Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 35, Number 35, 12 December 1909 — Page 13
EICHMONB PAIXADIUM
TH AND 3UN-TELEGRAM. SECTION TWO. RICHMOND, IND., SUNDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 12, 1909. PAGES 1 TO 10. EUROPE CONQUERS WHY COLLECTORS HURT RARE BOOKS DIPLOMATIC POST TO BE ELIMINATED STEIIIHEIL CASE STILL TALKED OF GIVEN DIVORCE FROM Dr. Jonnesco Injecting Siovaine ARCHBISHOP'S NEPHEW A GREAT PROBLEM
They Deny They Are Mere Bibliomaniacs But Have Real Purpose.
1IKE TO READ THEM, TOO HIGH PRICES MEAN LITTLE TO THE (MEN WHO STUDY AND COMPARE THE WORKS OF THE GREAT AUTHORS. New York, Dec. 11. The purchase fit the Maier sale of the Edgar Allan Poe pamphlet for $3,800 naturally sug gests the thought, "Why does a book collector pay so much for a first edition when he can get for a far less sum the same thing better printed, better edited, and better bound?" Does he not pay so high a price imply because the work is a rarity, 'and Its possession gives him the satis faction of knowing he has a prize few are able to obtain? Does he not put .the work carefully away, to be handled or exhibited only as a curiosity? If he simply wants to see what the book is like, would not a fac simile of it do just as well? In other words. Is not ; the pursuit of first editions merely bibliomania? What the Answer la. These questions have been put to some New Yorkers Interested in first editions, and their reply was virtually what the distinguished French collector Edmond de Goncourt in his will called his drawings, his prints, his curiosities, bis books, "those things of art which have been the joy of my life." To these men the saying that "All is not gold that glitters," applies as well to the plain cloth covered or board bound copies of the first editions of great authors as it does to anything else. - .Stephetf'H.'Wakeman, who is credited with owning the finest collection in the world Of first editions of American authors. Informed! a reporter that It was unfair and untrue to say that book collectors as a rule bought first editions only because they were rarities. He gave as an instance his own purchase at the Maier sale for $2,900 of a first edition of Poe's "Al Aaraaf, Tamerlane, and Minor Poems," Baltimore, 1820. a presentation copy from the author to his sister, used by Poe In preparing a second edition of the same work and containing additions and alterations to his autograph, some of which were never published. Asks for Transcript. Mr. Wakeman said that he had just received a letter from a man in Richmond, Va., asking for a transcript of these notations by Poe for use in getting out a definite edition of his works. This was a case where there was no doubt of the value of the work. The possession of such an Item was a sentimental pleasure to him. It mattered not what he paid for it. The newspapers were given to dllaring on prices paid for rareties, but talk, of that kind was simply wearisome. A first edition of an eminent author with his own presentation inscription and corrections could not help having intrinsic value. The first editions of eminent American authors were, as a rule, issued anonymously Emerson's "iNaturo," Hawthorne's "Fanshawe," Poe's "Tamerlane," were instances. It was a satisfaction to a book collector to own a copy of the first work given to the public by an author who afterward became famous. For the book collector who bought a work on ly because it was rare, Mr. Wakeman said, he had no sympathy. Found it of Pleasure. Frank Maier. owner of the library in which was the $3,800 prize, said that when he purchased the book for $1,400 he did not put it away as a thing too valuable to be handled, but carefully went through it and won pleasure in so doing. The collecting of first editions improved a man's knowledge of an author's career. It waa an Intellectual pursuit. Mauy Interesting facta about distin guished authors bad been brought to light by the finding of first editions, he said. Much about Poe himself would be unknown if first issues of his works had not been discovered through the zeal of collectors. If some of the first editions of eminent American authors now in private libraries were destroyed it would mean a loss lo literature. We would be poorer off If a first folio of Shakespeare had nev er been found. . TEAL IS FREE :; i (American News Service) New York, Dec. 11. The indictment charging subornation of perjury against Mrs. Ben Teal, wife of the the atrical manager, who was convicted and imprisoned as the result of her al leged activity in obtaining evidence in the ironic uouid divorce case, was quashed today by Judge Foster in the court of general sessions. She had already served part of her time when jpanted a new trial.
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Dr. Thomas Jonnesco, the physician from Budapest, injecting stovaine before an operation in a New York hospital. Dr. Jonnesco gave a successful demonstration of his spinal anaesthetic before the flower of the surgical profession of New York and other states. In the audience was William J. Mayo, of Rochester, Minn., one of the world's greatest surgeons.
