effect.
That the American public, despite
this criticism. is still the best shod
public in the world, is the conte ntion
OF the Am erican shoe manufacturers
hey also maintain that within the last
ten years there has been a gradual but
! marked tendency toward the wearing
of better footwear and more attention
to the appearance of the feet
Compare the shoes you see in the
subway to-day" said the manager of q
women's shoe factory in Brooklyn
where the highest grade shoes fol
/ women made in this country are pro
( duced, land you will notice that there
has been a marked Improvement in the
appearance of footwear in general
! You do not see so many shabby looking
shoes. You notice fewer turnover heels
and above all you must remark that
shoes are better kept now than they
were decade ago. The growth of the
polish and dressing industry is ample
proof of the fact that people do take
! better care of their shoes than they
did formerly"
Short Skirts an Important Influence
The vogue for short skirts, in tn,
/ opinion of leading shoe manufacturers
has been responsible for two grea
changes that have come over the WON
ems shoe trade in the last few years
With the short skirt the feet com,
into greater prominence. This, say tn,
manufacturers and shoe retailers, hal
. led to q desire for prettier shoes, ant
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-17

Another important step in the proc,
ess of liquidation is marked by the
general wage reduction effective to-
day the second this year. 1t ia ex-
pectad that the new day labor rate of
80 cents will be pared down to 25
cents before the liquidation in the
industry is completed.
For the most part, new sheet bust
ness is confined to small round lot ton
nages of galvanized, or bundled lots.
District makers report that compet-
tors elsewhere are quoting below the
recently established levels of $50 cents
on black and 450 cents on galvanized,
naming in some cases 325 cents for
common sheets and 425 cents for gal
vanlze6. Two makers report that iu-
quiries have been more numerous the
past few days, including one for 500
tons of l2-gauge blue annealed, want
&c by Chicago consumer.
Plate makers have received in the
last week struggling orders Most of
the current inquiry is from car repair
interests Plate business has been
transacted at LOO cents, which is down
from the current nominal quotation Of
2 cents