davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Canada's Election

The Canadian election may not
have turned entirely on the tariff
issue. The Conservative and coali-
tion government at Ottawa had out
worn its popularity. 1t had excited
manifold enmities. But 1t came into
power on platform of opposition
to the Taft-Laurier reciprocity
treaty, and the two parties which
opposed 1t in this weeks election
both declared in favor of lower du-
ties and a policy Of more liberal
tariff relations with the United
States.
Tho Conservatives were third in
Tuesdays race. The new Progressive
party, which was second, is an Or
ganization Of farmers, with some
labor attachments, it's strength being
concentrated in Ontario, Manitoba,
Saskatchewan and Alberta. II seeks
to encourage agriculture and to
lower the duties on farm imple-
ments and machinery and on other
things which the farmer uses
and consumes. The Liberal party
which will have a clear majority in
the new lower house, favors tariff
reductions for the purpose Of lower
ing the cost of living. Both these
parties want to return to the policy
of reciprocity, which was rejected a
decade or more ago when Premier
Laurier was defeated by the cry
that the American treaty threatened
an economic absorption of Canada
by the United States.
Reciprocity is the best policy for
both countries. There is no indica-
ton that the new government will
destroy the tariff barrier. But it
probably will seek some arrange
ment with the United States for
freer exchange Of products. We ia
vored such neighborly rapproche-
ment when Mr. Taft was President.
Congress passed the Canadian reci-
procity act and left it unrepealed
until year or two ago.
We have nothing to fear from
reciprocity. 1t is agreeable, there
1ore, to Americans to find Canada.
now reverting to a frame of mind
which will make possible closer
commercial relations. Politically
the two countries have drawn to-
gether. Economically there is room
for closer cooperation to the ad-
vantage of both.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
The Restless Whale

There seems to be ample excuse for
a Congressional investigation into
the restlessness Of the whales Of the
Atlantic Ocean. A government re-
port informs us that one of these
mammals attempted to enter the Pa
cific Ocean by way Of the Panama
Canal and after being stranded at
the Atlantic entrance to the water
way was done to death by machine
guns and high explosives dropped
from an aeroplane.
The evidence would tend to show
that the whale had become dissatis
fled with living conditions in the At
lantic and had determined to enter
the Pacific at all costs. This NAV
have been due to the siren song of
Southern California real estate pro-
moters or to the pictures Of Califor-
mia bathing beauties. Only a Con-
gressional committee with the Gus
tomary subcommittee and corps
Of Investigators could ascertain the
real causes.
There is another side which deep
~ concerns students of Oriental
problems. Would not the presence
Of Atlantic Ocean whales In the Pa
cific at this time tend to complicate
further the already very complex
questions Of the Far East7
There is a tariff angle, too!
Should whales raised within the
three-mile limit on the Atlantic
Ocean side be allowed free passage
through the Panama Canal? If
SO, should not also the whales of the
Pacific, naturalized or native born.
be allowed free tolls, and Is it not
the duty Of Congress to raise an ap-
preparation to provide whale ladders
for the Panama Canal similar to the
fish ladders Of inland waters? Also,
there should be an inquiry into the
reasons for attacking with machine
guns and high explosives a whale
which approached the canal on what
was apparently peaceful mission.
On the face of it this one restless
whale probably has provided Con-
gress with enough material to keep
it busy for an entire session.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
At the Library

You will go long way to find an
institution for the peoples use more
free from red tape than the New
York Public Library. Few impedi-
menss are placed in the way of the
visitor. Everything is done to assist
him. This liberal policy has worked
SO we'll that the general reading
room on some days is overcrowded.
Ihe librarian has therefore been
obliged to make rule that students.
who have moro and more been using
the library for desk room, shall check
their textbooks on Saturdays, Sun
days and holidays. 1t went against
the grain to pass even this small act
of exclusion, but the restriction has
already relieved congestion.
Holidays are the busiest at the
library. On Election Day last month
3,oT5 volumes were issued on writ
ten application, and perhaps as many
were taken from the open shelves.
And whoever has an idea that the
Dsapas an Mt mnsA gwen to solid
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09