Are American Women Just "Talk" By Ada Patterson
(Hearst Syndicate) John Strange Winter complains that American women are over praised. She asserts that they have not the solid quality of English women and that they are all "talk, talk, talk." As to the solid quality of English women, I believe that John Strange Winter is herself an English woman, and if we may judge by her photograph she proves her own contention. That has indeed been the contention of American women always that the English women are solid, that they are conscious of that solidity, and move so that no one else can help being conscious of it. England sent us one of her music hall . beauties this season. She was sent to these shores with the challenging air of a nation that would say: Behold! The British .Venus has set sail. You will find her lovlier than the Venus of the Greeks or of any other nation." She came. We saw. But she didn't conquer. We thought her heavy and commonplace, as - we now think the long-vaunted Mrs. Langtry is. If Eng land wants to open a competitive beau ty Bhow, the United States will enter the lists without fear and asking no favor. We agree with John Strange Winter. English women are solid. They have the massive solidity of the heavyboned structure. We never know what an unlovely alliance flabby skin and heavy bones form until we have seen the average English woman in her seat at the play, the opera, or at dinner. , She bares shoulders that are liko a country road deep cut by cross tracks. She moves J with as much grace as the creaking, over-laden wagon that cuts those deep ruts. Forbes-Robertson, the foremost Eng lish actor, and one of the most thought ful and scholarly men In England, married an American. "American women are more entertaining; they are better comrades," he said. , From which we may infer either that the disposition to "talk, talk, talk," is not objectionable to Mr. Forbes-Robertson, or that he has not found it in American women. "-"' The fault of loquaciousness is not one of nation, or even of sex. The most tiresomely talkative woman I ever met was neither English nor American. The most confirmed and boresome gossip I know is a man. Excessive chattiness is an individual peculiarity, not a national trait. Some persons, of either sex and of any nation, will always mistake merely making a noise for talking. John Strange Winter, who is a charming and intellectual woman, as well as an entertaining author, has been recently the victim of such i individuals, and they have happened to be women and Americans. Hence her deductions, which have little weight as set over those . of Forbes-Robertson.
John Strange Winter has not married an American woman. Forbes-Robertson has. Her conclusions are casual. His are permanent. Every one has at some time been wearied almost unto death by the babble of persons who had nothing to say but who insisted upon saying it with much noise making. Women of poise and intelligence, whether in New York or London or Shanghai,' are content to say nothing unless they have something to say. I heard warm praise of a woman: "She is the first. woman I ever knew who stops to think before she speaks." This was the praise, and it was spoken by an Englishman of an American woman, the first he met in this country. It was the Englishman's first journey away from his own island. The conclusion is obvious. The Magpie Sisters are of no nation. Neither are the Magpie Brothers. They are citizens of the world. Their voices, lifted on high, may be heard in any land. True conversation is a valuable exchange of opinions. It should be judicial but tolerent, animated but amiable, and should follow Ben Franklin's. law: "Say nothing except what will benefit yourself or someone else." Conversation is an art, Is not dead, but sleepeth, in all lands. It has been dulled by the presence ' of music at every function, from a wedding to a funeral. Even at public restaurants, friends who have much to say to each
other are struck dumb ; by strident, popular airs, mingled with the clatter of dishes and the insistent voice of the waiter. MOTHER FIGHTS 01 . . CAmerlcan News Service) Nyack, N. Y., Dec. 11. The petition of Mrs. Mary Copley Thaw to the su preme court asking the removal of her son, Harry K. Thaw from Matteawan to either a hospital in Poughkeepsie or at Middletown, was taken up today by Justice Thompkins here. An affidavit was presented the court by Dr, Amos T. Baker, assistant superintendent of Matteawan, declaring that it would be unsafe to incarcerate the slayer of Stanford White in any other institution in the state as he would endeavor to escape. or. Baker repeated his contention that Thaw is a dangerous lunatic Thaw was not in court. On applies tlon of counsel for his mother, the court allowed until Thursday in which to get further affidavits to show that Thaw should be removed from Matte awan. The case will come up again in Nyack a week from today. This country trade journals. has nine hundred
Taft Intends to Abolish Office of Minister to Panama.
the HE PLANS A COMBINATION IT IS THE INTENTION OF THE PRESIDENT TO HAVE CANAL ZONE GOVERNOR PERFORM THOSE DUTIES. Washington, D. C, Dec. 11. President Taft has decided to abolish the post of Minister to Panama, now held by Herbert G. Squires, and to combine the diplomatic and civil duties in the office of Governor of the Panama canal zone. As the result of frequent conferences by the President. Secretary Knox and Secretary Dickinson it haa been decided that such action will be for the best interests of this govern ment, the canal zone, the operation of the canal work and the republic of Panama. It was for this reason that ex-Senator J. C. S. Blackburn of Kentucky, recently resigned as governor of Panama. Nothing now stands in the way of the consummation of the administration's policy except congressional action. There has been interminabla friction among the civil, war and diplomatic offices on the isthmus ever since the work of canal construction was placed in charge of Colonel Goethels, of the army. Made Lands Prove Problem. In addition, although this government conceived and created the new republic, high officials of Panama have been from time to time embarrassing the United States by complaints and demands. President Taft, as secretry of war, made several trips to the isthmus to effect conciliation. - The t work , of canal construction brings forward repeatedly the question of treaty rights. An acute one has just been raised. Recent work of filling from excavations has made large i tracts of valuable land where previous ly there was water belonging to the United States. Panama claims the territory now under that portion of the treaty granting it all the land adjoining the canal and not embraced in the original canal zone concession. Obaldia's Aspirations Worry. Political-affairs are said to be shap ing themselves very unsatisfactorily for the United States. It is hinted that the aspirations of President Obaldia to succeed himself for another four years, in violation of the Panama constitution, is being viewed with offi cial disfavor by President Taft and Secretary of State Knox. There are some who see in the new move the end of the Panama republic, believing it will be added to our colonial possessions. Wanted, Firm
American Individuals and Companies Are Now Being Asked
Valuable Pribilof Group Washington, Dec. 11. The secre tary of commerce and labor, says the Post, is now engaged in preparing an invitation to American companies and individuals to submit bids for the leasing of one of the most troublesome possessions of the United States, the Pribilof group, better known as the Fur Seal Islands. The term of ten years of the presert lessee, the North. American Commercial company of San Francisco, expires on April 30, 1910. The lease allows the holder to kill about fifteen thousand fur seals annually, and these sell in the London market for not less than $465,000. The Islands were acquired from Russia along with the rest of Alaska in 1867-and in 1870 they were first leased, the Alaska Commercial com pany being the lessee. In 1890 the North American Commercial company made a better bid and secured the privilege of taking seals for the succeeding ten years. It is believed that the Alaska Commercial company, which
has again become an aggressive com- in 1786 by Gerassim Pribilof, a navlpetitor in the fur buying industry in I gator in the employ of one of the RusAlaska, win bid for the lease. sian trading companies. They are sit-
Under the present contract the lessee pays at the rate of $10.22 for each skin taken. The secretary of commerce and labor determines the kind and number of seals to be taken each year and the method of killing. Under the regulations the animals are killed with clubs, and the kill is restricted to "bachelors" of two and three years old. The age is fixed Dr the weight of the skin, none weigh Ing less than 8 pounds being legaL As the bachelors herd by themselves most of the killing season it is an easy matter to see that only male seals are killed, although at the end of the mating season more care must be exercised. In addition to the sum paid the government for each skin the company furnishes free to the natives on the islands dried salmon and salt, and salt barrels for preserving the supoix
And There Is Every Indication That It Will Be Topic For Months.