and culture, almost unknown to the
present generation, but containing In
itself boundless possibilities of In
terest, inspiration and pride. The new
psychology will grow out of the old
one; the new religion may have much
to do with the old mythology. We
have not such deep roots in the past
for nothing, and we are bound to 70
back before we can dream of going
forward again.
The nation that has mythology is
blessed beyond expression. She has
but to battle again in her own foun-
tains to be refreshed from whatever
travail, and Ireland is returning 10
her fountains. She will not only retire
from England; she may retire from the
world, and, like some happy anchorits,
she may live in contentment, unheard
of, unmindful, until the time comes
for her to do whatever work the gods
assign her
She has earned q rest after enc
tho usand bitter years, and one could
hope that she might never again. have
a history.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
AS to Personal Liberty
he Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Although | have been brought
up" as it were, on The New York Trib-
une, it having been read by my family
for two generations, was disappoint-
ed to see In to-day's issue in prominens
headlines. "Balfour Sees Dreary Yuls.
tide Facing Prohibition America" h
would seem that such prominence given
TO that statement scarcely becomes
great newspaper that should stand for
the enforcement of law. and should en-
deavor to create public opinion favor
able to law enforcement However, II
may have been printed in humorous
vein.
Speaking of prohibition, NJ Balfouf
says: "We think, l believe, great deal
more of personal liberty than the
Americans do. Here the effort is for
the mass. In England the individual Is
the striking note. We have to take
very great care not TO curtail the lib
critics Of the individual, because the
illNi!luudl is the EdctOr IN tradition
1t would seem to an impartial OBJ
server that lack of prohibition would
:'curtail the liberties" of more individ-
uals than would prohibition, for is II
not true that the members of the fam
lily of man. addicted to liquor have
their liberties curtailed somewhat
even if he is what is termed "a mod
crate drinker"? The individuals in che
family of man who has passed be-
yond that stage certainly have many Of
their liberties sacrificed. Surely an
advocate of personal liberty as an ar
gupent against prohibition is leaving
cut OF consideration the other fellows
liberty.
ALICE FORMAN WYCKOFF.
Lawrenceville. n. J Dec. 3, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Now for Real History

So David Hirshtield, Commissioner
Of Accounts, is going to standard
ize" American history for the benefit
Of the public schools. He plans to
drag the truth about the Revolution
from the bottom Of the we'll. The Job
may even take him several weeks, he
thinks, along with his fifty other in
vestigations.
1t is we'll to have an ultimate au-
thority. History has been said to be
"a lie agreed upon," but Mr.. Hirsh-
field is not likely to be led astray, for
the topic is fresh one with him,
and he intends to hunt the "original
documents" in their lair. There will
be passing regret over the scrapping
of Bancroft, Irving, John Marshall,
John Fiske and others. Still, we'll
have Hirshfield and the facts.
The Hirshfield quest is inspired by
the Hearst Hylan outcry against GER
tain passages in some of the text
books used in the schools. The Mayor
and his monitor find that the men of
'76 are referred to as "smugglers,"
pirates" and "hot~headed mobs." If
these terms are really applied to the
Revolutionary patriots in a general
Wy they are certainly Objectionable.
and the books containing them had
better be dispensed with.
1t is gratifying to note the whole
some interest Of Hearst and His
Honor in keeping history straight.
Every ORC will agree with them that
the forefathers who fought for free
dom must not be maligned in Ameri-
can schoolbooks. And it is to be
hoped that their zeal for the truth
viii extend to the chronicles of the
World War. Will Mr.. Hearst insist,
for example, on having recorded in
all candor the activities of one Bolo
fasna and his association with an
editor to whom foreign propaganda
is so ahhorrent?
British propaganda Ia Hearst's
cry over the Objectionable phrases in
ne textbooks. Deuced deep is that
British propaganda Did Mr.. Bal
&eu1 xa~ speoanAea n 4 ia ekhas
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
The Lansing Version

Despite the growing evidence that
Mr.. Tumulty's statement about a
~o-called attempt to oust Mr.. Wilson
from the Presidency during his i'll
ness discloses only part of the
truth, Mr.. Lansing has so far not
given the public his version of the
ss.st..sx.
Nix. Lansing Is doubtless held
back by desire to avoid unseemly
controversy. But he has a respon-
dbility to the country which out
weighs his personal desire for retl-
esnce- Mr.. Tumulty's narrative dis
sloses the shocking fact thai the pri-
vSte secretary to the President and
he Presidents physician. when the
inability to discharge his duties
mentioned In the Constitution was
seriously In question, declared in so
many words. "The Constitution and
sbe country be damned before we
AAxti9y to the Presidents disability"
0ni1 4 In xAaa lHsw uhaa zssllx
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09

reading would be surprised IL he
would walk up and down the aisles,
glancing at the books spread out on
the tables. He would marvel at The
tough nutriment that goes through
the brain's digestive process. AS a
spectacle of concentrated cercbration
within four walls there is nothing in
the city to equal the Public Library
during rush hours.
AS one scans the faces of the read
ers he will probably guess that q
good many are habitues of the place.
The library is their university. Day
in, day out, they are in their accus-
toned chairs graphing with knowl-
edge. And it is quite depressing to
think of the vast accumulation of
lore they must have in their heads
that they will never use. Then there
are the gimlet-eycd specialists, deep
in the arcana Of their craft, diving
for pearls in enormous, musty old
tones. The rest are the students
and those "reading up" for particu-
lar Preparations club pa
pers, speeches and what not--and
the crowd Of casuals who have just
drifted in.
New York is proud of its library
and finds the atmosphere within it
good. What Thackeray in rather
sentimental vein wrote of the British
Museum Library is quite as true of
the great reservoir of books in Bry-
ant Park: "What peace, what love,
what truth, what beauty, what hap
piness for all, what generous kind
ness for you and me, are here spread
out! 1t seems to me we cannot sit
down in that place without heart
full of grateful reverence"
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Autos and Pedestrians
Few Accidents Through the Man on
Foot Taking Chances
To the Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The editorial Don't Blame the
Autos" in this mornings Tribune, takes
the position that automobiles should
not be blamed for the ever increasing
number Of accidents, but that the
fault lies with incompetent and care
less drivers and often with pedcstri-
ans.
While there Is much truth in this
position, it should not be overlooked
that if there were no autos there would
be no automobile accidents. A great
deal is heard about pedestrians being
Killed because of their taking unnec-
essary chances, but the fact is the
pedestrian who deliberately takes
chance is seldom injured, for he acts
with his eyes open and his senses alert
to danger.
1t is very different matter for a
motorist to deliberately take chance
of injuring pedestrian, for the mo-
torlst takes no risk in doing this, while
the pedestrian is menaced by power
full, dangerous piece of mechanism.
The writer has made a careful study
of automobile accidents and has found
that pedestrians who meet with these
accidents are usually taken by sur
prise by automobiles coming suddenly
upon them, causing them to become
confused and, unable to act quickly.
they are struck down.
Now, the chief factors CAUSING auto
mobile accidents in which pedestrians
are involved are the speed and silence
of the automobile and the human i'm
perfection which prevents man from
being constantly vigilant A lesson
might be learned from the experience
OF those towns where ordinances were
passed prohibiting the use of sleigh
bells, an increase in street accidents
always following.
Just as long as theirs are men. wom-
en- and children who are incapable Of
adjusting themselves to sudden and
unexpected dangers, just so long will
automobile fatalities increase If these
vehicles continue to move swiftly and
silently about the streets.
R. e. YOUNG.
White Plains. N. Y, Dec, 8, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Pedestrian E!alf at Fault

10 the Editor of The Tribune,
Sir: Do You realize that you hav.
not only allowed letter uncompli-
mentary TO the pedestrian to be nub-
ished, but that you have also printed
an editorial that dares to hint that
SAID pedestrian does not own the
streets? certainly admire your cour-
age.
Ever since motors came in use 7 hav.
insisted that the pedestrian was soma
what at fault as we'll as the auto
driver, but till now l have never seen
even hint to that effect printed.
Mind you, do not defend the driver
All | ask for is an even break and that
the pedestrian may be controlled to
some extent, instead of being allowed
to wander, wild and free, till he "a
moved down.
except children from all the above
These rules for pedestrians shonld
be enforced: No crossing when the
traffic sign says "Stop!" No crossing
elsewhere than at crossings on much
used streets. Surely this is not much
to ask. rp
Roslyn, n. Y, Dec. s, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09

took place at the time Of the Prcsi-
dents illness. The attitudinizing
Tumulty, always hero to HIM
self, has given his version and
apparently also gives Admiral Gray
sons. But the record as it stands
leaves such obvious gaps in the tes-
timony that the public has the right
to hear from the other man best
fitted to testify.
Mr.. Lansing owes it to the coun-
try to throw all possible light on
how the question Of Presidential
inability to discharge his duties was
handled by the Secretary of State
and the Cabinet. Another Prcsi-
dent may become disabled and an
other Cabinet wish instruction as to
it's duty.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Ireland's Ne,o Youth