REVELATION IS EXPECTED ON HIGH AUTHORITY IT IS STATED THE OFFICIALS KNOW HOW STEINHEIL AND MME. JAPY WERE KILLED. (By La Voyageute.1 Paris, Dec. 11. Although the actual Steinheil trial is a thing of the past, yet the Steinheil case, generally speaking, still occupies the public nur.d, and there is no doubt that it vf II continue to do so for months to come. Indeed, there are those who predict that before next spring there w:U be revelations that will bring the CDtire subject to the attention of France once more in a very startling way. The fact of the matter is, the truth of the old saying "Murder will out' i3 being verified almost daily in the case in question. Of course, as might be expected, there are all sorts of stoiies told about the crime, and the real subject which resulted in the murder; but many of these, -sifted down, amount to little more than the assumptions of individuals who are prompted either by personal feeliug or politics. From a source which may be accepted as worthy of the highest belief it may be said, however, that the au-. tborities well know how and why Steinheil was murdered, and how Mme. Japy, foster mother of Mme. Steinheil, came to her death the same night. The name of " former President Faure, a well known admirer of the Steinheil woman, is of course mentioned, but it is known that the woman had no direct hand in the kill ins of her husband. The simple facts are that Steinhcl and his wife and Mme. Japy, bein-j Jews, naturally sided with the Dreyfusites when that event convulsed France and President Faure, who was on terms of the greatest intimacy with Mme. Steinheil, wrote her letters about the Dreyfus case in which his personal views, and those of others high in official life, were set forth. As concerning affairs of state of the most secret nature, these letters would have been invaluable to the Dreyfusards could they but have obtained possession of them from Mme. Steinheil, but while she was an ardent defender of Dreyfus and his friends, she gave her first allegiance to her president lover. Following his death in her apartments, whether accidental or othe;wise, the police decided to recover possession of the incriminating letters. They therefore made a "domiciliary" visit, as it is termed here, at
to Catch Uncle Sam's Seals
by the Secretary of Commerce meat; eighty tons of coal annually, comfortable dwellings and necessary school houses, which it keeps in repair; competent teachers and a free school for the education of the children eight months of the year; competent physicians, medicines and med ical supplies and the necessaries cf life for the widows and orphans and aged and infirm inhabitants of the islands unable to provide for themselves. The company also employs the natives to perform such work on the islands as they are fitted to perform, at a compensation fixed by the secretary of commerce and labor. On its 6ide the government employs an agent, Walter I. Lembkey, and three assistant agents to look after its Interest upon the islands, and also furnishes revenue cutters and naval vessels to protect the islands from raids by marauding pelagic sealers. The Pribilof Islands, which are the breeding grounds of the major herd of the Pacific fur seals, were discovered uated in Bering Sea. about two thousand miles from Seattle, Wash. The group consists of St. Paul, St. George, Walrus and Otter islands and Sea Lion Rock. They are completely isolated from other land; the nearest port being Unalaska, on one of the Aleutian Islands, which Is 214 - miles to the southward. The islands are of volcanic origin, and are desert to the extent that they produce nothing capable of sustainius man. They are remarkable for the profusion of wild flowers found upon them during the summer months. During a large part of the year the islands and the surrounding sea ar enveloped In a dense fog. which makes navigation difficult and hazardous. There are no Teasels on the islands practically the only kind of boat in use is the native bidarka or ofjskin canoe, capable of betas aarifst-
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rv...ntPss Ada Eusenla IT. C. Boos Farrar, who has just obtained a di vorce from Leonard C. Farrar, nephew of Archbishop Farrar. The countess was married to the ma nshe has just divorced, in 1'JoS and she is now on a concert tour in the West. She is a member of the old German family of Boos zu Waldeck-Shois, and is famous for the practical way she dispenses charity. Richly gowned, she visits the needy in the slums and missions. She not only sings to them, but gives liberally from her well-filled purse. midnight, to the house occupied by Steinheil. his wife and Mme. Japy. During the rail, while Steinheil jwas seeking to hide the letters, he waa killed by the police. Mme. Japy. who was aged and had a weak heart, died partly from freight, heart disease and suffocation, having swallowed her false teeth during the terrific excite ment. Admitting, however, that Mme. Steinheil had nothing to do with the killing of her husband and the deata of her foster mother, there can be no possible doubt that she is a consuin mate liar and possesses remarkable dramatic effect Had she been train ed for the stage when young, there are many who believe she would have outshone Sara Bernhardt. Meanwhile, she is In England, trying to escape the public gaze for a time. She talks of going to the Unit ed States if she cannot find the desired temporary seclusion in England, but wherever she may go, it Is certain she will be heard from again In con nection with affairs in France. And so, "The eternal feminine." to Bid for the Lease of the and Labor at Washington ed to the mainland or to the nearest port, and the only times the residents come in touch with the outside world are when the North American Com mercial steamer calls there twice each year, and at irregular Interval when a revenue cutter chances to stop for a few hours. These islands are the only bree-Iing ground of the Pribilof or American fur seal herd, which even In !t? pres ent depleted condition is the !arKt fur seal herd in the world. The seals of this herd breed upon ibe islands of St. Paul and St. George during th summer and annually in the fall leave them and proceed through Bering Sea and the passes between the AleUtltu Islands into the Pacific ocean. Some of tbera go as far south as Santa Bar bara Channel, off Southern California. Generally speaking, this annual mi gration of the herd begins in Njvember, and by the latter part of Decern ber there are few animals left on the islands, t They remain away until the following spring, the first aniv.-Us us ually appearing about May 1, aad the last the latter part of June to July 1 At the time of the discovery .f these islands by the Russians fu- seal. sea otter, walrus, sea lions and foxes were found in almost unlimited nam bers. The killing of all these snecien of animals proceeded with wanton pro digality from 1786 to 1835, when t?ie fur seal herd was reduced to less than two hundred thousand. A .close! sea son was established on the islands from 183a to 1845 or 1S50. during which period only such seals were killed as were necessary to furnish food and clothing ; for the natives while the killing of females was pro hibited entirely. As a result of these drastic meas ures the herd was gradually rehabili tated, and daring , the first twenty years of American possession one hun dred thousand young male seals were tilled annually for commercial pur poses. . . .. .