There is to be considered also the
fact that Ireland, which was a yerv
old nation, is now very young one,
while England, young in the days of
Elizabeth, is no longer as young as
she was.
Given the return of Ireland to her
natural language. and this is almost
absolutely certain: There will follow
in few generations the almost total
disappearance of Irish literature in
the English tongue. More than this
will follow. The influx of several mil
lion new speakers will break up the
Irish language as we now know it, and
further generations must elapse be-
fore Irish is recast and capable Of
modern literary usage.
What is true of literature will be
true of the other arts. Ireland will b..
much too busy setting her house in
order to take much interest in any-
tning else, and such work as she does
will for a long time be naive and
tentative. We may say, as they used
TO say long ago at the death Of a king;
ireland is dead. long live Ireland. She
must grow all over again and time
must be allowed her to do so. But
during that growth she will have much
to feed on and brood over. Behind her
Ia an axe-long inheritance Of history
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
IF Ye Break Faith"
To the Editor of The Tribune

10 the Editor of The Tribune.
Sl": In memory of the late Colonel
Whitt'esey may we not accept the chal-
lenge written over six years ago from
Flanders fields
10 you from falling hands we throw
the torch.
BE yours to hold it high. e
1T ye break faith with those who d,.
We shall not sleep"
The care for disabled and needy
soldiers was nearest Colonel Whit
teseys heart. Is this not the time for
those who have not forgotten and can
not forget, to come forward with de-
votlon. time and money for soldiers
who are disabled and uncared for?
1t was the martyrcd Lincoln who
laid upon America the duty Of caring
Tor those who shall have borne the
battle"
Can we break faith?
WOMAN WAR WORKER.
Lunanbar& AAsa. Dsa. I. 1a2A
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Gold as a Deodand

AnVhfopomorpnlSm as commonly
used, refers, OF course, to the ascrip-
tion of human qualities to the Deity
the making of God in the image of
man rather than man in the image
Of God. But the mouth-flling word,
in its secondary significance, means
the endowment of physical objects
with mans characteristics.
For many years Mr.. Bryan was
our leading anthropomorphist in this
second sense. A yellow metal, called
gold, was to him a devouring mon
ster, while white metal, called sill
yer, was celestial creature who
was the friend Of man. Wicked gold,
committing the crime Of '73, "mur-
dered" innocent silver, and millions,
weeping bitter tears, enrolled to
avenge the deed.
Now Henry Ford, who in certain
aspects Of his mentality is heir to
Organism, crowds Mr.. Bryan aside
is even fierce anthropomorphist.
One indicted the yellow metal for
one crime; Mr.. Ford indicts it for a
thousand-lays at it's door response
bility for the mass murder known as
war. A goddess world will be q
peaceful one; not by leagues or as
sociations or by the conquest of hu-
man fears and pugnacity is Bellona
to be chained. South Africa, close
your mines; California, scrap your
ore crushers; Alaska, post verboten
signs about your placers, and India,
use your golden sands to mix con-
crete!
Instead Of jingling coins in purse
Mr.. Ford would put salt on the tail
of kilowatt hour and use it for
small. change. Do you covet a fiiv-
yer? Rub a cats back until you have
stored up canful of we'll insulated
kilowatts and advance boldly on the
editor of "The Dearborn Indepen-
dent" and demand in exchange
chassis and it's superstructure. Sure
ly most interesting proposal. Mr..
Bryan may be excused for beating
his breast because he did not think
of it first.
Yet in ascribing morality to in
animate objects Mr.. Ford reverts to
an idea exceedingly ancient-older,
even, than the worship of idols. 1t
goes back to the totem pole. The law
Of deodands assumed that in some
way corruption soaked into an in
strument Of murder and it became
forfeit. The witch's broom and the
doll in which the witch stuck pins
were burned by the hangman. Yet
there is strange variability in the
doctrine. Gold per sc is bad because
man, moved by psychologist impulses
worldwide in their scope, has select
ed it as the basis of money; but steel.
though it is the raw material Of in
struments of destruction, is guileless
probably because a motot manu.
facturer uses it to make his ma
chimes.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09