Forest Service of This Gov
ernment Issues Important Statement. HOW TO USE WASTE LANDS THOUSANDS OF TREES CAN BE PLANTED AND WILL ASSIST GREATLY IN RECLAMATION OF BARREN COUNTRY. (American News Service) Washington. Dec. 11. The Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture has Issued a report concerning the reclamation or waste land in Europe by tree planting. This report has been issued in order to show ths advancement made in conquering this problem in foreign countries, and that the same may be done In this country. Thereport says in part: Europe Is conquering the waste land problem by planting tree. Every year thousands of acres of land are being reclaimed In this way by the leading countries, and put In a condition preparatory to a profitable Umber harvest In the years to come. Not only many previously forested . , areas which had been rut over have been planted up, but a number of countries are devoting their energies also. , to establishing a forest cover on dunes and other waste lands, and in fact, on all land which Is more valu able for producing timber than for oth er purposes. France a Leader. France has been one of the foremost European countries in reforestation, esitecially In the mountains, where planting has been a powerful factor In controlling ' currents and regulating stream flow. The state each year buys uncultivated lands in the mountain re gions, and np to January. 1907. It had acquired OOR.000 acres in this way. Communes, associations and private individuals are also assisted In reforestation work by grants of money, and by supplies of plants and seeds. Altogether 2-f!W0O acres have been planted through this public assistance. Complete exemption from taxation for a long period of years la granted In the case of plantations made of the topi and slopes of mountains. ' A reduc tion of three-fourths for all land plant- - ed or sown, whatever its situation, is also made. One of the most striking examples of the results of planting waste lands Is furnished by the reforestation of the Karst" in Austria. The Karat was a stretch of barren limestone land comprising OOOjOOO acres in the hilly country along the Austrian shores of the Adriatic sea. For centuries it had furnished the ship timber and other wood supplies of Ve nice, but excessive cutting, together with burning and pasturing, had left It a waste almost beyond recovery. In 18f5, the government began to offer help to land owners who wou'd undertake forest planting there. Taxes were remitted for periods of year. technical advice was given, and plant material as well as money. were gupplied. , Great Forest Land. At present over 400,000 acres, or twothirds of the Karst. are nnder forest. partly as a result of planting, at a cost of eight or ten dollars an acre, and partly as a result of protection which made natural recuperation possible. Germany as a whole does not have so much waste land which it is necessary to plant. The Germans have been practicing forestry for so long a time that the greater part of the available land is already covered with forests. Some work. ho7ver. Is done along this line. During tbe six years from 1901 to 1906. about SOOjOOO acres of land suitable for forestry were acquir ed in Prussia, although a part of this was already wooded. In Denmark no fixed appropriation is made for acquiring waste lands, but in the last twenty-five years, over 43.000 acres have been purchased, and recently the annual cost for planting has amounted to ever 15j000. Tree planting on tbe dunes along the coast of Jutland for the purpose of protection from drifting sand is continuously going on. That the work pays is shown by the fact that during the last ten years the average annual profit from all state forest lands has been nearly $100,000. Other European countries are constantly doing similar planting work. Switzerland, for example, creates protection forests wherever possible by planting, and whenever forests are converted into farming and pasture lands an equal area may be ordered reforested. Patting every acre of land to its best use Is the idea about which, the whole policy of tbe conservation of national resources revolves, and In ths future the planting np of waste tracts in the United States is sure to be carried on extensively by private owner as well as in the national forests aa4 on state lands. At this time last year the steel ear builders had orders for sixty thousand can. This year, according to the Railway and Engueeertng Review, orders have amounted to 160.000. and work- already contracted for win the nlaatt boar, gatU
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