More than any other activity Of man
the arts require peace and leisure ir
order to function successfully, and
Notwithstanding her very great vital
ity, Ireland has had no peace or lei
sure for round number of centuries
The gifts she has given to English art
and letters are cons derable and
worthy if viewed sympathetically, but
English literature is rich of its own
impulse and would not be noticeably
the poorer if these gifts were ab-
stracted.
For long period Of 'time Ireland
was fully engaged in battling for her
life (she had no time for gentler
matters), and when not thus bloodily
employed she WAS as earnestly and
vigorously battling for her living
Nothing that she retains of either body
or spirit was kept but at the cost of
incessant struggle, and tho wonder -
not that she has given 80 much to
common culture but that she has been
able to give anything at all.
The Foreign Tongue
Up to hundred years ago tho Eng
ish language was not natural in
heritance Of the Irish people, and 1t
was used by those who attempted 1t
with something of the awkwardness
with which one handles recently
acquired instrument. They often did
good work, they seldom did great work,
and it is only within The last fifty
years that the Irish mind has learned
TO express itself easily and powerfully
ard artistically in the foreign tongue
That true literary talent exists in
Ireland is sufficiently proven by the
works Of Irish masters during the last
fifty years, and to-day the best irish
writer's can hold their own with their
fellowcraftsmen across the channel.
The war came, and with it the
artistic pause which had commenced
some fifteen years previously became
not pause but q complete halt. Finis
was written to a chapter of human
activity and achievement, and it is
still the word with which man is con-
fronted when he looks out of himself
and at a new and unknown world
Like every other country, Ireland has
suffered in men, morals and vitality
from the great war, and the conse-
quent lassitude, eliminating in in
tellectual and artistic stagnation, has
been as evident here as elsewhere. For.
at stroke, ali the writers of Europe
(neutrals not excepted) began to write
nothing but gibberish, and those who
refrained from writing gibberish
simply refrained from writing alto
gether. 1t must be difficult for
any man of integrity to look his
own war writings square in the
face and not blush for them; and
in world where all values have now
gone by the board it is difficult for any
writer TO know how he is to write
again, or what there is in fact to write
about. All writing is of or out of the
past; the past has been broken with,
and Europe must wait until a new past
has been created before she can hope
to become artistically interesting
again.
Although 1t may seem paradoxical
to say so, Ireland had largely escaped
tho universal trouble by being so
thoroughly Immersed in her own one
All that wild questioning. which was
really problem for tatlsmen, econ
a1nlsts and educationalists, scarcely
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
Money Sterilization First

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: a financial conference to stabil.
ize money and establish the credit OF
bankrupt nations would be quite "
ornament. OF course, we would IKE
to straighten cut poor old China, bus
even her affairs ought to await SET
tlement OF the worlds money problem
by universal agreement What :"
really need is an immediate intsrnAs
tional conference on finance
AN AMERICAN.
New York. Dec. 4, 1921.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09
The. Amateur Paragrapher

f. p. a.: / read that Marshal Foch
brought twenty-five pounds Of his fa-
vorite tobacco when he came to this
country. Now, being a heavy smoker
myself, l. conclude that, allowing time
out for salutes, prayers, and kissing
children, the Marshal brought twenty
three pounds excess supply for which
customs duty ought to be charged.
friend writes that she will attend
Columbia U. summer school next sea-
son instead of Chicago, that she un
derstands "they WORK the sox off
fellow at Chi" Observations which
made last summer on Riverside Drive
ana at other places around Columbia
lead me to believe that they work the
sox part way off at Columbia.
New-York tribune., 1921-12-09

night before the English-Speaking
Union when he said: "All agree that
in the controversy which ended with
the independence of the United
States Great Britain was wrong on
the main issue?